馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Code of Conduct Bureau verifies asset declarations of 108 high-risk public officials
via Punch Nigeria6 min read
The Code of Conduct Bureau CCB has completed the verification of asset declarations for 108 high-risk public officials, including 19 ministers, 37 permanent secretaries, 20 heads of agencies, and 32 other officials. This initiative aims to enhance accountability and integrity within the public service. Dr. Abdullahi Bello, Executive Chairman of the CCB, announced this at an event in Abuja, which also saw the launch of the Local Governance Accountability Portal and the Policy Registry. Bello stated that the CCB's Online Asset and Liabilities Declaration System is fully developed and ready for deployment, designed to house the asset declaration database for all Nigerian public servants. He also highlighted the bureau's intensified enforcement efforts, including asset forfeiture and prosecution of officials for breaching the Code of Conduct. The newly launched Local Governance Accountability Portal, developed by Agora Policy with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, provides free access to financial allocations for local councils from 1999 to the present, along with council profiles and elected officials' names. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, represented by Wilson Uwujaren, commended the portal as a "game-changer" for promoting transparency at the local government level, where finances have historically lacked public scrutiny. Waziri Adio, Founder and Executive Director of Agora Policy, noted that despite
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The highly anticipated rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been indefinitely postponed, according to Pacquiao's camp. This decision follows reports that a planned Mayweather exhibition in Greece was canceled after an events company sought an injunction. The two Hall of Famers, who generated 4.6 million pay-per-view buys in their 2015 bout, have been in disagreement since Mayweather stated a Netflix-announced September rematch would only be an exhibition, a claim Pacquiao contested. Pacquiao's camp cited "a volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock completely surrounding the Mayweather camp" as reasons for the postponement. Events company CSI recently sued Mayweather, seeking to recover at least $4.65 million for exclusive promotional rights to the Pacquiao rematch and a failed exhibition bout with Mike Tyson. The earliest a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could now occur is early 2027. If Mayweather and CSI resolve their contractual disputes, promoters may reschedule a postponed exhibition between Mayweather and Mike Tyson for September 12. Mayweather, 49, retired from boxing in 2017 with a 50-0 record. He was scheduled to fight Greek kickboxing star Mike Zambidis in an exhibition on Saturday in Athens.
The Bank of Agriculture BOA has launched a strategic roadmap to modernize its operations, expand grassroots financial inclusion, and accelerate agricultural transformation, aligning with the Federal Government鈥檚 food security agenda. Ayodeji Sotinrin, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, stated that the institution is implementing operational upgrades and forming strategic partnerships to improve agricultural intervention programs and empower smallholder farmers. The BOA is strengthening its agricultural delivery architecture through collaborations with state-level platforms, licensed input suppliers, and international development partners. A key part of this strategy is a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme UNDP, which links the bank鈥檚 revitalization agenda with the UNDP鈥檚 Integrated Smart States Programme. This partnership aims to transform Nigeria鈥檚 agricultural sector into an investment-ready system capable of attracting blended and climate finance, while supporting the One Million Hectare Tree Crop Initiative. Sotinrin emphasized the vision to deploy capital intelligently and efficiently to reposition the BOA as a catalyst for food security and rural prosperity, bringing farmers, especially the youthful population in hinterlands, into the financial net. The bank has also overhauled its verification framework to eliminate fraudulent beneficiaries, incorporating Bank Verification Number checks, Know Your Custo
Must ReadA highly anticipated match between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will highlight the World Cup on Friday as France and Norway compete in a crucial Group I decider. Both Mbappe, a Real Madrid star, and Haaland, a Manchester City striker, have scored four goals each in the tournament, trailing Lionel Messi who has five. The two forwards will meet at Foxborough, outside Boston, at 3:00 pm local time 2000 GMT, with the top spot in the group at stake. France, having defeated Senegal and Iraq, holds an advantage due to their superior goal difference, meaning a draw would secure them first place. Norway has also performed well, beating Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2. Haaland, playing in his first World Cup, expressed that he was not concerned about facing France, whom he considers tournament favorites, and dismissed suggestions that Norway are title contenders. France's preparations have been affected by the departure of manager Didier Deschamps due to his mother's death, with assistant coach Guy Stephan taking charge. A defeat for France would lead to a potentially more challenging path in the knockout stages, including a possible match against Ivory Coast in the last 32 and Brazil in the last 16. In other matches, Spain will aim for first place in Group H against Uruguay, while Cape Verde will play Saudi Arabia. In Group G, Egypt will face Iran in Seattle in a game designated as the "Pride Match," which has drawn objections from Iranian and Egyptian officials due to their countries' l