Author: Alade Adisa

The Federal Government has conveyed its sympathies to the government and people of Niger State following the petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area on Saturday. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nantewe Yilwatda, described the incident in a statement released on Sunday as tragic, noting that it claimed many lives and caused extensive property damage. The statement was issued in Abuja by Rhoda Iliya, the ministry’s Information Officer. NEW DAILY PRIME reports that the death toll from the petrol tanker explosion has risen to 86, with 55 others injured and taken to…

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, has disclosed that his unwavering faith in God earned him the title “Miracle Governor,” as he rejected an offer to perform voodoo rituals in his bid to become governor in 2020. Speaking during the KOLGA (Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area) Annual Day of Thanksgiving in Sampou on Friday, Diri recounted a pivotal moment in 2020 when a senior Nigerian figure advised him to resort to spiritual rituals while challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory at the November 2019 governorship poll, a case pending before the Supreme Court at the time. The governor revealed that…

The cease-fire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas came into force at 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday, Qatari officials announced Saturday. The Israeli military confirmed the start time and said its troops will “implement the operational procedures in the field in accordance with the set agreements.” “The IDF has been preparing to receive the hostages after their release from Hamas captivity and is operating to provide suitable physical and psychological support, with careful attention to every detail,” the military said. The cease-fire plan, which will see Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners as well as a pause in fighting in the…

Oba Otudeko, a former chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), has suddenly left Nigeria. This comes as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) set to arraign him and three others in court on a 13-count charge of alleged fraud. According to The Cable, security sources said the businessman left the country via one of the land borders. The socurces said he was dropped off at the Nigeria-Benin border on Thursday evening by a family member. Otudeko’s phone number was switched off when contacted, and messages sent to his WhatsApp, however, delivered but there was no response, the…

At any moment, Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North senatorial district will defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He was elected to the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election. According to Premium Times, Nwoko has concluded his defection decision and there is no going back on it. With his looming defection, the APC will have all three senators in the state in its fold as the senators representing Delta Central and Delta South senatorial districts won their seats on the platform of APC in the 2023 elections. One…

Belgian forward, Leon Trossard was the catalyst again as the Gunners made it 2-0 – this time he collected the ball and took his time up against Matty Cash before creating the space to send a deadly ball in for Kai Havertz to volley in. Less than five minutes later, though, Youri Tielemans got his head to a fantastic cross from substitute Lucas Digne to send it beyond Raya. The Belgian midfielder came close to tying it up a minute later but his shot hit the post. On both occasions, he left Mikel Merino scrambling – and failing – to…

La Liga leaders, Atletico Madrid’s club-record 15-game winning run has come to an end with a surprise defeat at neighbours Leganes. Atletico had a chance to at least keep their unbeaten record going when they were awarded a last-minute penalty, but their all-time record scorer Antoine Griezmann put the spot-kick wide. Diego Simeone’s side had won every game since a loss at Real Betis on 27 October. But the crucial goal on Saturday came when Leganes centre-back Matija Nastasic headed in from Dan Raba’s cross. Julian Alvarez and Griezmann had both hit the woodwork in the first half with the…

The death toll of the Saturday tragic tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Niger State, which plunged the community into deep mourning, has risen to 77. The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the death toll during a phone interview with Channels Television. According to eyewitnesses, who revealed that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were among those present at the scene, the explosion occurred while some individuals were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker into containers. The sources said that a generator, used in the process of transferring the…

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has expressed disappointment with the performance of the government of President Bola Tinubu, noting that as an opposition governor during the 2023 general elections, he jumped in jubilation over his (Tinubu’s) victory, believing that it is Uhuru but in the long run, “freedom and development are eluding us.” He maintained that the President came to power without a blueprint or a clear-cut manifesto, adding that he is surrounded by people who are “misfits.” The governor spoke while fielding questions from journalists when he received the Founder and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle…

Two prominent judges were killed in an armed attack at Tehran’s Supreme Court on Saturday, with reports suggesting a third judge was targeted, Iranian state media reported. “This morning, an armed person infiltrating the Supreme Court in a planned action attempted to assassinate two brave and experienced judges… Following this terrorist act, two serving judges – revolutionary and decisive in the face of those who undermined the security of the people – were martyred,” the Iranian judiciary’s media outlet, Mizan reported. Mizan said the attacker, who had no prior criminal record, killed themself while security forces tried to arrest them.…