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 PRESS RELEASE  Tinubu: Removal of PMS subsidy necessary for long-term energy security and economic prosperity of Nigeria  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said  that the decision of his administration to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was premised on the need to ensure long-term energy security and economic prosperity of Nigeria. The President stated this in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 7th Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, 27th February, 2024. The President who was represented at the event by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, noted that the petroleum subsidy had, over the years, strained the country’s economic resources, leading to inefficiencies and, most importantly, hindering ability to invest in critical areas of energy security.  Tinubu admitted that the decision to remove the petroleum subsidy was a challeng...

 Six dead, 20 injured in Anambra building collapse Six confirmed d£ad as three-storey building collapses in Onitsha At least six persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building collapsed at Ochanja market by Woliwo Street Fegge Onitsha , Anambra state on Monday night, February 26.  The building, which was still under construction, collapsed at about 8pm last night. According to the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, six persons have been confirmed dead in the incident while 20 other persons were rescued with various levels of injuries. Some of the workers at the site who escaped death gave an estimate of fifty workers who were working at the site at the time of the collapse. More photos below. 

 Senegal talks 'propose extension' of Sall's term An election stakeholders' meeting has proposed that Senegal's President Macky Sall continues to remain in office temporarily, even after his last scheduled day on April 2. Political crisis talks called by Senegal's President Macky Sall on Tuesday advocated the head of state remain in office beyond the end of his term on April 2 until his successor is installed, six national forum participants told AFP. The participants in the "national dialogue" said there was a "broad consensus" in favour of the move, despite the opposition of a number of political and civil society actors to such an extension. On February 3, Sall announced he was indefinitely postponing the Senegalese presidential election scheduled for February 25. His main reason for postponing the election was "unresolved disputes over who could run for president." At least 19 people have qualified as candidates.

 Olukoyede Charges ALGON on Workable Strategies against Corruption Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has charged the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, to evolve functional strategies and initiatives to tackle corruption and improve governance at the local government level. He gave the charge in Abuja on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at a two-day national workshop and  Official Flag-off of Anti-Corruption Preventive Tools  entitled: War Against Corruption at Grassroots holding at the EFCC Academy. Olukoyede who spoke through the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, charged participants to leverage on their collective wisdom, experiences and insights to forge strategies and initiatives to strengthen the fight against corruption through transparency and accountability in local government administration. “As we delve into the discussions over the next few days, let us leverage on the collec...

 NLC suspends nationwide protest, extends ultimatum to March 13 The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended it’s nationwide protest and extended the ultimatum given to the federal government to March 13. The labour union had declared a two-day nationwide protest over what it described as unmet demands by the federal government as well as the orevailing hardship across the country. The Labour, in a communique at the end of its National Executive Council meeting this evening, said the objectives of the protest were achieved on the first day of the demonstration.

 FIRST LADY OF THE FEDERATION TO VISIT IMO TOMORROW -SET TO FLAG OFF THE RENEWED HOPE INITIATIVE SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME FOR SOUTHEAST REGION  In response to the economic challenges, the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu CON, will tomorrow, 28th February 2024, flag off the Southeast Renewed Hope Initiative. This initiative is aimed at empowering women in the rural areas through agricultural initiatives social investment programme  The support program for the South-Eastern Geopolitical zone will be unveiled before the First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma and other Governor's Wives across the South-East region.  The Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme seeks to address these challenges by providing targeted support to women farmers.  The program includes provisions for access to land, training in modern agricultural techniques, financial assistance, and market linkages. By empowering women in agriculture, the ...

 RIVERS HIGH COURT RESTRAINS POLICE FROM ARRESTING EDISION EHIE  A Rivers State High court sitting in Port Harcourt has issues a restraining order against the Nigerian police from arresting Rt Hon  Ehie Edison  Rt. Hon. Ehie is the Chief of Staff of the Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara  The presiding judge, Justice Sika Aprioku ruled that the pursuit of a case to arrest Rt, Hon Ehie was purely a politically motivated vendetta. Justice Aprioku entertained the various presentations and arguments that were made by the Counsel for the applicant, D.O. Okoro, SAN, and C.M. Dickson, Esq. who represented the respondents. The judge later ruled and dismissed the preliminary objection that was raised on the issue of jurisdiction because it lacked merit. Justice Aprioku who said the respondents are restrained from arresting the applicant because the charges are only aimed at settling political scores, awarded the cost of One Hundred Thousand Naira (₦100,000) in ...

 CBN begins sale of dollars at N1,301 per USD  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the sale of foreign exchange to Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in the country. This was contained in a memo signed by Hassan Mahmud, the director of Trade and Exchange Department at the apex bank. According to the memo seen by @goldmynetv, the move is part of CBN’s “strategic step” to increase liquidity and strengthen the naira against “manipulators”. Mahmud noted that the CBN will sell the United States dollars to BDC operators at N1,301 per USD. The BDC operators are expected to sell to customers at not more than 1% above the purchase rate from the CBN. Recall that the naira recently traded as high as N1,800 to the dollar. The statement reads: “Following the on-going reforms in the foreign exchange market, aimed at achieving an appropriate market determined exchange rate for the Naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has observed the continued price distortions at the retail en...

 Kentucky: Campbellsville University student found "deceased from strangulation" in his dorm room. Fellow teammate on wrestling team charged. 18-year-old, Josiah Kilman, was found unresponsive  in his dorm room on Saturday. He was later pronounced deceased at Taylor regional hospital. After finding Kilman the school was placed on temporary lock down, however it was lifted later in the evening.  Officials report Kilman died as a result of manual strangulation.  Police have now officially arrested 21-year-old Charles Escalera in connection with the death.  Escalera was a teammate of Kilman in the Campbellsville wrestling team.  Escalera is being held on suspicion of murder but is also interestingly charged with aiding or abetting in the manual strangulation of Kilman. Police say they have not discovered a motive at this point. Escalera is being represented by a public defender and is scheduled for a hearing on March 6th. Our thoughts are with Josiah's family ...

 FG: Report of Coup Scare Fake, Act of Disinformation   The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has debunked a news report of a so-called coup scare in the country, stressing that the report is unequivocally false, and is a heinous act of disinformation.   He said the report is the figment of the warped imagination of detractors, whose malicious intent is to destabilize the country and undermine the present administration.   Idris said the government would neither be distracted nor intimidated into abandoning the ongoing reforms aimed at rejuvenating the economy and creating a pathway of prosperity for the citizenry.   The Minister said it is now evident that some desperate individuals have resorted to publishing fake news to erode public trust in the government and sow the seed of discord in the country.   Idris said the government will exercise its rights within the Federal Republic of Nigeria's laws to contain rogue actions ...

 Kano Court Jails Two Bureau De Change Operators  Justice Mohammed Nasir  Yunusa of the Federal High Court Kano on Tuesday,  February 27 2024, convicted and sentenced two illegal bureau de change operators to one year imprisonment each for operating BDC without an appropriate licence. The convicts: Munkaila Sani and Mohammed Sani were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on engaging in financial operations of bureau de change without a requisite licence, upon their arraignment by the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The lone-count charge reads ‘’That you Munkaila Sani sometime in February, 2024 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did engage in a financial operation of bureau de change without a valid licence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 (5) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5) (B) of the sam...

 Updated President Bola Tinubu STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU ADVOCATES GREATER HOME-GROWN SKILL RETENTION AND DOMESTICATION OF TECHNOLOGIES AS PURSUIT OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INTENSIFIES President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja launched the Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) to facilitate home-grown skill retention and technology domestication and to balance employment opportunities between Nigerians and expatriates. Speaking at the launch of the Expatriate Employment Levy handbook, the President also said the aim is to close wage gaps between expatriates and the Nigerian labour force, while increasing employment opportunities for qualified Nigerians in foreign companies operating in the country. President Tinubu, however, warned that the scheme should not be used as an impediment nor as a cudgel wielded to discourage foreign investors. "We expect improved revenue generation; improved naturalization and indigenization; we anticipate the employment of more qua...

 Gov Alia Probes Ortom Over Benue Assets The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has begun the probe of former governor Samuel Ortom over government assets under his care from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023. As part of the probe, the governor has constituted two commissions of inquiries on income and expenditure, including contract awards, bailout funds and Paris Club refunds within the same period. During the inauguration of both commissions at the old banquet hall of the Benue State Government House, Governor Alia tasked the commission of inquiry on the sales and lease of government assets to investigate all agreements or sales that shortchanged the government and make appropriate recommendations on the way forward. He insisted that his administration had no other motive behind the probe but “the need to ensure Benue State gets the benefit of all that accrued to it during the last administration”. Chaired by retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo and Justice Paul Appolos, the commission ...

 Lawmakers’ salaries too small for job responsibilities -Deputy Speaker The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Monday said the current salaries of federal lawmakers cannot take them home to do the jobs they were elected to do. While stressing that the take home pay of the average lawmaker is a ‘far cry’ from what people insinuate, Kalu called for understanding, saying the call for the slashing of their salary by 50 per cent is not the solution to the current problem. The deputy speaker spoke on Monday. Kalu said, “At the moment, talking about the salary of the National Assembly. I have said this over and again, it is not as much as people think. Salary is different from allowance, which is meant to do the jobs our constituents have sent us to do. “Nobody is allowed to touch allowances. It is the salary that belongs to you. Allowances have no subheadings for which they are made for. If you use it wrongly, when you are retiring it, you will be sanctione...

 Transfer: ‘I only see offers online’ – Nwabali Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has revealed he is yet to receive an offer from any club amid reports linking him with a move away from Chippa United. Nwabali impressed for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, conceding only four goals in seven games. The 27-year-old has severally been linked with a move to South African club, Kaizer Chiefs and Belgian Pro League outfit, Union St Gilloise. Nwabali claimed he has not been approached by any club. “I only see offers online,” he said. “To be honest, some of my friends send me screenshots to say, ‘hey bro, this offer is coming’ but to be honest, I haven’t seen an offer on my table. “When sometimes there are rumours, I wish that they can all come to pass, but I haven’t seen any offer.”

 JAMB commences direct entry registration February 28 The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has commenced the sale of Direct Entry, DE, Forms nationwide and in some selected foreign centres. The board’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin said this in a statement on Tuesday. He said the sale is open to foreign candidates desirous of tertiary education in Nigeria through the Direct Entry mode. According to him, the Board will continue to ensure a level playing field for all candidates irrespective of status. “The Board would not process candidates’ applications from all awarding institutions that have refused to honour several requests for the verification of their A’level certificates presented by some candidates for the 2023 admission. “Candidates who are not awaiting results must have uploaded their A’ level qualifications, O’level results and DE registration template at the point of registration as no DE candidates would be processed for admission until such claimed results...

 "TODAY, Tuesday, Feb 27 is my birthday. For 17 years I struggled in VAIN to host in Nig my Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight because I was BOLD to say NO to CORRUPTION in Sport in particular & in Nig in general. In 17 years, I went from being a MILLIONAIRE in DOLLARS to ZERONAIRE in NAIRA. In 17 years I was BEATEN & INJURED that I had to b admitted twice & treated at the National Hospital, Abuja. In 17 years I was DETAINED 8 times at various POLICE STATIONS in Abuja. In 17 years I was once detained at KUJE PRISON for 43 days. I went through hell in my country not because I am a CRIMINAL but because I say NO to CORRUPTION. Despite JUICY offers to fight OUTSIDE of Nig I NEVER GAVE UP ON MY DREAM to fight in Nig & I NEVER GAVE UP on Nig. Today, our dream is finally becoming a reality & because I am an EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING, I am going to BOX until I am 70 years, retire YOUNG & HEALTHY with a LOT OF MONEY & then go on to b the PRESIDENT o...

 Economic Hardship: Falana Joins NLC Protest In Lagos Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has joined the Nigeria Labour Congress protest in Lagos. Falana joined the protest inside Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday. Protesters stormed the streets of Lagos to express their grievances over the current economic hardship. They are also protesting the government’s alleged failure to implement agreements reached between both parties on October 2, 2023, following the removal of  fuel subsidy. More photos below. 

 Hardship: Protesters Storm National Assembly Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have stormed the National Assembly (NASS) complex in Abuja on Tuesday as they continued their protests over the rising cost of living in the country.  The protesters who were carrying placards with diverse inscriptions, arrived at the National Assembly around 10 am. Unlike previous protests, the gates of the NASS are thrown open, as the protesters enter without resistance from security personnel. Meanwhile, the president of the NLC Joe Ajaero says the protests across the country are to let President Bola Tinubu know how Nigerians feel about the economic hardship. According to him, the development is not just about the NLC but about hunger in Nigeria. “We are here to, you know, do a rally so that Mr President, will know how Nigerians feel; will know where it is pinching us. You know, the tendency for you to have a president and the ministers and advisers around will not tell him exactly w...

 AFCON: I want to return to Super Eagles – Okoye Nigeria goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has expressed a desire to have a recall to the Super Eagles after missing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ivory Coast. Okoye has not featured for Nigeria since committing an error in the Round of 16 clash against Tunisia at the 2021 AFCON which led to the Super Eagles’ exit from the tournament. Speaking to the Udinese official website in a recent interview, Okoye admitted it was hard for him to watch the 2022 AFCON from home. “I am very well now. I feel 100 percent. The national team is an important thing for me and I want to return as soon as possible,” Okoye said. “It was hard watching the Africa Cup of Nations from home, but this is football.” Meanwhile, should Okoye be recalled, he will have to beat Stanley Nwabali who was impressive at the 2023 AFCON to claim the number one first-choice goalkeeper for Super Eagles.

#W!CKEDNESS Nigerian Lady Employed In A Poultry Allegedly Poisons And kills All The Chicken In The Farm After She Was Dismissed For Stealing 2 Hens Every Week “This Tragedy Happened To My Friend Who Started A Poultry Business In Nigeria... One Of The Staff Was Cαught And Dismissed For Stεaling 2 Hens Every Weekend! She Would Strangle Them And Smuggle Them To His Family To Eat... After Investigation,She Was Dismissed! Before She Left The Premises,She Poisoned The FEED,Resulting In The Dεath Of All The Chickens In The Farm! She Wipεd out All The Livestock! All! Not One Was Spared!,” Dani Olerum narrated. More photos below.