Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bertrand Onuoha, described the off-season governorship elections that took place in Nigeria, especially his state, as a war zone that bore no semblance to what a normal poll should look like. Onuoha made the statement on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024 at a public presentation on Nigeria’s Election Violence and Education Report of the 2023 governorship polls in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states held in Abuja. The Police Commissioner lamented that he has never seen the kind of bitterness that was brought into the November 11 poll that produced the All Progressives Congress candidate, Usman…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The younger brother of Dr Paul Akintelure, one of the governorship aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, who died in the early hours of Tuesday, 26 March, 2024, has said that his death was not natural. It was gathered that the APC governorship aspirant, a medical doctor, gave up the ghost in Lagos after he had initially raised the alarm over a “serious threat” to his life. On Thursday, 21 March, 2024, Akintelure alleged that there was a threat to his life ahead of the APC governorship primary fixed for April 25. Though…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has described as “shocking and devastating” the death of the APC governorship aspirant, Dr Paul Akintelure. Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan, commiserated with Dr Akintelure’s family, the people of Okitipupa LGA and the progressive fold in the state. “Akintelure was a wonderful human being and was a core progressive. He was very consistent and loyal to the tenets of progressive politics in Ondo State and Nigeria. “He was a friend and associate. He conducted his private business and public affairs with so much decorum and humility to the…

Pelumi Nubi, the content creator who embarked on a solo road trip from London to Lagos by road, has survived a car accident. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024, she shared a picture of her now-wrecked car, revealing severe damage to the front bumper and a shattered windscreen. An accompanying video shows her being carried in an ambulance, with the caption: “Say a prayer for me.” Details about the accident’s location, cause, and the extent of her injuries remain unclear. Pelumi began her journey on Wednesday, 31 January, 2024, facing various obstacles along the way. These challenges…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Association Of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) have appealed to the federal government to save the water industry from total collapse by supporting the association with financial aid to enhance the business of their members numbering over 30,000 across the country. Recall that 22nd March of every year has been set aside to celebrate ‘World Water Day’ and water producers in the country used the annual celebration to reflect on water and its usefulness to mankind and other creatures. The association expressed serious concern at the rate at which the cost of production is skyrocketing, making sachet…

By Abimnola Ogunnaike Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has disclosed details of his meeting with security agents who invited him for questioning over activities of bandits in the North Gunmi added that he had a productive meeting with security agencies on how to curtain bandits and their activities in the North. Recall that the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Gumi would be invited for questioning over the activities of bandits in the North. According to the ministerm had said Gumi was not above the law and that he would be reprimanded if security agencies deemed his comments reckless. However,…

Residents of Ibijoke and Olasimbo streets in Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State have taken three Lagos State Commissioners to court over Illegal allocation of a canal setback in their area to mechanics, reports thegazellenews.com In the writ of summons sighted by this medium, the three Commissioners involved are: the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state; the Commissioner for the Environment; and the Commissioner for Transportation. The case was instituted by Felix Akinnisola, Esq and Remi Olowolabi of Covenant Villa on behalf of Alhaji Wasiu Lawal and Pastor Kola Olayemi who are standing in for Ibijoke and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, has disclosed apex bank had settled all valid forex backlogs amid the continued appreciation of Naira against the US dollar at the forex market. Cardoso called on those claiming the foreign exchange backlog has not been cleared should approach the open market to verify the situation. The Apex Bank boss stated this on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024 while briefing journalists at the end of the 294th Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja. “As long as the Central Bank of Nigeria is concerned, all valid foreign exchange…

The Executive Chairman of the Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, to continually work against glamourisation of internet fraud and mutilation of currencies in films and movies meant for the public. He made the call when the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Board, Dr. Shuaibu Hussaini and his team paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. According to him, films, videos and movies are meant to promote good moral standards and encourage accountable conduct in the society and the NFVCB should…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Multichoice, organisers of the Big Brother Naija show, have fixed date for auditions for its ninth season contestants. BBNaija, in a statement on its official X page, announced that the application for audition, which is slated to commence on Wednesday, 27 March, 2024, at 8:00 pm, comes with a new format. In the new format, the organisers said contestants of the upcoming ninth season will audition in pairs. According to the organisers, auditioning pairs can be close friends, family members, romantic partners, or any combination that embodies a “dynamic duo”. The tweet introducing the new format goes this:…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for improved collaboration among member states to help ease the suffering of persons displaced by worsening humanitarian crisis in West Africa. The Commissioner, Human Development and Social Affairs, ECOWAS, Prof. Fatou Sarr made the call on Tuesday while addressing representatives of member states at the opening of a three day workshop on ECOWAS Response to Persons of Concern (PoCs-IDPs, Refugees, Returnees, Stateless People, Asylum Seekers and their Host Communities holding in Abuja Sarr who was represented by the Director Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Sintiki Ugbe said: “In 2024, the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In efforts to tackle rising inflation in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised the monetary policy rate, known as the interest rate, by 200 basis points per cent to 24.75 per cent from 22.75 per cent . The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, disclosed this on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024 at the 294th Meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press briefing in Abuja. The bank retained the Cash Reserve Ratio to 45 per cent. Cardoso said the move was to ensure that the country’s rising inflation rate which stood at 31.70 per cent in February…

As the Russian Republic continues to mourn the killing of its citizens in an attack on Moscow concert hall, some prominent Nigerians including a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and the immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami paid a condolence visit on Russian Embassy in Nigeria with a message that the European country is not alone. With Fani-Kayode and Pantami on the visit were a former Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer Mohammed; Senator Mohammed Hassan who represented Yobe South Senatorial District, a former Member of the House of…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has declared value addition as the irreducible standard for mining operations in the country. Speaking during an inspection tour of the gigantic $600 million African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) facility, in Kaduna state, that hosts the mining and processing of magnetite iron-ore, the Minister hailed the tenacity and foresight of the investors to build what is touted as one of the biggest foreign investment in the mining sector. According to Alake, the company aligns with his vision of value addition and beneficiation through its processing of iron-ore, urging other…

The Federal Government on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024, revealed how the growing hunger and poverty in the country would be tackled. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, said President Bola Tinubu is set to evolve science and technology to rewrite Nigeria’s story and drive hunger and poverty out of the land. The Minister disclosed this in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the consultative General Assembly of the West African Network of National Academies of Sciences (WANNAS) in Abuja. Nnaji said: “It is imperative to inform you that the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,…

Over 5,200 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been deployed in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to allow for hitch-free Easter celebration. The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Olusola Odumosu, made this known on Tuesday. He said exactly 5,230 personnel have been deployed across the nooks and crannies of the FCT for the Easter celebrations to maintain peace and orderliness, and equally secure critical national assets. Odumosu, while addressing principal officers at the FCT Command Headquarters at Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja, said due to the intelligence report…

The Federal Government is moving to ensure that gas flaring ends in the country by 2030 as the Ministry of Environment and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency are ready to collaborate and put in place regular reviews of both international and indigenous oil companies’ plans to ensure alignment with Nigeria’s goal of ending gas glaring. The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako made known the decision on Tuesday in Abuja at the national stakeholders engagement meeting on methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas with significant warning…

Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM, on Tuesday, 26 March, 2024, left public relations professionals in the country with a task to serve as guardians of truth and national integration through effective communication in the face of a growing threat by purveyors of disinformation. The Vice President who spoke when he declared open the maiden edition of National Spokespersons Summit organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation emphasized the critical role image-building and narrative construction play in maintaining social order. The two-day summit with the theme, “Change Narrative,…

These are certainly not the best of time for Ginika Tor who represents Enugu State in the Federal Character Commission. On Tuesday, 19 March, 2024, Tor’s indefinite suspension by the Anambra state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was ratified by the South East Zonal chapter of the party. Earlier before that, Mrs Tor has been suspended by the Enugu State chapter. Tor has been described as over ambitious and causing rift within the Enugu State chapter of the party. She was accused misconduct, anti-party activities and attempt to create a parallel state exco for the party. The Enugu…

The University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan has requested the intervention of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr Wale Edun in offsetting its outstanding electricity bill to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC. The electricity company had disconnected UCH three times this year owing to the backlog of electricity bills it owes the company accumulating to the sum of N494m This has put the facility in incessant darkness, exposing patients, their relatives and medical staff alike to hardship and health hazards. In the letter to the Minister, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo lamented that…