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2027: I’ve Started Campaign For Tinubu’s Re-election, Okpebholo Says

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Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State said he has kick-started the campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

The governor spoke when he received another member of the
Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), who had defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The defector and member, House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi represents Uhunmwonde State Constituency.

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READ ALSO: Rivers Assembly Crisis: Fresh Trouble Looms As Amaewhule Faction Declares Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Seats Vacant

The lawmaker had earlier been received into the party by the Chairman of APC Edo State chapter, Jarrett Tenebe, who consequently presented him to the Governor at the Government House, Benin City.

Okpebholo, who commended Osamwonyi and his colleagues for deciding to join the APC, assured them that his administration would create a conducive atmosphere for all of them to operate and collaborate to develop the State.

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He noted that his administration has embarked on developmental strides to develop all sectors of the Edo economy and will make life better for Edo people.

READ ALSO: Okpebholo Condemns Mob Killing Of Travellers Accused Of Kidnapping

We congratulate you for returning home. Your coming is a plus for the party as we have five of you who have joined, and you have made our party stronger.

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“A lot of people from other political parties are ready to join our party, and soon there will be a carnival. I seek your help to drive development, and together, we will develop the State and make life better for our people.

“Uhunmwonde Local Government is very special to me, and together we can develop the area and open it for growth and development.

“The next election, especially 2027 presidential election, we are ready in Edo State. We have kick-started our own campaigns for the President in 2027. We have to mobilize the youths in our State, and you are part of the youth. I promise you that you will enjoy our party as you have chosen to join us,” he said.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

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JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed

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The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

 

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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

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The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

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The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

READ ALSO:FG Introduces Chinese Language Into School Curriculum

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By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

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Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

READ ALSO:FG Gives Mining Firms Deadline For Community Agreements

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“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

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In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

READ ALSO:FG Gazettes New Tax Reform Laws

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He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

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This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.

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