Author: statereporter

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the delivery of sensitive materials for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024. According to INEC, the materials were transported to Akure, the state capital, by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and received by officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In an announcement on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, INEC shared, “Sensitive materials for the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, 16th November 2024, have arrived in Akure, the state capital, and have been received by officials of the Central Bank…

Manchester United has officially announced the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who stepped in as interim head coach following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag. Van Nistelrooy, a legendary former player for United, managed the team for four matches before the appointment of new head coach Ruben Amorim. The club released a statement on Monday, coinciding with Amorim’s arrival in the UK, expressing gratitude for van Nistelrooy’s contributions. “Manchester United can confirm that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club. Ruud rejoined in the summer and has taken charge of the team for the past four matches as interim head…

Not less than eight players arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Abidjan on Monday in preparation for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. The players who arrived early in camp include Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze. Other players among the early arrivals are Amas Obasogie, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, Gabriel Osho, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, as confirmed by the Super Eagles media officer, Promise Efoghe. He also confirmed that more players are expected to hit the camp on Tuesday ahead of their confrontation with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. The…

Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the recently appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has pledged his commitment to helping the All Progressives Congress (APC) reclaim Kano State in the upcoming 2027 elections. During his first visit to Kano after joining the Federal Executive Council, Ata emphasized that his appointment carries a significant political objective. In a conversation with journalists, Ata candidly acknowledged the political motivations behind his role. “My appointment was primarily for political reasons. The APC has lost Kano State, but now we will reclaim it. The main issue lies in Kano Central, and that is my home…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a directive for workers in states yet to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage to commence an indefinite strike starting December 1, 2024. This decision was part of resolutions reached at the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held over the weekend, highlighting frustrations over the delay in implementing the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. The NLC accused governors in non-compliant states of betraying workers’ rights by failing to honor the new minimum wage, despite rising economic challenges. “The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state…

President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, warning that “the conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.” Addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, convened to address the current situation in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed deep concern on the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit last year, and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States. Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire…

A counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, has reported that Lakurawas, a newly formed terrorist group, is offering significant financial incentives to lure youths in Sokoto State. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) recently declared nine suspected members of the Lakurawas group wanted. Edward Buba, the director of defence media operations, explained that this new terror group emerged from the Niger Republic following a recent coup that disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and the neighbouring country. Buba noted that the Lakurawas have been infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states, extending their influence from Niger Republic and…

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has officially signified her interest to run for a second term. This announcement positions her as the sole candidate for the WTO’s top position. The WTO formally began the process of appointing its next Director-General on October 8, allowing member countries until November 8 to submit nominations. In a message to members, the Chairman of the WTO General Council, Petter Olberg, disclosed that no additional nominations were received by the deadline. Olberg stated: “Under the procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509), I am required to communicate to members…

Amidst economic hardship and rising inflation in Nigeria, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has allocated N5 billion for the renovation of the vice president’s official residence in Lagos State. In November 2023, the Federal Government passed a N2.17 trillion supplementary budget, which earmarked N3 billion for renovations at the vice president’s Lagos residence and N2.5 billion for refurbishing his official quarters within the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. However, an analysis conducted by The PUNCH through GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks government expenditures, revealed that a total of N5,034,077,063 was spent on the Lagos residence renovations in…

Baltasar Engonga, the former Director-General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, has been remanded in custody at Malabo’s Black Beach Prison. Engonga’s arrest came shortly after reports surfaced accusing him of recording over 400 explicit videos involving the spouses of influential figures in the country. This revelation emerged amid an ongoing fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, prompting officials from ANIF to conduct an unannounced search of his residence and office. During the search, authorities reportedly uncovered numerous CDs containing footage of these encounters, The PUNCH reports. The leaked videos have ignited widespread public outrage and intense media scrutiny.…