Author: Safiu Kehinde

Agency Report The number of deaths caused by cholera is on the rise, according to global cholera statistics for 2023 published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), on Wednesday. Over 4000 people died from the disease in 2023, a 71 per cent increase compared to 2022. The number of reported cases also increased by 13 per cent. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection spread through contaminated food and water. While it is preventable and easily treatable, communities with limited access to sanitation are most affected. Conflict, climate change, inadequate safe water and sanitation, poverty, underdevelopment, and population displacement due to emerging…

Safiu Kehinde Labour Party has slammed Abia state governor, Alex Otti, for convening stakeholders meeting in Umuahia. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Thursday. As contained in the statement, Labour Party stressed that Otti does not have the power within the party’s constitution to convene any meeting on its behalf. They labelled the meeting as a ‘charade’ and ‘waste of time and resources of Abia people’. Otti had, reportedly, held the meeting over the conduct of the party’s National Convention. He was alleged to have set up a caretaker committee…

Safiu Kehinde The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared nationwide shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria as they set to embark on protest over fuel price hike. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by NANS Senate President, Okunomo Henry Adewumi. As contained in the statement, the students’ association condemned the incessant increase in fuel prices which has brought untold hardship to the mases. Okunomo stressed that the students’ body can no longer bear the untold hardship as he declared nationwide protest which is set to commence on the 15th of September, 2024. The statement…

Agency Report The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said that the  hike in fuel price from N568 to N855 would trigger widespread price increases, potentially reversing the recent ease in inflation. Director General, LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos. She noted that the official price of petrol, now at N855, was a clear indication that the shortfall between the landing cost and the former price level of N568 charged by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd.(NNPCL) had been reduced. Almona, however, said  that completely removing it and subjecting Nigerians to a…

Safiu Kehinde Lagos State Taskforce has arrested six suspects involved in the illegal sale and display of petroleum products. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Agency, Adetayo Akerele. The suspects identified as Toibu Ishola, 44; Yakubu Olayiwola, 34; Adebayo Rasak, 29; Maria Balogun, 50; Motunrayo Dosunmu, 43 and John Ogunfowokan were, reportedly caught hawking petrol to motorists at exorbitant rates around Fadeyi down to Maryland, Charity Bus Stop and Airport Road, While parading the suspects, Akerele stressed  that the current fuel scarcity is no excuse for miscreants to exploit Lagosians by purchasing large quantities of petrol in gallons and…

Agency Report Tricycle operators popularly called “Keke” on Wednesday barricaded the Deco junction in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, to protest the hike in fuel pump price. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPC Retail Management has approved upward review of the pump price of petrol from N617 per litre to N897 litre, effective from Sept. 3. The protesters marched from the Enerhen junction to Deco junction to register their grievance over the hike and its perceived scarcity They converged as early as 6:00 a.m at the Enerhen junction to kick start the protest, and marched…

Agency Report Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Abuja, on Wednesday referred the case filed against Omoyele Sowere and 11 others’ to the FCT Chief Judge for reassignment. The judge had earlier given an order restricting the hunger protest to MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja. The judge referred the case for reassignment after the FCT minister‘s counsel, George Ibrahim asked for adjournment to study the four processes served them by  Inniebie Effiong, counsel for the 1st to 4th defendants. Oriji, who is the vacation judge, held that his assignment ends on Sept. 13. He…

Agency Report The Police Command in Anambra says it has arrested  a member of a gang that specialises in child trafficking . The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in a statement on Wednesday in Onitsha. Ikenga noted that the suspect and other members of his gang specialise in trafficking children between the ages of 13 and 16 years to neighbouring countries, like Ghana, and Benin Republic. He noted that the arrest  followed the marching orders given by  the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, following reports of many missing persons, especially within Okpoko,…

Agency Report Gunmen on Tuesday, attacked Kwatas and Daffo communities of Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau and killed seven persons. Retired Brig.-Gen. Gakji Shipi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Jos. Gakji is also the Coordinator, Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit. ”Yesterday we had two separate attacks – one in Kwatas and the other in Daffo, all in Bokkos. ”So, far seven people have been confirmed killed while others sustained varying degrees of injuries. ”At the moment, normalcy has returned to the areas, but we are still on the…

Safiu Kehinde The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to  return to subsidy regime as it decried the hike of petrol pump price. National President of the association, Lucky Emonefe, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja. Emonefe urged the FG TO reverse fuel price as things have become unbearable due to the hike. He, however, made the call for a return to subsidy regime if the government cannot help the situation. “We appeal to the government to rescind its decision because it will…