ONE WORD

The Ekiti State government has announced a ban on the planned three-day kissing marathon to set the Guinness World Record in the state. A group identified as Sugartee released an advert saying that on July 7 they will be embarking on the longest world kissing marathon in a popular amusement park in the state capital. Reacting to the development, the state Ministry of Arts and Culture in a statement released today July 5, banned the scheduled competition of the marathon and warned all Hoteliers in the state not to allow their premises be used for such exercise. The state government warned that heavy sanctions will be placed on any hotel found to permit such an exercise in their facility. The letter signed by the Director of Tourism Adebanji Adelusi on behalf of the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dele Ogunsemoyin noted that the planned event tagged ‘Kiss-a-thon ‘ was capable of denigrating the image of the state. ‘’Kiss-a-thon” as an event is not only absurd, unhealthy, immoral and

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said that it will reconcile fuel subsidy deductions with the Federal Government, after stating that no fuel subsidy payments were made to marketers since January 2016. The company stated this on Tuesday, July 4 when it posted a before and after fuel subsidy factsheet via their official account on Twitter. It is important to also note that two days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced an end to fuel subsidies in the country, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited said the Federal Government owed it over $6 billion (N2.8 trillion). This is the exact amount that the NNPCL has paid to keep fuel cheap. Meanwhile, in the Nigeria Development Update report from the World Bank, it was stated that the recent decision to remove the fuel subsidy marks a crucial initial step towards restoring macroeconomic stability, creating fiscal space, and improving growth prospects. The World Bank report stated that the rem

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the principal officers announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The presiding officers of the National Assembly announced the new leaders at plenary on Tuesday. In the majority cacaus of the senate, Akpabio had named Opeyemi Bamidele, Majority Leader; David Umahi, Deputy Majority Leader; Mohammed Ali Ndume, Senate Majority Whip; and Lola Ashiru, Deputy Majority Whip. While Abbas named Julius Ihonvbere, lawmaker representing Owan east/Owan west Federal Constituency of Edo was announced as the majority leader; legislator representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi, Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, as deputy majority leader. The speaker also named Bello Usman Kumo, representing Akko federal constituency of Gombe as the chief whip; and Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo north federal constituency in Ogun, as the deputy chief whip. But addressing the Governors of the party,

According to FIRS, every member of MATAN shall be issued with an identity card upon enumeration for the purpose of ensuring compliance and accountability. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) have teamed up to facilitate the collection and remittance of value added tax (VAT) from its members using a unified systems technology. The agency made the announcement on Monday via its official Twitter handle, saying this was particularly for those working in the informal sector. The statement noted that a unified systems technology would be used to carry out the collaboration, also known as the VAT direct initiative (VDI). The umbrella organisation for all commercial associations in Nigeria, MATAN, was established in 1995. With well over 40 million traders as members all over Nigeria, the group dominates the country’s market. According to the revenue service, MATAN is anticipated to “promote awareness on VAT collection and remittance i

An Igbo businessman and philanthropist, Gaius Chibueze popularly known as Bitcoin chief has announced that he and his company have taken up funding responsibilities for Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme’s education upto Masters degree level. Miss Mmesoma who had initially claimed to have had the highest score in the 2023 UTME with a score of 362 had attracted praise and adulation from Nigerians, one of which was a 3million scholarship by Innoson Vehicle Motors founder, Chief Innocent Chukwuma. However, things took a wrong turn and her joy short-lived as JAMB would later make a disclaimer dissociating itself from the result, accusing the Nnewi indigene of forgery and threatening her with withdrawal of her original score of 249 and a 3 year ban from writing the UTME. This did not sit well with many Nigerians who thronged out on Social Media to show solidarity with Mmesoma, accusing JAMB of engaging in a politically motivated witch-hunt targeted at the Igbo ethnic group, a claim that can’t really be s

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has denied the alleged plan by the association to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N700 per litre nationwide. NAN reported that the Chairman of IPMAN Southwest Zone, Dele Tajudeen, made the clarification in an interview in Ibadan on Friday. He urged Nigerians to disregard the speculation and not engage in panic buying. Tajudeen stressed that the product’s price would not be more than what is being sold presently. He commended President Bola Tinubu for removing the subsidy on petrol, adding that it was long overdue. “Even in the PIA bill, it has been clearly stated that the subsidy must be removed. So, I want to commend him for removing the subsidy and say that we are in support. It is because the subsidy was a scam.” He said the slight increase in pump price was because of the transportation cost and that Nigerians should be at rest as the commodity will not be out of reach

  President Bola Tinubu, has renamed some federal airports after several prominent Nigerians. The renaming of the airports was announced in a memo released by the Federal Ministry of Aviation dated June 1, 2023, and signed by Mrs Joke Olatunji for the Director of Airport Operations on Monday. The statement noted that the President renamed the airports “as part of reforms of the Aviation sector.” The Maiduguri Airport was renamed after the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari and the Port Harcourt Airport after the late nationalist Obafemi Awolowo, while the Nasarawa Airport immortalised the late founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Usman Dan Fodio. Also, the Benin Airport was renamed after the late Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua II, Ebonyi Airport after the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, and the Ibadan Airport after the late Premier of the old Western Region, Ladoke Akintola. See the full list below: 1. Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu 2. Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II 3. Duts