GRID-Arendal is inviting applications for its investigative journalism projects focused on environmental crime in developing countries. GRID-Arendal is a partner of the United Nations Environment Programme and collaborates with other partners on projects that protect the environment, restore ecosystems and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The topics that will be considered for this year’s projects include illegal wildlife trade and poaching, illegal logging and timber trade, illegal cobalt mining, illegal unreported and unregulated fisheries, plastic waste crimes, and investigations taking place in Polar or mountainous regions. Investigative journalists around the world can apply for a grant to investigate environmental…
Author: Newsdesk
The House of Representatives has resolved to probe circumstances that led to the setting ablaze of an oil vessel allegedly involved in oil theft by security operatives. This followed the adoption of a motion on urgent national importance moved by Rep. Onofiok Luke (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) at the plenary session on Wednesday in Abuja. The motion was entitled: “Urgent need to investigate circumstances of the setting ablaze of oil vessel allegedly involved in oil theft by security operatives.’’ Rep, Luke submitted that oil theft was a problem that had existed for a long time in the Niger Delta and that it had…
Health ministers from 11 African countries are meeting in Uganda on Wednesday over the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the East African country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Uganda, the ministers are discussing cross-border collaboration for preparedness and response to the Ebola disease. Uganda’s Ministry of Health, which is a co-host with the African Union, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the WHO, said the meeting will strengthen and enhance collaboration in response to the hemorrhagic fever and other public health emergencies. Senior WHO officials, headed by Michael Ryan, executive…
The House of Representatives has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately suspend the sale of Polaris Bank Plc. The House said the suspension should be until the CBN deposit Insurance Corporation and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria concluded all processes for open, transparent, and competitive bid process. The house said it should be in line with best practice and procedure for divestment of this nature. This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Henry Nwauba (APGA-Imo) at the plenary on Wednesday. He said public attention had been drawn through a circulation…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened that it would sanction any state government that tried to stifle the electioneering activities of opposition political parties and their candidates. There are reports that some state governments were stifle campaign activities of opposition parties across the country. The chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi disclosed this in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in Abuja on Tuesday. According to him, there are penalties for contravening the provisions and the law is no respecter of persons, no matter how highly placed. He added that all parties participating in the 2023…
The people of Zaria in Kaduna State have been elated as their son, Retired Chief Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, Ishaq Usman Bello was conferred with the National Honour of Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday. There were jubilations and flow of felicitations across the Emirate as elders, the young and women described the award to Justice Bello as well deserved saying Bello is an illustrious son of the soil. Already holding the esteemed traditional title of Kuliyan Zazzau, Bello’s philanthropy has rang all across the Emirate and endeared him to the hearts…
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged that there is an ongoing plot to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu to pave the way for compromising the 2023 general election. The coalition also claimed that it has uncovered fresh plots to deactivate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) from being used in the election. The national chairman of CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the opposition parties, made the allegation at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. According to him, similarly efforts were geared towards stopping electronic transmission of results…
President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Council chamber of the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday. The swearing in of Ariwoola followed his confirmation by the Senate on September 21, three months after his appointment by the president. Ariwoola took the judicial oath of office in a brief ceremony shortly before the commencement of the weekly virtual meeting of Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by the president. The event was witnessed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, some cabinet Ministers, other justices of the Supreme Court, the Governors of Oyo and Ondo States, Seyi Makinde…
The Attorney-General of the Federation(AGF), Abubakar Malami has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) approval to prosecute former Aviation Minister, Sen. Stella Oduah and others on alleged N5 billion fraud. Prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman, SAN, on Wednesday, informed Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja at the resumed hearing on the matter. Justice Ekwo had, on May 10, fixed today for arraignment of the defendants following a letter from the office of the AGF in response to a petition written by counsel to the 8th defendant in the suit, Ogbu James, SAN. Onoja had, on November…
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has re-opened three Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds valued at N225 billion for subscription, for the month October. According to a statement by the DMO, the bonds are a 14.55 per cent, April 2029 FGN Bond, a 12.50 per cent, April 2032 FGN Bond and a 16.24 per cent, April 2037 FGN Bond. The bonds have original tenors of 10 years, 10 years and 20 years, respectively. Opening date for the auction is October 17, while the settlement date is October 19.” The bonds are offered at N1,000 per unit subject to a minimum…