In a recent statement, the White House expressed deep disappointment over the Uganda Constitutional Court’s ruling to uphold significant portions of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. This decision, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, poses a threat to human rights and undermines the potential economic prosperity of all Ugandans. Despite overturning some clauses of the law, the Court’s failure to fully revoke the Act leaves LGBTQI+ individuals vulnerable to hate-driven violence, discrimination, and severe legal penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty, solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. President Biden’s condemnation of such legislation as infringing…
Author: Editor Francis
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has imposed stringent penalties on Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) for its failure to adhere to the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024. A fine of ₦200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) has been levied against AEDC for disregarding the prescribed customer band classifications outlined in the tariff billing regulations. The Commission’s decision comes following an extensive review process and customer feedback, which exposed AEDC’s indiscriminate application of the new tariff across all customer bands. This practice contradicts the order’s objective of ensuring fair billing practices within the electricity distribution sector.…
The World Trade Organisation is recognising the urgent need to tackle climate change head-on through substantial decarbonisation efforts. It is actively implementing trade-related climate measures (TrCMs) to encourage lower emissions, foster technological advancements, and promote sustainable practices across international supply chains. According to a document made available to GOVIMA from the Committee on Trade and Environment Council for Trade in Goods , it stated that with over a thousand TrCMs already reported to the WTO, including measures like carbon border adjustment mechanisms, there’s a growing necessity for comprehensive discussions to evaluate their effectiveness and global impact, ensuring they are in…
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arrested 39 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Benin City. EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale in a statement in Abuja said that the suspects were arrested following “actionable intelligence” on their suspected involvement in a computer-related fraud. He said that items recovered from them included eight cars, laptops and phones. ”The suspects will be charged to court soon,” he said. (NAN)
French President Emmanuel Macron has made a significant admission regarding France’s involvement in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, stating that France and its allies “could have stopped” the genocide but “lacked the will to do so.” Macron’s statement comes as Rwanda commemorates the 30th anniversary of the genocide. In a video to be released on social media on Sunday, Macron acknowledges France’s failure to act decisively during one of the darkest chapters in Rwanda’s history. He asserts that France, along with its Western and African allies, had the capacity to intervene and prevent the genocide, but ultimately fell short due to…
Social media sensation and entrepreneur Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, is set to appear before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, April 5. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a six-count charge against Bobrisky, alleging offences related to abuse of currency and money laundering. According to the charge sheet presented by EFCC Prosecutor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo, Bobrisky faces accusations regarding the misuse of currency at various social events. The charges outline incidents where Bobrisky allegedly tampered with sums ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦400,000 by spraying money…
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loan, Gboyega Isiaka (APC, Ogun), has disclosed that the funding required for the successful implementation of the Student Loan program will be sourced from one percent of all revenues accruing to the Federation Account. Isiaka reassured Nigerians of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure adequate funding for the scheme, which aims to benefit students studying in public-owned tertiary institutions across the nation. The Student Loan Act Amendment Bill was recently signed into law by President Tinubu, marking a significant step towards the smooth initiation of the scheme.…
Imports of raw materials into the country rose by 25 per cent to N3tn in 2023. This is according to the Foreign Trade Statistics data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. The major raw materials imported during the period included cane sugar, other lubricating oils meant to be mixed further, preparations of milk containing vegetable fats and oils, mixtures of odoriferous substances, sheets for veneering, among others. Conversely, Nigeria could only export raw materials worth N1.8tn between 2022 and 2023, recording a N3.6tn balance of trade. Speaking with The Punch, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the…
The family of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of unlawfully eavesdropping on his confidential conversations with his legal team while preparing his defence. In an open letter addressed to the five Southeast governors, Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, decried his brother’s detention as unlawful and expressed grave concerns about his deteriorating health. “Kanu is gravely ill and dying slowly. Biafraland will hold you all accountable should anything happen to him,” Emmanuel wrote, urging the governors not to abandon Kanu in detention. He highlighted the violation of…
In a recent meeting with the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, in Geneva, Switzerland, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, pressed for increased assistance for youth employment and social security initiatives in Nigeria. During the 350th session of the ILO Governing Body, Minister Onyejeocha emphasized the importance of Nigerian representation within the international organization. She congratulated Houngbo for being the first African Director-General in over a century and assured him of President Tinubu’s backing for strategic collaborations. Highlighting Houngbo’s achievements in promoting social justice and tackling workplace inequalities globally, Minister Onyejeocha…
The Nigerian Senate has declared its intention to announce its stance on the recent 300 percent increase in electricity tariffs for Band A customers upon the resumption of its plenary session following the Easter and Sallah break. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, April 16. The increase, announced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has seen tariffs for Band A consumers surge from N66 to N225/kwh, effective immediately. Band A customers, who enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily, make up approximately 15 percent of the country’s 12 million electricity consumers. Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of…
Frustration mounts among Guaranty Trust Bank (GT Bank) customers as the banking giant grapples with persistent service disruptions since Wednesday. Reports indicate that numerous users have encountered glitches in accessing essential banking services, prompting widespread concern. Despite the escalating distress among customers, the bank’s management has yet to issue any formal response or explanation regarding the ongoing technical issues. Consequently, dismayed clients have turned to social media platforms to voice their dissatisfaction with the situation, with many expressing frustration and anxiety over the lack of resolution. @ToluOgunlesi You know what happened to @WhatsApp yesterday? Yeah, it is currently happening to…