PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

     …Defaulters Of Face Mask Will Now Be Arrested, Prosecuted In line with the updated guidelines issued last Monday by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the easing of lockdown, Lagos State Government has announced modified protocols for re-opening education institutions and essential services in the State. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, announced gradual re-opening of schools from August 3, directing students in transitional classes, who have mandatory public exams ahead of them, to resume for revision classes and their examination. The Governor said the schools’ re-opening must follow established public health guidelines and protocol in the State. The permission to re-open, he said, only applies to day-schools. Boarding activities are excluded. Sanwo-Olu spoke during the 16th briefing on the State’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response held at the State House in Marina. The Governor said only students in Senior Secondary Sch...

     President Muhammadu Buhari has written world leaders and partners to appreciate their support towards helping Nigeria attain a Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free status, pledging that his administration would sustain the momentum and strengthen the primary health care system. The President also commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication, and his team, for making Nigeria proud and saving her children from the scourge of poliomyelitis. ‘‘This is to express our profound appreciation for your leadership of the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization. ‘‘The declaration of Nigeria as a Wild Polio free country is the result of your effective coordination of the Nigerian Polio eradication program through the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization, Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. ‘‘Please extend my personal apprecia...

      Flood caused by heavy rains has seriously affected some parts of Bangladesh on July 2,2020,this is serious as  Two men and others wade through floodwater in Jamalpur  Bangladesh   .More details later and more photos below.

      President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russian society had shown unity by voting to back reforms allowing him to stay in power until 2036 and that Russians had felt the need for the changes in their hearts. Putin, 67, also decreed the constitutional amendments would enter force on July 4 after they were backed by almost 78% of Russians, according to official results, in a week-long vote that ended on Wednesday. The Kremlin has hailed the landslide victory as a triumph for Putin, but critics said the vote was illegal and illegitimate. An independent monitoring group said the vote was deeply flawed. “People felt with their hearts that what was on offer (the amendments) ... was in demand and what the country needed,” Putin said in his first public comments on the vote.  “In general, the results of the vote showed a high level of unity in society on key questions that are of national significance,” Putin said.  Other changes in the reform package grant ...

     A Woman, Mrs. Ifeoma Ezeugwu has been arrested by the police in Enugu state for drilling nails in two places into the head of a-10 years old girl, Miss Chinonye Nnadi. The woman also allegedly used hot electric iron all over the body of the teenage girl. The WomenAids Collective, WACOL, who made disclosure of the incident to newsmen in Enugu described the incident as “Evil and Horrific violence on a girl-child.” Founding Director of WACOL /Tamar SARC, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo said her office was alerted, on Friday, about the case of the ten 10 years old Chinonye, who sustained grievous bodily harm at the hands of the so-called ‘Madam’ relative that she works for as domestic help. “We demand full wrath of the law on this woman that inflicted such a level of physical injury on this girl. “I spoke to the distraught mother of the victim. She is a poor widow living in a rural village in Aku, near Nsukka, Enugu state. “It is time to eradicate child labour, ...

     The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has received the report of the Post-Covid-19 Initiatives Committee on the Creative Industry, with a pledge to ensure a diligent implementation of the recommendations, within the realms of available resources. “Let me assure you that we will study the report with the same seriousness that you employed in preparing it, with  a view to ensuring its full implementation, within the realms of available resources,'' the Minister said while receiving the report at a virtual meeting in Abuja on Friday. “I thank you all for your sacrifice and commitment. I look forward to working with you as we strive to give the Creative Industry its pride of place,” he said. Alhaji Mohammed said the report, which he described as very rich and detailed, is also very timely, coming at a time that the Federal Government is looking more towards the Creative Industry to help revamp the economy, in the wake of the Covid-19 ...

      July 3, 2020 Press Statement Edo People Have Already Settled For Obaseki, PDP Replies Ize-Iyamu The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Edo governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, that the people of Edo state have settled for the PDP candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, following his record of personal character and performance in office. The party said it had noted Ize-Iyamu’s goodwill message to Governor Obaseki on his 63rd birthday but pointed out to the APC candidate that the qualities of a governor which he listed best described Governor Obaseki. Our party also notes that Ize-Iyamu’s message came at the time Governor Obaseki was also receiving massive outpouring of solidarity messages from the people of Edo state, including APC leaders, who called to express their support for the PDP candidate. PDP appreciates Ize-Iyamu's excellent description of the character traits of Obaseki, stressing t...

       The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, has restored the studentship status of the suspended Students Union Government President, Com. Olatunji Adegboye. Adegboye, a Higher National Diploma Banking and Finance Student was suspended by the Polytechnic after he was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command in February this year in connection with cult related activity. But the Polytechnic on Thursday elected to lift the suspension slammed on him following intervention by Governor Dapo Abiodun through series of meetings coordinated by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi. A letter dated July 2, 2020 and signed the Polytechnic’s Registral, Osore, A.F (Mrs.) which was addressed to Adegboye, conveyed his reinstatement. However, the institution also required to obtain letter of certification from guarantors – that is the Ogun State government and the Department of State Services (Ogun State), attesting that he would maintain la...

      Justice A.B Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Minna, Niger State on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 adjourned hearing till October 13, 2020 on a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for the relisting of the criminal matter between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and Umar Muhammad Nasko, which the court struck out on June 19, 2020.  Both men are first and second defendants, respectively in an amended three-count charge of money laundering and breach of trust. . . The EFCC served the motion for the relisting of the matter on the defendants through their counsels. Prosecution counsel, G. K Latona reminded the court that the prosecution applied for the motion on June 19, 2020, filed it on June 22, 2020 and served the defendants on June 24, 2020.

      .Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, ordered the interim forfeiture of 48 choice properties, allegedly belonging to the former Chairman of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Funds, NSITF, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme. . The affected properties are spread across, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Bayelsa, Enugu, Edo and Delta states. . . Dr. Olejeme who was also the Treasurer of the Jonathan-Sambo Campaign Organisation in 2015 has been on the run since 2016 and was in September, 2017, declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

     Officers of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder on Tuesday June 30, 2020, handed over three Barges, Furo 1, MV Destiny Bright and an unnamed Metal Barge to the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for further investigation. . . Navy Captain A T Ebo who handed over the equipment on behalf of the Base’s commanding officer, disclosed that the vessels were intercepted and arrested during routine patrol for alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities. . . According to him, FURO 1 was intercepted on May 3, 2017 along Gbele waterways, while MV Destiny Bright and the unnamed Barge were intercepted at Adokakiri and Cawthorne Channel open waterways respectively on April 19 and 30, 2020. . . At the point of arrest, Barge FURO1 and the unnamed metal Barge were laden with unspecified quantities of substances suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil while MV Destiny Bright had unspecified quantities of suspected stole...

     Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office, have arrested three suspected internet fraudsters. The suspects, who were arrested following intelligence by the Commission, are David Aguinede, Itua Benjamin and Daniel Oviasojie. They were arrested in their hide-out in Ekpoma, Edo State. Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350, laptop computers and mobile Phones. The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.One more photo below.

       President Muhammadu Buhari has paid glowing tribute to the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the passage of the foremost monarch. In a letter to the family of the departed Oba, the President wrote: “It gives me deep sense of pleasure and fulfillment to do this brief tribute in memory of the illustrious Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Tadenikawo Ader emi, who reigned between 1930 and 1980. “On this 40th Remembrance Anniversary of the great man, the country recalls the imprints of a foremost Nationalist, very successful businessman, former Governor, Western Region (1960-1962), and traditional ruler, on the sands of time. “To the benefit of his memory, Ooni Aderemi built schools, dispensaries, churches, museums, and attracted the establishment in his domain of waterworks, electricity projects, and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife). “It is also on record that the respected monarch was a Membe...

      Anambra state born, Chidubem Gerard Obi becomes first African to graduate with 5.0GP in Medicine from I.M. Sechenov, First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) Russia. Receives the Award as best graduating student in the faculty of Medicine. Congratulations to him.One more photo below.

      It came like a bolt out of the blue. Early this week, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, issued an advertisement, which went in a completely different direction compared to what he had always said of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Wike we knew was either usually crying wolf where there was none, alleging that the Federal Government wanted to kill him, or claiming that he was not answerable to the central government at Abuja in any way, or even pontificating that the President and his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had failed the country in diverse ways. If not for the maturity, and the avuncular attitude of President Buhari to all state governors, it would have been easy for one to conclude that he and Wike were enemies. Forsworn ones. There was also the then Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who had formed a tag team with Wike in the anti-Buhari tendency. The President could have dealt with them in many ways, either overtly or covertl...