News / politics

Davido gifts Osun governor-elect uncle Rolex wristwatch worth N90M

The music star gifted the wristwatch to the senator who recently won the Osun governorship election at his palatial home in Ede, Osun State. A video of the gift presentation was shared on the Instagram page of Davido’s aide, Israel DMW.

This is coming barely 48 hours after INEC declared Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the July 16 gubernatorial election in Osun State.

Adeleke polled 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, who polled 375,027 votes.

The PDP candidate won the governorship election with 28,344 votes.

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Music / News

Burna Boy’s ‘Last Last’ makes Billboard Hot 100 debut

In the latest issue of the Billboard Hot 100 which is the official music chart for the United States of America, Burna Boy scored an entry on the chart as ‘Last Last’ appeared at the bottom half in 86th spot.

Since it was released in May, ‘Last Last’ has enjoyed massive domestic and international success and its Billboard debut further proves its growing popularity in America.

‘Last Last’ is one of the songs off Burna Boy’s latest album ‘Love, Damini’ which has also enjoyed impressive patronage in the US and the UK in its first weeks.

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Movies / News

Daniel Kaluuya reportedly not returning to ‘Black Panther’ sequel

It appears to be farewell to Daniel Kaluuya’s W’Kabi character in Black Panther as the actor will reportedly not return for the anticipated sequel. According to a Rotten Tomatoes exclusive, the actor reportedly shared that his absence was due to scheduling conflicts with Jordan Peele’s upcoming film Nope.

Both films began filming in June 2021. Wakanda Forever, however, suffered multiple delays which saw it finally wrap principal photography in March 2022.

In the original film, Kaluuya plays Okoye’s (Danai Gurira) lover and warrior chief of the Border Tribe.

Peele’s Nope will see the Academy award-winning actor star alongside Keke Palmer in the story set on a Californian horse ranch and follows its caretakers after they encounter a mysterious force that affects human and animal behavior.

Meanwhile Wakanda Forever is expected to launch in cinemas on November 11, 2022 with Letitia Wright’s character reportedly leading the story. Other stars reprising their roles include Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Freeman, Winston Duke, Danny Spani, and Angela Bassett. Emmy winner Michaela Coel also joins the cast.

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Movies / News / politics

‘If you don’t have your PVC, you are part of Nigeria’s problem- Kanayo O Kanayo

The movie star made this known via a video shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. “You and I have the power to save our country. No one can do it but you. Do not say your vote will not court. First, go and perform your civic responsibility of casting your vote. Going to vote is better than going to church or mosque. Do not misunderstand me,” he said.

“There is no In Jesus Name where they are voting that is why you have been saying In Jesus Name and these guys have been doing the same thing. There is no voting on social media. It is a physical exercise. If by now you have not gotten your Permanent Voters Card, you have become part of the problem of Nigeria. I tell you that.”

Kanayo O Kanayo joins the list of Nigerian celebrities who have been quite vocal about the need for Nigerians to get registered for the next general elections.

Other celebrities who have been quite vocal about voter education and registration include Peter Okoye, Mr Macaroni, Falz, Davido and Tacha Akide.

These celebrities have stood their ground about Nigeria getting it right in the next elections.

Some of these celebrities have even vowed to call out their colleagues who collect money from politicians to campaign for them.

While for some like Okon Lagos, they will be selling their votes to the highest bidder.

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Basket Ball / Entertainment / News

Khloé Kardashian expecting a baby via surrogate with Tristan Thompson

According to PageSix, a source close to the Kardashians revealed that the estranged couple are expecting their second child together. “We can confirm True will have a sibling who was conceived in November. Khloé is incredibly grateful to the extraordinary surrogate for such a beautiful blessing,” the source revealed.

“We’d like to ask for kindness and privacy so that Khloe can focus on her family.”

Multiple sources add that the baby was conceived via surrogate before it was revealed that Tristan, 31, was having a baby with someone else.

“Khloé and Tristan already had the baby in the works when the scandal hit. By then, Khloé was just like, ‘I’m going to be doing it by myself,’” PageSix revealed.

Tristan and Khloe already a have four-year-old daughter.

It would be recalled that Tristan welcomed a baby with fitness expert, Maralee Nichols.

Nicole has already filed for child support from the rich NBA star before giving birth to the child.

Tristan later admitted to fathering the child after he was dragged by the fitness expert.

“Today, paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols. I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established I look forward to amicably raising our son,” he wrote.

He went on to apologize to his former girlfriend and baby mama, Khloe Kardashian.

“Khloé, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years,” he added.

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News / politics / Travel

Minister to NIS: Allow Nigerians with expired passports to return home

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to allow Nigerians in diaspora to return to Nigeria with their expired International Passports.

Ogbeni Aregbesola gave the directive while responding to a complaint by a Nigerian-American citizen, Jamui Kasumu.

The Minister spoke on Wednesday in Lagos at the Alausa Passport Office during his unscheduled visit to the facility.

He said Nigerians in diaspora were free to come back home with expired or non-expired Nigerian passports. The Minister said no Nigerian needed travel certificate to come back home, except children, whose parents were Nigerians, but their identity were yet to be established according to immigration rule.

“I am using this medium to instruct all Nigeria Immigration Officers worldwide to accord Nigerian travellers with expired passport use such passports to return safely back home henceforth,” he said.

The Minister also advised Nigerians in diaspora to update their travel documents ahead of time to avoid rush during emergency.

Earlier, Kasumu complained to the Minister that the Nigeria Immigration in America and Delta Airline prevented him from coming to Nigeria because of expired Nigerian passport.

Kasumu said he was able to return to Nigeria after he got a travel certificate he obtained through a relation in Nigeria.

“I am appealing to you sir that the Immigration should allow Nigerians with expired passport to come back to their country,” he said.…

News / politics

Ondo Commissioner resigns hours after Akeredolu reshuffles cabinet

The Ondo State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Yetunde Adeyanju, has resigned her appointment after a minor cabinet reshuffle by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

The Commissioner was on Wednesday redeployed from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation in the cabinet reshuffle.

Adeyanju, who was moved to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, tendered her resignation letter shortly after Akeredolu announced the reshuffle of his cabinet.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akeredolu on Wednesday announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, where the former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora, Bamidele Ademola Olateju, was redeployed to the Ministry of Information and Orientation. Also, the former Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, Fatai Olotu Aburumaku, was redeployed to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.

Adeyanju, in a copy of the letter, titled: “Resignation of Appointment,” made available to newsmen hours after the cabinet reshuffle, appreciated the governor for the opportunity to serve the people of Ondo State.

The letter, directed to Governor Akeredolu, reads: “I hereby resign my appointment as a Commissioner in Ondo State with immediate effect.

“My decision is predicated on a personal conviction to explore other endeavors outside politics for now.

“However, I am grateful to you for the golden opportunity given to me to contribute to the growth of our dear state, especially with the Kamomi Aketi Rural Water Supply.

“You gave me the platform and I am proud that I used it well for the good of humanity. Kamomi AKETI water scheme remains the joy of thousands of rural dwellers today.

“Once again, I thank you for the opportunity to serve. Best wishes, Adeyanju Yetunde (Mrs).…

News / Transportation / Travel

FAAN to close Lagos airport domestic runway 18L/36R for repairs

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to complete the installation of CAT III Airfield Ground Lighting system on Runway 18L/36R at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

She said the closure was part of efforts aimed at improving safety and efficiency of flight operations.

Hope-Ivbaze said that the project, which would commence effectively on Friday (June 8), was expected to last for 90 days. She said that consequently, Runway 18L/36R would be closed to flight operations during this time.

She said: “Stakeholders are to note that there will be no disruption.

“All normal flight operations will be conducted through runway 18R/36L.

“A NOTAM to this effect has already been published and disseminated accordingly.”…

Entertainment / LGBTQ / News

Marvel comics to introduce new gay Spider-Man character

Confirming the newest addition, Comic book author Steve Foxe revealed that the character named Web-Weaver will posses a ‘fearlessly femme identity’. He further detailed that they were careful to develop a queer character that did not generalize LGBTQ stereotypes.

“Surprise: I had the huge gay honor of helping to co-create Web-Weaver, who’ll make his debut in Edge of the Spider-verse this September,” Fox announced on Twitter.

He added: “Something I realized immediately when conceiving Web-Weaver is that he can’t – and shouldn’t – represent ALL gay men. No single character cant.

“His fearlessly femme identity is central to who he is, but it’s not the STORY… Which you can experience for yourself in September!”

Web-Weaver’s debut issue has been confirmed for an August 3 release. The character will debut alongside three other renditions of Spider-Man, including Spider-Man Noir and a Spider-Man Rex dinosaur hybrid.

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BBNaija / Entertainment / News

BBNaija season 7 confirmed for double entry show premiere this July

Season 7 of the hit reality show will premiere on July 23-24, 2022, following last season’s double entry style.

The show’s organizers confirmed season seven’s launch at a recently held press junket in Lagos.

This year’s BBNaija edition will see a lucky Nigerian take home N100 million worth of prizes, the biggest in the show’s history.

Season seven will also spot some pre Covid elements including the return of the fan-favorite ‘Ninjas’ and a live studio audience. It’s set to be a winning season for BBNaija fans as the organizers confirmed a promo that would see 30 fans win N1 million each.

The new season will retain its voting style from last year as voting remains exclusive to the Big Brother Naija website, mobile site, and the My DStv and MyGOtv apps for active customers. The number of votes each subscriber will have will be determined by their subscription packages, with DStv Premium and GOtv SUPA subscribers receiving the most votes.

Headline sponsor for BBNaija season 7 is Pocket by Piggyvest and associate sponsor is Flutterwave.

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Lifestyle / Music / News

‘Music is the only thing moving Nigeria forward’ Paul of P-Square says

Imagine the only thing that is moving forward in Nigeria is something that the government are not in control of #music,” He said in a tweet on Wednesday 4th July 2022.

Paul Okoye’s thoughts are coming at the back of P-Square’s appearance at Afronation Portugal 2022 where they were a very special guest.

Considering the steady ascension the Nigerian music industry and the entertainment sectors have enjoyed, it can be agreed that Nigeria’s creative industry is the most promising aspect of the Nigerian economy.

Many factors both political, economical, and social accounts for why the success recorded in the Nigerian music industry has not been replicated in other key sectors of the society, and Nigerian youths will be hoping to change this at the 2023 Presidential polls.

Paul Okoye and his twin brother Peter have both been vocal about their support for one of the candidates in the coming elections and their choices might have been inspired by a desire for other aspects of the society to experience the success recorded by the entertainment industry.

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Music / News

Wizkid scores fourth Billboard Hot 100 entry

Chris Brown tapped Wizkid for his Afrobeats-inspired single ‘Call Me Everyday’ which is one of the songs in his latest album ‘Breezy’.

This becomes Wizkid’s fourth entry on America’s official music chart after previously recording entries with Drake’s 2016 hit single ‘One Dance’ which peaked at number one, Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ which reached Number 76 on the chart, and ‘Essence’ featuring Tems and Justin Bieber which peaked at number 9.…

Gospel / Movies / News

Popular Pastor gifts homeless veteran Nollywood actor Kenneth Aguba free accommodation

It was recently revealed that the veteran actor has been homeless for a while. Following the reports of the news, Chinyere who is the senior pastor at Omega Power Ministry reached out to the homeless actor, stating that the actor will be given accommodation in one of the ministry’s free estates in Rivers State.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=773298693847751

In a series of posts shared via the official page of the church on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, the veteran actor was welcomed to Port harcourt while his accommodation was sorted.

“The veteran Nigerian actor Kenneth Aguba who was recently found homeless has been found by the General Overseer of OPM, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, he has been given an accommodation at one of the OPM free estates, he is now at the OPM free hospital for medical checkup. God is great,” the post read. Aguba went viral on social media after a Twitter user revealed that he had been living in a dilapidated building after becoming homeless.

Popular for playing comic and ‘red cap’ chief roles, Aguba has been in over a dozen Nollywood home videos.

Since the viral photos, the Actors Guild of Nigeria has come under intense criticism, with disturbed fans questioning the Guild’s mandate.

While the AGN is yet to react to Aguba’s viral photos, its national president, Emeka Rollas has made recent moves to address crowdfunding for veterans in distress.

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News / Oil & Gas / politics

Nigeria’s outgoing OPEC Secretary-General dies hours after meeting with Buhari

Nigeria’s Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is dead.

Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Company, confirmed the development on Wednesday.

Kyari spoke in a statement posted on his official Twitter page in the early hours of the day.

He tweeted: “We lost our esteemed Dr Mohammed S Barkindo. “He died at about 11.00 p.m. on Tuesday.

“Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community.

“Burial arrangements will be announced shortly.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Barkindo, who is the outgoing OPEC Secretary General, was in Nigeria where he delivered the Chairman’s Keynote Address at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

At his last official outing at the NOG, Barkindo was given a standing ovation by industry stakeholders for his outstanding contributions to the Nigerian and global oil and gas industry.

He had earlier in the day visited President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa (see photograph used for illustration), where he was hailed by the President for being a “worthy ambassador to Nigeria.”

Born on April 20, 1959 in Yola, Adamawa State, Barkindo served as the Secretary General of OPEC since August 1, 2016 and would have bowed out on July 31, 2022 following the completion of his tenure.

He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1981 and Masters of Business Administration degree from Washington University in 1991.

Prior to the MBA, in 1988 he earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Oxford University.

Also, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Federal University of Technology Yola.

Barkindo previously served as the acting Secretary-General in 2006 and represented Nigeria on OPEC’s Economic Commission Board from 1993 to 2008.

He also led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 2009 to 2010 and headed Nigeria’s technical delegation to United Nations climate negotiations since 1991.

Barkindo will be replaced by Haitham Al-Ghais, a veteran of …

Education / Health / News

Crack in ASUU, as medical lecturers distance selves from strike

The ongoing strike embarked upon by four university-based unions has taken a new twist, as lecturers in medical schools of some Federal Universities have distanced themselves from the industrial action.

This came on a day the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, said the Federal Government’s promise of immediate reply to its submission to the committee set up to negotiate with it had not been fulfilled, nearly a month after.

In a letter to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, branch, the lecturers said they never joined the strike and, consequently, requested for  payment of their withheld salaries from March to June 2022.

The lecturers also sent the same letter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, as well as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed. The letter, dated June 29, 2022, signed by the Assistant Secretary of the union, Dr. Mohammed Abdulahi, and entitled: ‘Request for Payment of Our Withheld Salaries from March-June 2022’, read: “We, members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital branch, majority of which form the College of Medical Sciences Academic Board, University of Maiduguri, wish to kindly request for payment of our withheld salaries from March 2022-June 2022.

This is because our members (medical lecturers in the University of Maiduguri) have been patriotically doing their work, which includes teaching, training and conducting examinations of medical students throughout the period of the ongoing strike.”

They drew the attention of the minister to their earlier correspondences in March, with the Provost, College of Medicine, and Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, notifying them of their resolve to remain at work, notwithstanding the strike declared by ASUU.

They explained that the proactive step was taken in case the Federal Government decides to stop the salaries of ASUU members.

The medical lecturers, therefore, appealed for the kind intervention of the minister to encourage their patriotic members to …

Education / News

Lagos Govt shuts Redeemer’s school over death of 5-yr-old pupil

The school was shuttered after a five-year-old pupil drowned during a swimming lesson.

The pupil, Chidera Eze was reported to have drowned during a swimming lesson organized by the school at the Ivory Health Club, Ogundana Street, Ikeja, in May.

According to Punch, Chidera and his colleagues were playing at the tip of the pool when he slipped into it.

In a statement announcing the development, the commissioner said the school is yet to conclude its registration and is, therefore, not yet an approved school.

Adefisayo said: “The school will remain closed, pending an administrative investigation of its operations and procedures as well as the conduct of its officials — in line with schools’ safety standards and guidelines.

“The investigation is sequel to the death of a five-year-old pupil, who is suspected to have drowned during a swimming lesson while in the custody of the school.

“The police are investigating the matter.

“A preliminary probe by the Office of Education Quality Assurance of the Ministry has shown that the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba, is yet to conclude its registration and is, therefore, not yet an approved school.

“The Ministry is concerned about the safety of the pupils, hence the need for intervention.

“The school will remain closed until all the required approval processes are concluded. Parents are advised to note the closure and wait for the conclusion of the administrative investigation.”

The deceased’s father, Mr Anthony had blamed the death of his child on the negligence of the school officials.

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News / politics

PDP crisis deepens as Wike reportedly refuses to meet Atiku’s emissaries

Since the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate last month, the PDP has been a divided house.

Atiku was said to have rejected Wike as his running mate, despite his recommendation by a 17-man committee set up by the party.

Following Okowa’s emergence as the PDP Vice Presidential candidate, some Wike loyalists dumped the party.

And in a bid to pacify Wike and his followers, the opposition party recently set up a nine-member committee to resolve the lingering crisis, but the Rivers state governor is reportedly not willing to meet the committee.

Also, his continuous silence over the crisis unsettles the party as nobody in the party knows his next move.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue and former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose are believed to be Wike allies.

Some of the party leaders like Fayose and Ortom had recently expressed their displeasure over the emergence of Atiku and Okowa as the party’s flag bearers for the 2023 presidential elections.

Criticizing the party on Twitter, Fayose recently opposed the PDP, insisting that power must return to the South in 2023.

Also, Governor Ortom during his interview on Arise TV said he had not made up his mind to support Atiku. He also called out the PDP for allegedly betraying Wike.

It would be recalled that in 2021, Southern Governors reached an agreement that power just shift to their region in 2023.

The governors vowed to oppose any political party that presents a northerner as its presidential candidate.

Despite the clamor for power to return to the south, the PDP decided to throw its presidential ticket open to aspirants from all regions, and Atiku, a northerner emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.

Wike came second in the primary election that produced Atiku as the PDP flagbearer.

Speaking on the crisis, a PDP chieftain in Rivers State told Daily Trust that Atiku would be paid back in his own coin, adding that

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Crime / News / Security

4G Network rearrested by police after jail break in Owo Prison

The Ondo State Police Command has re-arrested one Ikuemelo Tosin, aka 4G Network, a convict, who escaped during the jailbreak in Owo Correctional Centre in March.

The spokesperson of the Command, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Akure.

Odunlami recalled that the convict was arrested and arraigned in court for alleged cultism and murder, and was remanded at Owo Correctional Centre.

He, however, escaped from custody in March during a jail break. The statement by Odunlami said: “Today, 4th of July, 2022 at about 0700hrs, information was received by men of Igbokoda Division in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo.

“That one Ikuemelo Tosin ‘m’, AKA 4G network, a convict, who escaped during Owo Correctional jail break, was in town.

“Immediately, the Divisional Police Officer of the division and his men went after him and was re-arrested in a soak away.”

Odunlami, therefore, said that Tosin would be charged to court immediately.…

News / Transportation

Sallah: FRSC to deploy breathalysers

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command is to deploy breathalyzers to test motorists in order to detect those who drive under the influence of alcohol during the Eid al–Adha  (Sallah) festivities.

The Sector Commander of FRSC,  Ahmed Umar, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun.

Umar said that any motorist who tests positive to alcohol would be subjected to a drug test.

He said that the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) would be engaged for this purpose during the festival. “We are therefore appealing to motorists to avoid drink driving during and after the festive period.

“People should not indulge in drinking and driving at the same time to prevent unnecessary loss of life,” he said.

Umar also said that any vehicle impounded because the driver violated traffic rules and regulations would not be released until after the Sallah festival.

The sector commander said that the FRSC would collaborate with the police to check Road Traffic Violations (RTV) on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

”We are also collaborating with the Navy and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to maintain sanity during the Sallah festival on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Sagamu -Ijebu Ode-Ore Expressway.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2022, Eid al–Adha is expected to be celebrated on Saturday.…

Music / News

‘Behold The L.A.M.B’ by Loose Kaynon, AQ, MI Abaga, and Blaqbonez now available on Boomplay

The 12-track album sponsored by one of Nigeria’s biggest streaming platform Boomplay features guests appearance by Psycho YP, Kenya rapper Kaligraph Jones, Oxlade, Chike amongst others. The Chocolate City affiliated rappers have collaborated in the past and their new collaboration album promises to be a thrilling one.

Stream Here Live on BOOMPLAY…