PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

    She is known the world over for her campaign for girls’ education. Now Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has finished her degree at Oxford University and, like all students, is just looking forward to some sleep and some movies. With universities in Britain temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Yousafzai posted pictures on social media which showed her celebrating with a cake and balloons, and covered in foam, paint and confetti as per tradition for Oxford students on the last day of their final exams. “Hard to express my joy and gratitude right now as I completed my Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree at Oxford. I don’t know what’s ahead. For now, it will be Netflix, reading and sleep,” she said on her Twitter and Instagram feeds. Congratulations poured in on social media, including from aid charity Oxfam, which said: “Congratulations, you are an inspiration!”. Hollywood and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who has 54 million Instagram f...

     According to Reuters, Apple Inc will shut some stores again in Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, and North Carolina in the United States due to a spike in novel coronavirus cases, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

     Yesterday, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall joined The President of the French Republic to celebrate the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s ‘Appel’ to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during WWII in 1940. 🎙️ On 18 June 1940, General Charles de Gaulle gave his speech from the BBC Broadcasting House in London to France as the French government prepared to sign an armistice with the Nazi invaders. The message offered hope in a time of  despair and is today considered the founding text of the French Resistance. Today, Their Royal Highnesses received The President at Clarence House, before a wreath laying at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Memorial. In Carlton Gardens, General de Gaulle’s ‘Appel’ was read by Major Johanna Maljette and His Royal Highness and The President lay wreaths at the Statue of General de Gaulle. London has been presented with the Légion d’Honneur – France’s highest distincti...

     As non-essential shops start reopening in parts of the UK, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited two independent businesses to hear how they have been impacted by coronavirus, and how they are returning to a new normal. The Duke of Cambridge visited Smiths the Bakers, who have been serving Kings Lynn for 50 years, while The Duchess of Cambridge visited Fakenham Garden Centre, where she met the centre’s owners, before speaking to staff members. The Duke and Duchess of Camb ridge's visits come as Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of the British Chambers of Commerce, sent a message of support to business communities as they continue to reopen.More photos below.

     The Chief Judge of Lagos, Honourable Justice Kazeem Alogba has reiterated the commitment of the judiciary to eradicating sexual offences and domestic violence in the State. Justice Alogba, who stated this while receiving members of the National Human Rights Commission on a courtesy visit to his office at the Ikeja High Court, maintained that the present administration will curb the indecent act while ensuring that all offenders are sanctioned according to the dictates of the laws of the State. Speaking against the backdrop of the increase in the numbers of sexual offences and domestic violence across the country, Justice Alogba condemned the recent rise in such incidents, adding the the lockdown occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic is not a legitimate reason for such ungodly acts. Noting that women are not the only victims associated with sexual violence and rape, the Chief Judge assured that government is carrying out mass advocacy against the dastardly ac...

     The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that it will not ignore issues of corruption in communities across the country. Usman Imam, Head of the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt made the declaration on Friday June 19, 2020 when he received members of a community-based Non- Governmental Organisation, Pius Dukur Foundation in his office. . . “We do not ignore community cases. When we hear that community funds are being diverted, we pick interest because we are conscious of the difference which such funds could make in the lives of the people at the grassroots”, he said. . . He expressed the Commission’s willingness to partner with grassroots- based NGOs in fighting corruption at the local level.One more photo below

     The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, June 19, 2020 uncovered 400 fresh ghost workers in Kwara state. . . At the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Commission, N31,000,000( Thirty One Million Naira only), meant for the payment of salaries of the ghost workers, was allegedly shared by the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Kwara State, Salihu Idris Toyin and the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Bayo Audu Onimago, among others. . . Other beneficiaries of the money include, Director of Finance, SUBEB, Ahmed Husain, Coordinator, NUJ , Kwara State, Tijani Idris and Controller of Finance, SUBEB, Omole John. . . In a confessional account of how the money was shared, Toyin told operatives of the EFCC that " A sum of N12million was paid into an account operated by me and others, the money was actually not supposed to come but when the cash hit the account, I withdrew it and gave it to SUBEB Officials, they gave us N...

    Obinwanne Okeke, the owner of Invictus Group, who was arrested in the United States last year for computer-based fraud, has pleaded guilty to $11 million (N4.2 billion) fraud. The 32-year-old Nigerian businessman admitted to American prosecutors that he was involved in computer-based fraud between 2015 and 2019. Joshua Stueve, a spokesperson for the United States District Court for Eastern District of Virginia, told Premium Times on Thursday evening that Mr Okeke could spend 20 years maximum penalty in an American jail. He would be sentenced on October 22, Mr Stueve said. "A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors,” the court official said. The publication adds that Robert Krask, an American judge of the district, certified the guilty plea on Thursday morning to clear the paths for Mr Okeke’s sentencing. Mr Okeke and other alleged conspirators said to sti...

     ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN MFR, ON UPDATE AND EFFORTS TO COMBAT COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON FRIDAY, 19TH JUNE, 2020 My dear people of Ogun State. ​ Let me start with the update on the current COVID-19 situation in our State as reflected in the medical statistics. As at Monday, 15th June, 2020, we have recorded a total of 586 positive cases as against a total number of316 on the 4th of June, an increase of 270 or over 85% in just 14 days. Put more succinctly, the number of cases recorded from first index case on 27thFeb to 4th June – a period of 98 days – has almost doubled in just 14 days. On the positive side, a cumulative total of 315 patients have been successfully treated and discharged, representing 54% of the total positive cases. This number stood at 168 in my last update on Friday, 5th June, indicating a discharge of 147 in the last 14 days. Within this period, we have painfully recorded an additional 6 ...

       The President and Government of Nigeria wish to thank members of the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom or Belief for their report, launched a few days ago. Although it is difficult reading, the statement also acknowledges the importance of accurate, unbiased, depoliticised and truthful information when it comes to understanding the realities and addressing the challenges for those of faith in Nigeria. In this regard when uncritical attention is afforded to critics with dubious intentions, it only becomes harder for both the government and people of Nigeria to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve our differences, and uphold what is enshrined in our Constitution and laws: that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It is clear for all to see that there have, for generations in Nigeria, been tensions between our major religions, Christianity and Islam - and between herders an...

     The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has refuted reports of an ongoing recruitment process. NSCDC urged Nigerians to disregard text messages inviting them for interviews as part of its recruitment exercise. A statement by Ekunola Gbenga, Media Assistant to the Commandant General of NSCDC said the agency has put all recruitment exercises on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The statement sent to DAILY POST reads, “The attention of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been drawn to the activities of some fraudulent persons using various dubious means ranging from text messages, social media platforms and forged letters to invite unsuspecting members of the public for job interviews in a purported recruitment exercise by the Corps. “In the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, our top priority is the wellbeing of our country and community. “We are monitoring the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and are co...

      PA Defwan Dariye, father of a former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, has been kidnapped by yet to be identified gunmen. The old man was kidnapped at his residence in Mushere under Bokkos Local Government Area of the state on Thursday. The incident is said to have sent panic across the local community in Plateau and raised fears among residents. A resident of the area, who confirmed the news to SaharaReporters said, "Information reaching me is that the father of a former governor of Plateau State, Defwan Dariye, has been kidnapped by heavily armed men. "Insecurity is fast becoming a norm." Spokesperson for the police in Plateau, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the incident, adding that they were already on the trail of the kidnappers. Pa Dariye had in 2015 been also kidnapped at the same location but released a few days later. ©Sahara Reporters

      Dear Msgri. /Frs., Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, SUSPENSION OF SCHEDULED REOPENING OF CHURCHES IN LAGOS STATE. 1. The recent announcement by the Lagos State Government, suspending the planned reopening of Churches for public worship has left us with a feeling of utter disappointment and bewilderment. We, lay faithful, Religious and the Clergy, had all been looking forward to 21st June, 2020, with joyful anticipation that we shall gather once again to celebrate the Eucharist as Communities of Faith in our different parishes. We had been engaging the Government and acting in concert with other Christians in the Christian Association of Nigeria on what we need to do. We had even gone ahead to issue particular stringent Archdiocesan Guidelines towards the gradual restoration of public Masses in order to ensure the safety of our people. All the parishes had started working to make the Church premises safe for worship following the guidelines later released by go...

      In order to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on members of the Lagos Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Lagos State Sports Commission on Friday distributed packages, comprising of 5kg Rice, 5kg Beans, One-litre Groundnut Oil and Hand Sanitisers to 250 of its members Mr. Moses Kolawole, Director, Sports Development, who made th e presentation on behalf of the Management of the Commission, stated that the gesture is to support the Sports Writers in Lagos, being stakeholders in games development in the State. "What we are doing today is to support one of our very important stakeholders in our own little way during this pandemic. It is small but we are very sure that it would go a long way to assist members of the Sports Writers Association during this difficult time", he added. Responding, Debo Osundun, Chairman (SWAN), appreciated the kind gesture of the Management of the Lagos State Spo...

     Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has stated that private sector engagement in the development and management of roads is an avenue to mitigate paucity of funds which has hindered road development in the past. Fashola stated this in his presentation on Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Highway Development and Management Initiative to the joint National Assembly Committee on Works, Wednesday June 17th, 2020. He explained that Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) was created by his Ministry to manage and develop the federal road networks, with the objective to attract sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and to maximize the use of assets along the right of way. “The rationale behind the private sector engagement under the HDMI would provide an avenue that would mitigate paucity of funds, which had hindered roads development in the past” he said. Ten (10) roads are to be concession...

     Nigerian evacuees from Dubai arrive Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.More details later.

      The Minister of State Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR, has enjoined the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, to improve on its metering system, especially in the rural areas, as this would improve their revenue collection. The Minister stated this on Thursday, 18th June, 2020 while on a familiarization visit to the AEDC Corporate Headquarters, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. The Minister noted that if customers are provided with meters, the billing system would be made easy and more revenue generated to increase the capital base of the company, adding that they should invest more on meter acquisition. Jedy- Agba, while commending the concerted efforts made by the AEDC in the area of distribution in the last few years of their activities in Abuja and its environs, charged the management to lay more emphasis on creating public awareness and engaging on Corporate Social Responsibility with host communities. The CEO/MD, AEDC, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya, in welcoming th...

         On his official Facebook page,Governor Godwin Obaseki shared this photo today with the caption '' I have officially joined the   Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria   to advance my ambition to seek re-election as Governor of Edo State. I, as always, remain committed to engendering good governance and sustainable development of our dear state''.

       Oshinowo gave his all in Service to Nigeria - Sanwo-Olu •Governor, Cabinet Members Visit Late Lawmaker’s Widow, Children •’Dad’s Death A Pain We Will Carry Forever’ - Son Number 12 Jimi Bewon Street in Ogudu GRA - the residence of the late lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Adebayo Sikiru Oshinowo - received a high-powered delegation from the State Government on Friday. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led members of the State’s Executive Council to commiserate with the widow and family of the late lawmaker, who died on Monday at the age of 64. The Governor’s delegation was received by members of the House of Assembly and their colleagues representing Kosofe constituencies in the House of Representatives. Sanwo-Olu described the late Sen. Oshinowo, fondly called Pepperito by his admirers, as “a patriotic and passionate nation builder”, noting that the deceased dedicated his adult life and energy to the service of Lagos and th...