INSTANT NEWS

Labour Party Crisis: Governor Otti's Bid to Dissolve Leadership Hits Roadblock

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti's attempt to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to dissolve the Labour Party's current leadership has been thwarted. Otti had met with National Chairman Julius Abure, intending to hold a NEC meeting on August 31, citing expired tenure of the party's leadership.

However, the National Working Committee (NWC) countered Otti's move, stating

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. Authorities of the Nigerian Army, on Thursday, ordered immediate investigations into the killing of some villagers allegedly by some soldiers in Sabon Birni, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

2. Three interim local government chairmen have been taken into custody of the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) over an alleged N660 million water contract scam. Musa Garba Kwankwaso was also taken into custody but released on bail around 9pm, on Thursday.

3. Residents of Nepa community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have caught a suspected kidnapper who collected N1.5 million ransom from the relatives of his victims in Jos, Plateau State capital. The suspect, after being caught by the residents, was immediately handed over to the vigilantes in the area.

4. The National Hospital Abuja will soon set up a VIP section that will cater for presidents, top government officials and other respected personalities within and from outside the country. The chief medical director of the hospital, Prof. Mahmud Raji made the disclosure on Thursday.

5. The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman has said the Federal Government will meet with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday to address the demands of the university teachers. The Minister said this on Thursday when he appeared on Beyond 100 days programme aired on Television Continental (TVC) on Thursday.

6. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has officially retired from service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. While delivering his valedictory speech at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, Ariwoola disclosed that to suit the times and address current challenges, he signed off on the new Supreme Court Rules 2024 earlier this month.

7. A Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ogba has discharged six men who were arrested during the 2000 #EndSARS protests and have spent almost four years in prison. The defendants, identified as Daniel Joyinbo, Adigun Sodiq, Kehinde Shola, Salaudeen Kamilu, Sodiq Usseni, and Azeez Isiaka, were set free by Magistrate Bolanle Osunsanmi on Thursday, after being cautioned.

8. The Federal Government through the Rural Electrification Agency has installed power plants in six federal universities as part of efforts to provide reliable power to critical sectors of the society. This was as the agency stated that it had made significant strides in advancing Nigeria’s electrification projects.

9. There were palpable fears across the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday as youths of the Gatawa community protested the gruesome killing of their traditional ruler, Isa Muhammad Bawa, by suspected bandits. The district head was killed on Wednesday, before the ransom could reach the bandits.

10. The Federal Government has insisted that it would continue construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway despite ongoing court cases filed by aggrieved persons against the project. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, stated this at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja while addressing serious concerns about the project’s procurement process that led to court proceedings by land owners

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education in Ebonyi State, Prof. Amari Omaka, has announced that the two newly established universities in the state are expected to commence academic activities early next year.

Omaka spoke with newsmen shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of the acting vice chancellors of the University of Information Communication Technology, Oferekpe-Agbaja, and the University of Aeronautical Engineering, Ezza, at the New Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki.

The commissioner stated that the necessary preparation needed to ensure the universities are ready for their first intake of students has been put in place.

“Our initial target was for the universities to take off by September, but it appears that may not be realistic because a lot of things have to be done,” he explained.

He cited the ongoing construction of academic buildings and the development of the university master plans as the causes of the delay.

“For things to be ready for the students to come into the university, I don’t expect them to go maybe later than early next year,” he added.

He stressed that the newly sworn-in acting vice chancellors, Prof. Ernest Egba for the University of Information Communication Technology, and Prof. Patrick Nwofe for the University of Aeronautical Engineering, have significant responsibilities beyond academic leadership.

“This appointment is not to come and drink tea, but to come and work,” Prof. Omaka stated.

He urged them to engage with relevant authorities, including the National Universities Commission, NUC, to secure necessary approvals and the seamless operation of the universities.

In his remarks, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Information Communication Technology, Prof. Ernest Egba, expressed his commitment to advancing the university’s mission.

“I’m overwhelmed by what happened, and I promise to do my best to keep the flag flying,” he said.

He expressed confidence in ensuring the smooth running of the institution. “I believe with so many intellectuals around me, we will move mountains and level the mountains,” he added.

Similarly, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Aeronautical Engineering, Prof. Patrick Nwofe,

pledged to fulfil his duties in alignment with the state’s educational goals.

“I will perform my duties as expected and ensure that the people’s charter of needs mantra concerning education, for which, today, I have been given a special assignment, is fulfilled,” Prof. Nwofe stated.

He assured that his efforts would make both the state and the world proud of the university.

“The university will be a world-class institution,” he affirmed

Grammy-winning Afrobeats sensation, Wizkid, says football would have been his alternate career if music hadn’t worked out.

The Nigerian superstar shared his passion for the sport and his admiration for the discipline required to succeed in football.

Wizkid, who played on his school’s football team, acknowledged that his impatience and dislike for early morning training sessions led him to focus on music instead.

“If I wasn’t doing music, I would be playing football, I play football real good, I used to be in my school team”, he said.

He, however, said that his respect for the sport and its demands remains strong.

Wizkid also shared his unconventional approach to security, opting not to travel with bodyguards and instead relying on his tight-knit management team, whom he considers family

Big Brother Naija ‘No Loose Guard’ contestant Wanni has hinted that she and her twin sister and partner on the show, Handi, will donate the prize money to charity if they emerge winners of this season.

During a chat with Shaun on Monday, Wanni revealed that she and her twin sister have a dream of “feeding nations.”

“Giving back, I feel so good, I feel so good when I give out money because people need help. We have a list of positive affirmations and I say it, Wanni x Handi will feed nations and I believe,” she said.

The grand prize for this season is a spectacular N100 million, which includes a cash prize and an SUV, with additional sponsored prizes to be announced

The World Health Organisation, WHO, said on Tuesday that, as of July 21, 2024, more than 775 million confirmed cases and more than seven million deaths from COVID-19 have been reported globally since the pandemic began.

This was announced in a statement issued in Abuja.

“Globally, during the 28-day period (24 June to 21 July), the number of new cases and deaths increased by 30 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.

“Compared to the previous 28-day period (27 May to 23 June), with more than 186,000 new cases reported across 96 (41 per cent) countries and over 2,800 new fatalities reported across 35 (15 per cent) countries,.

“As of 21 July 2024, more than 775 million confirmed cases and more than seven million deaths have been reported globally since the start of the pandemic,” WHO said.

During the same period, 46 and 35 countries provided data at least once on COVID-19 hospitalisations and admissions to an intensive care unit (ICU), respectively.

From the available data, more than 23,000 new hospitalisations and more than 600 new ICU admissions were reported.

“Among the countries reporting these data consistently over the current and past reporting period, there was an overall increase of 11 per cent and 3 per cent in new hospitalizations and new ICU admissions, respectively,” it said.

The Federal Government has vowed to crack down on substandard school building construction across the country, urging stakeholders including the State Universal Basic Education Boards, SUBEBs, to ensure quality in the delivery of school building projects.

The threat was issued by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, during the training of staff of the Commission’s Department of Physical Planning, on enhancing the quality delivery of projects using simple tools for on-the-spot assessment at project sites.

Bobboyi, who noted that the Commission would no longer condone the shoddy execution of projects, warned contractors about the risks of delivering substandard school infrastructure in the country.

He also disclosed that the Commission would deploy monitors to frequently find out what is going on across the construction sites.

Bobboyi maintained that educational infrastructures are sensitive projects that must be handled with the ultimate sense of responsibility so as not to risk the lives of children and staff of the institutions.

Making reference to the recent incident of a school building collapse in Jos, although not sponsored by UBEC, Bobboyi expressed regret over the incident.

He urged state governments to take proactive steps to ensure that contractors handling school building projects adhere strictly to specifications.

“We are dealing with a very strategic sector, children who are between the ages of 5,6 up to about 12 that are very vulnerable in any building collapse. We saw that when it happened in Jos.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that we take all necessary steps to build school infrastructures that are solid and can stand the test of time,” he stated.

According to him, for quite some time, the Commission has had an elaborate monitoring system as far as the construction of educational infrastructure or school infrastructure is concerned

Popular Nollywood actress and media personality, Toke Makinwa, has expressed her admiration for Big Brother Naija ‘No Loose Guard’ housemate, Shaun Okojie.

In a recent episode of ‘The Buzz’, Makinwa gushed over Shaun’s masculinity.

She stated that Shaun is a man she wouldn’t hesitate to date any day.

“You see Shaun? He can get it any day. There’s something about that guy. Love is growing on me. I must be honest, I like the man. I feel like he’s such a man,” she expressed.

Shaun is currently in a romantic relationship with fellow housemate, Wanni.

The couple started dating in the house despite both being AS

In preparation for the local government elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially announced August 22, 2024, as the date for the party primary elections in Imo State.

The announcement was made by its State Chairman, MacDonald Ebere, on behalf of the State Executive Committee.

He maintained that the party was well prepared to conduct free and fair exercise, advising the aspirants to maintain decorum during and after the exercise.

According to the party, those that will participate in the exercise will be the party executive members as automatic delegates.

Following the development, there is growing demand among the majority of the party faithfuls at the Local Government and Ward levels that all card-carrying members be allowed to participate in the exercise.

They argued that such inclusiveness would ensure equity, fairness, and justice during the primaries.

In a similar vein, the State Organizing Secretary of the party, Ikechukwu Sunday Umeh has urged all contestants to go to their various councils and talk to their people, maintaining that the exercise will be done in a way that will be acceptable by all.

He further said that the party has a way of compensating those that did not make it to the main elections, pointing out that what is more important is for the party to have a successful outing during the main elections