Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

In continuation of promoting and showcasing African artistes, providing them with platforms to reach a global audience beyond their home countries, the President/Executive Producer, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, would be sharing his thought at the BridgeAfric’s Southern Africa launch in Malawi on March 23, 2024. BridgeAfric is a revolutionary initiative aimed at connecting African artistes and industry professionals across the continent led by the dynamic Victoria Nkong. With the theme; importance of fostering collaboration within the African music community, Dada would be speaking on the significance of working together in promoting African music on a global scale.…

In fulfilment of a major plank of his 7-point agenda to create a new security architecture to secure mining sites, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has unveiled a 2,200-strong Mines Marshal to smoke out illegal miners and all those who flout the nation’s mining laws. Formally receiving the marshals drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) from the Commandant-General, Abubakar Audi, representing the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Alake charged the new operatives to stem theft and all nefarious activities around the nation’s mineral resources so that the nation can reap maximum…

Two prominent traditional rulers, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi and the Alaketu of Ketu in Republic of Benin, Oba Ajibade Adebowale Adegbite have jointly called for unity of purpose among the traditional rulers in the South-Western parts of the country. They also expressed worry over what they described as unacceptable public display and desecration of the traditional institutions in Yoruba land by some of the highly revered monarchs. These were some of the submissions by the duo when the Alaketu of Ketu in Republic of Benin, Oba Ajibade Adebowale Adegbite paid a courtesy visit to the Palace…

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to members of the National Assembly to exercise restraint in summoning heads of ministries, departments, and agencies before parliamentary committees. Speaking at the breaking of Ramadan fast on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024, in Abuja with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and the leadership of the House, the President said while oversight is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in governance, excessive summoning of officials can disrupt operations and hinder service delivery to citizens. He, therefore, urged lawmakers to show discretion in the exercise of their oversight functions. ”I have been watching…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has presented mobility and hearing aids to persons living with disabilities in the Niger Delta region, assuring them of its commitment to their well-being and development. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, handed over the items, which included wheelchairs, sensor-guide canes, hearing aids and crutches, to persons living with disabilities during the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Disability Praise Festival held in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Assistant Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Asela Agala, remarked that some physically challenged persons were very talented and gifted,…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved a ruling on the motion asking for the court to release the telephones of Professor Cyril Ndifon to a purported National Computer Forensic Laboratory. Professor Cyril Ndifon, a suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, and Barrister Anyanwu are being tried by ICPC before Justice James Omotosho over alleged sexual misconduct and attempt to perverse the cause of justice contrary to sections 8, 18, and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and Section 182 of the Penal Code Cap. 532 Laws of the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Edo State Police Command announced that a team comprising its men, military and vigilantes has rescued 20 kidnapped victims in Edo State. It was gathered that armed men suspected to be kidnappers on March 18, 2024, abducted 41 passengers along Lampese-Ogorimagogo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, said the armed men accosted four Toyota Hiace buses and kidnapped the occupants into the bush. Nwabuzor added that the police operatives, in collaboration with the military personnel and vigilantes, immediately moved to the scene,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie won gold medal in the men’s 400m with a personal best time of 45.06s at the African Games on the night of Wednesday, 20 March, 2024. It was the fastest time by a Nigerian athlete in nine years. Okezie defeated one of the world’s fastest men, Muzala Samukonga of Zambia, who clocked 45.37s for silver, while Diouf Cheick Tidiane of Senegal was third in 45.49s. Elo Joseph settled for silver medal in the women’s 400m with a new personal best of 51.64s. It was her first major championship for Nigeria.

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Sharia Court in Kano State on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024 ordered that two labourers -Sagir Nasiru, 37 and Abubakar, 32, who allegedly stole eight cartons of pasta and N900,000 cash be remanded in a correction centre. The police charged the duo both of whom live in Gobirawa Quarters in Dala Local Government Area, Kano with criminal conspiracy and theft. They pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubakar, adjourned the matter until April 22 for further mention. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the case was reported on…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Nigeria Air Force NAF jet air strike has destroyed the arms storage facility of one of the most wanted terrorists operating in Niger State. The military operatives acting under Operation WHIRL PUNCH continue to comb the Northwest and North Central regions of Nigeria to drive out the terrorists. Spokesman for the Airforce, Edward Gabkwet, an Air Vice Marshall, made this disclosure through a statement issued on Tuesday, March, 2024, adding that credible intelligence gave away the storage facility of the terrorists. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft under Operation WHIRL PUNCH (OPWP) has continued to decimate…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen have reportedly killed two farmers in Onipi community in Adoka District of Otukpo Local Government Area in Benúe State. According to locals, other farmers were injured while some went missing in the attack which happened on the morning of Tuesday, 19 March, 2024 The locals said the victims were working in their farms when the invaders struck. Caretaker Council Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Alfred Oketa Omakwu, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, confirmed that two farmers were killed. Omakwu said 12 people were injured during the attack and taken to the hospital for treatment while…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Omotosho on Wednesday, 20 March, 2024, declined to stop the impeachment move against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, by the state House of Assembly. Recall that the House of Assembly had on March 5, 2024, commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu over allegations of leaking of government’s secrets. Shaibu filed an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/321/2024, seeking an order of the court restricting the state House of Assembly, the Speaker and the Clerk from commencing any process by holding proceedings or setting up any panel of investigation…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi on Wednesday, March n20, 2024 convicted and sentenced a man, Ojo Oladeji, to life imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old minor three times, in an uncompleted building. Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution was able to prove the charge of defilement beyond reasonable doubt against Ojo. Oshodi said that the confessional statement of the convict, the medical report and the direct evidence from the survivor showed that he committed the offence. “The prosecutrix (survivor), in her evidence, said that the defendant was a bricklayer…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Kwara State Police Command has announced that the Chinese national, PengChao Zhang, who was abducted penultimate Sunday around Eyenkorin in Kwara State, has regained his freedom. PengChao, also known as Williams Kaka among his business associates, was abducted by six armed men who invaded Cherish Guest House, an isolated facility on the outskirts of Ilorin. It was gathered that the victim, said to be a former employee of Erkang Quarry, was released by his abductors after the payment of an undisclosed amount of ransom. A source who was privy to the development said Zhang was “rescued”…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has said his state is working towards attaining food sufficiency and the export of cash crops and other farm products such as maize and cassava, among others. The Governor stated this on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024, at the Koiri irrigation farm, one of the pilot drip irrigation schemes of his administration. Koiri scheme, covering about 20 hectares of land, is aimed to produce 364 tons of maize and sesame in one crop cycle. With three cycles per year, the Koiri scheme is targeted to cultivate over 1,092 tons of maize and other crops annually.…

Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, @officialSKSM has said posterity will remember President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT kindly as a decisive leader for his pivotal role in guiding Nigeria towards prosperity and stability. Speaking at the breaking of the Ramadan fast of President Tinubu with members of the Federal Executive Council, Service Chiefs and heads of government agencies, the Vice President extolled the essential qualities of leadership embodied by President Tinubu, including sacrifice. “Leadership requires sacrifice, tenacity of purpose, and commitment,” Senator Shettima said, adding that President Tinubu exemplifies these qualities and is steering the nation toward sustained growth and progress…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 18, 2024, arrested one Kayode Cole for issuing a death threat against the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede. Cole was arrested at the Lugbe axis of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.a The suspect made the death threat through his Instagram page handle: “1billionsecretss”, while commenting on a story posted by a popular Instagram blogger, Instablog9ja on February 1, 2024. Instablog9ja had posted a story with a caption: “A Religious Sect Is Laundering Money for Terrorists. We Traced N7 Billion Fraud Proceeds to another Religious Group…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has reiterated the call to Nigerians to get more involved in agriculture. The First Lady spoke when she received the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed in her office at the State House in Abuja. The First Lady noted that the various interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) especially in the areas of Agriculture, Empowerment, Education, Health and Social Welfare are to complement the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. “The President has made the right decisions. These decisions will help us build a Nigeria that is…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The House of Representatives on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024 passed the N1.28 trillion proposed Federal Capital Territory (FCT) budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The budget was passed after the bill was presented for consideration by the Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Rep. Mukhtar Betara (APC, Borno) on Tuesday, 19 March, 2024. Presenting the bill, Betara said, “The House do receive the Report of the Committees on Federal Capital Territory and Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters on a Bill for an Act to Authorise the issue from the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Statutory Revenue…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The protest by tricycle and motorcycle riders in the Asaba and Okpanam areas of Delta State has turned bloody. It was gathered that as morning of Tuesday, 19 March, 2024, deaths recorded as a result of the protest has risen to four. The chairman of the Building Material Market, Okpanam, and one of the okada riders, who were said to have been hit by police stray bullet during the protest on Monday, 18 March, 2024, died early hours of Tuesday. The commercial motorcyclists, during their protest on Monday, had said they were protesting the untimely death of…