Tag: Nigeria

Biden invites Nigeria, others to virtual summit on democracy

Aminu Imam

United States President, Joe Biden, has invited around 110 countries to a virtual summit on democracy in December, including major Western allies but also Iraq, India and Pakistan, according to a list posted on the State Department website on Tuesday. China, the United States’ principal rival, is not invited, while Taiwan is — a move that risks angering Beijing. Turkey, which, like America is a member of NATO, is also missing from the list of participants. Among the countries of the Middle-East, only Israel and Iraq will take place in…

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‘Inflation could push 6 million Nigerians into poverty’ – World Bank Report

Aminu Imam

…Says urgent policy action needed to curb Covid-19 impact on citizens The World Bank has revealed that the increase in prices that occurred between June 2020 and June 2021 could push about six million Nigerians into abject poverty. This was disclosed by the Bank in a new report titled: ‘Covid-19 in Nigeria: Frontline Data and Pathways for Policy’. The report read: “The rise in prices witnessed between June 2020 and June 2021 alone could push another six million Nigerians into poverty, with urban areas being disproportionately affected. This underscores the…

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US removes Nigeria from religious violators’ list, gives reasons

Aminu Imam

The United States (US) has removed Nigeria from the list of countries “engaging in violation of religious freedom”. Nigeria was removed from its list of religious violators, even as it blacklisted Russia, China and eight other countries “as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made this known in an issued statement yesterday, titled: ‘Religious Freedom Designations’, ahead of his visit to Nigeria. He added that the American government had blacklisted Russia, China…

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“Nigeria in a mess” – Wole Soyinka

Aminu Imam

…Calls for Sovereign National Conference‘ Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lamented that Nigeria is in a mess and disintegrating, as he reiterated calls for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference to tackle the multiplicity of problems facing the country. Soyinka spoke at a news conference held at Freedom Park in Lagos with the theme: ‘Covid, Technology and Citizens banishment’, yesterday. He made the assertions against the backdrop of the political crisis and killings in Anambra as well as threats by proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra,…

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Just In: ICC to probe kidnapping of students in Nigeria

Aminu Imam

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim A. Khan, is seeking the authorisation to investigate the abduction of students in Nigeria’s northern region, closure of schools, and the persistent failure of the federal and State authorities to end the abduction. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), made this announcement on Sunday. SERAP had, in a petition in September, urged Khan to push for the trial of those suspected to be responsible and complicit in the crimes. The rights group said the severe and lifelong harms that result from depriving…

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‘Nigeria’s unity negotiable’ — Kingibe

Aminu Imam

Nigeria’s envoy to Chad and the Lake Chad basin region, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, says the unity of the country is negotiable. Speaking at a newspapers award ceremony in Lagos on Saturday, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), said even the union between a husband and wife is negotiable. However, he cautioned the separatist agitators that the land they reside in would not be carved out and taken to anywhere else if the country breaks up. “I was born in Nigeria; I was groomed in Nigeria. I…

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‘Over 4 million Nigerians hungry, malnourished’, Says Int’l Organisation, FAO 

Aminu Imam

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, (UN), has said that over four million Nigerians go hungry and suffer from malnutrition. The FAO said the situation is large because of the challenges associated with conflict, pests and diseases, natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, economic challenges and devastating effects of Covid-19. The organisation’s representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, made this known yesterday in Abuja, during a Press Conference at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to…

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Independence: ‘Should Nigeria return to parliamentary democracy?’ – Stakeholders

Aminu Imam

Nigeria recently celebrated its 61st Independence Day anniversary amid national challenges. However, the debate over whether the country’s return to parliamentary democracy as practiced in the First Republic will address some political defects still lingers. There are two major systems of democratic governance, the parliamentary and the presidential.  A parliamentary system is a democratic form of government in which the Executive proceeds from the Legislature, normally called the parliament, and in which the party or a coalition of parties with the highest number of members in the legislature form the Executive,…

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“Nigerians are suffering because those in power were not rightfully elected by the people” – Former INEC Chairman, Jega, confesses 

Aminu Imam

Former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said the country is suffering from bad leadership because those in power were elected through corrupt processes. Jega made the statement at the maiden inaugural lecture of Kwaravisioners Network for Rural Development, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the weekend. Speaking on the theme: “Politics, Governance and Leadership Recruitment in 21st Century Democracy” Professor Jega, who described Nigeria as a failing state, urged Nigerians to work hard to change our ways for the country to move forward. From…

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Pandora papers:5 ‘Ex-govs, former minister, others kept N117bn assets in 2 tax haven banks’ 

Aminu Imam

…Exposes secret offshore companies, London properties of NPA chief, Bello-Koko…Reveals how Gov. Bagudu amassed dirty billions, how he is hiding it In Nigeria, about four in 10 persons may be poor, with the figure reaching about nine in ten in some States, as they earn less than N377 daily, according to a 2019 estimate by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), but not some Nigerians. Not many of them would be seen on the Forbes’ wealthiest list, but these 21 Nigerians are worth  a treasure, according to a published report by an…

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