USAID Administrator Samantha Power and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan has taken a step towards combating global environmental issues by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This memorandum formalizes their shared commitment to collaboration in tackling pressing challenges such as climate change, pollution, and lead poisoning. The partnership, solidified through the memorandum, targets critical issues affecting communities worldwide. Of particular concern is the widespread problem of lead poisoning, which affects approximately one in three children globally and contributes to the deaths of over 1.6 million people annually, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Administrator Power advocates for stringent…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
Dr. Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, a 40-year-old mechanical engineer, has emerged as the first female aspirant to officially join the race for the governorship ticket of Ondo State. Dr. Waheed-Adekojo made headlines on Wednesday as she became the trailblazer by picking up the N10 million expression of interest form at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat, signaling her intent to contest for the highest office in the state. The APC has set the expression of interest form at N10 million, with a concession for female aspirants and persons with disabilities to procure only the expression of interest form, while…
President Bola Tinubu has set up a mechanism to steer the nation towards sustainable growth and resilience. The newly established Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) comprise a total of 31 distinguished members, including government officials and representatives from the private sector. The PECC, spearheaded by President Tinubu himself, features key figures such as the Vice President, Senate President, and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, along with several ministers and heads of critical sectors. Notably, 13 representatives from the organized private sector, including renowned figures like Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu, are…
Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is leading efforts to bolster trade relations between the United States and Africa. Coleman is attending the Atlanta Phambili event in Georgia, showcasing a pivotal moment in fostering economic partnerships. Organized by Prosper Africa and the U.S. Mission to South Africa, the Atlanta Phambili event serves as a dynamic platform to launch the economic pillar of the U.S. Mission’s Atlanta Phambili initiative. The initiative aims to cultivate fresh investment avenues for both American and African enterprises, reinforcing ties between the two continents. During her visit,…
University College Hospital, Ibadan, says it did not owe the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company a N495m bill, as being insinuated. UCH’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Ibadan. NAN reports that IBEDC had disconnected power supply to UCH due to what it called accumulated bills of N495m, thus throwing the facility into darkness. Adetuyibi, however, said that it was not true that the hospital had an accumulated bill of N495m over the last three years. She said that the…
Israeli forces pounded besieged Gaza on Wednesday in the war sparked by the October 7 attack and fought Hamas around several hospitals despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire. Talks in Qatar towards a truce and hostage release deal, involving US and Egyptian mediators, have brought no result so far, with Israel and the Palestinian militant group blaming each other. Tensions have risen between Israel and its top ally the United States over the soaring civilian death toll and dire food shortages in Gaza, and Israeli plans to push its ground offensive into the far-southern city…
To combat oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta Region, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched a series of targeted airstrikes, destroying several illicit refining sites and barges in Rivers State. According to Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF, the operation conducted between March 25th and 26th, 2024, targeted notorious areas including Bille, Dariama, Elem Bekinkiri, Temakiri, Opumakiri, and Degema. At Bille, a barge laden with illegal refined products was detected navigating through the creeks and promptly eliminated by the airstrike. In Dariama and Tumakiri, active illegal refining…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced concerns over the escalating rates of banditry and kidnappings in Nigeria, attributing the surge to rampant unemployment. Speaking at the 9th International Trade Exhibition & Conference on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing, and Packaging in Lagos, Obasanjo stated the urgent need for employment opportunities to mitigate the involvement of unemployed individuals in criminal activities. He said, “Of course, if we are able to achieve this, it will improve our security. Part of our insecurity are men and women that are not properly engaged. “If we are able to give them employment, there will be…
Togo has adopted a new constitution, moving from a presidential to a parliamentary system. The adoption of the new constitution, ratified by lawmakers on Monday, introduces several key changes. Notably, lawmakers will now elect the president of the republic for a single six-year term. Additionally, the position of “president of the council of ministers” has been established, granting the holder full authority to manage government affairs. Under the new framework, the president of the council of ministers will be either the leader of the majority party in the legislative elections or the leader of the winning coalition of parties.…
As the Easter holiday approaches, air travelers in Rivers, Kano, Enugu, and Ogun states are encountering soaring air ticket prices, according to recent findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The surge in airfares is presenting challenges for passengers seeking to journey within Nigeria during the festive period. In its latest report on transport fare watch for February 2024, the NBS revealed that passengers flying through these states faced ticket prices ranging between N95,000 and N100,000. In stark contrast, travelers passing through Abia, Kogi, Abuja, and Plateau states experienced relatively lower airfares, ranging from N80,700 to N70,000 within…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 17 political parties are set to participate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election, scheduled for September 21. This announcement comes following the closure of the candidate nomination portal on March 24, with all parties successfully uploading their candidates’ nomination forms before the 6 p.m. deadline. In a statement released by Mr. Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee at INEC, it was disclosed that the personal particulars of the candidates and their running mates will be made public on March 30. This disclosure aligns…
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, amidst the cancellation of his 72nd birthday celebration and non-placement of adverts on newspapers, has promised to tender an apology later to media houses. Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, conveyed this on Tuesday, addressing the fallout from his decision to redirect birthday donations to charity organizations and forego advertisements in newspapers and radio stations. The directive came from Tinubu’s recognition of the national mood, particularly in light of recent security challenges and losses suffered by the military and police in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria. …