Author: The Gazelle News

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will reclaim Ondo State from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2024 governorship election. The Governor stated this on Monday, 6 May, 2024, when he hosted leaders of the party from the South-West geopolitical zone, who converged on Ibadan to kick-start the process of reconciling PDP tendencies in Ondo State. Governor Makinde noted that the PDP family has begun to speak with one voice and that the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Agboola Ajayi and other parties would team up to ensure that the party has…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has applauded the leadership qualities of the President of the Senate and the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stating that his disposition as a leader has united the National Assembly across party lines.Ogbuku, who spoke during the home-coming reception organised by the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, in Akwa Ibom Sate, in honour of Senator Akpabio, said that as a Niger Deltan, he was proud and privileged to be the Managing Director of the NDDC, at a time a worthy Niger Deltan was…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has assured that the 2024 Free Healthcare Programme, which it relaunched at Ukana Cottage Hospital, in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State recently, will go round the nine states of the Niger Delta region before the end of June. Speaking in an interview with newsmen at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Director for Education, Health and Social Services, Dr George Uzonwanne, said that after the flag off in Akwa Ibom State, the medical outreach had been conducted at the Oguta General Hospital in Imo State. He said that NDDC’s efforts…

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is fast developing a reputation for distorting and manipulating facts for his self-serving objective of discrediting the current administration. In his latest press statement, the defeated PDP presidential candidate made wild claims on a number of issues that need to be corrected so that the public will not be misled into accepting fallacies as the truth. The President Bola Tinubu-led administration believes that every true and patriotic Nigerian, regardless of political differences, should work to promote the unity and economic well-being of the country…

University Don, Dr. Falade Adesola, former HOD of the Computer and Information Sciences Department of Trinity University, commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its regulatory excellence over the telecoms sector. In an OpEd titled ‘The NCC, Telcos and the Tariff Discourse’, Dr. Falade examined the Nigerian telecoms sector in connection to the role of the NCC, while interrogating issues in the sector. He wrote, “The telecoms sector in Nigeria is viewed by some as a model of regulatory excellence. Other African countries often visit Nigeria to study the sector, aiming to understand the regulatory framework established by the NCC.…

Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31st March 2024, with an impressive triple-digit growth of 189% in Gross Earnings, from ₦270 billion reported in Q1 2023 to ₦781 billion in Q1 2024. This is despite the challenging operating environment and tightening monetary policy stance. From the unaudited statement of account submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Friday, 3 May 2024, this impressive growth in the topline also enhanced the bottom line, as profit before tax (PBT) rose to ₦320 billion in Q1 2024, representing an increase of 270% from the ₦87 billion…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, feels obliged to dissociate itself from a phantom report circulating in sections of the media claiming it has released a full list of ex- Governors being investigated for alleged corruption. The report headlined: ” EFCC Releases Full List of 58 Ex- Governors that Embezzled N2 .187 Trillion”, in one of the news outlets, is false and mischievous as the Commission neither issued the said list nor entertained discussions on investigation of ex-Governors with any news medium. This invariably means that the so-called list is a disingenuous fabrication designed to achieve motives known only…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu, has faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s conduct in its attempt to prosecute the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. He said he had expected the anti-graft agency’s boss, Ola Olukoyede, to have learnt from the cases of his predecessors, who he said were “booted out ignominiously”. Momodu, who spoke on his Instagram Live show, while responding to questions on the burning topic by viewers, also frowned at the issue of selective prosecution, saying “a situation where EFCC would have to be told who can be touched and…

Nigeria’s former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa has advised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to follow due process in its handling of the investigation of former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. Giving a background into the ongoing controversy surrounding the matter, Aondoakka noted that the EFCC had made an error by including Bello in a charge relating to events predating his tenure as Governor and that it was on the basis of this and other antecedents that the Governor approached the court to enforce his fundamental human rights. The former Minister,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has stated that the huge purchase of food items by the government as palliatives for distribution to vulnerable citizens is a contributor to the galloping food inflation in the country. Cardoso made this disclosure in his contributions during the March Monetary Policy Committee meeting, which was published on the CBN website on Monday, 29 April, 2024. At the meeting, the Monetary Policy Committees, MPC raised the benchmark interest rate to 24.75 percent from 22.75 percent, which it said was aimed at tackling inflation. The Consumer Price…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Joseph O.K. Oyewole has set aside the Lokoja High Court order against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in a contempt case filed by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. Justice Oyewole granted the EFCC’s motion for a stay of execution and proceedings in the contempt case, pending before the Kogi State High Court. The court held that the motion ex parte had merit and adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice to 20 May, 2024. It also ordered substituted service of all processes…

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Alfonso Browne, said on Friday, 3 May, 2024, that his country is ready to partner with Lagos State and Nigeria in general in trade and investments. Prime Minister Browne spoke during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Marina. The Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife, Maria Browne; Ambassador Davin Joseph; Chairman/CEO of Air Peace Limited, Dr. Allen Onyema; Nigerian Ex-International and Air Peace Ambassador, Chief Segun Odegbami and CEO of LIAT 2020 Airlines Antigua, Mrs. Hafsah Abdulsalam. Speaking during the courtesy visit,…

Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a KWAM1, as his Senior Special Assistant on Tourism. This was according to a viral video of her father thanking the Governor, and congratulatory messages sighted on her Instagram page, @damimarshall_ on Thursday, 2 May, 2024. In the viral video, her father, KWAM1, while performing on stage at the coronation and birthday reception of Oba Sikirullah Apena on Thursday, thankedGovernor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a…

The Oyo State Government and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) have signed an agreement to develop a gas supply and distribution infrastructure that will deliver gas to industrial and commercial users in the state. SNG will build and operate the gas distribution network, which will serve customers across Oyo State, for 20 years. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, described the project as “a catalyst for development in the state.” He said: “This project fits into our plan to drive innovation and industrialisation in Oyo State and we’re ready to partner with more companies and other organisations…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has applauded the drive by the Federal Ministry of Education to get more teachers for government schools in the country. The First Lady spoke when the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman and his management team paid her a visit in her office at the State House Abuja on Friday, 3 May, 2024. The First Lady noted that as a teacher herself, it is important to improve on the profession and the practitioners so as to improve the quality of teaching and learning. “I will join you to champion the drive for…

In line with his commitment to significantly leverage gas to grow the economy, President Bola Tinubu will commission three critical gas infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and partners. The projects support the Federal Hovernment’s effort to grow value from the nation’s gas assets while eliminating gas flaring. The delivery of the projects was accelerated from the inception of the administration in keeping with the overall objective of deepening domestic gas supply as a critical enabler for economic prosperity. This was disclosed via a statement on Friday, 3 May, 2024, by the Special Adviser…

Officials of the Lagos State Government have begged residents Olasinmbo and Ibijoke estates of Oregun area of the state to allow mechanics workshop be sited at the setback of the canal in their areas even when it is against the law of the state. Thegazellenews.com had earlier published on how some officials of the Lagos State Ministries of Transport and Environment and Water Resources have illegally allocated a canal setback at an Oregun community to mechanics as workshop. The report by this medium led to a flurry of activities by the state government as the state Commissioner for Environment and…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to continuously push for synergy between the public and private sectors for a collective agenda of service and benefit to citizens. Sanwo-Olu spoke during the Nigerian Economic Summit 30th Anniversary Public Lecture and Founders’ Forum by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) held at the Lagos Business School, Lekki, on Thursday. The theme of the event is “In the National Interest: Reflecting on the Past, Reimagining the Future.” Governor Sanwo-Olu, who launched the 30th anniversary logo of the Nigerian Economic Summit alongside the Chairman of the…

The 7th Biennial Conference of Nasrul lahil l Fatih Society, NASFAT has kicked off in London as planned. The Conference tagged MILTON KEYNES 2024, is hosted by the society’s UK & Ireland zone. It started on Thursday, 2 May, 2024 and will end on Sunday, 5 May, 2024. In a statement released by the society, the President, Alhaji Ayodeji AbdulWahid Abdul Rauf, stated that, as a responsive and responsible global Islamic organisation, the choice of UK and Ireland zone for the 7th Biennial Conference was strategic. “It was specifically aimed at positioning the Society as a strong voice in addressing…

By Pius O. Ughakpoteni Across the Niger Delta, where dark mangroves intertwine with winding waterways, a wondrous transformation is taking place. Spearheaded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under the visionary stewardship of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director, a staggering 56,786 solar streetlights ascend like quiet guardians. Their soft glow heralds a new era across the region, signalling the NDDC’s ambitious “Lighting Up the Niger Delta” project. This change is rippling across the region, fuelled by the immediate and tangible benefits of solar lighting. “The solar streetlights have brought a sense of security we didn’t have before,” remarks Mr.…