Author: Chief Editor

The federal government yesterday disclosed that it had initiated the process of repealing the 1963 Fire Service Act, which had become obsolete and out-dated. The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola revealed the plan at the 11th National Conference on Fire held in Jos, the Plateau State capital, saying the process would lead to a new contemporary and enforceable law via the instrument of executive bill. Aregbesola, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said when eventually passed into law, the bill would address the challenges faced by firefighters during operations through mob action, and vandalisation…

Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) yesterday demanded an apology from the federal government over the invasion of his residence by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the early hours of Thursday. Igboho, also, demanded N500 million compensation due to damage to his exotic cars that include Mercedes Benz G-Class and 2019 Lexus Car. He made these demands in a statement by his counsel, Chief Yomi Aliyu (SAN), describing invasion of Igboho’s residence as grossly illegal and unconstitutional. Aliyu, in the statement, asked the federal government to investigate the actions of the various security operatives…

An aide to the former Imo State governor Emeka Ihedioha has said he did not issue any statement commending Presiden Muhammadu Buhari over the arrest and extradition of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu. Several media reports had claimed that Ihedioha said he was pleased with the rearrest of the IPOB leader. It was claimed that the former Imo governor described it as a “welcome development”.It was also claimed that Ihedioha issued the statement after attending a meeting of the Arewa Consultative Forum.”Those behind the said press release should hide their faces in shame and seek the…

Lionel Messi scored one goal and created two others as Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 in Goiania on Saturday to reach the Copa America semi-finals. In Tuesday’s last four match, the 14-time winners will play Colombia, who beat Uruguay on penalties earlier in the day. Messi teed up goals for Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez before firing home an injury time free-kick to cap a stunning individual performance. The scoreline was harsh on Ecuador, who ended the game with 10 men after Pedro Hicapie’s dismissal but had been competitive throughout. “The truth is it was a very tough match. We…

The senior male national team of Mexico on Saturday whipped their Nigerian counterparts 4-0 in an international friendly in Los Angeles. The Mexican side, known as El Tri, were dominant throughout the match played at the United Airlines Field at the Memorial Coliseum. Hector Herrera gave the Mexican side the lead after two minutes, while Rogelio Funes extended their lead two minutes later. They maintained their lead till the game’s break as the Super Eagles, largely made up of players featuring in the Nigerian domestic league, failed to find a way past them. The Mexicans returned from the break to…

Hundreds of supporters gathered in a show of solidarity for former South African president Jacob Zuma outside his Nkandla homestead Saturday, as the deadline looms for him to hand himself over. In an unprecedented ruling, Zuma was on Tuesday told by the constitutional court to hand himself over by Sunday to start a 15-month jail term for contempt of court. Supporters, mainly members of the African National Congress’s Umkhonto Wesizwe military wing, have for weeks camped outside Zuma’s home in KwaZula-Natal province in solidarity with the former leader. Donning traditional leopard skins and ostrich feathers – wielding spears, shields and…

The six governors in the South-West geopolitical zone convened an emergency meeting on Friday evening over current national issues, Saturday PUNCH has learnt. A top source close, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told Saturday PUNCH that the governors met virtually and discussed sundry issues. The source could not confirm whether the governors discussed the raid by operatives of the Department of State Services on the Ibadan residence of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho. However, it was gathered that the issue was discussed among others. “They are meeting but no one is sure if it…

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said that he withdrew his seven-year-old son, Abubakar Al-Sadiq El-Rufai, from Kaduna Capital school, after bandits attempted to kidnap him twice. The governor gave the reason in an interview with BBC Pidgin after earlier accusations that he withdrew the child secretly. The governor had enrolled his son Al-Sadiq in Kaduna Capital School about a year half ago in a bid to boost confidence in parents to patronise public schools. According to him, withdrawing Al-Sadiq is to discourage bandits from attacking the school. He claimed that the withdrawal was to save the child and his…

A young girl of about 14 years old was feared killed by stray bullet in Ojota area of Lagos where Yoruba Nation agitators attempted to hold a mega rally Saturday. Policemen men deployed in the area to prevent the agitators from staging the rally had earlier fired teargas and released water cannon to disperse the agitators, who were gradually approaching the Gani Fawehinmi Park, venue of the rally. [ThisDay]

To further beef up security and reduce crime to the barest minimum, Ondo State government has declared a clampdown on cultists and cult activities in the 18 local councils of the state with immediate effect. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, who disclosed this at a media briefing, yesterday, said that the decision was made during the last State Executive Council (SEC) meeting. Ojogo, who warned parents and guardians to rein in their children and wards, also disclosed that the SEC had reiterated the 6.00 p.m. ban on commercial motorcyclists operations in the state. He said:…