Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili has qualified for the women’s 200metres semi-final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Ofili stormed to 22.24s which was her season’s best to win heat 6 of the event She booked her place in the semis ahead of Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Gambia’s Gina Bass-Bittaye. 21-year-old Ofili was denied participation in the 100-metre race at the ongoing Olympics in Paris due to administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Olympic Committee. She had expressed her frustration in a series of tweets on Tuesday, where she questioned the trustworthiness of both organisations and called…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an Urgent Appeal to Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, urging her to “apply the Commonwealth Charter to hold the Nigerian authorities to account over reports of attacks on journalists covering the #EndHunger protests and peaceful protests in some parts of the country.” SERAP urged Ms Scotland to “apply the Commonwealth Charter to press the Nigerian authorities to promptly, thoroughly, impartially, independently, transparently and effectively investigate reports of attacks on journalists covering the protests’ in Nigeria and on peaceful protesters.” SERAP also urged Ms Scotland to “press the Nigerian…

Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, says resisting protesters is an “uncomfortable responsibility” the police have to take. “Is there anywhere in the world where you haven’t seen protests being resisted by the police? It is an uncomfortable responsibility they have to take,” he said on Channels Television’s The August Protests show on Saturday. “When I was leading workers when they tear-gassed us, we sometimes had the antidote; we threw the tear gas back.” Asked about his position on incidents of police tear-gassing protesters in major cities across Nigeria since Thursday, the former Edo…

Fire has been reported on Akaso 4 Wellhead operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company 18 Operating Limited in Rivers State. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission confirmed the incident in a statement by its spokesperson, Olaide Shonola, on Saturday. The incident, which has extended along the adjacent riverbank is reported to have occurred on Friday at about 11:12 pm. “NNPC 18 Operating Limited has confirmed that a rapid response emergency team has been deployed to secure the well, address the incident and isolate the affected area using spill containment materials to prevent further spread and contamination of the environment.…

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has stated that he and his colleagues earn less than N1 million as a monthly salary. Speaking on Saturday during an interview on Channels Television, Bagudu said he is uncertain about the allowances of ministers. The former Governor of Kebbi State stated that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission determines ministers’ salaries and wages. Bagudu also claimed that he has an official vehicle, but he doesn’t use it because he prefers driving his Camry. He said, “Ministers, like every public official, have payments determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and…

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to make a positive impact in the state before leaving office. The governor stated that despite the myriad of distractions, his eyes are on the ball. He also reacknowledged the hardship faced by the people, suing for patience and peaceful disposition as well as the need to work together with President Bola Tinubu and the state government to build that Nigeria and Rivers State that they all desire. Fubara made the assertion during the funeral reception of the late Sister Inyangette Yobana, mother of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of…

The Lagos State Government said it has intervened in the matter involving a female employee of ARM Pension Managers (PFA) Ltd. who was allegedly raped by her colleague during an official party of the firm. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Dada, made this known on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. Dada said beyond detaining and prosecuting the accused executive director who was already in Police custody, WAPA was concerned about the emotional and psychological state of the victim. She said WAPA was already making efforts to get help for the…

The National Youth Service Corps has warned that graduates of polytechnic and mono-technics without evidence of mandatory one-year Industrial Training will not participate in national service. NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos. Baderinwa said that NYSC had issued a circular to that effect. Baderinwa said, “It has been noticed in recent times that some graduates of polytechnics and mlnotechnics do not observe the mandatory one-year IT before being admitted for HND programme. “The one-year IT is a prerequisite for HND. “They must…

Big Brother Naija Shine Ya Eyes winner, Whitemoney, has addressed Nigerians amid the ongoing protests, clarifying that he is not the cause of their current challenges. In an Instagram story, he stated that he didn’t force anyone to vote for him during his time in the BBN house, and it’s been three years since he left the show. Whitemoney emphasised that he is not an activist and will never be one, urging those who don’t like his content to unfollow him. He wrote, “Fellow Nigerians, please, I am not the cause of your current predicaments, biko, and I didn’t force…

The Ogun State Government, on Saturday, described as a total fabrication the claim that Governor, Dapo Abiodun called Nigerians sore losers over the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. Rather, it said, the governor was talking about certain losers of the 2023 elections who were cashing in on the dissent of Nigerian youths to destabilise the country. This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr Kayode Akinmade. Akinmade explained that the chaos that greeted the protest in several parts of the country had vindicated Abiodun’s position. He stated further that…