NIGERIAN NOTCH

......As APC Backed YPP Candidates Sweep Rerun Polls. A major political statement was on Saturday made in Akwa Ibom State in the rerun elections into the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency and Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) backed Young Progressives Party(YPP)candidates emerged winners after the rerun polls. The victory of the YPP candidate, Hon Emmanuel Ukpong- Udo has thus increased the House of Representatives seats won by the APC/YPP coalition in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, where the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represents to three out of four. Another APC backed candidate for Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, in Uyo Senatorial District, Hon Moses Essien, was also returned as the duly elected member of the State House of Assembly. It would be recalled that the entire structure of the YPP from the wards to the state, its governorship candidate, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan; his running mate, Assistant Inspector Genera...

On Friday, the Government of Belgium sounded a warning to Nigerians seeking greener pastures into the country to think twice before they embark on such fruitless and sometimes perilous journeys because the decent jobs are scarce and survival in Europe without a decent job is really challenging. Nigerians hoping to escape the increasing hardship in the country by seeking visas or irregular means to migrate to European countries will have a herculean task surviving in those countries because life is challenging in Europe now. It is particularly a harrowing experience for young Nigerian women who are trafficked into Europe as they end up being forced into prostitution by gangs of criminals who manipulate these young women and exploit them for illicit gains. Mr. Freddy Roosemont, Director General, Office of Foreigners in Belgium, told a news conference in Abuja that right now there are no spaces for people to migrate to in his country, as lots of irregular migrants end up on th...

The Federal Government has vowed to provide the necessary support for the Super Eagles of Nigeria to win the African Cup of Nations 2024 currently going on in Cote d'Ivoire. The leader of the Federal Government delegation and President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio dropped the hint while speaking via Zoom from Cote d'Ivoire to assure Nigerians that the Nigerian team has the support of the Government of the day to excel at the football competition. Akpabio who led top Government officials including National Assembly members to Cote d'Ivoire to cheer the Super Eagles to victory against the Palancas Negras of Angola at the quarter finals of the ongoing African Nations Cup, said sports is a unifying factor which must be harnessed for the benefit of the youths. According to Senator Akpabio, "I was very ecstatic at the stadium when the Super Eagles scored against Palancas Negras of Angola. The entire stadium exploded with the Nigerian supporters and those who l...

A huge gas blast in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has killed at least two people and injured at least 222. A lorry carrying gas exploded in Embakasi district around 23:30 (20:30 GMT), "igniting a huge ball of fire", a government spokesperson said. Housing, businesses and cars were damaged with video showing a huge blaze raging close to blocks of flats. Earlier, the government had said the blast happened at a gas plant. The cause is still being established. Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the blast scene had now been secured and a command centre had been set up to help co-ordinate rescue operations. "Kenyans are hereby advised to keep off the cordoned area in order to allow the rescue mission to be carried out [with] minimal disruptions," he added. The blaze is reported to have spread through several apartment complexes, leading to fears the number of casualties could rise further. Witnesses told local media they had felt tremors immediately after t...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will tomorrow conduct re-run and bye-elections into some national and state legislative seats across 26 states of the federation. The elections, which will be held in 80 local government areas across Nigeria, are to fill vacancies created by the resignation, death and removal of lawmakers through post-election litigation. INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the bye-elections will be conducted in nine out of the 26 states to elect two senators, four members of the House of Representatives and three members of State Houses of Assembly. “In other states, re-run elections will take place at designated constituencies or polling units as ordered by the election appeal tribunals. “In all, the elections will fill vacancies in three senatorial districts, 17 Federal and 28 state constituencies spread across 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/wards and 8,934 polling units involving 4,904,627 registered voters out...

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday, convicted and sentenced one Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, an actress, to six months imprisonment for spraying and stepping on the new Naira notes at a social event in Lagos. She was first arraigned on February 13, 2023 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charges, to which she pleaded “not guilty.” She was subsequently granted bail on February 15, 2023. At the resumed hearing, yesterday, Omoseyin, however, changed her “not guilty” plea to “guilty,” in view of the overwhelming evidence against her. Following her “guilty plea,” the prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku called Abubakar Marafa, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the matter. Marafa recalled that “the defendant was arrested by officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on February 1, 2023 and was handed over to the commission on February 2, 2023 for further investigation.” Ac...

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, yesterday lamented the security challenges facing the country, indicating that for the nation to overcome the problem, the present police structure must be decentralised to give way to the establishment of state police across the country The PDP governors spoke in Jos, Plateau State capital when they visited the Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Rayfield Government House. The visit follows the series of attacks and killings by gunmen in the state which had reportedly claimed over 200 lives in the past month with properties worth millions of naira destroyed in various communities of the state. Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, who is also the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed, who spoke on their behalf, said, “We are just being very honest with ourselves. We are not just indicting unreasonably the Nigerin police or the security agents as they are doing their best, but certainly, the ratio bet...

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, has appealed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition and allow younger Nigerians to run.  George made this appeal in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday. According to George, Atiku would be 81 years old in 2027, and he would be too old at the time to govern the country. The PDP chieftain noted that Atiku should be like a big uncle in the room, mentoring the younger ones instead of thinking about contesting in 2027. George said, “My brother Atiku Abubakar was 77 years old last year, and by 2027 he will be 81 years old. Atiku should give room for younger Nigerians, who still have the energy and the brain to develop the country. “Atiku should be in a situation where he plays like the big uncle in the room or the elder in the room. “What would anybody carry me now to do because I’m heading to 80 years old and I want to go and be a minister?...

The Imo state government and social media giant, Facebook have agreed to train 5,000 youths on how to use digital skills to enhance their businesses. It was gathered on Thursday in Owerri, from the Ministry of Digital Economy and E- Governance, that the training starts next week Monday. The ministry said facebook was impressed by Gov Hope Uzodinma administration’s bold initiative through the Skillup Imo project, therefore META, the parent company of Facebook, wants to further deepen their understanding of the use of digital skills in growing businesses. It added: “In a letter to the Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and E- Governance, Facebook proposed to train digital marketers from Cohorts 1 and 2 on the use of Facebook to create values for enterprises. “It also promised to hire some of the graduates of the Skillup Imo project, after the training, ” to provide support for Facebook enterprise users in the state. the one week training is scheduled to commence on Februar...

Power Minister Adelabu have advocated for the removal of Electricity Subsidy, this is so to enable the liberalization of the sector. He has also given reasons Tinubu-led govt should remove electricity subsidy and has proposed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration ensure removal of electricity subsidy for effective utilisations of energy in the country. Adelabu said this while expressing concerns over the poor electricity supply situation in the country caused by numerous issues including outstanding subsidy debts. He advocated that Nigeria should migrate to a full cost-reflective tariff regime if the federal government cannot pay for subsidies owed to the market. The minister disclosed these on Wednesday when he visited the 750 megawatts (mw) Olorunsogo Power Generating Plant in Ogun State and the 500mw Omotosho Generating Plant in Ondo State as part of his nationwide inspection visit to power installations of the federal government. Adelabu also stated that the Natio...

Rtn Ugo Okonkwo has empowered youths in his community to better their lot and help curtail the menance of unemployment.  On Monday 29th, January 2024, Hon Izuchukwu Nwankwo,The National Chairman of Ndiakwu Otolo Nnewi Community,  commenced a youth empowerment program to combat crime and criminality in the community.  The theme of the event; Ndiakwu Youth Skills And Empowerment Program To Combat Crime, Cultist And Criminality In Our Society. Earlier, Hon Nwankwo said, that why they insisted on the cash empowerment program, was a promise made, and today he is here to fulfil it. He however pledged to support any of the youths in the community, to avert crime or any criminal record among the youths  He also urged, them to be of good behavior as to whom much is giving, much is expected.   Among the six (6) people we given cash support to remember if any of you do well with the little one we gave him/her will be giving more", he noted. Addressing the ...

The Apex bank to further boost liquidity in the foreign exchange market,  has ordered banks to limit the Net Open Position, NOP, of their foreign currency assets and liabilities to 20 per cent of shareholders’ funds. NOP defines a bank’s risk exposure to its foreign exchange-denominated assets. The order was contained in a January 31, 2014, CBN Circular referenced: TED/FEM/PUB/ FPC/001/ 001, issued yesterday. The directive is expected to shore up the fortunes of Naira in the foreign exchange market while curtailing excessive trading and possible abuses by dealers. But the Naira traded sideways yesterday, depreciating in the parallel market while appreciating in the official market. The development resumes the growing spread between the two markets which has drastically bridged two days ago. The circular which was signed by the Director of Trade and Exchange, Dr. Hassan Mahmud, as well as, Mrs. Rita Sike, for Director of Banking Supervision, was titled, “Harmonization of...

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has reassured the Ogoni people of the Senate’s determination, in collaboration with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to continue to work for the peace and development of the oil producing community.  Akpabio gave the assurance while receiving in courtesy, His Royal Majesty, Mene (Dr) Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam Gbenemene, Kasimene Bangha VII of Ogoniland and the Acting President of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in River State, in his office on Tuesday.  A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted the Senate President to have thanked the Ogoni leader for the continued peace in the Niger Delta Region, saying, " I want to congratulate you and your people on the peace in the Niger Delta Region today. Niger Delta Region is very peaceful today because of the efforts and sacrifices of the people like you. The Ogoni people have sacrificed a lot for the peace, progress and develop...

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, issued a warrant for the arrest of the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Edison Ehie. The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, equally ordered the arrest of five other persons who were accused of complicity in the alleged invasion, vandalization and burning down of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex. Aside from Ehie who was hitherto the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and a loyalist of governor Siminalayi Fubara, those the court ordered their arrest, are; Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter a.k.a Rambo. The order followed an ex-parte application that was brought before the court by the Inspector General of Police, IGP. The application was predicated on sections 37, 113, 114, 84 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,...

A judge in the US state of Delaware has annulled a $55.8bn (£44bn) pay deal awarded to Elon Musk in 2018 by the electric car company Tesla. The lawsuit was filed by a shareholder who argued that it was an overpayment. Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that the Tesla board's approval of the pay package was "deeply flawed." In a post on X, which is owned by Mr Musk and formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware". The pay deal was the biggest ever in corporate history, helping to make Mr Musk one the richest people in the world. During the week-long trial, Tesla directors argued the deal was made to ensure that one of the world's most dynamic entrepreneurs continued to dedicate his attention to the company. But the judge ruled that Tesla and Mr Musk's attorneys "were unable to prove that the stockholder vote was fully informed", and that he had "extensive ties with the persons taske...

Top UN officials have warned that the withdrawal of funding for its main aid agency in Gaza could lead to the "collapse of the humanitarian system". They spoke out after the US, UK and other countries halted funding over the alleged role of some UN staff in the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel. The UN sacked several of its staff over the allegations. It said an investigation into its agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is underway. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described UNRWA as "perforated with Hamas", saying Israel has "discovered that there were 13 UNRWA workers who actually participated, either directly or indirectly, in the 7 October massacre". But the US, the biggest donor to the UNWRA, has said it wants to see the aid agency continue its work. "There is no other humanitarian player in Gaza who can provide food and water and medicine at the scale that UNRWA does," US State Department Spokesman Matthew Mille...

The chairman of the tripartite committee on a new minimum wage, Buka Goni Aji, said yesterday that the new minimum wage would be based on what prevails in the country’s West African neighbours. He stated this as President Bola Tinubu urged members of the committee to engage in collective bargaining in good faith but was countered by president of Nigeria labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, who contended that negotiation would be based on prevailing cost of living. Goni, in his remarks after inauguration of the committee by President Tinubu, said: “He (President Tinubu) wants us to move forward. ”We don’t have any figure in mind. We want a very, very realistic approach, based on certain conventions on the reality of the Nigerian economy, based also on what you have in our neighbouring West African countries.  ”Nigerian worker, everyone, deserves a rise in his pay package. Honestly, we want a situation where Nigerian workers are sifficiently motivated they would do very well...

The Honourable Minister of Marine/ Blue Economy and former governor of Osun state Oyetola Adegboyega was in Oshogbo with the DG-SMEDAN to commission the fully equipped Common Facility Centre at the Industrial Development Centre. The Minister during the occasion equally handed over equipment to the beneficiaries of National Business Skills Development Initiative and fully funded ATM cards to beneficiaries of the Conditional Grant Scheme in the state, all facilitated by SMEDAN. The Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii who accompanied the Honourable Minister charged the beneficiaries to ensure they make judicious use of the funds and equipment they were given. He pointed out that SMEDAN is in the forefront of providing skills for the teeming Nigerian youths to ensure that unemployment is reduced to the barest minimum.  The event also witnessed the commissioning of an ultra modern Common Facility Centre within the Industrial Development Centre managed by SMEDAN, the ...

My name is Udonna Michael Mnwe. I was born on January 1,1995, in Mbala, Abia State of Nigeria.  I am a citizen of Nigeria. I am not a dual citizen of any other country. My parents are Uwazurike and Okwudiri Mnwe. I am seeking asylum in Canada because, my life is in danger in my home country, simply because I am homosexual. My problem may have started from the day I was born. I came out of my mother’s womb with an unusually very light skin colour in an area where the majority of people have very dark skin. My skin tone has always drawn attention to me; both positive and negative attention for that matter. Hence, this is the reason why the entire town call me “Nwoke ocha” meaning a light skin male or “Oyibo” meaning a white man. As soon as I became aware of myp surroundings, I was preyed upon by men around me, who found me very attractive just like a girl. I started primary school in the year, 2000, and finished in 2006. On the day I confirmed that I would be going to start my second...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) yesterday said it has held talks with a South Korean consortium led by Daewoo E & C on the development of gas projects in Nigeria. Nigeria with a proven gas reserve of 208 trillion metric scuff has designated it has its transition fuel as it aims to meet the net zero carbon emission target in 2060. NNPC in a statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye in Abuja said the discussions which were held in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday were aimed at deepening th3 company’s drive to tap into the nation’s vast gas resources to be a supplier of clean and affordable energy to the global market. South Korea is a major destination for Liquefied Natural Gas exports and the consortium, in collaboration with the Korean Export-Import bank, has expressed interest in advancing discussions on investing in greenfield and other gas development opportunities. Mr. Soneye explained that the “talks will pave the w...

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has secured a ₦1 billion matching fund from the Katsina State Government to boost small businesses in the state. The matching fund pact with the state kicked off this quarter with an initial injection of ₦250 million from the state government. The pact was signed at the agency’s headquarters during the visit of Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda, to SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, in Abuja. The agreement marked another milestone of Odii’s ongoing efforts to facilitate financial access for SMEs nationwide. The pack is similar to agreements previously signed with the Anambra and Enugu state governments. Disbursement of the funds will be available to SMEs at single-digit interest loans to address the problem of expensive access to capital and expansion funds. Speaking at the event, Odii thanked Radda, who served as the DG of the agency for six years before he emerged as governor, for his c...

Toyota has urged owners of 50,000 older vehicles in the US to get immediate repairs as airbag inflators made by Takata could explode and kill them. The "Do Not Drive" advisory covers some of the world's biggest carmaker's models from 2003 to 2005. Since 2009, more than 30 deaths have been linked to air bag inflators produced by Takata. Toyota says "if the airbag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments". The vehicles involved are the 2003-2004 model Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4. Serious issues with Takata airbag inflators have resulted in the biggest motor industry safety recall in history, involving more than 100 million products and over 20 carmakers. After more than a decade and a half of recalls, lawsuits and a criminal investigation in the US, Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017. Its assets were sold to Chinese-owned Key Safety Systems, for about $1.6bn (£1.3bn). This is not th...

Tech billionaire Elon Musk says his Neuralink company has successfully implanted one of its wireless brain chips in a human for the first time. Initial results detected promising neuron spikes or nerve impulses and the patient is recovering well, he said. The company's goal is to connect human brains to computers and it says it wants to help tackle complex neurological conditions. A number of rival companies have already implanted similar devices. BBC News has approached both Neuralink and the US's medical regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for comment. Mr Musk's company was given permission to test the chip on humans by the FDA in May, a critical milestone after earlier struggles to gain approval. This gave the green light for the start of the six-year study during which a robot is being used to surgically place 64 flexible threads, thinner than a human hair, on to a part of the brain that controls "movement intention", according to Ne...

The US government has released the names of three troops killed by an enemy drone attack in Jordan on Sunday. Sgt William Jerome Rivers, 46, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24 and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23 were killed when a drone hit their housing unit. The US has blamed Iranian-backed groups for the attack and the Pentagon said it carried the "footprints" of Hezbollah. The Pentagon also reiterated the US does not want a war with Iran. "We don't seek war, but we will take action, and respond to attacks on our forces," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh. CBS News, the BBC's US partner, said it was told by a US official that the drone used in the attack appeared to be Iranian-made. The official indicated it was a "type of Shahed drone," which is a one-way attack drone Iran has been providing to Russia. Iran has denied US and British accusations that it supported militant groups blamed for the strike. The Pentagon...