The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned the National Productivity Centre (NPC) against giving awards to financial crimes suspects. This was disclosed in a statement published on the EFCC website dated September 6, 2024. The caution was issued during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja by the NPC Director-General, Baffa Babban Dan’agundi. Warning Against Issuing Awards to Crime Suspects The NPC is a federal government parastatal responsible for stimulating and promoting productivity consciousness in all sectors of the Nigerian economy, including spotlighting unique personalities among others. But EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede tasked the NPC to go beyond…
Author: Temitope Nlewemchi
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has tendered an indefinite leave of absence from national service under the federal government. He disclosed this in a statement on September 7, 2024, linking his decision to family medical concerns. Ajuri who doubles as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, said his choice was based on undisclosed pressing health issues. Committed to National Service Ngelale disclosed his submitted memo of leave of absence to the Chief of Staff to the President on Friday detailing why he is proceeding…
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed over $6.5 million to aid flood-related humanitarian efforts in Nigeria. This is according to a press statement by USAID, which was seen by Nairametrics. According to the statement, this funding, part of USAID’s Fiscal Year 2024 support, will assist local partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in responding to the severe flooding that has impacted various regions across the country. $3 million for critical flood-related needs As part of this initiative, IOM will allocate $3 million to address critical flood-related needs nationwide. According to Nigeria’s…
The Nigerian Presidency confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has received a memo from Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and the Official Spokesperson of the President, detailing his decision to take an indefinite leave of absence due to personal and health reasons. This was disclosed in a statement from the Presidency on September 7, 2024, shared via its WhatsApp platform. According to the statement, the President accepts Ngelale’s reasons for the leave, fully understands them, and sympathizes with the circumstances that have led to his decision. Presidency Wishes Ngelale Well Earlier today, Ngelale disclosed that…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has formalized an agreement with two Chinese engineering and construction companies to enhance electricity and water supply within the territory. This was revealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the FCT and the companies. According to a statement by Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press in the Office of the Minister, the MoU was finalized on Saturday in Beijing, China. The signing took place between the FCT and two major Chinese firms: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group. The…
New Zealand will increase its international visitor levy from NZ$35 to NZ$100 starting October 1st, 2024. The increase is supposed to fund conservation efforts and support tourism. Though the tourism sector has concerns about its effect on visitor numbers. This decision, as reported by TravelBiz, was announced by the government, informing that the levy will increase from NZ$35 to NZ$100 (about N98,565 based on the current official rate), representing a 185.7% increase in cost for international visitors. This move, according to the government, seeks to have tourists support public services and maintain their experience in New Zealand. But ultimately, this…
Nigeria and China signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The agreements, signed on Tuesday, cover areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, nuclear energy cooperation, human resource development, and media exchange, and were finalized in the presence of both leaders. These MoUs were concluded ahead of President Tinubu’s participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled for September 4-6, 2024. This disclosure was contained in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson. “During the meeting, both presidents witnessed the signing of…
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has reacted to the increase in petrol prices stating that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises would be particularly hard-hit projecting that SMEs across the country could scale down operations or completely shut down. The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi Kadir disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) where he said that the hike in PMS will result in high operational costs in terms of transport and logistics and businesses unable to pass the cost to customers might be forced to close shop. According to him, the hike…
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned $115 million worth of operational terminal equipment at the Onne Seaport in Rivers State. The upgrade was spearheaded by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), a key terminal at the port and a subsidiary of APM Terminals. The inauguration took place on Wednesday at the Onne Port, where the Vice President was represented by his Personal Assistant on Subnational Infrastructure, Mr. Musaddiq Mustapha. Shettima reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to infrastructure development as a driver of economic growth. He highlighted that the new facility, equipped with state-of-the-art terminal machinery, advanced technology, an administrative building,…
The University of Minnesota is offering significant financial support to international students through its prestigious Undergraduate Scholarship, also known as the Global Excellence Scholarship. This initiative, as reported by Scholarship Region, aims to attract top talent from around the world, providing up to $60,000 in funding to help cover educational expenses for deserving students. Details provide that international students who apply before the specified deadline, November 15th 2024, will be automatically considered for the scholarship. According to Scholarships AF, “this scholarship offers substance support to outstanding international first-year students and transfer students. The GES awards are also highly competitive and…
China’s President Xi Jinping has committed $50 billion in financial support and promised increased military cooperation to Africa over the next three years. Speaking at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, Xi outlined his vision for strengthening ties with the continent, which he declared is experiencing its most favorable period in history. In his 10-minute speech, Xi outlined ten key areas for future cooperation, including infrastructure connectivity, trade, security, and green development. The focus on green technology aligns with China’s broader goal to expand its export of green technologies, reflecting its evolving strategic interests. Xi proposed elevating diplomatic relations…
The UK government has announced a temporary halt on its plans to raise the minimum income requirement for family visas by 19.83%. This means that the government has decided to pause or suspend its intended increase in the minimum income level required for individuals to sponsor family members for a family visa. According to TravelBiz, the freeze on the planned increase comes amid ongoing reviews by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which will reassess the financial criteria for family visas. As a result, the current income threshold of £29,000 will remain in place for now, instead of progressing to £34,500,…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the urgent need to address “historic injustices,” specifically pointing out the lack of a permanent seat for Africa on the UN Security Council. Guterres described this omission as “outrageous” and stressed that the upcoming Summit of the Future at UN Headquarters later this month represents a crucial opportunity for global renewal and reform. In his address on China-Africa Cooperation Summit, where leaders from around 50 African countries are set to gather amid rising geopolitical tensions, raging conflicts and growing poverty and hunger. Guterres pointed out that many African nations are struggling with debt,…
The Federal Government has said potential buyers would have to present their National Identification Number (NIN) as commenced the sale of 30, 000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50 kilograme bag. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, inaugurated the sale of the subsidised milled rice on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the exercise would be carried out across the country. Kyari said the rice intervention was timely due to the times and current challenges in the country. He said…
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released new processing times for various immigration applications as of September 4th, 2024. According to Immigration News Canada, processing times for business immigration, temporary residency, and permanent resident (PR) cards are updated weekly. These updates are intended to provide applicants with a better estimate of the time required for their applications, and be properly informed toward managing their immigration processes. Since May 2024, IRCC has issued monthly updates on average processing times for citizenship applications, family sponsorships, and economic immigration. Temporary Residency Processing Times Temporary residency processing times is reported to be updated…
The newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has highlighted the critical importance of computer literacy for Nigeria’s public servants. Addressing public servants in Abuja on Monday during the Confirmatory Promotional Examination (COMPRO), Walson-Jack stressed that those lacking computer skills would find themselves sidelined in the evolving civil service landscape. “Computer literacy is no longer optional but a fundamental requirement for relevance in today’s digitized civil service,” Walson-Jack declared. She highlighted that the federal government is committed to transforming the service to align with global standards and reiterated that all civil servants must…
New Zealand announced recently, that in the near future, young migrants aged 17 to 24 who are awaiting the outcome of their family residence applications will be eligible to work part-time. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced this update through a recent report from TravelBiz. The report provided that the New Zealand government introduced this opportunity for those waiting for family residence approval; allowing them to work part-time. The policy, set to take effect in October, is designed to allow migrant school leavers to contribute more actively to the country’s economy with an added aim to provide young migrants and their…
DAAR Communications PLC, the parent company of African Independent Television (AIT), Raypower, and Faaji FM, has announced the retirement of several key members of its executive management team, including Mr. Tony Akiotu and Dr. Oluwatosin Dokpesi. This decision, effective from October 31, 2024, is part of a broader move to comply with the company’s Internal Control Policies and Procedures Manual, which mandates the retirement of executives who have served over 10 years in their roles. The announcement, made in a statement dated August 19, 2024, by the company’s secretary Miji Jonah, follows a series of online publications claiming that DAAR…
Quebec, a province in Canada, has temporarily stopped the entry of new temporary foreign workers for low-wage positions in Montreal. This decision, starting in September, will halt applications for jobs paying less than $27.47 per hour for six months, according to a TravelBiz report. This suspension will not impact all sectors. Construction, agriculture, food processing, education, and social services can continue to hire foreign workers as needed. In-depth View of The Program Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) enables employers to bring in foreign workers temporarily to address labor shortages in various industries. The program has been a key resource…
Citizens of Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s leading nations, have embroiled Bolt drivers in a digital petty feud. The hashtag #BoltforBolt, which emerged in response to the Cold War, was trending with 33,000 mentions as of Thursday afternoon, August 22, 2024, while #SouthAfricans had amassed 84,000 mentions and counting. The dispute began after former Miss South Africa contestant Chidinma Adetshina, who recently landed in Nigeria to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, sparked a wave of online backlash. South Africans reportedly initiated the petty feud by ordering and then cancelling rides of Nigerian Bolt and Uber drivers, leaving them…