Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Federal Ministry of Power have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to secure the Government of Nigeria’s commitment to electricity sector reforms, market transparency, liquidity, and expanding Nigerians’ access to sustainable, reliable, and affordable power, reports thegazellenews.com. The MoU was signed on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 in Abuja. The MOU signed by USAID/Nigeria Mission Director Melissa Jones and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power Mahmuda Mamman, will support the effective implementation of a N115.2 billion U.S. government grant-funded technical assistance programme intended to support power sector development and reforms in Nigeria.…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, has affirmed that the Togolese Republic violated the right to work of Abiguime Maguiliwè and 52 Others. The Applicants have claimed that the Republic of Togo violated their right to work, freedom of association, and right not to be subject to arbitrary detention. Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves, the judge Rapporteur who delivered the judgment, said that the Court dismissed the allegations regarding the right to freedom of association. The Court also declared no violation of the right to strike and the right not to be arbitrarily detained. However,…

The Community Court of Justice,( ECOWAS), has ruled that Nigeria violated the human rights of Obianuju Catherine Udeh and two others. The Court found Nigeria in breach of Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, specifically pertaining to the right to life, security of person, freedom of expression, assembly and association, prohibition of torture, duty of the state to investigate, and the right to effective remedy. The Applicants, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka alleged that these violations have occurred during the peaceful protests at the Lekki Toll…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has apprehended a lady identified as Precious Yusuf who attempted to smuggle substances suspected to be psychoactive drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje In statement issued on Wednesday, 10 July, 20234 by the Public Relations Officer, FCT Command of NCoS, Adamu Duza, a Deputy Superintendent of Corrections, said the incident occurred on Tuesday,9 July, 2024 when the said lady came in the guise of a visitor to one of the inmates. He added that during the usual routine search by personnel on duty, items suspected to be cannabis sativa as well as other…

This is indeed good news for the third tier government, the local government in Nigeria as the Supreme Court has ordered all state governors to henceforth steer clear of the funds meant for the 774 local government areas of the country. The Apex Court on Thursday, 11 July, 2024 ruled that the control of local government areas funds by states is unconstitutional. In the suit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, sought full autonomy and direct fund allocation to the 774 local governments in the country. Fagbemi prayed the Supreme Court to invoke sections 1,…

The President of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Alhaji Ayodeji AbdulWahid AbdulRauf, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Britain’s newly elected Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. ]In his congratulatory message, Alhaji AbdulRauf emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration between NASFAT and the UK government to promote religious tolerance, social impact projects, and leadership training opportunities across NASFAT locations in the UK. Alhaji AbdulRauf highlighted the significant presence of NASFAT in various UK cities, including Dartford, Millwall, Thamesmead, Woolwich, Barking & Dagenham, Grays Thurrock, Milton Keynes, Manchester, and Newcastle. He expressed NASFAT’s readiness to work closely with the new administration to enhance community…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike In an effort to enhance human resource management, particularly on staff motivation and welfare, for efficiency and effectiveness in the achievement of organizational goals, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has approved the promotion of 5,042 personnel. The promotional exercise saw two senior officers elevated to the rank of Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN; 22 as Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, ACGN, and 66 as Commander of Narcotics, CN. The promotion followed weeks of examination and interviews conducted for qualified candidates. The NDLEA’s Director of Media…

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has been queried by the House of Representatives for allegedly spending unrelated expenditures, including N45 million for a new year party, N20 million for sanitary pads. The Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Rep Kafilat Ogbara, led the interrogation of the Minister, over the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors in spite of the fund release in Abuja. According to Ogbara, the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting the Minister and the officials of the ministry. The committee also investigated the alleged diversion of funds meant for contractor’s…

Operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested 80- yr- old man serial rapist named Pa. Stephen for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old pupil at Otuokpoti Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. According to reports filed by some gender advocacy groups in the state, the man was fingered by indigenes of the community as a serial paedophile and sick with advanced piles and hernia. The gender advocacy groups, when alerted about the incident stormed the Otuokpoti community and ensured that the culprit was reported to the divisional police headquarters. The foster mother of the victim told newsmen…

In a significant move to enhance educational resources and promote free access to knowledge, the Yoruba Wikimedians User Group and Wikimedia User Group Nigeria have jointly donated educational audiovisual materials to Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba (AAUA). The donation is part of the group’s ongoing efforts to support education through high-quality, freely accessible audiovisual content. These materials are expected to serve as valuable teaching aids, enriching the learning experience for AAUA students. The materials were received on behalf of the university by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Professor Felix Akinwunmi; the Registrar of the University, Mr. Raphael Arajulu; and the Director of…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has emphasized that bureaucratic bootleneck stalled the reconstruction of the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway. Abiodun also assured that the Agbara-Lusada-Atan road currently under construction would be completed in September. Speaking in an interview after inspecting the 20-kilometer Agbara -Lusada-Atan road in the Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area on Wednesday, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of the roads not only to the economic wellbeing of the State, but that of the nation. While recalling the efforts by Ogun and Lagos state governments to take over and reconstruct the Lagos-Sango Abeokuta Expressway, Abiodun said he and his Lagos…

All things being equal, President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leaders of the Organised Labour on Thursday, 11 July, 2024. Tinubu will meet with labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to further discuss the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers. The meeting, said to be at the instance of the President, will have the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, in attendance, Channels Television reports. Recall that the federal government and organized labour have been at loggerheads over the implementation of a new minimum wage for workers. While labour is demanding N250,00, the…

Canadian music legend, Drake has lost the $300,000 bet he placed on his country to defeat Argentina in the Copa America semifinal Played in the early hours of Wednesday, 10 July, 2024. Drake was expecting an estimated payout of $2,880,000.00 if Canada had gone through but they lost 2-0 to the reigning world champions at New York’s MetLife Stadium on Tuesday night. Goals by mercurial Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez ensured that the South Americans sailed through to the final of the football showpiece.Earlier on the afternoon of Tuesday, 9July, 2024, while sharing his bet slip on Instagram,…

The President of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez, has confirmed that Colombian pop star, Shakira will to perform at the 2024 Copa America final. Dominquez confirmed that the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ crooner will perform during the halftime of the showpiece final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, July 14.through a statement issued on Tuesday, 9 July, 2024. “Shakira is an extraordinary South American star who has dazzled the entire world. We are sure that her performance at the Copa América USA 2024 will enhance the message of healthy passion and unity through sport,” CONMEBOL boss said in the…

A 65-year-old cleric named Francis Ogu, was on Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 docked in the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, Anambra State capital for allegedly defiling his 10-year-old domestic worker. The police charged Ogu, who resides at Umuike village in Awka, with defilement. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 27 at his residence. Okechukwu, who alleged that the accused sexually exploited the minor, said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 35(2) of the Child Right Law of Anambra State, 2004. The accused, however, pleaded…

By Mark Longyen Plateau State has been thrown into political panic mode following a subterranean move by Plateau South Senatorial District’s constituents to recall former Gov Simon Lalong, APC-Plateau South; from the Senate. Also penciled for recall by the aggrieved constituents are Lalong’s former Chief of Staff, John Dafaan, APC-Shendam, Quaan-Pan, Mikang; and Vincent Venman, APC-Langtang North/South Federal Constituencies. Impeccable sources disclosed that within the past week, over 500,000 constituents had already appended their signatures to initiate the recall of the trio from the National Assembly. It was learned that about a fortnight ago, the forms for the recall of…

PressOne Africa is set to make waves at Lagos Startup Week with its revolutionary phone systems designed to empower ambitious Nigerian businesses. Anticipation is high as the innovative telecommunications firm prepares to showcase its cutting-edge solutions that promise to elevate Nigerian businesses to world-class standards. At the core of PressOne Africa’s exhibition is their advanced business phone system. Unlike traditional SIM cards tied to physical devices, PressOne’s business phone system offers unparalleled flexibility and significant cost savings. Its seamless integration across multiple devices streamlines operations, while the ability to handle concurrent inbound calls, ensures no customer is left unattended. The…

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed 46 Facilities in 10 states of the Federation for various forms of environmental violations. The enforcement exercise was carried out in Borno, Gombe, Ogun, Enugu, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba States. According to a statement on Friday by the spokesperson of the agency, Amaka Ejiofor, the facilities were shut down for refusing to comply with the provisions of the National Environmental Regulations. Their offences include Violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, lack of Environmental Audit Report, and failure to develop and implement an Environmental Management Plan.…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A member of the House of Representatives from Oyo State is dead, reports thegazellenews.com  He is Olajide Akinremi, popularly known as Jagaban. Thegazellenews.com reports that the late Lawmaker until his death represents Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the House on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He passed on early Wednesday, 10 July, 2024, but cause of his death remain unknown at the time of writing this report. However thegazellenews.com reports that he was in his 50s. As it is the tradition of the National Assembly, plenary and committee activities are to be suspended to…

BUA truck has killed five people and injured six at Eke Awgbu market in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The accident happened at about 9.55 am on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Confirming the accident the spokesperson of the Anambra State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Margret Onagbe, said it was caused by a break failure of the trailer which crashed into the bush k!lling five persons and injuring six others. She dismissed claims from some quarters that the accident was due to the activities of the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA). “A fatal…