Author: Olamilekan Botti

The strike led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has stretched into its 11th day, with negotiations between labour unions and Area Council Chairmen deadlocked. The dispute centres on the timeline for implementing the N70,000 minimum wage. On Tuesday, Abdullahi Kabir, the FCT Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), provided updates on the ongoing discussions. According to Kabir, the Area Council Chairmen have proposed implementing the new minimum wage in January 2025. However, this suggestion was firmly rejected by the unions, which are insisting on a December 2024 start date.…

The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended a 42-year-old man, Friday Emenike, also known by the alias “Ekpo,” for allegedly renting firearms to criminals for illegal activities. This arrest highlights a significant step in the fight against crime within the state. According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect hails from the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Emenike was taken into custody by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command following credible intelligence linking him to the illegal provision of weapons to criminal elements operating in and around Awka, the state…

The United States has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Guan Tianfeng, a 30-year-old Chinese national accused of orchestrating global cyberattacks. The U.S. Department of State revealed on Tuesday that Guan believed to be residing in China’s Sichuan Province, is wanted for hacking computer firewalls and compromising critical systems worldwide. An indictment unsealed the same day charges Guan with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and wire fraud. His alleged activities have also drawn sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department against his employer, Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Limited. According to the indictment, Guan and…

Codix Group, a subsidiary of Colexa Biosensor Ltd, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by securing approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to package a WHO Prequalified Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit at its facility in Nigeria. This development marks a significant leap forward for the country’s healthcare production capabilities and efforts to combat HIV. The approval enables Colexa Biosensor to locally package the WHO Prequalified HIV Rapid Diagnostic Test, known as the Standard Q HIV 1/2 Ab 3-Line Test. According to a statement released by Codix Group on Wednesday, this is the first WHO Prequalified HIV RDT to be…

In Syrian conflict, the recent seizure of Hama by rebel forces has sent shockwaves through the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, escalating initial tremors into what can only be described as an earthquake. Just days after rebels captured Aleppo, analysts and military observers predicted that Hama—located over 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of Aleppo—would pose an insurmountable challenge for the jihadist-led factions. Many believed that the forces loyal to Assad would have time to regroup and fortify their defences, quashing any rebel advance before they could reach the city’s gates. However, their calculations proved to be gravely mistaken. On Thursday,…

A catastrophic fire erupted at the warehouse of the National Social Investment Programme Agency in Idu, Abuja, leading to the loss of substantial assets and prompting urgent investigations. The fire, which broke out under circumstances that are still being investigated, destroyed critical training equipment and resources valued at billions of naira, significantly impacting ongoing social investment efforts in the region. In a detailed press statement issued on Thursday, Rhoda Ishaku, the Director of Information and Public Relations for the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, provided an overview of the incident. According to Ishaku, the devastating blaze resulted…

Pa James Oghoroko, the President-General of the Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, has reportedly succumbed to torture and harsh conditions while detained by the military. The news of his death has sparked outrage and grief among community members, who viewed him as a crucial leader. Oghoroko was among several leaders apprehended by Nigerian military forces starting from August 2024. He was arrested alongside notable figures including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Dennis Okugbaye, Pa Anthony Ahwemuria, and Mrs. Rita Akata, between August 18 and 20. They have remained in custody since their arrests…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has directed the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay ₦5 million to Oluwatimilehin Adebayo, compensating him for the violation of his right to freedom from torture. The court’s decision comes in the wake of a harrowing account of abuse, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and justice within law enforcement. The court’s order follows a suit filed by Adebayo, marked as ECW/CCJ/APP/47/23, in which he detailed the gruesome torture inflicted upon him by police officers in Ogun State. Adebayo alleged that he was subjected to severe physical violence, including being assaulted with the handle of…

Bill Gates, the co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, has expressed uncertainty about whether he would have achieved billionaire status had he grown up in today’s smartphone and social media saturated environment. Gates, integral in making computers and the internet an everyday fixture, shared his insights in a recent blog post, where he lamented the distractions that dominate the lives of contemporary youth. In a candid admission, Gates articulated that much of his formative years were spent wandering outdoors with friends, delving into books, and engaging in deep contemplation activities that he views as crucial to his eventual success. “When…

The UK on Wednesday introduced a grace period until March 2025, during which time expired physical documentation will be accepted for international travel as visa holders make the transition to an entirely online eVisa system. As part of an ongoing Home Office drive, all visa holders including many Indians using a physical biometric residence permit (BRP), a passport containing a visa vignette sticker or ink stamp confirming their indefinite leave to enter/remain in the country, or biometric residence card (BRC) as evidence of their immigration rights, were given until the end of December to make the switch to an eVisa.…