Author: The Gazelle News

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has decried how some individuals and groups are laying the groundwork for insurrection under the cover of a peaceful protest. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, the policy analyst group noted that although protests are acceptable in a democracy, no government will tolerate a call to anarchy, riots, disturbance of public peace, purposeful violence, and destruction of private or public property. The Policy Group counselled that a peaceful protest is often organised, orderly, and non-violent. It is supposed to be orderly, a situation where protesters are not expected to go…

President Bola Tinubu has said that the nation’s economy is on a gradual but steady path of recovery and assured citizens that his administration will do more to meet their needs. In a meeting with traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at the State House on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, the President said the plight of citizens remains a deep concern, and will receive more attention. “Yes, it is true that I asked for this job, and I approached some…

President Bola Tinubu has allayed fears of manipulation by any interest group in the ongoing economic reforms, saying his campaign was self-sponsored, without strings, or indebtedness to any individual or institution. The President, who received a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the State House on Thursday, 25 July, 2024 said his victory at the polls was purely by divine intervention, careful planning, and diligence in getting support from Nigerians. “I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against…

Ogun State workers, under the auspices of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) have dissociated themselves from the planned protest over alleged unremitted pension funds in the State. The unions, which were represented by Comrade (Amb) Hameed Benco Ademola, the Chairman of NLC, Comrade Akeem Lasisi, TUC Chairman and Isa Olude, the Chairman of JNC, averred that the threats through a news broadcast on the proposed industrial action on 1st August by the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) is not only condemnable but highly uncalled for in all ramifications. The…

The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the death of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Nwuanyanwu, as a profound loss to the nation. In a statement on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, Prince Abiodun described the news of the death of the businessman, publisher, and politician as shocking. The late businessman owned The Champion Newspapers. His business had also grown into a conglomerate of over 20 companies, including Enic Advertising Ltd; Magil Industries Limited; National Post Newspapers; Sunrise Insurance Brokers; Oriental Shipping Lines Limited; Paradise City Hotel,…

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM has implored African nations to unite in addressing climate change and social impact challenges facing the continent. He called on leaders of the continent to work together in developing sustainable practices and protecting ecosystems as a means of securing a greener future and springboard for the continent’s overall development and progress in the face of existential climate realities. Speaking on Thursday, 25 July, 2024, during the Africa Social Impact Summit @TheASISummit 2024 in Lagos, Senator Shettima, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council @PEBECgovng …

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the domestication of some resolutions of the National Council on Establishments (NCE) into the state’s civil service. The state Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya made the disclosure when the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Hameed Ademola-Benco paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday. According to him, the governor, who remains a worker-friendly, focused, responsible and responsive leader, has approved the lateral conversion to corresponding officers cadre for Information Officers who will now be addressed as Information/Public Relations Officers, as well as…

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law bills to accelerate development across geo-political zones in the country. The President has assented to the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and the South-East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023. The North-West Development Commission is set up to facilitate the reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises destroyed by multidimensional crisis, as well as tackle poverty, literacy level, ecological problems, and any other related environmental or development challenges in North-West states. In addition, the South-East Development Commission is established to ensure the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered…

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to lend its voice to the appeal of several well meaning Nigerians to all and sundry to let peace reign in our land at this critical time of our history. While we acknowledge peaceful protests as an integral component of democratic governance, the predictable attendant violence and loss of lives and property remain undesirable. In the past days, we have watched with keen interest, most especially, in the social media, the mobilization for the protest , laced with bitterness, hate speeches, hostility divisiveness and threats to citizens with contrary…

An Abia based cleric, Apostle Chuks Alozie, has announced Forbes rated international businessman and astute politician, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as the most reliable businessman he ever met. Addressing participants at the NYFC Annual Business Seminar for young entrepreneurs held in Abuja on Tuesday, the cleric used the eminent businessman as an inspirational example of the integrity demands of a businessman. He said many young people have taken advantage of the novel opportunities that inevitably accompany a growing economy like Nigeria but has failed to maintain the integrity needed of a business leader. This failure, he noted, has led to…

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has continued, unabashedly, to showcase his obsessive devotion to self promotion against the best interest of Nigeria. Mr. Obi’s latest statement on the country’s economic situation is an admixture of half truths, blatant distortions and misinformation calculated to mobilize outrage against the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His warped conclusion that Nigeria’s economic crisis was caused by nine years of APC-led administration is a highly revisionist, dishonest, distorted and deliberately misleading assessment of the…

The African Group at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has presented a proposal at its General Council to re-elect Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the organisation. The Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebayo Thomas, who made this disclosure in a statement issued in Abuja, said the proposal is for members to consider Okonjo-Iweala to run for another term as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. According to him, the proposal was to also enable the Chairman of the General Council to commence the process of the appointment of the director-general as soon as possible.…

The Senate on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024 at plenary session, passed the 2024 National Minimum Wage Amendment Act Bill. This, followed presentation and adoption of a report on the bill,by leader of the Senate Sen.Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti). The bill, which was transmitted to Senate by President Bola Tinubu on 23 July, 2024, was given accelerated consideration, resulting into its first and second reading in line with Senate rule 80. Bamidele in his lead debate on the general principles of the bill said the bill sought to amend the national minimum wage act, 2019. Bamidele urged lawmakers to support the quick…

World record holder Tobi Amusan has been selected as the country’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This appointment marks a historic moment for Nigerian athletics, as Amusan becomes the first track and field athlete in two decades to receive this honour. A tweet by Making of Champions on social media platform X on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024 said, “Tobi Amusan has been named as Nigeria’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of #Paris2024 #Olympics – she becomes the first athlete from Athletics in 20yrs, since Mary Onyali at the Athens 2004 Games, to have such…

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has called for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu. In a meeting held in Abuja, over 180 lawmakers elected on the platform of minority political parties made the call following the adoption of a motion moved at the special meeting of the caucus on the night of Monday, 22 July, 2024 by Mr Obi Aguocha. In a statement issued on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024, the lawmaker who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Abia State urged his colleagues to take a definitive position on…

The National Assembly on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024 passed the Police Act Amendment Bill to enable a person appointed to the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP) to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment. President Bola Tinubu forwarded the Bill to the House of Representatives and Senate on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024, to amend the tenure of the IGP. The Bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020 sought to guarantee the tenure of the IGP and revolutionise police operations by enhancing accountability, modernising policing methods and…

By Femi Ogbonnikan  Relief is underway for five additional communities in Ogun State that have suffered road neglect under successive administrations. Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun recently rekindled the hope of the distrust residents of the affected areas following his round tour of the state for an on-the-spot assessment of some abandoned road projects that had become an eyesore. Seeing the plight of the people under the state disrepair while on a visit to the site, he was practically livid with anger at the attitude of contractors who took the government’s money and disappeared into thin air, leaving the…

The Senate, Wednesday, 17 July, 2024, considered the amendment of the 2023 Finance Act aimed at taxing foreign exchange proceeds realised by banks nationwide in their financial statements for the purpose of funding strategic national projects. The upper chamber equally entertained another bill, which sought to amend the Appropriation Act, 2024 with a view to increasing the public expenditures from ₦28.7 trillion to ₦34.9 trillion, thus accounting for a 21.6% upsurge. The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele moved the bills at the plenary on Wednesday with most senators supporting the bills in the light of the country’s socio-economic…

For the 15th consecutive year, Zenith Bank Plc has retained its position as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks’ Rankings, published by The Banker Magazine. This ranking places Zenith Bank Plc as the 565th Bank globally with a Tier-1 Capital of $2.01 billion. The rankings, published in the July 2024 edition of the Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group, United Kingdom, recognise Zenith Bank’s continued financial strength and stability. They are based on the 2023 year-end Tier-1 capital of banks globally and remain the primary source for global bank…

By Dave Agboola The Dangote Refinery has been a topic of discussion in recent times, with many naysayers trying to sabotage the project. It’s no secret that some individuals and groups are not happy about the emergence of a local refinery that will challenge their decades-long exploitation of Nigeria. The recent controversy surrounding the refinery’s diesel production is a clear example of this sabotage. Despite the refinery’s efforts to produce high-quality diesel that meets international standards, some individuals and groups have been spreading false information to discredit the project. Oh joy, let me just contain my excitement about defending a…