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Social media abuzz as Rema pockets $3m at billionaire’s wedding

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The news of Rema’s record-breaking performance fee at Anant Ambani’s wedding has sent shockwaves across social media, with many users hailing music as a lucrative career path.

The Nigerian Afrobeats sensation reportedly pocketed a whopping N4.5 billion for performing just one of his hit songs, ‘Calm Down’, at the high-profile event, leaving many in awe.

Rema performed at the wedding of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s son, Anant Ambani, and daughter of pharma tycoons, Viren and Shaila Merchant, Radhika Merchant.
The event was held on Friday at the Jio World Centre in Bandra Kurla Centre (BKC) in Mumbai.

Canadian singer, Justin Bieber, was also paid 10 million dollars for his performance at the event, according to reports.

Pop star, Rihanna, also performed at the event for an undisclosed fee.

Social media platforms are exciting as aspiring musicians and music enthusiasts are drawing inspiration from Rema’s achievements.

The news has also sparked a renewed interest in the music industry, with many youths seeing Rema’s success as a motivation to pursue their careers.

@Solomon_King said on X, “Hold up, let us get this straight, Rema just bagged a whopping N4.5 billion ($3 million) for singing one song at some rich kid’s wedding?!

“One song? We’re talking about a sum that could solve Nigeria’s economic problems, okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point.

“Rema just made more money than I’ll see in a lifetime and I’m still struggling to pay my rent.

“I need to start singing.”

@OlamideAngel said, “I’m quitting my job to become a musician, or maybe just a wedding singer.

“We’re dying over here! Meanwhile, Rema’s just over here living his best life and we’re not hating. In fact, we’re low-key inspired to step up our music game.

“On a more serious note, this achievement is a testament to Rema’s hard work and talent. We’re proud to see African artistes making waves and getting the recognition they deserve.”

@Perryblack, an X user, said, “Back then y’all mocked Rema for sounding “Indian” when he broke out. Now he was paid $3m to perform a song at Anant Radhika’s wedding in India.

“Trust your music, Trust the process. Maybe I will go with Portable that said music money is bigger and better than football money.

“We thought Rema was goofing when he said he’s the future. He said he’s the next wizkid but we are not taking him seriously. Big ups boy.”

@blacktribemusic wrote, “ Only this Rema’s song alone has made him one of the biggest artistes in Africa. Bigger than the top guys una dey reason self.

“Rema is too big to be underrated by Nigerians, he’s just 22 but making more money.

“Another day to remind y’all that music money is longer than football own.”

On the contrary, @cassandra mentioned that the billionaire should have used the money to feed all the poor Indian citizens.

“That country dey suffer, why can’t he donate this money to the poor. Isn’t India one of the poorest countries in the world?

“I swear the billionaires don’t think of the poor chaii!

“Just $1k is enough for like 1 million people and they will appreciate it and pray for you, it is more than all this show off,” she said.

Also, @UcheMark said,  “They all belong to the same cult. Even from the beginning of Rema’s career, we can already recognise his affiliation with India (voodoo).

“Also, his recent use of devilish symbols and colours is enough evidence. Birds of a feather.”

@chocolatechic said, “I will never be poor.”

(NAN)

Edo government alleges plot to disrupt court proceedings

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Ahead of the Monday, July 15, 2024, resumed hearing of the suit between the suspended Enigie and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, at the Edo State High Court, the Edo State Government said it has unravelled plans by unscrupulous elements to stage a protest to disrupt court proceedings.
TVN reports that the suspended Enigie that took the Oba of Benin to court are Professor Gregory Akenzua, Enigie of Evbuobanosa, and Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, Egbaen Siluko Dukedom, in Benin Kingdom, on behalf of others.
The suspended Enigie are challenging their suspension by the Oba of Benin at the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City in the suit marked B/250os/2023, in which the Oba and the Edo State Government are the 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively.
In a statement by Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Chris Nehikhare, made available to newsmen on Saturday, the state government alleged that some groups are plotting to exploit the disruption of the court hearing to score cheap political points.
Nehikhare also alleged that the state government was aware that some unscrupulous politicians were behind the plan to sponsor violence to disrupt the peace in the state to score cheap political points.
He noted that the plot to disrupt the court proceedings was contained in a recent post circulating on social media platforms inciting and urging people to disrupt the operations of the Benin High Court on Monday, July 15.
According to him: “The Edo State Government hereby condemns in the strongest terms the recent posts circulating on social media platforms inciting and urging people to disrupt the operations of the Benin High Court on Monday, July 15.
“It is highly disconcerting that there have been attempts to interfere with the judicial process through threats and displays aimed at inciting public unrest.
“It is imperative to emphasise that the rule of law must prevail, and all arms of government must be allowed to carry out their functions without fear of intimidation or disruption. The sanctity of our institutions must be upheld at all times.”
Nehikhare added: “We also call on parents to protect their children from being exploited by persons who want to disrupt peace for political gains.
“The Edo State Government will take all lawful actions against any individual or group found to be involved in activities that undermine the peace in the state.
“We urged all law-abiding citizens to reject and ignore any calls to disrupt the peace in the state and to refrain from engaging in any actions that could jeopardise public order.
“It is only through respect for the law and due process that we can ensure a just and orderly society for all.
“It is, therefore, in the best interest of all law-abiding citizens of our dear state that we enjoin everyone to join hands with the government in safeguarding the integrity of our institutions and preserving the peace and harmony of our beloved Edo State.”
Edo government alleges plot to disrupt court proceedings

Tinubu appoints new chairman for CCT, PenCom, ICRC DGs

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Mainasara Kogoa as the new chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, who confirmed the news in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said his principal also appointed Omolola Oloworaran as the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
Tinubu equally appointed Jobson Ewalefoh as the new Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
Kogoa will replace Danladi Umar as the CCT chairman.
READ ALSO: Tinubu appoints Adeyanju as executive secretary of National Lottery Trust Fund
The appointments are however subject to the Senate confirmation.
The statement read: “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
“Dr. Kogo is a seasoned lawyer and analyst in the fields of law, security, economy, politics, and international diplomacy.
“For PenCom, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ms. Omolola Bridget Oloworaran as the new Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
“Ms. Oloworaran is a finance and banking expert with many years of experience.”
The post Tinubu appoints new chairman for CCT, PenCom, ICRC DGs appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

UNIZIK teaching hospital’s permanent site ready for inauguration

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The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, said preparations are in top gear for the working visit of the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, for the final inauguration of the permanent site of the hospital.

The Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing on Friday at the facility, adding that the minister, during the visit, would inaugurate several groundbreaking projects, including two oxygen plants, regional ultra-modern radio diagnostic centre for the South-East region, among others.

Ugboaja said the radio diagnostic centre was built across the six geopolitical zones to reduce medical tourism and the one for South-East zone is situated at NAUTH.

He explained that the hospital’s relocation to the permanent site was a calculated effort and strong determination to actualise his mission and vision of moving the health facility from analogue operations to digital operations.

He added that the minister would join the management and staff of the hospital to celebrate the first anniversary of project ianuguration by the Presidency at the permanent site.

He said, “We have moved all the clinical services to the permanent site. Administration, including my office and ancillary services, will be the last to be relocated. Clinical wards formerly run at the temporary site have been relocated to their respective buildings with a full complement of modern support facilities.

“The minister will also preside over the recognition of two of NAUTH’s principal stakeholders which include Dr Cletus Ibeto and Sir Emeka Offor, who will each have a structure named after them. Chief Arthur Eze will equally be honoured.

“The hospital will honour its founding members and recognise Senator Ifeanyi Ubah as well as the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for their various contributions to the growth of the institution.

“On assumption of office, my resolve was to move the hospital from the temporary site to the permanent site. And also, I have the vision to make NAUTH among the top three health institutions in Nigeria. It should be realised that the hospital has been at the temporary site for over 30 years. There were no good buildings, no good road network, adequate water supply, drainages, and indeed no adequate infrastructure, among other things.”

The CMD added that he began his tenure in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added, “Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and the progressives wanted to invest in the hospital, I was among the people who begged him to build the structure here at the permanent site. It should be noted that the building was the first complete structure built in the hospital.

“I have already declared our vision to make NAUTH ranked among the top three university teaching hospitals in Nigeria and beyond with at least 2,000 bed capacity. That is why there is an urgent need to achieve the vision. We harness the human and material resources, the various departments and units with the objective to realise the vision.

“We are desirous to compete with leading hospitals anywhere in Africa. Our environment is made friendly with the proper esthetics, trees, plants, and landscape in line with our dream hospital.

“As the infrastructure was being developed to satisfy our vision, we procured state-of-the-art equipment to ensure consistency in line with where the hospital is going. We moved the hospital from analogue operations to digital. Some of the staff members are still trying to master it, but it is a constant training till everyone has come to terms. And the hospital places a lot of premium in training and retraining.

“While we are developing the permanent site at a rapid speed, we made a deliberate decision to ensure a happy workforce by ensuring that their needs were met. Promotion of deserving workers was made, and those who applied for regularisation of status were promptly granted. We ensure that NAUTH will not experience work disruption as a result of not meeting the worker’s entitlement.”

The CMD hailed the health minister, saying that he was determined to ensure the reorganisation of the public health system to be more efficient and effective.

He further noted that the minister had attracted a lot of funding to improve the public health sector, adding that the Minister would also conduct the ceremony to mark the establishment of the Regional Radio Diagnostic Centre sited in NAUTH, for the entire South-East geopolitical zone.

“The minister’s visit means a whole lot to us and he is coming to commission projects. Since coming on board, we are seeing things that we haven’t seen before in the public health sector, he has attracted a whole lot of funding to the public health sector.

“A whole lot of funding is needed in the public health sector. We must infuse massively into the health system to tackle the japa syndrome. Anything you do for the hospital, you do it for the patients as the patients trust their lives on us.

“Japa syndrome is a national issue and quite an unfortunate one at that, and it is being discussed at the national level, we are trying to tackle it. What is driving the japa syndrome is largely outside the hospital.

“It’s at the level of retraining the health workers with specialised skills, train the person so that he becomes eligible and then give him the condition that will make him to stay. You must train them and give them the condition that will not make to leave,” the CMD added.

Tinubu appoints new DG of ICRC

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Jobson Ewalefoh as the new Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, subject to his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Ewalefoh succeeds Mr. Michael Ohiani who became substantive DG in July 2022.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed Saturday titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new chairman of the code of conduct tribunal.’

The presidency described Ewalefoh as a professional with years of experience in government and development organisations, in addition to expertise in public-private partnerships, public policy reform and development.

Ngelale said Tinubu “expects absolute dedication and probity in the management of the ICRC and in pursuit of its strategic objective of accelerating investment in national infrastructure through the innovative mobilization of private-sector funding.”

Stephen Angbulu

With three years of experience, Stephen, The According correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

Suspected smuggler kills Customs officer in Jigawa

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A suspected smuggler on Friday killed an operative of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hamza Abdullahi-Elenwo, in Jigawa State.
The Customs officer was killed in a stop-and-search operation at Achilafia along the Daura-Kano road in Jigawa.
The Public Relations Officer for the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, Kaduna, Isah Sulaiman, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.
He said the suspected has been detained by police in the state.
READ ALSO: Customs arrests Turkey-bound passenger with 54 ATM cards at Kano airport
Sulaiman said: “The incident happened when a vehicle, suspected of being smuggled into the country struck the operative while attempting to evade arrest.
”The late officer was rushed to General Hospital Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina, where he was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
“One suspect has been arrested and is in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa.
“The unit’s operatives would not be deterred and would remain unwavering in the fight against smuggling.”
The post Suspected smuggler kills Customs officer in Jigawa appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Tinubu not “caged”, APC replies Ndume

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The All Progressives Congress has said that the inability of Sen. Mohammed Ndume to access President Bola Tinubu cannot justify his outlandish declaration that the president had been “caged”.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, on Saturday reacting to comments credited to Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, saying President Bola had been “caged”, slammed the lawmaker.

Ndume while saying that securing financial autonomy for Local Governments was the greatest achievement of Tinubu since he assumed office in 2023, also said that he was unaware of existential challenges in the country.

“The latest outburst in the media by the senator representing Borno South, and Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume, claiming that President Tinubu has been caged.

“And unaware of existential challenges in the country is as haughty as it is unnecessary.

“As a Senator, Ndume has a platform of the National Assembly to raise and address matters that he may consider to be in the national interest.

“He also has access to the entire machinery of the Federal Government,” the APC spokesman said.

He added that Ndume was, however yet to explain the use to which he had put these enormous access in seeking solutions to concerns that he might have.

Morka said it was understandable if the senator felt frustrated by his suggested inability to access the President.

“But this does not warrant or justify his outlandish declaration that the President had been caged in some way or ensconced from the reality of conditions in the country.

“Ndume’s heedless comments smack of an indulgent sense of entitlement to see the President on a whim. The President is busy doing the job Nigerians elected him for.

“He is the head of government, of which there are many critical parts equipped with the power to process and deal with a wide range of simple to complex social, economic, political or security challenges.

“The President’s time is required to be used judiciously in attending to important matters of state,” Morka explained.

He recalled that on July 4, the President inaugurated the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and launched the Economic Stabilisation Programme.

According to him, the programmes are to ensure food security, improved power supply, enhanced social welfare, healthcare, increased energy production and general economic transformation.

Morka said President Tinubu was earlier in an important meeting with leaders of the organised labour on the issue of the new minimum wage.

He further explained that Tinubu meets and interacts regularly with citizens, officials and guests from all walks of life, as his schedule permits.

He added that he had continued to superintend the formulation and implementation of policy and programme measures, aimed at mitigating prevailing economic conditions.

He said the president was also working to boost availability and price access to food and other essential commodities.

“In a similar vein, President Tinubu recently signed an Executive Order aimed at reducing the high cost of drugs; and approved tax waivers for the importation of some food items.

“In the bid to crash prices and ensure food sufficiency directed the Armed Forces to combat and defeat resurgent acts of terror, among many other important engagements.

“This speaks eloquently to his command of the situation in the country,” the APC spokesman stressed.

He advised that as a senior party man and senator, Ndume should exercise restraint and quit his penchant for unhelpful attention-seeking media posturing.

“Our dear country needs all hands to be on deck on the cusp of national transformation, each doing their part to remake the social, economic and security conditions in the best interest of our people,” Morka said.

Thousands evacuated in Canada over wildfire

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Around 9,000 people have been evacuated in northeastern Canada because of raging wildfires, officials said Saturday.

Residents of the towns of Labrador City and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador province were ordered to leave their homes, said provincial fire duty officer, Jeff Motty.

“We are seeing extreme fire behaviour out there. The fire is moving about 50 meters per minute,” Motty said.

Images shared on social media showed lines of cars waiting to fill up at gas stations as the sky was obscured by enormous clouds of smoke.

“It was quite a shock to see that much smoke,” Labrador City resident Stacy Hunt told public broadcaster CBC. “And it’s been in pretty much the same place for hours now.”

In this remote region residents must evacuate more than 500 kilometres (310 miles) east via the only road available.

Motty said that the intensity of the fire made it impossible to use water bombers.

On Saturday morning, Labrador City’s mayor, Belinda Adams, again urged residents to evacuate.

“The fire is still active,” she said in a video posted on social media.

Federal authorities said Friday that the weather had been favourable for limiting fires since the start of summer, but that the country was entering the peak wildfire season.

Last year, the country recorded the worst fire season in its history.

Drier and hotter conditions in many parts of the country caused by climate change have increased the risk of major fires in recent years, according to experts.

Canada is currently battling 575 active fires with more than 400 considered out of control. Many fires have broken out in recent days, particularly in the west of the country that has experienced a heat wave.

According Online reports that wildfires are large, uncontrolled fires that spread rapidly across vegetation, including forests, grasslands, and brush.

They can be caused by natural factors such as lightning or human activities like arson, campfires, or sparks from machinery.

Wildfires can have devastating effects on communities, wildlife, and the environment, leading to loss of life, property damage, and long-term ecological changes.

Managing and preventing wildfires involves a combination of strategies, including firebreaks, controlled burns, public education, and rapid response to outbreaks.

In 2017, thousands of Canadians were warned they could face evacuation under threat of huge forest fires that have already forced some 37,000 people from their homes in the west of the country.

The situation was worst in southern and central British Columbia.

AFP

Southgate, England eye end to long wait for Euros glory

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England manager Gareth Southgate said he does not believe that fate is guiding the Three Lions to Euro 2024 glory, but is dreaming of ending a 58-year wait to win a major tournament in Sunday’s final against Spain.

Three years on from losing the Euro 2020 final on home soil to Italy, Southgate’s men have another opportunity to become European champions for the first time in Berlin.

England have struggled on their road to the final, needing a series of late goals, fightbacks and a penalty shoot-out against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

“I’m not a believer in fairy tales but I am a believer in dreams,” Southgate said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“We’ve had big dreams, we’ve felt the need and the importance of that but then you have to make those things happen.

“Fate, the run that we’ve had, the late goals, the penalties, that doesn’t equate to it being our moment, we have to make it happen tomorrow and perform at the level that we need to perform.”

Southgate has transformed England from perennial underachievers into serial contenders at major tournaments.

In his four World Cups or Euros, England have reached one quarter-final, one semi-final and now two finals, including their first ever on foreign soil.

However, Southgate conceded they needed to go one step further to earn worldwide respect for a slow and steady improvement.

“I’ve travelled to World Cups, European Championships watching as an observer and watched highlights before the matches that were on the big screens and we weren’t in any of them because you only show the finals and you only show the big games,” he added.

“So we needed to change that. We had high expectations but they didn’t match where we were performance wise.

“Now the high expectations are still there but we have had consistent performances over certainly three of the last four tournaments.

“A lot of records have been broken but we know in the end we have to do this one, we have to get this trophy

Okanga humanitarian centre , giving hope from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.

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Life is what we give not what we receive, okanga.

Earlier today been Saturday 13th of July,the okanga humanitarian team powered by our lovely mother, Dr Esther Ezegwu Agbese, went on a medical outreach to one Mr Michael Odo,who have been critical ill,in Rojo community in ogege ward Ado Localgovernment,with me was the APC leader of the ward hon Elias Arugwu Ogbu,also the senior legislative aide to the honourable Philip Agbese, member house of representatives on culture and education.

The honourable Philip Agbese, okanga 1, paid all the medical bill of Mr Michael Odo, which he said was 100k,and also a bag of rice,also the women of Rojo community in ogege ward were not left out,as a total of 500 five hundred thousand was given to 50 woman and also fifty wrappers was distributed, courtesy of our mother Dr Esther Ezegwu Agbese.

God bless the honourable, Philip Agbese, okanga 1, member house of representatives,Ado, okpowu, ogbadibo federal constituency.

Nancy Abutu, coordinator.