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Infinix Gifts Latest Phone To Lady Criticised For Waking Up At 4.50am To Cook For Husband Infinix Nigeria has offered its latest device, Infinix Hot 40, to the Nigerian lady who was criticised on X for saying that she wakes up at 4.50am daily to cook for her husband.  The smartphone company disclosed this in a tweet shared on its X handle on Saturday, with the caption, "Hi, #_Debbie_OA we love that you use one of our phones currently.    "With that in mind, we would love you to experience the features of our latest device: The Infinix Hot 40 How does that sound?"  Responding to the tweet, she wrote, "Dear #InfinixNigeria Hope it's for me and my husband?"  The Nigerian woman identified only as #_Debbie_OA recently went viral after she revealed on X how she began waking up at 4.50 am to cook for her husband.  She revealed that the reason for her waking up that early was because her husband told her how he had been eating the food of his female colleague at w...

OAGF DOES NOT MAKE PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF MDAs  The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein has clarified that the OAGF does not make payments on behalf of MDAs for projects and programmes implemented by the MDAs.  The AGF was reacting to media reports concerning a request from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in some States of the Federation.    She stated that allocations are released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget and such MDAs are responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.  In a statement in Abuja, the AGF explained that although her Office received the said request from the Ministry, it did not carry out the payment. The Ministry was however advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.  The AGF noted that in such situations, payments...

Tanzania's Maasai herders ditch livestock for bees Unpredictable weather patterns has forced the Maasai in northern Tanzania to find alternatives to their traditional way of life. Maasai herders in northern Tanzania are resorting to beekeeping after years of recurrent droughts devastated the number of their livestock. The predominantly pastoralist community has hitherto attached economic and cultural importance to owning herds of cattle, goats and sheep that are passed through generations. But unpredictable weather patterns have sparked a parting of ways with their traditional lifestyle, as droughts make it harder to find enough pasture. Nowhere is the switch to beekeeping more visible than in the village of Esilalei, in Arusha region, where beehives parched on trees have become a common sight.

Registratoon fees: Borno Govt releases over N55M for 153 medical students                      The Borno State government has released the sum of 55,968,000 naira for the payment of registration fees for one hundred and fifty three medical students.  At a media briefing in Maiduguri, Executive Secretary state Scholarship Board, Malam Bala Isa said the benefiting students are indigenes of the state admitted into Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi state.  According to him, the students will offer eleven different degree courses including medicine, dentistry, radiography, nursing, environmental health among other courses.  " the scholarship programme is line with the 25-year Development plan of Governor Zulum’s administration to train more health professionals in order to improve healthcare services especially at the rural areas " Isa said. The Executive Secretary remarked that the state government will...

Police investigates burning of Monarch House in Plateau The Plateau State Police Command says it has commenced investigation into the burning of the District Head of Bokkos Saf Adanchin Palace, Bokkos town in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state during a protest in the community. The spokesperson for the command, Alabo Alfred, explains that calm had been restored in the area and efforts are on to investigate what led to the uproar. He added that the command was working to bring the perpetrators to justice. On Friday, Women and Youths took the streets to express their displeasure over the arrest of some community members in connection to Christmas eve killings in the area. The protesters took their agitation to the Joint Security Task Force Operation Safe Haven base and the Divisional Police Office in the Bokkos Local Government Area community to express their displeasure over the development. The protesters proceeded to the district head’s palace and eventually set it ablaze  ...

Mikel Obi does not want to become Super Eagles coach for fear of getting sacked.  “I would love to get involved with the Super Eagles, but not as a manager. " I don’t want to get sacked, and I don’t think I can handle that very well.  " I want to be involved with the national team as someone trying to fix the problems from the top,” the former Super Eagles captain said on CNN.  

1 BILLION IS NOT A JOKE! You have carved your name on a rock, and it can never be erased” - Tobi Makinde pours encomium on Funke Akindele amid alleged fall-out Nollywood actor and film director, Tobi Makinde, Tinini has poured praises on his boss, Funke Akindele following her record-breaking achievement at the box office. Recently, Funke Akindele set a record for the Nigerian film industry as the first ever Nollywood film to enter a billion naira even in a short period. Funke Akindele made a whooping one billion, sixty million, seven hundred and eleven thousand, four hundred and ninety-one. Presently on the Wikipedia Nollywood grossing table, Funke Akindele’s movies, A Tr!be Called Judah, Battle On Buka Street, and Omo Ghetto The Saga are respectively the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time. Following this, Tobi, who was one of the Directors in the movie, via his Instagram page, hailed her for being an Amazon. He stated that the filmmaker has carved her name on a rock and it c...

Fuad Laguda wins APC ticket in race to fill Gbajabiamila’s rep seat Fuad Kayode-Laguda has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for the Surulere 1 seat in the House of Representatives, setting himself on course to succeed former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.  The keenly contested election, held Saturday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, saw Laguda defeat other aspirants to clinch the party’s ticket for the forthcoming by-election. Gbajabiamila, who previously represented the Lagos constituency, relinquished the seat upon his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu in 2023. Laguda will carry the APC banner in the February 3 by-election.  

Ireland woos Nigerians, others with work permit  The government of Ireland is issuing employment permits to individuals with critical skills who require permission to work in the country. This applies to citizens of Nigeria and other countries outside the European Economic Area including the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the UK, or Switzerland. With this move Ireland aims to address a shortage of skilled workers in the country. The Critical Skills Employment Permit is for skilled workers who are qualified in disciplines that are experiencing a deficit of qualifications and experience required for the proper functioning of the Irish economy. Employment details Job opportunities span various sectors such as production management, ICT, health and social services management, natural and social sciences, engineering, information technology, and telecommunications. Additionally, roles are available for health workers, teaching professionals, business and administrative professio...

Illegal Miners On The Prowl In North East Despite Ban Illegal mining operations have continued to thrive in North East states despite the ban and strict regulations promised to be enforced by governors, Daily Trust Saturday reports. Checks revealed that activities of the illegal miners in the North East states have further exacerbated the already precarious security challenges bedevilling the region. The six governors of the northeastern states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, under the auspices of the North East Governors Forum, had resolved to deal squarely with illegal mining in the region. In a communiqué issued at the end of their eighth meeting, which was held in Maiduguri, Borno State on September 9, 2023, the governors said proliferation of legal and illegal miners in the region was becoming a problem. They noted that there was a link between mining activities and insecurity, especially the abuse of mining leases; and therefore, resolved to enforce compliance wi...

Each year on January 5, children participate in a #NewYear calligraphy contest at Nippon Budokan in #Tokyo, #Japan. This competition is part of a special Japanese custom :  "Kakizome", which literally means "first writing". It is the first #calligraphy written at the beginning of a year, and given quite often to school pupils (up to senior high school) to do as homework over the New Year holiday.  More photos below.   

DRC Elections: Vote results for ministers, governors cancelled Three sitting government ministers are on the list, as well as four provincial governors - including the governor of the capital province Kinshasa. The Democratic Republic of Congo's election authority has annulled recent election results for three government ministers and four provincial governors, citing fraud and voter intimidation. The electoral commission Ceni stated late on Friday it had cancelled all ballots cast for 82 election candidates in the central African nation. Three sitting government ministers are on the list, as well as four provincial governors - including the governor of the capital province Kinshasa. The announcement comes after an election last month that was marred by bureaucratic chaos, and which the Congolese political opposition has rejected.  

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says youths in Borno State are drinking fermented human urine, preserved over 10 days, as an alternative to hard drugs. The Commander of Narcotics of the NDLEA in Borno State, Iliyasu Mani, revealed this in a statement in Maiduguri. Mani said abuse of psychoactive substances was common among the youths, noting that they also take other unusual substances such as lizard dung, camel urine, Lipton soaked in gin, and mentholated spirits mixed with soft drinks. According to him, the youths also inhale toilet fumes and gutter dirt in their quest to get intoxicated. Mani said, “Let me state categorically here that these new psychoactive substances that are commonly abused today include Cannabis Sativa, skunk, cough syrup with codeine, Ice, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Pentazocine, rubber solution, glue, gutter dirt, toilet fumes, lizard dung. “Others include Lipton soaked in gin, camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks, 10-day-old ...

BIRTHDAY:  FORMER DG SON CELEBRATES 66YRS OF GOD'S LOVE, URGES ALL TO EMBRACE GOD By Regina Igwebuike Dr. Joseph Ikem Odumodu, a former Director General, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), has celebrated his 66 birthday anniversary of God's faithfulness and love toward him. Dr. Odumodu while appreciating God for His blessings upon him and his family, urged all to embrace God wholeheartedly as the author and finisher of our faith. He advised all, especially the youth to eschew vices and embrace virtues, avoid cutting corners so as not to cut their lives short, emphasizing that true happiness comes from God. The event, which took place on December 30 in his compound, kickstarted with a Holy Mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Jerome Nwafornso, Parish Priest St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Maryland Amawbia. The birthday celebrant, thanked the priest and others who attended the ceremony. Earlier in a homily, Fr. Nwafornso said that appreciation is really what God demanded from us. ...

Lagos Assembly Passes N2.267trn As Budget For 2024 The Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday passed a total of N2,267,976,120,869 as the 2024 budget size of the State at a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. The budget representing 58 percent Capital Expenditure and 42 percent Recurrent Expenditure was approved following a unanimous voice vote by all the lawmakers present at the sitting. “A bill for a law to authorise the issuance and appropriation of N952,430,566,998 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for Recurrent Expenditure and N1,315,545,553,871 from Development Fund for Capital Expenditure thereby totaling a budget size of N2,267,976,120,869 for the year ending 31st December, 2024 be passed into law,” the Speaker had raised on the floor as the budget report was read a third time. Dr. Obasa, thereafter, commended the lawmakers for their dedication and cooperation at ensuring a quick passage of the Appropriation Bill while directing the Clerk o...

“Stay Away From Sheila” – Isreal DMW Wakes Up In The Cold Hours Of 2am To Warn Men, Vows Not To Move On From Estranged ife He wrote: “Dearest Men. Stay away from Sheila. Stay away from a legally married women, especially the ones from Edo State. Dnt get urself into trouble because of just 5 minutes pleasure. Pitty ur loved ones atleast, if you're not pittying urself. People shouldn't always believe they are smart. People shouldn't always believe they would always eat their cakes and still have it back. Move on what ? F*CK SHIIT. Thanks”  

Anthony Joshua To Face Former UFC Star, Francis Ngannou In March. Former unified world heavyweight champion Joshua is expected to share the ring with Ngannou, a former UFC champion, after the planned fight was announced by promotional teams Matchroom and Queensberry on Friday night. A press conference has been scheduled on January 15 to reveal more details, with reports suggesting that Joshua will face Ngannou on Friday March 8 in Riyadh. Joshua continued his quest to return to the top of the heavyweight division with a dominant five-round win over Otto Wallin on December 23 but expectations that he would next face Deontay Wilder evaporated when the American lost to Joseph Parker on the same card. Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout last October, although the latter still won a split decision, and is now ranked in the WBC’s top 10 of heavyweight contenders. Speaking after his impressive win against Wallin, Joshua declare...

Insecurity Has Gone Beyond Control – Bode George A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has lamented the security situation in the country, saying that it has gone beyond control. He said the situation the country is in at the moment has gone beyond playing politics, adding that President Tinubu has a lot of work to do and Nigerians are ready to give him time. “The state of our nation has been completely in a shambolic situation, it is perpetual despair and despondency. There is hunger in the land and there is anger in the land; the insecurity has gone beyond control,” Chief George said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday. “So, when you look at all those things; we are all Nigerians and I listened to his (Tinubu) New Year speech and I also listened to what Chief Osoba said, this is not the time to play politics, it is our nation. He (Tinubu) has a hell of a job to do and I have listened to him. He has these eight objectives for the yea...

Northern community in Abia, Methodist bishops, pledge support for peace in S’East The Northern community and the Bishops of Methodist Church in Abia State, have respectively, pledged to support the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) to ensure it achieves its objectives. PISE-P, the brain child of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu which calls for a non kinetic approach to resolving the security issues in the south East region, was on December 30, 2023, formally unveiled by the Vice President Kashim Shettima, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. Speaking during a courtesy call on the Deputy Speaker in his Bende country home on Friday, the leader of the northern community, Alhaji Saliru Idris said they will rally round Kalu to ensure the aim of the project is sufficiently achieved. A release by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, quoted the Alhaji Idris as appreciating Kalu for coming to the aid of the north...

Child Marriage: 4-yr-old girl’s parent, relatives appear before state govt panel, Parents of the 4 year- old girl who was “married” to a 54-year-old man at the riverside settlement of Akeddei in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and three others were on Thursday handed a temporary relief by the state government through the Gender Response Initiative Team, GRIT, over the alleged child marriage. However, they insisted that the marriage rites are a traditional practice termed “Koripamo” done to save the little girl’s life. The state government team is made up of the Chairman of the Gender Response Initiative Team(GRiT), Dr. Dise Ogbise, the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Kizito Andah, CPN and the Bayelsa State Chairman of BANGOF, Comrade Taritei Boco, DO Foundation, NAWOJ, other Non-governmental Organization, NGOs, National Human Rights Commission and Civil Society Groups,CSOs. The team heard the submissions from the father of the four-year-old Eld...

 Cecil, a pet dog from Pittsburgh, brings a whole new meaning to the term "money hungry." Clayton Law and his wife Carrie were having a new fence installed and made a special trip to the bank for $4,000.00 in cash to pay the workers. However, about a half hour after returning home, the couple entered the room where they had left the money only to be met with a very confusing sight. The cash was all over the floor ripped to pieces and sitting innocently in the midst of all this mayhem... was good old Cecil.  Let's just say Cecil did pay most of it back eventually in small deposits all over the yard.  At one point in the night, the couple's furry little ATM withdrew some funds all over their floor after a tummy ache.  All Clayton could say as he watched in stunned awe was, "Wow... that's a lot of hundreds". So far the couple have recovered 3,550.00 dollars in the most unsavory of ways and lots of tape. The couples bank is aware of the situation and Carrie ...

Obasanjo Meets Ohanaeze Leadership, Discusses ‘Issues of Mutual Interest’ The leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has held discussions with former President Olusegun Obasanjo during which they discussed “issues of mutual interest”. Speaking with journalists on phone, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, said that the discussions took place yesterday at the residence of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in Owerri, Imo State. While the former president was accompanied by Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, some Igbo leaders and Ohanaeze chieftains at the meeting included Ambassador Emuchay, former Minister of Aviation, Amb. Kema Chikwe, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu, and Chief Tony Ukasanya. Though he was not forthcoming on the exact agenda of the meeting Emuchay described it as “very symbolic and crucial” adding that the outcome of the fruitful deliberations would soon be appreciated by Ndigbo. The Ohanaeze scr...