Author: Editor Francis

In a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, President Bola Tinubu strongly emphasised the need for African nations to assert their sovereignty and address issues related to the illicit syphoning of the continent’s mineral resources and the smuggling of western-made weapons. President Tinubu highlighted that human rights advocacy should not be used as a tool by wealthy and powerful nations to hinder developing economies from dealing decisively with malign actors engaged in the illegal extraction of Africa’s vast mineral wealth.  He expressed concern about the exploitation of African resources and the enrichment of developed economies at…

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Recall that the Kano State Election Tribunal has  ordered the removal of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from office as the state governor , adding that the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate won the election instead. The  court had issued an order for the withdrawal of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s certificate of return and directed the issuance of a new one to the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate, Gawuna. The proceedings leading…. The proceedings leading to this judgement were conducted via Zoom, with the proceedings broadcasted at the Miller Road venue of the tribunal. The verdict comes several weeks after lawyers…

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The United States, through USAID, has pledged more than $247 million in additional funding for urgent humanitarian assistance aimed at helping people across Africa who are grappling with the enduring impacts of humanitarian crises and natural disasters.  This new funding brings USAID’s total humanitarian assistance to Africa during this fiscal year to over $4.7 billion, aimed at addressing the pressing needs of vulnerable populations affected by conflict and crises on the continent. The funding will be channelled to support USAID’s humanitarian partners in delivering life-saving aid, including food assistance, emergency healthcare, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, and protection…

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Joseph Aloba, the father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has shed light on the swift burial of the artist, who tragically passed away at the age of 27 on September 12, with the burial taking place the very next day. In a recent interview shared via Instagram by Temilola Sobola (@TemilolaSobola) on Tuesday, Aloba cited Yoruba culture as the primary reason for the rapid burial. He explained that according to Yoruba customs, it is customary not to delay the burial of a deceased individual when both parents are still alive. Aloba also noted that if…

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame has announced for the first time that he plans to run for a fourth term in next year’s elections. “I am happy with the confidence Rwandans have shown in me. I will always serve them as long as I can. Yes, I am indeed a candidate,” Mr Kagame, 65, told the French-language magazine Jeune Afrique. In March, the Rwandan government decided to synchronise the dates of its legislative and presidential elections, due to take place in August 2024. Until then, Kagame had not openly expressed his intentions, but he has made controversial constitutional amendments that have…

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Comrade Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has provided insights into the recent discussions between the union and the federal government regarding the removal of fuel subsidies. Osifo shared details of their Tuesday meeting, which shed light on the government’s engagement with key stakeholders. During the meeting, the Minister of Labour informed the TUC that he had conferred with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Finance to review the matter of wage awards.  However, President Tinubu requested further refinement of the issues before making an official announcement. The Minister assured the TUC that these concerns…

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Ali Bongo Ondimba’s son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, and several members of the deposed Gabonese president’s cabinet were jailed and charged on Tuesday with “high treason” and “active corruption”, the Libreville prosecutor told AFP on Wednesday. Ali Bongo’s eldest son, former presidential spokesman Jessye Ella Ekogha, and four other people were “indicted on Tuesday and remanded in custody”, said André-Patrick Roponat, the public prosecutor in Libreville, Gabon’s capital. On 30 August, less than an hour after the announcement in the middle of the night of the re-election of Ali Bongo, in power since 2009 and accused of massive fraud, the military,…

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In a recent turn of events, the reported plots to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio have taken a significant step forward. It has come to light that over ten former governors currently serving in the upper chamber, along with a coalition of civic organisations, are actively calling for Akpabio’s impeachment. On Tuesday, pro-Akpabio senators were reported to have initiated a troubleshooting mission among their colleagues. Some of them are said to be contemplating involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC), led by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, in the ongoing discussions regarding the potential impeachment. These developments indicate a…

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President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the need for urgent fulfilment of Promises made to Africa. According to the President,  there have been numerous declarations, promises, and commitments made by various actors, including African governments and international organisations, to address issues in Africa.  Foreign governments, multinational corporations, have made commitments or pledges to support Africa’s development. However, these promises have gone unfulfilled, leading to disappointment and frustration. The president made this known during his speech at the 78th  United Nations General Assembly. The Nigerian president said that he knows that there are problems within African countries themselves, particularly the inability or…

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President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa Addresses UN General Assembly, Advocates for African Ownership of Wealth and Climate Justice During the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa delivered a resounding Country Statement, emphasizing the principle that “The wealth of AFRICA belongs to Africans.” He used this platform to express Africa’s determination to no longer bear the brunt of high carbon emissions and called upon affluent nations to intensify their efforts in combating global climate change. President Ramaphosa underscored the fact that Africa, despite being the least responsible for the climate damage that has…

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially revealed that the highly-anticipated 1028-km Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire-Lagos highway project is set to kick off in January 2024.  The project’s initiation will commence with procurement activities for the primary construction phase, marking a significant step towards the actual construction work. To pave the way for the project’s implementation, ECOWAS has inaugurated a validation workshop, which is currently underway.  The workshop, held in Lagos, has been organized by the project implementation unit of ECOWAS’s Spatial Development Initiative.  Its primary objective is to foster collaboration, exchange ideas, and conduct a comprehensive assessment…

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In a significant meeting held on Monday in New York, President Bola Tinubu extended a warm welcome to a high-profile delegation representing ExxonMobil, a renowned global player in the Oil and Gas sector. During this crucial encounter, President Tinubu emphatically conveyed Nigeria’s stance, asserting that the nation is no longer content with meagre offerings and leftovers when it comes to global investment opportunities, especially from the world’s most prolific energy conglomerates. President Tinubu proclaimed, “Nigeria’s readiness for business has never been more evident than it is today.” He backed this statement with confidence, drawing upon his distinguished career in the…

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