Author: Khadijah Olowode

Newly established Primary Health Care (PHC) districts in Lagos State now have administrative powers to roll out universal health services to the residents, with the appointment of seven Permanent Secretaries by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to supervise their operations. These appointments were the single largest in the State’s health care system and reflected the Governor’s unprecedented move to expand health coverage for Lagosians in low-income communities. For the first time, medical practitioners in the public service sector were elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary and deployed to head the six new PHC districts. Besides, Sanwo-Olu appointed four Permanent Secretaries for…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A 35-year-old commercial motorcyclist has been arrested on Thursday,13 July, 2023 by the Operatives of the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for sodomising a 15-year-old boy. The suspect, Peter Nweke, was arrested while committing the crime at his residence, situated at Willy Bright Street, Abusoro, in Akure South Local Government of the state. The State NSCDC’s Public Relations Officer,Daniel Aidamenbor confirmed the development, saying that Nweke’s arrest was made possible by the community’s coordinated efforts. While parading the suspect at the state headquarters of the corps, Aidamenbor disclosed that residents…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, 13 July, 2023, said the State Government will partner the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) to build youth capacity through the Human Development Capital Fund initiative of the institute. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit to him by the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria led by the President and Chairman of the Council, Mr. Ken Opara at the Lagos House, Ikeja. The Governor said his administration through the THEMES+ agenda will ensure no one is left behind in the delivery of good governance and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike USA forward, Christian Pulisic, has completed his £20 million move from Chelsea to Italian club AC Milan. Pulisic, 24, has signed a four-year deal with the Serie A side, with the option of a further year. He scored 26 goals in 145 games at Chelsea and played in the 2021 Champions League final win over Manchester City. However, Pulisic became surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, scoring only once in his final season. “It was a difficult last few seasons with Chelsea. For whatever reason I wasn’t getting the opportunities I wanted,” he told a news conference…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Senate, on Thursday,13 July,2023, approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for the sum of $800 million loan as additional fund for the financing of the National Social Safety Net Programme set up by the National Assembly. The Senate also amended the 2022 Supplementary Budget. This followed Tinubu’s request for the approval. The President’s request was contained in a letter he forwarded to the upper chamber through the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, which was read on the floor of the Assembly during plenary. Tinubu explained that the Federal Executive Council led by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari had approved…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on food security in Nigeria. Presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, made this known while briefing State House correspondent on Thursday, 13 July, 2023. According to Alake, the President directed that all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council. The directive was said to be in line with the Tinubu administration’s position on ensuring that the most vulnerable are supported. Alake said President is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and its…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Controversial hip hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly addressed as Portable, has survived another road accident, after surviving two others in 2022. In the latest one, the singer was involved in a brutal car accident with his newly bought black G-wagon. As seen in a video, the car was badly damaged. In the video which the singer shared via his Instagram handle, he narrated how the accident occurred. According to him, he was on his way to the studio when he crashed the car in the rain, just as he also bragged that he would buy a new…

By Hassan Suleiman, PhD With the swearing-in of 16th Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagosians waited for who becomes the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The 9th LAHA session was led by Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, who has been on the seat since 2015, replacing Rt Hon Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji, who was served as Speaker of the state Assembly for 10 years. RT Hon Mudashiru Obasa’s political career started in 1999 when he was elected as Councillor in Agege Local Government under the banner of Alliance for Democracy (AD) He became a member of the Lagos…

The Alli-Balogun Dynasty of Lagos will today, Thursday, 13 July, 2023, launch the Alli-Balogun Memorial Foundation and also hold a 90th Anniversary Special Prayers session to celebrate the passage of their Progenitor, Sheik Aliu Makanjuola Alli-Balogun popularly known as Alli Oloko who died on July 13, 1933 at the age of 103 years. The celebration of life and times of this legend whose wealth traversed generations will hold today (Thursday) at the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos. Time is 11am. According to a joint statement signed by the great great grandchildren of the business magnate, renowned lslamic Scholar and philanthropist,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigerian Army has categorically stated that the era of granting amnesty for bandits terrorising the North West zone of the country is over, just as it also asked Governors for free hand to eliminate terrorists. The army warned the criminals to flee the country with immediate effect, saying they would be given close marking and blocked from entering other parts of the country if they are attempt to flee North West. Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, stated this at Army Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday,12 July, 2023 while playing host to the Zamfara State Governor,…

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, has brought to an end the 5-year-old battle of Efe Omorogbe to be declared Chairman of Nigeria’s biggest copyright collective management organization, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). Hon Justice Olayinka Faji of the court in a long-expected decision has dismissed SUIT NO: FHC/L/CS/1779/2018 brought by Efe Omorogbe to be declared Chairman of COSON and stated that the suit is an abuse of court process. Justice Faji also awarded a cost of N750,000.00 against Mr. Omorogbe and his co – plaintiffs which cost he said must be paid within 7…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Three suspected kidnappers were said to have been killed by a thunder strike in Oro Ago, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. In a one-minute video of the incident, the corpses of the victims were seen burnt beyond recognition with flies buzzing over them. A voice in the short video clip said, “We’re members of the vigilance team in Igbomina. Our efforts against those perpetrating evil and kidnapping people in our area, has yielded fruits”. Locals claimed the victims were members of an eight-man kidnap gang, who operated in Iwo, Isin local government area of Kwara…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has flagged off a youth development and empowerment scheme designed to create a comprehensive resources database of the youth population of the Niger Delta region. Flagging off the project at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the scheme known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement, HOPE, would provide a platform to empower youths of the region on sustainable basis. He stated: “This project, spearheaded by the NDDC, marks the dawn of a new beginning in our region. This is because Project HOPE marks a turning point…

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated literary giant and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Oluwole Soyinka, on the occasion of his 89th birthday. Governor Sanwo-Olu in a congratulatory message issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described Prof. Soyinka as “a quintessential scholar and literary icon who has used his position and experience to contribute positively to literature, academics and governance globally.” Prof. Soyinka, a 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature winner and the first sub-Saharan African to be honoured in that category, will clock 89 on Thursday, July 13. Governor Sanwo-Olu said Prof. Wole Soyinka…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has renewed the tenure of Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs for another term, raising the membership of the council from 48 to 84. The Governor also approved the continuation of tenure of Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Aremu Akiolu, as the body’s permanent chairman, just as he re-appointed the incumbent divisional vice chairmen of the council for another term. The inauguration was held at the Banquet Hall in the State House, Alausa. The monarchs were appointed and installed by the Governor in June 2020 to oversee the affairs of the council established to promote harmony…

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday, 12 July, 2023, assured the Turkish Government of the readiness of the Federal Government to sustain the bilateral agreement reached between Nigeria and Turkey in the area of education, health and military collaboration to fight terrorism and insecurity. He also promised that The10th Senate will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the agelong bilateral relations and collaboration in critical sectors continue in the overall interest of the two countries. Akpabio stated this while receiving in courtesy, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hidayet Bayraktar, in his office. According to him” onbehalf…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Wednesday, 12 July, 2023 in Abuja assured Nigerians that the framework for palliatives to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal was being worked out, assuring that the decision was in the best interest of the country, especially in guaranteeing future prosperity. President Tinubu, who received 18 governors who served with him, Class of 1999, at the Presidential Villa, appealed for more patience from Nigerians, while the government will increase effort, speed up the process and ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer. “I understand that our people are…

Ecobank Nigeria has written to First Bank Holdings, asking it not to accept the acquisition of 4.7 billion shares by businessman Oba Otudeko. The former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd recently bought the shares in a cross deal of N87.8bn to potentially become the largest shareholder in the firm. However, Ecobank said in a letter dated July 7 and written by its legal representatives, Kunle Ogunba & Associates, that Otudeko, through his affiliated entities, owed the bank N13.5 billion. Ecobank is in court to recover the money. The letter signed by the Principal Partner of the law firm,…

The Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Upper Legislative Chamber, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni has congratulated the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his election as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Senator Eshilokun-Sanni noted that the election by the Heads of States of the regional integration body, early in the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu, is a testament to the belief they have in his capabilities, not only to lead Nigeria fruitfully, but also to provide the requisite leadership for the body to achieve regional cooperation and cohesion. “Having been a student of…

Billionaire business mogul and Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim has declared that those wishing Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Dead would die before him. Piqued by the way Akeredolu’s health was turned to national discourse, Senator Ibrahim said those who wished the governor dead would die before him. He wondered why the medical issue of Akeredolu was turned to something out of this world as if he’s the first to fall sick. Senator Ibrahim noted that immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari was sick for a very long time but didn’t gather raise much dust as Akeredolu’s. He said:…