News

DOGE: Elon Musk terminates additional 80 wasteful contracts worth $203.6bn

Published

8 months ago

April 2, 2025

Billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, has announced the termination of a further 80 wasteful contracts worth $203.6 million.

DOGE disclosed this in a statement released on its X account on Wednesday.

According to DOGE, among the cancelled contracts is a $2.1 million State Department management consulting contract for senior advisers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The US agency noted that the cancellations have resulted in savings of $139.1 million for the country.

“Agencies terminated 80 wasteful contracts today with a ceiling value of $203.6M and savings of $139.1M, including a $2.1M @StateDept management consulting contract for a ‘senior advisor in the Democratic Republic of Congo,’” DOGE stated on X.

In a more recent development, DOGE highlighted that the US Veterans Affairs Department’s $380,000 monthly payment for website modifications has now been handled internally by the department’s software engineer at no additional cost.

“VA was previously paying ~$380,000/month for minor website modifications. That contract has not been renewed, and the same work is now being executed by one internal VA software engineer, spending ~10 hours/week,” DOGE stated.

DAILY POST reports that DOGE, established primarily to reduce the cost of governance in the US, has saved American taxpayers $130 billion—equating to $807.45 per taxpayer.

This development follows DOGE’s termination last month of 113 contracts valued at $4.7 billion.

Business

Dangote to Uzodimma: Just show me where to invest

Published

41 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Dangote

By Emmanuel Iheaka, OWERRI

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has assured Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that his group will be one of the biggest investors in the state.

Dangote gave the assurance at the opening session of the Imo Economic Summit 2025 in Owerri on Thursday.

The renowned Africa’s industrialist urged Uzodimma to indicate his preferred area of investment and forget the rest.

Dangote described the Imo governor as a personal friend of decades and commended him for providing enabling environment for investment.

“We will be one of your biggest investors in Imo. So, please tell me the area to invest and we will invest”, Dangote declared.

He called on entrepreneurs to always invest at home, adding that foreigners cannot drive the economy of any nation more than the nationals.

“What attracts foreign investors is a domestic investor. Africa has about 30 percent of the world’s minerals. We are blessed,” he submitted.

Dangote reiterated that his refinery was set to launch 1.4 million barrels per day capacity, the highest for any single refinery in the world.

News

Judge rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s brother court appearance

Published

1 hour ago

December 5, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to accept Prince Emmanuel Kanu’s appearance on behalf of his brother, Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that he is not a legal practitioner.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was recently convicted and handed a life sentence, had filed a new motion asking to be transferred to Sokoto prison.

The application was brought before the court by Emmanuel Kanu.

He informed the court that since it was impossible for Nnamdi Kanu to appear personally to move the motion, the judge should go ahead and hear the matter in his absence.

Kanu argued that it would serve the interest of justice for him to be moved to a correctional facility closer to Abuja so he can properly pursue his appeal.

However, when the case was called, Justice Omotosho refused to recognise the appearance of Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, who had attempted to stand in for the IPOB leader.

The judge informed Emmanuel that he was not permitted to move the application since he is not a qualified lawyer.

“This ex parte motion cannot be moved on the convict’s behalf because you are not a legal practitioner,” the trial judge insisted.

He advised the applicant to hire a qualified lawyer or seek assistance from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria for proper legal representation, as provided by law.

“When I said representation, it is not his (Kanu’s) father, brother, sister or relations I meant. I mean his counsel.

“I am not going to the merit of this application now in the interest of justice.

“But you cannot represent a human being when you are not a lawyer; you can only represent a corporate body.

“Therefore, you cannot move the application because you are not a solicitor or advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“For you to be qualified as a lawyer, it will take you another six years or thereabout. So get a counsel to move the application,” the judge added.

Understanding the court’s position, Emmanuel then asked for a new hearing date.

Justice James Omotosho subsequently adjourned the motion to December 8.

News

President Tinubu Swears In Gen. Christopher Musa As Minister of Defence

Published

16 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, swore in General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd) as Minister of Defence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

General Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on Monday, December 1, 2025. His nomination was announced the following day and transmitted to the Senate, where it received expedited screening and confirmation.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army in 1991 and had a distinguished military career. He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023 and retired in October 2025.

As Chief of Defence Staff, he championed inter-service security collaboration.

With his swearing-in, the new Defence Minister is expected to immediately assume duties as the Tinubu administration seeks to consolidate recent security gains and fast-track reforms aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability nationwide.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Also in attendance were the spouse of the new Minister, Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa; Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (rtd).