NIGERIAN NOTCH

A huge gas blast in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has killed at least two people and injured at least 222. A lorry carrying gas exploded in Embakasi district around 23:30 (20:30 GMT), "igniting a huge ball of fire", a government spokesperson said. Housing, businesses and cars were damaged with video showing a huge blaze raging close to blocks of flats. Earlier, the government had said the blast happened at a gas plant. The cause is still being established. Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the blast scene had now been secured and a command centre had been set up to help co-ordinate rescue operations. "Kenyans are hereby advised to keep off the cordoned area in order to allow the rescue mission to be carried out [with] minimal disruptions," he added. The blaze is reported to have spread through several apartment complexes, leading to fears the number of casualties could rise further. Witnesses told local media they had felt tremors immediately after t

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will tomorrow conduct re-run and bye-elections into some national and state legislative seats across 26 states of the federation. The elections, which will be held in 80 local government areas across Nigeria, are to fill vacancies created by the resignation, death and removal of lawmakers through post-election litigation. INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the bye-elections will be conducted in nine out of the 26 states to elect two senators, four members of the House of Representatives and three members of State Houses of Assembly. “In other states, re-run elections will take place at designated constituencies or polling units as ordered by the election appeal tribunals. “In all, the elections will fill vacancies in three senatorial districts, 17 Federal and 28 state constituencies spread across 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/wards and 8,934 polling units involving 4,904,627 registered voters out

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday, convicted and sentenced one Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, an actress, to six months imprisonment for spraying and stepping on the new Naira notes at a social event in Lagos. She was first arraigned on February 13, 2023 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charges, to which she pleaded “not guilty.” She was subsequently granted bail on February 15, 2023. At the resumed hearing, yesterday, Omoseyin, however, changed her “not guilty” plea to “guilty,” in view of the overwhelming evidence against her. Following her “guilty plea,” the prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku called Abubakar Marafa, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the matter. Marafa recalled that “the defendant was arrested by officers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on February 1, 2023 and was handed over to the commission on February 2, 2023 for further investigation.” Ac

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, yesterday lamented the security challenges facing the country, indicating that for the nation to overcome the problem, the present police structure must be decentralised to give way to the establishment of state police across the country The PDP governors spoke in Jos, Plateau State capital when they visited the Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Rayfield Government House. The visit follows the series of attacks and killings by gunmen in the state which had reportedly claimed over 200 lives in the past month with properties worth millions of naira destroyed in various communities of the state. Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, who is also the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed, who spoke on their behalf, said, “We are just being very honest with ourselves. We are not just indicting unreasonably the Nigerin police or the security agents as they are doing their best, but certainly, the ratio bet

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, has appealed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition and allow younger Nigerians to run.  George made this appeal in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday. According to George, Atiku would be 81 years old in 2027, and he would be too old at the time to govern the country. The PDP chieftain noted that Atiku should be like a big uncle in the room, mentoring the younger ones instead of thinking about contesting in 2027. George said, “My brother Atiku Abubakar was 77 years old last year, and by 2027 he will be 81 years old. Atiku should give room for younger Nigerians, who still have the energy and the brain to develop the country. “Atiku should be in a situation where he plays like the big uncle in the room or the elder in the room. “What would anybody carry me now to do because I’m heading to 80 years old and I want to go and be a minister? To

The Imo state government and social media giant, Facebook have agreed to train 5,000 youths on how to use digital skills to enhance their businesses. It was gathered on Thursday in Owerri, from the Ministry of Digital Economy and E- Governance, that the training starts next week Monday. The ministry said facebook was impressed by Gov Hope Uzodinma administration’s bold initiative through the Skillup Imo project, therefore META, the parent company of Facebook, wants to further deepen their understanding of the use of digital skills in growing businesses. It added: “In a letter to the Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and E- Governance, Facebook proposed to train digital marketers from Cohorts 1 and 2 on the use of Facebook to create values for enterprises. “It also promised to hire some of the graduates of the Skillup Imo project, after the training, ” to provide support for Facebook enterprise users in the state. the one week training is scheduled to commence on Februar

Power Minister Adelabu have advocated for the removal of Electricity Subsidy, this is so to enable the liberalization of the sector. He has also given reasons Tinubu-led govt should remove electricity subsidy and has proposed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration ensure removal of electricity subsidy for effective utilisations of energy in the country. Adelabu said this while expressing concerns over the poor electricity supply situation in the country caused by numerous issues including outstanding subsidy debts. He advocated that Nigeria should migrate to a full cost-reflective tariff regime if the federal government cannot pay for subsidies owed to the market. The minister disclosed these on Wednesday when he visited the 750 megawatts (mw) Olorunsogo Power Generating Plant in Ogun State and the 500mw Omotosho Generating Plant in Ondo State as part of his nationwide inspection visit to power installations of the federal government. Adelabu also stated that the Natio

Rtn Ugo Okonkwo has empowered youths in his community to better their lot and help curtail the menance of unemployment.  On Monday 29th, January 2024, Hon Izuchukwu Nwankwo,The National Chairman of Ndiakwu Otolo Nnewi Community,  commenced a youth empowerment program to combat crime and criminality in the community.  The theme of the event; Ndiakwu Youth Skills And Empowerment Program To Combat Crime, Cultist And Criminality In Our Society. Earlier, Hon Nwankwo said, that why they insisted on the cash empowerment program, was a promise made, and today he is here to fulfil it. He however pledged to support any of the youths in the community, to avert crime or any criminal record among the youths  He also urged, them to be of good behavior as to whom much is giving, much is expected.   Among the six (6) people we given cash support to remember if any of you do well with the little one we gave him/her will be giving more", he noted. Addressing the Youth, Hon Jude Osumuoh,

The Apex bank to further boost liquidity in the foreign exchange market,  has ordered banks to limit the Net Open Position, NOP, of their foreign currency assets and liabilities to 20 per cent of shareholders’ funds. NOP defines a bank’s risk exposure to its foreign exchange-denominated assets. The order was contained in a January 31, 2014, CBN Circular referenced: TED/FEM/PUB/ FPC/001/ 001, issued yesterday. The directive is expected to shore up the fortunes of Naira in the foreign exchange market while curtailing excessive trading and possible abuses by dealers. But the Naira traded sideways yesterday, depreciating in the parallel market while appreciating in the official market. The development resumes the growing spread between the two markets which has drastically bridged two days ago. The circular which was signed by the Director of Trade and Exchange, Dr. Hassan Mahmud, as well as, Mrs. Rita Sike, for Director of Banking Supervision, was titled, “Harmonization of Rep

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has reassured the Ogoni people of the Senate’s determination, in collaboration with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to continue to work for the peace and development of the oil producing community.  Akpabio gave the assurance while receiving in courtesy, His Royal Majesty, Mene (Dr) Suanu Timothy Yormaadam Baridam Gbenemene, Kasimene Bangha VII of Ogoniland and the Acting President of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in River State, in his office on Tuesday.  A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted the Senate President to have thanked the Ogoni leader for the continued peace in the Niger Delta Region, saying, " I want to congratulate you and your people on the peace in the Niger Delta Region today. Niger Delta Region is very peaceful today because of the efforts and sacrifices of the people like you. The Ogoni people have sacrificed a lot for the peace, progress and development