Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The burial of the former governor of old Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has been fixed for November 8, 2024. This was contained in the programme released by the burial committee on behalf of Onu’s family of Uburu Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State. Onu died on April 11, 2024, after a brief illness, at the age of 73 years. An engineer, author, and foremost Nigerian politician, he was the first elected civilian governor of Abia State, the first chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Elected Governors and the National Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party, ANPP, in 2010. Onu successfully…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Edo State to the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission. This decision was made in compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023. NERC disclosed this on its X handle on Wednesday. According to the NERC, the Commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the inter-state/international generation, transmission, supply, trading and system operations. However, the Electricity Act 2023 mandates states that intend to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to notify NERC and request…

Saving lives was the childhood dream for 28-year-old Indian doctor Radhika, but after the brutal rape and murder of a colleague, her own safety has increasingly become a top concern. Earlier this month, at the government-run hospital where Radhika works in the eastern city of Kolkata, the battered and bloodied body of a 31-year-old woman doctor was found, sparking outrage. One man has been detained, but the attack has focused anger on the lack of measures for female doctors to work without fear, and triggered protests and medical strikes. “I was on night duty just two days before this incident,”…

Thailand on Wednesday reported a suspected first case of the new more dangerous strain of mpox, which the World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency. The patient landed in Bangkok on August 14 and was sent to hospital with mpox symptoms the following morning, said Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of the kingdom’s Department of Disease Control. Laboratory tests are underway to confirm the strain, but officials believe it to be from Clade 1. The infected person, a 66-year-old European who travelled to Thailand from an African country, has been quarantined. “We have done a test and they definitely…

Donald Trump will hold a rally outdoors Wednesday in North Carolina, the former US president’s first open-air campaign event since he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at an open-air appearance one month ago. Security precautions are being boosted for the afternoon rally scheduled at an aviation museum in Asheboro, North Carolina, including the use of bulletproof glass surrounding the Republican nominee’s podium, US media reported, citing security and campaign personnel. The Secret Service had recommended Trump stop holding outdoor events after the agency assigned to protect presidents and candidates failed to stop a gunman who fired at him from a…

Politician and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government to give an account of its dealings and operations regarding the old and new presidential jets. Obi’s stance comes following recent controversies around the Ogun State government’s contract with a Chinese company over the jets, leading to the seizure of three aircraft. Reacting to the development, Obi urged the federal government to give details on how much the jets are purchased, their total numbers, and other information not in the public domain. “Now that the Jet is here,…

As part of efforts to further weaken the activities of remnant of terrorists operating in the Northeast, while also protecting innocent civilians and own troops, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has executed an air interdiction mission on 16 August 2024 in Arina, Southern Tumbuns, Borno State. A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigeran Airforce,  Sir Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet says five key terrorist commanders believed to have been present at the location during the operation include Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, and Bakoura…

Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, US media reported Tuesday, two years after the Hollywood power couple officially gave love a second chance by tying the knot. The pair, who were nicknamed “Bennifer” when they first dated in the frenzied tabloid celebrity days of the early 2000s, had rekindled their relationship almost two decades later. But Lopez on Tuesday filed divorce papers at a Los Angeles court, Hollywood trade outlet Variety and celebrity gossip website TMZ said. A representative for Lopez declined to comment. Affleck’s publicist did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. It…

Barack Obama told fellow Democrats in Chicago Tuesday that “the torch has been passed” to Kamala Harris and that the United States was ready for her to become president. Former president Obama, who was greeted with rapturous applause and cheers at the packed arena hosting the party’s nominating convention, said Vice President Harris would fight for Americans, and called her November poll rival Donald Trump “dangerous.” “Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting for people who need a voice,” he said. Obama called Harris “someone who sees you and hears…

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has suspended four key officials of the state government with immediate effect. This was announced in a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere. He said the governor approved the officials’ suspension, without further explanations on the reasons for the action The affected officials include the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chrysanthus Dawam and the Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Jamila Tukur. Others affected are the Special Adviser on Rural Development, Dio Lamul and the Liaison Officer for Mikang Constituency, Moses Sule. In another development, the governor…