In a significant move towards bolstering global standards for ethical business practices, the Biden-Harris Administration has just unveiled the United States’ second National Action Plan (NAP) on Responsible Business Conduct. This comprehensive plan underscores a dedication to fortifying human rights and labour rights, promoting green energy initiatives, combating corruption, safeguarding human rights defenders, advancing gender equality, and ensuring technology is used in a manner consistent with human rights principles. President Biden, widely recognised as the most pro-worker president in history, has made it a cornerstone of his administration to foster a sustainable global economy that prioritises the needs of workers…
Author: Editor Francis
Six farmers from the Tiv community were reportedly slain by unidentified gunmen in the Kadarko Community of Keana Local Government Area in Nasarawa State This appalling attack adds to the series of assaults on Tiv farmers in the region, resulting in displacement and fear among the community members. According to an investigation by Punch , the assailants executed three farmers on Saturday afternoon while they were tending to their farmland. The violence continued on Sunday morning, with three more farmers falling victim to gunfire near the Railway axis of the community. Expressing concern over the escalating oppression, a resident…
Residents of Omagwa and Ipo communities in Rivers State’s Ikwerre Local Government Area have staged a protest at the entrance of the Port Harcourt International Airport. GOVIMA gathered through PUNCH that they are decrying the lack of power supply and essential amenities in their area. This demonstration has led to a disruption in flight operations, leaving air travelers stranded. The resulting gridlock extends from Airport Road to nearby communities. Protesters, gathering as early as 7 am on Wednesday, expressed frustration over the absence of compensation despite enduring daily noise pollution from the airport. Oki, one of the demonstrators, highlighted…
Nigeria’s Communication Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its stance on disconnecting more Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) numbers not linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) on Friday, March 29, 2024. This directive, as confirmed by the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, remains unchanged, maintaining the deadlines set for subsequent phases of disconnection. The second phase of the NCC’s disconnection directive, which initially commenced on February 28, 2024, will continue as planned on March 29, 2024. This follows the disconnection of approximately 40 million lines during the initial phase, with MTN Nigeria alone reporting over 4.2 million disconnected lines…
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a significant bill on Monday, imposing restrictions on children’s access to social media in the state, as reported by NBC News. Under the newly signed bill, known as HB3, children under the age of 14 are prohibited from joining social media platforms. Those aged 14 or 15 must obtain parental consent before creating an account. Social media companies are mandated to delete existing accounts belonging to individuals under 14. Failure to comply could result in legal action, with minors potentially eligible for damages of up to $10,000 per violation, while companies could face penalties of…
The Nigerian Army has announced that the soldiers killed in the Okuama community of Delta State will be laid to rest today (Wednesday) at the National Cemetery in Abuja. The burial, scheduled for 3 pm, will witness President Bola Tinubu as the Special Guest of Honour, as per a statement released on the Nigerian Army’s official communication platform. The fallen soldiers, who belonged to the 181 Amphibious Battalion, were reportedly responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and fatally attacked. Following the incident, rumours circulated about potential reprisal actions by the military against the involved communities. However, the…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared yesterday that kidnappers should be treated as terrorists, denouncing their reprehensible acts during a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal Judiciary, led by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Addressing the gathering, President Tinubu reaffirmed the government’s determination to combat banditry, labelling kidnappers as cowards incapable of confronting the Nigerian Armed Forces directly. He emphasised the need to categorise kidnappers as terrorists to effectively eliminate their menace, asserting confidence in the government’s ability to eradicate this threat. Among the attendees at the dinner were former CJN Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter…
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, disclosed that law enforcement agencies are currently probing foreign exchange forward contracts amounting to approximately $2.4 billion These transactions, as per Cardoso, have been deemed ineligible for payment due to various discrepancies. The disclosure came after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja. During the meeting, Cardoso shed light on the meticulous forensic audit conducted on these transactions, revealing numerous irregularities that rendered them invalid. Deloitte management consultants were enlisted to conduct a comprehensive forensic analysis, spanning several months, to scrutinize the legitimacy of these forward-contracted transactions.…
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Maj-Gen. Adamu Laka as the new National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, succeeding Rear Admiral Musa (retd.), who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2022. The announcement of Laka’s appointment was made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement released on Tuesday. Maj-Gen. Adamu Laka brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served in various capacities in Nigeria’s North-East region, as well as in international missions in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo under the United Nations. He was also…
Nigeria’s data consumption reached unprecedented levels in January 2024, hitting 721,522 terabytes, as reported by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This figure surpassed the previous record set in December 2023, which stood at 713,200 terabytes. The surge in data usage coincided with a significant rise in active internet subscriptions, totaling 161,977,883—an increase from the 156,244,368 subscriptions recorded in January of the previous year. Breaking down the internet subscriptions, mobile subscriptions accounted for 161,504,390, while internet service providers recorded 213,876 subscriptions. Fixed wire connections totaled 21,437, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) reached 238,180. Despite a slight decline of 1.9 million…
In a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport, Freeborn Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), highlighted the daunting challenge posed by rampant vandalism of railway tracks and assets across the country. Okhiria described the situation as a significant battle against saboteurs intent on undermining the corporation’s efforts. During the investigation initiated by the committee into the widespread vandalization of Nigeria’s railway infrastructure, Okhiria emphasised the severity of the issue, particularly on the Kabba-Kaduna axis where access for staff is restricted due to safety concerns. Okhiria revealed that the Minister of Transport had…
The passing of Dr. Paul Akintelure, an aspirant for the governorship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, has elicited widespread reactions, with Governor Lucky Aiywdatiwa expressing shock and sadness. Akintelure reportedly passed away on Tuesday in Lagos after a brief illness, although specific details surrounding his death remain undisclosed. Governor Aiywdatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, extended condolences to the Akintelure family and the people of Okitipupa Local Government Area. He praised Akintelure as a consistent and loyal advocate of progressive politics, highlighting his humility and admirable conduct in both private and public…