NIGERIAN NOTCH

THE Senate has disclosed that there are moves to review upwards the N5.079 trillion 2024 revenue target of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  from the second half of the year to save the country from further borrowings. Disclosing this in Abuja on Monday at a crucial meeting with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, Adewale Adeniyi and top management of the revenue agency, Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Isah Jibrin, APC,  Kogi East said, “first of all, Nigeria is saddled with lot of debt obligations and we need to wriggle ourselves out of that trap and one of the ways to do that is internally generated revenue.  Customs is one of the major providers of internally generated revenue and as it is today, we expect them to play one of the major roles in this drive to reduce our debt burden. “We need to pay off what we are owing now and minimize additional loans we are going to take. Customs is in a very good position, if they are able...

The NIGERIAN NAVY has intercepted a boat smuggling foreign rice through Cameroon into Nigerian waters in Akwa Ibom state. Men of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state on Monday handed over to the Nigerian Customs Service two suspects, 38 bags of parboiled rice and the boat involved in the alleged smuggling. The Commanding Officer, FOB, Ibaka, Navy Capt Uche Aneke said the suspects were arrested 4 January following a hint on a boat conveying foreign rice suspected smuggled from Cameroon to Nigerian and transiting within waters under the FOB. “Consequently, gunboats from the Base on routine patrols, through a stop and search operation were able to intercept two suspected smugglers in a fibre boat containing 38 bags of 50kg contraband foreign parboiled rice concealed under nine drums of 250ltrs empty drums covered with a canopy,” Aneke stated. Aneke warned syndicates indulged in smuggling illegal consignment into or out o...

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has assured that the hard times being faced by Nigerians will soon come to an end with the right policies of the Federal Government. The President’s wife gave the assurance on Monday in the State House during a meeting with the Governors Wives on her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). She assured that the year 2024 is loaded with “peace, progress, prosperity and greater achievements’’ to the advantage of all Nigerians. Mrs Tinubu commended the governors’ wives for their efforts and support in year 2023, urging them not to relent in addressing the needs of the vulnerable in their states. “Times like this calls for sober reflection, hence, all hands must be on deck. Moreover, the hardship situation is temporary, it will soon fade away. “The mission of the RHI is driven by my office to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Tinubu,’’ she said. She said Women Agricultural Support Programme (WASP), under...

A rally to celebrate the Supreme Court victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State in Ahoada West Local Government Area has witnessed a near-crisis situation, as some youths alleged to be acting on the order of the Council Chairman, vandalised canopies and chairs at the initial venue set for the rally. The programme was moved to another location where the Council Chairman later appeared to clear the air on the allegation, while the rally was held successfully thereafter. “We are aware that the state government has done theirs at the state level, it is important that we also domesticate it by having our own thanksgiving here in the local government. I will also urge you to carry on even in your local government, it’s important you carry out such thanksgiving. “I will leave you very soon but I will urge that we conduct ourselves very well. We have advised ourselves and I am sure the Assembly member will inform you and convey the message of security agents and our of...

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anàmbra State has been urged to urgently prevail on his Special Adviser on Market, Evaristus Ubah, to stop further harassment and intimidation of Chief Sabest Uzoeto, the managing director of Ezinwanne   Shopping Mall at No 39 Silas Works Road, Onitsha and the widows carrying out their legitimate businesses in the mall. Addressing newsmen in his office Weekend, Sabest said he started business at the premises in 2016 and he incorporated it with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as well as obtained a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Anambra State Government for the property housing the business. He said when the State Government directed all the vegetable and fruit sellers along the Expressway to vacate some weeks back,  some women mostly widows joined them in the Plaza at No 39 Silas Works Road, Fegge, Onitsha to continue their trading to make ends meet for their families. But the Special Adviser and his cohorts, he al...

Says he is the brain behind insecurity in Anambra, asks security agencies to call him to order   Oraifite community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State have debunked the claims by one of their son's Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who is also a Lawyer to the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of his accusations that Sir Emeka Offor wants to assassinate him. Rather they have stated in clear terms that he is behind the activities of gunmen  in the State and the South East region respectfully.  The community’s need to put the records straight, was borne out of  followed the recent kidnap and killing of a 38-year-old youth leader who stood for the truth in a rift between the Lawyer and CEO of Chrome Group, Chief Sir Emeka Offor. In a press briefing , held on Sunday the 4th of February 2024 at Oraifite civic center, during a general meeting of the community, accused Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor of using one of the...

In an august gathering with the presence of no fewer than four state governors, deputy governors, high-ranking government officials, top captains of industry, as well as enterprenural giants., which was marked by an aura of significance and importance, and  serving  as a confluence of political, administrative, and corporate luminaries, who gathered at the instance of the board, management and staff of the New Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd, the publishers of Daily Telegraph newspapers, for her 2023 Award ceremony. It was an epoch at the Belmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as Dr. Mathew Chima Amadi, alongside other eminent and distinguished Nigerians received the prestigious New Telegraph's Social Crusader of the Year award. The award really stands as a testament to his exceptional contributions to society.  The Umuekwunne, Ngor Okpala born social entrepreneur and trained human nutritionist, has carved a niche for himsel...

......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...