Uncategorized
Zulum Clears N4.5bn Workers’ Gratuity in 1 year
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has paid the gratuity and other entitlement of civil servants amounting to N4.5 billion in one year.
The spokesperson of the governor, Mr Dauda Iliya, made this known in an interview in Maiduguri, on Zulum’s achievements from 2024 to date.
Iliya said that Zulum’s administration also cleared all outstanding gratuity and other entitlements of retired Permanent Secretaries up to December, 2024.
He said that the accrued outstanding gratuity and other entitlements of the senior civil servants cleared in December was put at N1.
49 billion.The spokesperson said that was in addition to the N200 million being paid monthly by the state government to the teeming retirees.
“The governor has pledged to settle all outstanding pensions and gratuities of civil servants before the end of his tenure,” Iliya said.
The spokesperson said that Zulum’s administration was committed to settling all backlog of pensions and gratuities owed civil servants in the state before the end of its tenure.
“In the area of post-conflict recovery effort, Zulum’s administration has, in collaboration with the Federal Government and other partners, repatriated 7,790 refugees from Baga Sola in Chad Republic to Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.
“Similar repatriation exercises were carried out of refugees from Diffa and Bosso in Niger Republic to Malamfatori headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area.
“Each of the returnees was provided with food and non-food items as part of the resettlement package,” he said. (NAN)
Uncategorized
Edo Assembly Dissolves Standing C’ttees, Constitutes Panel to Probe Ex-Speaker
The Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday dissolved all its standing committees and constituted an investigative panel to probe allegations levelled against the former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.
The new Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, announced the decision during the plenary session.
He said that the dissolution became necessary to enable the house to “re-evaluate legislative duties, improve administrative efficiency and give members new committee experience”.
Idaiye subsequently inaugurated a five-member ad-hoc committee to investigate Agbebaku over allegations of corruption, including inflated procurement costs for cars.
The committee, which was mandated to report back in two weeks, is chaired by Bright Iyamu.
Other members are representatives of Akoko Edo II; Ovia North East II; Etsako East; and Esan North East II.
Recall that Agbebaku resigned from office on Monday, August 17, following allegations of corruption and financial impropriety against him.
The house also received and adopted reports on the screening of nominees for key state commissions.
Dr David Osifo was confirmed as a member of the Edo Judicial Service Commission, while Oscar Onaiwu was confirmed as a member of the Local Government Service Commission.
The house also received a letter from Gov. Monday Okpebholo for the screening and confirmation of nominees for the Chairman and members of the Edo Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Shittu Shaibu was named to chair the screening committee for the nominees.
The house later adjourned sitting until August 19, 2026.
Uncategorized
Brain Jotter Cries out after Harassment by Lagos Touts
Nigerian content creator, Brain Jotter, has cried out on social media after being harassed by Lagos touts, popularly known as ‘agberos’.
Brain Jotter lamented the incident in a post shared on his Instagram page.
Expressing frustration, the content creator shared a video showing the moment he was harassed in his car by a group of thugs on a Lagos road.
He was refused free passage by the touts who were demanding settlement from him.
In the video shared by Brain Jotter, one of the touts was heard boasting, “I be lion”.
Lamenting the incident, the content creator wrote, “Lion no dey use eyes see goat. Nigerian zoo keepers are the worst. We lack good wild-life and they let a lion escape from their zoo. This is sad.”
Uncategorized
Dangote Cement Ibese, FRSC Strengthen Strategic Partnership to Advance Road Safety in Ogun
Efforts aimed at further enhancing road safety in Ogun State has received a boost following fresh collaborative engagement between the Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant and the State Sector Command for safer road use and general safety advocacy.
Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safer roads and strengthening stakeholder collaboration as it received the newly deployed Ogun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, and members of his management team on a courtesy visit to the plant.
The visit provided an opportunity for both organizations to discuss strategies for enhancing road safety awareness, driver competence, and regulatory compliance across Ogun State.
Speaking during the engagement, Corps Commander Ogunjobi commended Dangote Cement for its consistent support to the FRSC and its contribution to road safety initiatives over the years pointing out that the company has established itself as one of the Corps’ most reliable corporate partners through its commitment to safety and responsible transportation practices.
Said he; “Dangote Cement has remained a dependable partner of the Federal Road Safety Corps over the years, and we deeply appreciate the support we have continued to receive from the company,” Ogunjobi said.
“As an organization with extensive logistics and transportation operations, Dangote Cement understands the importance of safety on our roads. This shared commitment provides a strong foundation for even greater collaboration between our two institutions.”
The Sector Commander emphasized that promoting a culture of safety requires continuous engagement with stakeholders, particularly organizations that operate large fleets of vehicles and professional drivers.
“Road safety is not the responsibility of FRSC alone. It requires collective action from government agencies, private sector organizations, transport operators, and road users. We believe there is significant potential for us to work more closely with Dangote Cement in driving safety awareness and improving compliance with road traffic regulations,” he stated.
As part of the proposed areas of cooperation, Ogunjobi advocated the establishment of an FRSC Special Marshal Unit within the Ibese Plant, noting that the initiative would strengthen safety consciousness among employees and drivers.
“We would like to see the establishment of an in-plant FRSC Special Marshal Unit that will serve as a platform for promoting road safety advocacy and best practices among staff and transport operators. Such a unit will support specialized driver training programmes, regular sensitization sessions, and proactive safety campaigns aimed at reducing road crashes, he said.
He further assured the company of the Corps’ readiness to provide technical support saying “our doors remain open. We are committed to supporting Dangote Cement through continuous engagement, capacity building and safety enlightenment initiatives that will ultimately benefit not just the company but all road users across Ogun State,” he added.
Responding, the Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, Mr. Ayyagri Subbaraidu, described the FRSC as a critical stakeholder in the company’s operations and commended the Corps for its dedication to preserving lives on Nigerian roads.
While noting that safety remains a central pillar of Dangote Cement’s operational philosophy and long-term growth strategy.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps plays a strategic role in our operations because transportation is a vital component of our business. We therefore recognize and appreciate the tremendous work being done by the Corps in ensuring safer roads and protecting lives,” Subbaraidu said.
The Plant Director explained that the company’s Vision 2030 places strong emphasis on responsible operations, sustainability, and stakeholder collaboration, making road safety an important priority.
“Dangote Vision 2030 clearly highlights the need for stronger partnerships with key stakeholders such as the FRSC. Safety is not merely a regulatory requirement for us; it is a core value that guides how we operate every day,” he stated.
“Our commitment goes beyond the movement of products. We are committed to ensuring that our drivers, contractors, employees and every road user interacting with our operations do so in the safest possible environment.”
Subbaraidu welcomed the proposals presented by the new Sector Commander and assured the visiting delegation that Management would continue to explore initiatives capable of strengthening the existing relationship.
“We appreciate the suggestions put forward by the Sector Commander, particularly in the area of driver education and safety awareness. These initiatives align with our commitment to continuous improvement in health, safety and operational excellence,” he said.
“Dangote Cement remains ready to work hand in hand with the FRSC in advancing road safety campaigns, improving driver competence, enhancing compliance, and creating safer roads for all. We look forward to expanding our collaboration for the mutual benefit of our organizations and the communities we serve.”
The visit ended with both parties expressing confidence that a stronger partnership between Dangote Cement and the FRSC would significantly contribute to safer road transportation, improved driver behaviour, and enhanced compliance with safety regulations across Ogun State.


