Residents of Oda Community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to the state government to expedite action on the construction of the community road.

The residents lamented the slowness in the construction of the road which was said to have started over two years ago during the first term of the present administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

It was gathered that the poor condition of the road also affects some communities such as Pelebe, Ilekun, Weliweli, Ijigba, and Aye communities among others.It was also gathered that though the state government has commenced the dualisation of a section of the road, more than five-kilometre stretch is still in poor shape.

A resident of the area, Mr Elijah Adesanya begged the state government to urgently fix the road, saying many vehicles, particularly cars always break down on the road due to the potholes that have taken over every portion of the road.

He said, “It is sad that we have found ourselves in this situation. The road is damaging our cars every day. In a week, you must visit a mechanic workshop twice to fix your car. We don’t know our offences in Oda that made government abandon us. I can’t imagine how we will be able to cope when schools resume.

“We are begging the governor to hear our cries and expedite action on the completion of the road. It is not easy for motorists here.”

Another resident, Mr Ayo Ajayi said it situation of the road was bad and needed the government urgent action on the ongoing road dualisation.

“We are begging the governor to please focus on Oda Road and lessen our sufferings. We are part of the state and attention should be given to Oda. For now, if they know that they can’t complete the road, they should fill the potholes and make it motorable.’’

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju said the government will attend to all ongoing projects, adding that no road will be abandoned by the Akeredolu-led government.

The police command in Lagos state has begun an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of a 22-year-old male tailoring apprentice, identified as Hakeem Mujib.

The police public relations officer in the State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Monday.

Mr Hundeyin said that the command got information about the incident on Sunday night, but no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.

He said that the command was on the trail of those suspected to be responsible for the death, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation.

There were different accounts of why the young man was allegedly beaten to death by some suspected tailors.

Some said that the apprentice was beaten to death over alleged theft, while others claimed he was killed for being a spy at the Obadina area of Lagos Island.

The apprentice was alleged to have gone to a two-storey building on Obadina Street, off Obe Street, Lagos Island, to rest with his friend called Kehinde around 2:00 a.m., while returning from an errand on which he was sent by his boss.

According to the account, he was mistakenly taken for a robbery spy and beaten to death by yet-to-be-identified persons before help could come.

The parliamentary election petitions tribunal has sacked Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party as the winner of the House of Representatives election for Eti-Osa federal constituency.

Giving the judgment on Monday, the tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a supplementary election in 32 polling units within 90 days, as it agreed with Banky W and Obanikoro that elections did not hold in about 40 polling units.

INEC had declared that Mr Attah winner of the election with 24,075 votes, defeating Bankole Wellington, aka Banky W, of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled 18,666 votes and Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressives Congress who scored 16,901 votes.

Banky W saw the tribunal ruling as a potential turnaround in his political career to be a federal lawmaker.In a brief post on his X handle on Monday, he tweeted, “It is possible. Still.”

The spokesperson for the Labour Party in Lagos, Olubunmi Adesanya, confirmed the decision of the tribunal to News Agency of Nigeria on Monday night.

She said, “So what happened was that two of the three judges ruled in favour of supplementary election taking place in some areas, while the third judge said the case should be dismissed.

“We’ll know what the party will do by tomorrow. We’ll await what our legal advisers tell us before we do anything.”

Health minister Ali Pate has commended the U.S. and other partners for investing $900 million in Nigeria’s malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programmes.

He gave the commendation on Monday in Abuja when he received John Nkengasong, the U.S. Global AIDS coordinator and special representative for Global Health Diplomacy, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Also among the delegation was Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and David Walton, U.S. Global Malaria coordinator for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

According to Mr Pate, the U.S. government support about $900 million over the years is significant.

The minister said, “We appreciate the generosity of the American people and American government and other governments that contribute to the global fund because the global fund comprises seven countries, not only the United States government.”

Mr Pate said the visit symbolised the significance that the delegation places on the health and well-being of Nigerians and on Nigeria’s positioning in the global effort to improve people’s health.

The health minister, however, said financing and technical capability were not the only challenges the nation’s health sector faces.

Mr Pate said overall governance was important and that the ministry would support the vision of President Bola Tinubu to ensure the health sector is better covered, “which means that to govern health better, we have to look at the intergovernmental aspects as well as what we do as a federal government.”

Mr Pate added, “We have to do it with our development partners like yourself and others who are going to come after to serve Nigerians, to improve their health and wellbeing and have good data to tell the story of where we are going. To hold ourselves accountable and also hold you accountable, even as the source countries also called institutions accountable. That’s the pillar of governance.”

Mr Pate stated that to strengthen the platform for delivery of health services, the nation had to re-train and update standards of practice for its frontline health workers.

Mr Walton commended Nigeria for the progress made in healthcare deliverables, especially ensuring that Nigerians were protected during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the global fund is proud to be a partner with Nigeria and the fund has a lot at stake.

Mr Walton said, “Nigeria is the country that receives more global fund investments than any other country in the world so your success is our success. We are completely united with you in the objective of saving lives, improving the health systems, improving health and well-being for people all across this country.”

Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) says the victory of President Bola Tinubu at the presidential election petition tribunal has strengthened the popular mandate of the people.

The national president of RTEAN, Musa Maitakobi, stated this in a congratulatory message to Mr Tinubu on Monday.

He said the tribunal’s verdict showed that Mr Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election.

Mr Maitakobi also said the success of the incumbent president at the tribunal further consolidated the popular mandate of the joint ticket of Mr Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

“I applaud the judgment of the presidential election petitions tribunal for upholding the victory of our president, His Excellency Bola Tinubu, and our vice-president, Kashim Shettima, at the 2023 presidential poll.

Our judiciary again rose to the occasion in spite of the intimidation. Also, we can see that our country’s electoral process is making steady progress and deserves the appreciation and support of all citizens,” said the RTEAN statement.

The transport workers added, “President Tinubu’s victory was never in doubt. He was the overwhelming choice of Nigerians, and what the judiciary has done has set a seal on it.”

Mr Maitakobi also mentioned that the leadership and the members of RTEAN were happy that the era of “renewed hope” would continue for the progress and development of the country.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it intercepted no fewer than 399 pieces of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) being transported to Kaduna by a suspect.

The NDLEA identified the transporter as 33-year-old Oluwagbenga Leke.

The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on September 7 along Mokwa-Jebba road.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi.

According to NDLEA, the suspect claimed that the explosives were handed to him at a park in Ibadan to be delivered to someone in Kaduna.

The statement added that the suspect and exhibits were transferred to the military authorities in Niger.

In Kaduna, two suspects, Ahmed Yusuf and Rilwan Nura, were arrested on September 6 in connection with the seizure of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kg along Abuja road.

Meanwhile, a suspected drug dealer in Ogun, Yinka Azeez, was arrested at Sabo Lafenwa, Abeokuta, on September 5.

His arrest followed the seizure of 41kg of cannabis from an individual, Titilayo Adetayo, at Sagamu Interchange on September 4.

Similarly, two suspects, Muhammad Aliyu, 38, and Abdullahi Zakariya, 40, were arrested on September 5 along Zaria-Kano Road and at Hayin Arewa Hotoro in Kano, respectively.

The two had over 426.5kg of skunk in their possession, NDLEA said, noting that another suspect, Onyeka Uzor, 25, was arrested at Idemili, Anambra state, with 64.8kg skunk and tramadol.

“Destiny Irabor was nabbed on Friday 8th September with over 180kgs Opioids loaded in his Toyota Sienna car,” said the statement.

The NDLEA statement added, “In Edo, operatives stormed the Ekudo forest, Onwude LGA, where they destroyed cannabis farms measuring 4.236347 hectares. The operatives on Thursday, September 7, raided the house of one Amuodu Egwehide, 40, in Iloje Okpuje, Owan West LGA, where they recovered 22 bags of skunk weighing 261.4kg.”

The anti-narcotics agency also mentioned that its operatives arrested a 60-year-old grandma, Eunice Egwehide, in the town with 17kg of skunk.

“A suspect, Gapchiya Modu, 26, was arrested with 60kg of cannabis along Kano-Nguru road, Nguru, Yobe. While in Imo, 200 blocks of the same substance weighing 57kg were recovered from Usim Orji, 45, along Aba-Owerri Road on 6th September,” the statement said.

It added, “After over two months of surveillance, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, September 6, arrested a wanted kingpin, Idoko Festus Ifesinachi, 40, linked to the importation of 76.9kg Canadian Loud.

It was intercepted in a container marked MSDU6686346 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers on 2nd June.”

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria requires N21 trillion to build 28 million houses to bridge the country’s housing deficit, despite efforts across the three tiers of government.

The vice-president stated this on Sunday in Sokoto at the groundbreaking for the construction of a 500-unit housing estate by the Sokoto government.

Mr Shettima, who commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts to address the housing needs of his people, noted that the housing deficit in Nigeria remained a huge challenge.

“Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses, and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs. This step taken by the governor is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other state governments. The governor has started well by completing the roads and flyovers he inherited,” stated Mr Shettima.

The governor explained that the housing estate would be for civil servants and would be sold to them when completed on an owner-occupier basis.

Mr Aliyu said, “This is a project that was initiated by the former governor of the state, Aliyu Wamakko, but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration. But, we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public.”

The Sokoto governor disclosed that the project at Wamakko LGA of the state will cost the state government N7.3 billion.

The event, which was to mark the administration’s first 100 days in office, was attended by Aliyu Wamakko and the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari.

Others were the minister of state, water resources and sanitation, Bello Goronyo and former Deputy Governors Mukhtari Shagari and Chiso Abdullahi-Dattijo, among others.

President Joe Biden met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu today on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India to reinforce our enduring commitment to the U.S.-Nigeria relationship and to the longstanding friendship between our two countries and peoples.

President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administration’s steps to reform Nigeria’s economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region.

Nigeria’s invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigeria’s important global role as Africa’s largest democracy and economy.

On Monday, there was still no electricity supply and no water in many villages in the flooded regions of central Greece.

In the port city of Volos, with its 150,000 inhabitants, the water supply network is still so badly damaged that the districts are only supplied in alternation, the news channel ERTnews reported on Monday.

It noted that the water supplied was not potable.

According to the fire brigade, almost 4,500 people have been rescued so far, but the rescue work by the fire brigade and the military is continuing.

People are still missing, and the fire brigade said the death toll from the flood was 15 on Monday.

The extent of the damage cannot yet be estimated because the water is still far from receding in large parts of the affected areas.

From Monday to Thursday last week, a heavy storm depression settled over central Greece.

Heavy rain flooded villages and towns.

Rainfall reached unprecedented levels of more than 700 millimetres in less than 24 hours.

India formally handed over the G20 presidency to Brazil at the closing ceremony of the group’s annual summit held in New Delhi this weekend.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed the transition by handing over the ceremonial gavel of the presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

India has had the presidency of the G20 since December 1, when it took over from Indonesia, and will continue to hold the position until November 30.

During the two-day summit, the bloc adopted a consensus declaration that made commitments on several issues, including food and energy security, climate change, and global debt vulnerabilities.

Mr Modi, on Sunday, also proposed a “virtual summit” of the grouping at the end of November to assess the status of the suggestions and proposals put forth by members and determine “how their progress can be accelerated.”

“In that session, we can review the topics decided during this summit,” Mr Modi said, adding that details would be shared with members.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that he would invite his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, respectively, to the next G20 summit, which will take place in Brazil in 2024.

In the aftermath of the G20 summit in the Indian capital of New Delhi, the country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, transferred the G20 presidency to da Silva.

The forum’s next gathering will be November 18-19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro.

“I will invite them (Xi and Putin) and hope that they will come to Brazil and participate in the summit,” India’s Ani news agency quoted the president as saying at a news conference.

Mr Da Silva added that he was unaware of why the Russian and Chinese leaders did not attend the summit in New Delhi.

He also hoped the Ukraine war would end when the 2024 summit in Brazil opens, and everything “will be back to normal.”

The president outlined topics that will be discussed during the G20 gathering in Brazil, adding that its organisation is a great responsibility for the country.

“We will put inequality at the top: inequality of gender, race, education, health, poverty, and hunger. The world needs balance,” Mr da Silva said, saying that he plans to discuss energy transition, reform of multilateral institutions, and the possibility of granting Brazil a permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

The top-level G20 summit in New Delhi, which took place from Saturday to Sunday last week, gathered the 20 member states and nine other nations, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Spain, Mauritius, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Singapore.

Under-fire president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, resigned Sunday over his controversial kissing of Jennifer Hermoso during the celebration of the Spain Women’s World Cup win over England last month.

“After the rapid suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of proceedings open against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position,” the former player said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter.

This development followed weeks after the 46-year-old had refused to resign from his position despite huge pressure from the public over his conduct during the final of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

During the trophy presentation, Mr Rubiales kissed Ms Hermoso, a member of the Spain women’s national team, on the lips, which the player said was not “consensual” and was also accused of grabbing his scrotum in the VIP section of Stadium Australia where other dignitaries were seated.

After he refused to relinquish his position, FIFA provisionally suspended Mr Rubiales for 90 days and subsequently opened disciplinary proceedings against him. Also, the men’s national team condemned his actions.

“My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of persecution excessively, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that in the street, the truth is prevailing more every day,” stated Mr Rubiales.

In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan on Sunday, Mr Rubiales said he decided to resign after consulting with family and friends.

“They say to me, ‘Luis, now you have to focus on your dignity and to continue your life, because if not, probably, you are going to damage people you love,” said Mr Rubiales.

Rescue teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar began supporting Moroccan rescuers in areas affected by the powerful earthquake that struck the North African country, Moroccan news agency MAP reported on Monday.

Britain sent 60 search and rescue experts, equipment, and four search dogs to support the Moroccan-led operations, British Ambassador Simon Martin said in a post published early Monday.

Mr Martin stated this on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Morocco on Sunday said it responded to support offers made by Spain, Qatar, Britain and the UAE, which had proposed mobilising a group of research and rescue teams.

Rabat said it could later accept support offers made by other countries.Some 2,122 people have been killed since the 6.8-magnitude quake rattled several parts of the country on Friday.

This triggered rock slides, blocking roads and making it hard for rescue teams to reach the large, affected mountainous areas.

Rescuers have been racing against time, searching for potential survivors in a challenging mission.

Witnesses said until Sunday, some affected areas were still isolated because roads were blocked by landslides.

Some survivors said the smell of bodies was beginning to come out from under the rubble.

A student of the Rivers State University, RSU, Port Harcourt, has died during a Jeans Carnival held to mark the Students Week. 

It was gathered that the incident happened on Thursday, September 7, 2023. The student was said to be sitting on the side of the vehicle when he lost his balance and fell. 

The student whose identity is yet to be ascertained was rushed to the hospital but d!ed from his injuries.

Following the incident, the registrar of the university, Dr. Sydney Enyindah, in a memo, announced the suspension of other activities marking the students week.

“Following the unfortunate and sad incident which occurred during the “Jeans Carnival” on Tuesday 5th September, 2023, resulting in the death of a student, the Management of the University has directed the immediate suspension of the remaining activities of the Student Union Week,” the memo reads.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered illicit drugs concealed in tins of tomato paste.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Sharing videos and photos of the discovery, Babafemi wrote, “Narco-trend update: This is yet another reason why we tell you some human minds are so flagitious as this video shows the moment #ndlea_nigeria officers discovered tins of tomato paste used to conceal illicit drugs.

“Shine your eyes 👀and be careful with what you pick up from people.”

A Nigerian man, John Obot, is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for ‘The Longest Marathon Reading Aloud,’ by an individual.

Obot, a member of the Uyo Book Club, started the marathon on Saturday at the City View Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The marathon is to last 145 hours.

The book enthusiast at the time of this report, has read for 16 hours, Comfort 95.1 FM, Uyo, reports on Sunday.

Turkey’s Rysbai Isakov is the current holder of this record.

He achieved this feat in 2022, reading for 124 hours and 15 minutes.

The troops of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation HADARIN DAJI have rescued over 18 kidnapped victims in its areas of responsibilities covering Zamfara other states in the North West.

This was disclosed in a statement on the force’s official X, formerly Twitter, handle on Sunday.

The statement signed by the Force’s Information Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, said that these successes were achieved recently when the troops deployed to different local governments in Zamfara state successfully rescued the kidnapped victims.

The statement added that some of the victims have been immediately taken for medical attention and “all rescued victims were handed over to the appropriate authority to reunite them with their families.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Pestana CR7 in Marrakech, Morocco has become a refuge site for victims of Friday’s earthquake, reports Spanish newspaper, Marca.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the mountainous High Atlas region of the North African nation leaving at least 1,305 people dead and several wounded according to multiple reports.

Amidst the tragedy, a number of Marrakech-based organisations and businesses have offered assistance to those affected by the quake.

One of them is, a hotel owned by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports suggest that the luxury hotel is providing shelter to those who have lost their homes.

Graded at four stars, just below luxury, the hotel includes an outdoor pool, fitness centre, restaurant, and terrace.

“The hotels are the same. We had to come to the new area of Marrakech, where there are more luxury hotels, so to speak,

“Now we have managed to get Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotel, which is on the outskirts, to give us a room.

“We are waiting. We have slept all night on the street and at seven in the morning they told us that yes, we could approach.

“We are in a lobby a lot of people of different nationalities, waiting to see if we can get a room, but we have all slept on the street,” Marca quoted a Spanish national, Irene Seixas.

Manchester United on Sunday delayed forward Antony’s return to the club following sexual accusations levelled against him by his ex-girlfriend, Gabriel Cavallin.

The English club in a statement acknowledged the allegations made against the Brazillian international.

The statement read, “Players who have not participated in international matches are due back in training on Monday.

“However, it has been agreed with Antony that he will delay his return until further notice in order to address the allegations.

“As a club, we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.

Recall that the Brazilian has already denied accusations that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend on two separate occasions.

Antony was subsequently left out of Brazil’s most recent batch of international fixtures, as Greater Manchester and Sao Paulo Police conducted an investigation.

Meanwhile, another woman, Ingrid Lana, has accused him of assault.Speaking to Brazilian news outlet Record TV, the lady accused Antony of attempting to pressure her into having sexual intercourse.

However, Antony has strongly denied the new claims, which are alleged to have taken place during a trip to England in 2022.

Ingrid Lana says she was in the country on a business trip when she was invited to the player’s house.

“He tried to have a relationship with me and I didn’t want to. He pushed me against the wall, and I hit my head,” she said during an interview which will air in full on September 10.

“My purpose was just business. Arriving there at his invitation, I realised that he had ulterior motives. I’ve never been anyone’s lover.”

The fresh accusations come after his ex-partner Gabriel Cavallin alleged that Antony had headbutted and punched her in a hotel room on January 14, the day after a Premier League game against Manchester City.

She claims to have suffered a cut to her head and a damaged breast implant.

Antony, who joined United in 2022 from Dutch club Ajax in an £86million transfer, has denied the allegations on social media and stated that he’s co-operated with the police. He has claimed that he has been “falsely accused of assault”.

Spain on Sunday sent a plane with 56 rescuers and four search dogs to quake-hit Morocco after it received a formal request for help from Rabat, the defence ministry said.

An A400 military plane took off from a base in the northeastern city of Zaragoza with the team bound for Marrakesh to “help in the search and rescue of survivors of the devastating earthquake suffered in our neighbouring country,” the ministry said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.

The rescuers belong to Spain’s Military Emergencies Unit (UME), a body of the armed forces that was created to intervene quickly in emergency situations such as forest fires, floods and earthquakes.

A UME unit was sent to Turkey in February following a devastating earthquake and helped rescue six people, including a mother and two children, according to Spain’s defence ministry.

The strongest-ever quake to hit Morocco has killed at least 2,012 people and injured over 2,000, many of them critically, according to the latest official figures.

“It will be as much aid as Morocco needs, at first what we are setting in motion are search and rescue teams because it is urgent to try to find the greatest number of people alive to save them. When it is time for reconstruction, Spanish aid will also be present.”

Other countries, including the United States and France, have also pledged humanitarian aid but Morocco would first need to formally request assistance, a step required before foreign crews can deploy.

“It will be as much aid as Morocco needs, at first what we are setting in motion are search and rescue teams because it is urgent to try to find the greatest number of people alive to save them. When it is time for reconstruction, Spanish aid will also be present.”

Other countries, including the United States and France, have also pledged humanitarian aid but Morocco would first need to formally request assistance, a step required before foreign crews can deploy.