Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

A bill seeking to reduce the tenure of the president and governors to a single tenure of 6years has been rejected in the House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere from Imo state and 33 other lawmakers on Thursday, 21 November, 2024, also proposed a six-year term for governors and rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to “ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states”. Currently, the 1999 constitution stipulates that a candidate can be elected for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another term, after…

A Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator Simon Ekpa,has been arrested in Finland over alleged involvement in terror-related activities. According to BBC Pidgin, the self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile was remanded in prison by the Päijät-Häme District Court on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. Also, according to The Sun, the Central Criminal Police in Finland confirmed the arrest in a statement on its website on Thursday, saying four individuals were arrested on suspicion of terrorist crimes. Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator has been arrested in Finland over alleged involvement in terror-related activities.…

Embattled Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in Anambra State, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, has reacted to his sack by President Bola Tinubu. Odoh said on Thursday, 21 November, 2024 that he will be heading to his office, insisting that he hasn’t committed any crime. Thegazellenews.com reported that Tinubu on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of UNIZIK. The President also removed Odoh, the new Vice Chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike, the Registrar. However, speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Thursday,21 November, 2024, the embattled Vice Chancellor said he hasn’t been communicated…

Following the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State in last Saturday’s election, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that the outcome was not influenced by the presidency or any other external force. Ganduje, who emphasised that the entire strata of Ondo people voted en masse for the governor across the 18 local government councils, said the victory recorded by the party in 202 out of 203 wards spoke volumes about the level of acceptability of APC in the state. The APC National Chairman stated this on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 in…

In Calabar Operatives of the Cross River State Police Command have arrested one Mallam Adamu Ibrahim Umaru, a native of Bundugudu LGA of Zamfara State, residing at No. 27 Edem Odo Street, Calabar, has been arrested for allegedly impregnating his own daughter, one Amina. Police personnel of the Zone Six Human Rights Unit, who acted on a petition referred to the team for investigation, arrested Umaru on 15 November, 2024. But Umaru has denied committing the crime when interviewed, saying he could not explain how his daughter got pregnant under his watch having separated from her biological mother years back.…

Operatives of Yobe State Hisbah Board have confiscated and destroyed at least 170 bottles of assorted alcohol worth over N400,000 . It was gathered that the bottles were confiscated at one of the hotels in Gashu’a town, the headquarters of Bade Local Government Area of the state. The Chairman of Bade LGA, Ibrahim Babagana Yurema, who led the destruction, said the bottles were confiscated during a Hisbah patrol at one of the well-known hotels in Gashu’a, saying the council is concerned about the rate at which youth in the area are taken intoxicants and alcohol. Yurema admonished that the consumption…

Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is set to make his debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2025. Afrobeat star, Seun Kuti will also be returning for the festival. Ghanaian singer, Amaarae and South Africa’s Tyla are the other African artistes billed for the event, according to the recently released digital flier by the organisers. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly known as Coachella is a yearly festival in California, USA, with over 125,000 thousand people in attendance. It is dubbed the world’s biggest music and arts festival. Seun Kuti was the…

The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), has disclosed that terrorist groups are using young girls as sex slaves and suicide missions wreaking havoc in various parts of the country. The centre’s national coordinator, Major-General Adamu Laka, made this disclosure on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 in Abuja at the launch of a Technical Assistance Project on promotion and support for the rights and needs of victims of terrorism through the implementation of the model legislative provisions. According to him, women, children, and youth have been disproportionately affected over the years. “We have seen children abducted and forcibly trained to fight, young…

Famous Nigerian afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reflected on his life as he added another year. The ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ exponent turned 32 on Thursday,21 November 2024 and he shared some of his thoughts on his new age with fans on X. Davido stated that contrary to what many might think, life has not been all rosy for him, just as he also added that despite the challenges, he was grateful to God and his fans. “Big 32 soon! Omo, God is good. Happy to be alive! My eyes don see shege! But steady my fans dey…

As the date for the commencement of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged “2024 Gateway Games,” scheduled to take place in Ogun State in early January next year, draws closer, about 12,000 to 15,000 sportsmen and women are expected to participate in the national sports fiesta. The former Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the 2024 National Sports Festival who is the new Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Bukola Olopade, disclosed this after a closed-door meeting with the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Chief Executive Officer of Premium Trust Bank, Mr.…

The Ogun State government has described as false and misleading a notice attributed to the Bureau of State Pension inviting the next-of-kin of deceased pensioners to undergo a screening process. A statement by the Permanent Secretary in the Bureau, Mrs. Arinola Adetayo, stated that the notice, purportedly issued by an unnamed individual, was not authorized by the government. Mrs. Adetayo noted that the state government had established a clear official procedure for processing pension claims and disbursing benefits to the next-of-kin of deceased pensioners, adding that the process did not require any forms of screening by unknown individuals or third…

The Ogun State government, on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024, described the allegation leveled against Governor Dapo Abiodun by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 polls in the state, Hon Ladi Adebutu, as the ranting of a drowning man, claiming that the governor could not account for local government funds in the last five years. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon Kayode Akinmade, the Ogun State government said it was not surprised by the antics of the PDP chieftain, who it noted is currently under investigation by…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has stated that the ongoing reforms under the current administration are set to position Nigeria as a global mining hub. Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2024 Nigeria Mining Week, themed “From Inside Out: Building the Mining Sector to be the Cornerstone of Nigeria’s Economy,” Dr. Alake emphasized that the government’s efforts to sanitize the sector, foster diplomatic relations, and promote investment are positioning Nigeria as a formidable mining nation. Outlining the progress made on his 7-point agenda, the Minister announced that the process to incorporate the Nigeria…

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 approved for second reading a bill to ensure adequate funding for mineral resources, exploration and extraction through public-private partnerships. Leading the debate on the bill’s general principles, the sponsor and member representing Surulere II Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Lanre Okunola, described the proposed legislation as a transformative framework aimed at advancing Nigeria’s mining sector through improved funding, strategic public-private collaboration, and adherence to international best practices in mineral exploration and extraction. Okunola stated, “The bill aims to ensure that our mining sector reaches its full potential, creating jobs, fostering economic growth,…

The House of Representatives has mandated electricity distribution companies to undertake a N500 billion recapitalisation to enhance their financial stability and ensure they can efficiently meet their obligations to the Nigerian public. This resolution followed the adoption on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 of a motion titled “Need to Address the Activities of Distribution Companies in Nigeria,” sponsored by Ayokunle Isiaka, the member representing the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency of Ogun State. In soliciting support for the motion, Isiaka highlighted that recent actions by DisCos have posed a significant threat to the nation’s economic stability and the welfare of Nigerians. He expressed…

As part of efforts to safeguard learning environments over the next three years, the Federal Government has allocated N112 billion through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools in the country. The Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim made this disclosure through a statement on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 to mark Universal Children’s Day, themed “Advancing Children’s Rights for a Sustainable Future”. The minister also stated that the government has made significant progress in advancing children’s rights through the adoption and implementation of several initiatives. “Through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools, over N112 billion has been allocated to…

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024 charged its Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters to conduct a forensic investigation into over N30 billion in unsettled insurance claims tied to the Nigeria Police Force, the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Defence. The House noted that the unsettled claims were a result of failures in actuarial valuation, gap analysis, and non-compliance with Section 57 of the Insurance Act, 2023, and Section 4, Subsection 5 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, among others. The resolution of the House was a sequel to the adoption of a motion titled,…

Stakeholders in the gaming industry in Oyo State have been urged to collaborate more with the state government, regulators and consumer rights groups to bring about more innovations and consumer safety within the sector. The Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board made this call at the 6th edition of the Stakeholders’ Interactive Forum tagged “Boom or Burst,” which was organised by the Board on Wednesday, 20 November, 2024. At the event, which had in attendance critical stakeholders in the gaming industry, the government advocated for a need to create a balanced approach that would foster growth without compromising the safety…

Chairman of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Sulyman Kosemani has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on its war against corruption in the country promising to work with it within the ambit to tackle it. This commendation was made in Ilorin on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 when the Kosemani led other members of his executives on a courtesy visit to the Zonal Director, Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Harry Erin, at the Commission’s office in Ilorin. He said the essence of the visit was to enable the new heads from both sides to…

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Tuesday, 19 November, 2024 visited the sites of some of his legacy projects, including the talk-of-the-town Innovation Hub, which is receiving finishing touches ahead of its public unveiling. The Governor said the objectives for the huge projects are to build a new ecosystem that makes Kwara a go-to place in Nigeria and build an economy that benefits the people and further elevates the state. Governor Abdulrazaq was responding to a media enquiry requesting him to explain the huge investments on projects such as the garment factory, international conference centre, visual arts centre, innovation hub,…