Good day! Below is a Summary of News Stories Across Nigeria and Abroad:
1. Following the removal of fuel subsidy, the National Economic Council (NEC) has made moves to provide palliatives for workers and vulnerable groups in the country to improve the impact. The Council after its inaugural NEC meeting on Thursday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, announced that it would set up a committee to work out within two weeks, the modalities for organizing and distributing the palliatives. Members of the committee comprise the Governor of Kebbi, the Governor of Benue for North Central; the Governor of Kaduna, Northwest; Bauchi, representing the North East; the Governor of Cross River, South-South; Anambra representing the South East geopolitical zone and Oyo State for the South West. Speaking to State House correspondents at a briefing, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who was flanked by four of his colleagues, said the Council also discussed the possibility of obtaining funds from the World Bank and London partners to implement a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme for vehicles in the country as part of measures to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal. CHANNELS
ALSO READ: Tinubu gives marching order to Security Chiefs…
2. The police in Kano State have confirmed the trapping of four scavengers under the debris of the demolished Daula Hotel building, on Murtala Mohammed road, in the Metropolis. The commissioner of police, CP Muhammad Usaini Gumel told newsmen at the site of the incident on Thursday. Gumel said three of those trapped were rescued alive, while one person was confirmed dead. LEADERSHIP
3. The National Population Commission, NPC, has said that the N200 billion spent so far for preparation of the national population and housing census was between 2014 and 2023. The Commission was reacting to twisted narratives by some media outlets (not Vanguard) that the Commission had squandered N200 billion in just one year (2023). You will recall that in May, the Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, in a meeting with media executives in Abuja, announced that N200 billion had been spent for the conduct of the census. However, the NPC at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, said it was true that N200 billion has been spent on census but that the money expended was between 2014 and 2023. VANGUARD
4. The Acting Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Adepoju, on Friday, announced a state of emergency on Passport issues in the country. Adepoju said during her working visit to Lagos that there was an urgent need to address the challenges faced by Nigerians in obtaining international passports. A statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Tony Akuneme, said that the acting CGI inaugurated a state-of-the-art Visa-on-Arrival Lounge at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. DAILY POST
5. Super Falcons Chief Coach, Randy Waldrum, has released the squad list of players for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The list of 23 players was published on the Twitter handle of the Nigerian Football Federation on Friday. The names on the list include Francisca Ordega, Assiat Oshoala, Ashleigh Plumptre, Onome Ebi, Desire Oparanozie, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Christy Ucheibe and Gift Monday. Others are Halimatu Ayinde, Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie Tochukwu Oluehi, Yetunde Balogun, Deborah Abiodun, Rofiat Imuran, Osinachi Ohale, Ijeoma Okoronkwo and Tosin Demehin. CHANNELS
6. Popular comedian Real Warri Pikin, whose real name is Anita Alaire Afoke Asuoha, has shared her personal struggle with mental health. The beloved actress and social media sensation disclosed a previous suicide attempt in 2018 during a conversation with media personality, Chude. Warri Pikin disclosed that she and her husband, Ikechukwu Asuoha, found themselves with financial difficulties in 2017 and 2018, which led her to contemplate ending her own life. However, her suicide attempt did not succeed. In those dark moments, she recalled waking up in the third hospital and questioning why she was still alive. PULSE
7. South Korea’s military said on Thursday that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles, , shortly after Pyongyang warned of an “inevitable” response to ongoing US-South Korea joint military drills. The trilateral statement reflected the growing thaw between Japan and South Korea — a major foreign policy goal of President Joe Biden’s administration as it strengthens alliances in a region tested by North Korea and expansionist China. It noted that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Thursday in Tokyo with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts “to further strengthen trilateral cooperation, including through lock-step coordination in responding to the threats” from North Korea. CHANNELS
8. The organisers of Felabration have announced that this year’s edition of the annual music festival in memory and celebration of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will hold from Monday, October 9 to Sunday, October 15, 2023. This was announced in a press release made available to journalists in Lagos on Friday, June 16, 2023. The theme for this year’s edition is ‘Question Jam Answer,’ a classic record composed by Fela and released in 1972. The song fits right into the socio-political mood of the country after the intriguing general election, where people are searching for answers to questions asked. Felabration 2023 will present an authentic and vivid showcase of African music, creativity and resilience through art, dance, fashion and music. PUNCH
9. Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen’s value has increased by another €20 to €120m.
According to Transfermarkt, Osimhen is now the most valuable player in the Italian top flight’s history, breaking a record set by Paulo Dybala. The 24-year-old is also in the top five among the most valuable players in the world. The striker had a remarkable campaign with Napoli, helping the Partenopei win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years.
Osimhen scored 26 goals to emerge top scorer in Serie A, the first African to achieve the feat. DAILY POST
10. Japan’s age of consent was raised from 13, among the world’s lowest, to 16 years old on Friday as lawmakers passed key reforms to sex crime legislation. The reforms, which also clarify rape prosecution requirements and criminalise voyeurism, cleared parliament’s upper house in a unanimous vote. Campaigners welcomed the reforms, with the Tokyo-based group Human Rights Now calling them “a big step forward”. The lifting of the age of consent in particular will “send a message to society that sexual violence by adults against children is unacceptable”, the group said in a statement. CHANNELS
PROCYON NEWS
 has made moves to provide palliatives for workers.){kind=link}