Author: Khadijah Olowode

President Bola Tinubu has called for unity of purpose and more collaboration between the federal government, state governors, and members of the National Assembly to achieve national development goals. The President made the appeal while receiving state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly in Lagos on Friday, 12 April, 2024. Led by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, among others. Speaking on behalf of the President, Vice-President Shettima expressed optimism about Nigeria’s…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Things are looking up positively for the Nigerian economy as the Naira appreciated by N60 against the US dollar after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays. A Bureau De Change operator, Mistila Dayyabu, disclosed made this disclosure on Friday, 12 April, 2024 while speaking with an online medium. According to Dayyabu, Naira sells at N1,140 per US Dollar in the foreign exchange parallel market on Friday, 12 April, 2024, from N1,200 on Monday. “As of Friday, we sold at N1,140 per Dollar and bought at N1,135 compared to N1,200 before Eid-el-fitr holiday”, he said. The latest development comes barely four days…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has disclosed that the government has about N1.8 trillion to pay in electricity subsidy for 2024. Adelabu also disclosed that despite the recent hike in tariff for Band A customers, the Federal Government is still paying subsidies on electricity. Adelabu stated this while speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, 11 April, 2024. “The Electricity Act, 2023 made provisions for the review of tariff twice a year,” the Minister said He added that review of tariff is legal once it is within the exclusive responsibility of the…

Residents of Ikeja Federal Constituency we’re full of praises and commendations for their representative in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke as the lawmaker commenced distribution of food palliatives to register voters in the Constituency, reports thegazellenews.com The exercise which started on Thursday, 11 April, 2024 is targeted at all registered voters in the Constituency irrespective of party affiliations, religions or ethnicity. The exercise started at the Constituency office of the Lawmaker located at Omole area of the state. In a seamless exercise devoid of rancour, shouts, rushing, pushing and shoving associated with such exercise, residents…

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obong Akpabio has sent his heartfelt condolences to the family of the former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu. Onu, who died at the age of 72 in Abuja on Thursday, 11 April, 2024, served as Minister under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2022. A statement from Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh described the late Onu as “A perfect gentleman who will be sorely missed for his wisdom, mature composure, zest for excellence and proven integrity” He said Onu was known for coming first…

A fully loaded 40fts Mack articulated truck, on Friday, 12 April, 2024, fell on a Nissan Car ABJ 692 BG and instantly killed a woman at the rear of the car while the car driver survived unhurt, reports thegazellenews.com The driver was rescued unhurt through efforts of officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA) and passers-by. The accident occured at N.N.P.C, inward Estate, Alapere, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA Mr. Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that the driver of the Mack articulated truck with his motor-boy ran away…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday,11 April, 2024, mourned the first civilian Governor of Abia State and former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu. Recall that Onu died on Thursday, 11 April, 2024 at the age of 72. Tinubu described the late politician as accomplished scholar, first-class engineer; a man of proven integrity, defiant to indiscipline. In a statement signed and issued on Thursday, 11 April, 2024 by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu described Onu as a luminous star in Nigeria’s political firmament. Tinubu extended his condolences to the family of…

The engine room of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande’s administration as the first Executive Governor of Lagos State, Chief Tunde Fanimokun, has donated 150 hectares of land to Yaba College of Technology to immediately commence a Green Campus at Apapa/Badagry axis, reports thegazellenews.com In his earnest desire to promote entrepreneurship and education in Nigeria, the retired Permanent Secretary in Lagos State donated the 150 hectares to commemorate his 80th birthday, the day he joined the Folawiyo Conglomerate and the birthday of his daughter. In the same vein, he wants to build a N3.5 billion entrepreneurship centre for the college in honour of…

Zenith Bank Plc has announced its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2023, achieving a remarkable triple-digit growth of 125% in gross earnings from N945.6 billion reported in 2022 to N2.132 trillion in 2023. According to the audited financial results for the 2023 financial year presented to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), this impressive triple-digit growth in gross earnings resulted in a Year-on-Year (YoY) increase of 180% in Profit Before Tax (PBT) from N284.7 billion in 2022 to N796 billion in 2023. Profit After Tax (PAT) also recorded triple-digit growth of 202% from N223.9 billion to N676.9 billion in…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshal has arrested five suspects with solid minerals identified as lithium loaded in two trucks in Abuja. A press statement on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024, by the spokesman of NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi read: “Acting on the Commandant General’s marching order, the NSCDC Mining Marshal has taken the bull by the horns thereby increasing their Intelligence apparatus in the Protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure across the Federation. The spokesman while stating that the Commander CG’s Mining Marshal is poised to identify various mining sites and ascertain the correct loading…

The travails of popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye popularly called Bobrisky, continue to mount as he has been handed a six-month (180 days) jail term by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, reports thegazellenews.com Justice A.O Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi handed Bobrisky the punishment on Friday, 12 April, 2024 haven been found guilty of abusing the nation’s currency. The sentence is without option of fine. Bobrisky was arrested and arraigned on charges of abusing the legal tender by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to make the Badagry axis of the State a tourist attraction city. He said the ancient city of Badagry, with many historical and tourist sites, has a lot to offer in tourism. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday, 11 April, 2024, during a working tour and visit to Badagry Tourism sites and projects. The visit is a testament to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to gaining firsthand knowledge of the needs and challenges of the people of Badagry, paving the way for continued progress and development. Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied by Chairman/CEO…

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has felicitated Muslims in Nigeria and in the Diaspora for the successful end of 30 days Ramadan fast. Akpabio’s message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. “On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and indeed, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I heartily rejoice with Muslim faithful in Nigeria as they join their counterparts in other parts of the world to celebrate Eid El Fitri. “I wish all of you a peaceful and sweet celebration…

Operatives of Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024, arrested 43 suspects in an all-night raid of notorious spots in Oshodi and its environs, just as they recovered a semi-automatic pistol in a separate incident same day. The raid, which was carried out in Anthony, Bolade Oshodi and Oshodi Terminus, was sequel to credible intelligence about the activities of undesirable elements in those areas. The pistol was recovered in Opebi, Ikeja when Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Yinka Egbeyemi deployed a team from the squad to verify information received from members of the public. Also recovered during…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In an intelligence led operation, troops of 144 Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai deployed at Madagali in Adamawa state have apprehended a top Commander of the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP), Saidu Hassan Yellow also known as Abu Saidu The terrorist kingpin who was among one of the most wanted criminals on the list of the security agency, was apprehended in a sting operation carried out by the troops at the Mubi Market General area on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024. Intelligence according to Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has announced that it will charge charge an average of N3,000 per toll gate when the Lagos-Calabar coastal road is completed. Minister of Works, Dave Umahi made this disclosure on Thursday, 11 April, 2024 when featuring on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief.’ “Let me leave out the infrastructure along the corridor. Let me just concentrate on the tolls and I put 50,000 vehicles as an average passage on these toll points per day,” Umahi said on the breakfast show. “I put N3,000 as an average cost. N3,000 because the cars could be like N1,500,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A former Minister of Science and Technology under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is dead. Onu, the first elected civilian Governor of Abia State, it was gathered, died after a brief illness in an undisclosed hospital in Nigeria. The late Onu, it could be recalled was among aspirants that sought the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections. As at the time of filing this report, the ailment leading to the death of the 72-year-old elder statesman has not been ascertained. Late Onu born on…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Kwara State government through its Geographic Information Service ( GIS) office said it had fully compensated the original owners of the vast land where the state pioneer tertiary institution- Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin is sited. Following this clarification, the Alumni Association of the Kwara State Polytechnic Worldwide, with other stakeholders have asked every property owner or private developer on the institution’s land to contact the state Geographic Information Science (GIS) to ascertain the status of their property. The association gave the advice during a stakeholders’ meeting, called to clarify issues with the villagers on the encroachment…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The World Bank and the Federal Government have commended Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the flag-off of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a six-year $500 million food security programme in the state. Both the Federal Government and World Bank commended the governor for providing quality leadership and platforms for livestock value chain production and commercialisation in the state. The Governor said at the flag off of the project that his administration has invested in the development of the livestock sector to maximise its potential, particularly in beef and dairy production, “Kwara has a comparative advantage…