Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

By Kingsley Obom-Egbulem The author of the carousel(in this post) was introduced to drugs in 1981 while at Howard University. (Note the university because it’s like saying you were introduced to drugs at Havard.) So, what would make someone take to drugs in Havard or Howard? I’ll leave you to figure that out. For more than 20 years, Randall Horton lived on cocaine and other vices associated with a life of drugs until he was finally convicted on three felony counts and served 18 months. All through his days in Virginia prison, this son of a well-respected educator and mentor…

By Sunday Saanu One of the positive attributes of President Bola Tinubu is his sensitivity to the public opinion. In response to the demand of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which gave a seven-day ultimatum for government to constitute governing councils for the federal universities, government came up with an appointment list of new council chairmen and their members, thus, putting an end to the agitation. That is good. But could this not have been done before the agitation and ultimatum? Government should be more proactive by addressing any danger on time before it becomes an emergency! However, governing…

The current Deputy National Organising Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nze Chidi Duru, is revealing some startling revelations about some of the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres before the spellbinding 2022 presidential primary of the party that produced Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as flag bearer. Duru, who spoke on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, narrated how the APC leaders and governors rejected then Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the “consensus candidate” imposed by the then National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu. The APC chieftain said Adamu’s choice was rejected because the NWC must be seen as fair to all party…

Africa presents a compelling investment destination for Japanese firms, with high growth potential and the African Development Bank’s strong support to manage risks, African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) leaders stressed at the Japan-Africa Business Forum in Tokyo. “Africa has huge private sector opportunities. The continent offers some of the highest returns globally,” said Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, Bank Group Chief Economist and Vice President, in a presentation highlighting Africa’s abundant renewable energy potential, and the need for strategic investments in green minerals and value addition. “Smart investments in Africa are good business — doing well by doing good,” he stressed.…

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (InfraCredit) have signed an agreement for a $15 million subordinated loan facility to strengthen InfraCredit’s capital base and attract institutional investors’ resources to help close Nigeria’s infrastructure financing gap. Lamin Barrow, Director General of the African Development Bank’s Nigeria Country Department, and Chinua Azubike, CEO of InfraCredit, signed the agreement in Lagos on 14 June 2024. The facility will boost InfraCredit’s efforts to unlock additional long-term local currency financing through the capital markets for infrastructure projects, primarily by leveraging pools of capital from pension funds and other institutional investors in…

The Republic of the Congo has a goal of increasing hydrocarbon production to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) and projects such as Wing Wah Oil Company’s Banga Kayo development will serve as catalysts for meeting this objective. The project is a strong example for how integration and scalability can be utilized to not only monetize resources but maximize production beyond the lifecycle of initially-tied in blocks. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) – the voice of the African energy sector – conducted a tour of Wing Wah’s project near Pointe Noire during a working visit to the country this week. A…

Continuing extreme downpour and landslides across much of China have led to tragedy death of six members of a family who fled their house on a flood devastated low land but were found dead Saturday, 22 June , 2024 after the building on a higher ground to which they ran for safety collapsed on them. Rescuers found the six bodies in the rubble of the collapsed building in Fujian Province after landslides that resulted from downpours in the place. Local reports indicated that the family had sought safety in the building because of its elevated site but a landslide caused…

By Pius Ughakpoteni A palpable wave of optimism is sweeping across the Niger Delta region. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), long beleaguered by underfunding, is embracing an ambitious new vision for the future, promising a transformative era for the oil-rich yet relatively underdeveloped region. At the heart of this renewed hope is the recently approved ₦1.911 trillion budget for 2024, aptly named the “Budget of Renewed Hope.” This unprecedented financial commitment, coupled with a strategic vision and innovative partnerships, marks a turning point for the NDDC and the communities it serves. “This budget is more than just numbers,” declares…

Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, says that the Commission will leverage technology to upgrade all its operations in the quest to transform the Niger Delta Region. Ogbuku, who spoke during a three-day Capacity Building and Retreat for the staff of the NDDC Directorate of Finance and Supply in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, stressed the need to deploy technology as it continued to reposition the Commission for greater effectiveness and better service delivery. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer also underscored the importance of strong internal mechanisms to check overbearing external influences in the Commission’s operations…

By GARBA MUHAMMAD in Makkah The Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Muslim Pilgrims Boards/Agencies/Commissions have fired back at Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; rejecting his insistent that most of the Hajj services must be decentralized to allow state governments to take full control of affairs of pilgrims who paid through their respective pilgrims’ welfare board. Deputy Chairman of the Forum, Alh Farouk Aliyu Yaro stated this on Friday night, 21 June, 2024, while responding to questions during a press briefing on the resolution reached from their meeting on the just concluded 2024 Hajj operations. Flanked by the Chairman,…

By Ovie Edomi, Ph.D Hate or love him, you can not but marvel at the personality of the 14th indigenous Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, whose appointment as the Comptroller General of Customs on 19th, June, 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, marked a turning point in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service. Indeed, no Customs boss has enjoyed the enormous goodwill as the current Customs boss in Nigeria Customs Service. Though the position commands so much respect, it equally comes with so much condemnation when one fails to meet the expectations of stakeholders…

Residents of Zion Plaza – Olusoji Avenue linking Alao Akala Expressway, Ibadan are hopeful of relief following moves by the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSROMA to fix the bad portions of the road. The Chairman, OYSROMA, Mr. Busoye Ogunlade, disclosed in Ibadan, on Friday that the agency also plans to fix other bad portions of the roads in the state. He noted that OYSROMA would also work on the drainage problem in the Zion Plaza – Olusoji Avenue linking Alao Akala Expressway area of the state capital Ogunlade, who lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift approval of the…

By Yushau A. Shuaib On June 13, 2024, an email from Janice Hills of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) announced a Campaign, “100 Days of Impactful PR at Customs Service,” as a Finalist for the 2024 Golden World Award (GWA) in public Relations. As a finalist, the campaign will now proceed to the second round, where more materials, including documents, relevant web links, images, and videos, will be submitted to enable the jury from various countries to decide on the winning entries. The campaign, a testament to the strategic leadership of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service…

A Dominican Priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Akinwale, has advised Nigerians to emulate the selfless service the late Rev. Sr. Agnes Hassan rendered to humanity while alive. Akinwale gave this admonition during the burial service of the late Rev. Sr. Agnes Hassan, a former Principal of St. Teresa’s College in Ibadan. The priest noted that the late Hassan served God and humanity through her dedicated service in the education sector, especially as a principal at St. Teresa’s College Ibadan. He implored Oyo state government to use the memory of the deceased to return the missionary schools to the Church, which would…

Traditional and faith leaders from across West Africa, government officials, and representatives from international organisations have gathered in Abuja for the inaugural Annual High-Level GBV Prevention Summit. In Africa, many instances of GBV are justified under culture and tradition. Harmful gender norms and practices rooted in traditional customs and religious misconceptions perpetuate violence against women and girls. It is believed that the authority and platforms of traditional and religious leaders can be instrumental in addressing the root causes of GBV, such as patriarchy and gender stereotypes, by mobilizing communities towards change. Recognizing this, UN Women, with support from the Ford…

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has proposed the appointment of an Adhoc Mediation Committee to prevail on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the three member states of the regional bloc, to retrace their steps and reunite with other member nations. The Acting Speaker of the Parliament, Barau Jibrin, who is also the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, said the machinery has been set in motion to do this. Jibrin, speaking at the opening of 2024 Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Kano State on Tuesday, noted that there is no…

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said that the move by the Nigeria’s Senate to give capital punishment to drug trafficking offenders may add little or nothing to reducing the crime. Country Representative, UNODC, Oliver Stolpe, gave the verdict at a two-day Media Personnel Training on Ant-Corruption, Police Accountability, Wildlife Crime and Sensitization on Drugs Prevention, Treatment and Care, (DPTC), organized by the UNODC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other partners, on Tuesday in Abuja. He said: “The deterrent effect of death penalty as never convincingly be proven. There is no proof of the effectiveness…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said his administration will continue to ensure probity and judicious spending of public funds and other resources by avoiding recklessness spending. Speaking while declaring open the 4th annual internal auditors retreat organised by the audit monitoring department of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) held at the conference hotel, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, Prince Abiodun said his administration has successfully blocked all leakages in the state financial architecture. According to the governor, acountability, transparency, and probity are key and pivotal elements that enhance good governance and promote sustainable development. Represented by…

Sports philanthropist, Ehis Osaigbovo, has pronounced his commitment to bankroll this year’s Teen Boxing Tournament. The grassroots tournament for aspiring male and female boxers between the age of 15—19 in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, a brainchild of the bustling community’s authorities is scheduled for October. Osaigbovo, the millionaire businessman, famed for sports philanthropy, according to a statement released by the Council Head of Sports Development, Segun Davies, has pledged N10 million for the sponsorship of the catch them young tournament. Davies said the oil and gas mogul made further commitment to sponsor the event yearly in sole…

The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered and dismantled an illegally constructed refining site with over 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Adobi settlement in Etche Local Government, Rivers State. The Commander of the CG’s SIS, DC Dandaura Appolos while giving the brief hinted that the operational success was achieved through credible Intelligence that some suspects have vandalized a multinational company well head and connected galvanized metal pipes with large hoses thereby syphoning crude and processing it locally. A statement on Saturday by the National Public Relations Officer of NSCDC,…