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The first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has officially secured a second term as Director-General. Okonjo-Iweala, 70, had announced her intention to seek a second term in September.Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, chair of the General Council, also informed WTO members that no other nominations were received before the 8 November dead...

KANO—Amnesty International, AI, Nigeria yesterday, accused Nigerian Police of killing 24 protesters in six Northern states during the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest between August 1st and 10th August, 2024.According to the group, “The brutal crackdown on the #Endbadgovernance protests is a clear manifestation of Nigerian authorities’ failure to respect and ensure the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembl...

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, declined to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arraign the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in the absence of his lawyers.Bello was scheduled to enter his plea before trial Justice Emeka Nwite, on another 19-count charge that bordered on his alleged complicity in an N80.2billion fraud.When the matter was called up, none of the lawyers represen...

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria has said the Port Harcourt refinery will sell its petrol at N1,030 per litre, stating that the refinery is working as claimed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.In a statement PETROAN spokesman, Joseph Obele, said the NNPC announced to the association that a litre of premium motor spirit goes for N1,030 at the refurbished refinery.The PETROAN spokesman said, “NNPC Retai...

“The Government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French Republic,” Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement.Chad is a key link in France’s military presence in Africa, constituting Paris’s last foothold in the Sahel after the forced withdrawal of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger....

Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in Osun State has disclosed that technical issues, especially inadequate runway forced it to relocate the state airport project to Akoda, Ede.Residents and indigenes of Ido-Osun in Egbedore local government area of Osun State had on Tuesday protested the Governor’s decision to relocate the airport from the town to Ede, Adeleke’s hometown.Justifying the reloca...

The Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,740 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,745 per dollar.Likewise, the Naira appreciated to N1,644.86 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,644.86 per dollar from N1,660.83 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N15.97 appreciation for the naira....

French President Emmanuel Macron has commended Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for channelling the same transformative energy he used in Lagos towards advancing Nigeria’s development.Macron made the statement during a joint press conference with Tinubu in France, where the Nigerian leader has been on an official visit since Wednesday.Discussing the strengthening of bilateral ties between France and Nigeria, Macron praised Tinubu’...

Four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been confirmed dead following an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents during an inspection tour of the National Grid installations in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on November 18, 2024.The attack, which occurred near the boundary between Niger and Kaduna states, also left one officer missing, while two others returned to base unharmed.The NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, discl...

The Federal Government said it has adopted automated verification of travel documents to forestall smuggling of migrants and improve surveillance systems in the nation’s borders. The Government added that its commitment to tackle smuggling of migrants and trafficking of persons has significantly improved following proactive measures and mechanism put in place by the present administration to ensure internal security. The Minister ...