Author: Lekan Adeyeye

RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has said the resignation of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the only way to resolve the crisis currently rocking the party. Governor Wike stressed that Dr Ayu should resign as national chairman PDP to allow for a southerner to occupy the office. “We have made our demand and our demand is the national chairman must come to the south. Its non-negotiable. If you say you don’t care, no problem. Lets go the field. No need to begin to threat people you will do this, you will…

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AS part of efforts to enhance the wellbeing of orphans and vulnerable children in Lagos State, the State Government through, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, has empowered 250 Households, Orphans and Vulnerable Children with various start-up tools for self-reliance and independence. Speaking at the Household Economic Strengthening for Orphans and Vulnerable Children empowerment programme held today at Correctional Centre for Boys, Yaba, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu identified poverty as the leading cause of household vulnerability and separation in society today. “This programme is one of the actualisations of the T.H.E.M.E.S Development Agenda of…

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A STATEMENT issued by NAFDAC Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, on Friday in Abuja stated that Adeyeye re-appointment was for the second tenure of five years. Jimoh said that the re-appointment by the president was conveyed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha. He said: “Adeyeye’s tenure renewal took effect from 1st December 2022.. “The DG’s reappointment came closely on the heels of her track record of monumental achievements and successes in the last five years, especially in the attainment of World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 3.” Abubakar said that Adeyeye who…

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GERMAN companies have perfected plans to boost activities in Nigeria and other African countries next year. According to a Reuters survey, the German companies hope to capitalise on opportunities in areas such as green hydrogen and liquefied natural gas, with 43 per cent planning to increase investment in the continent. The poll of members of the German-African Business Association also showed that a further 39 per cent of the association’s members aim to keep their spending levels in Africa stable. “The majority of companies want to expand their activities in the coming year,” the association head, Christoph Kannegiesser, told Reuters.…

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GUARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) says it will suspend international transactions on its naira Mastercard from Saturday, December 31, 2022. The bank made this known in a statement to its customers on Thursday. It said customers will be unable to make international automated teller machine (ATM), and point of sales (POS) transactions on their naira Mastercard. “We write to inform you that you will no longer be able to use your naira Mastercard for international online and POS transactions effective 31st December 2022,” the statement reads. According to the statement, the bank’s dollar card allows a daily $1,000 (or equivalent in…

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THE five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), identified as the G-5, have dared the party to sanction them over anti-party activities. Members of the G5 are Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). The reaction is coming on the heels of reports that PDP has planned to sanction the governors over their move to support another party’s presidential candidate. Governor Wike, who spoke through his commissioner for Information and Communication, Chris Finebone, said the main opposition party knows the consequences of sanctioning them. Finebone, in a…

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THE Nigeria Immigration Service, Bayelsa State Command, claimed on Thursday that it had uncovered ‘new methods’ used by suspected human traffickers to traffick underage girls. In a statement by the state Comptroller, Mr Sunday James, the command however cited the ECOWAS Travel Certificate as one of the means adopted by the human traffickers in their illicit business. James claimed that the perpetrators use the ECOWAS travel document “to evade security checks and avoid suspicion and transport their victims to any of the regional body’s member states.” He said, “A victim by the name of Miss Maureen Ekpe was stopped and…

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FRANCE striker Kylian Mbappe has said he won’t “waste energy on such futile things” when asked about Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s taunts after the World Cup final. Martinez called for a minute’s silence for Mbappe during his team’s dressing-room celebrations in Qatar and posed with a doll depicting the player. “Celebrations are not my problem,” Mbappe told RMC Sport. “I don’t waste energy on such futile things.” Martinez, who also made a rude gesture with the trophy for the tournament’s best goalkeeper in the wake of Argentina’s shoot-out win on 18 December, is reportedly due back to training with Aston…

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THE House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) to suspend its planned auction of the Oil Mining License (OML) 11 asset. This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Rep Victor Mela (APC-Gombe) at plenary in Abuja on Wednesday. Moving the motion, Mela said that the oil field under oil mining license 11 was formerly operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) joint venture. He said the field had been idle since the company was forced out of Ogoniland in 1993. Mela said that a court of appeal judgment of August…

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THE Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the  Tribunal in its judgment on Thursday in Ado -Ekiti dismissed the petition of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Mr Segun Oni. In the judgment read by the Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi and a member of the Panel, Justice Sa’ad Zadawa, resolved all issues in contention against Oni and his party, SDP. The Panel held that the petition filed by Oni against the return of Oyebanji and Afuye respectively…

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AS the push from fossil fuels continues in the developed countries with reduced buyers for Nigeria and other African crude, there are indications that Dangote Refinery and about ten others across Africa may, from next year, will provide an immediate market for African crude oil. About 11 refineries coming on stream from next year will reportedly take over 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil from the global market. This is coming as the price of crude oil edged higher yesterday as China continues to open up after COVID-19 while Russia hinted on a production cut amidst winter storm…

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ERLING Haaland became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals in a season as Manchester City overcame a stubborn Leeds to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to five points. Having seen a couple of efforts saved early in the game, Haaland – playing in the city of his birth against the side he supports – did not celebrate his goals but showed little mercy in securing them to bring up his impressive tally in just his 14th game of the campaign. He could not miss for his first, set up in front of an…

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THE Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has directed the immediate suspension of the project consultant for the Ilesa Water Project, Mrs Tawa Williams over questionable handling of $106 million dollar loan for the project. The State Governor in a statement by His Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed further ordered full scale probe of the entire project and disbursed loans especially as there is no progress on the project despite reported disbursement of N10 billion and another $28million on the project. The Governor equally suspends the project coordinator to allow for unhindered review of the loan administration while the…

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THE senate has passed a supplementary budget of N819 billion for the 2022 fiscal year. The development came after the senate extended the implementation of the 2022 budget till March 31, 2023. The national assembly had passed N17.12 trillion as the 2022 budget, but it was later revised to N17.31 trillion on Buhari’s request who cited the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on the country’s economy. The supplementary budget was passed on Wednesday after Jibrin Barau, chairman of the appropriation committee, presented a report during the plenary session. While presenting his report, Jibrin said the funds are meant to cushion…

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– See List Below USERS of Apple’s old smartphone models, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c, will not be able to use WhatsApp after December 31, 2022. The end of WhatsApp support will also affect 45 old models of Android devices, according to the instant message platform. The affected Android phones include several models of several Huawei, LG, and Samsung smartphones. WhatsApp said users of the phones will be sent an alert before it stops working. Explaining why it would have to end its support for the affected devices, WhatsApp said:“Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating…

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BORUSSIA Dortmund forward, Karim Adeyemi is in Nigeria for the Christmas and New Year holiday. Adeyemi was sighted at the Olubadan Stadium in Ibadan on Boxing Day in company of his father. The 20-year-old was born to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother. The striker represented Germany at the U-16, U-17 and U-21 level. The former Red Bull Salzburg player has made four appearances for Germany’s senior national team with a goal to his name. He linked up with Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

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AIRPLANE ticket prices in Nigeria increased by 97.09% in a year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown. According to the Transport Fare Watch report released recently, Nigerians travelling by air paid an average of N73,267.57 for flight tickets in November 2022. This shows that the average price of single flight tickets increased by 0.09% from N73,198.65 in October 2022. However, when compared with the average price in November 2021 at N37,022.97, the difference is a whopping 97.09% increase in the price of airplane tickets, year-on-year. Highest and lowest ticket fares: The report went further to reveal that…

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THE rift between Governor Nyesom Wike and Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, might give birth to a new dimension in January before the 2023 election. This is as Wike, who is leading 5 governors of the PDP on their call for justice and equity within the leadership of the party promised to announce his preferred presidential candidate in January. On this background, a member of the APC’s national working committee expressed confidence that Wike-led G5 governors will throw their weight behind Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate. Speaking on Sunday, a member of the national working committee of…

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THE Federal Government is set to introduce 0.5 percent levy on imported goods to raise funds to meet its obligations to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, and other multilateral organisations. This is contained in a document titled ‘Invitation to a One Day Public Hearing and Submission of Memoranda on the 2022 Finance Bill,’ released by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance. The new levy was introduced into the 2022 Finance Bill under Sector 13 for Customs, Excise, Tariff, etc. (Consolidation) Act. According to the document, the planned imported levy is part of the government’s efforts to checkmate…

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