Headlines

In a devastating assault that took place around 12:30 am on Monday, armed bandits stormed Ruwandoruwa community in Zamfara State, leaving a mobile policeman dead and 15 individuals abducted, including the wife of a local monarch.

Leadership reports that the assailants fired indiscriminately upon entering the community, leading to the tragic death of the mobile policeman who heroically tried to defend the district head’s residence.

Despite a failed attempt to abduct the district head, the bandits seized his wife before fleeing the scene. As of now, no ransom demands have been made by the perpetrators.

The bandits were yet to contact the community for ransom regarding the abducted persons.

The Zamfara State Police Command has yet to issue a statement or comment on the distressing incident.

Meanwhile, the attack has sparked fear and uncertainty within the community.

The Osun State chapter of the Staff Union of Nigeria blocked the entrance to the Osun State High Court in Osogbo on Monday over what it termed as persecution of it members under the Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo.

They carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Judiciary staff deserves better,’ and ‘We are tired of oppression and stagnation,’ among others.

The protesting workers led by Gbenga Eludire said the Chief Justice has refused to pay their allowances and other emoluments in the last three years

He however said their protest was not born out of solidarity for anybody

It would be recalled that Justice Adepele-Ojo was last week Thursday, asked to step aside by the state House of Assembly pending investigation on allegations of corruption, gross-misconduct and abuse of office

Finland aims to increase work-based migration to 30,000 individuals annually, as the country has been actively encouraging international workers to address the growing labour crisis through its initiatives.

Some of the initiatives include the ‘Work in Finland’ and ‘Talent Boost’ programs and it has also positioned itself as a hub of opportunities for researchers, and innovators.

Laura Lindeman, Senior Director and Head of Work in Finland at Business Finland highlighted the initiatives that facilitate the influx of skilled and tech-savvy professionals on a global scale.

She underscored Finland’s commitment to global connectivity, recognizing international talents as valuable contributors to building connections with the rest of the world by attracting a diverse workforce, and promoting internationalization, innovation, and company growth.

Finland wants to attract talent and generate growth, internationalization, and well-being in collaboration with a diverse, international workforce,” Lindeman said.

“The Finnish society is aging; therefore, the country needs more young people to join the labor market”, Glenn Gassen, Director of Immigration Affairs, Helsinki.

According to the Finnish government, the country is proactively backing startups, providing stability, transparency, and resources. The thriving startup ecosystem is further bolstered by numerous accelerators, incubators, venture capital funds, and initiatives like the Finnish Startup Permit and funding opportunities.

Nairametrics learns that to address labor shortages in the startup ecosystem, Finland is specifically targeting talent in sectors such as ICT, digitalization, cleantech, and the social and health sectors, given the challenges posed by an aging population.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, on Monday affirmed the election of Hyacinth Alia as governor of Benue State.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 18 governorship election, Titus Uba had approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal which upheld Alia’s election.

At the tribunal, Uba among other things alleged that Alia’s deputy, Samuel Ode, presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission contrary to Section 182(1)(j) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He also claimed that Alia’s name was submitted less than 180 days before the election date, and Ode was also not submitted to INEC after the party conducted a further re-run primary election.

A three-member panel of the tribunal, headed by Justice Ibrahim Karaye, dismissed the petition on the ground that it was a pre-election matter and was statute-barred.

Ruling on the appeal on Monday, the appeal court’s three-member panel led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi held that the Uba failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegations of forgery against Ode.

A report from the AFEX Wet Season Crop Production Report for 2023 has unveiled a pressing issue in Nigeria – the exponential rise in rice consumption has far outstripped local production, resulting in an annual shortfall of approximately two million metric tonnes.

Punch reports that this imbalance has led to an eye-watering surge of over 37 per cent in the price of rice within the year.

The report sheds light on the relentless surge in rice consumption, closely mirroring the annual population growth projection of 2.6 per cent, hovering at an alarming two per cent.

“Rice consumption in Nigeria has been steadily increasing, aligning with the consistent growth of the rice market, nearly matching the annual population growth projection of 2.6 per cent at two per cent. This has led to a supply gap of about 2 million metric tonnes annually,” the report noted.

Nigeria has expended a staggering $15 billion over the last decade to fulfil its burgeoning rice consumption needs despite its potential to become a net rice exporter, as highlighted by the report.

Due to various critical factors, rice prices have skyrocketed to their highest levels in nearly 12 years. India’s ban on rice exports and the potentially disruptive effects of El Nino on production in vital regions have significantly contributed to this global price hike.

Moreover, disruptions from rain-induced issues and quality inconsistencies during Vietnam’s summer-autumn harvest have compounded these price fluctuations.

Domestically, the spike in rice prices, surging by over 37 per cent year-to-date, can be traced back to reduced production in 2022, primarily influenced by severe flooding during that year’s wet season.

The report also cites flooding and the consequential impact of global market dynamics as key drivers for escalating rice prices in Nigeria.

Despite these challenges, the report offers a glimmer of hope, forecasting a potential 4 per cent increase in rice production and an estimated up to 32 per cent increment in the price of paddy rice.

Notably, the production of milled paddy rice has witnessed a substantial uptick, surpassing 35 per cent in the country, with an estimated output of 5.4 million metric tonnes in 2022—a marked surge from 3.9 million metric tonnes in 2015.

Although rice cultivation spans all agroecological zones in Nigeria, the Northwest region claims the lion’s share, contributing a substantial 72 per cent of the total rice production in the country.

Experts say this supply-demand imbalance presents a critical challenge for Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for strategies to bridge the gap between rice consumption and local production to ensure food security and stabilize prices for this staple commodity.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu has dared his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, by declaring to run for the governorship position.

The Deputy Governor, who has been at daggers drawn with his boss, unfolded his ambition to become next governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Explaining why he threw his hat into the ring, Philip, who was recently evicted from the Deputy Governor’s Lodge, said “Edo needs a practical leader.”

He suggested that Obaseki, who has governed the State for close to 8 years now, was an experimental governor.

Addressing reporters in Benin City, Philip said, “With the 2024 Edo governorship election fast approaching, the state cannot afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics of the state or the needs of the people.

“Edo people need practical governance and you cannot experiment again with somebody that does not understand the politics of a good state and the needs of the people.

“So, everything we have to do should be assessed. You cannot know the needs of the people when you don’t live with them. So for me, competence and experience should be the watchwords as we go into the election in 2024.

“Who is competent? Who is more experienced? Who will hit the ground running from day one?

“Are we going to experiment with a new person again? And the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and he will spend another four years trying to embezzle, set up his businesses in the name of consolidating on the gains of the first term.

“Or do we need a governor that from day one will hit the ground running?”

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that no student drops out of tertiary institutions due to financial constraints.

Speaking at the 33rd convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State on Saturday, President Tinubu emphasised his government’s dedication to addressing the challenges facing higher education in Nigeria.

The President, represented by Professor King-David Terna Yawe of the National University Commission (NUC), acknowledged the difficulties facing the education sector but highlighted the steps his administration is taking to alleviate these concerns. He pointed to the Student Loan Bill, signed into law shortly after his inauguration, as a testament to his government’s commitment to supporting students.

“My government will not shirk its responsibilities in this area,” President Tinubu said. “We will guarantee that educational institutions receive the necessary resources to effectively carry out their statutory responsibilities. One of my first actions as President of Nigeria was to sign the Student Loan Bill into law to put this into action.”

He elaborated on the provisions of the bill, explaining that it will provide interest-free loans to financially challenged students in all tertiary institutions. These loans will be repaid at the students’ convenience upon securing employment.

“Under my leadership, and as I have outlined in my manifesto, no student will be forced to drop out of school due to an inability to pay tuition,” President Tinubu declared.

Earlier in the ceremony, FUTA Vice Chancellor Prof Adenike Temidayo Oladiji expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering support of the education sector. She commended his efforts to enhance the quality of education and make it accessible to all Nigerians.