Author: Austine Akhilomen

The Federal Government has been called upon to give more time before enforcing the 18 years age restriction policy for West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination candidates. This appeal was made by Comr. Jude Obiemenyego, Chairman, Delta State chapter of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) in a statement in Asaba, he said there is reason to delay the enforcement of the policy.While noting that reasons adduced by Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister for Education for the planned implementation of the age restriction policy were not out of place,…

By Augustine AkhilomenThe city of Manchester will be literary on standstill as Manchester United host Liverpool in today’s Premier League blockbuster clash at Old Trafford.The Red Devils will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after losing 2-1 to Brighton last weekend. While Liverpool will be eager to maintain their unbeaten run at the start of the league.Manchester United have remained in chaos mode in the early days of the 2024/25 season thus far. The Red Devils have shown their best and worst qualities throughout this month, troubling Manchester City in the Community Shield tie yet losing the game. They…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas over “the failure to end the apparently unlawful practice by the National Assembly of fixing its allowances and running costs, and the failure to account for the monthly running costs paid to members.”Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas are sued for themselves and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly.According to reports, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently alleged that the lawmakers fix their own salaries and allowances, contrary to the recommendation of the…

Israel announced Sunday its troops had found six dead hostages in a Gaza tunnel, while Israeli police said a “shooting attack” in the occupied West Bank killed three officers.The deadly shooting near the city of Hebron added to surging violence in the West Bank, which is separated from Gaza by Israeli territory and where Israeli has pressed on since Wednesday with a large-scale military operation that has sparked international concern.In the besieged Gaza Strip, “humanitarian pauses” in the nearly 11-month war between Israel and Hamas were set to take hold on Sunday to facilitate a massive polio vaccination drive which…

Chidinma Adetshina representing Taraba State has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, beating out 24 other contestants for the coveted title.Adetshina clinched the coveted crown at the grand finale of the beauty pageant held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday night.The 23-year-old beauty queen, who recently made headlines for her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant due to a controversy over her Nigerian heritage, proved to be a fan favorite throughout the competition after accruing the highest number of votes.As the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidinma will represent the country at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, scheduled…

By Augustine Akhilomen …Urges Him To Cut Down Cost Of GovernanceA faction of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to proffer solutions to the lingering economic hardship ravaging Nigerians.In a statement issued by Afenifere Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan, and Deputy Secretary General, Alade Rotimi-John, they decried some of the Tinubu administration’s “profligate predilection or inclination to waste resources,” stating that “$100 million or N240 billion as the purchase price for an Airbus A330 as a jet for the President and a further $50 million to retrofit is uncalled for.”Afenifere also noted that the majority of…

By Raji Adebayo A Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has called on the federal government to review its policy of pegging the minimum age for candidates to write West Africa School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) at 18 years, saying that may delay the progress of millions ot children who are already at Senior Secondary School, (SSS1) and (SSS2) and who are going to be at SSS 3 at ages below 18 years.It could be recalled that Professor Tahir Mamman, Nigeria’s minister of education, recently announced a policy setting the minimum age for writing the…

By Kassim Afegbua. It is trite that Reuben Abati is partisan; he has failed woefully at masking it. He is a full blown PDP card carrying member, who ran election in 2019 for Deputy Governor with Buruji Kashamu, the late alleged drug baron. The pair gave meaning to curiosities around town. Indeed, he ran elections after he was granted bail from the EFCC dungeon after a while as an inmate. He was arrested for alleged fraud while he served as Spokesman to President Jonathan. Hitherto, he had always held himself out with bombastic sanctimonious appellations and deportment until the EFCC…

By Augustine Akhilomen Nigerian actress, Lizzy Anjorin, has debunked reports circulating in the media that she’s having sexual affairs with Toyin Abraham’s husband, Kolawole Ajeyemi.Recall that controversial blogger, Esther Aboderin, popularly known as Esabod, recently accused Lizzy of engaging in an intimate relationship with Ajeyemi.Reacting to the allegation in a viral video on Instagram, Lizzy dismissed the rumours, labeling it “evil”.She further urged the public to disregard the claims.“Concerning the rumour that is being spread that Toyin and Kolawole’s marriage is facing challenges, I am not interested. Whatever happens is their problem. It does not affect my life. Whoever wants…

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai took to his official X handle over the weekend to share his personal thoughts on what he termed ‘envy’ among Nigeria’s political class.His lamentation follows allegations of corruption and misappropriation of government funds during his eight years as governor of Kaduna State.The Kaduna State House of Assembly had claimed that his eight-year administration allegedly siphoned ₦432bn, leaving the state with huge debt liabilities.Earlier in June, the ad hoc committee set up by the state Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the El-Rufai administration submitted its report to the House.The chairman…