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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a 10-day extension of the deadline for the use of old naira notes across Nigeria.

The CBN governor, who spoke to journalists Sunday morning, said he had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension.

The new deadline is now 10 February instead of the former 31 January deadline, he said.

Mr Emefiele spoke in Daura, Katsina State, after a meeting with the president who is in his home state for official duties.

Mr Emefiele said Nigerians, who are yet to change their naira notes from the old to new ones, now have an opportunity to do so.

He said people must utilise the opportunity because the deadline will not be extended again.

It would be recall that CBN last October introduced redesigned 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes and gave a deadline of 31st January for the use of the old notes.

However, the new notes have been scarce, thus leading to calls for an extension.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the timeframe for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide. The extension is for one week.

The Commission once again salutes the patience and doggedness of citizens.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq., disclosed this in a statement issued this Saturday evening, January 28, 2023.

The statement reads: “The Commission met today, Saturday, 28th January 2023 a day after its meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal capital Territory, Abuja and deliberated on a number of issues, including the reports from RECs on the ongoing collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide.

“It will be recalled that at the meeting with RECs on Friday, 27th January 2023, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu indicated that the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election.

“Having reviewed reports from all the States of the Federation, the Commission is encouraged by the progress made so far as more Nigerians troop out daily to collect their PVCs.

“Arising from reports from the various States and discussions with Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Commission has decided to further extend PVC collection in all its Local Government Offices nationwide by an additional one week. The ongoing collection of PVCs nationwide will therefore continue and end on 5th February 2023. This is the second time the Commission is extending PVC collection nationwide and this will be the last extension of the exercise. Collection period has further been extended by an additional two hours and will start at 9am and end at 5pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.

“Those that engaged in double and multiple registration should not bother visiting any of the Commission’s Offices as the Commission did not print their PVCs. The Commission will continue to act on all reported cases of sharp practices during the ongoing PVC collection and will ensure that no Nigerian is disadvantaged and all those that carried out valid registration have an opportunity of collecting their PVCs.”

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which convened in Osogbo, has removed Governor Ademola Adeleke as the state’s duly elected governor.

The tribunal ruled by a vote of two to one that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should revoke Adeleke’s Certificate of Return and reissue it to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

According to the majority judgment, which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, Oyetola received 314,931 lawful votes to Adeleke’s 219,666.

The minority judgement is still being considered.

More details later…

As part of effort aimed at ensuring Nigeria achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status by 2025, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) and Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FEMinWASH) has collaborated in accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies.

The President, Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FEMinWASH) Dr Mrs Bolu Onabolu led the team at a courtesy call to the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Mohammed in Abuja.

Also, the collaboration which aimed at accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies will be done by leveraging about 40,000 of the Environmental Health Officers at all levels with the statutory powers of the Council to promote WASH and promulgate Public health related edicts and enforce laws.

The duo agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be developed to formalize the partnership between the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria and the Network of Female Professionals in WASH.

Also, there will be brokering and fostering relationships that harness the huge potential of the Council to contributing to moving sanitation and hygiene access forward in Nigeria.

“Capacity building Leveraging and extending the reach of the National Resource Center of the Council which houses the best E-Learning Platform in the country”

Furthermore, the duo will leverage on the skills of the member organizations and individuals that are members of the Network whilst the council will make it mandatory for all female EHOs in Nigeria to be members of FEMinWASH and also develop an associate membership for FEMinWASH members to register with the council.

The collaboration which aimed at accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies will be done by leveraging about 40,000 of the Environmental Health Officers at all levels with the statutory powers of The Council to promote WASH and promulgate Public health related edicts and enforce laws.

In her own remark, the President FEMinWASH, Dr Bolu Onabolu ,emphasised the need to scale up intervention on the more than 40 million Nigerians who are still practising open defecation and bringing more female professional participation in WASH in Nigeria .

Chairman ,WASHSmedia Network , Mr Wale Elekolusi also emphasis the need to create more awareness for the people at the grassroot to understand the importance of open defecation free,ODF, society ,as he outlined some of the work of the network in some community and IDPs camp.

Former Special Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Dr Mrs, Pricilla Achakpa reiterated the commitment of the newtwork of Female professional in WASH to support the ECHON in capacity building in proposal writing to access more fund and resources from interested international agencies.

The seventh regional edition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) endorsed spelling and thrill has come to an end with Saviour Onazi of Trophies International School, Minna, Niger State and Nwannadi Precious Chizaram of NUT Endwell Model Science School, Minna, Niger State.

The spelling competition which took place at Government Junior Secondary School, Jabi, Abuja, had student competitors from about 10 schools across North Central and North East come together for the competition.

The students who won were rigorously tested, particularly on their ability to correctly spell and pronounce certain English words with British style, leading to a cash prize of about 150, 000 Naira and several other scholarship opportunities for the secondary category, and winners at the primary category would go home with the sum of 100, 000 naira among other opportunities.

Then, at the national level, the secondary category winners would leave with a cash prize of one million Naira, while the primary category would leave with the sum of 750, 000 Naira.

Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the event, the President, Educand Education Initiative and initiator, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Spelling & Thrill Competition, Ayotunde Ikulamberu, said that the competition geared towards promoting the culture of spelling and re-engineering the educational system of the country.

According to him, the education system around the country has nosedived. Educational prowess, diligence in terms of educational pursuits, and also reward for students outside of the classroom environment has actually nosedived.

“This initiative offers the platform to reengineer and to refocus on bringing upon students; both primary or secondary school to be able to showcase the level of their hard-work and diligence outside of the classroom environment”.

Stating that the Spelling & Thrills competition has been going on for the past 10 years, he said that the initiative was endorsed by UNESCO in 2017 and has a series of scholarship prizes for the winners.

On her part, a female participant, Madu Cynthia, stated that the competition has been revealing to her as she had lost touch with certain words as a result of flooding in Logo state which kept her away from school for a long time.

Her words: “I have never done this before, today is my first time doing this competition. Since it has been a long time since I left my spelling due to the flood in Kogi state, I was not sure of myself that I was going to make it. I appreciate the organisers of this program because for me to be here today, it is a great opportunity.”

One of the teachers who spoke to journalists, Ambrose Madu, said:

“The competition is an interesting one and the way I look at it, it will help the students and it is encouraging for the schools. Infact, many schools need to come and learn from it. Although it is not easy, it’s something manageable for every school as I am looking at it now because it will catapult them internationally and to many places because the way I am looking at it spelling is on the decline as a result of computer and this is a very good avenue to bring back the culture of spelling.”

Who the contenders and pretenders are, among PDP hawks seeking to replace Uche Ikonne as Abia PDP Governorship candidate

Even before the admission last week by Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu that Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate Professor Uche Ikonne, was down with an ailment that has kept him out of public view, the news of the jostle for his replacement was already abuzz in the state.

Who would be a substitute for Ikonne as the PDP governorship candidate in the March Governorship election if indeed the speculation is right that there is a groundswell of campaign in search of a new governorship candidate?

One opinion held the view the governor was having issues asking Ikonne to step down considering the implications of going to the polls with an absentee governorship candidate; another said it was in order as far as the electoral act and the constitution have no issues with that. In fact, a former governor of the state was in detention when he was declared winner of the contest.

The family of a young woman in Gbako LGA of Niger State has asked the family of her suitor to take back the old N1,000 and N500 notes they gave as bride price.

It was gathered that the family of the suitor took an undisclosed amount to the family of the woman as bride price and money for other stuff in preparation for the wedding.

Though the wedding was not postponed, guardians of the girl were said to have noted that with the CBN deadline of January 31, they were not ready to buy some things needed for the ceremony and that they did not have a bank account to deposit the money, hence their demand for the new notes.

A family member of the male suitor explained that, “We took money to the family of the girl we want to marry. They called me on Sunday to come and take the old currency notes back pending when we have the new naira notes. They said they don’t have anywhere to change the old notes. So, I want to take it to the bank pending when we get the new notes.”

He further said that many people were scared of collecting the old notes for fear that they would not be able to spend them before the January 31, deadline.

Investigations revealed that rural traders in the state have started rejecting the old notes or shutting their businesses as commercial banks have continued to give out old notes.

According to report, some rural communities and semi-urban areas in the state reported that most of the communities had no access to banks.

In the ancient town of Zungeru, Wushishi LGA of the state, residents said there was only one commercial bank despite the population and huge business activities in the town, especially during Sunday and Wednesday market days.

Marketers told our correspondent that many farmers had stopped bringing out their farm produce to Zungeru market on Wednesdays and Sundays for fear that they would be given old naira notes.

Mohammed Sani, the chairman, Amana Farmers and Grain Suppliers Association, Wushishi Local Government Chapter, said “Right now rural farmers have stopped bringing out their farm produce to the market since last week because they are afraid that they would be given old naira notes and they don’t have bank accounts.”

He said most rural dwellers have postponed their wedding and child naming ceremonies because it is when they sell their farm produce that they get cash to buy things for such ceremonies.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Sunday unveiled the state’s anthem.

Mr Ganduje said the anthem is meant to inculcate patriotism and to highlight Kano as a major commercial centre, its rich culture and leadership, among other virtues.

In a statement released by Abba Anwar, the governor’s spokesperson, Mr Ganduje assured that his administration would do everything possible to continue preserving the history, culture and business excellence of the state, for the overall development of the country.

The unveiling ceremony took place at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

The governor commended his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, a professor, for her ingenuity in initiating the process that resulted in the composition of the anthem, Mr Anwar said.

“I am glad to see that, what Her Excellency my dear wife, Hafsat Ganduje thought of, in developing the state’s anthem, has come to fruition. She did well and she deserves our commendation”

“We are here to show love for our state, our culture, our costumes, our history and to appreciate our state in general.”

“Ours is to promote love, a deep sense of responsibility and to also show the greatness of our dear state. As our national Anthem is bringing us together for the service and unity of our motherland, so also this state Anthem will follow the same pattern at the state level”.

“We are taking this Anthem to the State House of Assembly for legislation. That whenever we have any public function, after singing the national anthem, the state’s anthem will always follow.”

“The anthem showcases how the state excels in commerce, traditional leadership, scholarship, agriculture and hospitality, which stem from rich culture and history,” Mr Ganduje said.