Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Amid heavy gridlock, motorists and commuters in Lagos have lamented over the sudden scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol, forcing an increase in transport fares by commercial bus drivers, the “Danfos and Koropes,” within the city. Consequently, fuel queues have resurfaced with most filling stations shut as motorists struggle with the skyrocketing fuel prices. This is coming barely six days to the commencement of planned nationwide protest over economic challenges. By last Friday, fuel queues had started to get longer within the metropolis, with few fuel stations dispensing. Besides Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC fuel stations sell…

Grammy-winning Canadian singer, Celine Dion, has expressed gratitude and joy after her highly anticipated comeback performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. After a four-year hiatus due to her battle with stiff-person syndrome, Dion delivered a heartfelt rendition of Édith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour” from the base of the Eiffel Tower. She said: “I’m honoured to have performed tonight, for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, and so full of joy to be back in one of my very favourite cities!” Dion also praised the athletes for their dedication and hard work. She wrote: “Most of all, I’m…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently holding ward congresses in the various wards of Rivers states, against court orders. This is coming despite two court orders stopping the exercise. At the PDP Secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, various members of the party were observed collecting materials for the congress in their various wards. They left for their various councils after taking possession of the materials. It would be recalled that Justice Charles Wali on Friday, prohibited the party, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents, from gathering anywhere in Rivers…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected $148 million into the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) through sales to authorised dealers. The transactions, executed on July 22 and 23, 2024, aimed to enhance market liquidity. Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Ali, highlighted the CBN’s commitment to transparency in its operations. The foreign exchange was sold to 29 authorised dealer banks at exchange rates ranging from ₦1470.00 to ₦1510.00 per dollar. For these transactions, the value dates were set for T+0 and T+1. Previously, on July 18 and 19, 2024, the CBN had sold $106.5 million at…

A former governor of Kano State governor and the National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on Nigerians and the youths, to employ the power of the ballot box to resolve the current economic hardship in the country. The NNPP helmsman spoke on the background of a planned nationwide hunger and hardship protests by youths. In a statement published on his official X handle on Saturday, Kwankwaso said although the idea of a protest resonates with him, Nigerians should rather be patient with the Bola Tinubu government, and give it all necessary support…

President Bola Tinubu on behalf of Nigerians, has sent his best wishes to Team Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. A total of 88 Team Nigeria athletes, including 63 women and 25 men, are proudly flying Nigeria’s flag in 12 sports at the Paris Olympics. The President assured “these bold and courageous ambassadors” representing the country of his full support and that of over 200 million Nigerians back home, praying and cheering for their success. As the Games officially opens on Friday, July 26, with the ‘Parade of Nations’, President Tinubu said he is looking forward to watching the…

The Anambra State Police Command has recovered over 20 improvised explosive devices, rifles, and various other items in a series of operations throughout the state. Commissioner of Police Nnaghe Itam announced this during a press briefing in Awka on Friday. He stated that these operations were carried out by police and allied agencies. During the briefing, Itam presented 13 suspects arrested across the state for crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, and cult-related activities. The suspects included Emeka Okolo (29) from Ihiala, Uchenna John (21) from Ebonyi, and Victor Iniukpong (31) from Akwa Ibom, who were apprehended while attempting to remove…

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Nnaghe Obono Itam, has insisted that only identifiable protesters in the state would be allowed to participate during the proposed nationwide hunger protest starting on August 1. Itam cautioned that any form of violence or unlawful activities during the protest would not be tolerated. The CP stated this in Awka, on Friday, adding that protesters should go and identify themselves at their nearest police locations, adding that only the identifiable protesters will be protected, noting that faceless individuals will not be allowed to participate. He said the Command would not stop people from protesting,…

An Israeli military commander said Friday that troops in the country’s north were preparing for “a decisive offensive” against Lebanon’s Hezbollah after months of deadly cross-border exchanges. Israeli forces have traded near-daily fire with Hamas ally Hezbollah since the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel started the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s commanding officer in the north, Major General Ori Gordin, told troops that “we have already eliminated more than 500 terrorists in Lebanon, the great majority of them from Hezbollah”, an army statement said. According to an AFP tally, more than nine months of…

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, said that intelligence at the disposal of the Force has revealed that foreign mercenaries are involved in the proposed nationwide protest. Addressing journalists in Abuja, Egbetokun urged all Nigerians to exercise caution and think twice before joining any protest group. Egbetokun said, “We have been monitoring development surrounding protest threats. While some groups call for violent protests, emulating Kenya’s recent events, others advocate for peaceful demonstrations. “However, some individuals promote peaceful protests with violent undertones, raising concerns about their sincerity. We have our history of violent protests in Nigeria, and I…