PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Johannesburg elects a new mayor amid frustration over basic services Johannesburg elected a new mayor on Friday, the seventh in three years to lead South Africa's biggest city as residents complain of worsening crime and basic services. Dada Morero, of the African National Congress, was elected after his predecessor Kabelo Gwamanda resigned under pressure.

 Ghanaian police launches investigation after viral video of male students harassing a female schoolmate they accused of having sex.  The Ghana Police Service has initiated an investigation following the circulation of a disturbing video on social media that shows a group of male students from Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA) harassing a female student.  The 31-second video, which has sparked widespread outrage, depicts the young men physically ass@ulting the female student while accusing her of engaging in s3xual activity. The shocking footage has led to public outcry, with many calling for immediate action against the perpetrators. In response, the Ghana Police Service released a statement on its official social media channels, confirming that an investigation is underway. The police assured the public that those involved in the incident will be identified, arrested, and brought to justice. The statement from the police reads: “The Ghana Police Service has commenced an inve

 Tenge Tenge's father says his son loved money since he was 3 years old. "He used T0 collect scrap around the community and sell it. Sometimes we; would find him with at least 1k on him. When I was building 0ur house, I didn’t instruct Teng T0 join me, but I saw him mixing concrete to build the house." The young Tiktoker Tenge has been to various countries across the World and he's on a mission to collect funds to enable him build boreholes in his locality. The dream to change poverty status back at home is something that starts early in life. May God make a way to everyone who's not selfish but has a dream to change their home.

 Onitsha Youth Leader, Barr. Ernest Offiah, Fatally Sh0t in Edo State; Others, Including Commissioner for Youths, K!dnapped Trag£dy struck this morning in Uromi, Edo State, as Barr. Ernest Offiah, the Chairman of Onitsha Youths, widely known as ABK or Abubakar, was sh0t d€ad. The !nc!dent occurred while he was traveling in a chartered Sienna vehicle alongside other passengers, including Commissioner for Youths, Patty Aghamba, and his wife, who were abduct£d. They were en route to Abuja as part of the Onitsha contingent attending Governor Soludo's daughter's white wedding, scheduled for tomorrow. The inc!dent has cast a shadow over the anticipated celebration. May his soul rest in Peace🕊💔

 27 High Court Judges to Face NJC Probe Panels Over Alleged Judicial Misconduct. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has constituted four probe panels to investigate 27 high court judges in the country over various alleged judicial misconduct brought against them. This is as the Council issued letter of advice to Justice O. M. Olagunju of Oyo State High Court to be circumspect as a Judicial Officer before acting, even in the most challenging situation. Justice Olagunju was said to have used uncouth language in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, challenging Council’s decision and its Policy Direction on appointment of President Court of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State. At its 106th meeting presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, NJC considered the report of its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee on 22 petitions written against 27 Judicial Officers of the Federal and State High Courts. Based on the report of the p

  Nigeria records 39 cases of Mpox virus- NCDC The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 39 cases of mpox in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory with no death record.   The Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, shared this information on Thursday during a press briefing where mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern.  Idris stated that all port health services at international airports, seaports, and land/foot borders are on high alert. Some states including Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have also been placed on high alert. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency due to the increasing cases in DRC and its spread to nearby countries.  The WHO has called for a meeting of experts to analyze the outbreak and provide recommendations. WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebrey

 KESHINRO, VICE CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MANAGER, SLG AND OTHER EXECUTIVES OF OJOKORO LCDA LAY FOUNDATION OF NEW NSCDC DIVISIONAL OFFICE. The Executive Chairman, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area ( LCDA ), Honourable Hammed Idowu Daniel ( HID ) Tijani has commenced, the building of a new divisional office for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), situated, in Ajegunle - Ilo, Lagos . The ground breaking ceremony of the new divisional office was held today, Friday, 16th August, 2024, at Ajegunle - Ilo and was witnessed, by the Lagos  State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, ably represented, by Deputy Commandant of Corps Jimoh Sulaiman, Head of Administration, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Honourable Oladipupo Coker, the Council Manager, Mr Adeyemi Adegbola, the Secretary to the Local Government, Comrade Omisore Kola, Architect Makinde Sunday, Legal Officer, Barrister Abel Bello, Council Engineer, the Peace and Security Officer, Mrs Banks Moriliat and many other very d

 Super falcons ranks 36th in world Fifa rankings, maintains 1st position in Africa The Super Falcons of Nigeria have maintained their 36th position in the most recent FIFA ranking. The update was announced on the website of the world football governing body on Friday, August 16, 2024. In the African rankings, the Falcons still hold the top position, followed closely by South Africa’s Banyana Banyana. The Falcons' standing in the rankings was not unexpected, considering their disappointing performance at this summer's Olympics held in Paris. The team finished at the bottom of a challenging group that included Olympic finalist Brazil, Japan, and world champions Spain. Their matches in the group stage resulted in losses, with the Falcons being defeated by Brazil and Spain, both by a margin of 1-0. The game against Japan also ended in a 3-1 defeat, concluding their Olympic campaign in disappointment. Zambia, another African representative at the Paris Olympics, has moved up to 62nd

Chilling last words of pilots of crashed Brazil plane revealed The black box recording from a Brazilian plane that crashed killing all 62 people on board reveals the last words from the pilots.   Investigators now have the full transcript of the cockpit audio from the Voepass ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop which plunged from the sky in the city of Vinhedo last week. The two-hour recording indicates the co-pilot noticed a steep loss of altitude around a minute before the crash, according to TV Globo. He then asked the pilot what was going on and said the aircraft needed "more power" to be stabilised. The pilots noted a steep loss of altitude in the minute before the plane hit the ground. The recording also captured screaming of those on board. Flight tracker website FlightRadar24 noted the plane's transponder recorded a vertical speed of between 8,000 and 24,000 feet per minute in its final 60 seconds in the air.   Brazil’s air accident investigation centre Cenipa did not co

 "In an effort to uphold environmental regulations and combat noise pollution, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) @lasepaofficial has taken action by sealing several establishments found in violation of state environmental laws in Lekki Phase 1 for non-compliance. The affected establishments, including Bolivar, Red Lagos, Kingfisher, and Logic Church, were found to be violating environmental laws despite prior warnings. This proactive measure by LASEPA underscores its commitment to fostering a serene and sustainable environment that prioritizes safety, cleanliness, and environmental responsibility. #ZeroToleranceLagos #CleanerLagos"- Tokunbo Wahab.  More photos below. 

  Chinese firm releases seized presidential jet for Tinubu’s France trip Chinese firm Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. has released one of the three Nigerian Airbus A330 aircraft that were detained in France following a court order from a Paris judicial court. The firm had seized a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, and an Airbus A330-243 belonging to the Nigerian federal government, which were stationed at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse airports. In a statement on Friday, the company announced that it had released one of the seized jets as a “goodwill gesture” ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s upcoming meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The firm indicated that President Tinubu will be permitted to use the Airbus A330, which is currently detained in France due to the French court order obtained by Zhongshan, for his trip to France

 Nigerian PhD holders would need 85 years of savings to afford Lawmakers’ N160 Million SUVs — Peter Obi Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last general election, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the exorbitant cost of governance in Nigeria, highlighting that an average PhD holder would have to save for years to afford the N160 million SUVs driven by lawmakers.  Obi, in a series of X’s post on Friday, said the reckless spending in the government is responsible decline in the standards of our university education.   He lamented that while a Grade 2 lecturer might earn just N150,000 per month, an average lawmaker takes home about N21 million monthly, revealing a stark disparity between the government’s prioritization of education and its own extravagant expenses.  “A recent news story attributed to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) regarding the decline in the standards of our university education has highlighted the significant chal

 Popular Nigerian businessman and socialite, Obinna Oyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, has disclosed that nobody in his family attains the age of 80. Obi Cubana said his late mother tried to break the generational jinx but could not because she died at the age of 79. Speaking with media personality, Chude Jideonwu, Obi Cubana said his family decided to throw a lavish funeral ceremony for their mother because she could not break the generational jinx. He said: “In my family, nobody has lived up to 80 years, and I’m saying this for the first time. My father died at 66, my grandmother died at 75, my grandfather died at 78, and it ran through to my mom. “All my siblings are married and successful, and we were praying for my mother to break the generational jinx and the kind of party we would throw for her, nobody would have ever done it; we even started saving up for that. And she died on December 31, at the age of 79, after celebrating 78. “So I said, she tried at 79 and half, so we brought everyth

 "BURNA BOY didn't just get up one morning and start filling arenas or selling out concerts, there is a process he went through in other to achieve all that. We the OGs are just are part of the sacrificîal experimental process of taking afrobeats to the world." 2BABA  "When Burna Boy sells out the Mardison Square Garden, and everybody thinks that yeah that's the same level, I just find it funny. Burna selling out concerts is more realistic than streams or views. He knows what he did to get to that level and you have to go through that process if you wanna be like him. Burna didn't just wake up one morning and sell out The Mardison Square Garden, The London Stadium, or all his other concerts. I remember how Burna Boy started, he was doing small Tours in even 1k or 2k capacity venues and he built a huge followership from all over the world before going to sell out all these concerts he's selling out. So it's the same thing all of you have to do before g

 Condolence messages pour in as Don Jazzy pays tribute to his late mother Mavin record label boss and producer Don Jazzy recently paid tribute to his mother on the anniversary of her death, and there has been a steady stream of condolence messages since then. The music mogul posted a video of himself and a few others, standing in front of his mother’s grave, while Ayra Starr’s ‘The kids are okay’ song played in the background. The kids are okay was written by Ayra Starr in honor of her late father, and in that song, she reassured him that everyone was doing well, and that they missed him.

 Enugu Government Threatens To Shut Down Churches And Mosques Over Noise Pollution  The Enugu State Government has announced plans to enforce a strict crackdown on noise pollution within the Enugu metropolis, with the potential closure of churches, mosques, nightclubs, and bars that fail to comply with new regulations.    This move is part of the government's broader anti-noise policy aimed at addressing the growing concerns of residents over excessive noise during religious services and entertainment activities. Uche Anya, the Chairperson of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, made the announcement on Thursday during a town hall meeting that included residents, religious leaders, and business owners. Anya emphasized that the government will not tolerate any establishment—be it a church, mosque, nightclub, or bar—that allows sound to spill over into neighbouring compounds.   "Churches should build acoustics, mosques and nightclubs should build acoustics," A

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU LAUNCHES HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES; TO ESTABLISH TEN ONCOLOGY AND DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES -- AND RETRAIN 120,000 HEALTH WORKERS To improve the health and social well-being of Nigerians, drive economic development, and position Nigeria as a healthcare hub within Africa, President Bola Tinubu has launched the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)-Healthcare Expansion Programme and the retraining of 120,000 frontline health workers.  The first initiative -- the Healthcare Expansion Programme -- is a major milestone in the health sector as ten world-class healthcare facilities specializing in oncology and diagnostics will be established across the nation's six geopolitical zones. This expansion builds upon the success of the NSIA’s previous projects, including the NSIA-Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Cancer Centre, the NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre, and the NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre.  Speaking at the launch of the initiatives

 Ràpe : Court Jàils 59-Year Old Màn For Having Unconsented Sexuàl Intercourse With A 2 Year Old  By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu Honourable Justice Peace Otti of the Children, Sexuàl and Gender-bàsed Violènce Court sitting in Awka has sentènced one Ofoma Ojeh to 10 years imprisonmènt  The court however found the 59-year old Ofoma Ojeh guilty as charged on a two-count charge bordering on ràpe and offensive conduct against a 14 year old child on or about 30th August 2020 at Awgu, Orumba North Local Goverment Area of the state. Mr Ojeh after hearing was sentènced to 10 years imprisonment for having unconsented sexual intèrcourse with, and 2 years imprisonment for commission of act detrimèntal to the physical and psychological well-being of his victim, both jàil terms to run consecutively. Mr Ojeh’s offences are contrary to sections 34(2) of Child Right Law of Anambra State 2004, and section 7(1) of the Violènce Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State 2017. Asked why he

 Trailer Trying To Dodge Potholes Collides With Electrical Transformer, Claims Lives In Kaduna A devastating accident occurred at 5:00 am today on Kachia Road, specifically on Television Express Road, near the Television Garage and Command Military Secondary School in Kaduna, Nigeria. According to reports, a trailer carrying traders and animals lost control after trying to avoid potholes and collided with a mini-transformer beside a filling station. The collision caused multiple casualties and loss of lives. More photos below. 

  FG asks Aviation Unions To Shelve Planned Strike The Federal Government has appealed to aviation unions to shelve their plans for a strike over the deduction of 50  per cent of the internal revenue of aviation agencies.  In a memo dated August 14, the unions comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE) had threatened to strike. They had threatened to stop work on August 21 as a protest over the Federal Government’s deduction of 50 percent of internally generated revenues (IGR) of aviation agencies. But the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has appealed to them to shelve the planned strike. Keyamo in a statement he signed on Fri

 Police deny killing truck driver in Abia shootout The Nigerian Police Force, Abia State Command has denied any involvement in the killing of a civilian, an unidentified truck driver in Aba, Wednesday. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Maureen Chinaka in a statement Thursday afternoon explained, “Regarding the Shooting Incident and Death of a Civilian Around Flyover at Alaoji Area in Aba, the Command Has This to Say: “From our preliminary investigation, there is no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of IPOB and fired at each other. “What we can confirm is that there was a shooting in that area, which resulted in the death of a civilian. The identity of those responsible for the shooting and their motives are still under investigation. “However, we encourage anyone with useful information regarding the incident to report at the nearest police station.” Information has it that the shooting was between

 Rivers ICT staff must be certified to earn promotion — Fubara Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has directed the State Civil Service Commission to ensure that no Information and Communications Technology staff in the State Civil Service is promoted without obtaining certification from the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria. The CPN is a legal entity established by Decree No. 49 of 1993, charged with controlling and supervising the computing profession in the country, in partnership with the Nigeria Computer Society. Fubara issued the directive while speaking at a dinner organised for delegates of the 2024 International Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday night. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chulwudi, and sent to newsmen. The governor said that as part of efforts to eliminate quackery in the sector and promote the accelerated deployment and

 Anambra Commissioner, wife reportedly kidnapped, aide killed The Commissioner for Youths Development in Anambra State, Hon Patrick Aghamba and wife have been reportedly kidnapped. Sources said an aide of the commissioner, whose name was given as Mr ABK Offiah, was killed in the process. Though the incident has not been confirmed, DAILY POST learnt that they were travelling to Abuja, when they were kidnapped. They were said to be on their way to attend the wedding of the daughter of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, Adaora, who had her traditional wedding last weekend.

 Gunmen kidnap over 20 medical students in Benue More than 20 medical and dental students, along with a house officer, have been kidnapped by gunmen in Benue State. The students were travelling to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu when they were ambushed around 5.30pm in the Otukpo area, reports Vanguard. The victims are reportedly from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos. The Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the abduction and stated that an investigation is underway. Protesters lament the deteriorating situation of the country as hunger protest continue. | Punch0:00 / 0:00 “Yes, the report of the kidnapping is true. It was received between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and an investigation is ongoing,” she said. No official demand for ransom or conditions for their release have been made at this time. Kidnapping has become increasingly rampant in Benue and other parts of Nigeri

 Flooding: 227,494 persons affected, 32,837 houses damaged in 27 states – NEMA The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, says a total of 227,494 persons are affected and 32,837 houses damaged by flood in 27 states across the country. NEMA added that 16,488 hectares of farmland with crops have also been destroyed. In a statement issued by NEMA’s spokesperson, Ezekiel Manzo on Thursday in Abuja, the agency’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar said that NEMA would continue with public sensitisation, as well as grassroots awareness through advocacies and workshops on solid waste management to raise public consciousness on the clearance of blocked drainages and waterways. The statement added, “So far, based on statistics from the NEMA Emergency Operations Centre established for the flood monitoring and coordination of resource deployment, 27 states have been impacted, with a total of 227,494 persons affected and 32,837 houses damaged, as well as 16,488 hectares of farmland with crops also

 PRESS RELEASE 16:08:2024 To the editors, LGA POLL: Command deploy adequate personnel, and restrict vehicular movement to ensure public safety. In preparation for the upcoming Local Government Councilor Election on August 17, 2024, the Bauchi State Police Command has implemented thorough security measures to ensure the safety of all citizens at the 5013 polling units across the state. The aim is to provide a fair environment for all political parties during the election process. Collaborating with other sister security agencies deployed a significant number of personnel strategically across key locations in the state; the Command aims to prevent any disruptions during the election. Additionally, to maintain public order and prevent potential disturbances, vehicular movement will be restricted from 7:00 AM to 4: 00 PM on Saturday, with exemptions for essential services such as medical personnel, journalists, and emergency services. While the Command empathizes with the inconveniences th

 CAS CELEBRATES NAF PILOTS AS THEY LOG 10,000 FLIGHT HOURS ON THE A-29 SUPER TUCANO FLEET The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, was in Kainji, Niger State, earlier today, 15 August 2024, to celebrate the achievement of a significant flying milestone by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots, who have now logged 10,000 flight hours on the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft fleet. Speaking at the event, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the milestone represented the culmination of years of dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to NAF’s mission of “ensuring the integrity of the airspace by gaining and maintaining control of the air while retaining a credible capacity to fulfill other airpower tasks demanded by National defence and security imperatives”. According to him, “Reaching 10,000 flight hours is no small feat as it symbolizes the countless hours of training, meticulous planning, and flawless execution that have gone into every mission we have undertaken.” He also state