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Loan apps using more unethical ways for loans recovery – FCCPC

Bankole ABE
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Loan apps using more unethical ways for loans recovery – FCCPC

THE Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised the alarm over loan apps use of unethical methods to recover loans.

The FCCPC said it observed an increase in the violations of its regulations by the loan apps, referred to as Digital Money Lenders (DMLs).

This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the acting Chief Executive Officer  (CEO) of the Commission, Adamu Abdullahi.

According to him, the commission is stepping up enforcement actions and taking a zero-tolerance approach to DMLs’ abuse of consumers and other abusive behaviour.

He added that the FCCPC noticed increased infractions of the Interagency Joint Task Force’s Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending.

“The Commission understands the increased demand for loans during this time of year, leading to an increased risk of default due to large numbers and typical cash flow challenges and constraints.

“However, the solution cannot violate the law or utilise unethical recovery methods. As such, the commission is intensifying enforcement efforts and adopting a zero-tolerance stance towards exploiting consumers or abusive conduct, whether in balance calculations, loan default enforcement, or recovery processes.

In addition, the commission said it would engage approved loan apps in the coming days for more robust compliance with regulatory frameworks. 

“Concerning operators that do not possess the commission’s approval, the scrutiny process will include law enforcement action against such, in addition to regulatory prohibition and consequences,” the commission noted.

The Federal Government, in conjunction with Google in April 2023, prohibited loan apps from accessing contacts and images of their customers.

In a chat with The ICIR on Monday, April 10, the spokesperson of the FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the Federal Government was putting measures in place to enforce Google’s latest policy.

He said the action was consistent with the Nigerian authorities’ move to curtail the invasion of customers’ privacy by loan app firms.

The ICIR reported in July 2023 that the FCCPC delisted two loan apps for violating customers’ privacy.

Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to patronise loan apps despite their unconventional ways of recovering loans.

These loan apps act as platforms where one can get quick loans with no collateral other than providing a bank verification number (BVN) and a request to allow pictures and contacts on a potential customer’s phone.

Alleged terrorism: Court denies Fubara’s loyalists bail

Bankole ABE
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0
Alleged terrorism: Court denies Fubara’s loyalists bail

THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, February 5, rejected bail for five detained loyalists of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

They were accused of vandalising and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.

The defendants are standing trial for a seven-count terrorism charge preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. They include Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, Ochueja Thankgod, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, and Lukman Oladele.

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In the file with the charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, the prosecution also charged the defendants with employing cults, specifically Greenland, Degbam, Iceland, and the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, to inflict chaos on the state.

The ICIR reported that following the political unrest that shook the state in October of last year, the Police accused the defendants of breaking into the House of Assembly building to thwart an attempt to remove Fubara from office.

However, through their lawyers, the accused pleaded with the court to free them on bond while the case against them was being decided.

They claimed that until their guilt was proven, they should be considered innocent under the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Oladele, the third defendant, asked the court to grant him bail based on his health.

Simon Lough, the Police lawyer, opposed the bail applications, claiming the accused had not shown sufficient evidence of extraordinary circumstances to support their release on bond.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants were accused of capital offences.

Instead, Lough asked the judge to give the suspects an expedited trial.

The trial judge, Bolaji Olajuwon, rejected the defendant’s bail plea, siding with the prosecution.

The court then postponed the case until Thursday, February 8 to start the hearing.

The judge had previously rejected an application that two defendants, Oladele and Ezebalike, had made to challenge the charge’s competency.

According to the defendants, the IGP lacked the power to bring the case against them.

They pleaded with the judge to dismiss the accusation because they allegedly constituted an abuse of the legal system.

According to them, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is the sole authority authorised to initiate such legal action against any individual under sections Three and 74 of the Terrorism Prevention & Prohibition Act (2022).

They insisted that the sole duties assigned to security organisations, such as the Police, were to gather intelligence and examine incidents as theirs.

Olajuwon dismissed the preliminary objection, ruling that the AGF was not the only entity with the authority to institute a criminal prosecution in accordance with Section 174 of the TPPA 2022.

The Police have the legal authority to prosecute the defendants, the court ruled.

During the Friday hearing, Ehie asked the court to strike out any reference to him in the charge through the counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye.

However, the judge, Olajuwon, denied the application.

Niger residents protest hardship, hunger, block major roads

Mustapha USMAN
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Niger residents protest hardship, hunger, block major roads

MANY residents of Minna, the Niger State capital, have taken to the streets and major roads in the state to protest against the rising cost of living.

On Monday, February 5, the protesters blocked major roads, including the Kpakungu roundabout at Minna-Bida road, stopping activities of many commercial vehicles in the area.

According to a video by Channels Television, the protesters, including women and teenagers, chanted protest songs and called on the government’s intervention in the soaring cost of food and other products.

The protesters also complained about the fuel price hike and its continuous economic impacts, emphasising the need for the government to take action.

While addressing the protesters, the deputy governor of Niger state, Yakubu Garba, stated that the government was aware of the hardships many Nigerians were going through.

He also noted that the government was working to alleviate the hardships by reducing the cost of living.

While assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced his administration’s removal of fuel subsidy.

The announcement immediately led to fuel queues as many retailers shut their filling stations, hoarding their stock and creating scarcity with a view to hiking fares later.

Two days later, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd) officially increased the pump price of petrol by about 200 per cent.

The NNPCL, in a template sent to marketers, confirmed the astronomical rise in the pump price of the product, with the minimum being the N488 per litre obtainable in Lagos, while it would be as high as N557 per litre in Maiduguri.

The fuel pump price has since increased, leading to an astronomical rise in the cost of transportation on the different routes as commercial cab drivers transfer the additional cost of petrol on passengers.       

Although one of the ways to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government was the disbursement of N5 billion in financial support to each state, many Nigerians have not felt the impact.

CCNow opens entries for 2024 journalism awards

Itoro ETUKUDO
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CCNow opens entries for 2024 journalism awards

COVERING Climate Now (CCNow), in collaboration with Columbia Journalism Review, is seeking entries for its 2024 journalism award to honour journalists.

CCNow is a collaboration of journalists and newsrooms working together to improve climate coverage worldwide. Their awards programme, now in its 4th year, has become an industry standard for excellence.

The awards team received almost 1,100 entries from 29 countries on six continents in the past year. The 2024 entry is open to news organisations and journalists from anywhere in the world whose worlds have been published or broadcast in 2023.

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The categories include print/digital, video/TV, audio/radio, multimedia project, photography, social media and engagement, student and emerging journalists.

Entry into the award is free, and winners will be awarded in early summer. The deadline for entry is on March 1.

Davido, Ayra Starr congratulate Tyla after Grammy’s win

Itoro ETUKUDO
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0
Davido, Ayra Starr congratulate Tyla after Grammy’s win

Nigerian artistes Davido and Ayra Starr have congratulated South African artiste, Tyla, following her victory at the 66th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, USA.

Taking to their X accounts shortly after the awards, the Nigerian artistes expressed delight that their fellow African clinched the award.

Davido wrote, “Congratulations on your win @Tyllaaaaaaa ! Big One for Africa! Keep soaring! 🔥⭐️”, Davido posted.

Similarly, Ayra Starr stated, “Congratulations to my babessssss  @Tyllaaaaaaa”.

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The ICIR reports that it was a bad outing for Nigerians on Sunday, February 4, as none of the country’s five artistes nominated for the 66th Grammy Awards won.    

Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Olamide, and Ayra Starr, lost out on the Grammys in their ten nominations across different award categories.

Burna Boy had four nominations, which was the highest from Nigeria. He bagged nominations in categories: Best African Music Performance, Best Global Album,  Best Melodic Rap Performance and  Best Global Music Performance. 

Davido earned three nominations in the Best African Performance category, Best Global Album and Best Global Music Performance categories, while Asake, Olamide and Ayra Starr were nominated for the category of Best African Music.

However, Tyla beat all nominees to clinch the award for Best African Music for her song ‘Water’.

The category is one of the three new categories introduced by the Recording Academy for the awards.

Below is the full list of winners:

Album of the year

Jon Batiste – World Music Radio

boygenius – The Record

Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation

Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure

Olivia Rodrigo – Guts

Taylor Swift – Midnights – WINNER

SZA – SOS

Record of the year

Jon Batiste – Worship

boygenius – Not Strong Enough

Miley Cyrus – Flowers – WINNER

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? from Barbie: The Album

Victoria Monét – On My Mama

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

SZA – Kill Bill

Best new artist

Gracie Abrams

Fred again..

Ice Spice

Jelly Roll

Coco Jones

Noah Kahan

Victoria Monét – WINNER

The War and Treaty

Song of the year

Lana Del Rey – A&W

Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Jon Batiste – Butterfly

Dua Lipa – Dance the Night from Barbie

Miley Cyrus – Flowers

SZA – Kill Bill

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? from Barbie – WINNER

Best pop vocal album

Kelly Clarkson – Chemistry

Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation

Olivia Rodrigo – Guts

Ed Sheeran – “-” (Subtract)

Taylor Swift – Midnights – WINNER

Best R&B song

Halle – Angel

Robert Glasper featuring SiR and Alex Isley – Back to Love

Coco Jones – ICU

Victoria Monét – On My Mama

SZA – Snooze – WINNER

Best country album

Kelsea Ballerini – Rolling Up the Welcome Mat

Brothers Osborne – Brothers Osborne

Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan

Tyler Childers – Rustin’ in the Rain

Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country – WINNER

Best música urbana album

Rauw Alejandro – Saturno

Karol G – Mañana Será Bonito – WINNER

Tainy – Data

Best pop solo performance

Miley Cyrus – Flowers – WINNER

Doja Cat – Paint the Town Red

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? from Barbie

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Best progressive R&B album

6lack – Since I Have a Lover

Diddy – The Love Album: Off the Grid

Terrace Martin and James Fauntleroy – Nova

Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure

SZA – SOS – WINNER

Best R&B performance

Chris Brown – Summer Too Hot

Robert Glasper featuring SiR and Alex Isley – Back to Love

Coco Jones – ICU – WINNER

Victoria Monét – How Does It Make You Feel

SZA – Kill Bill

Best folk album

Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire

The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon

Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live) – WINNER

Nickel Creek – Celebrants

Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee

Paul Simon – Seven Psalms

Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

Producer of the year, non-classical

Jack Antonoff – WINNER

Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II

Hit-Boy

Metro Boomin

Daniel Nigro

Songwriter of the year, non-classical

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Shane McAnally

Theron Thomas – WINNER

Justin Tranter

Best pop duo/group performance

Miley Cyrus featuring Brandi Carlile – Thousand Miles

Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace

Labrinth featuring Billie Eilish – Never Felt So Alone

Taylor Swift featuring Ice Spice – Karma

SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the Machine – WINNER

Best dance/electronic recording

Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21f

James Blake – Loading

Disclosure – Higher Than Ever Before

Romy and Fred again.. – Strong

Skrillex, Fred again.. and Flowdan – Rumble – WINNER

Best pop dance recording

David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray – Baby Don’t Hurt Me

Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding – Miracle

Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam – WINNER

Bebe Rexha and David Guetta – One in a Million

Troye Sivan – Rush

Best dance/electronic music album

James Blake – Playing Robots into Heaven

The Chemical Brothers – For That Beautiful Feeling

Fred again.. – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) – WINNER

Kx5 – Kx5

Skrillex – Quest for Fire

Best traditional R&B performance

Babyface featuring Coco Jones – Simple

Kenyon Dixon – Lucky

Victoria Monét featuring Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét – Hollywood

PJ Morton featuring Susan Carol – Good Morning – WINNER

SZA – Love Language

Best R&B album

Babyface – Girls Night Out

Coco Jones – What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe)

Emily King – Special Occasion

Victoria Monét – Jaguar II – WINNER

Summer Walker – Clear 2: Soft Life EP

Best rap performance

Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar – The Hillbillies

Black Thought – Love Letter

Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex

Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers – WINNER

Coi Leray – Players

Best melodic rap performance

Burna Boy featuring 21 Savage – Sittin’ on Top of the World

Doja Cat – Attention

Drake and 21 Savage – Spin Bout U

Lil Durk featuring J Cole – All My Life – WINNER

SZA – Low

Best rap song

Doja Cat – Attention

Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice featuring Aqua – Barbie World from Barbie: The Album

Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock

Drake and 21 Savage – Rich Flex

Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers – WINNER

Best rap album

Drake and 21 Savage – Her Loss

Killer Mike – Michael – WINNER

Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains

Nas – King’s Disease III

Travis Scott – Utopia

Best country solo performance

Tyler Childers – In Your Love

Brandy Clark – Buried

Luke Combs – Fast Car

Dolly Parton – The Last Thing on My Mind

Chris Stapleton – White Horse – WINNER

Best country song

Brandy Clark – Buried

Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything

Tyler Childers – In Your Love

Morgan Wallen – Last Night

Chris Stapleton – White Horse – WINNER

Best song written for visual media

Barbie World from Barbie the Album, Naija Gaston, Ephrem Louis Lopez Jr. and Onika Maraj, songwriters (Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice featuring Aqua)

Dance the Night from “Barbie the Album, Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Dua Lipa)

I’m Just Ken from Barbie the Album, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Ryan Gosling)

Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — Music From and Inspired By, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Robyn Fenty and Temilade Openiyi, songwriters (Rihanna)

What Was I Made For? from Barbie the Album, Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) — WINNER

Best comedy album

Trevor Noah – I Wish You Would

Wanda Sykes – I’m an Entertainer

Chris Rock – Selective Outrage

Sarah Silverman – Someone You Love

Dave Chappelle – What’s in a Name? – WINNER

Best global music album

Susana Baca – Epifanías

Bokanté – History

Burna Boy – I Told Them…

Davido – Timeless

Shakti – This Moment – WINNER

Best African music performance

Asake and Olamide – Amapiano

Burna Boy – City Boys

Davido featuring Musa Keys – Unavailable

Ayra Starr – Rush

Tyla – Water – WINNER

Best musical theater album

Kimberly Akimbo

Parade

Shucked

Some Like It Hot – WINNER

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Best alternative music album

Arctic Monkeys – The Car

boygenius – The Record – WINNER

Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Gorillaz – Cracker Island

PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying

Best alternative music performance

Alvvays – Belinda Says

Arctic Monkeys – Body Paint

boygenius – Cool About It

Lana Del Rey – A&W

Paramore – This Is Why – WINNER

Best rock album

Foo Fighters – But Here We Are

Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher

Metallica – 72 Seasons

Paramore – This Is Why – WINNER

Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman

Best rock song

The Rolling Stones – Angry

Olivia Rodrigo – Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl

Queens of the Stone Age – Emotion Sickness

boygenius – Not Strong Enough – WINNER

Foo Fighters – Rescued

Best metal performance

Disturbed – Bad Man

Ghost – Phantom of the Opera

Metallica – 72 Seasons – WINNER

Slipknot – Hive Mind

Spiritbox – Jaded

Best rock performance

Arctic Monkeys – Sculptures of Anything Goes

Black Pumas – More Than a Love Song

boygenius – Not Strong Enough – WINNER

Foo Fighters – Rescued

Metallica – Lux Æterna

Best country duo/group performance

Dierks Bentley featuring Billy Strings – High Note

Brothers Osborne – Nobody’s Nobody

Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything – WINNER

Vince Gill and Paul Franklin – Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)

Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson – Save Me

Carly Pearce featuring Chris Stapleton – We Don’t Fight Anymore

TCN confirms grid restoration

Harrison EDEH
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TCN confirms grid restoration

THE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the restoration of the National grid, which collapsed at 11:21 am on Sunday, February 4.

The general manager of the public affairs department at TCN, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement issued late Sunday and obtained by The ICIR. 

She explained that before the incident, total generation on the grid was 3,901.25 MW at 08:00 hours, a little over three hours before the partial collapse.

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According to Mba, the grid experienced a partial disturbance at about 11:21 hours on Sunday, with Ibom Power islanded, feeding Eket, Ekim, Itu and Uyo transmission substations during the period of partial disturbance.

She said TCN initiated immediate restoration of the affected part of the grid, which is now fully restored.

“It is important to note that low power generation has persisted since January 2024, to date, exacerbating daily due to the lingering gas constraint.

“According to the National Control Center (NCC), the Internet of Things (IoT) revealed that just before the partial disturbance, which occurred at 11:21hrs today (Sunday), Sapele Steam and Egbin substations lost a total of 29.32MW & 343.84MW at 11:20:14hrs & 11:20:17hrs respectively, totalling 373.16MW. This, combined with the current low power generation due to gas constraints, caused the imbalance leading to the partial system disturbance,” she added.

She further explained that ensuring sufficient gas supply to power generating stations was crucial for grid stability as sufficient generation allows for better grid management during sudden generation losses.

“Gas constraints continue to impact grid flexibility and stability. Ensuring sufficient gas supply to power generating stations is crucial for grid stability as sufficient generation allows for better grid management in the event of sudden generation losses like this. TCN will investigate the cause of tripping of Sapele Steam & Egbin power generating units,” she said.

The ICIR reported the incidence of grid collapse on Sunday, which has become recurring and worrisome to many Nigerians.

‘A Tribe Called Judah’ loses top spot in Nigerian Box Office to ‘The Beekeeper’

Itoro ETUKUDO
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‘A Tribe Called Judah’ loses top spot in Nigerian Box Office to ‘The Beekeeper’

RECORD-breaking Nollywood film, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ has lost its top spot to the 2024 Hollywood action thriller film, ‘The Beekeeper’.

According to the data by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), ‘The Beekeepers clinched the spot with a seven-day gross of ₦48,966,985, making it the most-watched cinematic movie in Nigeria for the week beginning January 26- February 1, 2024.

This leaves ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ in second place with N20,312,367 gross within the same period, bringing its total so far to ₦1,384,315,042.

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‘A Tribe Called Judah’, was released on December 15, 2023, and had a gross of over N133 million, becoming the first film to make that amount in its first opening weekend in the Nigerian Box Office.

Three weeks after its release, the film grossed N854 million, making Funke Akindele hold the record for the top three highest-grossing Nollywood films.

Her movie, ‘Omo Ghetto the Saga’ had a total gross of N636 million in 2020, while her 2022 film, ‘Battle on Buka Street’ grossed N668 million.

Subsequently, on January 4, “A Tribe Called Judah” set a new record, grossing N1 billion and becoming the first Nollywood film to gross that amount at the Box Office.

Similarly, Malaika and Ada Omo Daddy have dropped out of the top five, falling to sixth and seventh places with a gross of N6.5 million and N3.8 million, respectively, in the last seven days.

The Beekeeper. Credit: Wikipedia
The Beekeeper. Credit: Wikipedia

‘The Beekeeper’ tells the story of a school teacher who died by suicide after falling victim to a phishing scam and was robbed of $2 million, money belonging to a charity she manages.

Her tenant, Adam Clay, found her body but was arrested and accused of the death. After it was discovered that she had died by suicide, Clay was released, but he then took it upon himself to find the scammers.

The movie was directed by David Ayer and written by Kurt Wimmer. Jason Statham played the lead role as Adam Clay.

SERAP charges Tinubu to probe missing $3.4bn IMF loan

Mustapha USMAN
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SERAP charges Tinubu to probe missing $3.4bn IMF loan

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to promptly probe allegations surrounding the “missing, diverted, or unaccounted for” $3.4 billion loan obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The organisation asked Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, and other anti-corruption agencies to investigate the fund.

A statement by the organisation’s deputy director, Kolawale Oluwadare, on Sunday, February 4, said the 2020 annual audited report published last week by the Auditor-General of the Federation revealed damning issues, noting that there was no document to show the movement and spending of the IMF loan.  

The SERAP also urged the President to ensure that “anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing IMF loan should be fully recovered and returned to the public treasury.”

Oluwadare emphasised the genuine public interest in securing justice and accountability for grave allegations. 

He highlighted that meting out commensurate punishment would end impunity. 

Oluwadare argued that failure to investigate these serious allegations, prosecute suspected perpetrators, and recover any missing IMF loan could significantly impact resource allocation and worsen the country’s debt burden.

The letter reads in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The Auditor-General recommends that the money be fully recovered and remitted to the public treasury and those suspected to be involved ‘sanctioned and handed over to anticorruption agencies.

“The allegations of corruption in the spending of IMF loan documented by the Auditor-General undermine economic development of the country, trap the majority of Nigerians in poverty and deprive them of opportunities.”

SERAP also noted that the allegations suggested a grave violation of the public trust, the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anti-corruption legislation and international anti-corruption obligations, including under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

“According to the 2020 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation published last week, the US$3.4 billion emergency financial assistance obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to finance the budget and manage the health crisis stemming from the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic may have been missing, diverted or unaccounted for.”

“According to the Auditor-General, no information or document was provided to justify the movement and spending of fund,” the statement read.

SERAP further explained that the Auditor-General’s report revealed that Nigeria was expected to spread the loan payment from 2023 to 2027. The first instalment, due in 2023, is worth $497.17 million, the second instalment, due in 2024, will be worth $1.76 billion, and the third instalment, due in 2025, will be worth $865.27 million, the organisation quoted the Attorney-General’s report as saying.

It added that the final two instalments, due in 2026 and 2027, would each be worth $33.99 million.

Quoting several portions of the Constitution, SERAP emphasised the president’s power to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.

Most Nigerians thrown in darkness as power grid collapses again

Harrison EDEH
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Most Nigerians thrown in darkness as power grid collapses again

SEVERAL cities across Nigeria have been plunged into darkness once again as the nation’s electricity grid collapsed.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)-managed grid went down at approximately 11:51 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, reducing the system’s capacity from 2,407 megawatts to a mere 31MW by noon and reaching zero by 1 p.m.

The reasons behind the grid collapse are still unclear, as there has been no official communication from the TCN on the development.

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The ICIR reported several grid collapses in the past years, a concern that has not been effectively addressed.

Despite the Federal Government privatizing the sector over eleven years ago, the grid remains unreliable, failing consumers on more than 141 occasions.

Distribution companies are already alerting customers about the situation, even as the generation companies have repeatedly expressed concerns over the impact on the safety and durability of their equipment.

Kaduna Electric confirmed that the loss of bulk power supply left Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states in darkness.

Also, the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC has informed its customers that the power outage being experienced is a result of a system failure from the national grid today, which resulted in a nationwide outage.

According to the system operator’s platform, all 20 power plants, except Ibom Power with 31 megawatts, were offline by 11:51 a.m.

 

 

 

Namibia’s president dies months before elections

Ijeoma OPARA
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Namibia’s president dies months before elections

NAMIBIA’S President Hage Geingob died at 82 on Sunday, February 4, in Windhoek, the country’s capital, following a battle with cancer.

His death occurred months before the country’s elections, expected to be held in November 2024, which would signal the end of his tenure as president.

In a statement via the official X handle of the Namibian presidency on Sunday, the  country’s Acting President Nangolo Mbumba, disclosed that the cabinet would convene to make necessary state arrangements following his principal’s death.

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“It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr Hage G Geingob, the president of the Republic of Namibia, has passed on today. At his side was his dear wife, Madame Monica Geingos and his children.

“At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols,” Mbumba noted.

Geingob had revealed in January that he was receiving treatment for cancer after cancerous cells were discovered during a routine medical check-up.

The deceased had been the country’s first president who did not hail from the Ovambo ethnic group where the majority of the country’s population hail from.

He was an advocate for Namibia’s independence as a young man and lived in exile for nearly three decades.

His party, Swapo, upon which he rose to the presidency, won the first elections in 1990, and he served as Prime Minister for over 12 years before becoming president in 2014.

However, high unemployment rates, recession and allegations of misappropriation characterised his first tenure as president.

Documents published by WikiLeaks in 2019 revealed cases of bribery by officials of Geingob’s government in what is now known as the Fish Rot scandal.

There were also allegations that his government granted contracts to foreign companies rather than those owned by locals.

Namibia may get first female president

Following Geingob’s death, Namibia may be on its way to having its first female president, as the ruling party, Swapo, choses a woman, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, to be its vice president.

Nandi Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

According to the party’s constitution, this nomination puts Nandi-Ndaitwah in line to be the presidential candidate at the next elections, as Swapo has remained in power since Namibia gained her independence in 1990.

Although the number of women heading governments in Africa is low, more women are occupying positions of leadership across various countries on the continent.

In 2005, Liberia produced Africa’s first elected female president in the person of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who led the country till 2018 when she stepped down.

Although Sirleaf maintained peace in the war-torn Liberia, extreme poverty persisted in the country during her time as president.

Others include Joyce Banda of Malawi, who rose to presidency from the position of Vice President after the death of her principal, Catherine Samba-Panza, who was elected transition president of the Central African Republic between 2014 and 2016.

In 2021, Tanzania got its first female president when Samia Suluhu Hassan rose to the position following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli.

Two other women have emerged as ceremonial heads of state in different African countries.

In 2015, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was elected by the National Assembly in Mauritius, while Zewde Sahle-Work was elected in 2018 by the Ethiopian parliament.

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