The Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center, HICC, Bolaji Idowu, has alleged that most ladies living in Lekki, Lagos State do not visit the gym to lose weight.
Pastor Bolaji in a recent video shared on TikTok, argued that the ladies go to the gym in search of rich men.
Buttressing his argument in a now trending video on social media, the cleric explained that his gym instructor once told him that many women inquire about the financial and marital status of their male clients.
“Go to the Admiralty, many girls that go to the gym, half of the time they are talking. So, when they finish, they will buy shawarma, and hotdog in the gym and eat. That was not the goal.
“They are not trying to lose weight. One of the gym instructors told me they will never ask after me because they never knew how important I am. I said, “What do they ask after?” The instructor said they always asked all the guys that have G Wagon.
“What does he do? Is he married? Is he single? Does he come on Mondays and Wednesdays?”
The famous pastor who is well known for speaking out on relationships and politics, had earlier taken a shot at men, stating that it is shameful for a man to marry a woman for financial reasons.
Lekki women go to gym in search of rich men’ – Pastor Bolaji Idowu
Lekki women go to gym in search of rich men’ – Pastor Bolaji Idowu
We have emergency meeting to review Supreme Court verdict on LG Autonomy – Soludo
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo has revealed that the Nigeria Governors Forum has convened an emergency meeting, to review the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria granting autonomy to Local Government Councils in the country.
Soludo who held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Thursday, however, praised the court decision saying it was a democratic process which should be commended by all democrats.
Reacting to the ruling, he said, “That’s great. I mean, the Supreme Court is Supreme because it is the final authority and I am a Democrat. I believe in the rule of law. Once the Supreme Court has spoken it has spoken. I understand, I mean, tonight, I think the Governors Forum is meeting to review this.
“We’re yet to even… I mean, I haven’t seen the document myself. I’ve been extremely, very busy all through the day but I’ve seen snippets of it.
“But at a fundamental level, yes, we need resources to get down to the real grassroot and we need the people’s money to work for them at all levels, whether at the federal or the state and the local government.
“We need to promote accountability. We need to promote transparency in the utilization of public resources at all levels, to be able to lift the burden of the common man”.
Recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had on Thursday, declared as unconstitutional the situation where State Governors stifle funds meant for the LGs.
The feat achieved was made possible when the Federal Government dragged the state governors to court to compel them to hands-off local government administration in the country and face their tasks squarely as governors.
We have emergency meeting to review Supreme Court verdict on LG Autonomy – Soludo
Army destroys over 30 illegal refineries in Abia
The Nigeria Army, under the 82 Division, on Thursday, destroyed over 33 illegal refineries in Obuaku and Imo Rivers in the Ipu West communities of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
During the operation codenamed “Operation Dragon Spit” supervised by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Hassan Dada, over 33 refineries were destroyed, 21 suspects were arrested and siz vehicles as well as over 12 boats were burnt.
Speaking with newsmen, Dada said, “What we discovered here is unbelievable compared to what we discovered at Obuaku last time. That of Obuaku is a child’s play when compared with what we saw today.
“We have counted over 30 of these illegal refineries and we are still counting. This is just a phase of our Operation Dragon Spit. We are still monitoring and the operation is still continuing.
“All I am assuring is that for anybody who is an economic saboteur, it is just a matter of time to face the consequences.
“In as much as Operation Dragon Spit, under the auspices of Operation Udoka, is going on, we will not relent in our efforts to make sure that all the culprits are brought to book.
“We cannot, as we have been mandated, allow this amount of economic sabotage and degradation of the environment. No stone will be left unturned to make sure that oil bunkering will not be allowed within the area of responsibility of Operation Udoka.”
He added that between Wednesday and Thursday, “We burnt six vehicles and we arrested about 18 people and when we got to this place (today), we arrested another three while others ran into the Imo River. The operation is ongoing. In another village, you will see the number of boats that we seized. We have another 12 boats.”
According to him, at the Imo River community of Ipu West of Ukwa West LGA, a bus and the more than 12 boats used for illegal bunkering were burnt to discourage the operators of the illegal refineries.
Niger CP calls for aggressive action against illegal miners to forestall loss of lives
The Niger State Commissioner of Police CP Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman has called for aggressive action against illegal miners to reduce loss of lives across the state.
The CP, who made the call during a visit by state Commissioner for Mineral Resources Garba Sabo Yahaya to his office in Minna said urgent steps should be taken to tackle the activities of illegal miners who operate without safety measures in the state.
Danmamman was responding to a call by the Commissioner for Mineral Resources for support and assistance of the police in effectively addressing the issue of illegal mining.
Yahaya had told the CP during the visit that the ministry required the assistance of the police to carry out their activities successfully as it does not have the required manpower for enforcement and needs to partner with the Police and other security agencies in the state.
The CP noted that illegal mining is a great challenge and that security agencies must be brought together for a robust fight to reduce the trend to the barest minimum while the ministry must have in place a robust intelligence structure for information to help it and the mining security operations.
” It is one thing to be allowed to do something, but it is another thing to do things rightly, as the miners don’t put measures in place to reduce risk as observed during the last rescue operation. The miners did not provide an ambulance and there was no first aid equipment, ” Danmamman observed.
He also called for the engagement of traditional leaders and the media for sensitization of the public against unsafe and illegal mining, adding that ” illegal and unsafe miners must be pursued for safety and that the effort must be aggressive”.
Furthemore, Danmamman stressed on the need for setting up Zonal offices by the ministry, considering the size of the State.
” The government could also be advised on revocation of land ownership from anyone found to be leasing lands for illegal and unsafe mining in the State, ” the CP added.
Niger CP calls for aggressive action against illegal miners to forestall loss of lives
Allocate shops to real owners after reconstruction, Senate tells Wike
The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Capital Development Authority and Abuja Municipal Area Council under the leadership of the minister, Nyesom Wike, to re-allocate shops affected by fire at the Karu Main Market to original owners after rebuilding them.
The Karu modern market in Abuja was on Thursday, June 27, gutted by fire.
A viral video on social media indicated that the fire, which began at about 8pm., consumed goods and properties worth millions of naira.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government through its Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management , Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency, to urgently provide emergency palliative and relief provisions to cushion the effect of fire on the victims.
The Red Chamber consequently mandated its Committees on Environment and Legislative Compliance , to ensure strict compliance with the resolutions and report back within four weeks .
The resolutions were sequel to a motion sponsored to that effect by Senator Ireti Kingibe ( Labour Party FCT) .
Kingibe in the motion titled “The Karu fire outbreak and the need for safer public places,” informed the Senate that the fire outbreak that occured at Karu main market on June 27, 2024, left scores of traders in tears after goods worth billions of naira were destroyed .
She lamented that the inferno razed almost all the shops and destroyed food stuff, electronics, cosmetics, clothes among other consumables and non-consumable items worth billions of naira.
She said, “These fire outbreaks have become one too many already; with attendant losses running to billions of naira. In the last six months, there have been several incidents of this nature. From Idumota Market Area in Lagos; to the Police Shopping Complex, Mararaba, Nasarawa State; to the Yan Katako Market, Rijiyar Lemu Area of Fagge LGA, Kano State, just to mention a few.
“These fire outbreaks all had the same causative factors which hinged on basic building safety regulations that were either inadequate or not adhered to or out rightly not in place.”
She added, “This state of unpreparedness in safety management cuts across private homes, government buildings, open parks and gardens, markets, shopping malls, Warehouses, Sawmills, fuel tankers, gas and fuel Stations, educational establishments, shops, clubs, hospitals, hotels, and restaurants: thereby exposing ourselves to avoidable mishaps.”
Ex-power minister, Saleh Mamman, remanded in prison for alleged N33bn fraud
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday remanded a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in Kuje prison pending the consideration of his bail application.
This followed the ex-minister’s arraignment on a 12-count charge of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was docked for alleged diversion of N33 billion during his time in office.
The EFCC alleged that the ex-minister conspired with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert approximately N22 billion.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Investigations uncovered properties in Nigeria and abroad linked to the suspects while millions of naira have been recovered by the commission.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the case till July 14 for the consideration of Mamman’s bail application.
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Army will respond to security threats in South-East, others, COAS vows
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Thursday said the Nigerian Army will continue to respond to security threats in the Southeast and other parts of the country in accordance with laid down procedures.
He said the Army will respond with force against gunmen wielding military grade weapons.
Lagbaja spoke at the Headquarters of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State while inaugurating projects executed by the division’s General Officer Commanding (GOC), Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, and to close the Chief of Army Staff Second Commanding Officers’ Workshop, which began on Tuesday.
He said such a response from the Army against security threats would be swift enough to protect innocent citizens from any harm.
Lagbaja said he had been on tour of formations and units under the 6 Division since Wednesday.
The COAS stated, “The Army will continue to respond to all those security threats in accordance with laid down constitutional provisions and the procedures in our book. The soldiers will respond in line with our code of conduct and rules of engagement.
“And so for all threats to security, the Army will respond appropriately. For people, who are carrying military grade weapons openly, troops will respond with force to protect law-abiding citizens, to protect our equipment that they deployed in the population space and to secure their own lives.
“And so what has happened with the attacks on the troops in the past? I believe it is one off thing but the troops will continue to operate within this environment to ensure that peace is sustained”.
On his tour of military formations, he said: “Since yesterday (Wednesday) morning, I have been engaged in a tour of formations and units of the Nigerian Army under the 6 Division area of responsibility.
“I was in Uyo which is the 2nd Brigade area of responsibility. The security situation in this area of responsibility has generally improved; all thanks to the work that our troops are doing and the support of the stakeholders especially the government at the sub national level and other critical stakeholders in our society”.
The Army Chief commended all stakeholders in the region for their support to the troops especially in provision of timely information, even as he thanked the Rivers State Government for providing the enabling environment and logistics support to the troops to operate effectively.
He said further, “I want to assure them that our troops will continue to work to ensure that the security situation is improved upon to achieve the objective of overall economic development and even push into other frontiers across the country.
He said the workshop titled, “Enhancing tactical level command and leadership in a joint environment” was designed to equip commanding officers with requisite skills and competences and enhance their performance in an increasingly complex security environment.
Lagbaja said it was clear from the deliberations conducted during the workshop and the briefs he received that the objectives of the summit had been achieved, saying commanding officers were key in the accomplishment of his command philosophy to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained and highly motivated force towards achieving constitutional responsibilities in a joint environment.
He said they were trained to understand their contemporary command environment characterized by technological advancements, social media culture, high population rate and its associated unemployment, amongst others.
Lagbaja further said during the workshop, discussions focused on tactical level command and leadership in the contemporary security environment, implementation of the Nigerian Army’s training directives for 2024, merging administrative issues in units, civil military cooperation, equipment maintenance, digital transformation and innovation and career planning.
Despite some organisational differences, officers he said must cultivate synergy across security stakeholders’ in their operating environment by constantly engaging with key leaders across the divide without compromising security ethics.
“Military administration today is encumbered with new sets of challenges. The impact of social media on your command is enormous and you must avoid the influence of the negative aspect of this new reality on your command.
“You must be mindful of the character of the generation coming into the Nigerian Army and be ingenious in administering the laid down administrative policies and regulations. To do this effectively, I encourage you to keep abreast of technological developments, utilize readily available resources and strengthen information and communication technology training in your units.
He advised that deliberate efforts must be made to continuously identify the tasks, threats and standards required to operate effectively in their respective areas or responsibility in order to reach specific measurable levels of performance.
“As senior training leaders, you must be directly involved in all training activities and take a keen interest in the development of opinion leaders. Training at unit and unit levels requires thorough supervision,” he stated
Abia unveils N1bn interest-free loan for businesses
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has inaugurated the disbursement of the N1 billion interest-free loan under the state cooperative support scheme for nano and micro business operators drawn from the 184 electoral wards of the state.
Speaking during the inauguration in Umuahia the state capital, on Thursday, Otti said the scheme is strategic to the economic emancipation of small business owners especially the rural dwellers, adding that the multiplier effect will lift dependants of the beneficiaries from abject poverty.
About 10,000 individuals would benefit from the credit facility.
The governor said the scheme aligns perfectly with the strategic development agenda of his government geared towards improving the welfare of the general populace, maintaining that the target is beyond the present, adding that the projection is to boost the economy.
He said, “Thousands of the beneficiaries selected for this batch are petty traders, farmers, and artisans who have over the years toiled on their own without the kind of structured support that their peers from other parts of the world take for granted.
“Our model is geared towards improving production, creating jobs and reducing poverty. Our target is beyond the present number of beneficiaries, which is to reach about 100, 000 businesses directly over the next 36 months because we are optimistic that today’s beneficiaries will put in honest effort to repay the loans in time so that others can benefit.
“The projection is that the injection of about N1bn into the economy of the various communities in the state through the interest-free revolving loan scheme will ultimately lead to a jump in the volume of agricultural outputs brought to the markets in the short to medium term, new orders for business inputs, and a measurable rise in the value of the gross domestic product of the local communities.”
He assured all that appropriate mechanism for monitoring the scheme would be put in place and added that as soon as a measurable rise in business consciousness amongst the people at the grassroots is seen, government would go into partnership with international development institutions and agencies to increase the pool of funds available for borrowing.
In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Blessing Felix, thanked Otti for being consistently committed to the welfare of Abia people and providing the resources to run the scheme.
She said it is a proof that help has indeed come.
Speaking on behalf of other Mayors, the Mayor of Aba North Local Government Council, Ide Udeagbala, thanked the governor for a well thought out initiative aimed at empowering small business owners across the state.
While describing the scheme as strategic to the economic emancipation of small business owners especially the rural dwellers, he noted that the multiplier effect will lift dependants of the beneficiaries from abject poverty.
Earlier in his address, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Cooperative Societies, Ishmael Onuoha, said that the interest-free loan, which is not free money, is structured in a way that anyone who makes gains would be given more money and assured that the scheme would be monitored to ensure compliance.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Mercy Alamba, thanked Otti for the gesture extended to them, saying that they have not seen it in that form before.
She enjoined her fellow beneficiaries to utilise the funds well.
Appeal Court upholds Gov Ododo’s election in Kogi
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday upheld Governor Usman Ododo’s victory in the November 2023 election in Kogi State.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, are challenging the verdict of the state governorship election petition tribunal which upheld Ododo’s victory in the poll.
In Thursday’s proceeding, the appellate court resolved all the four grounds of appeal against the appellants.
READ ALSO: Ondo: APC governorship aspirants pass vote of no confidence on Ododo
The court held that the SDP and its candidate failed to prove the allegation of fraud in the election.
It added that the allegation of certificate forgery against the governor was a pre-election matter that should have been resolved by the Federal High Court.
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Assa Ohaji town laments neglect, begs for social amenities, oil companies intervention
The leadership of Assa autonomous community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area Imo have appealed to the state government and oil companies operating in their area to embrace the development of their host community as part of its corporate social responsibility for a harmonious relationship.
The appeal was made when the community leaders paid a courtesy visit to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Rubby Emele, in her office, in Owerri, on Friday.
Addressing the Commissioner, the Town Union President General, Reward Evans, who led the delegation on the visit, said the people are suffering and in dire need of development, having been intentionally neglected by government and oil multinational companies despite the rich oil resources and revenue being harnessed from their land.
The President General alleged since the creation of the world that their people have never shouted ‘Up NEPA’ despite being surrounded by multi-million oil companies that only specialize in reaping off the mineral resources given to them by nature without paying recourse to the plights of the people who bear the consequences of their industrial activities.
His words:” You can’t even believe that the road leading to their operational base is impassable, our pregnant women often die on the road because of its deplorable condition before they can get to the hospital in the state capital because the community lacks nearby quality and affordable hospitals.
”We urge the government to urgently intervene and do the needful to address the pressing humanitarian challenges facing our people”
The town union, however, commended Rubby Emele for the leadership qualities she exhibits, especially in the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
A member of the delegation, the Secretary General of Assa Town Union also former President of the National Congress of Ohaji Youths, NACOY, Emmanuel C. Ugorji, complained that lack of synergy in the leadership of the community amidst balkanization has been identified as one of the major factors working against the development of the community as he maintained that the intervention of the Commissioner using Assa as a case study will encourage traditional rulers in the state to lead rightly.
He called for a synergy between the State Government and Assa community.
Speaking also, the Youth President of Assa, Chidi Egezul, thanked Emele for her leadership roles in the state, which he observed attracted awards from different communities across the state, even as he begged her to come to Assa to see the nature of the community by herself.
Lending his voice, the Legal Adviser of Assa Town Union, Eric Nwanom, added that one of the reasons for the Courtesy Visit was to formally establish strong synergy with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Community.
“We consciously ask for your partnership for the development of our community”.
Stressing the sheer marginalization of the community, the Town Union Women Leader Mrs. Violet N. Assor, lamented that the suffering of the people of Assa, particularly women, is alarming.
“Women are mostly affected by maternal deaths. Our people have been highly marginalized coupled with neglect from the Government and Oil Companies operating in our area, but with your aptness, kindness and rapt attention, we rationally seek quick government intervention as the community consciously leans on the 3R Government being championed by Governor Hope Uzodimma to effect a positive change” she stressed.
Uzoma Dominic Onyenaju, Vice President and Public Relations Officer, Duke-Bright C. C. Enyia affirmed that the people will have full joy when their community is socially and economically developed.
In her response, Mrs Rubby Emele, congratulated the Executive of Assa Town Union on their appointment, assuring them that the government will do the needful to ensure that the area sees more development, urging them to work in league with their traditional ruler to maintain peace and security, thanking the Governor for the opportunity given to her to serve the state in that capacity.
Assa Ohaji town laments neglect, begs for social amenities, oil companies intervention