Author: Lanre Akilu

The ruling All Progressives Congress has criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s remarks concerning the current administration’s handling of ongoing reforms and the coup d’état in Niger Republic. Obasanjo had voiced his disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s actions regarding the removal of subsidy from petroleum products and the floating of the naira. Over the past months, there has been widespread discontent among the populace due to the escalating costs of food items and inflation following the removal of fuel subsidy and the naira’s floatation under the Tinubu government. In a statement released to the press on Sunday by his Special Assistant…

The Federal Executive Council, led by President Bola Tinubu, has approved 51 contracts totalling N6.27 trillion for the procurement, construction, and development of various infrastructure projects across Nigeria within eight months. These contracts, awarded between October 16, 2023, and May 14, 2024, aim to advance infrastructure across crucial sectors such as road construction, bridge building, railway systems, and airport infrastructure. Notably, the contracts include 43 road projects and three airport developments, among others. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) serves as the highest executive body in Nigeria’s federal government system, comprising senior officials, ministers, and high-ranking cabinet members. Its constitutional role…

Tiwa Savage, the popular singer, recounted her early struggles upon returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom to pursue her music career. She detailed how she faced obstacles in performing at concerts due to her outfits being deemed “too risqué.” Speaking in a recent interview with BET, the ‘Koroba’ hitmaker disclosed that some of her earlier music videos were also not broadcasted for being considered indecent. “When I first moved back,” she explained, “I would turn up at a show and they would say I can’t perform because my outfit was too risqué. It was a cultural issue. Even some…

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has called for better pay, insurance cover and pension for journalists across the country. Ajaero made the call when he visited the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr Chris Isiguzo in Abuja. He explained that while journalists played significant roles in the fight for independence and the current democracy Nigerians are enjoying, it is unfortunate same people are begging for their salaries to be paid. The labour leader said that journalism is getting worse by the day, though technology has enhanced the practice. “The welfare of journalists is being…

Authorities fear a second landslide and a disease outbreak are looming at the scene of Papua New Guinea’s mass-casualty disaster because of water streams and bodies trapped beneath the tons of debris that swept over a village, a United Nations official said Tuesday. A mass of boulders, earth and splintered trees devastated Yambali in the South Pacific nation’s remote highlands when a limestone mountainside sheared away Friday. The blanket of debris has become more unstable with recent rain and streams trapped between the ground and rubble, said Serhan Aktoprak, chief of the International Organization for Migration’s mission in Papua New…

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, has clinched the prestigious title of ‘Best Banking CEO of the Year in Africa’ at the International Banker 2024 Banking Awards, securing the accolade for the second consecutive year. This recognition, featured in the Spring 2024 edition of International Banker Magazine in the United Kingdom, coincides with Dr. Onyeagwu’s culmination of his five-year tenure as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on May 31, 2024. Expressing gratitude for the award, Dr. Onyeagwu extended appreciation to the publishers of International Banker, remarking, “It is indeed an honour to be…

Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta North) has lambasted the recent dismissal of 317 employees from the Central Bank of Nigeria, urging the Senate to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, Nwoko condemned the abruptness of the sackings, underscoring the necessity for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding them. He alleged that the apex bank proceeded with the terminations without consulting relevant stakeholders, including labour unions. “The Senate should mandate its committees on Employment, Labour and Productivity, as well as that of Public Service Matters, to investigate the terminations. “The…

Ibrahim Lamorde, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who passed away in Egypt on Sunday, is scheduled for burial today. It was gathered that Lamorde, aged 61, had travelled to Egypt for medical treatment. The burial arrangements were disclosed by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, via his X handle on Tuesday. Pantami, sharing a statement from Lamorde’s family, announced, “The Jana’iza prayer of our late father, brother and Uncle DIG Ibrahim LAMORDE mni and Former Chairman of EFCC is coming up Tuesday 28/05/2024 at the National Mosque Abuja by 1:30 pm…

Reports indicate that Leon Balogun has agreed to extend his contract with Rangers. The seasoned centre-back’s previous deal was set to expire on May 31, but it’s now understood that the Nigerian has signed a new contract, binding him to Govan until the conclusion of the next season. Balogun expressed his desire to continue with the Light Blues after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final loss to Celtic, and his wish has been granted. Having returned for a second stint with Rangers last summer, following Michael Beale to QPR when Beale assumed the managerial role, Balogun’s decision to remain adds a valuable…

Victor Osimhen’s comeback to the field has brought a sense of relief to the Super Eagles’ officials, who were on the verge of exploring alternative strategies for the match against South Africa. Initial concerns suggested that the Napoli star might not regain full fitness in time for the upcoming round of the 2026 World Cup African qualifying series. Osimhen, absent from two previous Napoli fixtures, made his return last weekend against Leece, featuring as a substitute. His inclusion among the strikers listed by Coach Finidi George for the forthcoming games against South Africa and Benin Republic next month signifies a…