Headlines

Africa is the only continent not in the top 30 of the Paris2024 Olympics medals table.

While countries like the United States of America already shine with 86 medals, no African country was represented in the top 30 so far.

Kenya, known for having incredible athletes is the best African country so far, ranking 33rd with 4 medals.

Kenya has 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. But even Kenya is not doing as well as countries from other continents.

Other African countries including Nigeria are doing worse in the Olympics and hence far below in the medal ranking list.

This is as individuals of African birth have nationalized and won medals for countries in other continents after they received zero support from the governments of their countries in Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for a restrained response to Israel’s suspected killing of the leader of Hamas, advising against attacks on Israeli civilians, two senior Iranian sources said.

The message, according to the sources, was delivered on Monday by Sergei Shoigu, a senior ally of the Kremlin leader, in meetings with top Iranian officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

Tehran also pressed Moscow for the delivery of Russian made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the two Iranian sources, privy to the meeting in Tehran, the sources told Reuters.

In Moscow, the Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment. State-run RIA news agency reported on Tuesday that Shoigu said he discussed Haniyeh’s killing on his Tehran visit.

The two sources with knowledge of the matter did not provide further details on the talks with Shoigu, who was defence minister before becoming the secretary of Russia’s security council in May.

They said Shoigu’s visit was one of several avenues Moscow had used to relay to Iran the need for restraint while at the same time condemning Haniyeh’s killing as “a very dangerous assassination”, in a bid to prevent a Middle East war.

The Middle East, the sources said, was on the brink of a major war and those behind the assassination were clearly trying to trigger such a conflict.

Russia has cultivated closer ties with Iran since the start of its war with Ukraine and has said it is preparing to sign a wide-ranging cooperation agreement with Tehran.

There was no immediate comment from Iran’s Foreign ministry. On Monday it said Tehran did not seek to raise regional tensions but needed to punish Israel to prevent further instability.

Reuters

Mr Desmond Eke, the Pastor and founder of Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd, Owerri Imo State has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for raping his church members wife.

Justice T. N . Nzeukwu of the Imo State High Court convicted and sentenced a Desmond after being found guilty of taking advantage of a woman who vested so much trust in him.

The convict was tried on three counts that bordered on raping the victim who is also a member of his church and administering a stupefying substance on his victim which made her dizzy and weak.

According to the prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, it was while in the dizzy state that Eke took advantage of the woman who woke up to consciousness while he was still inside her.

Emuka said, “On inquiry on why he had to violate her, the pastor told the 25-year-old woman that his semen is holy enough to deliver her of the marine spirit that was disturbing her.”

While delivering the judgment, Justice Nzeukwu held that Eke was guilty of the offences preferred against him.

The judge convicted Eke on count two of the charge of breaching trust and raping the woman but discharged him on the third count which bordered on inflicting injuries during the rape.

“Since the woman was not completely conscious during the incident, there was no way injuries could result since there was no resistance,“ Justice Nzeukwu held.

Before the sentence, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy that his client had been of good behaviour having been present in court throughout the trial without jumping bail.

He pleaded that instead of a full sentence, his client should be put on probation.

A civil society organisation, Onurube, reported the matter and followed it up to its logical end.

Speaking on the case, the convener of Onurube, Marjorie Ezihe, lauded the court for convicting the pastor.

She believed the conviction would serve as a deterrent to those intending to indulge in such inhuman acts of seeking to have carnal knowledge of women without their consent.

Alims Blessing Iripia, the first female Student Union Government President of the University of Calabar, has appointed 50 aides to support her administration.

The appointment was announced in a Facebook post by Ms. Alims.

She stated that the individuals were selected based on their conduct, credibility, enthusiasm, transparency, and commitment to the Students’ Union Government’s progress and advancement.

The appointments, as stated in a letter dated August 1, will take effect immediately after screening and confirmation by the Senate, ensuring a smooth operation of the Blessing Alims-led administration.

Ms. Alims was elected June 14, 2024 as the first female Student Union Government President. She is a student of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolutions in the Department of Political Science who hails from Gakem in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

This appointment by Ms. Alims has sparked mixed reactions over the Internet as many consider appointing 50 Aides unnecessary and a waste of student resources.

Dangote Refinery plans to sell a 12.7% stake in 2024 to service its loans, according to a report by Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency.

Fitch recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) had previously planned to acquire a 20% stake in the refinery, but has since decided not to exercise its option to purchase an additional 12.75% stake as of June 2024.

This decision may impact the group’s ability to service its loans, Fitch noted. In 2021, NNPC acquired a 7.25% stake in the refinery for $1.0 billion, with an option to purchase the remaining 12.75% stake by June 2024.

However, NNPC has reneged on its decision, and the Dangote Group plans to divest a 12.75% stake in the refinery in 2024 to service its significant syndicated loan maturing in August 2024.

Fitch expressed uncertainty about the timely divestment and meeting the imminent maturity. In July, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, clarified that NNPC owns only a 7.2% stake in the refinery, not 20% as previously thought.

Dangote explained that the agreement was for 20%, but NNPC did not pay the balance, and the extension was not taken up.

NNPC confirmed this, stating that it decided not to invest further in the refinery after assessing its investment portfolio.

NNPC’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said the decision to cap its equity participation was made and communicated to Dangote Refinery several months ago.

The Ogun State government has reportedly asked persons seeking employment into its civil service to pay a fee of N10,000 for application form.

This was communicated in a memo seen by SaharaReporters and signed by the Permanent Secretary Commission, Jacobs R.O on behalf of the Ogun State Civil Service Commission.

The document noted that “Applicants are to obtain tellers from Room A261 at the Civil Service Commission for application form on payment of a non-refundable fee of ten thousand Naira (N10,000) per candidate”

It was noted that “The Application forms and other credentials should be submitted to the office of the Director, Appointment and Transfer (Civil Service Commission) Block A, Room A233, State secretariat complex Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta” the document read.

This is not the first time the state government will do so; in 2021, it was reported that the state government asked those seeking to become fire service officers in the state to pay N10,000 as application form fee.

The governor, Dapo Abiodun, had approved the recruitment of qualified candidates to the post of Fire Officer II, GL.08, Higher Fire Superintendent GL. 08 and Medical Officer II, GL.12 into the mainstream of the State civil service.

A press release signed by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Mr. Kolawole Ogunlana, had stated that a written examination would be conducted through the Public Service Competitive Entrance Examination on Monday, December 6, 2021 at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

“Candidates should obtain a teller at Room A261, Civil Service Commission, Block A, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta for payment of non-refundable fee of N10,000, while forms must be submitted on or before Friday, November 26, 2021.” The statement read in 2021.

X.com formerly know as twitter, the social media company owned by Elon Musk, plans to shut its San Francisco office “over the next few weeks,” according to an internal email sent by the company’s chief executive.

In the email, which X’s chief executive, Linda Yaccarino, sent to employees on Monday, the company said workers would move to existing offices in San Jose, California. X will also open an engineering-focused office in Palo Alto, California, which it will share with xAI, the artificial intelligence outfit owned by Mr. Musk, the email said.

“This is an important decision that impacts many of you, but it is the right one for our company in the long term,” Ms. Yaccarino wrote to employees.

Mr. Musk said last month that he would move the company’s headquarters to Texas, after California passed a law that bans school districts from requiring teachers to notify parents if their children change their gender identification. Mr. Musk, who has had a tempestuous relationship with the state, said that such legislation would “force families and companies to leave California to protect their children.”

X, previously known as Twitter, was founded in San Francisco in 2006. It moved its headquarters to the city’s Mid-Market neighborhood in 2012 after striking a deal with local legislators for a payroll tax break. Twitter became a symbol of the city’s tech industry, as companies like Uber also moved into the neighborhood.

Musk has long maintained a contentious relationship with the state where he founded his companies, stating in 2022 it was the land of “taxes, overregulation and litigation”. In 2020, Musk relocated the headquarters of his electric car company, Tesla, from California to Texas in response to California’s coronavirus measures, which he called “fascist”.

X’s departure from San Francisco represents a symbolic blow to the city, where there has been an exodus of tech companies from its once busy downtown area. Since 2019, the 20 largest tech companies have slashed the amount of office space rented in downtown San Francisco in half – including Meta, Salesforce, Snap, Lyft, Block, Airbnb and PayPal. As X vacates its 74,322 sq metre (800,000 sq ft) headquarters, 46% of offices and 40% of retail spaces in the area are vacant.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following Nigerians as federal commissioners of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC):

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following Nigerians as federal commissioners of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC):

(1) Mrs. Linda Nkechi Oti — Abia 

(2) Mr. Akpan Imo Effiong — Akwa Ibom 

(3) Mr. Enefe Ekene — Anambra

(4) Professor Steve Ugba — Benue

(5) Chief Eyonsa — Cross-River

(6) Aruviere Egharhevwe — Delta

(7) Nduka Henry Awuregu — Ebonyi

(8) Mr. Victor Eboigbe — Edo 

(9) Honourable Wumi Ogunlola — Ekiti

(10) Honourable Ozo Obumreme Obodougo — Enugu 

(11) Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim Mashi — Katsina

(12) Honourable Adamu Fanda — Kano

(13) Dr. Kunle Wright — Lagos

(14) Mr. Aliyu Almakura Abdulkadir — Nasarawa

(15) Mr. Bako Shetima — Niger

(16) Mr. Samuel Durojaye — Ogun

(17) Mr. Nathaniel Adejutelegan — Ondo

(18) Honourable Saad Bello Ibrahim — Plateau

(19) Mr. Modu-Aji Juluri — Yobe

(20) Alhaji Bello Rabiu Garba — Zamfara

(21) Mr. Mohammed Kabeer Usman — Gombe

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

The President expects the new federal commissioners to demonstrate absolute fidelity to the nation in the discharge of their duties.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

Eight months after the suspension of betta Edu, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of seven Nigerians to head strategic agencies and programs under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

This was revealed in a statement sent to journalists today by Ajuri Ngelale, a presidential spokesman.

According to the statement, Dr Badamasi Lawal has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). Dr. Lawal, who holds a doctorate degree in education, previously served as a commissioner in Katsina State.

Ms. Funmilola Olotu will serve as the Programme Manager for the National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office. Ms Olotu, who has a master’s degree in business administration, is currently the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on state lotteries.

Ms. Aishat Alubankudi has been named Programme Manager for the Grant for Vulnerable Groups. Ms. Alubankudi holds a bachelor’s degree in community development and brings experience as a risk assessor and financial manager.

Princess Aderemi Adebowale will manage the Home Grown School Feeding program. Princess Adebowale is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Civic Engagement and has previously served as a local government chairperson.

Mr. Abdullahi Alhassan Imam has been appointed Programme Manager of the National Cash Transfer Office. Mr Imam, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, has experience as chief accountant at Northern Dairies Ltd and as a bank manager.

Mr. Ayuba Gufwan will serve as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for People with Disabilities. Mr. Gufwan holds an LLB and is currently the executive director of the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Centre in Jos.

Ms. Lami Binta Adamu Bello has been appointed Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. Ms Binta holds a master’s degree in public administration and has previously served as the Secretary-General of ALGON and Permanent Secretary in both the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new appointees will execute their responsibilities with the highest levels of integrity and diligence.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for governors who are unable to pay the newly approved minimum wage of N70,000 to step down.

This comes after Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, stated that his administration cannot afford to pay the new minimum wage, which was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During a meeting with labor leaders, civil society organizations, and traders associations at the Government House in Gombe, Governor Yahaya expressed his inability to pay the new minimum wage.

In response, the NLC’s Head of Public Relations, Benson Upah, urged the governor to resign.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has yet to release an official statement regarding Governor Yahaya’s position.

The new minimum wage of N70,000 has been passed and signed into law by President Tinubu, as stipulated in Section 58(2) of the constitution.