Author: Khadijah Olowode

The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses of the Ogun State Government, tagged ‘DapoCNG Bus’ on Monday, 4 December, 2023, commenced operations along the Mowe-Ibafo-Berger, Lagos axis of the state. The buses, according to the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Gbenga Dairo are to operate ahead of the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the axis. They would be operating from 6 am to 9 pm from Mondays to Saturdays and 7 am to 6 pm on Sundays with bus stops at Mowe, Ibafo, Magboro, Arepo, and New Garage in Berger. According to Dairo, transport rates on the…

The British High Commission has lamented the low attendance of children with disabilities in school in Nigeria. The Acting British High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson gave the lamentation while hosting a gathering of members of Nigeria’s disability rights community and their advocates as well as representatives of the diplomatic community in Abuja. He said: “It is particularly shocking that it is estimated that only 12% of children with disabilities are in education. I know from my own experience that people with disabilities can and do make a full contribution to society – I hope that by speaking out I can help…

The United Kingdom Government has made commitments to help vulnerable countries strengthen their resilience to the increasingly frequent and severe effects of climate change. The commitment was made at the ongoing COP28 Summit in Dubai, UAE. According to a statement, International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell announced £100 million to support some of the most climate-vulnerable countries tackle climate change. The statement stated that this will support an initiative to strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change, giving people advanced warning of cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather so they can move away…

As conversations on finding sustainable solutions for a decarbonized energy future continue to hold globally, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari has said the African Continent needs “a just, differentiated transition” to enable it to harness its resources for today for the benefit of its future generations. The GCEO made this known while speaking at a Regional CEO Panel organised by McKinsey & Company on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNCCC), also known as the COP28 Conference, in Dubai, UAE, on Monday, 4 December, 2023. The GCEO, who joined…

Pique by the damage industrial wastes and emissions have caused Nigeria and Africa, Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has said there is need for African countries to sign climate change liability agreement with all developed countries that are responsible for carbon emissions on the continent. He expressed disagreement with attempts by advanced nations which activities are causing carbon emissions to merely engage in climate change discourse and evade issues that bother on signing liability agreement. The billionaire business mogul, who is currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in company of President…

The Osun State Government has been advised to stop lying against the person of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, with regards to the controversy surrounding the Alawo stool in Awo community of Egbedore Local Government Area. The advice was given by Oyetola’s media aide, Ismail Omipidan, in a statement issued on Monday morning, 4 December, 2023, to debunk the claim by the Osun State Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, that Oyetola and not Senator Ademola Adeleke, issued the staff of office to Taiwo Abdulrasaq Adegboye. Omipidan noted that he was not surprised by the claim of…

The Osun Development Association (ODA), a distinguished assembly of non-partisan Osun State elders, thought leaders, technocrats, and professionals, has honoured three prominent indigenes of the State for their outstanding contributions and service to the State and nation. At a special recognition event held at the weekend in Lagos, with the theme, “Honour Well Earned”, the association presented awards of special recognition and honours to the former Governor of the State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja; and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale…

Nigeria’s security challenge requires “Octopus” solution, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has said. Speaking on Monday, 4 December, 2023, in Abuja at the opening of a two-day seminar on promoting interagency collaboration for heads of security agencies in Anambra, Borno, Enugu, Imo and Sokoto He said: “The prevailing asymmetric warfare bedeviling the nation requires on octopus’ solution in mitigating the myriads of security threats targeted at Nigerians, Residents and Public assets. The reality calls for a continuous evaluation of security strategies that can pull resources and expertise together in tackling…

The Federal Government has reacted to controversy surrounding Nigeria’s delegation to COP-28 Summit in Dubai. Though reports claimed that Nigeria had one of the largest list of delegates numbering over 1000, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has issued a clarification saying “the Federal Government-funded delegation is made up of a total of 422 persons”. Idris also disclosed in a statement Monday, 4 December, 2023, the breakdown including number of persons and agencies to which they are affiliated. According to the Minister, the agencies and number of persons sponsored by government include: National Council on Climate Change,…

The Kogi State All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign Council has lambasted the Social Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate over “a concocted rigging video”, released to divert the attention of the public away from the conversation around their not being able to file a petition against the outcome of the November 11 election within the stipulated time frame. The APC said the concocted videos reflects the level of intelligence of those it described as the “delusional mob of ethnocentric bigots” around the SDP candidate, adding that these archaic strategies had always given birth to failure. The Director, Media and Publicity,…

In line with its tradition of providing regal and lavishly built luxury housing brands in its bid to bridge the gap in the housing deficit in the country, The Address Homes Limited, Nigeria’s leading real estate development firm dedicated to the attainment, development, and management of bespoke deluxe contemporary homes, has completed and delivered yet another project in Ikoyi Crescent in a very efficient and timely manner. Known as The Address Homes Wemabod Estate and located on Ikoyi Crescent, Lagos, the property uniquely designed to give homeowners that serene environment and luxury taste, is on two non-contiguous plots of land…

Lawyers and activists from Kogi State have raised the alarm over what they described as a clandestine move by the Social Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate to file their petition against the outcome of the November 11 election through the backdoor and backdate same to circumvent the provisions of the Electoral Act. The lawyers, under the aegis of the United Front for Democracy, raised the alarm on Monday, following the closure of the window allowed for the filing of electoral petition with all allegations and petition relating to the petition front-loaded, in line with Section 134 of the Electoral…

The ECOWAS Court of justice on 30th of November, 2023, declared the State of Côte d’Ivoire liable for violation of rights of Adou Kouamé and nine other Ivorians, and ordered the Ivorian government to pay 50 million CFA Francs to each of them as compensation. In its judgement delivered by Hon Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, Judge Rapporteur, the Court declared that the Respondent – State of Côte d’Ivoire violated the right to healthy environment and health, right to private and family life, right to adequate standard of living and food, right to freedom of religion and right of minorities…

Attempts by drug syndicates to smuggle illicit substances including various quantities of methamphetamine and opioids concealed in hems of new jeans trousers, dolls, buttons, local soap and tins of beverage to Europe, United Arab Emirate and Asia have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at some courier firms in Lagos. A statement by the spokesman of the anti- narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday, 3 December, 2023, said some of the consignments intercepted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) at courier houses in Lagos include: tramadol 225mg concealed…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has described the role of spiritual leaders in the quest of solving the array of Nigeria’s challenges as indispensable and of great importance, urging them to be patriotic and selfless. The Governor stated this during the induction service of the 6th LAWNA Territorial Chairman and National Vice President, Pastor (Dr.) Gabriel Okpako Uyeh and the 2nd LAWNA Territorial Vice Chairman, Pastor David Ajibade at the Apostolic Church, Nigeria, LAWNA Territory, Lagos State. Abiodun highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve the country’s economy and emphasized the church’s significant role in this endeavour. He called on…

By Jimoh Ibrahim President Bola Tinubu, a liberalist who believes in collaboration and cooperation, has handed over his thesis of absolute peace to politicians in the Ondo state instead of the trending power currency in contemporary politics, which he says is not acceptable according to him. To President Tinubu, there will be beauty in the character if righteousness is in the heart. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, the nations will have order. When there is order in the nations, there will be peace. He…

By Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN On the 26th August 2022, one of the Presidential candidates in the last election made statements to this effect: “Infrastructure cannot grow the economy…” There is “…too much focus on Infrastructure, the economy is suffering…” I am pleased to tell you that the person who made the statement did not win the election. Therefore, as far as policy goes there is unlikely to be a conscious or deliberate disinvestment policy about the provision of infrastructure. In other words, the construction industry should remain optimistic, but nevertheless vigilant about those kinds of persons and their relationship with…

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) wishes to address concerns arising from the recent fire incident at the Federal Secretariat Phase II, which affected the utility section, Block C of the Head of Service Building. OSSAP-SDGs wishes to express its gratitude to the public for their concern over the unfortunate incident and also assure that none of the offices or documents of the Office were affected by the fire incident that occurred in the utility section of Block C of the Head of Service of the Federation Building. The fire incident…

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu The immediate past Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Association of Nigeria Theatre-Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Ambassador (Dr) Yemi Farounbi has put in view the possibility of an Endowment Fund for the Association to achieve its lofty dreams. Impressed by the programmes outlined by the ANTP President, Dr. Rasak Baroka Oyadiran, Dr. Farounbi said the BOT will give the new exco the full support in every area towards the realization of its tall dreams for ANTP. The Board also proposed a special dinner to host the Association’s National Executive Council in January 2024. The pledge to host…

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu The immediate past Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Association of Nigeria Theatre-Arts Practitioners (ANTP), Ambassador (Dr) Yemi Farounbi has put in view the possibility of an Endowment Fund for the Association to achieve its lofty dreams. Impressed by the programmes outlined by the ANTP President, Dr. Rasak Baroka Oyadiran, Dr. Farounbi said the BOT will give the new exco the full support in every area towards the realization of its tall dreams for ANTP. The Board also proposed a special dinner to host the Association’s National Executive Council in January 2024. The pledge to host…