NIGERIAN NOTCH

Foremost business man, philanthropist and Chairman of Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor has celebrated his 65th birthday in Oraifite, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State. He was joined with well meaning Nigerians at the auspicious ceremony, who wished him well for all his efforts at developing talents across Nigeria.  The occasion witnessed the distribution of 40,000 bags of rice to widows from 179 communities and educational materials to schools across the state by the Sir Emeka Offor foundation (SEOF).  In his speech, at the occasion, Sir Emeka Offor thanked well meaning Nigerians from all walks of life who came to celebrate with him. He said " I am glad that God in his infinite mercy has shown me love. I am happy to celebrate my new age with my people and what I have done today gives me joy in a special way, because I am able to bring similes to the those that need it most." He said that this year's celebration is special to him, reason he thought it wise to celebrat...

Herbert Wigwe the group chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, was involved in a helicopter crash in the United States, on Friday, TheCable understands. Wigwe, his wife and son were in the helicopter when it crashed in California near the Nevada border, as well as Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group). Six passengers were onboard, however, no survivors found so far. Details later

THE Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Olayemi Cardoso has called on Nigerians to moderate the demand for dollars, consumption and usage of foreign goods, warning that as a country, we must address the supply side of Forex as it has kept the nation’s economy in a narrow bucket. Cardoso noted that without moderation of demands on USD, the CBN has no magic wand to hurriedly get Naira stabilized. He however said that series of measures put in place by the apex bank recently are yielding results with inflow of about $1billion into the economy, adding that the apex does not have the capacity to do intervention, but will partner rather than get involved in it directly, and run the risk associated with intervention. Speaking yesterday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Joint Committees on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and National Planning, Cardoso noted that CBN’s target on inflation is to moderate it to 21.4%, and that the adoption of inflatio...

The final of the 2023 AFCON coming up tomorrow in Abidjan has all the trappings of a Nollywood movie. Here are two teams that were in the same group. Nigeria finished 2nd behind Equatorial Guinea, while Ivory Coast who were tipped as favourites to top the group survived by the whiskers as one of the best third place finishers. When Nigeria clashed with Ivory Coast on Match Day 2 of the tournament, the Eagles ran away with a lone goal victory, courtesy a William Troost-Ekong well taken penalty. The journey has gone round circle and through their hard work, commitment and sense of purpose they got to the final. The question now is who wins this final battle to become the new African champion? Nigeria and Ivory Coast are no strangers to each other. In April 1994 in Tunisia, Nigeria defeated Ivory Coast in the semi finals. In that encounter, the Super Eagles paraded the likes of late Rashidi Yekini, Sunday Oliseh, current assistant coach to Peseiro, George Finidi, Austin Jay Ja...

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, condemned the reported approval of a whooping N500million as first installment of a N1billion allegedly approved by President Bola Tinubu for the inauguration of a 37-man Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage as contained in a leaked memo by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. PDP described the said approval of the huge amount for a routine government activity like committee inauguration as the height of profligacy, imprudence and financial recklessness which further validated PDP’s position that the Tinubu-led government was a cesspit of corruption where officials engage in brazen and reckless treasury-looting. National publicity secretary of PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said it was highly provocative and unpardonable that at the time the nation was suffering acute food shortage, when millions of Nigerians were starving due largely to inadequate investment in food...

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company has cleared the air over misleading information on the planned STS prepaid meter upgrade and the TID rollover. In a press statement made available to Nigerian Notch, by Emeka Ezeh, Head, Corporate Communications stated that, "the attention of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has been drawn to an information/message which has gone viral on the social media, with part of its content misinforming and misleading our esteemed customers on the planned STS prepaid meter upgrade and the TID Rollover, compelling them to “recharge sufficiently before the 20th of February, to avoid being edged out of supply”. He said that EEDC wishes to state that this trending information did not emanate from any of the authorized communication platforms of the company and its content is misleading and factually incorrect. Customers are therefore urged not to engage in panic purchase of energy tokens and to disregard this misleading dir...

A video of Nigerians celebrating their football team's victory over South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations has gone viral on social media. In the clip, the Super Eagles fans taunt their rivals by pouring liquid over their bodies while singing the hit Water by South African singer Tyla. On Sunday, she won Best African Music Performance at the Grammys, beating several Nigerian superstars. Disappointed Nigerians responded by vowing revenge at the Afcon semi-final. Nigeria beat South Africa on penalties after the match added 1-1 on Wednesday night, sparking scenes of jubilation around the country. There is a long history of rivalry between Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, and South Africa, the continent's most advanced economy. The viral Water clip - which is being widely shared on WhatsApp across Nigeria - was filmed at Ahmadu Bello University in the northern city of Zaria. Hundreds of students gathered in the courtyard of their hall of residence to sing ...

US President Joe Biden has angrily criticised an investigation that found he mishandled top secret files and said he struggled to recall key life events. In a surprise news briefing on Thursday evening, Mr Biden insisted to media: "My memory is fine." He slammed a claim that he could not recollect when his son died, saying: "How the hell dare he raise that?" The inquiry found Mr Biden "wilfully retained and disclosed" classified files, but decided not to charge him. Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur determined Mr Biden had improperly kept classified documents related to military and foreign policy in Afghanistan after serving as vice-president. The scathing 345-page report said the president's memory had "significant limitations". Mr Hur interviewed the 81-year-old president over five hours as part of the inquiry. The special counsel said Mr Biden could not recall when he was vice-president (from 2009-2017), or ...

Senate Committee on Gas has alleged a plot by some operators of the Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to blackmail and intimidate the committee to abandon its inquiry into the controversial award and disbursement of over N 100 billion of government gas development funds. The committee in a swift reaction yesterday pledged a harmonious working relationship with the minister of finance, Wale Edun, and PCNG to actualise the noble agenda of President Bola Tinubu of developing the nation‘s gas sector as an alternative source of energy. In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, the committee described as laughable an online media report that quoted the chairman of the committee Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as saying he would bring down the PCNG implementation committee and will not ask them for money. According to the committee, the chairman in the said letter to the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun dated January 9 never mentioned or thre...

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, said yesterday that interconnect debt dispute between MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and Globacom Limited has been resolved. The commission in a statement issued yesterday by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka said: ‘’We are pleased to announce that the interconnect debt dispute between MTN Nigeria Communications Plc., MTN, and Globacom Limited (Globacom) has been amicably resolved. ‘’In accordance with this resolution, the disconnection approval granted to MTN for the disconnection of Globacom has now been withdrawn. ‘’Following its initial public notice, the commission, with the aim of mitigating any potential disruptions to subscribers, undertook further regulatory intervention, by mediating between the parties and facilitating the reconciliation process. ‘’The commission reiterates that strict adherence to the terms and conditions of licenses, particularly those delineated in interconnection agreements, is imperat...

Amid growing queues at filling stations, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has disclosed that there are no plans to increase the pump price of premium motor spirit, also known as petrol. The pump price of petrol has remained largely stable in the past few months following the removal of subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023. Checks around Abuja on Thursday showed that while NNPC Retails Limited continued dispensing at N617 per litre, major marketers sold at N648 to N650 per litre. With independent marketers dispensing at N660 per litre. A statement by the spokesman of NNPC Limited, Mr Olufemi Soneye, assured consumers that there is no imminent increase in the cost of petrol. “NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to disregard unfounded rumours and assures them that there are no plans for an upward review of the PMS price. “Motorists nationwide are advised against engaging in panic buying, as there is presently ample availability of PMS across the count...

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, have issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government. Their grouse is the non-implementation of the 16-point agreement between organised labour (NLC and TUC) and the Federal Government on October 2, 2023. Leaders of the NLC and TUC are sad that, despite organised labour’s efforts to ensure industrial peace, the government seems unperturbed by the mass suffering and hardship across the country. The October 2 agreement was “focused on addressing the massive suffering and the general harsh socioeconomic consequences of the ill-conceived and ill-executed IMF/World Bank-induced hike in the price of PMS and the devaluation of the naira. These dual policies have had, as we predicted, dire economic consequences for the masses and workers of Nigeria.” NLC and TUC, in a statement, lamented that “it is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent negle...

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the sudden death of a chieftain of the APC and former Executive Director of Projects in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),  Dr Cairo Ojougboh, as shocking and a huge loss to the people of the Niger Delta Region and the entire country. A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted the Senate President as saying, "the late Ojougboh as a member of the House of Representatives, contributed in no small way, his quota to the development of his people as their representative from 2003 -2007. He was the true voice of the people of Agbor, who ensured  were seen and heard in the national scheme of things." Akpabio recalled the contributions of the Agbor-born politician to the development of the Niger Delta Region, when he occupied the office of the Executive Director Projects in the NDDC, while he suprintended over the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. According  to Akpabio...

Unknown to many football fans, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, had shortly after Nigeria Super Eagles defeated the Palancas Negras of Angola, at the quarter final stage of the ongoing African Cup of Nations football Fiesta, predicted a Nigeria/ Cote d'Ivoire finals.  Speaking shortly after the qualification of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the semi finals, with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) via Zoom, Akpabio had categorically declared that he was very sure of the qualification of the Super Eagles for the finals and was also very certain that the finals would be between Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire.  Akpabio, who assured the team of the support of the Federal Government and  Nigerians in their quest to winning the coveted trophy stated, " I congratulate our players for emerging victorious today over the Palancas Negras. I led a very powerful Federal Government delegation to Coted'Ivoire, just to reassure the team that the Federal Gover...

In the early hours of January 25, 2021, gunmen stormed the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Owerri, Imo State, freeing over 1,800 prisoners and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. This was  just the beginning of a series of jailbreaks that would shake the Nigerian criminal justice system to its core. Over the course of the next year, there were several more jailbreaks across the country, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 prisoners. These prisoners, many of whom were awaiting trial for serious crimes such as murder and armed robbery, are now on the loose, posing a significant threat to public safety. Nigerian authorities have been working tirelessly to recapture these fugitives. The NCS has launched a nationwide manhunt, with the help of other law enforcement agencies such as the police and the  army. However, the task of tracking down over 4,000 criminals is a daunting one, and progress has been slow. The escape of these prisoners has highlighte...

The Super Eagles will battle hosts the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on Sunday. It is the first time the Nigerian senior national team will be in the final since it last won the continental trophy in 2013. The Super Eagles overcame the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 yesterday on penalties after the match ended one goal apiece during regulation and extra time. In the pulsating encounter, Nigeria had scored first via a penalty dispatched by Captain William Troost-Ekong  in the 67th minute after Victor Osimhen was fouled in the Bafana Bafana 18-yard box. Nigeria later conceded also via a penalty in the 90th minute after  Alhasan Yusuf tripped a Bafana Bafana player, Percy Tau. Teboho Mokoena scored the penalty. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties in the shootout to guide Nigeria to a 4-2 victory over South Africa after a 1-1 draw and secured a place in the final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote...

The Nigerian Senate has assured that the much-awaited population and housing census slated for November this year will hold as scheduled. Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the screening of 17 of the 19 commissioner-nominees for the National Population Commission, NPC, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), noted that coincidentally, most of the nominees are people coming for the second time. He said: “It is a renomination and we have perused their credentials presented in the first instance, compared to the ones they. have just presented.” It will be recalled that Nigeria has been using estimated figures for many years, as the last census was conducted in 2006, by the National Population Commission, which gave a population figure of 140 million. The immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had planned to conduct another census in 2022 but the programme was later moved to...

As traditional rulers become targets of kidnapping and assassination, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Akanbi has disclosed that no one dares to either kidnap or make him a target for assassination. The monarch also disclosed that traditional rulers, especially in the southwest, cannot continue to rely on ancient gods for safety but should look up to God as their protector. Speaking with newsmen at his palace in Iwo on Wednesday, Oluwo said continued reliance of traditional rulers on deities would not guarantee safety but bring dishonour to the thrones. According to him, traditional institutions in Yorubaland must realize that they represent God on earth not deities on ancient gods, hence, must return to God for safety and protection. “I am telling you right here that no one would dare attempt to kidnap or mark me for assassination. I am covered by God’s protection not any deity or gods. I am using this opportunity to call on my colleague monarchs to stop putting their h...

The Chief Executive Officer of Chrome Group and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Sir Emeka Offor on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, paid a courtesy visit to the governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr Alex Otti at the state’s Government House, Umuahia. Speaking at the event, Sir Emeka Offor commended Dr Otti for his historic efforts to restore the confidence of Abians in government. Sir Offor who is also known as Sir E, also commended the Abia State Governor for his efforts in restoring the lost glory of Aba and urged him not to relent in providing dividends of democracy for the people of the state.  The Anambra business mogul also commended governor Otti for executing numerous road projects in the state and assured him that he would always provide the needed support to his administration especially in area of power supply. He further informed the governor that he was there to appreciate and encourage him, and urged him to keep the good works up. Responding, ...

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has been reportedly cleared by the team’s medical doctor for the clash against South Africa. Recall Osimhen missed the Super Eagles trip to Bouake – the venue of the semi-final clash with South Africa – after suffering abdominal discomfort. It was said that the Napoli striker will be examined on Tuesday morning, and if cleared, will join the rest of the squad who have arrived safely in Bouake. According to reports on Tuesday afternoon from sources in Abidjan, Osimhen is on his way to Bouake after being declared fit by the medical team. Osimhen has started in all of Super Eagles’ five matches in Cote d’Ivoire, scoring one goal and chalking up one assist.

Amidst the cost of living crisis caused by  persistent increase in the prices of goods and services, the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has declared that food in Nigeria remains the most affordable in West Africa. The governor said that despite challenges, Nigeria maintains a competitive edge in food affordability compared to its neighbouring countries. This is as residents of Minna, the Niger State capital, took to the streets yesterday to protest the high cost of living, carrying various placards saying they were hungry and the authorities were aloof. The Governors’ Forum chairman Abdulrazaq, who made this comment in Abuja when he led Governors Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, and Usman Ododo of Kogi State to visit the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, revealed neighbouring countries rely on Nigerian agricultural produce for trade. The visit was part of the ongoing c...

The Labour Party (LP) has said it is deeply concerned about the increasing cost of living in Nigeria and advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek help in how to manage the situation. According to LP, millions of Nigerians are battling with the crisis of food shortage and high cost since the turn of the year. A statement issued by national publicity secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, referenced yesterday’s protest by residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, who blocked the main roads in the city to protest the high cost of living. It said, “Women and young people among the demonstrators were heard shouting protest songs while accusing the government of insensibility and inadequate responses. “As of today, essential commodities such as rice, flour, garri, and protein have witnessed exponential increase in prices since January. For instance, a carton of Indomie noodles now sells for N10,000, a 50kg bag of sugar is now selling at N73, 000 as against N62, 000 sold in ea...

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen could miss the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final against South Africa after failing to travel with the rest of the squad from Abidjan to Bouake. Nigeria face rivals South Africa in the first semi-final of the competition on Wednesday in Bouake for a place in Sunday’s final. In a statement released by the Super Eagles media team, Osimhen will be monitored in Abijdan while the rest of the squad head to Bouake where they will take on South Africa. “We will fly from Abidjan to Bouaké today via a 10pm Air Cote d’Ivoire flight,” an official statement from the team on Monday night says. “Victor Osimhen will not join us on this trip as a result of an abdominal discomfort. “Team medics confirmed that he has been placed under close watch with a member of the medical team staying behind in Abidjan with him. “If cleared by tomorrow morning, he will join the rest of the squad before 5pm.” Osimhen has started in all of Super Eagles’ five ma...

Meanwhile, the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, yesterday, condemned the killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State, saying it would do everything possible to secure the South-West. The Yoruba socio-cultural organization also urged the Federal Government to fish out the killers of the two monarchs and bring them to book. OPC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Oguntimehin, in reaction to the gruesome murder of three monarchs in Ekiti and Kwara states said it is sad that the monarchs died in such a situation, adding that the OPC would not fold its arms and leave unknown gunmen to spill blood of innocent people. The statement reads: “We have indicated our resolve to assist the government of the South-West region in addressing the surge of killings in Yoruba land. “OPC will not allow the South-West to be used as an abattoir where innocent people will be slaughtered and gunmen would live like kings in our region. It is unacceptable. We will resist any attem...

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, has urged the Federal and state governments to be more innovative by investing in the development of robotics technology to tackle kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities beleaguering the country. Fasina urged the government at all levels to provide an enabling environment that will birth opportunities for both the young and old, to arrest brain drain, which seems to be the order of the day in the country. The Vice Chancellor said this at a press conference to herald the institution’s 18th convocation ceremony, saying, “we should use the resources we have to sustain our human and capital development.”

KIDNAPPERS of 14 travellers in two buses from Umuahia, Abia State, to Abuja, who were abducted at Inele Eteke, in Olalamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, have called a husband of one of their victims, demanding a ransom of N15 million to free her. It was gathered that the incident happened on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Inele-Eteke, Ogugu new road in Kogi East senatorial district. A social media influencer, Chude Nnamdi, who broke the news on his X handle, said the two buses belong to God Is Good Motors, GIGM, and ABC Transport. Chude said his wife was in one of the hijacked buses but could not ascertain the number of persons in the two buses. “The GIGM bus left Umuahia at 7.30am and was hijacked in Kogi State. The company said they have contacted security services and they are tracking them. ”The kidnappers phoned this morning via my wife’s phone and were demanding N15 million,” Nnamdi said. In another post, yesterday, Nnamdi said: “Passengers in two loaded bus...