Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Micmary Hall in Alapere, Ketu Lagos State was fill to the brim on Friday, 15 November, 2024, as Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area held its Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on 2025 Budget, reports TheGazelleNews.com. Speaking at the well attended Forum with the theme ‘Budget of Advancement’, the LCDA Chairman Mayor Oshinowo spoke on the importance of community involvement in budget process. He said in all aspects, in all sectors, “we need to advance it. That is the reason why we target budget of advancement. We need to make sure that we continue from where we are coming from, where we stop,…

The free medical outreach initiated by Rt Honourable James Abiodun Faleke had commenced at the Kabba Specialist Hospital, Kabba, Kogi State, reports thegazellenews.com. It would run between Monday, 18 November, to Thursday, 21 November, 2024 The outreach is organized in conjunction with Doctors on the Move Africa and facilitated by the Rt. Hon.(Dr) James Abiodun Faleke, Chairman of the Federal House of Assembly Committee on Finance. The outreach programme aims to provide comprehensive medical services at no cost to all residents of Kabba in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. The event also seeks to offer essential healthcare services to vulnerable…

A 60-year-old man, Sabi’u Yusha’u Unguwa Uku, has died after falling into an abandoned well located at CBN Quarters Hadejia Road, in Kano State. The spokesperson for the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, who disclosed this in a statement at the weekend said the deceased was the driver of the Minister of Defence’s first wife. According to the Abdullahi, the deceased came to drop some guests at a house after which he came out to urinate. Unknown to him, there was an abandoned well in the area. “On Friday 15th November, 2024, at about 22:35 hrs, State Fire…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has pledged to focus on serving the people of the Niger Delta region as mandated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Speaking during a radio programme on Rhythm 94.7 in Yenagoa, Ogbuku dismissed insinuations that he was planning to contest for the governorship election in Bayelsa State in 2027. He declared: “I don’t have any ticket to contest the governorship of Bayelsa State in 2027. I want all those people who are forming groups and causing confusion through unsolicited solidarity to desist from that because the only ambition…

In a recent display of his characteristic self-importance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo once again took to the public stage to bestow his unsolicited wisdom on leadership and governance in Nigeria. From his lofty perch, he blamed those who served after his tenure for the nation’s myriad challenges. Unfortunately, the former leader’s habit of casting aspersions on every subsequent administration has devolved into a recurring pastime, overshadowing the expectation of an elder statesman to join a constructive dialogue on attaining national progress. In his latest critique of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he pejoratively called ‘Baba Go Slow’ and…

The Ogun State Government, on Monday, 18 November, 2024 described as tissues of lies, the allegation made by the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ladi Adebutu, against Governor Dapo Abiodun. Adebutu, at a press conference, had alleged that Governor Dapo Abiodun moved around during Saturday’s local government election with armed military personnel and the police to unleash violence on the people. But the state government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described Adebutu as a drowning man who is finding someone to drag with him into the…

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has pledged to end all forms of tyranny and hooliganism in the state. He assured that anyone found culpable in the recent disturbances at Iperu-Remo during the just-concluded local government elections would face the full weight of the law, irrespective of their status. Governor Abiodun made this declaration at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta on the night of Sunday, 18 November, 2024 while hosting the newly elected local government chairmen and their deputies. He emphasized that the era of hooliganism and thuggery must come to an end in Ogun State, reaffirming his commitment…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a judgment in the case of Chukwuemeka Edeh v. Federal Republic of Nigeria, dismissing the Applicant’s request for a default judgment. The Applicant, Chukwuemeka Edeh, a Nigerian citizen from Enugu State, filed his application against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alleging unlawful detention and torture by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The Applicant claimed that SARS operatives subjected him to acts of physical abuse, including spraying of tear gas into his eyes, beatings, and forced confession, in violation of his human rights as guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights…

By Yusuf Maitama Tuggar A liminal moment is a time of realization that the way things are is no longer sustainable, yet the way thing will become is yet to happen. In other words, a liminal moment is a period of transition. The quest of Palestinians for statehood and the right to exist is going through a transition period in which the world is awakening to the fact that Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and the institutionalised system of segregation used to administer the territories is neither tenable nor sustainable. Although the violence and carnage being meted…

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified anti-oil theft and illegal refining operations across the Niger Delta. In a statement Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 6 Division Lieut. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said between November 11 and 17, 2024, the forces recorded significant successes, including the deactivation of 46 illegal refining sites, the seizure of 47 boats used for transporting stolen oil, and the recovery of over 95,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Twenty-eight suspected oil thieves were also apprehended. He said in Rivers State, troops acted on intelligence regarding vandalism…

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…