February 2022 – Page 56

Post Date : February 10, 2022

Selling forex to banks to end in 2022 – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has put Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on notice that it will stop selling forex to them by the end of 2022. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the end of the Bankers’ Committee Meeting where he also introduced the RT200 Programme. Emefiele said the time had come for the banks to go out there and source for forex by funding entrepreneurs with ideas. The CBN, Emefiele said, will support the banks by granting rebates and other support until the banks find their feet in sourcing their forex by themselves. Emefiele also disclosed that the apex bank’s policies and measures have led to a significant improvement in diaspora inflow from an average of US$6 million per week in December 2020 to an average of over US$100 million per week by January 2022. The CBN, he said, would be reviewing these intervention programmes going forward to ensure that they continue to achieve the desired results. Details Shortly…

Post Date : February 10, 2022

Seven Feared Dead As Armed Robbers Attack Bullion Van In Ibadan

Seven people were reportedly feared dead on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital when armed robbers attacked a bullion van at the Idi-Ape area of the ancient city. Daily Trust learnt that the newly installed traffic light in Idi-Ape had stopped the bullion fan when the robber started shooting sporadically at the van. The incident which happened close to Agodi Area Command occurred around 1 pm. Unconfirmed sources said four policemen and three civilians fell to the bullets of the robbers who shot sporadically while carrying out the operation. A source in the area confirmed to our correspondent that the attacked bullion van has been taken to the police headquarters, Eleyele Ibadan for further investigation. Others sources said the bullion van which was attacked by the robbers was coming from a commercial bank located around Testing Ground, Iwo-Road area of the city. Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Adewale Osifeso proved abortive as he refused to pick up his calls or reply the text messages sent to him.

Post Date : February 10, 2022

NDLEA Intercepts N2bn Worth Of Codeine At Lagos Port

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized about two billion naira worth of codeine weighing about 40,250 kilograms imported in two 40 feet containers from India. This comes barely a week after operatives of the agency seized 14,080kg of Codeine-based syrup and 4,352.43kg cold caps used to conceal it in a 40 feet container also imported from India, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. A statement issued on Thursday by the Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi says the latest consignments intercepted on Tuesday 8th February were brought into the country in two containers marked HLBU 2239792 with 1,125 cartons of the drug and HLBU 1067338 with 1,751 cartons, with a market value of N2, 012, 500, 000 (Two Billion, Twelve Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira). Mr. Babafemi said that the consignments were seized at the Port Express Bonded Terminal, Berger-Apapa after they were discovered concealed behind cartons of hypergra 200mg and deluxe chilly cutters, after which the Agency’s sniffer dogs were brought in to identify the illegal substance. Reacting to the latest seizure, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the Agency remains poised to deal decisive blows to drug cartels this year by ensuring that no gram of illicit drug is allowed to come into or pass through Nigeria to other countries. While commending the officers and men of the Apapa Port Special Area Command of the Agency for their vigilance, he expressed gratitude to foreign partners for sharing timely intelligence and other port stakeholders for their cooperation.

Post Date : February 10, 2022

Sit-at-home: IPOB agrees with Abaribe, says Kanu didn’t give order in South-East

The Indigenous People of Biafra has taken sides with statements credited to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, never ordered the sit-at-home home currently being observed in the South-East. Abaribe, had last week told a section of the media, after meeting with Kanu, that the IPOB leader told him, he never gave instruction for any sit-at-home home in the region. In a statement on Thursday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said, “It is true, statements from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, because we stated it before now that our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, through his lawyers had asked IPOB members and leadership precisely, the DOS, to stop Monday sit-at-home order. “Those enforcing the non-existent Monday sit-at-home order killing and burning down properties belonging to Biafrans will incur the wrath of IPOB in due cause.” The group expressed its worry that the Monday sit-at-home is still being observed in the South-East, despite its cancellation. It, therefore, dissociated itself from those enforcing what it termed, “non-existent Monday sit-at-home order”, saying they were not members of IPOB. The group urged the people of the region to ignore such people and go about their normal business, claiming that they are enemies and traitors in the “freedom struggle”. It added, “We are watching them because soon their cups will be full and overflow. If you know you are truly for Biafra freedom don’t fall into these liars and deceivers because the truth will soon emerge. “They will soon regret their actions because they are not IPOB members and don’t know or understand what IPOB is capable of doing. They must regret what they are doing in our land. Their actions are detestable both to God and to man. Such people have nothing in common with IPOB. “This recent information and statement from Senator Abaribe has vindicated our legal team and DOS who obliged the information from our lawyers who indicated how our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, instructed us to stop Monday sit-at-home.” The statement continues, “Those in America and some parts of Europe, issuing fake orders to blackmail IPOB and its operational leadership that the lawyers lied should be ready to embrace what is to come against them. It’s better everybody hears Senator Abaribe, but those claiming to be Nnamdi Kanu disciples and using it to change IPOB strategy will regret their actions. “Again, it has come to the knowledge of great family of IPOB that they are now peddling lies against IPOB and our leader that he sidetracked the people of Ebonyi State in the leadership of IPOB. Such tissue of lies do not merit any response as doing so will amount to dignifying it. “The truth is that the entire Biafraland is fully represented in the leadership of IPOB. The gullible minds are following the gimmicks and antics these ‘confusionists’ are using to deceive them. IPOB is one family today, tomorrow and forever and nothing will change that strategy which is holding us together till eternity.”

Post Date : February 10, 2022

Do you know foreigners are begging to be citizens of Nigeria?

BY FREDERICK NWABUFO To ‘japa’ or not to ‘japa’, that is not the question. The question is; if not Naija, where else? If it is not Naija, e no go fit be like Naija. The song by Korede Bello, ‘I love Naija’, plays in my head. ‘’I love my country, I love Naija; I no go run cause I believe e go better, Naija will be sweeter; we can make it together, cause now and forever Naija is my home.’’ Riddim…!!! Have you caught the ‘japa’ bug? If you have, all well and good. Godspeed to you in your sojourn. Naija will always welcome you with open arms. ‘’No matter where you go, make you no forget area o; mother land eyeh o’’ — God rest Sound Sultan’s soul. Seriously, emigration is only natural. People will always go hither or thither. Absolutely normal. But what is contemptible is dragging Nigeria through the tarmac on the voyage abroad. Some Nigerians while exiting the country – at the airport – will post derisive comments with gleeful photos in tow on social media as a parting shot to the country — ‘’Nigeria you have done enough; you’re a destiny killer, goodbye forever’’. But soon enough, they find out living in any country comes with its own peculiar challenges and complexities – and that Nigeria, regardless of its flaws, will remain home. As I shared on Twitter, our first contact with the world outside our native sphere is as Nigerians; and we will always be seen and judged as Nigerians. Ridiculing Nigeria to make a point is self-ridicule. We are eternally connected to Nigeria and whatever image we project of our country; we make of ourselves. A foreigner running a successful business in Nigeria told me: ‘’Only Nigerians don’t see the opportunities in their country’’. Sadly so. The Lebanese have been thriving in the retail, construction and hospitality sectors in Nigeria for decades. The Indians are dominating the pharmaceutical, power and transmission sectors in Nigeria. The Turks are gradually taking over the furniture, education and manufacturing sectors in Nigeria. Only Nigerians do not see the opportunities in Nigeria. In 2017, the federal government granted citizenship to 335 foreigners out of 500 who applied to become Nigerians. I understand the path to be becoming a citizen of Nigeria is fraught with thistles and thorns. It is not an easy picking. It could take many years for an application for citizenship to be approved by the Nigerian authorities. Yet many foreign nationals apply. I learnt some foreign nationals lobby to be granted citizenship – but Nigerian citizenship processes are thorough. On Wednesday, Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, announced that the federal government had granted citizenship to 286 foreign nationals out of 600 who applied. Among those granted the very prestigious Nigerian citizenship were Americans, Europeans and Asians. Lai Mohammed, minister of information, aptly described the approval as groundbreaking. He said: “It’s a groundbreaking memo as it will tell you, because just as some people think Nigeria is not a fit and proper place to live, we have thousands of people who are applying daily all over the world from virtually every continent to be citizens of Nigeria. I think that is very instructive.” Nigeria is not an El Dorado but it is a country with immense opportunities that only the self-attuned can divine. Opportunities lurk everywhere in the country even in the heap of confusion. It is a country where anyone can become successful in whatever craft by sheer industry and determination. There is no pot of gold anywhere in the world, and nothing can substitute hard work and resilience. Nigeria has never been arid of opportunities. Some say the country is unsafe and uninhabitable considering the threat by bandits and insurgents. Yes, there is insecurity in the land, pestilence and human vultures ravaging parts of the country, but the security agencies have been dutiful in countering this threat. As of January 2022, over 200 bandits have been killed while 1,081 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to the army – as of December 2021. So far, over 17,000 Boko Harm insurgents have surrendered and over 3,000 bandits have been killed – according to official sources. We cannot obviate or make light of the security challenges, but it is reassuring to know that the country’s security forces are tackling this problem. The spasmodic incidents of kidnapping in the south-west and in the south-east have been relatively contained, and though parts of the north-west and the north-central remain afflicted by these vermin, there is the prospect of peace returning to the area. Insecurity is a quotidian problem. Every country faces it in different mutations. But what matters is how the government of the country responds to this snag. According to the World Population Review, out of the estimated 250,227 gun-related deaths worldwide in 2019, 65.9 percent occurred in just six countries — Brazil, the United States, Venezuela, Mexico, India, and Colombia. The much-vaunted ‘God’s own country’, the US, has the second-highest gun-related deaths globally. Nigeria will surmount these current teething troubles. It will always win – even through the deadliest tempest. By Fredrick Nwabufo aka Mr OneNigeria; as published in TheCable.

Post Date : February 10, 2022

STRIKE: ABSU-ASUU declares lecture-free day

The Academic Staff Union of Universities Abia State University Uturu, branch has declared lecture-free day. This was in obedience to the directive from ASUU’s National Secretariat and to mobilise her members, and sensitise the public on the looming strike action. During the Congress, it was resolved that ASUU-ABSU resolved to embark on any action to drive home its demands. ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike action in March, 2020 which lasted till December, 2020. The branch chairperson, Victor Nkemdirim, said, “During the period, the Union had entered into many memorandum of understanding and memorandum of actions, with the FGN. “As it has become almost a tradition, the FGN has reneged on the implementation of the re-negotiated agreements. “ASUU-ABSU has to declare unfettered support for ASUU and declared today, Wednesday, 9th February, 2022 as one-day warning strike essentially because the FGN does not honour agreements. “We wish to categorically state that the Federal Government of Nigeria should be held responsible if ASUU embarks on another total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action to press home her demands.”

Post Date : February 10, 2022

Tragedy As OAU Student Falls Into Soakaway, Dies

Tragedy struck at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, when one of its students, Ajibola Heritage Ayomikun, died after falling into a soakaway at one of the private hostels in the Students Village. The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, who confirmed the incident via a statement issued on Wednesday, said the deceased was a year two student of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, He stated that the university’s management is saddened by this unfortunate incident, and commiserated with the parents of the victim. Channels Television gathered that efforts made by personnel from the state’s fire service and other emergency rescue officials to save the life of the student proved abortive. While she was rushed to the OAU Teaching Hospital for medical attention, the student was certified dead upon reaching the hospital. Reacting, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, sympathised with the student and condoled the parents of the deceased. According to the university’s spokesman, the VC led his management team to the scene and described the incident as unacceptable. He pledged to critically look into the circumstances that led to the student’s death and mete out appropriate sanctions against those involved or whoever is found culpable. The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, appealed to the students to remain calm and law-abiding as the police, who have been briefed, are also investigating.

Post Date : February 10, 2022

Minister accuses ASUU of blackmail

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige has accused varsity teachers of whipping up sentiments against the Federal Government to attract sympathy to its planned strike. Dr. Ngige said the government had been implementing the Memorandum of Action signed in 2020 with the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The minister was reacting to the lecturers’ threat to throw public varsities into another round of strike to protest the yet-to-be met demands. The lecturers said the full implementation of the 2009 agreement is what can avert the strike. Ngige said the government released N70 billion in 2021 for both Revitalisation of Public Universities (N30 billion) and Earned Academic Allowances (N40 billion) to demonstrate commitment to the MoA implementation. The minister said: “It is not true. They have taken their Earned Academic Allowances for 2021. It was mainstreamed in the budget of 2021 and they got it. “We paid N22.72 billion which was mainstreamed in the 2021 budget. And they have collected the one of 2020 where they got N40 billion and shared it between them and other unions. They got it in January 2021. “When they called off their strike in December 2020, the release of funds was one of the agreements. They were paid N40 billion and another N30 billion for Revitalisation of Public Universities during the first quarter of 2021, bringing the total to N70 billion. “If they say the EAA is not in the 2022 Budget, why don’t they allow the government to do a Supplementary Budget? There is a parameter that we use to calculate it. That parameter changes every year and it is the budget office that is calculating it. “Maybe by March the Budget Office would have known what the parameter will be and put it in the 2022 supplementary budget. The EAA they got in 2021 was in the supplementary budget. “We are implementing the MoA, we have been implementing it religiously. When they (ASUU) are talking like that, I don’t like it because they are talking just to whip up sentiments.” The minister also directed the ASUU leadership to its primary employers – Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) to find out the progress of the re-negotiation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement. He said the report of the Prof Munzali Jibril-led Committee was not forwarded to him or the Presidential Committee on Salaries for input. Ngige said: “They are supposed to write to their minister, who is their employer and tell him these things you are saying. When there is a breakdown in discussion that is when it comes to the federal ministry of Labour. “They (FMoE) have not sent us any report either at the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) or have they sent anything to me as minister of Labour.” Asked if there is any meeting planned with ASUU leadership, Ngige said: “It is up to the Federal Ministry of Education to call me. Then I will call a meeting. “I have forwarded their complaints to the Education for them to engage them. I have forwarded a letter to the ministry of education today (yesterday).” Ngige also said he has forwarded the reply of ASUU on the assessment done by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the University Transparency Accountability Solutions (UTAS) to the FMoE, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. “They have written their own reply to the defects that NITDA pointed out in the UTAS. NITDA said utas is not ready for usage and pointed out the things they want them to rectify. “When NITDA did that I was the one who communicated to ASUU. I didn’t start waiting for their employers to do so just to fast track the negotiation. “I forwarded to ASUU, Finance and NUC. The Ministry of Education is supposed to have gotten its own copy, Ngige added.

Post Date : February 9, 2022

Imo community accuses monarch of using prison escapees to intimidate, kill kinsmen

…Wants monarch arrested The traditional ruler of Mmahu in Ohaji-Egbema council area of Imo state, Eze Augustine Iwuogu, has been accused of complicity in the cold-blooded murder of seven of his kinsmen last Tuesday. The monarch was accused of using four notorious murderers who escaped last year from the Owerri prisons after the April 5th prison break, to intimidate and silence opposition in the community. The escapee convicts are Osita Ogbori, Chinedu Echeta, Ugochukwu Nwabugo and Chukwuebuka Abezim. The community sources maintained that only Eze Augustine Iwuogu will know the whereabout of the killers of his kinsmen and as such should be arrested for questioning. Among those killed were the Town union President-General, Charles Mgbaraho; his Secretary, Chastity Nwachukwu and the Publicity Secretary of the community, Chinedu Anene. Others are Edeme Okoro, Isaac Ojenya, Ndubuisi Okereke and Junior Ifeyinwoke. Our correspondent gathered that trouble started in the community on August 24th, 2020 when the Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma through the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Ohaji-Egbema Council Area, Marcel Amadioha, appointed Charles Mgbaraho and his team as executives of Mmahu Town Union. According to several community sources, Eze Augustine Iwuogu did not hide his misgivings over the appointment and so vowed to resist the Town union appointment until they were removed. Among several efforts to reverse the appointment or antagonise the appointees, some indigenes of Mmahu in Rivers states, loyal to the monarch, petitioned the Imo state Police command accusing the new Town union executives of causing problems in the community. But in the course of interrogation, it was discovered that the group loyal to monarch maybe complicity to the many killings in the community and as such four of them were detained last Thursday. From Monday night to Tuesday morning, the gang of killers led by the escapee ex-convicts struck and killed three of the Town union leaders who testified in the Police and four others while a few others narrowly escaped the attacked. A community source who gave his same as Akpi Okaro told our correspondent that, “sometime in June last year, in the course of a meeting in the palace of Eze Augustine Iwuogu, one Uche Nwokocha, while strolling round saw the four convicts who escaped from Owerri prison on April 5th 2021, at the back side of the palace. He came back and raised the alarm in the meeting among his kinsmen, two days after that being 6th June, they murdered him. On 15th June, 2021, Onyekachi Ugwuoha was killed by the same gang and on the 4th of July, 2021, Athanatius Nwokocha, Uncle to the murdered Uche Nwokocha was also killed by the gang for supporting newly appointed Town Union leadership and blaming the convicts for the ugly occurrences in the community.” Police authorities have confirmed the killings but have indicated that a cult war may be the cause. But the Councillor for Mmahu and four other communities, Hon. Camilus Okoro dismissed the Police assertion as outrageous insisting that the murder was a premeditated killing to silence, wipe-out and depose Town union leaders appointed by the governor who the monarch perceive as not being his loyalists. Efforts to reach the monarch as at news time proved abortive.

Post Date : February 9, 2022

Federal Government Responsible For Insecurity In Nigeria — Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has blamed the root cause of insecurity in parts of the country on the actions of alleged highly placed individuals. He further stated that the federal government is to be blamed for the rate of insecurity in the country. The governor said, “The problem of insecurity in Nigeria today is man-made. The present federal government is responsible because I took proactive steps right from 2016 when I came in and I saw this coming. And today I am warning Nigerians, those who are sitting in their comfort zones, I want them to understand. “Last week, one of my colleagues in the northeast raised an alarm that ISWAP has taken over part of his state and they are gradually coming in. They are deadly and they can overrun this country based on what he saw. And I agree with him that if we don’t take time, it will happen. “Like I raised alarm earlier about the challenges we have that if we don’t take time, one day, what happened in Afghanistan, God forbid, it will happen in Nigeria. And it will appear to me that this leadership wants to surrender Nigeria to the insurgents. Their action and inaction have proven to me that they are working with the insurgents. That’s the truth.” Ortom stressed that the insecurity was man-made and if necessary steps to curb further spread are not taken, the country might likely be headed for ‘an Afghan experience’. He made this statement on Wednesday when he received the team from the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) led by a representative of the Director-General, Mrs Cecilia Gayya at Government House in Makurdi. The governor however posited that the people of Benue State have resolved to trust in God and committed to ensuring that they do the right thing in line with the provisions of the constitution of Nigeria as well as to fight for equity, fairness and justice.