Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, concealed in giant loudspeakers tucked in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America. When the giant wooden boxes dressed as sound speakers seized by NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport, were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilograms. At least, three suspects: a freight agent, Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager, Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega; and the…

President Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, 18 February, 2024, and had fruitful discussions on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields. Speaking at the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the strength of Nigeria’s economic potential and influence, saying the country is witnessing a leap forward, despite some short-term reform pains, as his administration is removing all encumbrances to business. The President further explained that his administration is investing in critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, education, and agriculture to ensure the welfare of all Nigerian citizens…

Officers of the Ekiti State Police command have arrested eight suspects in connection with the killing of two traditional rulers in the state as well as kidnapping of pupils and teachers of a private school in Emure Ekiti. The police have recovered the telephone used in negotiating for ransom paid for the release of the pupils and the teachers. Those arrested are: ABUBAKAR ALIYU, Saliu Ibrahim, Umaru Saliu, Mohammed Bashiru, Kenneth Ugwu, Yahaya Jubril and Usman Garba The police have also located a major kidnapping hideout at Agric Reserved Forest between Ise-Ekiti/Emure-Ekiti According to the police, on Thursday, 8 February,…

Ogun State Government is keen on collaborating with the National Council on Transportation, neighbouring states, development partners like the UK-Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility and multilateral institutions like the World Bank, to actualise the vision for seamless multimodal transportation in the state. Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the Executive Session of the 18th Edition of the National Council on Transportation, with the theme, “Embracing Innovations and Technologies For Sustainable Transportation: Tackling the Energy Challenges”, organised by the state in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. Governor Abiodun,…

The Organization of African First Ladies for Development OAFLAD have met in Addis Ababa the Ethiopian capital on the side line of the ongoing African Union General Assembly with the organization stating its resolve to strengthen regional collaboration amongst themselves. The meeting which was chaired by the Vice President of the Organization and First Lady of Democratic Republic of Congo, Mrs Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi noted that this collaboration must be encouraged to enhance more development and promote growth among member countries. The meeting which had in attendance First Ladies from member countries including the First Lady of the Federal Republic…

Kwara State Palliative Distribution Committee at the weekend submitted their report to the state government, with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq commending the efforts and the fairness with which they carried out the exercise. The state government had in August 2023 inaugurated the committee to distribute 250,000 10kg bags of rice to the less privileged as part of the efforts to ease the hard time that came with the removal of fuel subsidy. The Governor also thanked the federal government for supporting states with N2bn to purchase that rice at the time. “First of all, let me commend you for the good…

President Bola Tinubu has said that Africa must forge partnerships that transcend borders and sectors, leveraging on collective expertise, knowledge, resources, and the private sector to address the complex challenges confronting the health sector. Speaking at the Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme on the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday, President Tinubu said Africa’s effective collaboration with the rest of the world to tackle existential health challenges is not merely a strategic choice, but a moral imperative. The President, who was appointed…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said plans by the Federal Government to connect industrial zones in the country through rail lines, if successfully implemented, would reduce pressure on the nation’s highways and prolong their lifespan. The Governor also noted that the resuscitation of the narrow gauge from Ibadan to Abuja, when completed, would give investors the opportunity to wheel cargo all the way from Lagos to Kano State and improve trade and commerce. Prince Abiodun stated this on Thursday evening, 15 February, 2024, when he received the Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali and some commissioners for transportation…

Following a successful inaugural session, the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris on Friday, 16 February, 2024, moderated the second edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS) featuring the Minister of industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, at the National Press Center in Abuja. The Forum aims to create a platform for direct engagement between government officials and the media, promoting transparency and accurate reporting to the Nigerian public. “We are gathered here to build trust and ensure the people of Nigeria are informed,” declared Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the event. …

By Tunde Rahman Those who know Mr. Olayemi Cardoso will agree he got his current job as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria on a platter of solid professional background and strong personal attributes. His pedigree is rich as his character is unsullied. Cardoso had a remarkable private sector career where he shone brilliantly in banking, stockbroking and consulting. Cardoso also came from a very solid family pedigree. Nigeria’s late Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, appointed his late father, Mr. Felix Bankole Cardoso, as the first Accountant-General of the Federation in 1963. The late elder Cardoso served with…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jide Idris, a former Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, as the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The new DG also served as a permanent secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health. The appointment of Idris was contained in a statement by presidential aide Ajuri Ngelale on Thursday, 15 February, 2024 in Abuja. According to the statement, Idris has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector. He played a pivotal role in reshaping Lagos State’s healthcare delivery system. Idris also led the successful containment of…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has inaugurated the Oruma rigid pavement Road, a major by-pass for commuters from both Bayelsa and Rivers states, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Commissioning the road and solar-powered street light project, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, assured that more projects would be inaugurated across the Niger Delta region in the coming weeks. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer, who was represented by the Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that the Commission was now focusing on executing legacy projects that link communities, local governments and states across the Niger…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Science Equipment Market, Onitsha Bridgehead in Anambra, Anambra State, was in a state of pandemonium late on the evening of Friday, 16 August 2024 after operatives of the State Anti-Touting Squad allegedly shot one person dead and injured several others. The trouble, it was gathered, started at the market when the operatives invaded the area in search of someone who was said to have urinated in a restricted area and ran into the market for cover. According to an eyewitnesses, the operatives shot indiscriminately for over two hours while in the market resulting in the traders…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The management of Dawanau International Grains Market in Kano State has denied rumour making the rounds and reports in the media that dealers in the market are hoarding foodstuff to create artificial scarcity. Dawanau International Grains Market is the biggest in West Africa supplying foodstuff to customers in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic, among other countries. The management of the market said it has to come out to dismiss the misinformation and disinformation that have taken over the public domain concerning their operations and they are wrongly accused of hoarding food items. The…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that he has summoned a meeting with prominent cement manufacturers in the country over the rising cost of cement. Umahi expressed worry that the cost of the product was rising at an alarming rate despite huge patronage by road and housing contractors to cement manufacturers. The Minister’s Special Adviser (Media), Orji Uchenna Orji, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen Abuja on Saturday, 17 February, 2024 According to the statement, the meeting would take place on Monday, February 19, 2024, at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Mabushi, Abuja. “The Minister of Works, David…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Terrorists on Thursday, 15 February, 2024 invaded Nasarawa Godel, in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State killing seven people and abducting no fewer than 20 others. It was gathered that the terrorists came in Toyota Hilux vans unlike the usual motorcycles. A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Tukur Yusuf said: “We have seven bodies as at the last count. Several others were seriously wounded. “Most of the abducted victims are women. The whole community has been thrown into confusion.” The terrorists, said to be from Gwaska Dankarami, stormed the community around…

My best friend told me this one. She knows the two women involved. One is happily married with children. The husband is almost perfect. Every woman’s dream man. The wife’s friend? Not so lucky. No husband. No child. To cut the story short. The single friend suddenly got pregnant. Her friend and her husband were happy for her. They asked her “who gave you bẹllẹ?” “One one-night stand from the abroad,” she told them. As the pregnancy progressed, her friend asked husband if she can move in with them, because it was not safe to live alone, in case of…

The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh, has called for urgent assistance from across the globe to safe Gaza from impending famine. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the envoy said should nothing be done to forestall the current catastrophe brought about by incessant attacks by Israeli force and distorting of humanitarian aids movement into Gaza, the besieged city may be under the siege of famine and epidemic. According to him, Thursday marked 132 days since the war began, hundreds of people died due to lack of proper medical treatment and infectious diseases has already invaded and famine is…

By: Dr. James Bwala With the rhetoric around the economy and security situation in the country, those blaming the government have failed to look at the history and those involved in it that brought Nigeria to its current predicament. The eight-year rule of the Buhari regime has given birth to criminality with untold consequences for Nigeria, but many who are now speaking ill of the Tinubu and Shettima administration are deliberately shying away from that creation, now biting the fabric covering the nakedness of Nigeria as a people and nation. The fingers pointing at the present economic and security situation…