Headlines

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC ) has declared a free train ride from Thursday on all its passenger services.

This followed the directive of President Bola Tinubu who also approved a 50 per cent reduction in interstate bus fares to enable the people to travel for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The NRC in a statement said following the President’s directive, it would commence free train service on its entire passengers’ services from Thursday, December 21, 2023 to Thursday January 4, 2024, both days inclusive.

The statement added, “Passengers are advised to obtain their free tickets via the online e-ticketing platforms only. Tickets will not be issued at any of the corporation’s train stations. Please note that no commuter will be allowed to board the train without a ticket.

“We enjoin commuters to be orderly, obey security personnel and the laid down boarding instructions of the NRC and those of its officials while at the station and on board the trains. We wish all our esteemed customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.”

The President had approved the intervention of the Federal Government in reducing the cost of transportation for the Christmas and New Year festivities to 50 per cent on all inter-state routes.

The Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake, who disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja, said logistics for the Federal Government subsidised transport fare had been concluded.

He said this was part of the President’s resolve to reduce the hardship faced by many Nigerians who wish to travel to see their family and friends during the Yuletide.

Alake stated, “In the spirit of Christmas and the end of year festivities, President Bola Tinubu, in another demonstration of his love for Nigerians, has approved that the Federal Government should intervene to bring down the cost of public transportation.

“This is to allow our compatriots who want to travel to visit their loved ones and hometowns to do so without stress and the extra burden imposed by the high cost of transport around this period. The President is well aware of the recent increase in cost of inter-state transportation and even for air travels.

“Traditionally, our people love to travel during Christmas and end of year to be with families and friends and this has been the practice for ages.”

The minister explained that the Federal Government would be working through the Ministry of Transportation to reach out to transporters, road transport unions, Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on the special presidential initiative.

He added, “It is in this wise that the Federal Government is announcing, beginning from Thursday, a special discounted holiday season fare on road transport and zero-fare by rail across Nigeria.

“What this means is that from Thursday, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via minibuses, luxury buses at 50 per cent discount of current cost and all our train services on the routes the trains currently serve at zero cost to and fro on their travels this holiday season.”

Alake said this reduction would affect routes like Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto and other major inter-state transportation hubs.

He also said Tinubu directed the police, Department of State Services, the military and other security agencies to collaborate to ensure safety of lives and property during the festive period.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also explained that the measure was not a one-off thing by the Federal Government, adding, “This is part of efforts President Bola Tinubu intends to be doing. It is not a one-off thing, and even though it is targeted at Christmas, the President would continue to review situations especially national holidays like this and see what kind of intervention can come going forward.”

The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Saidu Alkali, disclosed that the Federal Government already met with the leadership of the transport companies toward a successful and efficient reduction cost.

He said the ministry would maintain all the train routes in order to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed the maximum benefits of these special presidential intervention.

The House of Representatives at plenary moved to adopt the 2018 policy that will recognise the Chinese Yuan as an official foreign currency for conducting business transactions in Nigeria to curb the continuous depreciation of the naira.

The House also mandated its committees on Banking Regulations, Banking, and Other Ancillary Institutions to liaise with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to explore the appropriate mechanisms, policies, and partnerships required for giving effect to the policy.

Adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Jafaru Leko, the house said considering the volume of trade between Nigeria and China, the Chinese currency should serve as an official foreign exchange reserve currency alongside other major international currencies.

According to him, the International Monetary Fund proposed diversification of foreign exchange reserves for central banks of developing countries, including Nigeria.

Hon. Leko said the global economic landscape is evolving and international trade dynamics are shifting, with China assuming a leading role in global trade.

He said the People’s Republic of China has a stable and globally recognized currency, the Chinese Yuan (CNY), which is gaining recognition in international trade.

He said adopting the Chinese Yuan as an additional foreign exchange reserve currency might mitigate the adverse effects of Naira depreciation, reduce the risks associated with exchange rate fluctuations, and enhance Nigeria’s economic stability.

He argued that doing so would enhance Nigeria’s trade and economic ties with China, a crucial trading partner.

Hon. Julius Ihonvbare, the House Leader informed the house that the use of the Yuan was adopted as a policy by the government after the collapse of the price of crude oil in the international market, pointing out that what should be done is to implement the policy.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Hon. Ahmed Abdullahi, has pledged the Committee’s support to boosting the country’s internal security, through robust legislation and oversight mechanisms.

Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi gave the assurance on Wednesday at the National Assembly, during the Committee’s Inaugural Meeting.

The House’s Interior Committee, established by Order 20(B) Rule 63 of the House’s Standing Orders, is mandated to oversee certain Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in accordance with Section 62 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered).

According to Abdullahi, the committee, composed of accomplished professionals and public servants, is well poised to fulfil its mandate, thanks to the trust bestowed upon us by our esteemed Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abass.

Hon. Abdullahi explained that the focus of their Committee lies in addressing the nation’s security challenges, with oversight responsibilities covering the Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), and the Federal Fire Service.

He said: “To enhance internal security, we pledge unwavering legislative support, emphasising the deployment of technology and robust hardware.

“Our oversight activities will be comprehensive, ensuring value for allocated resources to the MDAs. Priority will be given to the welfare and provision of adequate equipment for our personnel, enabling swift responses to distress calls”.

Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi called on his colleagues to contribute their ideas towards shaping the Committee’s future activities, in line with the mandate of the 10th House of Representatives and the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

“Let us collectively commit to positively contributing to the Committee’s activities, justifying the confidence placed in us by the entire House.

Concluding, he expressed gratitude to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Principal Officers of the 10th House of Representatives for entrusting us with this responsibility.

“We anticipate tapping into your wealth of experience.”

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.”

In line with its commitment to provide lifestyle banking solutions and memorable experiences for its customers, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, recently hosted customers to two fun-filled days in commemoration of the Yuletide.

Tagged the Fidelity Family Weekend (FFW), the event saw the bank host over 10,000 guests at the Fidelity Grounds, Oniru, Lagos to a carnival-like atmosphere on Saturday, 16 and Sunday, 17 December 2023. A special feature of the morning event on both days, which were hosted for young children, parents and grandparents; was the loyalty prize presentation ceremony for the bank’s SWEETA and FPSS accountholders. The event saw several FPSS and SWEETA customers each go home with N500,000 and N150,000 respectively.

Speaking at the loyalty prize presentation ceremony, the chief host and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON said, “2023 has been an eventful year for us as a bank and we are indeed grateful for the success we recorded this year. We typically host an end-of-year party to cap the year and this year, we decided to try another approach and bring together the entire family in celebration of the Yuletide. We are happy to host you and have put in place lots of exciting activities to keep everyone engaged over the next two days.”

Day 1 of the event climaxed with a ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree by Dr Onyeali-Ikpe during the rave which featured breathtaking musical performances by Alternate Sound and Sean Tizzle amongst a host of entertaining performances put together to delight young adults and adults.

Just like the previous day, Sunday’s activities at the Fidelity Grounds featured several games and a visit to Santa’s grotto by the children who all received goodie bags comprising several functional and educational gift items.

Guests at the rave of the second day of the FFW were treated to musical performances by Peruzzi and queen of house music, Niniola; amongst a plethora of entertaining activities directed by the Master Compere and comedian -Funny Bone.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

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.

Related News

 Stakeholders seek improved health insurance, support for sicklers

 Nasarawa enrols 130 Almajiris in health insurance scheme

 Obaseki woos Chinese investors

“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 National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued guidelines on how to identify adulterated, fake wines, soft drinks and consumables.

NAFDAC has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, especially during the yuletide season, and emphasized the “4 Ps” for purchasing alcohol: Place, Price, Packaging and Product. Below are some of the guides:

Only buy NAFDAC-registered drinks
Only Buy drinks from reputable and licenced retailers, bars and supermarkets.
If the product is being sold well below its normal price, it is probably fake.

If it does not seem to include normal taxes on liquors, then it could be fake.

Check for poor-quality packaging, spelling mistakes and unusually shaped bottles.

If the contact information and address of the manufacturer is missing, the alcohol is fake.
Inspect the seal on the bottle. If the bottle seal is broken or damaged, it is a red flag.

Check for fake bar codes to verify the authenticity of the product.
Look out for bad smells that resemble paint stripper or nail polish remover– it may be a counterfeit concoction.

Following weeks of intelligence gathering and collaboration with security agencies, NAFDAC Director-General Prof Mojisola Adeyeye announced on Monday that the agency had discovered a clandestine network operating at Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State.

According to NAFDAC, the counterfeiters were a formidable cartel responsible for producing a wide array of adulterated products, mimicking popular brands such as Seaman Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin, Schnapp Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Labels, Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice, Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, Cartel, and others.

The illegal operation also included date revalidation for expired products like Peak milk, Powdered milk, Ketchups, Yoghurt, Coca Cola products, as well as the packaging of false and substandard items, posing a serious hazard to public health.

The agency revealed the deplorable conditions of the makeshift factories, stating, “The shops-turned factories are very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles, and cloned packaging materials of other brands.”

NAFDAC executed a comprehensive raid, targeting over 240 shops-turned-factories.

Over 1500 cartons of fake and substandard products, valued at over seven hundred and fifty million naira (N750,000,000), were destroyed during the operation. Ten individuals were apprehended at the scene and are set to face charges following a thorough investigation.

Due to the severity of the illegal activities, NAFDAC temporarily shut down Eziukwu Market for regulatory activities. It was only reopened after stakeholders committed to preventing the resurgence of such illicit operations.

Highlighting the health risks associated with consuming adulterated alcohol, NAFDAC warned, “Drinking adulterated alcohol can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness, and dizziness, blue tinged or pale skin, irregular or slow breathing, low body temperature, unconsciousness or passing out. It can also lead to kidney and liver failure or even death.”

According to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, more than 3 million people died worldwide as a result of alcohol poisoning.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also determined that alcohol is responsible for one out of every ten cancer cases in Nigeria, and that 4.7 percent of all cancer cases in Nigeria in 2019 can be related to the intake of contaminated alcohol.

NAFDAC advised consumers to, “Only buy NAFDAC registered drinks from reputable and licenced retailers, bars and supermarkets.

“If the product is being sold well below its normal price, or doesn’t seem to include normal taxes on liquors, then it is probably fake.

“Check for poor quality packaging, spelling mistakes and unusually shaped bottles. Look for the contact information and address of the manufacturer. If it is missing, the alcohol is fake. Inspect the seal on the bottle. If the seal is broken or damaged, then the contents might have been interfered with and are not safe to drink. Check for fake bar codes. If you have an app on your mobile that scans bar codes, scan it and see if it’s listed as the correct product.”

Highlighting product clues, the DG said, “Beware of bad smells! If it resembles paint stripper or nail polish remover, exercise extreme caution – it may be a counterfeit concoction.”

Encouraging the public to report any suspicious activities relating to illegal production of adulterated products to the nearest NAFDAC office nationwide, it assured that,

“We remain dedicated to our mandate, actively pursuing illegal producers. We urge the public to report any suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office, ensuring the safety of our citizens.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that there is no shortcut for the 25 former lawmakers who lost their seats after defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This comes despite a recent directive from President Bola Tinubu seeking their reinstatement.

In a statement issued after an emergency meeting, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) declared that the former lawmakers can only return to the Rivers State House of Assembly through fresh elections.

Recall that Tinubu on Monday directed Governor Fubara to recognise Martin Amaewhule as Speaker and pay the salaries of the defected lawmakers.

However, the PDP said such a move isn’t legal.

“The only option available for the former lawmakers is to seek fresh nomination and re-election on the platform of any political party of their choice,” the statement said. “They freely vacated their seats, being fully aware of the consequences of defection without justification.”

The PDP further clarified that the Rivers State House of Assembly, having declared the seats vacant, cannot re-admit the former members without a fresh election. They also dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can be prevented from conducting elections in the affected constituencies.

“Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022 is clear,” the statement noted. “No court has the power to stop INEC from conducting elections wherever a vacancy occurs.”

The PDP, therefore, urged INEC to proceed with fixing a date for fresh elections in the 25 constituencies, while assuring their party members to remain united and resolute in upholding the rule of law.

The development is the latest chapter in the ongoing political saga in Rivers State, fueled by the power struggle between Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The defection of 27 lawmakers, allegedly loyal to Wike, and the counter-declaration of their seats as vacant by Fubara’s camp had plunged the state assembly into turmoil.