Author: Halimah Olamide

The Director of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has described as false, claims by the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra’s Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa, that she facilitated a $57.5bn loan for Biafra. NPO Reports that Ekpa, who resides in Finland, claimed that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), had agreed to a loan of $57.5 billion for the Biafra Republic Government in Exile. He said that Okonjo-Iweala facilitated the loan. “The World Bank and IMF have agreed to loan the sum of $57.5 billion to Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) to form our…

President Bola Tinubu has urged the Senate to confirm nomination of seven ministerial nominees for appointment as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This was contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Thursday. Tinubu, in the letter, listed the nominees to include: Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Muhammadu Dingyadi, Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Mukhtar Maiha, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata and Dr Suwaiba Ahmad. Akpabio, thereafter, referred the request to the committee of the whole for expeditious consideration

By Halimah Olamide Nigeria’s public debt stock has risen to N134.3 trillion ($91.3 billion) for the second quarter of 2024. This was contained in a document from the Ministry of Finance, obtained by Naira Metrics. The figure is a 10.35 percent increase from the N121.7 trillion recorded in the first quarter announced by the Debt Management Office (DMO). According to the government, the increase is mainly driven by devaluation of the Naira. The document read: “In Q2 2024, the debt stock grew in naira terms to N134.3 trillion ($91.3 billion) from N121.7 trillion ($91.5 billion) in Q1 2024, driven mainly…

By Halimah Olamide Former Chairman of the then National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, has passed on. NPO Reports that Nwosu conducted the botched June 12 presidential election which was won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola. NPO Reports learnt that he died at an hospital in Virginia, U.S at the age of 83. The current Independent National Electoral Commission is an offshoot of the NEC headed by Nwosu. Born on the 2nd of October 1941, he was appointed by President Ibrahim Babangida as NEC Chairman from 1989 to 1993. The 12 June 1993 election which was seen as the…

By Halimah Olamide The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) is set to host her Civic Space Guard Conference in Abuja. This was contained in a statement by the CEO, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka. The conference themed ‘AI, free press and civic space: Tools, challenges and the future of investigative reporting’ is slated to hold on Wednesday, 30 October 2024 by 10am at Centenary Hall, Ibeto Hotels, Apo, Abuja. This conference seeks to explore the critical relationship between a free press, civic space, and investigative reporting, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies. It is…

The proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, accounting for 40 per cent of all deaths in war, while UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50 per cent. The findings come in the Secretary-General’s latest annual report on women, peace, and security. The rise in death and violence is “taking place against a backdrop of increasing blatant disregard of international law designed to protect women and children during war,” according to UN Women, the lead agency on the report. The UN recorded at least 33,443 civilian deaths in armed conflicts in 2023,…

Agency Report The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS), has urged the Federal Government to release funds for the payment of accrued rights portion of retirees’ pension benefits. The National Chairman of NUPCPS, Mr Sylva Nwaiwu, at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday also urged the Federal Government to pay N32,000 pension increment to pensioners. He said that Nigerian workers who retired from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) about 20 months ago (March, 2023 till date) were yet to be paid their retirement benefits. According to him, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF)…

The Former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, has pledged his commitment to serving President Bola Tinubu and the nation at large again. This is following his new appointment as the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications and Orientation on Wednesday. He expressed his appreciation to the President in a post on X for his confidence in him. “I sincerely thank my Leader and the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for once again, reposing his confidence in me. “I will always be proud to serve you and Nigeria again and again. Thank you Mr President.”…

Crossdresser, Idris Okuneye otherwise known as Bobrisky, has been rushed to the hospital. According to information gathered by NPO Reports, he was rushed after developing a sudden rise in temperature. This is following his arrest by operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on Monday at Seme border where he attempted to flee the country. Meanwhile, a source disclosed that he will be taken to court and freed once his health condition is stable.

President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have on Wednesday scrapped the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development. This was contained in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga. He disclosed that there will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all regional development commissions. “There will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission , North East Development Commission. “The National Sports Commission will take…