Mulroney, remembered as the 18th prime minister of Canada and a conservative leader, peacefully departed while surrounded by his family, as announced by his daughter. During his tenure, Mulroney steered Canada through the final stages of the Cold War and negotiated a significant free trade agreement with the United States, according to the BBC. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his profound sadness at Mulroney’s passing, acknowledging his ceaseless dedication to serving Canadians and his relentless pursuit of enhancing the country’s prosperity. Trudeau also urged the public to recognise and honour Mulroney’s pivotal role in shaping Canada into the modern and…
Author: Editor Francis
In response to the escalating challenges of rising inflation and food price spikes in Nigeria, the Government of Ukraine has extended a helping hand by donating 25,000 metric tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance. This significant contribution aims to support approximately 1.3 million vulnerable individuals affected by crises in the northeast region of Nigeria. According to a statement released by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, the Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the donation was facilitated through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This initiative is part of Ukraine’s humanitarian “Grain…
Over 70 million bank customers are at risk of losing access to their accounts when the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive on restricting accounts without Bank Verification Numbers and National Identification Numbers goes into effect. The CBN had on December 1, 2023, in a circular directed that a ‘Post no Debit’ restriction be placed on all bank accounts without the BVN and NIN from Friday, March 1, 2024. ‘Post No Debit’ is a term used to describe a restriction imposed by banks on specific accounts, preventing customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits from such accounts. This measure…
Under a heavy police presence, thousands of people bade farewell Friday to Alexei Navalny at his funeral in Moscow after his death two weeks ago in an Arctic penal colony. As his coffin was removed from the hearse and taken inside the church, the crowd waiting outside broke into respectful applause and then chanted: “Navalny! Navalny!” After the short funeral, thousands marched from the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God, Soothe My Sorrows, to the nearby Borisovskoye Cemetery, where police were also out in force for the burial. With the casket open, Navalny’s parents and others stroked…
In a move reflecting the current economic landscape, the British Council Nigeria has announced a second upward adjustment in the prices of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams for the year 2024. This decision, disclosed through an update on the Council’s website on Thursday, attributes the price hike to what it terms “prevailing market dynamics.” The Council cited evolving market conditions and increased costs in exam delivery as key factors behind the adjustment. Effective from March 1, the new prices for various IELTS tests are as follows: applicants opting for IELTS computer academic and general training modules will…
Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform boasting over 170 million users worldwide, has made a significant move by disabling its peer-to-peer (P2P) feature for Nigerian users. This functionality, known as the P2P market, facilitates direct trading of cryptocurrencies between buyers and sellers without the involvement of any intermediaries. The decision comes against the backdrop of the Nigerian Government’s crackdown on the country’s cryptocurrency industry, which was outlawed in 2021. Since then, the P2P market emerged as a popular alternative for Nigerians to engage in crypto trading and establish informal exchange rates for the national currency, the naira. Concerns have been…
Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa has announced his resignation as the Commander-General of Kano’s Hisbah Board, citing “discouragement” from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as the reason behind his decision. Daurawa expressed his disappointment with the governor’s remarks despite his concerted efforts to uphold societal morality during his tenure at Hisbah. In a video posted on his social media platform, Daurawa disclosed that he was currently in Kaduna State, engaging with lawmakers to discuss the implementation of mandatory pre-marital health checks in Kano, akin to other Nigerian states. Highlighting his endeavors to foster moral values, Daurawa mentioned his active engagement with…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to telecommunication companies regarding the necessity to block Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards that are not linked to National Identification Numbers (NINs). Failure to comply with this directive will result in severe sanctions, as emphasized by Reuben Mouka, the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, during an interview with newsmen on Thursday. Mouka clarified that telecom operators are obligated to adhere to the regulatory directive, and any defiance will be met with penalties. He stressed, “It is not an issue whether the telcos have started complying or not. We have…
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, announced on Thursday that significant progress has been made in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution. Speaking at a press conference organized by the House Committee on Constitution Review, Kalu disclosed that the first draft report of the review process is expected to be completed by August 2024. Kalu, who chairs the Committee on Constitution Review, outlined the timeline for the completion of the review, indicating that the final clean copy for presidential assent is projected to be ready by August 2025. He emphasised the committee’s commitment to ensuring…
The Nigerian naira witnessed a notable appreciation in the official Foreign Exchange Market, reaching N1,595.11 per dollar. This surge contrasted with the parallel market exchange rate, which closed at N1,490 per dollar on the same day. According to data sourced from FMDQ, the indicative exchange rate for the official market experienced a dip to N1,595.11 per dollar from its previous rate of N1,609.51 per dollar on Wednesday, marking a noteworthy N14.4 appreciation for the naira. Similarly, the parallel market saw the naira strengthen to N1,490 per dollar from its previous rate of N1,610 per dollar. As a result of these…
In a bid to address the forex challenges faced by Africans, particularly Nigerians, a leading fintech organisation has introduced a groundbreaking innovation aimed at providing comprehensive forex solutions to its users. Verto, the pioneering brand behind this initiative, is a global financial technology firm dedicated to facilitating cross-border payments, foreign exchange (FX), and banking solutions for businesses of all sizes. Through its cutting-edge platform or API, Verto empowers businesses to effortlessly access enterprise-grade financial services, allowing them to accept payments and execute payouts on a global scale through a single integrated platform. Verto’s seamless connectivity ensures that businesses can transact…
In a recent development at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Musbau Issa, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), provided testimony on Thursday regarding the case involving oil marketer Glory Benson. Benson, alongside her companies Glonnek Energy Resources Limited and Petroyal Energy Limited, faces accusations of defrauding customers to the tune of N100,865,000. The charges brought against Benson and her companies consist of seven counts related to stealing and conversion, as outlined by the EFCC. During the court session, EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, asserted the intent for trial proceedings. Issa, taking the stand, detailed how Benson…