Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

Members of the Council of European Union’s Africa Working Party (COAFR) have arrived in Abuja to begin a four-day working visit to the country. During the visit taking place from 26-29 February 2024, the COAFR members will engage with Nigerian authorities, government agencies, civil society groups, regional and international organisations and private sector actors in Abuja and in Lagos. According to a statement on Sunday by the European Union in Nigeria, the Africa Working Party (COAFR) is mandated with the supervision and management of EU external policy towards the 46 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa, the African Union and other…

Nigerian youths have been asked to earnestly seek opportunities available in the country rather than insatiable search for Golden Fleece outside the shores of Nigeria. The advice was given at the weekend in Abuja at Beyond Talent Conference organised by Africa Relief Trust Initiative (ARTI). Speaking at the Conference, which had in attendance mainly fresh graduates, the founder of ARTI, Olatunde Popoola noted that there are massive opportunities in the country for anyone to excel and it was needed engaging in irregular migration in search of Golden Fleece outside the country. He noted that: “Youths as well as women’s level…

The disputed Business and Investment Forum (BIF) planned during the proposed official visit of President Bola Tinubu to Qatar is now going to hold, the Embassy of Qatar in Nigeria has revealed in an official correspondence with Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs. It would be recalled that a leak official correspondence between The Qatari government and Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs last week had said the forum would not be holding during Nigeria’s President planned visit on March 2 and 3 due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria for the promotion of investment. The…

The former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, has lauded the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for the achievements of the Commission under his stewardship. Senator Dickson, representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, spoke at Ayakoro community, Ogbuku’s home town in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, during the 2024 edition of the community’s annual cultural festival, the Eyal Obeyin. He noted that the developmental footprints recorded by Ogbuku in the community speak volumes of the benefits of having a son who knows what to do and urged states in the Niger…

Two wanted armed bandits’ leaders, Baldo and Baban Yara, together with scores of their foot soldiers, have been eliminated by Nigerian troops. The warlords were behind the coordination of movement and exchange of kidnapped victims within camps in the Zamfara/Katsina axis. A defence intelligence source confirmed to PRNigeria that the terrorists were killed on Saturday in a deadly military operation along the Zamfara/Katsina axis. “Our troops engaged the terrorists at Aliero West axis and succeeded in killing the two bandit kingpins and 28 of their foot soldiers. Lately, our troops have intensified their aggressive operation in the North West and…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike  At least eleven persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly selling new naira notes. The agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrests of the suspects in a statement issued on Saturday, 24 February, 2024. Oyewale said the suspects were arrested on Monday, February 19, 2024, following intelligence that unmasked a syndicate of fraudsters operating in Kano. According to him, five members of the syndicate were arrested with new naira notes being sold to members of the public, while the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Lagos State Police Command has vowed that its operatives will not hesitate to arrest protesters who try to impede the free flow of traffic while protesting. The State Police Spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, made this disclosure on Sunday, 25 February, 2024 According to Hundeyin, the police are aware of the plan by some people to protest in the state and will ensure that necessary measures are put in place for the safety of the lives and property of Lagosians. The police image-maker added that nothing would hinder the free flow of traffic or a peaceful environment to…

The Ogun State Government has disowned a message circulating on various social media platforms, falsely claiming that Governor Dapo Abiodun is offering N10,000 cash palliative per person across the state. The scam message also provides a link, urging individuals to apply for the said cash palliative and also share the information for others to benefit. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Governor, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the State Government categorically disclaimed the message in its entirety informing the public that it is a scam. It urged the good people of the state not…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former player of Everton FC of England, Li Tie has been sentenced to life in prison for corruption in his home country of China. In a televised confession on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Li said he had paid around £330,000 to manage the national football team. Tie, who revealed he had played a role in a match-fixing scandal to secure promotions with club teams he featured for in China, was ‘suspected of accepting and offering bribes’ by the Chinese public prosecutor. This is coming after he left his role as manager of his nation. The 46-year-old managed the…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have begun to unmask members of an organized criminal network behind the recent importation of two containers laden with illicit drugs as well as assorted arms and ammunition from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos. Among those already arrested as members of the syndicate are: a clearing and notify party of the two containers, Falowo Samuel Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Ahmed Iguda who is in charge of the Five Star terminal at the port. Another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Super Eagles of Nigerian players: Alex Nwobi and Calvin Bassey goals helped Fulham to record their first away win in the league at Old Trafford in 21 years on Saturday, 24 February, 2024. The club historic victory represents the first anywhere since the opening weekend of the season, just as the team inflicted Manchester United their first defeat of 2024 as a run of six wins and a draw from seven games came to a halt, and their 10th loss in the Premier League this season. Rodrigo Muniz came closest to opening the scoring before half-time when he hit the…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is not currently recruiting, urging Nigerians to ignore social media adverts. The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board disclosed this in a statement by the Secretary to the Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, on Saturday, 24 February, 2024. The statement read: “The attention of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has been drawn to the recruitment advert on social media platforms stating that the Board has approved the commencement of the Nigeria Immigration Service 2024 merit replacement exercise. “The Board is urging the general public…

Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has congratulated Amb. Amina Smaila, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Atlanta Georgia for her recognition and commendation by the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, thus making history as the first-ever recognition of an African diplomat in its 247-year history In the congratulatory message, Dabiri-Erewa described Smaila as an exceptional and distinguished Nigerian diplomat with deep concerns for fellow citizens. The NIDCOM boss said she was not surprised about the well-deserved honour done to Smaila going by her pedigree as an outstanding and intelligent public servant with exceptional service in the…

Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit of President Bola Tinubu to Qatar would go ahead as scheduled, adding that it was not ready to comment on the leaked letter stating that the Business and Investment Forum planned by the Nigerian government during the visit would not hold. The Ministry in a statement by its spokesperson, Fransisca Omayuli said it was “aware of the circulation of a diplomatic correspondence on the social media and wishes to state that it will not comment on leaks.” The statement further read that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that His Excellency,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Xavi’s tutored Barcelona side beat Getafe 4-0 on Saturday, 24 February, 2024 to climb to second position in the La Liga table. The quartet of: Joao Felix and Raphinha, Frenkie De Jong and Fermin Lopez registered their names on the score sheets. The defending champions climbed above Girona and now have 57 points from 26 games. Leaders Real Madrid have 62 points and play their game in hand at home to Sevilla on Sunday, 25 February, 2024. Real Madrid hope to take their La Liga unbeaten tally to 20 matches as they await old boy Sergio Ramos,…

We are aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March, 2024. The leaked diplomatic paper by mischief makers about an investment forum is not in any way a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government. The Note Verbale is about a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held on the margins of President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit. The event is being put together by the Nigerian Association of Chambers…

The Government of Sudan has said efforts are being made to strengthen diplomatic relations with Nigeria. Mr Ahmed Jaboul, Charge d’ Affaires of Sudan Embassy in Nigeria, who spoke with to journalists in Abuja, said already existing bilateral cooperation between both countries would be consolidated. He said that the existing relations between Sudan and Nigeria was established on mutual ground; saying more would be done to deepen ties between both countries in education and economic sectors. “There is a history of diplomatic relations between Sudan and Nigeria; we have many things to do together; we have many successful stories together,…

President Bola Tinubu has called for the suspension of economic sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea by ECOWAS. Speaking at the Extra-ordinary Summit of ECOWAS in Abuja on Saturday, 24 February, 2024, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the organization, stated that: “Everything we did was in hopes of persuading our brothers that there existed a better path, a path that would lead to genuine improvement of their people’s welfare through democratic good governance. And this was a path each of our nations had solemnly agreed with…

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called for collaboration with media practitioners on promotion of rights of migrants. The call was made on Thursday the Regional Representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)-West Africa Regional Office, during a visit to Nigeria. Kotchani, who led OHCHR delegation from the organisation’s regional office in Dakar, Senegal, said migration related issues have posed concern not just within the sub-region but globally, noting such can only be tackled on the platform of promoting human rights. Kotchani said: “A media professional has an important role to play…