PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 "Merry Christmas y'all from the Don-Momoh's dynasty...🕺🕺🕺". More photos below. 

 LASODA SUPPORTS HOMES CATERING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITH FINANCIAL AID To ensure smooth administrative operations and address the medical challenges faced by People With Disabilities (PWDs) in various homes, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has provided financial support to homes catering to the needs of PWDs in Lagos State. Speaking recently at the LASODA Office, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, the General Manager of the Agency, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal affirmed that the state government remains committed to meeting the needs of all persons with disabilities in Lagos. She explained that over the years, the Agency has supported and fostered strong relationships with various disability groups and nonprofit homeowners. This collaboration has consistently improved the capacity of these homes and organizations to better meet the specific needs of their residents. In her words, "We are presenting support to individuals and nonprofit homes that have reg...

 Political Unrest and Prison Breaks Amid Mozambique’s Disputed Election Results Over 1,500 prisoners escaped from a Mozambique prison amid violent protests triggered by disputed presidential election results. Tensions escalated after the ruling Frelimo party's victory was upheld by the constitutional court, leading to clashes that killed at least 33 people. The unrest allowed prisoners to break out, with 150 recaptured so far, while widespread looting and arson have further destabilized the country. The protests, fueled by opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane’s claims of election fraud, have resulted in over 150 deaths since October. By Christmas Eve, Maputo was a ghost town, with businesses shuttered and residents avoiding the violence. The ongoing chaos highlights the deep political and social divisions in Mozambique following the controversial election.

 GHANA 🇬🇭: President of GHANA, Akufo-Addo approves visa-free entry to Ghana for all African nationals.  The policy will take effect in early 2025, positioning Ghana as the fifth African nation to open its borders to all African passport holders. The approval aligns with the African Union's vision of economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

  Tragedy Strikes on N2 Highway: 4 Lives Lost in Fatal Collision A devastating head-on collision on the N2 highway near Qumbu in the Eastern Cape has resulted in the loss of four lives. The accident involved an SUV and a VW UP, with the VW UP carrying four passengers, including a woman and her three children. Unfortunately, all four occupants of the VW UP were pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver survived with minor injuries. More photos below. 

 May my good heart never put me in trouble - Nollywood Actress and Podcast Master Dr Biola Bayo pray Nigeria Actress and Podcast Master Dr Biola Bayo has rain prayer on herself as she pray that May her good heart never put her in trouble. The actress via her verified social media handle    make a case on the on going trial of ex Queen, Queen Naomi and Agidigbo FM Director Dr Oriyomi Hamzat concerning of the stampede that lead to detention of popular Philosophy. Biola Bayo on her Instagram handle on Christmas day pray that her good heart never put her in trouble. The actress stated that the same people who were hailing  Hosanna Hosanna where the ones shouting kill him kill him. I feel so sad in seeing  the news of Queen Naomi and Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat. This is not different from what some of us are doing, May be not publicly . This too shall pass and am really pinned

 Nigerian striker Ademola Lookman stated that his decision to change his national allegiance from England to Nigeria in 2022 has been crucial to his recent achievements.  Lookman, who was born in London and played for England's Under-17 team, contributing to their World Cup victory, recognized that this switch significantly transformed his career. "Since I started wearing the Super Eagles jersey, things have been very positive," Lookman shared with SportyTV. "As a team, we've accomplished a lot and continue to progress together. The bond among the squad is truly special." Lookman made his debut for Nigeria just two years ago during the first leg of the unsuccessful World Cup qualifying series against Ghana. In that short time, the Atalanta forward has transitioned from being labeled a Premier League disappointment to being named Africa's best player. His victory at the CAF Awards on December 16 was particularly significant for Nigeria, as he became the f...

 Ogun Assembly Passes N1,054trn Appropriation Bill, adjusts estimates of 21 Agencies The Ogun State House of AsseAssembly on Tuesday passed the year 2025 Appropriation Bill of N1,054,542,020,147 presented to it by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, exactly 20 days ago. The passed bill has a slight adjustments in the recurrent expenditures of about 21 agencies, just as the capital expenditures of five agencies were also slightly adjusted, alongside the revenue targets of two agencies. The passage of the Appropriation Bill followed the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation by its Chairman, Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, who thereafter moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by his Deputy, Hon. Wahab Haruna, and supported by the whole House during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The bill was later read and adopted clause by clause before the Committee of the Whole Hou...

 Nigerian doctors are advocating for a significant change in the country's retirement policy.  In a recent memo submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the doctors' association is demanding that the retirement age for medical professionals be increased to 70 years. This proposed change is aimed at retaining experienced doctors in the healthcare system, addressing the shortage of medical professionals, and improving the overall quality of healthcare services in Nigeria. According to the doctors, the current retirement age of 60 years is no longer tenable, given the increasing demand for healthcare services and the need for experienced professionals to mentor younger doctors. By increasing the retirement age to 70, the doctors believe that the country can tap into their wealth of experience and expertise. "The current retirement age of 60 years is too early for doctors, considering the years of training and experience we acquire," said one doctor. "By the...

  Drug lord Fabio Ochoa has been released in Colombia after spending 20 years in U.S. prisons. Ochoa, a notorious figure in Colombia's drug trade and a significant player in the Medellin cartel, was deported back to Colombia after serving 25 years of a 30-year sentence in the United States. Shortly after his arrival, Ochoa was a free man again. He landed at Bogota's El Dorado airport on a deportation flight on Monday, dressed in a gray sweatshirt and carrying his belongings in a plastic bag. Upon exiting the plane, he was greeted by immigration officials in bulletproof vests, but there were no police present to arrest him. Colombia's national immigration agency quickly released a brief statement on the social media platform X, indicating that Ochoa was "freed to reunite with his family" after officials took his fingerprints and confirmed through a database that he was not wanted by Colombian authorities. At 67 years old, Ochoa and his brothers built a substantial ...

 The FCT Police Command has apprehended the priest of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals during a free food distribution event on Saturday. Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, confirmed the arrest of the parish priest and noted that other church officials involved in organizing the tragic charity event have also been detained by security forces. This action follows an order from Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun for a comprehensive investigation into the stampedes that occurred in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo States within the same week. In his Christmas message on Wednesday, Kaigama responded to the arrests and detentions, criticizing what he called the "verbal demonization of the Catholic Church by certain government agents" in relation to the tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama. The Archbishop expressed that the detention of the priest and churc...

  Russia's Christmas Day Attack on Ukraine As millions of Ukrainians marked Christmas Day, Russia escalated its assault with a major missile and drone attack targeting the nation's energy infrastructure. Over 70 missiles and 100 drones were launched, with more than 50 missiles intercepted. In response to air raid warnings, residents in Kyiv took shelter in metro stations, while power outages and energy restrictions spread across the capital and beyond, further disrupting daily life in a country already grappling with harsh winter conditions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the timing of the strikes, labeling Russia's actions as a "conscious choice" to target civilians during a significant holiday. These attacks, aimed at crippling Ukraine's energy grid, have become a recurring tactic, further intensifying the strain on the population. With freezing temperatures throughout the country, the destruction of power infrastructure poses severe challe...

 Horrific moment Azerbaijan airlines plane cr@shes with 72 on board on Christmas Day This is the horrific moment a passenger plane with 72 people on board hit the ground in a fireball in a Christmas Day crash landing in Kazakhstan. The Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport close to the Caspian Sea on Wednesday morning, December 25, Kazakh authorities said, with up to 40 people feared de@d. The aircraft was flying from Baku in Azerbaijan to Grozny in Russia, the Transport Ministry said in a post to its official Telegram channel. It was rerouted to Aktau in Kazakhstan due to fog in Grozny, Russian news agencies reported. Footage of the crash showed the plane bursting into flames as it hit the ground and thick black smoke then rising.  Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said that the plane was carrying 69 people — 64 passengers and five crew members.  The ministry said 29 people survived the crash, with many hospitalized. T...

 Royal Family Attends Christmas Day Service at Sandringham On Christmas Day, the King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children attended a church service at St Mary Magdalene in Norfolk, where they were greeted by excited crowds. A cancer survivor shared her well-wishes for the King and Princess Catherine. Prince Andrew did not attend due to a recent controversy. The service preceded the King's Christmas message, set to air later from a former hospital chapel. Other royals present included the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. More photos below. 

 Violence Erupts in Haiti as Gang Attack Claims Lives of Journalists and Police In Haiti, a violent attack at the general hospital in In Haiti, a violent attack at the general hospital in Port-au-Prince resulted in the deaths of at least three people, including two journalists and a police officer. Armed men opened fire during a briefing to announce the reopening of the country’s largest public hospital, which had been destroyed by gangs earlier in the year. The Viv Ansanm gang alliance, which controls much of the capital, claimed responsibility for the attack, opposing the hospital's reopening. Several others were injured, and disturbing images from the scene show the aftermath of the violence. This attack highlights the worsening situation in Haiti, where gang violence has surged since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Despite efforts to restore stability, including the installation of a new transitional government and the deployment of an international force,...

 Montgomery Man Arrested After Vehicle Chase Daviess County – Monday evening, December 23, 2024, at approximately 6:10 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Austin Collins initiated a traffic stop on a 2009 Chevrolet SUV near Cannelburg for traveling 69-mph in a 45-mph zone and a non-working taillight. The driver of the Chevrolet was identified as Kenneth Evinger. While speaking to Evinger, Trooper Collins recognized indicators of criminal activity. Trooper Collins ordered Evinger to exit the vehicle and Evinger refused. While Trooper Collins was waiting for other officers to assist, Evinger sped from the scene and Trooper Collins began to pursue. During the pursuit, Evinger reached speeds near 100-mph. The chase continued onto rural county roads in Daviess County, where the Chevrolet left the roadway, lost a tire, and eventually got stuck in a ditch. Evinger fled on foot into a wooded area. Officers with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Dubois County Sheriff’s Office, and Pike Co...

 Pakistan air strikes kill 46 in Afghanistan The Taliban government on Wednesday said Pakistan air strikes in an eastern border region of Afghanistan killed 46 civilians. Authorities said the strikes were the latest spike in hostilities on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with tensions escalating since the Taliban seized power in 2021. According to Taliban government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, Pakistan bombarded four areas in the Barmal district of eastern Paktika province. He said six more people were wounded, adding that the total number of dead is 46, most of whom were children and women.

  The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has urged Christians in Nigeria not to forget that they are the light of the world. In his Christmas message on Wednesday, Kukah said that Christians cannot continue to blame the Constitution, the judiciary, the police, or other public servants for the corruption in our society. “I appeal to Christians not to forget that we are the light of the world, the city on the hill that cannot be hidden. Christians must not allow the structural weaknesses, the foibles and failures of the Nigerian state, to become an excuse for doing wrong. “We cannot continue to blame the Constitution, the Judiciary, the Police, or other public servants for the corruption in our society,” Bishop Kukah said. He noted that corruption is another word for not keeping the words and promises made by Christians at baptism. “We swore to be faithful to Christ at baptism before we encountered the Constitution. The Constitution is a human instrument with limitatio...

 ‘You’re lucky I have a lot to lose’ – Burna Boy reacts to Speed Darlington’s release Famous Nigerian singer, Burna Boy has broken his silence over the release of Speed Darlington from police detention. On November 27, Darlington was rearrested barely two months after his first arrest by Burna Boy.  Darlington had taunted Burna Boy over his affiliation with the embattled American rapper, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs who is currently facing multiple sexual exploitation and human trafficking charges. Seemingly reacting to the release on his Instagram story on Tuesday, Burna Boy noted that his critics are lucky that he has a lot to lose, else many of them “would not be here no more”. “When they talk nobody cares, but it’s a Nuclear disaster when I react. “You all don’t know how lucky you are that I have too much to lose now, Walahi a lot of you wouldn’t be here no more. Anyway make I just go buy another thing relax.”

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has regretted that not many Nigerian homes can afford to celebrate Christmas due to the prevailing economic challenges in the country. He said this in a Christmas message to Nigerians issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh. In his message, Abure charged Nigerians to take the Christmas celebration as a season to love, serve and forgive one another. He urged them to always show compassion to millions of Nigerians living below poverty level. He said that Jesus Christ who was born in a lowly manger lived his entire life working to put smiles in the face of the less privilege, the poor, oppressed, depressed and the sick. According to him, “It will interest you to know that not many homes in Nigeria can afford to join in today’s celebration of Christmas because of the economic challenges Nigeria is facing today. But I am using this opportunity to task the society to show love to a neighbou...

 Somalia to give Ethiopia commercial access to Red Sea under new agreement Somali government has announced plans to provide Ethiopia with access to the Red Sea for commercial purposes, according to Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia's Hiiraan News Agency reported. In an interview with Asharq News, Fiqi clarified that the arrangement focuses exclusively on trade. “The route that Ethiopia will have to access the Red Sea is a commercial route and a port, and it will be under the control of the Somali government,” he stated, without disclosing specific details on the exact location of Ethiopia’s access. The announcement comes two weeks after Somalia and Ethiopia signed a joint declaration resolving tensions over Somaliland and Ethiopia's long-standing push for sea access. The agreement includes bilateral commitments to ensure Ethiopia’s "reliable, safe, and sustainable access" to the sea under Somali sovereignty. The two neighbouring countries in the Horn ...

 LNSA CHARGES OFFICERS TO ENSURE CRIME-FREE YULETIDE CELEBRATION  Officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) have been charged to double their efforts to ensure hitch-free Yuletide celebrations in the State.  Speaking at the last periodic Commanding officers briefing for the year, the General Manager of the Agency, Prince (Dr.) Ifalade Oyekan, FISN, warned that the Agency would not tolerate any form of laxity in the discharge of their statutory duties.  Oyekan said, "The people of the State, through the Governor, have invested a lot of resources in this Agency and you. So the people deserve your total commitment."  The General Manager commended the Commanders who have created means of identification for the newly recruited Officers, as this has given them a sense of belonging that will enhance their commitment and morale.  He also admonished the Commanding officers to improve their response time, especially during emergencies. He elicited...