Month: July 2024

Police arrest suspected ritualist while attempting to kill 10-Year-Old Boy in Kwara

Emporium Reporters

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a suspected ritualist during an attempt to kill a 10-year-old boy. The command said it received a distress call about the attempted culpable homicide and subsequently arrested the suspected ritualist. A statement by DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, the spokesperson for the state police command on Sunday said, “According to information received from the police at C Division, on the 2nd of July 2024 at about 1800 hrs, a report was received from Onidoko Police Post indicating that at about 1730 hrs, an incident occurred…

Samoa Agreement: No clause on LGBT, $150b for Nigeria – Bagudu

Emporium Reporters

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, yesterday said there was no clause on $150 billion for Nigeria in Samoa Agreement.   He said what Nigeria signed was the “Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Members States and members of the Organization of the Caribbean and Pacific States”.   He denied that the agreement had anything to do with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) rights.   He said Nigeria’s signing of the agreement was accompanied by a declaration clarifying its understanding of…

Remarks by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, held on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the National Press Centre, Abuja

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has maintained an open arm relationship with the media. It is in line with the philosophy of the President as an avowed democrat who spent a lifetime fighting for the entrenchment of democracy and human rights.   This administration has remained very tolerant of media criticism and guaranteed citizens’ rights to freedom of expression. It is however disheartening that some elements are abusing this free environment guaranteed by the Government. We are alarmed by the level of reckless reporting and statements by…

God’s Word is guaranteed when spoken declares Rev. Babatunde Idowu

Emporium Reporters

By Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon     The Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters, witnessed an extraordinary Sunday service on July 7, 2024, that left attendees deeply touched and spiritually rejuvenated. The service commenced with a vibrant and Spirit-filled choir ministration that prepared the hearts of the congregation for the prophetic message that was to follow.   Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu then mounted the pulpit, delivering a sermon titled “Divine Visitation Unto Positive Turnaround,” drawing from the Scripture texts Genesis 21:1-8 and Luke 7:11-16. His message was profound, reinforcement, and filled…

We’ve fully restored National grid after collapse – TCN

Emporium Reporters

The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN on Sunday said the national power grid has been restored following Saturday’s embarrassing collapse.   Ndidi Mbah, the spokesperson of TCN described the collapse as partial, saying that “there was a partial disturbance of the grid at about 15.09Hrs yesterday, 6th July 2024.”   She said the incident “brings to three, the partial grid disturbances, with one total disturbance this year.”   The TCN image maker added that the grid collapse is suspected to have been caused by the unexpected tripping of three units…

Bandits kidnap Two Kaduna Journalists, Wives, Others

Emporium Reporters

Gunmen suspected to be bandits in large numbers on Saturday night invaded Dahjonu Community in Millennium City of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists;The Nation’s Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Blueprint newspaper’s AbdulRaheem Abdu as well as their wives and children.   Alabelewe is also the current chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council.   One of the victims’ family member, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits invaded the area around 10:30pm and shot indiscriminately before carrying…

J.F. Odunjo and the hunger this time By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

One phenomenon that cannot be denied in Nigeria today is hunger. Nigerian people are hungry. Very unusually, no one – politicians, elected government functionaries or their appendages – has been able to allege that this general cry of hunger is politically motivated. So many occurrences have been painted with the camwood of that word, “politically motivated”. It is worse for some of us who write. We must have taken overnight instructions from political baron opponents to paint government black. Or, our views are hangovers from ancient hatred and bile. But,…

Akpabio: Between Ignorance and Mischief By Mon-Charles Egbo

Emporium Reporters

This intervention is inspired by a piece titled “The Menace of the Internet Mob”, authored by Simon Kolawole. Inter alia, he lamented that “social media has become the death of many people, metaphorically and literally. Many have been tried, condemned and executed on social media based on misinformation and disinformation. Conversely, many have also become brain-dead, willingly and wilfully spreading misinformation and disinformation for the sake of clout-chasing”. Drawing a distinction, he emphasized that “misinformation is mostly a mistake — usually borne out of ignorance, poor intellect or laziness to…

Nigeria and Presidential Democracy: Any Better Alternative? (2), By Hassan Gimba, anipr

Emporium Reporters

This is the continuation of the article of last week, republished as a result of our current “search” for a more viable political system. It should be noted that they were first published over three years ago. In Nigeria and Presidential Democracy: Any Better Alternative? (1), we touched on how cries of marginalisation permeate the air. Partisan interests are placed above national interests while divisions along ethnic and religious lines have become the norm just as the struggle for power and its retention have taken a “do or die” dimension,…

NPA commissions new Tugboats to enhance operations at Dangote Refinery, Lekki Port

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,Mr.Adegboyega Oyetola has commissioned three newly acquired 80 tons bollard pull tugboats deployed to enhance the berthing of vessels at the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport.   Christened MT IRAGBIJI, MT DAURA, and MT BAMA, the vessels are expected to support port security, patrol, and surveillance and to deliver efficient pilotage and towage services that would help the growing cargo evacuation needs of the Lekki maritime corridor.   Speaking at the commissioning in Lagos on Thursday, Adegboyega Oyetola said the investment into acquiring the…