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  Fire guts section of Supreme Court 25th September 2023 The section of the Supreme Court on fire The section of the Supreme Court on fire By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: A portion of the Supreme Court is on fire. It was gathered that the fire engulfed a side of the judges’ chamber of the apex court. Details about the incident are still sketchy as of the time of filling this report. The spokesperson for the Federal Fire Service, Paul Abraham, asked our correspondent to call him back. Details later… Kindly share this story:

Umo Eno Failed politicians behind plot to destabilise A’Ibom — Eno physically challenged undergraduates September 25, 2023 By  James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has asserted that the recent protest in the state's capital, Uyo, regarding the appointment of the President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, was orchestrated by individuals who have not succeeded in politics In a statement, the governor gave details of the process that led to the installation of the President General, which he said was endorsed by all the traditional rulers from the 31 local government areas of the state. The governor explained that he was not part of the process as the arrangement was made even before he bame the governor of the state, and as such should not be accused of any wrong doing. Eno warned that any attempt by politicians to whip up ethnic and parochial sentiments in a bid to destabilise the state would be rebuffed. His words: “There are several insi

Matthew Abo September 25, 2023 Gunmen abduct Benue commissioner for information BY JAMES OJONIMI JEREMIAH   Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Matthew Abo has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, of the state. A former Special Adviser on Media and ICT to the immediate past Governor of the state, Mr. Tahav Agerzua who broke the news of the alleged kidnap on his facebook page on Sunday night disclosed that the newly inaugurated Commissioner was taken away by armed men who stormed his private residence at about 8pm Sunday night. Mr. Agerzua in the post disclosed that the armed men besieged the home of the Commissioner on motorbikes and took him away at gunpoint after ordering his wife children and others with him to lie faced down. Part of the post by Mr. Agerzua reads: “There are confirmed reports that several gunmen stormed the residence of Matthew Abo, Benue State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism

  NLC and OPS clash over their positions regarding the upcoming nationwide strike. September 25, 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah   The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has slammed the Organised Private Sector, OPS, over its opposition to a nationwide strike on the grounds that the economy cannot withstand country-wide industrial action now. It said that the OPS was opposing the strike because it wanted to continue paying slave wages to workers. Also, the NLC alleged that some groups suspected to be agents of the government were planning to sabotage the ongoing struggle for palliatives to cushion the negative effects of subsidy removal on petrol. An impeccable source told Vanguard, yesterday, that the government was working hard to use some members of the union and some associations to discredit the struggle with the argument that any strike embarked upon by labour would worsen the economic situation. The source also said that some of the associations from the organized private sector had r

Aliko Dangote 25th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: Dangote Industries Limited has been honoured with the Brand of the Year award, in recognition of the company’s exceptional corporate performance over the past year. During the ceremony in Lagos, the Publisher of Marketing Edge, John Ajayi, explained that the award category won by Dangote was the flagship in honour of the company’s continuous contributions to the economic development of Nigeria and Africa. “This recognition covers many business investments and corporate interventions carried out by the company in Africa as a continent,” Ajayi noted. During the award presentation, he attributed Dangote’s top-ranking position among its peers to its robust employment generation initiatives, which had created jobs for many youths. He also lauded Dangote Industries for its unwavering commitment to the provision of critical infrastructure. He said the award presentation served as the focal point of Marketing

• Surgeons conducting a surgical operation US surgeons perform second historic pig-to-human heart transplant 25th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: Surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Centre, United States have performed a second successful transplant of a genetically modified pig heart on a 58-year-old patient, Lawrence Faucette, with end-stage heart disease. Faucette received the pig heart transplant on September 20. The first historic surgery, performed in January 2022, was conducted on David Bennett by the University of Maryland Medicine surgeons. The PUNCH reports that the two groundbreaking surgeries were performed by the University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty at the university. This transplant was the only option available to him because of  his pre-existing peripheral vascular disease and complications with internal bleeding. A statement on the website of UMSOM, however, said that Faucette is now breathing on his own and hi

  Flooding, lightning kill eight in war-hit Yemen 16th September 2023 Flooding, lightning kill eight in war-hit Yemen Kindly share this story: Flooding and lightning strikes in Yemen have killed eight civilians, an official and a doctor told AFP on Saturday, underscoring the threat of extreme weather in the war-ravaged country. The lightning strikes occurred on Friday in the Al-Layha and Al-Zahra districts of Hodeida governorate on the Red Sea coast, said Hamza Saied, a doctor at the hospital in Al-Layha. “Six women and a man were killed, and three others were injured,” he said. The area is controlled by Huthi rebels who seized the capital in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year and setting in motion a brutal conflict that has created what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Also on Friday, flooding killed one woman and destroyed dozens of homes in the nearby town of Hais, according to an official who spoke on c

Third mainland bridge 2 Lagos postpones planned Third Mainland Bridge repairs 16th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: The Lagos State Government has announced the postponement of the planned rehabilitative works on the failed sections of the Third Mainland Bridge. The repairs were scheduled to go on for two consecutive Sundays, September 17 and 24, between 7 am to 7 pm on both days. According to a release signed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi on Saturday, the postponement is “due to the heavy downpour experienced in all parts of the metropolis today.” He explained that the rain has affected the preliminaries of the planned palliative works on the asphalt pavement of the bridge by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation. The PUNCH reports that the state government on Friday, announced repair works to be carried out by its Public Works Corporation and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on failed sections o

Olusegun Obasanjo and Nasir el-Rufai Obasanjo’s second term was Nigeria’s best economically – El-rufai 16th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, on Friday said the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the “most successful” in terms of economic growth, job creation, and inflation rate in Nigeria. El-Rufai said this on Friday during a session at the Africa In the World conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa. According to him, oil prices began to rise during this period but the Obasanjo government did not waste the windfall, adding that Nigeria’s fiscal health was at its best in 2007, such that when the global financial crisis took place in 2008, the country did not feel it. “If you look at Nigeria’s economic trajectory, the most successful four to five-year period of economic growth, job creation, and reduced inflation was the period of the second term of President Obasanjo in 2003 to 2007

  Godswill Akpabio Reports on plan to unseat me, complete imagination of writers- Akpabio 16th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has described as malicious and untrue reports that there are plans to unseat him as a presiding officer of the 10th Senate. He further noted that the Senate under his leadership is stable and harmonious and cannot be distracted by “the innuendo of the merchants of political tar brush by what appears to be a syndicated media attack from outside the precincts of the National Assembly.” There were media reports on Saturday stating that plans were underway to unseat Akpabio as the president of the 10th Senate when the Senate reconvenes on September 26, 2023. The report also noted that two prominent senators from the North West and other senators across the national assembly are already meeting and mapping out plans to carry out the daring move. The reports also alleged that the senators beli

The rescued victims 16th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: No fewer than 33 people who were kidnapped in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State have been rescued by the Joint Security Task Force operating in the LGA. They were kidnapped a few days ago by gunmen who took them into the forest awaiting payment of ransom from the families. However, following the directive of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who hails from the LGA, the joint security taskforce engaged the bandits and secured the release of all the 33 kidnapped victims, hale and hearty. Caretaker Chairman, Alkaleri LGA, Bala Mahmoud received the 33 kidnapped victims on Friday night from the security operatives in Yalwan Duguri, the Governor’s hometown. Mahmoud commended the security agencies for the quick response to the incident that led to the release of the victims from captivity. The Caretaker Chairman assured all the 33 released kidnapped victims to undergo medical check

  Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello Bello inspects rural electrification project, urges quick completion 16th September 2023 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has ordered a swift completion of the ongoing Kogi/Koto rural electrification project without further delay. The governor, spoke on Saturday while undertaking the inspection tour of the project at the Muritala bridge in Koto. The governor inspected the installation of the 185mm2 XLPE Cable for the replacement of the undersized 75mm2 XLPE cable currently serving the people of the Kogi/Koto Karfe local government area. During this visit, he implored the contractors to intensify their efforts, aiming for a prompt and efficient project completion. He said, “I am happy with the accomplished quality of work so far but given the significance of this project to this administration and the socio-economic well-being work of the local populace, you need to double your efforts towards swif

  BUA intends to slash cement price to N3,500, says Rabiu after meeting Tinubu Abdul Samad Rabiu SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 11:15 AM     Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Group, says his company intends to reduce the price of cement in the country. The BUA founder said the planned reduction is part of efforts to support the federal government’s quest to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. “I came to intimate His Excellency on the affairs of our cement business,” he said on Friday while addressing State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu. “We have two new lines of three million tonnes each that we will be commissioned by the end of the year. “So I came to intimate His Excellency and also to explain to him the efforts we’re making in trying to support again the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement. “With this six million tonnes that are commissioning by the end of the year. And by the way, His Excellency has agreed to come and commission th

  Gov. Otti Otti to MDAs: No more shortcuts, due process must apply in every govt contract By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Abia State Government, has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to ensure strictly compliance with due process in the award of contracts. The Government said there must be strictly adhere to annual budget estimates for capital projects as approved by the State House of Assembly. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Due Process and Procurement, Dr Oluebube Chukwu, who gave the warning in Umuahia, said it the era of business as usual should be considered over. Dr Chukwu spoke at a meeting with  the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, and members of the Management team of the Ministry who came on a fact-finding interactive meeting in the Due Process office at Government House Umuahia. According to him, the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration believes in due process, and will not tolerate any violation or abuse of the state budget by any MD

  September 15, 2023 Troop’s rescue 17 kidnapped victims in Zamfara By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Troops of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji have rescued 17 kidnapped victims and recovered large numbers of rustled cattle in the ongoing operation in Zamfara state. This followed several fights which resulted in the troops foiling kidnapping attempts by terrorists on Thursday due to intensified fighting and offensive patrols in its Areas of Responsibilities. According to an update, “The successful rescue was achieved on 14 September 2023, by the Joint troops of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in Zamfara state while acting on a distress call. ‘The troops thwarted one of the kidnap attempt, rescued 2 victims and the commercial vehicle carrying food stuff along Corner Jollof in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara state. “Similarly, ground troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Danjigba while on a routine patrol intercepted and rescued 3 kidnapped victims. “A preliminary investig

  September 15, 2023 System collapse: DisCos embark on load shedding as TCN restores 1,184.6MW Electricity By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  THE Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, have embarked on load shedding as the Transmission Company of Nigeria; TCN restores 1,184 megawatts, MW into the national grid, according to data obtained from the National System Operator, a semi-autonomous unit in the TCN. The nation’s power generation had dropped to a zero level, yesterday, after the national grid collapsed twice in less than six hours, thus throwing the nation into darkness. But checks by Vanguard indicated that, based on the ongoing load shedding, the DisCos have restored supply to some consumers, including households and organisations. .Details coming later

September 14, 2023 Lagos to shut 3rd Mainlan Bridge for 2 consecutive Sundays Lagos to shut 3rd Mainland Bridge for 2 consecutive Sundays By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  The Lagos State Government, through state Public Works Corporation, LPWC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, has concluded plans to embark on palliative works on the failed sections of the Third Mainland Bridge for two consecutive Sundays. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, who announced this on Thursday, added that the work would take place on Sunday 17 and Sunday 24, September, 2023, between the hours of 7.00 am to 7.00 pm, each Sunday. According to him, “The proposed works will be strictly executed in two phases with phase one focusing on only the most critical sections on the Iyana Oworonshoki inward Adeniji Adele/Lagos Island.” Toriola explained that the palliative works were scheduled for Sundays inorder to minimize inconveniences for motorists.

  APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje Winning Kogi Governorship Seat Will Not Be Difficult For APC, Ganduje Says! The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said winning Kogi State in the November 11 governorship election will not be difficult for the party. He assured that the party is working hard and strategizing on how to retain the state. Ganduje who spoke on Saturday in Sokoto said, “You are aware that Kogi is part of progressive and we have been winning the state before now, so winning the state will not in any way be difficult for us. “The governor is in charge in the state and I know with him and his achievements in office so far, we are good to go,” he said. Speaking on the performance of the Sokoto State governor, Ahmed Aliyu’s first 100 days in office, Ganduje said, “I came and saw the achievements recorded so far by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, and I am fully impressed with what I saw so far. “The governor is a young man who is re

MR. EDIME EDICHA (IEMC) Alumni: celebrating Mr. Edime Edicha birthday of one their member who draduated in 2002 today. By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  The (IEMC) Ikani Eibo memorial college Students celebrating birthday of Mr. Edicha Edime, class of '2002. One of the top contributor Name Simon Ojodumiwile Moses in his statement did a shot prayer that, May you experience new season in good health and wealth. We rejoice with you and yours on the occasion of your birthday celebration. May you see God always. Congratulations! The students of Ikani Eibo Memorial College (IEMC) came together to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Edicha Edime, a proud member of the class of '2002. During this joyous occasion, Simon Ojodumiwile Moses, one of our esteemed alumni and top contributors, shared some heartfelt words. He offered a brief yet sincere prayer, wishing Mr. Edicha Edime a new season filled with good health and prosperity. Simon expressed the collective sentiments of the IEMC community, rejoi

  Two die in Abeokuta-Lagos expressway crash 8th September 2023 Bauchi auto crash4 By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  Kindly share this story: A multiple crash involving two vehicles and two motorcycles at Toll Gate along Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway early Friday morning claimed two lives while one person was injured According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson of Ogun State Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, on Friday morning, the accident happened around 5:11am, and the vehicles involved a Volvo Trailer with registration number T 14223 LA, a Volkswagen bus with registration number KRD132XX and two Boxer Bajaj motorcycles with registration numbers LAR178VL and PKA873VS. Okpe said the FRSC operatives of the Otta Unit Command carried out a rescue operation. The FRSC spokesperson said the suspected cause of the fatal crash was wrongful overtaking and excessive speed by the Volvo Trailer. The statement partly read, “A total of 3 persons were involved which comprised o

  September 5, 2023 Nnamdi Kanu is a time bomb in the hands of his captors – Archbishop Onuagha, Nnamdi Kanu …dead or a life, he is a hero. By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  THE Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese and Bishop of Okigwe Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha has warned that the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a time bomb in the hands of Nigeria and the people holding him. Archbishop Onuagha who was reacting to the alleged media publication that the Ohaneze Ndigbo is pleading with the Northern elders and Asari Dokubo for the release of Mazi Nandi Kanu, described such plea coming from any Igbo group as arrant nonsense, saying that Ohaneze Ndigbo as led by Chief Emanuel Iwuanyanwu or any responsible Igbo group cannot beg Northern elders or a Niger Delta ex-militant who is still publicly brandishing AK 47 for the release of Mazi Kanu. Archbishop Onuagha said that Mazi Kanu did not commit any offense and the courts

  Bode George, Tinubu. September 5, 2023 100 days: Tinubu’s economic policies hurting Nigerians — Bode George •Warns judiciary against truncating democracy By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  LAGOS— FORMER Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, yesterday, took a swipe at the economic policies of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government saying it is hurting Nigerians. He also warned the judiciary not to allow it to be used to disrupt the electoral process as it delivers judgment on the Presidential Election Petition. Speaking during a state-of-the-nation press conferece in Lagos, the elder statesman faulted the Federal Government’s method in the distribution of palliatives to Nigerians describing it as voodoo economics. On the palliatives given to states by the Federal Government, George said: “There is no individual in this globe called earth that knows it all. Who is the Chief Economic Adviser in the Villa? Is he a voodoo economist? Is he a medieval ec

September 5, 2023 Task Force, tanker drivers, touts clash at Mile 2 police By James Ojonimi Jeremiah  An unconfirmed number of persons were killed this morning due to a clash between the Lagos Task Force, tanker drivers, and touts at Mile 2.  Vanguard received a distress call from a stranded passerby, Mr. Richard Igbe who explained that there was a fight on top of the Mile 2-Oshodi bridge and as a result, they had barricaded the bridge blocking the access road. Although the actual cause of the fight is yet to be ascertained, at the time of the call, Igbe claimed that four persons were dead from gunshots. According to him, “Mile 2 is on fire, both the task force, tanker drivers, and touts are fighting seriously. I don’t know what caused the fight but I am just hiding at Fagbems Filling station at Mile 2 and watching.  “I am going to work but I am stranded as they barricade the whole of Mile 2 that nobody will pass”, he said.

  North Korea’s Kim Jong Un expects to engage with Putin in Russia to actively advance arms negotiations, US says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expects to engage with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Russia to continue actively advancing arms negotiations between the two countries, according to the US government. “We have information that Kim Jong-Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson of ongoing arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea. Watson did not say when and where a potential meeting between Kim and Putin in Russia might take place, but it would follow Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to North Korea in July and comes after US officials last week said that the two countries are “actively advancing” their negotiations over another potential arms deal that could see Pyongyang providing weaponry to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine

     David Umahi, minister of works, says contractors using asphalt in road construction in the country must sign a 30-year durability agreement for the projects. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Umahi said such contractors would not be stopped from using their preferred raw materials but must sign the durability agreement. The former Ebonyi governor said taxpayers must get value for their money, adding that contractors will no longer be paid for shady work. “We are not stopping asphalt works but it is not possible to be paid for a job that we know will not stand for five years,” he said. “Nigerians must get value for their money paid as tax. Enough of contractors doing shady work and getting paid for it. “The concrete road when properly done will last for 50 years and we have success where we have done that apart from the one I did in Ebonyi. “Before I left office, we delivered Abakaliki Ridgeway Road, which was funded by the African Development Bank.” Last Friday, th

     Ajuri Ngelale, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, says his principal is not worried about possible outcomes of the judgment of the presidential election tribunal. Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ngelale said Tinubu sees no need to threaten judicial officers regarding the election petition. Earlier on Monday, the tribunal fixed September 6 to deliver judgment on the petitions challenging the victory of Tinubu in the February 25 election. The Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the tribunal to challenge Tinubu’s victory. The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu is optimistic that the panel would deliver judgment based on the evidence presented. He said the president has “confidence and faith” in the judiciary, adding that Tinubu is sure that his mandate would be affirmed. “Unlike some political gladiators in the country, the president sees no need t

     Muhammadu Sanusi II, the former Emir of Kano, says Nigeria led a false life under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking at a virtual religious summit on Sunday, Sanusi said “sycophants” bought the dollar at N400 and sold N540, while the government borrowed money from within and outside the country. He said the immediate past administration treated the country’s economy without giving recourse to experts’ advice. “They treated the economy the way they wanted and refused to listen to experts. In the last eight years, only sycophancy succeeded. The sycophants bought dollars at N400 and sold N540,” he said. “An inexperienced boy who has no record of service has a private jet and owns houses in Dubai and England just because he is buying dollars at such a rate and selling them [at another]. “About N30 trillion was borrowed from the Central Bank. All the revenue the country generated in the last few years couldn’t service debt. Debt service exceeded 100 per c