Author: Khadijah Olowode

Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has cautioned against hoarding and unnecessary increase in the prices of food items in the state. According to him, hoarding and unnecessary increase in prices of food items will only aggravate the food challenges currently ravaging the state and the nation at large. The Governor made this call at the launching of the Lagos Market Trader Money held at Blue Roof on Agidingbi in Ikeja. Speaking at the event on Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the launching of the Market Trader Money as in fulfilment of promise made two months ago during the…

Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says that accountability and transparency will reposition and transform the Commission to facilitate the rapid development of the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku, who stated this when the Deputy Group Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, paid him a courtesy visit at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, said the Commission has moved away from the era of transactional leadership to that of transformational engagement. According to the NDDC boss, transiting from transaction to transformation means that there must be transparency and accountability…

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading instrumental infrastructure solutions provider, today, Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, announced the appointment of Mr. Emeka Emuwa as Chairman of its Board of Directors.Emuwa brings a wealth of experience spread over three decades leading and transforming banking institutions across Africa. After completing a sterling 25-year career with Citibank where he left as the Country Officer and Managing Director of Citibank in Nigeria, he went on to serve as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank of Nigeria. In this role, he led the bank’s transformation and worked successfully with…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has condoled with the families, friends, staff of Access Holdings and Nigerians in general, over the death of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, members of his family and others in the tragic chopper crash of February 9, 2024, in California, United States of America. The NDLEA in a statement on Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, by the spokesman, Femi Babafemi said the death of Wigwe, co-founder of Access Bank and CEO of Access Holdings, was a colossal loss to the nation., adding that: “Wigwe was an outstanding Nigerian, an icon of the banking profession, and a…

As we commence the Lenten season in fasting and atoning for sins committed, let us reflect on how we can turn a new leaf, for our own good, the good of our families, communities and the Nation as a whole. We Nigerians are a generous, caring and loving people and times like these call for us to show more compassion to the needy and people around us. This is the time for us all to bring something to the table and contribute to the growth of our people and nation at large. May God grant all our requests and petitions,…

The Community Development Committees (CDC) of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas have called for a more direct intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling the scourge of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region. The group made the call on Tuesday, February 13 when its Board of Trustees, led by the Chairman, Joseph Ambakederimo paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. Ambakederimo noted that oil theft in the Niger Delta has caused huge disruption to the country’s economic forecasts and negatively impacted the national economy. “Oil…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Chief Registrar of the Kwara State High Court, Magistrate Ibironke Olawoyin, has disclosed that a fire incident that occurred at court complex on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024, destroyed over 200 case files and office equipment . The Kwara State Fire Service has attributed the cause of the fire incident to power surge. It was gathered that the litigation office at the high court and other office equipment were completely destroyed by the inferno. It was also learnt that several files of concluded and ongoing cases including those since the inception of the court were burnt in the process. Olawoyin,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has confirmed that the suspended chairman of the party in the state, Mr Fatai Adams is dead. Adams was said to have died on the night of Tuesday, 13 February, 2024 after he complained of a headache at his private residence in Ikare Akoko. It was gathered that Adams was rushed to the hospital where he gave up the ghost. The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, who confirmed the incident, said the party would soon make official communication to the media on the matter. “Yes it…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A police Inspector, Michael Odey, has been dismissed by the Rivers State Police Command over his involvement in a $3,000 extortion case. It was gathered that Odey, alongside two Assistant Superintendents of Police, Doubara Edonyabo and Talent Mungo, were accused of kidnapping and extorting two men. Afterwards, the three officers whisked their unsuspecting victims to three states before dispossessing them of the said amount, equivalent of N4.2 million. However, the state police command, through its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed that the money has been recovered and handed over to the owners. Iringe-Koko, in a statement released on Tuesday,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested seven notorious kidnappers, just as they also recovered N9 million ransom from them. Parading the kidnappers on Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, the FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, said the wanted kidnappers were arrested by operatives of the Utako police division led by CSP Victor Godfrey in a coordinated operation at Tudun-Wada Lugbe and Pyakasa area of Trademore Igweh gave the names of kidnappers as: Usman Muazu from Kwali, FCT; Aliyu Mohammed, from Pumpomare area of Borno State; Awwal Dahiru, who hails from Gwagwalada Area Council of the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) is yet to be abated as the National Working Committee of the party handed down a six-month suspension on its National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara. The party also accused Opara as a mole that is being used by dissidents in the party, just as it also gave reason for her suspension. The suspension of Opara from the party was announced at a press conference on Wednesday, 14 February, 2024 at the party secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Recall that the Opara had, on Monday, 12 February challenged LP National Chairman, Julius…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, implored foreign investors, particularly the business community in the United Kingdom to consider Lagos as a destination of choice for their investments. He said his administration will continue to make Lagos a destination of choice by ensuring a friendly business environment for investors. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Wednesday, 14 February, 2024, during a courtesy visit by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch, at Lagos House, Marina. The Governor also stressed the need for improved trading activities to improve Nigeria’s economy, saying…

President Bola Tinubu will, on Thursday, 15 February, 2024, depart Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government. The theme of this year’s summit is ‘‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’’ The President will join other African leaders in high-level meetings on institutional reforms of the African Union; peace and security; specific thematic issues such as climate change, as well as modalities of participation and…

A yet-to-be-ascertained number of shops with goods were destroyed in a Tuesday late-night fire that occurred when a gas tanker caught fire along the Agbado Road in the Toyin area of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed this in a WhatsApp conversation on Tuesday. According to Adeseye, the impact of the fire left some shops destroyed while the operatives of the state fire service were able to curtail its spread. She said, “The fire which was reported at 22:04hrs Tuesday as a result of a…

By Temitope Ajayi There is a viral video where human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, made allusion to the sum of N135 billion given to the 36 states in December 2023 at a memorial event in honour of Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. It is important to state here that Mr. Falana has a strong reputation for exaggerations and embellishments. What the Lagos lawyer rendered in that trending video was total misrepresentation of facts. He also did not tell his audience the real reason the said amount was released to the States under the World Bank-funded NG-CARES Programme. Contrary to the wrong…

The Nigerian government has placed three men on Interpol Watchlist for arrest over fraud, theft and forgery, reports thegazellenews.con The Office of the Special Investigator created by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to probe the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the era of Godwin Emefiele as Governor issued letter on Monday, 12 February, 2024. In the letter dated same day addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, National Central Bureau (NCB), International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja, the Special Investigator stated that the trio of: Adamu Abubakar, Imam…

Media Rights Agenda (MRA), on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024, called on the Federal Government to leverage the enduring nature and unique characteristics of radio in tackling the challenges of illiteracy, ignorance and poverty in Nigeria, saying the continuing potency of radio after more than 100 years of its existence can help to foster dialogue among diverse groups and mitigate the plethora of crises ravaging the country. In a statement to commemorate this year’s World Radio Day (WRD), MRA’s Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, underscored the need for Nigerians to live in peace and harmony as the country builds its…

In his last moments before the helicopter crash, deceased Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Herbert Wigwe, held the hands of his wife, Chizoba; and son, Chizi; and called on Jesus for safety, reports thegazellenews.com The last words of Herbert were recorded in the crashed helicopter cockpit voice and flight data recorder recovered by security agents investigating the crash. According to the recorder, the late Wigwe allegedly held the hands of his wife and son and shouted, “Doreen, Chizi, have confidence in God, J-e-s-u-s Christ will help us”. Wigwe, his wife, son and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and crew members lost their lives in…

The United Kingdom has signed an Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with Nigeria to boost trade and investment between the two countries and unlock new opportunities for UK and Nigerian businesses. UK Minister for Trade and Business Kemi Badenoch signed the ETIP alongside her Nigerian counterpart Nigerian Trade Minister Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite on Tuesday in Abuja. The Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is the first the UK has signed with an African country and is designed to grow the UK and Nigeria’s already thriving trading relationship, which currently stands at £7 billion. This arrangement will pave the way…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the appointment of five persons as Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) board. The names were contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpiabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024. In the letter, Tinubu urged the lawmakers to screen and confirm the nomination of five persons for appointment as CBN Board Directors. He said the names presented for confirmation were in compliance with the provisions of Section 6, subsection 1b and Section 10 Subsections 1 and 2 of the CBN…