Author: Vincent Osuwo

Director-General of the World Trade Organisation Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has announced a $50 million global fund to support women entrepreneurs in digital trade, warning that global commerce is entering “extremely challenging times” typified by increased unilateralism and protectionism. The WTO and the International Trade Centre collaborated on the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy Fund program, which aims to provide women-owned firms in developing countries with the skills, resources, and networks they need to compete in global value chains. In her address on Thursday in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala warned that Nigeria’s poor internet penetration, with more than half of the population still…

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has announced the removal of the lifetime ban imposed on Comfort Emmanson, an Ibom Air passenger earlier banned for unruly conduct. According to a statement issued on Thursday by AON spokesperson Professor Obiora Okonkwo, the decision followed an appeal from Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Okonkwo added that the operators decided to lift the sanction after considering all relevant elements, including Emmanson’s declaration of contrition, withdrawal of the complaint, dismissal of charges, and release from detention. He praised the Federal Government for establishing a retreat to retrain Aviation Security staff and…

Russia placed limitations on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram communication applications on Wednesday, stating that this was required to fight criminals, official media reported. “In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram),” communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies. The messenger apps have become “the main voice services used for fraud and extortion and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities,” the watchdog added. The country’s security services have accused Ukraine of using Telegram to recruit or sabotage…

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has confirmed the death of a part-two medical student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly committed suicide. A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, on Thursday, revealed that the student with the matriculation number DEN/2021/023 committed suicide after failing his examinations. Olarewaju stated that the results of examinations were released on Wednesday, and it would have required Ibitayo to repeat Part Two for the second time. “The entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of…

An accident between a truck and a commercial tricycle on the Yenagoa/Amassoma Road in Bayelsa State killed two Niger Delta University students in Amassoma. The tragedy on Wednesday also left other passengers in the ill-fated tricycle badly injured. Residents blamed the catastrophe on a lack of traffic signage and drivers’ overspending, as it occurred at a bend in the road. The vehicle accelerated through the bend, lost control, and collided with the trike, crushing it. A trader, Godspower Okilo, told reporters on Thursday that the truck driver was travelling too fast, and by the time he recognised the danger, it…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted reports that bandit leader Bello Turji has surrendered to the military. Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, the Director of Defence Media Operations, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing on the activities of the Armed Forces. “Simple answer to the question about terrorist leader Bello Turji has not surrendered; we are still on the lookoutfor him,” he said. The wanted terrorist leader operating mainly in Zamfara and Sokoto states, has been accused of masterminding several attacks on communities in the North-West. Recently, there were reports that the terrorist had surrendered his arms…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has approved the establishment of nine new private universities across the country. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the approval on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. He stated that the newly approved institutions are Tazkiyah University, Kaduna State; Leadership University, Abuja; Jimoh Babalola University, Kwara State; Bridget University, Mbaise, Imo State; Greenland University, Jigawa State; JEFAP University, Niger State; Azione Verde University, Imo State; Unique Open University, Lagos State; and American Open University, Ogun State. Alausa revealed…

The Federal Government’s 80-bed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Pakiotan, in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, has been vandalised by unidentified hoodlums. The building, which includes beds, medications, laboratory equipment, and other medical supplies, was designed to function as an urban health clinic. Sunday Dare, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, facilitated the project, which was finished and opened on May 27, 2023, and then given over to the Federal Ministry of Health through the University College Hospital in Ibadan. Oba James Ojo, the Onipakiotan of Pakiotan, denounced the incident while leading reporters…

President Bola Tinubu requested a review of Nigeria’s major revenue-generating agencies’ deductions and revenue retention policies on Wednesday, with the goal of increasing public savings, improving expenditure efficiency, and unlocking resources for growth. The agencies are the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. Tinubu issued the command during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, briefed the press on the President’s directive. According to Edun,…

The Federal Government’s decision to withdraw criminal charges against Comfort Emmanson, an Ibom Air passenger, and lower the flying restriction imposed on Fuji music singer Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, commonly known as KWAM 1, has sparked outrage in the aviation industry. While some industry stakeholders and pilots characterised the government’s decision as quick and incorrect, considering the gravity of the musician’s transgression, others appreciated what the government did. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government has withdrawn its criminal case against Emmanson and reduced KWAM 1’s six-month flight ban to one month. The…