Connect with us

News

FrontFoot Trains Journalists On Accountability, Audit Reporting

Published

on

FrontFoot Media Initiative, a non-profit, civil society organization, has said that experts in forensic auditing, public finance and accounting including top media professionals are expected to participate in its two days training aimed at promoting accountability and good governance.

INFO DAILY reports that FrontFoot is a non-profit, civil society organization established to advance democracy and development in Nigeria and the African continent through enhancing the quality of journalism.

Advertisement

INFO DAILY further reports that the group aims to re-invigorate media practice in and about Africa, using Nigeria as base; and to promote reporting in a context that gives it meaning and involves people in finding solutions to common problems.

A statement signed by Chido Nwakanma, Training Coordinator, FRONTFOOT, said the training scheduled to hold in Benin City and Awka respectfully is to build the capacity of journalists to report on state government audits in Nigeria.

According to the statement, “Fifty journalists will participate in the introductory Audit Reporting Training workshops in the Edo State capital on 5-6 October, and in Awka on 17-18 October.

Advertisement

“The Benin City event will attract journalists from Edo and Delta States while Awka will host invited journalists from Anambra and Enugu States.

“At the two-day workshops, journalists will learn to mine state government audit reports for stories that will boost transparency and accountability in Nigeria.

“Each workshop will feature between 20 and 30 participants drawn from print, broadcast, and online media platforms.”

Advertisement

READ ALSO: How Two Pregnant Women Delivered Two-set Of Triplets Same Day

The statement added that Forefront undertakes the training as part of Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (C-Media) project of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation.

According to the statement, audit reporting is central to promoting transparency and accountability in governance, critical levers to pull Nigeria out of the quagmire of corruption, poverty, and under-development.

Advertisement

Advertisement
Comments

News

1966: For 3 Days Nigeria Had No Head Of State Because… Ekefa Olubadan, Oloye Alabi

Published

on

Oloye Lekan Alabi, the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland, has stated that Nigeria had no Head of State for three days after the July 1966 counter-coup led by Murtala Muhammed and his group.

In an interview with Edmund Obilo on Splash FM 105:5 Ibadan, Oyo State, Alabi said Murtala and his fellow coup plotters had planned to break the northern region away from the rest of Nigeria.

Advertisement

He said they already sent their families back to the North, preparing for secession.

READ ALSO: ‘My Target Is To Become Olubadan,’ Not Lesser Oba – Ladoja

Oloye Alabi added that their plan was to move towards Ibadan and Ilorin, then destroy the bridge linking the North to the South in order to divide the country permanently.

Advertisement

However, Alabi said that it was the British High Commissioner and the American Ambassador who stepped in and convinced them to remain in Nigeria.

In Alabi’s words: “For three days Nigeria had no Head of State because (Murtala) Mohammad and his gang called it “A raba”.

They said in Hausa it means when you distribute things equally”

Advertisement

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Bill To Establish Federal Oil And Gas Hospital In Delta Scales Second Reading In Senate

Published

on

A Bill seeking to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Delta State, has passed second reading in the Senate.

The proposed hospital is aimed at providing comprehensive medical services for workers in the oil and gas industry, as well as for communities affected by oil and gas operations.

Advertisement

Presiding over the session, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative work. The committee is expected to report back within four weeks.

The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, Benikrukru, Delta State (SB. 847), was sponsored by Senator Onwakpo Thomas Joel (APC, Delta South). It was first read on June 24, 2025.

READ ALSO:;Senate Approves Establishment Of Bitumen Development Commission

Advertisement

Leading the debate, Senator Joel explained that the bill aims to provide specialized medical services to oil and gas workers and their host communities, who are frequently exposed to occupational hazards resulting in illnesses and injuries.

The bill seeks to establish a hospital that will ensure access to quality healthcare for workers in the oil and gas sector, as well as residents of communities affected by exploration activities,” he said.

He noted that the hospital would offer emergency care, occupational health services, and treatment for oil and gas-related conditions, helping to reduce downtime and increase productivity in the industry.

Advertisement

The siting of this hospital is strategic. It will help address long-standing agitations and restiveness in the Niger Delta by offering tangible health benefits to affected communities,” Joel added.

READ ALSO: Senate committee threatens arrest warrant for NNPCL GCEO

He highlighted that Delta South Senatorial District has the highest offshore crude oil production in Delta State and ranks second nationally. The proposed location for the hospital lies at the heart of offshore oil exploration, serving communities and companies such as Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, and Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

Advertisement

Senator Joel also emphasized that the hospital’s funding structure has been designed to avoid additional financial burden on the federal treasury.

The hospital will be funded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which derives revenue from 1% of every contract awarded within the oil and gas sector,” he explained.

Since the NCDMB is not directly funded by the federal government, the hospital’s funding will come from this independent revenue source.”

Advertisement

The bill’s passage is seen as a significant step toward improving healthcare access in oil-producing communities and addressing environmental and occupational health concerns in the Niger Delta.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

FG Launches Passport Front Office For Senior Public Officials

Published

on

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja launched a new passport front office specifically for senior public officials

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the office has a specialised facility designated to facilitate a timely and seamless passport process.

Advertisement

He stated that the facility was established in response to the persistent challenges faced by senior government officials in accessing passports.

Before now, many top-level public servants had to abandon their official duties and endure long queues at standard passport offices.

READ ALSO:5 Most Expensive Passports In the World

Advertisement

“It will became clear that for us to serve the nation more effectively, we must also serve those tasked with its leadership more efficiently,” he said.

He further said that the initiative was part of a broader reform effort championed by the ministry.

When we came in, it was shocking that the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service had no dedicated passport facility for public officials.

Advertisement

“Today marks a turning point as we begin to bridge that gap and set a new course for service delivery in our nation,” he added.

READ ALSO: US Halts Passport Applications With ‘X’ Gender Marker

Tunji-Ojo also commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its professionalism and implementation expertise.

Advertisement

“This facility sets a new benchmark for excellence and will significantly improve access, reduce waiting time and thereby elevate the overall passport service delivery standard,” the minister stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration was attended by the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, heads of all Services under the ministry alongside stakeholders.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending