President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in the UNGA’s official schedule of activities. This was made known in a statement by the presidency on Monday “To prevent any sharp practise in this regard, the US Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing, while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed…
Author: Editor Francis
Lagos State Government has issued a directive for all schools below the Tertiary Level to reopen on Monday, September 4th, 2023. This move aligns with the Y2023/2024 Harmonised Academic School Calendar, as approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Basic Education. Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, the Director-General of the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), conveyed this information during an interview at her office in the Secretariat, Alausa, on Monday. She eemphasised the importance of adhering to the stipulated resumption date to ensure the delivery of high-quality and sustainable education in Lagos State. Seriki-Ayeni also called on school proprietors and administrators…
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is expressing serious concern about the actions of the Nigerien military against the democratically-elected Government of Niger. The MCC is worried because these actions go against the principles of democratic governance and the rule of law that the MCC believes in. The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an agency of the U.S. government that works on reducing global poverty by helping economies grow. It was made in 2004. It gives time-limited grants and support to countries that show they have good governance, fight corruption, and respect democratic rights. The MCC works with partner countries that show…
Pupils will be banned from wearing abayas, loose-fitting full-length robes worn by some Muslim women, in France’s state-run schools, the education minister has said. The rule will be applied as soon as the new school year starts on September 4. France has a strict ban on religious signs in state schools and government buildings, arguing that they violate secular laws. Wearing a headscarf has been banned since 2004 in state-run schools. “When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them,” Education Minister Gabriel Attal told France’s TF1 TV, adding:…
Raimondo follows other American officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July, who have visited China in the past three months. The Associated Press reports that they expressed optimism about improving communication but have announced no progress on disputes over technology, security, human rights, and other issues that have plunged relations to their lowest level in decades. For its part, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government wants to revive foreign investor interest in China as it tries to reverse a deepening economic slump. Beijing is ready to work together to “foster a more favourable policy environment for stronger cooperation” between US…
Gabon’s government announced a nationwide curfew and cut off internet access Saturday evening as voting in major national elections was wrapping up. The Central African nation’s communications minister, Rodrigue Mboumba Bissawou, said on state television that there would be a nightly curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. He said internet access was being restricted indefinitely, saying there had been calls for violence and the spreading of disinformation. The announcement came after voters cast ballots to elect new local leaders, national legislators, and Gabon’s next president. Incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba was seeking a third seven-year term to continue a…
Cameroon is expected to open up Lagdo Dam situated on the Benue River soon, The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has caution Nigerians to expect More floods in days to come. NEMA revealed this in a recent statement signed by the Director, African Affairs, Ambassador Umar Salisu. The agency affirmed that both Nigeria and Cameroon are to experience flooding, as Lagdo Dam authorities release a variable small amount of water. It, therefore, called on stakeholder organisations to sensitise the people, so as to engage in activities that will mitigate the flood. “I have the honour to inform that the Ministry…
The Kaduna State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency – NDLEA, says its operatives have arrested 84 suspects and seized 451.976kg of illicit drugs in Kaduna. The state Commander, NDLEA, Mr. Ibrahim Braji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Kaduna, that the arrest and the seizure were made in July. Braji said within the period under review, the command secured six convictions of suspects. The commander said the various drugs seized included Indian Hemp, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Tramadol and other Psychotropic substances. “Grand total weight of drug seized within the period under review is 451.976kg.…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to utilize his influential position to swiftly overturn the unjust ban imposed on 25 journalists and media outlets from accessing coverage of the presidential villa. In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, the organization emphasized the need for journalists and media houses to be permitted to execute their responsibilities without hindrance, highlighting their vital role in upholding accountability and scrutinizing those in positions of authority. The Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, undersigned the letter, and it was made public through Channels Television on Sunday. Pointing…
Incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa has been declared the winner of Zimbabwe’s recent presidential election, securing approximately 53% of the vote, according to an announcement by the country’s elections commission on Saturday evening. However, the opposition and analysts immediately raised doubts about the validity of the result. Mnangagwa, who assumed power following a military coup in 2017 that ousted long-standing leader Robert Mugabe, was widely anticipated to clinch a second term in office, benefiting from what critics say was a heavily skewed contest favouring the ruling ZANU-PF party. The party has maintained control for over 40 years. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)…
The United States has raised serious concerns and strongly criticised the actions of Zimbabwean authorities for their conduct on August 23. During the day of presidential, parliamentary, and local elections, authorities conducted a series of raids and arrested at least 39 individuals linked to the Election Resource Centre and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network. These actions targeted lawful, independent, and nonpartisan election observation activities. The safety and well-being of those taken into custody by the police are of paramount concern. The US is calling on the Government of Zimbabwe to promptly release all detained individuals, return their belongings, and allow…
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has taken decisive action by imposing sanctions on six individuals allegedly involved in exacerbating the recent conflict escalation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Brian E. Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, affirmed the US commitment to finding peaceful solutions, stating, “The United States is committed to promoting a peaceful resolution to the escalation of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Treasury will not hesitate to hold accountable actors committing human rights abuses and exacerbating…