Daily News In Bits

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for an external borrowing plan of over $21 billion for the 2025–2026 fiscal cycle. This was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, presented by its Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.


 Ahead of the planned nationwide strike by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) scheduled for Thursday, the association and representatives of the federal government will meet in Abuja today. On July 2, the NMA had warned that it may shut down medical services across the country if the federal government fails to address its demands.

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 Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating a personal vendetta against her, using the Senate as a tool to silence her for speaking out against s#xual harassment. She insisted her suspension had been declared illegal by a Federal High Court and that she remained a duly elected senator.

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The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has retained Monetary Policy Rates at 27.5 percent. Governor of the Central Bank, Olayemi Cardoso, made the disclosure while briefing the media after the 301st MPC meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

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 The United States government has issued a fresh travel advisory to its citizens, warning against travel to Nigeria over the unavailability of healthcare services, the increasing rate of kidnapping, terrorism, and armed gangs, among other crimes. The travel advisory, issued as part of the US’s security review, serves as a guide for travellers planning trips to Nigeria and other African countries.

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 The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has disclosed that no fewer than 3,160 persons have been displaced following the recent killings in the Yelwa community, Benue State. The minister stated this during an interview on Arise News’ Morning Show on Tuesday.

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. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tomorrow inaugurate three newly completed cancer centres in Katsina, Benin, and Nsukka. They are part of the six cancer centres under construction. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, gave a deadline of between 18 and 20 months to complete the Centres of Excellence.

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 A 26-year-old artisan, identified simply as Timehin, has been killed during cult initiation rites in the Awoyaya area of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State. It was learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred on July 18, when suspected members of a rival cult group ambushed the initiation ground.

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 The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against threats to opposition leaders. Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, stated that any threat against Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is a threat to all opposition figures. ..(LOL...Atiku remove yourself from Obi's popularity naaaah)

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 The House of Representatives has introduced a bill seeking to prohibit public and civil servants from patronising private schools and healthcare facilities. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP–Abia), was presented for first reading during Tuesday’s plenary session. In his lead debate, Ogah described the proposed legislation as a turning point in Nigeria’s history.

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Former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has stated that he might consider contesting the 2027 presidential election under certain conditions.

He indicated he would only consider running for president if Obi and another unnamed figure from the southern part of the country decline to contest.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that he is not driven by personal ambition.

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The recent outburst by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, restricting the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, from entering the state without his approval has continued to attract condemnation from Nigerians.

Governor Okpebholo on Friday last week barred the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election from visiting the state without approval, declaring that Obi’s security may not be guaranteed if he does otherwise.

The governor claimed that Obi’s visit to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences on June 7, where he donated N15 million for the completion of projects in the school, triggered the resurgence of violence, which, according to him, led to the death of at least three persons.

from dailypost