A Nigerian woman residing in the United Kingdom, Joy Nsude, has reportedly died.

The mother of two was found dead in her residence in Hartlepool, after speaking with her husband and many others on the phone.

A Facebook user, Ibironke Quadri, disclosed this in a post on Monday.

Quadri said that Nsude died on November 2, adding that the cause of her demise had not been ascertained.

The deceased was said to be a student of International Management at Teesside University, Middlesbrough.

Quadri wrote, “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our esteemed member of Nigerian Society (Teesside University) Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, Joy Osunde, a student of International Management.

“She is a mother of two children who are a two-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy. She passed away in her apartment on November 2, 2023, in Hartlepool England after speaking to many people on the phone including her husband while he was on his way to work on that fateful day.

“The cause of death is not yet reviewed. “Justice Nwaru, the husband who is devastated at the moment, is soliciting your kind and generous donations from friends, families, groups, institutions, and associations to enable him to arrange her funeral.”

The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said that despite imperfections resulting from human error, the recently held governorship election in the state was free, fair, and transparent.

With a total of 175,196 votes, Diri defeated his closest opponent, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 115,262 votes, according to the Returning Officer for the state’s governorship election, Prof Farouk Kuta, who announced the results in Yenagoa.

The governor disclosed this while featuring on Channels Television’s political programme, ‘Politics Today’ on Tuesday.

He said, “The Bayelsa State governorship election might be adjudicated free, fair, and transparent, but it could not be a flawless one since it is a human endeavour. There are challenges; the terrain of our state is totally different from that of Kogi and Imo. In terms of resource streaming it is also difficult.

“When there was outcry on the delay in the releasing of results, those of us from the state we understand it was not that easy for elections to be conducted and results will stream in the way they could have, like in Imo and Kogi

“We also had challenges such as the boat accident but the elections had to be conducted the following day, A Few of those challenges led to the delay.”

The governor said while the electoral umpire had performed well, state politicians who invented various electoral vices were responsible for problems with the election.

He maintained, “Rather than accusing the electoral umpire, the politicians in Bayelsa should be accused. In Nembe during the pre-election, people were chased out, and my party supporters were chased out, including the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.

“Everywhere you had proper elections, you will see the votes that are trickling in their very few numbers but in Nembe where BVAS were bypassed and there was no election you see voodoo figures of 40, 000 votes. The issue is not with the electoral umpire but with the character and the integrity of the kind of people I saw as my opponents in this election.”

While dismissing reports of violence in the state, he pointed out that “is not the whole of Bayelsa, there are some red flags local government areas in the state, like the Nembe that we talked about, Southern Ijaw and occasionally some part of Ikeremou LGA.

“Every Bayelsan can tell you that part of my scorecard and the administration’s scorecard is the peace and security that we enjoyed in the state.”

He pledged to extend his hands of friendship to all those who contested with him in the election except violent people..

“I will extend my hands of friendship to all those who contested with me, my maxim is that where they bring darkness we show them light, where they show hatred we give and show them love. I will not reach out to murderers and very violent people,” he said.

No fewer than seven Super Falcons players have been nominated for the women’s categories of the CAF Player of The Year Award, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The CAF list, which was largely dominated by Nigerians, has Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale, and Uchenna Kanu.

The Falcons had a remarkable year having gotten to the round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and were very close to qualifying for the quarter-finals before being knocked out of the competition on penalties by England.

At the club level, some members of the team had an outstanding season.

Ajibade has been very consistent for the Falcons and has also been a key figure for Atletico Madrid. The forward scored nine goals in 28 games for the Spanish club last season.

Toni Payne has also been a consistent player for Sevilla Women. She had three goals and four assists in 28 appearances for the club last season.

Oshoala, who was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or where she finished in 20th position, helped Barcelona to the UEFA Champions League title. She also outstandingly won the Laliga, recording 21 goals and three assists in 28 appearances.

The former Robo FC player along with 29 other players will battle vie for the prestigious Player of the Year, which Oshoala claimed for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.

Just as in the men’s category, the best women’s goalkeeper will be rewarded for the first time to celebrate the heroic efforts of the shot-stoppers.

Ten players have been nominated for the first-ever CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award with Nnadozie one of the favourites to win the award.

Nnadozie was immense for her Paris FC side, as she helped them qualify for the Champions League group stage.

According to the African football governing body, ten nominees each have been pencilled for the Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Young Player of the Year, limited to players not more than 21 years old.

The finallists of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast have each been rewarded with a place in the Club of the Year category.

The Awards Gala is to be graced by the crème de la crème of African football on December 11 in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has knocked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for going ahead to shut down the nation over the brutalization of its national chairman, Joe Ajaero.

Naija News recalls that the NLC and TUC embarked on indefinite strike action on Tuesday over the brutalization of Ajaero in Imo and other issues.

However, responding to the move by NLC to go ahead with its industrial action, Onanuga, in a post via his official X handle, said it is a season of madness in the NLC and TUC.

He accused the labour unions of damaging the national economy because of the bruised ego of one man.

“It is truly the season of madness in NLC and TUC. It was unthinkable the NLC and TUC could go this low, resort to damaging the national economy because of the bruised ego of one man,” Onanuga wrote.

Recall that the presidential aide had earlier faulted the decision of the labour union to go ahead with the strike action despite a court order restraining it from going ahead with the industrial action.

Onanuga, in his earlier statement, alleged that the labour union decided to punish a whole country of over 200million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President.

[NaijaNews]

It’s so hard to watch international news these days. The images from the Gaza Strip are heart-wrenching and distressing. Injured children crying and bodies of dead ones wrapped in white shrouds are too graphic to see. I have never seen so many corpses of little children in all of my life. As a parent, I can’t bear this any longer. I weep for the children of Gaza. The world has failed these innocent babies. Since October 7, over 11,000 people have been killed in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza, of which 70% are children. According to WHO, a child is killed every 10 minutes in this war. It is comforting that some world leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Lula da Silva are beginning to speak out against the sad spectacles in Gaza. ‘’Much more needs to be done to protect civilians in this war. Far too many Palestinians have been killed. Far too many have suffered these past weeks’’, remarked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres was even more vivid, describing Gaza as ‘’a graveyard for children’’.

As the corpses pile up in Gaza, the healthcare system in the territory has virtually collapsed. Gaza is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in its history and for Israel, it is a public relations nightmare of immense proportion. It is a war crime to attack hospitals, but Israel has excuse. Israeli Defence Force claims that Hamas fighters are hiding in underground tunnels below the hospitals and residential buildings; and so, the bombings will continue, even if it means destroying healthcare facilities. However, arrangements are being made to evacuate civilians safely. The human sufferings are huge and the children are dying in droves. Meanwhile, another terrorist group, Hezbollah, ensconced in Lebanon, are warming up to enter the fray. The middle East may go up in flames once again. I fear for the children, the innocent ones.

War impacts children negatively in different ways. It disrupts their education and impedes supplies of food, healthcare and basic necessities to them, eventually depriving them of their physical, social-emotional and psychological development. As a child, I saw a bit of the Nigerian civil war and the images are seared permanently in my memory. Whenever I see those Gaza children on TV, I remember the untold sufferings of Biafran children. There were starvations, Kwashiorkor, malnutrition and many deaths.

Children have inherent trusts in adults. Naturally, they expect adults, especially their parents, to protect them from harm. That’s why a frightened toddler easily clings tenaciously to the parent or any adult around, seeking protection and succor. But in Gaza, the adults watching helplessly. The children cannot understand why they are too helpless to offer them protection. I see despair, hopelessness and anguish in their faces as they cry in hospitals and bombed out buildings. These are haunting images.

What kind of adults would these Gaza children grow into? Will they become another generation of bitter and angry fighters? According to experts, child traumatic stress can last well beyond childhood. Research has shown that child trauma survivors may experience learning problems; substance dependency and abuse; mental disorders; delinquency and long-term health problems, including diabetes and heart diseases. I cry for the Gaza children as I remember the Biafran children who are now adults. The scars are never gone.

Let me be clear. I support Israel’s war against Hamas. I fully understand the anger, grief and fear of the Israeli people following the horrific, barbaric and unprovoked attacks by Hamas on October 7. The terrorists invaded Israel early that Saturday morning; executed, burnt and murdered children, men and women, including the elderly and sick, in their homes and at a music festival. Over 1,400 Israeli citizens were slaughtered and 220 people of different nationalities, including children, taken hostage. Such barbarity has no place and excuse in modern civilization. In retaliation, Israel has been overwhelmed by fury and rage, and caught in the crossfires are the children and innocent civilians of Gaza. Israel wants the hostages freed before they could consider a ceasefire, but Hamas wants a ceasefire before the hostages are released. Meantime, the US, UN and the rest of the international community are watching the carnage in apparent helplessness. Nothing in the Middle East is ever straightforward.

As the bloodshed continues in Gaza, anti-Semitic threats and violence are spreading across the US and Europe. This is the most dangerous moment to be a Jew since the Holocaust; and coming exactly 85 years after Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) on November 9-10 1938 when Nazi leaders unleashed a series of pogroms against Jewish population in Germany and Austria, Jews around the world are understandably nervous. Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were vandalized and hundreds killed. Thousands of men were rounded up and deported to other countries on the orders of the Nazi regime. It was a taste of what was to come in the Holocaust a few years later when six million Jews were killed. You can now understand why Israel is taking the fight with Hamas so seriously.

No nation has been as beleaguered as the Jewish State and apart from Africans who were shipped in millions (some 12.5 million captured men, women and children) to Europe and the Americas in Atlantic Slave Trade between 1562 and 1867, no other group of persons has been as persecuted, humiliated and hated like the Jews. Only Africans have remained the most hated, exploited, discriminated against and colonized people on earth. Slave Trade and the Holocaust are therefore the only two evils of historical proportions committed against humanity. This explains why Africans easily feel the pains of Israel and the sufferings of Jewish people.

Can we learn some lessons in all these? One, war has never solved any problem. This is the time to work for peace in the Middle East – when this war is over and Hamas is removed. Two, every bomb dropped on the Palestinians will likely create a new generation of angry and desperate people who may take up arms and plan another attack. Three, if civilian death tolls continue to mount and babies continue to die, the world will turn against Israel. Civilians should be protected by all means. There is no alternative to the two-state solution. Israel and the Palestinians will have to live side-by-side in peace and security because, as I often say, you can never be in peace if your neighbours are not happy with you.

This year's annual retreat of the Signs And Wonders Club International has come and gone but it left members and non-members alike, with lasting memories. It was a retreat like never before, and it has set a new mark for the club and similar ones in Nigeria.

Named Osun 2023, the club which is based in Asaba, had fashioned the program for members and their spouses to work, play and tour historical sites. What came as the icing on the cake was the special recognition by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, that became a major part of the program. Though they have received commendations in the past for their social and community development efforts, the honour of a 2-day reception by the foremost King in Yorubaland, stands out.

 Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

It is not often that many of the social clubs in Nigeria live up to their creed in promoting community development. So, when the Signs and Wonders Club International walks its talk in alleviating the suffering of people in our communities, it naturally attracts attention from far and near. For 2 days last week, November 7 and 8, 2023, the Oba hosted 3 events in Ile-Ife to honour the outstanding organisation.

First was the dinner in the club's honour at the palace last Wednesday, followed by the conferment of traditional titles on three of its outstanding members by the Ooni on Thursday. Lastly, the Royal Father capped the 2-day event with a well-attended banquet at the Ojaja Arena same evening.

 Dr. Josephine Anene-Akuakwa, Club President

The Oba was elated that the title recipients are embodiments of the club's vision of uplifting their communities. One of them, Dr. (Mrs) Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, is the Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba. A public-spirited woman, she has headed several social development initiatives in the state. Besides being the President of Signs and Wonders Club, the one-time Vice Chairman of the Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education in Nigeria is Chairperson, Governing Council, Faith Academy, Asaba. She was honored with the title, Yeye Asoju Alatunse of Ife.

The Chief Executive Officer of Chalonic Global Ventures Limited, Chief Nick Eze was installed as the Asoju Agbeluga of Ife while Chief Frank Nwugo was installed the Otun Oba Asoju Atunluse of Ife.

Chief (Dr) Frank Nwugo

Eze who is from Nsude in Udi LGA of Enugu is a renowned businessman and philanthropist who has devoted time and huge amounts of resources for development efforts in his community. He has empowered several youths, women and the less privileged. He has also engaged in several educational and community development projects.

Chief Frank Nwugo, from Delta State, is a man of many parts. A well-educated man with a string of academic degrees, he has attained lofty heights in his various professional callings, in public service, and in politics. He has a rich public service record as the State's former Director-General, Revenue Monitoring Tracking & Audit. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and a licensed Chartered Tax Practitioner, he is also an active member Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the West African Bar Association. Of note is that in spite of his professional callings, he has remained a strong pillar of support for several communities in his area of Delta State.

Chief Nick Nnabuike Eze

The fourth of the title recipients is Mutiu Adepoju. Popularly called 'The Headmaster', Mutiu Adepoju's story is one of inspiration, a testament to the heights one can reach through talent, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to one's craft. In recognition of his attainments, he was honoured with the title of Asoju Amuludun. He stands as a shining example of Nigerian footballing excellence, an icon whose legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

The traditional chieftaincy awards were the Ooni’s initiative to recognize men and women who have, by dint of hard work, attained top heights in their professions or careers. Also, in a world where the spirit of community often takes the backseat to individual pursuit, the community development award initiated by the Ooni has become a beacon of hope.

Deacon (Engr.) Olanrewaju Adeleke'

The club, led by its energetic President, Dr. Josephine Anene-Okwuaka, also visited historical sites like the Museum in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the Ikogosi Warm Springs in Ekiti State and the Erin Ijesha Waterfalls in Osun State. There were also three public lectures delivered by renowned academicians, among them the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, at the Ileogbo Golf City.

While the lectures provided a forum for academic discourse, the interactive nature afforded the participants the opportunity to interrogate various aspects of the issues discussed. They ranged from politics to the economy and from law to culture. While only a few tee'd off with the likes of former governor Oyinlola at the expansive golf course in Ileogbo, the football competition, moderated by legendary Mutiu Adepoju brought the packed 4-day program to a resounding end. But not after a garden party of assorted delicacies and drinks of varioius brands at the Lanreleke Sports Academy.

The day was so energy-sapping that members were too tired to attend the all-night party earlier promoted at the luxurious Laim Hotel, Oshogbo where members were quartered.

The ‘homecoming’ for the members of Signs and Wonders would not have happened without the facilitation by Engr. Olanrewaju Adeleke, a great son of Osun State and Nigeria. The civil engineer and Chief Executive Officer of PECULIAR Group of companies is a strong believer in community development who is also passionate about human capital development. He is the founder of Lanreleke Sports Academy in Ileogbo, a full educational institution that provides scholarships to students and helps to discover and nurture talents in football.

As the 2023 retreat drew to a close with a Thanksgiving church service, Sunday, at the Living Faith Church, Oshogbo, members could recall the earlier admonitions of the Ife monarch. The Ojaja II Merit Award is not just a ceremony, it is a recognition of service. It is a legacy of hope and a call to action for similar associations across the country.

It has started with those who are making remarkable strides in their various communities across Nigeria, of which the members of Signs and Wonders Club International are shining examples. It is expected that it will inspire others to lofty attainments.

PICTURES OF THE EVENT:

Chief Nick Eze, Mutiu Adepoju, Dr. Josephine Anene-Okuakwa and Dr. Frank Nwugo at the installation ceremony

Chief Nick Eze being crowned

Ooni and the new chiefs at the Banquet dinner

The celebrants take to the dancing floor at the banquet dinner

Nsude community chiefs present a painting to the Ooni in appreciation

The Ooni and Olori at the banquet

Ooni with the Anene-Okeakwa family

The Ooni with Chief and Mrs Mutiu Adepoju

Ooni with Chief Frank Nwugo and family

Ooni with Chief Nick Eze and wife

Members at the Ikogosi Warm Springs

At the Erin Ijesha Waterfalls

The men's football teams

Nigeria has an unpaid gas royalty of $559.8 million and an unpaid gas flare penalty of $828.8 million.

This is according to the Nigerian Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).  

Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary of NEITI said this on Monday, November 13 during his opening remarks at the 2nd German-Nigerian Symposium on Green Hydrogen in Abuja.

He highlighted that despite the country’s standing as a major global gas producer, there are dangers from constant gas flaring activities in the country, which could instead be harnessed as the country looks to implement its Decade of Gas agenda.   

He said that the unreconciled figures in the 2021 NEITI report point to an unpaid gas royalty totalling $559.8 million and an additional unremitted amount of $828.8 million related to outstanding gas flare penalties.

This suggests that a considerable amount of gas was flared during the specified period without corresponding payments, posing significant challenges to the global zero emissions initiative.  

An ongoing problem 

Recall that in July 2023, the Speaker of Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, revealed that the country experiences an annual loss of $2.5 billion due to gas flaring.

He emphasized that the flared gas represents potential revenue that could have been generated through its sale or utilization.  

Hon. Abass called for the engagement of all parties involved in gas flaring activities by the Ad-hoc gas flaring committee to investigate the payment of fines and the management of proceeds.

Additionally, Patrick Mgbebu, the Chairman of the Gas Monitoring Committee at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), informed the House that the Federation Account has been deprived of over $277 million in gas flaring penalties between 2020 and 2022.  

More insights from the Hydrogen conference 

Speaking at the event, the Country Director, GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, Dr. Markus Wagner said: 

• “It is crucial to recognize that green hydrogen has the potential to revolutionize our energy landscape. It offers a path to reducing carbon emissions, diversifying energy sources, and boosting economic growth.” 

He also emphasized the importance of data and information in facilitating a successful energy transition in Nigeria. Comprehensive planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation plans are crucial elements for navigating the transition effectively.  

He suggested that Nigeria should position itself as a technology leader to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the energy transition journey.

In addition, Nigeria’s Minister of Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, represented by the Director of Gas, Mrs. Komolafe Oluremi, acknowledged Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Net Zero Emission by 2060.  

Ekpo highlighted that hydrogen offers a viable pathway for decarbonizing the country’s energy sector, and it has become a top priority for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

He emphasized the need for substantial investments to scale up the hydrogen economy, and the government can play a role by creating a conducive climate for investors. 

Ambassador Annett Günther, representing the Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria, affirmed the commitment of both Germany and Nigeria to drive the production and utilization of hydrogen.

This collaboration reflects a shared dedication to advancing hydrogen-related initiatives. 

[Nairametrics]

Members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have shutdown the Tin-can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos in compliance with the nationwide strike by the organized labour.

The strike is coming on the instructions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after its national executive council meeting held on Monday, directing all affiliates of the Congress to strictly comply.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had taken the decision after their joint meeting in Abuja, prompted by alleged infractions and encroachments of the rights of workers, the assault on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and the continued refusal of government to implement agreements, non-payment of backlog of salaries, pensions, descriminatory payment of salaries and non-compliance to national minimum wage.

Executive members of MWUN directed its members to shutdown the ports on Tuesday morning in compliance with the directive.

It was learnt that freight forwarders who had arrived the port in readiness to commence clearance of their goods were asked to go back.

Some of the clearing agents, who spoke to our correspondent, said though the strike was in order, it was the masses that would suffer at the end of the day.

Seun Adigun, a learning agent at the Tin-Can Island port said the accumulated demurrage would be transferred onto members of the public at the end of the day.

He said no matter how long the seaport will remain close, government revenue still remains and would be collected.

“Terminal operators will collect demurrage from importers and the importers will inturn transfer same to the suffering masses,” he added.

[Dailytrust]

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has confirmed that three suspects arrested by soldiers during the just concluded governorship election in Kogi State are police officers.

DAILY POST recalls that soldiers on election duty in Okene, on Saturday, intercepted black-coloured security vehicles and arrested occupants of the cars.

The soldiers made other arrests during the election. Most of the miscreants were suspected to be political thugs.

However, the IGP, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that three of the suspects are policemen.

The police boss, while thanking officers who participated in the Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa State off-circle election, vowed to sanction erring officers.

The statement reads partly, “In Kogi State, it has been confirmed that three officers who were arrested by soldiers and handed over to the Police were indeed police personnel but were found to be escorting a VIP contrary to directives.

“Others who were arrested by election officers escorting VIPs during the polls will also be sanctioned as such actions are against established protocols, and the officers involved will face disciplinary measures as a consequence.”

[DailyPost]

Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria on Tuesday, November 14, blocked entrance into the National Assembly in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for workers to embark on strike.

Both the main gate and the annex gate into the National Assembly were locked by officials of the union making it difficult for workers who came to work to access their complex.

However, lawmakers and management staff were forced to use the gate leading to the Presidential villa to access the complex.

The staff who came to work complained of not being informed by the leadership of the union about the strike only to come to work and be told that they could not gain access because of the strike.

“You should have put this on the platform yesterday that we are joining the strike today. But you did not do that. Now, we come to work and you are telling us to go home”, some angry staff were heard complaining to some PASAN officials.

Details shortly…

[TheNation]