Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Accord National Executive Committee (NEC) has approved the expulsion and suspension of some members of the party. This was contained in a communiqué read out by Maxwell Mgbudem, its National Chairman and Adebukola A. Ajaja, National Secretary after a meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024. The NEC deliberated on the report of the 7-man Disciplinary Committee set up by the National Working Committee, NWC, to investigate alleged gross misconduct, anti-party activities and breaches of the party’s constitution against some members. “Accordingly, NEC expelled eight members and suspended three others for violating…

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Ministry of Finance to immediately refund the 50 per cent deduction from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council’s account. The House also mandated the Federal Ministry of Finance to release all outstanding 2 percent Port Development Levy Surcharge funds owed to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. Adopting a motion moved by Abba Ahmed Sani from Zamfara State, the Green Chamber equally mandated its Committees on Shipping Services, Finance, and Public Accounts to ensure compliance with the resolution. Presenting the motion, Sani said the Ministry…

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 announced the sack of all the management staff of Edo Specialist Hospital and Stella Obasanjo Hospital, thegazellenews.com reports. Okpebholo also dissolved the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, and other state-owned tertiary institutions. A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Musa Umar Ikhilor, and made available to newsmen by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in Benin City, said the dissolution was with immediate effect. “It is hereby announced for the information of the General Public that the Governor of Edo State,…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Head of Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the state, Moses Lohor and members of his team for attempted murder. This was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Security, Samuel Ojo, in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to Governor Adeleke after a closed-door meeting with the Governor and the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba. Thegazellenews.com that the crisis erupted after operatives of the Osun State Police Command Anti-kidnapping Squad led…

Four famous Nigerian singers: D’banj, Olamide, Yemi Alade and Timi Dakolo will be performing at the opening ceremony of the 2024 African Military Games in Abuja which started today, 20 November, 2024 On its X handle, the Nigerian Army wrote, “The stage is set and the legends are coming for the opening ceremony of #AMGA2024. “Watch @Olamide, @iamdbanj, @yemialadee and @timidakolo light up the opening ceremony like never before. It’s happening tomorrow, 20th November 2024.” Twenty five countries are participating in the 2nd African Military Games, AMGA 2024. The athletes will be participating in 19 sporting activities, which will be…

Miss Universe runner-up, Chidimma Adetshina, has announced her decision to quit pageantry. Speaking during a recent interview with Silverbird TV, Adetshina said pageantry has been a traumatic experience for her, just as she also said quitting for personal reasons and relocating to Nigeria from her estranged country, South Africa. “Finishing in the top 2 [at the Miss Universe competition] is still a shocker for me… Honestly, I am done. Pageantry was a real traumatic experience for me,” she said. “People still don’t understand how I felt. There were times when I almost quit during the Miss Universe contest. I’m really…

The Nigerian Senate has removed the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar from office, just as it also gave reasons for his removal. The removal followed the two-third majority of Senators required to validate the resolution of the legislative Chamber. The Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele had sponsored a motion seeking the “invocation of the provision of Section 157(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.” Bamidele adduced reasons for his removal saying: “Senate has been inundated with serious…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the institution’s new Vice Chancellor. Tinubu also approved the removal of Mrs Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, Nnamdi Azikiwe University registrar. The Council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, includes five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, who made this disclosure through a statement, said the sacking of the Governing Council and officials followed reports that the…

By Ibrahim A. Jagaba In a move that promises to potentially record huge success against illicit drug racketeering in Lagos State, the number one, northern traditional youth chief in 17 southern states of Nigeria, Ambassador (Dr) Sani Salisu DanMuttaqa, has, while, declared his palace’s readiness to kick-start an effective partnership with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the fight against substance abuse in Lagos State. In addition, he has advised that capital punishment should be given a look-in towards permanently solving drug related menace in Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. Speaking moments after an official…

As the nation grapples with the inevitable realities of macroeconomic reforms being implemented by the Government, the need to focus on boosting the non-oil alternatives that will aid full diversification of the national economy has become more critical than ever, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Tuesday. The Governor said decades of dependence on importation of finished goods and export of a single commodity had made foreign exchange the sole determinant of the nation’s economic stability, stressing that the same factor remained a fundamental contributor to the current economic situation. Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need to harness export potential and…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his Osun counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, have knocked the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje, for saying the APC would take over Oyo and Osun states after winning Ondo State on Saturday, 16 November, 2024. Speaking with newsmen in Akure on Sunday,16 November, 2024 after the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) declared the APC candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the winner of the governorship election in Ondo State, Ganduje had declared that the APC aimed to achieve political homogeneity of the South-West by further displacing the Peoples Democratic Party from Oyo and Osun…

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted delegates from the City UK and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office on Monday, 18 November, 2024. The delegation, led by Anna Rogers, Director of International Development, was joined by representatives from the Lagos International Financial Centre, headed by Aig-Imoukhuede. The visit took place at Lagos House, Marina. Sanwo-Olu announced the event on his official X account, stating, “Today, I received delegates from City UK (TCUK)/FCDO led by Anna Rogers and the LIFC team led by Mr Aig-Imoukhuede on a courtesy visit.”

The Borno State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has unveiled a roadmap aimed at eradicating open defecation across the state’s 27 local government areas. Speaking during the unveiling of the initiative in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Tuesday, 19 November, 2024 Governor Babagana Zulum urged residents to embrace the campaign and support efforts to achieve an Open Defecation-Free Borno. Zulum, who was represented by his deputy, Umar Kadafur, highlighted his administration’s commitment to addressing critical issues across sectors such as education, transportation, infrastructure, and health over the past six years. “For six years, we have been…

The Minister of Health, Ali Pate, has raised concerns over the rising malaria prevalence in Ogun State, which increased from 22 per cent in 2018 to 25 per cent in 2021, just as he also urged enhanced collaboration to drive the nation towards a zero-malaria target. Pate, represented by a Director from the ministry, David Oyeleke, made this statement on Monday , 18 November, 2024 in Abeokuta , the state capital during the launch of the distribution of 3.1 million Insecticide-Treated Nets provided by the Society for Family Health in partnership with the Ogun State and Federal Governments, alongside other development partners.…

President Bola Tinubu has asked all unions in the nation’s tertiary institutions to partner with the government to arrive at a funding blueprint for the university system that will take cognisance of local peculiarities and modern realities based on global best practices. Tinubu made this known on Monday, 18 November, 2024 at the 76th Foundation Day of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmed, the President stated that the unions must recognise that all sectors of the country needed more financing and that the government is working assiduously…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has vowed to take tough measures against airlines that delay passengers’ luggage, saying it will impose fines of $170 and N10,000 on foreign and local airlines, respectively for delayed passengers’ luggage as a first measure to guide against such an act. In October in Abuja, the NCAA stated that passengers could claim up to $1,000 for missing luggage on domestic flights as well as $1,288 Special Drawing Rights for international flights. Speaking on Monday, 18 November, 2024 during a roadshow organised by NCAA at the Lagos airport to sensitise passengers who will be travelling…

The Senate, on Tuesday, dedicated its plenary session to honour the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South in the National Assembly. The casket bearing the remains of the senator lay in state at the foyer of the White House wing, directly in front of the Senate Chamber. The day’s order paper featured only one item: “Valedictory Session.” In a show of respect, Senate President Godswill Akpabio donned traditional Isi-Enyi attire, paired with a matching red cap and dark sunglasses. Similarly, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele wore Isi-Agwu attire. Ubah’s seat in the chamber was adorned with flowers and draped…

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was hospitalised on Monday, 18 November, 2024 after falling ill while attending the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “We inform you that the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, was treated today at the Samaritano Hospital (Botafogo) in Rio de Janeiro due to an indisposition,” Paraguayan authorities said in a statement on the evening of Monday, 18 November, 2024 Peña, 46, was taken to the Samaritano Hospital in the Botafogo neighbourhood for treatment after experiencing what officials described as a “malaise” in the afternoon, according to AFP. In a medical bulletin, the hospital stated…

Arsenal’s €90 million offer to Spanish giants Barclona for Brazilian winger Raphinha, has been rejected by the Catalan club, maintaining that they would only consider a transfer for a nine-figure sum. The 27-year-old, who has been in exceptional form this season, is seen as an irreplaceable asset by the Catalan giants. Raphinha has had an outstanding campaign, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists in just 17 appearances. His performances have cemented his status as a key player under manager Hansi Flick, who has even entrusted him with the captaincy. Arsenal, who previously attempted to sign Raphinha from Leeds United in 2022 before his…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree permitting his country to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states if they receive support from nuclear powers. The announcement, made on Tuesday,19 November, 2024 coincided with the 1,000th day of Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine. It follows the recent decision by the United States to allow Kyiv to deploy long-range missiles targeting military sites within Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that the new policy treats aggression from a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack. “Aggression by a non-nuclear state with the participation of a nuclear state…