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STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU RECEIVES AMBASSADORS, MANDATES THEM TO FOCUS ON NEW INVESTMENT AND TRADE EXPANSION President Bola Tinubu has assured foreign investors of diligent and predictable fund repatriation, and the streamlining of the tax system, while imploring ambassadors to prioritize the exploration of new frontiers of trade relations that will be mutually beneficial as they carry out their duties in the country. The President received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Hungary, Lorand Endreffy; High Commissioner of Rwanda, Christophe Bazivamo, and Ambassador of Ukraine, Ivan Kholostenko, at the State House, on Friday. Speaking when he received the High Commissioner of Rwanda, the President said the long-standing concerns over trapped funds are receiving attention and that the funds will be processed expeditiously for release. “We are one family on the continent. We will continue to promote democracy and good governance. I will maintain an open-door p...

Woman who prayed for her friend's marriage goes on to marry same friend's husband 6 months after they divorced A newlywed couple is trending on Twitter because of the circumstances leading up to their wedding.  Safiyya Datti married Sir Ruffy this week. However, in 2020, Sir Ruffy had married Safiyya's friend Kawthar.  After Sir Ruffy and Kawthar's wedding, Safiyya had gone under the post Sir Ruffy made to congratulate him on marrying her friend and he responded, thanking her.  Three years down the line, Sir Ruffy divorced Kawther and married Safiyya less than 6 months after the divorce.  The newlywed couple took to X to share photos and videos from their wedding ceremony.  “By the will of Allah and the permission of my parents I got married to a man whom my heart is very much pleased with over the weekend. May Allah make this journey easy for us.A 'udhu bi kalimatillahi at-tammati min kulli shaytaanin wa hammatin wa min kulli 'aynin lammah,” Safiyya wrote. Sir ...

Mohbad: Iyabo Ojo's Daughter Knocks Naira Marley Over Threat To Sue Mum  Social media influencer, Priscilla Ojo, has criticised singer, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, for accusing her actress mother, Iyabo Ojo, of defamation and threatening legal action.  Naira Marley had taken legal action against actress, Ojo, alleging the dissemination of false and defamatory content on her Instagram account.  In a letter sent to Ojo, Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, outlined the accusations made in a September 2023 post, stating that the actress accused Naira Marley of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.  Responding on her Instagram stories on Friday, Priscilla questioned the singer's audacity to threaten her mother, highlighting ongoing legal matters involving Naira Marley.  She wrote, “The audacity!!! You want to sue? Sue who LMAOOOOO clowns. The cases you have in court ...

Olukoyede Seeks Legislation Against Unexplained Wealth  Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called for legislation against unexplained wealth as a way of checking the criminal activities of treasury looters in the country. He made the call on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at a Two-Day International Law Conference with the theme: “Unexplained Wealth in the Global South: Examining the Asset Recovery and Return Trajectory” organized by Christopher University, Mowe Ogun State. Olukoyede said though several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Mauritius, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago, had embraced the Unexplained Wealth Orders, UWOs, since it came into force in 2018, he said the EFCC, Nigeria’s leading anti-graft agency, still relies on the provisions of Section 7 of its Establishment Act to check the menace. “The issue of unexplained wealth is not a local issue. There are jurisdictional legislations acr...

EFCC Arraigns  Energy Commission Director for N3.8m Contract Fraud  The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned an Acting Director of  Renewable Energy Department of the Energy Commission of Nigeria , Alhassan Musa before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court Gwagwalada for allegedly defrauding one Alhaji Musa Baba the sum of N3,800,000 (Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only) in a failed contract award. He was arraigned on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, on  three-count charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretense. Count one reads “That you Alhassan Musa on or about the 21st January 2019 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court by false pretenses and with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N3,800,000.00) for yourself from one Alhaji Musa Baba as fee for the award of a contract for the rehabilitation o...

2024 BUDGET: LASG SETS ASIDE N50 BILLION FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION As part of efforts to further cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the citizenry, the Lagos State Government has set aside the sum of N50 billion for social protection.  Commissioner for Economy, Budget and Planning, Mr. Ope George revealed this today during an interview on TVC’s ‘Business Nigeria’. While speaking on the State’s 2024 Budget proposal, christened: “Budget of Renewal”, the Commissioner stated that the sum of N50 billion was proposed for social protection to ensure that the citizens are protected from surging inflationary trends. According to him, the Budget also has provisions for human capital development and infrastructure renewal, which he noted is vital for an all-round prosperity. The “Budget of Renewal”, George noted, is aimed at executing new projects, completing existing ones and also ensuring that the pace of development in the State is sustained. In his words, “The Budget is also heavil...

LAGOS SUBSIDIZES COST OF SCREENING BLOOD PRODUCTS … Parleys Media on Voluntary Blood Donation Promotion Lagos State Government has taken a significant step by subsidising the expenses associated with screening blood products. This measure aims to alleviate the financial burden on healthcare providers and the public, ensuring easier access to life-saving blood for all residents, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Oshikomaiya disclosed. Speaking during a Stakeholders' Engagement meeting held recently at the Providence Hotel, Ikeja, Dr. Osikomaiya explained that the current economic realities which caused a hike in screening fees from 5,000 naira to 8,000 naira per unit, made the agency propose a total access fee of 13,500 naira, up from 7,000 naira. Acknowledging the economic challenges prompting this rise, Dr. Oshikomaiya revealed that the State Government, understanding the financial strain on blood screening costs, has approved a sub...

Anambra Assembly repeal law on Newspaper and Printing Corporation By Chizoba Okeke/ Anastasia Agunwa/Gloria Abugu The Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday repealed the law establishing the state's Newspapers and Printing Corporation, publishers of the state-owned National Light Newspapers. The House passed the bill during the plenary session through a voice vote conducted by the Speaker, Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze. The Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Ikenna Ofodeme had on November 21, sponsored and presented a Bill to repeal the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation, 1994, and to provide for related matters. According to him, the Corporation has become moribund, economically unviable, and no longer fit for purpose. The  Speaker said that Clause 2 of the newly passed Bill has it that, "The  Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Law 1994 is repealed. “The bill further stipulates the transitional provisions under which the Governor, at his discretion, ...

FG Commends Abiodun, Says Agro Cargo Airport will boost Ogun, Nigeria's economy The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun has said that the Ogun State Agro-Cargo Airport, when completed, would add value to the lives of the people and contribute to the rapid growth of the state's and the nation's economy. The Minister stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after being conducted round the airport by Governor Dapo Abiodun. The minister described the airport as a major economic project of the Prince Abiodun-led administration, which, when fully operational, will be a game-changer for the state. He said: "I have had the opportunity to be here before and I know that the ARISE Agro-Cargo Industrial and Export Processing Zone, is a major economic achievement that speaks to the possibility of rapid growth of the economy, which is the objective of Mr. President to have more investments like this. "It is the type of inves...

 COURT CONVICTS 50 PERSONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES An Environmental Special Offences Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday and Thursday, this week, convicted 50 persons for engaging in reckless waste disposal at some locations in the state.  The environmental offenders were fined ₦30,000 each by the court, with an option of community service at LAWMA HQ, Iddo and Odan General Hospital, Lagos Island. We appeal to residents to shun indiscriminate waste disposal and support LAWMA’s efforts to make the state clean and livable for all. A dirty environment is a breeding ground for diseases and other hazards. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. More photos below. 

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADARIN DAJI AGAIN NEUTRALIZED 3 TERRORISTS RESCUED 6 VICTIMS AND RECOVERED AMMUNITION IN SOKOTO STATE In continuation with the onslaught against terrorists to ensure hitch free yuletide festivities through series of coordinated clearance and offensive operations in its areas of Responsibilities, the combined troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) have again descended on terrorists in Sokoto state. The offensive clearance operation which took place on the 14th December, 2023 at Bauni village and Bauni forest in the state led to a Gun duel that lasted for several hours.   However, troops' aggressiveness and firepower superiority forced the terrorists to abandon their hideouts and flee in disarray, leading to the rescue of 6 kidnapped victims while 3 terrorists were neutralized and 2 AK47 rifles were recovered, as well as 19 Magazines, ammunition, 2 dane guns , Motorcycles, radios (walkie talkies) and other items. All terrorist enc...