NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to empower five million Nigerian artisans annually with requisite knowledge, tools and resources needed to succeed in their respective fields as part of efforts to curb unemployment in Nigeria.  The Director General and Chief Executive of the fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, stated this during a Northwest zonal media briefing in the Kaduna Area office.  He said ITF initiated the Skill Up Artisan Programme (SUPA) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to launch it soon due to its importance to national development. The Director General, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Head of Training, Kaduna Office, Mr. Daniel Jamgbade, explained that a call center was established to provide information to the public and presently over 200,000 Nigerians have registered within a month for the programme.  He said a curriculum for the programme was already developed for the individual trades with the assistance of relevant sector ski

  The Director of St. John Vianney Science College, Igbariam, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso) has offered full scholarship to three bright students of the school, who emerged victorious at the National Girls in ICT Competition 2024, winning the prestigious national championship with their innovative virtual reality (VR) project. Announcing the scholarship offer on Wednesday, at the premises of Divine Rays British School, Obosi, Fr. Ebube Muonso expressed gratitude to the three students: Immaculate Ebube Ikegwuonu, Camilla Anyadike, and Nweke-Nonso Oluchi, for making the school proud, and said that the offer will continue throughout their stay in the school. He expressed pride in his students’ achievements, and encouraged other students to work hard towards bringing honour to the school, and to themselves. He said, “This national championship is a monumental achievement for our school and a source of immense pride. It exemplifies our commitment to e

The Lagos State Government, through the state Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, has sealed up churches, hotels, bars, and other establishments across various areas of the state due to alleged noise pollution. The affected facilities shut are located around Ifako-Ijaiye, Abesan Estate, Abule-Egba, Alagbado, Command, and Dopemu of the state. The state’s commissioner for environment, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this via his X handle on Friday. According to Wahab, the affected facilities are the Catholic Church, 1602 Hotel, Seventh Heaven Bar & Lounge, Lourita Hotel & Suites, God’s Porch Ministries, and Wonderful Bible Prayer Ministries. Others include White Pavilion Hotel, Quest Hotel & Suites, Excel Hotel & Suite, and Honey Comb Confectionery Limited. The closures are deemed temporary and are aimed at enforcing compliance with environmental regulations. LASEPA, therefore, stressed the need for businesses to adhere to environmental standards to avoid sancti

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has released a statement to clarify what he deemed misleading regarding allegations surrounding the payment of school fees for his children. Recall that the controversy began on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, when the chairman of the Economic Financial Crime Commission, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede alleged during a media briefing that Bello withdrew funds from the Kogi State Government account to pay his children’s school fees, just before leaving office. Since the press conference, receipts purportedly showing payments of the said fees have circulated online, prompting a response from Bello’s media office. In response to the accusations, the embattled former governor released a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, which included several crucial details to set the record straight. The statement titled “Payment for school fees:Setting the records straid”, partly read, “While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory stat

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has described the former governor of the state and incumbent President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio as a "great leader" who has decided to work for the betterment of the people of the state, in a "bipartisan manner." Eno stated this during a meeting he had with past and present members of the National Assembly across party lines, over the weekend in Uyo, the state capital.  According to him, "the Senate President, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio CON, is also a great leader from our dear state, a former Governor, and I respect him and thank him for his pledge to work together with us, to bring development to our dear state. “I have said it severally that I will support and work harmoniously with the President and Commander -in -Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ,GCFR, and I will continue to support him.  “I was elected to bring developm

At least 14 persons died in a head-on collision involving two Toyota buses on Sunday in Kogi. Thirteen persons survived the accident that occurred at Aloma community in Ofu Local Government Area of the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. An eyewitness told NAN that the accident involved a Toyota Sienna bus heading toward Abuja from Port Harcourt and a Toyota Hiace bus heading to the southern part of the country. “Thirteen persons, including the driver of the Hiace bus, were completely roasted by the fire that engulfed the bus immediately after the head-on coalition. “One of the four surviving persons in the bus died in hospital from burns suffered, bringing the number to 14 that died,’’ he said. According to him, none of the 10 occupants of the Sienna bus died. “But they were badly wounded and are receiving treatment in a hospital,” he added. He commended the villagers who quickly came to the scene of the accident and rescued the injured. “It is because of thei

The Presidency says all is now set for the roll out of 5500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), as well as 20,000  CNG conversion kits, all in the first set of critical assets for the launch of the Compressed Natural Gas initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , ahead of his one year anniversary on May 29th. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga,made this known on Sunday in a statement made available to State House Correspondents. Specifically, Mr Onanuga said that in all, over 600 buses are targeted for production in the first phase that will be accomplished this year. The Presidential aide also made known that the Committee is equally ready to spur the development of CNG refilling stations and electric charging stations across the country. The Special Adviser to the President added that already, the committee, being led by Michael Oluwagbemi, an oil and gas expert, has delivered some major foundational reforms to enable the ne

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its qualification for a loan from the World Bank, totaling $2.25 billion. Wale Edun, the finance minister, unveiled this milestone during a joint press conference held by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington D.C. He said the package, approved by the Board of Directors of the World Bank, offers a 40-year term with a 10-year moratorium and a nominal 1 percent interest rate. Edun said, “If you look at the fact that we have qualified for the processing, just this week to the Board of Directors of the World Bank, of the total package of $2.25 billion of what you can call, I mean, if there is no such thing as a free lunch, but it is the closest you can get to free money. It is virtually a grant. It is for about 40 years, 10 years moratorium and about 1% interest. So that also is part of the flow you can count.” H

.......Support Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru, avowed decision to enthrone justice, equity and fairness in the State Amuda in Diaspora members association, has debunked the claim in a recent press briefing by Ezza Ezekuna consultative assembly, that Ezza clan granted Amuda Autonomy in Ezza land, in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi state. The group said that is not only false but a misrepresention of facts.  Amuda (Idzem) Community Home and in the Diaspora, ably represented by Mr. Hyginus Elom, President General Amuda in Diaspora,Elem Joseph, secretary, and Comrade Ogba Uchenna Chapter Chairman of the same association in a joint press conference issued the press release to inform the world of the true state of affairs.  Below is the Excerpts of the press release.  RE: PRESS BRIEFING BY EZZA EZEKUNA CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY CLAMING EZZA'S GRANTED AMUDA AUTONOMY IN EZZALAND (EZZA NORTH LGA)   It is pertinent to react to the press briefing by the Ezza Ezekuna Consultative Assembly held on 2

........ ASSURES NIGERIANS THAT THE RENEWED HOPE DRIVE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THE REFINERIES FUNCTIONING IS ON COURSE  Senator Ifeanyi Ubah CON, representing the Anambra South Senatorial District, is leading a pivotal drive in Nigeria's quest for energy self-sufficiency by spearheading the ongoing Senate Ad-hoc Committee's inspection of the nation's refineries. Following a comprehensive assessment of the Warri Refinery the day prior, Senator Ubah led the committee on an oversight visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery on April 19, 2024. Accompanied by high-ranking officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), including the Executive Vice-President (Downstream), Mr. Dapo Segun, and received by a delegation from the Port Harcourt Refinery, led by Managing Director Ibrahim M. Onoja,the Senate Adhoc Committee members , embarked on a meticulous examination of the refinery's Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) projects. During this i

The Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU) has named President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio as a member of the Preparatory Committee for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament 2025. A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, said that Akpabio’s nomination was contained in a letter signed by the General Secretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Martin Chungong and addressed to the Senate President. The nomination letter reads: "I wish to congratulate you upon your nomination as a member of the Preparatory Committee for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (2025) and to invite you to a first meeting of the Preparatory Committee at IPU Headquarters in Geneva on 16-17 May 2024. "As you are aware, every five years since 2000, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has convened a World  Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The Conferences are organized in close cooperation with the United Nation

The CEO of cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, Richard Teng, yesterday said that the company is working very closely with Nigerian authorities following the detention of the company’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance. A Nigerian court has adjourned until May 2 a case against the executive, Tigran Gambaryan, and another Binance official, who are accused of laundering more than $35 million, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on April 8. “What I can say is we are working very closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to resolve the matter,” CEO Richard Teng said, while speaking about Gambaryan’s case at a crypto conference in Dubai. The other executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who is a regional manager for Africa, fled Nigeria last month. Anjarwalla and Gambaryan flew to Nigeria following the country’s decision to ban several cryptocurrency trading websites and were detained on arrival on February 26 by EFCC. In addition to the case brough

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has secured a loan of $700million from Citibank backed by the United Kingdom Export Finance, UKEF,   an export credit agency, to rehabilitate the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports, Lagos. The NPA has also opened a discussion with another funding agency to secure financing for upgrading of the Eastern Ports including Calabar, Warri,   Onne and Rivers Ports as well as the reconstruction of Escravos breakwater facility. Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday during the signing of mandate letter with Citibank Nigeria, Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the letter will be sent to Debt Management Office, DMO, for final review and approval. He said the funds are ready and the reconstruction of the Lagos Ports will start soonest even as the NPA perfects plans to sign another mandate letter for the upgrading of the Eastern Ports in about a month. He stated: “In the last two years, NPA has realised the need for us to rehabilitate and recon

….As Oyo govt justifies demolition of Abiola-Onitiri’s residence Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, described as laughable recent agitation for Yoruba Nation by some elements in the South West. The DHQ also raised alarm that terrorists and their sympathisers were planning to blackmail the military, following its onslaught on insurgents. Recall that some Yoruba Nation agitators, last Saturday, dressed in military camouflage invaded the Oyo State secretariat and attempted to take over the State House of Assembly. The agitators engaged the security operatives but were subdued, leading to the arrest of 29 suspects. Speaking at a briefing, in Abuja yesterday, the Director, of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the agitation has further pointed out how the insecurity ravaging many parts of the country is self-inflicted. His words: “The agitation of IPOB in the South East has proven to be for self-aggrandizement. Then, the call for a Yoruba Nation is laughable

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, said yesterday that the Federal Government would pin down Ways and Means to deal with the problem of too much liquidity in the system Fielding questions from journalists after a meeting with investors at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC, yesterday, he said that the fiscal and monetary authorities were complementing each other to bring down inflation. According to him, “We will pin down Ways and Means to alleviate the pressure of the excess money in the system. “By so doing the two authorities are working hand in hand to bring down inflation and pressure on price stability and stabilising the exchange rate, with the target of bringing down interest rate so that investors can borrow at a more affordable rate and getting the economy going in the right direction again. “We need to borrow less and focus more on domestic resource mobilisation. We want long-term re

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), Anambra State Command has recovered a stolen Toyota Corolla.  The car which is valued at about N5 Million was snatched from where it was parked at Achalla Awka-North Local Government Area of the state and was traced to Nise in Awka-South council area where it was recovered by officers of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service.   A statement from the State Hunter Public Relations Officer, SH Aloysius Chibuikem Nneke, confirmed that the car was stolen Wednesday, 17/4/2024 Oye market day in the morning at Achalla market in Awka North LGA.  And by afternoon of same day the car was recovered by the NHFSS, Awka North Division led by SH Nwadigwe the DHO of the division at Nise in Awka South LGA and the thief was at large then.  The statement further revealed that around 22.00 hours (10 PM) same yesterday, he was cut in Ukwulu, Dunukofia LGA, by a gallant officer, DSH Cosmos, who alerted

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for Parliamentary Collaboration between the Nigerian Parliament and its Serbian counterpart. Akpabio made the call during a meeting with the President of the Serbia Parliament, Ms Ana Brnabic in London, on Wednesday.  A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom said, Akpabio and the President of the Serbia Parliament, Ana Brnabic extensively discussed issues of mutual interest to both nations and how to improve parliamentary collaborations between Serbia and Nigeria. "The Meeting, which was at the request of Ms Brnabić, also discussed matters relating to the International Parliamentary Union(IPU). The two parliamentarians have also agreed to meet again soon. The Serbian lawmaker, used the meeting to formally invite Nigeria's Senate President to Serbia, on a yet to be announced date," the statement said. Senator Akpabio, was recently elected into the Executive Committee of the IPU, a role he

As the spate of violence rages in the capital city of Anambra, Awka, a terrible twist to it just happened now. With a staff of the state road regulation agency gunned down minutes ago. This is coming less than one day when someone was also gunned down at popular Aroma Junction, to be precise Wednesday evening.  An eye witness who saw the incident said it happened at the motor park, where commuters commute passengers from Awka to Nnewi. The source said the victim is an official of the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA). “ The man who was killed is an ARTMA official. He stopped some people who were driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle with tinted glasses, and the people shot him and drove off. There have been cult related killings in Awka since Easter, but it was not clear if Wednesday and Thursday morning incident was related to cultism. The Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga was yet to react to the killing as at the time of fill

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said yesterday that the apex bank is not defending the Naira with the nation’s foreign reserves. He was speaking against the backdrop of the recent decline in Nigeria’s foreign reserves corresponding with massive appreciation of the Naira in the foreign exchange market (forex), fueling speculations that the apex bank pumped forex into the market to dwarf demand pressure and shore up the value of the local currency. Speaking at the on-going Spring Meetings of the IMF the World Bank, Cardoso said that his team at the apex bank is determined to nurse a foreign exchange market ruled by the principle of willing buyers-willing seller. He also said that Ways and Means (federal government borrowings from CBN) is no longer an issue, particularly after the fiscal authorities securitised the outstanding. His words, “Defending the Naira, from every indication is an elephant in some rooms. I will make this as clear

Fresh facts have emerged that the embattled cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky who was sentenced to a six-month jail term for abusing the Naira has been transferred from the Ikoyi Correctional Center to the Kirikiri Prison by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS). This is contrary to reports that Bobrisky is still being held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. A very reliable source who is an official of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) who craved anonymity said that the popular cross-dresser is presently held at the Kirikiri Prison and was discreetly transferred since last weekend to Kirikiri. He stated, “It is procedural that he is moved to Kirikiri since it is an expansive prison compared to what we have here.” He added that due to security reasons, Okuneye was quietly moved to the facility where he will serve his term. It would be recalled that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced the cross-dresser to six mo

The FG, through its team of lawyers led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, asked the court to reject the conditions on the ground that they are frivolous, vexatious, irritating and baseless. FG argued that the trial court had earlier rejected a fresh bail application that was filed by the defendant. It argued that since the bail request was dismissed, the trial court longer had the requisite jurisdiction to revisit the matter as it would amount to sitting on appeal to overrule its own decision. Awomolo, SAN, insisted that the only option open to Kanu was for him to take the issue before the Court of Appeal. More so, FG argued that it was not in the position of the defendant to dictate how his trial should be conducted or to list conditions the court must met before he would be tried. It, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the applications as frivolous and time wasting. The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, list

….Says, ‘failed’ NNPP government, jittery over Tinubu’s rising profile ….Order obtained by fraud, unenforceable, won’t be obeyed – APC The National Working Committee NWC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has reacted to the order of a Kano State High Court which affirmed the suspension of its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, describing it as a nullity, unenforceable and therefore cannot be obeyed. The development came on Wednesday as Ganduje received the APC Ward Executives from his Ganduje Ward in Kano State, who were at the national secretariat of the party to affirm their confidence in him. Addressing the ward executives, Ganduje said those who purportedly suspended him were impostors. Also speaking, National Legal Adviser of the Party, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana said the Kano High Court order is not enforceable as it was obtained by fraud. He said the ward executives would petition the National Judicial Council NJC to call the high court judge to order. Gand

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor. In a two hour judgment delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, the court restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court. This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given. The judgment followed the suit brought before the court by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the applicant, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecuting the Applicant. Earlier in the judgement, the Court dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC. The Applicant’s Counsel SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment a

 ....... Battle for the soul of the party  Pending any last minute intervention, the warring camps within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are poised for a showdown at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which is less than 24 hours away. Checks reveal that the camps led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, are locked in for a showdown of sorts. It was learnt that both sides, battling for the soul of the party, have refused to yield ground, in the tussle that hopes to define the party’s stature ahead of the 2027 election. The tussle between both camps crystallised in the demand for acting national chairman, Ambassador Illiya Damagum’s resignation and the emergence of an acting national chairman from the North Central geo-political zone as originally planned by the party. However, there are hopes by some party members, who spoke to LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity, that the party’s caucus and Board