PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

  In the spirit of the International Women’s Day, the Senate, today resolved to amend the Nigerian Constitution to ensure gender parity, enact laws to improve the fortunes of women and girls and expunge provisions of the law that infringes on their rights. This would be done through the amendment of the 1999 constitution which is currently undergoing review by the committee chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senate Ovie Omo-Agege. The provision of equal opportunities for women would on the long run be in the interest of Nigeria as a nation. I believe we are together in this with our women. It is in the interest of our nation that we work together to give our women proper opportunities for them to excel. And we must congratulate those who have achieved so much in public life here as well as in business. We congratulate Nigerian women, we congratulate the entire nation, and we believe that we have to do more to give our women more opportunities to serve.

  The ongoing trial of Abubakar Ali Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, for an alleged N1.4bn fraud before Justice C.A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, continued today, Wednesday, March 10, 2021, with Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, making history as the first chairman of the Commission to give evidence in Court. Bawa, who is testifying as the fifth prosecution witness, PW5, had begun his examination-in-chief on June 3, 2015 long before his appointment as the EFCC Chairman. Before today’s proceedings, Bawa had given evidence against the defendants, who pleaded "not guilty" to the alleged fraud, stating that Nababo Energy Limited allegedly obtained the sum of N1,464,961,978.24 from the Federal Government as oil subsidy with forged documents. Bawa had also told the Court that, after studying the documents submitted to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, where the ...

  The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday, March 10, took its demands to the National Assembly in Abuja as they protest nationwide against a bill seeking to move the national minimum wage from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President who led the protest with other union leaders in Abuja, submitted a petition to the representatives of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Reps, and maintained that the bill must be stopped immediately.More photos below.

  Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government of shielding the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi from prosecution over misappropriation of proceeds from the sales of some the State assets. The governor said it is disingenuous for the Federal Government to flag off narrow gauge railway from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri at a time when the rest of the world is building standard gauge railway. Governor Wike stated during the commissioning of 6.1km long, 7.3m wide Omuihuechi-Omuoko-Omokiri link Road in Aluu Ikwerre Local Government Area on Wednesday. The governor said it is appalling that the Federal Government has continued the shield of Minister of Transportation from prosecution for his inability to account for $308 Million from the sales of the State owned power plant and other critical assets when he was the Governor of Rivers State. Governor Wike noted that it is because the federal government is protect...

  The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have carried out engagements in London to thank those involved in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. In the morning, The Prince visited Jesus House, a church where a new NHS vaccine pop-up clinic has been put into action. The church has been working hard to support the local community during the coronavirus pandemic and combat vaccine hesitancy. In an effort to encourage vaccine take-up amongst the BAME community, Jesus House has led seminars to share credible information about the programme, providing opportunity to raise questions and concerns with healthcare professionals. As well as its regular community work, the church set up food banks to support those out of work or shielding. It also ran a school programme for young people experiencing internet poverty, who had fallen behind in their studies whilst homeschooling. Later, Their Royal Highnesses visited Skipton House to hear from NHS England and the Ministry of Defence on the vacci...

  A senior Hisbah officer, Sani Rimo, who was recently arrested by the Kano state police command on allegations of being in a hotel with a married man has been exonerated after it was discovered that the said woman was actually his daughter and not a married woman. His arrest was made public after it was reported on Freedom Radio Kano on Tuesday, Feb 16 that he had been arrested in the Sabon Gari area of the city. Shortly after it became public, Kano's Hisbah Commander, Muhammed Haruna, ordered a two-man committee to investigate the matter.    In an interview with SaharaReporters on Wednesday, March 10. the Hisbah's communications officer, Nabahani Usman, said the matter had been fully investigated by the police, and the officer was found innocent.  According to him, the said married woman in question is Rimo's daughter.    He said the woman had some issues with her husband's family and was lodged in a hotel by her husband's family pendi...

  Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have killed an elderly man identified as Oshiole Obogai in Edo State.   It was gathered that the deceased popularly known as Alacrity, was shot dead in his house at Jattu community, the headquarters of Uzaire Clan in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.  According to reports, the gunmen stormed the house in the early hours of Saturday, March 7, killed Alacrity and robbed his wife Mrs Unela Obogai, of an undisclosed amount of money.    Facebook user, Abubakar Habeeb who confirmed the incident, shared a photo of the deceased on his page and wrote; "Rest on Dad. Your killers will know NO peace. We are strong to carry on with your legacies. God knows better and loves you best. Will forever not forget your advice and our last conversation on the D'day you were cut out from this sinnerful world. Forever in our heart.".One more photo below.

  Clowns from the Sunrise Media NGO (Medical Smile) are visiting the childrenal the worlddueEspases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to give psychosocial support and inject joy and humor into these difficult times for children through play, music and magic.More photos below.