Phone call will cost N18.33 per minute, SMS for N6.67, and a 1GB data bundle, N479.17 under new tariffs

Phone call will cost N18.33 per minute, SMS for N6.67, and a 1GB data bundle, N479.17 under new tariffs

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has announced that telecom tariffs for calls, SMS, and data will rise by 30-60%, rejecting the 100% hike proposed by telecommunication operators.

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Tijani, speaking on a Channels TV program, explained that the increase is necessary to sustain the industry but emphasized that doubling costs would severely impact Nigerians. If the 60% hike is implemented, the average cost of calls will rise from N11 to N18.33 per minute, SMS charges will increase from N4 to N6.67, and a 1GB data bundle will cost N479.17, up from N287.50.

Telecom firms, grappling with a 300% rise in operating costs and financial losses following the naira’s devaluation, have long sought tariff adjustments. MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola expressed hope that the final decision would balance consumer affordability with industry sustainability.

Falana to Sanusi: You’ve come to stay, there can’t be 2 Emirs of Kano

Falana to Sanusi: You’ve come to stay, there can’t be 2 Emirs of Kano

Kano State must have only one Emir as passed by the Court of Appeal and the 16th Emir of Kano

Femi Falana

The 16th Emir of Kano, also disclosed that he had asked his lawyers to file an appeal at the Supreme Court

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has said Kano State must have only one Emir as passed by the Court of Appeal and the 16th Emir of Kano has come to stay despite stiff opposition.

Falana said this at the 21st Memorial Lecture of Chief Gani Fawehimi in Lagos.

He said, “But as for us as lawyers, when we are gathered there, we must tell ourselves some basic truths. Your majesty, we want to congratulate you for your victory in the court of appeal.

“Your opponents say they are going to the Supreme Court as far as the law is concerned and it’s so certain and this is where the NBA must come in.

Where the law has been settled. that the traditional institution is not a fundamental right matter. So, you can’t say as a traditional ruler, you are going to enforce your fundamental rights in court.

“Two, the court again has made the point that the federal high court has no jurisdiction on chieftaincy matters.

So if some of our colleagues are deceiving their clients and they are causing problems in the country, the NBA owes it a duty to begin to intervene and call our colleagues to order.

“Your majesty, wherever they are going, whether Supreme Court or whatever, you have come to stay. And we must only have one Emir in Kano. We can’t have two Emirs in Kano, two speakers in Rivers. This confusion must stop.”

Justice Kolawole held that the matter, being a chieftaincy dispute, ought to have been determined by the high court of Kano State rather than the Federal High Court.

But reacting to the development, Aminu Babba Danagundi, the principal plaintiff in the Kano emirates tussle said the battleground had just been drawn, adding that he was ready to follow up the case in 20 years to come.

Danagudi, who is a loyalist of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the 16th Emir of Kano, also disclosed that he had asked his lawyers to file an appeal at the Supreme Court.

THE PAINFUL SILENCE: WHEN WILL OUR FOUR DETAINED JOURNALISTS BE FREE?

THE PAINFUL SILENCE: WHEN WILL OUR FOUR DETAINED JOURNALISTS BE FREE?

By Omotayo Ayanda

As the new year unfolds, a haunting question lingers in the hearts of families, colleagues, and advocates: When will Olurotimi Olawale, Precious Eze Chukwunonso, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami be free once again?

Since their detention in September last year, these journalists have endured separation from their loved ones, forced to spend the festive season in the cold isolation of incarceration.

Their absence during what should have been a time of joy has left their families drowning in pain, uncertainty, and heartbreak. While others celebrated new beginnings, these families counted the days with a mixture of hope and despair.

These men are more than just journalists; they are fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, and the backbone of their families. Their detention has not only silenced their voices but has also plunged their loved ones into untold emotional and financial hardship.

Mothers are left to explain to their children why their fathers are not coming home, while wives cry into their pillows at night, wondering if this nightmare will ever end.

But this is not just a family tragedy; it is a national disgrace. The continued detention of these journalists is a chilling reminder of how fragile press freedom and democracy have become in Nigeria.

These men were doing their jobs, seeking the truth, holding power accountable, and serving the public. Yet, their commitment to these principles has cost them their liberty.

How long will the silence from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders last? How long will the anguish of these families continue to be ignored? The NUJ must rise to its duty, not just as a union, but as a touch of hope for every journalist in this country.

These men are not just four individuals, they represent the collective voice of the press. Their detention sends a chilling warning to every journalist who dares to speak truth to power.

But the NUJ cannot fight this battle alone. Where are the civil society organizations, the human rights advocates, and the international press freedom groups? Where are the voices that should be shouting from every corner of the world that this injustice cannot stand?

The detention of these journalists is not just about four individuals; it is a test of Nigeria’s soul. Are we a nation that values truth, justice, and democracy, or are we willing to let fear and repression silence those who dare to hold a mirror to power?

The world is watching, but more importantly, their families are waiting. Waiting for their fathers to come home. Waiting for their husbands to embrace them. Waiting for justice to prevail.

The time to act is now. Not tomorrow, not next month, not when the news cycle shifts, is now. Let this new year not be another year of waiting and suffering for these families. Let it be the year we prove that justice, press freedom, and democracy are more than just words; they are principles we are willing to fight for.

 Comrade Omotayo Ayanda is the immediate past Secretary of Kwara NUJ

BREAKING: Kano Erupts In Jubilation As Sanusi II Wins Court Case

BREAKING: Kano Erupts In Jubilation As Sanusi II Wins Court Case

KANO – Hundreds of Kano residents trooped into the streets on Friday to celebrate what they called the triumph of Emir Sanusi II in a crucial legal battle on Kano emirate stool.

The verdict which struck the city Ftiday afternoon threw the ancient city in frenzy as able bodied men, and women in purdah were seen marching the streets in support of Sanusi II.

The situation around the old city area and its environs was ecstatic forcing traffic gridlock around noon.

The Tricycle operators who mostly controlled the transportation system in the one city state were not left out in the celebrations as they mesmerised curious onlookers with manipulative rides.

Supporters of Sanusi II expressed happiness over the Appeal court verdict that situate the Chieftancy dispute in the purview of the state High court.

Earlier, the 3 man Appealate court headed by Justice Mohammed Mustapha cited Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution that the Federal High Court does not have the authority to handle issues related to chieftaincy.

This pivotal ruling is seen as a clear endorsement of the legal framework governing the Kano Emirate and a decisive affirmation of Emir Sanusi’s rightful position.

He Was Brutally Murdered Before Our Eyes; Ibrahim Traore Is Threading The Same Path—Shehu Sani

He Was Brutally Murdered Before Our Eyes; Ibrahim Traore Is Threading The Same Path—Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani, a prominent member of Nigeria's opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has sparked a wave of discussion after sharing his thoughts on the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, through his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Sani drew a direct comparison between Traore and the late Captain Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader in the 1980s.

In his post on Thursday, Senator Sani recounted the events of 1987 when Sankara, a figure admired for his progressive leadership and radical reforms, was ousted in a coup and later assassinated. Sani highlighted how young people at the time rallied behind Sankara, who was regarded as an African revolutionary icon. Unfortunately, his leadership was abruptly cut short, leading to widespread mourning and a shift in Burkina Faso's political landscape.

Sani then focused on Captain Ibrahim Traore, who has risen to prominence after taking power in Burkina Faso in a military coup in 2022. The senator expressed his concern that Traore's political trajectory mirrors that of Sankara, suggesting that forces that were responsible for Sankara’s demise may still be active today.

"The forces that evicted Sankara and their 'running dogs' are still much around," Sani remarked in his post. He continued by expressing a wish for Traore’s safety, invoking divine protection for the Burkinabe leader, as he navigates the complex political landscape in which he finds himself.

Senator Sani’s comparison of the two leaders has sparked intense debate on social media, with many observing the similarities in the bold, anti-imperialist rhetoric of both leaders. While some applaud Sani for acknowledging Traore's potential to follow in Sankara's footsteps, others are cautious, given the volatile political environment in Burkina Faso.

Ibadan Stampede: Elders denounce Ooni’s detention as a disgrace to the Yoruba people

Ibadan Stampede: Elders denounce Ooni’s detention as a disgrace to the Yoruba people

The detention of former queen Naomi Silekunola has been widely denounced by prominent Yoruba elders affiliated with the Kaaro Oojiire Omo Oodua Foundation (KOOOF), who call it a stain on the ethnic group and an abomination in Yorubaland. The elders demanded their immediate release, denouncing the detention of Queen Naomi, broadcaster Hamzat Oriyomi, and Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun.

Given the terrible Ibadan stampede that claimed the lives of 35 children, they deemed their arrest to be unfair. About two weeks ago, at a funfair, Queen Naomi, who was once married to Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, was implicated in the incident.

But in a statement released by Asiwaju Olu Mayungbe, the group’s chairman, the elders expressed concern about the conditions surrounding her confinement and questioned the legal system’s fairness. Mayungbe said, “Queen Naomi has been in prison for almost a month, which is a disgrace and a stain on the Yoruba race.” “We are in mourning for the Yoruba people, the humanitarian donors, the victims’ families, and those who were wrongfully placed under remand.”

Parents who had allegedly tossed their children over a fence during the stampede that resulted in their terrible deaths were not being held accountable, the group said, criticizing the seeming lack of accountability. Humanitarians who attempted to assist were instead wrongfully imprisoned without charge or trial.

Mayungbe went on to say, “This disrespect for human rights and the rule of law discourages others from offering support to the vulnerable.” “That attempts to offer assistance could lead to persecution and incarceration sends a chilling message.”

The elders urged the government to solve the economic issues that led to the tragedy, compensate the impacted families, and promptly free the people who were jailed. They emphasized that in order to rebuild public trust in the nation’s legal system, justice must be done.

BREAKING: Ibadan Stampede: Oyo Attorney General Leads Prosecution Team As Court Denies Ooni’s Ex-Wife Naomi, Islamic School Principal Bail

BREAKING: Ibadan Stampede: Oyo Attorney General Leads Prosecution Team As Court Denies Ooni’s Ex-Wife Naomi, Islamic School Principal Bail

 

The court will also decide on the bail application of the proprietor of an Ibadan based radio station, Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat on Tuesday.

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has denied the bail applications of the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Abdullahi Fasasi.

The court will also decide on the bail application of the proprietor of an Ibadan based radio station, Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat on Tuesday.

“The court did not grant the bail application of Naomi and the school principal because the Attorney General pleaded that the state should be given more time to investigate,” a source in court told SaharaReporters.

Naomi’s case was subsequently adjourned till next week.

The court commenced the hearing of the bail applications filed by Hamzat, Naomi, and Fasasi on Tuesday amid tight security.

The defendants were arrested over the ill-fated children’s festive party in December 2024 which claimed the lives of at least 35 children following a stampede at the Islamic High School, at Bashorun area, Ibadan.

The case came up at Court 8, Ring Road, Ibadan and was presided over by Justice Olawoyin.

 

The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, had also insisted that those involved in the stampede must face trial.

Meanwhile, the governor had also noted that he wasn’t against the suspects being granted bail in the case.

He noted that the case must be heard regardless of the status of those involved.

His comments came as some people noted that similar incidents in Abuja and Anambra did not lead to prosecutions wondering why the case of Oyo State was different.

SaharaReporters learned that the court resumed hearing on the case on Tuesday morning and the prosecution team is currently being led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN.

A source in the courtroom told SaharaReporters that there was heavy deployment of security operatives to guard the proceedings as millions of Nigerians anticipate the ruling of the trial court on the bail applications filed by the defendants.

“All the lawyers in the Oyo State Ministry of Justice came around to fight against the case as led by the Attorney General of the state,” the source said.