​ By Lekan Tajudeen  Everyone was born great, but the life they choose to live makes them more greater than others. Mr. Lawal Olamilekan Olohungbebe has chosen to live the lives of taking responsibility of others just as a great man will choose.  He was born to lead, but decided to be a servant leader and create around him an atmosphere and society that needs no leader. At times I get confused to believe we still have such humans like my principal. Such a rare gem.  My Principal is a man of the people, father of the youth, mentor to millions, role model to thousands and a great example to the whole world at large. It is a privilege for anyone who come across you, as destiny may have it, it might be a life changer for such person.  Whenever I’m privileged to sit  at where my principal is sermonizing, I do go with my pen and book to jot down principles of live which is enough for me to live a lifetime. A moment with you is like a decade sir.  He is a man of h...

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, said the support his government had received from the private sector in addressing social ills was enough to make him the “envy of many presidents of the world.” The President stated this in Abuja at the commissioning and handover of security equipment valued at over 12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police Force. The items were donated by the Coalition of Private Sector Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) – a group of eminent Nigerian industrialists, including Aliko Dangote and Herbert Wigwe, who had also pooled N40 billion to combat COVID-19 in the country. “Ladies and gentlemen. Today is indeed a very happy day for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I am the envy of many Presidents in the world. “I am exceedingly honoured to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at this time. “I am gratified to have the honour of leading a country whose private sector willin...

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on Election Day. This is with the exception of those on essential services such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters among others. This was revealed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a Wednesday night statement obtained by our correspondent. Adejobi said, “Consequent to the first part of the 2023 general elections, the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the IG, Usman Baba has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day with the exce...

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, has reassured Nigerians that their votes will count on Saturday, February 25. Yakubu stated this at the signing of the Peace Accord by political parties and candidates on Wednesday. Candidates of various political parties vying for presidency signed the second Peace Accord organised by the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee. In attendance were presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu; the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, among others. The INEC chairman noted that the commission is set to hold the elections, adding that the commission had commenced the movement of sensitive materials to the various local government areas nationwide. Yakubu also added that election campaigns end Thursday midnight. He said, “The signing of the Peace...

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has described the first half of their Premier League clash with Leicester City as rubbish. He also singled out three of his players for praise following their 3-0 win against Leicester City. Marcus Rashford struck twice while Jadon added the third to give the Old Trafford landlords all three points at Old Trafford. Leicester City were in control of the first half and went close to opening the scoring through Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho. David De Gea made some outstanding saves to keep the Foxes out on both occasions. “Today was really tough but it was first that Leicester played brilliantly but second that we were rubbish. “It was only because of David De Gea that we got a clean sheet until half-time. We were lucky that we scored a goal. Great ball from Bruno, great run from Rashy.”

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has directed Muslims to look out for the new Moon of Sha’aban 1444 AH from Monday. Abubakar made the call on Sunday in Sokoto in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, the Chairman Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs Sultanate Council, Sokoto. The statement reads, “This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Monday, February 20, 2023, which is equivalent to the 29th day of Rajab 1444 AH shall be the day to look for the crescent of Sha’aban 1444 AH. “Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Sha’aban on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head for onward communication to the Sultan,” it said. The Sultan further prayed to Allah to help Muslims in the discharge of their religious duty. 

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta will launch a paid subscription service starting at $11.99 a month allowing users to verify their accounts, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Sunday, following a similar move by Elon Musk at Twitter. Meta Verified, which will roll out first in Australia and New Zealand this week, will let users “verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support,” Zuckerberg said. “This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” he wrote in a statement posted to his Facebook account. There would be no changes to accounts on Facebook and Instagram that are already verified, the company said, adding that only users who are over the age of 18 will be allowed to subscribe. The service is not yet available to businesses. Musk’s initial attempts to launch a similar service at rival social media network Twitter...

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission has begun the development of a well-coordinated investment promotion ecosystem Act. Engaging stakeholders, the Commission noted that this was to ensure that governmental and non-governmental investment promoters could undertake mutually reinforcing and complementary roles to attract, retain and grow investment in Nigeria.  The Executive Secretary the NIPC, Saratu Umar, disclosed this in Abuja at the stakeholders’ engagement with Diplomatic Community on Thursday. Umar said this became very necessary as the NIPC strategised to increase national attractiveness and investment, adding that the strategies would deepen the investment promotion drive of Nigeria and the day-to-day problem-solving for established and incoming investors. The Executive Secretary further disclosed that the NIPC as an investment commission recognises the role of the diplomatic community as critical stakeholder in investment promotion, being that economic d...

The Nigerian Medical Association has called on the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to proffer permanent solutions to the lingering naira and fuel scarcity crises in the country. If not quickly resolved, the body said, the situation would result to an upsurge in mental ill-health among Nigerians The association gave the warning on Friday in a statement jointly signed by the Plateau State chairman of the NMA, Dr. Lukden Stephen, and the Secretary, Dr. Bapigaan Audi, respectively. The NMA said that having watched the unfolding developments within the polity over the past few weeks with keen interest, it was compelled to issue the statement regarding its possible negative impacts on the health of Nigerians. The statement read, “Plateau State Branch of the NMA is deeply concerned and shares in the untold hardship and anguish that citizens have been and continue to be subjected to due to the now perennial problem of fuel scarcity,as well as the recent chaos sur...

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that registered voters attached to new polling units will receive a text message that will enable them to know their polling units. The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in a message to voters on Friday, said the notification would aid in making voting more credible and result management more transparent. He also noted that the register of such voters for each state had been sent to the Resident Electoral Commissioners for publicity, particularly through messages in local languages. The INEC chairman, therefore, urged all eligible voters to confirm their voting locations ahead of Election Day. His message read, “As you are all aware, the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on Saturday, 25th February 2023, followed two weeks later by the governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday 11th March 2023. “In our effort to make voting more credible and result management more transparent, the com...

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has promoted 53 senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to their next rank. Eight Deputy Commandants were elevated to the position of Commandants while 45 Commandants got promoted to the rank of Assistant Commandant General of the NSCDC. The Commandant General of the Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, while speaking at the decoration ceremony of the senior officers at the Service headquarters on Thursday, said they merited their elevation. While encouraging those who were not promoted to keep working hard, Dr Audi said many factors were considered during the promotion exercise. “What we did was to try to streamline our policy on promotion to consider federal character. The promotion was given to deserving officers who have worked assiduously and satisfied all conditions for the promotion. “Promotion at this level is very sensitive. You must demonstrate the highest level...

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to obey the Supreme Court ruling restraining the Federal Government from enforcing the February 10 deadline to end the use of old naira notes. On February 8, the supreme court temporarily restrained the federal government from banning the use of the old naira notes from February 10, 2023, pending the hearing of the matter on February 15. Despite the court’s order, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, insisted on the deadline. But on Thursday, the president extended the validity of the old N200 notes till April 10, 2023. Reacting, CDD, in a statement signed by its director, Idayat Hassan, said the president breached the Principle of rule of law and separation of power. The statement reads: “Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) closely followed the Thursday morning broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on the crisis caused by the implementation of the Naira r...

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday in Abuja, said his government had delivered on its promises to Nigerians, especially women, to reduce poverty and build a sustainable economy. However, he urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to heed concerns raised by the Special Ad-hoc Committee on the Cashless Policy and Naira Swap in the lower chamber of the national assembly. According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this at the launch of Advisory Council, Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project and National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy Dialogue. The statement is titled ‘President Buhari says women, girls remain integral to development, launches high-level advisory council on support.’ While calling for upscaling of efforts for more inclusion of women in development policies and projects, he said the three initiatives will target reduction of poverty, and buildi...

Ahead of the forthcoming election, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has urged politicians to respect the peace accord earlier signed. The British government reinstated its resolve to sanction any politician that is culpable of inciting violence across the country, adding that Nigerians who are also British nationals will not be exempted from sanctions if they undermine the electoral process. Laing, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja, asked the head of political parties to signal respect for the outcome of the vote to all their supporters. She said, “We shall be looking out for anyone who attempts to violate the electoral process and if it is brought to our attention directly that there are people inciting violence or engaging in hate speech, we can use our policies as tools for sanctions.” The UK envoy, who expressed confidence in security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, especially with the implementation of the Electoral Act...

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has assented to the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 passed by the National Assembly.  According to the Presidency, this is in furtherance of Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The PUNCH reports that it is an executive bill passed by the National Assembly. An executive bill is a bill initiated from the Executive arm of the government and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives for concurrent passage. Those sponsored by lawmakers are private member bills. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, made this known in a statement issued on Monday and titled ‘President Muhammadu Buhari Assents to the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 and Other Bills.’ The statement partly read, “The President sent the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Prov...

Five members of a family were on Sunday feared dead in an auto crash along the Lagos-Badagry expressway. NAN reports that the accident which occurred on Sunday night, claimed the lives of a father, mother and their three children when their Toyota Sienna rammed into a truck parked on the roadside. Mr Sulaiman Taiwo, the Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Badagry, said the accident occurred around Agemowo, Buhari Estate, Badagry, Lagos. According to Taiwo, the Toyota Sienna with registration number JJJ 947 HM was coming from Agbara when it rammed into a Volvo truck, with registration number T-8101 LA. The unit commander said the driver of the car rammed into the stationary truck due to poor visibility. “The unit was alerted of the accident at about 8:45 pm and we arrived on the scene at 9:00pm. “The accident was fatal, father, mother and their sons were rushed to the General Hospital in Badagry, where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” he sa...

The federal government has directed all the Polytechnics in the country to shut down for the 2023 elections. This comes days after a similar directive was given to universities. The Ministry of Education issued a circular directing the Executive Secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to communicate the directive to rectors and provosts of polytechnics. The letter, which was signed by Folorunsho, I.O. for the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, was dated 10th February 2023. The letter reads: “In view of concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of our respective Institutions, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has, following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all Polytechnics be shut down and academic activities be suspended between Wednesday 22 February and Tuesday 14 March 2023.” The Minister urged the NBTE boss to communicate the above to all the institutions under his regula...

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has assured the safety of Nigerians, before, during and after the 2023 general elections. DCC Olusola Odumusu, Director of Public Relations, NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja, in a statement on Sunday, noted that the corps would also protect members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, INEC officials and election materials to be deployed for the 2023 general election. According to him, Dr Audi gave the assurance when he played host to the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Dogara Ahmed and some key management staff on a courtesy call to NSCDC Headquarters in Abuja. Dr Audi expressed delight and optimism about the outcome of the synergy existing between the security agencies at the forefront of the 2023 election security management. He hinted that strategies have been put in place in the interest of national security to address perceived security challen...

The presiding pastor of the Abuja chapter of the House on the Rock, Pastor Uche Aigbe, on Sunday caused a stir when he mounted the pulpit carrying an AK 47 rifle. The incident took place during the second service, which frequently has a high turnout of the congregation who comes from different parts of the Federal Capital Territory. Brandishing the gun, the pastor picked his way to the altar as many members of his congregation exchanged glances trying to understand what was happening. An unflinching Aigbe walked up to the lectern, aware of the tension his action had created, without looking at his worshippers. But as he made attempt to open his Bible, the preacher looked up and said teasingly, “Some people are looking for my trouble. And I came here prepared. “Today, there are some pastors with gift of divination who go about ripping people. This is why we should carry our ‘guns’ and defend ourselves. I will particularly be coming very soon for some of you sleeping in the c...

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will now travel to Morocco via Accra, Ghana for their training tour on Wednesday. Ladan Bosso’s side was initially expected to travel to Morocco via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. According to SCORENigeria, the team will now fly from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Accra from where they will connect to Morocco for the training tour. The stint in Morocco is to help the team acclimatize to the weather condition in Egypt, the host of the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. The seven-time African champions are expected to engage in friendly matches while in Morocco. The Flying Eagles are drawn in Group A with Egypt, Mozambique and Senegal. The competition will start on February 19 and run through March 11.

A meeting between the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and state governors earlier scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled, The PUNCH has learned. A senior Presidency source who spoke with our correspondent late Monday revealed that Buhari would meet the governors to discuss, among other things, the nationwide crisis trailing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s new naira policy. The cancelled meeting comes only four days after the President met with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress after which he appealed to Nigerians to give him seven days to resolve the crisis. Although no reasons were given for the cancellation of Tuesday’s meeting, The PUNCH learned that it was agreed that no major decision could be taken until the end of the seven-day window given by the President last Friday. Buhari briefly met behind closed doors with the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; the chairman of t...

At least three clubs are keen on signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Chelsea. Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are in contention to win the Blues star. The teams are all on alert following Aubameyang’s shock omission from Graham Potter’s Champions League squad. SportsMail reports they have all made enquiries ahead of potential summer moves for Aubameyang. Barca was keen to re-sign the Gabon striker in January, following his prolific spell at the Nou Camp which ended when he left to join the Blues last summer. However, those hopes were scuppered by FFP concerns, as well as those of Atletico and Milan. Although FIFA rules prevented Aubameyang from joining either side since he could not appear for a third different club this season.

Kwara State Police Command said that it has deployed more personnel to banks and other financial institutions in the state to secure them from attacks by hoodlums. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Paul Odama, said in a statement on Saturday that he has ordered aggressive patrols of banks and other financial facilities across the length and breadth of the state to shield them from exposure to hoodlums. A statement signed by the spokesperson for the command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, on Saturday, read, “Intelligence available to the command indicates that hoodlums have perfected plans to replicate the lawlessness that was unleashed on some banks in some states of the country, owing to the crisis emanating from the naira note swap that is ongoing in Nigeria at present, which the government is doing all within its power to normalise. “The command wishes to assure the good people of Kwara State of the command’s capacity to deal ruthlessly with any lawbreaker. Criminals are therefor...