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LASRRA captures over 6million residents into data base Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) yesterday said it has so far captured the data of over six million residents of the state. Its General Manager, Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, who spoke with reporters in her office yesterday, advised those who have registered to get the updated version of the card, and urged those yet to be captured to do so at the nearest local government offices close to them at no cost. She said having reached six million and still growing, she announced the introduction of the new 2.0 smart identification is to take a step further to put benefits on the card to make life easier for residents of the state.  “The card is a smart card. It comes with a chip. It comes with a wallet account currently residing with Sterling and still open to other banks to partner with. “The introduction of the new Lagos Resident 2.0 Smart Card has demonstrated commitment of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ...

 Kogi, Lagos, Rivers most expensive states in Nigeria – NBS Kogi, Lagos, and Rivers are the most expensive states in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. NBS’s November latest Consumer Price Index disclosed that the All-Items Inflation rate is the highest in the three states. Accordingly, the report stated that Kogi (33.28 per cent), Lagos (32.30 per cent), and Rivers (32.25 per cent) states recorded the prices on a year-on-year basis. Meanwhile, Borno (22.47 per cent), Katsina (24.91 per cent), and Plateau (25.53 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in Headline inflation on a Year-on-Year basis. On a month-on-month basis, however, November 2023 recorded the highest increases in Kano (3.55 per cent), Kebbi (3.34 per cent), Borno (3.24 per cent), while Taraba (0.74 per cent), Anambra (1.00 per cent) and Enugu (1.18 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in Month-on-Month inflation. Narrowing the analysis to food inflation in November 2023, on a Year-on-Year basis, Ko...

Bus driver crushes 3 police officers to death in Lagos 16th Dec 2023  A reckless driver of a Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) bus has crushed three police officers to death in Lagos. The three officers, News Express learnt, were on duty mid-week in the Abule-Egba area of Lagos Mainland when the BRT driver deliberately drove into them, killing them instantly and escaping from the scene. The victims, whose names could not be immediately ascertained, were an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and two Police Inspectors.  A post on the incident on a WhatsApp group of police officers and stakeholders reads: “BRT bus crushes Police ASP two Inspectors to death at Abule-Egba, escapes…please repost until the driver is arrested.” Accompanying the message is a photo of the scene of the tragedy, where the crushed bodies of the police officers could be seen on the road, with their blood splattered on the road. News Express is unable to publish the gory photo due to our policy of not publishing...

Awujale Installs El-Rufai As Gbobaniyi Of Ijebu Land The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona has installed the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai as the Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland. El-Rufai is said to be the first Nigerian outside the South West to receive a chieftaincy title from the Awujale of Ijebuland in his nearly 64-year reign. Speaking after the installation, El-Rufai tweeted on his X handle late Friday, “I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, the 16th of December 2023, His Royal Majesty Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona the Paramount Ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland will honour my brother and confidant Otunba Jimi Lawal with two chieftaincy titles for his contributions to the Ijebu Kingdom and Nigeria, along with his wife Maryam Lawal. “I also am privileged to be the first Nigerian outside of South-West of Nigeria to be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Awujale in his nearly 64-year reign. “I am to be recognised as the Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland. I am grateful to Kabiy...

Tope Alabi stirs controversy over ‘iyalaya’ comment Popular Nigerian gospel singer, Tope Alabi has come under serious fire and scrutiny after a certain video of her ministration went viral. In the video, Tope Alabi could be seen using a certain word ‘iyalaya’ in what seemed she was simply giving honour to veteran Gospel singer Bola Are, stating that Mama is an elder to her as she also an elder to some people in the industry. The award-winning singer continue using the word ‘iyalaya’ which is a popular phrase associated with touts. She called on her listeners to give respect to Are prowess and creativity noting that the ace gospel singer has done a lot to merit the honour.  

PRESS RELEASE  WOMEN AFFAIRS MINISTER ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN INCLUSION IN PEACE BUILDING PROCESS The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has called for the inclusion of women in the nation's peace building process so as to enable them have a sense of belonging and social cohesion  The Minister made the call in Abuja on the occasion of the 4th Annual Forum of Women, Peace and Security Sector Reference Group organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with UN Women and Nigerian Police Force (NPF). She stated that women by their natural endowment have the resilience to tenaciously work towards ensuring a safe and united society that will provide an enabling environment for socio-economic growth and development of any nation, noting that this virtues also fall in line with the policy thrust of government. Kennedy-Ohanenye informed that no peace talk can be actualized without the involvement of women in the process because the...

Mardelina pays for her and her family's medical care with seeds. She lives in a small house on the edge of the Indonesian rainforest into which, everyday, she enters to collect seedlings - baby plants which can be replanted. "It all began when my daughter was sick… and I didn’t have any money," explains Mardelina. Her then nine-year-old daughter woke up in the middle of the night struggling to breathe. Mardelina discovered an abscess - a lump the size of an egg - on her daughter’s throat. At the time, the nearest hospital was over four hours away down a narrow dirt track. Without a proper doctor, the local healthcare options could be downright dangerous.  "In the past…people in small villages like this would go see a witch doctor…. when I was feeling sick with a stomach ache or headache, I was told by the witch doctor that I was possessed by an evil spirit… and he spat turmeric and betel leaf water all over me." Mardelina’s had heard about a new clinic that had...

ASUU Awards scholarships to 10 ABU indigent students The Academic staff union of Universities, ASUU has awarded scholarship grants to ten brilliant indigene students of Ahmadu Bello University zaria.  The Branch Chairman of the Union, Professor Haruna Mohammed Jibril stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria in zaria.  He said the Union instituted the scholarship scheme during its National Executive Council meeting  at Gombe state University in February 2018. He said under the scheme, the national Union awards #200,000 to two beneficiaries of the grant to assist the indigene students in their academic pursuit.  The Chairman said the national Union encourages branches to emulate the gesture as ABU Chapter offers additional scholarships to two students from 2018 to 2022. He added that the #1.6m for eight beneficiaries was in addition to the initial four hundred thousand naira for two beneficiaries from the national body which brings the total money to  two mi...

Nigerian Entertainers Who Died In 2023  The Nigerian entertainment industry, known for its captivating sounds of Afrobeat music and the enthralling performances in its movies witnessed the death of several celebrities in 2023.  This report honours their legacies and celebrate the lives they lived.  Here are the entertainers that passed away in 2023:  1. Peace Anyiam- Osigwe  Trailblazing filmmaker, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, died on Tuesday, January 10, in a hospital in Lagos State.  Anyiam-Osigwe, who was also the President of the Association of Movie Producers, founded the Africa Film Academy in 2005, with the award ceremony reputed to be one of the most recognised awards for Africans in film-making. In 2020, she emerged as the National President of The Association of Movie Producers. 2. Sunday Akanbi Akinola  Veteran actor, Sunday Akanbi Akinola, who became popular for his role as “Mogaji “ in the series “ Feyikogbon" which aired on NTA channel 7 in the s...

Portable, Pasuma perform at Lagos church despite uproar  Popular Fuji musician Alabi Pasuma and controversial street-hop artiste, Portable performed at a celestial church in Lagos despite the uproar that met their invitation. Recall that the invitation of the two artists had earlier generated controversies on social media after the Lagos-based church unveiled the duo as guest artistes for its praise night. Also condemning the development, Celestial Church leader, Olatosho Oshoffa, announced that he had stopped the singers from performing at the praise night. Reacting to the backlash received, the church presiding pastor, Aderemi Dabiri, stated that he invited the secular musicians to win souls for Christ. However, amid the condemnation, a video of the two artistes performing at the praise night on Friday surfaced on the internet. Pasuma sported a casual shirt and trousers, while Portable opted for a white garment, aligning himself with the church’s dress code. He was seen passionat...

 WE ARE NOT FIGHTING ANYBODY, GOV. FUBARA DECLARES  ...says investments are safe in Rivers State  ...Assures of commissioning the first phase in due time Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared that his administration is not fighting anybody but is preoccupied with taking care of the needs of the people and protecting the interest of the State. Sir Fubara made the declaration while flagging off the twenty thousand (20,000) housing units for low-income earners in the State, along the Obiri -Ikwerre- International Airport road on Friday. Governor Fubara said, that in protecting the interest of the State, his administration will continue to do what is right before God and men while encouraging a robust participation of the people in governance. "For our people, I want to assure you, our government has nothing to do with fighting anybody. Our governance is to take care of and defend our people. I can assure you here, that this is the beginning of our serv...

 300-level varsity student arrested with pistol, bullets 16th Dec 2023  A 23-year-old 300-level student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Atim Emmanuel, has been arrested by the State Police Command for alleged possession of firearms and cartridges. The development, which is coming barely two weeks after a 500-level student of the same university, the late Joseph Agabaidu, was killed by yet-to-be-arrested assailants, is part of the efforts of the Command to mop up criminal elements around the students’ communities across the state. According to the Command PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili, the 23-year-old student was arrested on the 11th of December, 2023, with a locally made revolver pistol and a cartridge while coming out of the university campus. The PPRO stated in a press statement on Friday that during interrogation, the suspect confessed that he got the firearm from one Zadog, who leased it to him for two academic semesters at the rate of N12, 000.00. He further ...

It costs N5bn to train medical student — VCs 15th Dec 2023  The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has described inadequate funding as one of the major challenges militating against effective growth and global ranking of public universities in Nigeria. It disclosed that to train one medical student in a university costs about N5bn, whether in the public or private university, noting that there was therefore the need for cost-sharing based on what is required to train a student in the university. The Secretary-General of CVCNU, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, said these in Abuja on Thursday at a ‘Workshop for Advancement and Alumni Officers’. The event, which had the theme, ‘Institutional Advancement, Alumni Relations and University Education in Nigeria’ was organised by CVCNU in collaboration with the Conference of Alumni Association of Nigerian Universities. He disclosed that the committee was able to come up with figures about what was required to train a student in a uni...

Nigerian Man, Dr Moses Udoisoh, Gifts His Wife Brand New Car As Christmas Gift. "Well, I can't be doing Santa Claus online and don't extend it home. My Babe woke up to a gift from the Santa Claus general of Data Analytics."  "Congratulations Gudnewz Mekaz Udoisoh you deserve more."  the husband said. Receiving the car, the wife Mrs Goodnews Udoisoh also praised her husband. Says; "My Santa arrived quite early.🥰 My fine fine bobo, Moses Udoisoh na you do this one." More photos below. 

Sexual harassment almost made me quit acting – Actress Moet Abebe Nollywood actress and media personality, Moet Abebe has recounted her experience of sexual harassment in the movie industry. She recalled that an encounter she had with a randy producer almost made her give up on her acting career. The thespian disclosed this in the latest episode of the Bahd And Boujee Podcast co-hosted by her and reality star, Tolani Baj. Abebe recounted: “When I got into the [movie] industry, there was a lot of sexual harassment. I walked into the office of a big producer and he just whipped out his manhood on his table. That image never left my head.” Tolani Baj inferred: “What did you do, Moet? How did you handle that situation?” Abebe: “I ran out of his office. And from that day, I never wanted to do this acting thing. Sometimes I look back and I’m like, ‘Maybe if when I ran away, I had gone to another producer, maybe I would’ve been some huge actress by now.'”  

 I don’t believe in God – Seun Kuti Popular Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, has revealed that he does not believe in God. Seun made this known in an interview on Friday. According to him, he does not believe in the concept that God created the world. “I don’t believe in God. I don’t believe in the concept of this guy watching everyone’s and he will judge you when you die. “I don’t believe in the concept that people believe in God. I don’t believe that there is something responsible for the creation of the world. “I mean who wants to create this? If someone actually created this, are we supposed to be giving the person credit? “80 percent of human beings are living in hunger and we are supposed to be his most prized possession. There is something but not the way we are told that it is.”

‘I cheated death in 2023’ - Charly Boy Veteran Nigerian entertainer Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has narrated how he cheated death in 2023. Charly Boy stated this in a post on his official Instagram page. Recounting the near-death experience to his fans on Friday, the entertainer stated that he survived prostate cancer. While appreciating God for being alive after battling the deadly illness, he noted that many have lost their lives to it. Sharing the video of him after surgery, Charly Boy wrote: “Many things bin happen this year 2023. The good, the bad, and the ugly. But most importantly, I cheated death for something wey no suppose kill us but has killed many. “I’m a prostate cancer survivor. God, I’m grateful. I know this year remains small but still, by His Grace, me and everybody reading dis, shall see 2024. Iseee!!”  

PRESS RELEASE  SPORTS MINISTER DECLARES THE 2ND EDITION OF THE NATIONAL PARA GAMES CLOSE, AS BAYESLA STATE EMERGES CHAMPION The Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh has declared the 2nd Edition of the National Para Games close with Bayelsa State emerging as the champions of the Games, winning 30 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze medals. Abia, Kano,  Lagos, and Oyo states completed the top five in that order. During the ceremony which held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, the Minister stated that the Second Edition of the National Para Games has inspired a new era of inclusivity, empowerment, and recognition Senator Owan Enoh informed that the athletes' dedication and outstanding performances solidified their position at the pinnacle of Para Sports excellence. Represented by the Permanent Secretary overseeing the Federal Ministries of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the Minister stated that the  Games have once ag...

I was exhausted after birthday lecture, says Akpabio The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, opened up about the events surrounding the aftermath of his birthday colloquium on Thursday. The event, which President Bola Tinubu, attended, came five days after the first one held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom State capital. Akpabio had, after the event, reportedly slumped while seated on a chair at the hotel where the event was held earlier. Addressing the journalists on Friday in his office, Akpabio explained that what happened to him was stress-induced, coupled with malaria. Akpabio said, “What eventually happened after the event was a show of humanity.  

‘My Oga at the top,’ Shem Obafaiye, becomes NSCDC’s deputy commandant general Shem Obafaiye, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer famous for “my Oga at the top” mantra, has been promoted as deputy commandant general. The photo of Mr Obafaiye being decorated by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo went viral on Friday, two days after he and two other officers were promoted. Sharing the photos of Mr Obafaiye and two other officers on Wednesday, the Ministry of Interior in a tweet said, “As the chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), the minister, @BTOofficial, decorated the three new deputy commandants general of the @official_NSCDC today.” Over a decade ago, Mr Obafaiye became popular when he said, “My oga at the top” in an interview with Channels TV. Asked about the website of the NSCDC, Mr Obafaiye said, “Hmmm, the website is, excuse me, my Oga at the top knows the website.” He again cleared his throat and said...

It hit me deeply” Debbie Shokoya reveals Toyin Abraham’s words to her that stuck her heart in teary note Nollywood actress, Debbie Shokoya has poured encomium on her senior colleague, Toyin Abraham. Ahead of her movie premiere in a few days, she revealed the things she learned from Toyin and how Toyin told her she wants to keep getting better and to make stars with the help of God. According to her, the words by Toyin hit her deeply and she knew that she was so sure of Toyin Abraham’s purpose. She described the movie star and filmmaker as a strong-willed person, who sits down to pay herself at the back after putting in so much work. She added that she raised her glass in the air to cheer on Toyin, a strong woman who wouldn’t stop doing well for herself and her brand. “AFOBAJE!! I Believe You Live Life And Get To A Point Where You Know Your Purpose Better Worldbest Is At That Point…In Her Words “I Want To Start Making Stars With The Help Of God And My Influence” The Day She Said It, It ...

LASG WARNS ON FAKE ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL … Urges Residents to be Vigilant The Lagos State Government has urged residents and the general public to be vigilant regarding fake traffic enforcement personnel who pretend to be Government Officials to take undue advantage of unsuspecting Motorists. Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Commissioner for Transportation, who issued the warning today in Alausa, stated that the state government has received information about some impostors falsely claiming affiliation with various Local Government Areas and Government Agencies. He emphasised that stringent actions will be taken against anyone caught illegally harassing motorists or engaging in fraudulent activities on roads across the State in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Reform Law, 2018. The Commissioner reassured the public that concerted efforts are underway to rid the roads of these impostors, urging everyone to be cautious, avoid falling victim to deceitful individuals, and pr...

Drug war: Marwa, UNODC experts harp on alternative development strategy Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has harped on the imperative of an alternative development strategy to curtail illicit drug production, trafficking and protect the environment from exploitation by drug cartels.  Marwa stated this while highlighting the need for concerted and collaborative efforts in curbing illicit drug trafficking at an NDLEA Special Purpose Committee meeting on Alternative Development project in Nigeria, held at the national headquarters of the Agency in Abuja, on Thursday 14th December 2023. The same position was canvassed by other experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC office in Vienna, Austria and Nigeria as well as other stakeholders across the country who spoke at the meeting. “Without doubt, illicit drug cultivation and production have contributed significantly, not only i...