Insecurity: Oxfam Builds Social Cohesion In Adamawa’s Michika
John Makina, the Country Director of Oxfam, has announced significant progress in fostering social cohesion among 16 wards and 80 communities in Michika Local Government…
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John Makina, the Country Director of Oxfam, has announced significant progress in fostering social cohesion among 16 wards and 80 communities in Michika Local Government Area, which suffered greatly during the insurgency in Adamawa State.
The initiative aims to foster unity and reduce crises in the region.
Addressing journalists at a close-out review and dissemination workshop in Yola, themed “Support to Improving Social Cohesion through Community Development Planning in 16 Wards of Michika LGA,” Makina outlined that the 11-month intervention was conducted in collaboration with CRUDAN, GIZ, and CEPAD.
Makina emphasised that the intervention focused on enhancing participatory engagement and planning among local communities, governmental bodies, and stakeholders. This collaborative effort is anticipated to yield better socio-economic outcomes for the affected communities.
“The aftermath of the insurgency in Michika LGA has led to widespread distrust among residents, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and returnees, underscoring the urgent need for social cohesion,” he said.
It’s impossible to drown even if you can’t swim in these 5 water bodies
Did you know that there are some bodies of water that you can’t drown in, even if you can’t swim?
Siwa Oasis
Water bodies with a high salt content make it almost impossible for people to drown. This is because water bodies with high salt content are denser than freshwater, causing objects (like humans) less dense than salty water to float.
Although the Dead Sea is the most popular water body where you can just float, there are still several other places where drowning is almost impossible.
1. Siwa Oasis, Egypt
In Egypt, Siwa Oasis beckons has hundreds of salt pools, creating a surreal landscape where sinking is impossible due to the high salt concentration. The best time to visit is between October and March, when temperatures are mild. It is approximately 562 kilometres (349 miles) from Cairo; the journey to Siwa takes about 14 hours by bus
2. Dead Sea, Jordan/Israel
The Dead Sea’s distinct lightness creates a bizarre sensation. You can simply relax in the waters, float away with your legs up, and allow nature to do its thing.
The famous Dead Sea, sometimes known as the “Salt Sea,” is a must-see attraction. This salt lake, located between Jordan and Israel and predominantly fed by the Jordan River, has extremely high salinity levels, making it unfriendly to marine life. You won’t see colourful fish or corals here.
3. Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA
As the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, the Great Salt Lake is a prominent landmark in northern Utah. Its turquoise waters and white-sand beaches are a sight to behold, drawing travellers seeking nature and outdoor adventures. There, you will see a beautiful sunset and float away in the lake.
4. Laguna Cejar, Chile
In the Atacama Desert, there is Laguna Cejar, a stunning lagoon nestled within the salt flats. Here, visitors can float effortlessly on the water’s surface, thanks to its high salt content. However, personal belongings can sink easily, unlike humans.
5. Jalapão State Park, Brazil
Jalapão State Park in Tocantins, Brazil, is the largest savanna in South America. There are majestic waterfalls, towering sand dunes, and natural springs known as fervedouros, where sinking is also impossible.
Unlike Laguna Cejar and the Dead Sea, it’s not the salt content that keeps visitors afloat, but the natural springs emerge from underground rivers, exerting pressure that prevents sinking. You also get the sensation that feels like gentle leg massages.
No Reason For Nigeria To Rely On Food Imports –Gombe Gov
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has said that with vast arable land and large population, Nigeria has no reason to import food.
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has said that with vast arable land and large population, Nigeria has no reason to rely on food importation.
The governor stated this on Thursday at the launch of Al-Yuma Fertilizer and Chemical Company in Kwadon community, Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who expressed his administration’s commitment to continue to drive agriculture sector in the state in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, said food security is the major focus of his government, adding that he is fully committed to developing the sector.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor said, “We will continue to unlock Gombe’s agricultural potential by supporting these industries.
“Our government is 100% committed to developing agriculture, the state’s and nation’s largest employer. And since taking office in 2019, food security has been a major focus for us. We believe development hinges on it.
“There’s no reason for Nigeria to rely on food imports when we have the resources to feed ourselves”.
“While job creation is primarily the responsibility of the private sector, government’s role is to provide an enabling environment. We are therefore ready to support any entrepreneur who wants to establish a business in Gombe State,” he added.
Nigerian trio set for Europa League showdown in Dublin
Lookman’s impressive performance ensures he’ll be a key figure for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side when they face Bayer Leverkusen in the final on 22 May
This year’s Europa League final is shaping up to be a Nigerian affair as three Super Eagles stars are set to clash on the biggest stage.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) and Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen) all booked their places in the Dublin final on Thursday night.
Atalanta, following a strong 1-1 draw in the first leg, secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Marseille at Bergamo.
Lookman, who played a starring role, scored the opener via a deflected shot on the half-hour mark.
The Nigerian was causing constant problems for the Marseille defence as Atlanta took charge from start to finish.
The win, along with the first-leg result, sealed a comprehensive 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the UEFA Europa League showpiece.
Lookman’s impressive performance ensures he’ll be a key figure for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side when they face Bayer Leverkusen in the final on 22 May.
Dramatic Leverkusen
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen reached the final after a dramatic 4-2 aggregate victory over Roma.
Leverkusen were initially trailing 2-0 in the second-leg tie; two penalties from Leandro Paredes gave Roma hope.
However, an own goal by Gianluca Mancini and a stoppage-time equaliser from Josip Stanisic sent Leverkusen through.
Unbeaten record
The win not only secured their place in the final but also extended their remarkable unbeaten run to a staggering 49 games.
This unbeaten streak includes the Europa League and Bundesliga, where Leverkusen recently thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to extend their unbeaten league run.
The all-time unbeaten record of 62 games belongs to Scottish club Celtic (1915-1917), but it’s important to note those matches were all domestic league fixtures.
Adding to their historic season, Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen have already secured their first-ever Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign of dominance. They’ll also be competing in the German Cup final later this month.
This Europa League final promises to be a thrilling encounter, not just for Nigerian football fans but for all neutral observers.
The edges of the sinkhole, one kilometre long and 50-100 metres deep, are constantly crumbling.
Batagayka crater in Russia is called the ‘gates to hell’ [Jesse Allen]
In northern Yakutia, Russia, there is the world’s largest permafrost depression.
Officially, this place is called the Batagajka crater and is located approximately 660 km from Yakutsk, but the locals call it the gate to hell.
It has just turned out that the gate is growing significantly every year.
The crater was first spotted in satellite images in 1991 and has been of interest to scientists ever since. This permafrost is the oldest in Siberia and the second oldest in the world. Its layers date back to 650,000 years ago.
According to the latest research, the crater is constantly growing and the rapid melting of permafrost is responsible for this. According to National Geographic, the edges of the sinkhole, one kilometre long and 50-100 metres deep, are constantly crumbling. As a result, the earth slides into the crater and the gates open even wider.
There are many such craters throughout the Arctic, but Batagaika is unique because the rate at which it is expanding is astonishing. The walls of the depression retreat by up to 12 metres a year. According to scientists, the depression was created in the 1960s, in 2014 it was 790 m high, and since then it has grown by a full 200 m.
Researchers said that since the crater was formed, ice and sediment have melted enough to fill as many as 14 Great Pyramids. At the same time, approximately four to five thousand tons are released from the permafrost. tons of organic carbon. Thus, Batagajka becomes a unique window into the past. The permafrost gives scientists access to plant material from the Ice Age, and animal remains have also been collected from it, including: bisons, mammoths and horses.
Due to global warming, the frozen crust of the Earth begins to melt, and with it organisms that froze thousands of years ago thaw. Even after spending an extremely long time in sub-zero temperatures, some of them manage to come back to life.
UN General Assembly to vote on granting Palestine increased status
The move by the UN General Assembly in New York comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The United Nations General Assembly will on Friday vote on granting Palestinians greater representation and participation rights in the UN’s largest body.
The draft resolution grants Palestine significantly extended rights to participate in the sessions of the General Assembly, but does not give it regular voting rights.
Adoption of the resolution would also likely increase pressure to grant Palestine full membership.
The UN General Assembly recognised Palestine as an observer state in 2012 in spite of resistance from the United States.
Palestine and the Vatican are the only two non-member states with observer status in the body.
The resolution, which was introduced by the United Arab Emirates but drafted by the Palestinians, has been the source of disagreements at UN headquarters in New York for weeks.
The text states that the General Assembly has determined that the “State of Palestine should be admitted to membership of the United Nations.
“It also recommends that the UN Security Council, which holds decisive power over UN membership, reconsider the matter favourably.”
Dpa has obtained the text of the draft resolution, although the provisions and language of the resolution could still change as negotiations continues.
The move by the 193-member UN General Assembly in New York, which comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, is also a reflection of international opinion on the Middle East conflict.
UN diplomats believe that the resolution will easily achieve the necessary two-thirds majority of all votes cast in the General Assembly.
The influential United States, as well as China and Russia, fear a loss of control in the upgrading of regions whose statehood is disputed. All three countries hold veto powers at the Security Council.
Dangote Cement launches malaria intervention programme in Edo
The programme General Manager of Training and Development, Sunday Adodua, stated that with the programme, malaria could be eliminated if residents complied with instructions.
The Dangote Cement company has launched a malaria intervention programme for host communities in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
With the launch, the cement manufacturing company has begun to administer free anti-malaria treatments to residents in host communities.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday, 9 May.
According to the Group Head of Sustainability, Dangote Cement Plc, Igazeuma Okoroba, the programme was initiated to improve access to quality health care in host communities.
Mrs Okoroba described the relationship between the company and host communities as robust while noting that the goal is to bring health care closer and reduce the risk of malaria among the people.
She said: “Today’s campaign in Okpella, therefore, aims to engage our communities, bring health care close to where people live, and address factors that increase malaria risk while demonstrating our corporate social responsibility.
“As we observe, a significant portion of the population lacks access to vital healthcare services. Dangote Cement PLC aims to bridge this gap by addressing disparities in our host communities.
“We believe that healthy people are the foundation for healthy economies, and for this reason, countries are taking decisive actions to counteract health challenges. Our target for this campaign is Edo State”.
Beneficiaries speak
A beneficiary of the programme, Adiza Aliu, said the programme has improved her access to healthcare.
She said after being diagnosed with malaria, officials of the programme gave her drugs and mosquito net free of charge.
She said, “They asked me to be sleeping under the net to prevent malaria. Look at the drugs they gave me. I didn’t pay any money.”
Another beneficiary, Innocent Valentina, said the initiative is alleviating the suffering of the people as regards healthcare.
Eliminating malaria
Also speaking, the programme’s General Manager for training and development, Sunday Adodua,
stated that with the programme, malaria could be eliminated if residents comply with instructions.
He said if people use judiciously anti-malaria tools given to them, the disease could be eliminated.
“The essence of this programme is to make life more meaningful for the people of our host communities who are vulnerable in terms of finance and resources to afford good medical establishments for treatment.”
Mr Adodua also noted that Dangote Cement has a robust CSR programme for host communities, which has been ongoing for a year.
Currently, Nigeria contributes about 27 per cent of the global burden of the disease, the highest in Africa. It also accounts for about 31.3 per cent of deaths from malaria, the largest globally.
The disease, which is caused by tiny parasites called Plasmodium, is responsible for 11 per cent of maternal deaths and 25 per cent of deaths in infants.
Issues as ex-Governor Shema joins APC after months of political romance
Mr Shema became critical of the PDP, especially in his home state, in the build-up to the 2023 general election.
The decision by Ibrahim Shema, a former governor of Katsina State, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took long in arriving.
Mr Shema became critical of the PDP, especially in his home state, in the build-up to the 2023 general election.
Immediately after the presidential election and Bola Tinubu was declared winner, Mr Shema publicly asked Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate, to accept the results and move on. But even before that, Mr Shema had only one leg in the party.
When the PDP suspended Mr Shema and some top party members for alleged anti-party conducts, he threatened to quit the party if the sanction was not reversed. The party later lifted the suspension but only well after the ultimatum given by Mr Shema.
Shema, Katsina and 2023
Mr Shema (governor from 2007 to 2015) worked against the PDP in Katsina State in the 2023 elections for several reasons.
His media team, in a statement by Olawale Oluwabusola, said Mr Shema was “relegated” to the background by the party, among other allegations.
But beyond that, three other ssues played a key role in Mr Shema’s decision.
Mr Shema’s trouble in the PDP began in 2019 when he lost grip of the party to Yakubu Lado, who defeated his anointed ally in the party’s governorship primaries.
But it was not complete darkness for Mr Shema as he managed to make another ally, Salisu Majigiri, the running mate to Mr Lado in the election they eventually lost to Aminu Masari of the APC.
Former Governor Aminu Bello Masari
In 2023, Mr Lado again clinched the party’s ticket but refused to pick any of Mr Shema’s loyalists as his running mate. Instead, he settled for Ahmed Yar’adua, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways (NIW), who is also seen as an Abuja politician who would bring little or no value to the governorship contest.
With that decision by Mr Lado, Mr Shema and his loyalists withdrew their support and a war for the soul of the party began with Mr Lado, who is a former local government chairman, House of Representatives member and senator.
Another issue that informed Mr Shema’s decision to work against his party was the joining of the party by Mustapha Inuwa, the immediate former Secretary to the State Government who left the APC after he failed to clinch the governorship ticket.
Messrs Shema and Inuwa, who both worked under the late Umaru Yar’adua when he was governor, are sworn enemies. Throughout Mr Shema’s eight years as governor, Mr Inuwa stridently criticised his policies and programmes. Mr Inuwa later left the PDP and took an active part in the formation of the APC in the state. He served as the party’s first substantive chairperson.
When Mr Inuwa rejoined the PDP and Mr Lado found a new friend and political associate in him, Mr Shema apparently felt irritated. His aides told PREMIUM TIMES he decided to leave instead of flocking with “strange bedfellows” like Mr Inuwa who flocked into the party.
Politics at work
But Mr Shema is not a greenhorn in politics. Facing the challenge of Mr Lado’s financial muscles and Mr Inuwa’s grassroots political connections as well as the gang up against him by aggrieved party members who felt he didn’t make efforts to reach out to them, Mr Shema looked beyond the PDP and built bridges.
In APC, he found Dikko Radda, who was fighting his own long political battle. With Mr Inuwa and the other aggrieved APC politicians fighting him, Mr Radda was also looking for another political pillar to lean on.
Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda
He found solace in Mr Shema.
The former governor surrendered his political machinery to the APC candidate but he himself remained in the PDP. On social media, Mr Shema’s loyalists promoted Mr Radda and the APC and there were allegations that they voted for Mr Radda in the general election.
Before the elections, the Katsina State Government announced the withdrawal of the case of alleged misappropriation of N11 billion instituted against Mr Shema and some of his appointees. The case had been in court since 2016 but Mr Shema had consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying he was merely being politically persecuted.
One of Mr Shema’s staunchest allies, Bashir Tanimu, was appointed commissioner of finance while another ally, Ibrahim Dankaba, was appointed executive director of the Katsina State Small Town and Water Sanitation Agency (STOWASSA).
New light for Katsina PDP?
The third issue that triggered Mr Shema’s departure from the PDP was the way he was treated by the national leadership and presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2023 elections.
Those familiar with the matter said he was completely ostracized and kept out of decision-making. “I can tell you that Oga (Mr Shema) was seriously and consistently disrespected,” one aide said, asking not to be named because he does not have his boss’ permission to discuss the matter in the media. “They even fixed rallies without informing or inviting him. It was unbelievable that they could do that to a former governor with a huge political followership and influence. I think they miscalculated. So why should he remain loyal to such a party?”
Mr Shema’s official departure from the PDP may bring an end to the ongoing crisis in the state chapter of the opposition party. But the party may now find it harder to return to winning ways.
The party in Katsina has been without a substantive state executive council due to the face-off between factions loyal to Messrs Shema and Lado. The state chapter has thus been run by a caretaker committee since before the elections.
With Mr Shema’s exit, the PDP can now tread on one leadership path with Messrs Inuwa and Lado as party leaders.
However, the exit of the former governor will affect the party as many influential members will follow him to his new party, the APC.
Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: Project not okayed by NASS, procurement for probe — REPS
By Gift ChapiOdekina
ABUJA — The House of Representatives said yesterday the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway had no National Assembly’s approval.
It also resolved to investigate the procurement process of the coastal highway.
The House also called on the Minister of Works, Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure that all project guarantees and credit enhancement instruments are sent to the National Assembly for approval.
The Green Chamber equally mandated its committees on Procurement and Works to investigate the procurement process of the contract for the project.
Recall that the project has generated a lot of controversies, with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, asking the Federal Government to come clean on the project.
The motion, titled “Urgent need to investigate the procurement process and award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway’’, was moved by Austin Achado(APC-Benue) at plenary in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Achado said award of the contract did not follow due process, adding that it also did not get the approval of the National Assembly, hence the need to thoroughly investigate the procurement process of the contract.
Achado said: “The House is disturbed that the contingent liabilities accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria on this project violate the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act of 2023, as Section 22(3) states that the minister shall not guarantee an external loan unless the terms and conditions of the loan shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution.
‘No NASS approval for debt guarantees’
“The guarantees issued to cover the debt financing component of this project do not have the approval of this National Assembly.”
Speaking further, he noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had executed an Engineering Procurement Construction and Finance (EPC+F) contract, in favour of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited, for the delivery of the 700km Lagos to Calabar Coastal Road and Rail Project estimated at a rate of N4.329 billion per kilometre, using reinforced concrete technology for a carriage width of 59.7metres to include 10 lanes, shoulders and rail with additional designs of service ducts, street lights, drainages and shore protection.
Govt Discloses When Remarkable Lagos Kano Rail Line Will Be Ready For Operations.
As the Voice of Nigeria reported, Alkali inspected the Kano-Maradi rail corridor on Thursday, May 9.
This is even as the contractor handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), announced that the rail line has been linked up to Zawaciki Dala Dry Port in the commercial city of Kano, Leadership newspaper noted.
Speaking on the imminent commencement of freight operations, minister Alkali stated that it would preserve the lifespan of Nigeria’s highways as well as save more Nigerians from dying in auto accidents. His words: “This is the second leg of my inspection since I took over as the minister of transportation and the essence of the inspection is to see by myself with a team from the ministry of transportation and engineers from the railway corporation and the consultant and the contractors, so that we ensure compliance in term of time.
(FILES) A customer pays after buying some fruits and vegetables at a street market in High Wycombe, on August 15, 2023. – Britain exited a shallow recession with better-than-expected growth in the first quarter, official data showed on May 10, 2024, in a boost to embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of this year’s election. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Britain exited a shallow recession with better-than-expected growth in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, in a boost to embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of this year’s election.
Gross domestic product expanded 0.6 percent in the first three months of this year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, noting strong growth in service industries and car manufacturing.
That beat market expectations of 0.4 percent and marked the strongest performance since the fourth quarter of 2021, helping send London’s stock market to yet another record peak.
Sunak — whose governing Conservatives are trailing the main opposition Labour Party before a general election and suffered heavy losses in English local polls last week — has made economic growth one of his top priorities.
The economy had suffered two successive quarters of slight contraction in the second half of last year, meeting the technical definition of a recession on the back of elevated inflation and a cost-of-living crisis.
“There is no doubt it has been a difficult few years, but today’s growth figures are proof that the economy is returning to full health for the first time since the pandemic,” said finance minister Jeremy Hunt.
“We’re growing this year and have the best outlook among European G7 countries over the next six years,” he insisted.
However, Labour finance spokesperson Rachel Reeves slammed the government’s stewardship of the economy, which has been blighted by the cost-of-living crunch.
“From no growth to low growth — is that really the scale of the Conservatives’ ambitions? Food prices are still high, families are paying more on their monthly mortgage bills and working people are worse off,” said Reeves.
– ‘More optimistic period’ –
Friday’s data came one day after the Bank of England kept its main interest rate at a 16-year high, but hinted at a cut over the summer as inflation cools further — and forecast emergence from recession in a bright outlook.
“The UK is clearly entering a more optimistic period,” noted Richard Carter, head of fixed interest research at Quilter Cheviot.
Police operatives from the Katsina Police Command successfully thwarted two separate kidnapping attempts that occurred in Faskari and Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State, on the 8th and 9th of May 2024.
ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer said the hoodlums carried out the first attack on May 8, 2024, after they barricaded Funtua-Gusau Road, along Unguwar Boka village, Faskari LGA, Katsina.
According to him, the criminals targeted three passengers travelling in a Golf III motor vehicle, which they forcefully halted with the reign of bullets.
However, Sadiq disclosed that their plans were thwarted by a rapid response patrol team patrolling the area.
“The team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Faskari swiftly engaged the bandits in a gunfight, rescuing all three passengers unharmed.
“The criminals suspected to have been wounded were forced to flee the scene. A search is currently underway to apprehend the suspects.” Sadiq said.
Similarly, on May 9th at about 12:45 am, Sadiq said the Katsina Police triumphed again when its operatives from the
Malumfashi divisional headquarters responded to a distress call about an attack on Gidan-Maga village.
He said a group of armed bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, had descended upon the village, kidnapping ten residents and stealing sixteen cows.
“Wasting no time, the DPO of Malumfashi mobilized officers and rushed to the scene.
“In a fierce gun battle, the gallant police team overpowered the bandits, securing the release of all ten kidnapped victims.
“In the same vein, they recovered the sixteen stolen cows, forcing the wounded criminals to retreat once more.
“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, commended the officers for their bravery and professionalism,” he said.
He emphasized the Command’s unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and security of the people of Katsina State.
The demand for a minimum wage of ₦615,000 monthly salary for Nigerian workers by NLC has raised concern as the country is presently at an economic crossroads.
Director-General, Confederation of APC Support Groups, Prof. Kailani Muhammed
A socio-political group, the Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups, has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to be reasonable in its discussion with the Federal Government to arrive at reality national minimum wage.
Its Director-General, Prof. Kailani Muhammed, advised at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Muhammed said the demand for a minimum wage of ₦615,000 monthly salary for the Nigerian workers by NLC had raised so much concern as the country was presently at an economic crossroads.
“First of all, in an attempt to respond to this demand, I will like us to critically look at Nigeria’s economic profile.
“Without mincing words, the country, to say the least, is presently at an economic crossroad.
“The country is embedded in an unprecedented foreign debt profile as never before.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu, who unfortunately or fortunately, is saddled with the task of solving the debt profile riddle, even though not daunted, is working round the clock to solve the debacle.
“This is not to say that, the Nigerian workers should solely shoulder the pains but in trying to make the Nigerian workers reasonably comfortably, we must be reasonable in the approach,” the group boss said.
He urged the NLC to revisit its discussion with the government by reviewing issues of national importance such as the national minimum wage.
“I advise the NLC to treat the path of maturity on issues of national importance such as the national wage discuss with government.
“There are some state governments in Nigeria that cannot afford to implement the ₦30,000 minimum wage. How and where does the NLC expects them to procure funds to pay this new wage illusionary bill?” he queried.
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer David Adedeji Adeleke, known professionally as Davido, has allegedly sacked his lawyer, Bobo Ajudua.
This claim was made by an online influencer who shared a chat of his with an unidentified source alleging that the lawyer of the said singer has been sacked.
Nigerian singer, Davido.
Meanwhile, Bobo Ajudua is the only known and identified legal representative of the said singer, and as of the time of writing this report, he hasn’t made any official statement regarding the alleged claim of being sacked.
Also, Davido hasn’t announced or hinted on his media page that his lawyer, Bobo Ajudua, has been sacked.
The claim is yet to be confirmed or dismissed by the said singer, Davido, or the allegedly sacked lawyer Bobo Ajudua, leaving many individuals to share their thoughts on the claim in the comment section.
See some reactions below:
@charlesmore25: “Yes, he sàck him yesterday at the house. Well goodluck to him.”
@phildubem: “Be like say this him lawyer get issues with plenty people cos of the replies I’m seeing, was he that badd or is this just one of those bandwagon thing where everyone says yes to the trend?”
@daniels_osi: “Shey na the lawyer dey tweet all those totoux begging videos abi na the lawyer cause him and Wizkid quarrel?”
@DareHardy09: “Everyday Davido this Davido that 🤦♂️🤦♂️ I don tire for 001 with different silly news update.”
@AjibolaFaisol01: “The Davido I know will never sack, he’ll rather unfollow him on instagram.”
All FGN bonds qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.
FGN Bonds [Noble Solutions]
The Federal Government, through the Debt Management Office (DMO), has offered three FGN bonds valued at ₦150 billion each for subscription at ₦1,000 per unit.
According to a release by the DMO, the first offer is the five-year re-opening of the April 2029 FGN bond valued at ₦150 billion, at an interest rate of 19.30%.
The second offer is the seven-year re-opening of the February 2031 FGN bond valued at ₦150 billion, at an interest rate of 18.50%. The third offer is a new, nine-year, May 2033 FGN bond valued at ₦150 billion.
“Auction date is the 13, and the settlement date is May 15.
“They are offered at ₦1,000 per unit subject to a minimum subscription of ₦50million and in multiples of ₦1,000 thereafter,” the DMO said.
It said that for re-openings of previously issued bonds, successful bidders will pay a price corresponding to the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the volume being auctioned plus any accrued interest.
The agency said that interest payments would be made semi-annually while the bullet repayment (principal sum) is on the maturity date.
“FGN bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria and are charged upon the general assets of Nigeria.
“They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act.
“They qualify as government securities within the meaning of the Company Income Tax Act and Personal Income Tax Act for tax exemption for pension funds amongst other investors.
“They are listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange,” it added.
The DMO added that all FGN bonds qualify as liquid assets for liquidity ratio calculation for banks. It urged all interested investors to contact Primary Dealer Market Makers (PDMMs) like First Bank, First City Monument Bank, Access Bank, and Citibank among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FGN bonds, like other Federal Government securities, constitute the domestic component of government borrowing.
She confessed that even though James Brown was at fault in the incident, she still took his side and did not understand the narrative he spun on social media.
According to Gracious, James has always flaunted the fact that she made his fame through her and always threatens her on several occasions.
Gracious Brown.
The beautiful young lady claimed that he has the passwords to her social media account and has disabled her accounts numerous times.
Since he is her manager and she trusted him as family, she could not believe he would do such a thing.
However, James has continuously been quite domineering in his approach, also going as far as chasing her away from the house whenever they have issues.
Gracious Brown also shares that her celebrity crush is Wizkid and she is a big fan of the artist.
Famous actress, Dorcas Fapson better known as Ms DSF lands in a hospital after smoking shisha.
The actress took to her social media page to share the news with her fans as she shared a photo she took from the hospital bed.
Ms DSF. Photo source: Instagram.
One netizen who reacted to the photo opined that it was probably the weather that had brought on the illness.
Ms DSF revealed that it was probably the funny shishashe smoked which made her problem 20 times worse.
She added that she is feeling a little better and responding to treatment.
The netizen wrote;
“sorry Big D, it’s tonsillitis, 1 think it’s the weather because most people including myself are currently going through. please try gargling salt water for 30secs 1 min twice”
Dorcas replied: “Yh I think so, I smoked one funny shisha too which made it 20 times worse feeling a lil better now tho thank you.”
Read some comments below:
extraincomegogo said: “No be everybody head strong o, I remember when i almost ran mad because of brownies I did not ask for. Me I like cake, na so I chop Wetin I no know. Omo I dey see myself go up, coke down. Na only God save me”
_makuochi._ said: “Smoking is not a flex guys!!”
tamara.doubra_a said: “If she has her way now she for put am for skibii head 😂”
iam_bmodel said: “Hope she will not say it was given to her by skibii😔. Get well soon”
FG, LASG partner on provision of 2,000 housing units for low income earners
As part of efforts to address housing deficit, the Lagos State Government is collaborating with the Federal Government to provide over 2,000 home units in Ipaja and ibeju Lekki area of the State.
The State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai made this known during the ongoing ministerial briefing at Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate the first anniversary of the second term in office of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Commissioner stated the programme is part of Renewed Hope Housing initiative of the Federal Government, adding “there is an ongoing discussion with a private finance institution to provide 800 units at Odola in Ikorodu division.”
He explained that all these initiatives are targeted at first time owners and low income earners with mortgages ranging from 10 to 15 years.
The Commissioner affirmed the readiness of the State Government to provide more homes by speedily completing its ongoing housing schemes in all the administrative divisions of the State.
Akinderu-Fataialso revealed that the old estates are being re- evaluated with a plan to restore their infrastructure and maximize the available lands for greater home yeild.
He however pointed out that residents of some of the Ministry’s estates do not comply with the extant rules put in place to promote peaceful coexistence of all allotees in the estates, saying “such infractions, include non-payment of Service charges, bypass of electric meters and cult activities. He then warned that the State Government has resolved to act resolutely by revoking the allocations of allotees who do not comply with agreements signed at the point of release of homes.”
Akinderu-Fatai also warned the allotees of the estates to desist from the practice of contravention of the original master plans of the estates through various alterations, modifications and adjustments.
According to him, the Ministry is in the process of reverting to the original master plans and that steps have been taken to notify and seal the properties affected. He also hinted that the State Government may on the long run retrieve any contravening property in accordance with agreement signed with the allotees.
Akinderu-Fatai also confirmed the readiness of the Lagos State Government to enhance fairness and transparency in the allocation of housing units through the use of ballot in the allocation of some of its home units.
He added that the first balloting exercise will be conducted for Lagos State Public Affordable Housing, Idale in Badagry Division and LagosHoms at Odo-Onosa/Ayandelu in Epe Division on the 4th of June 2024 and that the process will be monitored by independent observers.
He further called on residents to be wary of the activities of dubious individuals or organizations who are parading themselves as registered Real Estate agents in the state.
He disclosed that it is an offence for an individual or organization to engage in Real Estate business without due registration with Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency (LASRERA) and urged the practitioners in the sector to always act responsibly and follow the path of the law.
He however listed some of the challenges facing the Ministry as encroachments on state owned land for housing projects, litigations, slow pace of work by joint venture partners, issues related to allocation of the homes due to its limited number, inflationary trends and challenges with recalcitrant allotees and residents.
OPay clarifies new CBN directive, reassures customers
OPay remains committed to working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulatory bodies to fight money laundering, fraud, terrorism financing, and other illegal financial activities.
As a regulatory-compliant institution, OPay follows the rules set by the CBN and other regulators to ensure the financial system’s integrity. To achieve this, we have closed non-compliant accounts, implemented strict security measures, and educated customers to help combat fraud.
To support government efforts to clean up the financial industry, Opay and other Fintechs companies have temporarily paused onboarding new customers and creating new wallets. This action reflects our commitment to a secure financial environment and fighting against illicit activities.
Please note that existing accounts and wallets remain unaffected by the CBN’s directive. We want to assure our customers that their funds are secure, their data is protected and this is a temporary measure.
Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we are committed to promoting financial inclusion and economic growth as key players in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
At the top three spots were Chad, Uganda and Tanzania with 58%, 57% and 56% respectively.
Nigerian workers are 7th most stressed employees in Sub-Saharan Africa
A new global workplace report has ranked Nigerian workers in seventh place in the list of countries with the most stressed workers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the 2023 Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report, obtained from a survey of employees worldwide, workers across the globe still experienced some high level of stress which peaked during the COVID period.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, several indexes were used for the report which include employee engagement, daily anger and daily stress.
Employee engagement is a critical factor in any company’s success and describes the level of enthusiasm and dedication a worker feels towards their job.
Nigeria was ranked in 22nd position with 14% of the respondents reporting being engaged at work. At the top of this chat were Mali, Senegal and the Republic of Congo.
Although Gallup’s survey did not request for specifics as regarding the cause of stress, the survey noted that work itself can be a source of stress, while other external factors, like inflation or family health issues, can also be sources of daily stress.
Globally, East Asia, which includes China, tied the U.S. and Canada for the region with the highest levels of stress.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, 70% of the respondents declared an intent to quit their current job, 46% reported stress and 60% were not engaged.
Nigeria, alongside Senegal, was ranked as the country with the seventh most stressed workers as 50% of the sampled employees declared they were stressed at work.
At the top three spots were Chad, Uganda and Tanzania with 58%, 57% and 56% respectively.
Globally, about 21% of respondents revealed daily anger while in the work place. Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the lowest rate of daily anger in the work place while South Asia recorded the highest level of daily anger.
Sub-Saharan Africa came in third place on the regional scale for daily stress and daily anger.
Nigeria came in 14th place in Sub-Saharan Africa with 23% of the respondents saying they felt daily anger in the work place. Leading the ranks in Sub-Saharan Africa were Chad, Togo and Uganda.
Amid the calls by Nigerian workers on the need to implement the proposed minimum wage increment, the global workplace report further called on world leaders to focus more on addressing the wellbeing concerns and improving engagement of employees.
