Author: Editor
Our Reporter, Abuja The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called on member states to explore new strategies to revitalise the global trade body as discussions intensify ahead of its next ministerial meeting. Speaking on Friday at the 8th South-South Dialogue on Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Development in Geneva, Okonjo-Iweala stressed the importance of ongoing reforms within the WTO in preparation for the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) scheduled for March 26–29. She acknowledged progress made in addressing trade priorities of least-developed countries (LDCs) and encouraged them to continue pursuing policies that strengthen their participation in global trade.…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to Greece, while former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Priscilla Ohakim, has been posted to Poland following the approval of ambassadorial postings by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The postings form part of a list of 65 ambassadors-designate—31 non-career political appointees and 34 career diplomats—approved by the President after their confirmation by the Senate in December last year. In a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Federal Government said the appointments were part of efforts to strengthen…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The abducted father of a former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Igwe, has been killed by his kidnappers, the police have confirmed. Igwe, who was the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area, was reportedly abducted on Sunday morning while on his way to church. His son, Kelechi Igwe, served as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023. In a statement issued on Friday, the Ebonyi State Police Command said the traditional ruler was kidnapped on March 1, 2026. Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, said operatives immediately launched intensive operations to rescue the…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Coroner’s Court investigating the death of Pelumi Onifade has given the Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) 14 days to submit a report on the whereabouts of an unidentified body believed to be connected to the case. The directive was issued by the investigating magistrate, Temitope Oladele, during proceedings of the inquest on March 3, 2026. Onifade, a journalist with Gboah TV, was reportedly shot and arrested while covering the #EndSARS protests on October 24, 2020. The court’s order followed an application by lawyer Alimi Adamu, who led Monday Arunsi and Somto…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Federal Government has clarified that a medical fellowship is not equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, following widespread reports suggesting otherwise. The Federal Ministry of Education said the decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to amend the Act governing the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College had been misinterpreted in some sections of the media. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, explained that the approval does not equate medical fellowships with PhD degrees. According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, said the…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned that political parties across Nigeria may boycott the 2027 general elections if controversial provisions in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 are not urgently amended. The umbrella body of registered political parties said the law, recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, contains provisions capable of undermining internal party democracy and weakening the credibility of the electoral process. Speaking with journalists after an emergency meeting with leaders and representatives of political parties at the council’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, said the council had…
By Azu Ishiekwene These are sad times. Who could have believed that after the US and its allies destroyed Iraq in search of “weapons of mass destruction” and found none, history would repeat itself as a farce? In neighbouring Iran, 35 years after Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. has launched a consequential war, only this time without even the formality of UN resolutions. How brazen could it possibly get in the Middle East, especially after a fragile ceasefire since October 2025 failed to stop the killing of around 600 Palestinians by Israeli forces, further stalling the region’s return to normalcy. The…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, on Thursday inducted its pioneer set of medical graduates into the medical profession, marking a major milestone in the institution’s history. The oath-taking and induction ceremony for the new doctors was conducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) at the Professor Paul Ezeonu Auditorium of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA). Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Daniel C. Nwachukwu, described the event as a landmark achievement for the university and a testament to its commitment to quality medical education.…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu (DUFUHS), Ebonyi State, has commenced the diagnosis and free treatment of patients with respiratory diseases at the Abakaliki Rice Mill. The university said it had made arrangements for the complete treatment of the first 200 people diagnosed with respiratory diseases. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Jesse Uneke, disclosed this on Tuesday at the rice mill during the official flag-off of the Equi-Resp Africa Research Project, which featured free screening and treatment of respiratory diseases and other health problems. The programme was organised by the Equi-Resp Africa Research…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for strong constitutional safeguards, democratic oversight and professional standards to guide the establishment of State Police in Nigeria, warning that decentralised policing without proper checks could deepen political abuse. In a memorandum submitted to the State Police Implementation Committee inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Ridwan Disu, the organisation said the push for State Police must be anchored on rule-of-law principles, transparency and accountability. The memorandum, signed by RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, acknowledged the inauguration of the committee as a significant step in Nigeria’s…