Nigerians are unhappy to hear of the arrest, prosecution and persecution of 30 women in Nasarawa, among others, for exercising their rights to protest against an INEC instigated miscarriage of justice in the Nasarawa gubernational election of 2023, and the decision of the Supreme Court which upheld the results as declared.

The prosecution of these 30 women shows the failure of the Nigerian Police Force and the Government of Nasarawa State in Nigeria to uphold the right of citizens under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to protest, assemble and freely express themselves.

These women were nude, demonstrating clearly that they were both committed to peaceable protest & unarmed. It is a travesty to then accuse them of being violent when in fact, they were the people violated by the attack from the uniformed personnels, including with projectiles. Security agents, nearly all of them male, assaulted, beat up, shot at, and seriously injured some of these women in clear violation of the Constitution and in full public view. Locking them up in indefinite pre-trial detention at the instance of those whom they were protesting against constitutes POLITICAL PERSECUTION.

The misuse of security services and the abuse through the judiciary to promote partisan propaganda and political agenda should be rejected by all and it is upon this ideological and ethical basis that Project - Free Nasarawa 30 is rallying its regional and international network to ensure that the further violation of the rights of these women stops with a call on the government of Nasarawa State to end the abusive use of state power

Project- Free Nasarawa 30 is a national and non-partisan coalition comprising of civil right activists, citizens' journalists, rights' organisations and international advocacy and solidarity groups demanding the immediate release of the Nasarawa 30, a group of women currently in jail over no crime they committed even as contained in the unacceptable charges filed by the current Nasarawa State government against these women for exercising their rights to assemble and express themselves.

Project - Free Nasarawa 30 rejects in totally the tactics and aggression against these women, and calls for the immediate review of their bail conditions to grant them freedom without the culture of punitive bail terms that have been unethically and wrongly adopted by the current judicial bench to justify empty allegations against the Nasarawa 30.

An attack on the Nasarawa 30 is an attack on all women across the globe.
End the persecution now!
Free Nasarawa 30 unconditionally TODAY!

Signed

Dr. Eki Yemisi Omorogbe, International Law and Policy in Africa Network
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Co-Convener, Womenifesto
Amb. Nkoyo Toyo (Gender and Development Action-GADA)
Chidi Anselm Odinkalu (Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA)
Richard Inoyo (Citizens Solution Network)
Yemi Adamolekun (Enough is Enough)
Adaora Sydney Jack (Gender Strategy Advancement International)
9jafeminista
Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls
Above Whispers Foundation
Action Aid Nigeria
ACTS Generation GBV
Ade Grange Child Foundation
ADEM Community Human Development Foundation
Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Advocate for Health and Development Initiative
African Women’s Initiative (AWI)
Ajegunle Community Project
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
Alliance for Credible Elections
Alliances for AFAica (AfA)
Amazing Grace Inspirations
Aminchi Women Cooperative Society
Amnesty International Nigeria
ARDA Development Communication Inc.
Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation.
ASWHAN
ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)
Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA)
Association of Nigeria Women's Business Network (ANWBN)
Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA)
Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
AWEP
ANWIB
AWFAN
FEBWE
FEDAN
BLECCA Foundation
Bring Back Our Girls
Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
Cece Yara Foundation
Cedar Seed Foundation
CEE-HOPE Nigeria
Centre for Good Governance and Accountability
Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)
Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)
Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)
Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)
Centre for Peace Education and Community Development
Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Change Managers International Network
Center for Women’s Health and Information
Centre for Media and Development Communications
Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC)
Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Charity Women Spring of Salvation
Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society
Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)
Choung-Dung Women Association.
Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
Christian Women in Nigerian Politics
Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
Community and Youth Development
Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society
Community Partners for Development.
Community Life Project (CLP)
Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)
Community Women Initiatives (CWI)
Country Associates Network (CAN)
Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)
Crestville Development Foundation (CDF)
Champion Women Entrepreneurs Mentoring Association (CWEMA)
CWEMA
Daria Media Foundation (DMF)
Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
Diaspora Womanifesto2019
Dinidari Foundation (DF)
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)
Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
Edo Women's Development Initiative
Education As A Vaccine (EVA)
EiE Nigeria
Emerge Women (EW)
Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EARC)
Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)
Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper
FACICP Disability Plus
FAME Foundation
Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)
Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)
Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)
FIDA Nigeria
First Future Leadership
FOMWAN
Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)
FRED
FEDAN
Gender Action Awareness Trust
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Gender and Development Action (GADA)
Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender Development Initiative
Gender Equality Center
Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
Gender Technical Unit (GTU)
Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI)
Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives
Girl Child Africa
Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation
Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
Girls Power Initiative (GPI)
Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)
Green Spring Development Initiative
Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)
Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)
Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation
Heal Disability Initiative
Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative
Health Reform Foundation Of Nigeria(HERFON)
HEIR Women Development (HWD)
Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development
Hope for New Life (HNL)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)Nigeria
Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)
Inter Africa Committee (IAC)
Inter Gender Peace Foundation (IGPF)
International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network (IANSA)
International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)
International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)
International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
International Women Communication Centre (IRIAD)
Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF)
Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing
Jana Health Foundation (JHF)
Julie Oyegun
Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP)
Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)
KMashi Gamji Women
Kebetkache Women Development And Resources Centre
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative (KTMDI)
Kilimanjaro Youth Foundation
League of Queens International Empowerment (LQIE)
League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)
LEDAP
Lift Initiative
League of Queens International Empowerment
Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW)
MBULA Women Association
Media &Teens Network
Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children
Media Concern Initiative (MediaCon) for Women and Children
MODAC
Mothers United and Mobilised (MUMs)
More Women in Politics
My Voice My Future NGO
Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT)
NAWE
NNEW
NAWORG
Nigerian Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
National Centre for Women Development
National Council of Women Societies (NCWS)
NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women
Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation
Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN
Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)
NEWA
NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society
Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
Nigeria For Women Project
Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee
Nigerian Express
Nigerian Women Politics Forum
Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)
Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI)
Ogun Women Alive
Okwuzi Women Forum
Olive Community
Development Initiatives
Onomese Foundation
Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD)
Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative
Ovie Brume Foundation
Partners West Africa
Peasant Dragnet
Princess Olufemi-Kayode
Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)
Project Alert on Violence Against Women
Ray of Hope Community Foundation
Relief Development Initiative Kaduna
Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
Sesor Empowerment Foundation
She Forum Africa
Safe Space Initiative
Save a Child Lend a Hand Foundation
Sheforshe Africa Initiative
She Mentors Initiative
Shout Global Health
Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON)
South- South Professional Women Association.
Stand to End Rape (STER)
Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation
Support For Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI)
TechHerNG
THR Media
The Inclusion Project (TIP)
The Priceless Jewels Foundation
THR Media - HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE
Tonia Bruised but Not Broken Foundation
Transformation and Development Center (TDC)
Transition Monitoring Group
Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF)
UC Women Commission
UTO Foundation
Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI)
Voice of Ogun Women (VOW)
West African Network for Peace
WEWENETWORK AFRIQUE
WEPDN
Widows Development Organization (WIDO)
Woman-Being Concern Nigeria (WBC)
Women’s Leadership Group (WLG)
Women &Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN)
Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD)
Women AT Risk International Foundation(WARIF)
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
Women Aid Collective (WACOL)
Women in Mining
Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative
Women Youth and Children Upliftment Foundation (WYCUT)
Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI)
Women Empowerment and Initiative Development
Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)
Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI)
Women Environmental Programme (WEP)
Women Farmers Alliance (WFA)
Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)
Women for Women International (W4WI)
Women Foundation Initiative (WFI)
Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)
Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC)
Former Women Action Organization (WAO)
Women in Africa Initiative (WIAI)
Women in Agriculture (WIA)
Women in Mining (WIM)
Women in Politics Forum (WiPF)
Women Information Network (WINET)
Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE)
Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)
Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN)
Women Lead Agric (WLA)
Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Women of Vision Development Initiative
Women Protection Organization (WOPO)
Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN)
Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program
Women Optimum Development Foundation-WODEF
Women Right to Education Programme (WREP)
Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri
Women’s Rights and Health Project
Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
Working Moms Africa (WMA)
Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
Women Initiative on Climate change
Women in Politics Forum (WIPF)
Women in Management Buisness and Public Service (WIMBIZ)
WISCAR
Women Democracy Network Africa – Nigeria
WomenPreneurs (AWEBO)
Yiaga Africa
Youth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI)
Zonta International Club of Lagos 1
50MAWSP
100 Women Lobby Group (100WLG)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague on Friday ordered Israel to “take all measures within its powers to prevent the commission of any acts of genocide” against Palestinians in the besieged Hamas-controlled Gaza but fell short of calling for an immediate ceasefire as demanded by South Africa in its case of alleged genocide against Israel.

In its 35-minute majority ruling read by Justice Joan Donoghue, President of the 17-member panel of Judges, the Court also ordered Israel to “prevent and punish direct and public incitement to commit genocide; and to “immediately enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.”

Noting that it has jurisdiction on the case and dismissing Israel’s objection, the Court also ordered Israel to “prevent the destruction, and ensure the preservation, of evidence related to South Africa's allegations.”

Both South Africa and Israel claimed “victory” over the ICJ ruling, which also ordered both parties to submit to the Court within one month, reports on their compliance with its orders.

South Africa had taken Israel to the ICJ alleging that Israel had violated the United Nations 1948 Genocide Convention as a result of the Israeli military ceaseless bombardments of Gaza in retaliation for the 7th of October 2023 raids on Israel by the Palestine militant group Hamas.

In reaching its conclusions, the ICJ cited statements by Israeli officials, including racial slurs and the reference to Palestinians as “human animals.”

The Court also referred to statements by UN senior officials describing the sufferings and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as well as attacks by the Israeli military on infrastructure, homes, and hospitals, and denial of births in Gaza.

The Genocide Convention is the first human rights Treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1948, signifying the international community’s commitment to ‘never again’ after the atrocities committed during the Second World War.

It describes genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy in whole, or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.”

The ICJ decisions are binding on State signatories, but the court has no means of enforcement.

Although Israel has a track record of disobeying UN decisions/resolutions, the Gaza case before the ICJ, a legal arm of the UN, is different since it touches on genocide.

Israel is among the UN’s 92-member State signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention, which was informed by the mass killings of European Jews by Nazi Germany under Hitler, known as The Holocaust.

Also, apart from the outrage expressed in “Court of Public Opinion,” growing anti-Israeli sentiments over the humanitarian devastation in Gaza, support is waning for Israel, which continues to claim self-defence in the Gaza war.

Israeli officials said some 1,200 Israelis were killed, while 250 people of different nationalities were also taken hostage during the Hamas raids.

According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, some 26,083 Palestinians have been killed and more than 64,400 wounded since the 7th of October 2023 Hamas raids on Israel.

South Africa deserves credit for escalating the Gaza crisis to the ICJ, although it remains to be seen whether the Court’s ruling would increase the pressure on the U.S. to persuade Israel, its major ally to end hostilities in Gaza in favour of a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Could Africa take a cue from this development, to review its relations with external partners given the “many raging Gaza-like” conflicts on the continent and other parts of the World with negative impacts on the continent and its more than 1.3 billion people?

Incidentally, Justice Donoghue is American, but ICJ judges are supposed to be apolitical and supranational.##

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has refused to rule out Stanley Nwabali from the side’s quarter-final fixture against Angola.

Nwabali sustained a knee injury in Nigeria’s thrilling 2-0 victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon last Saturday.

The 27-year-old was replaced by Francis Uzoho 10 minutes from time.

The Chippa United shot stopper sat out training on Monday night at the Police College, Cocody.

“He (Nwabali) is with us, we are hoping he will be available for the game against Angola,” Peseiro told reporters.

“He will undergo another test on Wednesday. After that we will know whether he can play or not.”

The Super Eagles will take on the Palancas Negras of Angola at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Friday.

Amid the continued foreign exchange crisis in Nigeria and the freefall of the Naira, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved crude oil sales revenue to the Central Bank of Nigeria from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in sweeping reforms in the oil and gas sector.

The Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, last week, during a keynote address at the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, “2024 Macroeconomic Outlook Report,” said that the directive is part of collaborative efforts between the CBN and the Ministry of Finance.

He said: “This coordinated effort will greatly enhance the Bank’s foreign exchange flows and contribute to the accretion of reserves.”

Under the new arrangement, NNPCL will submit receipts for crude oil sales to CBN for vetting and documentation.

Sources familiar with the development said the reform would see receipts of payment for oil sales forwarded by NNPCL to the apex bank to boost transparency and accountability.

Over the years, NNPCL had maintained sole control over crude oil sales, only rendering accounts to the Federal Government.

In 2022, the NNPCL declared zero revenue remittance to the Federal Government.

The company had blamed fuel subsidies for non-remittance.

Recall that the former CBN governor, Lamido Sanusi, said NNPCL is responsible for the persistent forex crisis due to its opaque nature of managing revenue from crude oil sales in the country.

Consequently, the former Emir of Kano called for a company probe.

The development comes as the Naira crashed to N1,348.63 against the US Dollar at the official forex market and quoted at N1,450 at the parallel market on Monday.

The federal government of Nigeria has expressed its readiness to engage in dialogue with the military governments in Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso over the recent decision by the three countries to dump the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Naija News recalls the three countries on Sunday, announced their immediate withdrawal from the ECOWAS bloc, a decision that has spread diplomatic shock waves across the region.

Amidst the development, the Nigerian government has expressed sadness but says the country remains open to talks with the three affected countries.

The country says it stands with ECOWAS in its resolve to promote peace, prosperity, and democracy in the West African sub-region.

The position of Nigeria was made known in a statement on Monday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli.

“For half a century, ECOWAS has worked to promote peace, prosperity, and democracy in the region. Nigeria stands with ECOWAS to emphasise due process and shared commitment to protect and strengthen the rights and welfare of all citizens of Member States.

“Nigeria has worked sincerely and in good faith to reach out to all members of the ECOWAS family to resolve the difficulties being faced. It is now clear that those seeking to quit the Community do not share that same good faith.

“Instead, unelected leaders engage in a public posturing to deny their people the sovereign right to make fundamental choices over their freedom of movement, freedom to trade, and freedom to choose their own leaders.

“Nigeria remains open for engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger so that all the people of the region can continue to enjoy the economic benefits and democratic values that ECOWAS embraces,” the statement read in part.

Posters of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, promoting him as the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has flooded Abuja forty-eight hours after leaving office.

The posters of the former governor were seen on major streets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially around the Federal Secretariat and on walls and fences of structures around the APC national secretariat along Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

The picture of Yahaya was adorned with the inscription “APC Next Level. Alhaji Yahaya Bello as APC National Chairman. Leading the Change, Building a Stronger APC.”

Party sources who spoke to The Nation said the move to unseat the incumbent chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, was being orchestrated both within and outside the party.

It was also gathered that the latest move was a plot by some elements within the party from the North Central zone to regain the office of the national chairman, which was lost to North West, where Ganduje hails from.

A source in the party who spoke in confidence said: “Bello’s move is an attempt to bring back the chairmanship seat to the region, and it is believed he has the backing of several stakeholders in the North-central.”

Recall that the present national chairman of the APC is Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

He was elected at the August 3, 2023, National Executive Committee (NEC) to replace Abdullahi Adamu, who resigned from office.

South African club, Chippa United are demanding €2m to sell their Nigerian goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, DAILY POST reports.

Nwabali has been one of the standout performers for Nigeria at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The 27-year-old has kept three clean sheets in four outings for the Super Eagles in the competition.

The shot stopper has also cut the eye with his impressive displays for Chippa United this season.

Belgian Pro League outfit, Union St Gilloise are reportedly leading the chase for Nwabali.

The former Katsina United goal tender is a major doubt for Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 quarter-final clash with Angola on Friday.

He sustained a knee injury in the Super Eagles Round of 16 victory against perennial rivals, Cameroon last Saturday.

Nollywood actor cum politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has berated the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) for charging N30m as the nomination form fee for aspirants interested in the party’s ticket for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

Okonkwo, in a short statement on Tuesday via his X account, said fixing such a high amount is insensitive and ill-advised of the party.

He argued that the Labour Party is meant to be a party for ordinary workers and Nigerians, but fixing such an amount for its nomination fee is simply excessive, objectionable, and unacceptable.

The Labour Party chieftain urged his party to retrace its steps so as not to be seen as towing the lines of failed and corrupt All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He wrote: “The decision by the Labour Party to fix its Edo State governorship nomination form fee at N30m is simply excessive, objectionable, and unacceptable. This is towing the line of the failed and corrupt APC and PDP. Nomination fee by a party, which is meant to be a party for ordinary workers, and which the ordinary workers can not afford is insensitive and ill-advised.

“The Labour Party should retrace its step now to avoid being classified in the same category with the old Nigeria political parties.”

Recalls that LP had announced that interested aspirants in the party’s ticket for Edo State would pay N30 million for nomination and expression of interest forms. The party also fixed February 22 for the conduct of the primary election.

But aspirants hoping to clinch the Labour Party (LP) ticket for the September 21 Edo State governorship polls have rejected the N30 million charged by the party for expression of interest and nomination forms.

This was made known by one of the aspirants, Dr Egbe Omorodion, who told newsmen in Benin that all the governorship aspirants want a reduced fee and have scheduled a meeting to take a stand on the matter.

According to him, if the Labour Party could reduce the fees for Imo State to N15m, then the same should be done for Edo State.

However, the Labour Party (LP) has told its members in Edo State interested in the upcoming governorship election to withdraw their bid if they cannot afford a nomination and interest form fee of N30 million.

Addressing the press in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, reiterated that the fee Labour Party imposed for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms in the Edo State governorship election is the most economical among the three major parties in the country.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has refuted claims that he has the ambition of becoming the next Governor of Ekiti State.

Alake, in a statement on Monday released by his spokesman, Segun Tomori, stated that he has no interest in running for governor now or in the near future.

The former Lagos Commissioner stated that he is very committed to his current national assignment as a minister, adding that he has nothing to do with a fake campaign poster circulating on social media.

According to the minister, the poster in circulation does not have his approval as he does not know the people behind it, urging the public to disregard it.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oladele Alake, has been drawn to a poster that is circulating on social media and across WhatsApp groups where he is positioned as a gubernatorial aspirant in Ekiti State with the inscription ‘Take it Back’,”

“The general public is hereby informed that Dr Alake has no interest in running for the governorship election in Ekiti State, either now or in the future.

“The poster in circulation does not have his approval as he does not know the people behind it. It is fake and should be discarded.

“It is unconscionable that the Honourable Minister who is busy with the onerous task of reforming and revamping the Solid Minerals sector in Nigeria, a responsibility committed to him by President Bola Tinubu will leave that to be plotting for an election in Ekiti State.

“The Honourable Minister is a busy man, working tirelessly on how to make the solid minerals sector a major revenue earner for the country and for the sector to create thousands of high-paying jobs for Nigerians.”

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the appointment of Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd) as the Corps Marshal of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps Agency (LAGESC).

Similarly, the Governor confirmed that Adefemi Adedimeji Afolabi has been chosen as the new General Manager of the Lagos State Waste Water Management Office (LASWAMO).

Naija News reports that the development was confirmed in an official statement released on Tuesday morning by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina.

According to separate appointment letters signed by the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, Major Cole (Rtd), and Afolabi, appointments were to be effective from January 25th, 2024.

In addition, Sanwo-Olu has also sanctioned the appointment of three new Deputy Corps Marshals for LAGESC/KAI, namely: Osifeso Olusegun Shakiru, responsible for Intelligence and Monitoring; Oyenola Koyejo Quadril, in charge of Discipline and Welfare; and Apena Idowu Yisa, overseeing Administration.

The three newly appointed Deputy Corps Marshals, two of whom were promoted from the LAGESC/ KAI personnel, officially assumed their positions on January 25th, 2024.

The Head of Service urged the new appointees to exhibit utmost commitment, diligence, and selflessness in carrying out their responsibilities in order to validate the Governor’s faith and trust in them.