Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government on Monday, 12 February, 2024 read riot acts to power distribution companies that are performing below stipulated standards in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry that they are going to lose 50 per cent of their operating expenditures. The Federal Government handed down this warning through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission at the 1st NESI Stakeholders Meeting of 2024 held in Lagos. FG added that the individual performances of the Discos shall be examined on a case by case basis going forward. Officially, Nigeria has 11 power distribution companies that supply electricity to over 12 million…

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite has expressed the need to work with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to boost diaspora investments in the Country. Speaking during a courtesy call by the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Minister said she will create a full department called “Catalytic Investment Unit” in the Ministry to accommodate all diaspora related matters. The Minister commended NiDCOM, partnering with the private sector-led Nigerian Diaspora Summit initiative (NDSI) to organise the Nigerian Diaspora Investment summit, which has provided a platform for Nigerians who want to invest…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024 told Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja that a forged document was presented for the release of $6.2 million to election observers by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2023. Mustapha made this revelation before the court when he appeared as the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing fraud trial of Emefiele Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had alleged that on February 8, 2023, Emefiele connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run,…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged heads of agencies, parastatals and government-owned companies across the state to embrace innovation, creativity and bolster government revenue to meet the ever-growing needs of Lagos residents. He urged them to explore new avenues and embrace cutting-edge solutions that will optimise the financial capabilities of the State and ensure adequate funds for the timely and effective implementation of critical projects that directly benefit the people. The Governor also reaffirmed his government’s steadfast dedication to enhancing the welfare and prosperity of each citizen, noting that the current administration remains resolute in its efforts to…

Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state has convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster, Chukwuema Samuel Andrew to 30 ( thirty months) imprisonment for impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence. He was jailed on two-count charges bordering on obtaining under false pretence and impersonation upon being arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Count one reads: “That you, Chukwuema Samuel Andrew (A.K.A Mary Parlier) sometime in April, 2021 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Barely two months after their marriage, a lady named, Aisha Aliyu,19, a resident of Nasarawa Village, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, has allegedly killed her husband, Idris Ahmadu, 24 over a disagreement over sex. The tragic incident took place in the early hours of Monday, 12 February, 2024. According to a source in the village, the couple went into an argument over sex before the lady picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed Ahmadu in the neck. The source added that Aisha stabbed Ahmadu in several other parts of his body before he collapsed, and neighbours, who…

Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has dismissed a bail application filed by a fake Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Chidiebere Cyril Ndigwe over his involvement in alleged employment scam and obtaining money under false pretence. The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had dragged Ndigwe to court on a two-count charge of allegedly defrauding some job seekers by presenting himself to be the Chief Medical Director of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The petitioner alleged that Ndigwe with other persons who are still…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command, has confirmed that no fewer than five persons died while 12 others sustained varying degrees of injuries after a sleeping driver rammed into a truck in an accident along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024. The accident which occurred a distance away from Foursquare Church Camp at Ajebo, along the highway involved a Mazda bus with registration number, SMK 685 YG and a truck marked, ZE 121 0G. Spokesperson of FRSC, Ogun Sector Command, Florence Okpe, confirmed the sad development to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday, 13…

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024, said his administration is deploying different strategies and investing in people-oriented programmes that encourage young people to follow noble paths and avoid drug abuse and other social vices in the state. The Governor was speaking in Ilorin at the 1st Kwara Stakeholders Summit on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, which was themed “Forging a Common Front in the Fight against Drug Abuse”. The summit was organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Hon. Aileru Olamilekan Mukail. Attended by dozens of…

A lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor has filed an action at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja against the President-General of Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU) in Anambra State, Vincent Dike over alleged defamation of his name and character. The lawyer to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the suit with No. CV/1224/24 filed on Monday February 12 is demanding N50 billion from Dike. Dike, Manager of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Ejiofor are both kinsmen in Orafite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. The suit…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the state has continued to set the pace for sustainable transportation systems with the use of alternative sources of energy. The Governor stated this on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024, while declaring open the 18th National Council of Transportation conference, holding at the June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta. Speaking on the theme of the conference ‘Enhancing innovations And Technologies For Sustainable Transportation: Tackling The Energy Challenges’, Governor Abiodun, represented by the state Commissioner For Transportation, Engr. Oluenga Dairo, said that the theme of the conference is apt aa the nation is currently facing a…

Governors elected on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) platform met yesterday in Bauchi State and addressed a press conference, where their Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed, read out their position on the country’s economic and security situation. We welcome their call for a bipartisan approach to solving our nation’s economic and security problems. As critical stakeholders and leaders at the sub-national level, the PDP governors certainly have the right to state their position on national concerns as is expected. However, as leaders in the country who are members of two important constitutional organs of government – the National Economic Council, which…

President Bola Tinubu has said that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have demonstrated by their team spirit and discipline at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte D’Ivoire that diversity is principally a source of strength. Speaking at a reception in honour of the players at the State House in Abuja, on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024, the President commended the team for their exemplary display of unity, determination, and resilience on the field. He emphasized the pride Nigerians felt in the Super Eagles’ remarkable journey throughout the competition. ”It is a great honour for me to receive you, our…

The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has conferred national honour on members of the Super Eagles after their exploit at the just concluded African Cup of Nations which ended in Cote D’Ivoire on Sunday, 11 February, 2024, reports thegazellenews.com. President Tinubu who hosted the members of the Super Eagles to a reception at the Aso Rock Villa on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024, conferred on each member of the team the national honour of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). Each member of the team will also get a plot of land in Abuja. He commended them…

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) in collaboration with the Borno State Government have flagged off a five days training programme on waste management and Recycling for selected participants in the 27 Local Government Area of Borno State. Declaring the training open on Monday, 12 February, 2024, in Maiduguri, the Borno State Commissioner for Environment, Engr Emat Kois, called on the participants to harness the training for personal, societal and national benefits through job creation Represented by the General Manager of the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, the Commissioner described waste as wealth while noting that…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has supervised the distribution of N225 million in cash and food items to over 70,000 vulnerable families in Bama Local Government Area of the state. Zulum, who travelled to Bama on Saturday and spent two nights coordinating humanitarian activities and engaging security operatives in discussion on how best to improve the security of the communities in the area and people, gave out N5000 in cash and one wrapper each to over 45,000 females and delivered food items to each of about 25,000 male heads of households. Each male beneficiary received one bag of rice and…

Over 230 European Union companies are currently operating in Nigeria, accounting for over 130,000 jobs in the country’s economy, according to the report of a recent study by Commercium Africa. The study commissioned by the European Union also showed that 42 per cent of the companies arrived in Nigeria in the last decade, underlining the country’s economic potential and the increasing tempo of investment from the European Union in Nigeria’s economy in recent years. In addition to Nigeria being a major destination of choice for European investments, the European Union is the country’s largest trading partner by a wide margin,…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has been asked to ensure no shodding jobs is delivered by the contractors presently handling the resurfacing of streets in Abuja. The advice was given by a concerned resident of Abuja, Senator Iroegbu, in a letter he wrote to the Minister, over poor handling of the ongoing resurfacing of streets in Wuse, Abuja, by contractors. In the letter addressed, Iroegbu acknowledged efforts made by the FCT minister to improve infrastructure in the federal capital but called the minister’s attention to poor execution of the project. Iroegbu said the contractors have…

By Abimbola Ogunaike Hajj registration for the Year 2024 is at the lowest level on record, with less than 50 per cent registrations for the 95,000 available slots so far. According to the latest data from the Pilgrims Welfare Board, only 16,000 have registered and at the high cost per pilgrim, the expectation is that some of those who have registered will pull out for inability to meet the financial burden made worse by the devaluation of the Naira. The Naira devaluation has increased the hajj fare to N4.9 million for this year’s intending pilgrims from the initial minimum of…

By Jude Ndukwe Sometime in 1999, Students’ Union Government (SUG) executives of the University of Uyo, led by Comrade N. Udom visited the office of the then Dean of Student Affairs, Prof D. Wilson. I was the Secretary-General of the SUG at the time. Our only reason for the visit was to ‘compel’, the Dean to help rein in some students who had made it their pastime to boo and jeer at us at every turn.We had gone with the confidence that our demand would be complied with as such behaviour which we considered atrocious were beyond the borderlines of good behaviour…