“​Stop $13bn coastal highway project” – Afenifere urges FG

Aminu Imam
Afenifere

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has said that the Federal Government’s 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway is illegal, environmentally-destructive, and urged the Federal Government to halt it because it’s of no economic benefit, apart from being moves to convert Nigeria’s coastline to nepotistic private business. ​Articulating its position in an issued  statement signed by Prince Justice Faloye, of its Publicity Department, the group said that: “the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is illegal, for not only breaching competitive tendering stipulations, but for also contravening the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, as stipulated…

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​Cybersecurity Levy: Amidst public outcry, Tinubu suspends implementation, orders review

Aminu Imam
Tinubu suspends

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the controversial cybersecurity levy and suspended its implementation. The decision to suspend the implementation of the cybersecurity levy was taken on Thursday following the outrage that greeted the decision to implement it. According to an official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “This week, banks will be asked to “ignore the implementation directive”. A source close to the Government disclosed that the president had called the CBN governor on the matter and that the CBN is likely going to issue a…

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Naira defies CBN’s interventions, depreciates to N1,510/$

Aminu Imam
Naira dollar

The depreciation of the nation’ s currency, the Naira, persisted over the weekend, with the currency trading at N1,510 to a dollar in the parallel market and 1,466.31 at the official market. This marks a notable decline from its previous levels, with the exchange rate increasing by N40 between Thursday and Friday alone. Despite recent efforts and interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stabilise the naira, including supplying dollars to Bureau-De-Change (BDC) operators to boost liquidity, the currency has continued to weaken. Just a few months ago,…

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2024 Hajj: ​NAHCON begins prospective pilgrims’ vaccinationin Kebbi

Aminu Imam
Kebbi Hajj 2024

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), has initiated the vaccination of 2024, intending pilgrims against polio, meningitis, diphtheria, and yellow fever in Kebbi. The vaccination campaign was inaugurated at the Dr. Nasir Idris Hajj Camp in Birnin Kebbi yesterday, by the Head of the Medical Team, Dr. Sa’id Ahmad. ​Dr. Ahmad emphasised the mandatory nature of the vaccines for all prospective pilgrims, under the directive of the Saudi Arabian government. “The vaccination exercise is very timely, especially as the first inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Nigeria on May…

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“​Telecom sector not a panacea for economic challenges” – Telcos to FG

Aminu Imam

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, has rebuffed the notion of using the telecom sector as a quick fix for Nigeria’s economic woes. Speaking at the launch of the Groupe Spécial Mobile Association (GSMA) digital economy report in Abuja, Adebayo underscored the need to address the telecom industry’s fundamental challenges rather than rely on it as a sole solution to broader economic issues. Highlighting the sector’s multifaceted challenges, Adebayo stressed the importance of sustainable investment, streamlined regulation, and a conducive business environment to…

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NDLEA intercepts 3 trailer-loads of opioids, others

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

​…Arrests suspects ​​Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has intercepted three trailer loads of opioids, comprising 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup, at Abule-Ado, in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos State, on Thursday. The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in an issued statement yesterday, adding that three suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure. The statement partly read: “The multi-billion naira consignments were loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded…

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Bayelsa: JTF uncovers 50 illegal refineries

Aminu Imam
Bayelsa crude theft

The Joint Task Force, (JTF), code-named: ‘Operation Delta Safe‘, has uncovered over 50 illegal crude oil refining sites in the Biseni area of Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State. JTF Commander, John Okeke, who led the operation yesterday, said illegal refining of stolen crude oil was taking place in each of the sites. Okeke said he had earlier warned oil thieves in the area to desist from illegal refining of crude oil or relocate to other areas. Although no arrests were made, but he urged public-spirited persons in the…

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Rivers Political Crisis: “Tinubu won’t take sides” – Presidency to Wike

Aminu Imam
Presidency Wike

President Bola Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has told the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike and others that he will not take sides in the on-going crisis rocking Rivers State. The Special Adviser made the President’s position known during an interview on a television programme yesterday, insisting that Tinubu won’t allow any attempt to frustrate the Rivers State government. Ngelale said that anyone with the belief that President Tinubu would take their side in the political crisis would be disappointed. “I…

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Zamfara: State Govt. rejects FG peace accord with bandits

Aminu Imam
Dauda Lawal

Zamfara State government has dissociated itself from the ongoing plans by some suspected group of individuals claiming to be the agents of Peace Accord initiated by the Federal Government  to negotiate with bandits with a view to address the lingering security challenges in the State. This rejection was contained in a press statement issued yesterday, signed by the State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Comrade Mannir Mu’azu Haidara Ƙaura, in Gusau, the state capital,. Recall that recently, Northern leaders and stakeholders in  the North had warned the Federal  Government and…

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EFCC stops dollar transactions, asks embassies to charge in Naira

Aminu Imam
EFCC Naira

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has read the Riot Act to foreign missions based in Nigeria, banning them from transacting in foreign currencies, and mandating the use of Naira in their financial businesses. The EFCC has also mandated Nigerian foreign missions domiciled abroad to accept Naira in their financial businesses. The move, the EFCC noted, is to tackle the dollarisation of the Nigerian economy and the degradation of the Naira. The anti-graft commission, in an advisory to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, titled: “EFCC Advisory to…

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