Author: Chima Onyido

More than 800,000 asylum applications have been filed in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland this year up to October. Compared to the same period in previous years, this is the highest figure since 2016, German newspaper Welt reported in its Tuesday edition, citing figures from the EU Asylum Agency EUAA. According to the figures, exactly 801,459 asylum applications were filed in the 29 states between the beginning of the year and Oct. 3. The largest increases were reported in Latvia, up 168 per cent, and Estonia which was up to 119 per cent. READ ALSO: UN says nearly 200,000…

At least 11 Americans have died in bloody violence in Israel, President Joe Biden said on the third day since Palestinian militants launched a stunning and complex surprise attack in Israel. In a statement, Biden described the deaths as the “heart wrenching” results of an “appalling terrorist assault against Israel.” He said the U.S. believed that the Hamas militant group is likely holding American citizens as prisoners. He added that the U.S. is working with Israel to handle the hostage crisis. “This is not some distant tragedy,” the president said in his statement. “The ties between Israel and the United…

The Lagos State Government has backtracked on its decision to re- open the Ladipo market, saying that the market remains closed. The Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the clarification on Monday in Lagos. READ ALSO: Netizens react as Seyi Tinubu flies presidential jet to polo event in Kano Gbadegesin said that the market would remain closed because it had been observed that its management had not fully met stipulated mandatory safety and environmental measures earlier outlined by the authority. He said that those conditions were required before the market would recommence business activities “Our primary…

Mrs Rosemary Oromoni, the mother of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., the late 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lagos, says the late student had no health challenge before the complaints he made few days to his death. Rosemary said this while being cross-examined by counsel to Dowen College, Mr Anthony Kpokpo. She testified on Monday at a coroner’s inquest to unravel the circumstances that led to the student’s death on Nov 30, 2021. The inquest is taking place at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. Rosemary wept profusely whlle testifying. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, had…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has assured Nigerians that its digital currency. eNaira posed no threat to financial stability. The Director, Corporate Communications Department of CBN, Dr Isa AbdulMumin said this on Monday in Marrakech. AbdulMumin was reacting to a recent media report that raised concerns about Nigeria’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), eNaira, indicating potential risks to financial stability. The media report, quoting articles from a book recently released by the CBN indicated that in spite its success in narrowing the country’s financial inclusion gap, the eNaira was a potential threat to financial stability. It said that since…

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned the general public against a fraudulent NYSC portal and a link asking serving and ex-Corps members to register for the fund. This comes as it emphasised that it is still awaiting the President’s assent to its Trust Fund. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mr Eddy Megwa, the scheme described the existence of a registration link as a ruse. “The attention of NYSC Management has been drawn to the above fake advertisement circulating, especially on social media. “Management wishes to state emphatically that the advertisement is not from the National Youth…

Lagos State government will demolish Jankara and Bombata markets in Lagos Island to allow for free flow of water into the drains, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Sunday. “There will be zero-tolerance and as from Monday, the Ministry of Environment will start giving demolition notices to all the stores that have been built on the drains and on all existing drains. “They have built shops on all the drains and that is why we are having these problems of flooding and environmental pollution. “We cannot let a few people risk the lives of the larger number of us,’’ Sanwo-Olu said…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze and thunderstorms from Monday to Wednesday across the nation. NiMet`s Weather Outlook released on Sunday in Abuja predicted dust haze with visibility range of 1km to 3km and localised visibility of less than or equal to 1, 000m was anticipated over the northern region on Monday. “There is prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state later in the day. “Thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Niger states in the morning while visibility values are expected to be between 2km to 5 km over the…

Some telecoms stakeholders on Thursday said that return on investment in infrastructure could only be achieved in major cities where there was relative stability and a ready market. Mr Mike Ofili, Chief Executive Officer of Coloplus, a tower infrastructure company, buttressed that remark during the West Africa Telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE) organised by Technology Mirror in Lagos. The theme of the event was: “The Future of Infrastructure Connectivity and Services: A New Interdependent of Ecosystem of Partners.” Ofili said that most telecoms infrastructure are concentrated in major cities, because of the possibility of vandalism, insecurity, and high right-of-way…

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to invest in modernising the nation’s educational infrastructure in line with the international best practice. Tinubu said this at the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the Eagle Square on Thursday in Abuja. Represented, by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, he promised to work tirelessly to build a society where the teacher’s reward would manifest here on earth and not in the hereafter. ” We are going to invest in modernizing our educational infrastructure and make sure that we are in step with the world on the road to the future. ” Our commitment to actualising our…

Owodunni Ibrahim, a close friend of the late Nigerian rapper Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has refuted the police’s claim that he failed to honor their invitation. The claim led to his declaration as a wanted person by the police. Ibrahim, also known as Primeboy, turned himself in for investigation less than 24 hours after being declared wanted. However, he has denied ever receiving an invitation from the police. READ ALSO: Atiku: I’ll End Legal Battle Against Tinubu only if… In an interview with TVC, Primeboy stated that he would never have ignored a police invitation if he had…

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled December 15 as the date for delivering its judgment on an appeal seeking the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from detention. A five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun fixed the date after the counsel for both the Federal Government and Nnamdi Kanu adopted their final briefs of argument. Kanu’s legal team, led by Kanu Agabi, presented their appeal to the apex court panel. Mike Ozehkome, another prominent lawyer, represented Nnamdi Kanu. Ozehkome urged the court not only to order the immediate release of his…

The Nigerian Senate has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the detention of 250 Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons. The decision to probe this matter was prompted by a motion presented by the Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon, during a recent plenary session. A report circulating on social media had raised concerns about the alleged inhumane treatment and maltreatment faced by these Nigerians in Ethiopia, despite not having committed any offenses. The report called on the Nigerian government to intervene in the illegal incarceration of its citizens. Mwadkwon, while presenting his motion, expressed deep concern over the reported incarceration, emphasizing…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it plans to transmit results of the Nov.11 Bayelsa governorship election manually. The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Obo Effanga, stated this in Yenagoa on Wednesday, during an interactive section with religious leaders and faith based organisations. Effanga said that INEC was ready to conduct free, fair and credible election and only voters accredited by BVAS would be allowed to vote. “Immediately you are given the ballot paper you can start voting. READ ALSO: Naira loses, exchanges at N756.21 to the dollar at investors, exporters window “We are in the fourth…

Spotify, a global online streaming platform, has named South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and Uganda as the top African countries listening to Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in Africa, on its platform. Monica Kemoli-Savanne, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager, East Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, in Lagos. “Africa’s thirst for quality R&B is undeniable, with South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and Uganda, registering top R&B listenership on Spotify. “Even in francophone and lusophone markets like Côte d’Ivoire and Angola respectively, the presence of R&B is being felt across Sub-Saharan Africa. “Despite the historical dominance of Afrobeats,…

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday said it has found as untrue the alarm raised by 14 residents of the territory that their organs were missing. The Police Commissioner in the FCT, Mr Haruna Garba, said the alarm was found to be untrue after medical examination was conducted on each of those who raised the alarm, Garba made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the command’s achievements in the fight against crime. He added that the 14 persons involved were currently being prosecuted following the confirmation of their lies. “They are being prosecuted…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has alerted the public on the possibility of deterioration in visibility in some northern states as a result of dust haze propagated into the country from the source region. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Muntari Ibrahim, NiMET’s General Manager of Public Affairs on Wednesday in Abuja. NiMet said stations in the source region from Chad (Faya-Largeau, Bol-Berim, Mongo, Abeche and Ndjamena) have been reporting horizontal visibility between other sources from Niger that share borders with northern Nigeria. READ ALSO: APC suspends Kogi guber campaign “Diffa, Maine-Soroa, Goure, Bila, Maradi, zinder and Birni-n-…

Police have dismissed one Belasa Iyangedue, a constable for allegedly raping a 16-year-old who was in detention. Commissioner of Police in Benue, Mr Bartholomew Onyeka told newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi that Iyangedue had been arraigned as the police had the statutory responsibility to fight crime. Iyangedue’s offence, he added, was against the ethics of the profession. He said that the dismissed constable allegedly committed the offence at Tse Agbaragba Divisional Police Station at Konshisha Local Government Area. READ ALSO: Man jailed for life for sexually assaulting 4-year-old in church “He was not only dismissed but he is facing prosecution.…

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a man, Ifeanyi Ndieze, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a four-year-old in church. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Abiola Soladoye held that prosecution sufficiently proved the charge of sexual assault by penetration against Ndieze in line with Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. She said: “The child identified the defendant as the man who carried her during a church programme and sexually assaulted her by inserting his finger into her vagina. “The child was taken home, and while the mother…

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered investigation into allegation of poor feeding of frontline troops in the North East Theatre of operations. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Nwachukwu said that the welfare of troops has been given premium by the present leadership of the Nigerian Army and was one of the vital pillars of the COAS Command Philosophy targeted at motivating the force. ”The Nigerian army therefore takes these allegations very seriously and COAS has directed immediate investigation into the complaints to…