Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said that petroleum subsidy will be completely phased out by June 2023.

Speaking on Tuesday, November 15, in Abuja during a press conference to mark the end of the 28th National Economic Summit, Ahmed revealed that while the removal of fuel subsidy is part of the FG’s medium-term plan in 2023 budget, how to go about it has been the challenge.

She said;

“First, we have to engage. We have already engaged with the states and the public before it was approved as part of the medium-term plan.

“We have to do it by systematically informing the citizens about the size and the quantum of the fuel subsidy.

“We also have to educate them about the opportunity cost of what we are unable to do because of the fuel subsidy.”

The Minister noted that the fuel subsidy, in addition to budget deficit, is putting enormous pressure on the “fiscals”.

Ahmed added;

“It is not money that we have; it is money that we have to borrow to maintain the fuel subsidy.

“Some countries introduced subsidy during the COVID-19, and because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but they are using their money to fund such subsidy.

“In our case, we are borrowing to pay the subsidy; that is double jeopardy. It is something that has to stop

“We are glad that majority of people in decision-making positions, including the political parties, have agreed that subsidy is not sustainable.”

The plan is, by June 2023, we must have completely exited subsidy, and it has to be a gradual process.”

The police in Akwa Ibom state have arrested one Austin Etim, a male nurse who works with the General Hospital, Calabar, for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl inside the male ward of the hospital.

Vanguard reports that the suspect was arrested on Monday, November 14, following reports by the hospital management and the Ministry of Health.

The 14-year-old victim (name withheld), who was said to be taking care of her sick father at the hospital’s male ward, while the mother was running around for other things, was sexually assaulted by the male nurse.

According to sources in the hospital, the nurse allegedly used a scarf to tie up the victim before assaulting her.

A nurse, who pleaded anonymity, said; ”The girl said he ( suspect) hit her twice before penetrating while tying her hands with a scarf, as she lost strength while shouting, but the suspect overpowered her and had his way.

The next morning which was Sunday, the girl who was crying, reported the matter to another nurse on duty as well as her mum, who collapsed when she heard the incident.

The furious mother called their pastor, who promised to come to the hospital after church service, but suddenly, the mother of the teenager changed her mind and said she didn’t want the matter prosecuted any longer.” the source said

The management of the hospital handed the suspect to the police after he repeatedly denied the allegation.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, MOH, Dr. Iwara Iwara, said the suspect has been suspended and the hospital has been given 48 hours to medically examine the teenager and produce her medical report for onward prosecution of the matter.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to Nigerians to help the commission identify underage persons on the preliminary register of voters for the 2023 elections.

The appeal was made on Monday, November 14, when INEC’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye appeared on Channels Television.

Speaking on the television programme, Okoye said the essence of the preliminary voters’ register is for Nigerians to make claims, raise objections, and identify biodata errors.

He said;

“The essence of putting out this is for Nigerians to help the commission further clean up the voters’ register.

“We want people to look at the register and assist the commission to check whether their names have been properly spelt; whether their personal particulars have been properly captured; whether some pictures are not upside down; whether there are still names of deceased persons on the register; whether there are obviously underage persons on the register, so that we can correct them.”

When asked if Nigerians can trust the INEC list of voters, Okoye said the commission cannot claim, in all honesty, that the register does not have errors.

He added;

“We cannot claim, in all honesty, that the register does not have errors. If the lawmakers believe that the register should not have errors or challenges, they won’t have provided in section 19, subsection 1-3 that such a register should be displayed for people to make claims, objections or lay complaints.

“We agree that the register is not perfect; because it is not perfect, that is why we have this display for claims and objections.

“We use our automated biometrics identification system to remove multiple and double registrations and then we did what we called manual adjudication to remove obviously underage persons.

“Apparently, there are still obviously underage persons on the voters’ register and we expect Nigerians to take a look at the voters’ register, both the ones we displayed at the various registration centres and LGAs and also on the website, and assist the commission to point out these things so that the commission can further clean up the register.”

A Nigerian mum has got Nigerians on social media laughing after her son shared a screenshot of their conversation when he shared a photo of his new hairstyle with her.

Her son had recently made his hair and sent a photo of the hairdo to his mom.

In a typical ‘Nigerian mum style,’ she immediately denied him saying ”This is not my son”.