Lifestyle

144 Nigerians stranded in Niger Republic evacuated- NEMA

No Comments

On Monday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received a batch of 144 stranded Nigerians from Niamey in Niger Republic.

Nuradeen Abdullahi, the NEMA coordinator in Kano, received the returnees at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.Mr Abdullahi said the returnees arrived at the airport at about 2:30 p.m.

“The returnees were transported into Nigeria by SKY MALI Airlines, operated by Ethiopian airline B737-400 with registration number UR-CQX,” stated Mr Abdullahi.

He explained that the returnees were evacuated under the care of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) from Niamey through a voluntary repatriation programme.

“The programme is for the distressed, who had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries and could not afford to return when their journey became frustrated,” stated the NEMA coordinator in Kano.

He also mentioned that the evacuated included 106 male adults, 16 female adults and 22 children (10 female and 12 male).

Mr Abdullahi noted that the returnees are from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Abia, Sokoto, and Edo.He said the returnees would undergo training in various skills.

“My advice to Nigerians is that they avoid endangering their lives by travelling to seek greener pastures in other countries, adding that no country is better than Nigeria,” said the NEMA coordinator.

NEMA said it repatriated 300 stranded Nigerians from the Niger Republic between February and March.Speaking to journalists, one of the returnees, Fatima Muhammad (a widow with two children), said she travelled to Algeria to seek greener pastures while recounting her ordeal.

“I had no one to cater for my children and me. I decided to seek greener pastures. I regret embarking on the ill-fated journey. I thank God we came back safely. Nigeria is far better than where we went in our quest for better lives. We suffered,” stated Ms Muhammad.

Lifestyle, Politics

Nigerians will not stop demanding restructuring – Prof Soyinka

No Comments

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has stated that Nigerians will continue to call for a restructuring, even as citizens gear up for the inauguration of the new administration on May 29.

Soyinka said the government of President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, must place a renewed focus on the persistent calls for restructuring the Nigerian federation otherwise its programmes and policies will face serious challenges.

“Whomever it is must understand that the people of this country will not cease demanding a restructuring of this nation,” he stated on Channels TV.

“New voices are being heard and they are more powerful than before. They are not just whining voices, they are voices based on actualities. We have failed in so many directions and they are saying, ‘let us try in this direction’ and you cannot ignore it.

“Otherwise, even your economic policies will fail, your infrastructure and transformation will fail. We will just go back threading the same old spur.”

Business, Lifestyle

Nigeria’s debt stock hits N46 trillion

No Comments

Nigeria’s total public debt stock as of Dec.31, 2022, stands at N46.25 trillion (103.11 billion dollars).

This is according to a statement issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO) in Abuja on Thursday.The DMO said the total public debt stock of the country consisted of the domestic and external debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the sub-national governments.

The sub-national are the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with comparative debt stock for Dec. 31, 2021 is N39.59 trillion (95.77 billion dollars)DMO said in terms of composition, total domestic debt stock stood at N27.55 trillion (61.42 billion dollars), while total external debt stock was N18.70 trillion (41.69 billion dollars).

“Among the reasons for the increase in total public debt stock were new borrowings by the Federal Government and sub-national governments, primarily to finance budget deficits and execute projects.

“The issuance of promissory notes by the Federal Government to settle some liabilities also contributed to growth in the debt stock,’ “the office said.

It, however, said that ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to increase revenue from oil and non-oil sources through initiatives like the Finance Acts and the Strategic Revenue Mobilisation Initiative are expected to support debt sustainability.

“Meanwhile, the total debt-to- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio for Dec. 31, 2022, was 23.20 per cent. It indicates a slight increase from the figure of Dec. 31, 2021, at 22.47 per cent.

“The ratio of 23.20 per cent is within the 40 per cent limit self-imposed by Nigeria and the 55 per cent limit recommended by World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“It is also within the 70 per cent limit recommended by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),’’ it said.

The total public debt stock as released by DMO excludes the N22 trillion Federal Government’s indebtedness to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through Ways and Means advances.

The Ways and Means advances are presently awaiting securitisation by the National Assembly, and can only be added to the country’s public debt after such securitisation.

Football

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi laments bad Nigerian football pitches

No Comments

Super Eagles and Everton midfielder, Alex Iwobi has lamented about the bad pitches the Super Eagles play on during home games, saying it has negatively affected the team.

Recall the Nigeria squad failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and, they were also beaten by Guinea-Bissau at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja last Friday in one of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

They later claimed an away victory in the return leg which was played days later in Guinea-Bissau.

Alex Iwobi, 26, has now blamed poor pitches for the team’s poor performances on home soil.

“We don’t know if we are going to have a nice pitch to play,” he said in an interview with The Beautiful Game podcast.

“Obviously, we got a new coach and we played Sierra Leone and we beat them 2-1 in a very difficult game, then we played Sao Tome and Principe and beat them 10-0 because we played on a great pitch.

A lot of us play in Europe now and we play on great pitches where it is easy to manipulate the ball around and play freely. If we had that in Nigeria it will be difficult to beat us and I am confident to say that not many teams can beat us.

“To start with, we don’t have a good pitch because if we have that I feel like we will be unstoppable. That is one thing about Nigeria and I don’t know what’s going on behind but we could play in Asaba, we could play in Lagos or Abuja.

We understand that everyone wants to see the Eagles play and Nigeria is a very big nation but at the same time, it will just be nice to have just one base where we know how it is going to be, the hotel we are going to stay and the food we eat. It just makes everything easier.”

The Everton midfielder added that they were still a young side and needed to learn. “Our team is still young and we still have a lot to learn and even as a team we are still learning about ourselves,” he added.

“One thing I can promise Nigerian fans is that as much as the talent is still there only God knows where we will be in the next few years and they just need to be patient with us because we are trying.”

World News

Nigerians obtain permission from the US government to stage a protest against Nigeria’s presidential election at Lafayette Park opposite the White House

No Comments

Nigerians in the United States of America have sought the permission of the United States Department of the Interior to stage a protest at Lafayette Park, opposite the White House.

The aim of the protest is to express their displeasure with the presidential election which held in Nigeria on Feb. 25, 2023. In a memo, the Nigerians explained that INEC “did not follow their guidelines nor rule of law in accordance of democratic principles.”

They added in the memo:

“We in the diaspora are demonstrating to call the attention of the US government and Biden administration to not recognise the projected winner.”

The permission was granted to carry out a protest on April 3 on the condition that the participants must “comply with all of the conditions of this permit and with all reasonable directions of the United States Park Police.”

Football

Nigeria fail to qualify for U23 AFCON, lose 0-2 to Guinea

No Comments

Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles on Tuesday failed to qualify for the 2023 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations after losing 0-2 to Guinea in the second leg of their fixture in Rabat, Morocco.

The 0-2 loss in the final qualifying fixture made it a 0-2 aggregate loss after a 0-0 draw in Abuja on Wednesday.

Both teams fought hard on the turf of Prince Moulay Al Hassan for one hour before Guinea took the lead and added a second goal 15 minutes later.

Nigeria emerged as champions of the Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015 and reached the finals in Egypt four years ago.

World News

Federal Government to build three resettlement camps for 20,000 Nigerian refugees

No Comments

The federal government is to build three integrated villages to resettle 20,000 Nigerian refugees from neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State disclosed this while chairing a technical committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Zulum, who is also the vice-chairman, Presidential Committee on Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Refugees and Management of Repentant Boko Haram Members, said at least 20,000 persons took refuge in neighbouring countries.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of N15 billion to the committee, with the Borno government handling the construction of the villages.

The governor said the aim was the resettlement of the returnees from the neighboring countries.

Mr Zulum explained that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would provide food and non-food relief materials.

According to him, the National Refugees Commission will coordinate the repatriation process of the refugees living in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger, while the Defence Headquarters will provide adequate security for the exercise.

The governor also said the construction of the villages and the repatriation process would be conducted in phases, and only those willing to return would be considered.

The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, representatives of all the relevant agencies, security operatives, and humanitarian organisations, among others.

World News

Four Nigerian siblings killed as fire razes building in Korea

No Comments

Four Nigerian siblings, aged between 6 and 11, were killed in a fire that gutted a three-storey residential building in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul, in Korea.

According to the Gyeonggi Disaster and Safety Headquarters, the fire broke out in a multifamily residence in Danwon District, Ansan, at around 3:28 a.m. Monday, March 27, 2023.

The fire was put out in about 40 minutes at 4:16 a.m., but the family’s two-room house, about 13 pyeong (463 square feet) in area, was entirely burnt, authorities said.

Four out of five siblings from a Nigerian family were found dead in a room. The victims included two girls aged 11 and two boys aged six and seven. Only the youngest sibling made it out alive with the parents.

All seven family members were home when the fire broke out, but the parents managed to take their two-year-old daughter with them as they escaped through a window.

The father was reportedly sleeping in the living room, and the rest of the family members were in a bedroom when the fire broke out. The parents are currently being treated at a hospital.

According to police and fire authorities, the father saw the fire and notified his wife and five children sleeping in the bedroom together. He then started knocking on his neighbours’ doors barefooted and pouring water on the fire to extinguish it.

The father came to Korea in 2008 on a D-9 Technician visa and supported the family by collecting secondhand clothes and household goods to send to Nigeria. His wife came to Korea in 2012 and gave birth to all five children in Korea.

According to authorities, there were neither fire extinguishers nor fire alarms in the building.

“The building is very old, but many foreigners continue to live there because it’s cheap,” said a pastor at Ansan Multicultural Church, which helps foreigners adjust to the area.

Officials from the local government and the Embassy of Nigeria in Korea promised to support the family on Monday. Another 37 residents of the building, mostly foreigners, were evacuated.

Six people, including three Nigerians, two Uzbekistans and one Russian, sustained minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. Police and fire authorities suspect the fire started from a power outlet in the living room wall but have requested further investigation by the National Forensic Service to figure out the exact cause.

“We are investigating the case remaining open to all possible causes, and an autopsy of the dead bodies will be done as well,” said a police officer.

Business, Politics

Buhari regime’s continued payment of fuel subsidy is damaging Nigerians’ well-being- NNPCL

No Comments

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Thursday said Nigerians had missed enormous infrastructure development due to the protracted fuel subsidy regime in the country.

The NNPCL disclosed that the amount spent on fuel subsidy payments could provide 7,500km of a road network at N400 million per kilometre and 37 well-equipped 120-bed tertiary health centres at N32 billion per hospital annually.

Lawal Musa, NNPC’s senior business adviser to the GCEO, disclosed this in Abuja at a joint National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)/Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) sensitisation workshop on the NNPCL Operations.

Mr Musa, in a presentation entitled ‘Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Nigerian Economy’, said the federal government spent as much as N4.8 trillion annually on fuel subsidy at the expense of the well-being of Nigerians.

In an analysis of the opportunity cost of the subsidy spending, the NNPC official said deregulation could deliver 500,000 new houses and the education and upskilling of two million Nigerian students, among others.

Mr Musa explained that it could deliver N12 trillion in four years to Nigeria while annual petrol under-recovery would escalate to N3 trillion, stressing that the cost of fuel subsidy outweighed the direct benefits, particularly to the masses.

He maintained that deregulation could provide additional 27,000 megawatts of electricity to Nigerians and build and equip 2,400 hospitals in 774 LGAs.“

Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa, possessing 28 per cent of Africa’s reserve, with petroleum contributing significantly to the country’s economy,” Mr Musa revealed.

“The benefits derived have over the years been eroded due to the amount paid on subsidy, a regime has been fuelling the vicious circle of poverty in the country.”

The NNPC business adviser also explained that petrol was sold at the lowest price in Nigeria among most West African countries despite the average cost of $2.7 per litre globally, which amounted to N570 per litre.

He stated that verifiable petrol demand data is critical to National planning and energy security.

In an overview of the PIA and New NNPCL structure, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, NNPC’s chief strategy and sustainability officer, said the new entity was incorporated as a commercial company to be run like any other private company in the country, following the provision of the PIA 2021.

Ms Eyesan said NNPCL’s activities were guided by three core values: integrity, excellence and sustainability.She explained that signing PIA into law overhauled the institutional, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry and provided a structured approach for managing host community development and investments.

Ms Eyesan said the PIA mandated the incorporation of NNPC and established NNPCL as a fully commercial entity.“Under the Act, NNPCL is to conduct affairs without recourse to government fund.

The new NNPCL is being owned by 200 million Nigerians with Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources as major shareholders,’’ she said.

World News

NiMet warns Nigerians to watch out for thunderstorm

No Comments

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted isolated thunderstorms in many parts of the country over the next three days, warning residents to be cautious of identified areas.

The agency’s weather outlook released on Friday indicated that there would be sunshine from Saturday to Friday across the country.

NiMet also envisaged cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the North-Central region in the morning hours with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara and Benue states later in the day.

“Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are anticipated over the Inland cities of the South and the coastal region with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers state in the morning hours.

“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Delta and Akwa Ibom state,” it said.

According to NiMet, sunny conditions are anticipated over the northern region on Sunday in the morning hours with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa and Taraba state in the afternoon and evening hours.It anticipated cloudy conditions with spells of sunshine over the North-Central region in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, there are prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara and Benue states in the afternoon/evening hours.

“Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the Inland cities of the South with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River state.

“Further into the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta state,” it said.

The agency predicted sunny skies on Monday over the northern region throughout the forecast period.

According to it, cloudy conditions with intervals of sunshine are forecast over the North-Central region throughout the forecast period.

“Cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are anticipated over the Inland cities of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom state in the morning hours,” it said.

It predicted isolated thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers, Lagos, Delta and Bayelsa state later in the day.

NiMet advised the public to be cautious in the areas where thunderstorms were expected, adding that strong winds were likely to precede the rains and as such, trees, electric poles, unsecured objects and weak buildings might be blown away.

“High temperatures are observed over the country which could cause heat-stress. Public is advised to take necessary caution/coping strategies to reduce heat-stress.

“All Airline operators are advised to avail themselves of weather reports periodically from NiMet for effective planning in their operations,” it said.

Politics, World News

UAE ignores Buhari’s plea, maintains indefinite visa ban on Nigerians

No Comments

The United Arab Emirates has disregarded the pleas of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift a visa ban slammed on Nigerian nationals since October 2022. The ban, however, does not affect persons holding diplomatic passports.

Last month, Mr Buhari had appealed to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayad Al Nahyan, the UAE president, to remove the visa ban on his country people in a telephone conversation whose content was relayed by his media aide, Garba Shehu.

The Nigerian leader, via the phone, disclosed that he had given instructions to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase the amount of foreign exchange allocated to the Emirates Airlines, the bane of the now-resolved months-long diplomatic row between the two nations and as a show of goodwill towards the Arab nation.

Since the phone conversation took place nearly a month ago and with Mr Buhari’s presidency ending in June, the UAE appears uninterested in his offer and has remained silent on the matter.

Instead, the Emirati government has maintained the travel restrictions on Nigerians and other Africans whom it has accused of constituting unrest in its territory through cultism and other illegal activities.

It remains unclear whether Mr Buhari will continue to persuade the Sheikh to remove the ban before his presidency expires or whether he will leave the incoming president, Bola Tinubu, to shoulder that responsibility.

Lifestyle

African leaders don’t love their country, they only love their greedy bellies – Simi speaks up against disrespect Africans get outside the continent

No Comments

Nigerian singer, Simi has lashed out at African leaders over the disrespect their countrymen get outside the continent.

In tweets she shared, Simi noted that Black Africans have to fight for space, respect and survival everywhere they go because the one place that is their birth right is hard on their lives.

The singer also averred that while this should make African leaders wake up, they’ve always shown they only love their bellies and only their children.

She tweeted;

Black Africans have to fight and fight for space and respect and survival everywhere they go because the one place that is their birth right is hard on their lives. One would think this would make African leaders wake tf up and help us fight for our dignity.

Who really wants to go a land of strangers, away from everyone and thing they love? People that want to survive. Nobody chooses that life because it’s good or easy. They just don’t want to die feeling that helpless.

But these leaders don’t love their country. They don’t love their people. They only love their greedy bellies. They only care about their own children. They only care about their families. As long as their wickedness is not happening to them, why stop?

World News

Two Nigerians Arrested At Indian Airport With Cocaine Capsules Concealed In Stomach

No Comments

Two Nigerian nationals were arrested for concealing 167 capsules of cocaine in their stomach at the Mumbai airport in India.

According to India TV on Tuesday, officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said the two passengers were arrested by police after arriving at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International airport from Lagos via Addis Ababa on Friday.

The DRI officials took them to court and demanded that they be examined by a doctor because they may have hidden drugs in their bodies.

A medical examination confirmed that the two Nigerians were hiding cocaine in their stomachs and that they purged 167 capsules over three days.

According to the DRI official, the capsules contained a total of 2.97 kg of cocaine worth Rs 29.76 crores and the two were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, a court remanded them in judicial custody.

Politics

Buhari’s regime promise to use digital tools for 2023 census

No Comments

President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has promised that the 2023 census will be successfully conducted using digital tools for the exercise.

Specifically, finance minister Zainab Ahmed said the 2023 population and housing census would involve digital maps, questionnaires and cloud computing.

She said this on Monday at a meeting between high-level partners aimed to seek support for the conduct of the 2023 census in Abuja.

Ms Ahmed explained that the count method would ensure compliance with the global climate change campaign for reducing emissions by 30 per cent unconditionally and an additional 15 per cent conditionally by 2030.

According to her, it has become imperative and urgent for Nigeria to conduct another census almost two decades on, as clearly spelt out in the National Development Plan 2021 to 2025.

“This month marks 17 years since the last national census was conducted in Nigeria in 2006. By the United Nations standard, PHC ought to be conducted every 10 years,” the regime’s finance minister said.

Ms Ahmed added that there was a need to address the inconsistency in the nation’s census and statistical system, limiting the effectiveness of development initiatives premised on obsolete data.

She stressed that a major challenge over the years was inadequate funds to conduct the census.

“It is worthy to note that 60 per cent of the funding and other requirements for the 2006 census could not have been achieved without the invaluable support of the development partners, corporate bodies and other key stakeholders,” the minister noted.

The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said major activities had been successfully completed in preparedness towards the census exercise, revealing that in the demarcation of 773 local government areas into enumeration areas for the census, only Abadam LGA remains to be demarcated, and hybrid enumeration strategy is being deployed for its demarcation.

Mr Agba said the Buhari regime had set up a census call centre and situation room, conducted a trial post-enumeration survey and convened a stakeholder’s conference at the national and state levels.

World News

Only few Nigerians agreed to return from Tunisia amid attacks on Africans- NiDCOM

No Comments

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says few Nigerians agreed to return home from Tunisia following the president’s remarks on February 21.

Tunisian President Kais Saied, at the meeting of Tunisia’s National Security Council, called for urgent measures against sub-Saharan migrants.

Mr Saied urged Tunisian security forces to halt illegal immigration and described the migrant influx as a conspiracy to change the country’s democratic makeup.

On her Twitter page on Monday, the chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said Amb. Asari Allotey, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tunisia, was in consultation with the Nigerian Community.

“Those that have agreed to return to Nigeria are very few, and the mission is working with the IOM to arrange tickets for them.

“The many others want to wait it out, praying it will soon pass, following the intervention of the AU and the African Group of Ambassadors.

“Though we don’t really have a large community of Nigerians in Tunisia as many of them are those rescued from the Mediterranean after a failed attempt to cross from Libya, the mission will update if they do request to return.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Tunisian president denounced making racist comments.

World News

US to extend tourist visa validity for Nigerians to five years – Federal Government

No Comments

The federal government says it has entered into an agreement with the United States on an extension of tourist visa validity for both countries to five years.

Sola Fasure, spokesperson to minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the federal government said the new policy applies to tourist visas, as well as visas for diplomats and government officials. 

The new policy is as a result of bilateral consular agreements between Nigeria and the US, and is expected to take effect from March 1.

The statement read;

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed the full implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the United States of America with effect from 1st March, 2023.

“The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, gave the directive following the approval for the implementation of the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the governments of Nigeria and the United States of America.

“The agreements amongst others include: The reciprocity of five (5) year tourist visa validity for American citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015; and extension of visa validity to three (3) years for diplomats and government officials between the citizens of Nigeria and the United States of America.

“Consequently, the Minister of Interior has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to start the implementation of the policy from 1st March 2023.

“Nigerians will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari launched the new Nigeria Visa Policy (NPV) in 2020, which amongst other things promotes tourism. Tourist Visa falls under the Short Visit Visa (F5A) category. This policy is in line with Mr. President’s desire to boost cultural exchange and business between both nations.

“As part of the Bilateral Agreement, the United States of America will implement a similar policy for Nigerians wishing to travel on Tourist Visas to the United States and for our diplomats and officials visiting the country.

“The United States will thus extend Tourist Visa Validity for Nigerian citizens to five (5) years.”

Politics

Nigerians are not yet ready for Igbo Presidency- Orji Uzor Kalu

No Comments

Former Governor of Abia state and current Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu has said that Nigerians may not yet be ready for a President from the South-East region of the country.  

While Kalu had in the past advocated for an Igbo presidency, appearing on a Channels Television on Wednesday, February 22, the former Governor said “this is not the best time for us” to become president.

He added that the people from the south-east “are not the best politicians”. 

Kalu said;  

“This is not the best outing for us. For you to be president of Nigeria, you need other regions. I’m not sure that Nigerians are yet ready for a president of Igbo extraction,

“We have five other regions to be able to come up with votes. We do politics with emotions. I want Igbos to stop doing politics with emotions. I want them to do practical politics that will be able to drive Nigerians if we want to be in the community of the nation. We need to read the temperature of other regions.”

Politics

Goodluck Jonathan preaches peaceful elections ahead of presidential poll

No Comments

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to be patriotic and peaceful and display true sportsmanship as they exercise their civic rights on February 25 and March 11.

Mr Jonathan said this in a message to Nigerians released by his special adviser Ikechukwu Eze in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said Nigerians must not allow elections to be a source of violence and anarchy.

“We must desist from the temptation of yielding to those desirous of making our communities and states theatres of conflicts for their selfish ends.

Let us realise that the primary purpose of democracy is to uphold the freedom and dignity of citizens and deploy the instruments of governance toward advancing and improving the well-being of our people,” the former Nigerian president explained.

Mr Jonathan urged Nigerians to “consolidate the gains we have recorded in our democracy in the last two decades by ensuring that the elections are peaceful, just, and fair,” appealing to politicians to eschew hatred and violence, “be circumspect in their actions and work towards consolidating the nation’s democracy.”

Mr Jonathan, who said that the future belongs to the youth, advised them not to allow themselves to be used as agents of destruction and violence, saying Nigeria is yours to build.

“This election provides you with the opportunity to be key partners in the nation-building process by electing leaders of your choice. Those you can hold to account, those you trust to defend your future and guarantee unity, peace, and prosperity in our great country,” the former president stressed.

According to him, the 2023 elections mean so much to all Nigerians, describing it as a moment of truth and courage.

“Democracy has put our fate in our hands. It has given us power, the power to make the right choices, determine our future, and shape our destiny,” he stated.

Lifestyle

Nigerians are facing COVID-23 caused by CBN’s naira redesign – Governor Ganduje

No Comments

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria of causing “COVID-23” with its Naira redesign policy.  

Speaking during the distribution of palliatives at the government house on Monday, February 20, Ganduje claimed that Kano residents are the most affected by the “unfortunate development”. 

He said;  

“We didn’t invite this situation, neither did we pray for it. We don’t welcome it at all. We gave similar palliatives during the COVID-19 days,” Ganduje said.

“Today our citizens are being faced with COVID-23 caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“We earlier thought it was a simple disease, but unfortunately it turned out to be a very serious virus.

“This virus which came from the CBN has affected all our commercial banks, our POS, our ATM machines, and all other things associated with this.

“We will not stop blaming the CBN for this economic blunder. We love our people. Therefore, anything that will disturb their well-being must be rejected.”

World News

I8 Nigerian nurses indicted for fake certificate scandal in the US

No Comments

The Texas Board of Nursing has filed charges against 18 nurses from Nigeria residing in Texas, the United States for obtaining educational credentials through fraudulent means.

In a statement on its website, the Board published 23 names of persons indicted with fake certificates of which 18 of them were Nigerians.

The board in its statement said an investigation carried out showed that the suspects were caught in a grand fraudulent diploma/transcript scheme.

The board explained that the suspects procured fraudulent nursing credentials which they used to sit for the national nursing board exam.

It added that the formal charges filed against the offenders are not a final disciplinary action, therefore, they are permitted to work pending the outcome of the charges.

The statement read;

“The Board has filed Formal Charges against the following nurses for fraudulently obtaining educational credentials.

The Board is authorized to file Formal Charges against a nurse if probable cause exists that the nurse has committed an act listed in Tex. Occ. Code §301.452(b) or that violates other law. See Tex. Occ. Code §301.458.

Further, Formal Charges are publicly available. See Tex. Occ. Code §301.466(b).

Please note that Formal Charges are not a final disciplinary action, and a nurse is permitted to work, as a nurse, while Formal Charges are pending.”

The Nigerians indicted include Abiodun, Yetunde Felicia; Adelakun, Abiodun Aveez; Adelekan, Joseph Adewale; Adeoye, Vivien Temitope; Adewale, Modinat Abidemi; Afolabi, Olufemi Toun; Afolabi, Omowunmi F; Agbo, Odumegwu Steve; Ajibade, Charlot Omotayo, Akande, Olabisi Christiana; Akhigbe, Catherine; Akinrolabu, Folasade Margaret; Ako, Esiri Rachael; Akpan, Rosemary Moses; Alimi, Bukola A; Ani, Ndirika Justina; Aroh, Nchekwube C.; and Ayodeji, Sherifat Olubunmi.

Other non-Nigerian nurses named in the scandal are Abanda, Jacob Atambili; Addai, Agnes Fosuah; Anaaba, Awingrug Musah; Anthony-Annor, and Spendilove; Asanga, Albert Nshanui.

Close Menu

Privacy Policy