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 NINE VEHICLES IMPOUNDED AS OCHA BRIGADE CLAMPDOWN ON ILLEGAL PARKS.  Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra; Ocha Brigade enforcement team have arrest nine (9) commercial drivers and impounded nine (9) vehicles for operating illegal parks and obstructing vehicular movement at New Market road, main market Onitsha.    The agency had in previous weeks, directed transporters to use the various government approved parks for loading and offloading of passengers, as their activities on these road have caused Ndi Anambra so much traffic and untold hardship.  The MD/SG is determined to ensure a traffic free yuletide season, and ensure that the our roads are safe for travelers and road users, irrespective of their destination.  Those arrested has been arraigned by the agency and will be charged to court for violation of the State Government directives on illegal parks.  Solution is here!!! For all your complaints, inquiries and submissions call any of our help lin...

 NBS website hacked, Bureau issues warning against fake reports The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has confirmed that its official website has been compromised by unidentified hackers. This announcement was made in a statement posted on the bureau’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday. The NBS urged the public to disregard any information or reports claiming to be from the bureau that are shared through unofficial sources until the website has been fully restored. The bureau assured the public that its technical team is actively working to resolve the issue and restore the site as quickly as possible. The statement read, “This is to inform the public that the NBS website has been hacked, and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored.” A visit to the website confirmed the breach, with the homepage displaying the message, “Page Hacked.” Subsequent attempts to access the site resulted in an “Inte...

 Customs announces VAT removal from LPG, CNG The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) also known as cooking gas, and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). It also announced zero per cent import duty for the products. Its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada broke the news in a press statement. The statement said: “In alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s investment climate and increasing domestic gas utilisation, the  Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announces the implementation of fiscal incentives under the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative. “Pursuant to Part 1, Section 5 of the Customs and Excise Tariff Act, machinery, equipment, and spare parts imported for Nigerian gas utilisation are now subject to a zero percent (0%) import duty rate. “This exemption encompasses all equipment related to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum...

 Ganduje To Visiting APC Leaders: Oyo Important, Tinubu Can’t Afford To See A Beautiful Fowl With Vulture Head The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has called on party members across the country to prioritise the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing it as a “task that must be done.” Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with Oyo state APC stakeholders in Abuja, Ganduje also directed the party to intensify efforts to reclaim Oyo state from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 elections. The meeting had in attendance the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; members of the state’s National Assembly caucus; the acting state chairman; and other party chieftains. Ganduje emphasised the importance of unity among party leaders and members in Oyo state, noting that only a united front can achieve the dual goals of ensuring President Tinubu’s re-election and regaining control of the state. “We must wo...

 Defamation: I owe you no apology, APC chairman replies Ighodalo  The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, on Wednesday, said he stood by his allegation that the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is corrupt and owes him no apology. Tenebe disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his lawyer, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere. Agbomhere, in the letter, said, “We further want to state unequivocally that our client did not defame your client in any way, and as such, there is no need for a public apology or retraction of comments made in the alleged video. “But if your client decides to stretch this issue further by going to court, we will rely on the defence of justification in accordance with the report of the Edo State Vehicle Recovery Committee, whose report indicted your client and the preliminary report of the Edo State Asset Verification Committee.” The Edo APC chair had, in a viral video on 10th December, accused...

 Funsho Adeolu celebrates 20th wedding anniversary with romantic promise to wife  US-based Nigerian actor Funsho Adeolu has shared a heartfelt message to his wife as they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.  On his Instagram, Adeolu posted a touching tribute, accompanied by a slideshow of cherished memories from their two decades together. He expressed his gratitude to God for their remarkable journey, filled with unforgettable moments and milestones.  In his anniversary message, Adeolu praised the deepening bond between him and his wife, calling her his rock, best friend, and soulmate. He thanked her for being his steadfast partner and promised a lifetime of love, along with a fresh commitment to their future together. “20 years? Wow! I am grateful to God for this memorable and adventurous journey filled with memories, moments, and milestones Our bond grew stronger each year, my rock, my best friend, and my soul mate. Thank you for being my partner in every se...

 God Almighty has been faithful in my 38 years.  Happy Holidays. 🇳🇬-AJuri Ngelale.  ‘God has been faithful’ – Tinubu’s ex-spokesman Ajuri Ngelale breaks silence Former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, said on Wednesday God has been faithful to him. Ngelale made the remark while celebrating his 38th birthday. He posted the remark on his Facebook page while updating his profile photo, showing him and a former United States Secretary of State and Special Envoy on Climate Change, John Jerry, at a previous function. He wrote, “God Almighty has been faithful in my 38 years. Happy Holidays.” On September 7, Ngelale stepped down from his position as Tinubu’s spokesman. Ngelale also stepped down as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen. A statement by the presidency said Ngelale submitted a memo to Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, informin...

 Dangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Price to N899 Per Litre Company’s spokesman Anthony Chiejina said the price reduction is designed to ease transport costs during the festive period. This will help to ease transport costs during this holiday season, Dangote Refinery is offering a holiday discount on PMS. From today, our petrol will be available at N899.50 per litre at our truck loading gantry or SPM. Furthermore, for every litre purchased on a cash basis, consumers will have the opportunity to buy another litre on credit, backed by a bank guarantee from Access Bank, First Bank, or Zenith Bank,” said Chiejina.

 Mali renames colonial French street names Mali followed Burkina Faso and Niger on Wednesday in renaming streets and squares in its capital to get rid of their French colonial names, AFP reported. Streets bearing the names of members of France's colonial administration have been rebaptised in Bamako, according to a decree by the junta chief. Cedeao Avenue (the French acronym for the Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS) is also now named after a new strategic confederation that Mali has formed with Burkina Faso and Niger – the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). In all, nearly 25 names have been replaced, among them boulevards, streets, squares and public establishments. Niger and Burkina Faso have already made several changes to street and monument names in the last two years. In October, Niger renamed several historic sites in its capital Niamey which previously bore references to old colonial master France. Mali has been ruled by the military since back-to-back coups ...

 Fire Ravages Anambra Timber Market A fire that broke out late Wednesday night at the Ogbosisi Timber Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, has caused extensive damage to several goods. An X user named Omaletocracy shared footage of the fire, showing traders desperately attempting to salvage their items as the flames spread. The video was captioned: “Head bridge mkt Onitsha is on fire 18/12/2024.” In a statement issued on Thursday morning, Anambra State Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that no lives were lost in the blaze. Ikenga further revealed that the area had been cordoned off to prevent looting by criminals. He added, “The quick response of the Police and Fire Service personnel to the fire outbreak at Ogbosisi on 18/12/2024 at 8:45 pm helped to bring the situation under control.” The spokesperson emphasized that an investigation had begun to determine the cause of the fire, although the value of the destroyed goods has not yet been determined.

 Petrol Landing Cost Drops to N970 per Litre – Marketers In a positive sign for the downstream sector's stability, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has announced a slight decrease in the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, which fell to N970 per litre in December 2024, down from N971 per litre in November 2024. This decrease comes amid a similar drop in crude oil prices, which fell to $73.77 per barrel from $74 per barrel the previous week. According to MEMAN's daily energy bulletin, which was shared with Vanguard, the new landing cost is based on a crude oil price of $73.91 per barrel (Brent) and an exchange rate of N1,533.57/$. However, MEMAN also cautioned that international petroleum product prices are subject to significant volatility, influenced by geopolitical and economic factors, including developments in the Middle East, market trends in China, and the recent outcome of the U.S. elections. The foreign exchange rate is also f...

 ALGON Rejects Suspension of Edo Council Chairmen, Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has strongly condemned the Edo State House of Assembly’s recent suspension of 18 local government chairmen across the state. In a statement released in Taraba State on Thursday, ALGON’s National Executive Council (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BOT) criticized the suspension, calling it a serious violation of democracy and constitutional order. The suspensions came after Governor Monday Okpebholo accused the chairmen of failing to comply with his directives by not submitting financial records to the state government. The statement, signed by ALGON’s National Publicity Secretary, Hamisu M. Anani, expressed deep concern, describing the action as a "setback for democracy and an abuse of power." ALGON noted that the chairmen were not given an opportunity to defend themselves and argued that the suspension violated a Supreme Court ruling that upholds ...

 Anambra's IGR Increases by Over 100% in One Year Anambra State has seen a significant surge in its monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), growing from ₦2.2 billion to ₦5.2 billion over the past year—an impressive increase of more than 100%. This achievement was shared by Amara Oyeka, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on IGR, during the presentation and validation of a study conducted across 21 major markets in the state’s three senatorial zones. The research was part of the Tax for Service Project, implemented by the Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP) in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and supported by Oxfam Nigeria. Despite the growth, Oyeka pointed out significant challenges. He revealed that many wealthy citizens in the state avoid paying taxes, and over 50% of collected revenue is often diverted into private hands. “We have a situation where revenue collectors are wealthier than the government,” Oyeka...