Home Blog Page 625

ONA opens entry for 2024 journalism awards

Itoro ETUKUDO
-
0
ONA opens entry for 2024 journalism awards

THE Online News Association (ONA) is currently accepting entries for its 2024 Online Journalism Awards, recognising excellence in digital reporting.

The award is open worldwide for online journalists, digital news organisations and student journalists.

Read also: 

This year’s competition features one new category- Excellence in AI innovation. Other categories include, breaking news, visual digital storytelling, investigative journalism, public service, climate change and more.

It offers several awards totaling US$57,000 courtesy of The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, The University of Oregon Journalism and Communication’s Agora Journalism Centre, Mckinsey Publishing, the Knight Foundation and SmartNews.

Entries must be works published between May 26, 2023 and April 30, 2024. Although English translations are strongly recommended, works may be submitted in any language.

The entry fee for ONA members is US$125, while non-members are to pay US$200. US$15 for student members and US$30 for non-members students. ONA members and non-members working in micro-newsrooms are to pay US$50.

Interested persons can apply here. The deadline for entries is May 9.

Eid-el-Fitri: Police, NSCDC, others beef up security in worship centres in FCT

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
Eid-el-Fitri: Police, NSCDC, others beef up security in worship centres in FCT

AS Muslim faithfuls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) join other Ummah worldwide to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri today, Wednesday, April 10, security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) provided adequate security across prayer grounds in the city.

The ICIR observed a massive deployment of personnel from the organisations in mosques and Eid grounds, with officers conducting patrols and surveillance to forestall any untoward incidents.

The personnel were more concentrated on Airport Road, between Lugbe and the City Gate, before the National Stadium, where thousands of residents trooped to the National Eid Ground to offer prayers.

Officers and men of the agencies filed on the highway, controlling movements with dozens of their vehicles.

The situation was not different in Kuje, Bwari and other area councils of the nation’s capital, where they were joined by officers of the Directorate of Road Traffic Safety Services (DRTSS) to ensure a free flow of human and vehicular movement.

Similarly, in Berger and Kubwa, which are part of the city, The ICIR observed the presence of police and FRSC officers.

There was also a significant security presence at Apo Legislative Quarters, where Muslims observed their Eid prayer.

The Commissioner of Police FCT Command, Benneth C. Igweh, in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 9, reiterated the security agencies’ commitment to maintaining peace and order, urging members of the public to cooperate with security personnel and report any suspicious activities.

He noted that the police proactively deployed the material and human resources available to the command across the nooks and crannies of the FCT.

“The deployment, which is aimed at ensuring that residents of FCT enjoy a peaceful and serene atmosphere before, during and after the Eid celebration, is characterized by visibility policing and the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts at various prayer grounds and event centres, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol,” he said.

Eid-el-Fitri marks the beginning of Shaawal, after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Now

 

Former Appeal Court justice, Belgore is dead

Bankole ABE
-
0
Former Appeal Court justice, Belgore is dead

A FORMER Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore, is dead.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, Kwara State, Kamaldeen Gambari, broke the news of his death on Tuesday. April 9.

Gambari reportedly posted about the death on social media.

Read Also:

Belgore retired from the Appeal court on April 18, 2023, after reaching 70.

He was born on April 18, 1953. He studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, from 1975 to 1978, where he obtained an LL.B (Hons.) with a Specialisation in Islamic Law.

He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos (Barrister-At-Law (BL) 1978/79 Session and was enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 1979.

According to records, the late jurist was appointed a Notary Public in 1987 and served in several positions, including Chairman of the Special Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal in Abuja and Judge of the High Court of Justice, Kwara State, from August 1990 to 2006.

In addition, he was seconded to the Republic of the Gambia’s judiciary, where he was appointed as the court’s justice of appeal. Later, he was promoted to acting justice of the Gambia Supreme Court, which he held until December 2005.

The late Belgore was sworn in as Justice of the Court of Appeal, Nigeria, on June 8, 2006, after being appointed on April 27, 2006. In 2008, he was assigned to the Court of Appeal’s Sharia Panel as Presiding Justice, and in 2015, he was again appointed to the position of Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, this time to the Ekiti Division.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed condolences on his passing.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement on Wednesday, April 10, said, “The governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the entire Ilorin Emirate, the bar and the bench, and the Belgores, who have lost a rare gem.

“Justice Belgore was a legal giant and a foremost community leader who offered his shoulder for many to lean on,” the statement reads.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council and the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed his condolences in a separate message, describing Belgore’s passing as a significant loss for both the Ilorin Emirate and the country.

Tax: Experts seek states’ support for presidential reforms to end ‘touting’

Harrison EDEH
-
0
Tax: Experts seek states’ support for presidential reforms to end ‘touting’

TAX experts have urged state governors to support the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax reforms to halt activities of unofficial state actors who extort taxpayers via ‘touting’.

This was the submission of tax experts who spoke on Monday, April 8, at the weekly ‘Let’s Talk Tax’ programme, organised by the The ICIR in collaboration with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and support of the International Budget Partnership (IBP).

The last edition’s topic was “Understanding the Tax Payment Mechanism” (where, to whom, and how should you pay your tax?).

Read Also:

The tax experts posited that if the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax reforms led by Taiwo Oyedele must make the needed headway and succeed in its reforms, the Governor’s Forum must be involved in the reforms.

“The Federal Government needs the states’ support for the reforms to work. Where the majority of the activities of the unofficial state actors are at the sub-national level, there must be buy-in of the state governors,” a tax consultant and member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Emeka Okoroeze, said on the programme.

“In most cases, it’s political proxies that the state governors use for tax collections. In most cases, there are cases of multiple taxation and touting, “he added.

He suggested automation of state tax payments, which would be streamlined to guard against unofficial state actors who rip off revenue from the state coffers.

“Automation helps to improve revenue collection systems. The state governors must provide the digital infrastructure to support digital payment systems and have a one-stop shop centre (centralised platform) for their tax collection.”

In his opinion, a tax specialist, Timothy Usman, said states’ Joint Tax Board scheme should take a clue from the Federal Inland Revenue Service and enforce tax-promax digitisation or adopt a similar programme in their states.

He further advocated a ‘tax awareness campaign’ by state officials to sensitise taxpayers on payable taxes.

“Each state should have a tax system that is structured in such a way that taxpayers know whom to pay to at each point without allowing touting especially among rural market businesses.

Notably, the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms was charged with redefining Nigeria’s tax system and providing practical support to the government in implementing and delivering recommended changes.

The committee has already presented an interim report to President Bola Tinubu, but not much has been heard about it since it submitted the report in February.

Most Nigerians are worried that unofficial state actors are getting the revenue that the state government ought to get because of poor oversight in most states.

Unofficial state actors’ undue interference in Nigeria’s tax system is also disrupting the ease of doing business and dissuading both local and foreign investors while stalling trade facilitation in the country.

The ICIR reported how Rivers State Government lost N55 billion in transport tax to private pockets.

The report noted that a large chunk of the tax went into the accounts of a transport union and its members while touts appropriated part of it.

Ondo 2024: APC clears Aiyedatiwa, Oke, 14 others 

Bankole ABE
-
0

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) vetting committee has cleared Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and 15 other aspirants ahead of the main screening on Thursday, April 11. 

The vetting committee headed by Abdulkarim Kana, a professor, also dismissed the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against Aiyedatiwa by one of the aspirants, Gbenga Edema.

According to the committee, Aiyedatiwa presented a genuine academic certificate to the party.

Read Also:

Available information as of Tuesday, April 9, showed that the aspirants who purchased and turned in forms in addition to Aiyedatiwa are Francis Faduyile, Adewale Akinterinwa, Oladiran Iyantan, Isaacs Kekemeke, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Odimayo Okunjimi and Jimoh Ibrahim.

Others include Waheed-Adekojo Funmilayo, Olamide Ohunyeye, Olugbenga Edema, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Olusola Oke, Omogoroye Judith, Mayo Akinfolarin, and Morayo Lebi.

The committee report noted that, based on its findings, all aspirants should be cleared to participate in the screening exercise.

“The vetting committee is confident that the vetting process has been conducted with integrity and transparency.

“The committee’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring that only qualified and credible aspirants are presented for the party primaries, in line with the party’s commitment to internal democracy and good governance,” the report said.

In a petition, one of the aspirants, Edema, had pleaded with the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the National Working Committee (NWC) to investigate the certificate forgery allegation levelled against Aiyedatiwa.

The governor, through his lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), refuted the allegation, stating that Aiyedatiwa took the West African School Certificate Examination and his results were authentic.

Adegboruwa said in a letter that deliberate efforts had been made to confirm the accusations against the governor, which were false.

As a result, the lawyer requested that the publications about the governor’s certificate be immediately withdrawn and that a public apology be published in three prominent newspapers.

 In addition, he sought compensation for the ‘fabrications’ that were published concerning the governor.

Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as Ondo state governor on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, following the death of his principal, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died in the early hours of the same day after a prolonged illness. 

Popular Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado passes on

Itoro ETUKUDO
-
0
Popular Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado passes on

VETERAN Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado, popularly known as Daso, has died aged 56.

The news of her death was confirmed by her relative, who spoke to Freedom Radio, based in Kano State.

The relation disclosed she was found lifeless Tuesday morning.

Her family members further revealed that she died in her sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, following the midnight meal – Sahur, before the start of the day’s Ramadan fast.

Read Also: 

Daso was a successful and prominent figure in the Hausa film industry for over two decades. In addition to being an actress, she also taught in school.

Born on January 17, 1968, Daso hailed from Kano State and started her career as an actress in 2000 with her debut film, ‘Linzami Da Wuta,’ produced by Sarauniya Movies.

She starred in other hit Kannywood films, including ‘Nagari’, ‘Gidauniya’, ‘Mashi’, and ‘Sansani’.

The news of her death has left her fans and colleagues mourning the loss of a valued actress. Tributes have continued to flood in from all throughout the entertainment industry.

From the passing of veteran Yoruba actor, Olofa Ina, to the death of Sisi. Quadri and recently, the death of  Adejumoke Aderounmu, who played he role of ‘Esther’ in the famous Nigerian sitcom.

The first four months of 2024 saw a series of sad deaths in the Nigerian entertainment industry, casting a shadow on the dynamic and thriving sector.

Officer shot as Police foil Kidnapping of FCT council chairman’s family

Bankole ABE
-
0
Officer shot as Police foil Kidnapping of FCT council chairman’s family

BANDITS have shot a police officer while attempting to kidnap the family of the chairman of Bwari Area Council in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), John Gabaya.

The incident occurred on Sunday, April 7, when bandits reportedly broke into Gabwa’s home in the council’s Tokulo neighbourhood.

The officer’s identity has yet to be ascertained.

In 2021, two family members, including the father of the council chairman, John Makama, were kidnapped by bandits.

Read Also:

They were freed after the bandits received an undisclosed ransom.

Daily Trust reported that an aide to the council chairman said the armed group made a surprise return to the neighbourhood on Sunday around 11:33 p.m.

He claimed that the vigilantes securing the chairman’s private residence engaged in a gun duel with the bandits who had entered the Tokulo area through the Kaduna Forest, brandishing AK-47 rifles.

He claimed that the Bwari Division of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) was notified during the gunfight, and officers from the division swiftly responded.

He said although the police repelled the attack, one of the officers was shot during crossfire.

According to him, there had been three bandit attacks on the council chairman’s family between February 20, 2021, and April 6, 2024.

In a chat with The ICIR on Tuesday, April 9, the FCT police command spokesperson, Adeh Josephine, confirmed the attack on the Tokulo community but said no officer was killed.

According to her, some unknown bandits attacked Tokulo village in the early hours of Sunday in an attempt to kidnap the family of the council chairman.

The police responded, and the bandits shot one officer, but he was not dead, she said.

“The officer was shot but not killed; the FCT Commissioner of Police has visited the wounded officer in the hospital,” she stated.

She further explained that the primary purpose of the hoodlums was to kidnap the chairman’s family members.

The ICIR reported that over 380 persons were kidnapped between December 1, 2023, and January 3, 2024, across Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu.

According to Data obtained by The ICIR from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), the victims were taken hostage at various events that happened during the last month of 2023 and the first week of the new year, illustrating the escalating number of kidnapping cases in the country.

According to media reports, residents of Abuja experienced an upsurge in kidnapping activities towards the end of 2023, and it continued into the new year.

Residents of the Bwari area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were most affected as three separate housing estates were attacked by kidnappers, and about 30 occupants were abducted within the period.

 

Sokoto cleric defies Sultan, leads Eid prayers Tuesday

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
Sokoto cleric defies Sultan, leads Eid prayers Tuesday

A SOKOTO-based Muslim cleric, Musa Lukwa, led his followers to observe the Eid-li-Fitri prayer on Tuesday, April 9, despite the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) declaring Wednesday the day of Eid.

On Monday, April 8, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, announced that the National Moon Sighting Committees across the country had not sighted the crescent moon.

Abubakar, therefore, directed Nigerian Muslims to continue fasting and observe congregational Eid prayer on Wednesday, April 10, marking the beginning of Shawwal 1445AH.

Read Also:

 

The ICIR reported that the non-sighting of the moon was also confirmed in some other parts of the world, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar, which declared that extension of fasting to Tuesday as the final day of Ramadan and designating Wednesday as Eid al-Fitr.

But Lukwa, defying Sultan’s directive on moon sighting, said the moon of Shawwal was sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic on Monday, April 8, according to Daily Trust.

The cleric led prayers at his Juma’at mosque around 8:30 a.m.

 “There were reports of sightings of the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic.

“We have a verified video clip of their council of Ulamah authenticating the report, after which the country declared Tuesday as Sallah day. So it is now binding on us to observe Eid on Tuesday because this is what the teachings of the Holy Prophet say.”

He argued that if authorities were willing to accept the moon sighting from Saudi Arabia, why couldn’t they acknowledge the sighting from Niger Republic, which is closer to Nigeria?

“I am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayer on Tuesday, but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbours. And remember, there is no fasting on Sallah day. It is prohibited.”

Reports, however, suggest that this was not the first time that the cleric would defy the Sultan, accusing the President General of the NSCIA of forcing Muslims to accept the moon sighting of Saudi Arabia.

The ICIR reports that Lukwa’s case is not completely isolated. A few other Muslims in Nigeria celebrate Eid when they are convinced that the moon has been sighted in other countries, as Lukwa claims.

While it is important to sight the moon before concluding an Islamic month on day 29 and commencing another, Islam enjoins Muslims to follow the constituted authorities responsible for leading the religion in their country.

Each month begins with the new crescent sighting and lasts 29 or 30 days. The crescent sighting is the responsibility of the moon sighting committee in every country, which will then communicate its findings to the Islamic leaders to make announcements based on the report.

In cases where a country does not sight the crescent, it may follow the moon sighting of neighbouring countries that have proven beyond doubt that the moon was indeed sighted in their country or count the month to 30 before moving to a new month.

Meanwhile, many Nigerian Muslims will join other Muslims worldwide on Wednesday to mark the occasion. 

Eid al-Fitr is a period of joyous celebration, where loved ones gather to enjoy abundant meals and festivities.

Nigeria made N2,028 from every train passenger in 2023

Kehinde OGUNYALE
-
0
Nigeria made N2,028 from every train passenger in 2023

A cursory look at the revenue generated from rail transportation in 2023 shows that the Nigerian government generated approximately N2,208.28 from every Nigerian who boarded a train last year. 

This calculation was done by dividing the total number of train passengers by the total revenue generated in the year. 

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data, the total number of railway passengers for the year under review was 2.18 million, and revenue generated was N4.43 billion.

Read Also:

The NBS data showed that the railway revenue dropped by 2.64 per cent in 2023 from N4.55 billion reported in the preceding year, 2022. Also, the number of passengers dropped by 32 per cent to 3.21 million. 

Despite the drop in passengers and revenue in 2023, the government still made more money on train passengers in 2023 when compared to 2022.

Using the same calculation method, this means that for every train passenger in 2022, the government made N1,415. 

Nigeria has 10 train boarding locations according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation. A bi-annual review of the railway data showed that more Nigerians bordered the train between July and December 2023 than in the first half of the year.

Quarter Passengers Revenue from passengers Goods/cargos
Revenue from cargos
Q1 441,725 768,438,658 59,966 181,270,800
Q2 474,117 1,100,941,295 56,029 188,028,350
Q3 594,348 1,489,200,328 81,963 286,775,780
Q4 672,198 1,067,915,479 119,286 423,215,481
Total 2,182,388 4,426,495,760 317,244 1,079,290,411

Table showing the quarterly breakdown of rail transportation data in 2023. Source: NBS

Goods transported by rail

In another development, Nigerians transported more goods valued at N1.08 billion in 2023. This is higher than the N441.74 million generated in the preceding year. 

The volume of goods/cargo transported in 2023 was 317,244 compared to 157,024 transported in 2022. 

READ ALSO:

The data indicates that Nigerians, in 2023, prefer to send their goods by train than travel via rail. The development might not be unconnected to the skyrocketing prices of transportation after the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, during the assumption of President Bola Tinubu.

Other reasons could be the several attacks and accidents reported on railways and rail stations in 2022 like the Abuja-Kaduna railway accidents. The ICIR also reported the collision between a moving train and a BRT bus in Lagos State in March 2023.

FG to get $1bn from Afreximbank via crude-for-cash swaps

Harrison EDEH
-
0
FG to get $1bn from Afreximbank via crude-for-cash swaps

THE Federal Government has concluded arrangements to receive a $1.05 billion syndicated loan backed by oil from the African Export-Import Bank (AfreximBank) towards the end of May 2024.

Through this loan, Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserve is expected to grow further from the current $33.34 billion as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) embarks on reforms to manage the country’s currency market.

The loan is part of the $3.3 billion “pre-export finance facility” facilitated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd and arranged by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in January 2024.

Read Also:

Nigeria has pledged 164.25 million barrels of crude oil at 90,000 barrels per day from 2024 to repay the loan.

Commenting on the loan on Monday, Denys Denya, senior executive vice president for finance, administration, and banking at Afreximbank, said: “The verification of the crude availability has happened, so we expect in the next month to finalise the release of the balance. Based on future production, you get the money now.”

He said the facility had participation from commercial banks and oil traders, most of which have already secured internal approvals.

Also, Denya said the firm was finalising a $200 million funding plan that includes guarantees and letters of credit to support the East African crude oil pipeline linking Uganda’s oil fields to Tanzania’s port of Tanga.

The project, which is estimated to cost $5 billion, has received criticism from climate activists who have successfully persuaded lenders and insurers to steer clear of the pipeline.

Denya said the construction of the 1,443-kilometer (897-mile) pipeline was targeted at improving intra-regional trade “which is part of our mandate, so it ticks all the boxes for us. There’s no reason for us not to be supporting this.”

He added that the investments would complement Afreximbank’s plans to increase loans and advances by 53 percent to $40 billion by the end of 2024.

The ICIR reported on concerns and high risks of the government’s reliance on resource-backed loans, especially oil.

“I am not a fan of resource-backed loans, and this forward sales agreement that is akin to the financialisation of future oil and gas assets is an anomaly in statecraft that the National Assembly should fight with all rigor,” Emmanuel, the chief executive officer of Dairy Hills said on X.

“There is no genius in it; it is a lazy approach to getting dollars to improve your balance of payment position,” he added.

1...624625626...3,440Page 625 of 3,440