President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has stepped in to address the ongoing visa ban imposed on Nigerians by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signaling a potential end to the travel restriction. This marks the first time President Tinubu has addressed the issue, which has led to the suspension of flights from Nigeria by UAE’s national carrier, Emirates. The UAE authorities initiated the visa ban in October 2022, shortly after Emirates suspended its flights to Nigeria. This move caused disruptions in travel plans and diplomatic relations between the two countries. The suspension of flights and visa issuance led to a reciprocal response…
Author: Editor Francis
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, yet again sacked Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. In the ruling, the lord of the court said Lamido Apapa is the authentic Chairman of the party. In April, the party faced the culmination of its leadership crisis when seven members of the National Working Committee declared Lamidi Bashir Apapa, who held the position of National Vice-Chairman (South), as the interim chairman of the party. This decision came as a replacement for the suspended chairman, Julius Abure. The ruling on Thursday also nullified the candidature…
A coalition of stakeholders has come together to establish the Nature Crime Alliance, a comprehensive initiative aimed at tackling criminal activities such as logging, mining, wildlife trade, land conversion, and illegal fishing that inflict irreparable harm on both humanity and the planet. This collaborative effort acknowledges the necessity of a multi-sector approach to effectively combat these nature-related crimes. With nature crime currently ranking among the world’s largest illicit economies, the urgency for collective action has never been clearer. Notable participants in the alliance include governmental representatives, law enforcement agencies, international organizations, civil society groups, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, donors,…
BRICS is expanding beyond the starting countries, as on Thursday, it announced six new countries to join next year meeting. The BRICS founding members, Brazil, Russia, Indian, China and South Africa have agreed to include Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates full members from January 1. “This membership expansion is historic,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose nation is the most powerful in the group of non-Western states that represents a quarter of the world’s economy. “The expansion is also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation. It will bring new vigour to the BRICS…
The National University Commission has said it will be implementing a new curriculum in the country’s Universities starting in September. The University Commission said the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), would reposition Nigerian universities to be among the best in Africa. The acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, made this known during the Stakeholders’ Colloquium on CCMAS in Abuja on Wednesday “The reviewed curriculum is endowed with unique features tailored to meet the evolving demands of the rapidly changing world. It emphasises interdisciplinary learning, soft and critical skills development, entrepreneurship, and value creation,” he said. Meanwhile,…
This week, James Heappey MP, the UK’s Minister for the Armed Forces, embarked on a visit to Nigeria aimed at bolstering defence collaboration and fostering strategic ties between the two nations. His agenda also encompassed discussions concerning the prevailing situation in Niger. During his visit, Minister Heappey engaged with prominent defence leaders and military dignitaries in Nigeria. On Wednesday, he held meetings with key figures within the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, including the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff. Minister Heappey had a productive session with the President of the Economic Community of West African States…
In a bid to mitigate the proliferation of unfavourable content on the popular video-sharing platform, President William Ruto has revealed plans to hold a meeting with TikTok’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shou Zi Chew. The meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow, on Thursday, August 24th. The announcement was made by President Ruto on Wednesday during the Kenya Music Festival Winner’s State Concert held in Nakuru. GOVIMA reported that the Kenyan government wants to ban TikTok because of cultural reasons The issue of TikTok’s content management has attracted significant attention, including within the National Assembly. One of the Assembly members,…
Deputy Administrator, Isobel Coleman, engaged in discussions with the leadership of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), on August 21. The session involved Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Director of Policy and External Relations Steve Godfrey, Manager of U.S. Resource Mobilisation Newal Sherif, and Director of Research Mdu Mbuya. The meeting between Deputy Administrator Coleman and GAIN leaders encompassed several vital topics. Conversations revolved around nutrition financing, the implications of climate change on nutritional aspects, and the pivotal role of private sector investments. A significant focus was on the collaborative partnership between USAID and GAIN, specifically concerning the Nutritious…
As Zimbabweans prepare for the upcoming polls scheduled for August 23, the United States has issued a call for all involved parties to uphold the principles of free, fair, and peaceful elections. The U.S. emphasises that the citizens of Zimbabwe deserve the opportunity to exercise their right to choose their country’s future without intimidation or repression, consistent with the nation’s constitution. It asserts that respecting citizens’ voting rights and facilitating democratic processes is integral to achieving lasting peace and prosperity. Expressing apprehension regarding recent developments leading up to the elections, which include instances of political violence and measures that restrict…
The Lagos State government has directed all commissioners and other political appointees to refrain from engaging personal assistants who are not part of the civil service. According to a circular issued by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the new directive mandates that all political appointees are restricted from hiring personal assistants from sources beyond the civil service. According to the HoS, “It is hereby notified for general information that appointments of Personal Assistants from outside the state public service by the Honourable Commissioners and Special Advisers (Cabinet & Non Cabinet Rank) in the discharge of their day to day…
A heartbreaking incident unfolded, resulting in the untimely passing of a young Brazilian student. Fernanda Pacheco Ferraz, a 13-year-old student at Rio de Janeiro’s Professor Carlos Côrtes State College, tragically lost her life during her journey home. The incident occurred within the Catarcione neighbourhood of Nova Friburgo, Rio. The sequence of events leading to Ferraz’s demise occurred while she was on a bus ride back home. Seated at the rear of the bus, the young student extended her head out of the window to bid farewell to friends standing on the sidewalk. What began as a spontaneous and friendly gesture…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, has issued a strong warning about consuming unbranded Cereals on the Open market. This came in a statement from the Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye at the Agency’s Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate Stakeholder’s Engagement with Food Sector Operators in Lagos She insisted that “When a product is not certified by NAFDAC, it is not advisable that anybody consume it. The unbranded products in the market do not have a NAFDAC registration/marketing authorization number.” She also cautioned against food manufacturing, saying that it would no longer accept poorly destroyed…