Number of people rescued from the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi has increased to 15, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed on Saturday. Sanwo-Olu, while giving an update on the search and rescue operation at the scene, said additional six people were evacuated alive from the collapsed structure and are currently being treated at the Police Hospital in Falomo, Ikoyi. The Governor went back to the site Saturday in company of the National Leader of the Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that 42 bodies had been recovered from the…
Author: Merit Ugolo
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has expressed the willingness of the Commission to collaborate with the American Embassy on information and data sharing. Prof. Owasanoye made this known when he received the new Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Nigeria, Mr. Jason Smith, who visited the Commission in Abuja. Owasanoye said ICPC and INL had enjoyed a good working relationship over the years in the areas of information sharing and capacity-building for officers of the Commission. In his words, “We appreciate this kind of collaboration and…
As part of ways to add flavor to marriages, women have been urged to learn the act of ‘twerking’ for their husbands. This advice was given by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s aide. In a post on Facebook, Ossai Ovie Success noted that performing such dance is one of the ways of not being a boring wife. He wrote: “Twerk for your husband. Don’t be a boring wife”. Reacting to the post, some women made the following comments: Chegwe Grace – Who nor come fit twerk nkor ?? Sarah Magbaja Ohworode – 😄😄 you make remember when I just born my last…
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has assured those who love the President that he loves them in return. The media aide made this revelation in a post on Facebook titled: “HOSTING PEOPLE WHO LOVE BUHARI”. He wrote: “When you love our President, Muhammadu Buhari, rest assured that I love you too. “It was, therefore, my pleasure to host members of Queen Amina Support Initiative (QASI) at State House on November 4, 2021. “They included Iveren Ukula (Queen Amina), Chris Waya, Nura Suhaibu Abarshi, Olusegun Nelson, Dr Solomon Onwunde, and Ahmed Buhari. “We believe…
The six staff of the University of Abuja abducted by gunmen on Tuesday have been reportedly rescued by the Nigerian Police and reunited them with their families. The Federal Capital Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the development to newsmen in a statement this morning. It would be recalled that two professors, a non-academic staff, and three others were abducted from their official quarters. The hoodlums numbering over 20 were said to have shot their way into the compound and whisked away their victims, and later demanded N300 million ransom. As of the time of this report, it was not…
A Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, has sentenced a Civil Servant, Ma’aji Shettima Arfo, to 28 years imprisonment for engaging in an N86.1 million contract fraud. Arfo, who was sentenced to jail by Justice Haruna Mshellia, of Borno State High Court, 3, was the General Manager of the State-owned Maiduguri Flour Mills Limited, where he committed the fraud. He was charged on a six-count by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for offences bordering on abuse of office and conferring undue advantage on himself. The charge sheet showed that Arfo, while acting as the…
An Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has claimed that the rejection of a Muslim engineer who went for a job at the site of the collapsed 21-storey building on Gerrard Street, Ikoyi, Lagos but was rejected by the developer on account of his faith is a strong evidence of the alienation of Muslims in Yorubaland. MURIC’s claim was contained in a public statement circulated to the media by the group’s director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday. The statement reads: “A video clip on You Tube has featured a certain Sikiru Adebowale who claimed to…
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) has issued a statement condemning the Cuban Government’s ongoing targeting of religious leaders following unprecedented nationwide protests which began on 11 July 2021. In the statement, the APPG “calls on the UK Government to raise human rights abuses with the Cuban Government, in particular the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and religion or belief.” The case of Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, a Protestant pastor who was detained by State Security agents in Palma Soriano on 11 July is referenced in the statement. Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo has been…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested 48 individuals for their alleged illegalities in the conducts of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB). The joint operation tagged ‘Operation Combo’ conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, led to the arrests of lecturers, security officers, workers and students from some of the participating universities in the exam. Operation Combo was simultaneously carried out by the operatives of ICPC and DSS in seven states after extensive monitoring of tutorial schools allegedly known for notoriously compromising JUPEB examinations. This…
The six-man independent investigation team set up by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to probe the remote and immediate cause of the collapse of a 21-storey building in Ikoyi has 30 days to submit its report. Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, named members of the probe panel at the scene of the incident, with the list comprising professional builder, town planner, structural engineer and legal practitioners – all from the private sector. President of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr. Toyin Ayinde, is the chairman of the panel, while Ekundayo Onajobi, a lawyer in private law firm, is the Secretary.…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Tuesday’s attack on the University of Abuja by bandits, “who abducted four staff members and some children in the institution”. In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, the party described the attack as “cowardly and demanded an unconditional release of the victims to reunite with their families members”. The PDP described the “banditry which occurred within the precincts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate security purview, just 16 kilometers from the Aso Presidential Villa, as shocking and further shows the helplessness and failures of his administration. “With this act of…
No fewer than 67 commercial and residential buildings, as well as structures in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, have been sealed by officials of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) for contravening the State Physical Planning regulations during a recent enforcement exercise carried out by the Authority. According to the General Manager, LASPPPA, Mr. Kehinde Osinaike, the affected buildings were sealed for offences bordering on non-compliance to building regulations and conversion of residential buildings into commercial use without the necessary authorisation. He explained that the enforcement was carried out simultaneously in the Authority’s delineated District Areas…
Nigerian billionaire lawyer, Ned Nwoko and one of his wives, Laila Charani have ended their marriage. This development was disclosed by the 30-year-old who hails from Morocco. In an Instagram story on Monday, Laila said she does not expect anyone to be talking about her marriage with Ned because they are not married anymore, she even went ahead to ask all those who followed her on Instagram because of Ned to unfollow her. She also warned against discussing her marriage and divorce threatening to block anyone with negative comments.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has dismissed reports that he supports RUGA by applying for funds meant to implement the policy being forced on Nigerians by the Federal Government. Harping on the development, Ortom insisted that the state is only working in line with the recommendations as contained in the National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP document as approved by the National Economic Council, NEC to enhance ranching and not for RUGA settlements. He gave this clarification Monday while fielding questions from newsmen at the Makurdi Airport on his return from the PDP National Convention in Abuja. According to him,…
American billionaire and founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, on Monday in Glasgow, Scotland commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership role in restoring degraded lands in the country, describing the commitment to restore 4 million hectares as exemplary. A statement by Garba Shehu said Bezos joined Buhari, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Charles and the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at a COP 26 side event entitled “Accelerating land restoration in Africa, the case of the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative.”. Heaping praises on the Nigerian leader at the event co-hosted by the French President, his Mauritanian counterpart and the Prince of…
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has condemned the raid on the residence of Supreme Court judge, Justice Mary Odili. A press statement issued by the media office of the former Vice President quoted Atiku Abubakar as saying that a continuation of the notorious behaviour of security operatives conducting a raid on residences of senior judicial officers negates the ideals of a democratic society and an affront to the independence of the judiciary. “It is with utmost disgust that we continue to witness situations whereby law enforcement agencies conduct raids on residences of senior judges in the country. Irrespective…
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has disclosed the approval of the Federal Government to extend the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification. A statement by Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission said citizens and legal residents are urged to complete the process before the end of the year 2021. “The decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid…
A confused Nigerian man has taken to the public to seek advise on how to terminate his affair with his 20-year-old girlfriend. In a post shared by Abiyamo, the man explained that he had caught his babe cheating on him but she denies the act and even swore by her mother’s grave. He wrote: To keep it short and simple! I promised to get my girlfriend an iPhone 11 pro max because her phone was bad. Few weeks later I got myself an iPhone 11. She saw the phone and was like oh cool, then I told her I…
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s aide, has berated Big Brother Naija’s former housemate, Liquorose over a transparent dress she wore to an event. While condemning the act in a post on Facebook, Ossai expressed deep concern over the growing rate of moral decadence. The governor’s Aide who didn’t mention the former housemate directly in his post, however, cautioned Liquorose that she doesn’t need to dress like Rihanna to trend. He wrote: You don’t need to imitate Rihanna to trend. You dress indecently to a show and you expect people with Brains to clap for you. What is even wrong with all…
African Development Bank Group (AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina has said low levels of industrial manufacturing are hampering economic growth and development in Nigeria and many other African countries. He said Nigeria must accelerate its manufacturing sector through integration and a rapid progression up global and regional value chains where it has a comparative advantage. Adesina was speaking at a lecture titled Overcoming Binding Constraints to Competitive Manufacturing for Intra-Regional Trade, which he delivered at the inaugural edition of the Adeola Odutola Lecture Series on Tuesday in Abuja. The series is organized by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. The…
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has been named the “Best Nigerian Governor in Internal Audit Transformation” by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria in appreciation and recognition of his significant transformation of the internal audit function in the State. Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor at the Y2021 National Conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors held on Thursday at the Colonades Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that the Administration considers auditors as strategic partners in the discharge of responsibilities to the public. He said the State Government had to…
Following the dismissal of Ronald Koeman, Spanish giants, Barcelona have announced the appointment of Sergi Barjuan as interim manager. It should be noted that before his appointment, Barjuan was the coach of Barca B. The club noted that he will remain in the position of interim manager until they hire a full-time manager to replace Koeman. A statement on its website on Thursday, said “Barcelona hereby announces that Sergi Barjuan, the current coach of Barça B, shall be taking provisional charge of the technical management of the senior squad” “His interim position as first team head coach shall end as…
The Lagos State Government has revealed that its rebranded Lagos Food Festival will project the various food offerings from the diverse socio-cultural groupings in the State to the local and international markets. The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, who disclosed this in Lagos, explained that the Lagos Food Festival is an offshoot of the erstwhile annual Seafood Festival, where the State celebrates its seafood varieties spiced up with other exciting activities taking into cognisance other value chains where the State has a comparative and competitive advantage. According to Olusanya, the Lagos Food Festival would help to stimulate investors’…
Benue State Government Governor, Samuel Ortom has proposed to spend N156.6billion in the 2022 fiscal year. Ortom stated this on Wednesday while presenting the 2022 appropriation budget proposal to the Benue State House of Assembly. Ortom said the proposed budget christened “Economic Advancement and Growth” has 98.7 billion naira as recurrent expenditure while capital receipt is 61.8 billion naira. According to Governor Ortom, a further break down of the budget shows that the economy gets 56.7 billion, social 46.9 billion, administration 43.8 billion and law and justice 8.1 billion naira. He noted that the estimate which is 23 billion naira…
