Wike Fires Heads Of 21 Agencies In FCTA (DailyTrust)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, approved the immediate termination of the appointments of 21 heads of parastatals, agencies, and government companies of the FCT Administration (FCTA).
This was contained in a statement by his Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye.
Wike also ordered the affected appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in rank. Read more
DSS arrests 2 women with 1,000 rounds of ammunition (Nation)
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have been said to have arrested two women suspected to be supplying bandits with arms and ammunitions in Kaduna, Niger and environs.
The suspects identified as Rashida Umar and Rukaiya ladan, were arrested in Fadan-Karshe, Sanga Local Government Area in the Southern part of Kaduna.
The Nation gathered that, the DSS operatives nabbed the two women who were suspected to be conveying the ammunitions to bandits in Kontagora Town of Niger State. Read more
Sagamu killings: No sacred cows in ongoing probe, says DSS (Guardian)
Security Operatives in Ogun State, yesterday, said there would be no sacred cows in the ongoing investigations into the causes and persons behind the recent cult clashes in the Sagamu area of the state.
Sources in the Department of State Service (DSS), explained that the ongoing investigations are being conducted without bias, even as one of the sources added that suspects so far questioned in connection with the recent mayhem have given very useful information that will assist in unraveling the kingpins and their collaborators.
A source close to the agency confirmed inviting high-profile persons for interrogation, stressing that both the remote and immediate causes of the mayhem are being thoroughly examined. Read more
Lagos partners police, FRSC on school safety (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has formed an alliance with the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps to sustain its safety programmes across schools in the state.
The Lead Resource of the Safe School Lagos Initiative, Dr Bisi Esuruoso, made this known on Tuesday, at the maiden Beacon of Safety Award Conference held in the state.
Esuruoso said the initiative was also exploring technology to implement its ongoing programmes. Read more
Women in entertainment should support one another – Dr. Omambala (Independent)
Dr. Ngozi Omambala, Chairperson, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Entertainment Group, has called on women in the industry to support one another so as to achieve female succession within the creative and entertainment sector.
Speaking in a recent interview, Omambala who is also the founder of NMO Management as well as the brain behind Music/ fashion runway observed that many successful females in the entertainment sector do not support one another.
Explaining further, she said: “Many females in the group came through and are household names today. They have not afforded the same sisterhood support and seemingly shut the door behind them. There is an evident lack of female succession within the creative and entertainment sector which baffles me. Read more
Gunmen storm Kwara community, kill 2 (Channels)
Two persons have been killed while three others sustained varying degrees of gunshot injury in Kwara State.
It was gathered that gunmen stormed the Alalubosa community, Oko Olowo in the Asa Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday night, shooting sporadically, a situation that forced residents to scamper to safety.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the incident on Wednesday night, saying that the Command drafted its men to the scene when it got the report. Read more
Your economic policy hurting Nigerians, NULGE president tells Tinubu (Sun)
The National President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), Comrade Ambali Olatunji, has picked holes in President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, saying it is hurting the masses, just as he blamed him for running an over-bloated cabinet comprising ministers and a retinue of aides.
Olatunji who spoke during the opening session of a two-day National Youth Conference organised by the Union in Benin, Edo State, accused the President of being insensitive to the plight of people.
He wondered why Tinubu who claimed to understand the sufferings of the people would embark on anti-people policies without regard to the cost of governance, pointing out that 45 ministers and a horde of aides are a huge burden on a fragile economy. Read more
Tinubu’s aide, Nweze, congratulates Gov Nwifuru on tribunal victory (Tribune)
Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Community Development, South East region, Barr. Chioma Nweze has called on Prof. Benard Odoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) and Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to drop all further litigations and join hands with the Governor Francis Nwifuru for the purpose of enhancing good governance in Ebonyi.
Mrs Nweze gave the charge on Wednesday after the Ebonyi State election petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja declared Nwifuru winner of the 2023 gubernatorial election.
She however described Nwifuru’s victory as a victory for democracy. Read more
Cher accused of hiring 4 men to kidnap son Elijah Blue Allman, his estranged wife claims (USAToday)
Cher’s daughter-in-law, Marieangela King, is accusing the singer of orchestrating a kidnapping plot for her estranged husband Elijah Blue Allman.
In a December 2022 declaration filed in the couple’s divorce, King alleged the pop icon arranged for Allman to be removed from their New York hotel room on the night of their wedding anniversary in November of that year, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Allman had petitioned for a dissolution of their marriage in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of California in November 2021.
“I am currently unaware of my husband’s well-being or whereabouts. I am very concerned and worried about him,” King claimed in the December filing. “I was told by one of the four men who took him that they were hired by (Allman’s) mother.” Read more
South Sudan: Peacebuilding event held in Terekeka County (AfricaNews)
In South Sudan, a gathering of over 500 people was held in Freedom Square, Terekeka County, to renew a commitment to peace ahead of elections scheduled for December 2024.
The outreach event was a collaboration between the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the African Theological Leadership School and the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Peacebuilding.
Targeting community leaders and citizens alike, the event emphasised the need for South Sudanese to come together to build peace and prosperity. Read more
Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenians rush to help “brothers and sisters” (BBC)
Every hour, the number of people fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh climbs even further. The official count of refugees is now close to half the population of the enclave. The scenes at the border suggest the region is being emptied of ethnic Armenians.
As they come, the aid effort in the town of Goris is intensifying.
On Tuesday night, exhausted families slept in cars as they waited to register their arrival. Read more
Burkina Faso says intelligence services have foiled coup attempt (France24)
In a statement read out on state television, it said “a proven coup attempt was foiled on September 26, 2023 by Burkina Faso’s intelligence and security services.
“At present, officers and other alleged participants in this destabilisation attempt have been arrested and others are being actively sought”.
It said the alleged perpetrators “had the sinister intention of attacking the institutions of the Republic and plunging the country into chaos”. Read more
Jordan unveils Olivewood its 1st full-fledged studio complex at gala attended by royals (Variety)
Jordan, which thanks to its spectacular locations has long been attracting international productions – most recently “Dune: Part Two” – is launching its first full-fledged studio complex called Olivewood Film Studios.
Located just 15 minutes from the center of the capital, Amman, Olivewood has two state-of-the-art soundstages, each measuring more than 16,000 square ft, and an extensive backlot, a production support building, a basecamp area and parking lot for 95 cars, plus a dedicated space for technical vehicles.
The state-of-the-art facilities were unveiled on Tuesday during a gala event attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, and Princess Rym al-Ali. Read more
Ron DeSantis blisters Trump’s GOP debate absence (NYPost)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis latched onto former President Donald Trump’s debate absence Wednesday evening.
“Where’s Joe Biden? He’s completely missing an action from leadership, and you know who else is missing an action: Donald Trump,” DeSantis chided.
DeSantis’ dig at Trump came during a riff on the looming government shutdown fight raging in Washington, DC. Read more
Biden administration confirms it will let Israelis travel visa-free to US (AlJazeera)
US President Joe Biden’s administration has confirmed it will allow Israelis to travel visa-free to the United States, despite condemnation and concerns over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian and Arab-American travellers.
In a statement on Wednesday, the US Department of Homeland Security said Israel had been designated for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and that Israeli nationals will be able to travel to the US without a visa by November 30.
“The designation of Israel into the Visa Waiver Program is an important recognition of our shared security interests and the close cooperation between our two countries,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. Read more
Iheanacho rules out Foxes exit (Punch)
Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, has dispelled reports linking him away from the King Power stadium adding that he loves the club, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international was one of the players linked with a move away from the club in the summer transfer window with Everton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Inter Milan all reportedly interested in the 26-year-old forward who has one year left on his current deal with the club.
“These discussions are always difficult when you have less time left at the football club, probably a year or two,” he told BBC Radio Leicester’s When You’re Smiling Podcast. Read more
NFF re-appoints Danjuma Falconets’ head coach (Sun)
Christopher Musa Danjuma has returned to his job as head coach of the U20 Women National Team, Falconets, following a screening and interview process by the NFF Technical Committee.
The committee submitted its recommendation and has been approved by the NFF Executive Committee.
The process began with a one-week public notice, which requested for applications from suitably qualified persons, after which short-listed candidates were contacted and interviewed by a panel of the Technical Committee. Read more
Antony: Manchester United winger returns to UK and will speak with police over abuse allegations (Sky)
Manchester United winger Antony has returned to the UK from Brazil and will meet Greater Manchester Police for questioning over allegations of abuse made against him, the PA news agency understands.
The 23-year-old, who joined Manchester United from Ajax last summer in a deal worth £86m, has been on a leave of absence from the Premier League club since September 10.
United have confirmed to Sky Sports News the Brazil international remains on leave of absence while addressing the issues against him. Read more
Feyenoord add to Ajax woe as abandoned match completed (ESPN)
Dutch champions Feyenoord wasted no time in adding to the troubles of Ajax and ended up beating their hosts 4-0 when the two clubs on Wednesday completed their Eredivisie tie was halted at the weekend.
Feyenoord’s Mexican international striker Santiago Gimenez added another goal to complete his hat-trick as the two sides played out the remaining 34 minutes behind closed doors at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
The clash was halted on Sunday as fans threw flares onto the pitch, and mounted police used tear gas to disperse rioting fans outside the stadium. Read more
Koepka tells LIV rebels to “play better” for US Ryder Cup spot (France24)
Brooks Koepka on Wednesday told any fellow LIV Golf players upset at their exclusion from the USA’s Ryder Cup team that they need to up their games if they want a spot in future tournaments.
Koepka is the only golfer from the Saudi Arabia-backed tour to play at this week’s event in Rome after being selected by American captain Zach Johnson, the five-time major winner only just missing out on automatic qualification despite defecting from the PGA Tour last year.
Earlier this month Dustin Johnson, who won all five of his matches in the Americans’ 19-9 thrashing of Europe two years ago, said his decision to leave for LIV cost him a place on Zach Johnson’s team. Read more
Novak Djokovic has Davis Cup warning for Murray and GB as he replies to retirement request (Express)
Novak Djokovic sent a warning to Britain’s Davis Cup team as he said his “big goal” for the season was to help Serbia lift the trophy at the tournament dubbed the ‘World Cup of men’s tennis’. Britain has drawn Serbia in the quarter-final of the knockouts in Malaga and the world No 1 will be hungry to help his nation lift the trophy. Djokovic also responded after Daniil Medvedev joked that he wanted to see the Serb retire following the US Open final.
Djokovic swapped his tennis rackets for golf clubs on Wednesday as he contested the All-Star Match at the Ryder Cup, ending up as part of the winning squad Team Monty. It came during the world No 1’s brief hiatus from tennis, as he is currently taking a break for the next month after winning the US Open and helping Serbia to qualify for the Davis Cup Final 8. Read more