The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, Anambra State, has remanded 46-year-old bricklayer, Rapuruchukwu Ezenandu, for allegedly defiling his 17-year-old daughter and infecting her with HIV. The defendant is facing a one-count charge of defilement. According to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu, the offence occurred at Umudala village, Nanka community, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. “On April 18, the girl’s uncle visited the village and took her to Lagos to continue her education. “However, during the admission process, the school requested a medical report, which revealed that the girl was HIV positive.…
Author: Newsdesk
A member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, has warned that excessive fiscal spending, particularly during politically sensitive periods, could reverse Nigeria’s recent gains in the fight against inflation. Sagagi made the warning in his personal statement following the 304th MPC meeting held in February, where policymakers assessed inflation trends, monetary policy measures and broader macroeconomic conditions. He said sustaining the country’s disinflation process would require stronger coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities, warning that unchecked government spending could weaken the impact of the central bank’s tightening measures. “Close coordination…
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says it has approved and classified no fewer than 304 films between January and April 2026. This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Corporate Affairs, NFVCB, Mr. Ogbonna Onwumere. Onwumere said the number of movies approved and classified during the period increased by 34 films compared to the 267 approved in the same period in 2025. He noted that the increase reflects the steady growth of local film production and distribution across the country. According to him, January recorded the highest number with 102 films, followed by…
The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (WTEC) says it is committed to bridging the technology gap and strengthening partnerships in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) space. The External Relations Lead at WTEC, Mr. Adeyemi Odutola, made this known during an interview with reporters on Thursday in Lagos. WTEC is a non-profit organisation that focuses on empowering women and girls. In its 18 years of existence, the centre has trained over 60,000 women in technology. Odutola said WTEC is collaborating with experts, government agencies, and other partners to reach a wider audience and penetrate more segments of society. He added…
The Abia Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), on Wednesday, organised a step-down training on the use and application of standards, weights, measures, and packaging for selected beneficiary farmers. Speaking at the event in Umuahia, the Abia Project Coordinator for LIFE-ND, Dr Uchenna Onyeizu, said the training was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge to improve product quality, packaging, and marketability. Onyeizu described the programme as part of LIFE-ND’s ongoing efforts to strengthen capacity across agricultural value chains. “One of our many programmes for beneficiaries focuses on building their capacity in packaging so they can sell their…
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) has clarified reports claiming the approval of a 40 per cent peculiar allowance for federal civil servants. In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Eno Olotu, the office said it neither approved nor conveyed any approval of the allowance to the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) or any labour union. Olotu stated that the statutory responsibility for issuing and communicating such circulars rests with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). She noted that the circular circulating in…
The Kaduna State Head of Service, Mrs. Jummai Bako, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence in Leadership and Transformative Reforms in Workers’ Welfare. The award was presented by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya Chapter, during its get-together and awards ceremony held in Gidan Waya on Wednesday. While receiving the award, Bako thanked the union for the recognition and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving staff welfare and institutional performance. She commended the academic staff for their dedication to delivering quality teacher education and producing graduates who are…
The Nigeria Police Force has foiled separate banditry and cattle rustling attacks in Katsina State, recovering two AK-47 rifles, ammunition and 70 rustled animals. Police spokesman DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Katsina. He said the operations were conducted under the command of Commissioner of Police Ali Umar-Fage, with support from other security agencies and local vigilantes. Sadiq-Aliyu said the first incident occurred on Monday at about 5 p.m. in Danya Bakwai, Jibia Local Government Area, where about 10 armed bandits on motorcycles invaded a Fulani settlement and rustled 20 cows and 40 sheep.…
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has renewed calls for Africa’s fair representation as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Guterres made the remark on Wednesday during the 10th African Union-United Nations High-Level Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “This is not about privilege or symbolism. It is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and acts with legitimacy and effectiveness in today’s world,” he said. Guterres described the AU-UN partnership as one of the most strategic multilateral alliances supporting peace and development across Africa. He noted that the partnership has strengthened coordination, governance, humanitarian responses, and human…
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged Nigeria to take full advantage of China’s tariff-free policy for African goods by focusing on local processing and value addition to boost global competitiveness. Emeka Obegolu, President of the ACCI, made this known while reacting to China’s decision to remove tariffs on goods from 53 African countries. According to him, Nigeria must move beyond being a mere exporter of raw materials and instead prioritise value addition and local processing to make its products more competitive in global markets. “Nigeria should use this opportunity to shift from overdependence on crude oil…