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AIR STRIKES TARGET OIL THIEVES IN RIVERS STATE, MILITANTS IN CROSS RIVER STATE AND TERRORISTS IN BORNO STATE In continuation of efforts aimed at containing the activities of terrorists, militants and other criminal elements bent on destabilizing the Nation and making life unbearable to peace-loving Nigerians, the air component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) carried out air interdiction missions on some illegal refining sites located at Cawthorne Channels, Bille and Gogokori in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State on 27 August 2023. Having observed the sites to consist of illegal refining sites, the areas were attacked and destroyed. Specifically, at Gogokori, a Cotonou boat observed to be loaded with illegal refined products and heading into open waters was also engaged and destroyed.   Similar strikes were also extended to IDAMA and OMOMA in Rivers State upon receipt of intelligence of refining activities at the 2 locations. Overhead Idama and Omoma, active illegal re...

 Heavy downpour collapses bridge in Plateau community A major bridge in the Shendam local government area of Plateau linking the Total area and other parts of the Shendam town has collapsed as a result of a heavy downpour on Sunday afternoon. The said bridge is also a major route leading to Tunkus in the neighbouring Mikang local government area of the State and its collapse has put a strain on smooth transportation for residents who may have to take longer alternative routes to get to their destinations. A resident of Shendam town, Benedicta Naanpoe said no life was lost but citizens are worried about when the bridge would be reconstructed for ease of movement because using alternative routes would put more financial burden on citizens considering the already hike in the transport fares as the result of the petrol subsidy removal. She said, “It is the only major bridge, that eases the movement for all businesses in Shendam and people in the nearby local government, Mikang also dep...

Drama as Actor Gideon Okeke tackles colleague Aisha Lawal for saying Yoruba movie practitioners own Nollywood Nollywood actor, Gideon Okeke has tackled his colleague, Aisha Lawal over her statement that Yoruba actors and filmmakers ‘own Nollywood.’ Aisha Lawal turned up the heat during her interview with the Nigerian Tribune, where she delved into her part in the biographical film ‘Awujale’. When questioned about the Yoruba film scene’s struggle to measure up to the quality that streaming platforms crave, much like their English counterparts, Lawal didn’t mince words. In response, she asserted that the Yoruba segment of the industry are not playing catch-up to English faction of Nollywood, they, in fact, own the industry. However, she boldly admitted that their blunders had caused them to lag behind in producing films that streaming platforms would readily embrace. “We own the industry. Go back and research. The industry belongs to the Yoruba people. If you go back and research, you w...

Why we set ablaze vessel laden with stolen diesel – Navy The Nigerian Navy has said that it set ablaze the Merchant Vessel CECELIA in accordance with extant procedure regarding seized vessels with stolen oil. The move was also informed due to serious navigational hazards, huge financial cost, and serious national security problems caused by abandoned ships, Navy’s spokesperson, Ayo-Vaughan, said in a statement yesterday. The vessel was arrested by the Naval component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) on 15 August 2023 with 250,000 liters of product suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), popularly called diesel, at Meco Jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. According to, Vaughan, upon the arrest, the sample of the products onboard the vessel was taken for laboratory analysis and was discovered to be illicit AGO, but “the owners of the vessel were at large and did not present themselves to witness the test in line with extant procedure.” He said: “The behaviour of the al...

 Transportation Minister visits Abuja train station, says NRC MD may face disciplinary action The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, said that the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation might face disciplinary action. AIkali disclosed this on Sunday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Idu Train station in Abuja. During the visit, the minister who personally inspected the coaches discovered several issues that needed urgent attention. He said, “I received a complaint from the security escorts that in the last five months their allowances were not paid and I am happy that the MD of NRC is appearing before the ministry on Tuesday to brief. So, if he comes I am now well informed the lifts and escalators aren’t working, which makes it very difficult for the elderly and the disabled persons to use the train for travelling. “Therefore, he would explain why disciplinary action wouldn’t be taken against him." Credit: Lilian Ukagwu More photos below. 

Kebbi @32: Gov. Idris seeks support of all for next level development The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, has appealed to the people of the state to support the present administration in its quest to take the state to the next level of development. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris and made available to Newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, quoted the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida as making the plea in a message to the entire people of the state on behalf of the governor. The statement adds that, the message is in comemmoration of 32 years of existence of Kebbi State which was created on 27th August, 1991. The statement, while congratulating the government and good people of the state for attaining 32 years of existence, Gov. Idris assures that the present administration is fully determined to bring positive development to the state. It enjoins the people to continue praying for peace to reign across the state, observi...

Ogun JAAC Disburses N5.233bn to 20 LGAs In August  The Ogun State Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) has disbursed N5,233,379,834.30 among the 20 local government areas in the State. The disbursement was outlined during the August 2023 edition of the JAAC meeting held at the Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Rotimiolu Akinlesi, in his welcome address at the meeting, said the purpose of the gathering was to foster accountability, transparency, and integrity, noting that the chairmen of the local governments were there to represent and seek the interest of the people. He called on the chairmen to carry out more developmental projects in their various council areas, commending them for the feats achieved in the last two years, despite various challenges facing the nation. In his presentation, the Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General of the State Treasury, Mr Babatunde Areg...

 Buhari Is One Of The Worst Presidents To Ever Lead Nigeria – Shehu Sani A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has described former President, Muhammadu Buhari as one of the worst leaders ever to lead the country. Sani, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the eight-year rule of the Buhari administration was disastrous, stating that it would take years to recover from it. Speaking with The Punch, the former lawmaker said the former President left Nigeria in a very desolate and paralysed situation, adding that Nigeria became more divided than it has ever been under the Buhari administration. The former lawmaker stated that corruption was at its peak under Buhari, and he demonstrated ineptitude and incompetence in the leadership of the country. He said: “You know we are coming from eight years of (Muhammadu) Buhari’s disastrous reign. Buhari is one of the worst presidents we have had in this country. He left Nigeria in a very desolate and paralysed si...

 N25,000 replacement fee for faded plate numbers justifiable, legal – VIO The Spokesman, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), FCT, Mr Kalu Emetu, says the N25,000 the service charges motorists for replacement of faded number plates is legal and justifiable based on its mandate. Emetu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. He said that what people failed to understand was that there was no way the agency would replace faded number plates to motorists free of charge, after they have used them for a period of time. “The question people normally ask is, why should we charge motorists or ask them to pay fine for what they got from us. “You see, everything in life has its life span. A situation where somebody uses a number plate say two to three years, not minding the way the person was using it and gets faded. “Therefore, it is wrong for the person to feel that another one should be given to him or her free of charge,” he said. ...

Child Custody : Family Members Arrested for Forcefully Taking Underage Children of a Widow  By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu Two women identified as Felicia Nwosu, mother in law to Sharon and Chinenye Nwosu sister in law to the widow has been arrested for forcefully taking the underage children of their late brother's widow in Ndiowu, Orumba North local government area of the state.  The arrest which was carried out was after a complaint was made to the ministry by the widow.  The widow Mrs Sharon Nwosu a native of Enumbom Ndiowu, who was uncontrollably in tears at the office of the women Affairs Commissioner while narrating her ordeal said, her in laws took her two children from here after her husband's dea_th accusing her of k1ll!ng her deceased husband.  Sharon also stated that the issue started after she refused to handover her late husband's laptop and phone to Ifeanyi Nwosu, junior brother to his late husband who demanded to take possession of the said property.  S...

Anambra Govt Introduces ASBA Civil Service Solution Soft Loan Empowerment Program for Civil Servants By MaryAnn Chukwuma The Anambra State Government through its agency, Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA) has presented a soft business loan package to workers within the state to cushion the harsh economic realities in the nation occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy. This development was made known during a sensitization meeting organised by the agency at the office of the Head of Service Hall, Chief Jerome Udorji Secretariat Complex, Awka. Addressing the workers, the Head of Service (HOS), Barr. Okwy Igwegbe, encouraged Civil Servants within the state to avail themselves the opportunity to raise working capital for their small and micro businesses. Barr. Igwegbe urged them to form themselves into 10 member cooperative which is a requisite for the soft, low interest loan. The HOS reminded the workers that the package was designed by the Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo and as such e...

WWC kiss: Suspended Rubiales 'damaging image' of Spanish football — Iniesta Spanish football legend, Andres Iniesta, on Sunday added to mounting criticism of the country's suspended federation president Luis Rubiales, saying his forced kiss with Jenni Hermoso after the women's World Cup final was "damaging the image" of Spanish football. "After what has happened this week, I would like to convey my sadness as a person, as a father of three daughters, as a husband and as a footballer" at what has happened around "our football and around the Spanish women's national team", Iniesta wrote on his social networks. "I believe that we cannot tolerate actions like the ones we have seen, which have tarnished such a great milestone as winning a World Cup," added the scorer of the goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 men's final, which gave Spain their first World Cup. Hermoso said "at no time" did she consent to the kis...

Some senior lawyers have backed the appointment of Hannatu Musawa as Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, by President Bola Tinubu, saying the Nigerian Constitution also supports her appointment. The lawyers argued that the Constitution is superior to the NYSC Act. Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN) commended President Tinubu, saying her appointment is a youth empowerment initiative.“However, when you look at the provisions of Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution particularly sub-section 5, it states that no person shall be appointed as a Minister of the Government of the Federation unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives.“The question is what are the qualifications for election into the House of Representatives? This we find in section 106 of the 1999 constitution.   You must be a citizen of Nigeria, you must have attained the age of 25 years, and you have been educated up to at least a school certificate level, or its equivalent. Yo...

See The List of Media and Journalists FG ban from Villa  ... as SERAP gives Tinubu 48 hours to reverse ban on some media houses,Journalists from covering presidential villa According to reports, the Federal Government recently withdrew the accreditations of some 25 journalists from covering activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The banned journalists include those from the Galaxy TV; Ben TV; MITV; ITV Abuja; PromptNews; ONTV, and Liberty.  In the letter dated 26 August 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Barring these journalists and media houses from covering the presidential villa is to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate constitutional responsibility.” SERAP said, “Your administration cannot with one broad stroke ban journalists from covering public functions. Citizens’ access to information and participation would mean little if journalists and media houses are denied access to the seat of government.” Acc...

Niger Military Intervention: Tinubu, US President Biden to meet ... Nigeria’s leader says he is holding ECOWAS back … Tells Nigerians: ‘ Your country’s interest paramount’ President Bola Tinubu and his United States (US) counterpart, Mr Joe Biden, may meet to discuss military intervention in Niger Republic among the options available to the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) to restore democratic rule in that country. This came to light yesterday after the US Special President Envoy and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Molly Phee, visited Tinubu in Abuja and extended Biden’s “exclusive invitation” to meet the Nigerian President on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City to advance discussions further (on the Niger crisis) in late September. ECOWAS has been in the forefront of the regional efforts to dislodge the Niger Republic coup leaders who ousted President Bazoum last month. Tinubu is the Chairman of EC...

*Anambra State @32: CP Adeoye Salutes Ndi Anambra* The Commissioner of Police Anambra State CP Aderemi Adeoye has congratulated Mr. Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR and the good people  of Anambra State on the 32nd Anniversary of the Creation of the State. The Commissioner noted that despite herculean challenges, the State has fared well in the comity of States in the Country. He commended the Citizens for being peace loving and law abiding and urge them to continue to uphold their reputation as hardworking and industrious people. The Commissioner who was posted to Anambra State as a young officer same year the State was created and who served for ten years in different parts of the State in the nineties extol the huge potential of the State. He pledged that the Police will continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to improve on security situation of the State until normalcy is fully restored. *DSP Tochukwu Ikenga* Police Public Relations Office...

PIPELINES SECURITY CONTRACT SHOULD NOT BE HANDED TO ONE MAN - GOV. FUBARA ...Tasks FG to break ranks of Abuja oil cartel ...Decries neglect of East-West Road Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has faulted Federal Government's ceding of contracts for security/Surveillance of oil pipelines  in the hands of an individual or a few persons, asserting that the development won't help the fight against oil theft.  Fubara, addressing the Joint Presidential Committee on Crude Oil Theft on facility tour of the Niger Delta who were in Government House Port Harcourt on Saturday, said until FG clamps down on the powerful Abuja cartel bankrolling oil theft, no amount of efforts would end the economic sabotage associated with the crime.  He said, "Security of pipelines  should not be placed in the hands of one man or a few individuals. You can't say for instance that somebody from Kalabari should be asked to determine and control what is happening in Ogba-Egbema.  "It...

OGSG CAUTIONS PUBLIC ON ILLEGAL ACQUISITION, OCCUPANCY OF GOVT LAND For the umpteenth time, Ogun State Government has warned the public against acquiring or occupying any of its lands without obtaining necessary documents, saying it is also unlawful to sell any of such land. The Director General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, Arc. Segun Fowora, gave this admonition during an exercise carried out by the Task Force set up by the Bureau to enforce necessary land procedures including documentation for Certificate of Occupancy (CofO).                                       The Director General emphasised that encroaching on government land and erecting structures without government approval not only contravene the law but also distort town planning activities and initiatives of the government.                              ...

Bandits flee forests, release victims in Niger Following military onslaught in forests in Niger State, many bandits have started fleeing the forests and releasing some abductees. This came on the heels of the disclaimer by the Niger State police command that no notorious bandit had declared himself governor in the state. LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that some of the farmers abducted about five months ago around Kaffin Korro, Munya and some parts of Shiroro are being released. It was learnt that the bandits who are anticipating the onslaught following the recent crash of a military helicopter linked to the Gide Dogo bandits group are retreating to neighbouring states. A source from the communities around Shiroro axis where the bandits had held sway in the past three weeks said they were no longer coming out bracingly to operate as they did in previous weeks.  

I’m helping kids find cure to cancer – Super Falcons star, Michelle Alozie She said; “I have a passion for helping people. Thankfully, biology was something that I was really good at in school and so medicine just seemed like the correct option there. Again, it’s just amazing to meet these young kids that I’m helping find a cure for their cancer. It means everything to me.” “I think people are confused when they ask me about my time management, but if you think about it, especially here in the States, it’s kind of something that we’ve done most of our lives, kind of just balancing academic life and athletics. “And so I think that like just my role coming from the college level and even club level. When I was a teenager, I just got used to living two lives, basically. That’s kind of what I still do now. “I am just so thankful about working with Dr. Stephens in her lab at Texas Children’s. She is just so fluid with the time that I am able to come in because it is a really crazy schedule,...

Stop Mounting Congratulatory Billboards For Me - Wike The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has requested well-wishers to refrain from placing congratulatory billboards in his honour. The Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday. Although Wike expressed his appreciation for such gestures and acknowledged what he described as the overwhelming goodwill of FCT residents, the minister asked that advertisements in his name should stop immediately. The statement read in part: “The attention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been drawn to lamp post billboards, full-scale billboards and other adverts congratulating him on his appointment as minister. “While the minister deeply appreciates the warm wishes and support of the citizens, he kindly, but strongly requests that such billboards and advertisements be discontinued forthwith. “The minister acknowledges the overwhelmi...