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http://ift.tt/2s0wvEm German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a statement where she pledged "more decisive action than ever" on climate on June 2, 2017 at the Chancellery in Berlin, in reaction of the US President's decision to quit the Paris climate agreement. US President Donald Trump announced on June 1, 2017 that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, prompting a furious global backlash and throwing efforts to slow global warming into doubt / AFP PHOTO / Tobias SCHWARZ German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday pledged “more decisive action than ever” to protect the climate after the US pullout from the landmark Paris accord. “We in Germany, in Europe and the world will band together to take more decisive action than ever to confront and successfully surmount major challenges to humanity such as climate change,” she told reporters. In a strongly worded statement, Merkel said US President Donald Trump’s announcement to turn his back on the P...

http://ift.tt/2qEvx0w Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang gives a joint press conference with the German Chancellor (not in picture) after representatives of both countries signed economic agreements at the end of Li's two-day visit to Germany on June 1, 2017 in Berlin. / AFP PHOTO / Tobias SCHWARZ China will “steadfastly” implement the Paris climate pact, Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday, urging others to do likewise as US President Donald Trump was due to announce whether he will keep Washington in the deal. “China will continue to implement promises made in the Paris Agreement, to move towards the 2030 goal step by step steadfastly,” Li said in a Berlin joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “But of course, we also hope to do this in cooperation with others,” added Li. China has been investing billions in clean energy infrastructure, as its leaders seek to clear up the notorious choking pollution enveloping its biggest cities, including Beijing. ...

http://ift.tt/2rwCD7v Political activist and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, Nnamdi Kanu (L), wearing a Jewish prayer shawl, poses in the garden of his house in Umuahia, southeast Nigeria, on May 26, 2017, before commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war on May 30. The war was triggered when the Igbo people, the main ethnic group in the southeast, declared an independent breakaway state, the Republic of Biafra. / AFP PHOTO / STEFAN HEUNIS Nnamdi Kanu walks slowly across the courtyard of his family home in Umuahia, southeast Nigeria, as a crowd of supporters in the red, black and green of the Biafran flag hail him as their saviour. Eighteen months in custody does not appear to have affected his fight against Nigeria. “I am more determined than ever,” Kanu, who heads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, tells AFP calmly. Kanu, who was released on bail at the end of April, still faces trial on treason charges. But there is no ques...

http://ift.tt/2s6mh2D President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledging cheers during his inauguration as Nigeria's president on Friday, May 29, 2015. PHOTO: NAN In spite of the groundswell of criticism of its performance in the past two years, especially in its handling of the economy, the Nigerian government has insisted that it was on course in its mission to change the fortune of Africa’s most populous country. “I firmly believe that we have put the most difficult phase behind us; and we are witnesses to the ever-increasing intensity of the light at the end of the tunnel,” acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, said Monday in a broadcast message to mark two years of the assumption of office by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, and 18 years since Nigeria returned to democratic governance. Regardless of Osinbajo’s optimism, critics said the government’s mid-term scorecard looked bleak, and that there was little to hope for. Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Nigeria’s leading retail bank, Diamond Bank Plc has won the Excellence in Financial Inclusion award at the prestigious Lafferty awards for its Diamond Y’ello Mobile Banking solution. Diamond Y’ello is a mobile based banking account developed in collaboration with telecommunication giant, MTN, to offer full-fledged financial services to over 63 million subscribers. The innovative solution, which is primarily targeted at the un(der)banked customers, boasts of a number of unique features such as: compatibility with any phone type, a strong and vast agent network of over 30,000 nationwide, ability to carry out full banking transactions without airtime or data amongst others. The Lafferty Global awards showcase innovative services and products in retail banking, cards and payments and merchant services, with a diverse range of winners from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The award was presented in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2017 as part of the Inte...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J My dear brother Dele, let me thank you most sincerely for your article last weekend, “My Candid Letter to Saraki.” I take everything you said in that article to heart and I must commend you for your candidness indeed and the sincerity of your intentions. As you said in your article, you are someone I have known more by reputation than by any personal relationship, until recently when we struck up some personal acquaintance based on our shared political interests, especially during the last presidential election. However, I understand why you had to sound so defensive for knowing me at all and had to publicly map the boundaries of our relationship. We have got to that point in our country when we no longer believe that anyone could stand for anything based on principles and convictions alone. Moreover, in the growing culture of media crucifixion and presumed guilt; it is rare to find a voice like yours that calls for fairness and justice. I would have simply sen...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Louis Amoke When, on the behest of President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal government announced the decision to release about N522.74 billion in the first tranche of the Paris Club refund to the 36 states of the federation to enable them meet pressing financial obligations such as the payment of salaries and pensions arrears, mixed reactions of excitement, doubt, suspense and speculation greeted the move. When, thereafter, the refund was successfully released to states for disbursement in line with the purpose it was meant for, it became a subject of controversy as wild accusations and counter accusations as well as denials/ clarifications over the ingenuity and sincerity of some states to properly manage the refund, dominated the air space. For instance, it was reported in the national dailies that seven Governors were under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting the funds. There was also a plethora of o...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri The Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday, boosted that he was the first governor to pay N20,000 minimum wage to civil servants. Okorocha disclosed this through a release issued to newsmen in Owerri by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo. “Today, workers will be celebrating their day, and the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, against the backdrop of the event, wishes to heartily congratulate the workers. “Especially those in the state, for their perseverance and immense contributions to the development of the nation and the state in particular. “The governor commended the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, with comrade Austin Chilakpu as chairman for selfless, and committed leadership. “And to the workers in the state and also for the understanding and harmonious relationship between the workers and the Rescue Mission Government in the state.” The release went further to say that the g...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J New York – Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has urged Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to transform Nigeria. Onu who spoke in New York on the sidelines of an Investment Forum organised by the ministry. According to Onu, Nigeria’s future is bright. “No matter the challenges and the problems that we have in Nigeria, Nigeria has a bright future because we have intelligent people and even Americans know that Nigerians are very intelligent. “We heard that the drone which is being used to kill terrorists in Afghanistan was invented by a Nigerian. “So how can a nation, blessed with so many intelligent people not have a bright future? “So whatever the problems, just be confident and believe in this administration as it is determined to change Nigeria,” he said. The minister said the Federal Government was working assiduously to take the country away from recession to prosperity through it...

http://ift.tt/2piMGuG Ogbonnaya Onu made the call at an investment forum organised in New York by his ministry for Nigerians in the U.S. The Federal Government has called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to return home and seize the various economic opportunities to make billions of naira. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu made the call at an investment forum organised in New York by his ministry for Nigerians in the U.S. Onu explained that various investment opportunities currently existed and were waiting for them at home, challenging them to take it before they were given to foreigners. The former Governor of Abia from 1992 to 1993, informed the Diaspora Nigerians that various research products with opportunities to yield billions of naira, were waiting for them at home. “We are asking you to come and be billionaires. That is what we are asking you, not millionaires. Come and make billions. “We will give you products of research at nothing or little ...