By Emeka Umejei – Lagos: The United Nations office in Nigeria has confirmed nine staff of the agency dead in the Friday suicide bomb attack on its headquarters in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja. In a press statement signed by Agathe Lawson, acting Resident Coordinator for the UN System in Nigeria, the UN confirmed the figure while acknowledging that assessment of the situation is ongoing. “The UN is still assessing the human toll. Nine UN staff members are confirmed dead and several more are hospitalized with injuries. This figure does not include the deaths of any non-UN staff including security and visitors. The... Continue Reading
By Emeka Umejei – Lagos: Nigeria has witnessed another suicide bomb attack on United Nations building in Abuja barely two months after the country’s Police headquarters was attacked by a suicide bomber in Abuja. The suicide bomber reportedly drove a wired car into the UN headquarters in Abuja on Friday killing about 18 people according to Abuja Police Commissioner, Mike Zuokumoor. “Many people have been taken to different hospitals so we’re not sure of casualty figures. It is at least 18,” said the police commissioner. In his reaction, President Goodluck Jonathan described the attack as barbaric, senseless and cowardly. The President believes that... Continue Reading
By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has expressed concern over the nation’s debt profile which presently stands at $39.7 billion. Nigeria’s Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala In her maiden address to journalists, the Minister said that the country’s debt now stands at N5.2 trillion for domestic debt and $5.3 billion external debt. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said, “Nigeria has $39.7 billion total debt stock which is 20 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. According to her the country is still in very good shape in terms of GDP, but should start worrying when national... Continue Reading
By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – President Goodluck Jonathan has directed Vice President Namadi Sambo to further explore the possibility of making issuance of visas to citizens of Nigeria and South Africa easier under the aegis of Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission. The President was speaking to The Special Adviser on International Relations to South African President Jacob Zuma, Honourable Charles Nqakula who brought a special message to the State House. Dr. Jonathan said, he has told the Vice President, to quickly commence meetings of the Nigeria – South Africa Bi-National Commission, to look at issues such as issuance of visas for... Continue Reading
By Emeka Umejei: Shout-Africa Nigerian Correspondent, Lagos – Nigerians are fast catching up with information and communication technology (ICT) euphoria sweeping across the world. It has become a fad to own a phone, computer etc. In fact it is difficult to find a Nigerian adult who doesn’t own a phone. As the phone bug catches on, so also does the computer bug. Owning laptops, computers is a new way to define social status in Nigeria. But the truth is that the economic pang in the country has made fairly used phones and computers the choice of many Nigerians. Hence, as... Continue Reading
