Author: Festus Adeloye

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has reflected on his survival during the regime of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, describing it as a “bit of a miracle.” In an interview with TheNEWS to mark his 90th birthday, Soyinka recounted how Abacha was “mad” and “obsessed” with him, leading many people to suffer for associating with him. Soyinka shared a story about a driver who once worked for Abacha and later approached his new boss, expressing a desire to meet Soyinka, the man who had given Abacha “such nightmares.” The driver had overheard Abacha and his visitor discussing Soyinka and…

Adidas said Friday it had dropped vocal pro-Palestinian model Bella Hadid from an advertising campaign for retro sneakers referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics, which were overshadowed by a massacre of Israeli athletes. The German sportswear giant recently relaunched the SL72, a shoe first showcased by athletes at the 1972 Olympics, as part of a series reviving old classic sneakers. Eleven Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed at the 1972 Munich Games after gunmen from the Palestinian Black September group broke into the Olympic village and took them hostage. Hadid, who was born in the US but has…

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, on Friday, July 19, ordered a massive show of force in the state. Areas covered by the operatives were Ikeja, Ojota, Third Mainland Bridge, Obalende, VI, Lekki, Apongbon, Ijora, Costain, Stadium, Ogunlana Drive, Itire, Ojuelegba, Palmgroove, Maryland etc. There have been reports that some Nigerians, under various bodies, are planning a nationwide protest between August 1 and 10 against the rising cost of living and the economic hardship in the country. This development has prompted police and other security operatives to be on red alert over the planned nationwide protest. A statement…

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has reserved judgment on a suit filed by sacked elected state, local government and ward executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state under the leadership of Chief Emeka Beke, against the party’s National Executive and the Seven-man Caretaker Committee in the state led by Chief Tony Okocha. Other defendants in the suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung, for himself and all elected executive members of APC, the Inspector General of Police, Nigerian Police Force and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye and Ezekiel Ubom, for themselves…

The FCT police command on Thursday, July 18, 2024, released Alhaji Yushau Shuaibu on bail to his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju. Recall that Alhaji Yushau had attempted to commit suicide by climbing a broadcast mast belonging to Aso radio in Katampe, Abuja on July 8. He was arrested and subsequently sent to the FCTA’s Social Development Secretariat for mental assessment and evaluation. A statement by SP Josephine Adeh, Spokesman of FCT Command said, “The assessment report indicated that he is mentally stable”. “However, symptoms of anxiety, persistent worry, and fears were observed in the course of profiling him. “The FCTA SDS…

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has disclosed that the Dangote refinery has not been licensed to begin operations in the country. The Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, made this known while speaking with journalists at the State House, Abuja on Thursday. Ahmed debunked claims that the regulatory body was attempting to scuttle the operations of the private refinery due to lack of crude oil supply from International Oil Companies. He stated that the refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet. He said, “There are lots of concerns about the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has projected that Nigeria’s external reserves could reduce slightly in 2024. This was disclosed in the recently released maiden edition of its ‘Macroeconomic Outlook: Price Discovery for Economic Stabilisation’ report. The apex bank attributed the projected deep in the country’s reserves to debt service and other obligations. The outlook said, “The external reserves, which stood at $33.09bn in 2023 could reduce slightly in 2024. This is on the assumption of continued payments of outstanding foreign exchange forward obligations, matured foreign exchange swaps, and debt service. The expected improvement in crude oil earnings, together with…

The abductors of eight recent graduates from Akwa Ibom State in Zamfara State in August 2023 are demanding N50 million as ransom for the release of the remaining victim, Bassey Daniel. The victim’s mother, Mrs. Margaret Daniel, shared her distress from her community in Afaha Ube Itam, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. She expressed her inability to raise such a large amount, saying, “I am just a petty trader, I sell akara and bread. How will I raise that kind of money? I am helpless. When that amount was mentioned, I fell sick. And I have been…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has assured that the House will take expedited action on the National Minimum Wage Bill once it receives it from the executive arm of the government. This came as he hailed President Bola Tinubu for agreeing to the national minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers. The Speaker said President Tinubu’s action has shown that he is a compassionate and empathic leader who cares about the welfare of the citizens. Reacting to the development in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker…

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Bayonle Kafar Sulaiman, as the new Commander in charge of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum And Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB). A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi said the new appointment is in continuation of the IGP’s effort to combat pipeline vandalism and oil theft. ACP Adejobi said the Commander who has exhibited his prowess in similar taskforce operations, was previously Squadron Commander, Police Mobile Force, MOPOL 20, Lagos. He disclosed that as Commanding Officer of the IGP-STFPIB, the IGP…