Monday, December 30

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NEMA Distributes Relief Materials To Flood Victims In Akwa Ibom
28Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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NEMA Distributes Relief Materials To Flood Victims In Akwa Ibom

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Saturday, distributed relief materials to victims of the flood disaster in Akwa Ibom. The intervention is part of the federal government’s special intervention for the 2024 flood in the Uyo, Ibesikpo, Uruan, Nsit Atai, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, and Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas. In her remarks, NEMA’s director-general, Zubaida Umar, said the relief materials included 600 bags of rice, 350 cartons of spaghetti, 60 cartons of vegetable oil, 60 cartons of tin tomatoes, 60 cartons of seasoning cubes, and 30 bags of iodised salt. Ms Umar, represented by Mmandu Aisueni, head of operations in Akwa Ibom, said the gesture was to provide the needed relief to the victims as they rebuild their lives after the flood disaster. “It is ...
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Gunmen Kill Catholic Priest In Anambra
28Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Gunmen Kill Catholic Priest In Anambra

Tragedy has hit the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi in Anambra following the reported killing of Rev. Tobias Okonkwo by yet-to-be-identified gunmen. The chancellor of the Nnewi Diocese, Raphael Ezeogu, disclosed the incident in a statement on Friday. Mr Ezeogu stated that Mr Okonkwo was shot dead by the gunmen on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway at about 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The statement solicited prayers and Holy Mass from the Catholic faithful for the deceased’s eternal joy. Mr Ezeogu said, “The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi announces, with sorrow, but with stronger faith, that our dear Rev. Fr. Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo died December 26. “He was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Ihiala, on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. We solicit your prayer...
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Ohanaeze’s President-General Promises Credible Election
28Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Ohanaeze’s President-General Promises Credible Election

The president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, has pledged to ensure a credible and peaceful election for the next leader of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. Mr Chukwu made the promise on Friday in Owerri while inaugurating the screening and election committees for the exercise slated for January 2025. Mr Chukwu, whose tenure will end on January 10, 2025, was appointed to lead the body following the death of erstwhile president-general Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imo Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by C.J. Ihemedu, presented Mr Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the remaining period of a four-year tenure allotted to Imo. The Imo slot suffered huge setbacks, first with the death of George Obiozor in 2022, ...
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NCAA Says Poor Passenger Management Damaging Aviation Credibility
28Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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NCAA Says Poor Passenger Management Damaging Aviation Credibility

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says that airline operators’ poor management of passengers during flight disruptions and cancellations is affecting the credibility of the aviation industry. The director-general of NCAA, Chris Najomo, made the remark on Friday in Lagos during a meeting with airline operators. According to Mr Najomo, it is the responsibility of airlines to ensure that every disruption, whether due to operational, technical or weather-related challenges, is handled with utmost professionalism and regard for passenger rights. Mr Najomo said that flight disruptions were prevalent, particularly in the harmattan season, due to poor weather conditions that could affect flight operations. He said that flight delays and cancellations had far-reaching implica...
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Ex-Israeli agents reveal how pager attacks were carried out
24Dec By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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Ex-Israeli agents reveal how pager attacks were carried out

Two former Israeli intelligence agents have revealed how members of the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah used Israeli made walkie-talkies booby-trapped with explosives for 10 years before they were detonated in a surprise attack in September this year. The two ex-Mossad agents told US CBS News how the service duped Hezbollah into buying thousands of rigged walkie-talkies and pagers without realising they were made in Israel. Dozens of people were killed and thousands injured in the attacks. Israel said it was tailored to target only Hezbollah members, but civilians were among victims, Lebanese officials said. The UN human rights chief called the attack a war crime. At the time of the attack, Israel and Hezbollah were fighting a conflict which had spiralled since Hezbolla...
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Gov Inuwa signs Gombe Appropriation Bill of N369.9bn into law
24Dec By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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Gov Inuwa signs Gombe Appropriation Bill of N369.9bn into law

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N369. 9 into law following its successful passage by the State House of Assembly. During a brief signing ceremony held at the Government House, Governor Inuwa described the 2025 budget as a blueprint for economic growth and social development. According to him, the appropriation law reflects his administration’s resolve to deepen its development agenda which focuses on sectors that directly impact the lives of the citizens. He commended the State House of Assembly for the swift passage of the appropriation bill, emphasizing that since 2019, the harmonious relationship between the legislature and the executive has been instrumental in achieving the remarkable milestones recorded by his administ...
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Protests in Syria over Christmas tree burning
24Dec By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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Protests in Syria over Christmas tree burning

Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the new Islamist authorities to take steps to protect minorities. A video posted on social media showed the tree on fire in the main square of Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Islamist faction which led the uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad, said foreign fighters had been detained over the incident. HTS representatives have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. Footage on social media appeared to show masked men dousing the Christmas tree with an unidentified liquid the night before Christians in Syria prepared to celebrate Christmas Eve. It was unclear whether ...
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Drug lord back in Colombia after 20 years in US jail
24Dec By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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Drug lord back in Colombia after 20 years in US jail

One of the founders of the Medellin drug cartel has returned to Colombia after serving more than 20 years in jail in the US for drug trafficking. Fabio Ochoa Vasquez, now 67 years old, was deported by the US government and landed in Bogota on Monday a free man. Ochoa was one of the founding members of the notorious cartel and had been a senior lieutenant to infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. The Medellin cartel dominated the cocaine trade and waged a violent campaign against the Colombian state before Escobar was killed in 1993. On his arrival in Bogota, immigration officials ran Ochoa's fingerprints through their database, the country's immigration agency said. Confirming that he is not wanted by Colombian authorities, it said that Ochoa was freed "to be reunited with his f...
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Ibadan Tragedy: Court Sends Ooni’s Ex-Wife, Oriyomi Hamzat To Prison
24Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Ibadan Tragedy: Court Sends Ooni’s Ex-Wife, Oriyomi Hamzat To Prison

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Chief Executive Officer of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and the Principal of Islamic High School, Abdullahi Fasasi, at the Agodi Correctional Centre. The remand order followed their arraignment in connection with last week’s tragic stampede at a Christmas funfair held at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, which claimed the lives of 35 children and left six others injured. The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi, issued the order after the suspects were brought to court amidst heavy security. The defendants are facing a four-count charge. According to the police prosecutor, the offences contravened Section 324...
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Court slams N30 million damages on MAON Homes and Facilities Management Ltd, Chibuzor Tony Okonkwo over assault on Emmanuel Jibunor
22Dec By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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Court slams N30 million damages on MAON Homes and Facilities Management Ltd, Chibuzor Tony Okonkwo over assault on Emmanuel Jibunor

By Victor Okoye A Lagos State High Court has awarded the sum of over N30 million in damages against MAON Homes and Facilities Management Limited and one Mr Chibuzor Tony Okonkwo over a breach of agreement and assault case. The judgement was in favour of Mr Emmanuel Jibunor (the claimant), a Brand Ambassador for MAON Homes and Facilities Management Limited. Jibunor had claimed that MAON Homes and Facilities Management Limited breached a Brand Ambassador Ageeement and the Deed of Gift dated 29th August 2023 between himself, Mr Okonkwo and the company. The claimant said that sometime in 2018, he entered into a Brand Ambassador Ageeement with the defendants; MAON Homes and Facilities Management Limited (1st defendant) and Mr Chibuzor Tony Okonkwo (2nd defendant). He noted that ...
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YORNNA Holds Free Medical Outreach For 2000 Residents In Lagos
21Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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YORNNA Holds Free Medical Outreach For 2000 Residents In Lagos

A group of Yoruba indigenes, under the auspices of the Yoruba Nurses of North America (YORNNA), has organized a free medical outreach for residents in seven communities in Lagos State. The initiative attracted approximately 2,000 residents from these areas. During the outreach, beneficiaries were screened and provided with medications for various ailments, including hypertension and diabetes. Professor Modupeola Aka Basorun Adebayo, leader of the YORNNA team, stated that the group aimed to assist humanity, recognizing that government efforts alone cannot meet all healthcare needs. She emphasized their commitment to complementing governmental healthcare services. Professor Adebayo encouraged regular medical check-ups for early disease detection, which can prevent serious hea...
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Tinubu Cancels Lagos Events After 38 Die In Abuja, Anambra Stampedes
21Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Tinubu Cancels Lagos Events After 38 Die In Abuja, Anambra Stampedes

President Bola Tinubu has cancelled all his official events in Lagos on Saturday, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra. The two tragedies claimed many lives and left many others injured. Tinubu was scheduled to watch the boat parade and other activities of the Boat Regatta from the waterfront of his Queen’s Drive residence in Ikoyi, Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement. Dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos state government and chiefs from the state, were already seated when the president cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies. Commiserating with the victims of the incidents in Anambra and the FCT, Mr Tinubu urged states and relevant authorities to en...
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Ibadan Stampede: Old students Demand Release Of Detained Islamic High School Principal
21Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Ibadan Stampede: Old students Demand Release Of Detained Islamic High School Principal

Old students of Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, the venue of the Ibadan funfair tragedy, have demanded the release of the school principal, Abdullah Fasasi, on administrative bail. The National President of the Islamic High School Old Students Association, Bayo Busari, made the demand while speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Saturday. Recall that police on Wednesday detained Mr Fasasi and others in connection with the tragedy, which claimed 35 lives. Mr Busari, who commended the police for bringing the situation under control and commencing investigations, said the association was neither averse to police investigation nor willing to obstruct it. According to him, the association is, however, concerned about the false public narrative that the school princ...
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Communications ministry expresses commitment to securing $2b funding for fibre optics
21Dec By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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Communications ministry expresses commitment to securing $2b funding for fibre optics

By Jessica Dogo The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, says that the ministry is working to secure two billion dollars funding for fibre optics in Nigeria. Tijani said this at the December edition and wrap-up event of “DevsInGovernment for 2024” programme on Friday in Abuja. He said that fibre optic network was being laid all over the country to ensure that no communities is left behind. “From the commonwealth of Nigeria, the connectivity is based on the investment in digital infrastructure. “Historically, this is something we have largely left to the private companies to do. Private companies will only invest in areas where they believe they can make quick returns or make their money back. “When we talk about investing in fiber ...
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Alao Mourns Victims Of Ibadan Carnival Funfair Stampede
19Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Alao Mourns Victims Of Ibadan Carnival Funfair Stampede

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former gubernatorial aspirant, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao (Allow Alao), has expressed condolences over the death of about 30 children at the Children’s Carnival, held on Wednesday at Islamic High School, Bashorun in Ibadan. Alao in a condolence message he personally signed, while commiserating with Governor Seyi Makinde and families of the victims, described the incident as a big tragedy that cast a dark shadow over what should have been a joyous celebration of the festive season. He called on the state government to investigate the circumstances that led to the tragedy and take necessary actions against negligence, urging event organisers to always prioritise the safety of invited participants and ensure strict c...
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Ondo Assembly Holds Public Hearing On UNIMED’s Name Status
19Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Ondo Assembly Holds Public Hearing On UNIMED’s Name Status

The Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday held a public hearing on the name change of the state-owned specialised university, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo. The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, described the university as the pride of the state, hence there was need to carry out some amendments in the law establishing the institution. Mr Oladiji explained that at the establishment of the institution, it was named Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, but the University of Medical Sciences as a name had yet to be backed by the House of the Assembly. He stated that the lacuna caused graduates of the institution a problem in being enlisted in the National Youth Service Corp and thereby deprived the institution of some benefits. Accor...
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FCT Gets 12 New Police Divisions
19Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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FCT Gets 12 New Police Divisions

The Federal Capital Territory Administration says it is taking security architecture to the doorstep of Abuja residents. Adamu Gwary, director of FCTA’s security service department, stated this during an end-of-year press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday. Mr Gwary identified one of the security architectures as the ongoing construction of 12 new police divisional headquarters with staff quarters across the six area councils of the FCT. He explained that the measure was the outcome of security town hall meetings held across the six area councils in the early part of the year to interact and get feedback from residents. He added that security agencies were also being supported with logistics and operational vehicles to improve security operations in rural communities. Mr Gwary, a...
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NCoS Gets New FCT Command Controller
19Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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NCoS Gets New FCT Command Controller

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has appointed a new controller, Olatubosun Ajibogun, to head its Federal Capital Territory command. This was announced in a statement by the NCoS on Wednesday in Abuja. The statement said Mr Ajibogun, a seasoned correctional service officer, had taken over the reins from his predecessor, Ibrahim Usman. Mr Usman was redeployed to Zone ‘R’ Maiduguri as acting zonal coordinator. During the handover ceremony, the former controller, Mr Usman, praised the personnel of the FCT Command for their dedication and hard work. Mr Usman expressed confidence that the incoming controller would take the command to greater heights. Mr Ajibogun pledged to work closely with the command’s officers to overcome challenges and take the command to greater ...
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Oyo Stampede: We Only Aired Jingle Of The Programme-We Are Not Part Of The Organizers- Agidigbo FM
19Dec By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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Oyo Stampede: We Only Aired Jingle Of The Programme-We Are Not Part Of The Organizers- Agidigbo FM

Agidigbo FM, a prominent private radio station, has disclaimed involvement in the ill-fated children's festive party that tragically resulted in multiple deaths on Wednesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Tragedy struck on Wednesday morning at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan when a stampede occurred during a children's Christmas party. The station's management clarified they were not sponsors or organisers of the event, contrary to initial reports. It identified the organiser as WINGS (Women In Need Of Guidance and Support), whose founder is Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Eyewitnesses report that many children were trampled in the chaos, with several others injured and currently receiving treatment ...
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