IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Nigeria has been ranked 140th position out of 180 countries in the world on the 2024 corruption perceptions index, according to a report by Transparency International. The TI’s latest ranking released on Tuesday sees the continent’s most populous nation move up 5 spots when compared with 2023 ‘s report and 10 spots as against 2022’s report.

Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country with 90 points with fellow Nordic country Finland coming in second with 88 points, and Singapore in third with 84 points. However, countries that made the most corrupt list in the world were South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela. It was observed that no African country made the top 10 as it was dominated by European countries.

Based on the report, Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon shared the same spot with Nigeria with a total score of 26 points. In the African category, Cape Verde topped the list of least corrupt countries, although it was ranked number 35 with 62 points. “The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries,” the chair of Transparency International, Francois Valeria, said.

“Research also reveals that corruption is a major threat to climate action. It hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating. “The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).”

To Valeria, while 32 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done – 148 countries have stayed stagnant or gotten worse during the same period. 

Former spokesman for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has officially announced his resignation from the party.

Okonkwo stated that his resignation will take effect on February 25, 2025.

In a statement, the Nollywood veteran expressed disappointment over the party’s internal conflicts and leadership challenges, which he believes have affected its effectiveness.

He pledged to collaborate with other well-meaning Nigerians to promote good governance and national progress.

“My involvement in politics is driven by the pursuit of good governance, and I remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria becomes a nation led by men of integrity. However, this vision is no longer achievable within the Labour Party as currently structured," the statement read.

Okonkwo added that his resignation coincides with the second anniversary of the 2023 presidential election and will allow him the freedom to work with like-minded individuals in charting a better future for Nigeria. 

The Iron Rod and Steel Distributors Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) has urged the Federal Government to dissolve and restructure the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as a long-term solution to the frequent building collapses across the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, National President of the Union, criticized SON’s decision to reverse the shutdown of 18 companies linked to the production of substandard building materials, particularly iron rods. He blamed alleged government interference for the decision, raising concerns about weak enforcement of quality standards in the construction sector.

Awoyale condemned the widespread use of inferior materials, which he said has led to multiple avoidable building collapses, including at least three incidents in January 2025 alone. Describing the situation as a national embarrassment, he urged the government to take bold steps to hold regulatory bodies accountable.

“The government must act decisively to prevent further loss of lives and property. Dissolving SON and restructuring its framework is the only way to ensure accountability and enforce standards,” he stated.

He also pointed out that despite SON’s legal mandate to prosecute manufacturers of substandard materials, enforcement has been hampered by corruption and collusion within the system.

“The law stipulates prosecution, yet corrupt officials allow violators to escape consequences, fueling this dangerous cycle,” Awoyale added.

The union had made a similar appeal in 2024, but no concrete action was taken, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers to continue flooding the market with inferior materials while exporting high-quality products to countries with stricter regulations.

Citing data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, he revealed that Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State alone accounting for 56% of cases.

The House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development also raised alarms over rampant quality violations, exposing cases where iron rods were deliberately undersized, such as 7.56 mm rods being sold as 10 mm and 9.25 mm rods as 12 mm.

Calling for urgent reforms, Awoyale stressed that dissolving SON and replacing it with a stronger regulatory agency was not just a necessity but a moral obligation.

“The time for empty promises is over. The government must prioritize public safety over the interests of a few unscrupulous businesses,” he concluded. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate, has arraigned Precious Uzondu before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly refusing to accept the Naira as a legal means of payment.

According to the EFCC, Uzondu violated Section 20 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by accepting $5,700 instead of Naira for the purchase of a Cartier diamond bracelet.

During the court proceedings, Uzondu pleaded not guilty. The prosecution requested a trial date, while his defense counsel applied for bail.

Justice A.O. Owoeye granted bail at N5 million with two sureties owning verified landed properties in Lagos. Until bail conditions are met, Uzondu will remain in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The trial is set to begin on April 8, 2025. 

Heartland Queens will be up in arms in a do-or- die battle against two-season campaigners, Dannaz Ladies in Wednesday's NWFL Premiership matchday 5 game at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Imo state.

On Wednesday, it would be the third time the sides are meeting each other in the topflight, and the outcome in the past two clashes have been one win apiece. Before now, they were in the same trenches in the 2022 NWFL Championship promotion playoffs in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state and the Owerri side smiled home on that occasion and the latest nonleague meeting was the 2024 Sheroes Cup preseason in Abuja which ended one goal apiece.

Available facts showed that almost the same time in the immediate past season, the Owerri mainstreams were second on the eight-team log on eight points, three behind the then leaders, Confluence Queens but the scene is quite different at the moment with the Owerri side barely breathing on the seventh place on the eight-team Group A and without a win after four matches while the side from the 'Centre of Excellence' are on an improved sixth spot with four points on the log.

Prior to Wednesday's showdown, the home side were humbled 1-4 by Remo Stars Ladies in Ikenne, Ogun state while the visitors were too happy to share the spoils one goal apiece with the reigning champions, Edo Queens in Lagos.

The good thing going for the Owerri side is that the sweat merchant in all the matchups remains the same coach Obi Ogbala and is expected he will use his experience to conjure a potent lineup that will see his side overrun the visitors from the nation's centre of commerce, Lagos.

The Owerri side have been winless in all four matches, coach Ogbala knows that time is ripe to call a time on the poor runs and start on the winning note starting with the game against Dannaz Ladies .

With glaring deficiencies noted in some key players in the game at leaders, Remo Stars Ladies in Ikenne, coach Ogbala is most likely to come up with massive changes that will see new charges being thrown into the fray for the do-or-die clash.

Victory for the Owerri side will serve as a major boost in their season's campaign as well as the next matchday 6 crunch road trip at former champions, Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday led a delegation to meet with his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the hilltop residence of the former Nigerian leader in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The former vice president was accompanied by former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; Senator Abdul Ningi; and Senator Aminu Tambuwal who is a former governor of Sokoto State.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday arrived with a delegation to meet with his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the hilltop residence of the former Nigerian leader in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. 

The agenda of the meeting was not known as of press time but it comes amid plans by opposition politicians to map out strategies to trounce the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and win the 2027 presidential election. Atiku deputised Obasanjo from May 1999 to May 2007. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, came second after President Bola Tinubu of the APC who won the poll.

Atiku, 78, has been in the race to become Nigeria’s president for at least three decades.