Author: Friday Omosola

An Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ring Road, Ibadan, has granted bail to Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, along with Ibadan-based media personality Oriyomi Hamzat and Abdulahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the trio were arranged and remanded over a stampede that occurred in December 2024. The stampede led to the death of 35 children and many being hospitalised. READ ALSO: Oyo files fresh murder charges against Ooni’s ex wife, others Justice K.B. Olawoyin of Court 8 issued the ruling on Monday after hearing a…

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has revealed that fire incidents across Nigeria in 2024 resulted in property losses estimated at N67.1 billion and claimed over 100 lives. This was disclosed by the Controller General of the Service, Abdulganiyu Jaji, during a press conference at the FFS headquarters in Abuja. Jaji further noted that despite the losses, the Service saved property valued at N1.94 trillion during the year. He added that the Service saved over 30,890 lives. READ ALSO: Nigeria records 100 fire-related deaths in 2024 Jaji further highlighted the increased risk of fire outbreaks during the harmattan season, attributing this…

The Federal Government (FG) has approved four airlines to serve as air carriers for Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Usman, revealed that the selected airlines were chosen from 11 companies that applied for the role. The approved airlines are Air Peace Ltd., Fly-Nas (a Saudi Arabian airline), Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Ltd. Usman explained that the selection process involved a rigorous screening carried out by a 32-member Aviation Screening Committee inaugurated by NAHCON on November 26, 2024. The…

Dolapo Bright, a former Special Adviser on Agriculture to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has criticised the Tinubu administration’s decision to suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on food imports. Speaking during Sunday’s edition of “Inside Sources” on Channels Television, Bright argued that the policy was based on poor advice and would not address Nigeria’s surging inflation. Bright highlighted that rising diesel and petrol prices have significantly driven up transportation costs, which in turn have escalated food prices. Official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that inflation, which stood at 22.41 per cent in May 2023 when Tinubu took office,…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that Franco-Malian Éric Chelle will be unveiled as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.  Chelle who was appointed by NFF after months of no coach to head the national football team will be unveiled on Monday at 11 a.m. in the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. This was disclosed in a statement published on the NFF’s official website on Sunday. Chelle, a 47-year-old Franco-Malian coach, was appointed last Tuesday by the NFF Executive Committee following recommendations from its Technical and Development Committee. Chelle will be unveiled…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s 36 state governors at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice.  The suit with suit no. ECW/CCJ/APP/03/2025 is challenging the alleged misuse of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024. SERAP claimed that the Act was being used to suppress free expression and violate the human rights of Nigerians, including activists, journalists, bloggers, and social media users. The ECOWAS Court had, in a judgment dated March 25, 2022, declared Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015 “arbitrary, vague, and repressive”…

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has partnered with renowned actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde to advance women’s empowerment through cinematic arts. The 46-year-old actress, who made her acting debut in 1995, has since starred in over 300 films, selling millions of copies and earning a global reputation as a trailblazer in the Nigerian film industry.   Announcing the collaboration, the Minister, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze, revealed that the partnership seeks to provide a platform for Nigerian women to share their own stories authentically. Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted that…

Nigeria secured $7.6 billion in investment interests during the Africa Investment Forum 2024, held in Rabat, Morocco, from December 4 to 6, 2024. Announcing this on his X (formerly Twitter) page yesterday, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, reaffirmed his commitment to supporting and bolstering investments in Nigeria. He also expressed gratitude to the governors and all attendees who contributed to the success of the forum. He wrote: “I am delighted that the Africa Investment Forum 2024 mobilized $7.6 billion of investment interest for Nigeria. It was great to have several State Governors: Lagos, Kaduna, Kastina,…

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has evoked the Child Rights Act and the Lagos State Policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection against Stella Nwadigbo. The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Mrs Nwadigbo, a teacher at Christ Mitots Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu was captured on camera maltreating three-year-old pupil, Abayomi Michael. Mrs Nwadigbo in the viral video repeatedly smacked Michael in the face during a lesson, an act the government described as unlawful and indecent. This newspaper further reported that the victim has been referred for medical care, while Mrs Nwadigbo has been arrested. She is currently remanded at…

Broadcasting staff under Lagos State Government-owned media outlets have issued a strike notice to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, signaling their intention to protest. Afolabi Ayantayo, the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the strike is scheduled to commence on Monday, January 13, 2025. According to Ayantayo, the strike is driven by the demands of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), who are urging the government to integrate their members into the mainstream civil service. He disclosed that the government began addressing the unions’…