Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The sacked chairman of the All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has rubbished the recent #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, describing it as a riot. Okocha spoke shortly after he led a pro-Tinubu support rally under the auspices of Coalition of Renewed Hope Family in Rivers State’ in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The rally saw Okocha leading youths who displayed placards with inscriptions in support of Tinubu from the Polo Club in GRA to Aba Road, down to Isaac Boro Park, Bank Road, Moscow Road, and terminated at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, where he addressed the gathering. The…

The Oyo State government, through the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, has announced a slight adjustment to its interview timetable for teachers’ recruitment interviews. The interview session initially scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024, was rescheduled for August 26, 2024, to avoid a clash with Isese Day, a public holiday in Oyo State. Isese Day, celebrated annually on August 20, honours the indigenous Yoruba culture and traditions, emphasising the preservation of Yoruba heritage. The day is of significant cultural importance, particularly for adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion. The Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr Nureni Adeniran, in a swift…

President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria is poised to turn the challenges posed by climate change into opportunities for economic transformation and sustainable development. Tinubu noted that rising temperatures, extreme weather events and shifting rainfall patterns are threatening the foundation of Nigeria’s development and the well-being of its people. The President said this when he delivered the keynote address at a product launch by NETZENCE Sustainability Limited, a sustainability technology and management company on Tuesday in Abuja. Represented by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Uche Nnaji, Tinubu spoke on the theme, ‘Accelerating Nigeria’s Net Zero Target and…

A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed five commissioners-designate as members of the State Executive Council. Those cleared are Samuel Eyiba from Ahoada, Ilamu Arugu (Abua/Odual); Dr Roland Obed-Whyte (Degema); Samuel Anya (Abia State); and Austin Emeka Nnadozie (Etche), who appeared before it for screening on Tuesday. Their confirmation was sequel to the letter sent by the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, to determine their suitability as members of the State Executive Council. The Speaker read the letter of the governor during plenary held at the auditorium used for legislative businesses…

The African Union’s health watchdog on Tuesday declared a public health emergency over the growing mpox outbreak on the continent. The outbreak has swept through several African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo. “With a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as public health emergency of continental security,” Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said during an online media briefing. “Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands across our continent, families have been torn apart and the pain and suffering…

The Central Bank of Nigeria, on Tuesday, announced the reintroduction of several key economic reports, stating its commitment to transparency and accountability in the nation’s economy. These reports include the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), Business Expectation Survey (BES), Inflation Expectation Report, and other critical macroeconomic indicators. According to a statement on Tuesday by the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at CBN, Sidi Ali, the move is part of the CBN’s ongoing data enhancement initiative and is designed to provide stakeholders with timely and accurate insights into Nigeria’s economic performance. The PMI, which evaluates the health of the manufacturing, services, and…

South Africa’s jobless rate rose to a near record in the second quarter of 2024, continuing a trend that has seen the number of unemployed people grow by more than 60 per cent in ten years, official data showed Tuesday. The unemployment rate hit 33.5 percent between April and June, up by 0.6 percentage point from the previous quarter, national statistics agency StatsSA said. That is close to the record 35.3 percent reached in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic. About 8.4 million people were out of work, up from 5.2 million in 2014, it said. Including people who have given up…

West Ham signed Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a deal worth a reported £15 million ($19 million) on Tuesday. Wan-Bissaka agreed a seven-year contract with the Hammers after spending five years at Old Trafford. The 26-year-old right-back made 190 appearances for United following his 2019 move from Crystal Palace. He appeared in United’s surprise FA Cup final win against Manchester City last season but was not in United manager Erik ten Hag’s plans for the new season. “It’s an amazing feeling to be back in London and I’m excited for what’s coming,” Wan-Bissaka said. “I was born here and…

The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election Olumide Akpata and his team have returned to Benin City to recommence campaigns for the poll. This was after a tour to the UK and Europe for meetings with Edo indigenes. Olumide Akpata on his arrival in the state capital on Tuesday said he and his team held town hall gatherings in these locations. He said during these meetings, the party had given its commitment to ensuring that Edo State receives the necessary attention that would address issues affecting it including security and ease of doing business. The Edo…

President Bola Tinubu has commissioned 30 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. Tinubu commissioned the buses in Abuja on Monday. The Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) donated 20 of them while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) donated the rest. The buses have a 30,000-passenger capacity. “If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about statehouse digital transformative changes like this, we would definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people,” he said at the event. “These CNG buses are promising and will enhance our…