Author: Khadijah Olowode

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it is prepared to go into partnership with an indigenous cassava starch manufacturing factory in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to create job opportunities for the youths.The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, gave this indication when he visited the Ebedebiri Starch Company Limited, in the company of some directors of the commission. He stated that the move would promote the local industry and create employment for youths in the Niger Delta region. He explained: “I have gone round the factory with some management staff of the commission and I can attest that the…

The Vice Chancellor of the Niger Delta University, NDU, Professor Allen Agih, has solicited the cooperation and support of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in training Niger Deltans in Information and Communication Technology, ICT. Professor Agih, who made the appeal when the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai visited the university in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, described human capital development, ICT and research development as veritable tools of advancing the society. He said: “Our last visit to your office was not only to seek your intervention in terms of projects, but to come up with other areas that can…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, hold a multiple stakeholders’ national dialogue to address the challenges of youth involvement in cybercrimes. The dialogue, which will feature a lecture themed: “Youth, Religion and the Fight Against Corruption,” will be held at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. Dr. John Momoh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Channels Television Media Group, will explore the role of religion as a tool of redirecting the minds of youths away from the snare of cybercrimes. Panelists expected at the event include, Vice chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Rectors and Provosts of other tertiary institutions, religious leaders,…

The Lagos State Government has given a 30-day final notice to owners/ occupiers of residential buildings illegally converted to churches, mosques, club houses, lounges and bars across the state without approval for change of use, to revert to the original use of the structure. The General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki who gave the notice in his office said it applies to all structures used as bars, club houses or religious centers located within residential areas and without requisite permit from relevant authorities. Oki noted that the notice is sequel to the distortion…

Two traditional in Ekiti State have been killed by armed men who ambushed their convoy and opened fire on them, reports thegazellenews.com The two monarchs: the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, His Royal Highness Olatunde Samuel Olusola; and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, His Royal Highness David Babatunde Ogunsola; were ambushed and killed by the armed men when they were returning from a meeting at Oke Ako area of Ikole Local Government Area of the state. Thegazellenews.com learnt that the incident took place on Monday, 29 January, 2024. The third monarch, the Alara of Ara Ekiti, His Royal Highness Adebayo Fatoba,…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday reiterated his administration’s commitment to the education sector, saying his government is committed to providing unparalleled investments, funding and infrastructure to enhance the sector. He disclosed that Lagos State Government is working in partnership with TeachForNigeria to build a sustainable five-year programme to domesticate the initiative in Lagos State as the TeachForLagos project. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Monday, 29 January, 2024, at the “TeachForNigeria: A Day with Mr. Governor” held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, the State capital. The event, which is part of activities marking the International Day of Education…

Lagos State Government has given a fourteen-day ultimatum to owners of adjoining structures, and shanties within and around the Mandilas building recently engulfed by fire to vacate and remove all illegal structures within the area or risk sanctions from the government. This ultimatum was issued on Monday, 29 January, 2024, during a joint enforcement visit to the site of the fire incident by some key government agencies in the built sector including the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Central Business District, Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Waste…

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu Former Nigeria Ambassador to the Philippines and erstwhile ANTP Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, OON, has appealed to stakeholders in the entertainment industry to ensure its continued growth and stability towards sustaining its benefits to the nation and the achievements of pioneer actors. At a special dinner held in honour of the newly elected Central Working Committee and National Executive Council members of ANTP at the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State’s hall in Ibadan, Dr Farounbi recalled how the foremost Yoruba Theatre-Arts trade group, Association of Nigerian Theatre-Arts Practitioners (ANTP) was formed at the University…

Over a hundred stakeholders of Yaba College of Technology were at the weekend brainstorm to carve out a five year strategic plan of a renewed hope of consolidating and erecting a future for the seventy-six years old  foremost tertiary institution in Nigeria.  The stakeholders embraced teaching, non-teaching staff, staff unions, students, management and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as participants under the aegis of MSCI Partners. In a resolute declaration of the College of commitment to excellence, the Rector, Dr. (Engr) Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul urged the participants to unite in shaping the institution’s future for a renewed hope in…

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has said his administration would address the issue of non-disbursement of car and housing loans to primary school teachers in the state, with a view to getting them to start enjoying certain benefits that their counterparts in secondary schools have been enjoying in the state. Governor Oyebanji gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti during the week when he met with Education Secretaries across the 16 local government areas in his office. According to a statement signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode and made available to journalists in Ado- Ekiti on…

The ECOWAS Court has dismissed multiple claims of human rights violations brought by the human rights organisation, Collectif Cri de Coeur pour le Mali, against the government of Mali. The case, premised on allegations of human rights violations during a conflict, included charges of rape, sexual violence, forced marriage, and torture by non-state actors. The Applicant, representing the victims, sought judicial redress for these violations under various international human rights treaties, amongst which the Protocol to the African Charter on Women’s Rights in Africa (Maputo Protocol). However, the Court on Monday concluded that the Applicant’s claims lacked sufficient evidence and…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has presided over the swearing-in of 29 Special Advisers, 27 Local Government Chairpersons, and seven Permanent Secretaries to the Borno State Civil Service. The oath of office was administered at an event held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Government House by the Chief Judge of Borno, Kashim Zanna, represented by Hon. Justice Haruna Mshelia. The newly sworn-in 27 Chairpersons, including a lady from Jere Local Government, emerged as winners at the 2024 Local Council election held on the 20th of February. The 29 Special Advisers have a blend of Yoruba, Igbo, indigenous technocrats and…

In what they described as a celebration of “eight years of unprecedented strides”, indigenes and residents of Okene in Kogi State, on Sunday, trooped out in their thousands to welcome the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, back home after two impactful tenures. They treated the White Lion, as he is fondly called, to a heroic homecoming ceremony at the ancient town, Okene, where Bello hails from. With loud cheers, pomp and pageantry, the jubilant residents heaped praises on the immediate past governor over his sterling performance in office, with different clans performing with their masquerades amid the…

Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in last year’s general election, Mr. Peter Obi, on Monday, 29 January, 2024, expressed his sympathies to the Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, over the recent explosion in Bodija, Ibadan. The former Anambra State Governor commended Governor Makinde for his prompt response and the way he handled the tragedy, stating that such response “gives assurances and confidence to people that there is a government and system that care for them.”Obi, who was received by Makinde at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, also commiserated with the families who lost loved ones in the incident.…

France has financed the building of a French Language Laboratory at the Nigerian Defence Academy A statement from the French Embassy on Monday, 29 January, 2024, said the French Defence Attaché, Colonel G Dujon, and his deputy in charge of the development of the French language learning programme in the Nigerian military, Lieutenant-Colonel R Chauvancy, were received in Kaduna at the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy by Major-General JO Ochai on 25 January 2024 during the inauguration of the laboratory. The statement read that: “The Defence Attaché inaugurated the Academy’s new French language laboratory, financed by the French Directorate for Cooperation…

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has reiterated the commitment of the Commission under his watch to integrity, accountability, and excellence in building a Nigeria where corruption has no place, and the rule of law prevails. The ICPC Chairman made this comment on Monday, 29 January, 2024 at the Commission’s management and leadership retreat taking place in Kano. Addressing management staff as well as Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioners (RACCs) from the 21 state offices of the Commission, the Chairman noted that the retreat provided a unique opportunity to the…

ActionAid Nigeria has called for the immediate release of Nasarawa protesters, insisting that their continued detention and prosecution is an infringement on the right to peaceful assembly and expression. Police were said to have arrested some persons in Lafia, Nasarawa State who were alleged to have staged a public protest after the Supreme Court’s judgment upholding the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule. The statement by ActionAid Nigeria on Monday, which condemned the arrest and prosecution of protesters in Nasarawa State and called for their Immediate release, read that: “In light of recent events in Nasarawa State, where the Police Command…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has facilitated the execution of eight projects including a school, orphanage, clinic, shops, staff quarters, sports ground, charity office and a Juma’at mosque by the Qatar Charity Foundation in Maiduguri. Laying the foundation for the construction of the projects cited in Bolori on Sunday, 28 January, 2024, Zulum said, “It gives me pleasure to stand here today to lay the foundation for the construction of an integrated school, orphanage, clinic, and many other projects by the Qatar Charity Foundation in Maiduguri. I have been working towards this since 2015, and today we have seen the…

By Temitope Ajayi For many decades, Nigeria’s move towards rapid development and economic growth was impaired by poor revenue despite the country’s abundant natural resources. The country’s unsavoury economic situation was also compounded by the almost crippling foreign exchange crisis of the last eight years, accentuated by insufficient supply of dollars into the economy. With demand outstripping supply, the fiscal and monetary authorities have been battling to control the declining value of the naira against the US dollars, which has now hit an all-time low of over N1400 to $1 at the parallel market. The local currency, at the official…

Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has said it is yet to receive any formal letter from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso withdrawal their membership for the subregional body. It however admitted that the announcement as to the effect that the three member countries presently under the country of the military has been monitored on television broadcast on Mali and Niger television stations. The statement issued on Sunday, 28 January, 2024, read: “The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has been drawn to a statement broadcast on…