Author: Editor Francis

Russian President Vladimir Putin has commenced his fifth term in office, taking the oath of office during a grand ceremony held at the Kremlin. This comes after Putin’s landslide victory in March’s tightly controlled election, where two anti-war candidates were disqualified on technical grounds. The absence of prominent opposition figures like Alexei Navalny, who passed away suddenly in an Arctic penal colony, underscores Putin’s dominance in Russian politics. Other dissenting voices find themselves either imprisoned or in exile. Having helmed Russia since the early 2000s, Putin secured another six-year mandate through an election lacking any significant opposition. Domestically, he remains…

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During a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja, France’s Ambassador in charge of Migration, Mr. Christophe Leonzi, reiterated France’s dedication to enhancing existing relations with Nigeria, particularly in addressing the issues of illegal migration and human trafficking. Mr. Leonzi emphasised the importance of establishing a more regular dialogue between Nigeria and France, especially between the respective ministries, to effectively tackle these challenges. He acknowledged the existing cooperation between the two countries but stressed the need for further collaboration to effectively address the issues at hand. Highlighting Nigeria’s significance as a partner in combating illegal…

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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has advocated for Nigerian leaders to study and adopt the leadership qualities exemplified by former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. This call was made during the inaugural President Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Leadership Conference and Awards held in Abuja on Monday. Olukoyede, speaking through the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, CE Wilson Uwujaren, highlighted Yar’adua’s integrity and transparency as fundamental traits of a good leader. He emphasised the importance of upholding these values for national development. The conference, themed “Moral and Ethical Leadership; Antidote to National Development,” aimed to…

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 A high-level United States delegation led by UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield will travel to Dallas next week to participate in the 16th US-Africa Business Summit, the State Department announced today. The three-day summit, hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa from May 6-9, is expected to draw over 1,500 business executives, investors, government officials, and leaders from the US and African nations. It aims to bolster economic ties and promote trade and investment opportunities across the African continent. Besides Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, who will serve as the head of the delegation, other senior officials slated to attend include: – Alice Albright,…

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In a recent ruling by the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Port Harcourt, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic has been directed to redress the unjust suspension of one of its lecturers, Zoe Tamunotonye. The court’s decision mandates the institution to settle all outstanding salaries and entitlements owed to Tamunotonye since 2022. Presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Bashir, emphasized the illegality of Tamunotonye’s suspension without pay, deeming it a violation of the lecturer’s rights. The court also awarded N5 million in damages and imposed a cost of N500,000 against the polytechnic for its infringement of the employee’s rights. Furthermore, Justice Bashir stipulated…

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Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), commemorated Foreign Affairs Day by acknowledging the significant contributions of foreign affairs professionals towards global betterment. Highlighting the dedication, ingenuity, and resilience exhibited by the USAID workforce, Power emphasized the demanding nature of their work and the sacrifices made in pursuit of advancing global opportunities and mitigating suffering. She underscored the challenges faced by foreign affairs professionals, including extended periods of separation from loved ones and exposure to uncertainty and potential danger. Power also paid tribute to colleagues who have made ultimate sacrifices while serving their country. Acknowledging…

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 Vice President Kashim Shettima of Nigeria has cancelled his anticipated trip to the United States. Originally scheduled to attend the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, Shettima’s absence was confirmed in a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, the president’s aide on Media and Communications. The statement clarified that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, will now represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit in Dallas. This change in plans arose due to a technical fault with Shettima’s aircraft, compelling him to make a detour on the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet. Despite this setback,…

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Former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Daniel Bwala, has asserted that President Tinubu has the constitutional authority to govern Nigeria from any location worldwide. In a statement on his verified social media platform, Bwala emphasised that the president’s capacity to lead the nation remains intact regardless of his physical whereabouts. He countered criticisms regarding the absence of both the President and Vice President simultaneously, highlighting constitutional provisions under Section 5 to support his stance. Bwala’s remarks come amidst a backdrop of heightened scrutiny following Atiku Abubakar’s recent…

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The Federal Government says it will fully utilise potentials of the satellite technology by harnessing its benefits to advance national development. Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Technology, stated this at the inauguration of the 28th Meeting of the AFI Satellite Network Management Committee (SNMC), on Monday in Abuja. According to Keyamo, satellite technology offers myriad of solutions to address complex needs of the nation’s aviation sector from enhancing air traffic management systems to improving weather forecasting capabilities. “By leveraging these capabilities; we can enhance safety, increase efficiency, and unlock new avenues for growth and prosperity. I stand before…

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has unequivocally dismissed rumors circulating about purported discussions between Nigerian authorities and foreign nations regarding the establishment of foreign military bases within the country. In a recent statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Nigerians were urged to disregard such misinformation entirely. “The Federal Government is not engaged in any such discussions with any foreign nation. We have neither received nor are we entertaining proposals from any country regarding the establishment of foreign military bases in Nigeria,” the statement asserted. Highlighting existing collaborations with foreign partners in addressing prevailing security…

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The Federal Government has announced its intentions to remove the Naira from all peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, as revealed by Emomotimi Agama, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, during a virtual meeting with blockchain stakeholders on Monday. This move is geared towards addressing the manipulation of the local currency’s value within the foreign exchange market. Regulatory authorities in the country have intensified investigations and oversight of cryptocurrency exchanges in recent months. On March 8, Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, halted its Naira services amidst these developments.

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In collaboration with the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has initiated a pivotal five-day Regional Workshop on Project Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation using Results-Based Management. The workshop, commencing today, aims to bolster project management proficiency across the region. The inauguration ceremony, held in Abuja on Monday, saw the presence of esteemed figures, including Dr. Yusuf Bulus, representing Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of CBN. Founded on July 22, 1996, by the central banks of five Anglophone West African countries—The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone—WAIFEM has a steadfast commitment…

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