Nelson Ugwuagbo

Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has been sworn in as the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in a ceremony held in Lagos, marking the beginning of his tenure.

Osigwe takes over from Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, whose term as President of the NBA has come to an end.

In his inaugural address, Osigwe outlined his vision for the NBA, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in governance.

He stated that his administration will hold both federal and state governments accountable, ensuring that they uphold the rule of law and act with transparency.

Osigwe’s commitment to promoting good governance and upholding the principles of justice marks a new chapter for the NBA, as it continues to play a vital role in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape.

Popular music director and cinematographer, ThankGod Omori Smith, better known as TG Omori, has shared a personal health update, revealing a failed kidney transplant.

In an earlier post on X, the 29-year-old shared that his only brother had volunteered one of his kidneys for the transplant, writing, “Yesterday my only brother gave me one of his kidneys so I could live again.”

TG Omori also shared pictures of himself on a hospital bed receiving oxygen on his Instagram story, captioning them, “keep my spirit alive. I don’t wanna die.”

However, in a recent update, TG Omori revealed that the transplant was unsuccessful, sharing the news on X and urging the public to pray for him during this challenging time.

He wrote, “One year after my kidney crashed I just had a failed transplant at St. Nicolas Lagos. Pray for me,”

His fans on social media have been replying with kind words and prayers for his health

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kirikasamma local government in Jigawa State, Yahuza Umar Labbo, has passed away.

His death was confirmed by the state party chairman, Aminu Gumel, who announced that Yahuza Umar Labbo died at the age of 55 after a brief illness.

He is survived by three wives and fifteen children, who will deeply feel his loss.

Governor Umar Namadi offered his condolences to the family and the entire Muslim Ummah, praying for the Almighty Allah to grant Yahuza Umar Labbo eternal rest.

The Governor also prayed for fortitude for the family to bear the loss, acknowledging the significant impact of Yahuza Umar Labbo’s passing.

The Jigawa State Local Government election, in which Yahuza Umar Labbo was a candidate, is scheduled to take place on October 5, 2024.

The Correctional Officers Pencom Retirees Association of Nigeria (COPRAN) has submitted a petition to President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minister of Labour, and Human Rights Commission, among others, regarding the challenges faced by retirees under the contributory Pension Commission (PenCom) scheme.

According to COPRAN, retirees are being deprived of their funds by PenCom after retirement, leading to untold hardship and inability to provide for their basic needs.

The association’s president, Mr. Anthony Ayiwulu, expressed frustration that after 35 years of dedicated service, retirees are only owed gratuities and are unable to cater to their families’ needs.

Ayiwulu cited the example of the Nigerian Army, which opted out of the PenCom scheme, and emphasized the need for a policy change or review to benefit retirees.

He highlighted the challenges retirees face in the current economic situation, including high living costs and healthcare expenses, and urged the government to prioritize fairness in its dealings with citizens.

Ayiwulu specifically called for prompt payment of civil and public servants’ retirement benefits to help them cope with retirement.

COPRAN also lamented that senior citizens under PenCom have yet to receive any palliative to mitigate the hard economic situation in the country, despite submitting their information through their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

The petition serves as a reminder of the plight of retirees in Nigeria, who often struggle with limited resources, and urges the government to take immediate action to address their concerns.

Pastor Johnson Suleman, senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, has urged Nigerians to focus on addressing bad leadership and lawlessness in the country, rather than blaming religion or the church.

In a video shared on social media, Suleman emphasized that the church is not the problem and that Nigerians should stop the hate against the church and ‘men of God’.

He noted that many countries more religious than Nigeria are developing rapidly due to good leadership and a lack of lawlessness, highlighting the importance of ensuring law and order in the country.

Suleman believes that the church is under attack as part of a broader trend, with selective outrage directed specifically at Christianity, while other religions or traditional practices are overlooked.

He argued that the root of Nigeria’s problems lies in bad leadership and lawlessness, not religion, and that people who have left the church should be indifferent rather than channeling their energy into hating the church.

Suleman acknowledged that while there are fake pastors, there are also many sincere men of God, and that critics often highlight flaws within the church while overlooking the good.

He urged Nigerians to shift their focus away from anger towards the church, stating that constant attacks won’t solve anything and may even cause health problems.

Suleman concluded that the church will continue to thrive despite individual opinions and that it’s more constructive to change mindsets and focus on solutions that benefit the country.

Kabir Ibrahim, President of All Farmers Association, has expressed concern that Nigerian farmers can no longer afford fertilizers due to their high cost.

Ibrahim attributed the affordability of fertilizers during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure (2017-2020) to the Presidential Farmers Initiative (PFI), which made fertilizers widely available at a cheap rate of ₦5,500.

He noted that after the pandemic, an additional subsidy of ₦500 was introduced, reducing the price to ₦5,000, making it even more accessible to farmers.

However, since 2021, the situation has changed, and farmers can no longer afford fertilizers due to the high cost, which Ibrahim blamed on the decline in the value of the naira and the subsequent increase in import costs.

Ibrahim explained that the country had a pact with Morocco to import fertilizers at a reasonable price, but since then, imports have been sourced from other places at prevailing market rates, leading to higher costs.

He also highlighted the impact of flooding on farmers, which washes away the little fertilizer they can afford, and appealed to the federal government to restore the fertilizer subsidy to make it affordable for farmers.

Ibrahim emphasized that affordable fertilizers are crucial for cheap food production, and farmers should be able to buy fertilizers at cheap rates like in 2017.

He concluded by stressing that the high cost of inputs like fertilizers, insecticides, and labor is affecting farmers’ ability to recoup their investments, leading to increased prices for consumers.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has reaffirmed the military’s commitment to democracy, stating that it will not succumb to calls for the overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Lagbaja made this declaration at the opening ceremony of the COAS Combined 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday. He attributed the calls for military intervention to young Nigerians who did not experience the era of Nigeria’s extensive military rule.

The Nigerian Army has built a new prestige over the past 25 years by allowing safe democratic rule, Lagbaja said. He emphasized that the Army will not allow itself to be used to undemocratically bring certain interests to power.

Lagbaja highlighted the government’s support for the military, citing the recent purchase of two Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters equipped with advanced sensors and enablers. He also mentioned the welfare of widows and family members of fallen heroes, which remains on course.

The Army Chief addressed the recent nationwide hunger protest, stating that it was an eye-opener that food and social security issues can snowball into physical security challenges. He pledged the Army’s resolve to review its agricultural policy and provide security cover for farmers in critical farming communities.

Lagbaja revealed that the Nigerian Army has acquired other combat enablers, such as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, rifles, and ammunition, to strengthen operations and security across the country.

The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) has called on the Federal Government to unconditionally release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, along with all political prisoners.

The elders also demanded an immediate end to unlawful arrests, detentions, and extrajudicial killings across the country, as well as the lifting of economic blockades against Eastern Nigeria.

The group’s demands were conveyed in a statement released on Saturday by Prof. Obasi Igwe, Director of Media and Publicity, and Alpha Justice, Coordinator-General of UNIEC.

The statement emphasized the need for peace and stability through restructuring, regionalism, and a referendum, urging the government to adopt these measures as a foundation for meaningful development in Nigeria.

The elders also stressed the importance of reopening the Eastern ports to stimulate economic growth and development in the region and beyond.

It read: “It is an indisputable fact that by mid-2015, there was not a single insurgency or war to overthrow the Federal Government or procure a Biafra anywhere in Igbo society and none today, except the one manufactured by a tyrant that made sure that such a war existed, with shoot-to-kill or shoot-at-sight orders openly issued against promising innocent youngsters in full view of all the world, in part to punish the Igbo for their sundry sins.

We, therefore, demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and his colleagues, with an immediate end to all manner of unlawful, hooded, night and secret arrests, detentions and extrajudicial killings.

The Federal Government has vowed to shut down defying fueling stations who continue to sell fuel at pump price of N900-N1,000/litre, citing illegal profiteering and exploitation of Nigerians.

Despite the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) efforts to stabilize fuel prices within the range of N568-N617 per litre, independent oil marketers have unilaterally increased prices to between N900-N1,000 per litre.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) claims that private depot owners are selling petrol to independent marketers at exorbitant rates, leading to high pump prices.

Spokesperson of the NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, said the petrol price reports that the regulator gets from its officials at the depots were different.

“Our depot people see a different price because we ask them to publish the prices at the depots every day and it is not N850/litre. Our field agents at the depots give us a different figure,” he said.

Responding to reports of independent marketers in Lagos and other states selling petrol at exorbitant prices of N900 to N1,000 per litre, Ene-Ita, said the NMDPRA will take action against such outlets.

“We will shut down any filling station found selling above the approved price if we catch them,” he stated. “NNPC sets the ex-depot price for off-takers, and we work together to determine the margins. There’s no justification for prices to be that high.”

However, independent marketers argue that they are forced to buy petrol at high prices due to low supply from NNPC.

According to the marketers, the subsidized rate of around N570/litre is only available to major marketers. As a result, they then sell petrol to consumers at higher prices, ranging from N850 to N900 per litre, and up to N1,000 per litre in some remote areas.

“That is why no marketer is complaining of low margins again. This is the time for them to make money. The only issue is that getting the ptakect is not that easy,” a source told The PUNCH.

“The price is high because the supply is low. It is a matter of demand and supply. The price will continue to be up, at least for now. It Is an opportunity for the filling stations to add to their margins. This is an abnormal situation. Normalcy is restored, and the regulatory authority can monitor. Can the regulator monitor anybody now?

“Imagine when you pay about N30m to NNPC to order petrol and it takes about one month to get the product. Assuming you take N30m from a bank with this interest rate, is that not a problem?’ a marketer stated.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticized the federal government’s new age policy for secondary school leaving examinations.

Recall that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Monday that students below 18 years old would not be allowed to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams.

However, NUT argued that this policy is outdated, considering economic realities force parents to send their children to school early, exposing them to early learning.

The Secretary-General of NUT, Dr. Mike Ene stated that the policy can only work if implemented from the primary school level, citing the need to address early enrollment due to economic pressures.

Ene explained that parents enroll children in crèches early due to economic pressures, and teachers begin educating them, allowing them to learn quickly, making it impossible to stop their learning.

Ene noted that exceptional students would be affected by the policy, citing 16-year-old SS3 students who would have to wait two more years, leading to potential legal challenges.

Ene concluded that the policy is poorly conceived and needs to be rethought, considering the scenarios of exceptional students and the potential consequences.