Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said since Nigerian politicians took over from colonial masters, they have only contributed wickedness.
Peter Obi said most of the resources managed and maintained by the colonial resources were left to waste. He said he often doubted the essence of independence and how things were allowed to be wasted.
The former governor of Anambra State, in an interview with Why Not Afrika, while speaking on the economic opportunities in that Onitsha area of River Niger.
Obi recalled that the Onitsha area of River Niger used to be a beehive of economic activities. He explained that the colonial masters built so many resources in the area that generated revenue for the country, but all were left to ruin by the Nigerian leaders.
He noted that the River Niger, if harnessed like the River Nile of Egypt, can help the entire logistics system of the country. He regretted that every wealth created out of River Niger was left to waste.
“It is wasted resource. If you check the contribution of Nile to Egypt and you ask yourself what is the contribution of River Niger to Nigeria. So if two people have similar resources but one of them is yielding something and another is not.
“Since colonial masters left, everything they built was allowed to destroy, because nobody cares about the society, nobody cares about the people. There are so many resources we have that they have never cared about.
“You won’t know the amount of waste in this country. This alone if properly utilized can help the entire logistics system. All transportation for farm products used to go through this facility.
“They were all built by the colonial master. Since they left, it has been a waste. That is why I ask the question the essence of independence because the black man has not contributed anything except wickedness,” Obi said.
[NaijaNews]
Dangote Group’s subsidiaries have emerged as major recipients in the latest Retail Dutch Auction conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), purchasing at least $105.33 million in successful foreign exchange (FX) bids.
This allocation represents about 13% of the $876.26 million that the CBN distributed among qualified banks.
Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Providus Bank, Union Bank, and Sterling Bank were the primary banks that secured the most FX for Dangote’s firms in the latest CBN Retail Dutch Auction. Four of these banks are also on the list of the top 10 banks that got the most FX from the CBN’s auction.
These banks played vital roles in facilitating the importation of essential raw materials, spare parts, and equipment, crucial for maintaining the operational efficiency of Dangote’s diverse industrial empire.
Dangote Sugar Refinery got the most FX
- Among the firms owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Dangote Sugar Refinery led with $87.42 million FX bids. Dangote Sugar Refinery received significant allocations for the importation of Brazilian cane raw sugar. For example, one transaction involved the import of 16,000 metric tons of raw sugar, with a single bid amounting to $10.96 million.
- Dangote Cement PLC, a dominant force in Africa’s cement industry, had a successful bid amount of $9.03 million. Several smaller allocations were directed toward the procurement of spare parts for cement plant machinery, particularly by Dangote Cement PLC.
- The Dangote Oil & Gas Company Limited received $5.33 million from CBN’s auction. Dangote Oil & Gas Company Limited received substantial FX for the purchase of gasoil and low-pour fuel oil (LPFO), essential for energy production and industrial operations. The largest single bid in this firm amounted to $2.5 million for the purchase of 15,000 metric tons of gasoil.
- Dangote Industries Limited was allocated $2.5 million, while Dangote Agro Sacks Limited received $941,600.96. The $2.5 million secured by Dangote Industries Limited was for the importation of a set of gas turbines.
- Smaller allocations were made to Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited and Dangote Coal Mines Ltd, with $7,161.50 and $104,568.68 respectively.
A significant portion of the foreign exchange allocated to Dangote’s firms was for importing spare parts for various manufacturing and industrial processes. For instance, Dangote Agro Sacks Limited’s FX bid was for spare parts needed for textile machinery and manufacturing equipment.
What you should know
Nairametrics earlier reported that companies under the Dangote Group lost about N1.21 trillion of their market capitalization in July 2024, as they all experienced a double-digit share price decline during the month.
Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery, and NASCON Allied Industries are the three subsidiaries of Dangote Group listed on the NGX. These companies’ share prices declined by 10%, 13.6%, and 19.8% respectively in July.
The market losses by these companies during the month had an impact on the net worth of the group’s President, Aliko Dangote. Dangote who is Africa’s richest man directly and indirectly through Dangote Industries Limited owns an 86% stake in Dangote Cement Plc, a 72.2% stake in Dangote Sugar Refinery, and a 62.19% stake in NASCON. Hence the losses posted reflected a N1.02 trillion (~$680 million) hit to Dangote’s personal fortune.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires’ Index, his net worth as of July 1, 2024, was about $14.8 billion. However, at the end of the month, it declined to $13.6 billion.
The bulk of Dangote’s assets are his publicly quoted companies. However, his private assets such as the Dangote fertilizer plant were valued at $5.1 billion. The flagship of Dangote’s assets, the Dangote Refinery, is not yet valued amidst a myriad of controversies that have plagued the plant over the past month.
The Federal Executive Council recently approved President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other upcoming refineries in Naira. The landmark announcement by the federal government may help stabilize fuel pump prices and the dollar-naira exchange rate.
[Nairametrics]
The Central Bank of Nigeria sold $815.36 million to end users through 26 banks in its inaugural Retail Dutch Auction System at N1495 per dollar rate.
The apex bank disclosed this on Friday in the rDUS results signed by its Director of Financial Market Department, Omolara Duke.
The bank said it received a total of $1.191 trillion in its rDUS commencement on Tuesday.
While $815.36 million worth of bids scaled through, $375.7m valued bids were disqualified over late submission.
“After the collation, the Committee of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria approved a cut-off bid of N1495.00/US$ with the total successful bids of US$815,362.006.30 (Eight Hundred and Fifteen Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand and Six US dollars and Thirty Cents).
“The range of successful bids was NI495.00/US$ – N1650.00/US$ across 26 banks. Six (6) banks were disqualified, this included four (4) banks that submitted after the 6-hour submission period stipulated (9:00 am-3:00 pm). In addition, two (2) banks did not provide bids in the template supplied”, CBN stated.
This comes as Naira ended the week on a good note gaining N42.88 against the dollar.
[DailyPost]
The Federal Government has terminated the contract for Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri road project awarded to Dantata & Sawoe Ltd since 2007.
The termination, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said was due to the expiration of the contract’s time frame, highlighting the government’s push to ensure that long-standing infrastructure projects meet their intended deadlines and deliver value for money.
The government also assured Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed of immediate intervention to repair a flood-damaged section of the Kano-Maiduguri federal road within the State.
The road was recently severed by floodwaters following a heavy downpour, leaving the local Malori-Guskuri community in Katagun Local Government Area cut off and severely impacting their livelihoods.
Speaking during a performance review meeting on road projects under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme held on August 9, 2024, in Abuja with representatives from Dangote Group of Companies, BUA Group of Companies, and Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, the Minister revealed the government’s intent to revisit and revise the liability period for all federal projects to guarantee durability and optimal value for public funds.
According to a statement on Saturday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media Uchenna Orji, the Minister emphasised the importance of accelerating the completion of critical infrastructure projects, particularly those funded under the Tax Credit Scheme, which includes major roadways vital to the nation’s economy.
“Going forward, there will be a clear agreement on milestone completion timelines for ongoing projects under the Tax Credit Scheme.
“My position as the Minister of Works is that everybody must take responsibility. We will no longer fold our hands and allow the projects we have awarded and even reviewed to continue to linger,” he said.
The Minister highlighted the President’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of Nigerians due to poor road conditions, expressing that the government will not tolerate delays in completing vital infrastructure projects.
“Nigerians are suffering on these roads, and President Bola Tinubu is doing everything possible, giving the road sector special attention. It would be a failure on our part to allow contractors to delay these projects while ignoring the people’s suffering,” he stressed.
Calling for greater dedication from all parties involved, including funding partners, the Minister urged Nigerians to remain patient, emphasizing the importance of partnership and patriotism in supporting the President’s vision for national development.
“We must all play our part to support the President’s divine vision to retake our country,” the Minister urged.
The Minister cited several ongoing projects under the Tax Credit Scheme that have experienced delays due to outdated pricing structures.
The affected projects are under review to expedite their completion, he said, listing Dangote Group, BUA Group, Mainstream Energy Solutions as well as MTN Nigeria as the entities involved in the tax credit scheme with various projects across the country.
Dangote – the 35 km Apapa-Owonronshoki Expressway in Lagos State, the 38 km section of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualization, the 49.577km Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala road, Borno State, the construction of Nnamdi Azikiwe road (western bypass) in Kaduna State, the 49.153 km Bama – Banki road in Borno State, the reconstruction of 105km Obelle-Ilaro-Papalanto-Shagamu Road dualization, the reconstruction of 54.239km Deep Seaport in Lagos State, the 65.5 km Afikpo-Okigwe road in Ebonyi and Imo States being procured and the 53.7km of side lanes for the Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos State being procured;
BUA – the 20 km of roads in each of the three sections of Lokoja – Benin Highway, the 17.6km section of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road( more 3 km to be included at the Kano axis), the 132.5km Kano-Kongollam in Kano, Jigawa, and Kastina States, the 130km Bode Sadu – Kaiama road, 42km Eyenkorin-Offa road, the 73km Lafiaji-Bacita road and the 37km Okuta-Kenu road all in Kwara State;
Mainstream – the 76.586km Malando – Ngasike – Wara road in Kebbi State, the 45.13km Sabon Gari – Yuni – Auna Road In Magami LGA of Niger State and the asphalt overlay of Mokwa-Nasarawa road in Niger State.
MTN – the dualization of 107km Enugu- Onitsha road.
To address the flood damage in Bauchi State, the Minister directed a technical team from the Ministry of Works to assess the damage and propose an emergency solution to restore access and alleviate the hardships faced by the affected communities.
“It’s unfortunate that when a job is completed by contractors, we don’t even enjoy the road for five years before we’re back to square one. This is why I’ve been advocating against the one-year liability period; poorly executed jobs can last a year, but not five,” he said.
He also directed Mothercart Ltd, the original contractor for the damaged section, to join the assessment team and determine why the road failed.
The Minister commended efforts of Dangote Plc on the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway, the Lekki-Deep Seaport road, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe road in Kaduna while also praising BUA for their work on the Lokoja-Benin Highway at Ekpoma,
While urging Mainstream Energy Solutions to accelerate their efforts on their respective projects, as the government pushes for the swift completion of the critical infrastructure projects, Umahi assured that the government remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians see tangible benefits from the investments, ensuring that the nation’s roads are safe, reliable, to contribute to the country’s economic growth.
[TheNation]
There was pandemonium in the Ibule Soro Community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State as some members of the state police command allegedly entered the town and disrupted the annual New Yam Festival celebration.
The New Yam Festival is celebrated annually to mark the beginning of the yam-eating season.
During the celebration, some policemen allegedly arrived at the venue and began shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd and prevent the continuation of the festivities.
It was reported that many residents were injured as they fled for safety, and both social and economic activities in the area were paralysed following the police’s alleged intervention.
#endbadgovernanceinnigeria Day 2: Moment Little Boy Was Spotted At Ojota Protest Ground Today
As of the time of filing this report, police officers were still reportedly present in the town.
A community member, who identified himself only as Ayo, said on Saturday that the police had disrupted the peace the community had been enjoying.
“There has been a serious crisis in Ibule Soro since yesterday. The situation was beyond my control as the police invaded us, shooting sporadically and terrorising the entire community. Teargas were used, severely affecting both the elderly and the younger generation. Many people ended up in the hospital because of this action.”
However, when contacted on Saturday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, denied that the police had invaded the community but explained that the police intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order due to internal strife.
“The people of Ibule have been experiencing an internal crisis for some time. The command had previously invited the warring parties to lay down their arms and embrace peace, advising those aggrieved to seek legal redress in court.
“Unfortunately, the crisis escalated yesterday (Friday), so the police had to step in to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in the community,” the PPRO stated.
It was, however, reported that members of the community were divided over the festival’s celebration. The disagreement was between two factional groups in the community. The two groups disagreed on the date set for the celebration.
The town’s monarch, Oba Oluleke Ogunlade, had scheduled the New Yam Festival for 25 August to coincide with the first anniversary of his coronation. However, this did not sit well with members of the anti-Oba Ogunlade group, who chose to hold their New Yam Festival on Friday, claiming it was the traditional date for the celebration in the town.
[Punch]
The Nigerian contingent has officially wrapped up their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign with no medals, despite the participation of 88 athletes in 12 different sports.
Team Nigeria’s performance mirrored the country’s disappointing showing at the 2012 London Olympics, where the team also failed to win a medal.
The Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh, described the team’s performance as a “disaster” and vowed to prevent a repeat of such results in the future.
Despite Nigeria not winning any medals, athletes of Nigerian descent secured medals at the Games.
Here are five athletes of Nigerian origin who won medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Yemisi Ogunleye
Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye grabbed the gold medal in the women’s shot put at the Paris Olympics on Friday, throwing her winning 20.00m with her final attempt.
With her victory, Ogunleye became the first German to win the shot put event in 28 years, since the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
Ogunleye was born in Germany to a Nigerian father from Ekiti and a German mother.
After her win, Ogunleye acknowledged her diverse background in a video trending on social media and sang a Yoruba gospel song.
Annette Echikunwoke
Echikunwoke is the only athlete to have represented Nigeria in this list but opted to represent the United States after her disqualification at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
She missed out on competing in the hammer throw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) failed to conduct the required drug tests for athletes.
The 28-year-old, who holds the African record in the hammer throwing event, won an Olympic silver medal in women’s hammer throw.
Commenting on the feat, Washington Post quoted her as saying, “I’m happy it’s happening now. Everything happens for a reason, even if it’s bad or good or ugly. But this is beautiful.”
Samu Omorodion
Born in Melilia, Spain, to Nigerian parents, the 20-year-old forward is set to sign for Premier League side, Chelsea, from Atletico Madrid, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Omorodion was part of the Spanish side that defeated host, France, 5-3 in extra time to win Olympic gold in men’s football.
He scored just once in the competition, in a 2-1 loss to Egypt in the group stage.
Salwa Eid Naser
The Nigerian-born sprinter won silver for Bahrain in the 400m women’s event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She crossed the finish line in 48.53 seconds, trailing Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who set a new Olympic record with a time of 48.17 seconds.
The 26-year-old formerly known as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu was born in Onitsha, Anambra.
Michael Olise
Bayern Munich’s new signing Olise was part of the French team that won silver in men’s football.
Olise was born in England to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother.
His younger brother, Richard, plays for Chelsea FC in England.
[Vanguard]
Atiku to Nigerians: Take action against internal, external forces impeding Dangote refinery’s progress
Admin
Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has called on Nigerians to take a collective stance in supporting the Dangote refinery project, warning against any attempts to impede its progress.
Abubakar’s statement comes amid a conflict between the refinery and Nigerian regulatory authorities.
On August 8, the Dangote refinery said the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been reluctant to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO) to ensure that it receives its full crude requirement.
In response, the NUPRC denied the claim, stating that it facilitated the supply of 29 million barrels of crude oil to the refinery between January and June.
However, the Dangote refinery said it has not received the 29 million barrels of crude.
Speaking on the issue on Saturday, Atiku said the Dangote Refinery project is a significant investment that is “positioned to meet our energy and forex needs”.
The former vice-president also expressed concern over potential sabotage of the project.
He urged Nigerians to take “resolute actions” to ensure its success.
“Each parent eagerly awaiting the arrival of a child will dutifully undertake the necessary measures to ensure that the nurturing and development of this precious blessing remain a primary focus,” Abubakar wrote on X.
“This fundamental principle applies equally to investments, whether they be local or international.
“With this understanding, I am cautious in considering any deliberate attempts to impede the progress of the Dangote Refinery, a significant private sector project positioned to meet our energy and forex needs.
“Alongside numerous fellow citizens of goodwill, I call upon all Nigerians to take resolute actions to provide reassurance that both internal and external forces are not collaborating to prevent us from reaping the benefits promised by this eagerly anticipated transformative endeavour.”
On June 4, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, said some international oil companies (IOCs) are struggling to supply crude to his refinery.
Speaking on Arise TV on July 15, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer of the NUPRC, described the claim as “erroneous”, noting that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provisions that guide willing buyer-willing seller transactions.
But a few days later, the management of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) insisted that the IOCs were frustrating its request to purchase crude feedstock for the refinery.
[TheCable]
Key Points
- SendsPrint led by Damisi Busari acquires Nobel Financial, enhancing its U.S. presence to offer money transfer and gifting services from 16 states to African nations.
- Nobel Financial’s compliance team, led by Scott McClain, transitions to SendsPrint, ensuring strong oversight during U.S. expansion.
- The acquisition strengthens SendsPrint’s commitment to providing fast, secure, and affordable financial services to the African diaspora.
SendsPrint, a Nigerian cross border fintech startup led by Nigerian entrepreneur Damisi Busari, has acquired Nobel Financial, a U.S.-based global remittance service provider, to enhance its footprint in the American market.
Nobel Financial, founded in 2014, offers remittance services from the U.S. to over 32 countries, including African, Latin American, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets. It also facilitates the sending of in-kind gifts such as rice to African recipients. Over the past decade, Nobel has served over a million customers worldwide.
This strategic move will enable SendsPrint to offer money transfer and gifting services across 16 states, including New Jersey, Maryland, and Georgia, to recipients in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and other African countries.
SendsPrint looks to capitalize on U.S. opportunity with Nobel deal
“We recognized significant value in Nobel Financial, which underpinned this acquisition. The U.S. market presents a substantial opportunity for us, and we’re eager to bring our people-focused technology and deep understanding of African diasporas to ensure our expansion is successful,” said Damisi Busari, CEO and founder of SendsPrint.
As part of the acquisition, Nobel Financial’s Chief Compliance Officer, Scott McClain, and his team will join SendsPrint. McClain will continue his role at SendsPrint, ensuring strong oversight as the company scales its U.S. operations.
Fintech startup SendsPrint targets Africa’s growing remittance market
Established in 2022 by former Flutterwave executive Damisi Busari, SendsPrint provides a flat fee of $5 for cross-border transfers. With operations in the U.S., UK, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, the company promises swift transactions, often completed within 30 minutes, and secured by advanced measures like two-factor authentication and real-time monitoring.
Under Damisi Busari, SendsPrint is dedicated to enhancing the African diaspora experience through innovative technology, strategic partnerships, and comprehensive financial services. The startup has partnered with over 3,000 retailers across Africa, including major players like Shoprite and Jumia, to facilitate gift card transfers throughout the continent.
[https://billionaires.africa]
The spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has asserted that its operatives cannot arrest all criminal elements in the country at the same time.
Naija News reports that Adejobi made the remarks while responding to an X user who shared a picture of suspected terrorists displaying bundles of naira notes suspected to be kidnapping ransom.
The X user wrote, “They are now posing with the ransom money. Showing that they are balling.”
Responding, Adejobi said, “We can’t apprehend all the criminals at once. At least, appreciate us for the ones we have arrested. We arrest them on a daily basis, in large numbers.
“The armed forces and the police are trying their best. Efforts of security forces should be seen, noticed, and appreciated. We need to look towards having the collective efforts and individualistic involvement in tackling insecurity and other vices in Nigeria.”
Sports Minister, John Enoh, Calls Nigeria’s 2024 Olympics Performance ‘Disaster’
Team Nigeria ended their participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, without securing any medals for the country.
The last remaining athlete representing Nigeria, Hannah Reuben, aimed to clinch a medal for the West African Country in the women’s freestyle wrestling 76kg category.
Unfortunately, she was defeated in her second-round fight, losing 5-2 (by points) to Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh.
The disappointment came from Tobi Amusan’s inability to advance to the final of the women’s 100m hurdles.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s 4x400m men’s relay team faced disqualification following their semi-final race. This unfortunate outcome marked Nigeria’s poorest performance at the Olympics since the 2012 London Games.
Looking ahead, the next Olympics are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in 2028 which means that the sports ministry in Nigeria has at most four years to prepare for another game.
Sports Minister, John Enoh, Calls Nigeria’s 2024 Olympics Performance ‘Disaster’
The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has expressed his disappointment with Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
In a statement posted on his X page earlier today, August 10, John Enoh emphasized that the failure to secure any medals reflects underlying issues that require immediate attention.
He highlighted the need for careful consideration in the upcoming sports federation elections to ensure that the most qualified individuals are elected to lead the various sports federations.
John Enoh wrote, “Yesterday, I met with gentlemen of the press at the Nigerian Embassy in Paris for a press briefing following the country’s participation in the 2024 Olympics. As we go back home, we must do everything to prevent future occurrences of the Paris disaster and if this will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting federations, it will be done.
“The elections for the federations are around the corner, and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who are most eligible to lead the various sports federations.
“Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country did not secure any medals does not entail being addressed just by our participation at the Olympics, but it is a product of very many other things that need immediate attention.”
Despite assertions that the ministry adequately supported the athletes both financially and otherwise, Senator Enoh underscored the importance of addressing systemic issues beyond just participation in the Olympics.
“We did everything as a ministry to prepare the athletes adequately and provide them with every financial support, but unfortunately, the performance did not produce any podium finish,” he said.
Looking ahead to the federation elections, he emphasized the need for rigorous scrutiny of the candidates to elevate the standards of leadership within Nigeria’s sports federations.
He wrote: “I am aware that the sports federations elections in Nigeria are even tougher than our national elections. We must set our standards to scrutinize what motivates those vying to run the federations and get only the best hands.
“This call for reform aims to enhance the leadership and effectiveness of Nigeria’s sports federations, paving the way for improved performance on the global stage.”
Top 20 countries of the 2024 Paris Olympics medals table
As of 2:50 p.m. (Nigerian Time), China are sitting at the top of the medals table with a total of 84 medals, which comprises 34 gold, 27 silver, and 23 bronze.
Even though the United States have more medals (113) than China, they are second because they have one gold less than the Asian giants.
Below are the top 20:
Format: Country, Gold, Silver, Bronze, total number of medals
1. China – 34 | 27 | 23 = 84
2. United States – 33 | 41 | 39 = 113
3. Australia – 18 | 16 | 14 = 48
4. Japan – 16 | 8 | 13 = 37
5. France – 15 | 20 | 22 = 57
6. Great Britain – 14 |20 | 23 = 57
7. Korea – 13 8 8 29
8. Netherlands – 13 6 11 30
9. Germany – 12 9 8 29
10. Italy – 11 12 13 36
11. Canada – 8 6 11 25
12. New Zealand – 7 7 2 16
13. Hungary – 5 7 6 18
14. Uzbekistan – 5 1 3 9
15. Spain – 4 3 8 15
16. Ireland – 4 0 3 7
17. Brazil – 3 6 9 18
18. Ukraine – 3 4 4 11
19. Sweden – 3 4 3 10
20. Romania – 3 4 1 8
Note that the 2024 Olympics will officially come to an end on Sunday, August 11.
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The Nigerian Air Force has airlifted spme students home using a military aircraft to mitigate the risks associated with traveling by road.
Students of Air Force Military School and Air Force Girls Military School, both in Jos, were taken to their homes across different states in Nigeria via the military aircraft.
Photos shared online show them lining up to board the aircraft. Other photos show them on the aircraft.
The airforce said arrangements have also been made to airlift them back to school after the holidays ends.
King Sunny Ade ( KSA), the respected Nigerian music legend, has talked about why he has neither denied nor confirmed the rumours that he was having an affair with the late lady of songs, Onyeka Onwenu (MON).
In a recent condolence visit to the families of the late singer, KSA paid tributes to Onwenu while sharing his experiences with her.
Addressing rumours about their relationship, he clarified that the speculation was a strategic move to promote their music.
“That was a gimmick we did. It was for the music. We wanted to launch ‘Wait for Me.’ Before, people used to think she was my girlfriend. Me and her have never said yes or no,” he explained.
King Sunny Ade described Onwenu as an extraordinary woman who provided invaluable advice and support.
“She’s someone who will sit down with you. She used to say. “Can I chip in for some advice?” And the advice was always excellent,” he recalled.
Reflecting on their collaboration on the iconic song ‘Wait for Me,’ KSA noted that Onwenu often took the lead in their joint projects.
“Because when it comes to music that the two people have to do together, she used to do more. She would just tell me Sunny, let’s take it this way. And it’s always good,” he said.
He expressed his intention to continue performing the song in her honour, always crediting her as the true owner. “I will, on her behalf, sing it throughout my life with any artiste that you want me to. I’ve done it several times in different countries. I mentioned her name. I said she’s the owner of the song.”
He also shared the values he learned from Onwenu, emphasising her dedication to music and her vision for their work to have a global impact.
“She’s the first person to say this thing, we must do it. Sunny, let’s do it. This is what we want to do. It’s not only for us. It’s not only for our nation, but for the whole world,” he stated.
Onwenu, a celebrated singer and actress, passed away on July 30 leaving a significant void in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State, has blamed the emirate tussle on politicians involvement institution.
Shekarau said if politicians had stayed away from traditional institutions in the state, there wouldn’t have been emirate crisis.
Recall that Governor Abba Yusuf had reinstated Muhammed Sanusi while dethroning his predecessor, Aminu Ado Bayero.
The governor’s decision followed the repealing of the Kano State House of Assembly Emirate law of 2019 that had paved the way for Ado Bayero as Kano Emir.
Commenting on the matter, Shekarau expressed hope that Kano State would be peaceful and the tension created by the tussle would be over.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Shekarau said: “There will be peace. We need the traditional institution. I will not go into that because I belong to the institution.
“It was the political angle that seemed to have led us into this crisis. If the politicians had kept away from all of this and of course the traditional institution if properly engaged, I don’t see any disagreement.
“The traditional institutions are leading in their own right in society. The governor or any government appointee is a leader. There has to be this synergy of understanding.”
On Thursday night, gunmen believed to be members of the Eiye Confraternity shot and killed the manager of a hotel in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The deceased who was identified as Anthony Balogun was the one running the hotel owned by his mother before the unfortunate incident.
The sad incident occurred at about 8 pm on the ill-fated night inside the premises of the hotel located in Olunlade area of the Ilorin metropolis.
Daily Post reports that two gunmen allegedly entered the hotel and requested to see the manager.
The deceased, who thought that they were prospective customers, came out of his room to meet them at the reception.
The assailants reportedly called him out of the reception and shot him at close range on the chest, according to sources.
They were said to have macheted him on the head, hands and legs after some gunshots.
Kwara State Police Commissioner, Victor Olaiya, who confirmed the development, said it was the outcome of the 8/8 cultists activities after the 7/7 celebration of another confraternity known as Aiye.
Responding to questions from journalists in Ilorin on Friday at the police command headquarters, the commissioner who described the case as a fresh one after the efforts of the police to mitigate the fallout of the nationwide hunger protests in the state, assured that the culprits would be hunted and brought to justice.
The case was reported at the Ganmo Divisional Police Station, close to Ilorin, while the body of the deceased was deposited at the Kwara State General Hospital, upgraded as the Kwara state University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.