Help wanes as strife pushes 55 million West Africans towards starvation
300,000 Nigerian children at risk WFP urgently needs over $453m in next six months Sopuruchi Onwuka The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned that 55 million people across West and Central Africa are expected to face crisis-level hunger…
Nigeria splatters N13.2 bn on countering claims of Christian slaughter
Move aimed at averting possible sanctions and military action Ziggy Ojiegbe The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has spent an estimated $9 million (about N13.2 billion) on lobbying efforts in Washington as it seeks to counter allegations of widespread…
US’ withdrawal from international bodies won’t deter UN’s humanitarian mandate, Guterres Says
Ziggy Ojiegbe UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed regret over the decision by the United States to withdraw from several United Nations entities, while stressing that the Organization will continue to carry out its humanitarian and development responsibilities. In a…
Wars drive Africa’s economic strain, hunger and displacement, UN warns
Ziggy Ojiegbe The United Nations has warned that escalating conflicts across parts of Africa and the Middle East are deepening economic hardship, fuelling hunger and driving mass displacement, with civilians bearing the heaviest burden. UN Secretary-General António Guterres remains gravely…
Group urges FG to shield poor, tax wealthy Nigerians under proposed reforms
Frank Okon A consumer advocacy group has called on the Federal Government to protect low-income Nigerians from the impact of proposed tax reforms by imposing heavier taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations. The Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity…
Gaza war to resume if HAMAS fails to disarm
Ziggy Ojiegbe Israel could resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to disarm within a two-month deadline agreed with the United States, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The timeline was set during talks between US President Donald…
Much Ado about Christmas Rice
[Rev Sola Adebawo] The harmattan wind usually carries a certain crispness this time of year in Nigeria, swirling through the streets of towns and villages with a sense of shared anticipation. It is a season where the air feels lighter,…
7,000 Australians line up to donate blood after Bondi Beach attack
Ziggy Ojiegbe, with agency reports More than 7,000 Australians lined up to donate blood on Monday in a show of solidarity with victims of the Bondi Beach shooting, as communities at home and abroad mourned one of the country’s deadliest…
Ban Ki-moon calls for Security Council reform amid UN crises
Sopuruchi Onwuka, with agency reports Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for sweeping reforms of the UN Security Council, warning that its failure to function effectively lies at the heart of the organization’s current crisis. Ban made the…
Nigerian stakeholders take stock as UKNIAF closes out infrastructure advisory support
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF) gathered more than 100 senior government officials, development partners, DFIs and private-sector leaders on December 2 to review six years of work as the current phase of the programme comes to an end….
