Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Olu Akerele Family of Ikeja has cried out over clandestine and cynical moves to rename Olu Akerele Street, situated at off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos State, after one Adolphus Davies. The said street has been named after the late Olu Akerele since the early 1970s. The family is pointing accusing fingers at the Ikeja Local Government which it accused of being behind the move to change the name of the street and erased the name of their patriarch. The family’s grievances were contained in a letter titled ‘Notice of Objection To Renaming Of Olu Akerele Street, Ikeja Lagos State’ written by their…

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has set up in Borno State providing emergency food assistance to communities affected by massive flooding that has displaced over 230,000 people in the northeast Nigeria state. A statement on Thursday said WFP’s is working to provide hot meals to 50,000 of the worst affected children, women, and men who have lost their homes in what has been described as the worst flooding in northeast Nigeria in 30 years. The devastating floods occurred as a dam near Maiduguri collapsed due to torrential rains, forcing the river water to overrun 50 percent of Maiduguri,…

Three staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were killed on Thursday after shelling hit the site of a planned frontline aid distribution in the Donetsk region. Two additional ICRC staff members were wounded. According to a statement by ICRC, the distribution of humanitarian assistance had not begun, and no residents were affected by the explosion. ICRC President, Mirjana Spoljaric said: “I condemn attacks on Red Cross personnel in the strongest terms. It’s unconscionable that shelling would hit an aid distribution site. Our hearts are broken today as we mourn the loss of our colleagues and…

President Tinubu has welcomed the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)’s new report on the country’s trade balance. According to the report, Nigeria recorded another trade surplus in the second quarter of 2024, hitting N6.95 trillion. The current surplus is 6.60% higher than the N6.52 trillion surplus recorded in the first quarter. Just days after the country recorded almost 100 percent oversubscription of its first $500 million domestic bond and half-year revenue of N9.1 trillion, the latest report underscores the increasing positive shifts in the economy over the last year. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information…

Gunmen on the early hours of Thursday, 12 September, 2024 blocked the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State, abducting an unspecified number of travelers. Eyewitnesses report that the bandits, riding on about 50 motorcycles with three persons each, mounted a roadblock around the Tazame axis of the highway around 7:00 am, abducting commuters and taking them into the bush. “We have been stuck here since morning, waiting for the military to clear the road,” said Yusuf Tsafe, a commuter stranded near the area. “The bandits were still on the road until around 9 a.m., and we could hear gunfire as the…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed plans by his administration to introduce a price control mechanism in the state. Governor Abiodun also disclosed that henceforth, all forms of market levies have been suspended, noting that only development and environmental levies will be allowed, as they are meant for the development of markets in the state. The Governor made this known during a meeting with market leaders led by the Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs.) Yemisi Abass, at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Prince Abiodun said as part of measures to control the uptick in the prices of food items,…

The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) is yet from over as the party’s Caretaker Committee in Abuja has urged Julius Abure to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the party, saying his tenure expired on 9 June, 2029. The Secretary, Board of Trustees, of the party, Salisu Mohammed said this during a news conference organised by the leadership of the Labour National Transitional Committee, NTC, in Abuja. He said the decision was reached at the Umuahia stakeholder meeting by the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee which was lawful and legitimate. Mohammed said the NTC engaged and mobilised all…

The International Monetary Fund(IMF) has advised President Bola Ahmed to strengthen social protection for the vulnerable to cushion the impact of the recent hike in Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) pump price and flooding. The Resident Representative of the IMF in Nigeria, Christian Ebeke ,made the call Wednesday, 11 September, 2024 during an Arise Television interview. Ebeke’s comments come as Nigerians groan over the hike in the petrol pump price to N897 and N980 per litre for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail outlets and independent marketers filling stations from N617 and N720. According to the IMF boss, the development…

The Presidency on Wednesday, 111 September, 2024 described the 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, as the Nigerian version of former United States (US) President Donald Trump. The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said Trump and Obi share some similarities. Ajayi, who made the remark on X while reacting to the US presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, noted that both men use negative epithets to describe their respective countries. The presidential spokesman said Harris, a candidate of the Democrats, won the debate because she understood Trump’s weaknesses.…

Lagos State residents: Yakubu Ndahi, his wife Ann Lady Yakubu, and their little son have disappeared without trace, Daily Post reports. The medium gathered that Yakubu and his family had on 10 August,2024 departed Lagos State for Calabar, Cross Rivers State via a private vehicle but failed to arrive at their destination. Ann’s elder sister, Blessing Alechenu told the online medium on Thursday, 12 September, 2024 that she last heard from the couple at about 2pm, when they were still around Onitsha, Anambra State. She said her family became worried after it was discovered that Mr Yakubu and his family…

Tragedy has occurred again in Nollywood industry as famous filmmaker, producer and director, Shina Sanyaolu is dead. The late Sanyaolu is a prominent figure in the Yoruba film industry. Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN, Bolaji Amusan announced Sanyaolu’s death in an Instagram post on Wednesday, 11 September, 2024. Sharing his picture Bolaji wrote; “Sleep well Uncle Shina Sanyaolu.” The cause of his death remains unknown as colleagues in the industry take to social media to pay their last respects.

The Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, has directed the Defense Joint Monitoring Team to ensure the achievement of the presidential mandate to produce 2.2 million barrels of crude oil in the Niger Delta region by December 2024. General Musa issued this directive during the official inauguration of the Defense Joint Monitoring Team at the Six Division of the Nigerian Army, PortHarcourt on Wednesday, 12 September, 2024 The CDS, who emphasized the need for the team to enhance security for lives and property in their operational areas, stressed the importance of professionalism and teamwork, just as he also warned…

United States Department of State is hosting the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue in Washington, DC. According to a statement by the United States Embassy, the meeting is being hosted on September 11-12, and a senior delegation from the Nigerian government is led by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo. The statement read: “Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) Assistant Secretary Geoffrey R. Pyatt, will lead the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Energy Dialogue in Washington, DC on September 11-12, hosting a senior delegation from the Nigerian government led by the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources Ekperikpe Ekpo. “In addition…

UN Women has called for economic empowerment of women in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa, insisting that systemic inequality and other barriers standing in the path of women’s economic emancipation need to be crunched. Speaking at Women’s Economic Empowerment Learning Week in Abuja, with the theme: “Accelerating the progress of Women’s Economic Empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa amidst changing contexts,” UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong told the gathering of stakeholders from countries in West Africa, that deliberations should be on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement in Africa, the challenges identified, the key…

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has started the assessment of the level of destruction caused by flood that ravaged parts of Maiduguri and environs in order to take decision on area of intervention. The Managing Director of the commission, Mr Mohammed Alkali said Wednesday, 11 September, 2024 during a briefing in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. Alkali, while sympathising with the victims, pledged to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to cushion the effect of the flood disaster. He said: ”This is unfortunate incidence and I will advise that those living in the flood prone areas to exercise extreme caution and avoid those…

Former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo has written to United State’s President, Joe Biden to remove Cuba from among the countries listed as sponsoring terrorism globally. The former President in a letter dated September 3, said the effect of the listing is adversely affecting millions of Cuban citizens. The letter read: “I have great pleasure in addressing this letter to you, Mr. President, in my capacity as former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has always advocated for peace, justice and the well-being of all nations. “It has been brought to my attention that Cuba is currently listed by…

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Taraba State government have commissioned the remodeled Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and other priority diseases testing and treatment monitoring. In April 2023, a devastating fire destroyed the PCR laboratory, which brought life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to the people of Taraba State. In response, USAID worked with the management of FMC Jalingo to remodel the virology laboratory in the facility to serve as a PCR laboratory, a specialized lab that tests HIV with high accuracy and precision. Following the remodeling, USAID also…

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) has expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the government and people of Borno state over the devastating flood disaster that has displaced thousands of residents and damaged several properties in the state, Marwa, who is a former Military Governor of the old Borno state in his condolence message to the state governor, Prof Babagana Zulum on Wednesday, 11 September, 2024 empathized with him, the Shehu of Borno, His Highness Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanem, victims and residents of the state over the…

As many parts of the country continue to cave in to flooding, the federal government has ordered the relocation of vulnerable populations from floodplains A public advisory on Wednesday by the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal read: “As the threat of flooding may increase due to forecast trends, we urge the States, Local Governments, Stakeholders, and all citizens to relocate vulnerable populations from floodplains. “Avoid traveling to flood-prone areas; Follow evacuation orders; Desilt drainage systems; Motorists and pedestrians are cautioned to avoid crossing heavy run-off flow as well as cut-off highways; Stay informed through official channels and adhere to…

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has once again demonstrated its commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that drive national development. The College, at a courtesy call, welcomed a high-level delegation from the National Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), South West Zone, led by the Deputy Director and Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Alice Akinsola. The purpose of the visit was to explore avenues for collaboration that would advance the promotion of tourism and cultural heritage in Nigeria, with focus on engaging youth and educational institutions. In her remarks, Mrs. Akinsola expressed the NTDA’s vision to “spread the gospel of tourism and culture” across the…