News
Nigeria @63:Jonathan Commends Nigerians Loyalty To Nation
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has commended Nigerians for their loyalty to the country, in the face of the modest successes and developmental challenges the nation has faced since independence.
Jonathan said this in a statement by his Media Special Adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze on in Abuja.
“It is now 63 years since our dear country got her independence from Britain.
“This commemoration offers us the opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s great journey of nationhood; acclaim our modest strides, reassess the odds we survived, chart a path out of present challenges and renew our hopes for a greater tomorrow.
READ ALSO: How Eight Of 25 Kidnapped Church Members Escape From Abductors- Ondo Amotekun
“Our country has seen progress as well as setbacks. Patriotic Nigerians, believing in their country, have always stood firm, sharing in the glory of successes and feeling the pain of missed opportunities,” Jonathan said.
He said that if there was a sense of disappointment among the population, especially youths, on the nation’s failed aspirations, over the years, such feeling was not entirely out of place.
“Yet, rather than despair, we should look back at the encouraging signposts that set the tone for an auspicious future and the promise that we could attain our growth and development goals.
“Our nation survived a civil war, pulled through economic downturns at different times and has continued to hold its ground against threatening socio-political challenges, leveraging that indomitable spirit that guided our nationalists to remain steadfast and focused.
READ ALSO: Three Killed In Liberian Election Campaign Clashes
“This is the same disposition that today strengthens our citizens and enlivens their spirit and hope against the menace of terrorism, insecurity, economic hardship and worsening effects of climate change,” Jonathan said.
He added that it was the spirit that pushed Nigerians to excel on the global stage in sports, medicine, music, arts, technology and scholarship.
“As we mark yet another independence anniversary, we should focus our energy towards enthroning equity, justice, peace.
“Towards enthroning national cohesion in order to bring to fruition the dream of Nigeria realising its full potential and holding up the torch of liberty and progress for all Africans. Happy Independence Anniversary. God bless Nigeria,” Jonathan said.
News
NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday
News
JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan
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
The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.
Details later…
News
JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees
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.
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
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.”
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
“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.”
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
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.
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.
News5 days agoAir Peace Announces Recruitment For 1,000 Fresh Graduates [SEE How To APPLY]
- Politics5 days ago
FULL TEXT: Tinubu Ends State Of Emergency In Rivers State
- Politics5 days ago
BREAKING: Tinubu Ends State Of Emergency In Rivers
- Metro4 days ago
JUST IN: 6 More Deaths Confirmed In Afriland Towers Fire
- Metro5 days ago
Edo Agency Rescues 27-year-old Uwoghiren Poisoned In Burkina Faso
- News5 days ago
NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Artemetrin DS, Antibiotic Ciprofit 500 In Circulation
- News4 days ago
Court Restrains EDSIEC, Edo Govt From Conducting LG By-elections
- Politics4 days ago
PHOTO: Rivers Residents Throng Govt House To Welcome Fubara
- Politics4 days ago
JUST IN: Rivers Assembly Resumes Sitting After Six-month Suspension
Metro5 days agoPolice Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers In Delta, Recover AK-47 Rifle The Delta
