FG Collaborate With World Bank in Financing the Mining Sector

Mining

The Federal Government is looking into partnering with the World Bank through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in order to provide funding and technical assistance for the mining industry’s growth. This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and signed by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori. Shubham Chaudhuri, the Country Director for Nigeria at the World Bank, expressed his delight with the present administration’s increased focus on developing the nation’s mineral resources during a courtesy visit to Solid Minerals Minister, Dele Alake, on Monday, 11 December 2023. According to Chaudhuri, Nigeria is in a good position to have the majority of its resources economically viable, meaning that the mineral sector might contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. He reaffirmed the bank’s willingness to work with the ministry to finance particular areas of intervention and guarantee the successful completion of projects. He went on to say that the bank is not limited to just lending money, adding that it can also provide technical support to enhance mining activities around the nation. Read also: Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community Amotekun Arrest 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo 18 Students Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning In Osun State The minister responded by applauding the World Bank team for their visit and praising the organisation for leading development initiatives across several economic sectors over the years. “The World Bank has been able to redirect s on developmental issues and projects in countries, especially Nigeria. Just recently, we had the support of the World Bank on palliatives being rolled out after fuel subsidy removal. We had appreciable support from the World Bank.” “I thank you for your involvement in the min diver project, which, unfortunately, is coming to a close. We look forward to strengthening collaboration, which will culminate in the needed funding for critical areas in the mining sector, alongside the requisite technical support, as earlier hinted,” Alake said. In elucidating the industry’s strategy for the mining sector, the minister disclosed that the primary focus is on funding exploration in order to produce the necessary geodata, which will assist investors in making well-informed investment decisions. Additionally, he disclosed that continued efforts are being made to safeguard the mining environment and build effective governance mechanisms. Alake also gave everyone the assurance that the Federal Government is dedicated to creating an environment that protects mining activities while guaranteeing that host communities receive the most benefit and that the government will continue to receive revenue from taxes and royalties.  

Obi Congratulates Osimhen, Oshoala, others on CAF Awards

Peter Obi

Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen, the respective winners of the 2023 African Players of the Year Awards in the men’s and women’s categories, have received congratulations from Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and the Former Governor of Anambra State. He also honoured Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won the Nigerian women’s football team and the 2023 Confederation of African Football Women’s Keeper Title. “I like to join all other sports lovers in the country to sincerely congratulate the Nigerian duo of #victorosimhen9 and #AsisatOshoala for emerging African Players of the Year, in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, this year,” Obi wrote in a series of tweets on his X feed on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.” Read also: 2023 CAF Award, Full List of Winners Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community “I also celebrate #Nadoziechiamaka who won the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award and our Nigerian Female Football Team, Super Falcons, who won the 2023 CAF Award for the National Team of the Year.” “We are all proud of their awards, which bear witness to their innate talents, passions for growth, and determination for success.” “My sincere desire is that every Nigerian youth will have the needed enablement to explore and develop their talents, and skills and live to fulfill their dreams, and by so doing, help to contribute to the development of our nation.”

Prince Harry Ordered to Pay Legal Fees after Losing Libel Case

Prince Harry Ordered to Pay Legal Fees after Losing Libel Case

On Monday, December 11, 2023, a Judge in London, Matthew Nicklin ordered Prince Harry to pay the legal fees of a British Newspaper Publisher after he lost part of a High Court libel case. King Charles III’s younger son, living in the United States, sued Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) over claims made in its Mail on Sunday title. Prince Harry had tried to throw out the newspaper group’s defense of “honest opinion” because it had no real prospect of success, but the action was unsuccessful. Judge Matthew Nicklin on Monday, December 11, 2023, ordered Harry to pay ANL £48,447 ($60,850) costs incurred dealing with the application by December 29. The Judge stated further that a full hearing in the case would be heard between May and July next year, lasting three or four days. Harry sued the British Newspaper over a February 2022 article about his legal challenge against the government’s changes to his taxpayer-funded security when he visits the UK. The article which claimed to reveal contradictions about Harry’s willingness to pay for security himself, was argued by his lawyers as “an attack on his honesty and integrity”. The publisher disagreed and submitted that the article was an “honest opinion”, and did not induce damage to his reputation. Judge Nicklin refused to “strike out” ANL’s defense on Friday. The case against the publisher is one of several involving Harry and British newspaper groups for issues including breach of privacy and illegal information gathering. In his case against the UK government, Harry said the changes to his security details made it unsafe for him, his American wife Meghan, and their two young children to visit the UK. The Home Office disputes that he has been treated less favorably and says “bespoke” arrangements are in place for whenever he visits from the United States. A decision was made not to provide him with thlevel of protection because he had quit royal duties in early 2020 and moved to the United States, its lawyers have said.

18 Students Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning In Osun State

18 Students Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning In Osun State

18 students of St. James Primary School B, Osogbo, Osun State, have been reported to have been hospitalized after taking a mid-day meal served to them under the free school feeding programme of the State Government. The Osun State Government has begun investigations into this case of food poisoning while directing that further meal preparation at the affected school be put on hold pending the outcome of the investigations. A statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, read that the Governor of the State, Senator Ademola Adeleke took immediate actions when the matter was reported to him. According to the statement, the victims have been treated and discharged from hospitals. The statement read, “Osun State Government has ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning at St James primary School B, Owoope Osogbo. “The State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, directed immediate action when the matter was reported to him by the Special Adviser on O-Meal, Mrs Grace Ayodele. The Governor has subsequently directed the stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations. The statement narrated that, “The affected cooks in the said schools alongside the planning officer for the O-Meal programme have also been summoned to a meeting by Tuesday morning. Additionally, the governor has directed enforcement of food standards and control as well as the auditing of the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrences. (sic) “Meanwhile, the government is settling the medical bills of the affected students as narrated by the Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola. The LGEA Chairman who was at the forefront of the intervention efforts disclosed that a total number of 18 students were treated and discharged”, the statement explained further. “The total student population of the school is 200 while 103 are within the population receiving food from the O-Meal Programme. A government delegation is also visiting families of the affected students”, it concluded. The incident which happened on Monday, December 11, 2023, caused panic, especially among parents of the affected students, who shared videos of them on hospital beds on social media. In one of the videos, three of the affected students were recorded receiving IV drips. Narrating their ordeal, one of the students said they were served rice with egg, after which they started running stools. Also in the video, the mothers of the students said they observed the foul smell of the egg their children were served when they returned home from school on Monday, December 11, 2023. They said their children started stooling not long after returning from school, raising concerns about the food the vendor served them. They further demanded an investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.

Soun Ladies Visit Orphanage Home, Donate Gift Items

IMG 20231206 WA0041

  A Socio-Cultural group based in Abuja, known as Soun Ladies Association, under the able leadership of Mrs. Oluwayemisi Opaola, visited Christ Foundation Orphanage Home, Kuje Abuja on Sunday, 3rd December 2023 as part of the activities to mark her end-of-year programme. The delegation was led by the Vice President of the association, in the person of Mrs Eyitayo Ige. Food and gift items were donated to the orphanage home as a token of appreciation to God Almighty for His faithfulness and sustenance over the association these past years. According to the Vice President, Mrs. Ige, ” the visit was part of the activities lined up to mark the end of the year programmes and to appreciate the Almighty God for His faithfulness and sustenance over the association these past years” Newsbreakers gathered that the Soun Ladies Association has been known for its charity work over the years. It was further gathered that, the association had given scholarships to several indigent students in Ogbomoso, paid WAEC and NECO examination fees, and other similar charitable works. On the visit were the Vice President and prominent members of the association.

2023 CAF Award, Full List of Winners

CAF 2023 AWARD

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held its 2023 awards on Monday, December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Below is the full list of winners at the 2023 CAF Awards:   2023 Men’s Player of the Year – Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) 2023 Women’s Player of the Year – Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) 2023 Men’s Coach of the Year – Walid Regragui (Morocco) 2023 Women’s Coach of the Year – Desiree Ellis (South Africa) Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Yassine Bounou (Morocco) Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) Read also: Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Amotekun Arrest 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo   Goal of the Year – Mahmoud Kahraba’s 2023 National Team of the Year (MEN) – Morocco 2023 National Team of the Year (WOMEN) – Super Falcons (Nigeria) 2023 Men’s Young Player of the Year – Lamine Camara (Senegal) 2023 Women’s Young Player of the Year – Nesryne El Chad (Morocco) 2023 Men’s Interclub Player of the Year – Percy Tau (South Africa) 2023 Women’s Interclub Player of the Year – Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco) 2023 Club of the Year (MEN) – Al Ahly (Egypt) 2023 Club of the Year (WOMEN) – Sundowns Ladies (South Africa)

JUST IN: A 6-Story Building Partly Collapses in New York

11ny building collapse mobileMasterAt3x

…no immediate reports of injuries were made after part of the 46-unit building came apart on Monday afternoon, City authorities said. A part of a six-story building in the Morris Heights neighbourhood of the Bronx, New York, USA collapsed on Monday afternoon, December 11, 2023.  There were no immediate reports of injuries, the Fire Department reported. Photographs and videos from the scene show rooms at the corner of the 46-unit building exposed like the walls had been pulled off. Lives disrupted by the partial collapse were evident from the rubble of the collapse. On the street below, walls and bricks lay in shambles just below the apartments, left exposed to the cold afternoon air. Firefighters stated that scaffolding had surrounded portions of the structure prior to collapse.

Amotekun Arrest 62 Suspected Criminals in Ondo

62 Suspected Criminals

On Monday, 11th December 2023, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun, paraded no less than sixty-two individuals who are purportedly involved in a range of criminal operations around the state. The suspects were detained in several locations throughout the state’s eighteen local government districts, according to the state security corps. The State Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, paraded the suspects at the agency’s headquarters in Akure, the State Capital, and explained that the arrests were a part of the corps’ efforts to make sure the holiday season was free of crime. He claimed that with the help of other sister security agencies, the corps was able to make the arrests. Read also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued  NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community   “Distress calls received, surveillance activities of Amotekun men, and all the security agencies in the state, inclusive of the Police, the NSCDC, the DSS, and the Nigeria Army, in various joint operations, led to the arrest of these suspected criminals,” Adeleye stated. “This ember month patrol is strategic because we are committed to ensuring the safety of people travelling via the state’s highways as well as the lives and property within Ondo State. All told, we were successful in apprehending roughly fifteen kidnappers. A few of them were armed.” “However, the sharp-eyed agents managed to apprehend a few of them, particularly in Akure North Local Government’s Ala/Dada/Ago Oyinbo axis. Additionally, there are some alleged kidnappers terrorising the Elegbeka axis in the state’s Ose LGA. Among them are armed robbers who were actually apprehended in the city of Akure as well as individuals who specialise in shoplifting.” The commander mentioned that one Usman Garuba, who was detained on charges of kidnapping and arson, was among the suspects. It was claimed that the suspect, an ex-convict, had set fire to a community. “Garuba was apprehended in the vicinity of the Ala/Dada/Ago-Oyinbo axis. He has successfully abducted more than nine victims and demanded a ransom. He once led five other people back to a village at night and set a community on fire because the villagers had tried to resist him. Thus, he is in our care and was previously incarcerated,” Adeleye said.

Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued

Bandits

Eleven villagers who were abducted by bandits at the villages of Anguwan Maharba and Dandami have been freed by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division, which is stationed in Birnin Yero in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. However, before the soldiers arrived, the bandits killed two of the kidnapped captives. According to the report, the forces conducting normal patrols in the Kanzaure area had obtained reliable information regarding the abduction of eleven villagers from the villages of Anguwan Maharba and Dandami. In a statement released on Monday, 11th December 2023, by Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, “the troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force swiftly mobilised and laid ambush on the bandits’ crossing point on Friday, December 8th, 2023.” Read also: NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster Legislators Promise N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community     Yahaya revealed that after the military established contact with the robbers, “the bandits withdrew in disarray with gunshot wounds due to the troops’ overwhelming firepower.” The nine kidnapped victims, Inusa Bala, 45; Halima Gambo, 36; Halima Saidu, 35; Ladi Musa, 35; Aisha Basiru, 30; Inusa Saidu, 22; Faiza Inusa, 10; Dahara Saidu, 10; and Shahid Inusa, one year, five months, were all freed by the forces together. “Two of the kidnapped victims—Safiya Saidu, 19, and Saadatu Saidu, 18—were killed by the bandits prior to the arrival of the troops,” Yahaya stated. He said that one AK-47 rifle and one locally manufactured weapon were taken from the bandits by the military during the operation. Yahaya further stated that Major General Valentine Okoro, the Force Commander of Operation Whirl Punch and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division of the Army, had praised the soldiers for their tenacity and vowed to keep up their efforts to protect the safety and tranquilly of the people living in the Division’s Area of Responsibility. The statement concluded, “Furthermore, the GOC urged the people of Kaduna State to continue availing troops and other security agencies with credible intelligence.”

NTA Looses Veteran Newscaster

Aisha Bello

The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) looses its veteran newscaster, Aisha Bello Mustapha. The news of her passing broke out in the early hours of Monday, 11 December 2023. The journalist passed away in Abuja following a brief illness.  In the 1990s and 2000s, Aisha was a well-liked face on the local television network. Zainab Sabo, a family friend, who verified the death said that she will be buried later in the day in accordance with Islamic customs. Read also: Kaduna: Bandits Killed Two, Nine Rescued Legislators Promise e N350 Million to Restore Kaduna Community   “On Monday, 11 December 2023, the funeral prayer will be held at Abuja Central Mosque.”  Zainab said, “Mama (Aisha) is indeed dead, and we are going to miss her, and we pray God bless her soul.” However, the illness which led to her death is yet u known.  The late journalist spent 35 years working in the media profession until her retirement in May 2022.