Author: Editor Francis

Similar to Nigeria, the governor of the Central Bank of Burundi was arrested and is being prosecuted in particular for “passive corruption” and “misappropriation of public property”, according to a press release published Tuesday by the Ministry of Justice. Dieudonné Murengerantwari, who was dismissed on Sunday, is being prosecuted “for undermining the proper functioning of the national economy, passive corruption, money laundering, and misappropriation of public property” , according to the press release signed by the Attorney General, Léonard Manirakiza, which specifies that “this characterization of the facts remains provisional”. Dieudonné Murengerantwari is currently “undergoing interrogations”, according to the press…

Read More

The federal government has introduced the operational guidelines for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), a significant step following the enactment of the new NHIA Act in 2022. During the launch of the guidelines in Abuja on Tuesday, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasised the transformative impact of the NHIA Act and its accompanying operational guidelines on the advancement of health insurance in Nigeria. Prof. Pate highlighted the pivotal role these guidelines would play in ensuring greater coverage of Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population. The objective is to make…

Read More

The Ketu Advancement Forum, a community group in Ogun State, has made an appeal to the National Assembly for their support in expediting the consideration and passage of a bill proposing the establishment of the Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies in the Yewa North area of the state. In a letter of appreciation addressed to Senator Solomon Adeola, the representative of Ogun West Senatorial Constituency and sponsor of the bill, the group conveyed their gratitude for his role in sponsoring the bill. They highlighted that the bill had recently passed its first reading in the Senate and underscored…

Read More

After the closing of the polls in the Liberian general elections, polling staff count up the ballots cast, as representatives from different political parties observe and tally the votes. Liberians voted Tuesday on whether to give football legend George Weah a second term as president, with peace among voters’ main concerns in a nation still scarred by back-to-back civil wars. African News reports that even before polling stations opened at 8:00 am , hundreds of people had gathered in the early morning sunshine waiting to vote in the capital, Monrovia. “I vote for the good of my country. I expect…

Read More

In the early hours of Tuesday, over 300 Christian Pilgrims, who were airlifted to the Kingdom of Jordan and Israel by the Lagos State Government for a pilgrimage exercise, safely arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This marked the conclusion of the pilgrimage exercise for the first batch of Easter Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land of Jordan and Israel. These pilgrims had departed Lagos on the 30th of September, 2023. During their arrival at the Airport in Ikeja, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State Chapter, and leader of…

Read More

In the midst of the ongoing conflict, Palestine has formally submitted a petition to the United Nations, calling for Israel’s withdrawal from its territories. This announcement was made by the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Shawesh, during a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday. The conflict escalated on October 7 when the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, launched an unexpected attack on Israel. Tragically, the conflict has already claimed the lives of over 1,500 individuals, with concerns that the death toll may rise further. In response, Israel imposed a siege on the Gaza Strip, leading to severe shortages of essential…

Read More

A tanker carrying a load of petrol toppled over in the vicinity of Stadium Bridge, heading towards Ojuelegba in Surulere, Lagos State. The information was relayed through an official statement provided to the press by Adebayo Taofiq, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). The statement attributes the cause of the accident to a brake failure on the part of the tanker, leading to the unfortunate overturning of the vehicle. The statement partly reads “Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other emergency responders today prevented another petroleum fire explosion on top of…

Read More

Ana da Silva Miguel, a well-known social media influencer in Angola, who goes by the name Neth Nahara, has had her prison sentence increased to two years for what was deemed as “insulting” President João Lourenço on TikTok. Initially, she had received a six-month sentence in August, but an appeals court has now decided that the original punishment was too lenient and raised it to two years. Ms. Miguel’s TikTok account became the center of controversy when she accused President Lourenço of causing “anarchy and disorganization” in the country and held him responsible for issues such as the lack of…

Read More

In a recent statement posted on his Instagram handle titled “My Release in Benin Republic,” Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to various influential individuals and figures who played pivotal roles in securing his release from detention in Benin. Igboho expressed his gratitude to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Professor Banji Akintoye, Ayo Adebanjo, and several traditional rulers for their unwavering support and involvement in facilitating his release from Beninese custody.  Igboho’s release has been a subject of widespread attention and concern within Nigeria and the international…

Read More

In a recent interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Tony Cole, the gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the upcoming 2023 general elections, expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing issue of non-operational refineries in Nigeria.  Cole pointed out that the continued failure of successive governments to put these refineries to use is a matter of national shame.  He emphasised that while the current administration might be successful in building new refineries, it is equally crucial to prioritise their maintenance to address the pressing energy challenges facing the nation. “Between 2002 and 2007, the Obasanjo…

Read More

Algeria has announced the suspension of its mediation efforts aimed at resolving the crisis in Niger, which has been in turmoil since a military takeover. The decision to suspend mediation was prompted by the need for clarifications regarding the implementation of Algerian mediation in Niger. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that the Algerian government had received an official letter from Nigerien authorities on September 27, accepting Algerian mediation in the political, institutional, and constitutional crisis in Niger. Algeria had promptly initiated preparatory discussions, sending its Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, to Niamey. However, discussions on…

Read More

Angola has recently joined the growing list of African nations to offer visa-free entry, allowing nationals from more than 90 countries to visit for up to 90 days This policy change, enacted through Presidential Decree Number 189/23 on September 29, 2023, aims to promote tourism and open Angola’s borders to a wide range of international visitors. President Joao Lourenco has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate this exemption from tourist visas to the eligible countries. However, the 90-day visa-free stay is exclusively granted for tourism purposes. This move aligns with Angola’s strategy to enhance its tourism sector by…

Read More