Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has described Meta’s threat to exit Nigeria in response to the $220 million fine as a move to influence public opinion and coerce the commission to rescind its decision. FCCPC reiterated that the fine against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram was in order and legitimate. This came as FCCPC on 19 July, 2024, slammed a $220 million fine on Meta for an unauthorized appropriation of personal data without user consent, and discriminatory practices against Nigerian users. Despite plans to appeal the ruling, Meta in a statement on Thursday, 1…

Abubor Nnewichi community, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, is presently in a mourning mood after a mother and her four children died from suspected food poisoning. The victims, identified as Onyinye (mother) and her children: Miracle, Dominion, Amanda, and Kosi, reportedly died after consuming their dinner on Monday, 29 July, 2024 At the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the poisoning is still sketchy. The husband and father of the deceased, who was not present at the time of the incident, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a shock upon returning home to…

The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, on Friday, imposed a 24-hour curfew Following the escalation of violence on the first day of the nationwide protest in the country, the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, on Friday,2 August, 2024 imposed a 24-hour curfew The Governor, who announced the curfew in a state broadcast, described the development in the state as unfortunate. The Governor, however, approved that the curfew be relaxed on Friday for two and half hours to enable worshipers to attend the Juma’a prayer in the mosque. “To ensure the return of peace and stability, we announced the 24-hour…

Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has approved the removal of the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr John Chem. Recall that the state House of Assembly had on Wednesday, 31 July, 2024 recommended the removal of the SIEC chairman, members accused him (chairman) of poor judgment. According to the statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo and made available to newsmen in Makurdi , the state capital on Friday 2 August, 2024, the governor had accepted the resolution. The statement read in parts, “The Assembly accused the BSIEC chairman of lacking good judgement as…

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has condemned in strong terms the reported attacks on journalists and other media professionals on Thursday, 1 August, 2024 while covering the nationwide hunger protest. Some journalists and media professionals faced one form of attack or the other including physical assault, harassment and denial of access to cover the protest held on Thursday, 1 August 2024. Some of the affected journalists were injured, arrested or had their working tools destroyed. The Press Freedom Officer of IPC, Melody Akinjiyan, in a statement, described the attacks as a troubling repeat of history, stating that under no…

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service on Friday, 2 August, 2024 sealed the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company over a N600m tax liability. Speaking to newsmen after the exercise in the early hours of Friday, 2 August, 2024, the Executive Chairman of KADIRS, Jerry Adams, said the operation was an execution of a court order to restrain KAEDCO over the liability due to the state. According to Adams, the N600m tax liability was from 2015 to 2022, when they did all the reconciliations with KAEDCO agreeing to pay a substantial amount of the liability. The Chairman, however, lamented, “Till this moment,…

Following deaths of people recorded in some parts of the country in the day-one of August 1, 2024 nationwide protest, Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on the night Thursday, 1 August 2024 decried the dimensions of the ongoing EndBadGovernance protest Thegazellenews.com reports that Nigerians across many states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, took to the streets as they commenced an earlier announced 10-day protest against hardship in the country. Unfortunately, the first day of the protest witnessed widespread violence and lootings across major cities, with many protesters reported dead. The major flashpoints were in Kano, Borno,…

Protests went out of control in Maiduguri, Borno State capital as four persons suspected to be workers died at the Kime filling station around the Bolori junction of the metropolis. According to Sources, the victims are still in the pool of their blood at press time, even as the video has gone viral on Social Media Platforms. Already, Police authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state, citing violence that escalated in the nationwide protests and the Bomb blast that took place in Kawuri village of Konduga local government area of the state which left 20 people dead with…

Following a violent protest in the Yauri local government area of Kebbi state, a stray bullet allegedly fired by marine police near the Yauri river has killed a businessman in his shop where he sells plastics. Our source Malam Umar Bako Yelwa who confirmed the incident said that the protest became violent when protesters blocked the federal highway blocking traffic into Yauri town. He added that while marine police engaged the protesters to disperse them, they allegedly fired bullets and a stray bullet hit and killed the innocent plastic seller in his shop whose name is yet to be identified…

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, has lamented the looting and destruction of a technology hub in Kano State by protesters, just few days before its scheduled launch. The Digital Innovation Park, designed to support Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator programme (3MTT), was said to have been set ablaze and looted during the protests on Thursday, 1 August, 2024. “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,” Tijani stated in a post via X on…

Four days after celebrating her birthday, a 54-year-old woman, identified as Olakunbi Adene, was gruesomely murdered by unknown assailants in her residence. The deceased, a popular caterer in the state, was found in a pool of her blood at her residence, located at Oda Road, Akure, Ondo State. The mother of two, according to a resident of the area, was full of life while celebrating her birthday before she was hacked to death. A resident who spoke in confidence said Adene marked her 54th birthday, during which she entertained her guests at her residence. “The deceased, who was a social…

No fewer than four people killed, while dozen others sustained injuries during a protest in Suleja, Niger State on Thursday, 1 August, 2024. This comes a moment after protesters barricaded the road, trapping many passengers and motorists for hours. The victims were reportedly killed while security operatives struggled to disperse protesters who erected barricades on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway. Among those killed was Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was struck by a stray bullet. The bullet hit him while he was on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ Division,…

Tragedy occurred on Wednesday, 31 July, 2024 as four women reportedly died in a ghastly road accident in Dutsin-Hari, a community along the Jalam-Lanzai Road in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State. It was gathered that the vehicle conveying the women, who were on their way to Sade Market, lost control due to over speeding before somersaulting. The victims were identified as Ai’shatu Salihu, 25; Furera Haladu, 25; Zuwaira Dandija, 19; and Lahala Muhammed, 41. Several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Bauchi State Police Command Public Relations Officer,…

The Oyo state government on Wednesday, 31 July, 2024 sealed a popular business facility, located at the Barracks-bus Stop-Iwo road axis of Ibadan, for its failure to comply with environmental regulations in the State. The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, during an inspection exercise directed officials to seal the business premises, for its incessant violation of environmental laws after several monitoring and warnings. According to Architect Mogbonjubola, the popular shopping complex was locked up, for its incessant failure to register with an accredited waste contractor. The Commissioner said, thorough monitoring of the complex, revealed that…

Protests took their toll in Kano on Thursday, 1 August, 2024 as many places were and set ablaze including the NCC office at State Road. The NCC office, newly built, and ready for commissioning soon, was looted and set on fire. Hundreds of protesters wearing face caps with the word “peace” inscribed on them have stormed the streets of Kano, chasing away protesters who were looting shops and other commercial places. The ‘Peace’ protesters, in their green face caps, chanted “Mu yanci mukeso ba ruwan mu da kayan kowa,” meaning, “We need freedom from the government, we don’t want anybody’s…

Renowned broadcast journalist, Sean Polotee, also known as the President of Maagbon Republic, has been appointed the Special Adviser on Media and Communications for the National Coalition of Apostles, Bishops, Archbishops, and Cardinals (NCABAC). Polotee, whose real name is Tee Abiola Alabi Oduola-Adeleke, has been a prominent figure in the media industry for nearly two decades, making significant contributions in print, electronic, and online media. Sean Polotee’s career as an investigative journalist is marked by his commitment to informing and engaging his audience about national issues in an approachable manner. His advocacy movement, “MAAGBON,” meaning “DON’T SHAKE,” has garnered widespread…

It was indeed a remarkable day when the Ogun State chairman, Bishop Gideon Bamidele Akintunde hosted the National Leader and Founder of the National Coalition of Apostles, Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals (NCABAC) on Monday, 29 July, 2024 at the prestigious Government House Chapel, Isale igbehin, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. The meeting was attended by several notable ministers and eminent personalities amongst which was the state Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Grace Elder Apostle Jacob Adetokunbo Adeaga JP The Chairman who was given a warm reception answered questions to many heart warming issues concerning the country, ministry,…

Twenty four hours curfew has been imposed in parts of Borno and Yobe States as irate youths trooped to the streets to protest what they termed bad governance. A statement by the Special Adviser to Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Dahiru Abdussallam read: “Yobe State Government has considered the security situation in Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru towns where some hoodlums are taking advantage of the protest to vandalize and loot government and private properties. “In view of the above therefore, the state government has imposed a 24 hour curfew in Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru. …

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has commended the people of the state especially the youth for appreciating the calls against the protest as the state is emerging out of a protracted security challenge. Governor Buni said: “l am happy we are working on the same page, we clearly understand our situation, the state is just picking its pieces and we can not afford to accomodate anything that will draw us backwards. “The good people of Yobe and especially our vibrant youth have shown great love, concern and patriotism to the state by adhering to calls aginst joining the…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has announced an urgent initiative to evacuate 85 sick and severely injured Palestinians, including cancer patients in need of extensive treatment, accompanied by 63 family members to Abu Dhabi from Ramon airport in Israel, via the Karam Abu Salem crossing. This initiative, according to statement signed by the Head of the Economic, Political, Media and Public Diplomacy Section. UAE Embassy in Abuja, Mr Saif Thani Alktheeri on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. is part of UAE’s unwavering humanitarian commitment to…