Author: Olamide Obayemi

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to collaborate with the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, OGFTZA, on the development of Industrial Parks in the Niger Delta region. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the commitment during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the OGFTZA, led by its Managing Director, Senator Tijani Kaura at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku noted that Industrial Parks occupy a strategic position in sustainable development value chain because of their multiplier effects. He said: “Having industrial parks is very key in the development of a society like…

The British High Commission says it will explore partnerships with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, with a focus on renewable, clean energy and green infrastructure in the Niger Delta region. The Second Secretary (Political), British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. Hamish Tye, said this when he led a delegation that visited the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. Mr Tye observed that the NDDC had shown commitment to realising sustainable development in the Niger Delta region through partnerships and collaborations with national and international development agencies. He stated: “The attraction to the NDDC…

Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on Friday, September 15, 2023, convicted and sentenced one Ukoh Michael Odeh to one year imprisonment on one count charge of fraud brought against him by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The convict got into trouble when the Command received an intelligence report regarding the suspicious activities of some individuals suspected to be internet fraudsters in Makurdi. He was subsequently arrested in a sting operation. The charge reads: “That you, Ukoh Michael Odeh, between 2022 and 2023 in Makurdi, Benue State within the…

The Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Owolabi Adesina Adeniyi has congratulated the Secretary of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Chief Mutiu Are, on his appointment as a Member of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) reports thegazellenews.com. Onisabe, in a personally signed statement, referred to Chief Are as a dependable and reliable brother and friend, who had for several decades expressed qualitative leadership skills in all expects of life. The Monarch stressed that Chief Are has always been an agent of positive change, and advocate of communities and social development, which had earned him some chieftaincy titles of…

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady, Honourable Wahab Alawiye-King has described the appointment of the Secretary of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Alhaji Mutiu Are into the Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) as a confirmation of his invaluable contributions to governance. Alawiye-King stated this in a message he released on Thursday, 20 July, 2023 to congratulate Alhaji Are on his appointment. “You’ve been an invaluable member of our great party, state and Nigeria. Your contributions in spheres have contributed to the growth and development of the…

Billionaire business mogul, Femi Otedola, has eulogized Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on his decisive approach towards aggressive industrialization of the state through the ongoing construction of Agro Cargo International Airport. Otedola gave the commendation via his verified social media handle, lauding Abiodun’s giant strides in various masses-oriented projects geared towards sustainable growth in the state. He, therefore, pledged his unalloyed support for the governor and the state through partnership to accelerate even development for the ultimate benefit of Ogun citizenry and Nigerians as a whole. Otedola wrote: “I had a great time with my friend, Prince Dapo Abiodun,…

The Federal Government has said the raise the alarm that the nation is at risk of food insecurity as it is susceptible to adverse effects of climate change such as erratic rainfall, draught and flooding. The Government, also noted that this may have a trickling effect on security as food security is the first step to national security, anywhere in the globe. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe said this on Wednesday, 19 July, 2023, in Abuja, at the Pre-Food Systems Stock-Taking Moment Media Engagement, organized by Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National…

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has reiterated the importance of Nigerians living abroad to register on the NiDCOM portal, insisting that it would ensure that in times of troubles and when there is need for their evacuation, they are properly taken care of. Dabiri-Erewa said registration on the portal has become necessary to avoid the Sudan experience where lots of Nigerian students were not captured for evacuation at the outbreak of fighting in the North-eastern African country. Speaking at a press conference ahead of this year’s National Diaspora Day, with the theme: “Consolidating the Diaspora Engagement…

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, 19 July, 2023 received the management of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International Dubai led by Ms. Trixie Loh Yi Shan LohMirmand on a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina. The meeting was a follow-up on a proposed partnership on technology exchange being developed by the Lagos State Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based international exhibition firms. Last June, Governor Sanwo-Olu attended the Gulf Information Technology Exchange (GITEX) – Africa’s largest technology conference held in Morocco – which was organised by DWTC and KAOUN International Dubai. Before a global audience, the…

Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace and Dignity has condemned the excessive use of force by Kenya security officers that resulted in several deaths and injuries of protesters during the past weeks as protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the imposed tax hikes following the recently passed Finance Act, 2023. The group in a statement said: “We take note of an emerging trend where the arrival of anti-riot police during these protests result to violence, bitter confrontation with demonstrators, injuries and loss of lives. “We further condemn the acts of anti-riot police officers who fired teargas canisters into…

The Bayelsa Mandate Group (BMG) has advised a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, to be objective in his assessment of the administration of Governor Douye Diri, advising him not to allow partisan politics to becloud his sense of judgment. The group, in a statement signed by its leader, Chief Nazuan Godfrey, asked Sylva, who is also the immediate past Minister of State, Petroleum, to act as a true statesman by acknowledging the giant strides of the Diri administration in the last four years instead of the baseless criticisms he has embarked upon. According to Nazuan, what interests…

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit has called on the Federal Government to take quick action on its planned palliatives and improve the standard of living of Nigerians as Muslims celebrate their 1445AH Hijrah (Islamic new year). The Amir (President) of MSSNLagos, Kamoldeen Abiona, said this in a press statement to commemorate 1445AH Hijrah (Islamic new year) on Wednesday, 19 July, 2023. He described Hijrah, which marks the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah, as a significant event in Islamic history with so many lessons. Abiona appealed to President…

By Manzo Ezekiel and Abdulkadir Ibrahim Building resilience in communities is essential strategy in tackling floods and other disasters within Nigeria. This was the position of Director General National Emergency Management Agency Mustapha Ahmed Habib at a recent media parley with media practitioners in Lagos, where he also said it was in line with Global Standards on Disaster risk reduction. Resilience is the ability of a community to withstand and recover from natural disasters and other crises. When communities are resilient, they are better equipped to cope with disasters and minimize their impact. There are many ways to build resilience…

The national honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) conferred on Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity in the Office of the ex-Vice President, is a well deserved honour and reward for exceptional service to the nation, according to a statement by the MediaCentral Forum. In a statement signed on behalf of the group by its Coordinator, Alhaji Bature Ibrahim on Monday, 29 May, 2023, it stated that Mr Akande’s conferment of the O.O.N was most deserving given his track record in office. According to the statement, “The honour done to…

Raymond Dokpesi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and founder, DAAR Communications plc, has died at the age of 71. A family member confirmed this to THE WHISTLER on Monday, 29 May, 2023, saying the media mogul died at a hospital in Abuja. According to the family source who doesn’t want to be mentioned, Dokpesi had suffered a stroke shortly after the recent Ramadan fast and had been managing his health since. The family source told THE WHISTLER that Dokpesi was eventually placed on occupational therapy to improve his daily activities through walking out at the gym. The…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike CSKR hotels and Priscy’s Bar, in the Elekahia axis of Port Harcourt, River state capital was sealed off by police on the order of the ex-Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, in the early hours of Monday, 29 May, 2023. The sealed building belong to the ex-Rivers State House of Assembly member and supporter of Atiku Abubarkar, Hon. Jones Ogbonda. In a short message, the former state lawmaker confirmed the sealing of the hotel and bar at around 2:55am by the State Police Unit of C4i. According to the message, staff and lodgers at both sealed premises were…

Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was inaugurated for his second term on Monday, 29 May, 2023, vowing to remain a responsible and responsive leader for the people of the state. The modest yet colourful inauguration lasted just 45 minutes, kicking off at exactly 8:10 a.m. following the arrival of the Governor at 8a.m. Both the Governor and Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi were accompanied by their spouses: First Lady, Ambassador Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq; and Mrs Abieyuwa Alabi; and by members of their families and friends. Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Adebara administered the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; have both been sworn in as President and Vice President of Nigeria, respectively. The Oath of Office was administered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, on Monday, 29 May, 2023 Tinubu, a former Senator and Governor of Lagos State was declared the winner of the February 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The new Governor of Kano state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as Abba Gida Gida, has vowed to probe the N241billion debt inherited from the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Yusuf also said the handover notes submitted by Ganduje through the outgoing Secretary to the State Government was not enough and very scanty, just as he a also criticised Ganduje for “departing from established democratic” practice in jetting out of the state and not personally handing over the state government to him. “The handover notes not enough for us. It is a very scanty note. The…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Victor Osimhen is in celebration mood after he was awarded the prestigious national honour, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), just as he also celebrates reaching 100 appearances for his club. Osimhen was among the important personalities awarded different national awards by outgoing President Muhammad Buhari on Sunday, 28 May, 2023. The 24-year-old made his 100th appearance for his Serie A club, Napoli, against Bologna on Sunday, 28 May, 2023. The forward marked the occasion with two goals as the Partenopei were held to a 2-2 draw and immediately afterward took to social media…