Author: Opalim Lifted

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced online accreditation for Journalists and media organizations wishing to cover the 2023 general elections. According to the flier issued on Thursday in Abuja, interested media organizations wishing to deploy journalists to cover the election are to apply via: https://imap.inecnigeria.org. It stated that the portal would be accessible from Thursday, Jan. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 5. 2023 general elections in danger, INEC raises alarm “Late submission shall not be entertained as the portal will automatically shut down on Sunday. Feb. 5 at 5 pm. “There shall be no manual accreditation For further inquiries, it…

The Military Pensions Board said it has commenced the payment of the owed Security Debarment Allowance to eligible retirees or Next of Kin of deceased personnel. A Security Debarment Allowance is the money paid to retired military personnel to discourage them from using the skills they acquired while in service against the government. Over 90,000 retirees who retired before 2017 were originally not among those to benefit from the allowance. The reason for their exclusion according to the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd), was that personnel who retired before the law was signed were not entitled to the…

A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has raised concerns over the 2023 National budget, describing it as “hopeless”. The Punch reports that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), signed the Budget of N21.83tn along with the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill into law. Buhari signed the 2023 transition budget Tuesday morning at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other members of the Federal Executive Council. Speaking at the event, the President said his regime would speed…

The Commissioner of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Sa’adatu Bello Kirfi, has resigned her appointment hours after her father was stripped of his traditional title as Wazirin Bauchi and removed as Bauchi Emirate Council member. The PUNCH earlier reported that Kirfi, a retired federal civil servant, Second Republic Minister, and former Minister of Special Duties was for the second time in five years, stripped of his traditional title and removed from office as a Senior Member of the Bauchi Emirate Council. He was removed over his alleged “disloyalty and disrespect” to the State Governor, Bala Mohammed. Lagos commissioner…

Amazon plans to cut more than 18,000 jobs, the largest number in the firm’s history, as it battles to save costs. The online giant which employs 1.5 million people globally, did not say which country the job cuts would be, but said they would include Europe. Most of the job losses will come from its shops including Amazon Fresh and Go and its human resources division. Boss Andy Jassy cited the “uncertain economy” for the cuts, saying it had “hired rapidly over several years.” “We don’t take these decisions lightly or underestimate how much they might affect the lives of…

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called on fans to “shut up all the racists” after Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and team mate Lameck Banda were subjected to racial abuse during their home game against Lazio on Wednesday. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported the match was paused for several minutes while an announcement was made in the stadium calling for the chants to be stopped. Home fans chanted Umtiti’s name to drown out the abuse and Lecce President Saverio Sticchi Damiani said the French World Cup winner, who is on loan from Barcelona, had asked for the game to resume. Lecce…

A family of nine have died in a double car bombing in central Hiraan province, Somalia, an eyewitness has told the BBC. A further 26 people were also killed, the local deputy policy commissioner told the Reuters news agency. The al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabab has said it was behind the attack. The district commissioner of Mahas town said his home and that of a local MP were the targets. Meanwhile the second explosion targeted the market, the mayor of Mahas, Mumin Mohamed Halane, told the BBC. Scores dead in Somalia and Somaliland clashes The blasts were so powerful that witnesses…

Chimamanda Adichie has revealed that she is the first woman to be conferred a Chieftaincy title in her hometown, Abba in Anambra State. The award-winning novelist was conferred with a chieftaincy title by her hometown last Friday. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was conferred with the honorary title “Odeluwa” in her hometown Adichie, who hails from Abba in Anambra State, was honored with the title of ‘Odeluwa Abba’. The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, amongst other dignitaries was present at the ceremony. Appreciating those who supported her during the chieftaincy ceremony on Wednesday, Adichie said her title would open doors of…

The Department of State Service has arrested the mastermind of the explosion near the palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi State. The explosion had occurred on December 29, 2022, minutes before the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), was to commission a project in the state. At least four people were said to have died in the attack. A statement by the Public Relations Officer, DSS National Headquarters, Peter Afunanya, on Wednesday, said the service arrested Abdulmumin Otaru aka Abu Mikdad, and one of his associates, Saidu Suleiman on Tuesday. He said Otaru sustained a gunshot injury on his…

Some students of the Federal Government College, Ijaniki, Lagos State, have been caught after absconding from school to lodge female classmates in hotels for sexual romp. PUNCH Metro gathered that the students, who were all boarders, had on different occasions jumped the school’s fence with their female counterparts and stayed out of school for days. Findings by our correspondent revealed that the students involved in the act were between the ages of 14 and 17. It was learned that for more than three sessions, including the just concluded first term, some of the students, numbering about seven males and five…