PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 N500m ‘Largesse’: I Received N266m, Senator Confesses Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, has said contrary to the claim that some ranking senators received N500 million from the 2024 budget, he had only received N266 million. A federal lawmaker representing Cross River North, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, had during plenary, on Tuesday, said that some senior senators had received N500 million each from the 2024 budget. The revelation came on the heel of an ongoing controversy over an allegation of budget padding made by Senator Abdul Ningi in an interview with BBC Hausa. Ningi had earlier accused the Senate of padding the 2024 budget, saying the National Assembly added an extra N3.7 trillion to the initial budget. Reacting to the development, during a chat with ARISE TV, Senator Abaribe said Ningi knew it was a mistake claiming what he could not prove, because he was not a new member in the Senate. Abaribe added that despite him, himself, being a senior senat

 BudgIT: N’assembly inserted 7,447 projects worth N2trn in 2024 budget National assembly complex   BudgIT, a civic-tech non-profit organisation, says the national assembly inserted 7,447 constituency projects worth N2.24 trillion in the 2024 project. The organisation said most of the projects inserted into the budget by the national assembly have “no national significance but narrowed to personal interests”. BudgIT, on Wednesday, released a report on its findings of the allegation of budget padding by the national assembly made by Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central. BACKGROUND Last Saturday, Ningi stirred controversy when he alleged that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion and that the country is operating two budgets concurrently. The Bauchi senator said “huge damage” has been done to the north and the entire country in the budget. On Tuesday, the allegations were debated during plenary at the red chamber, amid a rowdy session. Advertisement Subsequently, the senat

First Ever Physics Textbook Written In Igbo Language By Maazi Okoro From Ebonyi State  Is Out.   Over the years, I have read so many threats facing the Igbo and how it will go extinct. This motivated me to embark on this project that seemed unattainable, for science subjects to be taught in Igbo. I started from Physics. I said I would do it, and I DID IT. This book is designed in a way that one without formal education can understand Physics. It's needed in all libraries, schools, homes and for individual use. More photos below. 

 Suspension of Ningi hasn’t addressed vital issues in allegation — Peter Obi tells Senate   The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, said the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi by the Senate has not addressed vital issues in the allegation of the lawmaker. Obi stated this in a statement via his X handle on Wednesday. According to him, the fuss over the alleged N3 trillion padded into the 2024 budget still rages as the Senate’s reaction of suspending the whistle-blower has not addressed vital issues emanating from the allegation. He said, “The Senator is insisting on his allegation, and the Executive agreed that there was only N1.2 trillion padded, not N3 trillion as alleged by the Senator. Fresh allegations have also cropped up over the indiscriminate and unbalanced allocation of constituency projects by the Senate leadership.  “A civic society group, Budgit, through their officials, has also added their voice to agree with the Senator. They allege that there were no d

 Reps Worry Over Suspension Of Betta Edu, Urge FG To Hasten Investigation The House of Representatives is expressing concern that following the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, DR Betta Edu, the implementation of the Social Investment Programme has been halted and is affecting the masses who need these intervention the most. Following deliberations on the floor of the Green Chambers today, the lawmakers expressed worry that halting these humanitarian programs at a time of increasing hunger and inflation is not good for the country. The House further asserted that it is disturbed by the recommendation that the social investment programme is to be managed by the Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun. According to the Representatives, this move is an anomaly and as such the statesmen urged the Federal Government to expedite investigations regarding the suspended minister of humanitarian affairs.

 Agency decries increasing cult activities in Abia higher institutions The Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo has decried the increase in cult activities in the state’s higher institutions. He made the condemnation on Tuesday in Umuahia following the recent clash between different cult groups in Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), which took the life of a student, leaving the institution in a state of unrest. Nwankwo, who recalled the sensitization on Anti-cultism and Drug Addiction organized by his agency in December 2023, stated that the essence is to curb the menace of drug addiction and cultism among youths of the state. He therefore enjoined all Abia citizens and residents, especially youths in various institutions of higher learning, to shun cultism and abstain from drug abuse, noting that the practices are destructive. Nwankwo maintained that the reorientation and mind-shift initiative of the Governor Alex Otti administration must be sustained

 EFCC Arrests 45 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Lagos   Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 45 suspected internet fraudsters.      They were arrested on Monday, March 11, 2024 at Ikorodu, Lagos, following intelligence on the activities of an Organised Cybercrime Syndicate Network, OCSN, operating in that axis of the state.    Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include exotic vehicles, sophisticated mobile devices, and laptops.   They will soon be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.

U.S. House Passes Bill To Remove TikTok’s Chinese Ownership Or Ban Video App  The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday that would give TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest the U.S. assets of the short-video app used by about 170 million Americans or face a ban. From a report: The bill passed 352-65, with bipartisan support, but it faces a more uncertain path in the Senate where some favor a different approach to regulating foreign-owned apps that could pose security concerns. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not indicated how he plans to proceed. TikTok's fate has become a major issue in Washington. Democratic and Republican lawmakers said their offices had received large volumes of calls from teenaged TikTok users who oppose the legislation, with the volume of complaints at times exceeding the number of calls seeking a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The measure is also the latest in a ser

 I charge more money per movie and yet most Nollywood actresses drive bigger cars than I do” Funsho Adeolu vents out  Nollywood actor, Funsho Adeolu has queried the source of income of his female colleagues in the industry. The Yoruba actor, in an interview with Teju Babyface, revealed that he changes more money per movie than most Nollywood actresses, yet they ride bigger cars than he does. He stated that such actress can’t say they make such money from acting to fund their lavish lifestyles. He noted how some of these actresses only come on set so they can pretend that the industry is what funds their lifestyle. “I charge more money per movie than most Nollywood actresses but they ride bigger cars than I do. They can’t say they make all that money from acting movies to fund their lifestyle”. “People that if I collect N200,000 in a job, they can’t collect N20,000, they are riding bigger cars than I am riding. What they do is come on set, show themselves on TV, so they have the opportu

 Learn to respect people’s choice” Bobrisky blows hot at people criticizing his decision to act and dress like a woman Bobrisky had a minute to spare for naysayers on his Instagram page, as he took out time to address questions pertaining to his choice of lifestyle, which is cross dressing. He wrote a lengthy post on Instagram, saying: “Now let me lecture many of you here, there’s something called “CHOICE” learn to respect people choice. Let everyone live. At the end of the day if we all d*e we aren’t going to be buried in d same place, you can’t answer my question for me if my creator ask me to explain how i lived my life on earth. So relax and mind ur business.” In his caption, he wrote, “If my creator wake up and ask me to explain why he create a man and i turned myself to a beautiful woman, I will defend myself and tell him why. You won’t be there to explain for me. So mind your business”

 Man Bags Jail Term for Currency Racketeering in Lagos    The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 secured the conviction and sentencing of one Fabian John Itafor before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for an offence bordering on currency racketeering.  He was arraigned on a one- count charge. The count reads: “That you, Fabian John Itafor on or about the 24th day of February. 2024 at Leisure Event Center, Wale Olateju Street, Victoria Island, in Lages within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court hawked the sum of N347,000.00 (Three Hundred and Forty-seven Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(4)l of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007." He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him. Following his guilty plea,   prosecuting counsel, A.S. Wara  called on Jude Owolabi, an opera

 Elliot County, Kentucky firefighter sadly dies in a crash while traveling to escort an EMT who lost his life earlier in the day.  Police say the firefighter was driving his firetruck Southbound on Route 504 Tuesday evening when he lost control and went over an embankment. He lost his life in the crash.  He served with the 504 Volunteer Fire Department.   There is no additional information on the identity of the firefighter or the circumstances and identity of the EMT he was heading to escort to the funeral home at the time of the accident. Our thoughts are with everyone involved.

 MAN WHO SPENT 70YEARS IN AN IRON TANK DIES  The polio survivor known as "the man in the iron lung" has died at the age of 78. "Paul Alexander, 'The Man in the Iron Lung', passed away yesterday," a post on a fundraising website said. In 1952, when he became ill, doctors in his hometown of Dallas operated on him, saving his life. But the polio meant his body and was no longer able to breathe on his own. The answer was to place him in a so-called iron lung - a metal cylinder enclosing his body up to his neck. The lung, which he called his "old iron horse", allowed him to breathe. Bellows sucked air out of the cylinder, forcing his lungs to expand and take in air. When the air was let back in, the same process in reverse made his lungs deflate. After years, Alexander eventually learned to breathe by himself so that he was able to leave the lung for short periods of time. Like most polio survivors placed in iron lungs, he was not expected to survive lo

 OKO POLY HOLDS 40th MATRICULATION CEREMONY By Charity Okechukwu/ Chioma Ezeiru The Acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko,  Uche Onyegbu has called on the matriculating students to give in their best for the opportunity they have to advance in their academic career. Dr Onyegbu stated this during the 40th matriculation of the institution, stressing that it's a defining moment of their life which must not be wasted. While congratulating the students for making Federal Polytechnic Oko their choice of institution, noted that Federal Polytechnic, Oko is an institution where utmost attention is paid to high quality education and high standards of learning. "As an institution, we understand the imperative of quality education and we have entrenched measures that will checkmate compromising our standard, to ensure continuous attainment of premium education by our students". The acting rector who charged the new students on good morals and character, urged them to shun Indecent

POLICE NAB TWO INSURGENTS, RECOVER FOUR AK-47 RIFLES, VEHICLES, AMMUNITION By Uche Kalu  Anambra State Police Command has smashed a deadly insurgency gang in the state, arresting two members of the gang and recovered stolen vehicles, four AK-47 rifles. According to a press release by the spokesperson of the command, DSP, Tochukwu Ikenga, the operatives arrested the hoodlums at Awka-Etiti, Idemili South LGA while on patrol with the local vigilante. "The heavily armed  gang were accosted while on a yet-to-be unravelled mission. The joint security team chased the hoodlums until the vehicle they were in ran into a ditch.  "After a shootout, two members of the gang were arrested while four AK-47 Rifles were recovered. Also recovered were one Toyota Highlander SUV with Reg. No. Lagos GGE 408 GZ." Meanwhile, operatives working with local vigilante at Neni, Anaocha LGA also intercepted a Toyota Venza Car with Reg. No.Lagos EKY 746 JB.  “The driver of the car fled on sighting the

 _Media Release_ WE WILL PUNISH ERRING SASA OPERATIVES I have been alerted to a viral video on the arrest and manhandling of one Wilfred Ezike, also known as Mgbiligba by SASA operatives. I really feel bad that an incident of that nature took place. I have felt bad all through the day since somebody posted the video to me. It is true that some people are unrepentantly committed to various criminalities on the basis of which innocent citizens remain in miserable conditions running their legitimate day to day life, but we must handle human beings according to prescriptions of the law, no matter their offence. Our Government is law abiding, and that is why we must fish out the SASA operatives involved in the incident under reference and punish them accordingly.  It is also true that we are resolute to stamp out "agberos," but that must happen within confines of the laws of the land. Interestingly, people have been commenting and reacting. This shows life in an organised democrac

 Tinubu demanded names, transaction details of top 100 Binance users in Nigeria before release of detained executives: President Bola Tinubu’s government has demanded that the world’s largest cryptocurrency platform, Binance, provide a list of the top 100 Nigerian users and their transaction details on the platform before detained officials are released.  “Nigeria is pressing Binance for information on its top 100 users in the country, as well as all transaction history for the past six months,” Financial Times reported on Tuesday. According to the newspaper, the request is at the centre of negotiations between Binance and Nigeria, which sees the company as a crucial link undermining government efforts to stabilise its currency, the naira. The six-month transaction details request tallies with the timeline of Nigeria’s currency devaluation. The reported request comes as two Binance officials, Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla, languish in detention t

  GOV ENO TARGETS DECEMBER FOR COMPLETION OF UYO GULLY RECLAMATION PROJECT  Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work at the ongoing gully erosion reclamation and beautification of the Uyo-Ewet Ravine Project, while affirming the determination of his administration to convert the area to a tourist site. Governor Eno stated this during his inspection of the project at Etim Umanah and Udo Inwang Streets in Ewet Offot Community.  The Governor assured that the project which includes the reclamation of the gully erosion-ravaged Etim Umana and Udo Inwang streets and conversion of the ravine lying between Uyo and Ewet villages of Offot Ukwa clan to a recreation park, will be completed by the end of the year.  According to him "we thank God that we are able to walk up to this point here. I remember we couldn't during our first visit. I personally felt the pain of the people living here. We will reclaim the place and channel

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  NIGERIA OPENS LAND AND AIR BORDERS WITH REPUBLIC OF NIGER, LIFTS OTHER SANCTIONS President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria's land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect. This directive is in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja. ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. The President has directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately: (1) Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic. (2) Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as freeze of all service transactions, including utili

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW NIMASA DIRECTOR-GENERAL  President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Dayo Mobereola to serve as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a renewable term of four years. The appointment follows the exit of Mr. Bashir Jamoh, whose tenure recently expired. Dr. Mobereola holds a Ph.D, and an M.Sc in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, England, and a fellow of the same institute in Nigeria. He was the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) from 2003 to 2015 and was also the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State from 2015 to 2016. In the private sector, he was Deputy Managing Director and Project Development Director at AFM Consulting Plc, London. He was also Senior Economist at British Petroleum Shipping Limited, London. The President expects

 RAMADAN: JGSG REDUCES WORKING HOURS FOR STAFF Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state has approved the reduction of official working hours in the State by two hours during the 2024 Ramadan fast. This is contained in a statement signed and made available to Radio Nigeria by the State Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammad Dagaceri. The statement says civil servants in the state will now report to the office at 9am and close by 3pm between Monday and Thursday instead of 5pm. "Furthermore, Workers will report to work on Fridays by 9am and close by 1pm as usual". He explained that the gesture was aimed at providing more opportunities to civil servants to prepare for their Ramadan break and also to have more time to observe spiritual activities activities of the holy Month. The Head of Service hoped that civil servants in the state would use the Ramadan period to pray for God’s guidance and blessings for the state. "It  is also hoped that Civil Servants would use the fastin

  21-Year-Old Boy Who comm^itted Su¦c*de In Port Harcourt Graduated With Distinction From Petroleum Training Institute And Was Offered Automatic IT Opportunity By An Oil Company In Rivers State. He Recently Called His Mom Who Was Abandoned By Their Father And Told Her That He'll Soon Lift Them Out Of Poverty As The Company Was Set To Convert Him To A Full-time Staff. Just Last Two Weeks, His Father Who Chased Away His Mom, Abandoned Him And His Other Siblings Since They Were Little Sensing His Newfound Success, Attempted To Re-enter Their Lives, But He Faced Resistance From The Resilient Young Man Who Told Him To Maintain The Same Energy He Gave Them Since They Were Little. According To Information Made Available To Oriental Times By Lucky's Mother Who Has Been In Uncontrollable Tears And Agony, Lucky Had Called Her And Informed Her That He Was Thrεαtεnεd On Phone By His Dεαdbεατ Father That He'll Return To Delta State In C*rpse, This Was Reportedly After Lucky Made It Clea

REPLY TO GISTLOVERBLOG POST 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 K1 DENIES AFFAIR/RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY SOCIETY LADY AND CONFIRMS THAT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, EMMANUELLA, REMAINS INTACT False rumors maliciously targeting K1's relationship with his beloved wife, Emmanuella, have been circulated by blogs.  This fabricated statement is entirely baseless and orchestrated by those seeking to create chaos. The clarification was contained in a statement, signed by K1’s publicist, Kunle Rasheed.  First and foremost, K1 is not involved in a relationship or affair with any society woman. Furthermore, there is no truth to the claim of K1 being in a relationship with a female chef; such allegations are unfounded and purely fictional, as he does not even have and has never had a female chef. Additionally, the assertion regarding Folake Ibile's marital status with K1 is utterly false. They simply share a coincidental surname, and Folake Ibile is happily married to another individual. Lastly, t

ESTABLISH VOCATIONAL CENTRES NATIONWIDE — SGF AKUME In demonstration of the Federal Government's commitment to nurturing talent and fostering innovation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been issued directives for the release of funds and modalities for the establishment of vocational centres nationwide. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr. George Akume gave the insight yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 8th Innovation and Technology Expo in Abuja with the theme: STI: Solution to National Economic Challenges, wherein he had the honour to represent his principal the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. At the gathering of tech experts hosted by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology which aims to showcase R&D products, engage investors and discuss socio-economic issues, the SGF assured stakeholders that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the FG is committed to promotion of tech