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OGPHECADEB TRAINS NEWLY RECRUITED NURSES, MIDWIVES The Ogun State Primary Healthcare Development Board (OGPHECADEB) has commenced training for the newly recruited Nurses and Midwives that will complement the existing health workers at the Primary Health facilities and General Hospitals in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State. Early this year, the state government recruited 25 Nurses and Midwives with the mission to provide high-quality care for newborns, post labour and delivery. Speaking at the opening of a 5-day capacity training with the theme, "Essential New-born Care Course" for the Nurses and Midwives in Abeokuta, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said the present administration was determined to strengthen the health sector of the state through essential human and material resources for the delivery of efficient and effective services. According to the Commissioner, ‘’The Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration is concerned at improving the health sector, ca...

Kaduna village bombing: Death toll hits 120, villagers allege military bombed twice •One family loses 32 members, culprits must be punished, survivors, ACF, JNI tell military •Army chief begs victims, says soldiers mistook villagers for bandits, Tinubu, Atiku mourn Survivors of the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Tuesday said they were bombed twice by the Nigerian Army. It was also gathered that the death toll from the incident had increased to 120 as officials of Amnesty International who visited the affected communities confirmed the increase in the death toll. An air strike intended to flush out terrorists had on Sunday night accidentally hit civilians during a religious celebration at Tudun Biri. While the Army claimed responsibility for the incident, the National Emergency Management Agency had on Monday night put the casualty figure at 85, adding that 66 victims sustained injuries. But the accidental bombing on Tuesday attrac...

Over 9,000 civil servants fail promotion exam No fewer than 9, 000 civil servants who sat the 2022 Federal Civil Service Promotion examinations failed. This is according to a list obtained by The PUNCH from the Federal Civil Service Commission. The PUNCH reports that no fewer than 13,000 civil servants sat the 2022 examination, which held in about 69 Computer Based Test centres. The candidates were drawn from the core civil service, the Nigeria Police, and other para-military and specialised agencies. The letter containing the list of successful civil servants was dated November 30, 2023 and sent from the Federal Civil Service Commission. The letter, tagged FC.6241/S.35/Vol.xi/ T12/268, was signed by the Director of Promotions, Sani Bello, and addressed to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. In a list attached to the letter, it was noted that only 3,851 civil servants out of the over 13,000 civil servants who sat the promotion examination passed. In the list, it ...

Outrage as Namibia’s president includes his four children in COP28 delegation Some Namibians have been left outraged after news that President Hage Geingob’s four children joined the government’s delegation to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. In the Namibia’s delegation list, the president’s children were confirmed to be among the six members of his family who made the trip. Though the President Geingob’s office confirmed his children travelled to the city, it refuted claims that their trip was state-funded. “President Geingob and Madame Geingos (first lady) paid for the flights and accommodation expenses of their children,” the Namibian Presidency posted on X on Monday. “The Namibian public and the media should be rest assured that not a single cent of public funds has been spent on the children of the first couple.” Some Namibians, however, found the clarification unsatisfactory, demanding concrete proof that the trip was privately funded. Some asked the president to explain the ro...

NYSC 7: Don’t let our children die in kidnappers’ den, parents beg govt  UYO—Parents whose children were kidnapped along Zamfara highway on August 17, 2023, while travelling to Sokoto State Orientation Camp for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme, have again appealed to the Federal and Akwa Ibom State governments to assist in securing their release. Some of the affected parents, who spoke to Vanguard, after their meeting, yesterday, in Uyo, also expressed the lack of confidence in security agencies’ efforts at rescuing the prospective corp members three months after being kidnapped and kept in Zamfara forest. One of the parents, Solomon Emmanuel, pointed out that two of the victims (male and female) only regained their freedom after they (their parents) struggled to raise the ransom the kidnappers had demanded. “I feel so bad when the government, particularly security agencies, say they are doing something to rescue those children. We only hear such things in the news, ...

‘I lost 34 family members to Kaduna bombing’ A resident of Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Idris Dahiru, has said that 34 of his family members were killed in the Army’s aerial bombardment on Sunday evening. The Nation reports that scores of villagers were killed when a Nigerian Army drone struck a gathering of residents commemorating Maulud accidentally.  The Military, however, regretted the bombing, stating it was targeted at terrorists. Dahiru, in an interview with BBC Hausa said: “Our annual Maulud celebration was shattered by unexpected airstrikes. The first bomb exploded without warning, killing innocent people, including women and children, some victims were torn apart by the blast. “As we rushed to aid the injured, the jet returned, unleashing a second bomb, this time, many of those who had come to help were among the casualties. “My family alone has lost 34 members in this tragedy. We have 66 loved ones receiving medical care at Barau Dikko hospi...

Actress Jaiye Kuti calls out Jigan Babaoja over alleged bullying Actress Jaiye Kuti widely known as Jayeola Monje has sent a public message to her junior, senior colleagues to warn Jigan Babaoja to refrain from bullying her. During the weekend, Jayeola publicly called out Jigan while sharing a video of her publicly embarrassing the actor at an event.  Now taking to her Instagram page, she sent a message to Adeniyi Johnson, Seyi Edun, and Bimbo Oshin, urging them to warn Jigan seriously while urging whoever loves the actor should advise him before she breaks his leg. Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly… Abeg, if you truly like or love @jiganbabaoja and you don’t want me to br@k€ the other leg…warn him to stop bullying me behind the camera…else I’ll come for him anywhere I see him. “Make I tag people wey bring am come Akure first make dem warn am seriously @adeniyijohnson @i_am_shai @bimbooshin”.  

Actress Bisola Badmus celebrates birthday after battle with Encephalopathy Popular actress Bisola Badmus has thanked God for making her celebrate another birthday despite battling with Encephalopathy for over a year.  The star actress in a lengthy birthday note, stated that she couldn’t wish her enemy such an illness as it was a tough one. She noted how she also lost her mother this year, making life even harder for her, which led to her absence from social media for a while. Expressing gratitude to her creator, she noted how he is unquestionable as she also appreciated her colleagues, business associates and for standing by her. “Thank you, Lord, for another amazing year to celebrate my new age in sound health. Over a year now I have been battling with health issues. Hmmm(Encephalopathy ) I can’t even wish my enemy such illness It was a tough one indeed, a tough one That made me stay off social media for a long while now In btw I lost my previous mother. Unquestionable God, I than...

EFCC Presents N76.586 billion Budget Proposal to House of Reps The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, presented a budget of N76.586billion (Seventy Six Billion, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Million Naira) as its budget proposal for 2024 to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Crimes. The proposed budget represents a 53.48% increase over and above the Commission’s 2023 appropriation of N49.901billion (Forty Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and One Million Naira).  In the budget estimate,  a total sum of N37.074 billion( Thirty Seven Billion, Seventy Four Million Naira) was proposed as personnel cost, N14.513billion( Fourteen Billion, Five Hundred and Thirteen Million Naira) as overhead cost and N25.000( Twenty Five Billion Naira) as capital cost. Presenting the budget to the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes,  Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede stated that the 2024 proposed estimate of N76....

EFCC, French Embassy Parley on Anti-Graft War             French’s Minister of the Interior and Overseas, Laurent Baile has expressed support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its relentless fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.  He made this disclosure on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 in Abuja while on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission in Jabi, Abuja. Baile congratulated Olukoyede on his appointment and sued for greater collaboration with the EFCC on modalities for tackling cybercrimes and associated criminalities.  Discussions were also held on issues pertaining to joint investigations and intelligence sharing.  In his response, Olukoyede appreciated the visit and restated his resolve about driving the war against economic and financial crimes on the right focus. “We are determined to properly foc...

Mauritania ex-president jailed five years for corruption A court in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania, on Monday sentenced former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to five years in prison for having abused his position to amass an ill-gotten fortune. Aziz had been on trial since January alongside 10 other prominent figures, including two former prime ministers, for illicit enrichment, abuse of functions, influence-peddling and laundering. He was convicted of illicit enrichment and laundering but cleared of the other charges. The court also ordered the confiscation of Aziz’s illicitly acquired assets. Aziz, 66, did not react to the judgement. He has been in detention since January 24, having also spent several months in prison in 2021. Aziz spent a decade in power between 2009 and 2019.  

ARMY CHIEF VISITS TUDUN  BIRI, COMMISERATES, TENDERS APOLOGY, PLEDGES SUCCOUR TO DRONE STRIKE VICTIMS, COMMUNITY   The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has paid a condolence visit to Tudun Biri community in  Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Army Chief arrived the community in the early hours of Tuesday 5 December 2023, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, where he met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris, other leaders and members of the community. The COAS in an emotion laden speech expressed regrets on the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence.  Speaking further, Gen Lagbaja noted that in the recent past, the general area of Tudun Biri and adjoining villages were infested with armed bandits, who terrorised the communities, until troops of the Nigerian Army started conductin...

EFCC Presents FBI's Witness, Closes Case Against Defendants In Alleged Purchase of Forged American Express Travellers Cheque  The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, November 30, 2023, presented two more witnesses, comprising a Foreign Service National Investigator with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI and one other witness while closing its case against the quartet of Mark Obisesan, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, and Goodluck Bazunu, who are being prosecuted for an alleged purchase of forged United States Dollar Travellers Cheque. The defendants were, on Thursday, February 16, 2023, re-arraigned before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on amended 11-count charges bordering on an alleged purchase of forged bank notes. One of the counts reads: "Mark Obisesan, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, Goodluck Bazunu, and Josiah Ntekume (at large), sometime in 2018 at Lagos, with...

London, LA See Ayra Starr As The ‘New Rihanna’ — David Guetta A French DJ and record producer, David Guetta, says the London and Los Angeles music industry sees Nigerian music sensation Ayra Starr as the new Barbadian-American icon Rihanna. In a recent radio interview, Guetta said the Nigerian singer Ayra also known as Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, is perceived as the new Rihanna due to her unique vibe and cultural background. He commended her ability to transcend various cultures with her music, potentially noting her increasing success and popularity. “When people speak about Ayra Starr in the [music] industry, like LA (Los Angeles) people and London people, a lot of us see her as the new Rihanna. Because she comes with a vibe that is very specific because of where she’s coming from. But she has the potential of crossing over into different cultures,” he said. The DJ thinks Ayra’s distinctive musical style is a key factor in captivating a global audience. “This is the power when you have s...

  ‘Alia not fit to be leader’ – Benue Rep, Agbese removes gov’s portriat from office The Deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese has ordered the immediate removal of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s portrait from his office. Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives, said Alia is not fit to be a leader. “Today, I’m removing the portrait of Alia from my office because he’s not fit to be our leader. He has no respect for democracy, no respect for the Constitution.” Pointing to the portrait of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Gorge Akume in his office, Agbese said he is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state. He described the SGF as a fair and just. “He (Akume) remains the leader of the party and the father of the state, he’s a man of fairness, equity, and that’s why we love him, and he has earned his respect,” Agbese said. This is coming against the bac...

Supreme Court strikes out Ihedioha’s suit against Uzodimma The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State seeking a certificate of return as the state’s lawful governor. Ihedioha had told the apex court that Governor Hope Uzodinma was not qualified to run for the election in the first place, claiming that Uche Nwosu was earlier declared by the court as the rightful candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In a verdict read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar on Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the motion for lack of merit, calling it needless and vexatious. It awarded the cost of N40 million against Mike Ozekhome for bringing the matter before the court.  

ASUU bemoans mass resignation of lecturers in public varsities The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says most departments and units in Nigeria’s public universities are understaffed as a result of teachers leaving for greener pastures. Prof. Ayo Akinwole, Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter of ASUU, stated on Tuesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, that Nigeria’s public universities are in pitiful condition, with stress and dissatisfaction obvious on the faces of poorly paid lecturers. He said, “Except President Bola Tinubu arrests the situation by reviewing the conditions of service in terms and salaries, allowances, and infrastructure, many good hands will continue to resign and leave the country. Unfortunately, the same government that is not funding education has a National Assembly proposing to establish 32 more universities.” The ASUU chairman said bad and delayed pay, unpaid allowances, bad infrastructure, lack of respect for the academic community, and a seemingly van...

 Taylor Swift has been named the fifth most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, coming ahead of every female musician, thereby making her the world’s most powerful female musician. In its cover story, Forbes explained why Swift was given the title, causing her to climb up from the 79th most powerful woman last year to the 5th most powerful this year. “17 years into her remarkable career, Swift has never had more economic, cultural and political clout,” the publication stated. “All of which has caused her to soar up the ranks of Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful Women, from No. 79 in 2022 to No. 5 this year.” This achievement makes Swift not only the highest-ranked musician on the list but also one of the rare recording artists to achieve billionaire status solely through music. Forbes added that the success of her Eras tour in 2023, which took place at the same time Beyonce was touring yet attracted a mammoth crowd, shows how powerful she is in the music industry. “Thanks to the rec...

Kaduna Bombing: Obi Urges Military To Be Cautious, Professional The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed grief over the death of dozens of persons caused by the drone airstrike in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State by the Nigerian Army. In a series of tweet on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State Governor stated that the Nigerian military must exercise utmost caution and professionalism to avoid reoccurrence. He wrote, "I read with sadness, the devastating reports of the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri Village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, by a Nigerian Army craft that mistook the villagers for terrorists. The lethal incident left death tolls reported to have risen to 80 persons, with several others injured.  "While our military continues to fight impressively against insecurity in many parts of the country, they must exercise utmost caution and professionalism to avoid this kind of embarrassment to bot...