Author: Amina Mohammed

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Wednesday urged the people of the South-East not to join the planned anti-government protests. This request comes after President Bola Tinubu signed the South East Development Commission bill into law.” Kalu said President Tinubu has shown his resolve to heal the wounds of the past, as the newly signed bill will tackle ecological problems and other related environmental or developmental challenges in the south-east states, and address infrastructural damages suffered by the zone as a result of the civil war. “To my fellow South-Easterners, I implore you not to…

The Federal Government has reiterated commitment to the full implementation of the 2024 Budget. It also pledged to promote a transparent and efficient financial management system. The commitments were made yesterday by the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun. He spoke during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts at the National Assembly in Abuja. Edun’s meeting with the House panel came a day after the National Assembly passed the N6.2 trillion Supplementary Appropriation Bill to raise the 2024 Budget to N35.05 trillion from N28.8 trillion. Pledging to achieve a robust…

Governors yesterday led in cautioning protest promoters, saying there will be no room for a repeat of the 2020 #EndSARS which wreaked havoc on many cities. Although they acknowledged the freedom to protest, the governors said it must be peaceful. Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) spoke at different occasions. Southeast governors spoke in unison against the planned protest through their chairman, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma. Oba of Benin Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and chairmen of local governments in Lagos State, among others, also cautioned…

The Edo State Government has charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to focus on selling their candidate to the people of the State rather than resort to campaign of calumny and mudslinging, peddling falsehoods and mistruths to hoodwink the people. The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, who briefed journalists, on Wednesday, in Benin City, said the APC is reeling from the fact that they have a bad candidate, who has continued to inflict the party and its handlers with the pain of making up stories to hoodwink Edo people. Nehikhare noted that it was surprising…

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts in the implementation of its economic policies to cushion the effects of hardship on the people. Oba Ewuare II, who made the call through his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, in Benin on Wednesday, however, appealed to the people to shelve the planned August 1, 2024, nationwide protest and allowed the Federal Government to implement its economic blueprint. The Traditional ruler disclosed that his appeal was informed by the recent emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the National Council…

Justice M.A.Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has convicted Etiusen Stephen for spraying Naira notes. He was arraigned on July 19, 2024 on a two-count charge bordering on naira abuse, an offence that contravenes the provisions of Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act. One of the charges reads: ‘That you Etiusen Stephen Udo on or about 27th June 2024 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did sell Forty Thousand Naira notes (N40,000.00) Only to one Edidiong Usoro and thereby Committed an offence contrary to…

Keir Starmer faced his first House of Commons grilling as UK prime minister on Wednesday, after suspending seven of his own Labour MPs for rebelling over a controversial welfare policy. Starmer suspended the Labour rebels late Tuesday after they backed a motion demanding the removal of the contentious two-child limit on benefits introduced by the previous Conservative government. Their votes supporting ending the cap — introduced in 2015 and which restricts payments to the first two children born to most families — is an early test of Starmer’s authority. The new UK leader has warned there is “no silver bullet”…

Cristian Medina scored the equaliser in the 16th added minute as Argentina came from two down to draw 2-2 with Morocco on the opening day of men’s Olympic football action on Wednesday, while Spain edged Uzbekistan 2-1. Argentina are looking to win men’s football gold in Paris for the third time after previous successes in 2004 and 2008, but Javier Mascherano’s side looked set to get off to a losing start in Saint-Etienne. They trailed 2-0 in the Group B game to a Soufiane Rahimi brace for Morocco but did pull one back through Giuliano Simeone before Medina finished off…

Elon Musk has denied reports that he was donating $45 million a month to a fund backing former US president Donald Trump’s latest White House bid. In a Tuesday post on X, Musk called the report he was funding a so-called political Super-PAC “ridiculous.” Super PACs are specially designed groups that can spend unlimited amounts on political candidates and causes. “I am making some donations to America PAC, but at a much lower level and the key values of the PAC are supporting a meritocracy & individual freedom. “Republicans are mostly, but not entirely, on the side of merit &…

Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday named four heavyweight opposition politicians to join a “broad-based” cabinet in the wake of more than a month of anti-government protests. Ruto announced the names of 10 ministers to be part of a reformed cabinet, including four who are close to veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, after a list of another 10 ministers was submitted to parliament on Tuesday. The embattled president had sacked almost his entire cabinet on July 11, announcing a new partial lineup on July 19, although this included some dismissed ministers. “I commend the leadership of diverse organisations, both in…