Author: The Gazelle News

Theme: “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver” Today, on World Tuberculosis Day 2025, I join the global community in reaffirming our commitment to ending one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, Tuberculosis (TB). Under this year’s theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” we are reminded that winning the fight against TB is possible when we unite our efforts, invest in proven solutions, and ensure the delivery of life-saving interventions to all who need them. As the National and Global Stop TB Champion, I take this responsibility with deep personal commitment. The fight against TB is…

By Sunday Dare In times of harsh circumstance and imminent danger, a responsible and dedicated leader is forced into action to avert needless harm and destruction.This is true of the President of a nation or a General in the midst of battle. We all know this as the true law of our political existence. Anyone who feigns ignorance of this fact does so not out of truth but in an attempt to foment further crisis. In times of urgent emergency, extraordinary measures can and must be taken. If not, trouble turns into calamity. Normal becomes abnormality. That which is bad…

By Bayo Onanuga Imagine a Rivers State where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hesitated to declare a state of emergency. The political standoff between the State Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have continued and degenerated into violence. Impeachment threats might have spurred attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, while militants in the creeks—primed to sabotage critical oil infrastructure—could have plunged Nigeria’s oil production back to pre-2023 lows. Sensational reporting of the crisis by journalists and opportunistic litigation would have inflamed tensions further, paralysing governance and risking lives. Schools and hospitals would shutter; investors would flee. We can only imagine…

By Tunde Rahman As the leadership crisis rocking Rivers State escalated into the destruction of vital oil and gas infrastructure amid looming impeachment threats against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu, President Bola Tinubu wielded the big stick last Tuesday imposing a state of emergency on the oil rich state. He suspended the governor, his deputy and the inflexible state House of Assembly for a period of six months, and appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), as the administrator of the state. Following his inauguration on Wednesday, Ibas has begun the critical assignment.…

THE Southern Governors’ Forum has condoled the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Dikko Umaru Radda, over the death of his mother, Hajiya Safara’u Umaru Barebari, on Sunday, 23 March, 2025. In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Sunday, 23 March, 2025, the Forum said the passing of Hajia Safara’u Umaru Barebari, being a mother who had given her all in training and nurturing her children, including the governor, was bound to be heartbreaking. It noted, however, that the fulfilled life she…

By AIG Tunji Disu A retired soldier once stormed into my office, demanding that we kill his son, a university student arrested for cultism. His rage was volcanic. But the next day, he returned with food, asking after his son. When I joked, “So you don’t want us to kill him again?” his eyes revealed the truth: anger is often the flipside of helpless love. Years later, I met his son again—now educated, married, and changed. Not because he was jailed, but because his father eventually chose support over abandonment. Many parents bring their children to us, demanding we “discipline”…

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed sadness over the passing of Chief Mrs. Bola Shobowale, Executive Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA), reports thegazellenews.com. Thegazellenews.com reports that Mrs Sobowale’s death was announced on Friday, 21 March, 2025 after a protracted illness. According to Hon. Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, state APC Chairman, Chief Mrs. Sobowale’s demise is a tremendous loss to the party, the state, and the people of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA. Ojelabi in a statement issued on Sunday, 23 March, 2025 described the late council boss as a visionary leader, compassionate administrator, and dedicated…

By Funke Egbemode (egbemode3@gmail.com) One of the things I find most wondrous about God is the way He distributes children. Oh yes, I’m a Christian and I strongly believe that God is the ‘giver’ of children. I do not believe that even IVF can work without God’s say-so. Ask the gynecologists, they will tell you. Even they cannot explain why some couples have to try IVF five times while others are successful at the first attempt. Let’s even assume that you are a scientist and you have answers to the IVF question, can you explain why a woman living in…

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the death of the Chairman of the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Bola Shobowale. Shobowale reportedly died on Friday, 21 March, 2025, after a protracted ailment that took her away from office for several months. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message issued on Friday, 21 March, 2025, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described Shobowale’s death as a colossal loss to Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Lagos State as a whole. The Governor praised the late council boss for…

Victor Osimhen was the herod as the Super Eagles secured a crucial 2-0 victory over the Amavubi of Rwanda in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday, 21 March, 2025. The Galatasaray forward scored twice in the first half to keep Nigeria’s hopes of securing a ticket to the global showpiece alive and handed Coach Eric Chelle a blistering start to his reign as the team’s helmsman. The match began with Nigeria asserting dominance early, pressing high up the pitch and creating chances. Their intent was rewarded in the 11th minute when Osimhen latched onto a precise pass from…

Former Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, Olatunji Disu has been promoted to the new rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) by the Police Service Commission (PSC). Disu, an exceptional police operational officer, before his new rank, was the Commissioner of Police (CP) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command. In total, the PSC approved the promotion of 20 Commissioners of Police, 19 Deputy Commissioners, 13 Superintendents, and 14 Deputy Superintendents. This is contained in a statement on Monday, 17 March, 2025, in Abuja by PSC Head of Press and Public…

Text of the Broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, declaring State of Emergency in Rivers state on Tuesday 18 March 2025 Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis. With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought…

The Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos State, Dr Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran has been speaking on the combined efforts Seyi, son of President Tinubu; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila made to ensure that he returns to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports thegazellenews.com Speaking at a well attended press conference in Ikeja on Monday, 17 March, 2025, Adediran also praised President Tinubu for recognising what he termed “our modest contributions to democracy and nation building”. According to him, Rt Honourable Gbajabiamila “has been on our case for over…

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has called on parents and religious leaders to take a proactive role in addressing pressing societal challenges. He also harped on their critical influence in shaping values and securing a better future for the nation. Hamzat spoke on Sunday, 16 March, 2025, during the 20th edition of the Late Justice Muri Okunola Memorial Ramadan Lecture, held at the Radio Lagos/Eko FM Marquee. “There is an urgent need for moral re-orientation within families and faith communities,” he said. The Lagos State Deputy Governor lamented that many parents have neglected their responsibilities, leading to…

Jandor is welcome home. We’re happy that he now appreciates the fact that Lagos State is still better and safer in the hands of the Progressives who have enjoyed uninterrupted trust and confidence of our people since the inception of this dispensation. We believe there’s sufficient opportunity for him to contribute his quota to the continuous success of our government and growth of our party. We’re expecting more decampees in the days ahead. However, we read the laughable lame excuse that’s characteristic of the opposition PDP that Jandor was planted to destabilize their party towards the 2023 national elections. It…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State. Additionally, the President appointed principal officers for the university, including Prof. Qurix Williams Barnabas as Vice Chancellor, Sanusi Gambo Adamu as Registrar, Ibrahim Dalhat as Bursar, and Prof. Daniel Abubakar as university Librarian. President Tinubu also approved the appointment of Mr Thomas Etuh, representing the North Central; Chief Fabian Nwaora, South East; Prof Femi Taiwo, South West; and Zarah Bukar, North East; as members of the university’s…

The House of Representatives through its Public Accounts Committee has recovered ₦28.7 billion from two oil companies indebted to the Federation Account. House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, in a statement, stated that the Committee is currently investigating 45 oil companies collectively owing the Federal Government $1.7 billion in outstanding liabilities, as contained in the Audit Report released by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation for the 2021 financial year. The House noted that Chorus Energy Limited remitted ₦1.2 billion while Seplat Production Development Limited fully settled its obligation of ₦27.6 billion, all paid in dollars between Monday, 10…

Nigeria’s annual headline inflation eased to 23.18% in February, the country’s statistics agency said on Monday, 17 March, 2025 a month after it rebased its Consumer Price Index to reflect changes in consumption patterns. The National Bureau of Statistics said the headline inflation rate had dropped from 31.7% a year earlier and was down 1.3% percentage points from January . Food inflation, a key driver of the headline rate, stood at 23.51% in February compared with 26.08% the month before. Annual inflation fell sharply from 34.80% in December to 24.48% in January, the first major drop in over a decade, after the NBS…

By Oni Olalekan In yet another demonstration of exemplary representation, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) James Abiodun Faleke, is set to empower 2,100 constituents through a comprehensive training and financial support programme. Few weeks ago, Dr. Faleke invited nominations from party leaders, market women associations, Community Development Committees (CDC), Community Development Associations (CDA), youth groups, religious and traditional leaders, among others, to submit names of prospective beneficiaries. The selection process has now concluded, the names of successful candidates have been released, and the training and empowerment initiative is scheduled to commence…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved revocation of 4,794 land titles, over non-payment of Ground Rent, for more than 40 years. In the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid Ground Rent in the last 43 years. This was made known in a press briefing by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze. “It should be noted that the FCTA made numerous…