News Rider

          Chioma Rowland and David Adeleke One of Nigeria's Afrobeats Artistes, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido has confirmed his upcoming traditional wedding to his partner, Chioma Rowland. News Rider reports that the news of the wedding between Chioma and Davido’s went viral on social media on Tuesday.  But in a video shared by Davido's UK-based Nigerian Pastor, Tobi Adeboyega on Instagram on Tuesday, the singer invited his friends to Nigeria for the wedding.  The wedding is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in Lagos.  In the video, the excited Davido was heard saying that: "Guys, you have to come to Nigeria on the 25th [of June] for my wedding.” Recall that the couple got engaged last year after the mysterious death of their first son, Ifeanyi Adeleke.  The three-year-old Ifeanyi was reportedly drowned in a swimming pool in 2022 at the singer's Banana Island house in Lagos. Also, in October last year, ...

Digital Public Infrastructures have consistently played a crucial role in the growth and development of countries globally. In this report, CHIKA OKEKE writes on the need for enhanced security especially at the grassroots.  The World Economic Forum had submitted that Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) would contribute immensely in attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  This also played out at the September 2023, G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration in India. The declaration highlighted DPIs as a set of shared digital systems that are secure and interoperable, built on open technologies, to deliver equitable access to public or private services at a societal scale.  But the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 was packaged to use digital technologies to bolster economic growth, create jobs, enhance government services, and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.  The comprehensive roadmap was dev...

          Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo  The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 12, 2024, as a public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement on Tuesday, just as he congratulated Nigerians on the occasion. News Rider reports that former President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2018 moved the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 in honour of late Chief M.K.O Abiola.  This, he did to remind Nigerians that the late Abiola and other heroes sacrificed their lives to birth a new Nigeria, while it was also a time to celebrate the freedom and unity of the country.  The democracy day was also reviewed to inform Nigerians about one free election, which the presumed winner (MKO Abiola) along with Nigerians were denied their rights and choice. Tunji-Ojo said: "As we mark another Democracy day in the history of our dear country, let us all...

Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils (LGCs) have received the sum of N1.143 trillion, being their share of revenue from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).  The revenue was shared on Monday at the June meeting of the FAAC, which was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. A communiqué issued by the committee at the end of the meeting revealed that the N1.143 trillion total revenue comprised statutory revenue of N157.183 billion and Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N463.425 billion. It was also inclusive of Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.146 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N507.456 billion. “The Federal Government received N69.514 billion, the state governments received N231.713 billion, and the LGCs received N162.199 billion from the N463.425 billion VAT revenue. “A total sum of N2.272 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N15.146 billi...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has concluded plans to inaugurate the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions in July. This was even as the President approved the terms of reference for the pioneering Office of Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC) and expanded Green Economy membership.  News Rider reports that the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action shall be the lead negotiator on climate-related matters on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, reporting directly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also, the office is expected to serve as the lead negotiator on carbon market and management initiatives on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with a mandate to integrate the work of the Intergovernmental Committee on National Carbon Market Activation Plan (NCMAP) into the climate action plans of the Federal Government and report directly to the President. "It will...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe as the new Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).  Until her appointment, Maduekwe had served as Nigeria National Coordinator on Climate Parliament and also a  legal adviser to the NCCC Director-General. Climate Parliament is an international and multi-partisan network of legislators working worldwide to help solve the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.  The appointment was in accordance with the President's determination to actualise Nigeria's green industrial vision, boost investor confidence, and unlock sustainable economic value through various climate finance instruments.   Maduekwe (39) is expected to serve in interim capacity, pending the confirmation of her appointment by the NCCC Supervisory Council. She holds a Bachelor of Law degree; a Master’s degree in Environmental Law & Po...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Worried by the wobbly inflation rate, a non-governmental organisation, MAMA Centre has demanded for specialised empowerment for women and rightsholders across all sectors of the economy.  The request followed the rising cost of general goods and services, and the negative impact on rightsholders and female-headed households.  News Rider reports that as at April 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed that the inflation rate rose to 33.69 percent compared to March 2024 inflation rate of 33.20 percent. The Executive Director of MAMA Centre, Chioma Kanu said over the weekend in Abuja, that women including the rightsholders have been marginalised in all spheres of the economy, as many resorted to poorly-paid employment with little rewards and other benefits.  Rightsholders constitute the vulnerable and socio-economic deprived group, whose families live below poverty line, estimated at $1.90 per person per day in the 2019 World...