Nnamdi Kanu’s kinsmen warn Reno Omokri against making anti-Kanu utterances

Members of the Ibeku Youth Association have made a strong
case for the unconditional release of their kinsman and detained IPOB leader,
Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS custody.



 



In a communique signed by the National President, Ibeku
Youth Association, Mr Martins Chiedozie Nwosu and the National Secretary, Mr
Chibuzor Onwukamuche and read to the press at Isieke, Ibeku ancestral home in
Umuahia, the group expressed sadness that one of her own has long been detained
in the DSS custody.



 



The Ibeku youths, who used the communique to warn social
media influencer, Reno Omokri against making further ugly utterances against
their detained son, urged the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to call the former Presidential
aid to order.



 



The kinsmen of Nnamdi also warned groups or individuals
against politicizing the issues of Kanu’s detention for their selfish gains.





 



They maintained that Nnamdi Kanu only stood for truth,
equity and justice for the Igbo tribe and the Eastern part of Nigeria, just
like Nelson Madiba Mandela of South Africa, and attributed the high insecurity
in the Eastern part of the country to his continued detention.



 



The Ibeku youths appealed to President Bola Tinubu to
release their son, arguing that Omoyele Soworo and Sunday Igboho, who were
charged with similar offences, had all been freed.



 



“We remind our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, that
Messrs. Sowore, and Igboho, who were also charged with similar offences have
all been released and discharged from the charges, by the Federal Government of
Nigeria. Hence, we pray our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to extend
this same gesture to our brother- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,



 



The Ibeku youths also appealed to Governor Alex Otti,
Senator Austin Akobundu representing Abia Central and Deputy Speaker of House
of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu to join in the league of those working for
Kanu’s release.

AFCON 2025 Draw: Super Eagles placed in Pot 1

The Super Eagles have been placed in Pot 1 ahead of the draw
ceremony for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.



 



The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the
draw procedure on its official website on Wednesday.



 



According to CAF, the highest ranked nations, according to
the latest FIFA Rankings released June 20 , 2024 will occupy Pot 1.



 



The Super Eagles are currently ranked the fifth best team on
the continent.



 





Also in Pot 1 are, hosts Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia,
Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Cameroon and Democratic
Republic of Congo



 



The concluded draw of the qualifiers will be made up of 12
Groups of 4 teams (Group A to L), where the first and runners-up in the eleven
(11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, will gain
qualification to the competition.



 



The draw will hold in Johannesburg, South Africa on
Thursday.



 



The AFCON 2025 finals will be played between December 21,
2025 and January 18, 2026.

Government alone cannot solve house challenges in Lagos – Gov Sanwo-Olu

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Tuesday, said that the state government cannot solve the housing problem alone, but promised to bridge the deficit in the state.




Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed this during the commissioning of Lagos Building Investment Company and the Rising Lagos Apartment in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of the state.




He said: “I must commend and congratulate once again the leadership of LBIC and our Public Private Partner, WGC for their dedication, for their innovative mind and their promotion of excellence in bringing these projects to fruition for our citizens.




“Let me reiterate that the government alone cannot solve these housing challenges in Lagos. We will keep exploring innovative solutions. We will keep forming real, genuine partnerships.




“We will keep investing in sustainable development to ensure that as much as possible, as humanly possible, every Lagos resident that deserves has access to a decent and affordable housing need.




“I want to encourage and urge the private sector and all other stakeholders in real estate to continue to seize the abandoned opportunities that abound in our states and our city and to extend a hand of partnership with administration.




“Together, we believe that we can provide much-needed housing needs that will indeed take a greater Lagos conversation, take it to a reality.”




Earlier, Managing Director, LBIC, Olusola Faleye, had stated that the scheme was a significant achievement for the state government and its resident.

NNPC declares state of emergency on crude oil production

 



Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has declared a state of
emergency on crude oil production.



 



Kyari spoke on Tuesday in a keynote address at the opening
ceremony of the 23rd edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and
Exhibition (NOG Energy Week) in Abuja.



 



He said war has been declared on the challenges affecting
Nigeria’s crude oil production.



 



“We have decided to stop the debate. We have declared war on
the challenges affecting our crude oil production,” Kyari said.



 





 “War means war. We
have the right tools. We know what to fight. We know what we have to do at the
level of assets. We have engaged our partners. And we will work together to
improve the situation.”



 



He said a detailed asset analysis showed Nigeria could
easily produce two million barrels of crude oil per day without deploying new
rigs, but the primary obstacle is the inability of industry players to act
promptly.



 



Kyari said the war will enable NNPC and its partners to
swiftly remove all identified obstacles to efficient production, including
delays in procurement processes, which have become a challenge in the industry.



 



Regarding medium to long-term measures to boost and sustain
production, Kyari said NNPC will replace all the old crude oil pipelines built
over four decades ago.



 



He said the corporation will also introduce a rig-sharing
programme with its partners to ensure that production rigs stay in the country
for between four and five years which is the standard practice in most climes.



 



The NNPC GCEO called on all players in the industry to
collaborate towards reducing the cost of production and boosting production to
target levels.



 



Kyari expressed the company’s commitment to investing in
critical midstream gas infrastructure such as the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) and
the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipelines to boost domestic gas production and
supply for power generation, industrial development and economic prosperity of
the country.



 



He said NNPC has since keyed into the presidential
compressed natural gas (CNG) drive, and, in collaboration with partners like
NIPCO Gas, has constructed several CNG stations.



 



Kyari added that 12 of these stations will be inaugurated on
Thursday in Lagos and Abuja.

Four digital nomad jobs that could change your life

 






The digital nomad lifestyle offers the enticing prospect of working from
anywhere in the world. Alongside the trend for remote working, advancements in
technology and increased worldwide internet connectivity mean that more people
are embracing the freedom and flexibility that comes with being a digital
nomad.





If you’re thinking about making travel a key part of your working life,
here are four ideas to consider:



Freelance writing and content creation



With a decent laptop and good internet connectivity, being a freelance
writer is easier than ever. Businesses and brands worldwide continually seek to
establish their online presence, meaning the need for quality content has never
been higher.



To succeed as a freelance writer, you’ll need strong writing skills,
creativity and a good understanding of SEO principles. Building a portfolio is
essential, while platforms like Upwork and Fiverr
are excellent for finding clients. Networking within online communities and
using social media to showcase your work can also help.



Web and graphic design



Graphic design remains in high demand but you’ll need proficiency in
design software like Adobe Creative Suite and Sketch. An eye for detail is also
essential as is a solid understanding of UX principles.



As with content creation, creating a robust portfolio is key. Join
freelance websites, attend online courses and continuously update your skills
to ensure you have the best chance of landing jobs.



Online tutoring and teaching



The online education market is continually increasing, making tutoring
and teaching a lucrative option for digital nomads. Opportunities include
tutoring adults or children in a variety of subjects including languages. Teaching English abroad is a popular
option with many countries seeking the skills of native speakers for online
tutoring.



It also helps if you have teaching experience and expertise in your
chosen area. Excellent communication skills are crucial as you’ll be interacting
with a variety of different people with varying skill levels.



Trading and crypto trading



Crypto trading can be a great sideline for those with the right skills and risk
management strategies.As a digital nomad, you can trade from anywhere in the
world as long as you have a good understanding of financial markets and
awareness of both fundamental and technical analysis.



If you’re new to trading it’s a good idea to get clued up using online
learning resources and practice using a demo account before committing to the
real thing.



Embracing a digital nomad career can be a life-changing decision,
offering unparalleled freedom and opportunities for personal growth. It’s
generally easier if you already have some existing skills but there are
opportunities to learn on the go if you’re motivated and committed.

Only 3 Nigerian states attracted capital importation in first quarter of 2024 – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has revealed that only Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Ekiti attracted capital importation in the first quarter of 2024.




The NBS revealed this in its Nigeria Capital Importation report for Q1, 2024.




According to the report, Lagos State remained the top destination for capital importation with 2,782.41 million, accounting for 82.42 per cent of the $3,376.01 million total capital imported into Nigeria in the referenced period.




The report stated that Abuja, FCT, followed Lagos State with US$593.58 million (17.58 per cent), with Ekiti State next with US$0.01 million.




The implication is that 34 states did not attract capital importation in the period under review.




A further analysis showed that Portfolio Investment ranked top with US$2,075.59 million, accounting for 61.48 per cent, followed by Other Investments with US$1,181.25 million, accounting for 34.99 per cent.




Foreign Direct Investment recorded US$119.18 million (3.53 per cent) of total capital importation in Q1 2024.




The NBS report stated that the banking sector recorded the highest inflow with US$2,067.44 million, representing 61.24 per cent of total capital imported in Q1 2024, followed by the trading sector, valued at US$494.93 million (14.66 per cent), and production/manufacturing sector with US$191.92 million (5.68 per cent).

Copa America 2024: Six countries qualify for quarter-finals [Full list]

At least six teams have booked their places in the 2024 Copa America quarter-finals.




The USA have been eliminated from the competition, following their 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Monday night.




The defeat, combined with Panama’s 3-1 win over Bolivia, left the Americans in third place in the group.




Uruguay advanced as Group C winners, and Panama progressed into the quarter-finals as the second qualifier out of the group.




Argentina will play Ecuador next, while Venezuela take on Canada.




Panama are waiting to know the winners of Group D, while Uruguay will face the runners-up of Group D.

Edo guber: LP fumes as ‘Obidient’ movement backs APC candidate, Okpebholo

 Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has slammed the
‘Obidient’ movement for backing the All Progressives Congress, APC,
governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo in the forthcoming state election.





 



The Party’s Publicity Secretary, Sam Uruopa, who carpeted
the move said, “It is absurd to hear that Obidient movement is supporting
Okpebholo just the way some also said they were Obidient movement for Asue
Ighodalo.



 



“The Obidient movement is synonymous with the Labour Party
and are integral members of the party.



 



“They have forgotten so soon how the party was denied the
use of the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium before the presidential election.



 





“So, how can these people now say they are Obidient members
and they are supporting Okpebholo or Ighodalo?



 



“For me, they have run out of ideas and do not know what
they are doing at this point. They cannot be Obidient movement and work against
the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata.”



 



The “Obidient” movement in Edo had on Monday pledged their
support for the APC and its candidate.



 



Recall that another section of the movement a few weeks ago
also pledged their support for the People’s Democratic Party candidate, Asue
Ighodalo.



 



The group, comprising members from the Edo South Senatorial
District, on Monday, said they were supporting Okpebholo because of his close
ties with the people.



 

No explosion at Zungeru hydroelectric dam, say ED, police

 



Siraj Abdullahi, executive director of the hydroelectric dam
in Zungeru, Niger state, says there was no explosion at the facility.



 



Abdullahi was reacting to reports that there was an
explosion at the dam that caused injury to some workers, including a Chinese
national.



 



The reports said the unnamed Chinese engineer was conducting
a routine check when the explosion happened.



 



In a notice, the executive director described the reports as
a “wicked lie”.



 





“There is a fake news on several media houses,” Abdullahi
said.



 



“This is a wicked lie. We are fine in Zungeru nothing
happened and we are on the Grid.



 



“Please disregard this hate news. We are doing a video
rebuttal soon.”



 



Also, Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson of the police command in
Niger, said there was no kind of explosion at the dam.



 



“We wish to respond that there is no report of any kind of
explosion at Zungeru Dam, as reported by some online media, we urge members of
the public to kindly disregard please,” the spokesperson said.



 



“Thanks for your usual cooperation and understanding with
the Police and other security agencies in the State.”

Nollywood actor, Lawori, accuses NURTW boss, Koko Zaria of assault

The Nigeria Police said it would probe an allegation by a
popular Nollywood actor, Lawori, against a chieftain of the National Union of
Road Transport Workers, Ganiyu Oyedepo, popularly known as Koko Zaria,
involving an attack in which the former suffered a wound to his head.



 



This was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Monday.



 



The actor, in a video shared early Monday by an X user,
Oyindamola, tweeting as #dammiedammie35, narrated how a bottle of alcoholic
drink was smacked on his head at the 2024 Idimu Day event held last Tuesday,
June 25, 2024.



 



According to the actor, who revealed the stitched wound on
his head, while pleading for justice from well-meaning Nigerians, said he was
one of the Masters of Ceremony at an event.



 





While doing his work, he said an unknown man came on the
stage to tell him that the NURTW chief called for him, which he obliged.



 



Lawori narrated, “As I went to meet Koko Zaria to greet him,
he asked if I didn’t see them here. Then I apologised and said I would do the
needful when I returned to the stage.



 



“I then heard somebody ask if I was Lawori, thinking that he
(the person) didn’t know me and was meeting me for the first time. It was later
confirmed to him that I’m Lawori.



 



“While I was talking with Koko Zaria and I turned, the man
took a bottle of Martell (in front of Koko Zaria and his guys) and broke it on
my head.”



 



The actor added that he was “wet” with his blood as he lost
consciousness due to the attack. He noted that he could only recall how his
head was stitched at the hospital, which has brought him pain.



 



“Nigerians, please help me. It was Koko Zaria who sent
someone to call me,” he said, adding that he doesn’t remember how he landed at
the hospital.



 



“Save me from Koko Zaria, I don’t know my offence to him,”
he pleaded.



 



While reacting to the accusation via his Instagram page on
Monday, the NURTW chief, using the handle #kokozaria_americaboy, denied the
allegation.



 



“Lawori has never offended me. We’re very close. I saw a
video where he said I was the one who ordered the attack on him. What did he do
to me?” he queried.



 



Oyedepo added, “Lawori, I don’t have anything to curse you
(sic) but I want you to swear by all you have and your ambition that I ordered
the attack.”



 



The NURTW boss stated that while at the event which
witnessed a large crowd in attendance, he called the actor to greet him, and
also apologised for not showing up for a work the actor called him to.



 



Oyedepo recalled that when Lawori returned to the stage,
about two people were fighting him as he (Lawori) stopped the music they were
enjoying.



 



He noted that he didn’t go to the event with his boys,
saying, “As you were coming from the stage, I saw that people were hitting
bottles on your head. I took you to the hospital and you were treated. I stayed
with you and paid your medical bill. I even gave you a wad of money. All these
happened on Tuesday.”



 



He noted that he left the hospital with Lawori around 1
a.m., adding that he was the one who alerted the actor’s wife about the
incident.



 



Oyedepo also said the actor called him on the phone on
Wednesday and prayed for him to show appreciation.



 



“I know everything that’s happening. I know those who sent
you. I hand you over to God,” he said.



 



Meanwhile, the PPRO, reacting to the video on X.com on
Monday, wrote, “This will be investigated, and justice will be served. Many
people have called me on this case. @BenHundeyin, @FCID_ANNEX, @LagosPoliceNG,
@PoliceNG.”

Rep visits Buhari, asks him to forgive Nnamdi Kanu’s ‘missteps’

Obi Aguocha, member representing Ikwuano, Umuahia north and
south federal constituency, has sought the support of former President
Muhammadu Buhari for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).



 



Aguocha, who visited Buhari on Saturday at his country home
in Daura, Katsina, apologised on behalf of Kanu for his “missteps and ill
gestures”.



 



He said a political resolution would address the concerns of
the aggrieved parties and promote unity within the country.



 



“For the missteps, utterances, and ill gestures of the past,
especially on the part of my constituent and brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I am
deeply sorry,” Aguocha said.



 





On June 23, about 50 members of the house of representatives
asked President Bola Tinubu to order the release of Kanu.



 



The legislators, who identified themselves as Concerned
Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South-East, asked Tinubu to
direct Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, to invoke Section
174 of the 1999 constitution to release Kanu.



 



On his part, Buhari commended Aguocha for his dedication to
serving his people.



 



The former president assured him that he would not be
opposed to any political solution for Kanu’s release.



 



In January, Buhari said that bringing Kanu to Nigeria to
face trial was a “favour”, as the federal government had the option to
eliminate him.



 



Kanu was extradited to Nigeria in 2021 after he jumped bail
and fled the country following his arraignment for alleged terrorism,
treasonable felony, and incitement.



 



The IPOB leader has sought negotiation with the federal
government.

71,459 Nigerians’ obtain Canadian citizenship

 



Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, has said over 71,459 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship between 2005 and 2024.



IRCC is a department of the government of Canada responsible for matters relating to immigration to the North American country, refugees, and Canadian citizenship.




The number places Nigeria in the 10th position on the list of new Canadian citizens by country of birth.




The data released by the immigration office showed that while new Canadians come from at least 196 countries and territories, the top 10 places account for nearly half of all new citizens.\




IRCC said the data highlighted the diversity of Canada’s new citizen population.




Irene Bloemraad, political sociologist and migration expert, told CTVNews that high levels of citizenship were good.




Bloemraad said research showed a correlation between holding citizenship and better economic outcomes.

“Canada stands out among other immigrant-receiving countries in the very high level of citizenship among immigrants in the country.




“High levels of citizenship are a good thing: research shows a correlation between holding citizenship and better economic outcomes, a greater sense of belonging to Canada and, of course, the ability to participate in elections and have a say in policy,” Bloemraad said.




The IRCC data revealed India as the leading source of new Canadians since 2005, with 536,279 individuals obtaining citizenship.




The Philippines follows closely behind with 395,694 new citizens, and China takes third place with 292,325.




Beyond these top three, a diverse range of countries contribute significantly to Canada’s growing citizen population.

Pakistan comes in fourth with 180,999 new citizens, followed by Iran (130,998), the United States (99,652), the United Kingdom (98,837), Syria (72,706), South Korea (71,939), and Nigeria with 71,459 new citizens rounding out the top 10.




Al Parsai, a Toronto-based immigration consultant, said the data underscored Canada’s commitment to multiculturalism and diversity.




Parsai said: “The consistent number of new citizens from countries like India and the Philippines reflects their significant contributions to the Canadian labour market and society.




“The rise in new citizens from countries experiencing conflict, like Syria and Ukraine, highlights Canada’s role in providing refuge and support to those in need.

“The fact that new citizens come from nearly 200 different countries and territories showcases Canada’s global appeal and inclusive immigration policies.”




In November 2023, Canada announced a new immigration-level plan for skilled workers, caregivers, families, and other classes.




In a statement released by the citizenship and immigration Canada (CIC), the North American country will target the admission of 485,000 new immigrants.




“In 2025 and 2026, Canada will look to welcome 500,000 new immigrants in each year,” CIC added.

The Canadian government said the immigration plans will be for economic, family, refugee, and humanitarian classes.