News
Paris 2024 Announces Olympic And Paralympic Test Event Programme

Paris 2024 organisers have announced a programme of Olympic and Paralympic test events between July 2023 and June 2024.
Three different types of test event have been organised, to help with preparations for sports and venues in the run-up to the next Olympics and Paralympics in the French capital.
Four test events are being organised by Paris 2024, with these created in cases where athletes need specific knowledge linked to a particular sport or venue.
The first of these Olympic Games test events is a sailing competition due to be held at Marseille Marina from July 9 to 16 2023.
The second test event is a World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and World Triathlon Para Cup in Pont Alexandre III from August 17 to 20.
Pont Alexandre III is scheduled to host triathlon, Para triathlon and marathon swimming events, plus part of the road cycling competitions.
The third test event of 2023 is a mountain bike competition, due to be held at Elancourt Hill on September 24.
The final test event, due to be held from May 4 to 5 2024, is set to take place at the hockey venue, the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes.
Nine test events are competitions organised by national or international sports federations or third parties, which will allow Paris 2024 to test certain operations at events.
The first of these test events is the French Youth Championships, due to be held at the golf venue, the Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines on July 26 and 27 2023.
Three test events are planned this year for the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Seine-et-Marne, which is due to host canoe sprint, Para canoe, rowing and Para rowing competition at Paris 2024.
The first is the World Rowing Junior Championships from August 2 to 6, followed by an International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup on August 30 and September 1 and finally the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final from October 5 to 8.
The World Rowing Junior Championships are due to test timekeeping and scoreboard systems, while the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final is due to test the sporting and technical operations of the course.
Other third party events where various operations will be tested during 2023 are the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in the River Seine on August 5 and 6, a World Surf League Tahiti Pro event in Teahupo’o from August 11 to 20, and an Archery World Cup stage in Invalides on August 19 and 20.
During 2024 third party test events are due to be held at the National Archery Centre in Chateauroux from April 8 to 14 and the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis from April 29 to May 8.
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader

The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
Business
New NNPCL Boss Urged To Absorb Hyson Staff Over Labour Law Fears

The Global Information Team (GIT) has urged the newly appointed management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by Ojulari, to honour a prior commitment to absorb 12 staff members from the now-defunct Hyson Nigeria Limited, warning that failure to do so violates international labour standards.
The appeal, spearheaded by GIT’s head of investigation, Anabel Crown, follows the dissolution of all trading joint ventures by the NNPCL board in late 2023, which saw Hyson Nigeria Limited officially wound up on 31 December of that year.
The move was part of a broader consolidation effort to bring all trading operations under a wholly owned NNPCL entity.
At the time, assurances were made that the 12 Hyson employees would face no job losses and would be seamlessly transferred to NNPC Retail Limited—a promise that has yet to materialise.
Under the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari, who was recently removed by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the transition stalled, leaving the workers in limbo.
The GIT now calls on Ojulari’s administration to revisit the matter urgently, either by absorbing the staff into NNPCL or offering them substantial severance packages akin to those provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria to its relieved employees.
“This prolonged uncertainty is not just a breach of trust—it’s a violation of international labour law,” Crown told Elanza News.
“Keeping workers promised employment in suspense amounts to deceit and deception, with devastating consequences for their livelihoods and families.”
The situation has been compounded by alleged mismanagement during the transition.
Sources within GIT allege that the former managing director of Hyson Nigeria Limited deliberately withheld a crucial letter that would have facilitated the staff’s absorption into NNPC Retail Limited.
“This was an act of selfishness, with no regard for the wellbeing of these workers or their families,” Crown said, pointing to the rigorous interviews the staff underwent, with results submitted to the NNPC Retail board—then chaired by Kyari—for approval that never came.
The affected workers, described as “fathers and children” by GIT, have faced severe hardship, deprivation, and even starvation as the matter remains unresolved.
“These are people who went through a thorough recruitment process and were deemed successful, yet they’ve been left to suffer,” Crown added.
In a direct appeal, GIT has called on President Tinubu, who serves as the substantive Petroleum Minister overseeing NNPCL, to intervene. “As the father of the nation and a true democrat, we urge Mr President to wade into this matter.
These workers deserve sympathy and swift action—absorbing them without delay is not just a matter of humanity, but a defence of their rights and privileges,” the GIT statement read.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations following Kyari’s exit and Ojulari’s appointment, with stakeholders watching closely to see if the new leadership will prioritise transparency and accountability.
For now, the fate of the 12 Hyson workers hangs in the balance, their plight a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic delays.
National
Protest: NUJ Demands Apology From Police Over Assault On Journalists

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.