Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has presented a proposed budget of N320.8 billion to the State House of Assembly for 2025 fiscal year. The governor, while presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged: “Budget of Economic Consolidation and Poverty Reduction,” to the members of the assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio at the Yobe State House of Assembly complex in Damaturu on Thursday, said the sum of N144.04 billion representing 44.9% is proposed as recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N176.8 billion representing 55.1% is allocated for capital expenditure. Buni while highlighting the breakdown, said government would…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted the first Global Alliance Meeting to advance the two-state solution aimed at tackling ending the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict . A statement by the Embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria said Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated the first meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on Wednesday,30 October, 2024, noting that this underscored Saudi Arabia’s leadership in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.  The coalition was announced last month in partnership with international allies, and it is…

Famous Nigerian songstress, Tems has made public how her journey to stardom kick-started, narrating how three international singers, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Drake reached out to her. The 29-year-old, who made this disclosure during an interview with BigBoy TV, stated that Beyoncé’s team first reached out, followed by direct messages from Drake and Rihanna. “I never imagine becoming this big. We did ‘Essence’ and I started getting messages. In 2020, Beyoncé team reached out and I was like God, what’s going on? “And I got DMs from people that I looked up to like Rihanna and Drake. These are people that…

Famous Nigerian social critic, Martins Otse, popularly addressed as VeryDarkMan, has apologized to the Nigeria Police Force for wearing a police uniform in one of his recent videos. Recalls that the police had condemned his unauthorized use of the uniform and initiated an investigation. In the controversial video, VeryDarkMan was seen wearing a police uniform and introduced himself as a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, of the Online Division. Amid the backlash, the social media critic released a video on Thursday apologizing for using attire resembling the official police uniform. He also advised Nigerians to seek proper authorization before wearing police…

Tragedy occurred on the morning of Thursday, 31 October, 2024 as no fewer than 10 persons lost their lives, while seven others were rescued in a building collapse in Jegede Olorunsogo, within the Ona Ara local government area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, thegazellenews.com reports. The General Manager of Oyo State Fire Services, Rev. Akinyemi Akinyinka, who confirmed the sad development, said they received distress calls from the people in the neighbourhood at 2 am on Thursday, 31 October, 2024. “May I inform you that Oyo State Fire Services Agency received a distressed call at around 2 am at Jegede…

Yakubu Did Not Flout Court Order The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC has refuted accusations by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), that its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu flouted a court order regarding the prosecution of electoral offenders. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said this in a statement Wednesday, 29 October, 2024 in Abuja. Olumekun said the commission’s attention was drawn to media reports attributed to SERAP accusing the Commission of failure or neglect to prosecute electoral offenders arising from the 2023 General Election. Recall that SERAP had specifically accused the Commission of…

The Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr. Ekong Edet Boco, has disclosed that at least 10,517 persons have been deployed for the local government and ward elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, 2 November , 2024. Boko, who made this disclosure while briefing newsmen at his office in Calabar, the state capital, also disclosed that 9,843 ad-hoc staff have been trained, with three of these staff members assigned to each of the 3,281 INEC-recognized polling units across the 18 LGAs of the state. Aside this, CROSIEC boss also added that 460 supervisors, 18 returning officers, and 196 collation…

The Nigerian electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 8 November, 2024 for the various political parties participating in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election to sign a Peace Accord The National Peace Committee and the INEC, coordinated the initiative aimed at securing a peaceful election process. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced this on Thursday, 31 October, 2024 in Abuja, saying the Commission has identified potential flashpoints in Ondo and alerted security agencies for effective conflict mapping. Speaking during the fourth quarterly meeting with Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Yakubu noted that INEC would conduct a final readiness…

The House of Representatives has proposed a bill to increase membership from 360 to 366. The House introduced a bill to amend Section 49 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to allocate six special seats for women and persons living with disabilities (PWDs). The bill, titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) (Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups) Bill, 2024 (HB.1811),” was presented for its first reading during plenary on Wednesday. Sponsored by House Spokesman Akintunde Rotimi (Ekiti-APC), the proposed amendment seeks to increase the total number of representatives…

The Ogun State Government on Tuesday, 29 October, 2024, sent a second delegation to commiserate with the family of Monday Arijo, who died on Friday after being subjected to corporal punishment by a teacher at Obada Grammar School, Idi-emi. This comes as the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, is already conducting a post-mortem on the deceased to determine the cause of his death. The delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, was the second government team to pay a condolence visit to the family. Prof. Abayomi, after visiting the family of the deceased, sounded…

THE European Union has invested the €10.5 million as grant support for the resolution of farmers/herders crisis in Taraba and Adamawa States through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). IOM Chief of Mission, Paola Pace revealed that at a meeting with stakeholders on Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflict Over Natural Resources Between Farmers and Herders Communities in Taraba and Adamawa States, Nigeria, (COMITAS), organised by the IOM, Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground on Wednesday in Abuja Pace said: “IOM is proud to have facilitated policy dialogues on the National Climate Change Policy of Nigeria ensuring that local…

The court injunctions against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in about 10 states and the Supreme Court verdicts being expected on the legality of the anti-graft agency are reflective of the troubled times before the EFCC in the country, the presidency has said. The supreme Court suit, which judgement have been reserved, was instituted by the Kogi State Government and over 10 other states, challenging the agency’s power to go after public officeholders and other Nigerians that may have been linked to financial improprieties, cybercrime and other illegalities in the country. Unlike other government’s law enforcement agencies that…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna. The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.…

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents, to promote the values that underpin good governance to ensure a future where the state’s economic environment will empower and uplift its citizens. He said strong governmental institutions, effective leadership, and an unwavering commitment to transparency will build a strong and thriving economy. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Directors held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. He said the conference theme, “Good Governance as a Catalyst for Economic Recovery, Growth, and…

Bayelsa State Governor,Duoye Diri has demanded from international oil companies (IOCs) US$12 billion over the course of 12 years for the repair, remediation and restoration of the environment and public health damage caused by oil and gas exploration and to lay the foundations for Bayelsa’s just transition towards renewable energy and opportunities for alternative livelihoods. The governor made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja at the International Oil Pollution and Just Transition Conference. He lamented that: “Not too many decades ago, we could cast nets into abundant waters, reaping enough catch to nourish entire families. However, the oil boom has…

RFA Lyme Bay, a United Kingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, has arrived in Premiere Port (Apapa Quays) Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a Defence Engagement programme across West African partner nations. The visit is part of the maritime co-operation agreed under the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in February 2024. A statement on Wednesday said whilst in Nigeria, Lyme Bay, will conduct a variety of Defence Engagement activities including ship tours and the hosting of national dignitaries. Operationally, the ship will facilitate maritime capability training utilising embarked UK Royal Marines boarding and search teams to conduct drills and interoperability…

By Kunle Aremu The noise against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is deafening but the echoes are short-lived. Those who have skeletons in their cupboard are making so much noise to demonise the anti graft agency. Where their noise cannot reach, they contract it out and pay the pipers to blow it loud. Their voices collide and give sounds of irregular vibration on why the EFCC should not go after their corrupt friends. They hire lawyers, they pay their professed Civil Society groups to speak against the formation and operation of the EFCC. Of course their noise is loud,…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has attributed the successful implementation of the 2024 budget to increase in funds due to the effective maximisation of more revenue areas and blockage of leakages in the system. The Governor stated this during the town hall meeting on the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2025 Budget for Ogun West Senatorial District held at Ilaro on Tuesday. Represented by the Chief Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, Prince Dapo Abiodun noted that the 2024 budget has already achieved 80 percent implementation, ascribing the success to the various reforms…

China has reiterated its commitment to be Nigeria’s great partner in the education sector, noting that the sector is key to the development of any country. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, while stating that China is interested in Nigeria’s development at the launch of Chinese Corner and “Nihao China” Painting Competition Awards Ceremony, in Abuja, stressed that education is one key that is critical to the development of a nation. He said: “And among this very important consensus, one of them is to increase the high-level education exchanges between our two countries.  So I would like to assure…

There was pandemonium at the Iriebe Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on the morning of Tuesday, 29 October, 2024 when a three-storey building under construction collapsed. At the time of filing this report, no casualty had been reported but it was gathered that workers had resumed work on the site when the incident happened The Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo has visited the site of the collapsed building. According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Ofonime Okon, it was not certain if there were human casualties under the rubble when…