Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 approved for second reading a bill to ensure adequate funding for mineral resources, exploration and extraction through public-private partnerships. Leading the debate on the bill’s general principles, the sponsor and member representing Surulere II Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Lanre Okunola, described the proposed legislation as a transformative framework aimed at advancing Nigeria’s mining sector through improved funding, strategic public-private collaboration, and adherence to international best practices in mineral exploration and extraction. Okunola stated, “The bill aims to ensure that our mining sector reaches its full potential, creating jobs, fostering economic growth,…

The House of Representatives has mandated electricity distribution companies to undertake a N500 billion recapitalisation to enhance their financial stability and ensure they can efficiently meet their obligations to the Nigerian public. This resolution followed the adoption on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 of a motion titled “Need to Address the Activities of Distribution Companies in Nigeria,” sponsored by Ayokunle Isiaka, the member representing the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency of Ogun State. In soliciting support for the motion, Isiaka highlighted that recent actions by DisCos have posed a significant threat to the nation’s economic stability and the welfare of Nigerians. He expressed…

As part of efforts to safeguard learning environments over the next three years, the Federal Government has allocated N112 billion through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools in the country. The Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim made this disclosure through a statement on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 to mark Universal Children’s Day, themed “Advancing Children’s Rights for a Sustainable Future”. The minister also stated that the government has made significant progress in advancing children’s rights through the adoption and implementation of several initiatives. “Through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools, over N112 billion has been allocated to…

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 charged its Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters to conduct a forensic investigation into over N30 billion in unsettled insurance claims tied to the Nigeria Police Force, the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Defence. The House noted that the unsettled claims were a result of failures in actuarial valuation, gap analysis, and non-compliance with Section 57 of the Insurance Act, 2023, and Section 4, Subsection 5 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, among others. The resolution of the House was a sequel to the adoption of a motion titled,…

Stakeholders in the gaming industry in Oyo State have been urged to collaborate more with the state government, regulators and consumer rights groups to bring about more innovations and consumer safety within the sector. The Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board made this call at the 6th edition of the Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum tagged “Boom or Burst,” which was organised by the Board on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024. At the event, which had in attendance critical stakeholders in the gaming industry, the government advocated for a need to create a balanced approach that would foster growth without compromising the safety…

Chairman of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Sulyman Kosemani has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on its war against corruption in the country promising to work with it within the ambit to tackle it. This commendation was made in Ilorin on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 when the Kosemani led other members of his executives on a courtesy visit to the Zonal Director, Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Harry Erin, at the Commission’s office in Ilorin. He said the essence of the visit was to enable the new heads from both sides to…

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Tuesday, 19 November, 2024 visited the sites of some of his legacy projects, including the talk-of-the-town Innovation Hub, which is receiving finishing touches ahead of its public unveiling. The Governor said the objectives for the huge projects are to build a new ecosystem that makes Kwara a go-to place in Nigeria and build an economy that benefits the people and further elevates the state. Governor Abdulrazaq was responding to a media enquiry requesting him to explain the huge investments on projects such as the garment factory, international conference centre, visual arts centre, innovation hub,…

In a major boost for Nigeria’s crude oil production, revenue generation and economic growth efforts, the NNPC Ltd has officially unveiled its latest crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend, before the international crude oil market. It would be recalled that in July, 2024, NNPC Ltd and its partner, the Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) Ltd introduced the Utapate crude oil blend, following the lifting of first cargo of 950,000 barrels which headed for Spain. During a ceremony held at the Argus European Crude Conference taking place in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, the Managing Director,…

The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has confirmed an attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on troops deployed at stabilisation operation pro-force and defence site in Gubio LGA of Borno State. The Director of Defence, Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who made this disclosure through a statement, said five soldiers were killed in the coordinated attack. According to Buba, 10 were wounded, and four were missing, while troops eliminated several terrorists and recovered weapons. “The coordinated attack saw five killed in action soldiers, 10 wounded, and four missing in action, while troops eliminated several terrorists, as well as recovered weapons,” he said.…

The owner of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly addressed as Tompolo, has claimed that top oil thieves barons in Lagos State and Abuja, the federal capital territory, want him dead. Tompolo disclosed this recently during a working visit of the Nigerian Bar Association national executive, led by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), to Oporoza, the headquarters of the Gbaramatu Kingdom. The chief executive officer of the security outfit, who alleged that powerful people outside the Niger Delta are behind oil thieves in the region, added that he has stepped on many toes while carrying out his job…

The Nigerian Navy has disclosed that its units under the umbrella of Operation DELTA SANITY, uncovered and destroyed 23 Illegal Refinery Sites and recovered large quantities of stolen crude oil in October. The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who made this disclosure through a statement issued on Tuesday, 19 November 2024 in Abuja, said the team also uncovered and destroyed 30 ovens, 26 reservoirs, 77 sacks, 19 dug out pits, 21 wooden boats, four jerry cans and two pumping machines. He said large quantities of crude oil and AGO were successfully recovered during various operations carried out within…

The Kogi State Government on Tuesday, 19 November, 2024 vowed to clamp down on property owners harbouring Yahoo Boys in the state. The Kogi State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye made this disclosure on Tuesday, 19 November, 2024 in Lokoja, the state capital during a press briefing ahead of a two-day symposium of stakeholders in housing and urban development in Kogi State. Taiye noted that it was appalling that some property owners were sabotaging the efforts of the government at ridding the state of crimes and criminalities by accommodating individuals who have questionable sources of income.…

Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has begun the export of refined petroleum products to neighbouring West African countries, Bloomberg reports on Tuesday, 19 November, 2024. However, there are claims that whereas the Refinery is getting crude from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in Naira, it is carrying out the export deal in dollars. Thegazellenews.com reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery in Naira, an order that has been confirmed to have been implemented by the NNPCL. The Bloomberg publication quoted data sourced from Vortexa, Kpler,…

Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, has identified Xabi Alonso as the perfect replacement for manager, Carlo Ancelotti. According to Fabrizio Romano, Perez believes Alonso has everything to coach the LaLiga champions, including the style of football. Xabi alonso Los Blancos have already suffered more defeats (3) in this season than they had all of last season (2). Toni Kroos’ retirement left Ancelotti’s team without an identity in the midfield and Kylian Mbappé’s arrival has disrupted the team’s attacking chemistry. All this has led to talks about Ancelotti’s future with Real Madrid, despite the Italian’s previous success with the club. 2024…

Iconic Argentina captain, Lionel Messi on the night of Tuesday, 19 November, 2024 achieved another record after his team’s 1-0 win over Peru in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier. The Inter Miami forward provided the assist for Lautaro Martinez’s 55th minute goal of the encounter. The match was played at the Estadio Alberto José Armando in Buenos Aires as Argentina ended their memorable 2024 on a high. Messi’s assist means the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star becomes the player with most assists in international football history, joint with USA’s Landon Donovan (58). It’s yet to be seen if Messi…

Federal agents in the United States of America allegedly raided the cell of the embattled American rapper, Diddy. It was gathered that the authorities reportedly took away a bunch of privileged materials and his own writing notes meant for his legal team for an upcoming trial. Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo made this known while accusing prosecutors of leveraging private legal writings seized from the singer’s jail cell to keep him behind bars until his May trial. In a new document filed in Manhattan federal court, Diddy’s defence team alleged that the authorities confiscated documents that were legally privileged and should…

The United Nations Children Emergency Fund(UNICEF) has disclosed that Biu and Shani local government areas in Borno State have made the list of 130 local government areas in Nigeria declared open defecation free. This came when the state authorities in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners launched the Borno State Open Defecation Free Roadmap and flagged off campaign for Open Defecation Free in the state. UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, who commended the Borno State Government for its collaboration in the campaign against open defecation, noted that Biu and Shani had already achieved ODF status last year.…

All is now set for the Gelede Festival of the Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom in the Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, reports TheGazelleNews.com Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024, at his palace, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, stated that the event will rekindle and reawaken the cultural development of the kingdom and its environs. “Gelede is an age-long traditional festival which belongs to the Sabe people and we intend to sustain this festival and make it one of the celebrated ones in Nigeria and Africa,” the respected Monarch said. According…

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has welcomed its new Director General, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, who officially resumed office this week. NIHOTOUR, a collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the Federal Government of Nigeria, is at the forefront of human capacity development in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Upon his assumption of office, Dr. Fagade was warmly received by the institute’s management team, which includes: Dr. Green, Director of Travel and Tourism; Dr. Baba, Director of Hospitality Management; Dr. Ibru, Director of Human Relations; Dr. Shehu, Registrar; Ahmed…

TheGazelleNews, a leading online newspaper, is set to honour elder statesman and one of Nigeria’s most respected politicians, Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, Chairman of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC), with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at its Annual Public Lecture and Award Night. The event is scheduled for Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. This year’s lecture, themed “Poverty Alleviation: Fantasies, Expectations, and Realities of People’s Empowerment,” aims to foster insightful discussion on critical socio-economic issues facing the country. In recognition of his lifetime of exemplary service, leadership, and…