PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 PROPOSED PROTEST: LAGOS NSCDC MEETS YOUTH GROUPS, OPINION LEADERS, IMPLORES CITIZENS TO EMBRACE DIALOGUE, SHUN VIOLENCE, VANDALISM, RADICALISM, EXTREMISM, ARSONING, LOOTING. "No city or state can develop without a peaceful atmosphere, so, shelve your plans and embrace dialogue, appeal to your communities and let them know that the times we are in will end in celebration," Keshinro appeals to youth groups. In line with the earlier directive of the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, to the heads of all formations across the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensure the total protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure in the wake of the proposed planned protest, the Lagos State Command, in collaboration with other sister security agencies has taken both proactive non - kinetic and kinetic measures to ensure the total compliance of its personnel to the order. The critical national assets and i...

 Foreign mercenaries involved in planned protest – IG The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, said that intelligence at the disposal of the Force has revealed that foreign mercenaries are involved in the proposed nationwide protest. Addressing journalists in Abuja, Egbetokun urged all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group. Egbetokun said, “We have been monitoring development surrounding protest threats. While some groups call for violent protests, emulating Kenya’s recent events, others advocate for peaceful demonstrations. “However, some individuals promote peaceful protests with violent undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity. We have our history of violent protests in Nigeria, and I don’t believe we have to look to other countries to note the dangers of unchecked demonstrations. We commend patriots who have withdrawn from the protest due to the apparent sinister motives and ignorance of those calling for v...

 Dubai Police Marks World Drowning Prevention Day   Dubai Police, represented by the Ports Police Station, joined the world in commemorating World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th to raise awareness about the tragic impact of drowning and promote preventive measures.   Major General Ali Atiq bin Lahej, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Ports Affairs, attended the event, which featured educational lectures by experts from Dubai Police and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. It also featured distributing QR codes with safety tips in Arabic and English to beachgoers and rescue equipment demonstrations and gifts.   Brigadier Dr Hassan Suhail, Director of Ports Police Station, emphasised the importance of the day in highlighting the devastating effects of drowning on families and communities. He stressed the need for proactive solutions and preventive measures.     Meanwhile, Colonel Ali Al Naqbi delivered a remote lecture to Bermuda Diving Center custo...

 An 18-year-old man has been arrested in south-east Ukraine on suspicion of shooting dead Iryna Farion, a controversial former MP and linguistics professor. The teenager was tracked down in Dnipro, more than 900km (550 miles) from the western city of Lviv where the attack took place, after a murder hunt involving a large team of investigators. Farion, 60, was well known in Ukraine for prompting an outcry last year when she said that true Ukrainian patriots should not speak Russian in any setting because it was the language of the "aggressor country". She was dismissed from her university after being accused of inciting hatred, before being reinstated by a court in Lviv this year. Her murder was treated as premeditated and although CCTV cameras failed to film the shooting outside her home, they reportedly did capture an image of the suspect, described as a skinny young man. Farion's funeral attracted a big crowd on Monday in Lviv. She was an MP for two years until 2014, re...

 Gov. Abiodun Unveils Plans to Launch Electric Bike Initiative  Ogun State Government has concluded plan to introduce electric bikes as part of the energy transition initiative  of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration. The launching, billed for Wednesday next week, is the second phase of the administration’s e-mobility programme, following the launch of CNG- powered buses last year. Governor Abiodun, speaking during a meeting with the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, in Abuja on Thursday, described the planned introduction as a significant step towards sustainable transportation solutions in the state. Prince Abiodun also said that the introduction will further bring down transport fares across the state, noting that gas and electricity are cheaper than petrol powered transportation system. The governor said: “We met with the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, to discuss the upcoming launch of Phase 2 of our energy tra...

 Naira depreciates to N1,610/$ in parallel market The Naira on Friday depreciated to N1,610 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,580 per dollar on Thursday. Similarly, the Naira yesterday depreciated to N1,609.29 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM. Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM  rose to N1,609.29  per dollar from N1,603.8  per dollar on Thursday, indicating N5.49 kobo depreciation for the naira. The volume of dollars traded (turnover) in the market increased by 28.6 percent to $168.63 million from $131.09 million traded on Thursday . Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rate narrowed to 71 kobo  per dollar from N18.8 per dollar  on Thursday.

 Video game voice actors and motion-capture performers have called a strike over failed labor contract negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers, bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood. The SAG-AFTRA has called a strike of the Interactive Media Agreement that covers videogame performers, effective July 26, the union said on Thursday. The decision follows months of negotiations with major videogame companies including Activision Productions, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take-Two Interactive, Disney Character Voices and Warner Bros Discovery’s WB Games. The Interactive Media Agreement expired in November 2022 and was being extended on a monthly basis during the talks. “Although agreements have been reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA members, the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language,” the union said in a statement. The SAG-AFT...

 Update in the Sangamon County Case of 7-year-old Barrett Koches.  David Yankee, the foster parent of 7-year-old Barrett Koches has been indicted by a grand jury. Mr. Yankee is being charged with leaving a child under the age of 18 with only supervision from a 10 and 4 year old, resulting in death. Mr. Yankee is being charged for leaving Barrett alone for over 1 hour with a dangerous environment in the backyard.  These charges can carry a sentence of 10 years in prison.  David Yankee was also charged with two additional counts of child endangerment pertaining to the 10 and 4 year old child in the home. The 4-year-old child was Barrett's biological brother.  Sadly, the 4-old-brother attempted to help get his brother out of the pool with a cat litter scooper. Police, and the first people on the scene described the in ground pool water as, "black, murky, and slick".  Barrett's 4-year-old brother is in another foster home and is doing well.  A grand juror ...

 South African rapper Malome Vector dies in ghastly car accident Popular Malome Vector, a South African rapper, passed away in a car accident. Vector was traveling with musical collaborators Puleng Phoofolo and Lizwi Wokuqala when the accident occurred Wednesday evening in the Free State. His former record label, Ambitiouz Entertainment, revealed the unfortunate tragedy in a post Wednesday evening. Two others were reportedly taken to Boitumelo Regional Hospital with injuries.

 Anambra Mining Reform Committee Sets Conditions For Miners By Adaobi Nsofor  Following the suspension of mining activities in Anambra State, the Anambra State Mining Reform Committee has held a meeting with the miners in the state to chart a way forward and see how the mining sector would be reformed.  The committee which is headed by Prof. Charles Ononuju Ofoegbu of the Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited was formed by the state government to  oversee the activities of the illegal miners in the state and to ensure that whatever they're doing is in line with the law and the global best practices.    The Special Adviser to the governor on Security, Mr Ben Chiobi who represented the chairman of the committee noted that every mining activities going on in the state should be duly registered, documented, recognised by the state government and given a clearance to operate.  He emphasized that the illicit activities of these miners have...

 TROOPS NEUTRALIZE KIDNAPPERS, TERRORIST IN COORDINATED OPERATIONS, RESCUE HOSTAGE, RECOVER ARMS  Troops of the Nigerian Army in a series of well-coordinated counter-terrorism operations across the country in collaboration with vigilante forces have made significant progress in curtailing the activities of terrorists and kidnappers. These operations resulted in the neutralization of two kidnappers and one terrorist, the rescue of a hostage, and the recovery of a cache of arms and other assorted items. In Edo State, troops swiftly responded to a distress call reporting the kidnap of Mr Eritobor Stephen in Ekowe Community, Ovia South Local Government Area on Wednesday, 24 July 2024. Troops on sighting the kidnappers engaged them in a gun battle, neutralizing two of the kidnappers, while others took to their heels, fleeing towards the border between Edo and Ondo states.  Unknown to the fleeing kidnappers, troops in Ondo State were alerted of their movement, prompting them to...

 It’s Time To Solve Problems, Not Street Protest — VP Shettima Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasised the need for constructive action over street protest, even as he acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians due to recent economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies. This is even as the federal government announced its participation in the Grand Challenges Nigeria (GCNg) Project, a global health initiative aimed at combating malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria. According to a statement by the VP’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima unveiled the partnership targeted at addressing Nigeria’s pressing nutritional challenges with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. He stated: “This is the time for us to solve our problems, not to protest. The right to protest is guaranteed in most democracies around the world, but when you can start the agitation, and you don’t know wh...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU SENDS BEST WISHES TO TEAM NIGERIA AT 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS  On behalf of all Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu sends his best wishes to Team Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.   A total of 88 Team Nigeria athletes, including 63 women and 25 men, are proudly flying Nigeria’s flag in 12 sports at the Paris Olympics.  The President assures these bold and courageous ambassadors representing the country of his full support and that of over 200 million Nigerians back home, praying and cheering for their success.  As the Games officially opens on Friday, July 26, with the ‘Parade of Nations’, President Tinubu looks forward to watching the nation’s flagbearer, Ms.Tobi Amusan, the current world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles, and other athletes compete with honour and dedication on the international stage.  The President enjoins the athletes to exhibit the resilience, courage, respect, self-control, and go...

  ONCE AGAIN, AN APPEAL TO PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU... Your Excellency,  For the second time within two weeks, I'm compelled to write you this epistle. As I write this, my mind goes back to my earliest recollection of you as a Senator of thr Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a young journalist, you were everyone's delight. The June 12 Presidential election annulment brought out the best in you as a pro-democracy figure.  You spent money and time fighting the military. Our exile years were lived in constant fear and trepidation. Fast forward Sir. We returned to Nigeria in 1998  You contested the Lagos State Governorship election in 1999, and pronto, you won. Since then, you have been in absolute control of a state described as the California of Africa, and possibly the sixth richest economy in Africa. Lagos is a country on its own.... I'm just trying to let you know that you've been a President in Lagos for 24 years before becoming the President of Nigeria. Unfortunately, ...

 Adegboruwa Writes IGP, Requests Police Protection For Planned Protest A human rights activist Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has written to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to notify him of planned public meetings, rallies, and processions organised by a non-governmental body, the Take It Back Movement, all its members, and some patriotic Nigerians and groups. In the letter dated Friday, July 26, 2024, the senior advocate writing as solicitor to the Take It Back Movement stated that the planned rallies will commence from Aug. 1 to 10, 2024, or any time thereafter at the Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of all the 36 states and the headquarters of the 774 local government councils. Adegboruwa while reiterating the role of the police during such rallies and protests, urged the IGP to make available the details of any police officer or police team that will be assigned to cover the said meetings/rallies/processions to harmonise plan...

 Re: The Hijab and upcoming Nigerian Movie The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the statutory regulatory agency for film and video works as well as exhibition and distribution in Nigeria, have received complaints about an upcoming Nigerian movie that associated the Hijab, an outfit attributed to Muslim women that symbolizes respect, modesty and religious devotion, with negative moral vices.  Our check revealed that the movie has not been released, and it has not been submitted to the NFVCB for classification as required by law and our mandate. However, we have been able to reach the producers of the film and have taken steps to address the concerns raised with the producers.  We restate that as a classification agency, the NFVCB will not overlook any film or video works, including dramatized short contents (skits) that abuse, denigrate, or undermine religious, cultural and ethnic sensibilities  We commit to contributing to the positive transformation of...

 Fire guts Lagos warehouse, destroys goods A fire outbreak in a factory warehouse in Lagos on Friday destroyed some goods estimated to be worth millions of naira. The Lagos State Management Agency announced this in Lagos on Friday. LASEMA Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the incident happened at Josien Factory Warehouse, Abule Osun, Lagos State. He said that the agency responded to a distress call through its toll-free lines at 8.28 am on Friday. “The agency responded to the distress call by activating its Dolphin Response Team from the Igando Base. “On arriving at the scene, responders discovered a warehouse storing diapers, solar batteries, foreign charcoal and massaging seats within the Josien factory complex engulfed in flames. “The immediate cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained as the warehouse was locked at the time the incident occurred. “No casualties or injuries were recorded due to the incident as there were no occupants in the building as of the ti...

 Hunger protest: Lagos protesters to receive free legal service – Activist A Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has revealed that participants in the planned nationwide protest would receive free legal representation if arrested and/or charged to court in Lagos State. In recent times, some Nigerians, via social media platforms like X and Facebook, have continued to voice their concerns about the economic crisis ongoing in the country. This is as they announced a protest to be held from August 1-10, 2024. Effiong, also an advocate of the protests, reacting via his X handle, tweeting as #InibeheEffiong on Thursday, July 25, 2024, solicited legal counsels in the state to offer pro-Borno services. His tweet read, “We are putting together a legal team in Lagos State to offer representation to any protester who may be arrested and or charged to court during the forthcoming peaceful protest. “My learned colleagues practising in Lagos, please share your WhatsApp numbers with me via DM if...

 Enugu youth group withdraws from nationwide protest The Enugu Innovative Youth group has announced its decision not to participate in any “destructive protests” despite Nigeria’s escalating hunger and economic hardship. In a press conference held in Enugu on Friday, the group, which comprises members from all 17 local government areas of Enugu State, expressed its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the state. While acknowledging the country’s dire situation, including widespread hunger, financial struggles, and a high debt ratio, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Jude Aniagu, stressed that Enugu State is making significant progress under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. Although the group recognises the justification for the proposed Nationwide Hunger Protest scheduled for August 1-10, 2024, they urge their peers to reconsider participating in the protest, citing the positive developments and “breath of fresh air” in Enugu State. “We are not oblivious to the poss...

 August 1: CAN urges protesters to consider alternative means   …Give govt time to address issues, says Okoh The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Friday, July 26, advised Nigerians, especially those who will be involved in the scheduled August 1 nationwide protest to consider an alternative means of expressing their grievances. It recommended that Nigerians should give the government more time to address pressing concerns. According to a statement issued and signed by CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, “This period should be used to explore other legal avenues that will not easily give hoodlums the opportunity to hijack the exercise to destroy our national assets or endanger lives and property”. He stated: “The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) stands in solidarity with the citizens of our great nation during these challenging times of economic hardship and pervasive hunger. We recognize and deeply empath...

 Alaba traders oppose planned protests President General of Alaba International Market Ojo Lagos, Chief Camilus Amajuoyi, has announced the market’s members will not participate in the planned nationwide protests. He clarified this decision was not due to a lack of awareness of the current harsh economic conditions but stems from a belief that mass protests may not be the appropriate solution at this time. Amajuoyi emphasised that many traders in the market rely on daily income and cannot afford to disrupt their business activities. He pointed out that the informal sector, which includes many market members, has been severely affected by the tripling cost of doing business, with no government palliatives, incentives, or interest-free loans to alleviate their struggles. He however expressed his confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ability to address the nation’s pressing issues. “The fluctuating exchange rates and high costs of duties at national ports, coupled with increased...

 Obama endorses Kamala Harris for U.S. presidential race Former President Barack Obama and wife, Michelle early Friday morning joined league of top members of Democratic Party who have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. 2024 presidential race. A video posted by Harris Campaign on Friday showed the U.S Vice President taking a call from Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama. Obama, in the video, called Harris calling her a “happy warrior.” The former President said he will do all he can to help Harris defeat former President Donald Trump in the November U.S presidential election. “We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama tells Harris over the phone. On her part, Michelle Obama tells Harris, “I am proud of you. This is going to be historic.” Responding, Harris in the video said, “this means so much to me. I am looking forward to doing this...

 Nationwide protest will start in Abuja – Sowore dares Wike Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has dared Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT, for saying that Abuja is not available for protest on August 1. Sowore in a post on his X handle on Friday said the proposed nationwide protests will start from Abuja. He said: “It is starting from and in Abuja!” Sowore’s statement comes after Wike said that August 1 had been set aside for the chairmen of the six Area Councils of the FCT to give out certificates of recognition to their traditional rulers. The Minister gave the warning while briefing journalists on the outcome of the FCT Security Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday. Some Nigerians are mobilising for nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 10, 2024. Tagged #EndBadGovernace, organisers of the protest have lamented about widespread hunger and inflation in the country.

 #EndBadGovernance Protest Organisers In Abuja Write FCT Minister Wike To Release Eagle Square For Planned Demonstration Organisers of the planned nationwide #DaysOfRage and #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest have written the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, requesting the release of Eagle Square between August 1 and 10, 2024, for the peaceful demonstration. In a letter signed by Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement (TIB) in Abuja, the protesters demanded unrestricted access to the venue 24/7 throughout the duration of the protest, and possibly even after it concludes. The letter read, “I write you as the Director of Mobilization, Take it Back Movement (TIB) to your office to grant us access to the Eagles Square between August 1st and 10th, 2024, for our #DaysOfRage, #EndBadGovernance protest. “This request entails using this national asset-day and night-for the duration of the historic protest. “Also, note that the p...