President Bola Tinubu has announced a 50% cost reduction for buses and free train rides starting from December 21st to January 4th for inter-state travels.
This is aimed at cushioning the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
More to follow…
The immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has been sworn in as a Senator representing Plateau South.
Lalong, a former governor of Plateau state, took his oath of office on the floor of the senate on Wednesday.
The former minister had tendered his resignation to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
Lalong’s resignation was confirmed in a statement signed by Special Adviser to the outgoing Minister on Media, Dr Makut Simon Macham.
It revealed that the letter was submitted to Tinubu on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Lalong explained that after exhaustive legal processes, the Court of Appeal declared him the duly elected senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him the Certificate of Return.
He also thanked the president for appointing him as minister.
The downtime of one of Nigeria’s most popular websites, Nairaland.com, on Wednesday, entered the third day on Wednesday with users showing their displeasure over the site’s inaccessibility.
Nairaland, an online discussion forum, that has dominated Nigeria’s web rankings for almost 20 years, went down on Monday after it was “taken down” by the host of its server.
The forum’s founder, Seun Osewa, disclosed via tweets on his X profile early Tuesday that the downtime was due to an abusive report which he had “overlooked” after it was “originally sent on the 14th.”
He added that the server was taken down by the host after which he “removed the offensive content.”
However, he stated that after taking some hours to get support on how to resolve the issue, the forum was restored on the server.
Osewa added that matters took another turn when “they took the server down again with no warning.”
The forum’s founder, in a tweet early Wednesday, appealed to users and advertisers on the forum, adding that his “neglect of Nairaland is directly responsible.”
The tweet read, “Dear Nairaland members and advertisers, I’m very sorry for this unacceptable, ill-timed outage.
“My neglect of Nairaland is directly responsible. I was also unprepared to move to a new host at a moment’s notice after nine years with the current host. The process is ongoing but slow.”
However, users of the forum and tweeps of the social media app, X, have been expressing their displeasure and disappointment over the development.
A user, @BashirAhmaad, tweeted, “Does anyone have information on what’s happening with Nairaland? Typically, it is part of my nightly routine to check the site before bed, but it appears the page is down tonight. Could it be a technical issue, hacking, or something else?”
@jigslionheart wrote, “You mean you have never thought about investing in your own server? As big as NL is?”
Another tweep, @ebunleyi stated, “@seunosewa still think Nairaland is a joke. You overlook what? Imagine if Google experienced such downtime. You really do not rate Nairaland like we rate it sha. Get an active team in place and upscale this site. It means a lot to a lot of Nigerians.”
@rani_reine tweeted, “No wonder. I have tried logging in multiple times in the past six hours. Please get it back.”
Another user, @akintollgate, wrote, “Nairaland is bigger than being at the mercy of a host! Scale! Scale! Scale…..I open Nairaland at 7am, 12pm, 5pm and 11pm daily! You have built a true indigenous brand! It’s bigger than what your preferences are….build a team and let it unleash its potential! All the best…..”
One user, @Bimfo, stated, “Own the Abuse team. Have your server at your disposal. As you said in 2014 when we were hacked, Nairaland is bigger now. Oga Mii, Employ people. You are capable. If you really want to consider this advice, you can start by employing me, sir. I will manage any amount.”
Dorcas Egwuje
As Nigerians gear up to celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas, the rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel are casting a shadow over the festivities. The economic challenges faced by many Nigerians are making it increasingly difficult to fully embrace the spirit of the season.
Christmas, a time of togetherness and giving, holds significant cultural and religious importance for Nigerians. However, the cost of foodstuffs tends to soar during this period due to increased demand and market dynamics. This surge in prices is making it challenging for individuals and families to afford the necessary ingredients for traditional meals and celebrations.
The impact of rising food prices is particularly felt by low-income households, who already struggle to meet their basic needs. The inability to provide for loved ones and participate fully in the festivities can dampen the holiday spirit for many Nigerians.
In addition to the rising cost of food, the price of fuel is also a cause for concern during the Christmas season. Transportation plays a crucial role in enabling people to travel and reunite with their families. However, higher fuel prices translate into increased transportation costs, making it more difficult for individuals to visit their loved ones or travel to celebrate the holiday together.
This situation is especially burdensome for those who live far away from their families or have limited financial resources. The economic inequalities exacerbated by these rising prices can hinder the enjoyment of the holiday season for many Nigerians.
Efforts to alleviate the impact of rising prices during Christmas include government interventions such as price controls, subsidies, or social welfare programs. These measures aim to ensure that essential food items remain affordable for all Nigerians, regardless of their economic circumstances.
Furthermore, communities are coming together to support one another during these challenging times. Initiatives such as food drives, community kitchens, and resource sharing are being organized to ensure that everyone can experience the joy of Christmas, even in the face of economic difficulties.
As Nigerians navigate the festive season, it is crucial for both the government and communities to work hand in hand to find sustainable solutions. By addressing the rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel, they can ensure that the spirit of Christmas remains alive and accessible to all, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness.
In conclusion, while Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, the rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel are posing significant challenges for Nigerians. The economic hardships faced by many are hindering their ability to fully embrace the festive season. It is imperative for stakeholders to collaborate and implement measures that alleviate the burden on individuals, ensuring that the spirit of Christmas shines through, even in the face of economic adversity.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police Victor Olaiya has warned residents of the state against the use of fireworks, knockouts, bangers, or firecrackers for the celebration of Christmas or New Year in the state.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the state police command, Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi, said the commissioner understands the excitement and passion that accompanies these celebrations but stressed that “it is imperative to maintain law and order, respecting the rights and well-being of others in our community.”
Warning the citizens of the state to refrain from acts that may disrupt the peace and tranquillity within the neighbourhoods, Commissioner of Police Olaiya said a “ban on the use of fireworks or any other explosive device is still in force.”
He warned against the use of these dangerous or harmful devices as they can lead to extensive damage to properties, severe injuries, pose a threat to the safety and security of citizens, and disturb public peace.
“Anyone caught in this act will be made to face the wrath of the law,” he warned.
He enjoined citizens to be law-abiding and shun all forms of criminal acts, stressing that he has ordered all area commanders, divisional police officers, and heads of tactical units in the command to provide maximum security within their area of responsibility before, during, and after the Yuletide.
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has approved the provision of free health insurance for pensioners in the state to cater to the health needs of senior citizens.
The Director-General of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission, Dr Rock Amegor, said the free health insurance service would also cover operatives of the State’s Security Vigilante Network.
Amegor, who stated this in Benin on Tuesday, said the government is committed to ensuring quality and affordable healthcare delivery, noting that the service would mitigate out-of-pocket spending for the beneficiaries and facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage for all residents.
Describing the governor as a pacesetter, Amegor said the government has set out N1bn to cover the free health insurance service to the pensioners and vigilantes, among others.
He noted, “We want to thank the Governor of Edo State for this initiative and for being a pacesetter as Edo State is the second State in Nigeria covering for pensioners for free of charge.
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“I want to use this opportunity to call on all pensioners across the 18 local government areas of Edo State to take advantage and start enrollment as soon as details of enrollment come out.”
“As part of the government’s initiative for Universal Health Coverage for citizens of the State, Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki has decided to cover pensioners across the 18 local government areas of the State free of charge.
“This initiative has been borne out of the economic downturn as pensioners who have served us should not worry about paying out-of-pocket when they get to the health care facilities as it brings stability to the pensioners.
“The service covered is robust medical care that can take care of about 70 to 80 per cent of all medical challenges expected at one point in our lives and the services include medical, eye care and dental care amongst other care.
“We thank the Edo State Government and are urging other state governors to emulate Edo State to ensure our pensioners are covered and need not to worry about their health.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said the 2024 budget proposal would be passed on December 30, 2023.
The lawmaker representing Zaria Federal Constituency stated this on the floor of the Green Chamber at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.
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This is just as he notified Committee Chairmen that the Appropriation Committee has directed them to prepare reports of the budget defence by the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for submission latest by 8 pm on Tuesday, the 19th day of December 2023.
Bandits around Ardo-Kola local government area of Taraba State have resorted to collecting beer as levies from farmers before allowing them to harvest their crops, Leading Reporters reports.
A senior civil servant in Jalingo, who preferred anonymity, told the paper that he was forced to buy beer worth over N200,000 before he was allowed to harvest his Benniseed farm.
He said the levy imposed by the bandits ranges from N20,000 to N100,000 depending on the size of the farm.
“ I paid with beer worth N200,000 before getting access to my farm,” he said.
According to the report, farming communities where the levy was imposed by the bandits include Baka, Kasakuru, Majowere, Digun, Nyapori, Buzi, Dare, and Sakala.
A resident in the local government area, Mallam Dantala Bello claimed that farmers have become used to paying the levy to the bandits before harvest.
“Some abandon their farms if they are levied too much and project that they can’t recover the amount after harvest,” he said.
Another source in the area said the bandits were working with informants to get information on people coming to harvest their farms in the area.
lSinger, Adewale Mayowa, popularly known as Mayorkun, has vowed not to perform in Calabar again following the theft of an undisclosed item.
Mayorkun, who performed in the state on Monday, expressed dissatisfaction in his social media posts, hinting that the overall experience was far from enjoyable.
He wrote, “I just want to wake up from this dream bro 🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴. Nightmare is a better word! 🤦🏽♂️.
“CALABAR, You’ll probably NEVER EVER see me again, good luck to the other artistes coming for your festivals tho.”
In another post, be wrote, “❤️ Izz gone! no wam! ❤️”
Reacting to the post, his colleague, Iyanya tweeted, “My calabar people, this is very bad for the peaceful people I know us to be.
“The government has brought my colleagues to entertain you, all you owe them is protection and great hospitality.
“If you know anyone who stole from my brother, please return it and I will personally compensate you.
“Drop it at THE GRAND HOTEL 🏨 I will personally compensate you PLEASE.”
Kogi State House of Assembly is to begin investigation on the recent recruitment exercise carried out by the State Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission, STETSCOM.
The Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf disclosed this on Monday in Lokoja when the Executive Chairman of STETSCOM, Mrs Cicilia Cook led other management staff to defend the commission’s proposed 2024 budget.
According to him, the need to look into the recruitment and posting of the 1100 teachers is to check procedures and criteria used to grade them.
He noted that some of the individuals who passed the Computer Based Test, CBT, were not employed, as the recruitment did not reflect the spread across all local government areas of the state.
The member representing Ankpa I Lawal Akus, said the house should review the list of the teachers recruited recently to meet the state character.
In her reaction, Cook commended the effort of the lawmakers in ensuring that the education sector in the state developed.