Author: Good Evening Nigeria

The Russian armed forces on Wednesday said that dozens of Ukrainian drones were repelled during the night in regions close to the border. A British analysis suggested Moscow’s forces also shot down one of their own combat jets last month. The Defence Ministry in Moscow, said that a total of 31 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted by air defence forces over the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, however, spoke of the damage of an administrative building. Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 19 months ago. Meanwhile, attacks on Russian territory had increased…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has called on Nigerians to shift their attention away from the certificate controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu and instead concentrate on national development. In an interview on Channels TV, Minister Tuggar argued that Tinubu’s academic qualifications should no longer be a concern, given his extensive political career and two-term tenure as a governor. Tuggar was speaking in reaction to the recent release of President Tinubu’s academic record by the Chicago State University, which has continued to generate controversies, particularly with regards to the anomalies in the President’s certificate, including gender error. The minister…

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has ordered its Urban Development Board to investigate the encroachment of government lands by residents within Makurdi, the State Capital. The governor’s directive was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula and made available to the on Wednesday in Makurdi. Alia gave the order when he visited Benue Links, the state owned Transport Company, to inspect ongoing work on erosion control and other maintenance work in its office premises. The governor particularly ordered the board to within the shortest time, identify and summon all those that have built on…

Gambian President Adama Barrow, and African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Head, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, have pledged to boost rice production and invest in the country’s vibrant youth and women entrepreneurs. The bank, on its website, said the duo agreed when Gambian’s president received Adesina in Banjul. According to the Gambian president, the Russian-Ukrainian war presents an opportunity for us to solve the problem of food security. Barrow said there was no reason why Africans should not feed themselves. He reiterated the need for his country to commercialise its rice production to produce enough rice for the people. “Local production currently…

In an unprecedented turn of events, Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, has been ousted from his role following a no-confidence vote. This marks the first instance in US history that a House Speaker has been removed through such a vote. The final tally was 216-210 to remove the congressman as leader of the Republican majority in the lower chamber of Congress. Hardliners in his party voted against him after he struck a deal with Senate Democrats to fund government agencies. There is no clear successor to oversee the House Republican majority. Congress has just…

Veteran singer, Sidney Onoriode Esiri, popularly known as Dr. Sid, has disclosed the reasons behind his abrupt exit from the music scene. In an interview with the BTS podcast, he cited his unmet expectations from his last music project as a major factor that led him to explore filmmaking and the gaming industry. He also said that he felt he had achieved ultimate success with music by receiving awards, touring the world and delivering hit records. “I had pretty much lived my dream, I had done every single thing I wanted to do in music, I had won awards, I…

Pope Francis has indicated a willingness to consider the blessing of same-sex unions in a pastoral context, according to a letter published by the Vatican on Monday. This development comes after the Vatican’s decree in 2021 that the Catholic Church would not bless gay marriages because God “cannot bless sin.” The Pope’s letter was addressed to a group of cardinals who sought clarity on the issue. Shedding light on the intention on the Pope, an official of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, who chose to remain anonymous, said the Pope’s emphasis on ‘pastoral charity’ suggests a willingness to address…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the Commodity Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (COMAFAS), has commenced the training of 75 youth on fisheries in Bauchi State. Dr Austine Maduka, National President of COMAFAS, stated this in an interview with the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Bauchi. He said the training was part of the ECOWAS initiative and strategy towards the capacity building of youths in the food value chain systems through the grants partnership with COMAFAS. “We inaugurated the second phase of the training on Tuesday in Bauchi with 75 young participants. READ…

The Police in Lagos have confirmed that the Afrobeat musician, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley is currently in its custody in connection with the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as MohBad. The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Tuesday night on his verified Twitter handle@BenHundeyin. He said the Naira Marley was currently assisting with the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 27-year-old singer. “Naira Marley has been taken into custody for interrogation and other investigation activities,” Hundeyin said. READ ALSO: NiMet alerts Northern states on deteriorating visibility Mohbad died on Sept.12 and…

The naira on Tuesday appreciated against the dollar as it exchanged at N745.19 at the Investors and Exporters window. The local currency gained by 1.38 per cent compared to the N755.27 it exchanged for the dollar on Sept. 29. The open indicative rate closed at N767.24 to the dollar on Tuesday. A spot exchange rate of N819.90 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the day’s trading before it settled at N745.19. READ ALSO: APC suspends Kogi guber campaign The naira sold for as low as N700 to the dollar within the day’s trading. A total of 81.12…

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Abbas Balarabe as the ministerial replacement for the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. The announcement was made in a letter read by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, during the plenary on Tuesday. Balarabe’s nomination was announced alongside the nominations of Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths, respectively, by the President. READ ALSO: Police dismiss constable in Benue for alleged rape of detained minor Details later…

Russian forces have significantly weakened the combat potential of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, according to Moscow’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. The adversary had been dealt sensitive blows, Shoigu told a meeting of the military leadership in Moscow. The minister also said that recent Ukrainian attacks in the Bakhmut and Soledar areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk region had been successfully repelled. He said that Ukrainian attempted to break through Russian defence lines at Rabotyne and Verkhovoe in the Zaporizhzhya region had also failed. READ ALSO: COAS orders investigation into allegation of poor feeding of troops Shoigu’s comments contradicted Ukrainian statements, according to which…

The Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), says the agency is developing strategies to take drug cartels out of business and protect the environment from the damaging effects of illicit drug cultivation and production. Marwa stated this while outlining efforts by Nigeria to curb the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug production and trafficking at the third committee session of the 78th UN Nations General Assembly in New York. This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Femi Babafemi on Tuesday in Abuja. He…

The National Emergency Task Force and Coordination for Diphtheria in Nigeria, has said Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, and Bauchi states are struggling with escaping cases of diphtheria. The taskforce, however, said vaccination campaigns were underway in those states. The organization, co-chaired by Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said this to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja. The outbreak, which re-emerged in December 2022, has posed significant challenges to the healthcare system and is particularly impacting several states. Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna and Bauchi, being the hardest-hit regions, collectively accounted…

An Upper Area court, Karu, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced two unemployed, Mandala Daniel and Emmanuel Okorie, to two months imprisonment for constituting nuisance after court injunction to discontinue such attitude. Judge Yusuf Adamu sentenced the convicts after they pleaded guilty of constituting nuisance and begged for leniency. The judge, however, gave the convicts an option of N7,500. Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Osho, told the court that the patrol team attached to the Nyanaya Police station, Abuja, while patrolling around black spots in Nyanya, arrested the convicts. READ ALSO: Nigeria@63: New York Mayor, envoys hoist national flag at Bowling Green…

TAJBank Limited, a Nigeria’s non-interest bank has recorded the highest Tier-1 capital in the non-interest banking sub-sector in the first half of 2023. This is according to a statement by TAJBank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Ahmed Joda Joda said that the audited financial statements of the bank also reflected an increase in its Profit Before Tax (PBT) to N6.019 billion, which is the highest in the banking sub-sector and surpassed analysts’ projections. TAJBank also made history early this year when it listed the first tranche of N100 billion Sukuk Bond on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) after the successful…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has registered 1,068 Lassa fever infections across 112 local government areas in 28 states of the federation. The NCDC said this via its official website on Tuesday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Week 37 (Sep. 11 -17, 2023). The centre indicated that 75 per cent of the cases were detected in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi States. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. It is primarily found in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria. The virus is transmitted to humans…

Bandits have freed the wife and new born baby of the Kaduna based Islamic scholar, Malam Abubakar Mushawy Ibrahim, who were abducted Seven weeks. Malam Abubakar Mushawy Ibrahim, his wife and children, including at his one day old baby were abducted at his residence in Kaduna State, on August 9, 2023. Reports say that the bandits forcibly entered the scholar’s residence in Fondisho, a community along the Kaduna-Zaria highway, and abducted the family. The tragic incident occurred the day after the scholar’s wife gave birth to their newborn. According to a close associate of the scholar, who requested anonymity, the…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have agreed to suspend the industrial action planned for Oct. 3 for 30 days. At the end of a five-hour closed door meeting, the Union leaders said that all the agreement have been given a time line for implementation. The agreement was signed by representatives of government and the leaders of the joint union. The highlights of the agreement is outlined this: Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the Nigeria…

In a tragic incident that unfolded in the Dinyavo area of Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, a family of four has been electrocuted. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, has cast a pall of sorrow over the local residents. Spokesman of the state Police Command, Superintendent Abdullahi Usman, confirmed the heartbreaking event. According to him, “At about 11a.m., (today), information received from reliable sources revealed that a house located at Dinyavoh area of Jalingo was on fire. READ ALSO: Donald Trump to testify in New York civil fraud trial “Detectives from GRA division Taraba Command…