In a recent session of the UN Third Committee, U.S. Adviser, Timothy Johnson, expressed gratitude to Mexico and Egypt for their ongoing efforts within the UN system to address the crucial intersection of human rights protection and counterterrorism. While acknowledging the continuous work on the resolution, Johnson raised concerns that it fails to incorporate important updates or language agreed upon by Member States in other UN bodies, particularly highlighting the eighth review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted in June. He emphasized the risk of the resolution becoming outdated without incorporating these critical updates. Additionally, the United States disassociated itself…
Author: Editor Francis
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced the resumption of food assistance for people across Ethiopia. This decision comes after months of diplomatic engagement and negotiations, resulting in substantial reforms in the food assistance structure by the Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian partners. According to Jessica Jennings, Spokesperson for USAID, these comprehensive reforms aim to enhance oversight and beneficiary selection, instilling confidence that food assistance will effectively reach the most vulnerable populations as intended. The reforms mark a fundamental shift in Ethiopia’s food aid system, addressing acute food insecurity issues. In Ethiopia, we remain committed to delivering…
Senator Dino Melaye Expresses Displeasure, Seeks Repayment Amidst Allegations of Misappropriation in Election Expenditure Senator Dino Melaye has voiced frustration over what he perceives as a betrayal in the recent elections, demanding reimbursement after allegedly doling out N250,000 per polling unit for vote-buying. The PDP’s election expenditure breakdown reveals N87 million allocated for “voter’s mobilization,” a thinly veiled term for vote-buying. I Melaye is reportedly aggrieved, accusing a PDP Local Government Chairman, his campaign Director-General, and others of failing to secure the desired election outcome. Sources claim that Melaye released N3,510,000 per polling unit for local security, only to…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) declared that its ongoing monetary policy reforms are demonstrating positive outcomes for the country’s economy. Isa AbdulMumin, the Director of the CBN’s Corporate Communications Department, made this statement in Abuja, specifically addressing the latest inflation rate figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday. The NBS revealed that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 27.33% in October, a 0.61% increase from the 26.72% recorded in September. Despite this uptick, AbdulMumin asserted that the current inflation rate indicates the gradual positive impact of the CBN’s monetary policy reforms on the economy. According to…
Reacting to the report of denying access to 246 passengers, their visa had been cancelled when they landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Hajj Terminal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, 13th November, 2023. Saudi Arabia has released a statement explaining the deportation of Nigerians from the Saudi Kingdom. On Wednesday, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja made a clarification about the situation. “The passengers whom were denied entry and subsequently deported to their initial destinations didn’t fulfil the entry conditions and requirements in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Kingdom,” a statement from the…
The Joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has taken the decision to suspend the ongoing strike. The primary catalyst for this decision was the intervention of the Federal Government, facilitated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The suspension comes amidst the backdrop of concerns, including the recent incident involving the assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero. Despite the pause in the strike, discussions on the pressing labour demands are set to persist in ongoing negotiations.
The Appeal Court has dismissed a challenge against Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s victory in the Lagos State gubernatorial elections by the Labour Party (LP), and its candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. In a unanimous judgement on Tuesday, the court affirmed the lower tribunal’s decision that Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy were qualified to contest the March 18 polls won by the incumbent. The LP and Rhodes-Vivour had appealed Sanwo-Olu’s victory on claims that he was unqualified for the election. But the Appeal Court ruled that the lower tribunal was right to reject those allegations. The ruling puts to rest allegations against Sanwo-Olu’s candidacy over…
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in San Francisco, U.S., to attend a Summit with President Joe Biden.The Summit is also the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Economic Leaders’ Meeting that started on November 14 and will end on November 17. In a statement on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Xie Feng, said that Xi arrived on Tuesday afternoon local time. The statement said: “Xi was warmly greeted by many overseas Chinese, including Chinese students studying abroad, who waved both Chinese and American flags along routes from the airport to welcome the Chinese President. “Cai Qi, member of the…
The National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu formally apologized to the organized labor for the disturbing assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which transpired in Owerri, Imo State’s capital, on November 1. Ajaero, who had travelled to Owerri to lead a peaceful protest, was subjected to severe beatings and detained for an extended period of time. Responding to this egregious incident, the labour union issued a stern ultimatum to the government, demanding the prompt arrest of those responsible for the attack on Ajaero. Additionally, they threatened to initiate a nationwide strike if their demands were…
The heads of internal audits in Nigerian universities have been charged to embrace principles of good governance, accountability and transparency to improve their respective institutions. The Auditor-General of Lagos State, Mr Moshood Adewuyi, gave this advice on Tuesday at the 36th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Committee of Head of Internal Audits Departments/Units In Nigerian Universities, held at the Lagos State University, Lagos. The theme of the conference is “Governance, Risk Management and Compliance: Issues and Insights For University Internal Auditors”. Adewuyi, who was represented by Head, Internal Audit, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Olufunmilola Coker, stated…
In a significant move to boost U.S. exports from African creative industries, Prosper Africa and ANKA have officially unveiled the ANKA Growth Club, a transformative nine-month virtual accelerator program. This initiative is designed to elevate African exports in sectors such as fashion, beauty, textiles, art, and home goods, targets a stronger market presence in the United States. Facilitated through the Prosper Africa Buyer-Supplier Network, this partnership aims to connect African brands with U.S. buyers, fostering increased two-way trade and investment in the creative industries. High-growth companies in Africa’s creative sector often encounter obstacles in international exporting, including limited market access,…
President Bola Tinubu has expressed condolences over the death of renowned actor Usman Baba Pategi, popularly known by his stage name Samanja. In a statement on Monday, Tinubu described the 84-year-old’s passing as a painful loss to Nigeria. He said Samanja contributed through his military service and entertainment career. The late Pategi chose to obey the call to national duty when the country needed his service. His television show, Samanja, was must-watch entertainment for decades. Through the show, he taught young citizens national values and respect for our service people. He was a patriot who left behind several indelible impressions,”…