Nobel Laureate and renowned playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, has revealed his preference for wine as a substitute for water, stating that it provides him with both inspiration and relaxation. In a recent interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, Soyinka, who turned 90 on July 13, 2024, shared his unconventional view on drinking water. Soyinka explained that he avoids water because it “just takes up space” and offers no real satisfaction. Instead, he chooses wine, which he says has the dual effect of either sending him to sleep or inspiring him to work. “A good, robust wine either sends you to sleep…
Author: Editor Francis
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that corrupt politicians are incapable of providing good governance, calling for accountability at all levels of government. He made this remark during a virtual address at the Denis Joseph Slattery memorial lecture, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, organised by the Old Boys’ Association of St. Finbarr’s College, honoured the late Irish missionary who arrived in Nigeria in 1941. Slattery was remembered for his contributions to education and sports, including founding St. Finbarr’s College in 1956. During his speech, Obasanjo, 87, criticised government officials with “questionable” integrity, arguing that they…
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to unseat 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The Action People’s Party (APP) filed the suit, accusing the lawmakers of defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the ruling on Friday, dismissed the suit on several grounds, including that it was filed outside the legal timeframe. He ruled that the case was statute-barred, as it was not instituted within the 14-day…
The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered a restriction on vehicular movement in Edo State ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024. This directive, which limits movement from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day, is part of a broader effort to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible election process. Seventeen political parties are set to participate in the election, with the major contenders being the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party. In a statement released on Friday, Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi explained that the movement restriction…
The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has expressed opposition to the move by petroleum marketers to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) despite the availability of petrol from Dangote Refinery. Eche Idoko, the Publicity Secretary of CORAN, made this known in a statement condemning the importation plan, following reports that 141 million liters of PMS are currently being transported to Nigeria by oil vessels. This follows the Federal Government’s full deregulation of the downstream oil sector. Earlier this week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced new petrol prices for its retail outlets across the country, ranging between…
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday presented a report to President Bola Tinubu, outlining recommendations for transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector. Prof. Jega, who was appointed co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of Livestock Reforms by President Tinubu in July, submitted the report as part of efforts aimed at overhauling the sector. Further details on the content of the report and the proposed reforms are expected to be released soon.
The management of the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTH) has issued a directive prohibiting its employees from engaging in cryptocurrency-related activities or any form of mining while on duty. The decision comes in response to concerns that such activities are distracting staff from their primary responsibility of attending to patients. In an internal circular, the hospital management emphasized that while employees are free to pursue other interests when off duty, engaging in crypto trading or mining during work hours is unacceptable. The directive aims to maintain focus on patient care, which the hospital considers a top priority. Adamu Usman Tela,…
The Kogi State government has officially inaugurated an implementation committee to oversee the rollout of the new national minimum wage of N70,000 for state workers. The announcement was made by Dr. Folashade Ayoade, Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, during the committee’s inauguration in Lokoja on Wednesday. Dr. Ayoade called on the committee members to meet the expectations of the state’s workforce and develop efficient strategies to ensure the successful implementation of the new wage structure. Mr. Elijah Evineme, the committee chairman and Kogi State Head of Service, reassured those present that the committee would work diligently to fulfil…
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, has announced plans to establish a $5 million battery recycling plant in Ogun State. This initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, will position Ogun as a leader in battery recycling on the continent. Montgomery made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Wednesday. He explained that the facility, which is relocating from Lagos to Ogun, will focus on recycling electronic waste and turning battery cells back into chemical form for reuse. The plant will export the black mass from…
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly surrounded the Kogi State Government Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, on Wednesday night in an attempt to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. The incident, which involved sporadic gunfire, has drawn condemnation from Bello’s camp. In a statement issued by Bello’s Director of Media, Ohiare Michael, he criticised the EFCC’s actions, describing the operation as unnecessary and politically motivated. He also urged Nigerians to hold the anti-graft agency responsible if any harm comes to the former governor. The confrontation followed Bello’s earlier voluntary visit to the EFCC headquarters, where he was reportedly…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially confirmed the implementation of a controversial 0.005% cybercrime levy on all electronic transactions, as outlined in its newly released Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This announcement follows the initial suspension of the levy earlier this year, which had sparked widespread debate across the country. The levy, introduced under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015, is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity infrastructure. The rate, initially set at 0.5% in May 2024, has been significantly reduced to 0.005% in the updated guidelines. The CBN…
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declined to sign the Presumptive Tax Bill recently passed by the state House of Assembly, citing concerns over the economic burden it would place on the people. The governor made this decision public on Wednesday, noting that the bill, if implemented, would exacerbate the hardship faced by the state’s poor population. Makinde expressed that the ongoing economic crisis has left many residents “hungry and angry,” and emphasised that his administration’s priority is to alleviate poverty rather than impose policies that might worsen the people’s plight. “Anything that will put money in the pockets of…