Category: PM News

A Lagos-based elite social group, the Fs Club, has named former Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as patrons.

The club said both men were chosen for their inspiring public service records and contributions to national development.

At its 45th anniversary and 2025 Induction of New Members and Investiture of Patrons Ceremony, the club described them as leaders with great impact on society.

The president of the club, Mr Olaolu Osanyin, welcomed the new patrons, saying their professional achievements and public reputations were worthy of emulation.

He said their involvement would bring fresh insight and strengthen the club’s efforts toward social and philanthropic growth.

‘We are eager to learn from your wise counsel and to leverage your goodwill in taking Fs Club to greater heights,’ Osanyin said.

Osanyin also inducted 14 new members who had successfully completed the club’s admission process.

He said the new members were outstanding Nigerian professionals selected after a rigorous screening exercise.

Delivering a keynote address, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, a former club president, recalled that Fs Club was founded on April 9, 1980, with Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun as the protem president.

Ashafa said the 30 founding members built what has become one of Nigeria’s most enduring social clubs.

He described the club as a cradle of achievers who have carried its values of excellence and service into society.

Ashafa, a member since 1983, expressed optimism about the club’s growing relevance as a force for mentorship, community service and nation-building.

He urged members to remain committed to personal growth, mutual support and integrity.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Adekunle Ogunsanya, said the club was built on long-standing friendship, love and trust.

Represented by former president, Dr Wale Ogunbadejo, he said the members shared a strong bond and a collective desire to uplift communities.

The Chairman of the Induction and Membership Committee, Mr Temitope Ashiwaju, said membership was strictly by referral and followed thorough screening.

He noted that only 14 of over 100 applicants were admitted this year, urging them to uphold the club’s reputation.

Dr David Majekodunmi, Chairman of the 45th Anniversary Planning Committee, said the club had impacted more than 500,000 lives since 2000.

New inductees include Messrs Patrick Okonji, Henry Anah, Olufemi Odubanjo, Olalekan Idowu, Joseph Anikwe, Olumide Koku, and Oladeji Fayemi.

Others are Adewunmi Abiodun, Olumayowa Babatunde, Luqman Dosunmu, Babatunde Ajala, Demola Ajayi, Kehinde Oreagba, and Kayode Aluko.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odunlami received Fashola’s award on his behalf, while Gbajabiamila was personally decorated as a patron.

Gbajabiamila thanked the club for the honour, describing it as a forum of men of character, wisdom and humour.

‘I am happy to be part of this club and to be associated with you,’ he said.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 75-year-old with 4.7kg of skunk seized from him at Ovum village, Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA), Abia.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja, said the suspect was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Babafemi said that another 60-year-old was also nabbed with 225 grams of same substance at Apanta village in the same LGA.

Meanwhile, 150kg skunk was recovered during a raid operation at Lot camp, Ikun Akoko in Ondo.

Babafemi added that two suspects were also nabbed with 234.5kg of the same substance at Yan aya, Saminaka in Lere LGA, Kaduna State on Friday, Oct. 24.

‘Another set of suspects were arrested with 8,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol along Abuja/Kaduna highway.

‘At the Seme border area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, Oct. 22 nabbed another suspect with 55kg skunk at Ashipa area of Badagry.

‘Another suspect was arrested with 121.3 litres of skuchies at Itoga Badagry,’ he said.

In another development, in Zamfara state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Gummi-Anka road on Monday, Oct. 20 arrested a suspect in possession of an AK 47 rifle.

Babafemi said that the suspect was also with 1,746 assorted calibres of ammunition, for AK 47 and GPMG rifles while moving them from Sokoto to Bagega forest, Anka LGA, Zamfara.

‘Both the suspect and the exhibits have since been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation,’ he said.

According to him, commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

‘These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Asabari Grammar School, Iluwa Isale Oke, Saki West LGA, Oyo; Government Day Girls Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi; St. Mark’s College, Nsude, Enugu; Kusaki Secondary School, Gboko North, Benue;

‘Others are Government Day Secondary School, Serti- Baruwa, Gashaka LGA, Taraba; Police Children School 2, Port Harcourt, Rivers and Hajara Ahmad International School, Tudun Wada, Kano state, among others’.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment in building strategic global partnerships to counter negative narratives aimed at damaging the country’s reputation.

Idris stated this at the UK Edition of the Renewed Hope Global Dialogue with the theme: ‘Strengthening Global Partnerships for Economic Renewal and National Rebranding under the Renewed Hope Administration’.

This is contained in a statement by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim on Saturday in Abuja.

According to him, the partnerships and collaboration remain central to Nigeria’s efforts at rebranding and repositioning itself, on the world stage.

‘Let me now highlight one of the reputational challenges we are currently confronting, which is a disinformation campaign, falsely and maliciously alleging state-sponsored and targeted religious attacks and discrimination in Nigeria.

‘We have been very robust in our rebuttals, making it clear that these are despicable narratives being peddled by people who know nothing about Nigeria.

‘We need international friends and partners who know our country very well and understand our nuances and complexities and who can add their voices to ours, to present an accurate, believable and credible picture of the country,’ he said.

Idris emphasised that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, was deeply involved in the task of national rebranding, working with strategic partners to project Nigeria positively.

‘A national brand does not emerge by accident; it has to be designed, crafted and marketed in a deliberate and painstaking way,’ he said.

The minister revealed that the ministry, in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) had launched the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG).

According to him, the partnership aims at maximising positive national pride among Nigerians and promoting a positive global reputation in all spheres.

Nigerian reality TV star and former Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate Elizabeth Oloruntola, popularly known as Zita, has opened up on her relationship with her parents

The former housemate had revealed that she had absconded from home. She noted that her parents were not aware of her participation on the reality show.

While speaking with her fans, Zita disclosed that she is now on good terms with her parents. She added that her family had also forgiven her rebellion.

‘I met with my parents recently and they were very proud of me. My dad was boasting to his staff that his child in now a celebrity. They were so proud that I won Head of House twice. Reuniting with my family was fun. We were just chilling and gisting. My mum also forgave my past rebellion,’ she stated.

The United States and China have agreed on the framework of a new trade deal, their first in nearly six years, just days before President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in South Korea.

US Trade Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the agreement on Sunday, saying it includes a final decision on TikTok’s US operations and a temporary suspension of China’s tightened rare earth mineral export rules.

Bessent added that the 100% tariffs earlier threatened by President Trump on Chinese goods are ‘unlikely to take effect,’ though he stopped short of saying they had been fully scrapped.

Under the new framework, China is also expected to resume large-scale soybean purchases from the US, a move that could provide relief for American farmers who have been hit hard by Beijing’s earlier trade restrictions.

Bessent met with senior Chinese trade officials at the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, describing the talks as ‘constructive’ and confirming both countries have reached ‘a substantial framework’ for their leaders to finalise.

The long-running tensions between Washington and Beijing had escalated after Trump announced plans to impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports unless China relaxed its new export rules on rare earth minerals, key materials used in smartphones, electric cars, and military equipment.

China, which controls about 90% of global rare earth processing, has now agreed to pause those restrictions for a year as part of the new deal.

‘I don’t believe the tariffs will go into force,’ Bessent told CBS News, hinting that the framework would avert a new round of trade conflict.

Trump and Xi are expected to seal the agreement later this week during their meeting in Seoul, in what could mark a turning point for economic relations between the world’s two largest economies.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau has elected new officials to oversee its affairs in the next four years.

The officials were elected during the congress of the party held in the state on Saturday in Jos.

Dr David Umbugadu, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, returned 39 persons who contested for various positions as the duly elected officials of the party in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though all the newly elected officials emerged via consensus, delegates still cast their votes for the aspirants who contested for various positions.

Umbugadu, who reeled out the votes scored by each of the newly elected officials, explained that the process was transparent and clear.

‘The process of this election is transparent and clear.

‘We did this in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other election stakeholders.

‘So, by the powers confined in me by our great party, the PDP, I hereby declare all of you returned elected,’ he declared.

In a brief acceptance speech, Mr Raymond Dabo, the newly elected Chairman of the party in the state, promised to serve with dedication and commitment.

Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, who congratulated the newly elected officials, urged them to work towards leading the party to victory in 2027.

He urged them to unite members of the party, resolve all existing grievances and the ones that may arise in the future.

‘Your first job is to unite the party; ensure that the division in the party is resolved.

‘The time of exclusion is over. Let’s give everybody the opportunity to resolve their grievances.

‘I want to plead with you, set aside any selfish interest and pursue the general interest of the party.

‘There are no more factions in the party,’ Mutfwang said.

Victor Osimhen continued his hot scoring streak on Sunday, helping Galatasaray fight back to beat Goztepe 3-1 in a Turkish Super Lig clash at RAMS Park.

The visitors stunned the home fans in the sixth minute when Efkan Bekiroglu fired Göztepe ahead. But Galatasaray hit back through Osimhen, who pounced on a defensive error to draw level in the 19th minute, his third league goal of the season.

The Nigerian striker’s fine form comes just days after he bagged a brace in Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League.

Gabriel Sara and Mauro Icardi added two more goals in the second half to seal the victory, keeping Galatasaray firmly at the top of the table with 28 points – five clear of Trabzonspor.

Goztepe, who have now lost only their second game of the campaign, remain fifth with 16 points.

A shocking tragedy has struck a small Russian community after a newborn baby was killed when her five-year-old sister allegedly threw her out of a fourth-floor window.

The horrifying incident happened in Vasilyevo village, Tatarstan, while the children’s mother was reportedly away visiting a friend.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a child screaming from the apartment window before spotting the lifeless body of the 21-day-old baby on the concrete below.

Paramedics rushed to the scene but confirmed the infant was already dead.

Local investigators said the mother, who left the girls alone while her husband was at work, may face criminal charges for negligence.

Authorities are probing whether the older child acted out of jealousy toward her baby sister.

District chief Mikhail Afanasyev described the case as ‘heartbreaking’ and urged parents to ‘never leave young children unattended.’

Police say a criminal case has been opened to determine the full circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

Nigerian fashion creator Priscilla Ojo Mkambala, has responded to the backlash she received over fashion choice.

The influencer on her social media page, responded to a critic who called her out for repeating a shoe she wore during her wedding reception.

‘Is that not the heels you wore for your wedding?,’ the user wrote.

Priscilla responded, noting that comments like that place unnecessary pressure on young ladies.

‘My generation girls are living in delusion, thinking I should only wear Jimmy Choos once just because my fanbase is bigger now. This exact reason is why many young girls feel pressured by social media to fit an unrealistic standard. Note: My life will go however I want it to go. As long as my family, friends, and honest fans are happy, every other person’s opinion is just noise,’ she wrote

Nigerian reality TV star Terseer Kidd Waya, popularly known as Kiddwaya has opened up on the challenges of dating ladies from the lower or middle class.

While speaking in an interview, the entrepreneur and Billionaire’s son claimed that ladies from regular background becomes entitled when dating wealthy guys.

‘At first, they’re thankful everything feels new and exciting,’ he said. ‘But after a few months, they start comparing themselves to others. They want the same bags, the same trips, and soon, what was once special becomes expected. The entitlement sets in and sometimes turns into rudeness. That’s been my biggest issue dating someone from a lower class and bringing them into my lifestyle,’ he stated.

Kiddwaya also revealed what he looks for when choosing a partner. He disclosed that he doesn’t see background or status but focuses on character and values.

‘I don’t pick based on background or status. Just be nice, have good energy, and stay grounded. I’m very easy to please when it comes to relationships. You have to believe in God. It doesn’t have to be tied to religion, but there must be a belief in something higher than us. The way you speak to a waiter or anyone who’s not on your level says everything about you. Respect should never depend on status. I could wake up and say, ‘Babe, we’re going to Jamaica tomorrow,’ and I want her to say, ‘Let’s go. I just like someone who can match my energy and enjoy the moment,’ he added.