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Twenty six countries have requested Cyprus’ assistance in repatriating their nationals from both Israel and the Gaza Strip, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, spokesman for the government of Cyprus, said on Monday. “We are responding to the best of our abilities,” Letymbiotis said. Earlier on Monday, Cyprus’ National Council examined the situation in the region and possible developments that could affect Cyprus. Cyprus has activated a national emergency plan and mobilised government services and non-governmental organisations to provide assistance to thousands of people who are expected to arrive in Cyprus. Portugal, the United Kingdom and Denmark have already evacuated aboard military transport planes from Tel Aviv to Cyprus around 600 people, of whom 447 have already departed from Cy...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised the media to be unbiased and avoid fake news in reporting electoral process. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the advice at a two-day workshop on Election Reporting, Ethical Practices, Safety and Conflict Sensitivity in Election Coverage on Monday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State. The workshop was organised by INEC in collaboration with the Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) for INEC Press Corps. Yakubu, represented by INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, also called on the media and political parties to be conversant with constitutional mandate of the commission. He said that the commission would deploy its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to authenticate the Permanent Vo...

The newly appointed Registrar-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Magaji, has vowed to increase the commission’s revenue base. Magaji made the pledge while addressing the management staff of the commission upon his assumption of duty on Monday in Abuja. The registrar- general, commended President Bola Tinubu for finding him worthy of the appointment and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him. Speaking on the vision of the commission, the new CAC boss said that increasing its revenue base would be accorded top priority attention in line with Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’. He said, ”Enhanced human capital development will also receive due attention. ”I am therefore soliciting the support and cooperation of the m...

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has charged Principals of Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) across the country to protect their schools and students from any form of attacks or banditry. This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Ben Goong. Goong quoted the Minister to have said this during a meeting with Principals of the 112 Unity Colleges in continuation of briefings from Departments and Chief Executives under the supervision of the ministry. Mamman described the unity colleges as national treasures which must be protected at all cost. He also charged the principals to be vigilant over security issues, adding that early security warnings must not be taken for granted. ...

The second Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting took up the issues of economy and the agreement reached between government and the labour unions early this month to avert an industrial action. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting in Abuja on Monday. He said that the issues were significant to the current realities and expectations of Nigerians on the Tinubu-led administration, adding that it was also hinged on the Renewed Hope Agenda. ‘’The issues raised at the meeting include economy, road infrastructure around the country, memo about the agreement reached between government and the labour unions, as well as the export processing zone revitalisation,’’ he said. The minist...

An international NGO, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), on Monday called for effective water management to boost food production, food security and nutrition in Nigeria. Mr Micheal Ojo, the Country Director, GAIN, made the appeal while addressing newsmen in Abuja in commemoration of the 2023 World Food Day, themed: “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind”. Ojo noted that water availability was being threatened by urbanisation, poor management, pollution and climate change, underscoring the need for water management to ensure food security, and by extension nutrition. “With Food Systems activities accounting for about 72 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals, which is required for crop cultivation, animal husbandry and food production. “It has become...

Some women leaders and entrepreneurs have canvassed for more empowerment and support initiatives to develop rural women in the Federal Capital Territory. The Stakeholders made the call in an interview with newsmen Monday in Abuja against the backdrop of the 2023 International Day for the Rural Woman. Sharpedgenews reports that the UN sets aside Oct. 15 annually to celebrate the rural woman whom it said contributes about 40 per cent of agricultural labour in developing nations. NAN also reports that the theme of the 2023 international day is “Rural Women: Cultivating Good Food for All.’’ Mrs Afiniki Dauda, an entrepreneur and a market leader in Guto community, Bwari District, said that the government and other organisations need to put more efforts to develop women at the grass...

A billionaire businessman from the South East, Prince Arthur Eze, has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as fairness in his recent appointments of ministers and heads of agencies. Recall that there has been a series of agitations among power brokers and politicians over the recent appointments made by the President. Some alleged lopsidedness in the appointments, while others said they were not carried along. But speaking at the Holy Mass to mark the 65th birthday of Reverend Father Patrick Alumuku at St. Louis Catholic Church, EFAB Global Estate, Mbora, Abuja, Prince Eze said that President Tinubu’s recent appointments have shown that he is the ideal president for Nigeria. He said the president has been fair in his appointments to the three major regions: th...

Rev. Fr Patrick Alumuku has urged Palestine and Israel to seize hostilities and give peace a chance for national and regional development. Alumuku, the Parish Priest of St Louis Catholic Church Idu, Abuja, made the call in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of his 65th birthday celebration on Sunday. The cleric said that one of his birthday wishes was for there to be peace between Israel and Palestine and also peace in Nigeria. “One thing that Nigeria needs today is peace, and with peace, we have the capacity and possibility of moving forward. “If we lack peace, we will be moving one step forward and take three steps backwards which is what we have been experiencing since independence. “We want peace, want true peace, we want our leadership to establish true peace in...

Mr George Kabutha, an expert in agricultural seeds production, has recommended stable and long term agricultural policies to woo more investors in the agricultural sector towards enhancing job creation and boosting food security. The seed expert made the recommendation in an interview with Newsmen on Monday in Zaria. Kabutha said investors need stability in government policies which may last for at least 30 years to enable the investors stay and plan well towards stabilising the sector to achieve its goals on food security. Kabutha, also Group Head, Administration and Finance of Value Seeds, noted with dismay that one of the major problems with government policies on agriculture was sustainability. “”For instance, in 2013 there was the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) which bro...

The Police Command in Delta has arrested  three kidnap suspects, and recovered assorted weapons including five packs of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as exhibits. The command`s pokesman, DSP Bright Edafe stated this while addressing newsmen on Monday in Warri. Edafe said that the suspects were arrested on Friday by police operatives attached to the Orerokpe Division in Okpe Local Government Area of the state. He said that the Divisional Police Officer, Orerokpe division,CSP Paul Oboware, led a team of the Divisional Anti-Crime Patrol team to Ofuoma Community in Ughelli North to effect the arrest. “Recall that about two months ago, the command arrested some suspected kidnappers, including Ese–Oghene Ezekiel. “He masterminded the kidnap of his brother and members of his...

Prof. Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has restated the need to strengthen entrepreneurship curriculum in Nigerian polytechnics and related institutions. Bugaje said this on Monday in Bauchi at the opening of a four-day workshop for 250 polytechnic lecturers from North-East region. Represented by an official of the board, Alhaji Iliyasu Mohammed, the secretary said the federal government is committed to making polytechnic education very skillful and knowledgeable. “There is need to review and strenghten skills development curriculum for entrepreneurship educators in the country. “This workshop will provide an opportunity for us to rub minds and produce a roadmap towards strengthening entrepreneurship training in our instituti...

Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) staff on Monday shut down their head office as they rejected the appointment of the new Postmaster General (PMG), Tola Odeyemi by President Bola Tinubu. Sharpedgenews reports that Odeyemi’s appointment was announced last week by Ajuri Ngelale,  Presidential spokesman, but NIPOST in a separate statement disclosed the reinstatement of Mr Sunday Adepoju to continue as PMG NIPOST workers on Monday staged a protest in Abuja over the new appointment and shut down its head office office. Some of the protesting workers, who spoke with NAN on the condition of anonymity said Odeyemi was appointed against their wish and as such cannot be allowed to assume her new role. They called on Tinubu to reverse the new appointment and maintain the reinstatement of ...

Mr Christopher Ezeafulukwe , Managing Director of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, (AEDC) has called for team work among operators of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry(NESI) to resolve the challenges facing the sector. Mr Donald Etim, AEDC's Marketing Officer made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday Etim quoted the Managing Director (MD) as making the call while speaking at the Bi-annual joint generation, operations and Electricity Distribution Company (DisCos)planning meeting in Abuja adding that the sector can only grow when the various segments work in unity. He said that while there have been improvements since the power sector was partially privatised 10 years ago, a lot of work is still required to meet the objectives of the sector. According t...

By Marindoti Oludar In a turn of events that has international reverberations, Chicago State University (CSU) inadvertently released the Social Security Number (SSN) of Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while complying with a judge’s order following a lawsuit by Atiku Abubakar, the candidate who lost the 2023 presidential election to Tinubu. The action has sparked outrage and raised concerns about potential identity theft and misuse of the president’s personal data. President Tinubu had previously expressed reservations about unfettered release of his academic records, fearing "irreparable damage." His concerns have been validated with the recent exposure of his SSN. The exposure is in direct violation of the Illinois Identity Protection Act, which mandates that “A person or St...

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Sunday said three persons died instantly in an auto crash involving a commercial bus and a truck. A statement by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Saturday, said the incident happened at Gbagada, by Charlie Boy bus stop. “Following a distress call received at 22:01hrs through the agency’s toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans with an arrival time of 22:17hrs. “Upon arrival of the agency’s LRT at the scene, it was observed that a white commercial bus lost control and crashed into a moving truck. “The 18-passenger commercial bus, with registration number JJJ-844YA and loaded to capacity, was heading to Ajah from Oshodi. “It lost control while on motion, ...

U.S. President Joe Biden has discussed efforts to protect civilians in separate calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the current outbreak of violence in the Middle East. In his call with Netanyahu, Biden “reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict” and exchanged views on access for “innocent civilians” to water, food, and medical care, the White House said. A week ago, Hamas militants carried out a massacre of Israeli civilians in border towns and at a music festival. The number of dead stands at more than 1,300, according to army figures. In response, the Israeli army began hammering the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. More than 2,200 people have been killed so far and a ground offensive by the ...

Israeli opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman will join the newly created war Cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party said on Saturday. On Wednesday, Netanyahu had agreed with leading opposition figure Benny Gantz, a centrist, on the establishment of the emergency unity government following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel. Lieberman has served in a slew of ministerial posts over the past two decades, including minister of defence and foreign affairs, and has long been viewed as one of Israel’s most hawkish political figures. Politicians from across the spectrum have put their support behind the emergency government, saying it is necessary to be unified as Israel faces one the worst crises in its history. Observers say a broad coalition is neede...

European Union (EU)  leaders are set to convene an extraordinary meeting via video link on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip, European Council President Charles Michel said. “We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel and the victims of the terrorist attacks,” Michel said in an invitation issued on Saturday evening. “Israel has the right to defend itself in full compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law,” he added. Palestinian extremist organisation Hamas, which rules Gaza, launched thousands of rockets toward Israel while hundreds of its fighters breached border defences in an unprecedented surprise attack last weekend, rampaging across communities of southern Israel as well as a music festival in ...

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they have killed another man in Gaza suspected of masterminding the large-scale attacks carried out by Islamist Hamas. Billal Al Kedra, commander of Hamas units in southern Khan Younis, was killed in airstrikes the previous evening, according to an IDF statement on Sunday morning. Other Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were also killed, the IDF said. The latest news came after the IDF said it had killed two other men they suspect of masterminding the Hamas attacks. The IDF attacked more than 100 Hamas military targets in Zeitoun, Khan Younis and western Jabalia, it said, hitting operational command centers, military facilities, dozens of launching pads for anti-tank missiles and observation posts. Command centres of ...