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2023 Elections: AAC, PRP Form Alliance

by Folarin Kehinde December 12, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

As the 2023 Elections draws nearer, the African Action Congress (AAC) and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) on Monday officially formed an alliance to contest the coming elections.

Presidential Aspirant, African Action Alliance (AAC) Omoyele Sowore while speaking at a press briefing in Abuja stated that the two parties are the oldest and youngest revolutionary party and are forming an alliance to overthrow the evil oppression in Nigeria today.

Sowore explained that the press briefing aims at providing answers to questions by Nigerians on the need to form a major radical revolutionary party in Nigeria today.

“We are in alliance with the original PRP today, the PRP doesn’t have a faction, the other PRP is the overflow of the APC and PDP, there’s no faction in AAC and we are back in control of the party”.

“This is a new revolutionary party for Nigeria and Nigerians and we intend to shutdown corruption and reduce the system of deceit that has engulf the nation since independence”.

Furthermore, Sowore said that the other political parties are not different, hence the PDP is not different from APC and vice versa.

“In this coming elections, you hear of 4 major parties such as the PDP, APC, LP and NNPP all the characters and personnels in this party are from PDP originally, Labour Party own is worse because they are orphanage home for internally displaced politicians, anytime they are rejected from PDP or APC they go to labour party”.

He added that the alliance is a new revolutionary party for Nigeria and Nigerians and they intend to shutdown corruption and reduce the system of deceit that has engulf the nation since independence.

“The ultimate goal is total liberation of Nigerians and oppressed Nigerians in diaspora, we need to unite to tack out old parties”.

Corroborating, the Supposed National Chairman, People’s Redemption Party Abdulmajid Dawudu, stated that the is going to be a positive turnaround for the country where two parties with common goals are coming together to form Alliance that will represent the interest of Nigerians.

“The two political parties are merging today, this is just the beginning of the alliance and we are starting this now officially, this will be a great hope for Nigerians”.

He however stated to that the issue of who the real presidential aspirant for the people’s redemption party is still in court and would be sorted soon.

“On Kola Abiola being Presidential Candidate for the PRP, we are in court, we refuse to be moved by anyone to change the ideologies of the party, Kola being the presidential candidate is not true”.

December 12, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Climate Change: NGO Embarks on Project to amplify Women’s Voice

by Folarin Kehinde December 9, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

As parts of efforts to curb the adverse effects of climate change on the lives women, a Non-governmental Organisation, the League of Queens International Empowerment has embarked on a Gender and Climate change project aimed at providing women with a platform to amplify their voices.

Speaking at a press conference in Akwa Ibom, Friday, the Project Officer Idorenyin Bassey, stated that the project which aims to mobilize young women to advocate for a gender inclusive climate solutions in the Niger Delta and to amplify their voices and leadership for climate actions has trained 30 young women on climate change manifestations.

The Programme Officer further explained that the organisation had commenced planting of trees in primary schools in Akwa Ibom state, adding that the target “is to plant 2000 economic trees within the next 12 months.”

She, thus, called for partnership with government, private sector, individuals and civil society organizations.

Madam Regina Asanga, a member of Board of Trustees of the Organisation, noted that the project was very timely as it has provided an opportunity for young women to project their voices on the issue of climate change.

Asana, who blamed the effects of climate change on human activities further stated that “climate change is a global phenomenon and it has affected women the most”.

“Apart from the women serving as home managers, they (women) also bear the burden of climate change most, compared to the men counterparts.

“Apart from the livelihood and ecological effects of oil and gas extraction, women also suffer health challenges, the poisonous effect of gas flaring which has been routine in communities such as Ibeno for the past 62 years on account of the activities of ExxonMobil.

“This has contributed to increase rate of irregular menstruation among young women and early menopause. Implying that there are fertility complications for women as well.”

The project which began in September 2022 is being implemented with the support of Urgent Action Fund Africa and has held advocacy meetings with government stakeholders drawn from Ministry of Environment (Climate Change unit), Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Women Affairs.

December 9, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Governor Seyi Makinde Escapes Death In Car Accident As Driver Dies

by Folarin Kehinde December 8, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

A driver attached to one of the vehicles in the convoy of Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde died in a crash on Tuesday.

Three others in the convoy were also injured when the Governor was returning to Ibadan from Saki where he had gone to attend a town hall meeting with members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of his reelection bid.

It was gathered that the driver identified as Ramon Mustapha died on the spot after he was flung when his vehicle eventually landed after tumbling several time.

A source said the situation could have been saved had the driver used his seat belt.

Another source, who was part of the convoy but asked not to be named, said the late driver smashed his head in the unfortunate accident.

It was learnt the crashed vehicle with the code name “Zebra 4” somersaulted throwing off some bags of rice bought by some individuals on the trip.

The remains of the driver were later buried at his Amuloko, Ibadan residence on Wednesday according to Islamic rites.

December 8, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

BREAKING: House of Reps Orders CBN to Suspend New Cash Withdrawal Limit

by Folarin Kehinde December 8, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The House of Representatives has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to halt the implementation of the new cash withdrawal policy slated for January 9, 2023 pending compliance with the provisions of the Act establishing the bank.

The House also summoned CBN Governor Godwin Emiefele in accordance with the provisions of the Central Bank Act to brief the Chamber on several policies of the bank in recent times.

There was anger in the House on Thursday as members took turns to condemn the new cash withdrawal policy, saying it will grossly affect small businesses and the economy since most rural communities don’t have access to banks.

However, following a point of order raised by Mark Gbillah on the provisions of the Central Bank Act, the House directed the CBN Governor to appear before the House on Thursday, December 15, 2022 to brief the House on why the policy should be allowed to stand.

Sponsor of the motion, Magaji Da’u Aliyu, said the new policy by the CBN, which limits daily cash withdrawal to N20,000 daily should not be allowed to stand as it will adversely affect the Nigerian people, especially those running small-scale businesses.

He said while the country was trying to come to terms with the decision to redesign the currency, the CBN was coming up with yet another policy that will adversely affect the masses without proper advocacy.

December 8, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

D’banj Deny Fraud Allegations After ICPC Arrest

by Folarin Kehinde December 7, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Popular singer, D’banj, has denied any complicity in the fraud allegations against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

On Tuesday, the singer was detained by the ICPC, a few weeks after he was summoned by the commission.

The ICPC confirmed he is under investigation for allegedly diverting funds released for the federal government’s N-Power project.

In 2016, FG initiated the N-Power project to address the country’s unemployment challenges.

It was said that the stipends meant for beneficiaries of the initiative were paid to accounts linked to D’banj.

In a statement on Wednesday, Maryam El-Yakub Musa, a legal representative of the singer, denied that D’banj had any connection to the fraud or its orchestrators.

“We acknowledge the fact that the ICPC is currently investigating allegations of diversion of N-POWER funds as already stated by the commission,” the statement reads.

“We continue to hold the expectation that the Commission will stay the course of professionalism in this matter.

“For the record, D’banj has no such contractual or incidental relationship whatsoever with any group or persons within or outside government in relation to the disbursement, operations, access, or control of the operation of any government fund through an agency or its subsidiaries.

“Emphatically and as a matter of policy, Dbanj and his management do not engage in business dealings unless they are legitimate, properly documented, and obtainable in law.”

On the allegation that D’banj failed to honour ICPC’s invitations, the lawyer said the singer was out of the country.

“He sent in letters through his attorneys to the commission in respect of his schedule in South Africa and promised to visit the Commission when he returned,” the lawyer added.

“On Monday the 5th of December, 2022, D’banj freely and of his law-abiding accord went to the Commission at about 2 pm immediately after he arrived in Abuja.

“D’banj has encouraged the commission to carry out its investigation thoroughly to ensure that characters attempting to bring him into such ridiculous activities must be brought to book.

“It is inconceivable that D’banj whose very career is a reference point for hard work, diligence and honesty would lend his reputation built steadfastly over the years to acts of such accusations.”

December 7, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Nigeria Lack Laws That Protect Women and Girls’ Against Violence – YouthHub Africa

by Folarin Kehinde December 7, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Executive Director, YouthHub Africa, Mr. Rotimi Olawale has stated that Nigeria does not have enough laws that protect women and girls against sexual and gender based violence in the country.

Olawale while speaking in Abuja at the YouthHub Africa Men’s Summit stated that there are many women who are bastardized and thrown out by men, yet laws are not in place to prosecute them unlike developed countries.

“There are many more women who are bastardized and thrown out of there houses, we don’t have enough of laws that protect them, in developed countries you can’t do that we don’t have enough of such laws in Nigeria, we want them to speak out and report the cases”.

Meanwhile, Olawale explained that the summit is important has data has shown that men account for almost 90% of perpetrators of violence against women and they believe that it is important they begin frank conversation with the men and to see how there be behavioral change and to see that in 2022 that violence against women is no longer fashionable and acceptable and now there are laws that prosecute people who violate women in our society.

He opined that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act has not been totally implemented but in the last 5 years, there have been progress as some states has domesticated this act while others even have sexual offense register.

He added that men too face one form of violence or the other though the percentage is small but encouraged them to also speak out and share there pain.

“We are encouraging men also to share there pain though the data is low, violence against men are small, if we have 500 cases maybe a minute percentage is reported,

“Those small percentage also matter and this is also part of the patrichial society that we have, men are not allowed to share their pain and that’s what we are talking about but they also need to speak out when we are talking about violence against women and girls”.

Former Director General, The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Donli on her part stated that victims of abuse in any form should not settled out of court and anyone that tells them to settle out of court should be arrested and prosecuted, no one should settle in case of rape, it is a criminal offense, they must be prosecuted.

She advised parents to train the male and female the same way, both should be treated equally, boys must be brought up to respect and regard women otherwise the parents are raising a potential wife batterer and a rapist.

December 7, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Naira Redesign: Cash withdrawal above N100,000, N500,000 attract 5%, 10% charges

by Folarin Kehinde December 6, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has issued a revised cash withdrawal policy, stating that cash withdrawals above N100,000 and N500,000 will henceforth attract 5 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, as a measure towards implementing the naira redesign policy.

Also, the apex bank disclosed that Automated Teller Machines, ATM will dispense N200 and below denominations only from now on.

LEADING REPORTERS learnt this in a letter signed by CBN’s director of banking supervision, Haruna Mustafa, to all Deposit Money Banks, other financial institutions, primary mortgage banks and microfinance banks on Monday.

According to the letter referenced with the BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/015/069, a third-party cheque above N50,000 will not be eligible for payment Over the counter, OTC, and maximum ATM withdrawal shall be N20,000 per day.

It added that the maximum cash withdrawal via the point of sale (PoS) terminal should be N20,000.

“The maximum cash withdrawal over the counter (OTC) by individuals and corporate organizations per week shall henceforth be N100,000 and N500,000, respectively.

“Withdrawals above these limits shall attract processing fees of 5% and 10%, respectively; third-party cheques above N50,000 shall not be eligible for payment over the counter, while extant limits of N10,000,000 on clearing cheques still subsist; the maximum cash withdrawal per week via Automated Teller Machine (ATM),shall be N100,000 subject to a maximum of N20,000 cash withdrawal per day; Only denominations of N200 and below shall be loaded into the ATMs; The maximum cash withdrawal via point of sale (PoS) terminal shall be N20,000 daily and in compelling circumstances, not exceeding once a month, where cash withdrawals above the prescribed limits are required for legitimate purposes, such cash withdrawals shall not exceed N5,000,000 and 10,000,000 for individuals and corporate organizations,” the letter stated.

The CBN had on October 26 made known its plan to redesign 200, 500 and 1000 naira denominations. It gave December 15, 2022, as the date to start circulating the new notes, while it plans to stop the usage of old naira notes from January 31, 2023.

December 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Passengers to Pay N3,600, N6,500, N9,000 As Abuja-Kaduna Train Resumes

by Folarin Kehinde December 6, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

As the Abuja-Kaduna train service resumes today, eight months after shutdown, the fare prices have been reviewed upward for all classes of coaches.

Recall the Minister of Transportation, Alh. Muazu Sambo Jaji announced last week the train service will resume this week and that intending travelers should brace for a new fare regime.

Although the new fare hasn’t been announced publicly by the Nigerian Railway Railways Corporation, the operators of the train service, the new pricing has been effected online on the NRC online ticketing App, our correspondent learned.

Details on the new pricing template show that the Inside the Standard coach (economy) now cost N3,600 from the previous N2600, representing a N1,000 increment. The business class now goes for N6,500 as against the N5,000 previously charged. The Executive Class will now go N9,000 as against the N6,000 previously charged. Online purchases will a little extra cost on each fee.

Recall at the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, the NRC raised the ticket cost by 100 percent. Pre-COVID, first-class Express trip cost N3,000; First-class normal trip: N2,500; the economy express trip was N1,500, and the economy normal trip was N1,300. After COVID, the fare became N6,000, N5,000, N3000 and N2,600 respectively.

December 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

2023: I Will Withdraw if Anyone Can Identify Land Allocated To Me – Peter Obi

by Folarin Kehinde December 5, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Presidential Aspirant of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has stated that he will stop running for the Presidential Post for the upcoming 2023 General Elections if anyone can identify land allocated to him in Anambra State whilst he was a governor.

Obi while speaking in Abuja on Monday at the North East Stakeholders Interactive Session between Labor Party, Peter Obi and North Eastern Stakeholders stated he has no allocated land of his own despite being a former governor.

“If you see a piece of land inoutside over 1000 square meters C of Os in 4 years that I have allocated to people outside land in Anambra state if you see any allocated to Peter Obi direct or indirectly allocated to his wife or anybody come I will stop running”.

Meanwhile, Obi promised that if elected, he would not govern from the Federal Capital Territory but move into poverty stricken states to eradicate poverty with enough resources.

“What I want to do is not to stay in Abuja and govern am not going to rule from Abuja but eradicate poverty in states, I will budget maybe 1 trillion to eradicate poverty in states, we must take people out of poverty to reduce criminality”

“I will turn Nigeria to physically viability deal with issue of criminal subsidy and stop corruption and do this faithfully”.

Obi explained that the north east is devastated the only thing that is sustaining the north east is infrastructure he added that the crisis we face today cut across everyone with unemployment about 60%, hence million of productive youth unemployed across board.

He posited that insecurity, unity of the country and production is key for national development, hence his administration will focus on achieving all these when elected.

“We have best experience to tackle insecurity issues, it can be stopped and done very quickly, we want to unite Nigeria and remove her from consumption to production hence reducing poverty, we have vast last in the north east uncultivated and our people are hungry”.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal on his part stated that the party believes in Peter Obi for the anticipated change Nigerians need.

“Nigerians are yearning for change and people are determined that this time around the change that we have been yearning for will come”.

“And fortunately we have a competent person on Peter and his running mate,.we need an arrow head to drive this change and this two provide the arrow head that we need”.

Explaining, “he said, am not interested in LP as a party am interested in Peter Obi as a potential presidential candidate, it doesn’t matter which party peter Obi is, I sense that Nigerians are due for change they have been yearning for change, my own opinion is that Nigeria will vote for anybody as long as he is not part of the PDP or APC”.

The Convener, Engr. Isaac Balami stated that the stakeholders forum aim at finding means of stirring grassroots mobilization for Obi/Datti and ensure victory afterwards.

“We felt the need to steer up grassroots mobilization at the north east and our meeting here to to meet on how to ensure victory for Obi/Datti”.

December 5, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

2 Billion Litres of PMS Available NNPC argue despite long queues

by Folarin Kehinde December 1, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Despite long queues at filling stations in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said it has two billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in stock.

The company disclosed this on Thursday, December 1, in a statement issued by the Executive Vice President, Downstream, Adeyemi Adetunji.

Adetunji said the two billion litres will be sufficient for more than 30 days.

He further disclosed that the NNPCL has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots, adding that the company is closely monitoring massive load-outs from depots to states.

The statement stressed that the queues has nothing to do with scarcity of PMS.

“The recent queues in Lagos are largely due to ongoing road infrastructure projects around Apapa and access road challenges in Lagos.

“The gridlock is easing out and NNPC Ltd has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots and massive load-outs from depots to states are closely monitored,” he said.

Adetunji added that NNPCL retail and key marketers will restore normalcy in Abuja by loading more fuel into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He explained that fuel scarcity in the FCT and environs was impacted by the challenges recorded in Lagos.

“We want to reassure Nigerians that NNPCL has sufficient products and we significantly increased product loading in selected depots and extended hours at strategic stations to ensure sufficiency nationwide.

“We are also working with industry stakeholders to ensure normalcy is returned as soon as possible,” the statement added for more than 30 days.

He further disclosed that the NNPCL has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots, adding that the company is closely monitoring massive load-outs from depots to states.

The statement stressed that the queues has nothing to do with scarcity of PMS.

“The recent queues in Lagos are largely due to ongoing road infrastructure projects around Apapa and access road challenges in Lagos.

“The gridlock is easing out and NNPC Ltd has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots and massive load-outs from depots to states are closely monitored,” he said.

Adetunji added that NNPCL retail and key marketers will restore normalcy in Abuja by loading more fuel into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He explained that fuel scarcity in the FCT and environs was impacted by the challenges recorded in Lagos.

“We are also working with industry stakeholders to ensure normalcy is returned as soon as possible,” the statement added.

December 1, 2022 0 comments

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