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By Justina Auta Dr Femi Lanre-Oke, the Presiding Pastor, Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministries International (JPEMI), on Sunday called on leaders globally, to promote peace, security and address challenges causing disunity and war affecting citizens. Lanre-Oke made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the church’s fifth annual convention, themed “Greater Works”, held in Abuja. According to him, imbibing the virtues of Jesus will aide in addressing the challenges affecting the global world, especially in relation to love, peace and reconciliation . He noted that insecurity was not only prevalent in Nigeria, adding that the current armed conflict between Israel and Hamas was an avenue for leaders to strategise towards reconciliation. ...

By Gami Tadanyigbe The Kogi State Professional Women for Ododo/Joel 2023 project has unanimously endorsed the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman, in the November 11th governorship election. The convener of the group, Chief Mrs Raliat Anako Abdulsalam disclosed this during a consolidated visit to his excellency, the governor of kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello (CON) to pledge the groups support for Ododo/Oyibo project come 11th November, 2023. She said the intention of the visit was to pledge the group's support and endorse Ododo/Oyibo project to come out victorious come 11/11/2023 as well as reveal their efforts on the the grassroot mobilisation so far and other positive strategies they intended putting into actions to enable smooth ...

A Nigerian multi-media advertising expert, Dr. Donald Amagbo was, over the weekend, honoured in neighbouring Benin Republic. Dr. Amagbo, alongside another prominent Nigeria, the Iyaloja of Lagos, Dr Mrs Fatima Bintu Tinubu, bagged Doctor of Philosophy degree for Policy and Administration, honorary causa, from I-FATOOS University, Republic of Benin. The Abuja-based Nasarawa State born advertising guru was awarded the doctorate degree based on his contributions to business growth and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and beyond. Conferment of the honours which took place at Palais DEB Congress hall in Cotonou, Benin republic, attracted creme de la creme of that country's business class their counterparts in Nigeria. Vice-chancellor of University, Prof. (Amb) Eze Chidi Nwauba, while sp...

By Bridget Ikyado Hon. Aondowase Kunde, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Benue State has urged communities to support the State and Federal Government as they begin plans to resettle Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in the state. He made the appeal during a visit to some IDP camps in Kwande and Logo LGAs, jointly carried out by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Dr Betta Edu and officials of the Benue State Government. The Minister was represented by the National Programme Manager, Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs , Chidimma Makuachukwu. According to the Commissioner, the joint visit to Kwande and Logo LGAs is a demonstration of the commitment of President Tinubu, to supporting the reset...

Frontline journalist and community leader, Chief Oladimeji Abitogun, has raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by the Ondo State Government to render him homeless, following a one-month notice served him to quit a building owned by a former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo. Abitogun, publisher of an online news service, sharpedgenews.com, is a tenant of eight years in Oluboyo's three-bedroom flat of four apartments in Oba-Ile, Akure, the Ondo State capital. In an eviction notice dated October 19, 2023, and signed by the director of quality control in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ojo Ibidapo, the ministry stated that the former deputy governor asked it to inspect the house which was "going through structural defects due to plumbing works failure...

Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has continued the demolition of shanties and illegal markets within the FCT due to the level of insecurity experienced in recent times. Mr Osi Braimah, Director AEPB said this on Sunday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the ongoing demolition of all shanty stores built in a market at Area 11 popularly called (the COVID-19 market) in Abuja. “Removal of shanties and illegal settlements in Area 11 and some parts of the city is to curb the incessant insecurity faced by residents. “This is an ongoing exercise by  various agencies of the FCT; AEPB has been given marching order by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to scale up all shanties, illegal settlements and squatter camps in the FCT. “We have been doing this...

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed optimism that the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme would revitalise and transform the agricultural sector in the territory, particularly livestock. Mr Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, stated this at the opening of a 5-day workshop for members of the Programme Implementation Committee in Abuja on Saturday. According to him, the programme will not only generate significant revenue for the FCT but also create employment opportunities and infrastructural development in host communities. Geidam affirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration to support the implementation of the programme to achieve the desired outcome. He urged the commit...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it is scaling up its war against drug abuse to secondary schools in Kwara. The agency said the campaign would be conducted in partnership with the schools under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) school clubs. The agency announced this in a communique issued after its town hall meeting with principals of secondary schools in Ilorin. Speakibg at the meering, the Kwara Commander of NDLEA, Mr Ibrahim Bashir, reiterated the need to set up WADA Clubs as part of extra curriculum activities in secondary schools in order to curtail the prevalence of drug abuse among youths. The agency revealed plans to station trained volunteers in secondary schools to help coordinate WADA activities and revamp programmes such as the ‘National Essay...

A heavy downpour on Friday evening claimed the life of a 31-year old motorcyclist identified as Yakubu Lucky, at Dogon Gada in Lokogoma District of the FCT, Abuja. The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which confirmed the incident in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, said the deceased defied warnings, drove into a pool of water and drowned. The statement, signed by FEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Isa, said that the deceased defied warnings from the local divers stationed in the area by FEMA. It added that the deceased also navigated through the barricade placed by the agency to stop residents from going through the flooding water. The statement added that the Search and Rescue Team of FEMA, led by Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the Director, Fore...

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says  it has secured the release of one of the eight Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) abducted in Zamfara State, through the help of security agencies. The Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Eddy Megwa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Sharpedgenews reports that eight PCMs and the bus driver were abducted in August in Zamfara by gunmen on their way from Uyo, Akwa Ibom, to Sokoto. They were going for the commencement of the one-year national service orientation course. According to Megwa, the PCM, a female, regained freedom on Friday, at about 12.30pm. “The scheme is confident that with the combined efforts of security agencies, the remaining will be released. “As corps members and prospective ones alik...

UN agencies welcome convoy’s entry into Gaza, but more aid needed UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Martin Griffiths welcomed the entry of an aid convoy into Gaza on Saturday, the first since the start of hostilities two weeks ago, following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel. The 20-truck convoy that passed through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt carried life-saving supplies provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent and the UN, including enough water for 22,000 people but only for one day. The items were approved to cross and be received by the Palestinian Red Crescent, with UN support. “I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies – including food, water, medicine and fuel – to the people of Gaza, in a safe,...

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has expressed appreciation for the assistance of the Emir of Qatar for his efforts to secure the release of two Americans who had been held hostage in Gaza. Guterres, in his statement by his Spokesperson Mr Stephane Dujarric on Saturday, renewed his call for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. “He calls once again for unhindered and sustained humanitarian access in Gaza; full respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians; as well as for concerted efforts by the international community to avoid a wider regional spill-over of the conflict,” said the statement. Similarly, in a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden, thanked the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership ...

The House of Representatives has resolved to introduce legislative instruments to halt crude oil theft that has led to the loss of over one billion dollars in revenue. Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said this during the presentation of the report of an ad-hoc committee investigating crude oil theft and loss of revenue from Oil and Gas at the end of the week’s legislative activities. The motion was referred to the ad-hoc committee chaired by Rep. Kabiru Rurum, following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Phillip Agbese (APC-Benue). The deputy speaker stated that oil theft accounts for the loss of over $1 billion which represents a huge percentage of the national budget. He lamented that the scourge of oil theft impedes government’s a...

The police in Borno State has confirmed the arrest of two suspects, Adamu Ibrahim and Bukar Wadiya, for allegedly killing one Fatima Alhaji-Bukar, a 24 years old housewife. Mrs Alhaji-Bukar was a resident of Dikechiri, Bayan Gidan Dambe area of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State. In a statement by spokesperson of the Borno command ASP Sani Kamilu and made available to reporters in Maiduguri, the police said the deceased was married to Mr Ibrahim who was the prime suspect in the matter. On October 18, 2023, one Adamu Alhaji Ibrahim of Dikechiri Bayan Gidan Dambe area Maiduguri went to Gwange Division, accompanied by one Bukar Wadiya, conveying the body of a woman whom he claimed to be his wife and sought for an emergency help from the police,” he said. He added that “The husband...

The Federal Government says it is not undermining the agreement reached with organised Labour on Oct. 2. It would be recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had alleged that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Simon Lalong, had undermined the recent  agreement reached with organised labour. Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Information in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said this in a statement he signed on Friday in Abuja. According to Oshundun, the attention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has been drawn to a press release issued by the NLC) on 18th October, 2023. “It alleged that the Minister is moving to undermine the critical Labour-Federal Government Agreement of October 2, 2023. “We wish to unequivocally refute the allegation a...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the withdrawal and revocation of houses sold to individuals by the FCT Administration but converted to other uses. Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. Mr Galadima recalled that the federal government, in 2005, initiated the monetisation programme because of the cost of maintaining the houses. He explained that the houses were sold to the occupiers to maintain them, but after some time, some beneficiaries converted them from residential to other uses. “It is on this note that the minister has approved and directed that all owners of such properties should revert the use of the properties to its original and desig...

Some lawyers in Lagos on Friday blamed prison congestion in Nigeria on stringent bail conditions. A lawyer and social critic, Spurgeon Ataene, said the rate of prison congestion should compel courts to review bail conditions. He noted that the Nigeria Correctional Service had repeatedly decried the congestion of prisons across states. Stringent bail terms such as the provision of civil servants landed property owners, community leaders or people in blue chip companies as sureties are responsible for the situation we see today. “Magistrates and judges should not take undue delight in ensuring that minor offenders remain in custody,” he said, suggesting that relatives be accepted as sureties,” he said. Mr Ataene added that prosecutors should stop unnecessary objections to bai...

By Information Unit, UATH The Nigeria IDP Diaspora Support (NIDS) Group, in Partnership with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada, has held a 3-day medical outreach to pregnant women and children in displaced communities in FCT. Mr Kelvin Obi, Founder/Chairman, Nigeria IDP Diaspora Support Group, during the mission disclosed that the group is a non-profit, charity organization based in the United Kingdom with focus on maternal/child health and mental health. The Founder said the Group also in this visit trained adult and children trauma counsellors and held a workshop for community health workers and nurses to help reduce maternal mortality rate and perinatal mortality in the country. Dr Sambo Thomas, a Senior Registrar (who is part of the local content)...

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Shaakaa Chira as the substantive Auditor-General of the Federation. A statement by Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said that the appointment was based on the powers vested on Tinubu by Section 86 of the 1999 Constitution (Amended). He said that the President approved Chira’s appointment after a Federal Civil Service Commission confirmed him as the most qualified candidate out of those screened. Chira also scored the highest marks in the examination conducted for the office. Ngelale said that the President tasked the new Auditor-General to justify the confidence reposed in him and live up to the expectations of Nigerians.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) says it is supporting 250,000 households withelectric mobility, mini-grids, home systems to boost electricity in the country. Malam Mutari Ibrahim, Director Promotion and Outreach (PIO) made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday. "In response to subsidy removal, REA is implementing interventions to develop electric mobility, mini-grids, distribute home systems. ''And deploy streetlights, potentially supporting up to 250,000 households in the coming year. Ibrahim said that the agency has equally deployed over 1,650 Kilo Meter (KM) of solar streetlights, improving power, security, and economic growth in rural areas, ''he said. He said that REA also completed 1,403 projects under the capital budget, delivering solar streetlights, m...