Author: The Gazelle News

By Wale Joseph The first edition of the Olympic Value Education Programme (OVEP) for Nigerian University Athletes for Schools in the South West holding at the Lagos State University started on Tuesday, 16th March, 2020. The programme which is put together by the Nigeria Olympics Committee in conjunction with Nigerian University Games (NUGA) is aimed via the Olympic Movement to educate young people through sports in the spirit of better understanding and friendship, thereby helping to build a better and more peaceful world. That is, Olympism is a philosophy of life which spans more than the seventeen days of the…

The Senate on Thursday, 19 March, 2020 began amendment to the Electoral Act to introduce electoral debate as a requirement to be fulfilled by candidates of political parties seeking to contest Presidential and Governorship elections in Nigeria. Sponsor of the Electoral Act Amendment bill 2020 (SB.176), Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC – Oyo North), in his lead debate said if passed by the National Assembly, the piece of legislation will put an end to voting based on ethnic and religious allegiances in the country. He added that when signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, the amended Act will also empower…

The Oyo State government, on Thursday, 19 March, 2020, allayed the fears of residents of the state on the Coronavirus pandemic, declaring that there is no confirmed case of the disease in the state yet. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, who made the disclosure at a press conference  held at the Agodi Secretariat, maintained that following the confirmed cases of the virus in neighbouring states, all facilities in the state are on high alert and that resources have been deployed to facilities in case of unforeseen circumstances. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr.…

The Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, today, March 19, 2020 secured the conviction of eleven oil thieves alongside their Vessel, MT Jonko , before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The convicts are: Umoh Akaninyene Clement, Moses Ogbodu, Ignatius Okereke, Valentine Amaegberi, Victor Egbowon, Emmanuel Bassey, Ademola Olasode, Sule Godwin Anyebe, Oyelami Akeem Oloyede, Otuagoma Emmanuel and Anthony Orhieoghenebruru. Justice Aikawa found them guilty on all three counts and sentenced each one to one year Imprisonment on each count. The sentence is to take effect from their day of arrest. The…

In the face of the new technology, the Nigerian Postal Services cannot afford to hold on to its old business strategies any longer; hence the need for the ongoing restructuring to meet modern day needs. This was the submission of the Postmaster General of the Federation, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, after a meeting with all NIPOST’s District Postal Managers who converged on Abuja for a two-day meeting that ended yesterday. Adewusi said with the advent of Information Communication Technology and the introduction of e-based products, the ongoing business refocusing of the organization becomes germane adding that the organization would do…

This is to clarify that my directive to place a ban on high-density gatherings affects all cramming of 50 or more people, including government and private-owned schools and religious centres in Ogun State. All schools in the State are to be closed indefinitely after close of work tomorrow, March 20, 2020. Parents and guardians, who have entries in boarding facilities, are therefore urged to immediately put plans in place to withdraw their children and wards to their homes tomorrow. While everyone continues to maintain social distance, avoid large gatherings and limit avoidable travels, I seek the understanding and full cooperation…

As part of the measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Identity Management Commission, has ordered the immediate shut down of all its enrollment centers in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Katsina and Anambra States . The move becomes necessary to prevent our Staff and applicants from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic. Consequently, all enrollment activities, card collection and other identity related activities are hereby suspended in the aforementioned States till further notice. The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the disease, which has become a global threat. We hereby…

As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Lagos State Government is closing down all public and private schools from Monday, 23rd March 2020. The move becomes necessary to prevent our children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic. It is important for parents to ensure that their children practise ‘social distancing’ while at home, wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitizers and observe high standards of personal hygiene. Children should be encouraged to remain at home. The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of…

The Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Akin Abayomi, on Thursday, confirmed four fresh cases of coronavirus in the state. This brings the total number of cases confirmed in the country to 12. Details later…

The National Council for Women Societies, NCWS, is to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in the fight against corruption, Hon Sheilla Tamuno Abiye, President of the Rivers State chapter of the society dropped the hint on Thursday, March 19, 2020, when she led members of the society on a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal office. “We seek the partnership of your organization at the zone, to collaborate in many ways that will ensure better informed Nigerian women, on all and necessary civic responsibilities required to rid Nigeria of corruption,” she said. She invited the Commission…

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned one Ope Saraki,  a Cousin of the immediate past President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki on two count charges bordering on contract scam to the tune of Two Hundred and Twenty Million Naira (N220, 000, 000). Saraki was arraigned before Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin. The EFCC alleged that the defendant, while serving as Special Adviser to the Kwara State Government, knowingly acquired a contract of the supply 13 Ambulances to General Hospitals into a company which he…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos zonal office, Wednesday, March 18, 2020 secured the conviction and sentencing of one Shobogun Olushola Emmanuel to nine months imprisonment before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for his involvement in internet fraud. The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents, an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. He however pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him by the EFCC. The one- count charge reads: “That you Shobogun Olushola Emmanuel sometime in…

Six internet fraudsters were on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office. They were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos. The defendants are: Adedayo Williams Khalim; Oyeyemi Toheeb Abiodun; Kareem Abimbola; Bakare Lolade Lateef; Omolade Mayowa Solomon and Ojora Daniels. The defendants, except one Opeyemi Toheed Abiodun were arraigned on a  one-count separate charge of same offence bordering on possession of fraudulent documents except. Abiodun was arraigned on two counts. One of the charges reads: “That you Adedayo Williams Khalim sometime in March, 2020 in…

The Senate may on Tuesday next week consider a report on addressing the critical issue of Nigeria’s power problems. The report was submitted on Thursday, 19 March, 2020 during plenary by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP – Benue North East). The Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, after the report was laid, directed the Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, to make copies available to members of the upper chamber ahead of its likely consideration on Tuesday. This, according to the Senate President, would allow lawmakers sufficient time to go through its content over…

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday announced the decision of the Senate to suspend public hearings and restrict access to its chamber over growing concerns of Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in the country. The announcement came after the Senate embarked on a closed session at the resumption of plenary to deliberate on the devastating impact which a spread of the disease may cause in the absence of preventive measures. “The Senate resolves to suspend all public hearings till further notice as a result of the Coronavirus, COVID-19. “In addition, the Senate gallery will remain closed to the public…

Keystone Bank Limited recently partnered with the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to launch an annual SME Support Centre to support the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Lagos State and by extension, Nigeria. According to the LCCI, the inaugural edition of the programme which was held on 12th of March 2020 in Lagos, was aimed at introducing business consultancy services to boost businesses of entrepreneurs in the state. The statement further said that the Chamber intends to achieve this through collaboration with external subject matter experts. “The MSMEs is an integral sector in Nigeria. The…

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has decried Nigeria’s poor performance in the area of Agricultural Research and Development. Lawan made this known in his concluding remarks after the Senate considered a bill that seeks to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act. According to the Senate President, given the number of specialized agricultural institutes in the country, Nigerian farmers should have access to technology needed to make farming easy. “I want to say that we are doing very poorly in the area of agricultural research and development. “It is a very bad commentary that our farmers…

The Niger State Government has directed the closure of public,  private and all tertiary institutions across the state from Monday, 23rd March, 2020. A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane further stated that all public gatherings are hereby suspended by the State Government. Ahmed Matane disclosed that the closure of the public, private schools and tertiary institutions which is for the period of thirty days and the suspension of all public gathering is with immediate effect. The SSG revealed that the measure to shut down the Schools for thirty days and suspend public gatherings…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it has commenced the digitisation of its documents as part of its efforts to render faster and better service to the people of the Niger Delta region. Speaking after reviewing the on-going capturing and archiving at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Director, Information Technology and Management Information System, Mr. Kine Osain, said that the digitisation of legacy documents was necessary to ensure their safety and continuity. He said: “The world is moving towards a paperless society and NDDC will not be left behind. We should, in fact, be among those blazing…

By Dare Ojelade The Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.(Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu and the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi to intensify efforts in disseminating information about the coronavirus to people of Lagos State. The Speaker wants such information to be very regular and in different Nigerian languages that residents of the state can easily understand. Obasa made this statement during the plenary session of the assembly on Thursday, March 19, 2020. “The way things are now we don’t know the number of people that have been…