Author: Khadijah Olowode

Ekiti state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has called on the people of the state to always ensure proper maintenance of public assets to ensure their durability. The Governor stated this on Friday in Ijero Ekiti at the commissioning of two blocks of six classrooms at CAC Secondary School and a 500-Seater Lecture Theater at the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti built and donated by a member of the House of Representatives (Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2), Hon. Wumi Ogunlola. Governor Oyebanji, who revealed that his administration would soon establish a department that would be saddled with the…

In its efforts to advance economic development through tourism, Ekiti State Government has disclosed plans to establish a bureau of tourism development that would focus mainly on harnessing and developing the state’s tourism potentials and make Ekiti number one destination of choice for tourists. The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji who disclosed this on Wednesday, 7 June, 2023, in Ado-Ekiti also said his administration would partner with tourism development operators that would help develop its local tourism sites in an effort to drive its shared prosperity agenda for the people. The Governor while receiving a team from the…

Barewa College, Zaria, has debunked claims by the Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the November 11 2023 election in Kogi State, Muritala Yakubu, that he attended the school. The Principal of the school, Alhassan Isyaku, in his response to a request by a member of the Kogi East Elders Forum, Prof. Hassan Isah, for authentication of a testimonial from the school, which had been presented by Yakubu, said the governorship candidate was not a student of the school. In his response, titled, “Re-Authentication of Testimonial: Muritala Yakubu B 14667”, which was leaked to the media on Friday,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Bandits have killed at least 25 farmers and abducted several women and girls from various communities in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The attack was said to have taken place around 2 pm on Friday, 9 June, 2023 where the gunmen went on rampage in five villages in the council area. The breakdown of the killing showed that 13 people lost their lives in Kusherki community, 12 others were killed in Gidigori village, while several others were yet to be accounted for as at the time of filing in this report. Confirming the attack, a…

Thousands of Kogi indigenes under the umbrella of Kogi Collective Interest Group, on Saturday, 10 June, 2023 called on security agencies, especially the Police and the Department of State Services, to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding a letter purpotedly written by the Principal of Barewa College, Zaria, to save the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, Muritala Yakubu, from an imminent certificate forgery scandal. The indigenes, spread across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, said the inconsistencies, particularly in the second letter written by the Principal of Barewa College, Alhassan Isyaku,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons. DSS’ Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, in a statement, he signed and issued on Saturday, 10 June, 2023, urged the public, particularly the media, to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this. The gazellenews.com earlier reported that Emefiele was suspended “sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.” This was disclosed in a statement…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Barely twenty-four hours after Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, gave criminals operating in the state an ultimatum to either repent and take advantage of his amnesty or be fished out, gunmen have abducted a lecturer in the Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, Dr. Iniudo George-Ukpong. According to family sources, George-Ukpong, who is an Associate Professor of Environmental and Public Health Parasitology, was abducted on his way home from the office. The kidnappers also took away Barbara Brownson, another staff member of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). Also on Friday,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has advised the lawmakers-elect to consider the stability of the nation over that of their pockets. Shettima stated this on Saturday, 10 June ,2023 while giving a speech at the valedictory plenary , where he appealed to the 10th Assembly lawmakers to vote wisely next Tuesday, just as he also pleaded with his colleagues to put the stability of the country above every other interest. The battle for the Senate leadership has been intense for some months as lawmakers have jostled for presiding officers in both the red and green chambers.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The first Big Brother Titans Reality Show winner, Khosi Twala, on Friday, 9 June, 2023, received a royal welcome from both the Nigeria police band and fans as she arrived in Nigeria. The South African touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos state, on Friday, 9 June, 2023.A viral video on social media on Saturday shows excited Khosi smiling happily as she held a bouquet of flowers she was given.Recalls that Khosi had in May during an Instagram Live session with her Nigerian friend, Marvin, said; “I’m not going to lie, I am scared of visiting…

Muslim community at Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OYOSUBEB has commended the immediate past Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, for promoting Islamic culture and his ability to respect all religions. Making the commendation on behalf of the community, on Saturday, 10 June, 2023, Mr. Adebami Raji thanked Adeniran for contributing immensely to the increase of the Board’s mosque. Adebami said the mosque, under Adeniran’s leadership, had become a hub for Islamic studies, where worshippers come from far and wide to learn about the rich heritage and teachings of Islam. He said in the last four years,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former Kano State Governor and Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has revealed details of his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Aso Rock, Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power on power on Friday, 9 June, 2023. Kwankwaso disclosed that the issue of a ministerial post for him in the Tinubu administration came up during his discussion with the president, adding that he was open to working with the president to move the nation forward. On the ministerial appointment, he said: “The issue came up but we are still discussing. We…

IntensifiesAfrican tower operator, IHS Holding Ltd. found itself embroiled in a tense shareholder standoff during its annual meeting as two of its largest stakeholders, Wendel SE and MTN Group Ltd., who own roughly 45% of IHS, demanded better representation on the company’s board, but their proposals were rejected by the board. According to anonymous sources familiar with the situation, Wendel and MTN insisted that shareholders with a minimum 10% stake be able to nominate board members. The demands, however, were rejected by IHS’s board, who stated that the proposed changes were not in the best interests of the company or…

The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, RIPAN, suspects that persons and groups who do not wish the Nigerian economy well, were behind the re-circulation of an old video where the Idiroko Border was re-opened. PRNigeria reports that a video trending on social media gave the impression that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently instructed the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, to re-open the Idiroko border for import and export of goods and services. But when contacted, CSC Abubakar Maiwada, spokesperson for the NCS said that the country presently ‘has no closed border’. According to him, all the borders have been opened months…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Population Commission (NPC) has disclosed that contrary to the rumour making the round the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census was due to insufficient funds, the exercise was put on hold as a result of government’s transition programme, post-election mood and to save the country from a national crisis The Federal Commissioner in Plateau State, Mrs Cecilia Dapoet made this disclosure on Friday, 9 June, 2023 during a meeting with stakeholders in Jos, the Plateau State capital. “The Census exercise was earlier scheduled for May 3-7, 2023, but was postponed,giving rise to many insinuations…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has called on Nigerians to embrace the e-naira payment platform and join other countries that have abandoned the traditional cash payment mode of transactions. The Branch Controller of CBN, Uyo, Mercy Ogbomonpaul made the call during a courtesy visit to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof, Nyaudoh Ndaeyo. The branch controller lamented that though the e-naira platform started since 2021, it has yet to receive wide publicity, acceptance and usage. Ogbomonpaul, who was represented by the Assistant Director, CBN, Isang Agbomi Enya, said its adoption and usage…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the Electricity Act 2023, which will replace the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act 2005, into law. The new act is expected to provide a framework to guide the post-privatization phase of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and encourage private sector investments. Recall that the 9th National Assembly had initially passed in July 2022 and the development comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s challenging power sector. The Law ensures the de-monopolization of Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution at the National level and empowers states, companies and individuals to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed the details of his meeting with traditional leaders held on Friday, 9 June 2023 at Aso Rock , Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power. According to Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information to the President, Tinubu, speaking at an interactive session with the royal fathers under the umbrella of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), informed them of the decision of his government to remove fuel subsidy, improve security, create jobs, and sustain the environment, as well as the forthcoming election of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly. “We…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Shanahan University Onitsha, Anambra State, The Duke Medical University, Calabar; and 34 other new private universities have received their operating licences from the National University Commission (NUC) in Abuja. Speaking at the ceremony, which had the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)Abdullahi Adamu in attendance, the Permanent Secretary, David Adejo, said with the new provisional approval, the number of private universities in the country is now 147. According to him, the approval was given to the universities in order to operate for the first three years of operation, adding that it…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect. This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy. Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of investigation and the reforms.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Ghanaian man, Michael Amoako has shot dead his wife, Harriet Yaa Gyamfuaa Aboagye, a Ghanaian too in the United States after threatening to live him and marry her ex-husband. A source from the United States claims Aboagye, who was in hospital in critical condition, has given up the ghost.The news of Harriet’s death and her husband, Michael, went viral overnight.According to reports, the duo were married with four kids, staying in Columbus, Ohio in the United States of America.Michael, the Sumankwaahene of the Ghanaian community in Columbus, had travelled to the States after winning the visa…