The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced Monday 1st of May as Public Holiday to mark this year’s Workers Day Celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government. He congratulates workers across the country on this year’s celebration. Ogbeni Aregbesola commended workers for their hard work, diligence and sacrifice, saying that their efforts are largely responsible for the greatness of the country. According to the Minister, ”There is dignity in labour, we have to have dedication and commitment to the work you do, because it is vital to nation building”. He therefore enjoyed workers to imbibe the Culture of productivity, saying “The end of work is productivity. It is productivity that leads to satisfactory provision of goods and services and wealth creation. It is therefore the path to national and individual prosperity. The Minister also urged workers to raise the bar of their trade in line with the Pres...

  President Muhammadu Buhari has received the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, at the State House. The outgoing and incoming presidents prayed together at the Presidential Mosque on Friday, after which the President-elect departed without speaking to the media. Earlier, Buhari also received Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Tinubu’s visit to Buhari comes less than 24 hours after the President argued the opposition’s defeat in the February 25 presidential election was as a result of “overconfidence”. He added that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on the other hand, blended confidence with caution, saying, “We worked hard and won.” While receiving the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by the Chairman, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Buhari said, “They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. “Now, their overconfidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else. They are finding it hard to convince those who s...

  The first set of Nigerians to say goodbye directed toward Sudan will arrive in the country on Friday. This is according to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Updating State House news reporters during the 70th session of the weekly ministerial briefing, the NIDCOM boss noted that barring any last minutes changes, the first set of Nigerian evacuees from Sudan are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Friday. She further announced that 13 buses have departed from two universities in Khartoum, carrying Nigerian students to the Aswan border in Egypt, where they will be airlifted to Nigeria. She also highlighted that there is an increasing challenge as more Nigerians began expressing interest in returning home than previously indicated. The evacuation process is part of the government’s effort to move out Nigerian citizens foundered in the war-torn country.

  The Supreme Court has granted leave to the Federal Government to promulgate nine new grounds of appeal against the release of pro-Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu. A five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro granted the leave on Thursday while ruling on the motion by the counsel to the Federal Government, Mister Tijani Gadzali. The apex court also granted leave to the Federal Government to include these nine new grounds as part of its amended notice of appeal dated 28th October 2022. At the resumed hearing, Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, informed the court of his motions seeking for bail of his client and another seeking for his transfer to the Kuje Correctional Facility to get proper medical attention citing his failing health at the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). He also prayed for an accelerated hearing of the matter. Speaking on the motion for the transfer of Kanu out of the custody of the DSS, the Federal Government’s counsel prayed for an adjournme...

  The Federal Government of Nigeria announced that the evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan is  not feasible at this time.  The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said Friday evening on Twitter that efforts had been put in place by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Mission in Sudan. More than 180 people have been killed and about 1,800 injured in three days of fighting between the rival factions in Sudan.  She however noted that the authorities were experiencing challenges, particularly with regard to airlifting Nigerian nationals out of the troubled country. “While @nemanigeria and the Nigerian Mission in Sudan have put in place necessary arrangements, any flight now is gravely risky,” Dabiri-Erewa tweeted. “Airlines on ground at the airport were all burnt today, there is a curfew in place and no flights can operate.” The NIDCOM boss added that humanitarian groups were making efforts to distribute food...

  The Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria, has arrested two suspects who concealed guns in a sack of yams in Kano. This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Department of State Security Service Dr. Peter Afunanya. He says, the suspects were reportedly on transit to deliver two AK-47 rifles and two empty AK-47 magazines arms in preparatory to a planned attack on one of the Northern states when they were arrested. He however called on operators and patrons of fun, hospitality and tourism centres particularly hoteliers to beef their security during Eid-el-Fitri period. Saying, this development underscores the need for citizens to be extra vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious movements, persons or acts to the security agencies nearest to them. Department of State Security Service pledges to work with sister agencies and other stakeholders to emplace adequate security during and after the Sallah celebration.”

  Some military men last weekend, reportedly let off steam , beating Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, officials near Costain - Apapa area of the state for unwavering to impound a senior officer’s vehicle because he drove against traffic  and the vehicle  was confiscated.  It was narrated that the military officer left the scene calmly but, few minutes after, some soldiers pop up and reportedly pounced on the LASTMA officials before whisking them to their barracks. It was gathered that the harassed Lagos traffic management officials were later taken to hospital for the injury sustained during the ordeal.  Calm was later restored between both parties after apologies were tendered. The State Coordinator, Special Traffic Management Committee on Apapa gridlock, Hassan Adekoya, who confirmed the incident, said the issue had been amicably resolved following intervention by relevant authorities. “Everything is fine now and our men are undergo...

The Federal Government of Nigeria, has granted official permission for the R21/Matrix developed by scientists at Oxford University. This was announced by the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, during a press briefing on Monday. Adeyeye noted that the vaccine is to address the prevention of malaria in children from five months to 36 months of age, adding that Nigeria has the highest prevalence of malaria in the world with over 27 per cent, and the highest number of global malaria deaths of 32 per cent. According to Professor Adeyeye, a full review using the standards of the World Health Organisation was carried out on the vaccine, to ensure its efficacy, safety, and quality. The development comes days after Ghana became the first country to approve the vaccine — which is said to be 80 per cent effective. https://youtu.be/1r4H4GqP0L4

  The most accessible throughways to the international and domestic wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State were on Monday obstructed by aviation workers protesting the Federal Government’s failure to address their concerns. The action of the aviation workers has caused severe traffic jams around the Airport Road in Ikeja. The gridlock left several travellers distraught amid desperate efforts to catch their flights. A coalition of aviation workers unions had announced a two-day strike what they described as the government’s failure to address their concerns. Some of the issues raised include those of the national minimum wage, consequential adjustment, and working conditions. The unions include the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN). Meanwhile, in a statement on Mon...

The United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced concern over the harshness of thousands of children in North-East Nigeria to serious violations of their rights. In a statement Friday, it complained that nine years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the middle of the night from their dormitory in Chibok, 96 girls remained in captivity. “As recently as 7 April 2023, 80 children were reportedly abducted by militants in Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area according to local media,” the UN agency said. “This reinforces the urgent need for action to protect children in Nigeria. Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 incidents of grave violations verified, affecting over 6,800 children in the north-east.” It added that the most common violations were recruitment or use of children by armed groups with 700 verified cases, followed by abductions of children, with 693 incidents, and killing and maiming, with 675 incidents. “The impact of the conflict on education is alar...

  Amnesty International has criticzed what it describes as the total failure of the Nigerian authorities to learn from the heartbreak of Chibok town in Borno State and, ultimately, to protect children. The non-governmental organisation made the assertion in a statement on Friday upon the backdrop of the ninth anniversary of Boko Haram’s abduction of 276 students from a girls’ secondary school in Chibok. At least 98 girls are reportedly still being held by Boko Haram and a slew of abductions have taken place since. Since the Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram, other schools have been targeted, with girls being abducted, raped, killed or forced into “marriages”, Amnesty International noted. According to the group, the Nigerian authorities, however, have not carried out a single credible investigation into the security failures that left children vulnerable to the atrocities committed by Boko Haram and gunmen. “Parents of the 98 Chibok school girls who are still being held...

  The Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Office has revealed how the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi was harassed by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom. Speaker for the Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, in a statement on Wednesday said the former Anambra State governor was held and questioned for a duplication offense which suggests that someone has been impersonating Obi in London. According to Mr Onifade, the LP’s Presidential Candidate who is just back from London, where he celebrated Easter, was saved by the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport. Onifade said Obi arrived the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration official who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside. “He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country....

  The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has rejected the House of Representative Bill mandating Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years before being granted full licence. NARD made its position known in a press release issued at the end of the emergency extended National Officers’ Committee (NOC) meeting of the association which was held virtually over the weekend. According to the statement obtained on Monday, the resident doctors expressed shock by the action of the sponsor of the bill, Honourable Ganiyu Johnson (APC/Lagos). The doctors also decried the non-payment of salaries of members by the Federal Government as the current administration gradually winds down. “The extended NOC observed with shock and disappointment, the infuriating attempts by Honourable Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson and the Federal House of Representatives to enslave Nigerian-Trained Medical Doctors for five years post-graduation before they can be issued full prac...

  Israel Adesanya got back his middleweight title from Alex Pereira with a heavy knockout at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida. With his back against the cage, Adesanya knocked out Pereira with tigerish right hands at 4 minutes, 21 seconds of the second round in the main event of UFC 287 here at Kaseya Center.   The victory avenges three previous defeats for Adesanya against Pereira. He lost twice in kickboxing in 2016 and 2017, and at UFC 281 in November. That most recent defeat inside the octagon saw Brazil's Pereira earn a stunning fifth-round knockout to win the title. "I hope every one of you can feel this level of happiness for one time in your life," said Nigeria-born New Zealander Adesanya. "But guess what - you'll never feel this level of happiness if you don't go for something in your life. When they knock you down, if you stay down you will never get that resolve. "Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness. I'm blessed to feel this again...

The Military High Command has described the call for the installation of an Interim National Government in the country by some Nigerians as illegal and unconstitutional. Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami stated at a press conference on Thursday at the Defence Headquarter, Abuja. Maj. Gen. Danmadami emphatically said the military as a well respected institution does not support illegality and would do everything in its powers to defend the constitution of the country. He said the call by some influenced citizens in the country of an interim government following the results of the just concluded presidential general elections is illegal. He remarked that the elections have been held, concluded and a new president elected,  the call   for   interim government  is  unfortunate and unconstitutional.  “On the issue of the interim National government I don’t know why people are bringing up this issues it is rather unf...

  Lagos - Nigeria Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential contestant of the Labour Party at the newly concluded presidential election, Peter Obi, has said that there is pressure on him to leave Nigeria. Mr Obi, in a statement on Wednesday night, blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and some government agencies, of trying to divert the country’s attention from the disappointment during the polls. The LP flagbearer went on to address the issue of a certain viral audio recording which allegedly had him speaking to Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel, urging the cleric to act and support his ambition as a way to see that Christians win the “religious war” in the nation’s political sphere. In his reaction, Obi described the recording in circulation as ‘fake’. “The present attempts by the APC as a Party, and the APC Led-government through some government officials and agencies to divert our attention from our blatantly stolen mandate is unfortunate and sad. ...

Bob Lee, the chief product officer at MobileCoin, was killed in a deadly stabbing in San Francisco. He was the creator of Cash App (formerly Square Cash), a mobile payment service that lets users transfer money to each other.  On Tuesday morning, at 2:35 a.m., the San Francisco Police Department   responded   to a report of a stabbing near the 300 block of Main Street in SoMa. however, he was taken to a hospital but fall victim to his injuries. Shortly after, NBC Bay Area reported that the victim of the stabbing was Bob Lee, 43. MobileCoin confirmed the information in a statement sent to Bloomberg and ABC7 News. Before joining MobileCoin, Bob Lee worked at Google for the first few years of Android, focusing on core library development. He then joined Square, the payment company  to develop its Android app. He became the company’s first CTO and also created Cash App. No arrests have been made and the police have made a call for witnesses ...

  The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammed Sanusi, observes Nigeria is currently more divided than it was during the civil war between July 1967 and January 1970. He said Nigeria has been “divided dangerously” along ethnic and religious lines, putting the integrity of public institutions in question. Sanusi stated on Tuesday at the Third Nigerian Leadership Colloquium in honour of the senior pastor of Trinity House, Lagos, Ituah Ighodalo, who turned 62. “I don’t think Nigeria has been in a place as difficult as this since the civil war. We have a challenge of nation building. “We have a country that has been divided dangerously along ethnic and religious lines. “We have an economy that is in the doldrums, and unfortunately, we seem to be having a dearth of leadership among political leaders,” he said. The former CBN governor said, “In October 2022, speaking at the Kaduna Investment Forum, I told Nigerians that if anyone told them that dealing with Nigeria ...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday disapproved calls for an interim government in Nigeria after May 29, 2023. The lawmakers feared that such calls is capable of truncating the country’s young democracy and causing anarchy across the country. This followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by a member, Unyime Idem drawing attention of the green chamber to the statement issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) warning of plots to install an interim government after the outcome of the presidential election. The House urged the security agencies to be on alert and warned aggrieved parties to await outcome of litigations before the court. One lawmaker, Ademorin Kuye accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of culpability for calling for cancellation of the results of the presidential election. https://youtu.be/oXL2Y33QXEo

  Ogun Nigeria - Nigerian Musiscian, Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable has been granted bail by a magistrate court in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. This followed the singer’s arraignment on Monday by the Ogun State Police Command. He was arraigned on five counts bordering on assault before the court presided over by the chief magistrate, A.S Shoneye. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Delivering his ruling on application for bail made by the singer’s counsel, the presiding judge said the offences are bailable and granted him bail with bail bond of N300,000, and with two surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the honorable court. In another development of assault and stealing, he was admitted to bail to the tune of #500,000 with two sureties. The court, however, ruled that the defendant be transferred to the Ilaro correctional centre pending the time his bail requirements are met. The case has been adjourned to April 26 for the commencemen...