The spokesperson of Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba sociocultural group, Yinka Odumakin is dead. The late Odumakin, a publicity analyst, activist, and politician reportedly died on Saturday in Lagos. Speaking on Odumakin’s death, his wife, Joe Okei-Odumakin in a statement, said her husband died, on Saturday, at the intensive care unit of LASUTH where he was being treated for respiratory issues. Okei-Odumakin had said her husband recovered from COVID-19 a week ago before his sudden death. She appreciated the sympathy shown to her and the family by well-meaning Nigerians since the news broke out, adding that the burial arrangement will be announced soon.

The United States of America (US) Mission in Nigeria has drawn the attention of the public to a fake press release announcing a new work visa for Nigerians. The US Embassy denied the alleged work visa for Nigerian citizens aged 40 to 55. It disclaimed the purported report in a tweet on its official Twitter page @USinNigeria on Wednesday. The press release had clarified that those eligible for the work visa are health workers, accountants, engineers, marine workers, among others. The alleged initial press release being circulated claimed that “President Joe Biden, the 46 US President has signed an Executive Order that interested citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who measure in some special professions are eligible for American Work E-Visa and Residence Permit. This was communicated to the Nigeria US Department of immigration.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Willie Bassey, who made the announcement in a statement on Thursday in Abuja disclosed that Orji’s appointment was for a single term of five years, in accordance with the provision of Section 12 (2) (a) and 6 (3) of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Establishment) Act, 2007, Orji’s appointment is for a single term of five years.

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of the late former Inspector General of the Nigeria Police, Gambo Jimeta. His death was confirmed by the presidency in a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to president Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja. Mr. Shehu wrote “President Muhammadu Buhari expresses sadness over the death of Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, a one-time Inspector General of Police whose transition was announced Thursday evening. “Today, Nigeria lost a great son. He lived for the nation and served with all his strength,” he said.

The Presidency has condemned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s seven days ultimatum for herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves. Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, while reacting to the report in a statement on Tuesday said that the presidency has been keenly monitoring events occurring in Ondo. He encouraged the state government to tackle all forms of criminality but not breach the rights of herders in the state. The statement read in part, Mr. Shehu said ”rather the ultimatum and contradiction that may follow the order, the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities in Ondo state should dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state”. He said Mr. Akeredolu “will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals”.

The abrupt downing of work tools by staff of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has halted the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) registration with thousands of applicants locked outside of the NIMC offices. A communiqué signed by the President of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NIMC branch, Lucky Michael, and Secretary, Odia Victor has directed members to embark on strike over poor welfare package, lack of tools and risk of exposure to coronavirus. “The meeting was convened to discuss the state of the exposure of staff members to COVID-19, and the salary structure and its representation in the annual appropriation, and the irregularities in the conduct of promotions, and the personal protection and safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the communiqué read.