Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

In less than 10 hours after the release of his new album titled ‘Morayo,’ famous Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Wizkid has broken records as all the songs in the album are in the top 17 positions on Apple Music, thegazellenews.com reports. The album also shattered Nigeria’s streaming records, with one of its singles amassing 1.57 million streams on Spotify on its opening day. The album, which was released on Friday, 22 November, 2024, is a tribute to his late mother, Juliana Morayo Balogun, who died in August 2023. Afrobeats singer, Wizkid has broken records as all the songs from his new…

Nollywood actress, Wumi Toriola has surpassed Toyin Abraham’s box office record. This is coming a few days after Wumi Toriola emerged as the 2024 box office champion. Thegazellenews.com recalls that the actress was awarded the box office champion by the Federal Government through the National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB. Toriola broke Abraham’s record with her latest movie ‘Queen Lateefah’, which has become one of the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time. Toyin Abraham Since its release in September, the film has grossed N350 million in just two months, surpassing Abraham’s ‘Malaika’, which earned N302 million. The new achievement has placed…

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has disclosed that between 2023 and 2024, the Commission received 2,038 petitions, secured 31 convictions, and recovered assets/ cash worth N105.82 billion. Dr. Aliyu made this known Wednesday, 20 November, 2024, while hosting members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, led by its Chairman, Honorable Prince Kayode Moshood Akiolu, who were on an oversight visit to the Commission. The Chairman stated that “the Commission received 1,187 petitions in 2023. From January to October 2024, the Commission received 851 petitions. In…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that his administration will award a contract for the construction of Alagbole-Akute and Akute-Oke-Aro-Ijoko roads in Ifo Local Government Area in the next two weeks. Governor Abiodun, who disclosed this at the commissioning of the Ojodu Abiodun-Denro-Ishasi-Akute Road on Friday, said construction would start from Akute to Oke Aro. He said: “Within the next few weeks, a maximum of three weeks, in my determination to ensure that this local government wears a new look, I will be awarding the Alagbole-Akute road. I will also be awarding the Akute-Ijoko-Oke-Aro road. “That Akute-Ijoko-Oke-Aro road…

President Bola Tinubu has stated that his administration’s renewed focus in driving international and local investments into livestock sector of the agricultural value-chain will end the crisis of farmer-herder clashes, eradicate hunger and poverty in Nigeria as well as promote economic prosperity. President Tinubu said this Thursday, 21 November, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil at the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Nigerian Government and the JBS S.A, one of the top three largest meat processing companies globally. “What we are doing right now is that we are solving a problem that afflicted humanity in that…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has charged Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of mining companies to lead the way in establishing mining development banks to guarantee the needed long-term credit for sustainable development of the mining sector. Speaking at the CEO Roundtable on the sidelines of the 2024 Nigeria Mining Week, Alake encouraged the CEOs to spearhead the mining bank with the aim of making it private-sector driven to wean it off government interference and ensure its longevity and effectiveness. He assured the CEOs that the federal government is actively dismantling bottlenecks to enhance the ease of…

The death toll from two sectarian attacks in northwest Pakistan’s Kurram district has risen to 43, officials confirmed on Friday, as authorities imposed a curfew and suspended mobile services in the tense region. Gunmen targeted two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims traveling under police escort in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghanistan border, an area with a history of sectarian violence. A senior administration official, Javed Ullah Mehsud, confirmed the updated death toll, noting that the victims included seven women and three children, just as he also added that 16 people were injured, 11 of whom are in critical…

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George has advised the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to stop any plan of contesting in 2027. George stated that Atiku, who was the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election has been contesting since 1993. While addressing newsmen in Ikoyi, on Thursday, 21 November, 2024, he urged Atiku to end his 31-year-long bid to be President and assume the position of an elder for posterity sake. In a viral video on social media, he further noted that Atiku would be 81 years old by 2027. “My advice to Atiku is…

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice G.V. Obomanu, has issued an ex parts order restraining the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, from conducting any elective congresses for the Rivers State APC without including the claimants/applicants. This restriction applies to local government and state executive committees or any congresses whatsoever, pending the determination of the substantive suit. Justice Obomanu, also issued an interim injunction, specifically barring the defendants from proceeding with the scheduled congresses on November 23 and 30, 2024, or any other date. The injunction prevents any further steps…

The Supreme Court has nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assembly. The judgment followed the suit filed in 2008 by Lagos and some other states. Ruling on the matter, the Apex Court in a unanimous judgement consisting of seven members on Friday, 22 November, 2024 held that the National Assembly lacked the powers to legislate on issues relating to lottery and games of chance. The lead judgment was delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris. The court ruled that such powers only reside with the state Houses of Assembly, which possess exclusive jurisdiction over lottery and games of…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has instructed electricity distribution companies to downgrade customers in Band A if they lack sufficient capacity for supply. NERC’s Commissioner for Licensing and Legal Affairs, Dafe Akpeneye, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, 22 November, 2024. He stated that if the distribution companies are unable to provide the promised 20 hours of electricity to Band A customers, those customers should be promptly downgraded to a level that the companies can adequately supply. “With regards to the migration order, it is not elective to the instance of the customer. The…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has disclosed that the November 15, 2024 Supreme Court’s judgment that thrashed the suit of 19 state governors challenging the constitutionality of the establishment and functioning of the EFCC, has placed the Commission in a stronger pedestal to fight economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. Olukoyede stated this in Abuja on Thursday, November 21, 2024 when a delegation of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), led by its Regional Director for Africa and West Asia, Dr. Roba Sharamo paid him a…

President Bola Tinubu has assured that his administration will continue prioritising the welfare of the poor and most vulnerable even as the economic reforms bear fruit. President Tinubu stated this on Wednesday night, 20 November, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, paid him a courtesy call on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. While acknowledging that the reforms had weakened Nigerians’ purchasing power, President Tinubu said his administration will continue to provide social safety nets to cushion the unintended consequences. Congratulating the IMF Chief on her election…

Tourism and creative sector is about to take a huge leap forward in Lagos. The sector, with other key economic areas, will gulp a chunk in the State’s expenditures in the 2025 fiscal year. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu laid bare what would be priorities of the Lagos State Government in the coming year as he presented the State’s 2025 budget to the House of Assembly, on Thursday, 21 November, 2024. The Governor proposed a total of N3.005 trillion budget estimates, earmarking a huge capital investment of N908.7 billion to the Economic Affairs sector—a cluster of key MDAs, comprising Tourism and Creative…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrade of moribund 3,250 hectares Eruwa Farm Settlement to an Agribusiness Industrial Hub. The Governor said that the project, once completed, would put Ibarapaland on the global agricultural map and create thousands of jobs for youths in the zone and across the state. Governor Makinde, who stated this on Thursday, at the Old Farm Settlement, Eruwa, Oyo State, added that his administration would also complete the Ido-Eruwa Road within the next one year, charging residents of Ibarapa zone to make investors feel welcome, when the new agribusiness hub…

The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on its sustained efforts to stamp out economic and financial crimes and corruption in the country.He gave the commendation in Lagos on Thursday, November 21, 2024 when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the office of the acting Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the EFCC,  Michael T. Wetkas.Speaking during the brief meeting, Pankyu praised the EFCC for its tireless efforts in combating economic and financial crimes in the country and also pledged to support its activities. While highlighting what…

The Senate, on Thursday, 21 November, 2024 approved the $2.2 billion fresh loan request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The decision was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report of the committee on local and foreign debts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North). With the approval, Nigeria’s total debt has now hit an all-time high to the tune of N136 trillion. President Tinubu had written to the National Assembly requesting the Senate and House of Representatives to approve a fresh $2.2 billion as external borrowing plan in the 2024 Appropriation Act. The President’s request was contained in…

The Kano State Government has formally handed over the 76 minors arrested during the End Bad Governance protest to their parents, with a warning to them not to seek donations and support. Governor Abba Yusuf, through his Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada Sagagi, commended President Tinubu for his gracious approval to withdraw the charges against the minors which was considered an injustice against them. The Governor noted that what had happened was a great historical teaching to everyone that violence does not pay and joining things that are against the law is condemnable. “The government would not condone parents under…

Two Nigerian players, Adaobi Okah and Yusuf Hannah have joined the University of Pittsburgh women’s team on a permanent transfer. Okah and Yusuf joined the University of Pittsburgh from Remo Stars Ladies and Confluence Queens respectively. Okah once represented Nigeria at the U-17 and U-20 levels. She was on the books of Edo Queens before moving to Remo Stars. Yusuf, who was formerly on the books of Nasarawa Amazons once represented Nigeria at the U-17 level. They joined Super Falcons midfielder Deborah Abiodun at the club.

The Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim has advocated public execution of corrupt politicians in Nigeria, saying that is the only way to put an end to stealing in Nigeria Ibrahim stated this while reacting to the public outcry following President Bola Tinubu’s new loan request. Recall that Tinubu had written to the National Assembly on Tuesday, requesting approval for external borrowing of $2.2 billion. However, speaking during an interview on Channels TV Politics Today, the senator noted that public execution of corrupt officials is the only way to end stealing in Nigeria. When the Interviewer asked, “Borrowing in the…