Author: Khadijah Olowode

By abimbola Ogunnaike The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Bello was declared wanted for offences relating to economic and financial crimes. In a notice posted on the commission’s official social media platforms on Thursday, 18 April, 2024, it said: “Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn. “Anybody with information as to his whereabout should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.” Thegazellenews.com had reported how the anti-graft…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has declared that reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration have started manifesting in the resurgence of the nation’s economy. Speaking while playing host to a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Forum led by former Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, Alake asserted that Tinubu’s progressive leadership and courage in taking difficult decisions is turning the tide, putting the economy on a strong footing. “The President has chosen to leave a legacy of taking difficult decisions that will herald enduring structures that will not only outlast the administration, but…

President Bola Tinubu has approved system-wide policies to comprehensively overhaul the education sector to improve learning and skill development, increase enrolment, and ensure the academic security of the nation’s children. The approved policies are captured as DOTS, an acronym representing: Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training & Development, and Skill Development & Acquisition. (1) Data Repository Currently, there is a paucity of coordinated, verifiable, and authentic data on all aspects of the education sector in Nigeria, which is critical for planning. Consequently, the President has approved the conduct of an extensive census of the following: (a) All schools in…

Ogun State Government on Thursday, 18 April, 2024, donated 25 patrol vehicles to the state police command just as it acquired surveillance drones to monitor criminal activities in all parts of the state. Governor Dapo Abiodun donated the vehicles in the presence of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, even as he called on the force to include technology in it’s crime fighting efforts. He said acquiring the drones was one of the proactive steps his administration has taken in collaboration with Lagos and Oyo states to effectively monitor…

The invasion of the Oyo State secretariat by some Yoruba Nation agitators has been described as senseless and dangerous, reports thegazellenews.com The Southwest zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which disclosed this via a press statement also condemned the action saying the invasion was a big surprise. In the statement signed by the southwest Zonal Chairman of the party, Isaac Kekemeke, the party described the action as uncalled for. “The action does not represent the Yoruba race. The Yoruba are noted and respected for being responsible, reasonable and trustworthy people hence these agitators are doing this for selfish reason,” the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The ruling All Progressive Congress(APC ) has also unveiled a list of another five-man committee to take charge of post-election appeals and complaints. The Primary Election Appeal Committee is headed by former Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, while Chief Obiocha Israel serves as Secretary Other members are: Edo lawmaker, Patrick Obahiagbo; Jamilu Isiyiaka Gwamna, and Chief Onyeka Okafor. A terse statement issued by the ruling party on Thursday, 18 April, 2024, and made available to newsmen, stated that all members of the committee will be inaugurated on the same day by 4.00 pm. “The inauguration of the Ondo State…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024 extended the tenure of the acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, but still in acting capacity. However, this is subject to the decision taken at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for today. Addressing journalists after the Caucus meeting at Bauchi Governors lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the decision was aimed at ensuring reconciliation and unity in the party. “Umar Damagum will continue to be the acting National Chairman of the party…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Afghanistan’s national disaster authority has announced that the number of flood-related casualties in the past few days has risen as 70 people have been confirmed dead while more than 50 others sustained injuries. The spokesman for the national disaster authority, Mullah Janan Saeq, revealed this on on the night of Wednesday, 17 April, 2024. “The death toll from the floods over the past six days has risen to 70 people while another 56 were injured,’’ he said. Earlier, the official confirmed 33 dead and 27 injured a couple of days ago. More than 2,500 homes have been destroyed…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Burna Boy has congratulated US-based British rapper, 21 Savage, for being the only rapper to appear on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 list. Burna Boy, who wrote Savage’s tribute on Time’s website, noted that the British star’s approach to rap is “authentic” and “refreshingly genuine. “Like 21 [Savage], I know what it’s like to rise above challenging beginnings, and it makes his success all that much more remarkable. Throughout his work—including on his newest album, American Dream, which opens with a reflection by his mother on their immigration story—21 maintains an authenticity…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigerian Ports Authority has secured a $700 million loan from Citibank and the United Kingdom Export Finance to rehabilitate the Apapa and Tincan Island Ports in Lagos. The Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, made this disclosure in a statement on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024. According to Belo-Koko, the loan mandate letter would be sent to the Debt Management Office for final review and approval. He said NPA had opened discussions with another funding agency to finance the upgrading of the Eastern Ports, including Calabar, Warri, Onne, and Rivers Ports, and the reconstruction of Escravos Breakwater.…

Ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo State, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West Zone will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure the APC remains the party of choice. Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is the APC Zonal Coordinator for South-West, said members of the National Working Committee and Zonal Working Committee in the zone had resolved to intervene on issues and engage with critical stakeholders to ensure they were not only taken care of but also enjoyed the dividends of democracy. It would be recalled that the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. At the outset of investigations, past and suspended officials of the Humanitarian Ministry were invited by the Commission and investigations into the alleged fraud involving them have yielded the recovery of N32.7billion and $445,000 so far. Discreet investigations by the EFCC have opened other fraudulent dealings involving Covid -19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot released to the Ministry by…

Nigeria Calls on Iran, Israel to Exercise Restraint Nigeria has called on both Israel and Iran to exercise restraint in the ongoing face off between the two countries. Nigeria’s call was made in a press statement on Sunday, 14 April, 2024, by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Francisca Omayuli. The statement read: “The Federal Government of Nigeria joins other Members of the International Community to call on Iran and Israel to exercise restraint, as diplomatic efforts are ongoing to ease tension and avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East. “In this critical period, it behoves…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it will fast-track the construction of the Army Jetty and other projects being executed for the Nigerian Army at the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army Barracks in Effurun, Delta State. Speaking while inspecting the project in the company of the Commander,46 Engineer Brigade, Brigadier General Eke Odoemele, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that the Commission attached a lot of importance to the project, which he described as a total package that includes living quarters, administrative blocks, clinic, helipad, armoury and fuel dump. Antai stated: “When completed, the jetty project will…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a commercial bus conveying N3.2 million counterfeit cash owned by three suspects: an eight-month pregnant woman, Favour Peter, 24; Esther Adukwu, 27, and Ochigbo Michael, 39. They were later arrested at Jabi park in Abuja in a follow up operation last Tuesday following the seizure of the fake naira notes in Lokoja, Kogi state. A statement on Sunday, 14 April, 2024, by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said this is even as NDLEA officers in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard base, Lokoja…

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the over N1 trillion that would be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in improving power supply and the provision of social services for the country. Idris stated this in Kaduna on Saturday, 13 April, 2024 as a guest of the popular Hausa audience participatory programme of Radio Nigeria Kaduna called “Hannu Da Yawa.” He said the disproportionate amount of electricity subsidy, approximately 40%, is benefiting only about 15% of the electricity consumer population, comprising affluent individuals and industrial clusters, who enjoy about 20 hours…

By Chi Lael and Dr. Kelechi Onyemaobi Aisha and her eight children have spent the last three months hiding in the bush in northeast Nigeria. Her husband was killed last year, shot by members of Boko Haram. Aisha managed to escape. “We ran into the forest,” said Aisha, “me and my eight children. We stayed there for three months. Every day, I would look for firewood and risk taking it to town to sell, so I could feed my children.” Aisha and her children were eventually taken in by a kind family who they still live with. They are amongst…

Nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa will struggle to feed themselves in the June-August 2024 lean season, according to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis released by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). According to a statement on Friday jointly released by United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), this figure represents a four-million increase in the number of people who are food-insecure compared to the November 2023 forecast and highlights a fourfold increase over the last five…

Officer Cadet Owowoh Princess Oluchukwu has became the first-ever Nigerian female officer to graduate from the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). The 24-year-old Princess was one of the 135 Officer Cadets to graduate during RMAS’ Sovereign’s Parade on Friday in London. According to a statement on Friday by the Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission in Abuja, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, the parade marked the completion of 44 weeks of intensive training for the Officer Cadets of Commissioning Course 232. She noted that at the ceremony, His Majesty King Charles was represented by…

New York City has announced plans to look at birth control for rats to combat the rodent population. Councilmember Shaun Abreu (D-Manhattan) has proposed a rat birth control programme jointly run by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Sanitation in the latest attempt to quell the plague. Abreu, who helms the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management said “ContraPest pellets” would work together with the city’s broader push to fight rats. ”We believe that we need to take a shock-and-awe approach to the rat problem by throwing everything we have at it,’’ the Democrat…