Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

The Senior Special Assistant to The President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has explained how Nigeria has adopted strategic approach to the implementation of the SDGs reports thegazellenews.com According to Princess Orelope-Adefulire, the strategic approach is anchored on two levels of implementation: national and sub-national levels. The Senior Presidential Aide spoke on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024 at a programme organised by the UN Women themed, “Closing the Gender Gap: Financing Solutions for SDG 5. She explained that: “At the National level, we work closely with the Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to integrate the SDGs…

No fewer than 6575 people benefitted from an eyecare outreach held in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, August 26—30, as part of the Vision First Plus programme of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo). Beneficiaries from within and outside the LCDA received a wide-range of medical services including eye screening, surgeries, medication, andeyeglasses on the latest campaign to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of communities across Nigeria. Speaking at the opening ceremony, SNEPCo Managing Director, Elohor Aiboni, said the outreach was a key investment in maintaining healthy vision which is an important but often…

The Federal Government on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024, signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with a Chinese Company, Mutual Commitment Company (MCC) limited. The MoU was facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Power. Present at the ceremony to represent Nigeria were the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and the Managing Director of REA, Mr Abba Aliyu. Speaking at the event which took place in Beijing on the eve of the opening ceremony of the African-China Co-operation Summit, Adelabu said the MoU event is important and will go down as a memorable…

President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday in Beijing, China, announced the elevation of Nigeria-China ties to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership. The leaders also agreed to build a high-level Nigeria-China community with a shared future. This was the outcome of talks between the two leaders during President Tinubu’s official visit to China. President Tinubu’s official visit precedes his participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled to hold from September 4-6, 2024. ”This is an important visit for Nigeria and the rest of Africa, as I arrive in my capacity as…

Over 1,200 local farmers across Lagos East Senatorial District received fertilizers provided by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to boost food production and security in Nigeria. The Renewed Hope Agenda on food security programme of the Federal Government is aimed at reducing the rising cost of food, and to boost local food production capacity of the nation.  Senator Tokunbo Abiru, who was represented by the former Honourable Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. (Mrs) Adebimpe Akinsola, at the distribution exercise in Ikorodu on Tuesday, commended the laudable programme, stressing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed…

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested fifty-six (56) persons suspected to be internet fraudsters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The arrests were carried out between Tuesday, September 3 – 4, 2024, at different locations within the town following credible intelligence on the activities of fraudsters throwing unsuspected citizens of the state into pain and tears through their fraudulent pranks. Items recovered from them include 18 different brands of exotic cars, laptops, expensive smartphones, and charms. The suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

Justice Dehinde I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos,on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, convicted and sentenced one Ikpaka Courage to two years imprisonment for presenting himself as Chinedu Okoli, also known as Flavour, a Nigerian singer, to dupe a United States of America citizen, Mrs. Yvelte M. Thompson, of the sum of $53,000. Courage, a graduate of Philosophy, was arraigned on Tuesday by the Lagos Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charge bordering on cybercrimes and money laundering. Count one reads: “That you, Ikpaka Courage, sometime in April, 2021 in…

Hon. Adeyemi Alli, Member representing Mushin 1 Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of senior citizens. He believes that elders are the pillars of society and has made it his mission to bring joy and recognition to them. During his tenure as Council Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon. Alli pioneered a programme to support the elderly, which was widely acclaimed and emulated by state governors. Since assuming office as a Member of the National Assembly, he has continued this legacy, making it a yearly program. This year marks the 5th edition.…

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals has commended the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani for successfully signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese tech giant Huawei to advance the Smart City Project in Kaduna State.  This, according to the group, is a significant milestone that promises to enhance the ICT sector and create opportunities for the youth in the North West state. The statement signed by the Chairman, Northern Christian Youth Professionals, Isaac Abrak read: “While we celebrate this major achievement, we wish to call on the state government to ensure that this project is fully and effectively executed to benefit all…

The Federal Government has underscored its commitment to deepening ties with Indonesia, highlighting the untapped economic potential and promising avenues for collaboration. This was affirmed during the second Indonesia-Africa Forum, held from September 1-3, 2024, in Bali, Indonesia. Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, led the Nigerian delegation to the High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and the Joint Leaders Session. The Minister reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to fostering a stronger partnership with Indonesia, emphasizing that both regions stand to gain significantly from enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise. “The…

As part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the mining sector, the federal government has charged suspected illegal miners arrested in Kogi and Ondo states during a recent operation led by the Mining Marshals to court. The operation, code-named “Operation Hayakin Kogo,” took place in the Ikah Community of Ankpa LGA, Kogi State resulting in the arrest of two (2) Chinese nationals and a Nigerian for mining activities in violation of existing mining regulations. In a related development, the Mining Marshals also raided an illegal gold mining site in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo LGA of Ondo State, where four…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered another illegal bunkering site were stolen crude oil are channeled to a thick forest Umuedeokwara Community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. where they are refined. A press statement on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024, by the National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Afolabi Babawale said the corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’SIS) uncovered another illegal bunkering site where stolen crude oil was tapped, channelled to reservoirs and refined locally in a thick forest at Umuedeokwara Community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.  He said the CG’s…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it has committed the sum of $12.6 million to humanitarian purpose in the West African region this year 2024. Speaking in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Strategic Engagement Workshop with Heads of government-owned television stations in West Africa organised by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with Media Foundation For West Africa (MFWA), Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, said Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and the contiguous countries that are bearing the spillover effects of terrorism got $4 million The ECOWAS Director said…

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) has commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their professionalism, patriotism and daily sacrifices in their efforts to curb banditry in the North West and other security challenges in parts of the country. Marwa gave the commendation on Tuesday when the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka paid him a courtesy visit at the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja to seek collaboration of NCTC and NDLEA. He said there is need to support and…

The Dangote oil refinery will supply a total of 25 million litres of petrol to the Nigerian market daily starting from September. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority disclosed on Tuesday that this will rise to 30 million litres from September. In a short statement, the NMDPRA said it met with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to agree on local crude supply to the refinery. “At the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, NNPCL reached an agreement to commence crude oil sale and supply to Dangote Refinery in local currency. “The refinery is now poised to supply an initial…

An Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court presided over by A. Akinboboye, has remanded three suspects in prison for allegedly killing a 36-year-old farmer, Sunday Ayeni, in Uba Oka-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The defendants who were arraigned before the court on two counts were Abdullah Halilu Tumbi, 59; Mohamodu Adamu Bonkolo, 50; and Shagari Muhammed, 45. On 10 August, 2-24 Ayeni was hacked to death on his farm by suspected herders, a few days after he was compensated for the destruction of his crops by the cows of a herder that grazed on his farm. According to…

Things are looking up for good for the Nigerian economy as the naira appreciated against the dollar at the foreign exchange market to start the week on a positive note. FMDQ data showed that the naira appreciated to N1585.77 per dollar on Monday from N1598.56 exchanged on Friday last week, recording N12.79 gain. Similarly, at the parallel foreign exchange market, the naira gained N10 to close at N1635 per dollar on Monday from N1645 recorded on Friday,30 September, 2024. This showed that the naira received a significant boost against the dollar on Monday, 2 September, 2024. Meanwhile, FMDQ data showed that…

Gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 September, 2024 attacked a police station in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state killing a police corporal whose identity was not revealed This latest development would be the third recent attack on police in the state, after those of Nnewi and Nnobi, which happened in August, where some operatives paid the supreme prices. Police authorities in Anambra State have confirmed the attack, saying that the police operative was killed after a petrol bomb was tossed into the police station by the gunmen who were suspected to be separatist elements.. The…

Famous Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Fireboy DML has disclosed that popular Nigerian masked musician Lagbaja is the most meticulous artist he has ever worked with, just as he also announced that he’s working on a joint extended play with his colleague, Lojay. He made this disclosure during an interview with The Beat 99.9 FM, Lagos. Fireboy, who recently released his eponymous fourth studio album, ‘Adedomala’, relished working with veteran singer Lagbaja on the song ‘Back N Forth’. “Lagbaja is the most meticulous artiste I ever worked with. I wished he had taken his mask off but he wore it all through our…

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite has remanded 10 members of the #endbadgovernance in kuje prison The protesters were arraigned by police before Justice Nwite of on charges of attempting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between 1 July and 4August 4 this year. The accused persons were said to have committed the treason offence during their one-week nationwide protests when they allegedly levelled war against Nigeria. The offences are said to be contrary to sections 96, 410 and 413 of the Penal Code. The Inspector General of Police, IGP who brought the charges against them…