The Adamawa Mass Education Board, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is training 3,000 youths and women in the Hong Local Government Area of the state in vocational education.

The training was developed by UNICEF, funded by the German government, and implemented by the mass education board.

Speaking at the opening of the training on Wednesday in Hong, the board’s executive secretary, Aminu Umar, said the beneficiaries would be trained in sewing, welding fabrication, interlocking and tiling, poultry farming, fashion design, shoe and bag making.

He lauded Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for providing an enabling environment for non-governmental organisations that bring meaningful programmes to the state.

The UNICEF education consultant, Joel Jutum, charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training and acquire new technical knowledge.

He said that the initiative was meant to teach the youth various skills that would make them self-reliant.

Earlier, the state commissioner for education, Garba Umar, urged the trainees to ensure that they fight poverty through the gains of the training.

Silas Timothy and Amina Hamidu, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the state government and UNICEF for giving them the opportunity to participate in the training.

The Nigerian Army has commenced a sensitisation campaign in Rivers and Delta States aimed at boosting its regular personnel intake shortfall in the areas.

The army during an advocacy visit to the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the two states in the South-South zone fell below its 60 per cent quota during the last recruitment exercise.

Leader of the Army delegation in Rivers, Brigadier-General Timmy Mackintosh, said the anomaly needed to be quickly addressed to avoid complaints of marginalisation in the next one to two decades.

Mackintosh, specifically said Rivers State could not make up 60 per cent of its own quota, saying it was not good enough.

He further said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, having observed the trend mandated the team to sensitise the indigenes of the state, in a bid to grow intakes.

Mackintosh stated, “We are here from the Army headquarters to sensitise Rivers State on the Nigerian Army requirement that is ongoing and the major reason we are doing this is that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has realised that Rivers and Delta state in the South-South zone are lacking when it comes to recruitment into the Nigerian Army.

“The recruitment that is ongoing is regular intake 86, for 84 and 85 regular intakes, Rivers State, in particular, could not make up 60 per cent of its own quoter which today we may not see it as a problem.

“But in the next 10, 15, 20 years, it will be a problem because, at that time, we will be the ones shouting we are marginalised.“So, the Chief of Army staff deemed it fit that we should come and speak to you to assist us in speaking to your indigenes.”

He stated that the minimum academic requirement was four credits, adding that the army usually caters for the academic upliftment of its personnel.

He added, “In as much as we are looking to join the Army, the military is not a place where we do not take care of our own, we do take very good care of our own in areas such as uplifting them academically, medically and otherwise.

“One of the requirements for us is a minimum of four credits for those that want to join the army. I can tell you that with those four credits today, there are people who are going for master’s degrees especially for the lower cadre, because the army sent them to school, both in military institutions and even civil.

“I know a lot of my soldiers that the army sponsored them up to their BSc, Masters and some are even doing their PhD. So, it is an opportunity for our people to come, you don’t need to know anybody to join the army. Just make sure you meet the basic criteria.”

Speaking, the Secretary to the state, Danagogo, attributed the low turnout of Rivers people to the Army recruitment to ignorance and information gap.

The SSG stated, “Why we have this problem is basically caused by either ignorance or lack of information, a lot of times, most of the people in the oceanic areas, Riverine areas, in the hinterlands, they don’t regularly see the newspapers.

“You may have published this in the newspapers, but go the extra mile to reach these people in these areas who don’t regularly read newspapers.

“Only the few people in the cities like Port Harcourt would know and that is why it is our responsibility.

“Once we know that something like this is happening, we make sure we spread it to all in the state.”

The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, on Wednesday, sealed three private guard companies for non-registration and non-renewal of licence.

Ochacho Security and Justigo Security and Allied Services were sealed for non-renewal of licence while Maco Security Services was sealed for not registering with the agency as stipulated by law.

The command also arrested some guards of the sealed PGCs.

The FCT Commandant, NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, made it known that any unrenewed licensed and unregistered PGCs are all restricted from carrying out their businesses because it is unlawful, illegal, and a threat to national security.

“We are sealing these three private guard companies for threatening internal and national security, failure to renew the licence when due, refusal to be subjected to the licensing authority, employing guards without approval and failure to register as a private guard company,” Odumosu noted.

The commandant noted that the monitoring and enforcement exercise on PGCs in the FCT would be sustained, adding, “We are sanitising the private guard industry.

“It is about internal security. The country is facing many security challenges and that is why the corps must be on its toes. If we compromise internal security, one is indirectly compromising national security.”

“We will not allow quacks to take over the business of security in this country,” he stressed.

Odumosu added, “Once they fulfill all the necessary requirements, we will unseal this place and they will continue their businesses.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) FCT command, has unveiled new strategies to curb drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the territory.

The FCT commander, Mr Kabir Tsakuwa made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Tsakuwa said that the FCT was a major gateway connecting the southern part to other parts of the country, as well as the cosmopolitan nature of the city.

He said that the command had strengthened the interdiction efforts at the major entry points.

This, he said, were in addition to the many recreational centres like parks and gardens where a lot of social activities take place.

He also said that a well fashioned out and intelligence-driven motorised patrol along the major entry points like Abaji- Lokoja road, Gwagwalada-Kwali road, Bwari-Jere road and Mararaba/Nyanya road had been ensured.

Tsakuwa said, “this has helped the command tremendously in checking those that may want to take advantage of the busy roads to traffic drugs along these routes into the FCT directly or on transit as the case may be.”

According to him, “we also embark on aggressive advocacy visits to all the stakeholders within the FCT, particularly the traditional rulers to ask for their support.

“This has made the communities to be well informed of the need to owe the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

“We also leverage on our call centre with phone No (080010203040) established by the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa.

“The platform is purposely created to enable the public to pass information on 24/7 bases about drug activities in their areas, or about drug dependent persons who may need help without having to disclose their identity for prompt action or response.”

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Chike Nosa Agada, an unlicensed foreign exchange dealer, for an alleged N2bn fraud.

Agada, a 37-year old native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, was declared wanted by the Commission on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, for obtaining money under false pretence and stealing by conversion to the tune of N2billion.

He was arrested at a residence in the Bourdillon, Ikoyi area of Lagos on Monday, October 16, 2023 during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission, following credible intelligence linking him to the alleged fraud.

Upon arrest, a mobile device was recovered from him.

The commission added that he will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Federal Government plans to cultivate about 70,000 hectares across the wheat producing states with an expected yield of 875,000 tonnes for the National Food Reserve.

The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari said this was in an effort to enhance massive food production and nutrition security.

This is even as he revealed that the Federal Government would grant a 50 per cent subsidy to wheat farmers in the upcoming dry season, to enhance food security and self-sufficiency.

We are fully committed to promoting substantial wheat production in the upcoming dry season farming for both local and foreign export activities,’’ he said.

According to a press release signed by Mrs Eremah Anthonia, the Chief Information Officer on behalf of the Director of Information in the Ministry, the Minister disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar-Maje, in Hadejia, Jigawa State recently.

He stated that 40 hectares would be allocated to Jigawa State, while the remaining 30 hectares would be shared among the wheat producing States.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu was committed to enhancing food security through effective utilization of Smart Agriculture.

The minister added that the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Umar Namadi was also committed towards making the State one of the leading wheat growers in the country.

The Emir of Hadejia, who was represented by the Galadima Hadejia, Alhaji Usman AbdulAziz, in his response, called for the commencement of the wheat season in earnest, noting that the time to start planning for growing wheat was now.

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi has now become CONMEBOL’s leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers.

Messi scored twice as they beat Peru 2-0 on Tuesday, to take his tally to 31 goals.

The 36-year-old has now broken a tie with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.

Messi made his return to a starting lineup after being sidelined or coming from the bench for the last four weeks due to a muscle problem.

The Inter Miami superstar put Argentina ahead in the 32nd minute with a superb effort and doubled their lead 10 minutes later with a fierce finish from Enzo Fernandez’s pass.

Messi was then denied a hat-trick in the second half when he had a goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

Zamfara State Governor’s wife, Hajiya Huriya Dauda Lawal has condemned the alarming rate at which bandits kidnap students at the Federal University Gusau.

The Governor’s wife stated this when she paid an official visit to the institution’s management, lamenting that students cannot concentrate under an unsecured environment.

The First Lady sympathized with the management, staff, parents, and the entire students of the University.

“I would like to sincerely apologise to you all my daughters of this great institution for not coming in earlier due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The administration under my husband is not resting on its oars; it is restructuring its security architecture to flush out bandits’ activities from the State,” she said.

According to her, combined security agencies were on top of the situation to rescue the remaining students unhurt.

“I am calling on you students to always be watchful and report suspicious movements. I also would like to advise the management to expand its outfit,” she added.

Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham has revealed his desire to stay at the Spanish club for over a decade.

This is a blow to fans who were hoping to see the Englishman in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old produced another talismanic display for the Three Lions as they came from behind to beat Italy 3-1 to qualify for next year’s European Championship.

Bellingham will now head back to Madrid for the resumption of the LaLiga season and has no plans to leave the Bernabeu any time soon.

Liverpool were heavily linked with Bellingham, but he eventually joined Los Blancos in a £113million deal from Borussia Dortmund.

“With the big transfer the fact is I have to deliver, whether it is a goal or assist or a match-winning performance.

“This is the club I want to be at for the next 10 to 15 years of my life. I am loving it there. Carlo basically said this position is where he sees me,” Bellingham told Channel 4.

KAA Gent of Belgium defender, Jordan Torunarigha has expressed his delight following his maiden appearance for the Super Eagles.

Torunarigha made his debut for Jose Peseiro’s side in their 3-2 friendly win against the Mambas of Mozambique on Monday.

The 26-year-old started the game and was replaced by Calvin Bassey 15 minutes from time.

The centre-back took to his Instagram page to celebrate the debut.

“Really proud and happy about my debut for the Super Eagles!. Just the beginning!” He posted.

The player represented Germany at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the era of exporting raw gold, lithium and other minerals is gone for good.

The Nigerian leader said that many local companies have already adjusted their business plans to the new normal, urging others to do same.

The President said the creation of the policy of value addition to mineral resources before exportation by his administration was to halt the huge losses recorded through the exports of unprocessed mineral commodities.

He spoke in Abuja at the second day of the eighth edition of the Nigerian Mining Week which was organised by the Miners Association of NigeriaSolid Mineral Development Minister, Mr. Dele Alake, whose ministry hosted the event at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in conjunction with others, said an end is in sight for the exportation of raw materials.

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume said: “This administration has hit the ground running with remodeling the former Ministry of Mines and Steel Development into the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Steel Development.

“The present administration has observed the huge losses recorded by the nation through the exports of crude mineral commodities and therefore has evolved a policy of value addition to its mineral resources before exportation; the policy will ensure that the teaming youths in the country will also be meaningfully absorbed in economic benches that will empower them while developing their skills.

“Through this policy, the era of export of crude minerals from Nigeria is gone. It is gratifying to note that many companies in Nigeria have already adjusted their business plans to this new normal and we hope others are encouraged to do same.

“We are determined to use every potential to industrialise this great country. There is no reason Nigeria and Africa should not be leading in any of the critical mineral value chains.

“The recent global trends in the energy transition initiatives have led to stunning discoveries which has opened Nigeria to geological exploration works that have grown the availability of huge lithium resources of high grade across many states in Nigeria.”

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Tuesday vowed to jail anybody caught engaging in energy theft, vandalism, or illegal metering.

The managing director of IBEDC, Kinsley Achife, gave the warning at a stakeholder engagement meeting held in Ijebu Ode on Tuesday.

Mr Achife explained that the action became necessary following incessant cases of energy theft, vandalism, and illegal metre usage in the state.

The managing director, represented by the lead media officer of IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, said energy theft remained a crime and was punishable under the law.

“The new Electricity Act signed by President Bola Tinubu recommended punishment for energy theft and assault of its officials,” he said.

Mr Achife added that the Electricity Act stated that whoever was caught using illegal power or assaulting IBEDC staff was liable to face the wrath of the law.

He lamented that energy theft, vandalism, and illicit metres had grown the customer’s debts to IBEDC in Ogun to over N67 billion.

He appealed to customers to desist from tampering with metres and vandalisation of electric installations, saying the offence attracted 21 years of imprisonment.

“We want to appeal to the people of Ijebu on energy theft; we are losing billions of naira to energy theft,” he said.

He advised customers interested in acquiring metres to follow the right channel stipulated by IBEDC, warning that any metre bought outside the recognised company could cause damages.

Mr Achife appealed to the customers to stop beating and maiming the IBEDC staff, saying they could always report such staff for appropriate disciplinary measures.

A chief magistrates’ court sitting in Akure, the Ondo state capital, has ordered a former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, to appear in person over an alleged case of false pretence and stealing. Magistrate Taiwo Lebi gave the order on Tuesday at the resumed hearing of the case against Mr Ajayi by a complainant.

Mr Lebi granted the commissioner of police in the state, Abiodun Asabi, a warrant to compel Mr Ajayi to appear before the court over the allegation.

The complainant, a vehicle dealer, Segun Adetuwo, known as “Showboy”, had dragged Mr Ajayi to the court.The prosecutor, Emmanuel Tanimowo, alleged that the former deputy governor in 2018 instructed one of his aides, Samuel Ogunmusi, to collect a vehicle from Mr Adetuwo.

Mr Tanimowo said Mr Ogunmusi, in his written statement before the police, claimed he was called into the office by Mr Ajayi while still in office in 2018, where he met with one Akintoye Olatunji.

“He claimed that his boss, the deputy governor, instructed him to take the first respondent (Akintoye) to the auto mart of Segun Adetuwo to collect a car.

“The second respondent therefore collected a black colour Toyota Camry XLE from the complainant, Segun Adetuwo and left without paying for the car.

“Having been unable to recover the money for the car from the two defendants, Segun Adetuwo, therefore, dragged the duo before the chief magisterial court sitting in Akure,” he told the court.

The prosecutor arraigned the two defendants, Messrs Akintoye and Ogunmusi, in court on a three-count charge.

The charge sheet with No: MA/C/2/26/C 2023 reads, “That you Akintoye Olatunji, Ogunmusi Samuel, and others now at large sometime in the month of May 2018 at Automart Akure in the Akure magisterial district did conspire with yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining by false pretence and stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code cap 37, vol 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Akintoye Olatunji, Ogunmusi Samuel and others now at large sometime in the month of May 2018 at Automart Akure in the Akure magisterial district did by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtains one brand new Black Toyota Camry XLE valued Five Million, Four Hundred Thousand Thousand Naira (N5,400,000) only property of one Segun Adetuwo and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (a)(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud-related offences Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Akintoye Olatunji, Ogunmusi Samuel and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did fraudulently convert one Toyota Camry XLE valued Five Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira(N5,400,000) property of one Segun Adetuwo to your own and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383, and punishable under section 390(9) of the criminal code cap 37. Vol. 1laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.”

Omolegbon Odunsola, counsel to the first defendant, told the court how he tried to reach out to Mr Ajayi and the complainant, Mr Adetuwo, to see how the issue could be settled out of court.

But his argument was countered by the counsel to the complainant, Alex Olademehin, who said Mr Ajayi could not give his side of the incident by proxy.

He argued that Mr Ajayi should either go to the police and give his written statement or appear in court in person.

In his ruling, Magistrate Lebi said the former deputy governor must be produced in court in the next sitting, or his statement must be produced.

He later adjourned the hearing on the case to November 24, 2023.

Popular musician, Tiwa Savage has postponed all performances including her first ever headline arena show in London.

The ‘Somebody’s Son’ crooner said she has been battling a virus for the past few weeks and was instructed to be “on strict vocal rest for the next few months”.

She disclosed this in a statement released via her social media pages recently.

The statement read, “To my dear Savage Soldiers, I’ve been fighting off a virus for the past few weeks and was today firmly instructed to be on strict vocal rest for the next few months.

“I will unfortunately have to postpone all performances including my first ever headline arena show in London.

“I’m heartbroken and devastated but I have to do this to save what’s left of my voice.

“I’m so sorry. I love you all and promise to be back performing once I’m fully healed.”

Famous Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has disclosed that Omowunmi Aloba, the wife of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, has been interrogated by the Police.

Mohbad died on 12 September 2023 in controversial circumstances.

As part of investigations into Mohbad’s death, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested several suspects, including the auxiliary nurse that treated him before his death, Feyisoya Ogedengbe, Sam Larry, Naira Marley, and Primeboy, in connection with the case.

However, Nigerians continue to demand the interrogation of the singer’s wife, insisting that she might possess important information that could help in the investigations.

Reacting to the calls for Omowunmi’s interrogation, Iyabo Ojo, in an Instagram post on Tuesday noted that Mohbad’s wife has been interrogated three times.

“Mohbad’s wife has been interrogated three times to the best of my knowledge, 2 out of the 3 times was the day you all saw Mohbad’s dad televised by the police in which they addressed the public on Mohbad’s case.

“Later that same day Mohbad’s dad, mum and wife was sent to Panti for interrogation and to write their statement, another day Mohbad’s wife was interrogated was the 21st of September, which is reason why Tonto Dike and Senator Ishaku Abbo met her absences.”

Also, speaking about the CCTV mounted at Mohbad’s residence, she stated that the camera was at no time connected for usage.

“Please note that the CCTV camera in Mohbad’s house was never fixed or connected, it has no BVR nor Hard Disk.”

“Sweden and Belgium mourn the victims of yesterday’s attack together,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

He said he had invited his Swedish counterpart to the Belgian capital “to commemorate the victims and pay tribute to the police”.

“We wish the people of Sweden strength and courage to get through these difficult times.”Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson replied on X that he would attend.

The Scandinavian country is reeling in shock over the shooting, which killed two Swedish football fans and wounded a third just before the start of a Belgium-Sweden international football match in Brussels on Monday evening.

A taxi driver was also wounded.

The suspected attacker is a 45-year-old Tunisian living illegally in Belgium.

In a social media post after the killings, the gunman had boasted of being inspired by the Islamic State extremist group.

Kristersson said the suspect had also “spent time in Sweden” but provided no further details.

He was shot and killed by Belgian police early on Tuesday after an overnight manhunt.

Sweden’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said the victims were a man in his 70s from the Stockholm region and a man in his 60s living abroad.

The wounded Swede was a man in his 70s currently in hospital, it said.

Anthony Joshua’s long-anticipated fight against Deontay Wilder has been delayed once more, with the earliest potential date now set for March, as reported by Mirror UK.

Initially, Joshua had planned to face Wilder in the Middle East either in December or January, but due to the delay, he will participate in an interim bout before the possibility of facing the American boxer in the spring. His most recent fight was in August when he defeated Robert Helenius, only for it to be revealed later that the Finnish boxer had failed a pre-fight drug test.

Furthermore, Anthony Joshua is also being considered for a shot at the IBF world title if it becomes vacant following Tyson Fury’s anticipated undisputed match against Oleksandr Usyk, scheduled for December 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told iFL TV: “He wants to; he really wants to [fight]. We’ve been on calls with him all week. There’s a lot happening with the IBF situation. We’ll have to see. I think he’s going to fight in December or January.

“I think the Wilder fight, realistically, is not going to happen until March or April, at the latest. But he wants to fight. He wants to go back to camp and asked us to try and make him a fight for December; whether that spills into January, we’ll see.”

In the past three years, Anthony Joshua has participated in four fights, winning two and losing two. His back-to-back defeats came in world title contests against Usyk, but he bounced back by defeating Jermaine Franklin and securing a knockout victory over Helenius.

Regarding his most recent win, Joshua commented, “Any time’s a good time to fight. It’s only a fight. It doesn’t matter who it is. It could’ve been Wilder eight years ago or Wilder now. It is what it is at the end of the day.

“There’s no worry to me when it is. I’m just happy that we can get the fight going, and I think people appreciate that. I’m doing my best to keep heavyweight boxing on the map.”

Two Bus Rapid Transport, known as BRT, were involved in a head-on collision on Tuesday in the Dopemu area of Lagos.

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, disclosed this in an online video on its official X handle, confirming several persons were injured.

According to the agency, the incident had led to traffic congestion along the axis.However, no person has been reported dead.

“Effect of this occurrence on traffic is minimal; however, our officers, as well as all other concerned authorities, including men of the Nigerian Police Force, are on the ground there doing the needful”, LASTMA stated.

When filing this report, LASTMA officials were seen at the accident venue transloading the content of one of the trailers.

India’s top court on Tuesday says it cannot legalise same-sex marriages, with the country’s chief justice saying making such a law is the domain of parliament.

A five-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, heard arguments on same-sex marriage in a case from April to May this year and pronounced its verdict on Tuesday.

As he began reading his order, Mr Chandrachud said there was a degree of “agreement and disagreement on how far we have to go” on same-sex marriages.

Two of the other four judges agreed with Mr Chandrachud on the court not legalizing same-sex marriages, making it a majority.

Two other judges have yet to speak.The court ruling came five years after a historic 2018 judgement when the Supreme Court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex.

Only Taiwan and Nepal allow same-sex unions in Asia, where largely conservative values still dominate politics and society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had opposed the petitions, calling them “urban elitist views” and stating that parliament is the right platform to debate and legislate on the matter.

It had also said that such marriages are not “comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children.”

Belgian police have gunned down the man responsible for the fatal shooting of two Swedish nationals in Brussels, says the country’s interior minister.

On Tuesday morning, Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden announced on broadcaster VRT, shortly after federal prosecutors said that a suspect in the case had been shot.

Two Swedish citizens were shot dead and a third person injured earlier on Monday in what Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called a terrorist attack.

The shooting occurred after thousands of Swedes arrived in Brussels for a football match. The Euro 2024 qualifying tie was abandoned at half-time, and spectators were evacuated.

In a press conference early on Tuesday, Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the attacker was identified as a man of Tunisian origin living in the country illegally after his asylum claim was rejected.

The attack prompted the city to raise its threat level, including increased security measures in several sensitive locations, especially places connected to the Swedish community.