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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 93.76 percent results of the Edo governorship election on the viewing portal (IReV). A total of 4,237 results out of 4,519 have been uploaded on the IReV. Speaking earlier in an interview with Arise Television, Anugbum Onuoha, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Edo, said the governorship election results will be transmitted electronically. Onuoha, however, warned that poor network could hinder the transmission of results to the viewing portal (IReV). You know that we have 4,519 pulling units across the 18 local governments, and so far we have deployed 4,622 BVAS to the various local governments. And we also have backup of 660 BVAS,” he said. “We have trained the operators for the BVAS. They are set....

The Federal Government saysit has spent about 250 million dollars to provide electricity supply to some Federal Universities and teaching hospitals. This initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to expanding alternative energy access to underserved and unserved rural communities. According to Rural Electrification Agency (REA) the projects were executed under the Energising Education Programme of the Nigeria Electrification Project. The Managing Director of REA, Mr Abba Aliyu said this at a two-day stakeholders engagement forum on the Energizing Education Programme in Abuja on Friday, Aliyu said ''over 250 million dollars has been spent on both phase 11 and 111 of these projects to deploy infrastructure, build distribution network, upgrade sub-stations...

Stakeholders in the Olugbesan Family of Oke-Agbeni, Ibadan, have urged former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Hazeem Gbolarunmi, to refrain from selling or having anything to do with their properties. In a communiqué released after their monthly meeting on Sunday at the Olugbesan family compound, the stakeholders expressed concern over reports that Mr. Gbolarunmi continues to sell their family land and is attempting to seize additional properties belonging to the Olugbesan family. "Despite our public outcry regarding the illegal sale of our family's land at Olugbesan's village, Mr. Hazeem Gbolarunmi has not ceased this activity. The latest incident involves the unlawful sale of our family's land through one Adeoye Femi (a.k.a Femi Baale and Alfa Leke. We want to state here cate...

By Victor Okoye Lizzy-Ulunma Asomugha has been installed as the 4th President of the Rotary Club of Abuja -Aso Golf. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presedential ceremony formally installing her in office was held on Thursday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja The club welcomed some high-profile dignitaries as well as special guests and members to the event, including Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, His excellency (Barr.) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, High Chief Sen. Ben Ndi Obi, Sen. Zam , Amb. Biddy Egbo, Amb. Joe Keshi, Amb. Humphrey Orjiako,amongst others. The ceremony signified the beginning of a new chapter of leadership for the club, and provided guests and members to witness the formal installation of a new lea...

…cites shame, disgrace By Samuel Alonge A well-known family in Osiele, Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, has publicly disowned one of its members, Mr. David Abiodun Popoola, citing embarrassment and disgrace caused by his alleged involvement in serial bisexual practices. The decision was announced over the weekend during a press briefing held by David's paternal aunt, Madam Felicia Popoola, and his maternal uncle, Pastor Tunde Akinwande. In her statement, Madam Popoola expressed deep disappointment, stating, "In all sincerity, we all love David as he is an enterprising member of the family who is married and well-to-do. However, we can no longer stand the shame and disgrace brought upon the family by his involvement in bisexual practice." The family’s decision to ...

By Joan Nwagwu The Federal Government said it was making strident efforts to curtail irregular migration by Nigerians through policies and programmes that would boost the economy and create employment of the country. Sen.Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning said this at an Anti-Migration Summit organised by a non governmental organisation, the Blacks Ancestral Native Communities (BANC) on Thursday in Abuja. Bagudu said that irregular migration had a lot of unintended negative outcomes such as human trafficking and drug peddling were some of the ills that irregular migration had put the youths into. According to Bagudu, the federal government realises the urgent need to advance Nigerian economy to an enviable level where it can support her leadership status...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF) has called for the Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS) for all casual workers in the country. Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, the Managing Director of the NSITF made the call while delivering a keynote address the 68 Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) on Thursday in Abuja. Faleye said that the ECS coverage was imperative as thousands of casual workers in the construction industry were left outside the coverage with the attendant consequence of abandonment in the event of workplace accidents or death. According to him, I want to bring your attention to an issue that requires our immediate and collective action, and that is the coverage of casual workers under the ECS. “Currently, our prac...

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year. The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday. “President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding. At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” the statement indicated. The high-level general debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting...

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a 53-year-old man, Bitrus Daniyan, in a correctional centre for alleged indecent sexual assault of his seven-year-old daughter. The Magistrate, E. Kubeinje, who did not take the plea of Mr Daniyan ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. Mrs Kubeinje adjourned the case until October 15 for the DPP’s advice. The defendant was facing a charge of indecent sexual assault. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector John Iberedem, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in June at Military Zone C, Nominee Estate, Ajah, Lagos. Mr Iberedem, who said that the defendant sexually assaulted his daughter by inserting his finger into her private parts, explained that Mr Daniy...

Some fishermen and children are recording good fish harvests in the flood-ridden Maiduguri areas in Borno as desperate residents use mosquito nets for fishing in the floodwaters. While fishermen used proper fishing nets, the children used mosquito nets and bare hands to fish in the receding waters and artificial ponds created by the floods. One of the children, Danladi, said the experience was worth it, as they were making a good catch. “Sometimes what we catch is enough for soup when we mobilise in groups,” stated the youngster. “Most of the fish are tiny. We fry or roast them to eat. Meanwhile, other residents are doing brisk business with canoe transport in the flood-ravaged Maiduguri. The flood submerged Maiduguri in the past 10 days following the breakdown of spillways...

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris and the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, have declared their commitment to press freedom in Nigeria and Africa. They said this when Mr Mills and his team visited Idris on Wednesday in Abuja. “I am here today to have a very good conversation about many things we are doing together. We have trade relations, and our cooperation is very strong. We want to make sure we fulfill them. “We also know that the minister is doing a good job to ensure press freedom in this country. It’s about journalists’ rights. We talked about how we can work together and strengthen freedom of the press in Nigeria, Africa and the world,” Mr Mills said. According to him, many democratic countries face disinformation, misinforma...

The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to commence the deployment of sensitive materials today ahead of this weekend governorship election in Edo state. NewsSpecng gathered that no fewer than 5,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems would be deployed for the poll. Other Sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, arrived in Edo State on Wednesday via Benin Airport and were transported to secure storage facilities under tight security, NewsSpecng also gathered. No fewer than 2.2million residents of the state are expected to troop out to vote in a new governor as the tenure of Godwin Obaseki comes to an end. The campiagn trainof all the 17 contenders for the gover or's seat is expected to come to.a halt today, 24 hours before the election....

The UN General Assembly has adopted a Palestinian-drafted, non-binding resolution demanding Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months. There were 124 votes in favour and 14 against, including Israel, along with 43 abstentions. As a non-member observer state, Palestine could not vote. The resolution is based on a July advisory opinion from the UN's highest court that said Israel was occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip against international law. The Palestinian ambassador called the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice”. But his Israeli counterpart denounced it as “diplomatic terrorism”. Although the General Assembly’s resolutions are not binding, they carry symbolic and political wei...

There was a minor shakeup in the police on Thursday, NewsSpecng learnt. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun in what was described as strategically emplace a Police Force well efficient for effective policing ordered the immediate redeployment of the Commissioners of Police in Rivers, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Egbetokun order covers the redeployment of the CP Rivers Command, CP Olatunji Disu as the new CP FCT; CP Delta Command, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi as the new CP Rivers Command and CP FCT, CP Peter Opara as the new CP Delta State. A statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi explained: “Following the approval of the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police has also deployed four (4) C...

SERVICOM National Coordinator, Nnenna Akajemeli, in a warm handshake with the MD/CE NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye during the advocacy visit by SERVICOM to the NSITF, today. By Joan Nwagwu The new management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF) has reiterated that it would ensure quality services delivery on the Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS). Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, Managing Director of the NSITF said this when the National Coordinator of the Service Compact With All Nigerians ( SERVICOM) Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli led a delegation on an advocacy visit to the Fund on Wednesday in Abuja. Faleye said that the current leadership has already initiated reforms aimed at enhancing service delivery while increasing transparency in the operations of the Fund. According to him, the...

A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, his media office confirmed on Wednesday. A statement signed by the Director of the Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, Bello’s decision to appear before the anti-graft agency comes after consultations with his family, legal team, and political associates. The statement was titled “Former Governor Yahaya Bello honours EFCC’s invitation” Bello was said to have been accompanied to the EFCC headquarters by several high-profile Nigerians. The former governor has been in a running battle with the anti-graft agency over alleged financial impropriety while he was the number one citizen of Kogi. He and three others are facing 19 counts related to money la...

The federation account allocation committee (FAAC) says the three tiers of government shared a total of N1.203 trillion in August 2024 from a gross total of N2.278 trillion. According to a statement on Tuesday by Mohammed Manga, director of information and public relations at ministry of finance, FAAC announced the allocation at its September meeting chaired by Wale Edun, minister of finance. The amount shared dropped by N155 billion compared to the N1.35 trillion allocated in July. “From the stated amount inclusive of gross statutory revenue, value added tax (VAT), electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) and exchange difference (ED), the federal government received N374.925 billion, the states received N422.861 billion, the local government councils got N306.533 billion, while the...

After allegedly coordinated explosions of hundreds of telecommunications devices in Lebanon, the United Nations has warned of the risk of an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. “These developments are extremely concerning, especially given that this is taking place within a context that is extremely volatile,” spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in New York. He said the UN is monitoring the situation. “I think we cannot underscore enough the risks of escalation in Lebanon and the region,” Mr Dujarric added. In the explosions of pagers across several regions but mostly in Hezbollah-controlled areas, some 2,800 people were injured and nine people were killed. Among the injured were numerous members of the pro-Iranian Shiite organization Hezbollah. Hezbollah blamed Israel...

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 2,249,780 registered voters have collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs). This represents 85.57 per cent of the 2,629,025 total registered voters in the state. Sam Olumekun, INEC national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Mr Olumekun said 379,245 PVCs, representing 14.43 per cent, were uncollected as of Monday, September 16, at the end of the extended period for PVC collection in the state. He said that, consequently, INEC was making available data on PVC collection on a polling unit basis in Edo ahead of the governorship election on Saturday. “There are 4,519 polling units in the ...

The NNPC Ltd has released estimated prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as Petrol (obtained from the Dangote Refinery) in its retail stations across the country. The NNPC Ltd also wishes to state that, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), PMS prices are not set by Government, but negotiated directly between parties on an arms length. The NNPC Ltd can confirm that it is paying Dangote Refinery in USD for September 2024 PMS offtake, as Naira transactions will only commence on October 1st, 2024. The NNPC Ltd assures that if the quoted pricing is disputed, it will be grateful for any discount from the Dangote Refinery, which will be passed on 100% to the general public. Attached to this statement are the estimated pump prices of PMS (obtain...