Author: Femi Adeniyi

Following the explosion that rocks Lebanese capital, Beirut, over 200,000 have been rendered homeless as they lost their homes to the blast. The Beirut’s city governor, Marwan Abboud, who confirmed this added that authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter. The Tuesday explosion sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage while officials said they expect the death toll to rise further as emergency workers dig through the rubble to search for survivors. Beirut Explosion Renders Over 200, 000 Homeless Though the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, officials linked the blast to some…

Human right activist and former Presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore has again returned to the streets with the campaign for Revolution with the Revolution now protest. Earlier, Sowore, who is the founder of Sahara Reporters has announced that the protest would be held today, August 5 to register the call against tyranny, corruption, incompetence among other acts considered a stumbling block for the progress of Nigeria. In a tweet in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5, Sowore said “Today is the D-DAY, #RevolutionNow action nationwide and globally. We urge ALL Nigerian citizens home and abroad to come out to undertake mass…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has confirmed that the country has recorded 304 new cases of Coronavirus, COVID-19. According to a tweet by the NCDC, the new cases were reported on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 44, 433 as of August 4, 2020. A breakdown of the new cases shows that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja reported 90 which is the highest for the day, Lagos-59, Ondo-39, Taraba-18, Rivers-17 while Borno reported 15 new cases. Other states on the list are Adamawa with 12 new cases, Oyo-11, Delta-9, Edo-6, Bauchi-4, Kwara-4,…

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has released the final Timetable for the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WASSCE) According to a Press release published by the council, the examination is slated to begin on Monday, August 17, 2020, and end on September 12, 2020. The Press release signed by Head of public affairs, WAEC Nigeria, Demianus Ojijeogu urged candidates to shun all acts of examination malpractice and adhere to the COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place at the examination centres. 2020 WASSCE TimeTable Candidates are expected to sit for Mathematics on August 17 and write English…

In the wake of the industrial strike action embarked upon by its workers under the aegis of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, the management of Bristow Helicopter has sacked over 100 pilots and engineers. In a statement by its management, the airline blamed the decision to sack the pilots on the impact of COVID-19 in the sector. It stated that the pandemic has resulted in a very significant reduction in the number of contracted aircraft in Nigeria. Bristow Sacks 100 Pilots The company said it has realised the need to restructure all aspects of its business model…

Lebanese Health Minister, Hamad Hassan has confirmed that no fewer than 25 people have been killed and more than 2,500 injured in Tuesday’s massive blast at Beirut port. Though the cause of the explosion remains unclear as at the time of filing this report, the secretary-general of the Kataeb political party, Nazar Najarian, was one of the people killed in the powerful explosion. According to Lebanon state-run NNA news, Najarian was in his office when the explosion happened. Explosion Rocks Lebanese Capital It was reported that a major fire broke out near Beirut port and firefighting teams rushed to the…

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the Federal Government has raised the fine for hate speech to five million naira. According to a statement by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Minister revealed this in Lagos while unveiling the Reviewed Broadcasting Code. He announced that the fine for hate speech was raised from 500,000 Naira to 5 million Naira. Fine For Hate Speech Mohammed said the amendments were necessitated by a Presidential directive, in the wake of the 2019 general elections. The Minister said the recommendations were approved by the President Buhari to reposition…

The Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 has confirmed that the state Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi and his wife, Her Excellency Mrs Abieyuwa Alabi have contracted coronavirus. The spokesperson for the Committee, Rafiu Ajakaye made this known in a statement on Tuesday. He revealed that the Deputy Governor and his wife, on Monday, August 3rd, 2020 underwent COVID-19 test after they showed slight symptoms of the virus. According to the statement, immediate contact tracing and tests have begun. Kwara Deputy Governor Tests Positive For COVID-19 He noted that both the Deputy Governor and his wife are stable and in high…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has on Tuesday re-arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke alongside a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar over alleged money laundering. The duo who were re-arraigned on an amended 14-count charge is standing trial alongside others at the FCT High Court in Gwagwalada in Abuja in respect of the Malabu oil transaction. According to the EFCC, the duo made payments into the former AGF’s accounts in 2013 in violation of various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. Aliyu Abubakar was accused of accepting a cash payment or the sum of $2,000,000.00 from Farsman…

A Cleric, Joseph Anthony has been paraded by the Imo State police command for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old girl. Pastor Joseph of the Living Faith Church at Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State was accused of defiling the daughter of a fellow pastor, Chukwuma Okoronkwo. It was gathered that before the incident, the suspect was accommodated by the father of the victim for some period. Pastor Allegedly Defiles 11-Year-Old The pastor was paraded alongside a traditional ruler of Obor Awarra autonomous community in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State, Andrew Okuegbunuwa and many other suspects involved in various crimes ranging…

Amid the fraud allegations levelled against some officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, the commission has invited President Muhammadu Buhari to commission a 24 Billion naira project. The project which is a 29-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe road in Bayelsa State was built in conjunction with the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. The invitation was conveyed to President Buhari through the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio. According to the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Charles Odili, the road project cuts through swampy terrain across 14 other communities to creates a land link to the ancient city of…

President Muhammadu Buhari today presides over Security Council meeting at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja. There are indications that the meeting is about the current security situation in the country. In attendance are the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd). Others are the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Naval…

Many people reportedly lost lives during a cult clash between members of the Skylo and Scorpion cults groups in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State. According to PUNCH Metro, the cult members engaged in continuous shooting around Maternity area to Forestry checkpoint in Akpabuyo on Saturday till the early hours of Sunday. An eyewitness said the incident disrupted commercial activities in the area and some business premises were shut. Cult Clash The eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said Scorpion members shot and butchered Skylo members. He added that over five persons were gunned down during the clash, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed. Confirming…

Ahead of the November Presidential elections in the United States of America, famous rapper, Kanye West has picked a life coach, Michelle Tidball as his running mate. It was gathered that Kanye added Tidball to the petition as he submitted the 1,000 required signatures fifteen minutes before the Monday, August 3 deadline. A spokesperson for the Arkansas Secretary of State confirmed that Kanye officially listed Tidball West as his running mate after mentioning that she will be his running mate back in July. Fifty-seven-year-old Tidball is a scholar of religious studies at the University of Wyoming who also runs an…

Given the level of insecurity in some parts of Nigeria, Nigerian Governors have unveiled plans to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and the Service chiefs. In a letter sent to the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, the governors revealed plans to discuss the worrisome and rapidly degenerating security situation with President Buhari. You will recall that the convoy of the Borno state governor was attacked by suspected Boko Haram terrorists between Baga and Monguno in his state while on a trip. In the letter, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi described the…

The Management of Air Peace has announced the disengagement of about 70 pilots across its fleet. According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson, Stanley Olisa, the airline also implemented pay cuts ranging from one per cent to 40 per cent. Although the company did not mention the number of pilots that were disengaged, it was gathered that over 70 persons may have been involved. The management blamed the disengagement of the pilots’ contract on the devastating impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Air Peace Sacks 70 Pilots The company said it has to take the painful but rightful decision given the…

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has warned Politicians who are planning to foment trouble in the state to have a rethink or expect trouble in return. In an interview, Obaseki, who is also the governorship flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP reiterated the readiness to arrest anyone finds causing trouble in the state. The governor said, “Nobody has a monopoly of violence, if they want violence, we would show them violence, if you see anybody smashing any car because my sticker or poster is on the car let us know and we will show that person that we are in…

Ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections, the Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Honourable Yekini Idiaye and four other lawmakers have declared their support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The four elected members are Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje, Hon. Nosayaba Okunbor, Hon. Dumez Ugiagbe, and Hon. Vincent Uwadiae. The lawmakers were among the 10 lawmakers inaugurated in July 2019 while 14 others remain to be inaugurated due to the crisis that rocked the APC then. It was gathered that the lawmakers said their decision was to remain in the now opposition…

ShopRite Nigeria has reacted to the rumour making the rounds on the company’s purported plans to leave Nigeria, fifteen years after it started operations in the country. The Country Director for Chastex Consult, Ini Archibong in a phone interview with Vanguard explained that Shoprite is not leaving Nigeria. Archibong, who noted that the company is opened to Nigerian investors wondered if any business owner would abandon close shop after investing over a $30billion in such business. He said the company decided to offer Nigeria investors the opportunity to come in and also help drive its expansion plan in Nigeria. ShopRite…

A few days after US President, Donald Trump revealed his intention to ban the TikTok app in the country, Tech giants, Microsoft has expressed interest in buying the social media app. In a blog post, Microsoft (MSFT) said its CEO, Satya Nadella has held talks with Trump about buying the app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. The company expressed commitment to acquiring TikTok with the plan to subject it to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury adding that it will move quickly to talk with ByteDance…

A fresh bomb blast has killed a man and his wife have in Kafan Ruwa village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. Sources revealed that an unspecified number of residents were injured in the attack which destroyed houses as well in the Local Government Headquarters which is about 40km drive from the state capital, Maiduguri. It was gathered that a suicide bomber infiltrated a household and detonated an Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, strapped to her body. Bomb Blast Kills Couple In Borno Reacting to the bomb blast, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Mohammed, who confirmed the…