Author: Khadijah Olowode

A Brazilian gospel singer, Pedro Henrique, 30, died after he collapsed on stage during a performance on Wednesday, 13 December, 2023. The 30-year-old was performing his song ‘Vai Ser Tão Lindo’ at a religious event that was being streamed online when he suddenly fell in front of his band inside a concert venue in the northeastern city of Feira de Santana, Daily Mail reports Thursday, 14 December, 2023. Henrique’s record label, Todah Music, told a radio station, Radio 93, that the singer had suffered a massive heart attack. Video footage of the incident showed Henrique engaging the crowd as he…

ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the release of Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. Bazoum, members of his family and political allies have been held hostage by the military junta led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani since a July 26 coup. The court in his judgment on Friday, 15 December, 2023, called for Bazoum’s “immediate and unconditional release” and his reinstatement as president of the republic. Report has it that the deposed President is held hostage in his presidential residence with his wife and their son since he was overthrown. The court ruling stated that there are constitutional rights that have…

In a bid to address severe acute malnutrition in the country, Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated a high-powered Nutrition Core Working Committee (NCWC). The critical body, dubbed the “intellectual powerhouse” by the Vice President, will spearhead the fight against hunger and malnutrition across Nigeria. Speaking during the inauguration of the Nutrition Core Working Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Shettima emphasised the importance of coordination and collaboration with the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN). “We are determined to upturn the negative nutrition indices of this country,” he declared. The VP cited his recent visit to Tudun…

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, has described the departed centenarian and patriarch of the Abegunde family as a trail blazer in his community in Akure, Ondo State. Ebie, who spoke during the funeral service of Chief Williams Abegunde Fagbegi at the Cathedral Church of Saint David, Ijomu in Akure, remarked that his successes and achievements in various fields should be celebrated. The NDDC Chairman, conveyed his condolences on behalf of the Board and Management of the Commission to the family of the deceased, including the NDDC Executive Director, Corporate…

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu is set to commission the newly constructed middle-level food Agro-hub, located at Idi-Oro in Mushin. The food hub, which was established by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration as one of the direct answers to the question of food insecurity and sustainability plaguing the country would be inaugurated on Sunday, 17 December, 2023. The establishment of middle-level food hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin, is confirmation of Lagos State Government solution and strategy that harnesses its comparative advantage as a market-state, and cater to the key stumbling blocks affecting food security – Market information, intermediary integration and…

President Bola Tinubu has assured foreign investors of diligent and predictable fund repatriation, and the streamlining of the tax system, while imploring ambassadors to prioritize the exploration of new frontiers of trade relations that will be mutually beneficial as they carry out their duties in the country. The President received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Hungary, Lorand Endreffy; High Commissioner of Rwanda, Christophe Bazivamo, and Ambassador of Ukraine, Ivan Kholostenko, at the State House, on Friday. Speaking when he received the High Commissioner of Rwanda, the President said the long-standing concerns over trapped funds are receiving attention and…

The FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, presided over by Justice Samira Bature has sentenced an Abuja–based businessman, Chika Adionye, 42 years old, to life imprisonment for rape of two minors. The two minors who were aged 7 and 8 years at the time of their rape, are cousins. A statement on Friday, 15 December, 2023, by the Press Officer of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Vincent Adekoye said the convict was arrested by the operatives of the agency in 2016 at Kara Majiji Community of Airport Road, a suburb of the FCT, following…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar would be leading a high level delegation from the country to the forthcoming 10th High-Level Seminar (HLS) on Peace and Security in Africa, scheduled to hold from 17th – l8th December 2023, in Oran, Algeria. In Iine with the established practice, this year’s High-level seminar on Peace and Security in Africa (the Oran Ministerial Process) will be chaired by H.E. Dr. Mamadou TANGARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia, in his capacity as the Chair of the African Union Peace and Security Council…

Mandatory conduct of random tests for illicit drug use by players of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has commenced as all 20 clubs have been directed to facilitate the process for operatives of the National Anti-Doping Committee. In a memo to Clubs signed by Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer, the anti- doping tests will be administered on two players from each of the clubs involved in a given fixture without prior notice. The clubs were enjoined to extend maximum cooperation to the Anti-doping agency in the discharge of the task that aims to cleanse the NPFL of real…

Family members, friends and associates converged on Peacock Hall of the prestigious Island Club of Lagos on Friday, 15 December, 2023, to hold one year remembrance prayers for former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Chief Ademola Rasaq Seriki, reports thegazellenews.com. Seriki’s death was not only painful to all who are close to him but it also came very sudden. But the family, his friends and associates took solace that he died in active service serving his father’s land in faraway Madrid, Spain. He was also Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO). He died in Madrid, capital of…

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun has said that the Ogun State Agro-Cargo Airport, when completed, would add value to the lives of the people and contribute to the rapid growth of the state’s and the nation’s economy. The Minister stated this while fielding questions from journalists after being conducted round the airport by Governor Dapo Abiodun. The Minister described the airport as a major economic project of the Prince Abiodun-led administration, which, when fully operational, will be a game-changer for the state. He said: “I have had the opportunity to be…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has deployed eGIS tools, comprising ICT devices, to the Office of Surveyor-General and the Land Bureau, for effective land administration in the State. Speaking during the presentation of the eGIS tools at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa on Thursday, 14 December, 2023, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, said the eGIS tools will reduce the timeframe for processing applications for titles. He said: “I am here on behalf of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to hand over the equipment he purchased for the eGIS project. The…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has stressed the need for peace and security to create the necessary environment for the rapid development of the Niger Delta region. Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Airforce, led by the Commander 115 Special Operations, Group Captain Ali Idris, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku promised that the Commission would continue to assist the security agencies in the Niger Delta region. He said that NDDC needed the support of security agencies to succeed, noting that security was very important…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has presented award letters to 189 successful candidates for its 2023/2024 Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme. Making the presentation during a pre-departure and award ceremony in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, commended the successful candidates, stating that their success was testament to their resilience as individuals. Ebie described the scholarship scheme as an important component of the Commission’s human capital development programme, noting that education was the most powerful weapon for changing the fortunes of the Niger Delta region He commended the NDDC Management for sustaining the scholarship programme…

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON has met with wives of State Governors. Addressing the Governors’ wives, Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that it has become imperative for the forum to be held so that she can update them on issues especially as they affect the Nation. “In recent times, I have been sharing experiences from the First Ladies of other nations to help me position myself appropriately for the task ahead. Some of the things I discovered were that HIV/AIDS is still very prevalent in Nigeria”. “Estimates from the 2023 Spectrum by the…

Eminent Nigerians on Thursday, 14 December, 2023, thronged Erunwon in Ogun State to pay their last respect to foremost industrialist, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, who died on 7th October 2023, few months to his centenary celebration. It was the celebration of a life well spent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. Also, in attendance were the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Minister of Finance, and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, two former governors of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Senator Ibikunle…

The Ogun State Government has described the recently approved Kajola dry port as a game changer in the economy of the state, as it will create at least 40,000 jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers. This was just as it assured all stakeholders that their interests had been captured in the project, adding that the construction of the dry port would expand the internally generated revenue for the state, reduce transport and transaction costs, and attract various infrastructure and regional development projects, amongst others. This was disclosed by the state Commissioner For Transportation, Hon Olugbenga Dairo, during a chat…

Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts (State) has commended the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi and his team for their efforts in protecting lives and property in the state just as it charged the squad not to rest on its oars. The Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Kehinde Joseph, who led a four member team on a courtesy visit to Rapid Response Squad (RRS) headquarters in Alausa, dropped the commendation on Thursday, 14 December, 2023. Kehinde Joseph emphasized that the essence of the committee’s visit was to appreciate the squad as well as encourage…

The African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) and the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), a continental umbrella association of and for lawyers in Africa, have described the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR) as a vital policy instrument for the recovery and management of African assets from the foreign jurisdictions. The Chairperson of the AUABC, Hon. Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate and the Chief Executive Officer of PALU, Mr. Donald Deya, made this known at the Tenth Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UNCAC held at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, United States. Speaking at one of…

The Lagos State Ferry Service (LAGFERRY) have informed residents of Shomolu-Bariga axis that they stand to enjoy 50% reduction in ferry fares when they use the cowry card for payment. The management of the Ferry Services disclosed this on Tuesday, 12 December, 2023 during a stakeholders’ engagement organized to sensitize commuters in Shomolu-Bariga axis which took place at the Ilaje Bariga Waterfront Jetty. The cowry card, which can also be used for buses, trains, and water transportation, offers a convenient and cost-effective way to travel across Lagos. By utilizing the cowry card, residents can significantly reduce their daily transportation expenses.…