Russia has launched an amphibious assault on Ukraine’s Sea of Azov coastline, Pentagon officials confirmed Friday. The attack is centered to the west of Mariupol and is delivering “thousands” of naval infantry ashore, according to the Pentagon. “We can’t say with perfect prediction what they’re going to do or where they’re going to go,” the official said. For the present, Ukrainian troops remain in control of Mariupol itself, but Russian forces are approaching from both the east and the west, Mayor Vadym Boychenko confirmed to Ukrinform. The region is home to a large ethnic Greek population, and the Greek embassy…
Author: Newsdesk
The Minister of Sports and Youths Development, Mr Sunday Dare has assured that the new multi-billion Naira sports complex, which is being built by Sokoto state government, would be used by the federal government for national events, upon completion. He stated this when he visited the Sokoto New City District, the location of the new sports complex, during his official visit to the state on Saturday. According to the minister, the complex upon completion, would facilitate the grooming of young athletes that could compete and represent Nigeria in different national and international events. Dare described the new sports facility as…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Nigerians, particularly Civil Society Organisations, on President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, also saluted the courage of the PDP and other opposition members in the National Assembly for standing their ground on the passage of the Act. Ologunagba said that the newly signed Electoral Act, among other things, principally provided for the electronic transmission of election results directly from the polling units. This, according to the party, is a death knell to manipulations, ballot box…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is partnering with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to provide digital literacy and fact-checking skills to stem the tide of fake news. The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, while receiving a delegation led by NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo in Abuja on Friday, said the partnership would promote digital skills among journalists. Inuwa said that the agency was committed to the expansion of the digital space. He said digital journalism, media ethics and fact-check would help to promote robust, digital-based journalism that served the best and wider interest of the nation. “We wish…
The Centre for Transparency and Advocacy (CTA) says the stage is set for Nigeria to have credible elections in 2023 and beyond, with the signing into law of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022. The Executive Director, CTA, Ms Faith Nwadishi made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. She said the assent to the Bill was historic as it strengthened Nigeria’s quest for a transparent electoral process that would deepen the nation’s democracy. The President Muhammadu Buhari, after many years of waiting, on Friday, signed the amended 2010 Electoral Act into Law. The new law now known…
Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Friday that would have demanded Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops, a move several Council members said was deplorable, but inevitable. Although Russia, a permanent member of the Council, refused to support the draft resolution, 11 of the 15-member UN body voted in favour while India, China and the United Arab Emirates abstained from the vote. Speaking to journalists after the session, Secretary-General António Guterres, stressed that “we must never give up”. “We must give peace another chance. Soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need…
United States Ambassador to the UN, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Friday told her Russian counterpart Amb. Vasily Nebenzya that he could not veto the voices of countries speaking against invasion of Ukraine. Thomas-Greenfield said this after Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have demanded that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops, a move several Council members said was deplorable, but inevitable. Although Russia, a permanent member of the Council, refused to support the draft resolution, 11 of the 15-member UN body voted in favour while India, China and the United Arab Emirates…
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says more than $800,000 million (N332 million) is in the kitty for 500 participants of its special skills acquisition programme in Nigeria. Its Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security in Nigeria, Matthew Alao stated this in an interview in Ado-Ekiti shortly after the graduation ceremony of 200 beneficiaries of UNDP’s skill acquisition programme for women, youth and victims of violence in Ekiti on Friday. He said that under the organisation’s Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Programmes, 100 beneficiaries were drawn from Kaduna, 200 in Ekiti, and 200 in Osun, all who were trained in…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukrainian military forces to overthrow their own government as his country pushes its military might in Ukraine. Putin said in a recorded address filmed before meeting with the Russian Security Council on Friday that Ukrainians need to “take power into your own hands” and overthrow a government he dubbed “neo-Nazis,” Politico reported. “It seems that it will be easier for us to come to an agreement than with this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis, who occupied Kyiv and took the entire Ukrainian people hostage,” he said, according to Politico. Putin also said…
The Lagos High Court in Ikeja has convicted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike who is popularly known as Evans and two others, Uchenna Amadi and Okuchuwkwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment. Justice Hakeem Oshodi sentenced the trio on Friday after convicting them on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of a businessman, Donatus Duru. The victim is the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. In convicting the trio, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge against them beyond a reasonable doubt. In reaching his verdict on Evans, the judge held that he observed the demeanour of the witness,…