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The Federal Government plans to tackle poverty and insecurity through financial inclusion of all Nigerians. Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of a national stakeholders’ workshop on financial inclusion slated for Thursday and Friday. Hadejia reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to an all-inclusive Nigeria under his “Renewed Hope Agenda’’. He said part of the plan was to unveil a roadmap to integrate unbanked Nigerians into the formal financial system. “Economic and financial inclusion are essential components of President Tinubu’s agenda to integrate the underserved and unbanked Nigerians into the formal financial system. “This will enable Nigerians to...

The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday said it has positively impacted not less than 30, 000 individuals through conflict mitigation between farmers and herders in Taraba and Adamawa. The IOM Chief of Mission Laurent De Boeck disclosed this during the official inauguration of the second phase of the mission’s project steering committee meeting in Abuja. The project is on: “Contributing to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Taraba and Adamawa States, Nigeria (COMITAS Il)”. The event was organised by IOM through collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Mercy Corps and funded by the European Union (EU). De Boeck, represented by Juliana Dorr, Programme Manager of IOM said, “The COMITAS I...

Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv, has announced an upward review for its subscription packages. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024, a few months after its last price upward review. DSTV blamed the latest increase on the “rise in the cost of business operations.” This was announced in a statement titled, ‘Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv Packages,’ read in part: “On Wednesday, 1 May 2024 we will adjust our prices across all our packages on DStv and GOtv. “We understand the impact this change may have on you our valued customer, but the rise in the cost of business operations has led us to make this difficult decision. “It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you and are committed to continue to deliver hig...

All African member states have unanimously resolved and agreed to collectively come together to fight terrorism and prevent cross border influx of illegal arms in the continent, NewsSpecng learnt. Nigeria's Defence Minister Muhammad Badaru Abubakar made this known onTuesday ,23/04/2024 while speaking shortly after the closing of the two days High level Africa counter terrorism summit held in Abuja from 22 to 23 April 2024. The Minister said delegates from the participating Countries have resolved that each sub regional body should organise itself and come together as a United Africa to develop means and strategies in Partnership with the International Community to tackle terrorism and other related crimes in the continent. Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar said the time to act to s...

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has recovered 57 billion naira of the 5.6 trillion debt owed more than ninty three government ministries, departments and agencies. This was ade possible through through data collected ,collated and harmonized from over 5,000 debtors spanning more than 93 government agencies. Mr Okokon Ekanem Udo, Permanent Secretary of Special Duties at the Federal Ministry of Finance, revealed this information at an Enugu workshop to raise awareness. During the event's opening, Ekanem announced that the debts were revealed through data collected from over 5,000 debtors spanning more than 93 government agencies. Aisha Omar, the Ministry's Director of Special Projects, represented by the Permanent Secretary, conveyed that the ministry had also received re...

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Amb. Musa Nuhu, has called on the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to harmonize strategies towards mitigating regional conflicts. Amb. Nuhu made this known at the maiden joint consultation meeting between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) in Abuja on Wednesday. The Chairman, ECOWAS MSC, described the meeting as a key turning point in Africa’s collective pursuit of peace and prosperity,stressing that “for long, the continent had struggled with security challenges that brought untold hardship to its people.” “From terrorism and violent extremism to unconstitutional changes of government, these challenges demand a unified response that goes...

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that he is willing to work with people of goodqwill and progressive ideas for partnerships that will make life better for the people and ensure sustainable development of the State. This is even as he acknowledged the unwavering support demonstrated by both indigenes and residents of Azuabie-Okujaku communities in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, who have become good ambassadors of his Administration. Governor Fubara made the remark while addressing a delegation of the leadership and members of Azuabie-Okujaku communities who were on a peaceful solidarity walk to Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who received the delegation on behalf of the Governor, ...

All African member states have unanimously resolved and agreed to collectively come together to fight terrorism and prevent cross border influx of illegal arms in the length and breath of the continent. Nigeria's Defence Minister Muhammad Badaru Abubakar CON mni made this known onTuesday ,23/04/2024 while speaking to Newsmen shortly after the closing of the two days High level Africa counter terrorism summit held in Abuja from 22 to 23 April 2024. The Minister said delegates from the participating Countries have resolved that each sub regional body should organise itself and come together as a United Africa to develop means and strategies in Partnership with the International Community to tackle terrorism and other related crimes in the continent. Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar ...

Succour will soon come the way of the displaced people of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Wednesday, inaugurated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Management Committee. The Committee has veteran journalist and former Editor of The Guardian Newspaper, Mr Abraham Ogbodo as Chairman and Director of Personnel Management, DPM, Ughelli South Local Government Council, Chief Austin Emaduku as Secretary. Other members include; Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Hon. Festus Utuama, Hon. Reuben Izeze, Dr Richard Kofi, Chief Oviri Uto, Hon. Josephine Oduaran, Obukohwo Henry Ediyo, Karo Ovemeso and Austin Ohwofaria who will serve as Camp Commandant. Inaugurating the Committee at Government House Asaba, Governor Oborevwori cha...

The Lagos Coordinator, JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun, has said the board will refund fees paid by deserving visually-impaired candidates for the purchase of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME forms. Mr Olarenwaju, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, gave the assurance at the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos, centre, for the 2024 UTME for visually-impaired candidates from Lagos and Ogun states. According to him, a total of 88 candidates in this category registered for the 2024 UTME at the centre but only 82 were present. He explained that only visually-impaired candidates with five ‘O’ Level credits in one sitting would be refunded. The coordinator said that the gesture was to encourage physically-ch...

Kola Akingbade, a Nigerian-born American is set to contest in the Las Vegas Mayoral Election. Kola Akingbadere who is the son of a renowned Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, late Clement Ladipo Akingbade was prevailed upon to run for Nigeria’s president in 2019. Kola is one of the few Nigerians making the country proud internationally. He is a smart innovative thinker who has a love for family, people, community, and God. He is forthright, dependable, and known for his exceptional honesty, integrity, and tenacity in not just one area of his life, but all these qualities are a tightly woven strand that run through every station in his life. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but was sent to the United States by his father to attend college. He chose the Miami-Dade Comm...

The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions(ASURI)has called on President Bola Tinubu to reject the tenure extension proposal of former director general of theRaw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Hussein Ibrahim after his second and final tenure in office expired on April 7, 2024. Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Secretary General of the ASURI, stated this in a letter addressed to the president and made available to the press on Wednesday in Abuja. The letter was titled: Urgent need to curb Professor Hussaini D. Ibrahim from holding on to the finances of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) after the expiration of his second and final tenure as Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Council. In the letter, the ASURI Secre...

In a courageous act, the family of a bride-to-be and a group of passengers thwarted a kidnapping attempt by killing a terrorist in Zamfara State. PRNigeria reports that the incident unfolded when the family of the bride-to-be and other travellers were ambushed by bandit terrorists along the Talata Mafara-Gusau highway. The bride’s family had embarked on a journey to purchase clothing and other wedding materials in Kano. However, their plans took a harrowing turn when armed bandits targeted them. An eyewitness who spoke to PRNigeria revealed that the response was spontaneous once the bandits had selected their victims. Despite one of the bandits managing to escape, the brave passengers captured two AK-47 rifles. Narrating how the events unfolded, the Eye witnessed said: “A few ...

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday vowed to ensure the prosecution of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. Olukoyede said he would resign from his position if Bello is not prosecuted. He also vowed that all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor would be brought to book. The EFCC is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion. He said that no matter what anyone does or the amount of attack against the anti-graft agency, he and his men will not relent in helping to sanitise the country. Olukoyede said the EFCC needs the support of Nigerians to succeed as he emphasised that if the agency fa...

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a member of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Equal Opportunity Group, (JEOG), says parents should enroll their special needs children into schools to give them a better future. Adedoja a member of the JEOG six man supervisory committee, said this at a news conference to kick start the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME), for visually impaired persons and other persons with special needs in Ibadan. The UTME into tertiary institutions in Nigeria kicked off nationwide on Monday, April 21, and would end on Tuesday, April 22. He said that parents should not deny special needs children their rights to quality education, andappealed to them to enroll them into primary and secondary schools. “Many parents still keep their ch...

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu has approved that 20 per cent of palliatives, in terms of food intervention, be routed through religious and traditional institutions. Shettima made this known while delivering the keynote address at a High-Level Dialogue of Faith Leaders on Nutrition in Nigeria, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “The Imam of Bayero University (BUK) mentioned about the exclusion of the traditional and religious leaders in the distribution of palliatives. “The President has approved that 20 per cent of the palliatives, in terms of food intervention, be routed through our religious organisations and the traditional institutions. “The Tsangaya schools, the mission schools will be specially targeted for such intervention.”  The...

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has unveiled plans to improve nutrition indices across the country. It is a plan of action to use traditional and religious leaders to educate their followers on the risk factors associated with malnutrition. Shettima, who unveiled the plan at a high-level dialogue on nutrition at the Presidential Villa, called on faith and traditional leaders to champion the effort in their communities. Sharpedgenews reports that the theme of the one-day dialogue was, "Faith Leaders as Catalysts for Enhanced Human Capital through Nutrition." The event was organised by the National Council on Nutrition (NCN) and the World Bank-assisted Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project. The Vice-President stressed that Nigeria's future readiness hinges ...

[ By Bridget Tikyaa-Ikyado Eleven is an insignificant quantity in a reference to the number of months expended in the ritual of governance for an administration with a 4-year span. An alluring scorecard, has however, helped the masses Governor, Hyacinth Alia to give significance to a 11-month account of his stewardship in Benue State. With this, he has stunned dissenting voices and left critics spellbound. Indeed, his landmark achievements within a shorttime has left many green with envy and some others to explore uncharitable options to degrade his character. Addressing the Nigerian Professionals Forum during the World Bank meeting in Washington DC, Thursday last week, Alia harnessed the power of collaboration and partnerships to reaffirm the need for sustainable developme...

"… lauds Gov. Sule's efforts in tackling insecurity, promoting peace in the state…" Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, has today Monday met with Chairmen of the 13 Local Government Areas of the State in order to find lasting solutions to security challenges experiencing across the State. The Speaker while addressing the LG Chairmen in his office in Lafia said he was directed by Gov. Abdullahi Sule to discuss with the LG Chairmen on how to find lasting solutions to the security challenges facing their Local Government Areas. " I was given the mandate by His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule when he called us for state security meeting on 15th of this month " The insecurity challenges such as kidnapping, communal clashes, armed robbery among other s...