Author: The Gazelle News

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that for Nigeria to beat the poverty trap and become a prosperous country, its economy must be built to weather all storms. The governor added that the country must also raise entrepreneurs and improve the standard of education, stating that in spite of Nigeria’s natural resources, its people might remain poor until its leadership puts the right things in place. Governor Makinde, who was responding to a sermon delivered by Bishop Williams Aladekungbe of Ibadan North Anglican Diocese at the funeral service of his (Makinde’s) elder brother, Engr Olufunmilayo Sunday Makinde, held at…

First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has pledged her support to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) in the agency’s ongoing fight against human trafficking. She made the promise when the Director General of the agency, Hajia Binta Lami Adamu Bello led the top management of NAPTIP to her office at the State House Abuja. The First Lady who was briefed on the activities of the Agency particularly the recent raid on a baby factory in Abuja where 19 pregnant young girls were rescued, called on youths to stop making themselves easy targets for…

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has applauded the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for initiating the Niger Delta Sports Festival billed to take place between April 1 to 9, 2025, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. Pastor Eno, who spoke during a courtesy visit by the NDDC Management team, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, at the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo, accepted the Commission’s invitation to host the festival. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director Projects, Sir Victor Antai; the Executive Director Corporate Services,…

The Director of Corporate Communications and CSR Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, has called for a human centric approach to workforce transformation in the face of rapid technological advancements. Adeniran made this statement during a panel discussion titled ‘Building a Workforce for the New Era: Talent, Technology, and Transformation’ at the 2025 Career Fair, hosted by Pan-Atlantic University on Wednesday, 5 February, 2025, at the University main campus. He stressed the importance of organizations prioritizing clear corporate communication, continuous learning, and reverse mentoring to foster a resilient, future ready workforce, highlighting how crucial corporate communication is in enhancing workforce agility and…

The Nigeria Delta Development Commission, NDDC has continued to make notable impact in the lives of people living in the Niger Delta region in its past twenty-five years of existence. One area the impact of the NDDC is readily felt is in the expansion of Evuwreni Ring Road and installation of solar powered street lights in Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta State. “This development has improved night life and commerce in Ughelli North, while the expansion of the ring road in Evuwreni has improved drivability, saving the lives of commuters using the road. “We will tell you more…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, 6 February, 2025 congratulated the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, on his 65th birthday. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Adesina, a former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as a good ambassador of Nigeria and Africa. The Governor said the AfDB President has distinguished himself in office as the head of the international organisation. He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I want to…

A study facility to develop a roadmap on Nigeria’s critical value chain from extraction to beneficiation to be funded by the Global Council for Critical Minerals is one of the low hanging fruits secured by Solid Minerals Development Minister Dr. Dele Alake on the sidelines of the ongoing annual Mining Indaba holding in Cape Town, South Africa. The Global Council for Critical Minerals is a specialised organ of the Sustainable Energy for All, a United Nations Agency setup to implement the Agenda for Sustainable Development. The study, to be carried out by UC Davis and supported by Core International, will…

The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed that revitalizing water infrastructure across the state remains a top priority of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Water Resources, Hon. Damilola Otubanjo stated this during an infrastructural assessment tour of Remo, Odogbolu, and the surrounding areas as part of ongoing efforts to revamp the water sector across the state, focusing on addressing critical water management challenges, replacing outdated infrastructure, and overcoming funding and logistical constraints. She expressed optimism that the government’s renewed focus on the sector would help resolve longstanding issues and…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has felicitated the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, as he celebrates his 65th birthday. In his message, Governor Abiodun hailed Adesina as an economic visionary whose contributions have significantly influenced the landscape of Africa’s development. In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday, 5 February, 2025, Governor Abiodun noted the remarkable journey of Dr. Adesina since he took the helm of the AfDB in 2015. “Under his stewardship, the African Development Bank has transformed into a beacon of hope and progress for our continent,” he stated. The Governor emphasized…

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, 6 February, 2025, listed some achievements of the Bola Tinubu-led administration describing the President as a blessing to Nigeria. Speaking during plenary, the lawmakers took time to eulogise the President saying he came into office at a time when Nigerians were at a crossroads over the country’s socio-economic status before the 2023 elections. Raising the motion, Hon. Tobun Abiodun, Epe State Constituency I told his colleagues that the policies initiated by Tinubu had begun to yield positive results in less than two years of his being in office. Tobun noted…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commenced the placement and payment of 10,000 beneficiaries of the Youth Internship Scheme for one-year practical skills training in various organisations for sustainable youth empowerment in the Niger Delta region. With the successful completion of the selection of beneficiaries and their ongoing placement in organisations for practical experience, the payment of the monthly stipends has also taken effect. A statement from the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, on Thursday, 6 February, 2025, explained that the selection process was conducted “with the utmost transparency, diligence, and fairness after over 3.2 million young…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mr. Baba Kudu Mohammed for allegedly forging a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Abuja and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate. Mr. Mohammed was presented before Honorable Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, No. 45, sitting in Nyanya, on a four-count charge of forgery. ICPC accused him of presenting the alleged forged certificates to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) with the intent to secure employment with the agency. One of the counts contained in the charge…

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has revealed that the commission recovered over ₦20 billion siphoned through fraudulent ghost workers’ pension schemes in 2024. Dr. Aliyu explained that the ICPC uncovered the fraudulent insertion of workers in some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as part of its preventive activities. The ICPC Chairman made this disclosure during the “Editors’ Breakfast Meeting with ICPC Chairman,” an interactive session organized by the ICPC for media executives, in Abuja. He emphasized that the fight against corruption cannot be waged by anti-graft agencies…

By Muiz Banire, SAN, PhD Few weeks ago, upon the removal of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, I had cause to interrogate the implications by way of matters arising in this column. Today, I am further revisiting the subject not out of delight but necessity. It is not all the time that a topic enjoys such privilege in this column as there are always contemporary issues to address at all times. More so in this particular instance, I ordinarily will consider it an overkill to discuss the subject again, particularly in view of the…

By Prof. Aderemi Suleiman Ajala My attention was recently drawn to a story authored by one Olawale Apara who claimed membership of All Progressives Congress ( APC) from Iwo Local Government of Osun State on the above subject calling Dr. Ajibola Basiru to resign his position of the National Secretary of our party APC, because Ajibola Basiru is interested in the governorship election coming up in 2026. I got the story from a social.mefia platform. The author of the story also affirmed that Ajibola Basiru has declared his intention to run for Osun state governorship in 2026 election. This story…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, has commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara State over a fire incident that claimed 17 lives, reports thegazellenews.com The First Lady described the incident which occurred at an Islamic as tragic, praying to Almighty Allah to comfort and give the families and loved ones of the victims the fortitude to bear the loss. The First Lady’s message read: “I commiserate with the Governor of Zamfara State H E Dr Dauda Lawal and the people of Zamfara State on the tragic incident of the fire that gutted the Islamic school…

As we commemorate the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with the theme, Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of girls and women. Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation and has no health benefits. According to UNFPA, Nigeria has the highest absolute number of FGM globally, with over 20 million women and girls that have undergone FGM and if care is not taken, about 14 million girls are still at risk of also experiencing…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to increase the proposed 2025 budget to N54.2 trillion.This comes after Tinubu initially presented a budget proposal of N49.7 trillion to the lawmakers in December 2024.According to a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, 5 February, 2025 the President is seeking an upward review of the budget due to additional revenue generated by key government agencies.The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) contributed N1.4 trillion, the Nigeria Customs Service generated N1.2 trillion, while other government-owned agencies accounted for N1.8 trillion.The President’s request has been…

4th February 2025 Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), C/O All Progressives Congress (APC), ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos ATTENTION: GAC led by Papa Prince Tajudeen Olusi Dear Esteemed Leaders of our Party, RE: LAGOS SPEAKERSHIP: ITS TIME TO STOP ALL SHENANIGANS SUROUNDING THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP SAGA I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I write to you today not just as a concerned member of our great party, but as a critical stakeholder who deeply cares about the unity and progress of our beloved APC. The recent developments surrounding the issue of…

By Dr Segun Awosanya Your Excellency, Your legacy as a nation-builder is evident in the champions you have nurtured and the robust systems you have established. Under your guidance, many have risen to positions of leadership, proving themselves as battle-tested public servants. However, even the most established systems face challenges when individual character (blind ambition) threatens collective harmony. SELF-discipline and respect for Decency and those values that are dear to our people, including leaders and elders, among whom you are numbered must remain sacrosanct. The Lagos State House of Assembly has long been celebrated for its autonomy and efficient self-governance.…