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 GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU APPROVES EXTENSION OF AMNESTY FOR OWNERS OF BUILDINGS WITHOUT APPROVALS … Launches the Physical Planning Permit Barcode … Extends Amnesty To December 31, 2024 For another period of two months, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has extended the amnesty period granted to owners and developers of existing buildings without Planning Permit to December 31, 2024. The additional grace period was announced by Mr. Governor during the recently concluded Lagos Physical Planning Summit held at Eko Hotel and Suites. This marks the second time that the amnesty period has been extended by the Governor. Initially, a 90-day amnesty period was announced from May 2 to July 30, 2024, and was later extended to October before the latest extension.  According to the Governor, the new end-of-the-year deadline aims to provide property owners with more opportunities to regularise their buildings without incurring penalties or additional costs. While addressing...

 Old naira notes remain valid indefinitely – CBN The Central Bank of Nigeria has clarified that the old series of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes will remain valid indefinitely, refuting claims that the notes would cease to be legal tender by December 31, 2024. In a statement released on Thursday by The acting Director of Corporate Communications, Sidi Hakama, the CBN emphasised that such reports are false and intended to disrupt the nation’s payment system. The statement read, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to discussions at different fora suggesting that the old series of the N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes shall cease to be legal tender on December 31, 2024. We wish to state categorically that such claims are false and calculated to disrupt the country’s payment system. “For the avoidance of doubt, the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, granting the prayer of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister o...

 House of Representatives Rejects Bill to Expand Islamic Law in 1999 Constitution On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted against a bill aimed at expanding the scope of Islamic law within the 1999 Constitution. Sponsored by Rep. Aliyu Missau, the constitutional amendment sought to revise sections 24, 262, 277, and 288 by removing the term “personal” from references to “Islamic law,” thereby allowing it to stand independently. Currently, Section 262 (1) states that the Sharia Court of Appeal has jurisdiction over civil matters involving Islamic personal law, which Missau argued limits the law's applicability, particularly in Islamic commercial law. “The 1999 Constitution recognizes only personal Islamic law, without considering potential developments in the country,” he stated, citing the establishment of Jaiz Bank in 2003 as an example of evolving needs in Islamic commercial law. Debate over the bill revealed a split among lawmakers, with northern representatives generally ...

 Protests Erupt in Mozambique Over Disputed Election Results Protests in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, turned violent as opposition supporters reacted to the ruling party Frelimo's re-election after 49 years in power. Demonstrators rejected the electoral commission's announcement that Daniel Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor, had won the October 9 election with 71% of the vote, labeling the process a "stolen" election. Following the announcement, crowds gathered in various cities, leading to escalating protests. Rioters set fire to tires and defaced Frelimo's campaign billboards, while some threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds. Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who claimed to have won just over 20% of the vote, denounced the election results as not reflecting the will of the people. He characterized the political situation in Mozambique as "rotten, doctored, and fake," urging further demonstrations...

JOHESU declares seven-day strike Members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals have declared a seven-day warning strike, commencing from midnight on Friday (today). Addressing journalists in Abuja, the national chairman of the Union, Kabiru Minijibir, listed some of its demands to include the immediate implementation of the consolidated health salary structure, payment of a twenty-five per cent review of its arrears from June to December 2023, upward review of retirement age for health workers, tax waiver on healthcare workers allowances, and the immediate payment of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowance among other demands. The latest strike comes after a fifteen-day notice of industrial action issued to the Federal Government.  

 Israeli Airstrike Claims Lives of Three Journalists in Southern Lebanon An Israeli airstrike targeting accommodation in Hasbaya, southern Lebanon, has resulted in the deaths of three journalists, with three others injured. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the incident on Friday. As tensions rise along the Israel-Lebanon border, Lebanese Minister of Information Ziad Makary condemned the attack as an “assassination” and a “war crime.”  In a statement on X, Makary accused the Israeli forces of waiting until the journalists were resting at night to carry out the strike. He emphasized that the journalists had been actively reporting on the ongoing conflict, alleging that the airstrike was a “premeditated” attack, given that 18 journalists from seven media organizations were present at the location. Makary stated, “The Israeli enemy waited for the journalists to rest at night to betray them in their sleep. For months, they have continuously covered the news and revealed th...

 Court rejects Rivers’ bid to block fund allocation suit The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, denied a request by the Rivers State Government to stay proceedings in a suit seeking to halt the allocation of funds to the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State. The presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, dismissed the request after hearing arguments from the State’s counsel, Gordy Uche, and the plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Daudu. The judge found the request to be unmeritorious and mischievous. The court asserted its intent to proceed with the hearing of the suit. The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, had filed the suit, urging the court to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold the state’s local government fund allocation. The Rivers State Government opposed the hearing of the suit in Abuja, but the court overruled the objection, leading the state government to approach the Court of Appeal to intervene. The state government subsequen...

 Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says its fighters have engaged in a close-quarters firefight with Israeli soldiers in the town of Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon. In a statement released on Thursday, Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in “heavy clashes in Aita al-Shaab” at close range. The resistance fighters also hit a Merkava tank that came to assist the Israeli troops. It reported a separate hit on a Merkava tank using a guided missile. The Israeli military said four of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon and six others injured, three of them in serious condition. It provided the names of the four soldiers in a statement, saying they "fell during combat in southern Lebanon" on Wednesday.  A source close to Hezbollah said a village came under some of the heaviest Israeli fire in a year of confrontations and also denied Israeli troops had managed to establish positions inside Lebanon. Hezbollah said the Israeli army “has not been able to fully e...

 SECURITY IN ANAMBRA: MURDER IN IFITE NOT TARGETED AT ANY ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS GROUP SAY’S ANAMBRA STATE POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER Anambra State Police command today 25/10/2024 intercepted a protest video on the unfortunate incident that happened at Ifite Awka yesterday 24/10/2024 that recorded the murder of five persons, and three others seriously injured wishes to state that it is not targeted at any ethnic or religious group.  To set the records straight, preliminary information reveals that the armed men started shooting sporadically in an attempt to escape when Police were alerted of their evil plan in the area. The Command not wanting to join issues with anyone or group remains committed to the ongoing operational patrols, improved security dominance and surveillance targeted to enhance safety and nip to the bud of such or any related incident in the State. While we commiserate with the families and friends of the victims assure that unlike other incidents recorded ...

 A 14-year-old boy, Sewell Setzer III, tragically took his own life after forming an emotional bond with an AI chatbot on Character.ai.  His mother, Megan Garcia, is suing the platform, claiming that it failed to protect vulnerable users like her son. Sewell had spent months interacting with a chatbot modeled after a character from Game of Thrones and had also used mental health bots on the platform. According to the lawsuit, these AI chatbots became a source of emotional support for the teenager, which played a significant role in his suicide. Character.ai is an AI-powered chatbot platform that allows users to chat with custom AI personalities, including fictional characters and historical figures. Sewell, like many teenagers, was excited to interact with characters from his favorite TV shows, but his attachment to one of them grew dangerously strong. His mother believes that the platform’s chatbots blurred the line between fantasy and reality, causing emotional harm that con...

 Indonesia has unexpectedly banned the sale and use of the Apple iPhone 16.  Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that any iPhone 16 in the possession of consumers will be deemed illegal. He cautioned potential buyers against purchasing the device from abroad, emphasizing the seriousness of the ban. This has led to confusion among tourists regarding the status of iPhone 16 owners currently visiting or planning to visit Indonesia. The ban on the iPhone 16 is a result of Apple’s failure to meet an investment target set by the Indonesian government. While Apple has invested approximately 1.48 trillion rupiah ($95 million) of its pledged 1.71 trillion rupiah ($110 million), it still needs to invest an additional 230 billion rupiah ($14.75 million) to comply with local content requirements (TKDN), which mandate that products must contain at least 40% local components, labor, and facilities. Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry has withheld certification for the iPhone 16...

 PRESS RELEASE  Saving Lives, Reducing Physical & Financial Pain -Priority of FG for Health Sector  The Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate has stated that saving lives, reducing both physical and financial pain through  affordable and accessing quality healthcare by Nigerians is a key pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the health sector. Speaking to newsmen at Bauchi State during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Ministerial Leadership On Performance Management Systems ( PMS) organized by the Ministry; Prof. Pate asserted that the  present administration has taken actionable steps from assumption of office last year,  that include expanding and upgrading of Teaching Hospitals across geopolitical zones of the country and, provision of  critical medical  equipments that would produce health for all Nigerians, regardless of their income or where they come from.  These live  saving measures a...

 Press Release  Information Minister Urges Content Creators to Put Nigeria First, Moderate Negative Narratives The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged the new generation of content creators and social media influencers to tone down negative rhetorics about Nigeria and prioritize the nation‘s interests by upholding the highest ethical standards in the expression and delivery of their crafts. Idris made the remarks in Abuja on Friday on the occasion of the celebration of the National Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2024 with the theme “New Digital Frontiers of Information: Media and Information Literacy for Public Interest Information” organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with the International Media and Information Literacy Institute, Open University of Nigeria. “At this juncture, let me also say that I made remarks only recently that if we want Nigeria to grow, we cannot em...

 Ogun armed rob^berysuspect arrested The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested a suspected member of an armed robbery syndicate terrorising the Olomore area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state. The command said it arrested the suspected member of the syndicate, Jonah Onah, at their hideout in the Olomore area. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with with newsmen on Thursday. She said the suspect was arrested following credible intelligence that led to a raid of a criminal hideout in the area. She said, “The Divisional Police Officer of the Lafenwa Division successfully apprehended a notorious criminal, Jonah Onah, on October 23, 2024, at 9:50 PM during a raid operation based on reliable intelligence. “Onah was apprehended at Olomore, an area known for criminal activities. He is believed to be part of a criminal group specialising in offences such as theft and pickpocketing.” She added that du...

 NIGERIAN ARMY COMMITS TO PRESIDENT TINUBU’S FOOD SECURITY POLICY The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s (NA) commitment to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s policy on food security. The COAS made this call at the opening of the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited (NAFARL) training workshop 2024, in Abuja on Tuesday,22 October 2024. The workshop, themed “Attaining Peace through Food Security: Nigeria Army Farms and Ranches Limited Perspective,” aims to rekindle the NA’s efforts to provide viable and sustainable agricultural programs through effective farming and ranching. Represented by Maj Gen Zakari Abubakar, Chief of Transformation and Innovation (COTI) emphasized the NA’s dedication to supporting Mr President’s food security initiative. The COAS said the NA had made food security a priority following the president’s directive for the Armed Forces of Nigeria to use its available land for agricultural purposes. He commende...

 The Limpopo Department of Education has temporarily suspended food sales in and around schools due to a surge in alleged food poisoning incidents across the province.  This precautionary measure aims to safeguard learners' health and well-being, especially during the examination period. The decision comes after reports of food poisoning incidents, including one at Makahlule Primary School, where 22 learners were rushed to a nearby clinic for treatment. Unfortunately, a 15-year-old learner from the Mogalakwena area lost their life due to alleged food poisoning. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has expressed concern over the department's failure to comply with the Occupational Health Safety Act (OHSA) and has called for urgent implementation of suitable health and safety measures in the province's school nutrition programme. The Limpopo Education MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, has been engaging with the community to address these concerns, including visiting schools...

 Giyani female teacher arrested for husband's murder  A female teacher from Giyani has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating her husband's murder, whose body was found burned in a vehicle near Constantia Mphagani Bridge on 15 June 2024. The arrest occurred during court proceedings at Nkowankowa Magistrate's Court on 25 October 2024. The police investigation led to her arrest after other suspects, connected to the murder, provided information implicating her in the crime. Her husband, Raymond Themba Mathebula, was a teacher at Laerskool Krematart in Giyani and a resident of Bode village. This case bears similarities to other instances where individuals have been accused of orchestrating family members' murders for financial gain, such as insurance payouts. In a separate case, a 49-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly plotting the deaths of her husband, children and relative to cash out on insurance policies. The accused teacher is scheduled to make her initial c...

 Gov. Abiodun Promises State-of-the-Art Facilities for National Sports Festival ...as Ogun speeds up preparation The Ogun State Government has stated that preparations are in top gear for the 2024 National Sports Festival Games to be hosted by the State in January 2025. Speaking after inspecting the ongoing renovation of facilities at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, and the Ijeja Sports Centre, all in Abeokuta, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said his administration is committed to providing state-of-the-art facilities for the games. He said: "This stadium is probably anywhere between 30-35 years old since it was constructed, and this is the first time it is witnessing such a level of reconstruction. We are doing it with a sense of commitment and dedication, the way we are committing to and implementing all other projects across the State. "It is in line with our Ogun standard, and I have no doubt that by the time the whole reconstruction is completed, this stadium wil...

 Kaduna Residents Cry Out Over Devastating Power Outage, Demand Quick Fix Kaduna residents have cried out over a power blackout in Kaduna State, lamenting that their businesses have been crippled. Some of the residents who spoke with LEADERSHIP Friday in Kaduna, said they were finding it difficult to buy fuel for their generators as fuel price is beyond their reach. A trader in Sabon Tasha, Mathew Adum, called on the government to quickly fix the transmission line that has been causing the northern part of the country to be in darkness for days. Adum said,” Our businesses are going down due to the blackout we are currently experiencing in Kaduna. No light in Kaduna for the past four days now and counting. With the high price of fuel, I find it difficult to buy and power my generator.” A barber, Solomon Adejo who operates a shop at Banarwa said he has increased his price from N800 to N1,500 per head due to the blackout, “ Things are getting out of hands as business men are not findi...

 Customs Ondo/Ekiti Command Meets NURTW Leaders to Boost Compliance The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ondo/Ekiti Area Command has held a strategic meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leadership to strengthen customs compliance and promote legitimate trade practices. According to a press statement issued on Thursday, 22 October 2024, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Herbert Dzungwenen, the meeting, held in Ado-Ekiti, was the first of its kind, with NURTW State Chairman Joseph Falope and representatives from various branches across the state in attendance. Chaired by the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Morenikeji Bewaji, the meeting emphasised the critical role of adhering to customs laws in driving Nigeria's economic growth. She noted that Customs is a partner in progress, working to create an environment conducive to business thriving. "The Nigeria Customs Service is pivotal in generating govern...

 23-year-old Missouri Army Sgt. who was reported missing last week was sadly found deceased, inside of a dumpster. When Sarah Roque failed to report for duty at Fort Leonard Wood on Monday, October 21st, it was a major cause for concern. The Ligonier, Indiana native was an exceptional soldier who was the recipient of several commendations including the Good Conduct Medal and not reporting for duty was extremely out of character for Sarah.  An all out search for Sgt. Roque ensued, however it sadly concluded in the worst possible way. On Monday evening Sgt. Roque was discovered deceased inside of a dumpster. Officials from Fort Leonard Wood have confirmed a person of interest has been taken into custody.  Although multiple agencies are now involved in the investigation including the FBI. The Army Criminal Investigations Division is remaining tight lipped with information at this time. The name of the suspect and Sgt. Roque's exact manner of death are being withheld from the...

 You are a light that shines so brightly in our lives and a testament to His boundless blessings - Veteran Nollywood Actor Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo his grateful on Daughter Graduation. Actor Taiwo Hassan Ogogo on Happy mood as his daughter graduated and celebrating her new age. The Proud father his happy and joyous for the grace of God and the opportunity to witness the happy day. Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo via his verified social media handle rain prayer on her daughter and send a Wish to her for the new achievements and birthday. Many troops to his comment section to celebrate with him and send wishes to the actor.

 Destination reveal coming soon” – Toke Makinwa teases the destination for her 40th birthday party The Toke Makinwa at 40 thanksgiving may have come to an end, but the stunning media personality is still riding the waves. She took to social media recently to thank her friends and family for coming through for her and showing up in the correct dress code that she asked for. In her post, Toke Makinwa wrote Thank you Jesus… I am grateful for you, I am helped by you, I am lifted by you so it is only right that I give you my thanksgiving.

  Davido Walks The Runway At Lagos Fashion Week 2024 For Ugo Monye Davido took Lagos Fashion Week 2024 by storm today, making a surprise appearance on the runway for renowned fashion brand Ugo Monye Known for his dominance in the music industry, Davido stepped out of his usual element and captivated the audience with his runway debut.  Wearing a bold and stylish ensemble from Ugo Monye's latest collection, Davido showcased the designer's unique blend of contemporary African fashion with a global edge. His confident walk, combined with the intricate details of the outfit, reflected both his fashion-forward approach and the versatility of Ugo Monye's designs. The audience erupted in applause as Davido effortlessly embodied the spirit of the collection. Watch video below. 

 Femi Otedola Donates N3.7B To Expand Augustine University Engineering Facility Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist, Femi Otedola, has announced a donation of N3.7 billion towards the construction of a new building for the Engineering Faculty at Augustine University, Ilara Epe. The announcement was made during the university’s 6th convocation ceremony, where Otedola, who serves as the institution’s Chancellor, emphasized his commitment to supporting education and the development of a world-class engineering program at the university. In his address, Otedola expressed pride in the university’s growth and outlined his vision of establishing Augustine University as a center of excellence in engineering studies. He stated that the contract for the Phase 2 building is nearly complete, and construction is expected to be finalized within the next 12 months. “I am pleased to announce the donation of the Phase 2 building for the Engineering Faculty at a cost of N3.7 billion,” Otedola sa...

  It Was Not Us, IMF Denies Advising Nigeria To Stop Fuel Subsidy The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the Nigerian Government decided to remove fuel subsidy and not an advice from the body.  IMF’s African Region Director Abebe Selassie said this on Friday at a briefing on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, US. “The decision was a domestic one. We don’t have programmes in Nigeria. Our role is limited to regular dialogue, as we have with other nations like Japan or the UK,” he said.