Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a 365-kilometres railway to connect the southern part of the state with the north. The project is a Public-Private Partnership-funded initiative, driven by Messers Reinhoke LLC, in partnership with the state government. Performing the groundbreaking ceremony at the premises of Tinapa Free Zone Resort on Tuesday, the governor stated that the railway project was one of the fruits of the investment summit held in August 2023, at the Calabar International Convention Centre. At the summit, the state government had a robust engagement with financial, infrastructure and social…

The Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, and the commission’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, are currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy. According to the EFCC, SR314,098 has been recovered from Arabi and other high-ranking officials. The investigation has revealed that Arabi fraudulently overpaid himself and other officials for operational costs related to the Hajj. The approved 2024 Hajj operational costs for various NAHCON officials were outlined as follows: $4,250 for the Chairman/CEO, $12,750 for Commissioners, $3,825 for the…

Hundreds of Japanese flights and trains were cancelled Thursday in the middle of a major holiday week as another typhoon roared towards the archipelago. Days after Tropical Storm Maria dumped record rains, Typhoon Ampil was set late Thursday to skirt the Tokyo region — home to almost 40 million people — and then churn up the Pacific coast on Friday and Saturday. ANA cancelled some 280 domestic flights on Friday affecting more than 60,000 passengers, while Japan Airlines scrapped 191 domestic and 26 international services, hitting 38,600 customers. Major parts of Japan’s network of bullet train services are also scheduled…

Gena Rowlands, an award-winning US actress best known for starring in the films of her first husband, director John Cassavetes, died Wednesday at age 94, according to US media reports. Rowlands died surrounded by family at her home in Indian Wells, California, US entertainment publication TMZ reported. No official cause of death was immediately given, but Rowlands’s son Nick Cassavetes said in June she had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for the past five years, according to the New York Times. Rowlands starred in 10 films by John Cassavetes and was married to him for nearly 35 years until he died…

The Financial Times has announced the 11th edition of its annual FT Africa Summit, taking place between October 29-30, 2024, at The Peninsula, London. This year’s summit will convene African Heads of State, policymakers, global investors, and business leaders to engage in critical dialogues aimed at identifying opportunities for Africa’s sustainable growth and development. Leading speakers include President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. of Liberia; Aliko Dangote, CEO, Dangote Group; Kuben Naidoo, Former Deputy Governor, South African Reserve Bank; Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation; Yvonne Ike, Managing Director & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (Ex-RSA), Bank of America; Mo…

Amid the controversy over the monthly earnings of federal lawmakers, Senator Shehu Sani has maintained that he received N13 million as a member of the 8th Senate, while current members of the 10th Senate receive N21 million monthly. The revelation by the former lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, followed the stance of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that Senators earn N1 million each. Sani, who spoke on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Wednesday, insisted that the RMAFC is being economical with the truth. He said, “I was a Senator and I believe I had correct…

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State on Thursday, inaugurated a 500-member campaign council for the November 16 governorship election. A National Vice Chairman of the party (South West ) Dr Eddy Olafeso and a former state chairman of the party, Mr Clement Faboyede were appointed as Chairman and Director-General of the council respectively. The Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, who inaugurated the state council at the party secretariat, Akure the state capital, declared that the PDP would win the forthcoming governorship election, coming up on November 16. According to him, the people had seen and felt the poor performance…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has worn in five new commissioners and two special advisers at the executive chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt. Addressing the newly appointed officials on Wednesday, the governor urged them to refrain from responding, either verbally or through actions, to the provocations of his political opponents. He said the intention of his opponents is to divert his administration’s focus from achieving its set goals, saying it is important to maintain focus and dedication to the administration’s objectives. To Fubara, the appointments are made to better equip the cabinet to deliver on its promises…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislations before the House. Abbas, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, on Wednesday, said the action was in response to the voices and concerns expressed by Nigerians. LEADERSHIP learnt that the Counter Subversion Bill particularly provides that Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem would be liable to 10-year imprisonment, or fined N5million, or both. The bill also seeks to punish anyone who professes loyalty to an organisation that disregards the country’s…

22 more state-owned tertiary institutions have been cleared by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to apply for student loan. “The Nigeria Education Loan Fund has announced that students from the following 22 state-owned tertiary institutions can now apply for loans on its portal: nelf.gov.ng “This followed a review by the committee responsible for the Student Verification System. Prior to this, 86 state-owned institutions were cleared, bringing a total of 108 institutions whose students are now able to apply,” the statement posted via @NELFUND on X said. The onboarding of the 22 state-owned institutions brings the total number of approved state…