Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024 disclosed that Nigeria’s goods and non-oil exports grew to $55 billion in 2023, reports thegazellenews.com. Edun made this disclosure on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024 at the end of the inaugural meeting of the Council of State convened by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The Minister, who gave details on his presentation to the Council, explained that the results of the eight priority policies under Tinubu’s government are encouraging in the first half of 2024 when compared to the same quarter last year. “Economic indicators showed…

Veteran actress, Bukky Ogunnote, has stated that there is nothing wrong for producers, directors and even marketers to have sex with actresses to get movie roles, reports thegazellenews.com. The veteran actress however stated that there must be mutual consent between the particular actress and any of the aforementioned personality involved. “The sexual relationship should be mutual. There should be mutual consent. Neither must be forced or coerced to perform the act,” the veteran actress said. Ogunnote spoke during an interview posted on the official YouTube channel of Oyinmomo TV, noting that those involve are adults who are old enough to…

Nordic countries have agreed to support Nigeria’s demand for the reform of the United Nations. The Nordic countries: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden gave the promise on Tuesday in Abuja during the visit of their foreign affairs ministers to Nigeria. The countries said it was important to address Africa’s under-representation in the UN Security Council. The foreign affairs ministers from the five countries are in Nigeria on a joint visit, the first of its kind outside of Europe. The visiting Nordic delegation consists of Mr Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ms Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign…

A member of the 6th ECOWAS Parliament, Sen. Osita Izunaso has called for election of members directly by their constituents into the regional legislative body, rather than through nomination by their countries as it is today. Izunaso, the First Rapporteur of the parliament’s Joint Committee on Public Accounts, made the call in an interview with journalists in Abidjan on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024. Izunaso (APC-Imo West) is a fourth-term senator, and longest serving lawmaker from the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones in the Nigerian senate. Speaking on the sidelines of the parliament’s joint committee on administration, budget, finance, public account,…

The Government of Finland on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024 said the judicial process has to be exhausted for Simon Ekpa, one of the leaders of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to be extradited from the Nordic country. Simon Ekpa has in various videos and online post instigated violence against Nigerian government and called for secession of Biafra from Nigeria. The Nigerian government has consistently demanded for his extradition from Finland where he is presently residing to face charges in Nigeria. Addressing a press conference in Abuja during the visit of five Nordic countries Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finland’s Minister of…

Ministers of: Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev; Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu; State (Gas) Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri; have emphasized the importance of the power sector in achieving economic growth and industrialization. The Ministers also highlighted the need for collaboration in tackling the challenges that could hinder the power sector from achieving full potential. The Ministers spoke at the inaugural meeting of the Inter-ministerial Power Sector Working Group held at Power House, Ministry of Power, Abuja. Addressing the Ministers, Adelabu emphasized the importance of the power sector as a major driver…

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Thursday evening, 8 August, 2024, visited the Power House office of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. During the visit, the Governor applauded the Minister for the overwhelmingly noticeable improvements in power supply across the country and the ongoing turnaround being witnessed in the nation’s power sector. He enjoined him to sustain the momentum, which he said would help further galvanize the economy. In his words “I came to visit my dear brother, our very brilliant Minister of Power who is performing wonders in the power sector and to further encourage him to…

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has criticised clergymen who braid their hair and clergywomen wearing false eyelashes and heavy makeup. While speaking at his church’s Annual Convention recently, Adeboye said such trends among workers of the church will henceforth not be tolerated. “In Yorubaland, the only men who braid hair are the priests of Sango, the god of thunder. They say this is a new age and that we must be adaptable to what is going on. To continue as Sango priests? Not in this mission. Even after I’m gone, it will…

The Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, has called on the military to sustain the war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism saying the current onslaught against the menace has yielded improved growth in the nation’s crude oil production. Kyari made this appeal when he received in audience the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa who led senior military officers on a courtesy visit to the NNPC Towers in Abuja, on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024. “I personally call for enhanced and sustained security engagement. This is because we have reached a new peak in production that…

I join family members, friends, well-wishers, associates, and Lagos State APC family in celebrating you, a leader blessed by God and elevated to enviable heights. On this momentous occasion of your 80th birthday, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. Reaching this milestone is a testament to your enduring commitment, exceptional leadership, and profound impact on our nation. Your legacy is a beacon of public service and dedication. Throughout your illustrious career and as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council, the apex political leadership of Lagos State, you have exemplified integrity, wisdom, and compassion. As a senator, your…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated an elder statesman and member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Senator Anthony Adefuye, on his 80th birthday. He describes Senator Adefuye, a member of the National Assembly in the aborted Third Republic, as a democrat and experienced politician who is passionate about good governance and the delivery of democratic dividends to the people. Governor Sanwo-Olu, says Senator Adefuye, who turns 80 on Wednesday, deserves all the accolades for his immense contributions to the growth and development of governance and politics in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. “Senator Adefuye served Lagos…

The city of Bulawayo is grappling with an alarming HIV crisis, as recent statistics reveal that 90% of women tested for HIV in June were found to be positive. This shocking figure, reported by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), underscores the growing severity of the HIV pandemic in the Matabeleland region. According to the BCC, out of 2,984 women who were tested in June, 2,641 received the devastating news that they were HIV positive. The National Aids Council (NAC) has expressed deep concern over the rapid rise in HIV cases across Matabeleland, with Bulawayo experiencing an unprecedented increase. Douglas Moyo,…

Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle has expressed appreciation to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, for the recent donation of 100,000 hectares of land to the Nigerian Navy. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024, by Henshaw Ogubike, Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. Ogubike said the land, situated within the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun State along the Bight of Benin, will serve as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the Navy, significantly enhancing its operational capabilities in the region. Dr. Matawalle said he appreciated Governor…

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that his administration is set to offer business-oriented youths in the state grants ranging from N500,000 to N10 million under the Ogun Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Programme (OGYES). Governor Abiodun stated that the grants, which will commence during the next phase of OGYES, which is soon to be relaunched, will offer unemployed youth and women a wide range of opportunities and provide the beneficiaries with the cash they need to expand their businesses. He added that other youths would have access to interest-free digital loans. The Governor made this known during…

The Branch Controller of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in charge of Ogun State, Mr. Ayobami Suberu has faulted an online media report insinuating that the results of some public school students in the state were withheld due to indebtedness. Suberu, in a chat with newsmen on Tuesday morning, described the report as mischievous and unbalanced, adding that the Ogun State Government was not indebted to the Council in any way. The branch controller explained that the results of the affected students were still pending because of a technical hitch, which is being looked into for quick redress and…

By Augustine Wereuche Praise Qingshan Village is located in the northeast of Huanghu Town, Yuhang District, in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province China. Qingshan Village covers an area of 45.6 km2. The village has three medium-sized reservoirs, with approximately 80% of the land area covered by forests. This village has become a popular destination due to its ongoing environmental protection activities and lifestyle improvement policies. It is one of China’s Low Carbon Village pilot programs. Our visit to this awesome village during the summer was both exciting and special. Upon arrival in the village, we were greeted by a guide, who…

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for the deployment of 10,000 agro rangers to safeguard farmlands across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The group while calling for an increase in the number in order to safeguard farmlands and increase agricultural production, noted that this significant move reflects a strong commitment to addressing the growing insecurity that has plagued the agricultural sector, particularly in the northern region, which has been severely impacted by terrorist activities, banditry, and farmer-herder conflicts. The statement signed by the Chairman, Northern Christian Youth…

At least 16 people lost their lives in a road accident that occured around Agbowo Expressway along the Ojoo Iwo Road in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024. It was gathered that four vehicles were involved in the accident, just as it was also gathered that other people who were involved in the accident sustained various degrees of injuries. It was learnt that victims who sustained injuries were taken to nearby hospitals. Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Rosemary Alo, confirmed the development to in statement issued on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024…

MTN Nigeria has stated that the Nigerian telecom sector is in an Intensive Care Unit, warning that it could collapse if urgent steps are not taken. Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Karl Toriola, stated this on Tuesday., 13 August, 2024 while speaking virtually at a hybrid telecom investment forum organized by Financial Derivatives Company in Lagos, the Nation reports. According to him, there’s an urgent need to rescue the sector from collapse. Meanwhile, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Carl Cruz, had expressed optimism that the sector would continue to attract investment. Cruz noted that telecom tariff hike was a necessity due to soaring…

Tragedy occurred on Sunday, 11 August, 2024 at Dundaye, a community in Wamakko Local Government Area, LGA of Sokoto State as four persons died in a boat mishap. The Head of the Sokoto Field Operation Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Aliyu Kafindangi, confirmed the sad incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024 in Sokoto. According to Kafindangi, a combined rescue team from NEMA, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross, Fire Services and local divers recovered the dead bodies on Monday, 12 August, 2024. He disclosed that 19 out of…