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Folarin Kehinde

Buhari Threatens Sanction On BBC For Banditry Documentary

by Folarin Kehinde July 29, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed says the government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari will sanction the BBC for their documentary on banditry, accusing the platform of amplifying the voice of terrorists.

“Let me assure you, they will not get away with this naked glorification of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria,” Mr Mohammed said on Thursday in Abuja.

“When otherwise reputable platforms like BBC give their platform to terrorists, showing their faces as if they’re Nollywood stars, I want to assure them that they won’t get away with it, the appropriate sanctions will be meted.”

Mr Mohammed’s statement comes days after BBC Africa Eye published a documentary featuring interviews with bandit leaders.

In the documentary, Abu Sani, a bandit kingpin said banditry “has become a business. Everyone wants money. That is why things are deteriorating, from the top to the bottom.”

Threats of sanctions against media platforms have become commonplace with the Buhari regime.

Before now, Mr Mohammed had threatened sanction against CNN for their documentary exposing how Nigerian soldiers opened live rounds on EndSARS protesters at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos.

July 29, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

JUST IN: Court Sentence Proprietor, Two Others To Death For Hanifa Abubakar Murder

by Folarin Kehinde July 28, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The kano state high court has sentenced the proprietor of Nobel Kids Academy and North west preparatory school, Abdumalik Tanko, to death by hanging for masterminding the abduction and killing of a 5-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar.

The presiding Judge, Justice Usman Na’abba, gave the order while delivering his judgement today 28th July, 2022.

Recall that the trio of Abdulmalik alongside his accomplices, Hashim Isyaku, and Fatima Jibrin, were arraigned before the court by the Kano state government on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, confinement and culpable homicide contrary to section 97, 274, 277, 221 of the penal code.

The presiding judge also sentenced the second defendant, Hashim Isyaku to death by hanging.

Justice Usman Naaba also found the third accused person Fatima Jibrin guilty on four count charges in the case of Hanifa’s murder and sentenced her to death by hanging.

This sentence would serve as justice to the family of Hanifa Abubakar for the gruesome killing of their 5 year old daughter.

July 28, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

University of Oregon USA Waives IELTS For Nigerians

by Folarin Kehinde July 28, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The University of Oregon, Eugene in the United States has announced that from the winter 2023 application cycle, it would waive IELTS/TOEFL for all native and first language English speakers.

The university has made this known as a challenge to Home Office and other institutions around the world who continue to discriminate against English-Speaking Africans.

This development is due to the efforts from Dr. Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi who is championing the #ReformIELTS campaign by writing to various institutions to waive Nigeria off countries that are required to write IELTS or TOEFL before gaining admission.

Recall that LEADINGREPORTERS wrote a report on how Dr. Olumuyiwa has taken up the fight on IELTS discrimination by western universities by writing a petition to the various universities stating the various reasons why Nigeria should not be included in IELTS since it is already an English-speaking country.

The University of Oregon becomes the third university to waive IELTS for English-Speaking African countries, behind the University of Alberta Canada and the University of Athabasca Canada. It is also the first non-Canadian university to do so giving hope that more countries would begin to take the #ReformIELTS campaign seriously.

We hope that more Universities in Western countries would begin to change their policies in order to reflect Nigeria and other English-Speaking Africans as English speakers who do not need to write the IELTS examination before been offered admission

July 28, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Tackle Insecurity Urgently Or We Will Impeach You: Senators To Buhari

by Folarin Kehinde July 28, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Over 80 Senators yesterday have agreed to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari if nothing is done about the insecurity plaguing the nation lasts in Six weeks.

The Senators involved cut across multiple party lines and ethnicity. They were united in their anger about the rising insecurity in the nation which the President had tackled in a babyish manner.

According to the Senators, they have given the president all that he needed to tackle the security challenges but that the issue kept getting worse even in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the seat of power.

The decision was taken after their respective closed-sessions before the commencement of plenary, presided over by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who also charged the security agencies to do more in order to stop the terrorists and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase.

After the closed-door meeting, the Senate President blocked move by the lawmakers to present their resolutions on the impeachment of Buhari over insecurity at plenary, a development which angered the Senators, who consequently staged a walkout to address the Senate Press Corps.

“At the closed session, we agreed to give him (Buhari) an ultimatum of six weeks after which we will impeach him. But the Senate President blocked us.

“Nowhere is safe in Nigeria, even Abuja. Urgent steps need to be taken and we left the chamber because we’ve given the President six weeks to resolve the issue or we impeach him.

“We’ve given all the appropriations, resolutions and the support he needs. Our next line of action is to impeach him,” the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda, told journalists on behalf of other Senators.

But the presidency last night reacted to the reported move by the Senate to commence impeachment moves against President Buhari, and advised the senators to stop playing to the gallery like their counterparts in the United States, otherwise, staging a walkout was performative and babyish.

At the same time, the federal government, has said it was currently working round the clock to bring the country’s security situation under control.

July 28, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Buhari Writes Senate: Seeks Confirmation For Acting CJN, Others

by Folarin Kehinde July 28, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate, seeking a confirmation of the nomination of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

This is to replace the former Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who resigned on June 27, due to health reasons.

The president’s request was contained in a letter dated July 5, 2022, which he sent to Red Chamber.

The letter was read by the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of plenary yesterday.

The letter reads: “Pursuant to Section 231(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“While I hope that the submission will be considered in the usual expeditious manner, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

In another letter to the Senate dated July 21, 2022, President Buhari requested the upper chamber to confirm the nomination of Dr. Suleiman Agha Afikpo as commissioner representing the South-East zone, at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

He explained that the request is in accordance with the provision of Section 3(2) of the Hajj Commission Act. Cap. 321, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

The Senate also received a request from President Buhari, to confirm the re-appointment of four nominees as Non-executive directors of the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The request was contained in a latter dated July 21, 2022, and read at the start of plenary by Senate President Lawan.

The president, in the letter, explained that the request to confirm the nominees was made in accordance with Section 10(3)(a) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007.

The nominees for confirmation include: Prof. Mike Idiahi Obadan (South South), Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko (South East), Prof. Ummu Ahmed Jalingo (North East), and Mr. Adeola Adetunji (South West).

President Buhari also wrote to the Senate, requesting lawmakers to confirm 19 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The confirmation request to the upper chamber which was contained in a letter dated July 25, 2022 was read at plenary by Senate President Lawan yesterday.

President Buhari, in the letter, said that the request for the confirmation of the nominees was in accordance with the provisions of Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

He explained that the nomination of five (5) Resident Electoral Commissioners are for renewal, while the other fourteen (14) are fresh appointments.

The nominees for confirmation include Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa – Renewal); Obo O. Effanga (Cross River – Renewal); Alh. Umar Ibrahim (Taraba – Renewal); Dr. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun – Renewal); and Prof. Samuel E. Egwu (Kogi – Renewal).

Others are Onyeka Pauline Ugochi (Imo); Prof. Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto); Prof. Ayobami Salami (Oyo); Amb. Zango Abdussamadu Abdu (Katsina); Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi); and Dr. Agundu Oliver Tersoo (Benue).

Also to be confirmed are Yomere Gabriel Oritsemlebi (Delta); Prof. Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim (Kaduna); Dr. Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Sylvia Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Yushau Garki (FCT); Barr. Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Prof. Uzochukwu Ikemefuna Chijioke (Anambra); and Mohammed B. Nura (Yobe).

July 28, 2022 0 comments

Opinion Headlines

Naira Vs Dollar Devaluation: The Real Issues

by Folarin Kehinde July 28, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

by: Dr Oni Gbolabo

Appreciation and depreciation of currency is not related to race or color or who is the president be it Hausa Igbo or Yoruba. It is basically about production of goods and services and the demand of your products in the world market. A confused country that produces almost nothing will never meet up. Policies only control your currency, not the value of another country’s currency against yours.

A country where over 500 industries died within 30 years must be stupid to complain of depreciation of her currency. We keep killing local industries and expect policies to make it up. It’s a joke sir. Don’t use China as an example in depreciating currencies and strong economy. China produces and may attract more export with that strategy unlike Nigeria that produces nothing.

A country where someone carried $2+billion simply to be shared is already a doomed one in terms of monetary policy and value. A country that produces Dizeani and Bafarawa who spent billions to appease demons. Money without economic value is an economic poison injected into the system.

A country that favours importation over local production is doomed because it creates employment for another country while sacking her own citizens. Some people are working in Michelin and Dunlop somewhere, yet we use the tyre here. Don’t tell me principle of comparative advantage here. It’s not applicable.

A country that exports all raw materials without adding value is shameless to talk of depreciation of currency, to later re-import finished products of that material is the peak of daftness. A bag of cocoa will go for like N1 million but when it is processed it will be worth around N7 million. Even farmers who produce raw cocoa can’t buy chocolate.

A country that deliberately operate a banking system that gives loans to importers at the expense of local industries is doomed and should say nothing about depreciation. Most of the loans are given to Senators and Representatives, not industrialists.

A country that gives loans in billions to agric sector without monitoring & evaluation of such loan on how it gets to the real farmers is a sham. A guy collected over N2 billion agric loan, he bought a Jeep, built a mansion, and use the rest to import processed pork. Meanwhile, local pork farmers are dying here. Is that not a double tragedy, stressing forex and at the same time killing local industries.

A country that spend more on a few privileged politicians at the expense of the populace who are unemployed should not talk about depreciation. A country that keeps paying NNPC staff N10 billion as salaries every month when a single drop of petrol was not refined should shut up about depreciation of currency. Crime is rising as value added to the initial failure.

A country where it is difficult for investors to register businesses because of the governent officials demanding for bribe. Right from airport, to hotel, to Minister to Governors, investors must give bribe. All these are part of cost of investment. A friend brought investor on estate development just for the State Commissioner in charge to demand 30% of the investment. To see the Governor of a state will cost you N2 million as bribe before you can be scheduled. This is a State as poor as anything.

A country where the cost of travelling for treatment abroad by officials will build world class hospitals should not talk about naira against dollar parity. Money taken to that trip is part of stress on forex.

A country where few people have access to federal reserve and those few can get loans,not because of what they can produce, but because of the connection they have – is that country not gone already?

A country where we import what we produce because it’s cheaper over there is gone.

A country that has arable land, teaming idle youths and still complain of hunger should not talk about currency depreciation. It’s annoying.

A country where free money flows can never control inflow and outflow of forex. Imagine someone who wants to hide his loot went to _bureau-de-change_ to buy dollars worth $50 million just to hide it in the basement of his house. That money has no economic value yet it deprives Companies that need it to import raw materials. Those Companies go to that same _bureau-de-change_ to buy forex at exorbitant price.

A country where a strong bank owner can influence shares from within Stock Exchange room to inflate their shares worth from N20 to N150, crash the same share to N30 and ready to buy it back at N28 all within a year. Forget it, currency will never appreciate in such economy.

A country where banks are involved in round tripping and inflated cost to siphon money is doomed. A Company wants to import caterpillar worth $50,000. A bank made the forex $550,000 meanwhile no caterpillar was imported, yet the money faded into private accounts. Who strain forex in that case?

July 28, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Edo Records Eight Monkeypox Cases

by Folarin Kehinde July 27, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Edo State Ministry of Health said it has confirmed eight reported cases of monkeypox.

Prof. Akoria Obehi, Edo State Commissioner for Health said, eight persons have so far tested positive for the virus.

She said the government has ramped up surveillance and other activities to curb the spread of infectious disease.

She, however, noted that all persons who were diagnosed with the disease have recovered.

Recall that Global health body, World Health Organization, lists fever, headache, weakness of the body, sore throat, and enlargement of glands under the jaw and in the neck.

The virus can be transmitted from infected animals and rodents such as rats, mice, squirrels, and monkeys through contact with infected blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scabs, and sharing of objects, according to reports.

Akoria said, “If you suspect any symptoms of monkeypox, kindly visit the nearest health facility for medical attention or call the Acting State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (0806 059 3802).

Source: PeoplesDailyNg

July 27, 2022 0 comments

Business Headlines

African Development Bank Calls Nigeria ‘Most Difficult Client’

by Folarin Kehinde July 27, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The African Development Bank (AFDB) has declared that the Federal Government of Nigeria is the bank’s most difficult client. This statement was made by the Senior Special Adviser to the President of bank, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka.

Prof. Banji made this statement while delivering a keynote address at 2022, 3rd Biennial African Scientific Integration Network Conference hosted by the Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state. There, he delivered a paper virtually on the topic, ‘Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development.’

While responding to questions on what the bank was doing to assist the growth of industries in Nigeria, he made specific reference to a loan facility that the Board of the bank approved for Nigeria and how the Federal Government delayed its approval.

He said, “I can tell you we have many projects in Nigeria and I am leading one of them. For the Special Arrangement Industrial Processing Loan, we raised $540m for each zone in Nigeria.

“We raised it, and the board of the AfDB approved it on December 13 but the Ministry of Finance did not sign until June 1. We were begging them to sign. By the way, this loan has less than a one per cent interest rate for 25 years and an eight-year moratorium. It is like someone is giving you money for free.

“Other countries have just one zone and they have been calling to thank us, thank the president, thank everyone for what you have done for us, but in Nigeria, you will be asked why you are pushing too much. We were supposed to launch the project by March 1. The Nigerian government is the most difficult client.”

July 27, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Off Grid Options for Rural Electrification is Better for Nigeria’s Clean Energy Goals

by Folarin Kehinde July 26, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Four hundred and thirty-eight rural electrification projects were completed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in 2017 as contained in the 2017 budget. These projects are to ensure the provision of electricity in rural areas to improve access to electricity.

On one hand, the completed projects mean expanding the already burdened grid to accommodate additional load.

On the other hand, although it provided energy to the rural areas, the energy provided cannot be judged clean because of its source. At least 75% of the on-grid electrification projects in the country are thermal-powered.

Electrifying Rural Areas

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in its 2017 budget, made provision of power to rural areas through 471 projects approved by the government. To achieve this, the agency made provision for the construction of mini-grids and expansion of ‌ grids.

Data available shows that the agency completed 438 of the 471 projects proposed in 2017. This shows a 92.9% rural electrification project performance from the 2017 budget.

Most of the projects were ‌in the north-central region of the country. The region had 103 of the 117 electrification projects completed, as stated in the budget. In the south-south, 77 out of 85 projects were completed and in the north-west,76 of 79 projects were completed.

Measuring the regions based on most projects completed as proposed, the south-west, which has fewer projects, completed most of its projects. Out of 54 projects, 53 were completed, representing 98.12%. At the extreme end is the north-central with 88.03% completion rate. Other regions had a completion performance above 90%.

Increased Climate Change Pressure

While powering the rural areas with increased output in gigawatts, it detracts from the country’s clean energy progress. As the grids operated by the generation companies (GenCo) are mostly thermal power plants.

These projects are connected to the grid networks, which are mostly thermally powered.

At least 75% of the power supply generated in the country is thermally powered. For example, in 2020 27,324.33 gigawatts (GW) of thermal electricity were produced out of a total output of 35.720.27 GW. Likewise, in 2021, 28,045.9 GW out of 36,367.92 GW thermal-powered electricity was produced.

Details of energy generated in the country from January to June 2022 averaged 3328.4 megawatts (MW) daily.

It is estimated that a thermal electricity generation plant emits 450 grams of carbon per kilowatts (g/kw) of electricity produced. This means that in 2020 and 2021, 13.553 million tons and 13.912 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) were emitted from thermal plants.

Thus, at a daily average of 2496.3 MW of thermal electricity which is 75% of total electricity generated daily and an emission rate of 450 g/kw; 1238.263 million tons of CO2 are emitted daily from the thermal plants.

As thermal-powered electricity generation increases, so does the CO2 emissions. If Nigeria continues its rural electrification projects with thermal-powered energy, the odds against the country’s 2060 goal of zero emissions increases.

The Off-Grid Renewable Energy Option

Electrifying the rural areas using the off-grid option will not only provide clean, sustainable energy, it will also provide revenue to the government and save some cost.

It is estimated ‌that an off-grid electricity project to power 5 million homes will generate additional N7 billion tax revenue for the country annually. Also, powering the same number of rural households will save the country $10 million in import substitution annually.

Nigeria’s rural population is 90.033 million as at 2020 and just 24.6%, representing 22.148 million have access to electricity. At least 67.885 million people in rural areas don’t have access to electricity and with an average of five persons per household, an estimated 13.577 million households do not have access to electricity.

If these 13.577 million households are connected to off-grid electricity, it will generate at least N17.5 billion in tax annually and will save the country at least $25 million in import substitutes annually.

Implementation of the National Electrification Project (NEP) can leverage Nigeria’s 17 MW off-grid energy generation capacity, which will deliver benefits, beyond the proposed coverage, to the country.

The off-grid power generation has recorded success in South Africa, where it provided the most cost-effective rural electrification option. The project’s success in providing off-grid electricity was high as it considered businesses, population growth, and the corresponding load increase. And in the long run, generating revenue for the government.

Rethinking the electrification of rural areas using off-grid technologies will move Nigeria forward in the direction of its clean energy goals, provide energy to households and set the country on course for the attainment of SDGs 7 and 13.

Source: Dataphyte

July 26, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

ASUU Strike: NLC Embarks on Nationwide Protest

by Folarin Kehinde July 26, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has made true of its promise to carry out a nationwide protest the ongoing ASUU strike on the 26^th and 27^th of July.

Major roads in Lagos, Ibadan, Jos and other Cities across the country has been blocked as both members of NLC, ASUU and NANS engage in their planned protest.

The union had announced last week Sunday that it would on the 26^th and 27^th of July, carry out a nationwide strike to compel the federal government to resolve the five-month-old Asuu strike that has kept public university students at home.

The government, through Minister of Information Lai Mohammed had deemed the protest illegal, stating that there was no need for the planned protest since the government does not have any dispute with members of the NLC.

However, Nation President of NLC Ayuba Wabba in a statement said there was no going back on the planned protest

Wabba, who was reacting to an earlier warning against the strike by Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said it was in consonance with democratic norms and rule of law.

Mohammed had on Wednesday said the NLC had no reason to embark on the protest as the Federal Government had no dispute with its members. He declared the protest as illegal.

The NLC, in a statement, said:” It’s elementary knowledge that the right to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental global right guaranteed by the UN Charter on Human and Peoples right and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. All peaceful assemblies are lawful and do not require any permission under our laws. In a democratic society, such a statement is not consistent with the rule of law.

Details coming in from the Lagos chapter of the NLC says that it has given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the ongoing strike.

Speaking at the protest in Ikeja, Lagos NLC chairperson, Mrs Agnes Sessy urged the federal government to act within the two weeks ultimatum or risk another #ENDSARS type of protest.

Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees have also threatened nationwide blackout as they plan to join the NLC in solidarity protest with ongoing strike by ASUU.

July 26, 2022 0 comments

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