NIGERIAN NOTCH

Who else recalls that during the run-down to the 2015 presidential election, a group of smart thinkers led by the current Renewed Hope president of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, brought a man with a proven 12 million followership base as shown in the presidential polls of 2011 and made him the presidential candidate of the APC. The candidate, Mohammed Buhari, went on to defeat the then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2023, as "Anambra Decides 2025" draws near, a similar effort was ignited with the blessing of the same astute political thinker to bring about a change of baton in Anambra State; from the stillborn APGA party to the Renewed Hope, APC party, under the candidature of a civilian general whose core followership in the state consists of numerous staunch loyalists cut across different age brackets, driving his political structures, who trust and follow him to any platform he goes. You may recall that a fraction of the above numbers d

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara can be described by all forms and standard as the last man standing due to his resilience in tackling headlong the political tusnami that almost swept him off his feet recently .This is so, as he is however gradually gaining his feet as a leader to be reckoned with in the politics of the state. To the admiration of his numerous supporters within and outside Rivers, the Governor is now talking tough at every forum without minding whose ox is gored. Since January this year, the once “weak, docile and incompetent” Fubara ( as many tagged him) has suddenly become an ironclad lion literarily constituting a terror in the political camp of his detractors most to the excitement of his teeming supporters. “Let me say it here if that action that I have accepted to follow will be taken for my weakness, I will surprise them”, the governor dared, apparently referring to the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s 8-point peace agreem

The announcement of the planned release of a new National Identification Number in the country by the Federal Government last week, the National Identity Management Çommission, NIMC has provided further clarifications on the proposed ID. In a statement released and signed by Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke on Friday, the Commission said the new National ID Card is coming as a single, convenient, and General multipurpose card (GMPC), eliminating the need for multiple cards. The single card with GMPC is said to have multiple use cases. as: Payments/Financial, Government intervention/services, travel, etc. The card, according to the National Identity Management Commission is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System to deliver the payment and financial use cases. “The card will be powered by the AFRIGO card scheme, an indigenous scheme powered by NIBSS. Applicants for the card will have to request with their NIN thro

Nnewi, a city in Anambra State, is partnering with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to establish an auto industrial park, funded by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). According to a statement, NADDC said the goal was to create a mutually beneficial relationship, where Afreximbank would provide funding and possibly other resources. “The park aimed to provide a centralised location for the manufacturing and assembly of automotive components, vehicles, and related products,” the statement said. Joseph Osanipin, director-general of National NADDC during a visit to Eric Intong, regional chief operating officer of Afreximbank on the partnership agreement emphasised the significance of the Industrial Park, describing it as a new solution to the challenges confronting parts manufacturers in Nigeria. “This will also invigorate the automotive sector and propel Nigeria towards a future of enhanced job creation and economic prosperity,” he said.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, has confirmed the death of 150 persons from Lassa fever between January and March 2024, in 125 local government areas in 27 states of the federation. Cumulatively from week one to week 13, 2024, NCDC said the deaths were reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.6 percent, which is higher than the CFR for the same period in 2023 (17.5 percent). Disclosing this in its Lassa Fever Situation Report Epi Week 13, March, 25–31, 2024, the agency said out of a total of 5,295 suspected cases reported, 806 were confirmed. According to the report, in week 13, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 25 in Epi week 12, 2024 to 15. These cases were reported in Ondo, Bauchi, Plateau and Edo states. In total for 2024, 27 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 125 LGAs, even as 62 percent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, while 38 percent of cases wer

...... Promises Constituents, Quality Representation  President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has harped on the need for governments at all levels to collaborate with a view to delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians. He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year's election. Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber. The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments. A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, "I am here once again, to thank you for standing

The Chairman of Nigerian indigenous carrier Air Peace, Allen Onyema has voiced concern over alleged conspiracy among foreign carriers operating the Nigeria-UK route. He claimed that these carriers are deliberately undercutting airfares on the route as part of a scheme to push Air Peace out of international operations. During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Allen Onyema asserted the existence of an “unspoken alliance” among foreign airlines. He alleged that these airlines are employing lower pricing strategies with the aim of forcing Air Peace off the Nigeria-London route. “If they take out Air Peace prematurely, this country will pay dearly for it, 10 times over, billions will be lost, there will be another heavy strain on the naira. We are being deliberately frustrated in all ways,” he said, citing groundhandling and space allocation difficulties at Gatwick Airport in the last couple of days. “It’s a very devilish conspiracy. All of a sudden,

......Urges Prayers For Peace, Unity In Nigeria President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has felicitated Muslims in Nigeria and in the Diaspora for the successful end of 30 days Ramadan fast. Akpabio's message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. "On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and indeed, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I heartily rejoice with Muslim faithful in Nigeria as they join their counterparts in other parts of the world to celebrate Eid El Fitri. "I wish all of you a peaceful and sweet celebration and pray the Almighty Allah to grant your heart desires". The Senate President urged Muslims to continue to offer prayers for peace, unity and prosperity of Nigeria saying, "Islam is a religion of peace and if its adherents go to Allah in prayers with sincerity, He will surely answer. "I therefore ask you to pray for you

Detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has cried out over the way and manner his trial in the terrorism charges preferred against him by the federal government is being handled. He said his trial is turning from prosecution to persecution. At a press conference in Abuja, the lead counsel to the IPOB leader, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, said Kanu does not deserve the treatment he is currently receiving in the hands of the federal government, prosecuting him for terrorism related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Ejimakor said Kanu is not allowed access to his counsel to prepare adequately for his defence in the charges standing against him at the court. “Our worry is the way we, as lawyers, are being denied access to him while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). “The DSS always restrains us, each time we make efforts to get a statement from Kanu. The allegations against the IPOB leader are personal and h

AS the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, moves to end petrol scarcity in Lagos and its environs, Dangote Refinery and oil marketers have intensified efforts at taking final decisions on pricing and delivery of petrol to filling stations nationwide. Dangote Refinery, which can refine 650,000 barrels per day, bpd of crude oil, intends to commence production and distribution of the product, the bulk of which is currently imported from the global market, in May 2024. Checks indicate that the parties have been meeting and exchanging notes on the pricing, distribution and margins to stakeholders in the value chain, including transporters and insurers. Recall that depot owners buy the product from NNPC Limited at N556 per litre and sell to independents at N640 per litre. It was, however learnt that independent markers have proposed N550 per litre to management of Dangote Refinery who is currenty in a discussion with them. The President of Independent Petroleum Mar

The NLC has maintained its insistence on taking over the Labour Party from the Julius Abure led National Executive Council, NEC. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also said that the resolute stand of the Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, is responsible why Nigerians are not buying a litre of petrol at N1,500 The NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Comrade Benson Upah, said that it was the strong character of the Congress President, Comrade Ajaero, that had made the government to be careful in increasing pump price of petrol. He also said that the Ajaero leadership is responsible for the wage award of N35,000 from the government, adding that the NLC is committed in ensuring that the next national minimum wage will be an amount that would take workers home. Comrade Upah said that the NLC President is making sure that negotiations are concluded on time for workers to have something that would take care of the inflation and hardship in the country. “So the most im

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, on Sunday said that Nigeria has stopped electricity subsidy since 2022. The Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), stated this in a statement he sent to Vanguard. He noted that , Zainab Ahmed, the former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said that the Federal Government had quietly removed electricity subsidy. According to Falana, “On March 23, 2021, the Federal Government announced its plan to end electricity subsidy by the end of that year. According to the Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Infrastructure, Mr. Ahmad Zakari, “We plan to eliminate subsidy by the end of the year. People will say if you eliminate subsidies, you will have poor people pay more. But our argument is that the only reason the power prices in Nigeria are high is because we don’t generate enough. If you generate 10GW of power, tariff will be half of what it costs. So, keeping the prices very low is not the

—Troops Killed 6 terrorists The defence headquarters on Sunday clarified that only an Army Lieutenant was killed and four other soldiers wounded when Boko Haram terrorists ambushed the troops along Buratai – Buni Gari road last Thursday. DHQ further disclosed that six terrorists were killed when troops pursued the terrorists to their hideouts and engaged them in a shootout. Major Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations made this known in a statement titled, “Report On Ambush Along Road Buratai to Buni Gari in Operation Hadin Kai Operational Theatre”. He said, “On 5 April 2024 at about 0935hrs, Troops of Operation Hadin Kai encountered terrorist ambush along Road Buratai – Buni Gari. “Sadly, during the encounter, troops lost a Lieutenant that was killed in action. “While 4 personnel were wounded in action and receiving treatment. “Troops reinforcement pursued the terrorist to their hideout within the Timbuktu Triangle and made contact. “Troops neutralised 6 of

•Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Cross River, Edo, Rivers, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Benue others make list •Experts speak on way out After admitting that 24.7 million Nigerians in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been hit and incapacitated by food and nutrition crisis, the Federal Government is battling to stem the tide. The figure is projected for between March and May 2024. The Nigerian government also admitted in a report titled, Cadre Harmonize, CH-Phase 3, Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis for Nigeria, presented in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, and CILSS, at the ‘Results Presentation Workshop’, held in Abuja, that the figure may jump to 31.5 million from May to August. That is not all. The report also said that the number of IDPs across the country is expected to increase from 14, 000 to 83, 846 if measures are not put in place immediately to curb the trend. These are frightening

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ite group said five of their members were killed with 25 others sustaining varying degrees of injuries when the police tried dispersing them during their pro-Palestinian demonstration also known as Quds International Day. A statement released by the group signed by Aliyu Umar Tirmizhi and made available to newsmen in Kaduna said, it has been an annual activity to commemorate the International Quds Day on the last Friday of every month of Ramadan to show support for the oppressed people of Palestine who are facing mass genocide perpetrated by Israel. He said, the activity has been sustained for the past 30 years in major cities of Nigeria and has always been peaceful as other activities they engage in over the decades. “Unfortunately, on Friday 6, 2024, the well-organised peaceful demonstration staged by unarmed men, women, children and even the physically challenged, to sympathise with the Palestinians and condemn the