By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Adeola Olamilekan, has affirmed January 31, 2025, as a provisional date for the passage of the 2025 ₦49.7tn budget as the committee prepares to begin budget defence on Tuesday.

He made this disclosure on Monday during a meeting with the chairmen of relevant committees on the template for the 2025 Budget Defence Session to guide the budget process towards its eventual signing into law.

Olamilekan further revealed that upon the resumption of plenary by the 14th of January 2025, the Senate would immediately commence a two-week break for the seamless continuation of the budget defence process.

He equally revealed a planned retreat on Thursday on the budget consideration which will involve ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders in the polity for further consultation and insight into the content of the budget proposal

According to the timetable, from the 15th to the 18th of January, it is expected that the committees would report back on their documents, after which collation and tiding of documents by the Appropriation Committee.

Acknowledging the limited timeframe, Olamilekan emphasised the need for lawmakers to intensify their efforts. He also urged his colleagues to forgo their holidays and begin immediate work on the proposed budget estimate, underscoring the importance of timely and efficient handling of the budget process within the stipulated timeframe.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has alleged threat to his life following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in his new year message.

Obi’s allegation follows a statement credited to the national spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, in a recent interview.

Morka was quoted to have said that “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets”.

In his new year press conference on Thursday, Obi had lamented the political, economic and security, healthcare situation in the country.

The former Anambra State governor said that the political, economic and security situation of Nigeria is worsening daily, despite government’s contrary positions and claims of improvement in different spheres of human endeavour.

“Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are clearly indicative of our decline; thus our national indices tell a disconcerting story,” Obi said.

“Nigeria remains one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty. The situation has deteriorated significantly over the past 18 months under the current administration.

“As a nation, we have fallen from being the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of over $3,500 in 2014, to now ranking fourth on the continent. Our current GDP is less than 50% of what it was a decade ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000.”

Reacting to Morka’s statement in a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi asked if he has “really crossed the line” after receiving threats against his life, family, and associates following his New Year’s message.

He challenged anyone who thinks he has crossed the line to point it out to him where he did, expressing his commitment to upholding decorum.

The former governor also vowed not to be silenced in his resolve to speak truthfully, especially as the country “drift toward undemocratic practices.”

His post reads, “I ask the question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face the consequences.

“If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum. However, I will not be silenced in my resolve to speak truthfully, especially as our nation continues to drift toward undemocratic practices.

“We are increasingly transforming into an authoritarian and repressive regime, where freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed. May God help us create a better and freer society for the sake of our children.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

An explosion suspected to be a bomb has rocked an Islamiyyah school in the Kuchibiyu Community of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, killing one student and injuring four others.

A report by Premium Times said the incident occurred around noon on Monday, January 6, 2025.

The deafening explosion reportedly sent shockwaves through the quiet community located approximately 42 kilometres from Abuja’s city centre.

Emergency response teams, including the police bomb disposal squad, promptly arrived at the scene, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care.

The report quoted a security source to have disclosed that the deceased student, whose identity had yet to be confirmed as of press time, was reportedly carrying a substance suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) when it detonated.

The explosion caused injuries to other students and widespread panic in and around the school premises.

Authorities at the school were unavailable for comment, and the Federal Capital Territory Police Command had yet to issue an official statement as of press time.

Repeated calls to the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, did not connect.

The affected students were said to have resumed school just three days ago, on January 3.