The Editorials

Oredola Adeola| President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday unveiled the newly reconstructed Institute of Maternal And Child Health popularly known as Ayinke House located within the premises of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, describing it as a critical and timely intervention by the State Government in the health sector. Ayinke House, which is Nigeria’s biggest Maternity Hospital, was upgraded from an 80-bed facility to a 170-bed healthcare centre with state-of-the-art medical equipment, as well as information technology services. Aside the entourage of the President which included Ministers and Special Advisers, Governors of Ogun (Ibikunle Amosu ), Oyo (Abiola Ajimobi), Ondo (Oluwarotimi Akeredolu), Ekiti (Kayode Fayemi), Jubrila Bindow, Adamawa, Acting Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu; Lagos State Governor-Elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, among others were in attendance. The Preside

Oredola Adeola| Nigerian popular Pastor, Apostle Johnson Suleman has acquired a brand new private jet. This was declared by his Omega Fire Ministry Dubai branch. The branch also released pictures of Johnson Suleman inside his newly purchased private jet. The Church further revealed that the brand new private jet is meant for the propagation of the Gospel of CHRIST to Nations of the World with His Undiluted Word of Power, Signs, Wonders, Deliverance, Healing & Restoration and the Prophetic. (Mark 16:14 - 18; Luke 4:17 - 23). The branch also described Apostle Suleman as the Restoration Apostle, God’s General, God’s own Oracle, a dispensation of our time, The Lion Of Africa who has paid his dues in the ministry.

The Epe Ekiti-born thespian, Chief (Mrs) Abiodun Duro-Ladipo, wife of Late legendary actor and playwright , Duro Ladipo, has commended the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for his genuine efforts to rejuvenate the arts, culture and values reorientation in the state. She made this known  when she hosted the newly appointed Director-General of the Ekiti Council of Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, in her 'Bodeaasimi house, Ibadan Oyo State, on Sunday. Wale Ojo- Lanre, DG, Ekiti Centre for Arts& Culture, Remi Oladunjoye, Mrs Duro- Ladipo and Mimiola Mrs Duro-Ladipo however described Governor Fayemi as a God-sent to restore the glory of the state and reposition her for speedy development. She disclosed her readiness to support the Governor in promoting the rich arts and cultural values of the state, while also making artistic contributions towards achieving the Governor's cultural promotions in the state. Ojo-Lanre in his response described Ekit

Oredola Adeola|  Movie and Documentary producer, Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin Dudu, has exposed the level of rot at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos in an open letter written to Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President. In the letter, the Documentary photographer, disclosed that the arrival system in Muritala Muhammed airport is a disgrace to Nigeria. He particularly noted that Nigeria has no aviation Minister, adding that whosoever designed the arrival system in MMA is a traitor. Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin He said, “Sir I’m directing my comments to you because I’m aware you toured that airport before the elections. They showed you the glittering lounges . However when you arrive in Nigeria or you go to receive someone arriving, it’s a horror story. It’s a total disgrace. Let me explain. “I had cause to go and welcome someone coming in from the US. We parked in the designated car park. Then the obstacles started. The path you have to trek to get to the front of the arrival hall is

Oredola Adeola The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Value Orientation, Mr Olumuyiwa Olumilua, and the Director General, Ekiti State Centre for Arts & Culture, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre are set to join other top dignitaries during the maiden edition of the Ekiti Mountain Hike scheduled to hold on Easter Monday. Olumuyiwa Olumilua , Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Value Orientation The Commissioner who received the promoter of the Mountain event in his office, lauded the organizer for evolving a bright idea aimed at showcasing iconic geographical potential of Ekiti State for global embrace. According to Mr. Olumilua, Governor Fayemi’s administration is not only poised to encourage the incubation of bright and productive ideas but ready and willing to support brain works that are capable of adding value of substance to the state, its economy and the people. He said, “ The Ekiti State government has special interest in enhancing and sharpening ide

Oredola Adeola | The Emir of Kano has unveiled plan to install Mr. Mike Zhang as the Chinese Representative to Kano- Wakalin Yan Chanan Kano- as revealed in a post obtained from one Bukhar Kayarda, who posted the photograph on Facebook announcing the turbaning ceremony. Mr. Mike Zhang The Turbaning ceremony is billed to hold on Thursday April 25, at the Palace of the Emir of Kano, HRM Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The making of Mr. Zhang, Wakalin YAN Chanan Kano , it was gathered , is a part of Emir of Kano’s strategic plan to woo Chinese  investors to Kano state and to further grow the country’s economy.

By Sola Fanawopo Amongst the highlights of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu ’s expressive and expansive campaigns, what appealed to me most was his main slogan TOGETHER LAGOS. Governor-elect , Babajide Sanwoolu and his Deputy Dr. Obafemi Hamzat  It gives me hope that the governor-elect is committed to building an inclusive city, a Lagos where everyone can access the huge opportunities the city offers irrespective of social status, tribes and politics affiliation. What is an inclusive Lagos ? Permit me to describe an inclusive Lagos as a city in which the processes of development include a wide variety of citizens and activities. The governor-elect must ensure that the city maintain its wealth and creative power by avoiding marginalization, which compromises the richness of interaction upon which the Lagos depends. Lagos is Lagos today because of the riches of its diversities. This is what makes Lagos tick. This is what gives Lagos its uniqueness. This is why it is ahistorical

Oredola Adeola | The Nigerian Senate has passed the Police Reform Bill, approving a statutory five-year Single term for the Inspector – General of Police, IGP, as well as a jail term of two years and a fine of one million by a Police found to have been involved in the extrajudicial killing. Senate passed the Bill on Wednesday when it was read for the third time during a plenary. The internal disciplinary mechanism is recommended for any Police officer who brutalises or killed an innocent citizen. The Senate also approved a two-year jail term or N5million  fine as punishment for any impersonator as Policeman or Police officer. The passage of the Bill for an Act to repeal the Police Act CAP P19 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Nigeria Police Act. 2019 to provide for the framework for the Police Service and ensure cooperation and partnership between the Police and Communities in maintaining peace and combating crime and for related matters  was sequel to t

Oredola Adeola | Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre,  new Director-General of Ekiti State Council of Arts and Culture, has set agenda for driving the arts, culture and tourism industry in Ekiti state, thereby making it attractive for domestic and international tourists. Speaking during his inaugural meeting with the staff of the council who came to welcome him in his office at the Secretariat, in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday  The DG  challenged them to be more efficient and proactive in their resolve to promote the state’s arts, culture and tourism potentials. Focusing on his strategies for achieving short, medium and long term goals of the agency under his watch, Mr Ojo- Lanre affirmed his commitment to surpass the expectations of the Dr Kayode Fayemi led administration to repositioning and revitalising the Culture and Arts sector in the state. He however solicited for the  cooperation of council’s staff in order to achieve the goals, imploring  them to create a positive attitude towards wor

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has revealed that the State’s total external debt stock, $1.43 billion, as at 31 December, 2018, was the accumulation of loans incurred by the administration of former Governors , Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola. Governor Ambode made this known in an exclusive interview with BusinessDay on Tuesday, according to him, in four-year, his administration did not take any foreign loans despite the pressure on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due to massive infrastructure projects the administration set out to accomplish to cater to the growing needs of the estimated over 21 million residents of the state. The Outgoing Lagos State Governor said that his administration never added to the foreign component of the state’s debts, but was committed to servicing what it inherited from the previous administrations, which has been compounded by unstable exchange rates. The governor claimed that his background as a finan

Oredola Adeola |  Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, on Monday resumed as the new Director-General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and  Culture. This is sequel to Governor Kayode Fayemi's approval of appointment of some Commissioners and Heads of Government agencies at the weekend. Wale Ojo-Lanre Mr. Ojo-Lanre , a multiple award winning tourism journalist with Tribune Newspaper, was the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Segun Oni and was also a former Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter of National Union of Journalist ( NUJ). The new DG, who is a distinguished member of the Institute for Tourism Professionals, is known for his unbridled passion for tourism sector and has written different articles and travelled to so many countries advancing  the interest of tourism industry as a viable source of income for the country. Wale Ojo-Lanre signs appointment letter as DG, Ekiti State Centre for Arts & Culture In a chat with the Editorials, Wale Oj

Oredola Adeola | Pa Oladejo Okediji, author of foremost Yoruba thrillers, on Wednesday passed on at the age of 90. Late Okediji authored so many books including the very popular AJA LO LERU, AGBALAGBA AKAN, ATOTO ARERE, RERE RUN. LAPADE, EKUN OKO AUDU KARIIMU, OLORI OLOPAA ILE IBADAN, TAFA AGIRIPA to mention but a few ( all fiction) Onigegewura once described him as African author who combined the creativity of James Hadley Chase with the brilliance of Arthur Conan Doyle to give us, adding that his Lapade book could rival Sherlock Holmes any day.

In a three-week survey on the rice market across the six geopolitical zones in the country, Economic Confidential team observed that over 70 per cent of rice in Nigeria markets are foreign or imported rice such as Mama Gold, Royal Stallion, Rice Master, Caprice, Falcon Rice and Basmati are sold alongside Nigerian rice, namely: Umza and Fursa Crown from Kano, Mama Happy from Niger, Labana Rice from Kebbi, Olam Rice from Nasarawa, Abakaliki Rice from Ebonyi, Ofada Rice from Ogun State, Swomen Dama from Plateau, Lake Rice of Lagos/Kebbi States among others. This is despite visible intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria via the Anchors Borrowers Programme on the rice sub-sector of the Nigerian economy. Respondents during the survey blamed the inflow of the banned commodity as revealed in the investigation on the doorsteps of the Nigeria Customs Service, adding that for the Federal Government to make meaningful impact in its fight against smuggling of the commodity, serious at

Adnan Bostaji, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria has revealed that  a Nigerian woman, Kudirat Afolabi, who was arrested for drug related offences, has been deservedly executed. Ambassador Bostaji said this when he visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to explain the position of Saudi Arabia Kingdom over the punishment. According to him, the death sentence deservedly meted out on the Nigerian woman was in accordance with the Sharia law. He said, “ Drug trafficking was not permitted in the Saudi Kingdom. He further stated that Nigeria and his country enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations, but that the law against drug trafficking applied to everyone in the Kingdom irrespective of their nationality, as even Saudi citizens were not exempted. He said, “Saudi Arabia is following Sharia law and anyone who violates the law by bringing drugs into Saudi Arabia will be punished by the law. “This is because we want to save our society from drugs. So, if we don’t i

Oredola Adeola | High ranking Yoruba traditional monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife , His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi ; Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi,  the Aseyin of Iseyin kingdom, Oba Abdul Ganiu Salau, former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and other top dignitaries are expected to grace the coronation of Oba Alhaji AbdulRamani Aderemi Sanni, as the new Alajase Onikoyi Abesan of Ajase Ile( Port Novo) Benin Republic. Also billed to grace the occasion is His Excellency, Monsieur Guillaume Patrice Talon, President of Benin Republic, Emmanuel Oguntuase, Ambassador of Nigeria to Rep.Benin. and other top  government and traditional officials in the country. Advertisement The Coronation of  Onikoyi Abesan, Oba of Àjàṣẹ́ Ilé (Port Novo), Benin Republic, is billed to hold on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Ajase Ile in Port Novo, is one of the  franco-Yoruba Kingdom in Rep.Benin, that shares historical antecedents with their counterp

Oredola Adeola| The management of the leading pharmaceutical and beverage company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Nigeria has revealed plan to shut down its production facility located in the Agbara Industrial Estate in Ogun state, Nigeria by the third-quarter of 2021. The company made this disclosure on Tuesday in its corporate disclosure issued to the Nigerian Stock Exchange. It said, closing the Agbara plant is part of its plan at restructuring its internal operations, adding that the company’s Board of Directors approved the plan. The Company  further revealed it plan to embark on contract manufacturing, by outsourcing its production to local contract manufacturers for the supply of the company’s drugs and other pharmaceutical products. It said, “ GSK’s restructuring would support the building of local expertise, transfer of technical knowledge and improve local production capacities in the country. Advertisement “The company will also focus on the commercial aspect of it

The authorities of the Nigerian Army have revealed plan to transform Sambisa Forest into an Ecosystem Resort Centre where war relics in the North East will be maintained as historical sites for tourism. Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, disclosed this at a seminar organised by the Army Headquarters, Department of Standards and Evaluation on “Regimentation and Combating Security Challenges Associated with Forests and Protected Areas’’, in Abuja on Monday. Buratai, who was represented by Maj. Gen. Ali Nani, Chief of Policy and plans, declaring open the seminar, said that the war relics would attract scholars and tourists and as well serve as a revenue generating venture for the country, NAN reports. The theme for the seminar is: “Enhancing Synergy Between Nigerian Army and the National Park Service: National Security in Perspective’’. “I know that the papers that would be delivered by erudite scholars who are highly revered professionals will stimulate rich i

Police Team led by Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, have paid condolence visit to the family of Kolade Johnson, a young man who was shot at  Onipetesi, Mangoro Bus Stop by a team of Policemen from Anti Cultism unit. The CP during the condolence visit on Tuesday reassured the Johnson’s family that justice must prevail as the Command has arrested the suspected team that carried out the shooting, adding that they are currently in Police custody undergoing interrogation. The CP added that the suspected officers would be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures, and may be prosecuted in conventional Court if implicated by ongoing investigation. Advertisement Recall that Kolade — believed to be the only son of a widow — was killed after leaving a football viewing center where he watched English Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham on Sunday, after the men of the anti-cultism unit of the state police command raided the area. Followi

Abimbola Adelakun Success Adegor is the latest face of Nigeria’s poverty-porn, a tale that excites as much as it outrages. Success became a sensation, the Nigerian Malala Yousafzai who wanted to risk flogging so that she does not miss a Mathematics examination. Her story – and that of other viral Nigerians – is relevant for evaluating the worth of the feral nature of outrage, emotionalism and knee-jerk responses in the age of social media. We seem to be getting better at summoning the necessary indignation to react to these viral videos, but that is about how far it goes. We are not doing enough to follow these stories to a reasonable conclusion. Recorded without parental consent, Success’ defiance and desire not to miss a minute of learning got the attention of celebrities, other Nigerians, her local government honchos and the state governor. Consequently, her fortunes swelled beyond what might have been imagined if the viral video had not been made. Even the s