Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

BY Micheal Akinola  Over the years, excruciating fuel scarcity across the nation was an integral part of the festive season. No Christmas was complete without Nigerians queuing for long hours at fuelling stations. This year, however, the situation is manifestly different. There are no long queues or black market dealers on the streets selling to desperate buyers at cut-throat prices. Even more heartwarming is the fact that petrol prices are falling nationwide. This week, the NNPCL, in response to the calls for affordable petrol, reduced the pump price of petrol at its retail outlets in Abuja to N965 per litre,…

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has ordered the remand of Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun Ibadan, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi; and the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, at Agodi Correctional Center. The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi, gave the order on Tuesday, 24 December, 2024. The gazellenews.com recalls that the trio was arrested in connection with the recent stampede that occurred at the school. It was gathered that the trio was brought to…

Activist lawyer, Dele Farotimi has finally regained his freedom after meeting his bail conditions. Activist politician, Omoyele Sowore, who made this disclosure in his x handle, said Farotimi is returning to his home in Lagos. According to Sowore, the embattled activist lawyer was no longer at the prison yards in Ekiti State. “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held at the prison yards in Ekiti state and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues!” Sowore wrote. A few days ago, a Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti had granted Farotimi N30 million bail. Thegazellenews.com…

The former Governor of Zamfara State and the current Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has said that none of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies are against northern interests. Matawalle said Tinubu’s administration is committed to the unification of Nigeria, urging northerners not to be deceived by individuals who oppose the country’s unity. The minister, who stated this while addressing his teeming supporters in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, during his six-day visit to the state, added that he would be visiting the state every three months. He assured Nigerians that the current economic challenges they are…

After more than five years of security restriction, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state. Making the announcement during a press briefing at the weekend, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake stated that the nation has a lot to gain from reawakened economic activities in a highly mineralised state like Zamfara that is imbued with vast gold, Lithium, and copper belts. He noted that the previous ban, which was good intentioned, inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners to…

Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the governments and people of Oyo, Anambra, and the FCT over the tragic loss of life resulting from recent stampedes at food palliative distribution venues in the affected areas. The stampedes reportedly claimed the lives of approximately 65 Nigerians, while others sustained different degrees of injuries. In his messages of condolence to Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Charles Soludo of Anambra, and Nyesom Wike in the FCT, Prince Abiodun lamented that the deaths of these innocent individuals are particularly heartbreaking, as…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigeria recorded 25.35 million phone theft cases between May 2023 and April 2024. This was the most common type of crime within the period under review, according to a report, the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey. The report explained that the number of crimes experienced by individuals in Nigeria was analysed over a period of time, stressing that the results show that theft of phones (25,354,417) was the most common crime experienced by individuals, followed by consumer fraud (12,107,210) and assault (8,453,258). However, hijacking of cars (333,349) was the least…

Tragedy occurred on Friday, 20 December, 2024 as 35-year-old man, identified as Tunji Jimoh, has reportedly died under questionable circumstances in police detention in Ilorin, Kwara State capital Tunji, who hails from the Erubu/Asunnara community of Balogun Fulani in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, allegedly died in detention at the state police command headquarters on Friday, 20 December, 2024. Reports has it that Tunji owed a friend, whose brother is a police officer, a sum of N220, 000, over which he was arrested by a team of police officers, including the creditor’s brother. After his arrest, Tunji was taken to the…

Nigerians dominated the list of Africa’s Most Talked About People of 2024 by Top Charts Africa. Nigerians occupied 18 spots in the top 30 recently released via the chart body’s website. Famous Nigerian singer, Wizkid, is number one on the list. Wizkid has been on the trend table year-round following his renewed beef with Davido and the release of his new album, ‘Morayo.’ President William Ruto of Kenya took the number 2 spot. Ruto came into the world consciousness in June when thousands of Kenyans took to the streets in protest of legislation increasing taxes. Following the storming of the…

A Brazil court has ordered that a song by famous British singer, Adele, be removed from radio and all streaming platforms globally over alleged copyright. The judge, Vitctor Torres gave the judgment after a Brazil local composer, Toninho Geraes accused Adele of copying works from his 1995 album. Geraes claimed that Adele’s 2015 song ‘Million Years Ago’, was copied from his 1996 classic, ‘Mulheres’, sung by Martinho da Vila, a Brazilian singer. Geraes is suing for lost royalties, demanding $160,000 in moral damages, and wants a songwriting credit on Adele’s song. The court also threatened Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony and…

The Premier Club in Ijesaland, Ilesa Elite Society Club, a society representing Ijesa sons and daughters worldwide renowned for its developmental visions for the good people of Ijesaland honoured some illustrious sons of the soil with prestigious awards, reports thegazellenews.com. The event took place on Saturday, 21 December, 2024 during the 60th anniversary celebration of the Club. The trio of: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Rev. Adelowo Adebiyi and Alhaji Issa Azeez Adesiji were among the awardees. Revisiting the RAUF era as Osun Governor and the developmental strides it brought to Ijesaland, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, represented by Barr. Gbenga Jimoh Akano;…

By Emmanuel Oladesu What are the hallmarks of a good politician? That was the question notable political actors, technocrats and traditional rulers tried to dissect at the 65th birthday of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Senator Ganiyu Olarewaju Solomon, in Lagos. Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU highlights the significance of the event. The storyline began with the life and times of his illustrious father, the late Alhaji Rafiu Ishola Solomon, a leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Mushin axis of Lagos in the Second Republic. An ideologue and close associate of former Governor Lateef Jakande, the…

Singer Adekunle Gold has made public how popular music producer, Pheelz influenced Olamide to sign him to the YBNL record label. In a viral video on social media, the singer explained that his breakthrough came after Pheelz heard his song Sade and shared it with Olamide. “Pheelz heard my song ‘Sade’ and sent it to Olamide. After Olamide heard the song, he called me and signed me to his record label immediately. “I already had a relationship with Olamide before the time, because I was the one that designed the YBNL logo for him. And I designed cover art for…

Famous two Nigerian singers, Rema and Asake, have been featured in former United States President, Barack Obama’s favourite music of 2024. The former American president released the list of his favourite songs for 2024 on Saturday and ‘Yayo’ by Rema and ‘Active’ by Asake featuring Travis Scott, made the cut. Another African artist, Tyla of South Africa, also made the list with ‘Jump’ featuring Gunna and Skillibeng.Nigerian-American singers, Shaboozey and Jordan Adetunji appeared on the list with ‘A Bar Song’ and ‘Kehlani.’ Two Nigerian singers, Rema and Asake, have been featured in former United States President, Barack Obama’s favourite music…

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, 21 December, 2024 announced the cancellation of all his official events in Lagos State, where he is spending the Christmas holidays, over the death of several Nigerians in stampedes in Abuja and Anambra States. Recall that the two tragedies in those states claimed many lives and left several others injured on Saturday. According to the Federal Capital Territory( FCT)Police Command, about ten dead bodies were recovered after a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, while several persons were hospitalized. Also, not less than 20 residents of the Okija community in Anambra State died in a stampede…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has presented service awards to its retiring Directors and other staff for their contributions to the progress and performance of the Commission in the discharge of its mandate to develop the Niger Delta region. Speaking during the ceremony to celebrate the service of retired staff at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stressed the need to recognise and honour retired staff for playing different roles in driving the development process. The NDDC boss commended the retirees for the decades of meritorious service they had given to the…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sympathised with Nigerians, particularly the residents of Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following two reports of stampede, which claimed many lives and left many others injured at Abuja and Okija, Anambra State. He said the two tragedies happening a few days after 35 people died in Ibadan during a children’s carnival at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, is worrisome and calls for concern. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Saturday, December, 2024, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, also extended his condolences to the…

Ogun State Ministry of Information and Strategy says it will continue to deploy all communication strategies to serve all organs of government in the promotion of government policies and programmes through a two-way communication channels between the people and the government. The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Communications, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, stated this on Friday, 20 December, 2024, while defending the Ministry’s budget proposal for next year before the members of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, led by Hon. Musefiu Lamidi at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Akinmade reassured the Assembly that the Ministry…

By Femi Ogbonnikan Penultimate Monday, further to his sustained effort to develop a transportation hub in Ogun State to facilitate cargo movement and boost industrial growth, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun received the outlined “Certificate of Compliance” on the Inland Dry Port located in the Papalanto, Ewekoro area of the state. Among other benefits, the dry port will facilitate trade and promote economic development in inland regions. Dry ports, like normal seaports, handle cargo and provide storage facilities, warehousing, logistics services, customs clearance, and inspection services. The project was recently flagged off by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,…

Tragedy struck on Friday, 20 December, 2024 in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the death of three policemen and a female suspect in a ghastly auto crash. The police officers and the suspect died when a truck lost control and rammed into the vehicle the operatives were travelling in. A source revealed that the victims died on the spot, just as he also stated that one police officer sustained serious injuries and had been rushed to an undisclosed hospital. “The truck lost control while descending the Ore Bridge and rammed into the police vehicle that was…