Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Orji Kalu, has backed calls for part-time legislature at both federal and state levels. Speaking to reporters at an event in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Saturday, Kalu said the move would help reduce the cost of governance and enhance the people’s trust in the system. The former Governor of Abia state also supported calls for a constitutional amendment. He said, “I think it will be a very good idea if my colleagues and other members of the Houses of Assembly will agree that we can sit for…

The national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, are to play Serbia in an Olympics warm-up game at the Belgrade Arena, starting at 17:00 GMT (5 pm Nigerian time). This is the team’s second match ahead of the Women’s Basketball Tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games starting July 26 in Paris, France, following a 77-63 defeat to Germany at the UBER Arena in Berlin on Friday. Enjoying the support of Nigerians resident in Berlin and other German cities, Randy Waldrum’s charges put up a virtuoso performance, the narrow loss to the Europeans notwithstanding. The African champions are now poised to replicate that…

Enugu State Governor, Governor Peter Mbah, has accused a Finland-based Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, of murdering and terrorising residents of Nigeria’s South-East. Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the IPOB, has been allegedly linked to some deadly attacks and enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders in the region. The governor who received members of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence in Enugu, accused the Biafra agitator of being a “scammer” who has been “feeding fat” on the suffering of Igbos. “It is surprising that the Finnish government allows this man to reside peacefully in their country and…

National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Vice President, North Central Zone, Akoshile Mukhtar has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the nomination of Mrs Omolola Oloworaran for the position of Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom). This is coming in response to criticisms claiming that the nominee lacks the “15 years cognate experience in pension matters” required by the Pension Reform Act. Mukhtar addressing the criticisms in a statement, provided a detailed defense of the nominee’s qualifications, stressing that “cognate experience” should be understood as relevant experience in financial management and investment, areas in which the nominee has significant…

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote says he did not enjoy any incentive from the Federal Government to build his $20bn refinery located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone. Dangote stated this on Saturday when he received the leadership of the House led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy Benjamin Kalu. “In the refinery, we did not, and I repeat, we did not collect one single incentive from the Federal Government of Nigeria or even Lagos State. Yes, the Lagos State gave us a good deal but we paid $100m for the land. It wasn’t a free land; we paid…

The Labour Party Diaspora Directorate has distanced the party and its Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi from the proposed EndBadGovernace protest. It described reports linking the party and Mr Obi to the proposed protest as baseless. This was contained in a statement signed by Amb. AJU Elumelu, Deputy Director (Diaspora), Head Media and Communications Directorate of Mobilization and Integration in Abuja, on Saturday. He said, “The Labour Party and Peter Obi have consistently championed peace and lawful conduct. Our record, especially in the aftermath of the last general election, speaks volumes about our commitment to peaceful…

Arsenal are close to finalizing a deal in principle with Bologna for the transfer of Italian international defender Riccardo Calafiori. Bologna has been holding out for a £42 million fee for the 22-year-old left-back. According to Sky Italy, ongoing discussions are focused on the payment structure and additional clauses of the agreement. Personal terms between Calafiori and Arsenal are not anticipated to be an issue. However, a significant aspect of the negotiations is Basel’s entitlement to up to 50 percent of any profit Bologna makes from the sale. Bologna acquired Calafiori last summer for £3.3 million. Calafiori impressed at Euro…

Nigerian doctor and visual artist, Dr. Fola David, has set a new world record for creating the largest painting by an individual. The drawing “Unity in Diversity” showcases the diverse ethnic groups of Nigeria through their unique attire, languages, culture, and artistic expressions. On Friday, after four days of effort, David surpassed the previous record of 629.98 square metres set by India’s Ravi Soni and remains resolute in achieving his ultimate goal of creating a 1000-square-metre artwork. On Friday, he took to Instagram and wrote: “Congratulations to us all. On Day 4 at 9 p.m., we broke the current record…

President Bola Tinubu has felicitated Justice Stella Anukam, on her re-election as Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, for another term of six years. Justice Anukam was re-elected at the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting Executive Council in Accra, Ghana, on Friday. The Nigerian obtained her law degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (formerly known as University of Ife), Osun State, Nigeria, in 1984, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in August 1985. She is also a chartered secretary, chartered arbitrator, and seasoned administrator. Justice Anukam has served as former Director of Special Programmes at…

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have ambushed and killed the Chief of Chanchanji HRH Alhaji Tanimu Kunbiya, and his son Yusuf Tanimu. The incident happened on Friday evening when the traditional ruler and his son were returning from a funeral service in Takum. A press statement issued by the special adviser to the governor on media and digital communication, Emmanuel Bello, said Governor Agbu Kefas received with deep sadness the news of the death of the traditional ruler and his son. The governor described as tragic how the late revered monarch was hacked to death. According to the statement, the…