Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that he will not be distracted by the clamour in some quarters for him to run for Presidency in 2027. The Governor noted that he would not allow anyone to set an agenda for him, adding that as of now, he remained committed to delivering infrastructure, policies and programmes that will make lives more meaningful for the people, which is the mandate given to him by the Oyo State people. Makinde stated this on Tuesday, 15 April, 2025, while appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today. He maintained that though he has the…

Lagos State has begun a journey to achieve energy independence with the target of 6 gigawatts in power generation over the next three years. This ambitious energy plan was disclosed, on Tuesday, during Lagos Energy Summit, where the State Government’s representatives are meeting with regulators, investors and stakeholders to fashion out the plan. The bold move to establish a reliable clean energy source to address power shortfall in the State was a direct result of the Lagos State Electricity Act signed into law last December by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which gave legal framework for private investment in public energy infrastructure.…

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, April 14, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Peter Obumuneme Okoye, against Jude Chigozie Okoye, elder brother and former Manager of Paul and Peter Okoye, before Justice A. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. Okoye is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven- count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38 billion. One of the counts reads: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Limited, sometime in 2022, in…

Stanbic IBTC Bank lost N576,664,517 to cybercriminals through a breach in its internal bank security and it has commenced the process of tracking and arresting individuals who may have benefited from the fraud. The funds were lodged into various accounts through which the fraudsters initiated transactions with innocent individuals and registered companies. The cybercrime was reported to the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) at Ikoyi in Lagos State. Consequently, the police investigated the money trail and linked it to over 450 accounts domiciled in 37 financial institutions, including fintech companies and microfinance banks. In order to prevent the beneficiaries of…

By Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo Nigeria, the pulsating heart of Africa, stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. With a rich tapestry of cultures and a burgeoning population, the nation’s future hinges on the accuracy and integrity of its demographic data. The history of census exercises in Nigeria is a complex narrative, marked by political tensions, logistical hurdles, and widespread distrust. From the colonial era counts, which were often viewed with suspicion and used to serve imperial interests, to post-independence attempts marred by ethnic and regional rivalries, . Nigeria’s quest for a credible, reliable and widely acceptable census is…

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deal decisively with insecurity in Nigeria, which, he said, has developed branches and spreading like a monster across the country. Describing Nigeria as “a wounded and bleeding nation in need of healing”, he said all security operatives must restrategize in their approach to end the widespread insecurity in the country, while resources allocated to fight crimes in the country must be used honestly and transparently. Kaigama stated these in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a Chrism Mass held Our Lady…

The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma has said that President Bola Tinubu is what Nigeria needs to attain her desired growth. The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, stated this in Lagos over the weekend, noting that Tinubu is not only performing but also going beyond the expectations of Nigerians with his policies and style of governance. “President Tinubu is performing. He is living to expectation. You don’t change the winning team,” the Governor said. Describing Tinubu as a person who has a national outlook on almost every issue, Uzodimma said Nigerians are lucky to have someone…

No fewer than eight of the 1,800 shortlisted for Kwara Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) jobs have tested positive to outlawed drugs, automatically losing their slots to the next best candidate in the highly competitive exercise TESCOM Chairman, Bello Taoheed Abubakar, who made this disclosure in a statement issued on Monday, 14 April, 2025, said in the statement that the eight shortlisted candidates tested for hard drugs such as benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana, and amphetamine — all of which are considered unsafe for human health. According to TESCOM boss, the drug test was conducted by the NDLEA with the full support of…

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has announced the appointment of prominent media personalities to its standing committees, aimed at promoting press freedom and responsible journalism in Nigeria. The committees include Fundraising, Programming, Advocacy, and Membership, each comprising seasoned industry professionals. Notable appointees include: Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu; former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs. Funke Egbemode; former Managing Director of Champion Newspapers, Mr Emma Agu; and former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr Gbemiga Ogunleye. …

The Benue State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal, sitting at the NBA House in Abuja, on Sunday, 13 April nullified the election of Melvin Ejeh as the Executive Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, just as it also declared Napoleon Otache as the duly elected chairman of the council. The tribunal’s ruling followed a petition challenging the legitimacy of the local government election in Agatu, one of the 23 LGAs in Benue State. In a statement issued shortly after the verdict, Ejeh described the tribunal’s decision as a “total miscarriage of justice” and reaffirmed his commitment to contesting the ruling through the legal process. “My…

In a significant move to improve the user experience, MTN Group, Africa’s leading telecommunications service provider, has partnered with Meta to enhance the quality and reliability of voice and video calls on real-time calling applications such as WhatsApp across 12 MTN markets. By optimising application-aware networks and network-aware applications, the initiative aims to deliver a more seamless, stable, and high-quality user experience. The collaboration aims to improve real-time calling experiences across 12 markets by pinpointing areas for enhancement and executing specific interventions. Since MWC 2024, MTN and Meta teams have been collaborating to identify key areas for improvement and implement…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has been honoured as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Global Champion. This is another international recognition for his outstanding contributions to peacebuilding, humanitarian response and sustainable development in Northeast, Nigeria. The award was presented on Friday at the annual NGO Founders Global Network event held in Munich, Germany. The NGO Founders Global Network is the official and largest umbrella body of non-governmental and non-profit organisations networking across all countries to propagate and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for the good of humanity and society. The award recognised Zulum’s relentless efforts…

A girl simply identified as Maro on the afternoon of Sunday, 13 April, 2025 drowned in a river in Amukpe Community, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. It was learnt that she went with a friend to swim at the river when the sad incident occurred, just as it was also gathered that the friend she went with to swim ran away when she drowned. Only the victim’s clothes and the USB of her phone charger were recovered. Her mobile phone was not seen. A call was put across to her mobile phone, but the person who picked from…

Governor Seyi Makinde Oyo State has reaffirmed his administrations commitment to economic expansion through tourism, emphasising infrastructure development at the commissioning of the KAP Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State. The event, held on Saturday, 12 April, 2025, also featured Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who highlighted the governments dedication to supporting the creative industry. Governor Makinde described the establishment of the film village as a significant milestone for Oyo State and pledged state support to ensure the projects success. Tourism remains a cornerstone of our…

Media personality and actress Toke Makinwa has stated she wouldn’t mind being a second, third, fourth or fifth wife at this point in her life. In her recent podcast episode of Toke Moments, she jokingly said she’d consider being even a fifth wife if the opportunity presents itself. “At this point in my life, if I have the opportunity to marry again, as a second, third, fourth or fifth wife, I will take it,” she said. In a previous episode, she reflected on past marriage to Maje Ayida, which ended in divorce in 2017 due to alleged infidelity.. The media…

The House of Representatives will inaugurate an Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight on Tuesday, 15 April, 2025, in furtherance of its constitutional mandate and commitment to transparent governance, reports thegazellenews.com This was disclosed via a statement on Sunday, 13 April, 2025, by Spokesperson for the House, Honourable Akin Rotimi Jr. The statement reads that, “this follows the resolution of the National Assembly approving the Proclamation, with amendments, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State. “The Proclamation presented to the National Assembly…

The Presidency has observed, with dismay, the increasing number of billboards in some cities promoting the 2027 campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Worth noting is that some of these billboards with pictures of the President and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, emblazoned on them are springing up in Abuja and Kano in particular. While President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima greatly appreciate their teeming and loyal supporters across the country for their enthusiasm and continuing support, the two leaders do not support any campaign that breaches the laws of the land. The electoral law…

Nigeria will now have to contend with Morocco, Kenya and Tunisia in the group phase of the 24th Africa U-20 Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt, 27th April – 18th May this year. At the redraw conducted in the headquarters of the Egypt Football Association in Cairo on Sunday, Egypt and South Africa, who were originally in Nigeria’s pool before Cote d’Ivoire withdrew as tournament hosts, found themselves in Group A. New hosts Egypt head Group A, which has five teams – with Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania as the other teams. However, just like it was…

The 1986/92 set of the Government College Ibadan has concluded plans to stage a table tennis event in the school as part of its giving back to the school project. The tournament, being proposed to be an annual event will be staged in the school premises on October 30th and 31st, 2025. Interestingly, most of the old students behind the project are based abroad but they are passionate about sports especially the ping pong game. The Closed Table Tennis Championship tagged ‘Battle of the Century” will be competed for on the House basis in the school. Charles Olayinka, one of…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku has been honoured with the “African Public Service Award” by the Heritage Times in recognition of his transformative leadership and service to the people of the Niger Delta region. The 3rd Edition of the African Heritage Concert and Awards 2025. took place in Marrakesh, Morocco, with notable Nigerian and African leaders in attendance, including the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf and the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. At the ceremony, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, represented by the NDDC Executive Director of…