Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Abimbola Ogunnaike An Iseyin Magistrate court in Oyo State, presided over by A.S Durowoju, on Monday, 11 March 2024 sentenced a 19 years –old- man, Isaac Olaoti, to six months imprisonment for stealing electrical cables worth N50,000. It was gathered that the accused was caught stealing electric cables at Oke-Oja maternity centre in Iseyin. Olaoti pleaded guilty to the crime and pleaded that the magistrate temper justice with mercy. He was subsequently sentenced to six months imprisonment with the option of four weeks community service. “For stealing electric wire worth N50,000 which is the property of Oyo State Government…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Nigerian natural baby food, Moppet, has received the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and United States’ Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) certifications. The Founder of Moppet Foods, Mrs Roberta Oyedokun, made this disclosure in a statement issued on Monday,11 March, 2024. Oyedokun said that the achievement had set a new standard for food safety in the country and would contribute to building a more secure and sustainable food system for all. According to her, the recognition underscores a commitment to upholding the highest international standards for food safety and exceeding expectations for quality and hygiene in the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Senate has engulfed in uproar on Tuesday, 12 March, 2024 following revelation of uneven distribution of Federal Government’s palliatives to senators for onward disbursement to their constituents.   The Red Chamber was debating the allegation by Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, during an interview with BBC Hausa Service. Ningi had claimed that a whopping N3.7 trillion was padded in the 2024 budget, causing an uproar among his fellow senators and sparking intense debates. The session degenerated further when Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe revealed that some senators were given N500 million as palliatives for their…

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried that in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, there are numerous social, political, economic and conflict related challenges which have adversely affected democracy, peace and human rights, core values that deliver sustainable development and prosperity to all. Delivering a keynote address at the celebration of Commonwealth Day on Monday in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu while stating that the Commonwealth is a historic platform that promotes democracy, peace and human rights, core values that deliver sustainable development and prosperity to all, lamented that “In many parts of the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ikorodu is set to hear a suit filed by Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Mohbad, seeking a DNA test for his grandson, Liam. The head of the Aloba family’s legal team, Monisola Odumosu, made this disclosure in a statement issued on Monday, 11 March , 2024. “A date has been fixed for mention of the application for a DNA test by the family of late singer Ilerioluwa Promise Oladimeji Aloba known as Mohbad, who died in an unusual circumstance on September 12, 2023. “All necessary legal apparatus are…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Gunmen on Sunday, 10 March, 2024, invaded a market in Zurak Campani, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State killing at least seven people, injured several others. It was gathered that the sad incident occurred on the market day when the community was bubbling with commercial activities. A youth leader in the area named Abdullahi Hussaini, confirmed the incident to an online medium. According to Hussaini, the gunmen arrived at the market around 2pm on Sunday and suddenly opened fire on the people transacting businesses. “The gunmen arrived at the market in their numbers on motorcycles. They started shooting…

Senators Iyal Abbas from Adamawa, Ibrahim Bomoi from Yobe, Abdullahi Yar’ Adua, and four others, have disowned the statement made by the Forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdul Ningi. “We, the undersigned on behalf of the Senators from the 19 Northern States and the FCT, under the aegis of Northern Senators Forum (NSF), hereby state that Senator Ahmed Abdul Ningi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Bauchi Central), who also happens to be the chairman of our forum, was on his own in the claims he made on the BBC Hausa Service on the 2024 budget. “As such, the view he expressed…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted illicit drug consignment concealed in the engine compartment of an interstate commercial bus just as two grandfathers were taken into custody over drug trafficking. A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said no fewer than 5.2 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa and opioids were discovered last Thursday in the engine compartment of an interstate commercial bus marked VDY 187 XA along Gbongan – Ibadan road, Osun state by NDLEA officers on stop and search operation on the highway. He said the bus driver, Iorliam…

Palestine Authorities have said the estimated figure of 9,000 women death in the ongoing attacks in Gaza by Israeli forces is an underestimation, decrying that at current rate of attack an average of 63 women will continue to be killed daily. Addressing a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, the Palestine Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Abu Shawesh lamented that as of March 6, 30,717 Palestinians have been killed and 72,156 injured, with 8000 still missing under the rubble, alleging that the Israeli Occupation Force has denied rescue teams access to reach and save them those trapped under the rubbles.…

Indian High Commission to Nigeria has honoured six Nigerian women for their sterling performance to the growth and development of Nigeria. Those honoured at a ceremony in Abuja at the weekend to mark this year’s International Women Day (IWD) include Aisha Rimi, CEO Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, DG National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, DG, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Hajiya Bola Shagaya, a businesswoman and fashion enthusiast and Ms.Rahama Sadau, Nigerian Actress. Speaking on the IWD, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gangandharan Balasubramanian said it was an…

No fewer than 3,500 terrorist attacks were recorded in West Africa in 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) revealed on Friday. The subregional bloc lamented that about 9,000 lives were claimed as a result of terrorism with the same period under review. The Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musa, said this has left the body with no other option but to establish an Anti-Terrorism Force to address the challenge. Musa gave the details on Friday in Abuja at the weekly press briefing of the ECOWAS Commission. He noted that the bloc is not…

By Jude Ndukwe Olufemi Bakre is a name synonymous with excellence in Nigeria’s banking sector and beyond. Without any element of arrogance, he traverses the sector with the panache of a financial expert who possesses the seamless ability to build people and grow institutions as he climbs the rung of his admirable career. A merit-driven professional, I first encountered Mayor as he is fondly called by those who admire his exemplary leadership skills and his goal-driven approach to the job, in the Year 2000 while undergoing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Abuja. As a Corps member, I…

The Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr Ibraheem Abdul has asserted that efficient transportation system and infrastructural development in Nigeria are bedrock to the nation’s economic prosperity. He made the assertion at the third edition of TPL Dr. Abubakar Mobolaji Olaseni’s Annual Lecture Series, themed: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Socio-economic Potentials through Improved Sustainable Transportation and Infrastructure Development” held at the college Yusuf Grillo Auditorium. The Rector emphasized the critical role of transportation and infrastructure in Nigeria’s economic prosperity as the significance of an efficient transportation system for economic growth. He highlighted the prevalent challenges within Nigeria’s transportation sector and stressed…

The 9th Brigade Army Cantonment in Ikeja was thrown into frenzy on Sunday, 10 March, 2024, as the blocks of classrooms facilitated by the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke was commissioned, reports thegazellenews.com Military high officials led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General MT Usman were on hand to witness the historic occasion. Speaking at the event, Honourable Faleke stated that the construction of the school was meant to improve the standard of teaching and learning in the primary school particularly for…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike It what seems to be a premeditated suicide plan, the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that it found bottle of sniper, drugs and hospital card in a nylon left behind a woman identified as Folashade Nimotalahi, who boarded a boat from Igando in Lagos State to a community in Ogun State but jumped into the river from the moving boat. The command also disclosed that it has commenced search for the corpse of the woman. The command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development to newsmen on the evening of Sunday, 10 March, 2024. Hundeyin, who said the rescue teams…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake has urged mineral- rich African countries to use the proven mineral reserves of their countries as equity in joint ventures instead of taking loans that worsen the plight of their people. Speaking at a Ministerial Roundtable on Powering Africa in Washington DC recently, Alake deplored unwholesome pressure on African governments by loan marketers despite global concerns over the declining capacity of many countries to settle their debts. His words: “It is an interesting paradox that inspite of their chronic indebtedness, African countries remain the target of institutional and private loan sharks…

Finalists have emerged for the forthcoming National Spokespersons’ Awards (NSAwards) 2024 after the first round of the screening process by the jury, which is made up of communication scholars, PR practitioners and media personalities. The NSAwards is jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons’ Digest, to acknowledge outstanding contributions of communication professionals and spokespersons across Nigeria. The Chairman of the Awards Committee and former Chairman of NIPR, Lagos Chapter, Mr Segun Mcmedal, said 62 finalists were shortlisted from 224 entries for 21 categories,…

By Niyi Akinsiju We have observed that for the first time in over two decades, capital expenditure funds are higher than allocations to recurrent. By the nation’s annual budget precedence, this is remarkable considering the age-long national aspiration to engineer a budget that is perceived as a true capital expenditure fiscal instrument. A recurrent budget, as had been the character of the annual national budget, fiscally dots and panders to the needs and emoluments of federal government personnel aggregated in the cadre of public servants. The very few that, by providence, most of the time, find themselves in this privileged…

The Arewa Economic Forum has reacted to the three executive orders signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which are aimed at improving the investment climate and positioning Nigeria as the preferred investment destination for the oil and gas sector in Africa. The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim Dandakata, said in a press statement on Monday that the signing of the executive orders is a step in the right direction. He however observed that there are critical components of the petroleum industry in Nigeria which the executive orders have missed. Alhaji Dandakata noted that the Forum is concerned that…

Heirs Holdings, a leading African investment company dedicated to improving lives and transforming Africa through strategic long-term investments, announced the launch of its new subsidiary, Heirs Technologies Limited, with an ambition to empower Africa’s digital transformation through innovative and locally tailored solutions. Heirs Technologies endeavours to provide value added services that capitalise on top-tier expertise while guaranteeing accessibility locally. The company’s range of offerings include IT consulting, which encompasses advisory services, business transformation, system integration, licencing, and partnerships. Additionally, Heirs Technologies will offer various managed services covering IT operations and business process outsourcing. To achieve its vision of propelling Africa…