Author: Agency Reporter

Sheer hypocrisy is what makes Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to accuse today’s INEC of malpractices when the same INEC under him in 2007 organised what was popularly adjudged the worst election in Nigeria’s history through Professor Maurice Iwu (Wuruwuru). So much that the beneficiary of the ill-gotten mandate, President Umar Yar’Adua, openly admitted the glaring irregularities and, as his own atonement, instituted the Uwais Panel to come up with electoral reforms.

Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, says that the proposed tax reform bills are designed to address immediate fiscal challenges and lay sustainable framework for economic growth and development of Nigeria.Oyedele said this in Abuja while presenting his committee’s findings on the proposed tax reforms bills to the Senate on Wednesday.The committee was constituted by the Federal Government to evolve measures of addressing the country’s economic challenges, including high poverty rates, low government revenue and rising public debts.Oyedele said the current economic situation in Nigeria had necessitated immediate and comprehensive tax reforms to…

Chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce), CSP Adetayo Akerele, said its operatives have apprehended 53 suspected criminals in the Gowon Estate area of the state.Akerele made this known in a statement, signed by the agency’s Director, Press and Public Affairs, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, on Tuesday in Lagos.He said that the agency carried out the operation to enhance safety, security of lives, property and environmental decorum in the area.“The agency apprehended drug peddlers, addicts; miscreants; street urchins; illegal street traders and people of shady business dealings.“We found several mix of different illicit drugs and narcotics, suspected to…

Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected Wednesday in Kazakhstan for talks on energy projects in the central Asian state which he called a strong ally ahead of his arrival.While Putin’s international travels have been limited since Russia’s all-out military offensive in Ukraine in 2022, he has been a regular visitor to Central Asia.Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has highlighted the friendship between the two countries while also making wary comments about the Ukraine war.Kazakhstan, which has denied Western accusations that it has not applied sanctions against Russia, has not condemned the invasion but has defended Ukraine’s territorial integrity.In a speech reported…

Amnesty International said Wednesday it had evidence that Angolan police killed at least 17 protesters by using excessive force, including live bullets, against public demonstrations over around 30 months.None of the officers or their superiors responsible for the killings had faced justice, the rights group said in a report that accused police of a brutal crackdown instead of respecting the right to peaceful assembly.Police are notoriously tough in oil-rich Angola, a legacy of a 1975-2002 civil war and almost four decades of repression under former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos.The current president, former Defence Minister Joao Lourenco, took over in…

The Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri in Anambra, says it has transported no fewer than 400,000 passengers in 7,000 flights since it began commercial flight operations in December 2021.Mr Martins Nwafor, Managing Director of the airport, said this on Tuesday while playing host to Dr Law Mefor, Commissioner for Information in Anambra.Nwafor, while taking the Commissioner and his team on a tour of the facility, said only two commercial airlines were using the airport at present, but that talks were on to bring more airlines on board.According to him, operations are largely during the daytime but airfield lighting systems are…

World leaders have welcomed a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which came into force on Wednesday morning (0200 GMT). Here are key reactions from around the world.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon were “in the final stages”, and added that a deal could help end the Gaza conflict.”We’re not there yet, but I believe we are in the final stages,” Blinken told reporters after a meeting near Rome with G7 counterparts, adding that “by de-escalating tensions in the region, it can also help us to end the conflict in Gaza”.[7:12 pm, 26/11/2024] +234 803 862 6524: G7 to ‘comply with respective obligations’ over Netanyahu ICC warrant G7 foreign ministers said Tuesday they “will comply with our…

The Islamic State (ISIS)-affiliated militants, ISWAP on Monday claimed it co-ordinated an attack against the Nigerian troops involving the use of suicide bombers and direct assault.They claimed that two suicide bombers identified as Abu Aisha al-Barnawi and Abu Saddiq al-Muhajir believed to be a foreign national detonated vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) at military defensive positions, paving the way for a ground assault.They claimed that Seven military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, were reportedly destroyed in the assault.Images purportedly taken by the attackers were shared online, showcasing the aftermath of the attack and captured military equipment. FACTContrary to ISWAP’s claims,…

United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with implementing partners have developed a road map for revolutionising education and shaping children future in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.The plan was unveiled at the end of a groundbreaking meeting on ”Education Roadmap and 2025-2027 Priorities” for the three states on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.Speaking at the event, the Kebbi Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Halima Bande, expressed gratitude for Kebbi to have hosted the high level meeting on reviewing education challenges and offered solution.Bande thanked UNICEF and partners for the unwavering support and encouragement to the three states.She…