Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently met with his predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for a courtesy visit at Lagos House. They discussed the future development of the state and building on existing foundations. This meeting is notable as it follows a period of political tension between them, particularly during the 2019 APC primary election, where Ambode lost his re-election bid to Sanwo-Olu. Their previous public encounter was in June 2023, during a reception for President Bola Tinubu.
2. President Bola Tinubu congratulated Mr. Kola Adesina, the Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, who celebrated his 60th birthday on August 12. In a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the President joined others in celebrating Adesina and prayed for his continued good health, happiness, and success.
3. The Nigeria Immigration Service has summoned Favour Igiebor for questioning after she was filmed tearing up her husband’s Nigerian passport at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed airport. The incident occurred in front of other travelers and was widely shared on social media. Igiebor admitted to tearing the passport and later released a video explaining that she was suffering from personal issues. The authorities have launched an investigation, noting that destroying a Nigerian passport is a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in prison.
4. The naira strengthened further in the official foreign exchange market on Monday, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) second retail Dutch auction, where it sold $815.36 million to 26 banks. The naira gained 0.20 percent, with the dollar quoted at N1,570.99 compared to N1,574.20 on Friday at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM). The dollar supply dropped by 23.73 percent to $246.44 million on Monday. The CBN settled $815.36 million of the $1.19 billion foreign exchange demand at a cut-off bid of N1,495 per dollar. Six banks were disqualified from the auction for not meeting submission requirements.
5. Former Golden Eaglets’ captain Kelechi Nwakali has signed with English third-tier club Barnsley FC on a three-year deal from Portuguese side G.D. Chaves, pending visa and international clearance. The 26-year-old midfielder, who made 32 appearances in the Primeira Liga last season, expressed his excitement about returning to England. Nwakali began his career at Arsenal after winning the Golden Ball at the 2015 U-17 World Cup and has played for various European clubs, including La Liga side Huesca. Barnsley’s Sporting Director, Mladen Sormaz, believes Nwakali’s experience in European leagues will benefit the team
6. Gospel singer Ajayi Aduke Morounkola, known as Aduke Gold, has passed away. The news was confirmed by her colleague Esther Igbekele, who mourned her loss on Tuesday. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Aduke Gold began her professional music career in 2004 and gained fame with a live performance at the first remembrance event for the late gospel artist, Baba Ara. She was the 11th child of her late parents and grew up in the Ogba and Badagry areas of Lagos.
