Author: Npo_report

Writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has been remembered as a “titan of British literature” after his death aged 65. He died early on Thursday with his wife by his side after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago, a statement on his Instagram said. “We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news,” it added. Tributes poured in for the “beautiful human being” and “proud Brummie” who “had a lot more to give”. Zephaniah was born and raised in Handsworth, Birmingham, the son of a Barbadian postman and a…

The UK is accusing Russia’s Security Service, the FSB, of a sustained cyber-hacking campaign, targeting politicians and others in public life. The government said one group stole data through cyber-attacks, which was later made public, including material linked to the 2019 election. Russia has repeatedly denied claims it is involved in such activities. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the group’s actions were “completely unacceptable”. “Despite their repeated efforts, they have failed. We will continue to work together with our allies to expose Russian covert cyber activity and hold Russia to account for its actions,” the former prime minister said. Foreign…

By Halimah Olamide The National Coordinator, GEF Small Grants Programme, Ibironke Olubamise, has lamented over the discrimination against women in the labour sector, stating that 75% of farmers in the country are women but only 10% are land owners. She said this at Day 12 of the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), 16-Day of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, themed: “How much discrimination do Nigerian women face in the labour sector.” She stated that in a case whereby just 10% of women are land owners, compared with the large percentage of women involved in food production, farming and distribution,…

By Kamil Opeyemi A new coalition of political parties emerged on Thursday with the Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigerian People’s Party and others coming together. Others in the coalition which seeks to form a formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress, are African Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party, Peoples Allied Movement, Young Progressives Party, and Zenith Labour Party. The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, while hosting a delegation of the Inter-party Advisory Council in November, expressed fears of the country falling into a one-state party, urging the opposition to see the need for unity. Explaining why the coalition was…

By Halimah Olamide A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to pay a fine of N500 million in damages against Gov. Yahaya Bello for alleged violations of the fundamental rights of Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s candidate in the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, also directed Gov. Bello to tender public apology to Ajaka “for the gross and unwarranted violation” of his rights. Justice Ekwo equally made an order directing the security agencies and their heads, listed as 2nd to 7th respondents,…

Dr Muhammad Ribadu, winner of the 2023 Prof. Rahamon Bello Best Ph.D thesis in African studies says the award is a call to more work for the development of humanity and the country at large. Ribadu stated this at the award ceremony organised by the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies (IADS), University of Lagos, on Wednesday in Lagos. The News Agency of of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ribadu, who did his Ph.D at the University of Ibadan, was rewarded with a total of 1000 dollars, a plaque and certificate, for clinching the first position. A total of 18 entries…

Mr Chedi Wada, Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “B”, Kaduna has lamented that smugglers have been using fake presidential number plates to deliver vehicles across the country. According to Wada, they have also been dubiously using such fake number plates belonging to various state and local governments, MDAs, Emirate Councils and other governmental institutions.. Mr Chedi Wada, Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “B”, Kaduna has lamented that smugglers have been using fake presidential number plates to deliver vehicles across the country. According to Wada, they have also been dubiously using…

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday sworn in two new members into the executive cabinet. The new cabinet members include Mr Abiodun Ogunleye as the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources and Mr Olufemi Daramola as Special Adviser on Infrastructure. Speaking during the ceremony at the Exco Chamber, Lagos House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu urged the newly appointed cabinet members to start working immediately and take their responsibilities to an enviable height, to meet the yearnings and expectations of Lagos residents. He said that it was clear that the new cabinet members would add value, as they had been carefully…

•By Halimah Olamide The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has signed two major gas deals to deliver liquified natural gas (LNG) to the domestic gas market and the international LNG market at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson, NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, on Wednesday. According to the company, the deals were both for Domestic, and International Markets. Meanwhile, during the two separate signing ceremonies held on the sidelines of the on-going United Nation’s Climate Change Conference (also known as COP28), NNPC Ltd signed an MoU with Wison…

By Halimah Olamide The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), is set to award late professor Lai Oso with a Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence and the Anti-Corruption/Human Rights Defender Award. This was made known in a statement signed by the executive director, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka. Prof. Lai Oso who was a professor of communications in the Lagos State University (LASU), died on Saturday 24 June 2023. The 18th edition of the award is set to hold on Saturday, 9 December 2023, at the Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton), Abuja, by 5 pm. Oso will make history as the…