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By Ola Awoniyi The President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, attended the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the first time in October last year as head of Nigeria's delegation. The session was held in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. At the event, Akpabio was elected member of the Executive Committee of the influential global organization.  His election was a triumph in international diplomacy for Nigeria. The last time that Africa's largest democracy enjoyed such privilege was 60 years ago, in1964 when Nwafor Orizu was Nigeria's Senate President.  Since he became a member of the IPU Executive Committee, Akpabio has played his part with distinction. He has become a marketer extraordinaire for his country, enthusiastically and deftly flying the flag of Nigeria in the global arena. Akpabio has used his position to project Nigeria's voice and image at every opportunity. One of such opportunities is the ongoing Assembly of IPU. O

President Bola Tinubu has approved the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund to facilitate effective infrastructure development across the pivotal areas of agriculture, transportation, ports, aviation, energy, healthcare, and education in Nigeria. The Fund will invest in critical national projects that will, among other things, promote growth; enhance local value-addition, create employment opportunities, and stimulate technological innovation and exports. The objectives of the Fund are to: (1) Establish an innovative infrastructure investment vehicle to attract and consolidate capital, serving as a dynamic driver for economic advancement. (2) Execute strategic and meticulously chosen national infrastructure projects across several key sectors, including road, rail, agriculture (irrigation, storage, logistics & cold chain), ports, and aviation, among others. (3) Efficiently utilize and aggregate accessible low-interest loans such as concessionary loans and Eurobo

The Federal Government, on Monday, insisted no ransom was paid for the release of the abducted Kuriga children in Kaduna State. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who briefed State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting, said the victims secured their freedom through the concerted efforts of security agencies in the country. The minister said, “President Bola Tinubu is determined to end this cycle of payment of ransom to kidnappers. The government believes that this continues to encourage these kidnappers, these criminal elements to perpetrate this act within the Nigerian nation and it is the official position of government as announced here last week that ransom will not be tolerated. Ransom will not be encouraged ransom will not be paid by the government.” He also reiterated the determination of the current administration to end abductions in the country. Idris said the Nigerian Armed Forces are upping their game and have developed a ne

The Federal Government  has activated all operations including contacting Interpol to ensure the re-arrest Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla who escaped from custody. The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zack Adedeji, while speaking to State House Correspondents also assured that all litigations filed against Anjarwalla will be pursued to a logical conclusion. He also doused the tension over whether the Federal government will lose the fine slammed on the Binance. “It doesn’t matter because we are dealing with a company, not individual. So, irrespective of where they are in the world, we have what it takes to make sure they come and comply with our laws.”

The President, Nigerian Optomeric Association and Fellow of American Academic of Optometry , Dr Chimeziri Anderson has stated that no fewer than one thousand persons in Anambra state will undergo free eye check up for glaucoma.  Dr Anderson made this known during a press conference by the Nigerian Optometric Association to mark the beginning of a two day's National Delegates Congress & Glaucoma Summit held at the Heilton Leisure Resort, Awka during the weekend.  According to Dr Anderson who is a specialist in community eye health epitomiology, noted that the annual delegate congress which takes place every year is where members decide the future of our association and use the opportunity to render some cooperate social responsibilities as a charity organisation and this year we have packaged to screen indegenes of Anambra state for glaucoma. "We just observed the world glaucoma which started from 10th to 16th of march and that glaucoma week is a week set aside

•••Seeks IPU's Voice In Ending Conflict President of Nigeria's Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called on the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lend a strong voice to the restoration of lasting peace to war-torn Gaza. Akpabio made the call while contributing to discussions at the ongoing 148th Session of the International Parliamentary Union Assembly, holding in Geneva, Switzerland. He said it is time for nations to rise above sentiments and invoke the spirit of humanity, by doing all it requires to bring sustainable peace to the region. Some of the resolutions according to the Chairman of Nigeria's National Assembly, should include access to humanitarian aid, restoration of normal life to Gaza, as well as meetings on a permanent truce. His words, " Madam President, this is a lone voice from Nigeria. We tried our best in Angola and we failed to lend a collective voice to what is happening in Gaza. Today, the world is very expectant. We must drop ego.

In a significant move aimed at upholding fiscal responsibility and preserving the economic integrity of the nation, the Federal Government has taken legal action against Binance, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform. The charges, formally lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, were announced on Monday by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Designated as suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, the lawsuit implicates Binance with a four-count tax evasion accusation. The Federal Government says it remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring compliance with tax regulations and combating financial impropriety within the cryptocurrency sector. Accompanying the crypto company as second and third defendants in the suit are Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, both senior executives of Binance currently held in custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges leveled against Binance include allegations of non-payment of Value-Added Tax (

The Federal government has embraced a collaboration with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to tackle vandalism in the transportation sector, particularly the infrastructure of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). At a meeting held in Abuja, the minister of transportation, Senator Said Alkali, revealed the government’s acceptance of the BON proposal. The initiative aims to utilise media platforms to raise awareness and encourage citizens to report incidents of vandalism, thereby safeguarding public infrastructure. The minister, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Oloruntola Olufemi, stressed the pivotal role the media can play in combating vandalism and urged BON to join forces with the ministry in this endeavor. Alkali highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to commence all public events with the national pledge, aiming to foster a stronger sense of citizenship and commitment to nationhood among Nigerians. He, therefore, urged the med

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), on Sunday, ended their seven-day warning strike. In a circular to branch chairmen at public universities all over the coutry, SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, directed SSANU and NASU members to resume work from Monday, March 25, 2024. One-Week Shutdown The two unions began a seven-day warning strike on Monday, March 18, 2024 over withheld salaries with workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs withdrawing their services. The unions promised to continue "meaningful engagement with the relevant Government Agencies in both Executive and Legislative Arms" and notify members of the next line of action(s) to be taken. Our correspondents who visited public universities across the country observed that nothing moved administratively within any public university in Nigeria as hostels and varsity gates were locked up

Three weeks after losing one of its comic actors to the pang of death, the Nigerian movie industry is mourning again as it has lost yet another veteran actor, Amaechi Muonagor, to the cold hands of death. Muonagor died yesterday after battling kidney disease for a long time. This came few days after a viral video where he solicited financial assistance from Nigerians to enable him travel abroad for a kidney transplant. Confirming the sad news to yesterday, a popular actor and film director, Ugeze J. Ugeze said the late actor was discharged from the hospital recently, while waiting to raise funds for his further treatment abroad. He described the deceased as a dedicated actor, who was always ready to be directed while on set. “Muonagor gave his all. He was somebody I directed several times. God knows the best,“ Ugeze said. Also confirming the news, a popular social media influencer and chairman of Delta State Sports Association, Morris Monye, wrote on his official X formerly