The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:
NEWS
- Devolution of power, key to national development – Akeredolu
The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday reiterated the call for restructuring of the country, adding that it is the only way to develop the country. He also said devolution of powers must be seen as necessary for the development of the country.
Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, stated these while reacting to the statement credited to Bauchi State Governor and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bala Mohammed, on the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun, and the need to restructure the polity for real development.
In a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu insisted that there was a need to put in place a system of administration that reflects heterogeneity.
- Don’t cover up Deborah’s killing, punish perpetrators, Northern CAN tells govt
The Christian Association of Nigeria (19 Northern States and Abuja) has called on federal and state authorities not to cover up the killing of a young Christian student, Deborah Samuel, who was gruesomely murdered in Sokoto last week, under disturbing circumstances. Northern CAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja and made available to our newsmen. Jechonia said Northern CAN believes that Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and order. Therefore, any act of lawlessness and criminality must not be swept under the carpet.
“The CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) is calling on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sokoto State government under governor Aminu Tambuwal not to resort to the government usual rhetoric but must demonstrate political will and capacity to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice; otherwise, others may take queues from this and turn our fatherland to a country of lawlessness at every slightest provocation.
“CAN, 19 Northern States, is calling on every christian parents across the nation, especially Northern states to discourage sending their children to any school in Sokoto State, pending when the Federal and State governments are ready and willing to secure the lives of our children both in Sokoto and other States that are hostile to Christians and Christianity. We are urging all Christian leaders to terminate their participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), until their counterparts of Islamic faith show commitment to tame their followers on equal terms.
- Deborah: Suspects Can’t Be Tried ‘For Mere Breach Of Public Peace,’ Says NBA
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the murder of Deborah, just as it said the suspects could not be tried “for mere breach of public peace.” The NBA president, Olumude Akpata, in a statement on Tuesday, said the association is also saddened by the killing of security personnel by gunmen in the South-East, as well as the lynching of a young man (simply identified as David) by commercial motorcyclists around Lekki, Lagos, saying such extra judicial killings is reprehensible, barbaric and unacceptable.
The NBA boss said the developments that have trivialised the sanctity of human lives exposed the weakness in the security architecture, tested the nation’s collective resolve as a people, and significantly threatened the unity of Nigeria as a nation.
Akpata called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous acts, wherever or whoever they may be, are made to face the full wrath of the law.
- Deborah: CAN, Plateau, Benue churches adamant, insist on Sunday protest
The Christian Association of Nigeria says it will go ahead with its nationwide protests against the lynching of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was stoned to death and burnt for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad. This is despite a ban on religious protests by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; an appeal by Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, and moves by some northern governors for CAN to shelve its planned protests.
Also CAN chapters in Plateau and Benue states, which are the umbrella bodies for churches in the two states, said they would organise protests against Deborah’s killing. The spokesman for the CAN President, Rev. Bayo Oladeji, said the protests would hold on Sunday nationwide. Oladeji, however, said the protests would take place in front of CAN secretariats in various states or major churches, adding that there would be no procession.
- Your secession comment arrogant, presidency replies Northern Elders Forum
The presidency, on Tuesday, slammed the Northern Elders Forum for what it called “delusional arrogance” over its call for some sections of the country to secede. According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the presidency insisted that only democratically elected leaders can take decisions that steer the nation, and no one else.
The statement was titled “Statement on the call by ‘Northern Elders Forum’ asking a section of the country to leave the federation.”
It read in part, “We are aware of the latest statement from the so-called ‘Northern Elders Forum.’ We wish to reassure Nigerians that it remains their democratically elected leadership which takes the decisions that steer our nation–and no one else.
“No self-appointed and unelected group can take this right from Nigerians – no matter how much coverage they might enjoy in the media. Nigerians listen to elected leaders, not opinionated tin-gods who have no traction with any responsible group. It is a delusional arrogance that would lead such a group to publicly state terms and conditions for the existence of our nation.
The statement further noted that like many other countries around the world, Nigeria is feeling the strain of the current period of volatility and uncertainty. Therefore, “Now is not the time to seek to exacerbate divisions amongst Nigerians. Rather, we call on all Nigerians to come together and work to overcome the challenges we face as one nation, one people.”
- EFCC arrests ex-Speaker Etteh over N240m NDDC contract
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, over a shady contract worth N240m awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission. Etteh, it was learnt, was at the Abuja office of the EFCC on Tuesday and had yet to be released as of 9pm.
The former speaker was said to have received N130m through her personal account from Phil Jin Project Limited, a firm which was awarded a N240m contract by the NDDC in 2011. Officials of the EFCC told newsmen that Etteh had been unable to explain why the firm transferred N130m to her out of the money.
A top EFCC official said, “Etteh is currently in our custody. What happened was that in 2011, the NDDC awarded a contract of N240m to Phil Jin Project Limited for the supply of solar powered street lights in some communities in Akwa Ibom. “Shortly after the contract was awarded, the firm got N34m as an initial sum. Two weeks later, they received N253m, a total of N287m. This is despite the fact that the contract itself was worth N240m.
Etteh, who represented the Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole Constituency of Osun State from 1999 to 2011, was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives. She, however, resigned and was replaced by Dimeji Bankole.
- EFCC releases ex-Speaker Etteh after three days
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Patricia Etteh, has been released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. She was released Friday night after fulfilling bail conditions, according to a statement on Saturday.
Etteh was arrested on May 17 over suspicious and shady financial involvement with Phil Jin Projects Limited. EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, in the statement, said Etteh would report to the commission periodically to assist further investigations.
- Finance minister suspends AGF
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has suspended the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, over N80 billion fraud allegation. Idris was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Kano, on Monday.
Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, Mr. Tanko Abdullahi, confirmed that the AGF was suspended indefinitely, to allow unhindered investigations into the alleged fraud.
Idris’ arrest, according to the spokesman of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, followed allegations that he fraudulently amassed the money through bogus consultancy contracts, and other illegal activities, using proxies , associates and family members.
The commission alleged that Mr. Idris laundered the money using real estate investments in Kano and Abuja. He was said to have been arrested, following his failure to honour invitations by the anti-graft agency.
- N80bn fraud: EFCC uncovers 17 properties linked to accountant-general
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced at least 17 properties to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, newsmen have learnt. This is just as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, suspended Idris who is currently being investigated for fraud to the tune of N80bn.
An official of the EFCC, who wished to remain anonymous, said the properties traced to Idris are located in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Dubai and London. He, however, said preliminary investigations showed that the nation’s chief accountant allegedly used proxies to buy some of these properties. The commission would therefore need to invite some of the proxies of the accountant-general.
The detective added that from all indications, these properties were purchased while Idris was in office and did not declare them before the Code of Conduct Bureau as stipulated by law. He added, “About 17 houses in London, Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Dubai have been traced to him. In Abuja, some of the houses are located in serviced estates.”
The EFCC had in a statement on Monday announced the arrest of the accountant-general for fraud to the tune of N80bn.
- Sanwo-Olu bans Okada in Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, three other LGs
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has banned the operations of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, in six Local Governments. He announced that the ban is “indefinite and total”. The six local governments listed by the governor are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.
The Governor gave out the directive at a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the State House in Alausa. The fresh Okada ban followed the February 2020 restriction placed on the activities of commercial motorcycles.
Sanwo-Olu said the Government took the decision in line with the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 to immediately address the chaos and menace created by the operations of Okada in the listed areas. He told the police to enforce the order without compromise.
The ban is coming days after Okada riders killed a young man in the Lekki area of Lagos State over N100 balance. It was learnt that the victim, who was a sound engineer, was lynched and burnt to death after a misunderstanding ensued over the N100 balance with one of the commercial motorcyclists.
- Sit-at-Home: CSOs demand Buhari’s intervention, threaten to sue him
With the sit-at-home in the southeast geopolitical zone entering the third day yesterday the Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, in Anambra State have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene immediately or be prepared for court action by the groups.
Wednesday’s sit at home was obeyed to the extent that the police blocked the road leading to the Anambra State secretariat in Awka, such that even workers who wanted to go to work could not access their offices. As usual, banks and markets were closed, while the vehicular movement was virtually absent.
Leader of Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET), a platform for citizens and non-state actors, Prince Chris Azor said the renewed violent attacks and killings in targeted areas of the state, resulting in arson and wanton destruction of lives and property could no longer be tolerated. Azor lamented that the President had not shown any visible and tangible concern amidst widely reported incidents of insecurity in Anambra State and the entire southeast geopolitical zone.
- Cancel planned crusade in South-East, IPOB tells Kumuyi
The Indigenous People of Biafra has advised the General Overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, to cancel the planned crusade in Abia State because of security concerns in the South-East. In a statement on Thursday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, cautioned Kumuyi to take note of the security situation in the South-East as he comes to Aba for his gospel crusade.
Powerful said, “Let him and the organisers of the crusade make sure that nothing happens. The security of this region is not good because of political and criminal activities, therefore we advise him to stop this crusade for security reasons. IPOB will not allow anyone to die because of this crusade scheduled to hold in Aba. The operation of criminals operating as unknown gunmen infiltrating the events is high and they will blame it on IPOB.
“We ask him to pray for an end to the insecurity in Biafra land if he can. We charge Christians and men of God in Biafra land to engage God in fervent prayers to expose all those behind the insecurity in our land.” He urged the pastor to pray against bad leaders and saboteurs in the South-East and Nigeria.
- CAN backs Kumuyi’s South-East crusade, asks IPOB to embrace peace
The Christian Association of Nigeria has appealed to the Indigenous People of Biafra to allow the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, hold his crusade in Abia State. The spokesperson of CAN, Adebayo Oladeji, in an interview with newsen said Kumuyi’s coming to the state would be a blessing to the people of the state. He added that bloodshed and other forms of insecurity in the state and other South East require God’s intervention.
He was reacting to a statement by IPOB advising Kumuyi to cancel the planned six-day crusade scheduled to hold from May 24, 2022 to May 29 in Aba, Abia State due to security concerns in the South-East region. In a statement on Thursday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, had asked Kumuyi to take note of the security situation in the South East ahead of his gospel crusade.
- Supreme Court fixes May 26 for Electoral Act case
The Supreme Court has fixed May 26, 2022 to hear the suit brought before it by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) against the National Assembly on the Electoral Act 2022.
The Apex Court on Thursday fixed the date after joining the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the State Attorney General as second and third defendants in the suit.
Justice Mohammed Datijjo adjourned the matter till next week Thursday following the concession by Buhari’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) that the Speaker, Rivers state House of Assembly and the Rivers State Attorney General be joined as parties in the suit.
The two parties joined in the matter had, in their application, said the subject matter in the originating summons relates to the validity and constitutionality of the provisions of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act enacted by the National Assembly and applicable throughout the country, including Rivers State.
- Soludo presents N170b revised budget, says he inherited red treasury, pervasive insecurity
Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo yesterday presented a revised budget of N170 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval. He informed the state lawmakers that he inherited a red treasury and pervasive insecurity, which appeared to be slowing down the momentum of his administration.
The revised budget size is N28 billion higher than the existing appropriation of N142 billion presented by his predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano. In the revised budget, capital expenditure increased from N81 billion to N108 billion, while recurrent expenditure increased marginally by 0.79% from N60 billion.
The governor said he left the budget on security unchanged, while counting on off budget resources from donations to augment. He said the revised budget 2022 sign-posts some of the key deliverables for this year as his government kicks off from the blocks. It is also a call to collective action and lifestyle of Value for Money.
- Salami Panel: Magu will still be prosecuted if indicted, despite promotion – Minister
The Minister of Police Affairs Maigari Dingyadi says the newly promoted former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, will be prosecuted if eventually indicted by the panel that probed him. Mr Magu had appeared before the Salami panel in July 2020 to answer allegations against him by the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The investigative panel, chaired by a former President of the Coury of Appeal, Ayo Salami, upon conclusion of its assignment, submitted its findings to the President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2020. However, Mr Dingyadi was fielding questions from State House correspondents on why the Police authorities were yet to act on the recommendations of the panel but chose to promote Mr Magu to the position of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police before his eventual retirement.
“This is an issue that should have been addressed by the Police Service Commission, who have the responsibility to conduct promotions of the police. They are not here. And I am aware that the Police Service Commission is directly under the presidency. So, I cannot speak for them. But what I know is that Mr Magu has already retired and that is what I can tell you now.
“The fact that he was promoted is a matter for the Police Commission to, maybe, throw more light on. I’m not aware of the position of government on the report you are talking about and I think it is still being under consideration. It doesn’t mean that when he retires, the laws will not catch up with him whenever he is found guilty.
POLITICS
- It requires madness to rule Nigeria, says Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, said Nigeria required a leader driven by passion and ‘madness’ to rule the country and put it on the right footing. Obasanjo said he had no other country he could call his own and had no other country he could go to.
Obasanjo stated this when he played host to a presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, at his penthouse residence in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The former President also played host to Godswill Akpabio who is running for the presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
- I’m not running as northern aspirant, but qualified Nigerian — Lawan
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said, on Thursday, that he was running for the office of the Nigeria’s president in his capacity as a qualified Nigerian and not as a northern aspirant. This was contained in a press statement signed late Thursday by Ola Awoniyi for the Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan Campaign Organisation. The statement said Lawan made the remarks when he visited Katsina State to seek the support of delegates of the All Progressives Congress in the state for his presidential bid.
“I am not running as a northern aspirant because the impression created is that I’m a northern aspirant or that northerners are saying they are not going to allow power to the South. I’m not running as a northern candidate. I’m running as a Nigerian Presidential aspirant and therefore I come with all my qualifications for that office and people should judge me on the basis of what I have to offer,” Lawan said.
- Presidential primaries: Uncertainty over APC, PDP delegates’ lists as Buhari delays Electoral Act
There is uncertainty over the delegates’ lists of political parties, including the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, following the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in signing the amendment version of the Electoral Act.
Chieftains of the major political parties, who spoke to The PUNCH on Thursday, said the President’s assent to the amended Act would enable parties to know the exact number of delegates that would vote during presidential primaries as statutory delegates were excluded in the existing version of the law.
The PDP has scheduled its presidential primary to hold on May 28 and 29, while the APC will elect its presidential candidate at its shadow election taking place on May 28 and 29. Almost two weeks to the primaries, the parties are not certain whether or not statutory delegates will vote with the President’s delay in signing the amended Electoral Act.
- Don’t vote moneybags for presidency, Fayemi tells APC delegates
The Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, said the desire to build a prosperous nation is one of the reasons why he was running for the 2023 presidency. He also said that the presidency of Nigeria should not be for money-bag politicians.
Fayemi stated this while canvassing for votes from delegates of All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State ahead of the party’s primary slated for May 28. The Ekiti State helmsman, who is also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC, said he was in the state to solicit votes from the delegates.
He told the delegates that he had the capacity and the road map to transform the security situation in the country. “I am a bridge-builder. I am a unifier. This is a visit to say ‘hello’ and share my vision and leave you to be the judge of who to pilot the new Nigeria that we are yearning for,” he said.
The governor, who said he is not a money bag politician, said that as a student of history, the nation’s coveted job had never been entrusted to money bag politicians.
- We didn’t promise to accommodate 7,000 APC delegates – Osinbajo Campaign Team
The Osinbajo Campaign Media Team has dismissed reports that it promised to provide hotel accommodation for no fewer than 7,000 All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates in the presidential primary of the party. The media team, which made this clarification in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, urged the public to ignore such reports.
The APC presidential primary election will be held at a special national convention in Abuja on May 29 and 30. It is not clear how many delegates will attend the convention. The vice president, who has been consulting APC delegates across the country, will slug it out with about 23 other presidential aspirants at the primary election.
“We have seen an outlandish news report that a so-called Osinbajo Campaign Organisation has said that it would provide hotel accommodation for more than 7,000 APC delegates across the country during the party’s presidential primary election. “Such reported offers of free accommodation and free food should be ignored,” it said. The statement said the vice president has continued to spend time interacting directly with the APC delegates and concerned parties across the country and answering their questions on issues of politics and governance.
- Let’s work with whoever emerges at primary — Osinbajo
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, in Rivers State, has said despite the number of aspirants vying for the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket, they must be willing to rally around and support whoever emerges candidate in the forthcoming primary elections. This was as he said there was no need for hostility among aspirants as the ultimate goal remained the country’s unity.
According to a statement signed on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo spoke in Rivers in continuation of his nationwide consultations with stakeholders and delegates of the APC.In his call for unity, the Vice President noted that all the aspirants that had made public, their intention to run for president under the APC, were progressives.
According to him, the best aspirant should be chosen to lead the party as its presidential candidate in 2023. The Vice President also noted that the governing APC had the greatest potential to do the best for Nigeria and ensure its further development and progress.
ECONOMY
- Nigeria doing little to diversify economy -Utomi
A professor of political economy and management expert, Pat Utomi, has said present and past leaders of the country have done very little to diversify Nigeria’s economy. He said despite promises by successive administrations to diversify the economy, the heavy dependence on crude oil still continued, warning that failure to diversify could spell doom for the country. Utomi spoke during the launch of the ‘Rebuild Nigeria Initiative’ in Abuja.
He said, For more than 30 years I have heard of promises to diversify our economy away from dependence on crude oil. Unfortunately, we’ve done very little in that direction and it has assumed a new urgency because the world is going through an energy transition. We have forgotten that crude oil is a finite resource.”
He called on the Federal Government to take a cue from countries like Botswana, and other countries with better economies that have massively invested in their youths. He also said the youths are major drivers of the economy of any country, lamenting that Nigeria had failed to invest in its youth. He specifically said Botswana became the fastest growing economy in the world between 1968 and 1980 because the country invested revenue realiSed from diamonds in its youths.
Earlier, the Chairman of Rebuild Nigeria Initiative, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, noted that Nigeria is faced with unprecedented times, and fault lines borne from ethnoreligious conflicts. He charged well-meaning Nigerians to come together to accelerate progress towards a new Nigeria where the rights and well-being of the citizens are upheld.
- Nigeria spends 86% of revenue on debt servicing, South Africa pays 20%
Nigeria spent 86 per cent of its revenue on servicing debt in 2021, but South Africa spent only 20 per cent of its receipts on the same purpose, according to findings by newsmen. According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2021 Article IV estimates, Africa’s most populous nation spent 85.5 per cent of its revenue on servicing the debt in 2021. On the other hand, South Africa’s budget office, situated in the National Treasury, estimated its debt service-to-revenue in 2021 at 20 per cent, explaining that for every five rand raised by the government, only one rand was spent on servicing debt.
Nigeria’s total debt by end of December 2021 was only 30 per cent of South Africa’s debt, yet the Nigeria’s debt service appears too expensive, according to analysts. Nigeria’s total debt as at December 2021 was $94.166bn, according to the Debt Management Office, but South Africa’s total debt at the same period was $261bn, according to the country’s National Treasury and Bloomberg.
The Chief Executive Officer of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, Dr Muda Yusuf, said that debt service ratio was a function of the magnitude of the debt and its cost. He explained that investors perceived Nigeria as high-risk, explaining that risk premium must be paid when bonds were perceived as high-risk.
A market analyst, Ike Ibeabuchi, suggested that Nigeria must pay more attention to cost-cutting measures such as reducing the earnings of the legislature, adding that the country should look at ways of tapping equity rather than debt.
- JET-A1, others may push flight above N100,000 – Domestic airlines
Domestic airlines under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria have said that rising operational costs occasioned by aviation fuel price hikes, foreign exchange shortage, among others may push the base economy flight ticket to N100,000.
The spokesperson for local airlines/Chairman, United Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, made the disclosure during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday in Abuja. Aside from the lingering aviation price hike crisis, the airline chief said local operators were being compelled to source foreign exchange from the parallel market at high rates due to a lack of adequate supply from the Central bank of Nigeria via the commercial banks.
Consequently, he said an increase in the base economy flight ticket to at least N100,000 might be inevitable for all domestic airline operators if the current situation persists. He added, “Nothing less than N100,000, between N100,000 and N120,000 base price, even with Jet A1 fuel at N400 – N500. That is what it is.” In this regard, he added that meetings with the CBN ad yet to yield any positive result in the provision of adequate forex.
BUSINESS
- Lagos evicts Alaba Rago traders, says market now criminals’ den
The Lagos State Government has given the occupants and traders of Alaba Rago a 14-day ultimatum to vacate the market. The government gave the eviction notice through a joint team of Rapid Response Squad and Lagos Taskforce. In a statement on Thursday, the government said the decision was reached after several months of negotiation with representatives of the occupiers of Alaba Rago over the modernisation of the market.
The joint team, which was led by Commander, Rapid Response Squadn, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi and Chairman, Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), Sola Jejeloye, met the occupants of the market in clusters to inform them of the 14-day vacation order. Egbeyemi stated that emerging security reports from the area have shown that “Alaba Rago has become a den of criminals”, stressing that the state government has concluded plans to modernise the market in the best interest of the residents.
- Average price for 5kg cooking gas increases to N3,800.47 – NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says the average price for refilling a 5kg gas cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) increased to N3,800.47 in April 2022. The NBS said to refill the gas cylinder used to cost N3,778.30 as recorded in March 2022.
This is contained in the NBS Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch for April 2022 released in Abuja on Thursday. The report said the increase indicates a 0.59 per cent increase month-on-month.
However, on a year-on-year basis, it said the average retail price for cooking gas increased by 83.67 per cent from N2,069.21 in April 2021.
- Naira depreciates further, exchanges at N420.33 against the dollar
The Naira, on Thursday, exchanged at 420.33 to the dollar at the Investors and Exporters window, compared to 419.25 traded on Wednesday, representing 0.26 per cent depreciation. The open indicative rate closed at N417.70 to the dollar on Thursday. An exchange rate of N444.00 to the dollar was the highest rate recorded within the day’s trading before it settled at N420.33.
EDUCATION
- No agreement with FG, strike not ending soon – ASUU, SSANU, NASU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities have said the Federal Government did not reach a strong agreement with them that can lead to calling off the industrial actions. All the university unions in the country are presently on strike.
ASUU started its strike on February 14, 2022 and JAC commenced its own on April 14, 2022. The unions embarked on industrial actions while demanding improved welfare packages, better working conditions, and implementation of various labour agreements signed with the Federal Government between 2009 and 2020.
The national leaders of ASUU and JAC of SSANU and NASU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, respectively told newsmen that the Federal Government and all stakeholders in the education sector and religious leaders had a meeting with the four unions but no strong agreements were reached.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, was quoted in a report at the weekend as saying, “We had a cordial and fruitful discussion; we looked at the issues dispassionately and reached some agreements, to the satisfaction of everybody in attendance.” But Osodeke said Ngige’s claim after the meeting that the unions would call off the ongoing strike this week was a political statement.
- FG moves to end ASUU, poly lecturers strikes, begins arrears payment
The Federal Government has commenced the payment of minimum wage arrears, which it owed lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and Academic Staff Union of Universities as part of efforts to end ongoing strikes by the unions, newsmen have learnt. The National President of ASUP, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, and the Chairman, ASUU FUTMinna, Dr. Gbolahan Bolarin, confirmed this in separate interviews with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
It had been reported that the two unions are currently on strike following the inability of the government to meet their demands including the payment of minimum wage arrears and release of revitalisation funds, among others. While ASUU commenced its strike on February 14, 2022, ASUP is currently on an initial two-week warning strike.
Confirming the payment on Thursday, Ezeibe, however, said that was just the beginning. He said, “The government has started responding. They just started paying the salary/minimum wage arrears, the one they have refused to pay. “However, that is just one of the demands, so we have not reached anywhere. They have not attended to the others, but I can confirm that people have started receiving alerts of the arrears owed.”
HEALTH
- 7,256 Nigerian nurses left for UK in one year – Report
No fewer than 7,256 trained nurses in Nigeria relocated to the United Kingdom between March 2021 and March 2022, The PUNCH has learnt. The figure is contained in information obtained from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the United Kingdom on Thursday.
Reports have it that Nigeria has continued to witness an increase in the rate of health workers migrating from the country.
According to the data, 2,796 Nigerian nurses migrated to the UK between March 2017 and March 2018 while there was an influx of 3,021 Nigerian nurses to the UK between March 2018 and March 2019. The council noted a slight increase between March 2019 and March 2020 when a total of 3,684 Nigerian nurses migrated to the UK.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, 4,310 Nigerian nurses registered with the council between March 2020 and March 2021. However, the council witnessed the highest rate of registration in the past five years when a total of 7,256 Nigerian trained nurses registered between March 2021 and March 2022.
- Monkeypox Can Be Transmitted Through Kissing, Hugging – Expert
A professor of Public Health, Dr. Tanimola Akande says monkeypox can be transmitted by close face to face contact, hugging, and kissing.
Prof. Akande also said that it can also be transmitted through body contact during sex.
According to the World Health Organisation, human-to-human transmission of monkeypox can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person, or recently contaminated objects. Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Prof. Akande said though there are reports of transmission through sex, monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection and it is not a common form of transmission.
So far in 2022, there are 15 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Nigeria. The confirmed cases were from the 46 suspected cases recorded, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The NCDC said, “Since September 2017, Nigeria has continued to report sporadic cases of monkeypox. The Monkeypox National Technical Working Group has been monitoring cases and strengthening preparedness/response capacity.
- Buhari Signs National Health Authority Bill Into Law
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law, the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022. The law repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, according to a statement signed by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu on Thursday.
Buhari said at the signing of the new law that a Fund will be set up “to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.”
The President announced that the Authority will collaborate with state government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enroll Nigerians into the scheme to ensure the delivery of quality health care.
The new Act also enables the Authority and state governments to develop information management systems and digital records for better data collection, monitoring and quality assurance. Buhari tasked the Health Reform Committee to work with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure the implementation of the articles in the new Act.
WORLD
- France Reports First Monkeypox Case
France on Friday reported its first case of monkeypox, joining a number of other European and North American nations in detecting the disease endemic in parts of Africa. Monkeypox was identified in a 29-year-old man in the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, who had not recently returned from a country where the virus is circulating, France’s health authorities said Friday.
Cases of monkeypox have also been detected in Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden as well as in the United States and Canada, leading to fears that the disease — normally concentrated in Central and West Africa — may be spreading. The rare disease — which is not usually fatal — often manifests itself through fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a chickenpox-like rash on the hands and face.
The virus can be transmitted through contact with skin lesions and droplets of a contaminated person, as well as through shared items such as bedding and towels. Monkeypox usually clears up after two to four weeks, according to the World Health Organization.
- Russia Prepared For Food Crisis Since Last Year – Putin’s Adviser
Russia has taken steps to prepare itself for a food crisis threatening the world even before President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine, a Kremlin aide said on Thursday. Russia and Ukraine alone produce 30 percent of the global wheat supply.
Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine and a barrage of unprecedented international sanctions on Russia have disrupted supplies of fertiliser, wheat and other commodities from both countries, pushing up prices for food and fuel, especially in developing nations.
Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, after the Kremlin denied for months the possibility of a large-scale offensive against its smaller pro-Western neighbour. The United Nations this week urged Russian authorities to release grain stuck in Ukrainian ports due to Moscow’s military campaign.
Oreshkin said he believed “global hunger” would begin in late 2022, adding that “ill-thought out” policies by the United States and EU countries were leading to the food crisis. Oreshkin also said that US attempts to get Ukrainian grain out of the ex-Soviet country would lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Ukraine and “major” food problems for the world.
- Married Couple Hit Record UK Lottery £185m Jackpot
A married couple from western England was revealed Thursday as Britain’s biggest-ever lottery winners after scooping a jackpot of nearly £185 million ($230 million, 218 million euros) in the EuroMillions draw. Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, called the unprecedented win “huge for us” as they claimed the record-breaking sum of £184,262,899 with a ticket of randomly selected numbers earlier this month.
“It was amazing but also surreal,” said Joe, 49, who works at a communications company, at a press conference with his wife as they recounted the momentous moment they discovered online their May 10 win. I looked at the amount. I put the phone down and I picked the phone up again and I looked at the amount again!”
The couple, like many other Britons, have been struggling through the country’s growing cost-of-living crisis and plan to share their newly-amassed fortune with friends and family. Joe said the blockbuster win meant they had been enjoying simple pleasures like hot water without worrying about the costs, amid the spiralling energy prices hitting Britain.
Beyond that, the immediate Thwaite family — which comprises two primary school-aged children and a host of pets including horses, ponies, dogs, and even geckos — are planning a rare family holiday and likely a new car purchase.
- US Congress Ready To Approve Another $40bn For Ukraine
The US Congress prepared Thursday to approve a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine in the latest fulfillment of President Joe Biden’s promise of unwavering support for Kyiv as it fights off the Russian invasion. Passage of the money is an unusually bipartisan move for harshly divided Washington.
“Aid for Ukraine goes far beyond charity,” Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said. The future of American security and core strategic interests will be shaped by the outcome of this fight,” he added, hours before Congress’ upper chamber was expected to vote through the package easily.
Congress already approved almost $14 billion for Ukraine in mid-March, only weeks after Russia’s invasion. But as fighting has shifted away from the capital and to the eastern and southern parts of the country, Biden has been calling for another round of financial support for weeks.
The US president has often repeated his desire to lead in what he depicts as a great struggle of democracy against authoritarianism. But funds already designated for Ukraine support were about to run out, he said.
ENTERTAINMENT
- Singer Ed Sheeran, wife welcome baby girl
Grammy-winning British singer, Ed Sheeran, and his wife, Cherry, have welcomed a baby girl. The singer made the announcement on his Instagram page late Thursday, where he shared a picture of white baby socks. In his announcement, he noted that he and his wife were excited to now have a family of four. The family welcomed their first daughter, Lyra, in August 2020.
Announcing their second child, Ed wrote, “We want to let you all know we’ve had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of four.” Ed and Cherry got married in February 2019 in an intimate ceremony with just 40 guests. In August 2020, Ed had announced the birth of their first daughter.
- Comedian Josh2funny, wife welcome baby boy
Nigerian comedian, Josh Alfred, popularly known as Josh2funny, and his wife, Bina, on Tuesday announced the birth of their first son. The couple, on their respective Instagram pages, made the announcement as they shared a picture showing the leg of the child.
In Josh2funny’s post, however, he added the name of the child. He hailed the newborn as a “new minister, a king and more.” The 31-year-old skitmaker wrote, “Now let’s officially welcome the owner of these legs. A new minister, a king and more. Eden Alfred.” Bina simply wrote in her post, “Welcome son.”
SPORTS
- Female referees to officiate at Qatar 2022 World Cup finals
Three female referees have been drafted to officiate at this year’s senior men’s world cup finals holding in Qatar and this would be the first time it has happened. Female referees have officiated in the UEFA Champions League, Euros and even in the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, that held earlier this year – a development that has shown an attempt to expand the role women play in the game.
One of those included is Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga who officiated at this year’s AFCON. She took charge of the game between Zimbabwe and Guinea. French female referee, Stéphanie Frappart who has officiated top matches across Europe is also included. She was in charge of the 2019 Super Cup game between Chelsea and Liverpool and also oversaw a World Cup qualifying match. Japan’s Yamashita Yoshimi is also on the list.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon captain, retires
Gabon captain and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has retired from international football, a fortnight before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign begins. The 32-year-old made a total of 68 appearances for the Panthers and scored 29 goals, making him the nation’s all-time leading scorer. The Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot) said it had received a letter from Aubameyang announcing his decision.
- AFCON 2023: Mauritius win appeal against Sao Tomé and Príncipe, to play Nigeria
The Director of Competitions of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr Samson Adamu has confirmed to thenff.com that Mauritius won a case it filed against Sao Tomé and Príncipe concerning their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifying fixture, and will therefore join the combatants in Group A of the qualification series starting next month.
Victory for Mauritius at the CAF Disciplinary Committee means they now join Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the six-match phase that ends in March next year. Nigeria will play Sierra Leone in Abuja on Thursday 9th June and then play Mauritius on Monday 13th June.
Mauritius had filed a protest against São Tomé and Príncipe, who won their preliminary qualifying fixture, insisting that one São Tomé player had tested positive for covid-19.
METRO PLUS
- Planned resumption of train service insensitive, say abductees’ families
Families and friends of passengers abducted from the Abuja-Kaduna AK9 train have warned the Nigerian Railway Corporation not to test their patience over the planned resumption of train services along the Abuja-Kaduna route. The families warned that unless their loved ones are rescued unhurt by the authorities, they would resist any attempt to resume train services along the route.
They also demanded the sack of the entire management of NRC for their gross incompetence. This is just as they faulted the claim by the Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, that he had been in contact with them. Speaking on behalf of the families, Dr Abdulfatai Jimoh, told journalists at a media briefing in Kaduna on Thursday that it was unfortunate that 52 days after the abduction of their beloved ones, all the NRC was interested in was the resumption of train services.
Jimoh described the move of the NRC for the resumption of train services as most insensitive, considering the fact that the 61 victims of the train attack were still languishing in kidnappers’ den. According to him, the NRC managing director also flouted the directives of the president that they constantly briefed the families of the victims on development regarding those in kidnappers’ den.
- Train abduction: Negotiations deadlocked, FG seeks foreign assistance
The negotiations between the Federal Government and the abductors of no fewer than 68 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers may have deadlocked following the insistence of the gunmen on the release of their commanders in exchange for the abductees. Newsmen gathered that the gang insisted on a swap of their men in custody with the passengers kidnapped during an attack on the train at Katari, Kaduna, on March 28. It was learnt that the Federal Government is seeking foreign assistance and technical expertise to resolve the impasse.
About eight persons were killed and 26 others injured when gunmen bombed the rail track and fired gunshots at the Kaduna-bound train.
So far, the gunmen had released three hostages, including the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan; Sadique, son of Ango Abdullahi, convener of the Northern Elders Forum and a pregnant woman who breathed air of freedom on Saturday. A woman was reported to have delivered a baby girl in the camp of the kidnappers believed to be affiliated with the Boko Haram terrorist group.
A security source privy to the negotiations said, “The negotiation has literally broken down; the bandits/terrorists are still insisting on swapping their commanders in custody with the abducted passengers. The government is seeking foreign assistance to resolve the deadlock.”
- South, Middle Belt youth leaders seek UN intervention over killing of Christians in Nigeria
Youths from Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt, have sought the urgent intervention of the United Nations over killings targeted at Christians in Nigeria particularly those living in the Northern region. The youths who spoke under the aegis of Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly, COSMBYLA, an umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East, South South, South West and Middle Belt regions, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of keeping criminal silence over the persecution of Christians in the country.
They spoke on the heels of the recent burning to death of a Christian student of Sokoto College of Education, Deborah Yakubu; and the bomb targeted at school children at the Christian dominated Sabon Garri, Kano State. The Southern youth leaders alleged that the failure of the President to come hard on the Killers of Yakubu was very disturbing, and would act as morale booster to the perpetrators.
They blamed the recent suicide bombing in Kano on the failure of the Federal Government to decisively deal with the killers of the female Christian student in Sokoto burnt alive by Muslim fanatics for alleged blasphemy.
- Oyo student found naked with girlfriend dead, lover hospitalised
Controversy has trailed the death of an undergraduate student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, identified simply as Oromidayo, in his hostel room in Ibadan, Oyo State. Another student, a female, suspected to be his lover was said to be in a coma as doctors battled to revive her at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. There are, however, different versions of what led to the incident.
While some students claimed that the duo were found naked with Oromidayo’s girlfriend lying on top of him in his hostel, others said they were unclad in the bathroom of the hostel. A student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the two students were engaged in intense sex when Oromidayo died and his lover fainted.
He said, “Both of them were found naked in the room. The girl was on top of Oromidayo, as his hands were around her waist; both of them were unconscious as blood was seen around Oromidayo’s head. “Some other persons said Oromidayo died because he used a sex enhancement drug before sleeping with the girl. It is only an autopsy that can reveal the cause of death or maybe when the girl that is in a coma in the UCH, Ibadan, regains consciousness.”
The President, Student Union Government, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Abdulazeez Adedeji, confirmed the incident, adding that the academic community was suspecting the duo were killed by generator fumes. He said, “On Sunday, the two of them were together at the hostel when the incident happened. When I got to the hostel yesterday (Monday), I realised that the fumes emanating from the generator were coming directly into his (Oromidayo’s) room.
- Man trafficks wife for prostitution, sells son for N600,000
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 36-year-old man, Kingsley Essien, for allegedly trafficking his wife to Mali for prostitution and selling her two-year-old son for N600,000. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspect was arrested following a report lodged at the Agbara divisional headquarters by the suspect’s wife, Bright Essien.
The PPRO said, “Bright reported that sometime in October 2021, her husband, Kingsley Essien, informed her that he had secured a job for her in Bamako Mali, and that he had assisted many people to that country for greener pastures before. She explained further that being her husband, she didn’t suspect any foul play until she got to Mali only to discover that she had been sold to a human trafficker cartel headed by a woman at the rate of N1,400,000.
“While in Mali, she was forced into prostitution, but later found her way to the Nigerian embassy in Bamako, where she was assisted back to Nigeria. On getting to Nigeria, she discovered that her two-year-old son in care of her husband was nowhere to be found.
Upon the report, the DPO, Agbara division, SP Abiodun Salau, detailed detectives to go after the suspect, and he was eventually arrested.
- Abeokuta overflowing with refuse, residents say
Residents of Abeokuta in Ogun State have expressed worries over the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on major streets across the metropolis. The residents include those living at Lafenwa, Adatan, Itoku, Ake, Itoko, Sapon, Isale Igbein, Panseke, Kuto, Abiola Way, Ijaye, among others.
When newsmmen went round the city, there were heaps of refuse at major roads in the city. Olaoye Adeyemi, a resident of Adatan, said they are already planning a protest, describing the refusal of the government to pack the refuse as ‘wickedness’.
