Pope Francis buried in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, better known as Pope Francis, who died on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 in Vatican City, has been laid to rest in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Italy. Pope was buried inside his favourite Rome church after a funeral mass in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said on Saturday, April 26. The Argentinian pontiff, was laid to rest during a 30-minute burial ceremony which started at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in the Italian capital. As reported by PEOPLE, the pontiff's funeral began on the morning of Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The service was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals and concluded with the Ultima commendatio and the Valedictio. Following the Mass, Francis' coffin was transferred via a much-watched procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major for a private burial, making him the first pope in more than a century not to be interred at St. Peter's Basilica. "The Pope's final resting place is the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome. Meanwhile. Senate President Godswill Akpabio led a five-member Nigerian delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis at Vatican City. The delegation was constituted by President Bola Tinubu and includes prominent clergy and diplomats such as Archbishop Matthew Kukah and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

OYSG SET UP TEAM TO GET ZERO TOLERANCE TO ROAD CARNAGE.

The Oyo State Government has again directed the formation of experts on motor traffic management to fashion out the possibility of having a Zero Tolerance situation for carnage and loss of property. The Press statement issue out in lbadan on Friday 25th of April 2025, signed by Bisi Bakake a Veteran Journalist/ Motor Trafic Management Exppert. The team according to the statement confirm that it's comprises eminent members of Fellows of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FICILT) Portland Palace, UK; Legal icon; and members of the Press in conjunction with contributions from Raod Safety experts within the State. According to a statement from the Team which held its maiden meeting on Wednesday 23rd 2025 in Ibadan, the move was necessitated by recent statistical analysis of road accidents in Nigeria,which showed that road traffic accidents occurred daily in the country killing an average of 14 persons. The statement added that 80 percent of victims were male who fell within productive labor force of between 20 and 50 years of age. It added that human error was found to be responsible for over 80 percent of road accidents (https;// keffi. Nsuk. edu . ng .d.... The Chairman of the Team is Major R O A Salawu rtd , the initiator of the first Road Safety experiment in Nigeria which began in Oyo State . Others are Prof. Adesoji Adesanya of NISER Ibadan; Engr. Tunde Ayangbesan ; Dr. Fasanmade Phillips; Barrister Kamisi Olukunle; Veteran Bisi Bakare of Oyo State League of Veteran Journalists; Engr. Aboderin Adewale; Engr. Victor Akintunde Engr.Akomolafe Emmanuel and Mr. Mukaila Olayiwola. At the meeting members suggested ways of improving on the existing and present road safety activities through education, technology; traffic games and the social media with a view to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the general public with regards to safety on the road. It was agreed that the public should understand that accidents do not just occur but are caused. According to the Chairman, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde will in no distance time inaugurate the committee.

International Airport Project: Gov. Makinde connects Oyo with Global market - YCE

 Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has been  praised for his prompt commitment towards infrastructural  development  in  Oyo State, the  political  Headquarters of the Yoruba race.

Prof. Nurai Bolanle Tanimowo  chairman Youruba Council of Elders (YCE) Oyo State chapter made this known in a chat with the Transview magazine online. 

Speaking further on the flagging - off the  first phase upgradement of Ladoke Akinola Airport Alakia area of lbadan to the international standard will go a long way in boosting the social economy of the Yoruba region. 

The YCE, chairman however describe , Govern,,or Makinde as one among the true sons of the Yoruba race with integrity and love for his people.

The grand breaking event will not only boost the social economy of the state after the completion of the project in twelve months but will connect the south west of Nigeria with the global market and make lbadan the global market hub, the Don laments. 

The project is expected to cost 41 billion Naira. 

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YCE. Lauds Gov. Makinde, Congratulate Oba Rasheed Ladoja

 Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE. ) urged the Yoruba worldwide to see themselves as a body and brothers keepers to one another. 

Professor Nurai Bolanle Tanimowo, the new chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE.) Oyo State chapter made the points in lbadan at the emmagency meeting of the chapter.

Speaking further Prof. Tanimowo tasked YCE. members to have collective responsibility in the project YCE that will make it more easier for the recovery of it's lost glory, so that all efforts of it's founding fathers will not be in vain. 

While pledging open administration in the  state and synergy with the national body of the YCE

. The chairman lauds Gov. Seyi Makinde wonderful parformances on governance in Oyo State and also congratulates, His lmperial Royal  Majesty Oba Owolabi Olakunlehin the 43rd Olubadan of lbadanland and the Otun Olubadan, His Royal Highness Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja.

Top  on the list of the meeting agenda was the election of the chapter's Exco. Chief S. A. Omilabu Gandhi (snr.) Vice Chairman. Dr. Bayo Adekola State Sec. Chief Mrs. Wura Adepoju. Treasurer, Comrade Sam Agbetuyi. Financial Sec. Alh. Chief Waheed Apalowo. Wefare Sec 1, and, Alh. Comrade Akano. Welfare 2 ,

Others are Baale Yemi Ogunyemi. Publicity Sec, lmam Alh. Rabiu. Chaplain (lslam) Alh. Chief Adegboyega. Ex - Officio 1, Engr. Ogunlade (JP) Ex - Officio 2, Chief Mrs. Daramola. Ex - Officio 3 and Alhaja Gbadamosi. Ex - Officio 4.

Olubadan Removes Oladoja As Mogaji, Asks Family To Present Replacement

 

Barely six months after he was suspended for land grabbing by the Olubadan Advisory Council, the Mogaji Akinsola of Opopo Labiran family compound, Ibadan, Wale Oladoja, has finally lost his title as the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has directed the family compound to present another person to fill the vacant position with immediate effect.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council presided over by Oba Balogun at his Alarere residence, on Saturday.

The meeting had in attendance representatives of the Association of Mogajis of Ibadan land led by the President, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Suleiman Raufu, who represented Barr. Niyi Ajewole, the President-General of the Council.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Personal Assistant on Media to Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, said the big axe fell on Oladoja on account of his recent media outbursts, which was considered disrespectful to the Olubadan stool and by extension the traditional institution of Ibadan land.

The Olubadan Advisory Council described the media reports credited to the deposed Mogaji as divisive, disparaging, insulting and unbecoming of a supposed leader, who is expected to be urbane and cautious in deeds and actions.

Recall that Olubadan Advisory Council had suspended Oladoja over inhuman execution of supposed court judgement on a land matter and for which he threw out some residents of Akinsola village in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, a conduct the Council described as untoward and a breach of peace.

At Saturday’s meeting, the council recalled that the suspension placed on him then did not last long because of his perceived genuine remorse and principally, because of Olubadan’s peaceful disposition.

“The recent outbursts by the same person have shown him as somebody without no iota of respect for constituted authority and any failure to bring upon him the full weight of the Council’s power would amount to condoning of indiscipline.

“To drive home the point, the Akinsola Family which produced him in the first instance was subsequently asked to present another person to replace him as the Mogaji of the family if they are still interested in having a substantive Mogaji.

“The deposed Mogaji was invited to the meeting but failed to show up on an excuse that his mother died about 24 hours to the meeting, an alibi that failed to convince the Council. 

Members, who spoke on his excuse described it as a gimmick to evade interrogation on the allegations against him and said they could not be swayed by such antics,” the statement said.

It quoted the members as saying, “a person of his character and his love for social media could nrrMouthpieceNGRot have hidden such a very important incident from the public through social media announcement. 

What’s more, he had made two different posts on the social media today without any faint reference to the said news of his mother’s death. His refusal to honour the invitation is like adding salt to an injury.” source MouthpieceNGR

Tony Elumelu gives solution to Nigeria’s electricity issues

Tony Elumelu, the chairman of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), has urged the federal government to restructure the electricity industry and sell transmission lines to boost the country's flagging economy.

Tony Elumelu said that the low level of production in the nation is caused by a bad supply of energy. Photo Credit: Tony Elumelu, Sirisak Boakaew Source: UGC

He stated in a Bloomberg interview that the industry's growth is hampered by a lack of liquidity in the electrical market and inadequate transmission lines.

Elumelu, also the chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said that a bad energy supply causes a low production level in the nation.

He stated:

“The currency crisis is a sign of many things. As a country, we can’t produce well enough despite our natural resources. The reason is lack of electricity,”

Need to attract investors

Nigeria sends less than a third of the 13,000 megawatts of electricity it generates to the grid, leaving most Nigerians dependent on home generators.

Elumelu said the way out is for President Bola Tinubu's government to attract investors to develop the nation's enormous gas reserves to fuel power stations and allow the private sector to manage the transmission lines.

Experts recently emphasized that Nigerian electricity companies need new investors to revitalise the industry as they are now short of an estimated N2 trillion ($2.5 billion) in capital.

In an interview, Olu Verheijen, an adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, said the companies are over-leveraged and under-capitalised.

According to Bloomberg, due to poor pricing, inconsistent revenue collection, and a decaying national system, most people in the most populous country in Africa now generate their electricity with loud generators, while Nigerian government has paid over $120 million to offset some of the debts owed to gas firms to enhance electricity generation.

The director of Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed. Ubong confirmed this at the ongoing 7th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2024) in Abuja on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

He said the government is also working on a scheme to curtail failures in the system.

Cross River schools shut down as measles cases emerge

 

 A measles outbreak has been confirmed in two schools within the Akpabuyo local government areas of Cross River state.

Dr. Henry Ayuk, the State's Health Commissioner, verified the outbreak, specifying the affected institutions of Navy Secondary School and Penniel Primary School.

. Photo Credit: Pius Ekpei Utomi Source: Getty Images

The State Rapid Response Team from the Ministry of Health has been mobilized and sent to the affected area.

Additionally, vaccination efforts are underway in the affected areas and neighbouring local government areas as a precautionary measure.

He mentioned that the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency is increasing efforts in regular immunisation to strengthen herd immunity.

Emphasising the contagious nature of measles, particularly among children without immunisation, parents and caregivers are urged to participate in routine immunisation drives for their children actively.

In response to the outbreak, the management of the Nigeria Navy School has shut down the institution and instructed parents to collect their children from the boarding facility promptly a circular from the school reveals:

“Good morning dear parents/guardian. This is to inform you that the school is vacating today due to some prevalent circumstances.

"The second-term academic activities will continue upon the return of the students. The date of return will be communicated.

"Please note that all SS 3 and JSS 3 students are to check for regular updates on WAEC, NECO, and BECE information.

"To this end, parents/guardians are kindly requested to pick up their children/wards with effect from today Fri 8 March 2024.

"Thank you and God bless.”

Attempts to reach the School Commandant, Capt FI Uchieme, were fruitless as his phone number was unreachable.

Okon Bassey, the Chairman of the School's Parents-Teachers Association, acknowledged receiving the message about the children being sent on vacation.

However, he stated that he had not been able to communicate with the school administration regarding this matter.

Given the circumstances, Bassey expressed confidence in the school management's decision-making process.

He emphasised that he still needed to clarify why the school was closed.

The health department emphasised in its announcement that it's crucial to promptly report any signs of Measles, such as rashes and coughing in kids, to the closest medical centre. They also stressed the importance of avoiding self-treatment.

Forensic expert confirms Emefiele forged Buhari, ex-SGF's signatures

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seconder and a forensic document examiner, Bamaiyi Haruna, has said that the analysis conducted on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) document for the release of $6.2 million in February 2023 was forged.

Haruna made the confirmation on Thursday, March 7.

 Photo Credit: Boss Mustapha/EFCC Nigeria/Godwin Emefiele Source: Twitter

The EFCC had alleged that former governor of the CBN Godwin Emefiele, in connivance with one Odoh Ocheme, now on the run, obtained $6.2 million from the apex bank. They have claimed it was a request by the SGF "vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/."

The commission had alleged that the former governor of the CBN, in January 2023, forged a document with the title "RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS," dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

The commission had alleged that the former governor of the CBN, in January 2023, forged a document with the title "RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS," dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

At the last court sitting, the former secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, explained that former President Muhammadu Buhari did not authorise the document and that it was not from his office.

The former SGF also informed the court that the Buhari's administration had no business with foreign election observers.

On his part, Haruna, the sixth prosecutor witness on the matter, explained that the real signatures of President Buhari and the former SGF were analysed with the ones on the documents, and they were not the same.

 Emefiele had threatened the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, over alleged defamation.

Through his lawyer, Emefiele asked the Senate president to apologise publicly or face an N25 billion defamation suit.

Akpabio said on Sunday that President Bola Tinubu inherited an economy damaged by Emefiele when he was the CBN governor.