PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

      Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has offered a fresh impetus on how true federalism can solve the current security challenges bedeviling Nigeria and put the country on the path of accelerated development. Sanwo-Olu said decentralisation of some exclusive functions of the Federal Government, including provision of security, would provide instant answer to the current agitations threatening the unity of the country. The Governor said the emergence of “beggar-states” as the major constituents of the Nigeria’s federation would not take the country to the future it desires in a world that is developing rapidly. He said the flawed federalist ideals enshrined in the 1999 Constitution had continuously limited the power of the states to pursue individual development at their own pace, stressing that Nigeria must holistically address the “fundamental question” of federalism if the political class was serious about lifting the country out of the current quagm...

     Photo: President Buhari visits Ondo State, Commissions Ondo Linyl Industrial Hub and Ore Flyover Interchange on 25th Feb 2020 Ondo Visit 5: President Buhari with R-L: Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi during a tour of the Ondo Linyl Industrial Hub as part of his visit to Ondo State on 25th Feb 2020 Ondo Visit 9: President Buhari with R-L: Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abi odun, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and other dignitaries during the commissioning of Ore Flyover Interchange in Ondo State on 25th Feb 2020.More photos below.

       The Maiduguri Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 secured the conviction of one Alhaji Gaji Goni Bukar whom Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court slammed two years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy and obtaining the sum N1, 250,000.00 (One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). The convict was first arraigned on Tuesday, January 29, 2020 alongside Habu Aji on a two-counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence. At the resumed hearing, Goni pleaded guilty of conspiracy, prompting Justice Fadawu to convict and sentence him as charged. The convict’s plea for leniency earned him N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) option of fine. In another development, the Maiduguri Zonal Office of the Commission, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 arraigned Aisha Alkali Wakil (Mama Boko Haram) alongside Tahiru Alhaji Saidu Daura, Price Lawal Shoyade and Mallam Adamu S...

      Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Okon Abang today, Tuesday, February 25, 2020 gave a seven year jail term sentence to Chief Olisa Metuh, having found him guilty of all the seven-count charges, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He is also to refund the sum of N425million to the Federal Government. Also convicted is his firm, Destra Investment Limited (2nd  defendant), which was liquidated by the court. The seven-count charge upon which Metu was jailed borders on money laundering, criminal conversion and diversion of funds to the tune of N400, 000, 000 (Four Hundred Million Naira).

      The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, presented two witnesses before Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja against the former senator, representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani. . . The EFCC is prosecuting Senator Sani on a two-count criminal charge, bordering on intent to defraud and obtain the sum of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand United States of America Dollars) from one Alhaji Sani Dauda, (ASD) under the false pretence, that the money was meant to bribe the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to arrest and prosecute one Abubakar Musa.

      President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday inaugurated the Ore Interchange Flyover on the Shagamu–Ore–Benin Expressway in Ondo State with an assurance that the Federal Government will sustain massive investments in the provision of infrastructure across the country. The President during a working visit to Ondo State also commissioned the Ondo-Linyi industrial hub. Speaking at the inauguration of the flyover at Ore town in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, the President said the Interchange will boost economic activities in the State, ease traffic congestion as well as reduce accidents often experienced on the major road. The President used the occasion to assure the government and people of Ondo State under Oluwarotimi Akeredolu that the Federal Government will meet its obligations to the State on the construction of this Interchange Flyover in due course. President Buhari recalled that the re-designing and construction of the road to accommodate Intercha...

        In a bid to curb the menace of illegal building construction and building collapse, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has commenced the on-site inspection of planning permits tagged “Operation Show Your Planning Permit". Speaking at the flag-off of the operation in Onikoyi, Banana Island and environs on Monday, the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako said the compliance exercise would be extended to other parts of the State during the coming week. The Commissioner said that it was highly regrettable that "most of the buildings within the highbrow areas are either without planning permit or built beyond approved units, stressing that many commenced construction without recourse to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) as stipulated in the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Law. In view of this flagrant disregard to the extant plan...

      The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, again on Tuesday, appealled to the people of Sagamu to be law abiding and not give opportunity to criminals to perpetuate their acts in the town. He also promised to use every instrument of government available to unearth the circumstances of the killing and crisis that ensued in the town as a result of the killing of the ace footballer, Tiamiyu Kazeem, since Saturday. "We will use every means possible not only to ensure that justice is served, but that it is seen to have been served. We'll work to ensure that this will be the last of such avoidable deaths in the hands of security officers in our State," he vowed. Abiodun, accompanied by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department, Mr Peter Ogunyonwo, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Kenneth Ebrimson and the State Director of the State Security Services, Mr David Tuska, visited the parents of the late Remo Stars...

         *ANAMBRA STATE POLICE COMMAND DIARY*: *SUDDEN DEATH*: On the 24/2/2020 at about 0:3am,the manager of Plus view hotel in Onitsha reported at Central Police Station, Onitsha that one Paul Okwudili 'm' aged about 40years of Ogboliolosi off Awka Road Inland town Onitsha allegedly took a lady to the hotel and lodged.Minutes later the lady came out shouting for help and the hotel management who went to the room and discovered the man grasping for breath rushed the him to St Charl es Boromeo hospital Onitsha for medical attention where the victim was later confirmed dead by a medical Doctor on duty. Meanwhile, scene was visited by Police detectives attached to CPS Onitsha and photograph of the victim obtained. No marks of violence on the deceased body but some drugs were discovered in the hotel room reasonably suspected to be enhancement drugs. Corpse deposited at the hospital motuary for autopsy.The lady was arrested while investigation is ongoing ...

        The Federal Government has assured the Government and people of Rivers State that it will affect a refund of monies expended on Federal Projects in the state. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike led the Federal Executive Council Verification Team on a tour of listed projects in the state on Monday. Addressing journalists after embarking on the verification of Federal Road Projects executed by the Rivers State Government on behalf of the Federal Government, Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said that the Buhari Administration will always abide by set rules. He said: "The Federal Government has always cooperated with the people of Rivers State. Rivers State is the strongest economic base of the country and anything that the Government will do for the Government and people of Rivers State, the Federal Government will respond accordingly "The President is a stickler for the rules. We have addressed this everywhere, except f...

      TODAY  Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has found former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisah Metuh, guilty of count one of seven charges filed against him in a N400m fraud and money laundering trial.More details later.

     22nd of February, 2020 saw an evening of love and funfair as The Dover hotels lekki phase one played host to the members and guests of LeAP ,The event captioned #LoveRocks really rocked.. The league of Abiriba Professionals gathered to share the valentine Ball experience. The classy event had elites and corporate industry experts with their families having a time, rejuvenating their marriages and unions. Airo the sambaromba crooner was the guest artist, serenade the audience with his love themed songs creating the ambience the evening deserved. Young couples were given first hand successful love stories by the experienced and grown marriages that have stood the taste of time in the gathering. It was fun and rewarding, an evening to remember. When asked about his dive to love songs, Airo had this to say, "I guess, our first instruction as humans is to love and I am an artist, a musician who is not limited to a particular genre of music... If it sounds great a...

      The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Mrs. Titilayo Margaret Solarin has averred that those in the teaching profession deserve a step higher than their students in terms of exposure, adding that it was impossible for teachers to give what they do not have to pupils. Solarin stated this when she led the staff of Government Junior College Agege, on a "Mid-Term Excursion/Retreat Programme" in Badagry town recently, pointing out that the choice of Badagry was because of its rich historical background and tourism potentials that serve as point of references to teachers during some of their interactions with students. She described the idea of the retreat as a very laudable one, noting that it is important to be sensitive to the social and relaxation needs of staff in order to ensure that they continue to give their best to their students. The Tutor-General expressed the hope that by the time the teachers return to school, they would have be...

      The attention of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has been drawn to the story written by Oluwatosin Omojuyigbe and published in the Punch Newspaper of 24th February 2020, where he alleged that the Ministry served a short notice on Queen Diana International School, while the Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako ordered the demolition of a school in defiance of a court order. The report also maintained that the Commissioner ordered that the school gates be locked with the students inside. It is noteworthy to state that issues raised in the publication do not represent facts as, contrary to the portrayal in the report, the Lagos State Government had engaged occupants of the area in a series of stakeholder-engagements prior to the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The relocation of Computer Village in Ikeja to Katangowa, which began during the administration of the past Governor, Senator...