Happy new year! In today’s trending news stories;
2. President Bola Tinubu has immediately suspended Mrs. Halima Shehu, the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). This decision, announced by Channels Television, comes just three months after her Senate confirmation. Shehu, with a banking background, previously served as the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and contributed to its digitalization during her tenure at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development from 2017 to 2022. President Tinubu has ordered her replacement following the suspension.
3. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Jonas Agwu as the new Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), succeeding Bisi Kazeem, who was promoted to Deputy Corps Marshal. Kazeem assumes the role of the Department of Training, while DCM Shehu Zaki moves to head the Department of Operations. The redeployment, effective from January 15, is part of a strategic initiative aimed at achieving the Corps’ corporate goals in 2024 and enhancing road safety efforts.
4. Hezbollah has warned that Israel’s killing of Hamas deputy Saleh al-Aruri in a Beirut suburb controlled by Hezbollah “will not go unanswered or unpunished.” Hezbollah deemed it a “serious assault on Lebanon” and considered it a dangerous development in the ongoing conflict. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to address the situation in a televised speech on Wednesday.
5. Arsenal has received a new update on potential Manchester City punishment for 115 Financial Fair Play (FFP) charges. Everton faced consequences for financial breaches, raising discussions about City and Chelsea. A fresh FFP timeline reveals that two Premier League clubs, including Everton, may face charges, with an update expected in the next two weeks. However, the investigations into City’s alleged financial breaches are anticipated to take years, with Chelsea’s case still ongoing.
6. The Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, announced that Nollywood actor Zack Orji underwent brain surgery after being transferred from the National Hospital to a private hospital. During her visit to the ailing actor, Musawa expressed support, conveying the Federal Government’s goodwill and commitment to the welfare of the creative industry. Musawa personally donated an undisclosed amount for Zack Orji’s medical bills.
7. Nollywood actor Yul Edochie in aresponds blatant manner responded to his first wife May Edochie’s New Year post, where she expressed the hardships of 2023, including the loss of their son. Yul accused May of undergoing breast enlargement surgery and a tummy tuck without his consent during the same year, suggesting her actions were endorsed by a married boyfriend. He asserted that he had been silent for too long and won’t tolerate her manipulation on social media, stating that he has been protecting her image while she worked to tarnish his.
