Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The European Union, through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme Phase II, has welcomed 39 young Nigerians into the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) Legislative Internship Programme. This initiative offers a rare opportunity for young graduates to gain hands-on experience with legislative practices and processes at Nigeria’s National Assembly. Spanning 10 weeks, the programme is designed to provide interns with practical exposure to legislative work, fostering engagement and networking opportunities with members and staff of the 10th National Assembly. The programme beyond career development, also aims to create networking opportunities and promote skills essential for legislative…

The Ogun State Government has commenced reconstruction and renovation works on the MKO Abiola International Stadium and the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, ahead of the National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “2024 Gateway Games.” Speaking after inspecting the two facilities, the state Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, assured that the renovation works would be completed within the stipulated time and would be tested before the games. The scraping of the pitch at the main bowl of the stadium, the removal of the tartan tracks, as well as the roofs at the indoor hall of the Alake Sports Centre,…

Abiodun praises Tinubu for Prompt Intervention Motorists plying the busy Lagos-Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode road would soon heave a sigh of relief as palliative work will begin on the failed portions of the road Monday, 14 October, 2024. The palliative works on the road is expected to be completed in the second week of December this year as Ogun State Governor,  Dapo Abiodun commended President Bola Tinubu for swift response. Speaking after inspecting the failed portion of the road in Sagamu, Minister of Works, Mr. Dave Dr. Umahi lamented the deplorable condition of the road, which has caused untold hardship to motorists. He…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has inaugurated the fact-finding team constituted in the heat of the face-off between Osun State Government and Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL). It will be recalled that the Minister last week announced the constitution of a fact-finding committee to look into the circumstances that led to the sealing off of the gold mining company on account of alleged tax evasion and other sundry infractions. In a press briefing, Dr. Alake restated the position of the federal government that mining belongs to the exclusive legislative list and as such, sub-nationals have no…

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Body of Banks CEOs in Nigeria wish to express their concern over the persistent social media criticisms targeted at Nigerian banks. It is essential to highlight the significance and contributions of the banking sector, which remains one of the most regulated and integral parts of Nigeria’s economy. The Nigerian banking industry is governed by rigorous regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), its primary regulator, and other direct and indirect regulatory bodies. A large number of these banks are publicly listed and adhere to the highest standards of transparency…

In a remarkable recognition of exemplary leadership and dedication to public service, the Executive Chairman, of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair has been named the Peak Performer FEST 2024 Most Outstanding Performance as a Public Sector CEO of the year. Subair received the prestigious award at The Peak Performer (TPP) Fest held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The event, which brought together key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to celebrate excellence and innovation, highlights Subair’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation within the public sector, sterling transformative initiatives that significantly enhance service delivery.…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, a renowned paediatrician with a distinguished career in public health and former First Lady of Kebbi State, on her election as President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The President underscored the historic significance of Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu’s election on October 8 as the first African and the fifth woman to lead the global cancer control organisation. The President noted that her election attests to her competence and character and affirms the enormous talents that abound in Nigeria. President Tinubu described Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ascension in the organisation as a landmark achievement…

Controversial Nigerian media personality, Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, has been released on bail from police custody. Darlington was released after meeting his bail conditions on Tuesday, 8 October, 2024 Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who confirmed the development via his X page,said the singer was arrested in Lagos on Friday, 4 October, 2024 and then transferred to Abuja, where he was detained following a formal complaint filed by Burna Boy. Burna Boy accused Darlington of defaming and cyberstalking him.

Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has denied directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to dump the Port Harcourt Refinery and other state-owned refineries for the Dangote Refinery. Lokpobiri made this clarification in a press statement issued on Tuesday, 8 October, 2024. His comment comes after his representative at the ongoing Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria Summit in Lagos, Dangana Tende, Deputy Director, Upstream, at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, said the government would ensure that deregulation is 100 percent. Similarly, Lokpobiri was said to have urged NNPCL to acquire more equity stake in Dangote Refinery.…

Big Brother Naija Season 9 winner, Kellyrae has revealed that he gave his wife, Kassia, N55 million from the prize money. Thegazellenews.com recalls that Kellyrae walked home with a cash prize of N60 million and a brand new car worth N40 million after winning the reality show on Sunday. Kellyrae and Kassia entered the house as a pair, known as DoubleKay, before Biggie later unpaired the housemates, forcing them to compete solely. Following the unpairing, their management backed Kellyrae to progress on the show ahead of Kassia. The management announced the decision to DoubleKay fans after Kellyrae said he prefers…

American singer, Billie Eilish,has expressed her regret for making her sexuality and past relationships public. The 22-year-old multiple-Grammy winner, who made this disclosure in a recent interview with Vogue Magazine, vowed never to discuss her sexuality again or make her future relationships public. “I wish no one knew anything about my sexuality or anything about my dating life… And I hope that they never will again. And I’m never talking about my sexuality ever again. And I’m never talking about who I’m dating ever again,” she stated. A few months ago, the ‘Happier Than Ever’ exponent got candid about her…

Famous Nigerian singer, Sydney Esiri, aka Dr Sid, has made public why he relocated to the United States of America. Appearing on a recent episode of the ‘No Man’s Friend’ podcast, the ‘Over The Moon’ hitmaker disclosed that he left Nigeria after he got a job in the U.S. “I now live in the U.S. I left Nigeria last year after I got a job with a company in New York that offered me an opportunity to move to the States and live anywhere in the U.S. “I’ve family in Houston, my best friend lives here so Houston, Texas was…

Following the boat accident involving 285 Gwajibo Mudi community indigenes in Kwara State on the River Niger, more facts have surfaced concerning the sad disaster. According to a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ahmed Saidu Baba, (Banni/Gwanara/Adena) at the plenary on Tuesday, 8 October, 2024, disclosed that at least 92 victims were rescued, while 191 corpses that perished in the incident were recovered. Ahmed, who presented a matter of general public importance on the devastating incident, disclosed that “the wooden boat, with 285 persons on board consisting of 283 natives of Gwajibo Mudi in Kaiama Local Government…

A gun battle erupted between soldiers and unidentified gunmen in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, allegedly leaving many dead and several others injured. According to the Nation, the attack occurred at the Aba branch in Ehime Mbano last night. “Some non-state actors attacked and killed some soldiers in the area yesterday,” a source claimed. “The whole place is on fire, and troops have taken over nearby communities,” the source added. Following the incident, residents fled in panic amid constant shootings that filled the air, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty. “We are terrified,” said a resident…

A family court in Calabar has sentenced a 47-year-old man, Ita Okon to life imprisonment for defiling an 8-year-old minor. In addition to the life sentence, the Court also awarded a compensation of one million Naira against Okon. Justice Egwu said the sentence should serve as a big lesson to others who may perpetuate such crime. She warned against exposure of minors to criminally minded persons, saying parents and guardians should do all that is possible to protect their children. Principal Counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), Barr. James Ibor, whose NGO secured the conviction, said the violence against…

The manager of a ferry that capsized on Monday, 7October, 2024 in Lagos State has been arrested for alleged negligence and failure to comply with safety regulations. The Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, 8 October, 2024 in Lagos. According to Braimah, the arrest was effected as a result of findings from a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The manager of a ferry that capsized on Monday, 7 October, 2024, in Lagos State has been arrested for alleged negligence and failure to comply…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has upheld the sack of Hon. Simon Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from the House of Representatives by Election Petition Tribunal. The court also affirmed the declaration of Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo of the Labour Party(LP), as the winner of the 3rd February, 2024 re-run election for Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency. The judgment was unanimously delivered by the three members of the panel and read out by the chairman, Justice J.O Ekanem. One of the LP lawyers, Ifeanyi Ogenyi confirmed this in a post on Wednesday, 9 October, 2024. “Congratulations to…

Residents of Ikeja Federal Constituency converge on the Blue Roof hall at the Lagos Television on Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi on Monday, 7 October, 2024 to benefit from the free food programme of their representative in the House of Representatives, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke. As early as 5am, residents have started to arrive the venue of the free food programme to take number so that they can be attended to early. “I came here around 6am and I met many people here already. Eventually, I was able to enter the hall around 9am and I got my package. I can’t…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to allow peace to reign in the state. Fubara, who gave this charge on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, 7 September, 2024, said he does not regret conducting the local government election in the state last Saturday despite the resistance by Wike’s men in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and the All Progressives Congress(APC). According to the governor, he had all the guts to do these things, asking his predecessor to let go of whatever hold he thought he had over the South-South state. Fubara said he had kept…

Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday, 8 October, 2024 mourned the death of operatives of the Community Protection Guards, CPG, who were killed in an ambush by bandits in the Tsafe area of the state. A group of bandits ambushed the security personnel on Monday, 7 October, 2024 at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Tsafe local government area of the state. Governor Lawal, in a statement by his spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, described the attack as a barbaric act committed by dispersed bandits on the run. He commended the bravery of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards and…