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,…
Author: Temitope N.
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…
President Bola Tinubu has approved a N10 billion grant to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to drive Nigeria’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. This substantial financial injection is set to accelerate the Digital Switch-Over (DSO) project, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing television programming, expanding nationwide access to TV services, and freeing up valuable spectrum for other technological uses. The announcement was made by the Director-General of NBC, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, during a joint news conference in Abuja on Thursday, where he was joined by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida. “Under…
Botswana has discovered the world’s second-largest diamond, a 2,492-carat gem unearthed by Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond. Financial Times provided that the weighted diamond discovered, is the largest gem-quality find since the Cullinan diamond, discovered over a century ago and later incorporated into the British Crown Jewels. Reports provide that this discovery would ‘offer some relief to a sector impacted by the rise of lab-grown stones, as mining contributes about a quarter of Botswana’s GDP. A Discovery Of A Lifetime Former executive of De Beers and now head of mining companies in southern Africa, Clifford Elphick, described the discovery as…
On the early morning of August 1, 2024, a fire broke out at the Ladipo Baale Roundabout Plank Market in Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, razing property worth millions of naira. The blaze, which began around midnight, consumed three shops in the market before emergency responders were able to bring it under control. Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed that no casualties were reported. According to initial investigations, the fire started from a pile of planks due to a power surge, which then spread rapidly to other sections of the market. While the fire caused…
Lagos residents turned out in large numbers to protest what they describe as “bad governance,” with demonstrations taking place at Ojota, Ikeja Underbridge and Lekki despite stern warnings from government officials and a heavy police presence, particularly at the Lekki Tollgate. Today, Thursday marks the start of a planned 10-day nationwide protest, with actions occurring across the country. The protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, gained virality through online campaigns and sparked concern among authorities, who feared a repeat of recent violent protests in Kenya that forced the government there to backtrack on new taxes. While major roads, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, were largely deserted…
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally accused Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) of misleading trade descriptions and unfair marketing tactics in their products Original Taste and Less Sugar. This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the commission’s management and posted on the official X handle of the organisation. According to the statement, the commission found Coca-Cola Nigeria and NBC in violation of section 116 of the FCCPC Act as well as section 124 1(a) of the Commission’s Establishment Act. The FCCPC noted that Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and NBC were guilty…
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denied any involvement with individuals and handles promoting the hashtag #IgboMustGo on Twitter (now X), which calls for the evacuation of people from the Southeast from the State. The media aide to the governor, Gboyega Akosile, stated on Thursday that Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government wish to distance themselves from such “reckless, divisive, and dangerous rhetoric.” He emphasized that Lagos remains home to every Nigerian citizen, regardless of their ethnic nationality. Akosile further mentioned that the governor is urging security agencies to promptly investigate the individuals behind the handle and bring them to justice. …
Protest actions in Nigeria from 2015 to the present have played a significant role in the country’s socio-political landscape, highlighting the citizens’ reactions to various government policies and national issues. This period under review has witnessed various protests, including the prominent #EndSARS movement against police brutality and demonstrations addressing economic policies and the cost-of-living crisis. The #EndSARS protests, which gained international attention in 2020, marked a crucial moment by underscoring issues of governance, human rights, and the urgent need for police reform. The authorities responded to these protests with a heavy hand, resulting in a tragic loss of lives and prompting questions about…
The House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Downstream) has asked Nigerian stakeholders and oil companies to submit proposals highlighting how to address the influx of adulterated fuel products into Nigeria, among other issues. The call was made in a press release published on the committee’s Facebook page on Thursday, August 1. The proposals or memoranda are needed ahead of the lawmakers’ public hearing, following the committee’s forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors in Nigeria. Comprehensive Investigation into the Oil and Gas Sector It was previously reported the lawmakers saying that allegations of non-availability…
Business activities in Nigeria’s private sector contracted for the first time since November 2023 in July mainly due to a reduction in new orders and high prices limiting demand. The Stanbic Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for July declined to 49.2, indicating a slowdown in business activities in the beginning month of the second half of the year. The report indicated that the recent decline in the private sector’s health was mainly due to the first reductions in output and new orders since November of the previous year. However, the rates of decline were modest. Anecdotal evidence pointed to the negative…
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has condemned the spate of attacks on security personnel amid ongoing nationwide protests. The unrest, which began as peaceful demonstrations, has escalated into violent confrontations, resulting in significant damage to public and private property, as well as threats to the safety of security operatives. In a statement released by NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi on Friday, Audi voiced deep concern over the violence targeted at officers who were deployed to protect critical infrastructure and maintain order. “It is lamentable that there were attacks on security operatives…
Port users have urged the Federal Government to review the age limit for cars allowed for importation into the country, suggesting an increase from 13 to 15 years to help alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos, port operators urged the Federal Government to address various issues impacting business operations in the nation’s ports. Dr. Kayode Farinto, CEO of Wealthy Honey Investment Ltd., urged the Comptroller-General of Customs to publish the list of exempted items for imports. Farinto, a former executive of the Association of Licensed Customs Agents…
The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) have accused State Commissioners for Finance of conspiring with governors to obstruct the direct payment of allocations from the federation account to the 774 local government councils’ accounts. This accusation was made in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners for Finance of Nigeria, dated July 30 and signed by Mike Ozekhome (SAN). ALGON has threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against the commissioners if they fail to comply with a Supreme Court order that approved the direct allocation of FAAC funds to the…