Home Blog Page 1077

Some G5 governors working for Tinubu – Onanuga

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Some G5 governors working for Tinubu – Onanuga

SPOKESPERSON for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Bayo Onanuga has said some G5 governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are working for Bola Tinubu.

He disclosed this during a Twitter Space held by The ICIR on Saturday, February 11.

READ ALSO:
Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi worthless – Onanuga

Onanuga rejects rerun projections, says Tinubu to win at first ballot

NAN boss Bayo Onanuga accuses journalist of treason over reporting on Boko Haram

Naira Redesign: Much ado about a monetary policy 

“We are very optimistic about the coming election we are going to hold in two weeks. We are going to win, all these talk about a run-off, we are going to win at the first ballot.

“Election in this world today is almost mathematical. We have 21 governors, we have governors of the opposition G5, many of them working with our candidate,” Onanuga said.

The G5 governors, who are aggrieved members of the PDP, have withheld support for their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar since his victory at the primaries.

Led by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, the governors have kicked against the imbalance in the party’s leadership, resulting from the presidential candidate and national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, being from the same region.

Onanuga also noted that some other opposition governors who were yet to openly declare their support for the APC had given assurance that they would influence the elections in favour of the party.

He expressed confidence that Tinubu would win the elections, despite several online polls which have suggested otherwise.

Stating that the polls lack integrity and empirical evidence, Onanuga said the APC had conducted its own surveys, which assured of the party’s victory.

Onanuga rejects rerun projections, says Tinubu to win at first ballot

Harrison EDEH
-
0
Onanuga rejects rerun projections, says Tinubu to win at first ballot

SPOKESPERSON of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bayo Ononuga has said the party’s candidate Bola Tinubu would win the presidential election at the first ballot.

Speaking during a Twitter Space organised by The ICIR on Saturday, February 11, Onanuga also rejected polls which projected a rerun in the presidential election.

The Twitter Space was themed, ‘The APC Strategy: Defining The Tinubu Manifesto’

Despite most of the pre-election polls being conducted with data, Onanuga dismissed them as lacking in empirical evidence, describing them as ‘armchair polls’

Several polls have been conducted prior to the forthcoming presidential election, with recent ones by NEXIER and Bloomberg predicting the victory of Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi.

NEXIER in its polls earlier reported noted that although Obi had the highest poll, it is unlikely to give him outright victory in the first ballot.

According to the Bloomberg, two-thirds of respondents said they intend to vote for Obi.

The results of the survey conducted for Bloomberg News by Premise Data Corp were published on Friday – 15 days before the vote to choose President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

Of the 93 per cent of participants who said they have decided how to vote, 66 per cent named Obi as their preferred choice.

However, Onanuga said Tinubu is the candidate to beat in the election.

According to him, Tinubu’s chances are further boosted with control of 21 states by the ruling APC and underground support being offered by some of the G-5 governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He also expressed concerns over reports published on the APC candidate by some media houses.

“Many media houses attacking our principal have an agenda, and that is part of the reasons why we don’t respond to call door interviews by such media outfits.”

Onanuga noted that the APC is sure of victory as a result of findings from field reports and internal polls conducted by an internal organ of the Presidential Campaign Council.

Despite admitting the key challenges of the current administration to consist of security and economy, he said there are lots of positives to take away from the current administration.

“Buhari is an unlucky President. He needs to be given kudos in most of his legacy projects like the second Niger Bridge, investments in roads and airports infrastructure,” he said.

Onanuga, in the same vein, assured that  Tinubu’s administration, with the mandate of renewed hope, would provide solutions to the key problems of insecurity and economy.

We have capacity, materials to print new notes — CBN

Beloved JOHN
-
0
We have capacity, materials to print new notes — CBN

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the scarcity of naira notes is not due to a shortage of printing materials.

The apex bank, in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson Osita Nwasinobi, debunked reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC (NSPMC) is incapable of printing new naira notes.

READ ALSO:
Killers of CBN staff slaughtered him, bludgeoned wife over salary increase, loan request – Ogun police

CBN lists money bouquet as naira abuse

Court stops CBN, Buhari from suspending cash limit policy

Naira Scarcity: Bear with CBN, Peter Obi urges 

CBN described the reports quoting Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, as saying cash shortage is due to insufficient capacity to print notes that can satisfy demand as misleading.

It noted that the governor informed the Council of State that the NSPMC is working on printing all naira denominations to accommodate Nigerians’ transaction needs.

CBN also debunked reports that it plans to shut down some banks in some parts of the country.

“While the CBN appreciates the concerns of all stakeholders about the distribution of the Naira, we are alarmed at the extent to which vested interests are attempting to manipulate facts and pitch the public against the Bank.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN remains committed to performing its monetary policy functions, as stipulated in the CBN Act, 2007, as amended. We also wish to restate that the NSPMC has the capacity and enough materials to produce the required indent of the Naira.

“The Bank, therefore, wishes to appeal to the public to disregard the said report and exercise more restraint, even as we work assiduously to increase the circulation of the new notes in the country.

“Similarly, there is a misleading voice note trending in social media alleging that the CBN planned to shut down some banks, particularly in a particular geopolitical region of the country,” the CBN said.

“We wish to state unequivocally that there is no such plan and that the claims are illogical and do not comply with the workings of the Nigerian banking system.”

Hoodlums attack Obi’s supporters in Lagos, police confirm four injured

Marcus FATUNMOLE
-
0
Hoodlums attack Obi’s supporters in Lagos, police confirm four injured

FOUR persons were confirmed injured as hoodlums attacked supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as he campaigned in Lagos State on Saturday, February 11.

The state police command confirmed the attack through its public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.

Read also:
Fiscal rascality, not Emefiele, responsible for Nigeria’s monetary problems – Peter Obi

2023: El-Zakzaky denies endorsing Peter Obi

Nigeria has suffered enough – Peter Obi

In a series of tweets, Hundeyin said the police had launched an investigation into the attack.

Screenshot of some of the police tweets confirming attack on supporters of Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi in Lagos State on Saturday February 11, 2023

The ICIR reports that LP supporters and vehicles came under attack in the state as the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, was in the nation’s commercial hub and one of the country’s most populous states to seek votes in his bid to become Nigeria’s next leader through a presidential poll scheduled for February 25.

According to Hundeyin, the incident occurred 15 kilometres from the rally’s Tafawa Balewa Square venue.

Describing the attack as ‘reprehensible’, the police spokesperson said security had been provided at the venue a day before the campaign.

He explained that the Jakande Ward Chairman of the LP reported the attack at Ilasan Division.

“The injured and other witnesses are assisting the police with relevant information that would aid the apprehension and prosecution of the attackers.”

All four injured persons have been given medical attention, and the divisional police office at Ilasan had commenced preliminary investigations while the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) would fully take over investigations into the case, he stated.

“It is verifiable that the Command had stationed, since yesterday, patrol vehicles and officers at the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of today’s rally. We had already secured the venue to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

Screenshot of some of the police tweets confirming attack on supporters of Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi in Lagos State on Saturday February 11, 2023,

“The regrettable attack happened at about 15km away from the rally venue. As earlier stated, the SCID will take over investigations towards apprehending and prosecuting the attackers,” Hundeyin said.

The ICIR reports that politicians seeking elective offices at the national level in Nigeria bank on Lagos and other key states to harvest votes.

Lagos State is the home of the All the Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, the state’s former governor and renowned kingmaker in the state and beyond.

Since he governed Lagos between 1999 and 2007, his party has always won in the state.

Peter Obi faces Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and others in an election expected to be the most keenly contested in Nigeria’s history.

 

Buhari fails to keep his word on naira scarcity

Marcus FATUNMOLE
-
0
Buhari fails to keep his word on naira scarcity

SCARCITY of the new Naira notes has persisted despite the promised action by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Many Nigerians remain in queues at automated teller machines (ATMs) mounted in banks and a few other locations across the country in search of the new notes.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the new N200, N500 and N1000 notes into circulation on December 15, 2022, and announced that the old notes would cease to be legal tender from January 31, 2023. 

READ ALSO:
CBN lists money bouquet as naira abuse

National Council of State supports naira redesign, faults implementation gaps

Kano asks Supreme Court to stop FG’s naira redesign policy

Nigerians await Buhari’s decision on scarcity of new naira notes

The decision compelled the citizens to take the old notes on them to banks hurriedly, but they have since been struggling to get the new notes.

Following pleas and protests by Nigerians, the apex bank extended the deadline till February 10 and said people with the old notes could take them to the bank to exchange for new ones or save them after the deadline.

Despite the deadline extension, the currency swap has caused multi-dimensional harm to businesses, households and individuals, with the 2023 general elections kicking off on February 25.

On February 3, the President pledged to take a crucial decision on the matter after meeting with the governors elected on the platform of his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governors met him to express their frustration over the scarcity of the new naira notes.

Buhari took no measures as the seven days he requested elapsed on Friday, February 10.

He, however, met with the National Council of State in the State House, Abuja. The Council comprises former and current Nigerian leaders.

At the meeting, the Council endorsed the naira redesign policy but urged the CBN to make more mints of the new notes into circulation to alleviate the suffering faced by the citizens over their scarcity. The Council also advised the apex bank to release the old notes into circulation if it could not make the new notes available.

Except the Presidency claims the meeting or Council’s position is Buhari’s promised intervention, The ICIR reports that the President made no other known decision to cushion the effects of the currency crisis.

In the first week of February, many banks could only issue N1,000 at their counters. Some gave out bundles of N5 notes.

Many ATMs had no cash, and people queued for hours, hoping they would get some money.

Point-of-sale (POS) operators have been charging as high as ten-fold what they used to charge their customers – a development that has worsened the crisis.

Despite efforts by anti-corruption agencies, namely the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to compel banks hoarding the notes to release them to the public, the scarcity has persisted.

The scarcity has led to protests by Nigerians in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom and Delta States.

Three APC governors, namely Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), approached the Supreme Court to halt the currency swap.

They expressed concern over the consequences of the CBN policy on people in their states.

In its ruling on February 8, the apex court issued an exparte order halting the plan.

Meanwhile, after the Supreme Court ruling, Buhari’s government approached the court to dismiss the suit.

Contempt of court: CSOs call for sack of EFCC boss

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Contempt of court: CSOs call for sack of EFCC boss

SOME Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country have called for the sack of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, over his disobedience of court orders.

The coalition of CSOs, comprising over 40 groups, made the demand at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, February 10.

READ ALSO:

Present state of some high profile EFCC corruption cases

EFCC arrests bank manager for hoarding new naira notes

Again, Court sends EFCC chair Bawa to Kuje Prison for contempt

EFCC arraigns four over alleged forgery

“EFCC’s Gestapo-style regime of disobeying court orders must stop. Nigeria is not a banana republic. Attempts by institutions of state to ridicule the country and make it seem like a lawless fiefdom must be resisted by all. The EFCC seems to be allowing itself to be used as an instrument of political witch-hunt as it targets some individuals more than many others,” the groups noted.

Describing the disregard of court orders as an invitation to anarchy, the CSOs noted that the anti-graft agency and its leadership should display respect for the country’s judicial system.

EFCC chairman, Bawa, has been committed to prison for contempt of court twice in the last 12 weeks.

On Monday February 6, a Kogi State high court ordered his arrest and detention in relation to a corruption case involving a nephew to the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

The Commission, however, appealed the judgment and urged the Court of Appeal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to stop the arrest and detention of its chairman.

Earlier, in November 2022, a high court in the FCT ordered Bawa’s remand for contempt.

The conviction was, however, set aside by the same court.

How Nigeria’s creative industry can contribute $100bn to GDP – experts

Harrison EDEH
-
0
How Nigeria’s creative industry can contribute $100bn to GDP – experts

NIGERIA’S creative industry sector is is yet to live up to its full potential, experts say, but has the capacity to contribute $100 billion annually by 2030 when the government and the private sector partner to create the enabling business environment.

A study conducted by Jobberman, a notable Nigerian career platform, said the sector employs 4.2 million people across five sectors of Media, Entertainment, Beauty, Lifestyle, Visual Arts, as well as Tourism and Hospitality.

READ ALSO:
‘Big Brother Naija’: Nigeria’s unlikely public relations campaign?

What Buhari has to do to take Nigeria’s economy to the next level

Information Ministry Moves To Reposition Creative Industries

Nigeria risks higher inflation as CBN lending to FG rises to N19.9 trillion

Some of the industry experts who spoke  on February 9 in Abuja at a consultative session to review the proposed draft of the Nigeria Creative Industries Development Bill said Nigeria was not harvesting its full potential in the creative industry.

“It is the foreign companies that often come to speak to our potential in the creative industry. Amazon, Digital Satellite Television, DSTV all know our potential and the kind of market that we have. We need to tell our story and explore our market to its full potential,” a content producer and creative industry expert, Obi Asika said at the event.

Asika said that Nigeria can use its soft power in the creative industry to own the future, by creating a platform that offers the industry a global opportunity to thrive.

An Afrexim Bank senior official, Odi Akanuba, also posited  at the event that Nigeria was very important to the creative narrative of the African continent.

Akanuba observed, however, that funding gaps and relevant enabling laws must be in place to ensure Nigeria reach expected heights in the global creative industry.

“We must look at the financing model of South Korea, India and China. We should see government as a willing partner, especially now we are drafting a bill to foster growth in the sector,” he said.

Another participant, Chika Chukwuka, an investment banker, suggested that an unorthodox financing model be adopted to expand wealth creation for the sector.

Chukwuka remarked that Nigeria can have a huge chunk of the $2.9 trillion creative industry market share through proper planning and development of local infrastructure, and tax rebate for companies investing in the sector.

“We must  create access to funding through investment funds and grants. Tax incentives, rebates for companies investing in developing creative industry value chain, is key to grow the sector,” he said.

He noted that demand for content was growing globally, and urged stakeholders to work together in ensuring the bill becomes a reality.

A senior government official at the event and representative of the Minister of Information and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe, disclosed that a legal team would be set up soon to look at the draft bill

“We will do an official report to the Minister, but as the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), my position will be made known within the next seven days,” Runsewe said.

The Nigeria Creative Industries Development Bill, 2023 seeks to provide an enabling environment for the creative industry in Nigeria.

The objective is to provide a legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the development of a sustainable environment for the industry in Nigeria. This is expected to be in line with the provisions of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 2005 Convention of the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and Aspiration 5 of the African Union Agenda 2063, for an African with a strong cultural identity and common heritage.

INEC mock accreditation: CSO reports missing names in voters register

Vincent Ufuoma
-
0
INEC mock accreditation: CSO reports missing names in voters register

YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation, has published its findings on the mock accreditation exercise recently conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in preparation for the 2023 general elections. 

In the report published on Friday, February 10, the CSO stated that at least four polling officials were present at the polling units where the mock exercise was held, with an average of one female official.

According to the report, 82 per cent of polling units had security personnel present.

READ ALSO:

Elections: NURTW writes INEC, appoints logistics coordinators for Lagos, others

Adeleke: INEC appeals tribunal’s judgment on Osun election

24 days to elections, hoodlums attack INEC office, police station in Anambra

Catholic Church asks INEC to probe allegations of voter register manipulation

It noted that party agents were also present in varying percentages, with the highest being for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at 61 per cent and the lowest being for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at eight per cent.

The organisation noted that the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) functioned properly in 98 per cent of the polling units. However, in two per cent of polling units, the BVAS malfunctioned, but were quickly fixed. The report notes that the malfunctioning of the device did not significantly disrupt the process.

One of the key issues highlighted in the report is the presence of missing names on the voter register.

“In 11 per cent of polling units, voters whose names were not on the register were denied accreditation. This highlights the need for INEC to ensure that the voter register is updated and accurate before the general election,” YIAGA Africa stated.

The CSO further noted that observers reported that 55 per cent of them were very satisfied with the conduct of the mock exercise, while 40 per cent were satisfied and four per cent were not satisfied.

The report also notes that only 15 states out of 36 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) uploaded data on the Integrated Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the mock accreditation.

Also, according to the report, only 82 polling units uploaded the total number of accredited voters on the BVAS to the IReV portal. Out of the 94 result sheets uploaded, only 16 were clear and readable.

The report also highlighted discrepancies between the total number of accredited voters recorded on the BVAS and the mock result sheets.

In light of its observations, YIAGA Africa asked INEC to make its report on the BVAS testing public to allow stakeholders to see the results of the tests and to assess the readiness of the BVAS for the general election.

It also called on INEC to notify voters via text message, email, or phone call about the migration of polling units to ensure that voters are aware of the changes and can plan accordingly.

The third recommendation is for INEC to properly educate electoral officials on recording results to avoid discrepancies, to ensure that the results are accurate and trustworthy.

The organisation also urged INEC to ensure that all BVAS devices are in top condition before deployment for the general election to help to prevent any malfunctions and ensure that the accreditation process is smooth and efficient.

Long fuel queues to disappear next week – FG

Harrison EDEH
-
0
Long fuel queues to disappear next week – FG

THE Federal Government has assured that long queues at petrol filling stations across the country will disappear as from next week.

The assurance, the government said, was sequel to steps currently being being enforced to stop the ongoing petrol crisis across the country.

READ ALSO:

Scarcity of cash, petrol provokes protests, bank attacks in Ibadan

Why there is no basis for current petrol scarcity – PENGASSAN

Petrol scarcity, arbitrary price hike worsen at filling stations

National Assembly passes Finance Bill, amends Stamp Duty Act, Petroleum Profit Tax Act, others

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who disclosed this on Friday, February 10, in Lagos, after his tour of selected petroleum dispensing outlets, said an inter-ministerial intervention initiated by the Federal Government was set up to ensure proper management of petrol distribution across the country.

”The situation is pleasant because I observed availability of products in the state. I visited many stations in Ikeja and the Mainland and from every indications there are products everywhere and I want to assure you that the queues will disappear in a matter of days,” Sylva said.

He said the situation in Lagos has been achieved in 15 states across the country, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that queues must be cleared immediately.

Commenting on the arbitrary hike of fuel pump price by some marketers, Sylva said he has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to increase its regulatory activities to ensure marketers abide by the current price regime.

According to the minister, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd.) retail outlets are selling at N184 per liter and over 900 outlets operated by the company sell the product at the price.

All marketers, he said, are expected to dispense the product at the price.

Noting that the fuel crisis has lasted longer than expected, he said, “Government did not see it coming. Sabotage played key role in the sector as those who did not mean well for the country took advantage of the upcoming elections to create panic by engaging in market disruptions.”

He said the inter-ministerial body inaugurated by the President is working in synergy to address all challenges and block all potholes.

Besides, according to him, owners of Petroleum Products Tank Farms in Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, Lagos, say the ongoing massive loading of petrol from depots to different parts of the country will ease scarcity.

The chairman of Tank Farm Owners Association, Debo Olujumi, gave the assurance on February 9 in Lagos while receiving direct petrol allocation from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Olujimi said Nigerians should be aware that petrol had become fully available and sold at government regulated ex-depot price of N172 per litre at all satellite depots.

The Ijegun-Egba depot has about five depots, namely: Emadeb Energy Services, A.A. Rano Energy, Menj Oil, Ocean Pride and Rainoil.

According to him, in February, NNPCLtd. allocated over 150 million litres of petrol to satellite depots.

“We are assuring Nigerians that the product will be sold at regulated price and we have commenced massive loading to all states of the federation to ease scarcity.

“We want Nigerians to trust us, and we assure that the product will be distributed effectively as directed by government to ease scarcity and eradicate panic buying.

“Going forward, the product will be sold at the regulated pump price in all Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN and Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN filling stations across the country.

“We have also directed that all depots within the satellite Ijegun depot that sell above the regulated ex-depot price would be sanctioned,” he said.

Rep alleges attack on supporters by political thugs

Vincent Ufuoma
-
0
Rep alleges attack on supporters by political thugs

THE member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Wole Oke, has claimed that suspected political thugs attacked his supporters in the Government Reserve Area of Osogbo, Osun State.

In a statement he personally signed on Friday, February 10, Oke stated that the attack occurred shortly after some northerners living within his constituency visited him and pledged their support for his re-election.

READ ALSO:

Kogi Election: PDP women leader burnt alive by suspected political thugs

Political thugs disrupt collection of PVCs in Osun community

Bayelsa/Kogi election: Report raises alarm over arms stockpiling, recruitment of political thugs

Edo House Crisis: Police Arraigns 15 Political Thugs

According to him, 15 people were inflicted with machete cuts and had to be treated in a hospital in Osogbo.

He also alleged that one of the perpetrators was apprehended and handed over to the police for further investigation.

Efforts to reach the State Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, for comment were unsuccessful.

Several calls to her line did not go through, and she did not respond to an SMS.

1...1,0761,0771,078...3,440Page 1,077 of 3,440