Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Pope Francis called Wednesday for “arms to be silenced” around the world in his Christmas address, appealing for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan as he denounced the “extremely grave” humanitarian situation in Gaza. He used his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and the world”) message to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to call for talks for a just peace in Ukraine as the country was pummelled by 170 Russian missiles and drones on Christmas morning. “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” the 88-year-old pontiff said, his voice strained and breathless. “May…

Elder statesman Bode George says President Bola Tinubu’s Monday media chat lacks empathy and humanity, stressing that the President, through his statements, is unfeeling to the plight of suffering Nigerians. Drawing inferences from three food queue stampedes that claimed 67 lives in Nigeria last week, George said “there is hunger and anger in the land” yet the President continues to insist that his reforms are working while many Nigerians are becoming poorer by the day and businesses collapsing. “We are not feeling it, it is going worse by the day,” George said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.…

President Bola Tinubu says the Federal Government has subsidised transportation costs for Nigerians as part of moves to ease the hardship during the festive period. In his Christmas message for 2024, Tinubu said the government has provided free train rides and subsidised road transport. “For those travelling during this festive period, I wish you safe journeys. Rest assured, the government is taking all necessary steps to ensure our transportation routes are secure and convenient,” Tinubu said in a message he signed. “We also provide free train services and subsidized road transport costs on 144 routes nationwide to ease your travels.”…

Pope Francis will open the Holy Year of the Catholic Church in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday evening. In a solemn ceremony on Christmas Eve, the 88-year-old pontiff will open the Holy Door, which is otherwise walled up from the inside, and pass through it. The News Agency of Nigeria reported Tuesday that the Catholic Church normally celebrates a Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee Year, every 25 years. According to Catholic belief, believers can gain forgiveness of their sins through prayer and penance during a Holy Year. This also includes a pilgrimage to Rome and passing through Holy…

Venezuelan authorities have set free another 223 prisoners who were arrested during post-election protests, the prosecutor’s office announced Monday, bringing the total number of protesters released to 956. More than 2,400 people were arrested — and at least 28 killed — after widespread demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro’s declaration of victory in July’s elections, which the opposition said it had won. “Over the course of today in coordination with the criminal courts a new group of cases were reviewed,” the public prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Relatives of the detainees have been protesting and holding vigils for weeks to…

The All Progressives Congress has hit back at the Peoples Democratic Party over the latter’s criticism of the recent deaths recorded during stampedes at palliatives distribution sites across the country. APC spokesman, Felix Morka in a statement described PDP’s stance as “callous”. He said at a time of national grief over stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory that resulted in the death of citizens, the PDP seized the moment to engage in callous political chicanery. Morka also said Nigerians have not forgotten the ill-fated 2014 recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS which led to the…

The Arewa Think Tank, a Northern group, has expressed excitement over President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the military to end banditry in 2025. The group’s convener, Muhammad Yakubu, said the President’s order is a welcome development that has rekindled hope in the current administration’s ability to tackle insecurity. According to Yakubu, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, had disclosed that Tinubu had directed the military to ensure that banditry is brought to an end by next year. “We are happy to hear that Matawalle told All Progressives Congress (APC) members at his Gusau residence about the directive…

The Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday, said that it has deployed 7,777 officers across the state to enhance the security of lives and property during the Christmas, and New Year celebrations and beyond. This was contained in a statement sent to journalists on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the command, SP Omolola Odutola. The State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, is said to be leading the special crack team. The command said that having recognised the potential for increased criminal activities during the festive time, it has stepped up security measures with enhanced checkpoints and patrols across the state.…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday unequivocally responded to critics who described his cabinet as “bloated” by saying he is unprepared to reduce the size of his 48-man cabinet. “I am not ready to shrink” the size of my cabinet, Tinubu said during a media chat at his Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos State. “I am not prepared to bring down the size of my cabinet,” the former Lagos governor said, arguing that “efficiency” has been at the core of his selection of ministers. The All Progressives Congress (APC) powerhouse also said he has no regret removing…

Organisers of a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, where several people were feared dead in a stampede on Wednesday, have been arrested. The incident occurred at Islamic High School, Basorun, during a family event. Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the arrest of the organisers and announced that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the tragic incident. He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and reassured the public that security measures have been implemented to prevent further casualties. In a statement shared on his official social media account, Makinde said, “Earlier today, an incident occurred at Islamic High…