Headline

IYC Pushes For Constitution Review, Deputy N’tional President Tasks Committee On Encompassing Law

Published

1 year ago

June 18, 2024

Editor

The Deputy National President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Freedom Atigbi, has appealed to the committee saddled with the responsibility of reviewing constitution of the apex Ijaw youth body to do all it could to bring to bear a constitution that is encompassing.

The Deputy National President made the appeal at a constitution review public hearing held at Ogbe-Ijoh clan in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, Western Zone.

According to Atigbi, the present national executives of the IYC met and deliberated extensively on the present constitution, discovered several lucuna, and agreed an amendment of the present constitution, a process he said would have commenced since January but due to some circumstances it couldn’t start.

The National Deputy Presiden acknowledged the fact that successful IYC national executives made attempts to review the constitution but failed due to the manners they handled it – starting the amended process towards the end of their tenure.

He said: “Before now, successful governments at the Council have promised to put a constitution review committee but along the line they would not do anything until ro towards the end of their tenure. And you know when you start a constitution amendment process towards the end of your tenure a lot of politics will come to play.”

He continued: “But the present NEC sat and discussed issues extensively, and agreed that the constitution amendment process should commence immediately. Our plan was that the process will start by January, and by March it should be adopted but due to some circumstances we are still on it.

“So, at NEC, we have done our part, I want to therefore appeal to you to put all that is possible to bring to bear a constitution that is encompassing so that at the end of the day, your names (constitution review committee members names) and our names (National Executives of IYC) will be in good record.”

He also appealed to members of the executives to give the necessary support to the committee for a successful process.

On his part, Chairman of the 9-man Constitution Review Committee, Barrister Matthew Ayibakura, promised to do everything possible to be transparent and make sure everyone aired his or her view.

According to him, the committee members have no right to input their opinions but to take people’s views across the three zones and chapters, compiled such opinions and submit such to the National Executives for further action.

The committee chairman said they have been to Eastern and Central zone for the public hearing, adding that after Western Zone hearing, the committee would move to Lagos and Abuja before compilation of council members’ views for onward submission to NEC.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman, Western Zone of the IYC, Comrade Nicholas Igarama, while thanking the committee members for effort being put in place so far, promised the committee of an enabling environment.

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”