Author: Festus Adeloye

Apple on Thursday announced changes to its App Store after the European Union accused the iPhone maker of breaking the bloc’s landmark new digital rules. The EU said the App Store terms prevented app developers from freely steering consumers to alternative ways to pay, making Apple the first-ever tech firm to face accusations of breaching a new law known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Now Apple says there will be changes to comply with the DMA and address the findings of the European Commission, the EU’s powerful antitrust regulator. At the time, Brussels said developers could only steer customers…

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has rejected Julius Berger Plc’s proposed cost of N279 billion for the Second Niger Bridge Bypass, describing it as excessively high. In a statement on Thursday, Umahi expressed his disappointment with Julius Berger’s pricing, saying, “One of the bypasses, which is 17.27 kilometres by two on asphalt, was awarded to Julius Berger. We changed the pavement elements to concrete, and the cost we calculated was N133 billion. Berger presented a figure almost twice our estimate, at N279 billion.” He further stated, “We disagreed with this cost during the negotiation in September 2023. We’ve…

The Federal Government has stopped the planned sale of subsidised rice to civil servants. It has, therefore, withdrawn the circular in which it directed civil servants interested in subsidised rice to apply. This was made known in a fresh circular from the Ministry of Special Duty and Inter-Governmental Affairs obtained by our correspondent on Thursday in Abuja. The circular, dated August 2, 2024, which was signed by the ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Aderonke Jaiyesimi, did not give any reason for the withdrawal of the initial memo. It also did not indicate if the scheme was stopped or only suspended.…

The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, on Thursday ordered an investigation into the death of a yet-to-be-identified man dressed in women’s clothing. The police, in a statement by the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said it received a distress call about a woman’s corpse found along the Katampe-Mabushi expressway and promptly dispatched detectives to the scene. Adah added that preliminary investigations carried out by the detectives revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothing with no means of identification on him. She said the individual was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was…

A fire has been reported at the Mobil filling station at Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos State. As of the time of filing this report, security operatives have already arrived at the venue to divert both humans and vehicles away from the axis. The fire service operatives have also arrived at the scene. See photos below:

Many persons are believed to have died as fire burnt and sank a boat, Godbless Dickson, between Ekeni and Ukubie communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at about 5.30am on Wednesday. Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, Ipigansi Ogoniba, said on Thursday that the boat was carrying about 64 persons at the time of the incident, but several persons swam to safety. Ogoniba said it would be difficult to state the exact number of those who died or survived until much later when he receives reports from boats and local divers…

The Federal Government has announced plans to review the merger of federal technical colleges and science schools in the country to unbundle them. The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on the Challenges and Issues Affecting Technical Colleges in the country. Mamman expressed displeasure over the merging of technical colleges with colleges of science, says it eroded the gains of establishing technical colleges across the country. He explained that technical colleges ought to be strictly for pupils with an interest in technical education. The minister emphasised that those who want to do science…

The Accountant General of Ogun State, Tunde Aregbesola, along with several other state government officials, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning regarding allegations of diverting N10.8 billion allocated for the 20 local councils in the state. Former Ijebu East Local Government Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo, had previously submitted a petition to the EFCC, accusing the Dapo Abiodun-led administration of misappropriating the funds intended for the local councils. Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, confirmed the development to reporters on Wednesday night. Oyewale stated, “I just contacted our Ibadan Zonal…

Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has mourned the demise of his son, Ifeanyi. The actor broke the news in a post on Instagram on Thursday where he described Ifeanyi as a “champ” and a “lion” who fought valiantly. He wrote, “My champ! My lion, you fought like a lion. If this is the way He wants it, so be it, I still judge you faithful. “Ifeanyi, my champ. I will miss you, son. I will forever love you. Rest in peace, son, rest. I give you thanks, Lord!” The news came as a shock to fans and colleagues alike, as…

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned a late-night raid on its headquarters by heavily armed security operatives. The invasion, which occurred around 8:30 PM on August 7, 2024, saw security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and others in civilian clothing forcibly enter the Labour House in Abuja. Full Statement from NLC: Press Release This evening at about 8.30 pm long after the close of work, a troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja which serves as the National Headquarters…