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 GOVERNOR UZODIMMA OFFERS THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR HIS VICTORY AT THE ELECTION TRIBUNAL  Governor Hope Uzodimma with the people of Imo State, gave thanks to God at the Government House Chapel in Owerri, celebrating their recent victory at the Election Tribunal. The governor reaffirmed his dedication to fostering prosperity and driving development throughout the state. He assured the citizens that his administration would continue working tirelessly to ensure that every community reaps the benefits of progress and new opportunities. Present at the church service were the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Lady Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru PhD, Chief of Staff Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, and other government officials and dignitaries. More photos below. 

 Nicki Minaj Apologizes for Postponed Show After Video Appears to Show Arrest In a video posted live by Minaj to Instagram, the rapper appeared to step into a law enforcement vehicle after being accused of “carrying drugs.”. Watch below the video of the arrest and apology. 

 Two of Tinubu’s key policies necessary but wrongly implemented – Obasanjo Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has said two out of three of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s policies were necessary but wrongly implemented. Obasanjo made this remark at a Colloquium themed ‘Nigeria’s Development: Navigating the Way Out of the Current Economic Crisis and Insecurity’, at the Paul Aje Colloquium (PAC) in Abuja, during the weekend. He hinted that the third decision was the position in dealing with the coup in Niger. “Today, government has taken three decisions, two of which are necessary but wrongly implemented and have led to impoverisation of the economy and of Nigerians. These are removal of subsidy, closing the gap between black market and official rates of exchange and the third is dealing with military coup in Niger Republic. “The way forward is production and productivity which belief and trust in government leadership will engender. No short cut to economic progress ...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE   PRESIDENT TINUBU: LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL HIGHWAY WILL REVOLUTIONIZE TRANSPORTATION IN NIGERIA AND BOOST TOURISM   President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday in Lagos, flagged off the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, stating that the project would revolutionize transportation in Nigeria and bolster the unique economic strength of each zone.    The President spoke from the Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island end of the project, which will traverse nine states along Nigeria's coastal shoreline while linking the A1, A2, A3, and A4 highway corridors vertically crossing the western, central and eastern regions of the country, north to south.   Starting from Lagos and terminating in Cross River State, the coastal highway will include a spur to the north-central part of the country.   From Victoria Island, President Tinubu also performed the virtual flag-off of the design and procurement for the 1,000km Sokoto-Badagry Hi...

 KANO EMIRATE TUSSLE: SOLDIERS NOT INVOLVED Contrary to insinuations by the Kano state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association as published by Premium Times on 26 May 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army have not been involved in the Kano state emirate tussle and are not involved in  enforcing any court order. They have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the  Kano Emirship tussle. The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors. The military would imminently intervene when it becomes apparent that the intensity of the security situation becomes overwhelming for the police. All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the st...

 26TH May, 2024 PRESS RELEASE ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS,  CULTIST/RECOVERY OF ONE BARETTA PISTOL, AND ONE LOCALLY MADE CUT-TO-SIZE GUN RECOVERY OF A STOLEN TRUCK AND ARREST OF SUSPECT ARMED ROBBER CP ABANIWONDA OLUFEMI WARNS THAT THE PROLIFICATION OF FIREARMS IN THE STATE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. BEING IN POSSESSION OF FIREARMS OF ANY KIND IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND ANYONE CAUGHT WILL BE DECISIVELY DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW 1. ARREST OF A SUSPECTED CULTIST AND RECOVERY OF ONE BARETTA PISTOL: On 24/05/2024 at about 1130hrs, acting on intelligence,   the Commissioner of Police special team deployed to Ughelli led by ASP Julius Robinson stormed the residence of one Chief Oviri Onorigho m" 52yrs of Oghara town in Ethiope West LGA Delta State who is an accountant with the Delta State Polytechnic Oghara Delta State. A search warrant was executed in his residence during which one Baretta Pistol loaded with four(4) rounds of live ammunition was recovered. T...

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU INAUGURATES NEWLY RECONSTRUCTED APAPA-OWORONSHOKI-OJOTA EXPRESSWAY IN LAGOS  President Bola Tinubu on Sunday inaugurated the newly reconstructed Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota-Oshodi Expressway, a 36.02km expressway connecting Nigeria's premier ports - Apapa and Tin Can Island - to larger parts of Lagos State.  President Tinubu, who performed the symbolic unveiling of the plaque of the concrete-paved road at the Gbagada stretch, also virtually inaugurated the recently rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge.  Speaking at the inauguration of the projects, executed by the Federal Ministry of Works, the President, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway would enhance access to the ports, boost commercial activities, and spur economic development. Originally constructed between 1975 and 1978, the road had deteriorated significantly over the years, causing severe delays in the evacuation of g...

 California man arrested after randomly punching elderly victims, stopping to pose for photo: police A California man, who randomly punched two elderly victims in separate incidents and posed for a casual photo after one of the attacks, was arrested on Saturday, authorities said. Nicholas Hosteter, 25, was identified in connection to the two attacks on elderly men in Campbell this month, the Campbell Police Department said. In the first incident on May 4, Hosteter allegedly punched a victim on San Tomas Aquino Road before running away, police said.  The suspect, however, stopped to pose casually on a sidewalk as the victim snapped a photo in the hopes of identifying his alleged attacker. Police released the photo on social media and asked the public for help in identifying the suspect. The second random attack happened Friday morning as a 75-year-old man was taking a walk in Campbell, police said. Hosteter allegedly punched the victim in the face near Inwood Drive and Elam Ave...

 ‘Mary Poppins,’ 'It’s a Small World’ songwriter Richard M. Sherman dead at 95 Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific songwriting duo with his brother Robert Sherman, has died at 95. The Walt Disney Company announced the news on their website on Saturday. "Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman, half of the Academy Award-winning songwriting team of the Sherman Brothers (with his late brother, Disney Legend Robert B. Sherman), passed away Saturday, May 25, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, due to age-related illness. He was 95 years old," their statement read. It continued: "Generations of moviegoers and theme park guests have been introduced to the world of Disney through the Sherman brothers’ magnificent and timeless songs. Even today, the duo’s work remains the quintessential lyrical voice of Walt Disney." Sherman, with his brother Robert, earned two Oscars and a Grammy for their work on "Mary Poppins," best score and best original son...

Hamas launches rocket barrage into Israel from Rafah, sounding alarms in Tel Aviv Hamas terrorists launched a barrage of rockets into Israel on Sunday, with roughly a dozen of them being fired from the hotly contested city of Rafah. Israel's Iron Dome successfully intercepted the majority of the rockets, with alarms sounding in Tel Aviv and other major cities. The strike comes as Israeli forces are increasing operations in and around Rafah, what Israel says is the final major stronghold for Hamas in Gaza. Hamas took responsibility for the barrage and argued it was retaliation for "Zionist massacres against civilians." Israel has faced growing international pressure to cease its operations in Rafah, which plays host to roughly 1.5 million displaced Gazans. Israel encouraged civilians in the region to leave areas where they conducted military operations against Hamas in an effort to minimize civilian casualties. Rafah lies on the border with Egypt and had served as a major ...

 Grayson Murray's parents confirm he 'took his own life' The sports world was shaken up on Saturday when PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray died at the age of 30. The two-time PGA Tour winner had withdrawn from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Friday, two holes shy of completing his second round, citing an illness – he had been five-over on the day and three-straight bogeys, and +3 in the tournament. Murray's parents, in breaking their silence on Sunday, confirmed that Murray died of suicide. "We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone. It's surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It's a nightmare," they said in a statement. "We have so many questions that have no answers. But one," they continued. "Was Grayson loved? Yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow p...

 NATO boss takes apparent swipe at Biden, argues to end restrictions on US weapons for Russian targets NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg argued that Ukraine should be able to use American weapons to strike inside Russian territory, in an apparent break with the Biden administration. "I think the time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine because, especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in Kharkiv, close to the border," Stoltenberg said in an interview with the Economist over the weekend. "To deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves." While the NATO boss did not mention the U.S. or the Biden administration by name, the comments come as the U.S. has continued to ban Ukraine from using American weapons to target Russian territory. U...

  The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has seized and withdrawn from the market more than 10, 557 cases of non-compliant potable spirits valued at K1, 033, 260 in Lusaka.  This is because suppliers had no permit to supply the products on the market contrary to the provisions of sections 15 and 21 of the Compulsory Standards Act No. 3 of 2017.  Agency Public Relations Officer Onishias Maamba says the products had no batch numbers and manufacturing dates as required by the relevant compulsory standard, thereby making it difficult for the Agency to guarantee the safety of the merchandise. Mr. Maamba explains that the non-compliant potable spirits were seized and withdrawn from Chaisa, Matero, Makeni townships and Chinika Industrial area in Lusaka.   He says Samples of these products have been taken to the laboratory for further analysis in a quest to inform the next cause of action.  Further,Mr Maamba has disclosed that the Agency has seized 58 pressi...

 Nicki Minaj fans fume as gig is axed after arrest Nicki Minaj fans were left angry after the American rapper's gig at Manchester's Co-op Live arena was called off at the last minute, following her arrest at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Minaj was arrested on suspicion of exporting soft drugs before being fined and allowed to continue her journey, Dutch police said. However, she didn't make it to Manchester in time for her concert on Saturday, which was postponed as about 20,000 fans were in the arena waiting for her to take the stage.

 NADF Set To Assist 5,000 Ginger Farmers In Kaduna National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has concluded plans to support 5,000 ginger farmers in Kaduna State with free farming inputs to rejuvenate them against the devastating effects of the blight epidemic in 2023. The Ginger Recovery, Advancement and Transformation for Economy Empowerment (GRATE) which is a federal government initiative was part of the Ginger Blight Task Force of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under NADF that commenced a stakeholders’ engagement and screening in seven local government areas in the state. The exercise will last for three days. At the stakeholders’ engagement and input disbursement to the affected ginger farmers, a representative of NADF, Samuel Aende, said the GRATE team was engaging and screened ginger farmers in Kachia, Jaba, Kagarko, Zangon Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a and Sanga LGAs. “After the engagement and screening of the farmers, each farmer is expected to receive fou...

 House Sports Committee Condemns Budget Allocation For Ahmadu Bello Stadium Renovation The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams, has expressed frustration regarding the budget allocation made by the Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, for the renovation and upkeep of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. Hon. Adams, representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, criticized the decision as the stadium had already been concessioned to Kaduna State by the Federal Government. He accused the Minister of disrespecting the House Committee on Sports and taking their cooperation for granted. Despite their efforts to maintain a good relationship, Hon. Adams felt that the Minister's actions lacked sincerity, especially in allocating funds for a stadium now under the jurisdiction of Kaduna State.  “The House Committee on Sports and myself have been very cooperative with the Minister of Sports all these while but it seems he is tak...

 How Kaduna-Abuja Train Derailed In Jere, Left Passengers Stranded Some coaches in a train which departed the Rigasa Train Station in Kaduna on Sunday morning to Abuja  reportedly derailed in a mountainous area near Jere. According to sources, the train with many passengers on board left Kaduna at about 8 am but after about an hour, about 3 coaches derailed. Security operatives and soldiers were deployed to the scene of incident and the railway engineers were seen trying to repair the damaged parts of the rail track. Though official statement was being awaited, the source said there was no casualty during the incident. More photos below. 

 FOU Zone B Customs Seizes N3 Billion Worth of Illicit Donkey Products The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, 21 2024, in Kaduna, says it has intercepted consignments of endangered donkey products with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of approximately Three Billion Naira, resulting in the arrest of four suspects. Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, during a press briefing on the Unit's activities from 17 April to 17 May 2024, highlighted two significant seizures of illegal donkey products.   Comptroller Shuaibu explained that on April 25, 2024, operatives, acting on credible intelligence, the Unit intercepted a truck along Sokoto/Gusau Road in Zamfara State. The truck brought to Kaduna for further examination, was found to be transporting 750 sacks of donkey bones, valued at over Two Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Three Million Naira. According to the statement, a second significant interception occurred on 5 May 2024, when two C...

 Fed Govt sues 36 states at Supreme Court over local govt autonomy …seeks order voiding state/LG joint account  The federal government has sued the thirty-six governors before the Supreme Court to ensure the autonomy of the nation’s local governments. In the suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, was filed on May 20, by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on behalf of the federal government.  The federal government is praying the Apex Court for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary, and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected leaders for local governments. It also prayed the Supreme Court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the federation account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors. It wanted an order stopping governors from constitutin...

 Kidnappers kill 2 abducted Kogi varsity students -NGO Two of the students whisked away by gunmen from Confluence University of Science and Technology, CUSTECH, Osara, Kogi State, have been killed. This was disclosed on Saturday by a non-governmental organization, NGO, Education for All, E4A, in a statement given to journalists in Lokoja, the state capital. Nasir Ibtahim, Publicity Secretary of the NGO, said the victims were killed while their release was being negotiated, noting that the kidnappers intended to scare young people from going to school. “It is sad that the criminals killed two of the students who were not among the 21 rescued through the operation coordinated by the Kogi State Government, though the circumstances of their kidnap and being traced to a forest in Kwara State by security agencies are yet to be ascertained. This is sad, callous, and a call for collective action against attackers of educational institutions. “We are aware that parents of the students were ...

 ‘I don’t want to die young’ – Portable calls for prayers over ill health Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has solicited prayers from fans following an illness. The ‘Zazu’ hitmaker shared a video and picture of himself receiving medical treatment, saying he doesn’t wish to die young. Although he didn’t disclose the ailment, the singer said he was feeling pains all over his body. Portable wrote, “Pain all over my body. Somebody pray for me. I don’t want to die young. “We don’t regret we go hard you can’t be comfortable being you in the midst of people that don’t want you. Be you let the stress go and let the blessings flow. “Zazu am coming stronger. Make una help me thank God.”