In a bid to combat malnutrition and improve the nutritional status of its residents, the Gombe State Government has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative, which involves a significant investment of over N11.1 billion over the next four years, was described as a crucial step towards addressing chronic food poverty in the region. During the launching/dissemination event of the Gombe State Nutrition Policy and Cost Multi-Sectorial Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan of Action, held in Gombe yesterday, Dr. Tushar Rane, Chief of Field Office for UNICEF Nigeria in Bauchi,…
Author: Editor Francis
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has successfully cleared the $7 billion foreign exchange (FX) backlog inherited by Governor Yemi Cardoso. This accomplishment fulfils a pivotal pledge made upon his appointment, marking a crucial step towards revitalising trust in the nation’s economy. According to a statement released on Wednesday by Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, the CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, all valid FX backlog claims have been settled. The CBN engaged Deloitte Consulting, an independent auditing firm, to meticulously assess the transactions, ensuring that only legitimate claims were honoured. Ali further emphasised that any invalid transactions were promptly referred…
Two businessmen, Afam Ike and Steve Onyechi, found themselves in front of Justice Friday Ogazi at the Federal High Court in Lagos, as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) brought forth charges against them on Wednesday. The accusations revolve around their alleged involvement in the repackaging and sale of counterfeit X-Pression hair attachments. Yusuf Lawan, the prosecuting counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, accused the defendants, both traders at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, of conspiring to repackage and sell counterfeit ‘Rich Braid’ brand of X-Pression products. The arrest of Ike and Onyechi occurred on December 2, 2022, following the…
A meeting convened by the Senate Joint Committee on Army, Navy, Defense, and Air Force, alongside service chiefs, took place on Wednesday, March 20, to address the recent tragic killing of soldiers in Delta State. The purpose of the gathering was to delve into the disturbing deaths of military personnel that occurred in the Okuama community of the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last Thursday. At the outset, a moment of silence was observed in honour of the slain soldiers. Chairing the joint committee, Ahmed Lawan stated that the investigation hearing would be conducted privately due to…
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu’s plea for an order directing involved parties to maintain the status quo amidst his ongoing legal battle to prevent his impeachment. Shaibu filed a suit to thwart the State House of Assembly’s impeachment proceedings against him. During the court session, Shaibu’s lawyer, Prof. Oladoyin Awoyale, sought substituted service of court documents for some defendants who hadn’t been served yet. Justice Omotosho granted the motion, allowing documents to be posted on the gates of the State House and Assembly. However, the judge declined Shaibu’s request for maintaining…
Access Bank, a prominent Nigerian lender, is set to acquire the National Bank of Kenya from the KCB Group, marking its second acquisition of a Kenyan bank within five years. The announcement was made by Sunday Ekwochi, Secretary of Access Holdings, in a statement filed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited. The completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approvals from both the Central Bank of Kenya and the Central Bank of Nigeria. According to Tech Cabal, Paul Russo, CEO of KCB Group, expressed optimism about the acquisition, stating that it would benefit the future of the National Bank of…
The House of Representatives has recently passed a bill aimed at adjusting the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders across the country. Under this proposed legislation, the Chief Justice of Nigeria is slated to receive a total monthly package of N5.39 million. President Bola Tinubu submitted the executive bill to the Green Chamber on Tuesday, outlining the proposed remuneration adjustments for various judicial positions. According to the bill, justices of the Supreme Court would receive a total package of N4.21 million monthly, while the President of the Court of Appeal would earn N4.48 million monthly. …
The National Bureau of Statistics has released its latest Diesel Price Watch report for February 2024, revealing a significant surge in the retail price of diesel across Nigeria. According to the report, the price of diesel skyrocketed from N836.91 in February 2023 to N1,257.06 in February 2024, marking a staggering 50.20% increase. The month-on-month analysis indicates a 9.02% rise from January 2024. Statewise, Akwa Ibom registered the highest diesel price at N1,525 per litre, trailed closely by Gombe State at N1,500 per litre and Kwara at N1,444 per litre. Conversely, Adamawa reported the lowest diesel price at N1,037.50 per litre,…
The National Assembly, comprising both the Senate and the House of Representatives, has successfully passed the student loan bill, which has now become law as of Wednesday The bill underwent rigorous scrutiny, including first, second, and third readings in both parliamentary sittings. The Senate’s decision to pass the bill followed a thorough consideration of the report presented by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, chaired by Muntari Dandutse. President Bola Tinubu had urged the National Assembly to repeal and reenact the student loan bill in a letter dated March 14, which was read during plenary sessions by the Speaker…
Digital technologies play a crucial role in empowering Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and civic actors globally. However, these very technologies can also be wielded as tools of repression, targeting HRDs and undermining civic space. In response to these challenges, the United States has unveiled new guidance aimed at equipping online platforms with best practices to bolster support for threatened HRDs. This guidance, released on March 18, 2024, builds upon 10 recommendations jointly issued by the United States and the European Union on March 11. These recommendations aim to enhance online platforms’ ability to identify, mitigate, and provide recourse for digital…
At the third Summit for Democracy held in Seoul, South Korea, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced a significant expansion of the coalition dedicated to countering the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware. Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, and the Republic of Korea have joined the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware, originally launched by an inaugural group of 11 like-minded countries at the second Summit for Democracy. The Joint Statement emphasizes the collective recognition of the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and commits participating countries to establish robust…
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, unveiled the 2023/2024 Human Development Report (HDR) in Nigeria. The report, compiled by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), sheds light on Nigeria’s performance across various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators. Titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation In A Polarised World,” the HDR reveals a disconcerting trend, indicating that Nigeria has fallen short in achieving targets across the SDGs spectrum. Moreover, it highlights a partial, incomplete, and unequal global rebound in the Human Development Index (HDI), which encompasses Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, education, and life…