Category: PM News

Kogi Governor Ahmed Ododo has conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the victims’ families and the entire Ibaji community over the recent boat mishap that claimed many lives.

The Governor expressed the sympathy during his visit to the Ejeh of Ibaji, HRM, John Egwemi on Wednesday.

Ododo was represented by his Deputy Joel Salifu, during the condolence visit to the palace of the Ejeh.

It would be recalled that a boat carrying scores of passengers on Sept. 30 capsized on the River Niger, leading to the death of over 20 persons with several others yet to be accounted for.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency and other critical stakeholders have been mobilised to the scene for fact-finding and rescue operations.

The governor assured the community that the state government would not relent until all efforts to rescue the remaining victims were fully exhausted.

‘We want to assure you that Ibaji is not alone; the government stands firmly with you in this trying period,’ he said.

He disclosed that a government delegation had already been dispatched to the scene of the incident to ascertain the level of casualties and provide immediate intervention.

Responding, the Ejeh of Ibaji, who is also the Chairman of Ibaji Area Traditional Council, described the tragedy as devastating, noting that accidents often occur without warning but leave behind deep scars.

Egwemi expressed gratitude to the governor for the visit and assured that the traditional council would continue to brief the state government on developments.

He confirmed that although many lives were lost in the mishap, some victims were rescued, while efforts were ongoing to recover others still missing.

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Monday Okpebholo, has charged Nigerians on the need for unity and teamwork to achieve the purpose of independence.

He gave the charge on Wednesday, in a speech he delivered to mark the nation’s 65th Independence Day anniversary.

He noted that every October 1 reminds Nigerians ‘of the sacrifices of our founding fathers, who fought with courage and vision to give us a free nation’, adding that it is a day of pride, reflection, and, above all, renewed hope.

‘Independence is not only about freedom from foreign rule. It calls for unity and teamwork in order to maximise the opportunities that come with freedom. We must always remind ourselves that we can achieve more if we come together as Edo people,’ Okpebholo said.

Addressing the children and youths, the Governor who described them as the heartbeat of this State, charged them not to give in to despair.

‘Do not give in to despair. Your energy and talents are the key to our future, and this government will continue to invest in you.

‘My message today is simple: A New Edo Has Risen. A New Nigeria Has Risen. Together, with courage and dedication, nothing can stop us,’ he concluded.

Nollywood actress Liz DaSilva has shared an emotional testimony after narrowly escaping a tragedy during a routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

The actress took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal how she almost entered the MRI machine with hidden metal pins in her wig, a mistake that could have caused a serious accident.

‘I had an appointment this morning for 10:40 a.m.,’ she recounted in a tearful video. ‘I took off my earrings, bra, waist beads, and even asked for help to remove my chain. I was almost ready to go in when I remembered that my wig had pins inside.’

DaSilva explained that the attendant confirmed she was about to ask about the pins when she mentioned it. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears, thanking God for what she described as divine protection.

‘Truly, God saved me. I can say it boldly anywhere. I am not ashamed, I am not afraid. If God had not protected me, who knows what would have happened? Maybe I wouldn’t even be here,’ she said in Yoruba.

An MRI machine uses powerful magnets to create detailed images of the body, and any metallic object can be extremely dangerous inside the scanner.

The conflict in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has ended after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) suspended its strike against Dangote Refinery.

The strike was called off after Dangote Refinery agreed to bring back workers who were sacked for joining the union.

The decision followed a two-day meeting between the Federal Government, PENGASSAN, and Dangote Refinery.

Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, reminded both sides that workers have the right to join unions under Nigerian law.

After the meeting, it was agreed that Dangote Group would immediately begin re-assigning the disengaged staff to other companies within the Group without loss of pay, and no worker would be punished for their role in the dispute.

PENGASSAN also confirmed it would begin the process of ending the strike.

PENGASSAN had announced the strike on Sunday, asking its members to cut gas and crude oil supply to Dangote Refinery after the company dismissed workers for joining the union.

Nigerian video director ThankGod Omori Jesam, popularly known as TG Omori, has opened up on his celibacy journey.

While speaking on the impact of celibacy on his X handle on Wednesday, Omori revealed that he has had less problems since he became celibate.

The cinematographer known for expressing his opinions, also revealed that he took an oath of celibacy.

‘Since I became celibate, half of my problems got solved,’ he wrote.

This revelation quickly triggered reactions from other users. While some highlighted the advantages of practicing celibacy, others argued about the impossibility of such commitment.

English singer, Lola Young has cancelled her upcoming shows and performances after collapsing on a stage during a performance.

The incident which occurred in New York on Saturday, drew the attention of her fans towards her mental and physical health.

Lola, however spoke up after the fall, revealing that she was ok. She then announced on Tuesday, that she will be going away for a while.

While apologising to her fans for the inconvenience, Lola explained that they will be given a full refund for their tickets.

‘I’m going away for a while. It pains me to say I have to cancel everything for the foreseeable future. Thank you for all the love and support. I’m so sorry to let anyone down who has bought a ticket to see me, it hurts me more than you know. Obviously you will be entitled to a full refund. I really hope you’ll give me a second chance once I’ve had some time to work on myself and come back stronger. Love you all, Lola x,’ she wrote.

Lola also thanked her fans for their support, assuring them that she is doing ok.

Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has broken new ground in her international career, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10 million units in the United States.

The feat was confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by Chart Data on X, which announced that her Grammy-winning collaboration with Future and Drake, WAIT FOR U, had officially crossed the 10 million sales mark.

The record places Tems in rare company, further solidifying her influence on the global stage. She has also etched another first, recently becoming the first African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.

Her rise to global stardom began in 2020 after her breakout feature on Wizkid’s Essence, and she has since amassed a string of accolades while embarking on a world tour that spans Africa, South America, and the United States.

For perspective, Wizkid remains the first Nigerian male artist to achieve a similar feat, after Drake’s One Dance hit Diamond certification in 2022.

Ebonyi governor, Francis Nwifuru has said he was shocked over recent insinuations on the social media that he travelled abroad to attend to a health condition.

The rumours of the ill-health of the governor had caused palpable anxiety among some people in the state with many expressing worries over the governor’s wellbeing.

Speaking on Thursday, Nwifuru said he was shocked over the rumours his illness while on a recent official trip abroad.

The Governor spoke during the 65 Independence celebration and 29th year of Ebonyi’s creation in Abakaliki.

He said even his father was perturbed and called him to ask whether all was still well.

Contrary to the rumours, Nwifuru insisted that he was hale and hearty while on the foreign trip.

He attributed the rumours to what he described as the misrepresentation of his meekness to be weakness.

‘We have given people lots of privileges, but do not push a man to the wall.

‘I was, however, encouraged with the fact that if you are not important, no one will talk about you,’ he said.

Nwifuru counseled people especially youths not to take his calm, unique but resolute disposition for granted.

‘This does not mean that we cannot bite but I don’t want us to start biting.

‘When you see a man that is calm, be careful of him.

‘When I recall my rough road to where I am presently, I decide to take things easy,’ he said.

He reeled his administration’s achievements since assuming office in 2023, reiterating his determination to meet all objectives in his people’s charter of needs mantra.

‘Ebonyi has a lot to celebrate at 29 years and I thank our former governors and leaders of the state for keeping the state together since 1996,’ he said.

Former Governors of the state, Sen. Sam Egwu and Chief Martin Elechi in their remarks, thanked Nwifuru for effectively steering the state’s affairs in the people’s benefit.

The state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha among other stakeholders also congratulated the governor, while pledging their unalloyed support to his administration.

The governor inspected a guard of honour to mark the celebration, presented staff of offices to new traditional rulers in the state among other engagements.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria as the country marks its 65th Independence Anniversary.

In a statement shared on social media, Atiku described the current situation as ‘tragic,’ highlighting widespread hunger, insecurity, and the plight of millions of Nigerians displaced within their own country.

‘Atiku noted that in a nation blessed with immense human and material resources, millions have been reduced to refugees and beggars in their fatherland,’ the statement read.

He criticised the current administration, saying it has ‘abandoned its people,’ leaving citizens vulnerable to starvation and violence from bandits and armed groups.

The former presidential candidate emphasised the power of democracy, reminding Nigerians that the ballot box remains a tool for change.

‘Oppressed and battered as our people may feel today, they will have the chance to sweep away this inept government at the next polls. That is the power no cabal can take away from the people,’ he said.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 65-year journey, Atiku described the country as a ‘giant moving painfully slow on feet of clay,’ attributing the nation’s slow progress to decades of poor leadership and mismanagement.

He nevertheless expressed optimism that with responsible governance, Nigeria could recover and reclaim its position among the leading nations of the world.

Concluding his message, Atiku extended Independence Day greetings to all Nigerians, wishing them a day of reflection and celebration despite the challenges.

‘We suspended the action in good faith to respect government. But the moment we detect any foul play or gimmicks, we will return to the trenches immediately,’ the President of PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo said on Thursday while confirming the suspension of industrial action declared by the union of alleged sack of its members by Dangote Refinery.

He added that the union will resume strike action if Dangote Group defaults on the agreement it reached with it for suspending the industrial action.

Osifo stated this during a news conference at the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, on Wednesday to assess government’s intervention in the prolonged industrial dispute.

The strike was initially triggered by the reported mass sack of more than 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Limited after they voluntarily subscribed to join PENGASSAN.

Osifo described the dismissals as an attack on workers’ constitutional rights and a violation of Nigeria’s obligations under International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions protecting freedom of association.

‘Let it be known clearly that if there is any slip or breach in implementing this agreement, we shall immediately resume our suspended nationwide industrial action,’ Osifo warned.

He said NEC decided to suspend the strike out of respect for institutions, in spite of serious concerns over loopholes in the government-brokered agreement reached with Dangote management.

‘Even with our doubts about Dangote’s sincerity, we have chosen the moral high ground. Nigerians must see PENGASSAN as patriotic, law-abiding and committed to sustaining national economic stability,’ he stated.

Osifo said the union’s main demand was full reinstatement of the affected workers, but government instead opted for redeployment within related companies owned by the Dangote Group.

‘Our position was simple: bring them back to their original jobs. Government proposed a middle ground instead, and that remains our greatest reservation with the settlement,’ Osifo explained.

He added that the union accepted the compromise reluctantly, noting that the most important thing now was to get the affected workers back to earning and feeding their families.

However, Osifo made it clear that PENGASSAN would not be misled by unfulfilled promises or prolonged delays.

‘We will not wait endlessly if nothing happens.

The Dangote/PENGASSAN Agreement

The Federal Government had in an earlier statement indicated that PENGASSAN had agreed to suspend its two days strike action against Dangote Refinery.

This followed a two-day meeting, held on Monday and Tuesday between the Federal Government, PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery.

The agreement for calling off the strike stipulates three key positions: Dangote Group would immediately start the reabsorption of sacked workers, and PENGASSAN would suspend the strike and end workers’ victimisation.

‘Reabsorption of Workers: The Dangote Group management will immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay,’ the communique read.

‘No Victimisation: Both sides agreed that ‘no worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse.’

PENGASSAN had while announcing the strike on Sunday directed its members to cut gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery.