The United Nations (UN) has stated the Important role of Nigeria’s progress in driving Africa’s development towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This collaboration between the UN and President Bola Tinubu’s administration aims to ensure the success of Nigeria’s development initiatives, recognizing that the country’s prosperity directly impacts the entire continent. During a courtesy visit to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr. Mohammed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, emphasized the interconnectedness of Nigeria’s success with Africa’s overall development. He highlighted that if Nigeria fails to progress, it diminishes the prospects…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced the Advance Ruling System (ARS) in order to alleviate congestion and enhance efficiency at the nation’s ports. This mechanism enables importers to obtain binding decisions from customs administrations regarding the classification, origin, and valuation of goods prior to importation. The launch event, accompanied by stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, saw the Comptroller-General (C-G) of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, emphasizing the significance of the initiative. He stated its role in promoting trade facilitation, reducing compliance costs, and fostering a transparent and predictable business environment for importers. Recognizing the importance of Advance Ruling,…
Polling stations opened across England early Thursday for a host of crunch local elections likely to ratchet up the pressure on embattled Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The polls — a mix of council, mayoral and other local contests as well as a parliamentary by-election — are the last major ballot box test before a general election set for later this year. Sunak’s ruling Tories, in power nationally since 2010 and defending hundreds of seats secured the last time these local elections were held in 2021, are tipped to suffer heavy losses. Polls over the last two years also consistently…
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced a substantial increase in the maximum deposit insurance coverage for various banking sectors. Effective immediately, the NDIC’s decision elevates the maximum coverage from N500,000 to N5 million for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), ensuring enhanced protection for depositors across the nation. Bello Hassan, the Managing Director of NDIC, unveiled the development at a press conference held in Abuja. He underscored the profound impact of this decision, highlighting its immediate implementation and its pivotal role in safeguarding depositors’ interests. Hassan elaborated, stating, “For Deposit Money Banks, the increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage…
Former US President Donald Trump took advantage of a break in his hush money trial to hold a major campaign rally Wednesday — blaming his legal troubles and America’s ills on his election rival, President Joe Biden. The former Republican president, who is again running for the White House, addressed a crowd in Wisconsin, one of the most hotly contested states in his expected rematch with Democrat Biden in November. “If we don’t win this election, I don’t think our country is going to survive. I will say it — and I’ve never said that publicly, I don’t…
Nigerian commercial banks have taken action in the first quarter of 2024, closing over 2 million bank accounts in order to cleanse their books of questionable accounts and enforce the linkage of bank accounts to the National Identity Number (NIN). According to a report released by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), the number of inactive bank accounts surged to 19.7 million in March 2024, representing a month-on-month increase of 2.0 per cent, or approximately 4 million accounts. An account is deemed inactive when it records zero transactions for six consecutive months, including deposits, withdrawals, transfers, or…
Amidst growing dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s current constitutional framework, demands for a new constitution are gaining momentum across the nation. The 1999 Constitution, inherited from the military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, is facing intense scrutiny for its origins and perceived inadequacies. Constitutional experts and leaders argue that the 1999 Constitution, often deemed a relic of military rule, lacks the legitimacy and democratic mandate required for a thriving society. Unlike the widely acclaimed 1963 Constitution, which granted Nigeria full republican status and empowered regions for competitive development, the current document is criticized for its centralized federal arrangement and dependency on…
The United States and Angola, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, alongside Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma, concluded a three-day visit to Angola with a focus on bolstering infrastructure and economic empowerment initiatives. The visit, which concluded on April 25, marked a pivotal moment in U.S.-Angola relations as Administrator Power, Deputy Secretary Verma, and U.S. Ambassador Tulinabo S. Mushingi embarked on a journey through Benguela Province, culminating in a visit to the Port of Lobito. Administrator Power and Deputy Secretary Verma commenced their engagements in Benguela by meeting with key Angolan officials, including Vice Governor Lídia Celma…
The Federal Government has issued a directive mandating all Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Directors (MDs) of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to procure needles and syringes exclusively from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approved local manufacturers. Signed by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the directive, contained in a circular dated March 28, 2024, Stating the government’s commitment to curbing the influx of substandard foreign goods into the Nigerian market. The circular highlighted the detrimental impact of such imports on local pharmaceutical industries, citing the closure of six out of nine local…
The Federal Government has initiated the commencement of smooth and secure train operations in the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria. The promise of seamless train services and enhanced security for users was made by the Federal Government during the flag-off ceremony for the first phase of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Rail line, specifically from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State. Senator Said Alkali, the Minister of Transportation, expressed confidence in the reliability of the locomotives, stating that rigorous testing had been conducted to mitigate any potential breakdowns along the line. Describing the scope of the Eastern Corridor Narrow Gauge…
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has called for increased intelligence sharing with the United States of America. This call was made during a meeting with Jennifer Zakriski, the Assistant Secretary for Defence for African Affairs at the US Department of Defence, and her team at Ship House. Matawalle stated the importance of collaboration and intelligence sharing in addressing common security challenges, with the need for early warning systems to prevent terrorist attacks. He stressed that the intelligence utilized by the US to warn its citizens in crisis-ridden countries could be shared with Nigeria, aiding in…
The UK government confirmed Wednesday it has detained an unspecified number of migrants in recent days who are set to be deported to Rwanda in July under its controversial new policy. It comes a week after lawmakers ended months of parliamentary wrangling and passed a contentious law allowing some asylum seekers to be deported by declaring Rwanda to be a safe third country. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has vowed to stop migrants arriving on small boats from mainland Europe, vowed last week to begin detaining people promptly before deportation flights start within “10 to 12 weeks”. Reports of immigration…