Edge Of The World

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assented electoral act amendment bill into law. Mr Buhari assented to the bill  at the Council Chamber of the Aso Villa, Abuja on Friday afternoon. The president noted that the bill would improve and engender clarity, effectiveness and transparency of the election process, as well as reduce to the barest minimum, incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties. President Buhari in his speech noted that he received inputs from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government after careful and thorough reviews of the bill and its implications to democratic processes in Nigeria. The president noted that the current Bill comes with a great deal of improvement from the previous Electoral Bill 2021 as it contains provisions that could positively revolutionise elections in Nigeria through the introduction of new technological innovations He said the substance of the bill was both informative and progressive....

Building on immediate support provided in recent weeks to assist British Nationals to leave Ukraine, the Home Secretary has today confirmed that Ukrainians who are on work, study or visit visas in the UK will have their visas temporarily extended or be able to switch onto different visa routes. Changes announced for Ukrainian nationals in the UK include: Ukrainian nationals on an existing points-based system route can extend their leave in the UK Ukrainian nationals on an existing visitor visa can exceptionally switch into a points-based system immigration route without having to leave the UK Ukrainian nationals on an existing visitor visa can apply under the family route for further leave without meeting the immigration status requirement, provided they meet the requirements for leave based on exceptional circumstances Ukrainian nationals on an existing seasonal worker visa will have their leave in the UK extended to 31 December 2022 Ukrainian nationals in temporary HGV/po...

The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi on Thursday prayed for All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition to come to fruition in 2023. Asiwuju, in his ongoing tour for royal blessing, visited the place of Ooni of Ife and Owa Obokun, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran. Supporters thronged out to welcome Tinubu at the palace of Ooni and Owa Obokun. Oba Ogunwusi prayed for the presidential aspirant that he will emerge victoriously. He said: “You are a leader that God has bestowed grace on. You have helped many destinies, you have raised many leaders, one can judge by the massive crowd that joined you here today. “You have come to the throne of Oduduwa for prayers and blessing. You shall not go amiss. You have never wronged anyone with your affairs. “You need to be grateful to God who created you to be a special breed. God caused your popularity to be spreading across the country. “We are grateful that you come here today, we are proud of you, you are...

President Joe Biden in a statement released late Wednesday as blasts and explosions shook Ukraine said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “chosen a premeditated war” that “will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” vowing to respond with allies in a “united and decisive way.” “The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden said. And as Russia proceeds with the invasion of Ukraine – and months of threats and fears appear to be culminating in the worst case scenario for Ukrainians and likely countless others in Eastern Europe and perhaps beyond, other world leaders are chiming in. NATO countries, whose alliance Putin has worked diligently to disrupt, presented a united front. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a statement condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, saying “NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend all Allies.” “Peace in our continent has been shattered,” Stoltenberg later said. “We now have ...

President Joe Biden on Thursday warned Vladimir Putin that U.S. forces will defend NATO territory if he broadens his assault beyond Ukraine, and said he was ordering more troops to Europe. Soon after he spoke the Pentagon said 7000 extra personnel and hardware were being deployed to Germany.  In a White House speech, Biden slapped a new round of sanctions on Russia and promised that Putin's country would bear the consequences of his aggression against Ukraine. He said American forces would not engage with Russian troops in Ukraine.  'Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies and reassure those allies in the east,' he said. 'As I made crystal clear, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory with the full force of American power.' n a question-and-answer session with reporters, he was asked if that meant American soldiers would fight if Russia attacked NATO territory. 'If ...

Chelsea FC owner Abramovich was not among Russian oligarchs targeted with sanctions by the UK today over the invasion of Ukraine - but the war has already cost him £300million in a single day.  The billionaire was named in papers leaked to an MP today that linked him to Vladimir Putin's regime and 'public association with corrupt activity and practices'. The release of the Home Office document led to calls for him to be stripped of his right to own a football club in Britain.  Downing Street tonight did not name him among those to be punished in the wake of Putin's strike against Kyiv, instead naming five senior Russia-based cronies of the regime.  But he has been affected nonetheless, via turmoil created in global markets. Shares in mining firms Evraz and Polymetal International fell by between a quarter and a third. Mr Abramovich is Evraz's largest shareholder and its shares tumbled to close 30 per cent down on the day - wiping nearly £300 milli...

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “catastrophe” for Europe and has called for an urgent meeting of the United States-led NATO military alliance. “This is a catastrophe for our continent,” Johnson said on Twitter, adding he would make a national address on the developments later on Thursday morning. “I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible,” he added. This is a catastrophe for our continent. I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible. — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022 I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Th...

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday, assaulting by land, sea and air in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two. Missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus, and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas. Explosions were heard before dawn and throughout the morning in the capital Kyiv, a city of 3 million people. Gunfire rattled, sirens blared, and the highway out of the city choked with traffic as residents fled. The assault brought a calamatous end to weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war, their worst fears about Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions realised. "Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years," tweeted Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. "Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't...

The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has taken the battle for the establishment of a gender agenda commission to the National Assembly. Aisha, who made a surprised appearance in both chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives, pushed her advocacy for affirmative action on behalf of Nigerian women.  Recall that the two Special Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution had recommended the entrenchment of 3 new provisions to provide for special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, the inclusion of women in political administration, and to reserve a quota for women into executive positions as an affirmative action. The First Lady told the lawmakers that the proper placement of women in the front row is not only on account of affirmative action, but in consideration of their merit, special skills, distinct endowment, and several other exceptional qualities that God has conferred on women in the service of ...

The embattled Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu-Gusau, has been removed from office by lawmakers in the State House of Assembly. Ripples Nigeria reported that Aliyu-Gusau was being probed by a panel set up by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kulu Aliyu, over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office. Members of the probe panel included: Justice Halidu Tanko-Soba as Chairman, Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN), Abdul-Atadoga Ibrahim (SAN), Hussaini Zakariyau, (SAN), Amina Tanimu-Marafa, Alhaji Sani Mande and Ahmad Buhari-Rabah. The deputy governor had described the lawmakers as “illiterates” for not obliging a court order which ruled that all parties maintain status quo on the matter. The chairman of the panel submitted its report to the Speaker of the Assembly, Honorable Nasiru Muazu Magarya, on Wednesday, saying only two copies were produced and that the committee was not authorised to speak about it. After the Speaker had read the report to the House, soon ...