Some clerics, rights activists, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria are furious following the decision of the federal government to sign the controversial Samoa Agreement. The agreement reportedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community for recognition, as condition for getting financial and other supports from advanced societies. Named after the Pacific Island Samoa, where it was signed on November 15, 2023, the agreement is gradually gaining traction, despite opposition by many countries that cherish Islamic and Christianity values, in addition to the sensitivity of…

Four electricity distribution companies have announced a tariff increase from N206.80 per kilowatt to N209.5 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) for premium customers under the Band A category, effective July 1, 2024. This change applies to both prepaid and postpaid customers. Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Ikeja DisCos all confirmed the increase in separate statements, assuring Band A customers of continued 20-24 hours of daily power supply as stipulated in the service-based tariff regime. The companies emphasized that tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E remain unchanged. Ikeja Electric stated that the increase aligns with the service-based tariff regime and will…

Students of the University of Benin on Wednesday took to the streets, blocking the ever-busy Benin-Ore Highway to protest weeks of power outages on the campus. The students, who have only two weeks until their first semester examinations, said the situation was severely affecting their preparation. The university was thrown into a blackout following the inability to reach an agreement with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over a contentious electricity bill. The management of the institution was said to have expressed discontent after the Benin Disco reportedly made an upward review of the institution’s monthly electricity charges by over…

Business and commercial activities were grounded on Wednesday following a 10-hour downpour in many parts centres of Lagos and Ogun states. The resulting flooding brought down a two-storey building in the Mushin area of Lagos, grounded vehicular movement on the roads and overwhelmed thousands of residents while pupils could not attend schools in parts of the states. Though the Lagos State government said the rain lasted for nine hours, in some parts of the state, it started at midnight and did not subside until noon, making it 12 hours. Such places include Berger, Ikeja, Ogba and in some parts, the…