Author: David Great

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday, presented the state’s 2025 appropriation bill to the House of Assembly, commending the lawmakers for their continued support of his administration. Laying the budget before the lawmakers, Adeleke stated that the appropriation bill, being the 34th in the history of the state, included a capital expenditure of N144,231,183,800 and a recurrent expenditure of N245,797,093,940.00. Adeleke, who reiterated that the 2025 proposed estimates aligned with the existing Osun State Development Plan, 2023–2050, noted that the major focus of the bill was to meet the people’s needs by completing all ongoing projects. On the revenue…

The Lagos State Taskforce has dislodged squatters and demolished illegal structures along the Pen Cinema-Fagba railway corridor in a decisive operation aimed at improving safety and maintaining environmental standards. The enforcement exercise, which spanned approximately 25 kilometers, was carried out in the early hours of the day under the supervision of the Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele. Speaking after the operation, CSP Akerele explained that the clearance followed numerous complaints from residents and the Police hierarchy about criminal activities in the area. “This action was necessary to provide relief for residents around Fagba, Agege, and Pen Cinema who…

Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint early on Wednesday at Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area, killing two soldiers. A military source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around 6:18 am. The gunmen arrived in a white Lexus (350/400) model, although the exact number of attackers could not be confirmed. Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the…

Barcelona winger Ansu Fati has been ruled out for four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury, the Catalan club said in a statement on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Spain international has faced numerous injury problems in recent seasons since bursting onto the scene as a teenager in 2019. “Ansu Fati has suffered a muscle injury (to his right hamstring) during training on Wednesday. He is expected to be out for around four weeks,” said La Liga leaders Barcelona. Fati is set to miss the club’s Champions League match against French side Brest on November 26, as well as La Liga matches…

The Port Harcourt directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arrested 11 suspected currency racketeers and internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were arrested around Apara Street, New Government Reservation Area, GRA, Port Harcourt based on credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in naira abuse and internet fraud. The suspects are: Rafael Obi, John Daniel, Dominion Sambo, Solomon Nwoke, Solomon Daniel, Stanley Uche, Micheal Markson, Chima Fred Onwra, Arinze Damian, Vizor Richard and Chidera Orji. EFCC secures jail term for 23 illegal BDC operators, 170 naira racketeers Items recovered from them include, cash totaling…

Governor Monday Okpebholo has appointed Dr Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, son of the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, as the Commissioner for Health-designate. In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Tuesday, the governor also appointed Musa Ikhilor as the Secretary to State Government and a former member of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice-designate. Cyril Oshiomhole’s academic journey began at St. Anne’s Primary School, followed by Command Secondary School. He later pursued higher education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in…

Nigeria has recorded 1,035 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of 8,569 suspected cases, with 174 deaths in 28 states across 129 local government areas as of October 13, 2024. The country has also recorded 380 confirmed cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis out of 4,915 suspected cases, with 361 deaths in 24 states across 174 local government areas during the 2023/2024 season. Dr Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, disclosed these figures on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja. Dr Idris explained that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health…

North Korea signed a treaty with Russia calling for a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” Pyongyang’s state-controlled news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday. It comes as North Korean troops are in Russia fighting against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and other military sources. In a statement, KCNA said North Korea signed the treaty, which was concluded on Monday, June 19, in Pyongyang. The agency said it would take effect once both sides exchange their ratification documents. Ukraine: North Korea sends troops to fight with Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on the agreement on Saturday, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported,…

Dawit Isaak, a journalist imprisoned in Eritrea without trial for 23 years, has received a Swedish human rights award for his dedication to freedom of expression. Dawit, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, received the Edelstam Prize “for his… exceptional courage,” according to a statement from the award’s organisers. He was one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper and was detained in 2001 after his newspaper published letters calling for political reforms. Dawit Isaak was one of almost two dozen people detained in a government crackdown, including senior cabinet officials, members of parliament, and independent media. Over the…

Norway will be without captain Martin Odegaard for their Nations League matches against Slovenia and Kazakhstan as the Arsenal midfielder needs time to get match fit after recovering from an ankle injury, the Norwegian Football Federation said on Tuesday. The midfielder came off the bench in added time during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan in the Champions League last week, having had two months on the sidelines due to the injury which he had picked up on international duty. Odegaard then played the full 90 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. “This…