Jennifer UGWA
Jennifer UGWA 221 posts
Jennifer UGWA	 Jan 16, 2020
A NEW legal attempt has been launched on Thursday by British prosecutors to confiscate tens of millions of pounds stolen from Delta State by the then state governor, James Ibori. Ibori who was governor from 1999 to 2007 had pleaded guilty…
Media, public banned in Israeli NSO surveillance firm hearing, alleged to have facilitated…
FOLLOWING international outcries over the use of Israeli NSO surveillance spyware, an Israeli court has ruled to have the media and public absent from the court proceedings citing security reasons. Over the past years, Israeli NSO spyware…
Uzodinma receives certificate of return as Imo governor-elect
SENATOR Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received the Certificate of Return from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governor-elect of Imo State. Barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court nullified the…
More tax breaks for large families in Russia as Putin seeks to stimulate birth rate
VLADIMIR Putin, President of Russia has announced a series of plans to urge parents into having more children in the country. On Wednesday during his 16th annual address to Russia's parliament, the Duma, he told lawmakers that there was an…
Countries affected by Ukrainian plane crash to take legal actions against Iran
FOLLOWING the plane crash in Iran that led to the demise of all passengers aboard the aircraft, ministers of affected nationals say they would soon converge to discuss possible legal actions. After days of denial, Iran admitted on…
Patients are frustrated in Abuja hospitals due to long wait, but there is no way out yet
Long-hour of wait is a common phenomenon in Abuja hospitals. Jennifer UGWA who visited public hospitals in the Federal Capital City reports about the frustration of patients who have to endure long delays before they see doctors. HAVING…
World Bank says economy will grow globally, if…
Jennifer UGWA	 Jan 9, 2020
ALTHOUGH downward economic risks persist globally due to poor trade performance recorded in the previous year, global economic growth is projected to reach 2.5 per cent in 2020, according to the World Bank. In its 2020 Global Economic…
Vengeful exposed fake drug peddler promises to "hunt down" ICIR Amos Abba after…
AMOS Abba, an ICIR reporter on Tuesday was threatened by an aggrieved fake drug peddler who promised to "hunt him down" after the journalists' investigation exposed fraudulent dealings of Abuja herbal doctors who promise a cure for cancer.…
Finance Bill: Firms with less than N25m turnover will not pay company tax, says minister
ZAINAB Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning said that the passing of the Finance Bill into law would exempt businesses with turnover less than N25m from paying companies income tax. Under the CIT law in Nigeria, all…
CBN releases new framework to address payment system risks in Nigeria
THE Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday released the Nigerian Payments System Risk and Information Security Management Framework, a directive to guide the management of risks associated with the payment system in Nigeria. The guide approved…
Nigeria suspends Turkish Airlines operations over luggage delays
Jennifer UGWA	 Dec 13, 2019
THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Friday suspended Turkish Airlines from operating into the country over persistent baggage delays. A letter by the NCCA to the airline,said the suspension takes effect from December 16. The…
China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt are world's worst jailers of journalists—CPJ
THE Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday said that the number of journalists imprisoned globally for their work in 2019 remained near record high, as authoritarians show no sign of letting up on critical media. The special…
Anti-Corruption Day: More men are involved in corruption cases in Abuja than women says PWAN
Jennifer UGWA	 Dec 9, 2019
BETWEEN November 2017 and November 2019, more men, than women have been prosecuted for corruption offences in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja , a report by a non-governmental organisation, the Rule of Law and Empowerment…
Immigration to unveil e-visa before end of 2019
MUHAMMAD Babandede, Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has revealed that Nigeria will soon commence issuance of its electronic visa in a move that is expected to boost the economic position of the country through…
Kenya: Nairobi governor arrested for economic crimes
THE governor of Nairobi was arrested on Friday shortly after Kenya's chief prosecutor ordered he be detained to face charges for economic crimes. Governor Mike Sonko is the latest in a string of top officials to be hauled in on corruption…
'China should create wealth, Stop loaning them money,' Trump tells World Bank
THE United States Donald Trump has asked the World Bank to desist from assisting China with more loans in the coming years. The World Bank on Thursday adopted a plan to aid China with $1 billion to $1.5 billion in low-interest loans…
Plans for ECOWAS single currency impossible by 2020, says minister
ZAINAB Ahmed, Nigeria Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning has said that plans for the Economic Community of West African States to have a single currency would be impossible by 2020 due to delays by member states. Ahmed, in…
Nearly 30 per cent of under- skilled youths resident in Africa, AFDB
ADAMON Mukasa, Senior researcher, Africa Development Bank has said that to curb unemployment, the governments of African States need to develop policies to facilitate school-to-work transition of their youths in order to reduce skill-…
Nigeria among top 20 countries targeted by crooked phone callers, says Truecaller
TRUCALLER, Stockholm-based caller identity and spam detection tech company on Tuesday ranked Nigeria amongst countries that receive the most spam calls and Short Message Services in the world in 2019. In a report titled "Truecaller…
Another Russia-Nigeria deal goes through as FG signs fertiliser production agreement
THE Nigerian government has signed a new agreement with Uralchem, a Russian firm to increase fertiliser production in the country. On Monday, under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, the company signed on to supply Nigeria with…
Nigeria rakes in N275bn from VAT in Q3 of 2019, says NBS
NIGERIA earned N275.12 billion from Value Added Tax in the third quarter of 2019, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics have shown. According to the Sectoral distribution of VAT report released on Monday, the new earning is a…
ICPC, NOA launch community campaign to monitor constituency projects
Jennifer UGWA	 Nov 29, 2019
AS part of its effort to fight corruption, the Independent Corruption Practices and other related Offence Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched a National Awareness Campaign on Community…
Reps to investigate Nigeria-Russia's deal on revival of Ajaokuta Steel
MEMBERS of the House of Representatives has begun an investigation into the Nigeria-Russian deal to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Mill. The move to interrogate the agreement was adopted after a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Senator…
Another Catholic clergy abducted three months after priests protested murder of colleague
STATE Police Command in Enugu has confirmed the abduction of another Catholic priest, Reverend Father Malachy Asadu barely four months after the murder of Paul Offu, parish priest of St. James the Great parish, Ugbawka by suspected…
Nigeria's GDP grew by 2.28 per cent in 3Q of 2019, despite border closure
NIGERIA'S Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.28 per cent in real terms, in the third quarter (Q3) of 2019, up from 1.81 per cent growth recorded in the third quarter of 2018, an indication of growth by 0.47 per cent points…
Senate approves bill to increase VAT payment by FG
THE Senate on Thursday approved the request by President Muhammadu Buhari to increase value-added tax (VAT) from five per cent to 7.5 per cent. In September, the federal executive council (FEC) approved an increase in VAT and subsequently…
Senate to investigate NEMA over 'selective' disaster response in 2019
THE Senate on Tuesday has directed its Committees on Special Duties, Ecology and Climate Change and Environment to investigate the effectiveness of the National Emergency Management Agency over disaster response in 2019. The directive…
Kogi Election: PDP women leader burnt alive by suspected political thugs
Acheju Abuh, the Women Leader of PDP's Wada/Aro Campaign Council, was on Monday set ablaze by a group of suspected political thugs in her home at Ochadamu in Ofu local government area of Kogi state after last Saturday's governorship…
Bayelsa/Kogi Elections: All candidates should be ready to accept outcomes – Buhari
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has issued a stern warning against the continued violence in Bayelsa and Kogi States a few days to the election, urged all agencies involved in the election process to be fair. Elections in the two states…
Nigeria ranks 30th in 2019 Africa Visa Openness index
FOR the first time, African travellers have liberal access to over half the continent, the 2019 Africa Visa Openness Index published by the African Union Commission and African Development Bank, has revealed. According to the 32 pages…
Despite Nigeria border closure, Benin Republic maintains strong economy-IMF
Jennifer UGWA	 Nov 7, 2019
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed that the Republic of Benin has maintained a strong economic performance despite Nigeria's closure of the land border connecting the two countries. Nigeria on the 19 September 2019, had…
CBN to stop treasury bill sale to individuals and start-ups
THE Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a directive to banks and other financial institutions to halt the sale of treasury bills to individuals and small firms. According to the Punch, the development was a move to stop the mop-up of funds…
2020 Oscar Awards: Lionheart rejected for "too much English" dialogue
First-ever Nigeria's entry for the international feature film Oscar category was disqualified by the Awards Academy because it contained too much English dialogue. According to TheWrap, The Academy announced the disqualification of…
Four African states that have closed its borders in 2019
OVER the past eight months, different African countries have shut down borders connecting them to their neighbouring countries majorly for security, trafficking, health and commercial reasons. On August 19, Nigeria abruptly shut down its…
AFRICMIL, journalism institute and Rosa Luxemburg task youths on political participation
THE African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in Abuja has made a call to the Nigerian youths to be actively involved in the political decision-making processes of Nigeria. This statement was made at a two- day…
AFDB capital base increases to $208b —largest since 1964
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has received a unanimous vote from its shareholders approving the sum of $115 billion increase to accelerate delivery on its High 5 development strategies across the region. This was part of the outcome…
Facebook launches news tab to support journalism
Jennifer UGWA	 Oct 28, 2019
FACEBOOK has launched "Facebook News", the latest attempt by the social media giant to support journalism on its site. The section will appear alongside the familiar news feed in a special "news tab", dedicated solely to journalism. After…
Again, Buhari to spend two weeks on private visit to London
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is to spend two weeks in London on a private visit at the end of his trip to Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and publicity to the president in a press statement said that the…
Ease of doing Business: Nigeria gains on economic outlook, moves up by 15 spots
NIGERIA has moved 15 spots in the World Bank's study Ease of Doing Business ranking from the 146th previous position in 2018 to 131 out of 190 economies. The Doing Business Index is an annual ranking that objectively assesses existing…
New government taxes, rates and charges will increase inequality gap – CISLAC
CIVIL Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC), a transparency and accountability advocacy group, has called for reforms on the Federal Government new fiscal policies unveiled recently by the Central Bank which it says does not take…
Prison Service Denies Plans To Arrest journalist, probes corruption allegations
THE Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Ja'afaru Ahmed, has denied that the Service plans to arrest Fisayo Soyombo, the investigative journalist who wrote an explosive undercover report on corruption in Ikoyi…
Court orders temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Maina
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT). Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo, the presiding judge on case, gave the order…
USSD charge at MTN discretion, we have nothing to do with it say bank CEOs
Banks have denied asking MTN to impose a new charge on customers for conducting financial transactions using the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Last week Friday, one of the telecom giant MTN Nigeria with over sixty five…
Plans to start electronic birth registration ongoing, says NPC boss
BELLO Suleiman Yahaya, National Population Commission Territorial Director on Monday has appealed to vital registration field registrars to desist from extorting nursing mothers and unsuspecting members of the public who apply to register…
The ICIR's Kunle Adebajo, four other Nigerian journalists emerge winners at 2019 Africa Media…
KUNLE Adebajo of The ICIR and four other Nigerian journalists emerged winners in the 2019 West Africa Media Excellence Awards (WAMECA ) held on Saturday in Accra, Ghana. The award themed "Social Media, Fake News and Elections in Africa"…
Power Sector: FG secures fresh $3 billion dollar loan from World Bank
Nigeria has acquired new loan of $3bilion dollars from the World Bank to address transmission and distribution challenge in the power sector. Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance made this known to journalists on Sunday during a side event at…
Humphery Nkonde, Zambian journalist dies mysteriously a day before his departure for Germany
HUMPHRY Nkonde, a 42-year-old Zambian investigative reporter who has been writing on sensitive political issues, has been found dead afloat a lake, 10 days after he went missing. Before his demise, Nkonde was the assistant editor at the…
United Nations may not have enough money to pay its staff next month
Guterres Antonio, United Nations secretary has warned that the UN may not have enough money to pay for staff salaries in the coming month if member states do not pay up what they owe. Guterres said to make sure the General Assembly was…
Dele Agekameh, Nigerian Veteran journalist is dead
Dele Agekameh, a Nigerian veteran journalist and writer has died at the age of 60 after almost a decade battle with kidney disease. The award-winning journalist before his death on Friday in Lagos was a columnist for top Nigerian dailies…
Online news outlets to be regulated says Lai Mohammed
LAI Mohammed, minister of information and culture, in Abuja on Thursday, said online news platform will soon be regulated. During the inauguration of a seven-man committee set up charged with the implementation of reforms in the National…
US university blows whistle on Nigerian professor who spent nearly $200k in strip clubs
CHIKAODINAKA Nwankpa, a former Drexel University professor and of Nigerian origin blew nearly $200,000 of federal grant money in strip clubs and on other 'improper purchases', United States Department of Justice revealed Monday. For more…
Trade War: US blacklists China's top AI startups, 25 others over human rights violations
Jennifer UGWA	 Oct 8, 2019
THE Trump administration has banned three of the world's most valuable private facial recognition startups from doing business in the United States, prohibiting them from purchasing US products or maintaining relationships with American…
How CBN, three others milk Nigerians through Remita, extra bank charges
AFTER waiting for nearly 30 minutes on the queue at the banking hall Nnajiofor Cynthia, a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka anxious to make her deposit that morning, was notified that a sum of N300 bank charges would be required…
Samsung closes shop in China
SAMSUNG's last China phone factory has announced the shutting down of the facility a few months after its production decline in June due to stiff competition in the country. The South Korean tech giant's ceased phone production in China…
Don't tag every young Nigerian internet fraudster, minister tells security agents
MINISTER of Communications, Isa Ali Pantami, has condemned the widespread harassment of Nigerians with personal computers, tablets and other ICT gadgets in public places by security operatives. Uwa Suleiman, spokesperson to the minister on…
GIJN 2019: Absence of reliable data,biggest challenge of Africa fact checkers
Jennifer UGWA	 Sep 27, 2019
AS the 11th Global Investigative Journalist Network conference proceeds in Hamburg, Germany, the challenges faced by fact-checkers, especially journalists in Africa were examined. Fact-checking which is an act of in-depth verification of…
#RevolutionNow: Court threatens to arrest DSS boss if Sowore is not released from jail
THE Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday has threatened to jail the Yusuf Bichi, Director-General of the Department of State Services, over his refusal to release Omoyele Sowore, the organiSer of #RevolutionNow campaign. The Federal High…
FIRS: We did not give Osinbajo N90 billion for election campaign
THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Monday has denied funding the 2019 election campaign to the tune of N90 billion Timi Frank, a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had claimed that issues involving…
Analysis: Despite forex restriction on milk importation, Nigeria's apex bank still fund dairy…
PUBLIC outcry and criticism greeted the supposed ban of the importation of dairies in Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria in July, and the apex bank speedily debunked the news clarifying it did not stop the importation of milk in the…
ICIR reporter shortlisted for 2019 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award
THE International Center for Investigative Reporting, (ICIR), reporter, Amos Abba has been shortlisted for the 2019 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award. The award, in its 7th year, enables journalists aged 30 and under, from…
Emefiele defends cashless policy, says not new in Nigeria
GODWIN Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the adoption of the cashless policy is in line with the apex bank strategy to eradicate fraudulent activities in the Nigerian banking system. Emefiele explained that the…
Despite border closure, other measures, inflation dips to 11.02 per cent in August —NBS
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday has shown that Nigerian inflation rate has gone down from 11.08 percent in July to 11.02 per cent in August. The NBS Consumer Price Index, (CPI) which measures inflation…
Buhari appoints Soludo, Salami, Doyin into Economic Advisory Council
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday announced the appointment of former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo and six others as members of his new Economic Advisory Council (EAC). A statement released by Femi Adesina,…
ECOWAS heads of states pledge $1 billion to combat terrorism in regions
WEST African leaders have pledged to contribute $1 billion to combat the increasing threat of Islamist militancy in the sub-region. Head of the regional ECOWAS bloc, Jean- Claude Kassi Brou disclosed this during the Extraordinary summit on…
Buhari to attend ECOWAS counter-terrorism summit in Burkina Faso
PRESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Saturday to attend a one-day Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism, for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Head of States in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Femi Adesina,…
'Do not do it, you will suffocate me'—shocking recordings from Khashoggi's last…
AFTER almost one year, audio recordings of the horrifying conversations between the 15-man Saudi hit squad and their victim, Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post journalist, has been revealed to the public for the first time by the Turkish…
Tribunal rules on presidential election petition on Wednesday
THE Presidential Election Tribunal has announced that it will deliver judgement on Wednesday on the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar, former Vice president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the election of…
Busola Dakolo demands apology, N10m from COZA's Fatoyinbo
Jennifer UGWA	 Sep 9, 2019
BUSOLA Dakolo, wife of Nigerian popular musician Timi Dakolo has demanded that the founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, apologise to her and pay N10 million for allegedly defiling her. In…
India loses contact with spacecraft on moon mission
INDIA on Saturday said it has lost contact with a spacecraft it was trying to land on the moon, the first of its kind to confirm the presence of water near the lunar south pole. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed that…
African Union reinstates Sudan as member of bloc after three-month suspension
THE African Union (AU) has lifted its suspension of Sudan's membership in the bloc, putting an end to a three-month ban on the country. The suspension had been in place pending the installation of a civilian-led government after the…
MTN shares hit three-months high amidst fear of reprisal attacks
MTN Nigeria shares recorded a three -month leap on Friday after the partial opening of the telecoms offices nationwide after a shutdown due to reprisal attacks on South African owned businesses as a result of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians…
XENOPHOBIA: Jim Ovia pulls out of World Economic Forum in South Africa
The Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia,on Thursday, pulled out of the World Economic Forum (WEF) holding in South Africa as part of protest against xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country. Both Ovia…
Nigeria boycotts World Economic Forum in S'Africa…recalls High Commissioner
FOLLOWING attacks on Nigerian in South Africa in the past few days, the Nigerian Government has pulled out of the World Economic Forum slated to hold in Cape Town and recalled its High Commissioner to the country. Nigeria's withdrawal…
Xenophobia: Avoid travelling to high risks, volatile areas FG warns Nigerians in South Africa
THE Federal Government on Wednesday cautioned Nigerians in South Africa against travelling to high risk and volatile areas until the mob action against Nigerians and other foreign nationals in that country is brought under control.…
MTN shuts down all outlets in Nigeria…billboards attacked in Abuja
TELECOM giant, MTN Nigeria on Wednesday announced the closure of all its outlets in the country as a security measure to counter attacks on its employees. Uto Ukpan, Company Secretary MTN, in a statement made available on the website of…
Nigerians to pay higher visa fee as US retaliates
Jennifer UGWA	 Aug 27, 2019
The United States Consulate on Tuesday has announced a higher fee for Nigerians applying for the US visa. The consulate said that Nigerians will be required to pay for all applications for nonimmigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa…
Police invites Fatonyibo for questioning over rape allegations
BIODUN Fatoyinbo, General Overseer of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), on Tuesday has been brought in by the police in Abuja for questioning over alleged rape of Busola Dakolo. Dakolo, photographer and wife of musician Timi Dakolo…
G7 leaders in France approve $251M to support women entrepreneurs in Africa
EMMANUEL Macron, French President and G7 leaders on Sunday in Biarritz, France approved $251 million in support of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Africa. The move to begin…
Beware of fraudulent loan offers on social media, CBN warns investors
THE Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday has denounced knowledge of calls for loan applications to small and medium- scale business being circulated on social media, says it is fraudulent. Issac Okorafor, Director, Corporate and Communication…
Buhari to attend TICAD7 in Japan, departs on Sunday
PRESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Sunday for Japan to participate in the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) holding in Japan. The conference deemed the largest international conference that…
Dynamic Intelligence exits market, says Nigerian workers 'extorted' company
JENNA Bourgeois, Chairman Dynamic Intelligence has announced that his company is exiting from the Nigerian market with 'immediate effect'. The technology company with operations in the United States, Canada and Africa claimed that…
Seme border partially closed as security measures against illegal activities, says NCS
JOSEPH Attah, spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has refuted the claim that seme border has been closed to all forms of business and that security officials have stopped all activities. He said the border was partially…
Ekweremadu: German police refutes Abike Dabiri's claim, says protesters were not arrested
GERMAN police authorities-Landespolizie- in Nürnberg, Germany has disclosed that no arrest has been made in connection with the Saturday attack on Ike Ekwereadu, the former Deputy Senate President, despite the claim of the Chairman and…
Oyo-Ita submits resignation letter as Head of Service
WINIFRED Oyo-Ita, the head of service on Monday in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari said she would be retiring from civil service with immediate effect. According to reports, the head of service was being probed over an alleged…
Anglican priest first scapegoat as Ekiti begins 'naming and shaming' of rapists
THE Ekiti State Ministry of Justice has initiated public naming and shaming of sex offenders in a bid to curb the frequency of rape and sexual harassment in the state, and an Anglican priest is the first casualty. On Twitter, Kayode…
Nigeria's inflation rate dips to 11.08 per cent in July-NBS
THE stat released by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics on Friday shows that the consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation came down to 11.08 per cent year-on-year in July 2019 at a 0.14 per cent point, lower than 11.22 per cent…
CBN does not require approval of Buhari to function- Moghalu
FORMER Central Bank of Nigeria deputy president, Professor Kingsley Moghalu who contested against President Mohammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election has criticised the ban on forex for the importation of food into the country by…
#FreeAustinTice: Seven years later journalist is still unaccounted for in Syria
REPORTERS Without Borders have raised another call for the release of Austin Tice an American journalist who was abducted seven years ago in Syria. The former veteran United State Corp before his abduction in Damascus freelanced for…
Hong Kong cancels 200 flights amid major countrywide protests
HONG Kong International Airport has cancelled all departing flights on Monday, as thousands of anti-government protesters occupied and caused disruption in 11th week of protests. Passengers have been told not to travel to the airport,…
New policy to allow women travel without male's permission in Saudi Arabia
Jennifer UGWA	 Aug 2, 2019
SAUDI Arabia on Friday published new laws that loosen restrictions, allowing all citizens — women and men alike —above 21 years of age to apply for a passport and travel freely. The new policies bring an end to a long-standing…
Court orders final forfeiture of plaza worth N150m owed by Kwara State account officer
A FEDERAL High court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday has ordered the final forfeiture of Asmau Plaza owed by Rasaq Momonu, Controller, finance and Account Kwara State. The property valued at N150 million was supposedly acquired through…
Nigerian manufacturing sector indicates faster growth in July – CBN
The manufacturing Purchasing Manager Index, PMI in the month of July stood at 57.6 index points, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed in a new report. Data made available from the "PMI July 2019 Report" published on Wednesday…
NPC, CSOs inaugurate technical team to combat extortion in birth registration scheme after ICIR…
Jennifer UGWA	 Jul 29, 2019
THE Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG) in collaboration with National Population Commission (NPC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Owerri, Imo State on Friday inaugurated an Advocacy Technical Team…
Ghanaian traders shutdown businesses owned by Nigerians, fear economy takeover
RETAIL businesses owned by Nigerians in Ghana have been shut down by Ghanaian traders who feared Nigeria's would take over their businesses in Accra. The action is the second time in recent weeks that Nigerian traders at Opera Square have…
Iran announces arrest of 17 alleged CIA agents, some sentenced to death
The Iranian government through its Intelligence Ministry on Sunday said they have arrested 17 citizens of the country, and have been sentenced some to death for acting as spies for the United States Central Intelligence Agency amid soaring…
Poor public engagement, little oversight– Nigeria ranks low on budget transparency
THE International Budget Partnership (IBP) has ranked Nigeria low for lack of transparency and poor public engagement in the development and implementation of its national budget. In the survey tagged Open Budget Index – the world's only…
Insecurity: Buhari calls for more collaborative efforts among Africa's intelligence community
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari intelligence community in Africa must work to curb illicit financial flow in the continent as a measure to address security challenges facing Africa. President Buhari spoke on Thursday at the opening session of…
Ponzi scheme: SEC begins verification of 4,160 investors' claims in Kano
THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday announced that it has started to verify claims of 4,160 unpaid investors of an illegal investment scheme organised by Dantata Success and Profitable Company in Kano. The commission in a…
CAN reverses self, pledges support for COZA, Pastor Fatoyinbo
DESPITE its earlier stance, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has promised the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) and its embattled pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo accused of rape by Busola Dakolo, wife to Nigeria popular artist Timi…
Nigeria to produce military gears locally
GODWIN Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank on Thursday under the directives of the presidency revealed that military uniforms among other clothing for government workers would henceforth be produced in Nigeria. The meeting in Abuja…
Nigeria rakes in over USD $25bn dollars in export value, spends close to $10bn on imports within…
NIGERIA is considered the largest economy in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product change rate of 1.9 per cent in 2018 and projected to hit 2.1 percent by the International Monetary Fund in 2019, thereby making her a huge potential…
GT Bank clinches Euromoney best bank award in Africa
GUARANTY Trust Bank Plc on Wednesday was named the Best Bank in Africa 2019 by Euromoney at its annual Awards for Excellence which held at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London. The Nigerian Bank was also named the Best Bank in Nigeria for a…
Instagram moves to stop social media bullying using new feature
INSTAGRAM recently announced the launch of a new feature on its app that would help counter social media bullying. The video and photo sharing platform also owned by Facebook revealed that the company have employed the use of artificial…
Not even as an unbeliever will my husband rape someone- Omodele Fatoyinbo defends husband
Jennifer UGWA	 Jun 30, 2019
PROTESTERS stormed the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) headquarters in Abuja on Sunday following the alleged rape of Busola Dakolo by the General Overseer, Abiodun Fatoyinbo, even as the pastors' wife, Omodele defended her husband…
ETFs sound and viable investment options, says NSE
THE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the leading market for Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the West African region, has announced the commencement of a three-day enlightenment campaign to increase investors' awareness and participation in…
CBN to recapitalise Nigerian banks, eyes world top 500 in five years
GODWIN Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, on Monday unveiled the monetary policy roadmap for his 2019-2024 economic plan for the country, promising to recapitalise banks within the next five years to make them contribute…
Metuh: Jonathan gave me N400m, not Dasuki
OLISA Metuh, Former National Publicity Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) says he received the sum of N400m project fund from former President Goodluck Jonathan and not Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser, as…
18 arrested as DPR seals 20 illegal fuel stations in Plateau
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday has sealed off at least 20 illegal fuel stations and had 18 persons arrested for illegal operation. Jerome Agada, Operations Controller of the DPR Jos field…
Vodacom unit to sell operations in Nigeria and four other African markets
VODACOM Group on Friday has announced a strategic repositioning of its Vodacom Business Africa(VBA) operation as it set to sell its business units in Nigeria, Zambia, Angola, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire for an undisclosed amount. The Telecom…
Former Egyptian president was murdered, alleges Turkey president
RECEP Tayyip Erdogan Turkey's president has accused Egyptian authorities of murdering former president Mohamed Morsi, who died on Monday after collapsing in court and vowed to see them prosecuted in an international court. Erdogan at an…
Northern Nigeria best place to do business – World Bank report
THE four years' subnational series data on the Doing Business in Nigeria (DBN) 2018 by the World Bank, comparing Business Regulation for Domestic Firms in 36 States and FCT Abuja with 189 Other Economies, has ranked the North West, North…
Nigeria's inflation rate increases to 11.40 percent in May – NBS
THE National Bureau of Statistics' Inflation Report has disclosed that the Consumer Price Index increased to 11.40 per cent in May from 11.37 per cent recorded in April. The report which was released in Abuja on Monday on the NBS official…
AFDB, Bill Gate release $100 million to advance financial inclusion projects in Africa
THE Africa Development Bank (AFDB) in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has announced the availability of $100million African Development Financial Inclusion Facility fund. Konstantin Peric the Deputy Director…
AFDB advocates regional integration to foster investment across Africa
AKINWUMI Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group on Wednesday said that free movement of people, especially labour mobility is crucial for promoting investments across the African continent. At the AFDB Annual General…
African Union suspends Sudan over military crackdown
Jennifer UGWA	 Jun 6, 2019
THE African Union (AU) has suspended Sudan's membership days after the military launched a brutal crackdown on protesters that killed dozens of people in the country. The AU's Peace and Security Department said in a post on Twitter on…
Gwarzo: Aggrieved SEC union protests reinstatement of DG, locks headquarters
THE Security and Exchange Commission has been shut down by its workers' union to prevent the reinstatement of its suspended Director-General, Mounir Gwarzo who was accused by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences…
Court remands six over JAMB's N35million allegedly swallowed by snake
Jennifer UGWA	 May 31, 2019
Philomena Chieshe and five other officials of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board on Friday were incarcerated by a High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over their involvement in the missing N35m from the sale of JAMB e-cards in Makurdi, Benue…
Access Bank to redeem $400 million dollars loan before due date
Access Bank Plc, Thursday announced the early redemption of $40million subordinated unsecured notes on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Sunday Ekwochi, secretary of the company in a statement said that: "the bank it intends to exercise its…
JUST IN: EFCC denies arresting Okorocha, wife
THE Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday refuted claims that former governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha, wife and other relatives have been arrested in Imo State based on issues bordering on embezzlement. Tony Orilade,…
Buhari departs for OIC summit in Saudi Arabia
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday departed Abuja to attend the Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia few hours after inauguration into the office for a second term. Buhari's visit follows an…
Obasanjo, NACCIMA DG, 393 others escape crash aboard Ethiopian Airlines
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and 393 others aboard an Ethiopian Airlines plane, escaped crash on Wednesday at Murtala Mohammed International Airport. Obasanjo who was absent from the inauguration ceremony of President Muhammadu…
Former President Jonathan still recognises May 29 as democracy day
FORMER president Goodluck Jonathan has continued to recognise May 29 as democracy day, despite the act of parliament that affirms democracy as June 12 in commemoration of the election considered to be freest and fairest in Nigeria. In his…
Huawei holds no.2 place smartphone spot after U.S ban, as global phone sales decline
DESPITE its absence from the U.S., Huawei retained its ranking as the No. 2 smartphone vendor worldwide and continued to reduce the gap with Samsung research and advisory firm Gartner reported. In a global IT report released on Tuesday by…
Airtel Africa to float 25% of shares on London Stock Exchange, considers NSE
FEW weeks after MTN Nigeria went public on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Airtel Africa Ltd, a subsidiary of Indian telecoms group Bharti Airtel Ltd, is considering a stock market flotation in London with plans to go public on the Nigeria…
Birth registration is low in Imo, Rivers, and govt. officials are responsible
Only 2.8 million under-five children out of a population of 32 million in Nigeria have birth certificates. According to the law establishing the birth registration scheme in Nigeria, birth registration is free, and any child not…
EFCC probes MTN listing on NSE
MTN Nigeria said its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The telecom giant, which was listed on the Exchange two weeks ago, however, said it had not been accused of…
UK Prime Minister Theresa May resigns as plans for Brexit fail
Theresa May on Friday announced that she was resigning from her position as the United Kingdom Prime minister and quitting as the conservative party leader on June 7. The embattled Prime Minister has faced massive criticism for failing to…
Facebook bans accounts owned by Israeli firm targeting Nigeria, other African countries
About 265 accounts were shut down by Facebook for 'coordinated inauthentic' accounts that originated in Isreali focused on Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Niger and Tunisia along with some activity in the Latin America and Southeast Asia.…
Dangote refinery awards $368m worth of contracts to local contractors
DANGOTE Refinery and Petrochemical on Monday in Lagos announced the award of $368 million to 120 local contractors at the site as part of its contribution to Nigeria content development initiative as it gears up to be Nigeria largest oil…
US suspends drop box visa applications in Nigeria
THE United State embassy on Tuesday announced the indefinite suspension of dropbox process of visa renewals in all its consulates in Nigeria. In a statement made available on its website, the embassy said visa applications would no longer…
Nigeria listed as the largest arms importer in Sub-Saharan African from 2014-2018 – Report
NIGERIA emerged as one of the top five arms importers in sub-Saharan Africa although the report showed a decrease in arms importation in Africa by 45 per cent from 2009- 2103 and 2014-2018. Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018…
Digital switch-over scam: NBC boss shared N2.5b among cronies, witness tells court
Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu, Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and Lucky Omoluwa, Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited, shared out the N2.5 billion seed grant for the Digital Switch-Over programme of the federal…
Nearly 900 child soldiers freed from armed group in north-east
A TOTAL of 894 children, including 106 girls, were released from the ranks of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria today says UNICEF. As part of its commitment to end and prevent the recruitment and use of…
EFCC arrests Naira Marley in connection with cyber fraud
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday confirmed the arrest of Nigerian musician Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley in Lagos today. Orilade Tony, Spokesperson of EFCC who spoke to The ICIR, confirmed that…
Pope issues new rule mandating report of sexual abuse in Catholic Church
Jennifer UGWA	 May 9, 2019
POPE Francis on Thursday issued new global rules for reporting sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, mandating for the first time that all dioceses set up systems for reporting abuse and cover-ups. The new rules require all Catholic…
CBN offers up to N500 million loans for start-up companies
THE Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with Bankers' Committee recently announced that people in the creative and information industry (CIFI) will be granted start-up loans ranging from N3million to N500million. The announcement…
EU criticises Saudi Arabia over human rights abuse
Jennifer UGWA	 Mar 7, 2019
For the first time since the setup of the United Nations Forum in 2006, Saudi Arabia has been criticised by 36 countries and 28 members of the European Union on human rights record in the Kingdom. The statement signed by the countries and…
Election: UK to deny Nigerian who incites violence even on social media visas
THE United Kingdom High Commission has warned that travel visas to the UK will be denied anyone who incites violence even on social media in the upcoming gubernatorial elections In a statement released on Wednesday, the commission urged…
How doctors' negligence, malfunctioning equipment at Asokoro District Hospital led to the…
WITH a big smile on his face and his baby cradled in his arms, a proud father of a newly-born infant and his wife made their way toward the taxi park at the Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The…
Election: U.S, France, Saudi Arabia, others congratulate Buhari, hope for better bilateral relations
The U. S, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kenya have congratulated Nigeria on its successful presidential election and President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election, as they look forward to a better bilateral relations with Nigeria in the…
US offers $1million reward for intel on Hamza, Osama Bin Laden's son
The US Department of State announced on Thursday says it is offering a reward "of up to $1 million" for information that leads to the capture of Hamza bin Laden, the son of deceased former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in any country. A…
Nigerians won't give us a second chance… INEC commissioner
Jennifer UGWA	 Feb 18, 2019
FESTUS Okoye, a National Commissioner for Independent National Electoral Commission says INEC is ready for the general elections re-scheduled for Saturdays, February 23 and March 9, stressing that the commission won't fail the second time.…
UN experts urge Ghana to ensure justice for murdered journalist Hussein-Suale
United Nations Special Rapporteurs have charged the Ghanaian government with the responsibility of ensuring an independent, prompt and transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale. The UN experts represented…
SERAP to sue FG, National Assembly for election postponement
THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has indicated that it would sue the Federal Government and the National Assembly for the postponement of the 2019 general elections. Kolawole Oluwadare, the Deputy Director of SERAP in a…
Vote-buying whistle-blowers will be rewarded…EFCC
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Friday has promised to reward citizens that provide credible information on illegal activities of vote-buying during the election. The commission urged the general public to contact…
Poor data, education, healthcare stagnating Africa's growth… Bill and Melinda Gates
THE Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, owned by the world's second richest man and his wife, has listed lack of proper data and poor education and health systems as the major factors stagnating economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. This…
UN condemns suspension of Nigeria's Chief Justice, says it breaches human rights
THE United Nations on Monday said that the suspension of Nigeria's most senior judge by President Muhammadu Buhari broke international human rights standards on the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers. In a statement…
Pope says priests and bishops molest Catholic nuns, admits cases of sexual slavery in church
Jennifer UGWA	 Feb 6, 2019
POPE Francis for the first time acknowledged that nuns have been sexually abused by priests and bishops in the Catholic Church. The comment which came in a press conference aboard the papal plane on the return flight from the United…
Exploiting River Niger and Benue will create employment for over 4 million youths, says YG-Consult
A GROUP of Nigerian professionals, YG-Consult, has made a strong case that Nigeria is missing out huge growth opportunity in agriculture, transportation and electricity generation due to its failure to exploit River Niger and River Benue.…
I'll donate my hairs, my wife's hairs and panties to any Yahoo boy, says Senator Adeyeye
TO dispel the rumours making the round that Nigerian internet fraudsters, popularly known as "Yahoo boys" steal female underwears to make money, Olusola Adeyeye, Chief Whip of the Senate says he will donate his wife's panties and hairs…
How single women with fibroid go through pain and stigma that leave many traumatised for years
ON first encounter, you might think she was due to have a baby. With a protruding belly as big as that of a nine-month-old pregnant woman, Immema John waddled along the street while neighbours and passers-by would call out to her as 'Mama…
Soyinka says Buhari and Atiku worthy of absolute rejection
NOBEL Laureate Wole Soyinka says he will not be voting for the duo of President Muhammadu Buhari or Abubakar Atiku in the upcoming election as he finds the two candidates "worthy of absolute rejection". Soyinka said this during an…
US, UK visa threat: Lai Mohammed says APC will win without rigging election
MINISTER of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government has accepted the statements of the United Kingdom and the United States to restrict visas to defaulters during the 2019 elections. He said the All Progressives…
UK, US say election defaulters will be denied entry visas
The United States and the United Kingdom on Thursday said they would take actions against anyone who interferes with the 2019 elections in Nigeria. The two world powers said that there would be consequences, including visa restrictions,…
New law accords five per cent job space for persons with disability
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has given assent to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which among other things, will ensure that corporate entities, as well as public institutions, reserve at least…
Senate confirms Tukur as director of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit
THE Senate, on Wednesday in Abuja, confirmed Modibbo Hamman Tukur as the director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Tukur will be serving as the first director of the NFIU since the unit was granted independence through…
Acting IGP dissolves FSARS, sets up special election investigative team
Mohammed Adamu, the Acting Inspector General of Police, has ordered the immediate disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Special Investigation Panel (SIP) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) set up by former IGP Ibrahim…
INEC- APC will not participate in Rivers governorship election unless court rules otherwise
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not participate in the Rivers State governorship election. Festus Okoye, INEC Commissioner, in a public broadcast on Sunday said the…
Journalist murder: Suspected Ghana MP leaves country after police invitation
KENNEDY Agyapong, a member of parliament in Assin Central Accra, Ghana, identified as a suspect in the murder of an investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein-Suale, has left the country. Ahmed was killed in Madina, Accra on his way home by…
Police invites Ghana MP over the murder of journalist
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Ghana Police Service has officially invited Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central over the murder of Ahmed Hussein- Suale, an investigative reporter and the partner of Anas…
Anas' partner Hussein-Suale an undercover journalist shot dead
UNDERCOVER investigator Ahmed Hussein- Suale and a key member of Anas Aremeyaw Anas' Tiger Eye Private Investigations team, yesterday was shot dead by unidentified men on a motorbike. It is reported that Ahmed, while driving home, was shot…
Kwara bans street campaigns after clash between PDP and APC supporters left many hospitalised
The Kwara State governor has on Tuesday banned street rallies and campaigns in the state after recent attacks that have left many hospitalised, and properties destroyed. Abdul Fatah Ahmed, Governor of Kwara state in a broadcast on…
World Bank president resigns, to focus on infrastructural growth in developing countries
Jim Yong Kim World Bank president on Monday resigned more than three years before the end of his tenure in 2022. Kim, in a report by Al Jazeera, said that he would immediately join a firm and focus on increasing infrastructure in…
EFCC arrests men with $2.8 million at Enugu airport
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Office, on Friday, intercepted two suspected money launders with the sum $2.8million at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. They were caught with two items of luggage…
More than 437,000 persons displaced in Cameroon crisis, says UN
The United Nations has reported that the number of Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria has spiked to more than 437,000 over the past months. And many have resorted to living in bushes and makeshift shelters with no support since October 1,…
12 years after fire killed 260 people in Abule Egba, inferno again engulfs this area of Lagos
TWELVE years after at least 260 people were killed and 60 injured in an oil pipeline blast in Abule Egba in Lagos, the area again went up in flames in the early hours of Wednesday Unconfirmed reports put the number of casualties at five –…
Saudi Arabia rejects resolution on Khashoggi murder, warns against external interference
SAUDI Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rebuked a resolution passed by the United States Senate condemning Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia…
Army accuses Amnesty International of trying to 'destablise' Nigeria with false reports
THE Nigerian Army has called for the closure of the Amnesty International (AI) offices in Nigeria, alleging that there is credible evidence that the organisation is working hard to 'destabilise' the nation. Sani Usman, the army spokesman…
How period poverty plagues women in Abuja communities
According to the Study International, more than 1.2 billion women all over the world do not have access to basic sanitation. Menstrual periods are open secrets but period poverty suffered by many women in Nigeria is shrouded in absolute…
If I get re-elected, hard work will be rewarded adequately -Buhari
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated "Together Nigeria'', a support group for his 2019 election and assured supporters that hard work and loyalty would be adequately rewarded. curiously, the President made a similar promise in 2015…
Nearly 30 million sick and premature newborns in dire need of treatment every year
NEARLY 30 million babies are born too soon, too small or become sick every year and need specialized care to survive, according to a new report by a global coalition that includes UNICEF and WHO. "When it comes to babies and their mothers,…
CDD trains journalists, INEC officials on combating fake news
Journalists and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have been trained in Abuja to Combat Fake news and misinformation in the 2019 general elections. The two-day fact-checking training, organised by…
Trump tells OPEC not to slash oil production
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged OPEC members not to reduce production at their upcoming meeting, saying global oil prices should remain low. Trump's comment came as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries…
US senators: 'Zero chance' Saudi Prince not involved in Khashoggi killing
After a closed-door briefing by CIA Director Gina Haspel on Tuesday, some top US senators have said there is "zero chance" Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) wasn't involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "The…
UN to investigate Khashoggi death, Saudi-Turkey investigation going nowhere
Michelle Bachelet, the new United Nations human rights chief has told Al Jazeera it's time for the UN to investigate Jamal Khashoggi's death - after almost two months of the Saudi and Turkish investigations that remain separate and seem to…
Israeli spyware 'Pegasus' alleged of facilitating Khashoggi's murder
NSO, an Israeli spyware company, one of Israel's biggest cybersecurity companies, with a staff of 600, has been ensnared in controversy after allegations that its Pegasus smartphone-snooping technology had allegedly been used by some…
Khashoggi murder: WhatsApp messages may offer clues to killing
MORE than 400 private WhatsApp messages sent by Khashoggi last year to a fellow Saudi exile may offer fresh clues to the killing of the dissident journalist. In his conversation with Canada-based activist Omar Abdulaziz - accessed by CNN -…
Qatar exits OPEC, to focus on clean energy
QATAR intends to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to focus on its natural-gas development, its energy minister said Monday. The decision comes as the organization is set to meet Thursday to decide on…
Buhari reduces cost of purchasing JAMB, NECO registration forms by N1500
President Buhari has approved the reduction in the cost of registration forms for JAMB UTME, NECO, SSCE, and the Basic Education Certificate Examination with effect from January 2019. The announcement was made by the Minister of…
IPOB: Anambra traders shut down markets, protest colleagues' arrest
ANAMBRA traders brought economic activities to a standstill in Nnewi and its environ as they shut down markets in protest of the arrest of some of their members by the police on Saturday. According to media reports, not fewer than eight…
More than a third of women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence , says UN
MORE than a third of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, according to a joint UN statement issued today to mark the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women.…
Saudi planned Khashoggi murder 12 days in advance
Turkish investigators analysing phone calls and the movement of the suspects in Khashoggi's murder have confirmed that the operation to kill the journalist was planned 12 days in advance, Al Jazeera reports. Investigators sifting through…
Fayose denies ownership of buildings sealed by EFCC in Ekiti State
AYODELE Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State, has denied ownership of the properties reportedly sealed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ekiti State, saying that the houses belong to 'innocent' individuals in the…
Buhari appoints new Supreme Court Justice, rejects Institute of Chartered Biochemist bill
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Musa Abaji as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as confirmed in a letter he sent to the Senate on Tuesday. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, read out the letter to members of the house…
Interpol elects South Korea's Kim Jong-yang as president
Interpol has elected Kim Jong-yang of South Korea as its new president, according to the international police body. Jong-yang, who had been serving as acting president, was elected for a two-year term at the body's annual congress in …
How I plan to tackle corruption in first 100 days, Atiku speaks on blueprint
THE presidential flag-bearer of the People's Democratic Party for the 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, says he will use his first 100 days in office to combat corruption if elected as president. He stated this in his policy…
Nigeria lawmaker Faruk refutes claim 'to deal with' Tracka official
ABDULLAHI Faruk, a legislator from Kebbi State has refuted the claim to "deal with" Emmanual Yaro, one of the officials working for Tracka.ng in the state. He told The ICIR that the alarm raised by Tracka.ng on its Twitter handle…
LSD trains journalists, CSOs on open government partnership
THE African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD) has brought together journalists and members of the civil society on two-day training on Open Government Partnership (OGP). The training which was held on Wednesday and…
Saudi Arabia expresses 'regret and pain' over Khashoggi killing
SAUDI Arabia expressed "regret and pain" for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, during a scheduled review session at the UN in Geneva on Monday, while asserting its commitment to achieving the "highest possible standards" in human…
Ozone layer is healing, new UN report says
THERE is an ongoing healing of the ozone layer, findings of a new UN-backed report released on Monday has shown. The study, 'Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2018', is the latest in a series of reports, released every four years,…
Security agencies clash with Shiite protesters again despite promise of normalcy
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has again clashed with security agencies, this time at the Wuse II area of Abuja, thus continuing a four-day violent protest across several parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This…
Gridlock along Abuja – Keffi expressway as soldiers clash again with Shiite protesters
ON the heels of the Zuba military- Shitte face-off, the Islamic group is involved in another confrontation with military men along the Abuja - Keffi expressway on Monday. The road was blocked by Shiite protesters, calling for the release…
REPORT: More than 90 per cent of the world's children breathe toxic air every day
THE WHO has reported that every day around 93 per cent of the world's children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. Sadly, many of them die.…
Khashoggi's son arrives U.S after months of travel ban
Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi, son of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has left Saudi Arabia and arrived in the United States, a close family source revealed to the CNN. Salah, who holds a dual citizenship of the United States and Saudi,…
Jamal Khashoggi: Turkey's president wants Saudi suspects to be tried in Istanbul
RECEP Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President, rejected Saudi Arabia's explanation that the killing of Khashoggi was an accident resulting from a discussion that went awry, a narrative that had been pushed since September, saying it was a…
Jamal Khashoggi: Who's who in alleged Saudi 'hit squad'
Turkish media have named 15 Saudi nationals whom Turkish officials suspect were involved in the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist critical of the government who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in the…
Many election promises of Adeshina Fagbenro and Eunice Atuejide (part 4)
The 2019 presidential election has produced many candidates vying for the position of the number one citizen in Nigeria. And each of them is full of promises to change the lives of Nigerians within four years. Here are some of their many…
Jamal Khashoggi died in fight at Istanbul consulate, Saudi state TV claims
SAUDI Arabia has confirmed the death of missing Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, claiming he died in a fight involving more than a dozen Saudi officials at the country's consulate in Istanbul. The CNN…
Many election promises of Donald Duke and Tope Fasua (part 3)
Many presidential promises of Fela Durotoye and Omoyele Sowore (Part 2)
Many election promises of Obiageli Ezekwesili and Kingsley Moghalu
Media companies, others withdraw from Saudi conference after journalist's disappearance
PROMINENT media companies, top businesses and organisations are pulling out of a high-profile business conference in Saudi Arabia as questions mount over the Kingdom's role in the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi,…
'I'd to learn the hard way': How lack of sex education results in teenage…
FINDINGS from a survey by The ICIR in a secondary school in the Federal Capital Territory on sex education show that five out of the 20 senior students surveyed, said they first learned about sex from their parents, six from teachers, and…
Third journalist killed in EU within 12 months – Viktoria Marinova raped and murdered
THE Bulgarian authorities are investigating the rape and murder of an investigative journalist in the northern city of Ruse, the third journalist to have been killed in the European Union (EU) within a year. CNN reported that the body of…
Ike Keke former US serviceman promises to fight corruption if elected Nigerian President
IKE Keke, a retired United States serviceman was elected the presidential flag bearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in the party's national convention in Abuja on Sunday. The presidential candidate promised that his…
Finally, Mugabe gives up power after 37 years
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has voluntarily stepped down after 37 years in office. Jacob Mudenda, Speaker of the Zimbabwean Parliament, made this known when he read the resignation letter to the lawmakers on …
Gov Okorocha hosts Liberian President Sirleaf
The Imo State government on Thursday conferred on Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf, president of Liberia the chieftain title of 'Adadioranma' during her visit to the state Johnson who arrived Imo state via the Owerri International Cargo …
I wish to run for second term, Buhari should run too- Dave Umahi
Dave Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State, on Thursday in Abuja expressed his desire to contest for a second term as governor and wished to see President Muhammadu Buhari re-contest in 2019. The governor said that any first term governor …
Sacked UK minister takes own life
An ex-Welsh Labour minister who faced a party inquiry into allegations about his personal conduct has taken his own life, BBC Wales reports. Carl Sargeant, 49, lost his ministerial job as cabinet secretary for communities and children …
Deadly viral disease similar to Ebola breaks out in Uganda
An outbreak of a 'lethal virus' - Marburg - clinically similar to Ebola with no known cure has broken out in Uganda, health chiefs have announced. The virus is one of the 'most deadly' pathogens in existence as it kills up to 88 per cent …
Italy probes death of 26 Nigerian female migrants
Italian prosecutors are investigating the deaths of 26 Nigerian women - most of them teenagers - whose bodies were recovered at sea. According to BBC, the investigators suspect that the women, aged 14-18 years old, were sexually …
A killer plague is ravaging Madagascar — and it could spread to nine African countries
The plague in Madagascar — "the deadliest and most rapid form of plague" — suspected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be Pneumonic, could spread to nine other African countries: South Africa, Seychelles, La Reunion, …
New approach for Somali security forces to prevent terrorism
By David Leffler During these dangerous times of high tensions in Somalia, terrorism could quickly end if Somali security forces were trained to form what is known in Latin American military circles as Prevention Wings of the …
US says it will become a 'permanent observer', no longer member of UNESCO
The United States has notified the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) that it is pulling out to assume a stance as a "permanent observer", instead of an active member of the organization. …
Ogunbodede, a professor and Anglican priest, jailed for 40 years over N177m fraud
Benjamin Ogunbodede, former Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), has been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Ibadan. Ogunbodede, a Professor and a priest of …
Kaduna resident doctors begin 'unfortunate' indefinite industrial action
Residents doctors in Kaduna State embarked on an indefinite strike on Tuesday over the "sorry state" of healthcare facilities in state-owned hospitals. Joseph Jokshan, President of the Association of Resident Doctors in the state, …
Give Biafra to Biafrans, and fight the greater fight
By Ayo-Bankole Akintujoye A few months ago, I wrote about reasons why the call for Biafra, as is currently being done by IPOB, is crap and a sheer waste of time, for obvious reasons: secessions are not achieved with noise and …
Rating Nigeria's democracy on World International Day of Democracy
In a pure democracy, elected leaders simply carry out the wishes of the voters, while securing the absolute sovereignty of its territories from outside forces. Since its independence from colonialists on October 1, 1960, …
Sagay talks like he is under the influence of some substance, says senate
Itse Sagay, a professor of Law and Chairman of the presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption (PACC), talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance, the Senate said on Wednesday. Delivering a public …
Eid-el-Kabir — the fear that pierced our hearts
Finally, the D-day arrived and it was greeted with both happiness and a dash of trepidation by Muslims and Christians on the streets of Suleja, Niger State. The few that walked the streets kept throwing glances at everybody and nobody — …
The costly side of Sallah
Prices of food commodities have continued rising despite low patronage from customers, with just a day to the annual Eid-el-Kabir celebration by Muslims. Speaking with the ICIR, Sahid-Sahid, a vegetable trader at Wuse Market, …