Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The coronation of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland is generating excitement throughout the ancient city. Residents are eagerly counting down to the installation of their new monarch. Preparations are in full swing for the coronation ceremony, scheduled for Friday, July 12, at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan. Oba Olakulehin will succeed Oba Lekan Balogun, who passed away on March 14. The ceremony is expected to attract a diverse array of dignitaries, including traditional rulers, government officials, and business tycoons. Also, as part of the coronation ceremony, the newly built multimillionaire Olubadan palace at Oke-Aremo, Ibadan,…

The Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the abduction of The Nation correspondent AbdulGafar Alabelewe and Blue Print newspaper reporter AbdulRaheem Aodu, along with their families, from their residences in the Danhono area of Kaduna metropolis. Alabelewe and Aodu, along with their wives and children, were kidnapped on the night of Saturday, July 6. In a statement signed by council chairman Comrade Asmau Yawo Halilu and Secretary Comrade Gambo Santos Sanga, the NUJ expressed outrage over the incident and urged security agencies to take swift action to rescue the journalists and their families. The…

Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy has refuted claims by Logos Olori, a signee of Davido, that he uses songwriters. Olori had stated that many top artists, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido, rely on songwriters due to their busy schedules. In response, Burna Boy clarified on his X handle that the credited songwriters on his songs are producers, not lyricists. He explained that this is due to Western music policies, which classify producers as writers of the instrumentals. Burna Boy stated: “Any name you see credited on my songs are only producers of the songs or featured artists, not writers. But…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria said the national power grid has been restored following Saturday’s collapse. The TCN Public Affairs General Manager, Ndidi Mbah, who disclosed this on Sunday, described the collapse as partial. Mbah said, “there was a partial disturbance of the grid at about 15.09Hrs yesterday, 6th July 2024.” According to her, the incident “brings to three, the partial grid disturbances, with one total disturbance this year.” The TCN spokesperson said the grid collapse is suspected to have been triggered by the unexpected tripping of three units of a power-generating station which she said suddenly removed 313MW from…

The Federal Government, yesterday, frowned at what it called irresponsible claims on national security and the SAMOA Agreement it signed with the European Union, EU, vowing to seek redress in a court of law against any media organisation believed to be publishing misleading stories. It specifically lamented that a media report on recent signing of the EU pact, which claimed was done to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer, LGBTQ, was non-factual, describing it as sensational. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who said this at the National Press Centre, Abuja, singled out a national newspaper for…

The Netherlands set up a Euro 2024 semi-final clash with England after mounting a rousing second-half comeback to end Turkey’s hopes with a 2-1 quarter-final victory in Berlin. A shock looked on the cards when Samet Akaydin rose to nod home the opener for an energised Turkey side on 35 minutes from Arda Guler’s pinpoint cross. But Ronald Koeman’s men cut a different side in the second half as they struck twice inside six minutes to advance to the last four with their opponents clearly tiring. Stefan de Vrij rose to power a header into the net for the equaliser…

French striker and captain Kylian Mbappe, asked to be substituted during extra-time in the Euro 2024 quarter-final win over Portugal because he was tired, his coach Didier Deschamps said. The usually prolific Mbappe has not been at his best during the Euros, scoring once from the penalty spot against Poland, but otherwise failing to convert chances and looking uncomfortable in a mask. This was after he broke his nose in the first game. Against Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday night, he spent time on the ground and briefly removed his mask. This was following a hard hit from the…

The military leaders ruling Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger entered a new “confederation” Saturday as they signed a treaty during their first summit in Niamey, after having severed ties with an existing West African bloc. The heads of the three countries, who took power through coups in recent years, “decided to take a step further towards greater integration between the member states” and “adopted a treaty establishing a confederation”, they said in a statement at the end of Saturday’s summit. The “Confederation of Sahel States”, which will use the acronym AES, will group some 72 million people. The three countries…

The Federal Government has welcomed 72 Nigerian graduates trained by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company. The graduates’ studies in Railway Engineering and other transportation-related courses were funded by CCECC as part of their corporate social responsibility. The Director, Press and Public Relations, Transport Ministry, Olujimi Oyetomi, announced this in a statement on Saturday. During the event, the Transportation Minister, Senator Said Alkali, emphasised the importance of the National Local Content Policy for Railway, which was created in 2018, and the government’s commitment to Indigenous involvement in the railway sector. As per the Minister, this is due to the government’s…

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged-off the distribution of palliatives to 2,400 less privileged residents in Kaduna State, including People With Disabilities (PWDs), orphanage homes, widows and women infected by HIV among others. Tinubu, who was represented at the flag-off of the palliatives distribution by Wife of Kaduna Governor, Hajia Hafsat Uba Sani, said the palliative was designed to cushion the effects of economic hardship on the less privileged across the country. The First Lady said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was working tirelessly to improve the economy of the country and therefore, it requires the patience and…