Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In an efforts to increase operational conditions and propose fiscal measures to cushion the impact of macroeconomic pressures on telecommunications operators in Nigeria, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani has set up a 5-man Ministerial Committee to address the challenges facing the industry. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday, 22 March, 2024 by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Kania Maliki Andeyaba. According to the statement, the Ministerial Committee with a 6-point terms of reference, is set up to address issues faced by telecommunications companies in the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Abosede, mother of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly addressed as Mohbad, has alleged that the father, Joseph, her husband, buried the late singer before he died. Abosede added that she believed her son was not dead as of the time he was buried, she said she actually told them not to bury him, but they refused. She explained further that If they had not buried him at the time they did, she believed he would have lived and be alive today, saying that Joseph, her husband, is actually her problem. Abosede made this revelation during an interview…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged security agencies to commence early Security preparations for the Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated this in Abuja during the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security meeting. Professor Yakubu said, knowing the number of personnel and other assets to be deployed at strategic locations would help in the successful conduct of the two elections. He said the Commission had made available information kits to the security to help in their preparations. INEC Chairman also said that in the next few months,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In order to facilitate the acquisition and maintenance of state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment in six cancer centers located in the six geopolitical zones of the country, the Ministry of Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). While signing the MOU in Abuja, coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate said the Federal government had approved the sum of N38 billion for the procurement of the equipment. Pate explained that the burden managing cancer; access to centres has been brought to an end through the signing of the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Investors at the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, as are currently smiling after they gained N146.95 billion in market capitalization as the All-Share index soared by 259.90 points to close Friday, 22 March, 2024 at 104,647.37 points. The development further heightened investors’ confidence as the total market capitalization hit N59.17 trillion at the close of trading on Friday. Accordingly, the financial sector significantly pioneered the gains recorded in the market. The market sentiment stayed buoyant, with NSLTECH leading the pack of 34 advancing stocks with a notable 10 per cent increase in its stock value. In contrast, IKEJAHOTEL…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has warned the public, particularly those with relatives abroad, about a new fraudulent scheme being orchestrated by impersonators posing as NDLEA officers. This was made known in a statement by The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made known in a statement shared on the agency’s website on Saturday, 23 March, 2024. “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency wishes to alert members of the public especially those who have loved ones abroad to a new scheme by scammers who impersonate NDLEA officers and call unsuspecting citizens to inform them…

Membership drive of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Akwa Ibom received boost on Friday, 22 March, 2024 as about 37,874 members of opposition parties joined the party. The defectors include members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Progressives Party, YPP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others. Speaking on behalf of the returnees, former state Secretary of APC, Nkereuwem Enyong Ekere and Emmanuel Uko Etteh of YPP expressed readiness to collapse their structures and work for PDP. Receiving them at the PDP Secretariat, Atan Offot, Uyo, Governor Umo Eno admonished them not…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Following the directive of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday, 22 March, 2024 suspended the 25 percent penalty imposed as a surcharge on improperly imported vehicles. This was contained in a press statement issued by the national public relations officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada. Maiwada in the statement urged stakeholders, including vehicle owners, importers, and agents to use the opportunity to regularise their vehicle’s import duty payments within 90 days. “NCS under the directives of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike At least five terrorists of the Islamic State of West African Province and their Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’adati wal-Jihad counterparts in North East Nigeria have been eliminated by troops of the 7 Division Nigerian Army A statement issued by The Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen, Nwachukwu said the troops in an aggressive clearance patrol conducted on Friday, 22 March, 2024, successfully cleared six villages where terrorists hibernated with their hostages. According to him, the troops came in contact with the terrorists and fiercely engaged them…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A 81-year-old woman from Aral Moreira, Brazil, Daniela Vera, has died after undergoing surgery to remove a 56-year-old lithopedion, a calcified foetus, from her abdomen. Daniela had unknowingly carried the foetus since her youth, with doctors dismissing her complaints of stomach pain over the years. As reported by NDTV, on Friday, 22 March, 2024, Vera visited a local health centre on March 10, where she received treatment for a urinary tract infection. Subsequently, she was referred to another hospital where she underwent 3D scans. The scan was conducted after she was transferred to Ponta Pora Regional Hospital…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has disclosed Nigeria received over $4.6bn from the Global Fund in the last 10 years to bolster the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This is just as the Fund through the Family Health International (FHI 360) handed over 72 Toyota Hilux vehicles and laboratory diagnostic equipment procured through a Global Fund Grant to the Federal Government in her fight against HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this disclosure on Friday, 22 March, 2023 handing over ceremony at the Federal Central Medical Stores, Oshodi, Lagos…

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has appointed a former House of Assembly member AbdulgGafar Ayilara, former commissioner, Remilekun Banigbe, and former Special Assistant, Moshood Alaka as Advisers. Ayilara is named Adviser on Legislative Affairs, while Alaka is Adviser on Party Affairs. Banigbe is named Adviser on Environment and Disaster Management.

The Ogun State Government said it is determined to resolve the crisis that broke out between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Ogun State Park Management Board (OGSPAM) recently. The state Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Dairo Olugbenga, who spoke on the crisis, said efforts were made by officials of the state and other stakeholders towards restorating peaceful transport activities across the state. “Yes, there was a crisis, and we have been able to stabilize it. On behalf of the Executive Governor of our state, I want to use this medium to appreciate the security agencies for…

The Ogun State Government, on Friday, 22 March, 2024, said it is already working on the rehabilitation of Agbado-Oke Aro-Akute road. The government was reacting to a video that captured 500 pastors urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to rehabilitate the road in fulfilment of his re-election pledge. In a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, the state government, affirmed that it had never shirked its responsibilities in the area of road construction, having constructed over 600 kilometres of roads since coming on board in 2019. It added that it had already completed half of…

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the vision of President Tinubu is to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive through streamlining regulations, investment incentives, provision of infrastructure, and robust policies aimed at fostering economic stability and prosperity. The Minister stated this in Kano on Friday, 22 March, 2024, at a town hall meeting with the Business Community at the Bristol Hotel. “As part of the Ease of Doing Business, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has been mandated to operate a 24-hour online registration timeline for new businesses. “To ensure that Nigeria retains more…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In adherence to President Bola Tinubu’s instruction to halt publicly-funded overseas trips by ministers and government officials, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has announced a temporary suspension of any public-funded foreign travels by agencies and officials affiliated with the Ministry. Keyamo instructed all agencies and personnel within the ministry to cease all authorized foreign travels starting from Thursday, 21 March, 2024. This was contained in an official document dated Thursday, 21 March, 2024, signed by Dr Emmanuel C. Meribole, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation on behalf of the Minister. The…

Following the continuous disappearance of Segun Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews, the media organization has written a formal letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa, demanding to know the whereabouts of the Lagos based journalist. In the letter titled “Arrest and Detention of Mr Segun Olatunji, Editor FirstNews” and signed by the Publisher, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the news outfit among other things appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff, to help them ascertain the exact location of the veteran journalist. “As a responsible and law abiding media organization, we are requesting that you help us ascertain the whereabouts…

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024, criticised the removal of Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Comrade Ifeanyi Ejiofor from the legal team of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The civil rights organization described the action as not just a high technical error but also a profound misstep, considering the monumental successes both lawyers have achieved in the course of defending Kanu. The organization therefore demanded “a re-evaluation of Kanu’s legal strategy”, emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration among all stakeholders involved. HURIWA in a statement issued…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen on the afternoon of Thursday, 21 March, 2024 invaded a market in Madaka, a community in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State killing at least 21 people including the village head According to the residents, the attackers raided the market around 3pm when the commercial activities were in full swing and started shooting at the crowd. Many people were said to have sustained various degrees of injury and were receiving treatment at the IBB Specialist Hospital, in Minna. Dozens, including children, were also reportedly kidnapped while motorcycles, cars, houses, shops and goods belonging to traders…