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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of eight (8) new Chief Executive Officers for Parastatals and Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation: The Special Adviser to the President, on Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, who disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, said the following people are; (1) National Orientation Agency (NOA) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu (2) Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos (3) Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) — Director-General / CEO — Dr. Muhammed Bulama (4) National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) — Director-General / CEO — Mr. Charles Ebuebu (5) Voice of Nigeria (VON) — Direct...

By Victor Okoye. An NGO, Centre for School Health Education and Environmental Hygiene (CSHEEH) have emphasised the need for coordinated efforts in pursuit of universal hand hygiene. CSHEEH Executive Director, Dr Folasade Momoh, made the remarks while speaking at an event in Junior Secondary School (JSS), Byazhin, Kubwa Abuja to mark this year’s Global Handwashing Day. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s GHWD which is its 15th edition is “Clean Hands Are Within Reach.” Momoh stressed on the need for coordinated and collective action plan towards achieving universal hand hygiene, by promoting the advancement of hand hygiene and practice. She said that everyone had a role to play in making the vision of “Clean Hands Are Within Reach ” a reali...

A lawyer and public Affairs Analyst, Chinedu Ihedike, has cautioned the proposed appointment of Major Hamza Al Mustapha, as the Commandant General of the Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Ihedike, who made the call in a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, said the present the administration should make a proper background check of all appointees particularly those who have served in past administrations and their antecedents. He said in an effort to form a unity government which would cater and take into cognizance the diverse interests of Nigerians, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has given political appointments to a critical mass of political opponents in order to represent geopolitical interests of all zones. According to him, there was need to do proper...

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund says it will oversee the agency thoroughly to ensure adequate utilisation of funds accrued. Chairman of the committee, Muntari Dandutse (APC-Katsina), said this during the maiden meeting of the committee held in Abuja on Thursday. Mr Dandutse said the committee would also ensure that the agency operated efficiently, transparently and effectively to maximise its positive impact. Our tertiary institutions are the crucibles of knowledge and the launch pads of progress where future leaders, innovators and professionals are moulded. These institutions need our unwavering support to thrive and adapt to the evolving needs of our society. “The TETFund, with its mandate to provide intervention funds to thes...

The federal government on Thursday announced the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos starting from midnight of Saturday, October 21, to midnight of Sunday, October 22, to carry out repairs. In a statement, the federal controller of works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, said the government was ready to begin comprehensive rehabilitation works on the bridge, starting with repairs of the critical portions. Ms Kesha said the federal government wished to inform the motoring public that it was working on plans to carry out comprehensive repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge. However, in order to alleviate the pains currently being experienced on the bridge, the ministry would be carrying out palliative works on the most critically failed sections along the Adeniji bound carriageway...

The federal government says it will do everything humanly possible to ensure that Nigeria returns to UNESCO governing board. Information minister Mohammed Idris gave the assurance when the permanent delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Hajo Sani, and her team visited him on Wednesday in Abuja. According to Mr Idris, his information ministry is key in the activities of UNESCO, adding that it will participate fully and effectively. The minister said he was keen to see Nigeria take advantage of full opportunities made available to Nigeria’s membership at UNESCO, urging that the ministry should always be communicated on any opportunity. We will put up our strategy and strengthen our engagements with other member nations to see that Nigeria returns to that seat on the board. If there are on...

By Marian Okpe- Abuja In what appears to be a more concerted and deliberate effort towards ameliorating the downward educational trend in northern Nigeria, Northern Elders gathered at the Idris Abubakar auditorium of the National University Commission (NUC) to take a closer look at the gross backwardness of the level of education within their region. The one-day conference which was tagged, “Education in Northern Nigeria: Status, Challenges and the way forward” was not only apt but drew participants from highly distinguished ppersonalities, including the Vice President of the Federal republic of Nigeria, H. E. Sen. Kashim Shettima, GCON and the Minister of Education, Hon Tahir Mamman, the Hon Minister of Budget and Planning, H. E. Atiku Bagudu and the Hon Minister of State for Educatio...

Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State, has approved the release of over N364.8 million for the payment of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for about 20,269 indigenes of the state. Malam Ibrahim Kalau, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor disclosed this in a statement issued in Katsina on Wednesday. According to him, the beneficiaries are those who sat for the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). “One of the cardinal agenda of the Gov Radda’s administration, among several others, is repositioning Katsina State’s education sector. “Since assuming office, he has demonstrated absolute commitment towards fixing Katsina’s primary, secondary and tertiary education systems. “The approval of the fund says it’s all about the govern...

The Commissioner of Police in Kogi,  (CP), Mr Bethrand Onuoha, has ordered for an investigation into the alleged clash between his officers and officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state. The commissioner, in a statement issued by the Command’s Spokesman SP Williams Ovye-Aya in Lokoja, expressed surprise over the alleged incident. Bethrand, who condemned the incident, stated that the clash was avoidable since both personnel misunderstood themselves. “It was revealed that the operatives of NDLEA trailed the woman who turned out to be the wife of an Inspector of Police attached to Area Command Lokoja to the car where it was parked in front of Bishop Delisle College opposite the Area Command Office. “The woman was arrested and taken int...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says plans are underway to improve the quality of health services in the federal capital, Abuja. Wike gave the assurance when the Executive members of the FCT Chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors, led by the President, Dr Rahman Olayinka visited him in Abuja on Wednesday. He explained that the FCT Administration would ensure necessary provisions in the 2024 budget to improve quality of services in health facilities in the FCT. “The services at the moment are not encouraging. It is unfortunate. “I was thinking that since FCT is a capital city it will have the best health facilities, but from what I am told, there is nothing to write home about, but be assured it will be the best. “We will bring th...

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday destroyed fake and expired goods worth over N500 million in Abuja. Speaking during the exercise, the Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated that some of the goods were also voluntary submitted to the agency. Represented by Mr Francis Ononiwu, NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, the D-G stated that the exercise is carried out routinely all over the country. The NAFDAC boss said that the destruction of the products were done to prevent their re-introduction to the supply chain. Adeyeye listed some of the products destroyed as drugs made up of psychoactive and controlled substance like antibiotics, antihypertensive, antimalarials, herbal snuff and herbal rem...

President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria has sent warm greetings to former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on his 89th birthday. A statement by Presidential Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said the president celebrates the elder statesman whose visionary leadership has shaped major milestones in Nigeria’s history. The president extolled Gowon for institutionalising the peace process in Nigeria with lasting legacies, such as laying the foundation for Nigeria’s federation through the creation of states. Other milestones of the former head of state include fostering cohesion, encouraging inter-ethnic warmth and understanding by establishing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the president said. Tinubu said Gowon also sustained the pillars of...

Gunmen on Wednesday killed five persons in Ayilamo, a village in Logo Local Government of Benue. According to Mr Sewuese Anene, spokesman of the Police Command in the north-central state, the attack occurred on Tuesday night. “A few others sustained injuries,” Anene added. She said that another attack occured in Mbachohon community in Gwer-West Local Government, but added that details in respect of that incident were not available. Unconfirmed reports indicated that six people were killed in the Mbachohon attack. “The attacks are unfortunate; more security men are being deployed to the areas to restore peace,” Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria.

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has awarded practicing licenses to 116 qualified Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs). Dr Charles Odii, Director-General, SMEDAN, said at the Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) Licencing Award ceremony organised by the agency on Wednesday in Lagos. Odii said that the practicing license would allow BDSPs to provide quality service delivery to the Micro Small and Medium–sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. Sharpedgenews reports that the BDSPs certification was in collaboration with Kaduna Business School, the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Atlantic University. The BDSPs are Nigerians from the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the country that have met the requirements to practice th...

 Mrs Fatima Waziri, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says the agency has secured 631 convictions since its establishment. Waziri, made this known while speaking with newsmen during the workshop for its Public Relations Officers (PROs) and Public Enlightenment Officers (PEO) on Wednesday in Lagos. Waziri said that the number of convictions in 2022 was the highest since the agency’s inception. “In 2022, we are able to secure 80 convictions, which was the highest  since the inception. As at today in 2023, we have secured 55 convictions and still counting. “For the first time on March 8, we extradited a high profile human trafficker back to Italy to serve her 13 years sentence. “This we did in collaboratio...

The management of University of Ilorin on Wednesday condoled with the family of Miss Hameedat Sanni, the student who allegedly killed herself over financial transactions. A statement by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, said the institution’s management viewed the incident with sadness. “It was the most horrible way to die, especially for a promising young lady who had every opportunity before her to make it big in life”. Akogun expressed the university management’s sympathy with the parents, siblings, friends and colleagues of the deceased and prayed that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss. The management then counselled students of the university to be wary of the company they keep in order not to fall into the traps of scammers. ...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has appointed Mr Olufemi Soneye as its Chief Corporate Communications Officer. The NNPC Ltd management said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja Soneye would lead its Corporate Communications team and drive its brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives, and stakeholder management. The company described Soneye, as a seasoned journalist with full-time and freelance experiences at some of the world’s most respected publications in Nigeria, Australia, and the U.S. “He is a member of reputable bodies, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists, Society of Professional Journalists, and the Guild of Corporate Online Media Publishers. “He is the former President of the ...

The Peoples Republic of China has expressed commitment to refinancing and completing the Abuja-Kano and Port- Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President. The statement, released on Wednesday in Abuja, quoted the President of China, Xi Jinping, making the pledge while responding to requests made by President Bola Tinubu during a bilateral meeting with the Chinese leader in Beijing. Sharpedgenews reports that Tinubu was represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative Forum (BRI) holding in China. NAN recalled that since the launch of the projects, China is yet to release funds for th...

The United State on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza. The failure by the Council to make its first public intervention on the Israel-Gaza crisis followed the rejection of a Russian-backed draft on Monday evening. While 12 of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour of the Brazilian-led text, one (United States) voted against, and two (Russia, and the United Kingdom) abstained. A ‘no’ vote from any one of the five permanent members of the Council stops action on any measure put before it. The body’s permanent members are: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Prior to the vote, two amendments proposed by Russia, calling for an i...

UN Secretary General, António Guterres, on Wednesday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East to ease the “epic human suffering” in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Speaking in Beijing, Guterres said a ceasefire would “provide sufficient time and space” to realise two essential appeals which he made earlier this week. He appealed to Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held in Gaza and to Israel, to immediately allow aid to enter the sealed-off enclave in the throes of a devastating humanitarian crisis. “The region is on the precipice,” he warned. The call came a day after hundreds were killed in a strike at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, which Guterres strongly condemned, stressing that hospitals and all medical personnel were protected under...