The Ondo State government has pleaded with Nigerian students not to participate in the upcoming protest against hardship and hunger.
This is as the state maintained that Nigeria shall be great.
Making the appeal, the Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Affairs to the state government, Kevin Olaolu, said the government urged its citizens to embrace peace and dialogue.
The state government also urged its citizens to give the administration of President Bola Tinubu more time to address the pressing issues facing the nation, including the economy, security, and education.
“We urge all students to support the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to bring about positive change and development in our country.
“In the spirit of unity and progress, we call for peace among all Nigerian students and emphasize the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue in addressing our challenges.
“It is important to note that Ondo state students firmly dissociate themselves from any planned protests, violence, or destruction of public properties belonging to the government. We believe that change takes time, and as the saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to the progress and prosperity of our great nation. Together, we can overcome our challenges and build a better future for all. Nigeria shall be great,” the state government said.
Veteran Nigerian actors Binta Ayo Mogaji and Ajibola Dabo used to be lovers, and they share a son together.
In an interview that has made its way to social media, Ayo Mogaji recounted how she had the mindset of adopting a child if she didn’t give birth by age 40.
The movie star who later gave birth to her only child and son 6weeks before she clocked 40 and with one fallopian tube said she was in an unstable romantic relationship with Jibola Dabo.
They dated intermittently while he was in the country and after he left they kept in touch for a while.
When Jibola got back to Nigeria, the duo stayed in touch, rekindled their relationship at some point and started living together, which led to the pregnancy and birth of her only child.
Binta maintained that Jibola Dabo never wanted to be married, which he made clear from the onset of their relationship.
Ayo Mogaji further stated that they lived together until their child was two but had their differences, so they had to part ways.
On Thursday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) announced the tragic loss of three construction workers who perished in a building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in Maryland, Lagos.
According to LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the fatal incident occurred at a building located at no 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos.
The incident was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said the three males that were recovered dead at the building were site workers.
“The agency received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at the above address at about 3.49 a.m.
“This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team to the scene of the incident at 3.58 a.m.
“It was discovered that a set of three terraces under construction had collapsed.
One of the rescued was receiving treatment on-site.
“Search and rescue operations began immediately, and three adult males were recovered dead, two male adults were rescued alive, and one adult male trapped under the rubble was rescued,” he said.
Supporters of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and those of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, clashed on Wednesday during a medical outreach in the Eliozu community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that trouble started when the state Ministry of Health officials were carrying out a medical outreach for women at the Eliozu Health Centre.
It was further gathered that no sooner had the programme started than some supporters allegedly loyal to a factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, arrived at the venue to find out the reason for the gathering.
The venue is said to be near the residence of Amaewhule, who is the leader of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike.
But supporters of the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in the state, Chijioke Ihunwo, loyal to Fubara, who were at the venue allegedly stopped them from assessing the venue, leading to a heated argument and subsequent clash.
Following the fisticuff, stones were pelted from several directions, as the medical outreach was disrupted abruptly.
A few minutes later, a team of riot policemen arrived at the scene, firing teargas to disperse the opposing groups and quell the situation from getting out of hand.
It was, however, gathered that a child who was said to have inhaled the substance from the teargas was rushed into the facility and later regained consciousness.
It was also gathered that the outreach was later moved to a state-owned medical facility at the Waterlines axis of Port Harcourt, the state capital where the programme was launched.
Reacting to the incident, Ihunwo accused Amaewhule of leading policemen to disrupt the outreach.
Ihunwo stated, “This morning, there was an incident at the Eliozu Health Centre where the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, led some security men to disrupt a programme by the Ministry of Health.
“A few minutes later, some policemen came and started beating up our women, shooting teargas at pregnant women who were at the health centre.
“We want to say that Obio/Akpor Local Government Area will not be under siege. We want to call on the President, Bola Tinubu that the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of the FCT are tarnishing the image of your government.
“We are calling on you to call them to order so that Rivers State can have peace. Let the FCT Minister concentrate on his job in Abuja and leave our dear Governor alone.”
When contacted, Martins Wachukwu, media aide to Amaewhule, said he would speak to our correspondent on Thursday morning.
Wachukwu stated tersely, “Please I will speak to you tomorrow morning.”
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
Iringe-Koko, in a short message to our correspondent, said the police responded to a distress call over the scenario, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
She stated, “A distress call was received from the health centre in the Eliozu community today, July 24, 2024, where supporters of two separate political factions were engaged in a fight.
“The police responded by sending operatives to the scene to restore law and order.
“The police deployed anti-riot tactics, including the use of canisters, to disperse the crowds. An investigation into the matter has been initiated.”
Credit: Punch
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Thursday, cautioned President Bola Tinubu not to stop the upcoming August 1 protest against hardship in the country.
Primate Ayodele said Nigerians are very bitter and have formed hatred toward the present government due to the hardship in the country.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele said the protest will hold but the government should work on mitigating the effects by reducing the prices of essential commodities like food, fuel, electricity, etc.
The clergy explained that the current hardship is affecting the poor and rich because many didn’t expect it to get to this level even though he warned them before voting in another APC government.
He urged the president to discard those deceiving him that the economic situation of the country is getting better.
According to Ayodele, ‘’People are very bitter and they have hatred towards this government. Some states will participate and some will not but definitely there will be protests. The government needs all it needs to do; crash the price of food, electricity, petroleum, find solutions to insecurity, regulate prices and others to mitigate the effect of the protest.
‘’People are in serious hardship but the government doesn’t understand, they need to do something fast because it will be more than an ordinary protest. Nigeria doesn’t need this protest now because there is ‘protest inside protest’ due to pains, hardship, and hunger.
‘’This government is just assumption-based; it is not a realistic one so it’s difficult to connect with people or understand their pains. The government must adjust, it’s very simple to stop this protest by doing all that is needed. It will be a protest of hunger, pains and reward.
‘’The government is affecting the rich and poor, there is hardship everywhere but people didn’t expect this. People who surround the government are deceiving him. They want the government to collapse. The government has not done anything so they should expect the protest, it will stand. ‘’
‘’Nigeria deserves better welfare despite the increment in minimum wage, it’s not an achievement but let this government go after a better achievement that the people will be grateful for.’’
The Bauchi State Government has warned any individual or group planning to organise any protest, saying there would be no protest taking place in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, while speaking against the backdrop of the planned nationwide protest, dismissed any speculation of protests occurring within the state’s borders.
“On the part of the government, we completely dissociate ourselves from any protest. We are not aware, we are not welcoming any protest, and it’s not going to happen in Bauchi State,” Kashim said.
While highlighting the state’s reputation for peace and tranquility, Kashim emphasized that the government is resolute in maintaining the atmosphere, cautioning the organizers to stage the protest elsewhere and not in Bauchi State.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will begin their quest for a podium finish at the 2024 Olympic Games when they confront Brazil in their opening Group C fixture on Thursday (today).
The encounter is slated for the Matmut Atlantique Stadium, Bordeaux. It will kick-off at 6pm.
The Super Falcons are back to the Olympics after a 16-year absence.
Tonight’s encounter will be the third meeting between Nigeria and Brazil.
Brazil won their first meeting 4-3 at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The South Americans also claimed a 3-1 victory the last time both countries met at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Brazil will be led by the legendary Marta, who has scored 118 goals in 183 appearances for the Samba Girls.
The Super Falcons will also face current world champions Spain and former world champions Japan in the same group.
Randy Waldrum’s side lost 1-0 to Canada in their only friendly before the Olympics.
The Operation Whirlwind arm of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has confiscated a total of 41,425 litres of petrol from smugglers operating mostly around international borderlines of Adamawa and neighbouring Cameroon Republic.
The Operation Whirlwind National Coordinator, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Yola on Wednesday, said nine vehicles that the smugglers used in conveying the contraband were also seized.
Ejibunu said the seizures were made between May this year and now.
Giving an update in seizures during the news briefing at the Adamawa/Taraba Zonal headquarters of the NCS in Yola, Ejibunu said, “Today, we have another seizure of 1,481 kegs (Jerry cans) and 20 drums, containing 25 litres each and 220 each litres respectively, which translate into 41,425 litres of PMS (petrol).”
He said the containers of petrol were seized with nine means of conveyance, being different brands of cars fitted with petrol carrying tankers hidden by thickly tinted windscreens.
Ejibunu explained that the seizures were of the cumulative duty value of N48,547,500.
“These interceptions were made on different dates and locations across Mubi-Sahuda road, Girei-Wuro Boki axis, Maiha road, Angwan Tana-Bajin Kogi axis and other places,” he said.
He added that Customs operatives working under the auspices of the Operation Whirlwind act in collaboration with NMDPRA in monitoring the supply and distribution chain from the depot of loading up to retail outlets, to ensure PMS reach designated destinations.
The prices of tomatoes, beans, garri rose above 200 percent in June 2024 from their previous prices in the corresponding period of 2023.
In its Selected Food Price Watch for June 2024, released yesterday, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, indicated that price of tomatoes (1kg) increased Year-on-Year (YoY) by 320.67 percent to N2,302.26 in June 2024 from N547.28 in June of last year (2023).
Similarly, the price of 1kg beans brown (sold loose) stood at N2,292.76 indicating a rise of 252.13 percent YoY from N651.12 recorded in June 2023.
The report also indicated that the price of 1kg Irish potatoes grew by 288.5 percent to N2,423.27 in June 2024 from N623.75 in June 2023.
NBS stated: “Selected Food Price Watch for June 2024 shows that the average price of 1kg beans brown (sold loose) stood at N2,292.76. This indicates a rise of 252.13 percent in price on a YoY basis from N651.12 recorded in June 2023 and a 14.11 percent rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,009.23 in May 2024. “Tomatoes (1kg) experienced significant price increases year on year by 320.67 percent from N547.28 in June of last year (2023) to N2,302.26 in June 2024. “On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item rose by 55.59 percent from N 1,479.69 in May 2024.
“There was also a notable price increase of Irish potato by 288.5 percent on a year-on-year basis from N623.75 in June 2023 to N2,423.27 in June 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 51.92 percent from N 1,595.07 in May 2024. Furthermore, the average price of 1kg Garri white sold loose went up by 181.66 percent on a year-on-year basis from N 403.15 in June 2023 to N1,135.51 in June 2024, while there was an increase of 1.86 percent on a month-on-month basis.
“Also, the average price of 1kg of Yam tuber increased by 295.79 percent on a year-on-year basis from N510.77 in June 2023 to N 2,021.55 in May 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 52.87 percent from N 1,322.36 in May 2024 to N 2,021.55 in June 2024.”
The bureau noted that the highest average price of 1kg of Brown Beans (sold loose) was recorded in Kogi state at N 3,006.43 while the lowest was in Adamawa state at N1,336.11. The highest average price of 1kg of Tomato was recorded in Abuja at N 3,992.61 while the lowest was in Kebbi State at N1,200.00.
“Regarding the average price of 1kg of yam tuber, Lagos state recorded the highest price at N3,376.54, while Adamawa recorded the lowest price at N1100.00. “Gombe recorded the highest average price of 1kg Garri white sold loose at N1,619.27, while the lowest was reported in Taraba at N 900”, it added.
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Meta, parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, says it has removed 63,000 accounts in Nigeria linked to sextortion scams.
In its report ‘Combating Financial Sextortion Scams From Nigeria’ released on Wednesday, Meta announced the network disruption of two sets of accounts in Nigeria affiliated with ‘yahoo boys’ and involved in financial sextortion scams.
“Following our recent Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report, today we are announcing the strategic network disruption of two sets of accounts in Nigeria that were affiliated with Yahoo Boys and were attempting to engage in financial sextortion scams,” Meta said.
“First, we removed around 63,000 accounts in Nigeria that attempted to directly engage in financial sextortion scams.
“These included a smaller coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts that we were able to link to a group of around 20 individuals. They targeted primarily adult men in the US and used fake accounts to mask their identities.
“We found the coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts through a combination of new technical signals we’ve developed to help identify sextorters and in-depth investigations by our expert teams.
“The majority of these accounts had already been detected and disabled by our enforcement systems, and this investigation allowed us to remove the remaining accounts and understand more about the techniques being used to improve our automated detection.”
The company said the investigation revealed that while the majority of these scam attempts were unsuccessful and focused on adults, some accounts targeted minors.
It, however, said these accounts were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
“Since these criminals don’t limit themselves to any one platform, we also share relevant information with other tech companies through the Tech Coalition’s Lantern program, so they can take action too,” it added.
“Applying lessons learned from taking down terrorist groups and coordinated inauthentic behavior, we used our identification of this coordinated network to help us identify more accounts in Nigeria that were attempting to engage in similar sextortion scams, bringing the total to around 63,000 accounts removed.”
Meta said in addition to these accounts, 7,200 assets were removed including 1,300 Facebook accounts, 200 Facebook pages, and 5,700 Facebook groups.
It said these assets were found offering to sell scripts and guides to use when scamming people, and sharing links to collections of photos to use when populating fake accounts.
The company said following this disruption, its systems have been detecting and automatically blocking any attempts by these groups to return, and it is continually enhancing these systems to ensure their effectiveness.
‘META COMMITTED TO INVESTIGATING THESE CRIMES’
Meta reiterated its commitment to ongoing support for law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting these crimes by responding to legitimate legal information requests and notifying authorities if it identifies individuals at immediate risk, in line with its terms of service and relevant laws.
In efforts to prevent such scams, Meta said it has introduced stricter message settings for teens, developed new signals to detect potential sextortion accounts, and started testing an on-device nudity protection feature in Instagram direct messages (DMs), which blurs images with nudity detected as containing nudity and provides safety tips and resources.
Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has reacted on social media in a shell-shocked manner after his country suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat against Morocco in their 2024 Paris Olympic opening clash yesterday.
Argentina were down 2-1 when a massive 15-minute injury time was added at the end of 90 minutes.
Cristian Medina looked to have scored a late equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw for La Albiceleste.
However, the game was interrupted as angry Moroccan fans entered the stadium.
The match was temporarily suspended and after almost two hours, a VAR check confirmed that the goal was ruled out because of offside.
The remaining three-plus minutes were played as players re-emerged in an empty stadium.
The match ended 2-1 win in favour of Morocco, sparking a reaction from Messi on social media.
The Inter Miami captain wrote on his Instagram story:
“Insolito (Spanish).” “Unbelievable (English).”
Messi is currently recovering from an ankle injury he sustained during Argentina’s Copa America triumph over Colombia.
The former Barcelona captain is not part of Argentina’s squad at Olympics.
Netflix, America’s streaming giant, has increased its subscription prices in Nigeria.
This is the second time in 2024 that the company is increasing its monthly subscription fees.
The company had hiked customers’ subscription rates in April.
According to the price update seen by TheCable on the company’s website on Wednesday, customers will now pay N7,000 monthly for the premium plan — up by 40 percent from N5,000.
Also, the streaming platform adjusted the subscription price for its standard plan, a popular option among Nigerian viewers, from N4,000 to N5,500, marking a 37.5 percent increase.
The firm implemented a 21 percent raise on its basic category, jacking up the subscription rate to N3,500 from N2,900.
The rate for the mobile plan — the lowest subscription category — was increased by 83 percent from N1,200 to N2,200.
Although Netflix did not give reasons for the hike, the development comes 17 months after the streaming giant reduced its subscription prices in more than 30 countries.
Some of the countries that benefitted from the gesture include Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Libya, Iran, Kenya, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Venezuela, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Nigerians are currently battling a large-scale economic hardship worsened by the rising cost of living in the country. With the inflation rate rising to 34.18 percent in June, companies are being forced to adjust their processes to remain profitable.
In April, Multichoice Nigeria announced plans to increase the cost of subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages. The new rates took effect from May 1.
The pay-TV firm cited the rise in the cost of business operations as the rationale behind the price increase.
Renowned Ghanaian gospel powerhouse Diana Asamoah has made headlines with her steadfast vow to stay single until she receives a divine nod from God Himself.
During a captivating appearance on UTV’s “U-Cook,” hosted by the vibrant Empress Gifty, the 50-year-old artist laid bare her unwavering commitment to this spiritual journey.
In a bold and heartfelt declaration, Diana revealed that despite encountering men from all walks of life and receiving a flood of marriage proposals, she remains resolute in her decision to await heavenly approval before tying the knot.
Asamoah disclosed that her suitors include a range of influential men, some even being respected clerics, all vying for her hand in marriage. Yet, she claimed she has consistently turned them down, staying true to her belief that the right partner has yet to be appointed by God.
Speaking in her native language, she disclosed;
“I have met a lot of men, including men of God. While some of them came with genuine intentions, others were fake. Until I get an approval from God, I will never marry any of them. I will get married and have children at God’s appointed time.”
WATCH HER SPEAK BELOW