1. President Bola Tinubu has criticized the frequency of strikes called by a section of Organised Labour, describing the action as unacceptable. Tinubu voiced his dissatisfaction on Thursday in Lagos during the inauguration of the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project. The 37km project aims to enhance transportation efficiency and reduce travel time in the state.
2. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has initiated the enrollment of vulnerable pregnant women in the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS). Dolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during the flag-off ceremony of the enrollment. Pregnant enrollees will receive free safe delivery kits as part of the initiative.
3. Kabir Rabiu, the Group Executive Director (GED) of BUA Cement Plc, has reiterated the company’s commitment to reducing the price of cement. Rabiu emphasized that the company aims to lower the price range of cement from N9,000 to N15,000 to between N7,000 and N8,000. This commitment is contingent upon the agreement cement manufacturers made during their meeting with the Federal Government, considering the proximity of markets to their plants nationwide.
4 Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has imposed a ban on political meetings/gatherings in the state until further notice. The decision, announced by Paul Biam, Chief of Staff to the governor, follows intelligence reports on the security situation in the state, particularly the presence of armed herders.
5. The Senate has urged the Police Service Commission (PSC) to recruit a minimum of 10 candidates from each of the 774 local government areas (LGAs) of the country. This resolution followed a motion by Senator Udende Memga (APC, Benue) during Thursday’s plenary session.
6. The Nigeria Customs Service Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, revealed that the command intercepted fake pharmaceuticals worth N1.739 billion. The intercepted items, including Augmentin tablets, Ampiclox, and Amoxicillin capsules, were concealed in 53 sacks. Oramalugo made this disclosure during a press conference held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
7. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, announced that foreign exchange backlogs in banks have been cleared, with only five banks remaining. Cardoso made this announcement during an investor call facilitated by the Nigerian Exchange Group, assuring that the remaining banks’ FX backlogs would be cleared soon.
8. Chaos erupted at the Benin-Asaba Expressway by Iguomo Junction on Wednesday evening when a stray bullet allegedly fired from a police gun killed a resident. The victim, yet to be identified, was hit by the stray bullet in front of the house of a PoS operator while attempting to send money to his wife in his village.
9. The Niger State Police Command disclosed the arrest of four suspects in possession of 295 rounds of AK-47 rifles live ammunition. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that another suspect confessed to purchasing the ammunition in Kaduna State.
10. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed cement companies to revert to the previous pricing structure for the commodity. Senator David Umahi, the Minister of Works, made this announcement to journalists after inspecting BUA cement factory in Sokoto on Thursday.
