Author: Khadijah Olowode

As part of efforts to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy on residents of Oyo State, the state’s Mass Transit Scheme commutes an average of 17,000 residents at half price on intra-city and inter-city routes, the Executive Chairman and Sole Administrator of the Pacesetter Transport Service, Dr. Ibrahim Oladeji Salami (Dikko), has said. Salami stated this in an interview, noting that the effort is part of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative introduced by the governor, ‘Seyi Makinde. According to him, the state government introduced the SAfER Transport initiative, which allows residents to pay as…

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) this morning, Sunday, 7 January, 2024, rescued a seriously injured driver and a motor boy from an empty articulated 40ft flat bed truck that fell off from the high bridge inward Apapa. A press statement released by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that the incident happened while the over speeding truck was climbing the high bridge directly opposite ‘Sifax’ Company by Ijora ‘Olopa’ inward Apapa. The injured driver was rescued by LASTMA personnel in a pool of blood gushing out from his head…

By Stanley Nkwocha The mood at the Vice President’s wing of the Presidential Villa on Friday December 22, 2023, was different from what it used to be during preparations for festivities in the yuletide. On the faces of the aides and staff working in the VP’s office was a concatenation of excitement and incredulity. Even an amateur telepath would effortlessly sense the relief and exhilaration coursing through them as they discussed among themselves. What was the excitement all about? The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, had just directed that all his aides and staff who are Christians should proceed on…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a thorough investigation into the allegation of payment of public funds into private account levied against the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Beta Edu reports thegazellenews.com This was disclosed via a press statement released in Abuja on Sunday, 7 January, 2024 by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. According to the Minister, his Ministry acknowledged the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. “We are aware of the narratives circulating widely and…

Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6th Division, Nigerian Army, and Land Component Commander of Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, has reassured stakeholders of the continuous provision of an enabling environment to ensure seamless oil production in the Niger Delta region (NDR). The assurance was conveyed during the 6 Division Combined West African Social Activities (WASA) held at Port Harcourt Barracks. According to Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Major General Abdussalam emphasized that the sustained enabling environment aimed to facilitate the Federal Government…

A book by Mr. Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, entitled, ‘Working with Buhari’ will be presented on Tuesday, 16 January, 2024 in Abuja, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected as special guest of honour. The event, which would be holding at the Transcorp Hilton, could be the first time that former President Buhari and his successor, President Tinubu, would appear publicly together after the handover on Monday, 29 May, 2023. Also expected at the event are former Head of State and chairman of the occasion, General Yakubu Gowon, while the co-Chairman would…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos on New Year day, Monday, 1 January, 2024 intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a very strong strain of cannabis, concealed in boxing kits imported from the United States of America. A weeklong intelligence-led operation to get the receiver arrested was consummated on Saturday, 6 January, 2024, following the successful tracking and arrest of 38-year-old Olorunfunmi Saheed Olakunle who distributes the dangerous psychoactive substance to dealers across Lagos state. The consignment had arrived the country on Monday, 1 January, 2024 via Cairo on Egypt Airlines flight…

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, as he marks his birthday on Monday, 8 January, 2024. The President extolled the fine defining qualities of the young first-class graduate of Accounting who steadily rose through the ranks in public service by dint of hard work, loyalty, and competence, noting his service as the Commissioner of Finance in Oyo State at the age of 33; the CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC); Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, and now Chief Executive Officer of the nation’s apex…

Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Decelopment (NEFGAD) a public procurement advocacy group has urged President Bola Tinubu to be impatial in the face of massive corruption allegations rocking the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), insisting that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Beta Edu should equally be suspended and investigated just as NSIP CEO, Mrs Halima Shehu was treated. A section of the media has reported how the Minister of Humanitarian Affiars and Poverty Alleviation through a memo dated 20th December, 2023 with…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has concluded plans to educate and enlighten school children on identifying potential threats and criminal elements that can cause them any harm within and outside their school premises. The new Commander of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre ( NSSRCC); Commandant Hammed Abodunrin said thatNSCDC as the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure with schools and institutions inclusive; all hands must be on deck in ensuring that school children are safe both at the learning environment and in their respective domain. He noted that having served…

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has promised that the commission will ensure that justice is served in the case of alleged killing of Afolabi Stephen, a 19- year old Nigerian student in Manitoba, Canada, even as she described the incident as wicked. Dabiri-Erewa, in a condolence message issued by the Director of Media and Public Relations and Protocols of NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, received the news with shock. The statement read: “We are in touch with the Nigerians mission in Ottawa who have the assurances of the Canadian authorities that investigations into the unfortunate incident has begun…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo on his re-election. President Tinubu commended the government and the people of DR Congo for ensuring a successful conduct of the last elections. The President also congratulated the people of DR Congo for deepening democratic norms by exercising their rights without resorting to acts inimical to the sustenance of democracy. “It is welcoming that the last elections in DR Congo were well-concluded. Democracy is sustainable on the continent. I congratulate President Tshisekedi on his victory. The President has demonstrated statesmanship in his handling of regional and…

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry. President Tinubu, thus congratulated Ms. Funke Akindele on her record-setting film and commends the ace thespian for her contributions to the growth of the industry. The President extolled the excellence of the Nigerian creative industry, acknowledging its pivotal place as a medium not only for artistic expression but also a source of enormous soft power and viable export. “The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. It is an industry that is crucial to…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the nation’s security chiefs to ensure that there is conclusive victory against the myriad of security threats assailing the country. Addressing security chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies at a Presidential Security Briefing at the State House, in Abuja, on Friday, 5 January, 2024, President Tinubu said while good progress is being made with the elimination of some security threats across multiple theatres, success will ultimately be defined by a final conclusion to the multi-dimensional menace. “We have too many investments that we need to make now in soft and physical infrastructure, in social security,…

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated multiple award-winning actor and producer, Funke Akindele on the performance of her latest movie, A Tribe Called Juddah, which grossed over N1 billion recently at the cinema. He described Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Juddah’s’ box office feat as an affirmation of Lagos as truly the home of entertainment, creativity, culture and Arts. He said Akindele’s latest movie once again, has proved to the world that Funke is a creative of an uncommon talent, a woman of substance who brings her God-given talent into making theatrical and artistic magic for the…

Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime center, acting on a petition at the instance of Hon and Doctor Mrs Seye Oladejo have arrested three suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and threat to life. The suspects: Adebukola Kolapo, Nnedum Micheal Somtomchukwu and Isaac Akpokighe, all male of ages 27, 25 and 30 respectively are members of a syndicate called Gistlover Family, responsible for the daily running of the Gistlover blog, a microblogging platform known for cyberstalking, incitement, blackmail, and sundry, which has over the years been a course for public outcry. Upon arrest, the suspects revealed their various…

Former First Lady of Ondo State, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu was in tears on Friday, 5 January, 2024 as her husband’s corpse is flown in from Germany for burial. Former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN died in a German hospital last month. The plane bearing the corpse landed at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at about 3.40pm on Friday, 5 January, 2024. As the coffin was placed on the ground, Mrs Akeredolu leaned on it and cried profusely before being consoled by sympathizers. Apart from her, on hand to receive the corpse are the children of the deceased and…

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday, 5 January, 2024 passed a total of N2,267,976,120,869 as the 2024 budget size of the State at a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. The total budget passed has an increase of about N41 billion above the N2.246 trillion proposal presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday, 13 December, 2023. The budget representing 58 percent Capital Expenditure and 42 percent Recurrent Expenditure was approved following a unanimous voice vote by all the lawmakers present at the sitting. “A bill for a law to authorise the issuance and…

Ms. Eki Ogunbor has been appointed Lifestyle Editor at Large of THEWILL DOWNTOWN in a notable bid to strengthen and expand the magazine’s digital footprints. A distinguished alumna of Condé Nast College and award-winning fashion and beauty writer, as well as a content creator, Eki has collaborated with brands such as MAC Cosmetics, Lancôme, YSL Beauty, Andrea lyamah, Atafo, Nivea, Clinique and Standard Chartered, among others in her work. As Downtown’s new Lifestyle Editor at Large, she will amid other roles oversee the magazine’s coverage of events (social and corporate), bringing in her creativity and expertise to bear on the…

By Sean Polote Fast rising Nigerian DJ, Sheriff Oladipupo famously known as DJ PLAYER had just released another banger titled “Afro tunez” featuring raves of the moment such as Davido, Asake, Olamide and the late Mohbad to mention but few. The prolific DJ who has been up and doing in the Nigerian entertainment field has earned name and status for himself for over a decade as a disc jockey after serving in Nigerian banks as a banker before retiring to follow up his passion in the music industry. DJ Play Play as fondly called has worked with several household names…