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By Jacinta Nwachukwu National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in collaboration with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve IDPs’ livelihood. Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed said the meeting marked a new beginning in the quest to providing sustainable solutions to IDPs in Nigeria. Ahmed noted that the initiative was in tune with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda. “This partnership is a major catalyst and a pivot around which so many displaced Nigerian’s will regain their livelihood in dignity. It will reshape our existence and drive meaningful achievements for the beneficiaries. “This wi...

The United States has revised its immigrant visa processing requirements for Nigerians. Starting January 1, 2025, all visa applicants will visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the application process. This policy applies to individuals with interviews scheduled on or after this date. The directive was announced on the embassy’s X handle on Tuesday. The US embassy said the new process was designed to help applicants prepare for their visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing their immigrant visas. “Your first visit to the U.S. Consulate in Lagos is for an In-Person Document Review with a consular staff member to ensure you are prepared for your visa interview,” the embassy explained on its website. “This mandatory review will give you...

(L-R) LGAN President, Evelyn Oyome, Pearl Omaruaye and Nnenna Ahube; Team Nigeria representatives at the just concluded 2024 All Africa Challenge Trophy in Morocco. By Victor Okoye Nigeria has won the bid to host the next edition of the prestigious All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) in 2026. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AACT is a biennial continental ladies golf championship in Africa that had its inaugural edition in May 1992 in Zimbabwe. Nigeria hosted the AACT in 1996 at the Ikoyi Club 1938, while in 2010, the AACT was played at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja. This would be the third time Nigeria will be hosting the championship. Interestingly, the West and Central Africa Challenge Trophy (a regional version of the championshi...

By Jacinta Nwachukwu The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has urged governments at all levels to support civil society organisations in the campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through cultural reorientation. Ms. Munachi Okoro, Head of Communication and Knowledge Management at PPDC, made the call during a debate competition organised by the centre for secondary school students in Abuja on Tuesday. The debate topic was “Culture: An Enabler of Gender-Based Violence.” Okoro emphasised the need for a holistic approach to end gender-based violence, citing culture as a significant contributor to its propagation, particularly in rural areas. She advocated for the removal of harmful cultural practices that affected women and girls, ensuring they live freely with...

By Jacinta Nwachukwu Actors in the migration sector have called for the protection of migrants’ rights and legacies, considering their significant contributions to national development. This concern was expressed at the 2024 National Migration Dialogue, organised by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and partners in Abuja on Monday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 10th Annual National Migration Dialogue focused on the theme “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting their Rights.” The actors emphasised the significance of migration in the development of civilisations, highlighting the exchange of ideas, culture, and innovation across borders. Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner ...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former gubernatorial aspirant, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has described the recent decision of Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to provide healthcare insurance to 10,000 primary school pupils out of over half a million pupils in public primary schools in the state as uncharitable. The politician, in a press release from his media office, wondered why the government would decide to provide healthcare insurance to 10,000 primary school pupils while the state has more than half a million pupils in public primary schools. "Information at our disposal indicates that the number of students in public primary schools in Oyo State, as of 2020, was 490,410, with 14,060 classrooms at the time. The study further pr...

…Adjourns Cybercrime Trial To January 29 The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday granted N50million bail to human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, after the police filed charges against him over allegations of cybercrime. Justice Babs O. Kuewumi, presiding over the court on Monday, December 9, 2024, ruled that Farotimi be released on bail with conditions that included a N50million surety and a guarantor possessing a landed property of equivalent value. The case, with suit number FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, was filed by the Inspector-General of Police, alleging cybercrime activities linked to Farotimi. However, Justice Kuewumi adjourned the case to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President-elect John Mahama on his victory in the Saturday general election in Ghana, following his opponent’s concession speech. In a telephone call to Mr Mahama, Mr Tinubu hoped that his ascension to power for the second time would further bring stability to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Mr Tinubu commended the people of Ghana for their unwavering commitment to democracy. He said this was demonstrated through the peaceful and successful conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary elections, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu’s spokesman, said in a statement. Mr Tinubu applauded Ghanaians for demonstrating again to the world that democracy was the preferred path to achieving political stability, economic developmen...

By Joan Nwagwu The Minster of the Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has assured the compliance of all the Ministry’s agencies to the Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS), of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF). Tunji-Ojo said this during an advocacy visit by Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, Managing Director of the NSITF in Abuja over the weekend. This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Nwachukwu Godson, General Manager, Corporate Affairs. NSIT The minister urged the Fund to work towards a fair and equitable work environment beneficial to both the strong and weak in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration. According to him, the Employees’ Compensation Act is a law that must be obeyed to guarantee social safety net to workers in the formal and informal ...

The commissioning of Dr Nkata Nwani Chuku medical centre at Veritas University Abuja by His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja By Jacinta Nwachukwu The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Saturday, inaugurated a medical centre built by Dr Nkata Chuku at Veritas University, Abuja, to enhance training and health care of the community. Speaking at the inauguration at Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Onaiyekan called for more support for the development of the university. While underscoring the importance of education and seeking truth in a religious context, he encouraged wealthy individuals to use their resources for the greater good of humanity. This, he said, would impact their reputations and re...

 By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  The Minister of Information and National Orientation,  Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has charged the newly inducted members of members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to uphold the highest standards of ethical communication and contribute positively to the nation's development. Idris gave the charge during the induction ceremony of new members of the institute in Abuja.  The Minister emphasised the crucial role of public relations in fostering transparency, accountability, and trust between the government and the people.  He urged the inductees to utilise their skills and knowledge to counter misinformation, promote unity, and project Nigeria positively on the global stage. Idris described the induction as a celeb...

…with no fewer than 88 members inducted into the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club Golf By Victor OkoyeAdam Yakub on Saturday emerged as winner of the maiden Tukur Yusuf Buratai International Golf Resort and Country Club (TYBIGRCC), Abuja induction kitty. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakub played off handicap 20, with a net score of 86 and 66 gross to emerge winner of the tournament. Y.J. Sado, playing off handicap 28, with 95 net and 67 gross finished as runner-up net, while Kunle Badejo, playing off handicap 28, with 98 net and 67 gross, settled for first runner-up prize. In the ladies' best net category, Patience Abochi emerged winner after playing off handicap 17, with a net score of 84 and 67 gross. While Staff Sergeant Maureen Apute, t...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  Abuja, Dec. 6, 2024 (NAN) The National APC Women Advocacy Organisation (NAWA-ORG) has sensitised and built the capacity of no fewer than 500 students of Junior Secondary School, Durumi 1, on checkmating and addressing Gender Based Violence  (GBV). The  Chairperson of NAWA-ORG,  Dr Amina Kundiri in her remarks on Friday in Abuja said the capacity-building is part of the organisation's programme to mark the World 16 Days Activism on GBV. The programme with the theme "Voice It Out" was put together by NAWA-ORG.  Kundiri explained that both male and female students were sensitised and lectured  on the issues around GBV. "Gender Based Violence has been a generational issue. Male children also suffers GBV. We are doing this progr...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao (Allow Alao), has mourned the death of the renowned Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muhyideen Ajani Bello. Alao in a statement he personally signed while commiserating with the family of the Islamic cleric, people of Ibadanland and entire Muslim Ummah all over the world, described his death as the end of an era of an Islamic collosus. According to him, he was a towering figure in the Islamic world whose teachings and sermons brought many to Allah, stating that he lived his entire life to propagate Islam all over the world. The Asiwaju of Irokoland said his legacy as a devout Muslim would continue to be in the minds of the people, noting that he was at all times incorruptible on morals and princ...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has presented a total of N1,054,542,020,147.47 to the State House of Assembly as the State's proposed budget for 2025. Speaking at the Assembly's Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun said the budget, tagged "Budget of Hope and Prosperity," is made up of N453.56 billion as recurrent expenditure and N600.98 billion as capital expenditures. Giving highlights of the appropriation, the governor said N120.1 billion would go for personnel costs, N37.49 billion for consolidated revenue cost, public debt charges would gulp N76.07 billion, while N219.86 billion would be spent on overhead costs. On some of the key physical capital projects that would be executed in the 2025 budget, Abiodun listed the renovation of gene...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Pastor Thomas Sylvanus Ayeyilo, founder and CEO of MyCare Life Foundation and Makarious Hearttouch Ministry, has urged the Federal Government, traditional institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and key stakeholders to prioritize youth inclusion in governance and nation-building to foster sustainable development in Nigeria. Pastor Ayeyilo made this appeal during an interview and interactive session with NTA International in Abuja, themed "Youth Involvement in Nationhood." He emphasized the need for platforms that amplify youth voices and engage them in policy-making processes, noting that young people have a unique understanding of their needs and aspirations. “There is an urgent need for the government to create platforms where youth voices can be he...

By Victor Okoye Barrister Niyi Ayoola-Daniels, the founder, JURIS FC/ JURIS ACADEMY has congratulated Mallam Shehu Dikko on his recent appointment as the Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency announced Dikko’s appointment on October 23, 2024 after scrapping the ministry of sports development. The sports ministry’s functions were also transferred to the NSC. Dikko is a football administrator who served in different sporting capabilities. He was the chairman of League Management Company (LMC) from 2014 to 2022. He also served as the 2nd vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He is a member of the Confederation of African Football ...

By Jacinta Nwachukwu Some civil society organisations (CSOs) in procurement sector have stressed the need for collaborative efforts to tackle procurement fraud in a bid to drive transparency in Nigeria. The CSOs expressed the concern at a town hall meeting in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by Accountability Lab Nigeria, in partnership with Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). NAN also reports that the meeting was supported by John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. The event, with the theme: “Tackling Procurement Fraud and its Far-Reaching Consequences: A Collective Responsibility”, was aimed at ...

By Ado Salisu, December 03, 2024, Kano Following sustained progress in preparation for the Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Competition in 2025, the Green White Green Sports Center Ltd has successfully completed the construction of 19 new toilets and the renovation of 11 existing ones at the competition venues. The project was successfully executed by Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of GWG and Gombe State Athletics Association as part of its corporate social responsibility, this underscores a commitment to creating a hygienic and comfortable environment for athletes and officials during the championship. He said "This effort reflects our dedication to providing world-class facilities that support sports development in Gombe State. ...

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, ordered the final forfeiture of an estate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments. The EFCC said in a release that this was the single largest asset recovery by the Commission since its inception in 2003. The estate rests on on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. "The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities. "In this instance, the Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 20...