Faleh al-Fayyad, the head of Iraq’s pro-Iran Hashed al-Shaabi alliance, has called for the immediate withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from the country. This demand comes in the aftermath of deadly US strikes that targeted Hashed al-Shaabi positions in western Iraq. Allegedly responding to a January attack on a Jordanian base that claimed the lives of three US soldiers, the recent US strikes have escalated tensions between the two sides. During a funeral ceremony for Hashed al-Shaabi members killed in the strikes, al-Fayyad accused the coalition of hitting administration offices, a hospital, and forces responsible for protecting borders. …
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced plans to enforce tax payments for social media content creators and influencers in Nigeria. According to Dare Adekambi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, these influencers constitute a significant group of tax evaders. Adekambi highlighted that many content creators, including skit makers and influencers, are not fulfilling their civic obligation to pay taxes despite earning income in dollars. The FIRS aims to collaborate with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to bring these digital entrepreneurs into the tax net. While acknowledging the challenge of tracking these individuals, Adekambi emphasized…
On Thursday, a wedding convoy in Damari town, Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, was targeted by suspected bandits, Reports confirm that at least 55 wedding guests, who were escorting a bride home, were kidnapped in a brazen attack. Details reveal that the victims were traveling in an open van referred to as a canter vehicle when the hoodlums launched their ambush. Regrettably, the attempt to rescue the abducted guests resulted in the loss of three local security volunteers. The targeted wedding guests numbered over 70, primarily friends of the bride, and some managed to escape by…
The killers who brutally murdered the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara State, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, reportedly planned the crime in a local pub. Fresh details reveal that the killers spent hours at the beer parlour before luring a salesgirl to lead them to the monarch’s palace. The retired senior military officer, crowned in 2017, was shot dead on Thursday night, while his wife and two others were abducted. The assailants, who had settled in the pub, convinced the unwitting salesgirl to guide them to the palace, claiming they wanted to pay respects to the monarch and discuss town progress.…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has categorically denied any plans to convert $30 billion in domiciliary bank accounts to the local currency (naira). The apex bank refuted claims circulating in a national newspaper that the Federal Government was contemplating a policy to stabilize the national currency, which experienced its sharpest decline in history earlier this week against the United States Dollar. The unverified report suggested that the government might issue a directive to convert foreign currencies held in individual and corporate domiciliary accounts to naira at a rate determined by the CBN. The alleged move aimed at…
The Lagos State government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, dislodged illegal squatters under the Ijora Causeway bridge on Saturday. The enforcement, part of the clean-up initiative for the Lagos Badagry Rail Corridor, followed a five-day quit notice issued to the squatters, which expired on January 28, 2024. Commissioner of the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the operation was carried out by the Special Intervention Squad, led by ACP Bayo Sulaiman, emphasizing the commitment to restoring cleanliness to the crucial rail corridor. On February 2, 3024, the Monitoring and Enforcement Team of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation…
The Integrity and Transformative Leadership Advocate (ITLA) has applauded Minister Festus Keyamo for his instrumental role in securing N2 billion for the rehabilitation and expansion of Osubi Airport, Delta State. The neglected Osubi Airport, under Federal Government jurisdiction since its acquisition from Shell, has long awaited attention. The recent approval through the Aviation and Airspace Development 2024 Appropriation Act has ignited optimism for the airport’s future. ITLA, in a statement signed by its National Convener, Chief Oneovosa Emuobo, and Secretary, Comrade Bibi Kukuru, expressed gratitude for the minister’s tenacity in addressing the longstanding neglect of Osubi Airport. The…
President Macky Sall of Senegal has announced the postponement of the country’s upcoming presidential election, originally scheduled for February 25. The decision, revealed in a televised address to the nation, was attributed to ongoing electoral disputes that, if not addressed, could lead to potential unrest. The constitutional council’s recent decision to exclude several prominent candidates from the electoral list, including opposition figure Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), has fueled discontent and raised concerns about the credibility of the election process. President Sall acknowledged the troubled conditions in his address, expressing worry that they…
A gas truck laden with canisters exploded in the densely populated Mradi area of Embakasi, Nairobi, unleashing a massive blaze that claimed three lives and injured 280 people. The explosion occurred close to midnight on February 1, creating chaos and devastation in the southeast of the Kenyan capital. Firefighters heroically battled the blaze for over nine hours, finally bringing it under control by 9:00 am. The blast, which could be heard several kilometers away, ignited a colossal fireball, causing extensive damage to properties, vehicles, and commercial establishments in the residential neighborhood. The Deputy Inspector of Police, Douglas Kanja,…
Formula 4 is set to make its debut on the African continent with the launch of an exhilarating championship in Morocco. Mygale, the renowned French constructor of F4 chassis, announced this week that the racing series will unfold on Moroccan national circuits from December 2024 to March 2025. The Royal Motor Sports Federation (FRMSA), in collaboration with AGS, is organizing the championship, which welcomes drivers from various nationalities alongside local Moroccan talents. The four-round series will feature the F4 Mygale of generation one, equipped with the Alpine 1.3-litre turbo engine formerly used by the FFSA Academy. These first-generation…
Benue State University’s Academic Staff Union (ASUU-BSU), has declared an indefinite strike few months after the suspension of a previous strike in June 2023. The union’s decision comes as a response to the Benue State University (BSU) Administration’s failure to address long-standing issues related to the improved conditions of service for academic staff. The announcement of the strike was made through a joint statement issued by the ASUU-BSU Branch chairman, Comrade Kwaghfan Tarnongo, and Secretary, Terrumun Gajir. The union expressed disappointment with the BSU Administration for not fulfilling promises made during previous engagements, leading to the resumption of the suspended…
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced plans to construct a state-owned airport in Lagos, aiming to drive significant infrastructural development. The governor revealed this visionary initiative during his visit to the China Airport Construction Company (CACC),headquarters in Beijing, where discussions with top officials focused on forging a strategic partnership. Governor Sanwo-Olu, currently on a working visit with key government officials, emphasized that the proposed airport aligns with his commitment to advancing infrastructural development and ensuring Lagos becomes more efficient and smarter. He stated, “We are actively seeking real partners who understand our market’s potential for growth, and we believe this venture…