Connect with us

General News

GEJ vs GMB: Embarrassment of Choices ahead of Tomorrow’s Election

Published

on

General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan:
Kindly share this post

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo are in a tight contest for Saturday’s election with main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo, according to Reuters.

The vote is widely expected to be the closest presidential poll Africa’s most populous nation and biggest economy has seen since it returned to civilian rule in 1999.

Reuters said that in all, there are 14 presidential candidates but Jonathan and Buhari are well ahead of the rest.

Here are details on the main presidential and vice presidential aspirants of their parties.

PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

Presidential candidate: GOODLUCK JONATHAN

— Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was born in the Niger Delta in November 1957 to a family of canoe makers. He studied zoology and worked as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental protection officer before going into politics in 1998.

— Usually dressed in his trademark fedora hat and traditional caftan-like attire, he has a PhD in zoology.

— Jonathan won election in 1999 as deputy governor of Bayelsa, one of three main states in the oil-producing Niger Delta, as a member of the PDP. He became state governor in 2005, then vice president in 2007 alongside President Umaru Yar’Adua.

— Jonathan was sworn in as president, vowing to fight corruption, on May 6, 2010, a day after Yar’Adua died.

— His 2011 election upset northern elites due to an informal pact within the PDP that power should rotate between the mostly Muslim north and the largely Christian south every two terms.

— Jonathan’s administration has been dogged by several corruption scandals in the oil sector. In early 2013, the president dismissed the then central bank governor Lamido Sanusi after the latter accused the state oil company of failing to remit billions of dollars of oil revenues it owed the state.

— The Christian southerner has been criticized for failing to tackle a six-year Boko Haram insurgency, during which the militant group killed thousands in its attempt to set up an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, and kidnapped hundreds.

Vice presidential candidate: NAMADI SAMBO

— Mohammed Namadi Sambo was born in August 1954 in northern Kaduna state. Jonathan will hope his Muslim running mate will attract votes in the north where the president is least popular.

— Sambo is a qualified architect. He held positions in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Housing in the 1980s, left to pursue private practice in the 1990s before returning to politics as governor of Kaduna state in 2007.

— His main achievement as governor was on security, a major problem in Kaduna which has suffered from sectarian clashes.

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)

Presidential candidate: MUHAMMADU BUHARI

— Buhari, born in December 1942, was military ruler of Nigeria between December 1983 and August 1985. He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the 2003 and 2011 elections.

— A major general, he was selected to lead the country by military officers after an almost bloodless New Year’s eve coup in 1983 ended Nigeria’s second attempt at democracy.

— His iron-fisted administration is remembered for the jailing of politicians for corruption and executing of drug traffickers.

— Buhari himself was overthrown in a 1985 coup.

— His reputation as a disciplinarian, and a popular perception that he is cleaner than many in the political elite, has played well with voters fed up with worsening corruption.

–The bloody Boko Haram insurgency has made security a major campaign issue for Buhari. He points to his achievements as a military ruler against Chadian militia.

Vice presidential candidate: YEMI OSINBAJO

— Osinbajo, a southern lawyer, was announced as Buhari’s running mate in December 2014.

— He is also a Christian pastor, a move aimed at wooing Christians who might be unhappy with a Muslim northern presidential candidate, a pattern in Nigerian elections in which aspirants try to balance the two religions.

— The selection of Osinbajo as a vice presidential candidate is also likely to be an attempt to win over voters in the southwest – where he is from, seen as the major swing block.


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

General News

NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has denied reports that the federal government has introduced a new tax on vehicles.

NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

The clarification follows the circulation of a viral message online claiming that all vehicle owners would be required to start paying a new tax from July 1, 2026.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NRS said the information in the message is false and did not come from the agency or any official government institution.Nigeria Travel Guides

According to Dare Adekanmbi, spokesperson for the NRS, the viral message was designed to mislead the public. He explained that it was made to look genuine by using official government logos and formatting.

The message reportedly instructed owners of private, commercial, and corporate vehicles to pay an unspecified fee either online or through approved banks and agencies. It also included a website that was wrongly presented as an official government platform.

Adekanmbi stressed that the website mentioned is not connected to the government and warned Nigerians not to make any payments based on such information.

He said the NRS has not introduced any new vehicle tax and that any official policy or tax change would be properly announced through verified government channels.

The agency urged citizens to ignore the fake message and avoid falling victim to possible fraud. It also advised Nigerians to always confirm such information through trusted and official sources before taking any action.

The NRS further encouraged the public to follow its official communication platforms to stay informed about genuine tax policies, updates, and government directives.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

Published

on

Kindly share this post

National Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed that piracy remains a major threat to the nation’s creative economy, vowing to intensify its nationwide crackdown on illicit networks to protect intellectual property.

NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

Pic credit…soundcloud.com

Dr. John Asein, director-general of the NCC, disclosed this in a statement to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day.

The commission noted that piracy remains a major threat, undermining legitimate enterprise and eroding the economic value of creative works.

Asein lamented that inadequate distribution systems and limited access to books also constrain the growth of readership.

He described the event as an important occasion, which showcased the enduring value of books as foundations of knowledge, instruments of cultural preservation, and drivers of national development.

He described the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Read Books, Respect Copyright,’ as a call on Nigerians to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, while recognising that respect for copyright is essential to sustaining creativity and rewarding authors.

The commission noted that Nigeria’s book industry has evolved significantly, from the post-independence emergence of indigenous publishing to today’s digitally driven ecosystem.

“Nigerian authors continue to gain global recognition, while publishers are expanding capacity. However, challenges persist,” he said.

The commission commended the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, describing it as a bold step toward repositioning intellectual property as a driver of economic transformation.

The policy, according to him, provides a roadmap for revamping the book sector for the benefit of authors and publishers, and is accessible at ippolicy.ng.

The NCC also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive access through the Marrakesh Treaty, as reflected in the Copyright Act, 2022, enabling accessible formats such as Braille and audio texts.

It urged Nigerians to respect copyright and purchase books only from authorised sources.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Fusewall Holdings, founded by Azeez Amida, has announced the acquisition of a 100 percent equity stake in Coloplus Worldwide Service Limited, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure space.

Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

Fusewall Holdings

The deal marks a significant milestone in Fusewall’s broader strategy to build an integrated and future-ready platform across key sectors, particularly within the country’s fast-evolving digital economy.

The transaction was led by Amida, whose role in structuring and executing the deal was described as pivotal. According to the company, his leadership helped align stakeholders and navigate complex negotiations to ensure a successful close while positioning the business for long-term growth.

A spokesperson for Fusewall Holdings said the acquisition represents “a deliberate step forward” in the company’s expansion strategy, noting that the focus remains on building platforms that combine operational efficiency, resilience, and scale.

Coloplus brings a substantial operational footprint to the deal, including access to about 900 partner locations and roughly 20 owned sites. This combination of reach and infrastructure control is expected to give Fusewall a strategic advantage as it scales operations nationwide.

Fusewall said it plans to deploy capital, strengthen governance structures, and enhance operational execution as part of the integration process. The move is expected to improve service delivery, boost infrastructure reliability, and support expansion into underserved and high-demand areas.

The acquisition also aligns with the company’s broader ambition to help bridge Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure gap by expanding connectivity, improving network resilience, and advancing digital inclusion.

Fusewall Holdings said the deal reflects its commitment to disciplined execution and long-term value creation as it continues to grow its footprint in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending