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 Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCVO, CFR, CON, is a diplomat and the first African Secretary-General of Commonwealth. Known by many as "the diplomat's diplomat", He devoted over 50 years of his life serving in the international space, the core of which was promoting democracy, good governance and world peace. He served as Commonwealth Secretary General from 1990 to 2000. His career in leadership spans many decades and institutions, both national and internationally. The promotion of democracy on the African continent has always been his primary focus and an area of concern. His precociousness in leadership showed when he joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation at the tender age of 26, in 1959. Shortly after the Nigerian independence, the new Government invited him to join the country’s diplomatic service. In 1963, he was posted to Nigeria's Permanent Mission at the United Nations (UN) in New York. In 1998, the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, in recogni

Big Brother Titans housemate, Nana has divulged a heartbreaking story of how she became a 300-level dropout following lack of support from her family members. Nana, an indigine of Kaduna state, claimed her father never believed in her saying she was a mistake. The 22-year-old said this while chatting with her fellow female housemates on Tuesday, January 17. She said; “I was in 300 level when I had to drop out. I cried a lot coz of this. This made me to go through a lot. I had to take care of myself. I don’t owe my mum anything cos I was in the street way too early, bringing things home, she never asked me how or where I got it from. My father has never been proud of me. Uttering a statement like I’m a mistake.” Nana went further to reveal that she was once pregnant without her knowledge. She said, “I was six months pregnant and didn’t know. I didn’t go for antenatal. The baby di£d and was decaying in me. My aunt took me to the hospital and lied that I had an inf£ction. I was relaxed, m

An Argentine farmer has grown an enormous 124-acre image of Lionel Messi 🐐 visible from space after planting a specially designed corn field to celebrate the star's World Cup heroics. Maximiliano Spinazze used an algorithm that calculated where seeds would need to be planted in his field in Los Condores, in the central Cordoba province of Argentina 😯. Wow. One more photo below. 

An eight-year-old girl in India who stood to inherit a multi-million-dollar diamond fortune has instead been inducted as a nun to a strict religious order after renouncing worldly pleasures. Devanshi Sanghvi was, until this week, an heiress to the Sanghvi and Sons jewellery business in the western city of Surat, known locally as 'Diamond City' for its prominence in the global gem trade. Her family are also members of the Jain faith, a small but ancient Indian religion that preaches non-violence, strict vegetarianism and love for all creatures great and small. This week, she was feted in a four-day ceremony to herald her new vocation, which at one point saw her ride in a carriage pulled by an elephant, according to pictures shared on local media. On Wednesday, she arrived at a temple to trade her elaborate garments for a simple white cotton outfit, after having all her hair removed. Sanghvi was known among members of Surat's Jain community for her piousness even as a young c

FG Moves to End Open Defecation in Nigeria  ABUJA - (Federal Mimistry of Youth & Sports Development Report) - As part of efforts towards putting an end to open defecation in the country, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has assured that his Ministry will continue to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as stakeholders in commitment to the "Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet" campaign launched by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration in 2019. Sunday Dare gave the assurance on Thursday 12th January 2023 in his office in Abuja when the  Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu (Engr) paid him a courtesy visit. According to the release issued by the Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, the Minister stated that Nigeria is ranked second among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, estimated at over 48 million. He added  that the practice has ha

NAFDAC raises alarm over toxic cough syrups The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has notified the public of two “substandard (contaminated)” cough syrups named AMBRONOL and DOK-1 Max containing “toxic” ingredients. In a statement published Sunday on its website, the agency noted that the products were identified in Uzbekistan, a Central Asian nation and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). It defined substandard medical products as ones that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore “out of specification”. According to NAFDAC, laboratory analysis of samples of both products, undertaken by national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan found both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and /or ethylene glycol as contaminants. “The stated manufacturer of both products is MARION BIOTECH PVT. LTD, (Uttar Pradesh, India). To date, the stated manufac

EFCC Arrests Ex-Convict, 11 Others for Internet Fraud in Benin   Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  Benin Zonal Command on Thursday,  January 12, 2023 arrested 12 (twelve) suspected internet fraudsters in Benin- City, Edo State.   Among those arrested is Okunrobo Smart who was convicted in 2022 for internet fraud. Others are Edobor Francis Tobilola, Peace Omo Bartholomew, Justice Osagie Beggedo, Samuel Okosun, Uche Divine, Christopher Lawani Iwinosa, Osayi Gregory, Anthony Irabor, Olaleye Favour, Osagie Hope Godstime, and Desmond Ehator Osorumwense    They were arrested at their hideout in Benin City,  following actionable intelligence.    Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include mobile phones, laptops and a Mercedes Benz C300.   The suspects will be arraigned in court soon.     Meanwhile,  Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court, Benin City on Wednesday January 18, 2023 convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters to s

 Wednesday 18th January 2023. DANGEROUS CRIMINAL ARRESTED IN MORATA. A notorious criminal was arrested near the community hall in Morata settlement, today. The 30- year old suspect from Asaro in the Eastern Highlands Province was wanted for a string of crimes including armed robberies, inflicting grievous bodily harm and numerous motor vehicle thefts. His identity will be revealed afterward, once he is charged for his crimes. When members of Sector Patrol Fox 300 Alpha, sped to the Morata Community Hall,  the suspect saw them and tried to escape, but they   pounced on him. A policeman who was a part of the team said that some residents of Morata were initially startled by this dramatic incident, but they expressed their gratitude, afterward. "He ran a few yards, but they went after and caught him" the policeman who requested anonymity said  This suspect was allegedly involved in a robbery at the Baruni Red Sea compound recently in which K30,000 in cash and properties includin

Governor Soludo Approves Weekly Collection Of Taxes By Commercial Transport Operators, Suspends Payment Of Tolls By Heavy Duty Operators Anambra State Government has approved weekly payment of taxes and levies by commercial Keke and shuttle bus operators. Governor Chukwuma Soludo made the announcement during his usual interaction with commercial transport operators at Professor Dora Akunyili Women's Development Center, Awka. While keke operators now pay 10,000 naira, reviewed from 15,000 naira which can be broken into four, entailing 2,500 naira per week, Taxi operators  will now pay 12, 000 naira instead of 17, 500 naira amounting to 3000 naira weekly, while shuttle buses will now pay 3000 weekly. Mini truck operators are to pay 3,750 naira weekly, while motorcycle operators will now pay 4000 naira, amounting to 1000 naira weekly. Also suspended was payment of tolls, taxes and levies by heavy duty vehicle operators across the state. The Governor explained that while his team goes

PRESS RELEASE  January 18, 2023 The Editors, CRIME BULLETIN  ARREST OF A SUSPECT FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF LOCALLY-MADE PISTOL AND RECOVERY OF PUMP-ACTION FIREARM In furtherance to the directives of the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba psc (+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR in regards to the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country.     Consequently, operatives attached to Toro Divisional Police headquarters, while on routine patrol near Nabardo village arrested Umar Abubakar ‘m’ 21yrs of Gamawa LGA. The suspect acquires a locally made pistol revolver from his friend Mohammed ‘m’ of Nasarawa state at the cost of twenty-five thousand nairas (N25,000.00), alongside three (3) live 7.62mm ammunition. However, the suspect also confessed to have purchased the firearm two years ago, and he fired one piece of ammunition while chasing cattle rustlers in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.  The suspect further confessed to have handed over the firearm to his friend to get him an inter

PRESS RELEASE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS: IGP ORDERS DISTRIBUTION OF A MILLION COPIES OF HANDBOOK ON REVISED STANDARD OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES ON ELECTION SECURITY DUTIES TO POLICE OFFICERS, OTHER AGENCIES The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has ordered the distribution of more than a million copies of a handbook produced by the Nigeria Police Force on “Revised Standard Operational Guidelines/Rules for Police Officers and Other Law Enforcement Agents on Election Security Duties ahead of the 2023 General Elections. The 36 paged handbook contains a page for the details of the officer to whom it is issued, a foreword by the IGP, rules on general conduct, duty parade, briefing/debriefing, dress and accoutrement, managing political parties’ convention/rallies, and crowd control, use of force and lethal weapon, escorting and protecting election materials, the procedure of arrest, command and control and other salient electoral security rules. The s

2023 ll be tougher for drug barons and cartels  Marwa . 26,458 arrested; 3,733 jailed; 19,401 counselled and treated in 24 months Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has warned that unrepentant drug barons and cartels will face tougher time in 2023 if they fail to back out of the illicit drug business. Marwa gave the warning on Wednesday 18th January at a press briefing at the NDLEA national headquarters, Abuja to update the public on efforts by the Agency to rid the country of illicit substance abuse and drug trafficking on the second anniversary of his leadership of the anti-narcotics body.  According to him, Last year, I issued a New Year appeal to them and also warned that those who refused to heed the warning will find themselves in a difficult situation. Already, we have 34 barons in our net and they are facing the music in court. We have secured orders for the temporary forfeiture of their asse