Author: Akintayo Adams

Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, a federal lawmaker representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State, reportedly survived an assassination attempt on Friday morning. Okojie, who is married to Nollywood star Mercy Johnson, was attacked by armed men suspected to be political thugs at his residence in Uromi. Okojie’s media aide, Michael Ihaza, confirmed the incident, revealing that the attackers arrived in a Lexus GX 470 with a Rivers State registration number (PHC 253 FF). The thugs, disguised as police officers, attempted to carry out the attack but were thwarted by the lawmaker’s security team. Two of the attackers fled,…

British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who narrowly escaped death following his rescue from solitary confinement in a Siberian penal colony, has declared that Vladimir Putin’s downfall is “inevitable.” After serving two years of a 25-year sentence for opposing the war in Ukraine, Kara-Murza was freed in a historic U.S.-brokered prisoner swap in August. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Kara-Murza emphasized that even if opposition leaders like himself or Alexei Navalny are killed, new leaders will rise to challenge Putin’s regime. He spoke passionately about the resilience of younger generations who continue to defy the Kremlin, insisting that they will…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope that U.S. President Joe Biden will support his “victory plan” to end the war with Russia, ahead of an upcoming visit to Washington. Speaking at a press conference with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv, Zelensky said the plan outlines key decisions that should take place between October and December, with the goal of halting the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. Zelensky’s visit comes after a summer of heavy fighting, with Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops holding parts of Russia’s Kursk region. The Ukrainian leader…

Hezbollah has launched more than 140 rockets into Israel following Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The rocket attacks targeted areas along the Lebanon-Israel border, in response to Israeli military strikes that destroyed over 100 Hezbollah rocket launch sites. Lebanon’s economy minister, Amin Salam, warned that the situation is spiraling out of control, with conflict intensifying by the hour. This escalation comes as Israel continues its war on Hezbollah’s ally, Hamas, in Gaza. The conflict has already resulted in the destruction of Hezbollah’s radio and communication equipment, causing 37 deaths and over 3,000 injuries.…

UFC star Israel Adesanya has placed a $10,000 bet on Anthony Joshua for his upcoming IBF heavyweight title fight against Daniel Dubois on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium, England. Adesanya shared the stake on Instagram, predicting Joshua will win between the 10th and 12th rounds, with a potential payout of $50,000. The all-British clash, set in front of 96,000 fans, will be Dubois’ first fight at Wembley, adding to the pressure. Despite Adesanya’s confidence in Joshua, Dubois has boldly declared his intention to knock out the two-time former champion.

Revenue from Rail transport increasedto ₦1.69bn in Q2 2024, a 53.14% rise from ₦1.10bn in the same period of 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The report shows that 689,263 passengers used the rail system in Q2, marking a 45.38% growth from 474,117 in 2023. Freight transport also saw growth, with 143,759 tons of goods moved by rail in Q2 2024, up from 56,936 tons the previous year. Revenue from goods conveyed via rail surged by 206.68%, reaching ₦537.36m, while pipeline transport contributed ₦42.08m. Other revenue sources saw a massive increase, hitting ₦994.68m. Despite this progress, Nigeria’s railway…

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has emphasized the importance of maintaining romance in marriage, even amid spiritual duties. In a recent message, Adeboye revealed that he and his wife, Foluke, still use pet names in private, underscoring that “anointing does not reduce romance.” “Don’t let romance die,” he counselled. “Have a pet name that you call each other behind closed doors. Up until today, there is a pet name my wife calls me when we are alone. I equally have a pet name that I call her, and every time I call her…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the recent petrol price hike, saying it undermines the impact of the proposed ₦70,000 national minimum wage, which is yet to be implemented. NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed concerns during a workshop in Lagos, stating that workers are struggling with the increased costs of living. “There is a tactic to distract our attention, to call us names, level allegations against us over cybercrime, financing terrorism, sponsoring terrorism and the rest.” Ajaero accused President Bola Tinubu of deceiving labor into agreeing to the minimum wage to prevent an earlier fuel price increase. “I repeat,…

The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has opposed the decision by petroleum marketers to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), despite the availability of petrol from Dangote Refinery. CORAN Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, criticized the move, citing concerns over the quality of imported fuel, often blended in Malta or Togo. This comes after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced new petrol prices, ranging from ₦950 to ₦1,019.22 per liter, following the lifting of petrol from Dangote Refinery. Disagreements over pricing between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery have also stirred controversy. Idoko emphasized that fears of Dangote becoming a…

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this year. Instead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation, as per a statement by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu, recently returning from trips to China and the UK, has chosen to focus on domestic issues, including the country’s response to recent devastating floods. Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, participate in key sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings at the UNGA session, scheduled for September 24 to 28, 2024. This year’s theme is “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for…