I am in London, hopefully on my way, in the next few days, to Paris, the host city of the 2024 Olympiad. I am very excited about visiting Paris again after two previous experiences that are significant chapters in my life.
48 years ago, my flight to my first Olympic Games experience started in a city people used to say, in those days, was so beautiful and romantic that after seeing Paris, you can die happily!
It happened in the month of June. I was only a few weeks away from graduating from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Through the Oyo State Sports Council, the National Sports Commission contacted the office of the Rector of The Polytechnic, seeking my release to come to Lagos and proceed immediately to join the national football team, the Green Eagles, that were on tour of Europe preparing for the 1976 Olympic Games.
Coming completely from the Blue, it may be the most pleasant shock of my life. It was a quantum leap into uncharted frontiers of fate and fame. The Olympics were for gods, yet here was I, from nowhere, about to become one!
I had to submit an incomplete final project to my supervisor in the Mechanical Engineering department with the offer to return and defend the project after the national assignment. It was a most unusual situation for everyone.
Meanwhile, the list of Nigeria’s contingent was with the International Olympic Committee, IOC, and had been released to the public. A scintillating performance by me in the quarter-final of that year’s Africa Cup Winners Cup for Shooting Stars FC at the National Stadium, Lagos, made Dr. Isaac Akioye, Director of the National Sports Commission, NSC, in charge of Nigerian sports, to send an urgent request to the IOC to replace the name of an already registered player with mine.
That’s how, as in a dramatic scene straight out of Hollywood, I found myself on a flight to Europe for the first time, to join the Green Eagles, already touring, training and playing international friendly matches in Greece, Germany, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia in final preparation for the Olympic Games.
At the end of the tour, some 10 days to the opening ceremony of Montreal ’76, the entire Nigerian contingent of athletes in various sports were assembled in Hotel Ibis, in Paris.
That was my first ‘taste’ of Paris. That’s where my 1976 Olympic story took off.
Of course, the rest of that story is now unforgettable history highlighted by the boycott of the Games by 28 African countries led by Nigeria and Tanzania, and several other equally historic consequences birthed through the decades till now.
I never got to visit Paris again until the France ’98 FIFA World Cup.
I was present when the Super Eagles put up their best performance at the championship, trouncing Spain by 3-2. Some friends and I spent the entire night walking the streets of Paris on a drinking binge.
A few days later, on the streets of Paris, I also endured the agony that followed Nigeria’s painful loss to Denmark that ended my short-lived second romance with Paris.
That was 26 years ago.
I have not been back there since then.
It is now Friday July 26, 2024. I am heading back to Paris to witness a new ‘episode’ of the biggest multi-sports event on the planet. I am excited about the prospects of Nigerian athletes at the Games. The country’s 88-athlete contingent is brimming with talent, confidence, determination and a positive spirit.
I am eager to embed with them, particularly those in athletics where I think more of Nigeria’s haul of medals will likely come from.
I look forward to playing an unofficial role as an official Sports Ambassador of Nigeria, and sports diplomat of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA. I intend to add my humble voice to encourage, inspire and motivate the athletes to run faster, jump higher, throw farther and fight harder than they have ever done for their Fatherland.
Beyond that, I shall feed my journalistic impulses, and share personal experiences with audiences on my different platforms (print, radio, and social media) with unique sights and sounds of Paris
Once again, I have arrived in London. I love the City. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the best destinations for social and cultural interaction in the world, a melting pot of everything. The city accommodates a little bit of every community on earth.
Interestingly, I have not visited London in almost 5 years, not since the Covid 19 pandemic struck and disturbed the equilibrium of the world. I became one of its victims. I not only contracted it mildly but also lost my UK residential status when I chose to hibernate in the ‘safe’ environment of the secluded hills of Wasimi, rather than be involved in the long, uncertain, expensive and complicated protocols that traveling to the UK during that period required.
It has been a nightmare since the end of ‘Covid’ trying to get any kind of respite to re-enter the UK. Even the present visit is possible only by the intervention of the top echelon of the British High Commission.
So, I am here now, at the banks of River Thames, working out the logistics of entering Paris at this time. The city is filled to the brim with visitors – the almost 20,000-strong army of athletes, technical officials, and the media. Plus, of course, the millions of summer-time tourists and sports fans that are descending right now on the city.
By the next time you are reading or hearing from me, I would have crossed the English Channel in a ‘bullet train’, the Eurostar, that travels at speeds of over 300 km/h deep through the famous underwater tunnels of the Channel.
I cannot wait to catch up with Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aruna Quadri, Esther Onyema, Funke Oshinaike, Opeyori Anuoluwapo, and so on, to share ‘communion’ of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
•They are beneficiaries of subsidy payments and also working against the revival of other refineries so that fuel importation will continue
•Read between the lines and take action
STAKEHOLDERS of the South-South have called on President Bola Tinubu to fish out and penalize the petrol barons operating underground to upset the working of refineries in the country, including the recently established Dangote Refinery.
They said the showdown between Dangote, and the oil industry regulators was a collusion masterminded by the oil industry mafia, urging the President to read between the lines.
Unmask the saboteurs —Ambakaderimo, South-South leader
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Communities’ Development Committee of the Niger Delta, Joseph Ambakaderimo, said: “The breeze is blowing and the rump of the chicken will be exposed”.
“For some of us, the actions taken so far against the Dangote group are deliberate because certainly, the Dangote Refinery came as a disruption, which some vested interests did not see coming.
“It exposes why our refineries have remained comatose, people are feeding fat from the wrong things going there. The government is encouraged to identify and punish those involved in this sabotage of our refineries.”
Tinubu, NASS, govs should stop the mafia —Inwalomhe, JRC
The Executive Director of Justice Research Centre (JRC), Donald Inwalomhe, who spoke in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, said it was obvious that the beneficiaries of the subsidy regime have ganged up to frustrate the Dangote Refinery’s access to crude oil.
“The subsidy billionaires benefitting from subsidy in Nigeria are the mafia within the Nigerian oil industry working against Dangote. They worked for the refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt to collapse so that they would continue to get billions of naira from the subsidy for imported petroleum products.
“They are the ones equally working against the modular refineries that have been completed, they want subsidy to continue, which is why they are denying Dangote crude oil and telling the federal government to continue to import petroleum products.
“That is the challenge we are facing as we speak today. The petroleum industry in the South-South has collapsed, if you go to Warri, the Warri Refinery is like a ghost town since the refinery is no longer functioning. They are like a drug cartel in the petroleum industry, we can call them petroleum barons, who do not want our refineries to work.
“We call on the state governors, all the members of the state Houses of Assembly across Nigeria, and members of the National Assembly, which is the Senate and the House of Representatives to rally around Dangote, and ensure that the Dangote Refinery works. All other modular refineries should be encouraged to start operations.
“Look at Edo state, for instance, we have two modular refineries that are not working, one is in Ologbo built by the Chinese and Edo State government, and another one in Orhionmwon. Both of them are completed but they are not working, if they go into production and add their output to the one coming from Dangote, it will help to solve the issue of importation of petroleum products.
”Our governors should work with President Tinubu to ensure the Dangote Refinery works. The subsidy mafias have destroyed the economy of the South-South, they are making sure that both Warri and Port Harcourt refineries remain dormant.”
This‘s a conspiracy – Gbemre, NDPC
Coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition, NDPC, Zik Gbemre, in his reaction, said: “This is another conspiracy to fool Nigerians to accept greedy stakeholders’ trumped-up industry challenges to induce continued hikes in fuel prices.”
“The regulators were involved in approvals through the construction to the hurried commissioning. Why are they having issues at the time that Dangote Refinery is putting out products? Remember that this is a refinery the regulators passed as the best in Africa and beyond.
Mr. President should sort out the issue —Jonjon, ex-IYC president
A former president of the Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, Dr. Onyienfie Jonjon posited that the misunderstanding between Dangote and the regulators was about economic interest.
His words: “Dangote cannot operate without the NNPCL, and NNPCL cannot do without Dangote. The oil cabal does not want Dangote to succeed, and the government still pays subsidies. If Dangote comes full stream, how will the cabal continue to enjoy the subsidy that they are getting?
He suggested that as the Minister of Petroleum, President Tinubu should summon a meeting of NNPCL, and Dangote Refinery to iron out whatever crisis they are having.
”While we do not support monopoly in any guise and form, knowing the impact the Dangote Refinery would have on the Nigeria economy, certain concessions should be made so that we can have a win-win situation for both the investors and Nigerians.
“We urge both parties to put the interest of the country and its people first, and look for amicable ways to resolve this lingering issue.”
More than meets the eye —Idi, NNYM scribe
The Secretary of the Ndokwa National Youth Movement, NNYM, in Delta State, Presley Idi, said, “We find the outburst by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) chief executive, Adamu Farouk, against the Dangote Refinery, shocking, surprising and uncalled for.”
“While we believe there is more to the outburst than meets the eye, it was shocking to hear and this has certainly created bad waves for Nigeria globally, which is not needed this time.
“We think that the issues of product quality of the Dangote Refinery made by Farouk could have been resolved without coming to the press. There is power tussle behind the scenes, and it is sad because the common men bear the brunt.”
Diversionary tactic —Saviour, COMPPART
A human rights activist in Akwa Ibom State and executive director of COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building, Mr Saviour Akpan, described the friction between Aliko Dangote and the regulators as a diversionary tactic.
Akpan advised Nigerians to do the right thing by asking questions, instead of pointing fingers or buck-passing.
“They deliberately brought their face-off to the public domain to divert our attention so that Nigerians will not ask questions. So they should keep quiet.
”Unfortunately, we run a system that has failed and one of the outcomes of the failed system is what we see today. So, they should stop disturbing our ears. Let everybody do what is right, let us begin to ask questions and speak truth to power.
”Let all of us, including myself, stop buck-passing and finger-pointing. We have had enough of suffering in this country. It is all diversionary tactics on the part of economics and policymakers. There is something that they do not want us to hear or ask questions about”
Explore dialogue —Wills, Ijaw think-tank group
Co-Convener of Embassara Foundation, an Ijaw think-tank for good governance, Iniruo Wills said: “They should robustly explore and enforce the dispute resolution mechanisms embedded in their various contractual agreements and in the law. Was there no proper business plan? Was there no thorough due diligence and documentation, legal and technical? Were there no feedstock commitments locked in way ahead of the plant completion?
”Even promoters of modular refineries know that one of the preliminary requirements to be in place with legal enforceability is feedstock commitment, let alone a mega refinery like Dangote’s.
”Some would go further to make advance off-taker arrangements, though more as a business safeguard than a regulatory requirement. Nigerians are generally perplexed at the ongoing grand comedy.”
FG should probe operators —Akene, ex-commissioner
A former commissioner in Bayelsa State, Surv Furoebi Akene, asserted: “The Nigerian petroleum industry is a big scam. Some of us have raised these issues of high-level insincerity, fraud, oppression, and economic sabotage amongst the Nigerian oil industry players, and consortium in connivance with external forces and agents over the years.”
“The exchange between the Dangote Refinery, the regulators, and their collaborators is not unexpected. They know that the success of Dangote Refinery will expose their intrigues and deliberate efforts to ensure that the government-owned refineries did not work.
“This will stop their lucrative exploit of enriching themselves over the years at the expense of the Nigerian State. If the Federal Government is not culpable, they should probe the activities of the operators of the nation’s refineries, and other related and regulatory agencies for the past decades, and bring those found wanting to book according to the laws of the land.
“Let the blackmail against Dangote Refinery stop, and genuine regulations made for the refinery to operate effectively and efficiently. The actions of these people should be finally curtailed for the industry to work in this country.”
Brickbat good for the oil industry —Oritsetimeyin, stakeholder
A stakeholder in Warri, Delta State, Festus Oritsetimeyin, said: It is good for the oil and gas business sector. We are getting to know hidden things, we are getting to see that people can kill business initiatives that will profit the nation because of personal interest, and greed.”
“In May last year, we read that former president, Muhammadu Buhari, commissioned the refinery, now, we are hearing that the refinery has not been licensed. So the beef is exposing some many hidden deals.”
[Vanguard]
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has denied reselling shipments of crude oil from the United States (US) and Nigeria.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported three sources said the Dangote refinery was reselling due to technical problems at the refiner.
When questioned about the offers and talk circulating in the market regarding the refinery’s operational problems impacting the crude distillation unit, the publication said an executive at Dangote refinery said the unit is operating.
According to the sources, among the grades being offered were cargoes of US West Texas Intermediary (WTI) Midland crude and Nigerian Escravos and Forcados crude.
The plant has been importing several crude cargoes a month, traders said, adding that such resale by refineries is rare but not unknown.
However, in a statement addressing the claim, Anthony Chiejina, chief branding and communication officer, Dangote Group, said the report was incorrect.
“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading report on our crude distillation unit and also that we are offering crude for re-sale,” Chiejina said.
“This is outright falsehood as we are not authorised to sell any crude we buy from Nigeria!
“Also, our CDU is working and in perfect condition.
“We advise that you ignore these false narratives being peddled by those bent on the importation of dirty fuels into the country.”
On June 4, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, said some international oil companies (IOCs) were struggling to supply crude to his refinery.
Speaking on Arise TV on July 15, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), described the claim as “erroneous” as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has provisions that guide willing buyer-willing seller transactions.
On July 17, the management of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) insisted that IOCs are frustrating its request to purchase crude feedstock for the Dangote refinery.
The next day, Farouk Ahmed, CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.
However, on July 20, Dangote refuted claims that petroleum products from his refinery are substandard.
[TheCable]
SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence, a geopolitical research firm, says long-standing issues such as conflicts in food-producing regions, climate change, and pest infestations continue to pose significant challenges to food security in West Africa.
SBM, in its latest report, titled, ‘Unbounded Set: Jollof Index Q2 2024’, analysed factors responsible for surging prices of food items.
The index, which is a case study of Nigeria and Ghana, covers major food items used in making a jollof rice; such as rice, curry, thyme, seasoning, groundnut/vegetable oil, turkey/chicken, beef, pepper, tomatoes, salt, and onions.
The research firm said while Nigeria continues to grapple with very high food inflation rates, Ghana showed marginal improvements.
“In Nigeria, the year-on-year food inflation rate increased from 40.53% in April 2024 to 40.87% in June 2024,” the SBM said.
“The month-on-month rate decreased from 5.75% in March to 0.52% in June. However, despite this monthly slowdown, the overall trend in food prices remains concerning and continues to severely impact household access to food.
“This has led to numerous problems, including a typical increase in acute malnutrition cases.
“In contrast, Ghana has improved its food inflation rates over the same period, with the year-on-year rate decreasing from 26.8% in April 2024 to 24% in June 2024. Despite this downward trend, Ghana still faces significant challenges.”
The research firm further said the national average cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice (in 13 markets) significantly rose from N16,955 in March to N20,274 in June, marking an increase of 19.6 percent.
This surge, the company said, was primarily driven by substantial price hikes in key ingredients — particularly tomatoes and peppers.
“Other essential components such as rice, turkey, beef and vegetable oil maintained their already high prices, further contributing to the overall cost increase,” the SBM said.
“The spike in tomato cost has been attributed to seasonal changes and a severe infestation of Tuta absoluta, a major tomato pest.
“Between March and June, the price of ‘Grade A’ tomatoes skyrocketed from N50,000 to N100,000, with similar price hikes recorded for pepper.”
The report also attributed the surge in the cost of tomatoes to the Eid al-Fitr holiday in April, which disrupted the food supply chain.
According to SBM, Nigerians have shown remarkable adaptability in the face of these challenges.
The intelligence firm said Nigerians were forced to experiment with alternative ingredients such as carrot and cucumber stews to replace the traditional tomato-based recipes.
However, SBM said these efforts have been hindered by a concurrent rise in the prices of alternative food items such as garri and beans.
Highlighting the impact of food inflation across the 13 markets in Nigeria, the research showed that the Onitsha market experienced the highest percentage increase at 50 percent.
“The cost of preparing jollof rice rose from N14,900 in March 2024 to N22,350 in June 2024. This substantial increase in Onitsha, previously one of the more affordable markets, underscores the pervasive nature of food inflation affecting all regions,” the company said.
“Awka also saw a significant increase of 33.5%, with prices rising from N15,600 to N20,825.
“Bauchi experienced a sharp rise, with the cost of preparing jollof rice increasing by 33.0%, from N16,970 to N22,570. Similarly, Dugbe Market in Ibadan saw a 30.2% rise, with prices increasing from N15,620 to N20,330.
“Nyanya Market saw prices increase by 24.9%, rising from N17,500 to N21,850.
“On the other hand, Balogun Market in Lagos recorded the lowest percentage increase at 2.3%, with prices rising from N17,300 to N17,700.”
SBM also said the persistent foreign exchange (FX) restrictions on rice imports, the hike in energy costs as well and the “precautionary food retention” by farmers, were also factors that contributed to the food inflation crisis in Nigeria.
‘COST OF MAKING GHANA JOLLOF DECREASED BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE’
SBM said the cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice across various markets in Ghana from March 2024 to June 2024 fluctuated.
“In March, the price was GHS 408.75. This increased to GHS 439.75 in April and GHS 463.25 in May before experiencing a significant decrease to GHS 322 in June,” the report said.
“The overall trend shows initial inflationary pressures followed by a sharp decline in June. This indicates a significant slowdown in price hikes of most food items across Ghanaian markets relative to May 2024, when prices rose stratospheric.
“The month-on-month analysis reveals a 7.6% increase from March to April, a 5.3% rise from April to May, and a drastic 30.5% decrease from May to June.”
The research firm said the sharp decline in June could be attributed to factors such as improved supply chains, seasonal harvests, or government interventions to reduce food prices as the election approaches.
Mikel Obi, former Super Eagles captain, says foreign-born players of Nigerian descent must stop treating the national team as a “second option”.
Mikel spoke in a recent episode of the Obi One podcast.
The former Chelsea midfielder said foreign-born Nigerian footballers “wait” for call-ups from their countries of birth, then switch to Nigeria when they are “29 or 30 and past your best”.
He added that the players must decide to play for the Eagles early in their careers to communicate a passion for their roots.
“I have talked about players not representing their African roots. We have had meetings with these kids and their parents. ‘Look, you are from Nigeria. Your dad and mom are from Nigeria. Why don’t you play for the fatherland.’ They say they want to play for England or France or whatever it is, and then they wait. They keep waiting and keep waiting,” Mikel said
“When they get to 25 or 26, and they don’t get a call up from England, then they call Nigeria. We shouldn’t be treated like second options. We are not second options.
“If you decide you want to play for England, stick to it. Sit and wait. If you don’t get a call-up, you don’t get a call-up. But don’t wait until you’re 29 or 30 and past your best; then, you call the Nigerian FA to tell them you’re ready to play for them.”
The Eagles have a significant number of foreign-born players. Over eight members of the Eagles squad that finished second at the last African Cup of Nations (AFCON) were born in foreign countries to Nigerian parents.
However, many others are eligible to represent either the Eagles or their various countries of birth and are reluctant to commit to Nigeria.
A lifeless body of a yet-to-be-identified boy has been found hanging on a tree within a school premises in Ibadan. The boy, assumed to be in his mid-twenties, allegedly hung himself on the premises of Alapata Onireke High School, Elewuro, Akobo, Ibadan.
According to a witness, who pleaded anonymity in an interview with Vanguard, someone in the area had already been declared missing about three days ago before the incident.
The witness added that he was at a relaxation spot in the area when someone ran towards him to inform him about the lifeless body hanging on a tree in the school.
As of the time of filing this report, the body of the young boy was still hanging on the tree.
A murder suspect, Kehinde Ganiyu, 50, has disclosed that he killed and used his sick friend’s throat for ritual soap in a bid to seek prosperity.
He added that he visited his sick friend at Odebiyi’s compound, Oba-Oke in the Olorunda local government area of Osun State on Thursday July 18, 2024, and suddenly had the urge to kill him.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Friday, he said he slaughtered his friend named Emmanuel Collins and removed his throat right on the sick bed.
“I thereafter took it to the shrine where I mixed it with other things and transformed it into a black soap for my clients. I regret my actions as I don’t know what came over me.
“I have not killed anyone before now but I have been preparing the ritual soap (Bisa Bisa) for “yahoo boys” before. The clients usually bring the items, especially, human parts and I charged them N500,000. But I wanted to try this one for myself. that is why I killed my friend but I now regret my action”, he said.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola said part of the exhibit recovered from the suspect include, four blood-stained knives, two gourds containing black substance, one wooden traditional pot with black soap, two local sponges, a wooden tray (opon ifa) and some local charms.
She said the suspect would appear in court after a thorough investigation.
Similarly, two other suspects were paraded for stealing and illegal possession of firearms. Ajayi Sunday was caught with a stolen bajaj and a locally made short gun while Yinka Adewuyi was nabbed carrying four bags of cement stolen from a site where he was engaged as a tiler.
Opalola added that the suspects, having confessed to the crimes would be arraigned in court in due time.
The Cross River State government has identified 2,000 ghost pensioners on its payroll, as announced in a recent statement from the Government House.
Naija News learnt that these fraudulent entries have been linked to delays in settling unpaid gratuities from 2014 to 2024.
Governor Bassey Otu had previously established a committee tasked with reviewing the payroll of retired civil and public servants to eliminate pension fraud.
On Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu informed the press about the committee’s discovery of these ghost pensioners.
Although the identities of those involved in the pension fraud have not been disclosed, Nsa Gill, a government representative, stated, “The audit and verification exercise has so far uncovered over 2,000 ghost pensioners, who have consequently been removed from both the State and Local Government Pensions Payrolls.”
Nsa Gill further mentioned that with the verification process nearing completion, the payment of gratuities is scheduled to begin in August 2024.
The committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), is expected to submit its report to the government within a week of its first meeting.
The spokesperson also announced that Governor Bassey Edet Otu has approved ₦10 billion to address the outstanding gratuity payments for retired civil and public servants in the state.
Additionally, the Governor has approved the formation of a committee comprising executives from the State and Local Government Pension Unions, headed by the SSG
Grammy nominated Nigerian musician, Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, has launched barbie dolls designed in her image.
The 22-year-old Mavin princess unveiled the limited-edition custom-made barbie dolls via her social media pages on Thursday, July 25.
Ayra Starr announced that they will be available in Lagos, the United States, the United Kingdom and France. She, however, did not provide a specific release date. The songstress wrote:
“I’m so excited to announce the release of the limited edition Ayra Starr Dolls! The dolls are coming to: Lagos, the US, the UK and France.
“Stay tuned for more details on how you can enter and win. I can’t wait for you to see them and share the joy!”
“I’d rather die than trade movie roles for sex” – Kevin Ikeduba speaks out against industry misconduct
AFOLABI
Popular Nollywood actor and producer Kevin Ikeduba has spoken out against industry misconduct, vowing never to give roles in exchange for sex.
In a recent interview on Hip TV’s “Trending,” Kelvin Ikeduba declared that he would rather die than cast unqualified actors in exchange for sex.
During the interview, Ikeduba expressed his frustration with the widespread unprofessionalism in Nollywood.
He emphasized his commitment to maintaining high standards in his work.
“The movie industry is very big. What works for A, may not work for B, Ikeduba said.
“Kevin that people know, would rather die instead of giving a girl a role for sex because I am very passionate about what I do. So most times, when I meet mediocre people on set, it hurts me. I will never ever do that,” he added.
Nollywood actor, Kelvin Ikeduba, recently had a fan encounter that was nothing short of a spectacle.
A lady, utterly gobsmacked, stumbled upon her favorite celeb hopping into a ride she labeled as public transport.
In the viral clip, the lady on a bike unleashes a scream that could wake the neighborhood as the okada rider speeds past the moving vibrant red vehicle, with Kevin Ikeduba and a bunch of others comfortably seated inside.
She couldn’t fathom why a celebrity of Kelvin Ikeduba’s stature would be spotted in a car that, in her perception, looked akin to public transport.
In a swift retort, Kelvin clarified that the car in question belonged to him and wasn’t a vehicle for public transport. However, the lady remained skeptical, persistently interrogating him.
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Nollywood actress Ini Dima-Okojie revealed recently that the fibroids are back, but she will not be undergoing another surgery.
Dima-Okojie was first diagnosed with fibroids in 2017 and underwent surgery in November 2020. Last week she announced that she has again been diagnosed with fibroid.
In a fresh interview, the movie star opened up on how the benign tumour has affected her marriage.
Ini Dima-Okojie also cleared up misconceptions about how fibroids affect fertility in women.
In her words:
“First of all, there are some misconceptions with fibroids. People automatically think that once you have fibroids, then you cannot have kids.
Recently I was on a panel and the doctor actually said that it’s about two to three percent of fibroid cases that lead to infertility. So, there are things you’re looking out for when you have fibroids: how many, the size, and the location. The location determines how severe the case is. So if it’s a little to close to the uterus or on it, that is when it might be tricky if you’re trying to have kids.
When it comes to dealing with it in marriage, I really think it just depends on the kind of partner you have.”
Dima-Okojie lauded her husband for his support at every turn. She added:
“My husband is the most supportive husband. I was really stressing out about it when I found out it was back. I’ve cried. I was just not okay. Because I remember what that surgery was and it wasn’t funny. It wasn’t I was in and out of the hospital, I was in the hospital for like 4 days after. I couldn’t walk for so long after. It was painful so I couldn’t even imagine that I’d go through that again.
But Abasi is just the best guy. He is very comforting. He is very supportive of everything that I do, and he’s like “babe, you’ll be fine. Whatever it is, we’re together, we will deal with it.” It just depends on the kind of partner that you have and I’ve been so lucky that my support system is so strong.”
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has implored Nigerians to shelve the nationwide protest slated for August 1.
The association, who said it was not oblivious with the pain, anger and frustration that many Nigerians are experiencing, asked the citizens to explore other means of voicing their discontent.
The religious group made their position known in a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Friday.
While it acknowledged that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of citizens, CAN said experience has shown that the planned protest could be hijacked by hoodlums.
The statement reads, “As we navigate this period of crisis, it is imperative to uphold the constitutional rights of every Nigerian to peacefully protest and express their grievances.
“The right to assemble and voice discontent is a cornerstone of our democracy and must be protected and respected by all.
“Peaceful protests are a powerful tool for civic engagement, allowing the populace to communicate their concerns and hold leaders accountable. However, the anxiety related to the impending protests is heightening, especially given the volatile experiences in countries like Kenya and Pakistan.
“We must also draw from our recent history. The #ENDSARS and #RevolutionNow protests, though rooted in genuine grievances, were marred by tragic incidents where miscreants hijacked the process.
“This led to widespread looting, destruction of properties, and unfortunate loss of lives. These experiences have shown us that mass demonstrations can quickly degenerate into chaos if not properly managed and coordinated.
“In light of the planned protests scheduled to commence on 1st of August, CAN urges all Nigerians to consider alternative means of expressing their grievances.
“We recommend giving the government more time to address these pressing concerns. This period should be used to explore other legal avenues that will not easily give hoodlums the opportunity to hijack the exercise to destroy our national assets or endanger lives and properties.
“Dialogue, petitions, and town hall meetings are viable options that can yield positive results without the risk of disorder.
“We call on the government to cut the cost of governance and expedite its efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. The opulent lifestyle of political office holders must be addressed to demonstrate the sincerity of those in government to improve the living conditions of the people.
“Likewise, it is imperative that the government implements the newly approved national minimum wage to provide immediate relief to struggling families.
“Furthermore, specific measures must be taken to put an end to kidnappings, banditry, and mass killings that have plagued various parts of our country. The security and well-being of every Nigerian should be paramount, and urgent action is required to restore peace and order.
“We also call on the government to expedite its efforts to alleviate the hardships in the land. There is an urgent need for more refined and effective policies that address the root causes of the economic challenges we face.
“The government must deepen its consultations with stakeholders, including religious leaders, to create a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to problem-solving. By working together, we can devise sustainable solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.
“In these trying times, let us all remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). As we seek to bring about positive change, let us do so with a spirit of peace, love, and unity. Our strength lies in our ability to come together, support one another, and work collectively toward a better Nigeria.
“We pray for wisdom and discernment for our leaders, resilience and hope for our citizens, and divine intervention to guide us through these difficult times.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said it is set to hire more workers.
A statement published on the company’s website on Friday, said the recruitment would be for various positions across various departments within the energy company.
“NNPC Ltd is pleased to announce that we are currently hiring for multiple positions across various departments. We are seeking talented and dedicated individuals to join our team. Visit our careers page for application instructions,” Soneye stated.
NNPCL urged interested applicants to submit their applications through its official website, https://careers.nnpcgroup.com
This is the first recruitment exercise since it fully transformed into a limited company in 2022.
However, in a later update, the company saidits job application portal is currently experiencing downtime due to an ‘unprecedented’ surge in traffic.
Checks revealed that the agency’s website is displaying server error messages.
It wrote, “Due to unprecedented traffic to the NNPC Ltd. career page from applicants applying for vacancies, the site is currently experiencing slow load times,” the statement reads, the company said on its X handle on Friday.
“Our technicians are working diligently to rectify the problem as quickly as possible. Please be assured that the application process deadline remains August 20, 2024.”
NNPC also reassured applicants of a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, urging capable Nigerians to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
The operatives of the FCT police command have intercepted a four-member syndicate while attempting to snatch a black Prado Jeep from the owner around Capital Hub in Jahi, Abuja.
The FCT command on Friday disclosed that the operation led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mabushi led to the arrest of two and the death of two as well.
The statement read partly: “On sighting the police operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, which resulted in a gun duel, but were over power by the police, as two suspects, Joshua Godfrey A.K.A. Dogo 44yrs and Abdulsalam Mamuda 29yrs both of Mabushi village, were arrested, while the two others were neutralised by the police, their blue Toyota Matrix operational vehicle with Reg. No. BWR 626 JB, was recovered.
“The two arrested suspects subsequently led police operatives to the recovery of another red Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. RBC 743 AH, which must have been snatched from an innocent resident.
“Exhibits such as arms, cutlass, dagger, scissors, and mobile phones were recovered from them.”
The FCT commissioner of police FCT, Benneth Igweh, while reaffirming the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and properties, urged residents and all medical facilities in FCT to be on watch out and to call the attention of the police to anybody sighted with bullet wounds.