Author: Akintayo Adams

Jordanian and Iranian Authorities revealed that 19 Pilgrims from both countries died as temperature increases in Saudi Arabia. “Fourteen Jordanian pilgrims died and 17 others were missing” during the performance of hajj rituals, Jordan’s foreign ministry said in a statement. AFP reports that the ministry later confirmed that the 14 died “after suffering sunstroke due to the extreme heat wave.” Temperatures have soared well above 40°C (104°F) during this year’s annual pilgrimage, which about 1.8 million Muslims are attending. Many of the ceremonies take place outside and involve walking, posing difficulties, especially for older participants. However, the kingdom has introduced…

Eight individuals have been confirmed dead in a devastating train collision that occured in New Jalpaiguri area of West Bengal early Monday morning. Approximately 60 others have been injured, according to reports. The incident occurred when a train carrying goods collided with the stationary Kanchenjungha Express. Emergency services, like ambulances and disaster response teams, were sent to the site quickly after the accident at 08:55 local time (03:25 GMT). Despite their fast action, the driver and assistant driver of the goods train, along with the guard on the Kanchenjungha Express, did not survive. Jaya Varma Sinha, CEO of the Railway…

The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has expressed worries over the high rate of children living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Nigeria. According to the Council, about 160,000 children were living with HIV in Nigeria, with only 45,000 receiving treatment. The council, therefore, urged the government and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS among children in the country. CCN President, Most Rev. David Onuoha, made the call at the closing ceremony of the HIV intervention programme implemented in collaboration with the World Council of Churches, WCC, in Abuja. “Our mission is to identify…

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians to keep growing their own foods. He so urged the nation to control population growth. The former President who expressed satisfaction that a considerable number of Nigerians have embraced farming once again made this known while speaking to journalists at the Kofor Arewa Eid prayer in Katsina on Sunday. “The need for greater discussion and awareness about this problem, (uncontrolled population growth) as well as a need to invest more in education and health. “Let us grow our own food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time…

Food inflation in Nigeria soared to 40.66 per cent in May. This was as the cost of food rose from 25.25 per cent in June 2023 to 40.66 per cent in May 2024, reflecting a steady rise in the cost of living. This is contained in the latest Consumer Price Index and Inflation report released by the National Bureau of Statistics. A breakdown of the data revealed that food commodity prices rose steadily from 25.25% in June to 26.98% in July, 29.34% in August, 30.64% in September, 31.52% in October, 32.84% in November, and 33.93% by the end of December…

Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State has advised residents of the state, especially rural dwellers, to be on the lookout for land grabbers in their respective communities. Makinde sounded the warning during the funeral and thanksgiving service in honour of late Elizabeth Areola Abeo Oke, mother of National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke. He said the ongoing infrastructural projects embarked upon by his administration in rural areas might lead to “invasion” by land grabbers. He, however, promised that his administration would continue to prioritise infrastructure development to enhance growth and productivity in the state. He…

The Presidency has described the ₦250,000 minimum wage demand by Organised Labour as “unsustainable”. This was according to the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who described the Organized Labour as selfish for wanting Nigeria’s resources to be of benefit to only their members who are not more than 10 per cent of the entire population. “That is why we keep telling labour to be realistic because the government cannot use all its resources to pay workers. They have other things to do. The workers we are even talking about are not up to…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has pledged to provide a style of leadership that prioritizes the welfare of the people. He further reiterated that his administration would operate with the fear of God to make the people of Rivers State proud. He made these remarks during a baby dedication service for the family of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wordu at the Royal House of Grace International Church in Rumueme Community, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, on Sunday. “For us, by the special grace of God, He has placed us, today, to watch over the affairs, not to control, but to…

The Presidency has responded to a report published in the New York Times criticizing the Nigerian economy as facing the worst trajectory in a very long time. The report was titled, ‘Nigeria Confronts Its Worst Economic Crisis in a Generation’, and was published on June 11. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday reacted to the report credited to Ruth Maclean and Ismail Auwal’s, and he claimed the story reflected the typical predetermined, reductionist, derogatory and denigrating way foreign media establishments reported African countries for several decades. The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy…

No fewer than eight Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the deadliest single incident involving its troops since October 7 happened on Saturday. According to the IDF, preliminary findings suggested an armored vehicle carrying soldiers as part of a convoy was hit by an explosion at around 5:15 a.m. local time during an operation targeting “terrorist infrastructure” in northern Tal al-Sultan. The attack was disclosed by IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari in a press conference. Hagari said, “According to the information we have at this point, one of the engineering vehicles in the convoy…