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Pandemonium broke out penultimate Wednesday when a monarch engaged and unmask masquerade during a physical combat. The drama took place during the annual festival that features a masquerade called Jigbo ended in a fracas in Araromi area of Ibeju, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos State. it took the intervention of policemen from the Elemoro Area Command and Akodo Division to contain the situation. In a viral video footage, some masquerades were seen shouting Jigbo, Jigbo when the monarch in question, Oba Lukman Arowolo (Gbadewolu 1), who emerged from a building in a t-shirt on a pair of black trousers halted the procession and accosted one of the masquerades. The monarch had queried the masquaraders’ decision to embark on a procession in his Araromi domain, following wh...

No fewer than 34 suspected Currency speculators were on Friday arrested in Abuja. The arrest was carried out by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, attached to the Taskforce on Currency mutilation, Dollarization of the Economy and Forex Malpractice. The arrest was done in a sting operation following credible intelligence about illegal sales of dollars at the Wuse Zone 4 area of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Their arrest came on the heels of the EFCC’s consistent efforts to sanitise and stabilise the foreign exchange market. The suspects are :Usman Mohammed, Abdullahi Nasir, Abubakar Saleh, Mohammed Kabir Ibrahim, Abubakar Ghadafi, Muktar Usman, Umar Abubakar Abba, Yakubu Sani, Aminu Abubakar, Muhammed Suleman Abara, Yusuf Tahir, Usman Lawal...

By Gami Tadanyigbe In compliance with ICAO Annex 19 guidelines, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, officially inaugurated the National Executive Safety Council (NESC) on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Myself and other stakeholders in the aviation sector were appointed as members of the council.   During the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Keyamo outlined the terms of reference for the council members. The NESC is mandated to convene quarterly, or as needed for emergencies, to ensure the continual relevance and appropriateness of Nigeria's State Safety Programme (SSP).  The council's responsibilities include endorsing priorities, allocating resources to enhance safety performance based on risk assessment, and providing strategic direction to the Safe...

President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointment two new chief executive officers to lead key agencies in the country. Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor was named the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) while Prince Ebitimi Amgbare will serve as the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority (NDRBDA). Their appointments were announced through a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. Barikor, an academic and politician, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He previously served as a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015. Amgbare, a retired naval officer, has also had a distinguished career, having served as a commi...

Minna the Niger State capital has been hit with acute water shortage forcing citizens to trek far distances to buy water from water vendors . The Chairman Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) branch Barrister Mohammed Abdulkadir Waziri who spoke with NewsSpecng called on Niger State governor Mohammed Umar Bago to address the trends. Speaking shortly after the monthly Congress of the branch at the High court complex the chairman described the acute shortage of water in Minna as worrisome. He noted with dismay the number of households that go out on daily basis in search of water in far distance describing the situation as unacceptable. According to the NBA Minna branch chairman, with the acute scarcity of water in Minna, some houses trekked in far distance even at night in search of w...

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States on Saturday said it was working closely with the Federal Capital Territory authorities on restoration of normalcy to the Parliament’s operations. Operations of the regional Parliament has been impacted upon by the temporary shutting down of the Abuja International Conference Centre (I.C.C). The Parliament maintains some shared services with the Abuja I.C.C. such as electricity supply and someleased office spaces which serve as annexes to the Parliament.A statement by the Parliament's Communication department said the regional body has established talks with the FCT authorities. The statement reads: "The ECOWAS Parliament is working assiduously with the relevant authorities of theNigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, t...

President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointed a renowned banker and businessman, Mr. Jim Ovia, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The appointment was announced through a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale Ovia, founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks, is a respected business leader with a proven track record of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to the role, and advance the vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education due to a lack of funds. “President Bola Tinubu has approved...

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has urged members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, to propose amendments that will strengthen the nation’s democracy and unite the country. Gov. Makinde, made the call while playing host to the federal legislators at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan. The committee was in Oyo State to consult with stakeholders on proposed constitution amendments Makinde lauded the committee for taking time out to seek the views of young people and women, adding that youths must be encouraged to play pivotal roles in shaping the country’s future. Makinde encouraged them to be open-minded about their task, adding that Nigerians must be made to have confidence in the nation’s democracy and participate in it. “...

Mr Victor Okoye, a member of staff of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday emerged as the Vice Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT Chapter. Okoye was returned unopposed at the SWAN FCT Electoral Congress going on at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. He received a voice affirmation following a “Yes or Nay” session conducted by Patrick Ngwaogu, the Chairman of the SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO). An elated Okoye told Newsmen that the people had spoken, adding that he was pleased and humbled by the massive support and affirmation by members of the association. “As the saying goes, the voice of the people is the voice of God and so I humbly accept the mandate to serve and deploy all resources at my disposal to the service of this great ...

The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) has inaugurated the Nigerian Chapter and explained the benefits to gain in addressing challenges of Optometry in the country. The event which took place via zoom saw the inauguration of the elected Executives of the Nigerian Chapter with Dr Nkem Okorafo as the President, Dr Nkiruka Nwachikwu as Vice President. Others are, Dr Ejitu Isong as Secretary and Dr Chineye Nwanibi as Treasurer of the Chapter. The President of World Council of Optometry, Dr Sandra Block in her speech said the inauguration of the Nigerian Chapter was a step in the right direction for Optometry in Nigeria. "I have worked with Optometrists in Nigeria for many years, and I know they are working on a very high level with respect to the scope of practice. "It is very...