Author: Kwara Reporters

Ifa priest, Osuniyi Olosunde (Jogbodo Orunmila) Ifa priest, Osuniyi Olosunde (Jogbodo Orunmila), talks to FATTEH Hamid of The PUNCH about the recent celebration of Isese Day by some South-West states and its importance, amid the lingering controversy it generated in Kwara StateWhat are your educational qualifications, and your position in the African traditional religion?I’m Oloye Jogbodo Orunmila, Oluwo in Ifa and Ogboni fraternity. I don’t like speaking about my Western education because it undermines the wisdom in Yoruba’s rich culture and tradition. It is these rich ways and knowledge of the Yoruba that we use as handiwork and it is what…

Some suspected bandits have demanded N4 million as ransom to secure the release of one of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members abducted within the Zamfara State territory.The bandits reportedly abducted eight members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) along a highway within Zamfara State on Friday.The recent graduates were said to have been travelling with an Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom to Sokoto State, to take part in the mandatory National Service when their vehicle was intercepted.Emmanuel Etteh, the father of one of the victims, Glory Thomas, confirmed the latest development to…

The Director, Press and Public Relations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Eddy Megwa, has said that the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mrs Hannatu Musawa, who is currently doing her one-year youth service is occupying the ministerial position in breach of the NYSC Act.Speaking with our reporter over the phone, Megwa confirmed that the minister had been serving for the past eight months in the FCT.He explained that it was against the NYSC Act for any corps member to pick up any government appointment until the one-year service was over.He said Mrs Musawa was originally mobilised in 2001…

The Federal Government has restated that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd would be back on stream by December. This is part of the government’s commitment to ending petroleum product importation as soon as efforts are being redoubled to restore the nation’s local refining capacity.The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said this, according to a Friday statement by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited Garba Deen Muhammad.He quoted the Minister as giving the assurance during an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the Port Harcourt…

The 774 local government councils in the country are presently in dire financial strait and unable to cater to people at the lowest level in accordance with their constitutional mandate due to the actions and inactions of state governors.Following the poor state of affairs in the local government councils across the country, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees accused state governors of crippling the third tier of government.Saturday PUNCH investigation revealed that apart from the structures and premises of most local government council headquarters being currently in a dilapidated state, funding of the councils had become difficult due to…

• Governor approved variation and contract sum increase by ₦ 52,647,444• Governor approved 86% payment for job 55% completedWe are in possession of the contract documents for the re-construction of Adeta roundabout – Pataka roundabout road in Ilorin West LGA of Kwara State.The contract of the project was awarded on 31st January 2022 to Casarez Construction Ltd at an initial sum of Two Hundred and Forty-One Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Ten naira (₦ 241,437,610).On 21st November, 2022, Governor AbdulRahman received a request from the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu, to approve a variation…

The Nigerian military solemnly conducted a mass burial ceremony to honor the brave soldiers who tragically lost their lives in an attack and subsequent plane crash that occurred in Niger state.The incident occurred when a group of bandits ambushed the troops, resulting in the devastating loss of 14 soldiers, while seven others sustained injuries. In response to the situation, the Air Force promptly deployed an evacuation aircraft. However, tragically, the aircraft crashed, claiming the lives of all passengers aboard, including two pilots and two crew members.The programme of events includes the profiles of the fallen soldiers, highlighting their dedication and…

The Oyo State Government during the course of the week, reiterated its commitment to ending the menace of vagrancy, street begging and other societal ills, while it rescued a homeless woman and her twin daughters off the streets within the Ibadan metropolis.The rescue team, which comprises of top management officers of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, was led by the Commissioner, Hon (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun on Thursday.This exercise, according to the Commissioner, is in line with the agenda of the Governor Seyi Makinde led-administration to improve the welfare and wellbeing of the vulnerable and destitute in the…

A Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta South Local government area of Ogun State, on Thursday, has sentenced two persons, Emmanuel Choice and Ojuola Akande to three months imprisonment for stealing motor parts of a truck belonging to Dangote Cement Transport company.In a separate judgment, the court also sentenced one Olaiya Abdulrahman to six months imprisonment for driving recklessly which led to the injury of one Olusegun Olusanya.The prosecutor, Lawrence Olu-Balogun, noted that on August 22, 2023, Emmanuel and Ojuola stole four tyres, four rims and four drum hubs from the trailer body marked DT/7736/CH and two tyres, two rims,…

The burial of at least 20 officers and soldiers who were killed in action by terrorists in Niger State is ongoing.The military had last week disclosed that 36 personnel paid supreme price during an ambush by the terrorists at Zungeru-Tegina road and the subsequent jet crash that happened in Chukuba area of Shiroro, all in Niger State.Our correspondent, who is currently covering the burial reports that the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and his counterpart for State, Bello Matawalle as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, are on ground.Other dignitaries include the Deputy Governor of Niger…