Category: Happenings

A 41-year-old Canadian lady Adrienne Munju was on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 convicted and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos for importing 74 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of synthetic cannabis weighing 35.20 kilograms into Nigeria.  

Munju’s conviction followed her arraignment on two counts charge before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos by the NDLEA on Thursday 3rd October 2024 during the inward clearance of in-bound passengers on KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the airport.

In her statement after her arrest, she had claimed she was recruited to traffic the illicit consignment through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos. She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada.

Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Muju to the term of imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against her by NDLEA.

Students of the College of Medicine in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have taken to the campus to protest a hike in the hostel fees.

The school management has reportedly proposed new fees of N80,000 for two semesters and N100,000 for a full academic year, an increase from the previous N65,000 fee agreed upon last session.

In a video shared by TheCable, on Wednesday, October 23, the students were seen questioning the reasons behind the fee hike.

One of the students questioned the school authority, saying: “We want to understand why our fee has to be increased.”

The team bus conveying coaches & U-19 players of the Kano Pillars has been involved in a road accident.

The accident occurred on Monday while the players were en route to New Jos Stadium in Plateau for their matchday 5 fixture in the U-19 Youth League against Plateau United.

In a statement released via X, Kano Pillars revealed that several players sustained injuries & were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The club added that no fatalities have been reported.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that the Kano Pillars FC U-19 team bus was involved in a road accident earlier today while en route to the New Jos Stadium for their matchday 5 fixture in the inaugural U-19 youth league against Plateau United U-19,” the statement reads.

“Several players and the driver sustained injuries in the unfortunate incident & have been promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention. Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported at this time & the medical team is closely monitoring the situation.”

The bill which seeks to create the New Oyo State with Oyo town as the Capital City from Oyo State scaled through second Reading on the floor of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday.

The private member bill was sponsored by Hon. Adeniyi Adeyemi and six others who observed the effect of Consequential change of the name of the remaining Part of Oyo State to Ibadan State with Ibadan City as Capital City and defined for Local Government Areas comprising the two States.

In his lead debate, Hon. Adeyemi who observed that the bill is not new to the parliament, recalled that the bill was successfully passed in the Second Republic by both chambers (National Assembly) awaiting the presidential asset before military interregnum in our Democratic life.

It’s noteworthy that present Oyo State deserves to be split into two being the largest state in terms of landmass in the South-West geopolitical zone with thirty-three Local Governments and it has a population of 5,580,894 people (2006 census).

A 42-year-old teacher, identified as Gbolahan Osinusi, has been arrested by Lagos State police command for allegedly defiling a teenager in the Ketu-Epe area of the state.

Gbolahan, who is also the guardian of the victim, had reportedly been having sexual relations with the girl since she was 12 years old till December 2023, when she was 17.

The suspect allegedly took her to a nurse identified as Mariam Fatolu multiple times for ab3rti3n drugs whenever she got pregnant.

The Lagos Police Command, Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, said Gbolahan Osinusi f3rc3d the survivor to swear an oath not to tell anyone, else she will pass away.

The police spokesperson disclosed that Gbolahan Osinusi was charged to court on October 16. He said the victim has been admitted for medical attention at General Hospital Ketu-Epe.

Director General of the South-East Governors Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife, says that the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be blamed for the current economic hardship experienced by Nigeria.

Ekwunife, who represented Anambra Central in the 9th Assembly, stated this in a brief chat with newsmen on Sunday, noting that the economic hunger is the result of the poor policy decisions undertaken by previous government administrations, most of which President Tinubu is trying to correct.

Ekwunife emphasised that this perspective ignores the systemic issues that have long plagued the nation, dating back several decades, and lamented the consistent blaming of President Tinubu for issues deeply rooted in Nigeria’s history.

“Negativity towards one’s nation does not foster growth, progress, or development. Instead, we should focus on the positive and support the collective goal of building a better future for Nigeria,” Ekwunife remarked.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a three-month ultimatum to owners of uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots across the Federal Capital City (FCC) to immediately develop their properties or risk losing them.

This move, FCTA explained, was necessitated by what it described as the rapid expansion of shanties and squatters within uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots across the FCC.

This was contained in a document dated October 21, 2024 and signed by the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah, and made available to the media on Monday in Abuja.

It read in part: “The FCT Administration has noted with concern the rapid expansion of shanties and squatters within uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots across the Federal Capital City.

The Administration has also noted that these buildings and plots are being used as hideouts by men of questionable characters thereby posing a serious security challenge to the residents.

A former member of the House of Representatives Farouk Lawan has regained freedom after serving a five-year jail term for asking and taking a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola. He was released from the Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life as I step out of Kuje Custodial Centre, with a heart full of gratitude to Allah SWT for seeing me through this trial,” he said in a statement he signed.

The former lawmaker thanked friends and family for their support in a “particularly trying phase of my life”. “My gratitude is deep, I’m alive and in good health and high spirits to be with my family, friends, and associates. I don’t take that for granted,” he said.

“I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”

The former lawmaker, bagged the jail term for seeking the said amount from Otedola while probing the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fra3d in 2012.

2023 PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has fired back at FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who claimed that Nigerians have rejected him and urged the former vice president to leave the political stage.

Reacting through his spokesman, Paul Ibe, Atiku said Wike and his collaborators are playing politics with the sufferings of Nigerians.

A statement signed by Ibe reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent remarks made by Mr. Nyesom Wike, which can only be described as another of his theatrical outbursts. Ordinarily, we would not respond, but we recognize that silence might be misinterpreted.

However, we remain calm, knowing that Nigerians are well acquainted with his antics, a lingering symptom of the bitterness he harbours from his defeat to the Wazirin Adamawa at the 2022 party presidential primaries.

Operatives of the NDLEA have arrested two businessmen, Ihejirika Okechukwu Emmanuel and Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for attempting to import and export cocaine pellets and parcels of Loud.

Ihejirika who frequents Thailand from where he claims to be importing fish into Nigeria was arrested on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Thailand via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, October 20, said: “When he was taken for body scan, the result showed he ingested illicit drug which proved to be cocaine. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled five big egg size wraps of cocaine weighing 400grams.

In his statement, the 51-year-old suspect confessed that he was to be paid upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Thailand.

A UK-based Nigerian man, Patrick Ubong, has passed away about a year after he moved to the European country with his wife. Ubong got involved in a ghastly car crash on September 23, 2024.

He had a head-on collision with a trailer, which totaled his car. He was hospitalized for several days but was discharged on September 30th, with crutches. He passed away on Thursday, October 17th, 2024, the family said ion a GoFundMe page.

His wife Lily was said to had returned from work to find only Pat’s crutches in their apartment, and after hours of searching and worrying, the police informed her that Pat had been found lifeless in the corridor of their apartment.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Nigerian-Canadian nurse, Usman Grace Khadijat Olami, for allegedly being in possession of illicit drugs.

She was arrested on Friday, October 4, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during the inward clearance of Air France passengers from Toronto, Canada via Paris.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, October 20, said: “During a search of her luggage, a total of 70 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing 35.70kg were recovered from her.

During her interview, she claimed she was in Nigeria to meet her boyfriend who instructed her to come with the large consignment of the highly sought-after synthetic cannabis.”

Officers of the Lagos State Police Command have fired teargas to disperse protesters rallying to mark the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protest.

Videos seen on Sunday morning showed protesters fleeing as the police fired shots.

The protesters had converged around 8:30 am at the toll gate with several banners and placards, calling for the full implementation of the reports submitted by various judicial panels of inquiry set up after the 2020 protests.

Speaking on Sunday, one of the protesters, identified simply as Excel, said he fell into the gutter while running from the teargas fired by the officers.

“They have started firing teargas at us. I fell into the gutter; I was hit on the head,” he said.

Another protester, Bayo Are, said, “I was hit too. I’m not really injured, just a few scratches on my body. Some people have also been arrested.”

In October 2020, thousands of youths gathered in major cities across the country to protest against the constant harassment, killings, and extortion by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian police.

Irawoai, a Nigerian startup, has carved out a niche for itself in the AI-driven fitness sector, particularly focusing on personalized road running training plans.

AI Personalization: Irawoai leverages AI to generate training plans tailored to individual needs, considering factors like fitness levels, goals, and available training time. This approach mirrors what advanced platforms like Athletica AI offer, where AI adapts training based on real-time data and user feedback.

User Growth: Attracting over 5,000 users, primarily from the USA, in less than six months, Irawoai showcases the global appetite for personalized AI-driven fitness solutions. This rapid growth underscores a trend where technology-driven fitness solutions are gaining traction, not just locally but internationally.

Foundational Expertise: Founded by Olafare Marvellous, a student-athlete, Irawoai brings a blend of practical athletic experience with technological innovation. This foundation might resonate with the ethos of platforms like RunReps, where personal experience in running complements AI-generated insights.

Investment: Raising $1.2 million in a pre-seed round indicates strong investor confidence in Irawoai’s model, similar to how Athletica AI’s subscription model reflects a business strategy that monetizes personalized AI coaching.

AI in Fitness Trend: Irawoai’s success reflects a broader trend where AI is increasingly integrated into fitness planning, as seen with Athletica’s dynamic training adjustments or the study on ChatGPT’s training plan capabilities. This trend suggests that AI not only tailors plans but also adapts them in real-time, enhancing user engagement and effectiveness.

Global Fitness Movement: The focus on road running, as highlighted by Wikipedia’s overview, shows that activities like these are popular worldwide for various reasons, from personal achievement to fitness. Irawoai taps into this by providing a service that can cater to this diverse audience, much like how road running events globally cater to all levels of participants.

In summary, Irawoai’s model aligns with global trends where AI enhances fitness training by offering personalized, adaptive, and data-driven plans. Its rapid user growth and investment success indicate a bright future for AI in personalized fitness, potentially setting a benchmark for other startups in Africa and beyond.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians abroad to return home and contribute to the nation’s growth.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), made the appeal during an event in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, October 19.

She stressed the importance of diaspora engagement, calling on Nigerians overseas to bring back their skills and experience to help tackle the socio-economic challenges hindering progress.

Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the opportunities available in Nigeria, emphasizing that national development requires the collective effort of Nigerians both at home and abroad.

“No foreigner will leave his country and help develop another,” she added.

Nigeria has yet again been thrown into darkness as the National grid  reportedly collapsed on Saturday morning, October 19, the third time in less than a week.

Earlier in the week, millions were left without power on Tuesday due to another grid failure.

Electricity distribution companies also confirmed a collapse around 6:48 p.m. on Monday, causing widespread power outages across the country.

The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested the Jigawa State Commissioner of Special Duties, Auwal Danladi Sankara, after he was allegedly found in an uncompleted building with a married woman.

The board’s Director General, Dr. Abba Sufi, in a statement on Friday, October 18, said the arrest was made possible through intelligent tracking following multiple complaints from the woman’s brother-in-law about the commissioner’s alleged immoral activities with her.

According to the statement, “Yes, it is true, we have arrested Auwal Danladi Sankara, the Jigawa Commissioner, with a married woman in an uncompleted building that belongs to him.

Unknown to him that we were tracking him based on reports against him that we received. Nasiru Bulama filed the complaint with the Kano State Police Command, the Department of State Services and the Hisbah Board, alleging Sankara’s involvement in illicit s+xual activities with his wife.

The FG is seeking a $500 million World Bank loan to improve basic education, aiming to boost learning and cut out-of-school numbers. This is according to the Programme Information Document for the loan project.

Naira Metrics reports that the loan is part of the World Bank’s HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All initiative, which aims to improve learning outcomes and address the challenges of out-of-school children.

Set for formal approval by March 2025, this project plays a key role in Nigeria’s education reform efforts. The PID disclosed the total cost at $554m, with $500m funded by the World Bank and $54m from the Global Partnership for Education grant.

“The HOPE-Education operation will be financed by a World Bank IDA credit of $500m and a GPE grant of $54m. The bank has been selected as one of two grant agents for implementing the System Transformation Grant of $107.59m; programme design, oversight, and TA for implementation support will be aligned across both agents,” the document read.

A young man is currently battling for his life at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after an alleged encounter with operatives of the Lagos State Police Command.

It was gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday morning, October 16, in Ipaja area of the state.

According to X user Omorhemi, “Yesterday morning, police chased my friend’s husband until he fell into the canal. They took his slippers and the money that fell, then left when people started shouting. This happened at Federal bus stop, Ipaja Ayobo axis. He is currently unconscious at LASUTH.

The officers were in plain clothes. They stopped him on a bike, and the rider left. They searched him, accusing him of being a yahoo boy because of his tattoos. They began cocking their guns, threatening to shoot. He denied the accusation and tried to move away, but they chased him until he ran.”

Dangote’s net worth has surged by 100%, reaching $28 billion, thanks to the start of operations at his refinery, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, is the world’s largest single-train oil refinery and can process various types of crude oil.

Bloomberg on Thursday, October 17, highlighted that: “The refinery has the potential to transform Nigeria’s economy by making the country self-sufficient in fuel production. And it has more than doubled his net worth to $27.8 billion.”

The federal government has officially announced the end of fuel and foreign exchange subsidies.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, made this declaration during the presentation of the Nigeria Development Update by the World Bank in Abuja on Thursday, October 17.

Edun revealed that these subsidies had drained the country’s economy, costing over N10 trillion, which amounts to five percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Fuel and FX subsidy are extinguished. The key thing here is that for the first time in 40 years, the vex tissue of fuel subsidy, and linked to it, the foreign exchange subsidy, costing five percent of GDP has gone,” he said.