Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Over 60,000 youths under the umbrella of the Arewa Integrity Group for Good Governance in the North Central region of the country have opted out of the planned nationwide protest slated for 1 August to 10 August, 2024. Recall that the Federal Government held a series of meetings with several youth groups to shelve the protests and give President Bola Tinubu’s administration more time to execute people-oriented programmes. In a statement made available to journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Friday, 26 July, 2024, the group’s leader, Joseph Maiwada, said they decided to withdraw from the protest to…

Nigerian parents have been called upon to appeal to their wards to desist from participating in any activities that may risk their lives or the lives of others. Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, who made the call, Friday, in Abuja during an interactive session with newsmen, described the planned nationwide protest as an ill-wind that blows no good. He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to address the current challenges being faced by Nigerians,while also stressing that most of what Nigerians may be considering internal challenges at the moment are actually fallouts…

The General Manager, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Olajide Lawal has stated that its flagship Station, Radio Lagos remains committed to spreading joy and entertainment to the grassroots through its annual Amititi Day celebration which comes up on Sunday, 28th July, 2024. Lawal, who made this known in his Alausa office, explained that the Amitit Day celebration is a spectacular musical concert which boasts of a wide array of the biggest stars in the traditional musical genre. The General Manager disclosed that this annual celebration is the Station’s way of giving back to the community while showcasing its commitment to corporate social…

The Rector of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul has emphasised the transformative power of partnerships between academic institutions and industries. Speaking at the inaugural graduation of the “Telecom Access Foundation Programme,” at the Skillfort training hub which saw 28 students graduating with certifications in RF & Microwave Technology, Fiber Optics Solutions, Network Optimization, Renewable Energy Solutions, and Quality Environmental Health and Safety, Dr. Abdul highlighted how these alliances are crucial in producing graduates who are ready to meet industry demands. “YABATECH is bridging the gap between academia and industry,” Dr. Abdul declared. “The gown is going…

Ogun State Government has concluded plan to introduce electric bikes as part of the energy transition initiative of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration. The launching, billed for Wednesday, 31 July, 2024, is the second phase of the administration’s e-mobility programme, following the launch of CNG- powered buses last year. Governor Abiodun, speaking during a meeting with the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, in Abuja on Thursday, described the planned introduction as a significant step towards sustainable transportation solutions in the state. Prince Abiodun also said that the introduction will further bring down transport fares across the state, noting…

Operatives of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Lagos have arrested a 32-year-old student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Timothy Oluwabukola Fashina and the Proprietor of Resign Regal Academy, Benin City, Edo State, Anthony Imonina Odemerho allegedly over a N1.23 billion airtime fraud. The suspects were alleged to have fraudulently converted airtime valued at N1.227 billion to their personal use. Their arrests were sequel to a petition to the police by one of the GSM operators in Nigeria following an Audit Report which showed discrepancies between Revenue Collection Accounts and Fulfilments. Based on the petition, a team of detectives…

The Bauchi State chapter of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), has sealed 571 pharmacies and medicine shops for selling fake, expired and illicit drugs across 10 local government areas in the state PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, who made this disclosure while briefing newsmen shortly after the enforcement on pharmaceutical premises and medicine shops in Bauchi, lamented that the rate of sale of hard substances was alarming in the state, adding that the Council would work with other relevant agencies to break the network of circulation. According to him, the council visited Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Alkaleri, Dambam,…

After getting injured during a team training in Perth two weeks ago an Australian field hockey player identified as Matt Dawson has decided to remove a finger on his right hand. Dawson’s decision was aimed at ensuring he competes at the 2024 Paris Olympics in France, BBC reports Friday, 26 July, 2024 The 30-year-old hockey player narrated that he passed out when he saw his finger in the changing room, thinking his Olympic dream was over. Thereafter, he met with a plastic surgeon who told him that the finger may not function well after surgery – even which will take…

Students of tertiary institutions in Delta State, have dissociated themselves from the planned nationwide protest. The planned protest, tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, is scheduled for August 1 to August 10, which according to the organisers, the protest is to draw the attention of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the plight of Nigerians and rising cost of living. President, National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU), Comrade Monday Wiska, at a press conference in Asaba, said students of tertiary institutions in Delta State were strongly in support of the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and vowed to protect Delta against such a protest. …

The Federal Government has decried that Nigeria and in fact the whole of Africa is still in pains over decades and centuries of exploitation mostly perpetrated on the continent by Global North countries. The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Izaq Salako said this on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, in Abuja at the Validation Workshop on the National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators for Early Action Support Project to Implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The Minister while lamenting that Africa is more vulnerable to climate change, species loss, and biodiversity destruction than other continent, said the African environment and resources,…

Lagos State has been ranked top among the 36 states of the country on Climate Governance Performance. Gombe States was ranked second with Ebonyi State taking the Number three position, both Borno State and Ekiti State jointly ranked fourth. Oyo, Kano and Zamfara States were ranked 34, 35 and 36 respectively, in the result announced on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, in Abuja at an event organised by the Department of Climate Change in the Federal Ministry of Environment in conjunction with Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP). Speaking at the event, the President, SPP, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke decried that Nigeria…

The crisis rocking Ogbeozoma community in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has taken a dramatic twist with the reported attack by criminals which led to the injuring of security operatives. The incident took place in the early hours of Monday, 22 July, 2024 while the hoodlums were said to be led by one Chinedu Okeke, a.k.a Ekwe-Ogidi. Chinedu Okeke, the Managing Director of Ekwe Ogidi Integrated Resources Limited is also said to be the Chief Executive of Golden Tulip Hotel, Asaba. Several calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to the Spokesperson of Delta State Police Command,…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has called for increased collaboration of all stakeholders in the fight against corruption. He made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 when the Old Students Association of Federal Government College Ikom, Abuja Chapter came on one-day familiarisation visit to the corporate headquarters of the EFCC. Olukoyede who spoke through the Head, Media and Publicity Unit and Spokesperson of the Commission, Dele Oyewale stated that winning the anti-corruption fight required multi-stakeholders’ collaborative involvement in all aspects of the fight including whistleblowing. “The fight needs collaborative synergy, collaborative whistleblowing, collaborative building and collaborative integrity to be defeated. Corruption is not happening…

Technical Adviser of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Gbenga Ogunbote, has officially extended his stay with the Oluyole Warriors. After weeks of discussion with the management of the club, the Oracle, as the widely traveled tactician’ is fondly called, agreed to renew his contract with the club, in a deal that will see him staying with the club for the next two years. Speaking after signing the contract extension papers, the former Rangers International, Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars, defunct Sharks FC of Port Harcourt and Remo Stars’ sweat merchant, expressed joy over the development. “I am thrilled to…

Meta has delisted at least 63,000 ‘Yahoo Boys’ Facebook accounts belonging to Nigerians suspected to be engaging in financial sextortion. The US-based firm disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, 24 July, 2024, titled, ‘Combating Financial Sextortion Scams From Nigeria’. The latest development come few days after the Nigerian consumer regulator, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), imposed a $220 million fine on Meta and its instant messaging platform, WhatsApp over data privacy breaches and discriminatory practices against Nigerians. Although Meta had earlier expressed its stance to appeal the fine, it said the removal of the 63,000 is a punitive…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, 24 July, 2024 officially welcomed former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim into the All Progressives Congress( APC) family. Recalls that Anyim, a Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, recently defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Francis Nwifuru presented Senator Anyim to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Senator Anyim in March 2023, signalled that his days in the main opposition were over when he directed his supporters in his home state, Ebonyi, to vote…

Celine Dion is set to smile to bank with a whopping $2 million [approximately N3 billion] for a one-off comeback performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The 56-year-old singer had taken a break from her career after being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) in 2022, a rare neurological disorder. Celine Dion is now preparing to return to the stage in France, where she will perform a single song. According to TMZ, a source revealed that Celine is “getting ready to take the stage Friday” and will earn the $2 million for her performance. This news follows…

This is indeed not the best times for embattled American music mogul, Sean Combs, popularly addressed as Diddy, as he has been fingered in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. The Bad Boys Records boss is accused of paying $1 million for Shakur’s assassination by suspect Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who was arrested for the murder last year, in new court documents, according to the U.S. Sun. In the papers filed on Thursday, 18 July, 2024, Diddy is named 77 times by his various pseudonyms: Puffy, Puff Daddy, Puff and his government name, Sean Combs. “Defendant [Keefe] has asserted publicly…

An estimated 1.3 million people became infected with HIV in 2023, three times more than the target of fewer than 370,000 by 2025. While there has been marked progress in sub-Saharan Africa, for the first time, in 2023 more than half of the new HIV infections occurred outside of sub-Saharan Africa, a report released on Wednesday said. The report by the Global HIV Prevention Coalition (GBC), said the rising new HIV infections are evident in several countries, particularly in countries where key populations including men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people and people who use drugs, are…

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have launched the second phase of its education programme – “Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS),” to build the capacity of teachers in Nigeria. The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Samuela Isopi who spoke at the launch of the Programme in Abuja, explained that the second phase of the programme which focuses on teachers, complements the first phase, Education and Youth Empowerment in North Western Nigeria, launched in 2023. According to Isopi, the funding for both phases amounts to €45.4 million, under the Global…