Author: Khadijah Olowode

In a groundbreaking production helmed by film producer Faith Itohan and acclaimed film director Tunde Olaoye, Nollywood is again prepared to shed light on a silent yet prevalent threat in society – the Unknown Pandemic. The soon-to-be-released film starring Kehinde Bankole and Swanky JKA is a thought-provoking cinematic masterpiece that analyses the delicate relationship between culture and love. Aptly titled ‘Unknown Pandemic’, the film navigates the intricate web of human emotions and societal norms in the face of an unseen adversary. The synopsis of the movie teases at the ambiguity surrounding this mysterious pandemic, which has left many grappling with…

By Femi Ogbonnikan The time has come for a deliberate policy of government on sustainable food self-sufficiency in Nigeria for social safety and security. Food security-the availability, accessibility, and affordability to meet the dietary needs of individuals-is a critical global issue that cannot be treated with levity. Food is everything. It is national security, it’s the economy, it is employment, it is energy, it is all-encompassing. A nation that cannot feed itself is doomed to fail. Regrettably, successive administrations had neglected the early warning signals and dodged the responsibility of creating an enabling environment for food production. For instance, on…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has urged mining professionals to groom younger cadres to sustain the development of the nation’s mining sector. Giving the keynote address at the annual conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024, Alake, represented by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO), Engr. Obadiah Nkom, hailed the professional services rendered by mining engineers and geologists in areas of exploration and extraction, emphasising that without their input, mining operations would have been a herculean challenge. Speaking further, the minister charged the society to partner with…

Masked gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have abducted a poultry manager, Tunde Osifowokan, in Idowa, Ogun State. Osifowokan, it was gathered, was said to have been kidnapped on the afternoon of Monday, 18 March, 2024 when the community came under the attack of men of the underworld. The gunmen, who arrived at the poultry, shot in the air sporadically and took Osifowokan away after a few minutes. The abduction came barely two days after a Hausa farmer in the community was also reportedly kidnapped. It was gathered that the kidnappers, upon arriving at the farm, asked for the whereabouts of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 invaded the secretariat of the Labour Party to protest the party’s national convention planned at the end of March. The Congress also demanded the sack of the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure. The NLC leadership accused Abure of planning to hold a “secret” convention without the input of major stakeholders. The planned convention has pitched Abure against the NLC and the House of Representatives caucus. The workers accused Abure of planning to destroy the party. However, the Nigeria Police prevented the protesting workers from entering the…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured that the soldiers who lost their lives while on peace mission to Delta would not only be given befitting burial but would also get post-humous national honours, reports thegazellenews.com The President stated this on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024, while speaking during the Iftar (breaking of fast) programme with the leadership of the House of Representatives at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The Reps team was led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas. President Tinubu while condemning the dastard killing of the soldiers, expressed heartfelt condolences to their families, pledging that their sacrifices would never be…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigeria’s Queen of the track sensation, Tobi Amusan, claimed victory in the women’s 100m hurdles at the African Games in Ghana on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 with an impressive time of 12.89 seconds. Amusan encountered a false-start scare during the initial race attempt, which could have led to her disqualification. Nevertheless, the officials decided to go easy on her and issued her a yellow card instead. With that victory, she secured her third consecutive African Games championship. The Ogun State born speed star, emerged victorious over Sidonie Fiadanantsoa of Madagascar, who finished in second place with…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In an effort to reduce huge cost of governance, Abia State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 20 March, 2024 passed a bill to stop the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies in the state. It is entitled, “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.” The bill was sponsored by Mr Uchanna Okoro, the Majority Leader and member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency. The Speaker, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, announced the passage of the bill after…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has reiterated its commitment towards utilizing Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to trigger Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development.NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan disclosed this during a Panel Session at the ongoing 2024 CERAWeek Conference in Houston, the United States on Tuesday.Eyesan, whose session addressed the theme, “What are the Choices for Upstream Strategies?” said Nigeria is a predominantly gas-rich country which boasts of over 200TCF of gas that can be leveraged for the country’s industrialisation and economic development.She noted that NNPC Ltd plans to deepen gas utilization domestically for industrialization…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Service chiefs, on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 appeared before the Senate Joint Committee comprising Army, Navy, Defence and Air force committees over the investigation of the killing of 17 soldiers in Delta State community. Recall that 17 military personnel comprising a lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers were killed Thursday, 14 March, 2024, while on a “peacekeeping mission” in Okuoma community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state. Given the sensitivity of the matter, the Chairman of the joint committee, Ahmed Lawan, disclosed that the investigative hearing will be held behind…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 17-year-old girl simply identified as Wumi for allegedly stabbing her foster mother, Mrs Funmilayo Adelayi, to death. The sad incident, it was gathered happened at Oda, Akure residence of the deceased, Wednesday, 13 March, 2024. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the arrest of suspect on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 to newsmen. According to Odunlami, the deceased’s family claimed the suspect was suffering from mental illness but the command had not got the medical report to affirm the claim. “The suspect is in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a man, named Rasheed Wasiu, to life imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with his neighbour’s eleven-year-old daughter. Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that Wasiu defiled the survivor in a beastly manner. Oshodi, who said that the offence of defilement was grave and attracted a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, added that the convict lied in his evidence before the court. He said notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence against the convict, he continued to deny the offence. “The evidence shows that you had sexual intercourse with an…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has fixed April 25, 2024, for its primary election The party also pegged its expression of interest forms at N10 million and nomination form at N40 million, amounting to N50 million for aspirants seeking its ticket for the election. This was contained in a notice issued by the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, in Abuja. “In compliance with the relevant sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Electoral Act 2022, the APC hereby…

As global calls for transition to cleaner energy fuels continue to grow, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Ltd. Mr. Mele Kyari has advocated for a differentiated approach to attaining energy transition for the African continent. Kyari, who also said the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) Project will be taken in December 2024, made the call while speaking during a Leadership Dialogue Session at the ongoing CERAWeek Conference in Houston, United States, on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024. According to the GCEO, energy transition is a very difficult subject…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Eleven players have arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Morocco for friendly matches scheduled against Ghana and Mali. The players already in camp are: Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Simon Moses, Stanley Nwabali, Fisayo Bashiru, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Sadiq Umar. Those ruled out due to injury are: Victor Osimhen, Gabriel Osho, Tyrone Ebuehi and Taiwo Awoniyi. Meanwhile, the Eagles would play under an interim coach after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appointed Finidi George, former assistant to Jose Peseiro, to handle the games. The Super Eagles are set to face…

Yobe State Government is to spend N187 million on the feeding of the less poor and the less privileged across the 17 local government areas of the state. The state of Home Affairs, Information and Culture in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego made this revelation on Tuesday, noting that the state governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has given the approval for the feeding. Bego said: “His Excellency Gov. Mai Mala Buni has approved a total of N187 million for the feeding of the poor and the less privileged across the state during the Ramadan fasting period.” He noted that: “A…

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is to work in synergy with Private Guard Companies (PGCs) in intelligence gathering to safeguard the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Commandant of the FCT Command of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu made this known while charging the Divisional Officers of the Command to work in synergy with Private Guard Companies (PGCs) in intelligence gathering. Odumosu, who addressed all Divisonal Officers and Area Commanders within the FCT Command, asked them to actively supervise, monitor and engage all PGCs within their jurisdictions in a robust synergy that will enhance timely intelligence gathering and sharing.…

The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Olusola Odumosu has assured the people of Dafara Community in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, of the Corps’ readiness to set up an Agro Rangers’ operational base in the Community. The Commandant, speaking through the Head of Agro Rangers unit, DCC Okon Offiong, when the unit paid a scheduled visit to the village during a routine surveillance and patrol of agrarian communities in the FCT, said their aim is to provide safety for farmers and security for Agro allied investments in the country. “Our priority is to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Senate has condemned the killings of 16 personnel of the Nigerian Army by armed groups during a peace mission to the Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday, 14 March, 2024. Amongst those killed are the commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, 12 soldiers, and one civilian who lost their lives in the ambush on Thursday. Following the killings, mutilated bodies of the soldiers were recovered by the Joint Task Force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at the Okuama…

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 18, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of six persons for internet fraud. They were jailed by Justices Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin and Justice Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges following their arraignment by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC. The convicts are: Aransiola Oluwaseun Stephen, Owoeye Adeyanju Ezekiel, Idris Yekini Kayode, Abdulrahmon Abubakar, Rafiu Ashimiu Adisa and Raheem Ayomide Monsur. The charges against Stephen reads: “That you, Aransiola Oluwaseun…