Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC) of the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa-CDC) in Nigeria. President Tinubu is the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership. “The President’s approval of the siting of the Centre in Abuja is part of his larger effort to convey Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global health security, while promoting local economic opportunities in the health care delivery value chain and enhancing Nigeria’s and West Africa’s collective capacity to respond promptly to outbreaks which is vital to the overall well-being…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has reiterated her call for stiffer penalties for kidnappers in the country. She spoke when she received in her office at the State House Abuja, the Senators representing the three senatorial districts of Lagos State. Senator Oluremi Tinubu appealed to the lawmakers to address enacting security related laws to stem the tide of this crime. “We should look into the laws we would bring up. On the issue of kidnapping, it is like we are in a war, a war against kidnapping and kidnappers,” she said. She also admonished Nigerians to help…

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has elevated his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Gboyega Akosile, to Special Adviser, Media and Publicity. The appointment, which took immediate effect, was announced on Wednesday in a letter dated March 13, 2024, and signed by the state Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro. “I wish to convey the approval of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, of your new appointment as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (Non-Cabinet Rank) to Mr. Governor. The appointment takes effect from 13th March 2024 to 21st May 2027. “In appointing you, the State Government expects…

There is need for the intervention of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to wade into the controversy surrounding the illegal allocation of a set back in Oregun area of the state to a mechanic group which has put the lives of residents of the area in danger, reports thegazellenews.com. Residents of Ibijoke and Olasumbo Community Development Association have taken the state Governor to task over the impunity attitude of officials of the state Ministries of Transportation and Environment. The bone of contention is the illegal allocation of a canal setback in the area to a group of mechanics by officials…

Leading ICT company, MTN Nigeria, has received the Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) MOVE certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) at their headquarters in Lagos. MTN Nigeria is the first technology company in Africa to be awarded this certificate, as a testament to its commitment to identifying and addressing gender disparity in the workplace. The ICT firm joined over 250 organisations across 57 countries and 27 industry sectors, including institutions like the World Bank Group, Deloitte Switzerland AG, UNICEF, among others in September 2023. Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria said, “This certificate further underscores our commitment to…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have attacked the Buda community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting at least 61 people. As at the time of filing this report, the state and police authorities are yet to confirm the attack, but a resident of the area said that the assailants invaded the village on the night of Monday, 11 March at about 11:45 pm, where they kidnapped 61 people. According to a resident, Dauda Kajuru, the kidnappers invaded the community in large numbers and started shooting sporadically. “What happened yesterday was terrifying. The bandits came…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of Police in Orerokpe Division led by CSP Paul Oboware have arrested two suspected kidnappers in connection with the alleged abduction of a victim and collecting a ransom of ₦5 million. The arrested suspects include Peter Idogor, 24yrs and Emmanuel Sunday, 19yrs, all of Evwreni Community in Ughelli South. The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi disclosed this during a briefing in Asaba, Delta State. The State Police boss said, “On 31/10/2023 at about 2217hrs, the DPO Orerokpe CSP Paul Oboware received a distress call about the suspected kidnap of one man (name withheld) by…

President Bola Tinubu joined the Muslim faithful at the State House mosque for the Ramadan Tafsir (explanation of the Holy Qur’an) on Tuesday, appealing to Nigerians to pray for peace and stability in the country. Declaring open the annual Tafsir, President Tinubu advised the Muslim faithful to demonstrate kindness to one another and their neighbours while also supporting the less privileged in society. ”We thank Almighty Allah for sparing us to see another holy month of Ramadan. We thank Allah for sparing us through the elections and giving us the opportunity to be Nigerians. ”Yes, things are tough, but Allah…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) has approved the appointment of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Commission. Among those appointed was former member of the House of Representatives representing Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency, Honourable Jide Jimoh who will represent the southwest geo-political zone in the Commission. Others appointed are: Engr. Emeka Ezeh, Chairman; Hon. Ahmed Mohammed, North West; Chief Anthony Okeah, South-South; Mohammed Magaji Ibrahim, North East; Miskoom Alexander Naantuam, North Central; and Barrister Martin Azubike, South East. Similarly, the President also approved the following to fill existing vacancies in some critical agencies of…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Dayo Mobereola as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a renewable term of four years. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, appointment follows the exit of Mr. Bashir Jamoh, whose tenure recently expired. Dr. Mobereola holds a Ph.D, and an M.Sc in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, England, and a fellow of the same institute in Nigeria. He was the…

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, 12 March, 2024, received the Special Envoy of the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, at the State House, Abuja, and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and safety in the Gulf of Guinea. The Special Presidential Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, had conveyed a message from President Mbasogo requesting a state visit by President Tinubu, emphasizing the need to revitalize the Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission. He also emphasized the importance of fostering greater cooperation in various sectors, including oil and gas, and trade. Responding, President Tinubu…

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 arraigned three former bankers: Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma and Uwaezuoke Raymond; and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State. They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N15.944 million. One of the counts reads: “That you, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke sometimes in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit…

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, March 11, 2024 adjourned the alleged N4.8 billion fraud brought against a businessman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, till April 15, 2024. The case, which was initially before Justice I.O. Ijelu, of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, suffered several adjournments due to the absence of the defendant to take his plea with respect to the 10-count charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He was charged alongside his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd. Justice Ijelu had on…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The 63 Brigade of the Nigeria Army has confirmed that it discovered an illegal gun factory in Onicha Olona community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta state. The Commander, 63 Brigade Brigadier General, Ugochukwu Unachukwu, who stated this at the illegal arms factory site, said that the factory can produce ten guns per week. “Eight suspects involved in the family business including the mastermind of the operation, his father, mother, and sister were among those arrested at the factory. “The arms factory located in a forest has a surveillance post, a generating set connected from a remote…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The gunmen that kidnapped 15 Qur’anic students in Sokoto State have contacted families of their captors demanding for N20 million be paid before the captives can be released. The proprietor of the school, Liman Abubakar confirmed this development to an online medium on Tuesday, 12 March, 2024. Recall that the said students were abducted by bandits who raided Gidan Bakuso village in the Gada Local Government area in the early hours of Saturday. Abubakar said the bandits called him and requested for N20 million for the students to be freed. “They (the bandits) called me this morning around 11…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, 12 March, 2024, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop commercial banks from holding reversed funds of customers beyond the timeline stipulated by the apex bank. The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to restrain commercial banks from holding funds reversal beyond the date prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” moved by a member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo. The lawmaker recalled that on June 8, 2020, the CBN, in a statement announced timelines for reversals and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Akpabio, who stated this while speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, 12 March, 2024, expressed concerns about the damage inflicted on the Senate’s integrity by the controversy Recall that Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, alleged in a recent interview with BBC Hausa that the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion for 2024, contrary to the N28.7 trillion implemented by the Federal Government. Akpabio, during an open session, lamented the negative impact of the allegation on the Senate’s reputation, just as he also lambasted Ningi for his initial interview and a subsequent one where he seemingly defended his initial…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Few minutes after lawmakers in the Red Chamber suspended him for three months over allegation of budget padding, Senator Abdul Ningi has resigned as the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum. Ningi said his resignation was necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North and the Nation at large. “I will like to resign my position as the Chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum. This is of course necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North and the Nation at large “I will like to specially thank members of the Forum for the opportunity given to me for the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Nigeria’s used vehicle imports increased by 226.46 per cent to N1.063 trillion in 2023 compared to N325.05 billion recorded in 2022. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made this disclosure in its combined trade data for 2023. An analysis of the data showed that between 2022 and 2023, used vehicle imports increased by N736 billion. In the first quarter, Nigeria’s total used vehicle imports stood at N72.32 billion, which decreased to N69.48 billion in the year under review. However, in the second quarter of 2023, there was a hike in vehicle exports from N96.76 billion recorded in 2022…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, in the early hours of Tuesday, 12 March, 2024, attacked the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, in Enugu State and abducted a female deputy director, nursing services, and a security man . An SUV allegedly belonging to the abducted woman, a nurse, was seen abandoned, with bullet perforated glass on the front passenger side. The Enugu State Police Command and the Hospital management are yet to confirm the attack. A source in the hospital said that the incident occurred at the same location a medical doctor was abducted a few…