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The Police Service Commission at an extraordinary Meeting today, Friday January 17th,2025 approved the appointment of AIG Banji Badaru Lawal, AIG incharge of Border Patrol, Force Headquarters , Abuja as a substantive Deputy Inspector General of Police representing the South West Geopolitical zone. He takes over from DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi who represented the zone and retired on the 31st of December 2024. Alabi was DIG incharge of Force Criminal Investigation Department . The new DIG was a former Commandant Police Training College, Ikeja, Lagos; Assistant Commissioner Operations, Ekiti State Command; Abia State Command and Edo State Command. He later became Area Commander Uyo, Deputy Commissioner Operations, Nasarawa State; Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Akwa Ibom State and...

Belgium’s football association on Friday announced the sacking of national team coach Domenico Tedesco after disappointing performances at Euro 2024 and in the Nations League. “Unfortunately, the Red Devils did not perform as we hoped at Euro 2024, just as they did in the next Nations League campaign,” the football association (RBFA) said on their website. Tedesco was appointed in February 2023 to replace Roberto Martinez and rebuild the squad as the country’s “golden generation” departed. Tedesco’s team qualified for Euro 2024 but were eliminated in the last 16 by France, who then beat Belgium twice more in the Nations League as the Red Devils finished third in their group. They face a relegation play-off against Ukraine in March. “I was always proud to be the coach of the...

By Vivian Emoni The Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, says implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has opened up new areas for trade opportunities.Oduwole said this while receiving the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Mr Wamkele Mene, who was on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Thursday.She said that the implementation would stimulate investment and foster competitiveness for African businesses, as AfCFTA is aimed at making it easier and cheaper to move goods and services between countries.“The AfCFTA in essence is the framework that has been long awaited by Nigeria and African youths.“We have already began to see transformation with the elimination of tariffs on 90 per cent of goods traded across the continent.“We have opened up ...

By Vivian Emoni The Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment and Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, have announced a collaboration to promote digital trade and create job opportunities in Nigeria. Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, emphasised that the partnership would enhance Information Technology and Communication (ITC) and foster digital trade across the country. She made the remarks while receiving Dr Olatunbosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, on a courtesy visit in her office on Wednesday in Abuja. Tijani explained that the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration between the two ministries, ensuring effective support for digital programmes. He outlined the ministry’s blueprint to promot...

President Bola Tinubu has assured a global audience in the United Arab Emirates that Nigeria is ready to work with other nations to build a resilient, equitable and sustainable world for all. Tinubu said this while speaking on the topic: “From Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity: Bridging Africa with the Global Energy Future”, on the second day of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. “The fight against climate change is not merely an environmental necessity but a global economic opportunity to reshape the trajectory of our continent and the global energy landscape. “As leaders, stakeholders and citizens of our planet, we stand at a critical juncture in human history. To succeed, we must innovate, collaborate and act decisively as one global community.” Reiterating ...

A 17-year-old mother of one, simply identified as Deola, has reportedly committed suicide due to a misunderstanding between her and her spouse, Seyi, over two cups of rice.The teenager whose child is a year and five months, NewsSpecng gathered Investigations allegedly took an insecticide when she had a misunderstanding with her husband over the measurement of rice to be prepared for her kid.The incident occurred in the Labi community in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, and she was buried on Tuesday.A family source, who preferred anonymity, said, “The two of them (husband and wife) actually had a minor issue over a measurement of rice.“When she was trying to prepare food in the morning, the husband only advised her to measure just two cups because the food was meant for her...

The Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council, with immediate effect. However, the Governor has exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution, due to the critical nature of their duties. They are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac. All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries. Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the EXCO members for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours.

President Bola Ahmed Tinibu Tuesday approved the appointment of Folashade Arinola Adekaiyaoja as Deputy Director General for the Service. The approval is the first by any president. Tinubu has been commended by a large section of serving and retired DSS officers who see the move as restoring professionalism to the Service. The presidential approval, it was gathered, seeks to revise the agency’s structure for better efficiency, in line with the original organogram of the service. Checks revealed that the DSS is structured to comprise three Deputy Directors General in its hierarchy. The appointment and ratification by the President, according to elated operatives of the agency, was based on the recommendation of the DG through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu ...

No fewer than 348 suspected criminals have been arrested in the nation's capital by the Police Command.The suspects were arrested when operatives of the command raided 17 black spots.The areas identified and raided are: Apo-Dutse Panteka, Diplomatic Zone, New PDP Secretariat, Kabusa Panteka, Ajakaita (Tungan-Maje), Abuja-Kaduna Road, Jabi Panteka, Apo-Waru Panteka, Area 1 (Monkey Village) and Durumi Village.Others are; Gwarimpa, Angwan Tivi, Mpape (Mashafa and Shishinpe villages), Durumi III (Burukutu Garden), Mabushi (Gishiri Village), Kubwa (by Pipeline and NEPA Road) and Maitama (under the Transcorp Bridge).Out of the 348, the police said 320 suspects have been prosecuted and charged to the court.According to a statement on Tuesday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josphin...

The Federal Government has concluded plans for dry season rice farming in its phase two of support for farmers toward increased harvests and food security for Nigerians. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said this while briefing State House correspondents.He said the Federal Government would support not less than 400,000 farmers to cultivate 200,000 hectares. “Rice cultivation in dry season takes place in irrigated areas in the whole country, 36 states plus FCT. “We are starting end of this month and early February in the southern parts of the country where we have already identified clusters where irrigation farming will take place and southern part of north-central zone. “That is because the rain starts early and we are going to start doing the ...

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, says wheat farmers are expecting a bumper harvest this year as a result of the support given to them by the Federal Government. The Minister said this at a media parley with State House correspondents. He said the expectation of a bumper wheat harvest was based on the Federal Government intervention in the phase one of dry season wheat production of 2024-2025, which ended on Dec. 27, 2024. He said during the programme, about 300,000 farmers were supported to cultivate 150,000 hectares, which is one farmer per half a hectare. He said the Federal Government subsidised wheat seeds to the tune of 75 per cent, with farmers paying 25 per cent of the seed amount. “Then in terms of fertilisation, it's also 50-50, just ...

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari has disclosed that the Federal Government has started taking delivery of the 2000 tractors it ordered from Belarus. He said the government is focused on crashing the price of food commodities in the country, hence the adoption of new measures to make farming seamless. Kyari opined that food prices have started dropping due to good rainfall, a bumper harvest, and effective government policies. “The 2024 farming season was very successful, with farmers across the country recording high yields. “The government is working to sustain this progress by supporting wheat farming in highland areas like Taraba State and providing modern farming tools to farmers,” Kyari stated while briefing journalists on Tuesday. He sa...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has admonished young Nigerians to key into the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led administration and be be part of the solution providers. Ndace made the call when the Young Africans Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network in Nigeria and Female Journalist Network Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit on Monday in Abuja. According the VON D-G, the institute usually engage the youths on monthly basis, because, it appreciates and recognises raw talent. "We cannot move forward if we are not part of the solution in solving the challenges facing the country. It could be government, associations, Civil Society Organisations, etc. "We need to partners, synergise and collaborate in mo...

No fewer than 10 000 people are expected to benefit from the eye care programme in Borno State. Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Monday announced the setting up of an eye camp programme that will provide free eye surgeries for 10,000 residents of the state suffering from various visual impairments, including cataracts. Zulum flagged off a free eye surgery operations programme jointly organised by Borno State Government and the Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, who provided funds to cover the operation cost of 500 people. The governor explained that the programme was earlier planned to benefit 1,000 people, but due to the overwhelming turnout, it was expanded to allow 10,000 people to receive free eye surgery. He said, “We launch...

Lagos lawmakers have impeached Mudasiru Obasa as Speaker.He was impeached on Monday during plenary.Obasa's impeachment was not a surprise to many political watchers.. Obasa was replaced by his deputy, lasbat meranda, who represents apapa constituency 1 and formerly served as the chief whip of the house.The impeachment came days after the gazette reported that mr. obasa approved the withdrawal of n43.5 billion for backup vehicles for lawmakers, along with other controversial activities.Sources indicate that mr. obasa was in atlanta when his impeachment took place.Mr. obasa, 52, was first elected speaker on june 8, 2015, taking office alongside former governor akinwunmi ambode.His tenure has been marked by repeated accusations of fraud and political thuggery. in 2020, the gazette publish...

Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda (Apapa I) has emerged as the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Before her emergence as the Speaker, Meranda was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. Her emergence followed the impeachment of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the House of Assembly over gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has granted the bail applications filed by the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, owner of a prominent indigenous radio station, Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdullahi Fasasi. The ruling was pronounced by Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, on Monday. The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has granted the bail applications filed by the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, owner of a prominent indigenous radio station, Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdullahi Fasasi. The ruling was pronounced by Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, on Monday. Naomi was granted N10 million bai...

No fewer than 250 manufacturers and academic institutions have shifted from the country's power distribution companies to generate their own electricity.This is coming amid the high cost of electricity, fuel price hikes, incessant grid collapses, and line trippings.Documents from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, showed that firms have generated up to 6,500 megawatts of electricity altogether.This is higher than the country’s power generation which is currently hovering around 4,500MW and 5,000MW.The outlets got permits from the NERC to generate captive power. Some permits were issued as far back as 2010, 2016, 2020, and 2022.It was learned that the request for captive power generation increased since 2023, especially after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electricity Act 20...

An 18-year-old Dalit woman from the southern India state of Kerala has accused 64 men of sexually abusing her since she was 13 years old.Police have arrested 28 people in connection with the case so far - the men are in custody and have not made any public statement.The accused, who range between 17 and 47 years of age, include the woman's neighbours, sports coaches and her father's friends, police told the BBC.The woman reported the alleged abuse after a team of counsellors working under a government scheme visited her house.Police have registered about 18 cases under India's various crime laws as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act - which is a law to prevent crimes against people belonging to lower castes and tribes in India.Dalits lie at th...

Governor Seyi Makinde has presented the Staff of Office to the new Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Owoade. The governor made the presentation at his office in Ibadan, the state capital on Monday. PUNCH Online earlier had earlier reported that Owoade is scheduled to receive his appointment letter and staff of office on Monday. He (Prince Owoade) is in town. He will get a letter of appointment from the state government tomorrow (Monday) so that he can resume work as Alaafin,” a top government source told The PUNCH. Makinde approved Owoade’s appointment in an announcement made in a Friday statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.