Author: Amina Mohammed

Nigerian boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics women’s boxing tournament after testing positive for a banned substance. The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced on Saturday that Ogunsemilore, 22, tested positive for the diuretic furosemide, a substance used to mask the presence of other drugs. The ITA has imposed a provisional suspension on Ogunsemilore, barring her from participating in the Olympics. Cynthia Ogunsemilore was scheduled to compete in the round of 16 in the women’s 60-kilogram class on Monday. She was ranked fourth in her category. Ogunsemilore won the African Games title in her weight class last…

Rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz has shared how his upbringing shaped his approach to activism. In a recent episode of the Menisms Podcast, he clarified that his activism predates the 2020 ENDSARS Protest, contrary to popular belief. He said: “It was definitely not the ENDSARS moment that made me start activism; it was way before that moment that I’ve been doing this. I won’t lie, 100% of my background has played a huge part because this is what I grew up on.” Falz attributed his activism to his background, growing up listening to Fela Kuti’s music…

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz brought the Roland Garros crowd to its feet as the Spanish dream team opened their Olympic Games doubles campaign with a straight sets victory over Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni on Saturday. In front of a packed, raucous crowd under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier the pair came through 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. Hours earlier when Alcaraz had opened his singles campaign with a straights sets victory over Hady Habib, the 21-year-old said it was a “dream” to play alongside his compatriot. The duo appeared to a standing ovation on the same packed Court…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike says he is yet to get a letter requesting the usage of the Eagle Square for a planned protest billed to start from August 1. Wike spoke on Saturday at a town hall meeting with critical stakeholders in the FCT ahead of the demonstrations which is tagged #EndBadGovernance protest. He said that no letter was sent to his office requesting to use Eagle Square for the planned protest. The FCT minister said the protesters should not just make use of social media to send a message to his office. He…

One person has died with several others injured after a section of a nine-storey building under construction collapsed in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Saturday. According to eyewitnesses, the late victim was working with the cement mixer when the walls on the ninth floor collapsed on him, killing him instantly Some residents complained about the quality of work and questioned if the owner obtained approvals before embarking on the construction project. Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has sealed the project site, ordering an investigation into the cause of the collapse. The Commissioner of Urban Renewal Michael Anoka was also…

The State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State rose from their meeting on Friday adopting dates of congresses and local government party primaries of the party in the state. At the meeting presided over by the state Chairman, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, the party adopted Saturday, July 27, 2024 as date for the congresses to elect its executives in the 260 wards of the state; Saturday, August 10 was adopted as date for local government congresses; and Saturday, August 31 was adopted as date for state congress all as earlier announced by the national leadership of…

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu has said that the Commission was fully prepared for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State and anticipate no security threats. Mahmood, who spoke when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, assured that so far, he has not received any report of any likely threat to security during the election. He said even though a political party complained about likely security breaches during the election when he led National Commissioners on a visit to the state, there has been no report of any…

The Nigerian Senate has mourned the death of Senator representing Anambra South district in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah. He was said to have departed Nigeria for the UK, two days ago. Ubah died in the United Kingdom where he went for an operation. He would have been 53 on September 3. A statement signed by the Senate Spokesman, The Nigeria Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu on Friday in Abuja, described Mbah as an exemplary leader. It said, “It is with deep sorrow and profound regret that the Nigeria Senate announces the passing of our esteemed colleague, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, who…

Federal lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, is dead. The lawmaker who flew to the United Kingdom since he seriously took ill few weeks ago died Saturday morning in a London hospital. His condition reportedly became critical in the past 48 hours. The cause of death is not clear as at Saturday morning. Ubah was elected Senator in 2019 on the platform of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, and reelected on that platform in 2023. He defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, earlier this year and has indicated interest in seeking the governorship of Anambra State…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU) domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, said the development was to ensure efficient, transparent, and accountable management of external grants mobilised towards the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). The Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU) will report to a Steering Committee/Ministerial Oversight Committee chaired by the Minister, including the Minister of State, Permanent Secretary; Ministry of…