Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf met with National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu at the Office of the NSA in Abuja on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, was prompted by the recent political upheavals in Kano, including the dissolution of five emirates by the Kano State House of Assembly and the reinstatement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II by Governor Yusuf. A statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, highlighted that the discussions covered various matters of state and national development. Governor Yusuf emphasized the importance of the NSA’s role in maintaining harmony across…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
NNPC Limited and ExxonMobil have sealed a $1.28 billion asset divestment deal involving Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. The agreement was reached to transfer a 100% interest in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energy Offshore Limited. This milestone follows a directive from President Tinubu urging the Ministry of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) and NNPC Limited to expedite the deal, aiming to unlock substantial benefits for Nigeria and its stakeholders. NNPC Limited confirmed the settlement agreement in a statement, stating its commitment to advancing the country’s energy sector. The divestment is expected to enhance operational efficiency and…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on teenage girls from the South-East region of Nigeria to reject the cervical cancer vaccination being offered by the Federal Government. Emma Powerful, the IPOB media and publicity secretary, issued a statement on Wednesday stating the group’s concerns. In October 2023, the International Vaccine Centre announced that the Federal Government of Nigeria had introduced a single-dose HPV vaccine into its routine immunization program. This led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with support from partners like Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, and IVAC, aims to combat HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer,…
Billions of dollars’ worth of gold is smuggled out of Africa each year, much of it bound for Dubai before it is legally re-exported to other countries, a Swiss NGO said Thursday. Development NGO Swissaid published a report saying that 321-474 tonnes of African gold produced through artisanal and small-scale mining goes undeclared each year, representing a value of between $24-$35 billion. Africa is the world’s main gold-producing continent, with Ghana, South Africa, Mali and Burkina Faso leading production in 2022. According to the NGO, smuggling of African gold is on the rise, having “more than doubled between 2012 and…
UNICEF on Wednesday condemned a “distressing” 70 percent rise in grave violence against children in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, countries plagued by jihadists and other armed groups. The three Sahel states are all under military rule after experiencing coups since 2020, with civilians caught in a spiral of clashes between jihadists, community militias, bandits, regular armies and their auxiliaries. Mali is also facing a separatist insurrection. “In the last three months of 2023, grave violations against children in the central Sahel increased by more than 70 percent compared with the previous three months,” said Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director…
Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Israel, a diplomatic source told AFP Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions between the two countries over Israel’s war in Gaza. The nearly eight-month-old conflict has soured Israel’s diplomatic ties with several nations, including Brazil, whose President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in February accused the country’s government of genocide. Israel reacted furiously, declaring the Brazilian leader persona non grata.1:00 Israel had previously summoned the South American country’s ambassador Frederico Meyer to a meeting at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center in Jerusalem, where he was publically reprimanded in Hebrew without a translator present, said the…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B, South-South, has called on the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) to arrest and prosecute the association’s factional leader, Lucky Emonefe, on charges of impersonation and attempted fraud. This call was made during a press conference in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, by the Zonal Secretary, Comrade Nathaniel Archibong. Archibong, alongside other NANS leaders from the zone, alleged that Emonefe has been impersonating the president of NANS and attempting to defraud the Akwa Ibom State government of N13 billion. The accusations stem from a two-page letter…
The Democratic Republic of Congo unveiled a new government on Wednesday, ending more than five months of deadlock following President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election. The announcement came less than two weeks after the country’s military said it had thwarted a coup attempt that saw armed men attack a minister’s home before entering the Palais de la Nation that houses Tshisekedi’s offices in the capital Kinshasa. It also came at a time of renewed fighting in eastern DRC, where the Congolese army is trying to regain territory seized by Rwanda-backed M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels. Announced around 02:00 am local time (0100…
Equities fell Wednesday on lingering worries about the outlook for US interest rates, while oil prices extended their gains after an attack on a ship in the Red Sea stoked fresh worries about supplies from the Middle East. With crucial inflation data out of the United States due at the end of the week, investors are largely playing a waiting game, with many inclined to sell after a recent run-up. Asian investors shifted nervously Wednesday and markets fell across the region, with Hong Kong leading the losses owing to heavy selling in Chinese tech firms. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai,…
As the highly anticipated conclusion of former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial looms, the nation finds itself on the edge of its seat, awaiting the verdict that could reshape political landscapes and public perception. After more than a month of proceedings in a New York City courtroom, where Trump stands accused of falsifying business documents to cover up hush money payments, the trial has reached its climax. With both prosecution and defense having presented their cases, the fate of Trump now rests in the hands of 12 New Yorkers tasked with making an historic decision. The options before the jury…
An Israeli airstrike targeted a tent camp in Rafah, Gaza, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians. The strike, which hit an area where displaced Palestinians were seeking shelter, sparked a fire that swept through the camp, leaving behind scenes of horror and tragedy. Local officials reported that at least 45 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, with fears that the death toll could rise as more casualties are discovered amidst the flames. Images and videos shared on social media depicted the chaos and anguish as residents scrambled to escape the inferno,…
Severe storms wreaked havoc across multiple states over the Memorial Day weekend, leaving at least 22 people dead and a trail of destruction in their wake. The aftermath of the holiday weekend saw devastating tornadoes and storms sweep through Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, claiming lives and causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. Tragically, the toll includes casualties ranging from adults to children, as well as significant losses in property and livestock. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed seven fatalities, including two children, following tornadoes and severe weather that battered northern parts of the state. The destruction left behind…