Nigeria today

The legendary hitmaker, 2Face Idibia, now known as 2Baba, has expressed that his first single hit, African Queen, is a source of blessing and a curse in the fifth episode of Showmax’s Journey of the Beats. The legend, who has had a lot of hit songs and successful albums under his iconic artistry, explained that he regarded his 2004 hit single, African Queen, as a blessing for singlehandedly bringing him to the limelight and winning him national and international awards.The song also earned him the title King of R & B in Nigeria and became a template for delivering a quintessential Afrobeats song. However, for 2Baba, the song’s success feels like a curse because it has served as a yardstick to his other works, and they seemed to pale in comparison. He also explained it seems that the hit song would always overshadow his other works in terms of success. The episode on Showmax also explored the angles and momentous events that contributed to Afrobeats during the mid-2000s. The Urba...

A middle aged man has been reportedly dead in an auto crash while searching for a centre to register for the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in Ibadan, Oyo State. The victim who died in an accident in Ido Local Government Area of the state was said to be searching for a place to register and obtain his PVC. Our correspondent gathered that seven youths from Ward 5 of Ido headed to register for their PVC in Ido township when he met the untimely death. The former Secretary to the state government, Akogun Sharafadeen Alli who visited the family of the deceased and those injured said the deceased made a supreme sacrifice for the country. The APC leader noted that all Nigerians must see the sacrifice as reason to promote good governance in the country. He said; “We are here today to pay a condolence visit to the relations of those affected during a recent accident in Ido local government. I saw it on social media and decided to visit them, especially the relatives of the man we lost to the ...

The youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) Plateau State chapter has urged Governor Simon Lalong to suspend negotiations to engage Jaiz Bank to construct the burnt ultra modern Jos Main Market at the cost of N10 billion. Our correspondent recalls that recently the media was awash with a story alledging that the government conceded ownership of the market to Jaiz Bank. Plateau State YOWICAN chairman, Pharm. Markus Kanda and secretary, Nehemiah Michael,  made the appeal while addressing newsmen at the CAN secretariat in Jos at the weekend. They warned that by giving Jaiz Bank over 60 percent control of the market when completed it is perceived to be an enslavement and destiny-mortgaging agenda. According to them, Governor Lalong should have first embarked on wider consultations and mobilisation to engage the people  at community level to sensitise them and seek their consent before embarking on the project. YOWICAN also noted  that the terms and co...

Worried about the level of insecurity in the country, the president of a Jos based  non governmental organization, Bintebin Peace Initiative,  Prince Andy Zhattau, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law, the Nigerian Hunters Council and Forest Security Service Bill passed by the National Assembly. Addressing youths and other stakeholders in Jos, Zhattu commended the Buhari administration’s efforts to address security challenges in the country, but added that the bill if signed  into law would be a great legacy and a parting gift to Nigerians and complement the efforts of other security agencies in tackling insecurity in the country. The former assistant controller, Nigerian Immigration Service further said; “Security is fundamental to all human development. I am confident that our president will do the needful to bequeath a legacy of peace and secured country and earn great respect from Nigerians.” from Leadership News https://ift.tt/MtZd6SX

The Kwara Awareness Movement (KAM) has cautioned Senator Sulaiman Ajadi against verbal attacks on the person of Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The group described as shocking, Ajadi’s  recent comments on the achievements of the AbdulRazaq administration in the last three years. In a joint statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Kamal Adigun and secretary, Mr Joseph Afolayan, KAM urged Ajadi  to  desist from promoting a campaign of calumny against the governor and seeking to mislead members of the public. “Until the Kwara South APC senate primary election was held and he could not get party nomination, Ajadi  had praised the governor to the heavens. He had since done an about-turn and the governor is no longer a good-hearted person simply because the former senator could not get the  Kwara South APC  senate nomination. “Ajadi had in the last three years told many among stakeholders in Kwara South that no governor had done a lot for the s...

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has identified poor funding of polytechnic education in Nigeria as the cause of Nigeria’s skyrocketing unemployment and under-development. Speaking during the official inauguration of its executives in Abuja yesterday, the newly elected president of NAPS, Asiegbu Kingsley Chinonso, said polytechnic graduates were meant to be employers of labour, and not job seekers. Decrying low investment in the sector, Chinonso said polytechnic education, which is a bedrock of development, was facing challenges which include poor funding, deplorable infrastructure, inadequate manpower as well as the absence of the National Commission for Polytechnics. The gross under-funding of the education sector, according to him, has impacted negatively on it. “Within my tenure. I will drive efforts to ensure that polytechnics have a commission, like its university and College of Education counterparts to drive home the needs of polytechnic education,” h...

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has approved the sack of the director general, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the state, Alhaji Baba Arah and suspension of the chairman, State Universal Education Board, Dr Isah Adamu. The removal of the state  SDG director general was contained in a letter signed by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane and obtained by journalists yesterday. The letter said;  “The removal of the director general is to facilitate accelerated implementation of the reforms being initiated by the government towards attainment of the SDGs in the state.” No clear reason was given for the action of the government on the NSUBEB chairman. A member of  the board, Allhaji  Shehu Nafuntua, was directed to act. from Leadership News https://ift.tt/EHx7UY5

A human rights activist, Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, has berated the federal government over threats against some media outfits which recently released detailed documentaries where some notorious terror warlords were interviewed. Government on Thursday, through the minister of information Lai Mohammed vowed to punish the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Daily Trust over what it described as an unprofessional airing of different documentaries that glorified terrorists capable of fueling terrorism in Nigeria. But Njoku, in a statement, advised Lai Mohammed to prevail on the security agencies and the government to do the right thing rather than gagging the media. “The Honourable Minister of Information has unfortunately taken to his usual vituperations and intimidation of the media by attempting to teach the BBC, African Eye and Trust TV media their ethical job. It is unacceptably sad that Lai Mohammed relishes gagging the media and incessantly transferring his failures and...

The chief medical microbiologist and infectious diseases specialist, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Dr Esther Audu, has said 80 percent er of doctors in the country are prone to hepatitis B infection. She gave the hint during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors held in Lafia on Thursday. The medical practitioner added that over 59,000 health workers are exposed to hazards ranging from chemical, biological, physical and psychological effects in the practice. Dr Audu added that doctors around the world die due professional hazards which she added hindered medical practice in the country. She listed the infection diseases to include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis,COVID-19, monkey pox, Ebola and marbug virus. In her keynote address, she stated that no doctor is immune to biological hazards like hepatitis B which could be transmitted through blood, adding that from January to February 40 health workers were infected with coronaviru...

The Rebirth Coalition has said recent testimonials by a delegation of the European Union confirmed that the Nigerian military is not relenting in restoring peace and supporting economic development in the country. The European Union’s managing director for Africa, Mrs Rita Laranjinha, recently led a team accompanied by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Samuel Isopi and other EU and United Nations officials on a courtesy visit to the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Christopher Musa. During the visit, the delegation commended the Nigerian military for its ongoing efforts at restoring peace in the North East. It further commended troops for their resilience, bravery and sacrifice in the face of daunting challenges. Delegation leader, Mrs Rita, expressed delight over the beautiful sight and calm nature of the one-time most troubled region in Nigeria. “I must commend the military for doing a great job without relenting,” she said. Simila...

Following the attack on a military checkpoint around Zuma Rock on Thursday night, an heroic soldier killed two bandits before paying the supreme price. Bandits on Thursday at about 8pm attacked the 102 Battalion Military checkpoint on motorcycles but met stiff resistance. According to sources, the bandits who failed in their bid, dissolved into the Gauraka community and environ causing fear and panic. LEADERSHIP gathered that the soldier who was on sentry duty at the checkpoint engaged the assailants killing two before he was killed. from Leadership News https://ift.tt/BJeumwW

Ejay Stephanie, a Delta State-born legal practitioner and music artiste, whose real name is Ejovwokeoghene Avbenagha, has said her decision to begin making music was to tell her stories of struggles and success to spark a depth of inspiration that would rejuvenate everyone who listens to her music. Stephanie, a rising star in the entertainment and music industry, said advocacy is her passion, while music is her tool, and has done some collaborations with high-standard music artistes in the Nigerian music industry including 30 B.G’s top star and global artiste, Davido. In an interview with the legal practitioner turned Afrofusion artiste, she explained her transition including her objectives with both law and music, and that her decision to study law at the University did not come down to a specific element. “However, the driving decision at the time was to contribute to society while making my folks proud. It was not until my second year in college that I then had the level of expos...

A social club, Club 66, has urged the Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to immediately apologise to the Owa of Odanre Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye, for allegedly denigrating the traditional ruler following a peaceful protest by Idanre community against the alledged plan to take over the forest reserve in the area by some companies. The club, in a statement by its President, Dr. Anthony Omolola, urged the governor to apologise for the alleged invective words reported to have been used on the revered traditional ruler. According to him, the reports of the governor’s insults and threat against the 96-year-old monarch during a phone conversation over the issue of Idanre forest reserve forcefully harnessed and allegedly sold to some companies and people by the state government, were an affront to all peace-loving people of the community. Dr. Omolola said the governor, as a Yoruba son, ought to have been modest and diplomatic while talking to elders and traditional rul...

The much-waited 2022 Commonwealth Games kicked off on Thursday with Team Nigeria turning out in glamour, pomp and pageantry at the opening ceremony of the Games in Birmingham. Led by the flag-bearers, Nnamdi Chinecherem Prosper and Oluwafemiayo Folashade, as well as Mike Edwards, the athletes looked radiant and ready for the tasks ahead of them in the simple but fitting white and green attire. Afrobeats from Nigeria rented the air inside the Alexander Stadium, as the ceremony started out with drummer-percussionist Abraham Paddy Tetteh, while Indian classical vocalist and singer Ranjana Ghatak took the lead of the section intended to display the diversity of the city. At the end of the march past by the 71 countries, to be represented by about 5,000 athletes, the Prince Charles of Wales declared the Games open to thunderous applauds and colourful fireworks. Nigeria will start off her quest for medals this Friday, with the Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis teams in action. from Leade...

The Nigerian Army has appointed General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and Commandants and other field commanders. A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, approved the new postings as part of effort to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for operational efficiency and proficiency. The COAS directed all the newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the nation, as they assume their new appointments. The posting released on Thursday night affects some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to command, instructional and staff appointments across NA formations and units. “Those affected in the redeployment released on Thursday 28 July 2022, include some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training i...

Two former deputy governors of Kebbi State, Ibrahim K. Aliyu and Mohammed Bello Dantani, Magajin Rafin Kabi alongside, All Progressives Congress (APC) zonal vice chairman, Alhaji Atiku Alaramma Warrah and the state organising secretary, Abdullahi Mai Unguwa Shanga and 43 others have defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In Bauchi State, 5,000 APC women have also defected to the PDP. While expressing their loyalty at PDP Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital yesterday, Aliyu and Kabi said, they left the APC because of maltreatment and the state government’s failure to execute meaningful projects in the state. “Government has promised to offer us positions during the last concluded primaries but, ended up with nothing,” he added. They noted that there is no way APC will win the forthcoming 2023 general election in the state as its members have lost confidence in the party. The PDP chairman, Alhaji Bello Suru, who was represented by the state secretary, ...

Lagos State government yesterday said the four days- work free days for its workers to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) has been misconstrued. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso who stated this in a statement noted that the approval by the state governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been given political connotation. He said, “The approval of four work-free days (26th, 27th, 28th and 29th July 2022) to enable Lagos State Civil Servants obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards has been largely misconstrued. It has therefore become necessary to set the records straight and put the approval granted by Mr. Governor in proper context. “Mr. Governor’s approval was in response to agitations by Civil Servants for an opportunity to register and collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards before the Independent National Election Commission’s (INEC) deadline of 31st July 2022. “In granting his approval, Mr. Governor made it clear that seventy-five percent of...

The Lagos State Ministry of Education has commenced a stakeholders a Town Hall meeting across the six education districts to take stock of views, opinions and gaps on the state’s investment in delivering qualitative education in public schools. The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos, said the meeting involved community leaders, parent forum and all education stakeholders. The day one of the town hall meeting was held at Girls Senior High School, Agege and Ikeja Grammar School, Bolade for stakeholders of education district 1 (covering Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye) and 6 (covering Ikeja, Oshodi, Isolo, Mushin) respectively. The commissioner explained that the stakeholders meeting is aimed at sharing information about the intervention of the government so far in the education sector, appraising the ongoing reforms and seeking new collaborative ways towards continuous improvement of quality education in all schools. Mr...

The Lord Bishop, Diocese of Kubwa (Anglican Communion), Rev. Dr Duke Akamisoko, has taken a swipe at the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu for picking a Muslim as his running mate. Bishop Akamisoko categorically said the Muslim-Muslim ticket is totally unacceptable to the Church. “This is totally unacceptable to us as a Church. It constitutes a gross abuse of our collective sensitivity as a nation. Muslim-Muslim ticket at a time like this is a demonstration of insensitivity to the plurality of religion; the polarized nature of Nigeria; the plight of Christians in Nigeria and the feelings of Christians in Northern Nigeria etc,” Bishop Akamisoko stated. Akamisoko opined that Tinubu’s action was a “direct insult on the entire Christendom” stressing that “APC has made a choice; it is left for Christians in Nigeria to also make their choice.” He stated this while addressing the press at the 2022 pre-Synod held in Kubwa, Abuja. The bishop disclose...

Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon Christopher Maikalangu said his administration would soon digitalise all revenue generation and collection activities to improve the performance of revenue officers in the council. Maikalangu stated this in Abuja yesterday, in a welcome address at a reception for members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria, led by its chief executive officer, Mr Sanjay Pradhan. The AMAC chairman maintained that the administration shall remain focused and committed to transparency and accountability, irrespective of intimidation and harassment from those who feed fat on corruption. He said one of the greatest achievements of AMAC in the recent past, is the council’s membership of the OGP, because it has significantly led to the re-enforcement of good governance by entrenching widespread anti-corruption consciousness, transparency and due process mechanism in the conduct of governance in the area council. Maikalangu disclosed that sinc...

Veritas University, Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced the end of its 2021/2022 academic session amid security threats in the capital city. The university stated that its examination for first-year students has been postponed due to the directive by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory for schools to be shut down due to the security challenges in the capital city. A statement released by the media and public relations officer of the school, Evelyn Obekpa, yesterday, urged candidates seeking admission into the institution for the 2022/2023 academic session to visit the university or the university’s website. “The Management of Veritas University wishes to notify the general public that the University has successfully completed the 2021/2022 academic session. “However, due to the current security tension and the directives of the Minister of the FCT for the closure of schools in Abuja, examinations for our 100-level students shall be conducted at a date to ...

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner representing  Niger, Kogi and Kwara State in North Central Nigeria, Professor Mohammed Sani Adam has advanced reasons why the commission has limitations in  stopping vote buying. The commissioner who was in Minna, Niger State capital to monitor the ongoing voter registration in the state however decried the development as a clog in the wheel of credible election in the country. Professor Adam said vote buying is a national issue and a sociological problem,  but there was limit to what the commission as a body  can do in terms of curtailing it. He argued that ” There are anti-corruption agencies like the  ICPC and the EFCC, and other security apparatus basically saddled with the responsibility of monitoring criminal activities, ours is to conduct elections not monitor criminals. “INEC has nothing to do as far as vote buying is concerned, what INEC can only do is to ensure that the polls are free, f...

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of the acting Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as the substantive CJN. This is contained in a letter from the President read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at plenary. Buhari said his letter was according Read More from Punch Newspapers - Latest News https://ift.tt/HZ4Jib1

Some bandits were reported to have invaded Ungwan Keke in the New Millenium settlement, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and abducted scores of residents of the area. A source told one of our correspondents that no fewer than 30 residents of the area were taken away by the hoodlums in the raid that Read More from Punch Newspapers - Latest News https://ift.tt/mNLCHPo

Four persons died while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident involving a Mazda bus and a truck on the Iperu bridge, Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Ahmed Umar, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun State, confirmed this to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday. He said, “The accident occurred Read More from Punch Newspapers - Latest News https://ift.tt/SQ8YrCI

The Indigenous People of Biafra has said that there is no faction in its movement and agitation, contrary to reports making the rounds of factions within the group. In a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, insisted that Nnamdi Kanu remains the group’s only leader, adding that any persons claiming to be IPOB autopilot Read More from Punch Newspapers - Latest News https://ift.tt/9L0uvbt

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress are protesting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in solidarity with the strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The protest which is currently holding is also an opportunity for the NLC to bring the attention of the government to other issues affecting the nation. The protesters, Read More from Punch Newspapers - Latest News https://ift.tt/4ZCFe7H

Amusan had shattered the World Record in the 100m hurdles clocking 12:12 seconds in the semi-finals and ran 12.06 seconds in the final to claim the gold medal. from P.M. News https://ift.tt/wMG8KNS