Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has granted a four weeks extension for the collection and submission of Expression of Interest form for interested consultants in the built environment registered with relevant professional bodies in Nigeria to indicate interest in the Certified Accreditors Programme (CAP). This was disclosed by the General Manager of the Building Control Agency, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, in his office while reviewing the level of responses by interested applicants in the new scheme. Oki noted that the extension is aimed at giving more professionals in the built environment the opportunity to…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted frantic bids by drug syndicates to smuggle in and out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and some courier firms in Lagos, consignments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves and ladies’ native wears. According to the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, a businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu was last Thursday arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.3 kilogrammes hidden in packs of chessboards,…

President Joe Biden of the United States has withdrawn from the November 5 election after weeks of pressure. Biden, 81, served as deputy of Barack Obama, during his two terms as America’s number one citizen. Like Obama and other Democrats, Biden lined up behind Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election won by President Donald Trump. Four years later, Biden defeated Trump who was seeking reelection. Then 77, he had made history as the oldest person to be elected into the Oval Office. However, his presidency has been marred with controversies, especially on account of ill-health and fitness. The issue…

The Nigerian football governing body has officially confirmed squad numbers of the Super Falcons’ 18-player roster for the 2024 Olympic Games have been revealed. Talismanic forward, Asisat Oshoala will don her number eight shirt, dependable shot-stopper, Chiamaka Nnadozie will wear number 16, while Benfica of Portugal star, Christy Ucheibe will take the prestigious number 10 shirt. Russia-based forward, Chukwunonye Macleans has been handed the number nine shirt, while Nicole Payne will wear the number four jersey previously worn by the injured Ashleigh Plumptre. Payne’s elder sister, Toni will keep her number seven jersey, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade sticking with the…

Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, has confirmed that Napoli’s most prized asset, Victor Osimhen, has said ‘yes’ to French Ligue I giants, Paris Saint-Germain(PSG). According to Romano, PSG are planning to advance for Super Eagles of Nigeria striker and Benfica’s João Neves next week. Romano, who made this disclosure in a tweet on his X account on Sunday, 21 July, 2024, said “Paris Saint-Germain are planning to advance for both João Neves and Victor Osimhen from next week. ” “Benfica understands João’s desire to join PSG, talks are advancing between the clubs to get it done. Osimhen said yes to PSG,…

The Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Innocent Barikor has tasked newly accredited environmental consultants to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in carrying out their functions . Dr. Barikor gave the charge at a one-day hybrid induction workshop for newly accredited environmental consultants organized by NESREA with the support of EU Delegation, held on Friday, 20 July, 2024 in Abuja. He said, “this is a call to be vigilant and proactive in addressing environmental challenges, and a call to collaborate with NESREA and other stakeholders in fostering a culture of environmental…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has further demonstrated its commitment to its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme by attending the Graduation Ceremony of scholars from the scheme at the Coventry University, United Kingdom. Speaking at the sidelines of the graduation ceremony in UK, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, underscored the need to celebrate academic excellence. Ogbuku led a delegation which included the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong; the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Director, Education Health and Social Services, Dr George, Uzonwanne, as well as the Director of Legal Services,…

Nigeria and South Africa have expressed grave concern at the on-going conflict in Sudan which has resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives, exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, displaced millions of people, affected women and children, and led to the total destruction of critical infrastructure. The two countries gave their concerned in a joint statement issued by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr. Ronald Lamola, after a meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing African Union Executive Council in Accra. The two Ministers reaffirmed the existing strong historical…

By Michael Effiong In the last few days, I have been inundated by a barrage of questions “Why is your Governor investing in Lagos? What is the rationale behind a project like this in Lagos State instead of Akwa Ibom where it will create jobs and empower the local contractors? Why now when people are hungry? It has been questions galore all referring to the decision of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to develop a real estate facility in Lagos dubbed “Ibom Towers” As a trained journalist of over 30 years, I know that today’s media space…

In a significant move to enhance effective crisis communication and healthy civil-military relations, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) partner to bolster collaboration towards effective crisis management.This was revealed when the management of CCC, led by Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa, at Defence Headquarters, Abuja. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Musa, expressed deep appreciation for the media and the CCC’s invaluable contributions to crisis communication and public relations support for security agencies and other stakeholders.General Musa said Nigerian media had been…

Justice Chukujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, ordered the final forfeiture of five properties linked to a former Managing  Director, Nigerian Army Properties Limited, NAPL, Major-General U.M.Mohammed.The Judge gave the order following a motion on notice filed and argued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its lawyer, A.O. Mohammed. The properties are: No.8b, Bedwell Road, Ikoyi; No.3, Force Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No.14, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No.6, Marina, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 28, Point Road, Apapa, Lagos.Investigation revealed that the properties were fraudulently misappropriated and the proceeds…

The Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) has revealed plans to provide health insurance coverage for 10,000 pupils in the state. This, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Sola Akande said, is in furtherance of Governor Seyi Makinde’s integrated approach to education in the state. Akande made this known on Wednesday, during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran. In his address Dr. Akande noted: “This visit is very timely as the Agency is ready to embark on the enrollment and validation of 10, 000 pupils who will benefit from…

It was an atmosphere of joy and glamour as Mrs. Adenike Sodipo, a Deputy Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, was installed as the new District Chairman of the Inner Wheel Club District 911. The event, held at the prestigious Country Club on Joel Ogunnaike Street in Ikeja, Lagos, was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life, family members, professional colleagues, and old schoolmates of the new DC. Various delicacies and assorted drinks were provided in abundance for the delight of members of the Club and guests, who danced to a selection of evergreen…

Comrade Tosin Adeyanju has taken over as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), pledging to make President Bola Tinubu proud. Adeyanju, who was appointed by President Tinubu, took over from Dr. Bello Maigari, who has been praised for his leadership and contributions to the agency. In his handover remarks, Dr. Maigari expressed confidence in Adeyanju’s ability to lead the agency to new heights. “I am leaving NLTF as a happy man because a man taking over from me is a man filled with so much capacity to deliver,” he said. He described Tosin as a…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted another batch of seven containers bearing over 1.2 million bottles of codeine conservatively put at a worth of over N9.8 billion at the Onne Ports, Rivers state. The latest seizure made on Thursday is coming barely three weeks after seizing 6,125 cartons of the same syrup containing 1.05 bottles of the opioid worth about N7.4 billion in street value, was seized at the same port. A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the anti- narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the latest seizure made was the fourth and last…

By ‘Tunde Ogunmola The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 11th of July, 2024, granting financial autonomy to local governments in the country is indeed a victory for the people at the grassroots and the Nigerian democracy. It’s indeed a right step in the right direction in an effort to further strengthen our democracy and return governance to the people at the local level. As we all know, local government is the closest government to the people. Undoubtedly, this is a no mean feat for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the face of myriad of problems and…

Members of the Christ Apostolic Church, Way-to-Life, Ottawa were given an extra dose of Joy, Sunday, 14 July, 2024, when the church leadership organized a free for all picnic. The picnic, which was held at Ruth Wildgen Park, 1103 Grenon Avenue, Ottawa, after a short Sunday service, provided a leeway to healthy living through sports, various games, exercises, music, dance, and assorted foods. The picnic also opened doors to new members who endorsed the Church’s unique corporate responsibility moves of charitable gifts and ever-ready ministerial guidance. Some members went for swimming competitions while others settled for table tennis, hand ball,…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has stated that the desire to realise the country’s goal of universal health coverage is predicated on the efforts and partnership of the private sector as well as full activation of health insurance reports thegazellenews.com Senator Tinubu gave this submission in Lekki, Lagos on Friday, 19 July, 2024, while commissioning the Diamed Health Center. Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that such state-of-the-art facility resonates with the four-point healthcare agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “I have also been informed that this Center occupies a strategic position in the four-point agenda of the Federal…

The 11 Volunteers, who comprised professionals from diverse backgrounds, including Law, Engineering and expertise in Entrepreneurial Studies, were urged to see their new charge as a call to serve humanity. Speaking during the Pre-departure Orientation for the Volunteers, Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub, congratulated the Volunteers on being among the very few beneficiaries of the 37-year-old Scheme chosen from a long list of over 10,000 applicants when the agency advertised late last year. Buba also called on the Volunteers to embody the values of integrity and simplicity and to portray Nigeria in positive light…

Team Lead of Platforms Africa, Adeola Yusuf, has mentored hundreds of young journalists and students of mass communication at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) where he assured them of a promising future for journalism despite technological and economic challenges. Adeola Yusuf, a three-time winner of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) who delivered a lecture titled; “Print Media Organisation in Nigeria From Conception To Economic Glory: Weaning The Young Journalists,” at a seminar for 300-level mass communication students of the University, stated that the consistent advancement in technology gives credence to his belief that no journalist who is creative should be…