Author: Festus Adeloye

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has lamented the collapse of the East-West road, calling on President Bola Tinubu to hand over the reconstruction of the road to the Niger Delta Development Commission if the contractors engaged by the Federal government would fail in delivery. Diri, who acknowledged the President’s approval of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, said that though the approval was commendable, the reconstruction of the East-West Road was a priority. “Our region is in dire need of development. Everything has been said by everybody here, and for me, there is just one thing that I would…

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and seven-time winner Novak Djokovic can set-up a Wimbledon final blockbuster on Friday although Daniil Medvedev and Lorenzo Musetti hope to gatecrash the All England Club party. Alcaraz, 21, is bidding to reach his fourth Grand Slam final before setting his sights on becoming only the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back. Twelve months ago, he defeated Djokovic in a five-set Wimbledon final having seen off Medvedev in straight sets in the semi-final. It has been an uneven Wimbledon for the Spanish world number three. He was pushed to five sets by…

Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin has been crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland. The coronation ceremony was held on Friday, July 12, at the Labosinde compound, the family whose right is to crown any Olubadan of Ibadanland. Stay tuned for more details…

Some Corps members deployed to Ekiti State narrowly escaped death on Friday morning when the wall of the female hostel of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp collapsed on them. The corp members recuperating in the clinic inside the orientation camp were said to have been rescued by their male counterparts who retrieved them from the rubbles. One of the sources said: ”Yes the wall of one of the female hostels collapsed this morning (Friday) . It was the bathroom wall which caved in when they were planning to take their bath. ” But thank God, people rushed down…

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday made a strong case for deployment of technology to improved data collection, analysis and generate more comprehensive and inclusive evidence to guide government decisions, investment choices, and pathways to development. Senator Shettima said deploying the best technology to strengthening data systems to upgrade human resources and capacities, will promote partnership that guarantees an equitable future for Nigerians. This came as the Vice President disclosed that a N110 billion Presidential initiative for youth enterprise clusters is in the offing. The Vice President spoke during the commemoration of the 2024 World Population Day at the Banquet…

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has upheld the fine imposed on popular Nigerian On-Air Personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, also known as Daddy Freeze, for committing adultery. A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had on February 18, 2021, ordered Daddy Freeze to pay the sum of N5m for committing adultery with one Benedicta Elechi. He was ordered to pay the money to Paul Odekina, who was married to Elechi at the time the adulterous act was committed. “The sum of N5,000,000 is awarded against Ifedayo Olarinde (the 2nd Cross Respondent to the Cross Petition) as damages for…

A National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, survey report has shown that Nigerians paid N721 billion in cash bribes to public officials in 2023. The Survey report titled: “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends”, released yesterday, indicated that more than 95 per cent of all bribes Nigerians paid in 2023 were in monetary form. Meanwhile, the report also showed that Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption effort declined during the review period. The report stated: “Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly N721 billion ($1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding…

Socialite sisters Kim and Khloe Kardashian were among the global celebrities spotted in India on Friday to attend a lavish three-day wedding ceremony staged by Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani. Ambani’s youngest son Anant and fiancee Radhika Merchant, both 29, will tie the knot over the weekend in the financial capital Mumbai following months of pre-marriage parties that have set a new benchmark in matrimonial extravagance. Earlier celebrations included a European cruise for 1,200 guests, a purpose-built Hindu temple at the Ambani family’s ancestral home and private performances by R&B star Rihanna and Canada’s Justin Bieber. The Kardashians are the…

The Federal Government said it is optimistic that the impasse over the new minimum wage will be resolved next week. The Ministers of Information and Labour gave this indication after the closed-door session between President Bola Tinubu and the leaders of organised labour in the state house on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, is to reconvene next week. The meeting on the new minimum wage follows the president’s decision to have more engagement with stakeholders, before a decision is taken on the matter. The secretary to the government of the federal, some ministers, heads of agencies and…

US President Joe Biden, under intense scrutiny over his fitness to serve, accidentally introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian strongman Vladimir Putin at a NATO ceremony before correcting himself. “Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said on Wedneday. Biden quickly corrected himself, saying, “I’m so focused on beating President Putin, we’ve got to worry about it.” AFP