Author: Khadijah Olowode

All roads lead to Beehive Hall, Dosunmu Street off Hakeem Balogun Street, CBD, Ikeja on Saturday, 29 July, 2023, as Deaconess Omowunmi Grace Otitoju, wife of popular journalist, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju celebrates her 50th birthday, reports thegazellenews.com. BOK as Babajide is popularly called is set to honour his wife with the birthday party to celebrate her golden age. The party takes place on Saturday, 29 July, 2023, and Deaconess Grace Omowunmi, who friends and associates of the Otitojus called Mama Beckham, is set to dazzle participants with graceful dancing steps. The colours for the day is Royal Blue and Gold and boss…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Barcelona striker, Asisat Oshoala mad history on Thursday, 27 July, 2023 as the Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated co-hosts of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australia 3-2, reports thegazellenews.com. Oshoala scored the third goal which turned out to be the winning goal, thus, becoming the first Nigerian footballer, male or female, to score in three different World Cup tournaments. The Nigerian team came from behind to win having conceded the first goal to the Australians in 45th minute of the match. Uchenna Kanu equalized in the fifth minute of first half added time. Osinachi Ohale scored the…

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the restructuring of key Ministries, Department and Agencies of government in line with the objective to ensure improved performance and effective service delivery. This was contained in a statewide circular dated 25th July, 2023 signed by the state Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola. According to the circular seen by the Lagos Monitoring Team , the Ministry of Education has been divided into two. These are the Ministry of Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Basic Education. The former Office of Special Adviser on Education is now to be known and addressed…

Laolu Akande, a former spokesperson for ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, strongly suggested on Wednesday, 26 July, 2023 that the northern governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have “tremendous influence” on President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial list. Akande, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, 26 July, 2023, asserted that the governors fought for a balance in the party’s zoning arrangement during the 2022 presidential primaries. “The Governors of the APC, especially the Northern governors were able to stand for the right thing when we were almost on the verge of tweaking the zoning balance,”…

Chairmen of the North West States’ chapters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have endorsed former Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje for the National Chairmanship seat of the party, reports thegazellenews.com. Rising from their meeting which took place on Tuesday, 25 July, 2023, the Chairmen confirmed the decision to back Ganduje through a communique released at the end of the meeting. The Chairmen acknowledged the contributions of the former Kano Governor to the victory of the party during the last general elections which culminated in the party retaining the Presidency, its majority Governorship seats and the majority seats at…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met the 60 days deadline for the submission of his list of Ministers to the Senate for screening. According to available information, the ministerial-nominees list arrived in the Senate in the early hours of Thursday, 27 July, 2023. The list was said to have been delivered to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Abdullaahi Gumel. Akpabio is expected to unveil the ministerial-nominees during plenary on Thursday, 27 July, 2023. It will be recalled that the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu, has described as unacceptable, the unfolding development in Niger Republic “All players in the Republic of Niger, the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country,” Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, said in a swift reaction to the detainment of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum by members of the Presidential Guard, who have been given an “ultimatum” by the army. Earlier on Wednesday,26 July, 2023 disgruntled members…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, on Tuesday, 25 July, 2023, has revealed that at least 1,618 civil servants with fake employment letters were uncovered by the government. Esan also noted that the government was working towards an upward review of the Duty Tour Allowances of civil servants.Speaking with selected journalists in Abuja ahead of the 2023 Civil Servants Week, she noted that a committee was working towards salary harmonization in the civil service. “The Presidential Committee on Salary Harmonization is working to review salaries to reduce the disparity. Earlier, 40 per cent…

Nigerian and South African anti narcotics agencies have met to forge stronger operational ties that will enhance the war on drug syndicates operating between the two countries. A signed press statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the Nigerian anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi read that as part of efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking between Nigeria and South Africa, senior officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have held a two-day meeting with their South African counterparts in the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation popularly known as HAWKS to forge stronger operational ties that will herald tough times…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has put plans in place for a nationwide strike scheduled to begin August 2,2023, The PUNCH reports. Though a court order which barred the congress from going on strike in June still stands, our correspondent learnt that the congress noted that it could not fold its arms while Nigerians continued to suffer the effects of subsidy removal which has led to untold hardship. The medium reports that the Tinubu administration dragged the organised labour to court earlier in June to prevent a nationwide strike following the initial removal of the subsidy on…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Commotion enveloped Eke Awka market, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State on the morning of Wednesday, 26 July, 20 23 as persons suspected to be cultists beheaded a member of a rival gang inside the market and took away his head and mahood. It was gathered that bloodbath incident happened in the morning as traders were opening their shops for the day’s business. The source said the slain man identified as Igwe Omeli, was a notorious cultist, who was always used by the leadership of the market to collect tolls. “He was hacked down…

Lagos State is shifting to an innovative and sustainable consumption model aimed at saving the future generations of resource scarcity. The launch of Circular Economy Hotspot in Lagos on Wednesday pioneered the transformation of the current production order towards regeneration and sustainability. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally unveiled the initiative at a conference organised by the State Government in collaboration with Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP) and African Circular Economy Network. The two-day event with the theme: “Towards a Circular and Resourceful Economy: The Future Lagos”, is taking place at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island. The initiative is aimed at engendering…

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Wednesday said efforts are being made by his government to flush out kidnappers, cultists, and land grabbers. Consequently, the state government has concluded arrangements to launch its surveillance drones, to be performed by the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. Governor Abiodun spoke when he received the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, comprising Ogun and Lagos states, Mr Ari Mohammed Ali, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Prince Abiodun noted that kidnapping, cultism, and land grabbing are serious security challenges facing the…

Friends and associates of Mrs Abiola Oredehin Olatunji, widow of late Lookman Alade Olatunji (a prominent businessman and Lagos/London socialite) and her children were joined on Friday, 21 July, 2023 at the special prayers hosted to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his demise. The event held at the MRA Hall, Magodo GRA Phase II in Lagos had family, friends and associates of the late Lookman Olatunji (widely known as Toto Abuga), as well as prominent socialites in attendance. Also at the event, special prayers were offered for the souls of late Toto Abuga’s dad and late Alhaja Toyin Igbira who…

Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership. It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country. The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa. I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we…

The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has unveiled a multiple birth assistance programme, known as Jumejilo Multi-birth Assistance Programme (JMAP) for indigent mothers in the state. Speaking at the launch of the Jumejilo (more than two) and the presentation of support materials to the first set of beneficiaries, held at the Office of the First Lady, Alausa Ikeja, Dr. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the social health initiative which would support parents with multiple births from triplets and above from pregnancy till two years was conceived to complement already existing government programmes. Dr. Sanwo-Olu said the programme, which…

It was widely reported earlier this week across some news media outlets that the Federal Government had increased tuition fees in federal universities in the country. These reports are inaccurate and not correct. We are aware that some universities have in recent weeks announced increase in the amount payable by students on sundry charges. However, the fact remains and we have confirmed that these are discretionary charges by each university for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges. They are not tuition fees. Authorities of these universities even made this fact clear enough in explaining the rationale behind these new…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke to court for appointing himself as the Commissioner for Works. The party in the suit filed at the State High Court in Osogbo, also sued the Governor’s Deputy, Kola Adewusi, for his appointment as the Commissioner for Sports and Special Needs. Thegazellenews.com reported that Governor Adeleke had on July 19, announced his appointment and that of his deputy. Objecting to the appointments through its lawyer, Sherif Oluyombo, the main opposition party urged the court to determine whether a sitting governor can hold…

Facts have emerged on how some opposition figures within the Labour Party made failed attempts over the weekend to instigate fresh ENDSARS protests in Lagos using the leaked memo aimed at seeking approval for the cost of burial for all unclaimed corpses picked up on the streets of Lagos in the last quarter of October 2020. The opposition forces were said to have reasoned that; the leaked memo coupled with the tension in the country over the rising cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidy were the only objective conditions they needed to instigate fresh protests to destabilise…

By Akeem Busari Ahead of Thursday, 27 July, 2023 crunchy group stage clash between co-host, Australia and the Super Falcons in the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup, Prince Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, Senior Special Assistant on Sports to Lagos State Governor, has expressed his confidence in the Nigerian ladies to do the job against the Aussies. Speaking on Nigeria Sports Centre, the highly regarded politician cum sports administrator, believed that a very determined Super Falcons can defeat Australia and take a step closer to the rounds of 16 matches. “The Super Falcons are good enough to defeat Australia tomorrow. So far,…