Author: NPO Admin II

The Russian defence ministry has given an update on its military casualties – for only the second time – claiming 1,351 of its soldiers have been killed and 3,825 wounded, news agency Ria Novosti reports. Ukrainian military sources have previously estimated that as many as 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, though this figure may include injured as well as dead. US intelligence suggests half that number may have died. The first update from the Russian defence ministry on casualties was on 2 March, and stated that 498 servicemen had died during the invasion. Intriguingly, on 21 March staunchly pro-Kremlin…

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yussuf has resigned his membership of the All Progressive Congress in Osun. Yussuff was at the Osogbo Secretariat of the party on Friday to drop his resignation letter in a move suspected to be in favour of the People’s Democratic Party ahead of the July 16 governorship election in the state. NPO Reports is yet to make an independent confirmation from the former Deputy Speaker but it was gathered that his action might not be unconnected with the state of the APC in Osun. He had taken part in the…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says data analysis on unintended pregnancy and abortion from 150 countries revealed major disparities in accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. With the Guttmacher Institute, partner organisation, the WHO said on Thursday that the results would allow health authorities to better understand family planning needs in their countries, including contraception and abortion care. According to the data – which represent the first such exercise at a country level – unintended pregnancy and abortion rates vary widely, even within the same region. The greatest variations are in Latin America, where unintended pregnancy rates ranged from 41 to…

The Enugu State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service on Friday debunked a report that its officers were smuggling Indian hemp and alcohol into its custodial centres. Its Public Relations Officer, DSC Monday Chukwuemeka, stated in Enugu that the false and malicious allegation was published by an online medium. “The attention of the Command has been drawn to a report alleging that the officer-in-charge of Enugu Custodial Centre heads a cartel smuggling Indian hemp, alcohol and mobile phones to inmates. “The report is false, malicious and unpatriotic. “The command under the leadership of Mr Nicholas Obiako, the Controller of…

Police Warns Personnel of Dire Consequences If They Go On Strike The Kogi Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Egbuka, on Thursday warned police officers against going on strike. The commissioner gave the warning in a press statement signed by the State Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Williams Ovye-Aya, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja. Egbuka warned “any form of strike or protest by police personnel is tantamount to mutiny and defaulters will be severely punished.“ The commissioner had during a meeting with area commanders, divisional police officers, heads of department and sectional heads sounded a strong warning against…

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has distanced himself from reports that he rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s consensus arrangement with governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the party’s national convention. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, the Governor said his presentation at a recent event had nothing to do with APC. Fayemi said his presentation was about democracy in West African countries like Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso and not about his party’s convention. The statement reads partly,“The general public is hereby notified that a news story in circulation with the above headline is…

The Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday told the Independent National Electoral Commission to stay away from Saturday’s national convention of the All Progressive Congress. The opposition party said all processes under the Mai Mala-Buni-led Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Committee are null and void citing a decision of the Supreme Court which indicated that the Buni-led CECPC lacks the legal backing to conduct the affairs of the party. In a statement on Thursday, PDP said those participate in the national convention on a “voyage to nowhere.” Saying that the APC is already in a quagmire, the PDP said had the APC listened…

A 37-member zoning committee has been set up by the opposition People’s Democratic Party ahead of its participation in the 2023 general elections. The PDP National Chairman, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, while inaugurating the committee, urged its members to remain focused on the bigger picture, which was to win 2023 general elections. He said “the goal is for the party to win power in 2023 and that could only be achieved by working together in unity”. The committee will work out modalities for the sharing of positions of Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the…

Another gloomy picture of the Nigerian economy has been painted by the World Bank as the institution said Thursday that 40 per cent of Nigerians are living in poverty on less than $1.90 a day. The report also brought to the fore Nigeria’s economic strength predicting that the figures could also get higher if nothing is done urgently. The report titled, ‘A Better Future for All Nigerians: Nigeria Poverty Assessment 2022’, published on its website pointed out that Nigeria requires macroeconomic reforms including fiscal, trade, and exchange rate policy; policies to boost the productivity of farm and non-farm household enterprises…

Politicians, Socialites, Entertainers Shower Encomiums on Azuh Arinze as Yes! Publisher Clocks 50 It was a day of Encomiums for one of Nigeria’s Society writers Azuh Arinze as many prominent Nigerians gathered to celebrate him at 50. Former Governor of Ogun state Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Herbal medicine entrepreneur Quicy Ayodele, musician Onyeka Onwenu, Comedian, Julius Agwu, broadcast icon, Mr. Bisi Olatilo and a host of others were present at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi Victoria Island Lagos to speak on their encounters with Arinze. Part of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of two new…