Good day! Below is a Summary of News Stories Across Nigeria and Abroad:
1. The Federal Government on Tuesday, reiterated its commitment to the development of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the country. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Evelyn Ngige said this in Abuja during the Validation Workshop of the Draft National Action Plan for the Development of EVs in Nigeria. The workshop was organised by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) with the theme, ”Positioning Nigeria among the leading countries in Vehicle Electrification.” VANGUARD
ALSO READ: Fuel Price Rises, Hits N617/litre
2. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disowned a police lawyer, Ibrahim Mohammed who filed a criminal charge against former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah. The anti-graft agency on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police was not mandated or authorised to file any criminal charges against Mrs Oduah who represents Anambra North in the Senate. EFCC’s counsel, Heleen Okonofua informed Justice James Omotoso that the Police lawyer who claimed to have come from the Legal Department of the Force Headquarters was also not authorized by the anti-graft agency to represent it to prosecute Mrs Oduah in any criminal matter. DAILY POST
3. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has said the decision by Victoria State government to withdraw as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games was “hugely disappointing”. The CGF said in a statement that it was given only eight-hour notice of the decision, which was announced by Victoria’s State Premier, Daniel Andrews, on Tuesday morning. Andrews told the media in Melbourne the original budget for the games was estimated to be around $2.6 billion Australian dollars (£1.3 billion) but had ballooned out to nearly triple of the amount. LEADERSHIP
4. From week one to 27 of 2023, a total of 170 deaths have been reported from Lassa fever, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The reported deaths are with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.2 percent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (19.6 percent). This is contained in the latest Week 25-27 update on Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria published by the NCDC on Monday. The update noted that in Week 27 of 2023, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 10 in epidemiological Week 26, 2023 to six cases. This was reported from Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi and Benue states. CHANNELS
5. The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has attributed the rise in petrol pump prices in Nigeria to market forces. This follows a recent price increase from N540 to N617 per litre, which he said reflects the dynamics of a market-regulated pricing model. Addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja, Kyari said, “They are just prices depending on the market realities. This is the meaning of making sure that the market regulates itself. Prices will go up and sometimes they will come down also.” However, he debunked notions that the price increase is due to a shortfall in petrol supply. PUNCH
6. Akon is a legendary Popstar whose music defined the early 2000s American R&B and Hip Hop scene and who also offered Afrobeats a hand in taking the genre to international listeners through his collaboration with Nigerian artists. In a new interview with the popular music podcast “Drinking Champs”, Akon shared stories about his early life in America, getting into car stealing, and becoming a music star. During the interview, Akon talked about Africa, and during the conversation, he called Nigerians the smartest people on the continent. According to Akon, Nigeria is similar to New York City and Nigerians are the smartest people on the planet. PULSE
7. Former US president Donald Trump said Tuesday he has received a letter from prosecutors suggesting he is likely to be criminally indicted over the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. The former president, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said he was given “a very short four days” to report to a grand jury, “which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment.” “This witch hunt is all about election interference and a complete and total political weaponization of law enforcement,” Trump said. Trump is already facing charges brought by Smith, the special counsel, for mishandling top secret government documents after leaving the White House. CHANNELS
8. Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has affirmed his players are ready ahead of the opening fixture of 2023 Women World Cup against Canada coming up on Thursday. The American, in an interview, reflected on the situation of the team ahead of the fixtures in the group stage. The Super Falcons will be slugging it out against the Olympic champions at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. Co-host Australia and Republic of Ireland are the other two teams the Nigerian team will play against in the group stage. VANGUARD
9. Nigeria continued its dominance of the Para Games as the nation’s athletes won a total of thirteen medals at the just concluded All Africa Para-Badminton Championship held in Kampala to top the medals table. Nigeria represented by highly rated athletes clinched eight gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the championship held at MTN Arena, Lugogo Stadium, Kampala, Uganda. Nnanna Jeremiah Chigozie and Bolaji Mariam Eniola won three gold medals each to replicate their performance at the Uganda International Para-Badminton Championship held at the same venue last week. CHANNELS
10. Russia launched missile and drone strikes on southern and eastern Ukraine overnight that destroyed infrastructure in the Black Sea port of Odesa. The strike was launched after a retaliatory pledge from Russia having pulled out grain export deal, which has become a global concern, according to Reuters. Ukrainian officials, on Tuesday, said Russia bombed the grain port after blaming Volodymyr Zelensky’s country for blasting a bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula on Monday. VANGUARD
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