News / politics

FG Insists Twitter’s operation is illegal despite ECOWAS court ruling

Eighteen days after the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, was suspended in Nigeria, the Federal Government insists operation of Twitter in the country’s social media space “is not legally permissible.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this yesterday when he appeared before a House of Representatives investigative hearing. He said Twitter was used to disseminate information “that endangers the life and security” of Nigerians and cause disunity in the country.

Following the suspension, the green chamber had mandated its committees on communication, justice, information and culture, and national security and intelligence to investigate the circumstances behind the decision.

Speaking at the investigative hearing, Mohammed said the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 does not permit foreign companies to do business in Nigeria if not registered. He said Twitter cannot be given the legitimate rights to operate until it is incorporated in Nigeria.

“As it regards operation of foreign companies in Nigeria, the law provides that a foreign company, which fails to take necessary steps to obtain incorporation as a separate entity in Nigeria for that purpose, but until so incorporated, the foreign company shall not carry on business in Nigeria or exercise any powers of a registered company,” he said.

“Hence, flowing from this background a foreign company as Twitter cannot be clothed with the legitimate rights to operate as a company registered in Nigeria, as they are not licensed, accordingly.

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is also observed that the operations of Twitter in the Nigerian social space is not legally permissible when it is used in airing of information that endangers the life and security of the majority of citizens of Nigeria.”

Mohammed said Twitter’s suspension is backed by international laws including articles 24, 25 and 26 of the African Union on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (CCPR).

He said the government would not hesitate to suspend other social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google hangout, and others if they are found to be promoting posts or statements capable of destabilizing the country.

There was a …

Foreign / News

Biden administration takes aim at gun trafficking

 

A day before US President Joe Biden was due to announce measures to combat a rise in violent crime, the Justice Department on Tuesday revealed it had created five new units to tackle gun trafficking. 

The units will be set up in the next 30 days and will focus on the major cities of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, which have suffered a sharp increase in homicides over the past year and a half.

Bringing together federal prosecutors, specialized police officers and local partners, the “firearms trafficking strike forces will investigate and disrupt the networks that channel crime guns into our communities with tragic consequences,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement.

On Wednesday, Garland will be at the White House when the Democratic president sets out his administration’s strategy to fight rising crime, in the face of criticism from the Republican opposition that he has not properly addressed the problem.

After years of decline, homicide rates rose about 25 percent in 2020, and remain at their highest levels in 2021.

“We believe that a central driver of violence is gun violence,” said White House spokesperson Jen Psaki during a briefing on the issue.

“A big part of that in [Biden’s] view is putting in place gun safety measures, even as Congress is not moving forward currently,” said Psaki, referring to the Republican senators blocking a bill aimed at better regulating the purchase of weapons.

…
Education / News

MURIC gives JAMB thumbs up for tackling challenges

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern, has given the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board the thumbs up.

According to MURIC, JAMB deserves commendation in view of its swift response to challenges and disciplinary actions meted out to erring Computer Based Test Center during the ongoing JAMB examinations around the country.

MURIC said this on Wednesday in a statement by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.

It said: “The Joint Admissions Matriculations Board (JAMB) deserves accolades in view of its swift response to challenges and the disciplinary actions meted out to erring Computer Based Test (CBT) Center during the ongoing JAMB examinations around the country.

“We are not saying JAMB is perfect, but the Board has performed creditably well having succeeded in keeping its head above in the murky waters of the Nigerian ecosystem. We monitor national examinations in this country and we know what happens in many of them. But JAMB has been able to rise above the maddening crowd.

“The examination body has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that it will not take any nonsense from anybody. The swift manner with which JAMB delisted twenty four (24) CBT centres within 24 hours of receiving credible reports of their misdemeanour leaves us in no doubt whatsoever that there will be no hiding place for those who fall short of expectations.

“A case in point is one of the CBT centres in Lagos where candidates who were billed to start the examination by 7 am on Saturday, 19th June, 2021 were kept sitting in the hall from 7 am to 3 pm doing virtually nothing. Meanwhile the 9 am batch as well as other batches were kept waiting outside. They were only told to go home around 3.30 pm after wasting the whole day. The centre’s excuse was that its computer systems failed to come up.

“We were very excited when the centre’s name was found among the 25 delisted centres 24 hours later. We are still marvelling at the efficiency and high level discipline manifested by JAMB. This …

Entertainment / News

Chris Brown reportedly under investigation for beating a woman in his house

According to TMZ, the yet-to-be-identified lady revealed that the music star smacked the back of her head so hard her weave came off.

No arrests have been made but authorities confirmed to TMZ that police responded to his home over the alleged incident.

He was reportedly named a suspect in the police report.

The is the second time in two years that the music star will be under investigation.

It would be recalled that in 2019, the music star was arrested in Paris over a rape allegation.

A 24-year-old lady reported that she was raped by the music star at his hotel room in January 2019.

She reportedly told police that the pair met at a nightclub in central Paris, close to the Champs-Elysées, before they returned to the hotel.

…
Movies / News

Disney announces production details for Lagos themed animated series ‘Iwájú’

Disney, in a statement released at the ongoing Annecy International Animation Film Festival, confirmed that production has commenced with talents working remotely from Nigeria, Uganda, London, Montreal and Burbank.

Although details of the series remain under wraps, Kugali co-founder and series director Ziki Nelson revealed that ‘Iwájú’ will share themes of inequality and class divide. “That’s the everyday reality of life in Nigeria and other parts of the world, and [themes include] the consequences they have on a society and challenging the status quo.”

Set in futuristic Lagos, Kugali co-founder, Tolu Olowofoyeku noted the team’s choice of the commercial city, highlighting how its “unique and distinct feel” provided an interesting base for the story.

Kugali is founded by three Nigerian comics artist, Tolu Olowofoyeku, Ziki Nelson and Hamid Ibrahim

 

 

 …

Law / News

Court orders FG to pay Bayelsa $951m derivative arrears

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, ordered the Federal Government to pay $951 million to the Bayelsa State Government.

The amount is the 13 per cent derivative sum due as arrears of revenue and payable to Bayelsa State.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the judgment, held that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the sole defendant in the case, failed to enter his defence in the suit.

Justice Ekwo ruled that the development made the court to declare the plaintiff’s case “unchanged.”

Ken Njemanze filed the suit on behalf of the Bayelsa government. The plaintiff, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/175/2012 and filed on February 12, urged the court to compel the AGF to pay five per cent of $50 billion recovered as additional revenue that accrued to the Federal Government.…

News / Production

Nigeria faces import crisis as reserves hit 13-month low

Nigeria’s economy could be leaning against the wind as the country’s external reserves fell to a 13-month low last week, tumbling quickly to $30 billion, the level it was between 2015 and 2017.

Last Thursday, the figure slid to $33.79 billion, as it dropped by $30 million. This represented a 0.09% decline compared to $33.824 billion recorded on Wednesday, June 16. A total of $1.58 billion has been lost in reserves year-to-date, while month-to-date loss stands at $405.33 million, hardly reflecting the marginal gains in rising oil prices in recent months.

The reserves fell by $222.3 million between May 31 and June 10 to $34.0 billion, according to figures published by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The last time it fell below that mark was between June and July of 2017.

The country’s forex reserves continues to trend downwards despite the positive rally recorded in the global crude oil market, with Brent crude currently trading at $73.5 per barrel. It has sustained a steady troubling decline in the past two months after a short-lived upswing that took it to $35 billion.

The foreign reserves lost $120.18 million last Tuesday, the highest single-day loss recorded since February 22, 2021.

This is largely attributed to the decline in crude oil sales, due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the buying capacity of India, which is one of the world’s largest importers of oil.

However, reports suggest that India’s oil imports are beginning to pick up after months of lessened activities due to the pandemic’s effect on its economy. This also comes as good news to Nigeria as India remains one of the highest importers of Nigeria’s crude oil.

The falling reserves, experts have warned, could leave the country’s embattled economic outlook worse off as the confidence of foreign investors is partly influenced by the size of the reserve. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the figure oscillated between $34 billion to $36 billion and even crossed $36.5 billion occasionally.

Nigeria’s current reserve is among the poorest of the oil-producing …

Crime / News

Kano sets up policing committee to monitor movement of ‘strange people’

The Kano State Government is to set up a community-oriented policing committee to monitor the movement of “strange people” in Rano Emirate neighbourhoods.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje made this known when he received the Emir of Rano, Ambassador Kabiru Inuwa, at the Government House in Kano.

Ganduje said: The committee will be set up in Rano Emirate, which houses the largest forest of Falgore, in the state.

“We will also set up same committees in other parts of the state.

“This strategy will strengthen our security architecture.

“The plan is for the communities to put more eyes on strangers, to know who is coming and from where.

“We are glad to inform you that all our security agencies in the state are working harmoniously, without any rivalry.”

He assured that the committees would be under direct supervision of the Emir of Rano.

Ganduje then urged members of the public to also contribute their best in promoting peace in the state.

He also promised to rehabilitate the old Emir’s Palace that was abandoned many decades ago.

Responding, Inuwa thanked Ganduje for the developmental projects taking place in the area.

He urged the governor to do more.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Rano Emirate, according to historians, is a settlement as old as the Kano Emirate.

According to oral literature, Rano came into existence as an independent entity about 300 years ago and it is regarded as one of the oldest settlements in what is known today as Northern Nigeria.

Some works of literature revealed that the kingdom was fully established in the year 523AD by the Kwararrafa warriors.

The Falgore Geme Reserve is located about 150km from Kano city.

It lies in Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Sumaila local government areas.

NAN reports also reports that it extends to the boundary line between Kano, Kaduna and Bauch States.…

Crime / News

Buhari constitutes EFCC Board

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed George Abang Ekpungu as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The appointment is for a fresh tenure of five years.

Also appointed as Board Members of the EFCC are Luqman Muhammad (South South), Anumba Adaeze (South East), Alhaji Kola Raheem Adesina (North Central) and Alhaji Yahya Muhammad (North East).

This appointment was in line with Section 2 (1) and Section 4 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.

According to the statement, EFCC has been operating without Board Members since 2015.

President Buhari has already directed that the names be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.…

Education / News

FG establishes two new Universities of Technology, upgrades four others

The Federal Government has announced the establishment of two additional universities of technology in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom, while also upgrading and equipping four others.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sonny Echono disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

Adamu said that a National Institute of Technology (NIT) would be established in Abuja to serve essentially as a postgraduate center devoted to research and innovation.

According to him, this will draw the best graduates from the six universities of technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria. “Recall that at the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he promised to establish an apex National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Abuja with six satellite universities of technology, one in each geo-political zone of the country.

“This was captured in the 2015 APC Manifesto and also stressed in the Education for Change: Ministerial Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 of the ministry. The objective is to stimulate rapid technological transformation of the country.

“After a comprehensive review of the policy by key stakeholders in the education sector, it was resolved that the four existing universities of
technology located in Yola (North East), Akure (South West), Owerri (South East) and Minna (North Central) be upgraded and equipped.

“While two additional universities of technology to be located in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom States, would be established for the purpose.

“Similarly, a National Institute of Technology shall be established in Abuja. The institute shall be patterned after similar institutions in Singapore and Malaysia.

“This is to serve essentially as a postgraduate center devoted to research and innovation, drawing the best graduates from the six Universities of Technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria,” he said.

Adamu said that the president had also approved the phased development program, compelled by the country’s lean resources.

He said that the two new Universities of Technology would be established in 2021, while the upgrade …

Business / News

What Abuja Land Swap initiative means for real estate sector, investors

Once again, investors and the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) Abuja are back to the table following approval for resumption of the ambitious Land Swap Initiative by the federal executive council (FEC) early last week.

The Abuja Land Swap initiated by the Bala Mohammed administration was valued then at N1 trillion. It is the short form of the ‘FCT Land Infrastructure Swap Initiative’ designed to address the infrastructure deficit in the FCT.

In simple terms, the initiative means engaging the private sector to provide infrastructure in exchange for land. The aim, essentially, is to open up new districts in the FCT by constructing and completing access roads to those districts.

Apart from freeing government land for economic activities such as real estate and industrial development, the initiative also solves one of the major problems of urban or city development which is the provision of a good network of roads and associated infrastructure.

It is also an answer to real estate sector development in Nigeria where investors and property developers estimate the cost of infrastructure at 30 percent of total construction cost.

The implication is that the initiative will not only increase housing stock, but also reduce house price, and ultimately bridge the housing demand-supply gap in the country put variously at 17, 20 and 22 million units, depending on who one is speaking to.

It is expected that construction activities resulting from infrastructure development and housing delivery will have combined capacity to create, at least, 2,000 direct construction jobs on an ongoing basis. It is expected also that many of the workers, skilled and unskilled, will come from the catchment districts, thereby empowering the people economically.

As the federal capital city, Abuja, like Lagos, the country’s commercial nerve center, is experiencing a high influx of people and this is already putting pressure on available facilities in the city. The organization growth rate of Abuja is conservatively put at 30-40 percent per annum.

Similarly, the population of the FCT currently is estimated at 6 million whereas the Abuja Master Plan envisaged …

Business / News

Lubricants import hits $500m, hikes maintenance cost by 300%

Lack of refining capacity in Nigeria for basic fuels and other petroleum products has left the nation dependent on the importation of lubricants, with yearly expenditure likely to exceed the $500 million benchmark going by the rally in oil prices.

Similarly, the calls for energy transition leading to a gradual switch from base oils to synthetic oils, currency devaluation and shutdown of many foreign refineries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted the importation of base oils for blending. These have led to at least 300 per cent rise in the price of lubricants from about N850 per litre to N2000 per litre.

At almost $2 a litre, Nigeria’s yearly base oil demand of 300 million litres puts the nation’s foreign exchange consumption at about $500 million or N205 billion ($1: N410).

In the first quarter of 2021, Nigeria spent N71.6 billion on the importation of lubricants that would be blended locally, according to the latest trade data published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to data from the Lubricants Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), the country’s lubricant market demand volume total  at 600,000 metric tons in 2019, accounting for about 20 per cent of Africa’s total lubricants demand. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has, however, affected demand volumes by at least 50 per cent.

With the cost of locally blended products higher than that of imported lubricants due to prevailing macro-economic challenges, many businesses with large storage capacities have resorted to raising Letters of Credit (LCs) for importation rather than buying locally.

Data from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) showed that the 34 lube blending plants in the country have 120.57 million litres of base oil storage capacity.

While the ​Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC)​​​ was the only refinery designed for the production of Base Oils, Asphalt (Bitumen) and Waxes, the non-performance of the refinery has left the nation largely dependent on the importation, as upcoming refinery from Dangote and modular refineries focus on fuels like the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil …

Crime / News / Security

Police arrest 127 traffic robbery suspects, pledge to combat crime

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 127 suspected traffic robbers within the last three months in various parts of the state.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, said the suspects were picked at various spots in the state.

He promised that robberies in traffic would soon fizzle out and become a history in the state as the state police command had deployed human and material resources to tackle the menace headlong.

The police boss added that fight against the menace would be intensified and more effective with the new equipment from the Lagos State Government.

Odumosu also ordered the commencement of combat training and range practice for police personnel and also training of police operatives attached to the newly formed Anti-Traffic Robbery Squad to tackle robbery in traffic in the state.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have nabbed two notorious suspected robbers along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the suspects, Tunde Ramoni and Adepoju Samuel, who hail from Oyo State, were arrested at Ojota, while Adepoju was caught while robbing a motorist with an unregistered motorcycle around Tipper area, Ketu, Lagos State.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Tunde Ramoni was once arrested with a gang of pickpockets in 2019 and was sentenced to six-month imprisonment.

Another suspect, Ibrahim Abiodun, was also arrested with two locally-made pistols with two live cartridges, assorted charms and weeds at Agbomalu, Apapa, on Wednesday.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the command’s Special Squad, Ikeja, for proper investigation and possible prosecution.…

News / Security

Nigeria ranks 146th on Global Peace Index, 8th least peaceful in Africa

The 2021 Global Peace Index (GPI) has ranked Nigeria 146 among 163 independent nations and territories, according to its level of peacefulness. Nigeria moved one step from 147 in 2020, though it still ranked eighth among the least peaceful countries in Africa after South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali.

In the report released yesterday, Nigeria finished with 2712 points and was graded low on the state of peace out of very high, high, medium, low and very low on the chart.

The GPI, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), measures the state of peace in countries. It assesses countries in three domains, including the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict and the degree of militarization.

Describing the situation, the report said Nigeria continues to face challenges on both safety and security and ongoing conflict domains. The conflict between government forces and Boko Haram in the Northeast led to an estimated 1,606 people killed in 125 fatal incidents in 2020, making an average of 13 deaths per violent event in the Boko Haram insurgency of last year.

Civil unrest rose 10 per cent globally, driven by the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic caused a global rise in civil unrest and political insecurity, according to the GPI report. There were 14,871 violent demonstrations, protests and riots recorded globally in 2020.

The report said COVID-19 was a “multiplying force” in future political instability and civil unrest. It added the level of this unrest going forward is likely to hinge on the speed and effectiveness of economic recovery. Countries with less debt and higher levels of positive peace were more likely to recover faster.

Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal and Slovenia. Mauritius is the most peaceful African country ranked 28th, followed by Ghana (38), Botswana (41), Sierra Leone (46) …

Crime / News

EFCC recovers N6b, 30 estates, 32 automobiles in three months – Bawa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has so far recovered over N6 billion, 30 real estates and 32 automobiles between March and June this year.

The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated this on Thursday in Abuja during the weekly media briefing organized by the Presidential Communication Team.

Bawa said: “From the time I took over, we have recovered over N6 billion, over $161 million, over £13,000, €1,730,200 Canadian dollars, CFA 373,000, ¥8,430.

“We have recovered 30 real estates, one carpet, 13 electronics, one farm land, one factory, two motorcycles, one filling station and about 32 automobiles.” According to Bawa, not all recoveries made by the commission go into the coffers of the Federal Government.

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to clarify issues.

“There are a number of recoveries that the EFCC has made over the years but not all recoveries made belong to the Federal Government.

“We have made recoveries for victims of criminals and they can be individuals, local government, state government, federal government, corporate entities whether in Nigeria or outside Nigeria.

“There are also recoveries that are indirect recoveries.

“Just a couple of weeks back, we recovered $100 million for the Nigeria Ports Authority but the monies were paid into the account of NPA but through our efforts.

“Am I not going to record that we have recovered such an amount for NPA?

“Are you going to see it in the EFCC recovered account with the CBN?

“No.

“There are recoveries that are made directly into the EFCC account.

“It is through systems and processes.

“There is Department of Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Management in EFCC responsible for collating all the data regarding recovered assets, assets on interim forfeiture and assets on final forfeiture as well as their location and of course their management.”

Bawa expressed serious concern over the rising cases of internet frauds involving youths across the country.

He revealed that over 1,500 internet fraudsters were apprehended in the last six months, saying they would soon be prosecuted.

He said: …

Foreign / News / Travel

Countries you can travel to with your Nigerian Diplomatic Passport

Anguilla No visa required.
Bahrain May obtain visa on arrival.
Bangladesh Visa on arrival
Barbados 6 months
Benin 90 days
Bolivia No visa required
Brazil
British Virgin Islands Visa on arrival for 1 month.
Burkina Faso Visa free of charge on arrival
Cambodia Visa on arrival up to 30 days. eVisa available.
Cameroon 90 days
Cape Verde No visa required
Chad 90 days
China 30 days.
Comoros Visa on arrival
Cook Islands 31 days.
Cote d’Ivoire No visa required.
Djibouti Visa on arrival
Dominica Up to 6 months.
Ethiopia Visa-free
Fiji Up to 4 months
Gambia Visa-free for 90 days
Ghana Visa-free up to 90 days
Grenada Visa required.
Guinea 90 days
Guinea-Bissau 90 days
Haiti 3 months
Iran Visa on arrival, 30 days
Lebanon Visa on arrival for 1 month. Conditions apply.
Liberia No visa required.
Libya No visa required.
Macau Visa not required.
Madagascar Visa on arrival. 90 days, 30 days free of charge.
Maldives 30 days with possible extension.
Mali Visa-free
Mauritania Visa on arrival at Nouakchott International Airport.
Mauritius Visa-free or visa on arrival. 14-90 days.
Micronesia 30 days.
Montserrat 6 months.
Mozambique Visa on arrival for 30 days.
Niger Visa-free
Niue 30 days.
Palau Visa on arrival for 30 days.
Peru Visa required.
Rwanda 30 days
Saint Kitts and Nevis 30 days
Samoa 60 days.
Senegal 90 days
Seychelles 3 months.
Sierra Leone Visa-free
South Sudan No visa required.
Sudan No visa required.
Tanzania Visa on arrival, but recommended to obtain before departure.
Timor-Leste Visa on arrival for 30 days.
Togo Visa-free access.
Tuvalu Visa on arrival for 1 month.
Uganda 3 months visa on arrival. eVisa available.
Vanuatu 30 days
Zambia No visa required.
…
Agriculture / News / Security

FG will task stakeholders on food security

The Federal Government has commenced meeting with stakeholders through the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) in a bid to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, floods and conflicts on food security.

 

This is against the backdrop of recent reports by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) that listed Northern Nigeria as one of the 20 countries where acute hunger is expected to soar.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr Ernest Umakhile while declaring open the 44th NCARD meeting urged stakeholders to come up with strategies to scale up food production, processing and marketing within the agribusiness ecosystem to avert food crisis and engender food sufficiency for the growing Nigerian population.

While reiterating Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the framework of the National Economic Sustainability Plan and the Nigerian Agricultural Technology and Innovation Plan as a strategy for food resilience and economic development, he highlighted some efforts in the sector to include, “the provision of mechanization inputs to farmers, training of extension agents on extension service delivery in crop, fishery and livestock value chain activities and construction of mini earth dam for irrigation activities.

He emphasized the commitment of the ministry “to be tied to the commodity value chain concept of strengthening sectoral linkages, Import substitution initiatives, value added processing and export-oriented activities in the country”.

Umakhihe stressed the importance of sustaining the collaboration on agribusiness initiatives to facilitate incentives to researchers, farmers and processors geared towards increase in agricultural output and match National requirements.

The Federal Capital Territory Secretary of Agriculture, Ibe Prospect, noted that the coming of COVID -19 is a wakeup call for a new beginning in agriculture and for nations to ensure sustainability of their internal food supply.…

Entertainment / News

Pharrell Williams Opens Private Schools For Children of Low Income Earners

Pharrell’s non-profit organization, Yellow, is expanding its education branch to include a handful of private schools in his homeland of Virginia that serve low-income pupils. He’ll open the first school in Norfolk, Virginia’s Ghent neighborhood, which is near to his hometown of Virginia Beach. Children in grades three through five will be able to enroll at the Yellow hab school. Tuition will be free for at least the first year with costs covered by charitable donations. The skills Pharrell’s foundation gained while running youth summer programs are being put to good use.…

Entertainment / News

Nick Cannon Welcomes Twins With Partner Abby De La Rosa

The good news was announced by Abby in a lovely Instagram post on Wednesday, June 16, confirming she welcomed her baby boys. In the video, the new mum could be seen holding and smiling at her little ones from her hospital bed and confirmed, in her caption, that they arrived on June 14.

Abby also noted that their names are Zion Mixolydian Cannon and Zillion Heir Cannon, adding they are her world. According to E! News, she also shared a photo of the twins on her Instagram Stories with their hands holding into hers.…