Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Nigeria should expect more Indian investment in Nigeria with the growth in over 200 companies presently operating in the country and increase in the present investment of over $27 billion in the nation’s economy by Indian interest, the Indian government has assured. Addressing the media on Sunday, 17 November, 2024, in Abuja on the fallout from the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to the country, the Secretary of Economic Relations at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, said: “While Indian companies are very strong in the traditional areas of manufacturing in Nigeria, with more than 200 companies…

Former military Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, will be among the dignitaries on Monday, 19 November, 2024, in Abuja at the book launch examining the harrowing era of military coups in Nigeria. The book, titled ‘Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs’, was authored by Col. Bello Fadile (rtd), a key figure in the 1995 “phantom coup” against the late General Sani Abacha. Babangida, who wrote the foreword of the book, will serve as the Grand Patron of the Day, while Abdulsalami Abubakar will chair the occasion. Former presidential candidate under the Social Democratic Party…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar. A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said this was achieved in series of intelligence led operations, who led to the recovery of the illicit drugs and the arrest of the masterminds of the crimes. He said a total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.4 kilogrammes cocaine…

Major transport unions in Ogun State have commended the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun for setting up the Special Task Force to monitor the activities of filling stations over alleged sharp practices. They noted that the gesture will help their members get value for their money, even as they cautioned members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to stop their attempts to blackmail the government. Recall that the state government had constituted a Task Force on Transport Control and Monitoring of Unethical Practices at Filling Stations to ensure that citizens are not overburdened with transport fares vis-à-vis…

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has commended both the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for displaying the high level of professionalism during the Saturday, November, 2024 governorship elections held across the 18 LGAs in the state. The Minister stated this after casting his vote at Polling Unit 17: Ward 3, Okeagbe LGA of the state. The Minister who adjudged the election peaceful also commended the large turnout of voters who trooped out in their numbers across the local government areas to exercise their franchise. According to him, “It’s been a peaceful election with officials displaying high-level…

The Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies of compromising the election held on Saturday, 16 November, 2024 and urged the Chairman of INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign. Agboola expressed displeasure at the conduct of the election in Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA. Ajayi was accredited and cast his vote at 10:45 a.m., at Unit 4, Ward 2 Idumado in Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA. The PDP governorship candidate said it took more than 10 minutes for the INEC BVAS to capture him. “The system is not perfect…

In a significant move to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria’s North East region, the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), has kickstarted its pilot program in the region with the donation of 25 water-pumping machines to farmers in Taraba State. This pilot program is part of ongoing efforts by the NLTF to provide vital agricultural equipment to support dry-season farmers across the federation and address their irrigation-related challenges, with the aim of promoting improved crop yields and economic growth. The Executive Secretary/CEO of the agency Comrade Tosin Adeyanju represented by Mallam Sagir Ahmed Mohd an assistant director monitoring and evaluation while…

Nigeria and India have reaffirmed their commitment to a robust strategic partnership, pledging to strengthen ties in key areas including economic development, defence, healthcare and food security. This is contained in a joint statement issued on Sunday, 17 November, 2024, in Abuja at the conclusion of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Nigeria at the invitation of President Bola Tinubu. Shortly after the Indian Prime Minister received a formal welcome, including a 21-artillery gun salute at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu and Prime Minister Modi went into a tete-a-tete, and later jointly presided over an expanded bilateral…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, 17 November, 2024 declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress(APC), as the winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State. Aiyedatiwa was declared winner after polling the highest number of votes in the election. The incumbent Governor battled Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olorunfemi Festus of the Labour Party (LP), and Abbas Mimiko of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), among others, in Saturday’s poll. Announcing the result in Akure, the state capital, INEC’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi Durotimi, said Aiyedatiwa…

Edo Queens on Saturday, 16 November, 2024, dethroned reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa after coming back from a goal down and penalty kick miss to win 2-1. At the dot of 90 minutes, it looked like the Edo Queens were out. Then, there were six minutes of additional time. By the fourth minute of the added time, Mamelodi Sundowns were already playing for time, trying to wind down the clock. They even attempted further substitutions. Then came a turnaround. Edo Queens who had missed many scoring chances including a second-half penalty miss suddenly woke up and levelled up…

Authorities in India on Saturday, 16 November, 2024 disclosed that a fire outbreak at a neonatal unit of an Indian hospital killed 10 newborns, with another 39 rescued from a blaze blamed on a faulty oxygen machine. Building fires are common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and a routine disregard for safety regulations. The fire broke out at about 10:30 pm (1700 GMT) on the night of Friday, 15 November, 2025 at the Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi, around 450 kilometres (280 miles) south of the capital New Delhi. Footage from the scene showed charred beds…

The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has approved the disbursement of N8 billion for several infrastructural projects at the newly established Kogi State University in Kabba, thegazellenes.com reports. The state Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, who made this disclosure at a press conference in Lokoja, the state capital on Saturday, 16 November, 2024, added that the approved funds would cover the construction of a Senate building, a Faculty of Science building, and male and female hostels at the university. According to the Commissioner, contractors had been mobilised to move to the sites, just as he also disclosed that construction…

Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa his won his polling unit with 128 votes. His opponent, Agboola Ajayi, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) polled three votes. Aiyedatiwa voted at Unit 5 Ward 4, Obenla , Ilaje Local Government area. Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of PDP) Ajayi has also won in his polling unit. Agboola who voted at at Apoi Ward II, Unit 004 in Kiribo, Ese Odo Council Area of the state on Saturday, 16 November, 2026 polled 194 votes to defeat his main rival, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress who scored 003 votes. The former deputy governor…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 90.08% of the results from the Ondo State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal. Out of the 3,933 polling units where the election took place, results from 3,543 polling units have been made available online as of 6:22 pm on Saturday, 16 November, 2024. The key contenders in this election are: Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). According to reports, the election witnessed a significant turnout of voters, and security was notably…

The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Agboola Ajayi has won his polling unit. Agboola who voted at at Apoi Ward II, Unit 004 in Kiribo, Ese Odo Council Area of the state on Saturday, 16 November, 2026 polled 194 votes to defeat his main rival, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 003 votes. The former Deputy Governor earlier voted at his Polling Unit alongside with his wife amidst the heavy presence of security agencies including the Nigerian Police and Civil Defence. Agboola alongside his wife, arrived at the polling booth at around…

Famous Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has revealed that her activism in seeking justice for the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad, attracted negative criticisms and weighty allegations against her. Speaking recently on the ‘Glass House’ with AY, Ojo said she was accused of killing Mohbad, just as she also added that she was also accused of using his death to chase clout. The actress said contrary to the allegations, she was genuinely interested in getting justice for the late music star. “They were even insinuating that maybe I killed Mohbad. I wasn’t around when Mohbad died. I was not close…

Nigerian singer, Ruger, has appealed to his colleague, Wizkid, to allow him inherit his fanbase whenever he retires from music. The ‘Bounce’ exponent made the appeal via his X handle on Saturday, 16 November, 2024 He pleaded with Wizkid to will his fanbase to him if he decides to quit music, and if his son, Zion, is also not interested in making music. He wrote, “@wizkidayo if you ever decide to not do music again, and Zion no wan do music Slsef, pls write my name Ruger as the person to inherit your fanbase in your music will.” Wizkid is…

Ondo State Governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has vowed to concede defeat if he loses Saturday’s election. Aiyedatiwa, however, said he would concede defeat if the governorship election is free and fair. The Governor disclosed this while addressing journalists after casting his vote at polling unit 05, Igbo Ward 4, Obenla in Ilaje LGA of the state. Aiyedatiwa said reports from his aides showed that the election has been largely peaceful in some other units of the state. “If the outcome of the poll does not favour my party, APC, as long as we did not…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has commended the people of the State for the orderly manner they conducted themselves during the local government election in the State. The Governor gave the commendation on Saturday, 16 November, 2024, while fielding questions from newsmen after voting at Ita-Osanyin Unit 2, Ward 3, Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the State. Abiodun who arrived at the polling booth at 11:10 am and voted at 11:22 am, noted that the peaceful atmosphere across the State is an indication that the people are ready to elect the candidate of their choice. The Governor said:…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has assured its stakeholders that the Commission will remain committed to delivering on its mandate of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance during a solidarity visit by leaders of the Ijaw Youth Council worldwide, IYC, to the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said it was important to aggregate the views of major groups to give impetus to the development programmes driven by the NDDC. The NDDC boss commended the…