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APC: Kyari emerges acting chairman as leadership crisis rocks party

Vincent Ufuoma
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APC: Kyari emerges acting chairman as leadership crisis rocks party

THE Deputy National Chairman (North) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Kyari, has assumed the position of acting National Chairman of the party.

The development comes amid yet to be confirmed reports that the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, has resigned his position.

The party has been rocked by a leadership crisis as Adamu and the National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, who was also reported to have resigned, have not confirmed the development.

According to the party’s constitution, when a national chairman resigns, the deputy national chairman from the corresponding zone assumes the role in an acting capacity.

Kyari led a group of members from the National Working Committee (NWC) into a meeting at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja amid heightened security, on Monday, July 17.

Those who accompanied Kyari into the meeting include the Deputy National Chairman (South), Emma Eneukwu, National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, National Vice Chairman (North-East), Salihu Mustapha, National Vice Chairman (North Central), Muazu Bawa, National Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaacs Kekemeke, National Vice Chairman (South-East) Ejoroma Arodiogu, and Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter.

Born on January 15, 1960, in Borno State, Kyari is the son of the late Brigadier Abba Kyari, a former military administrator of the defunct North Central from 1967 to 1975.

He obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1986 from the University of Tennessee Martin, in the United States, followed by a Master’s in Business Administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, in 1989.

Kyari’s political journey began in 1998 when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives under the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).

Subsequently, he served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003, representing the defunct All Peoples Party (APP). He also held the position of Commissioner in Borno State from 2003 to 2005 and 2007 to 2011.

In 2015, Kyari was elected as a Senator representing Borno North on the APC platform, and he was re-elected in 2019. In 2022, he assumed the role of Deputy National Chairman before being appointed as the acting National Chairman.

APC yet confirm Adamu’s resignation 

While there have been reports about Abdullahi Adamu’s alleged resignation, the party’s spokesperson, Felix Morka, has not confirmed this.

However, several newspapers have cited reasons for Adamu’s resignation, including funds misappropriation and a cold war between him and President Bola Tinubu, who chairs the party’s National Executive Council (NEC).

TheCable reported that a vote of no confidence was expected to be passed against Adamu and the party’s Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, by NWC members today, Monday, July 17.

There are also reports that Adamu and Omisore would be sacked by the Tinubu-led NEC at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 19. The reported mismanagement of the N32 billion raised from the sale of forms for the 2023 general election was cited as one of the reasons for Adamu’s troubles.

According to TheCable, only N7 billion remains in the party’s account, raising concerns about the alleged misappropriation of funds. Additionally, the newspaper reported that the zonal, state, and ward levels of the party were not aware of the proceeds from the form sales, which were supposed to be shared among them.

It was also gathered Adamu’s bid to seek refuge with the party’s state chairmen failed.

“By the APC constitution, the proceeds were supposed to be shared with the zonal, state and ward levels of the party, and they were not in the know. So there was no way they were going to support him.”

He was said to have been advised by the Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, to resign following the development.

Premium Times reported that Adamu submitted his resignation to the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday night.

Adamu in March 2022 emerged APC chairman by consensus following his endorsement by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Before the presidential primaries of the APC, he declared former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party, a move seen as a bid to stop Tinubu, the eventual winner of the primary election.

Adamu’s squabble with Tinubu did not stop after the swearing in of the later as president. He recently opposed the list of the principal officers of the party announced by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, as endorsed by Tinubu.

Adamu refuses to comment on resignation reports 

Daily Trust reported that when contacted on Monday, July 17, Adamu said he would not comment on the matter until Tinubu returns from the African Union (AU) meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. Tinubu travelled for the meeting on Saturday and is expected back later on Monday.

“I won’t talk about the issue because the President is away,” Adamu said when contacted on the phone.

Omisore has not resigned – Lawyer

Meanwhile, Omisore’s lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has debunked reports of the resignation of the APC secretary.

Ajulo stated that it was unlikely for both Adamu and Omisore to vacate their offices simultaneously, describing the resignation rumors surrounding Omisore as baseless and unfounded.

He confirmed that Omisore would attend the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) scheduled for that day.

Ajule told newsmen that any decision to resign would be a personal one and not a result of external pressure, stating that Omisore was proud of Tinubu’s government and the confidence the President has in the party.

He further highlighted Omisore’s commitment to stabilising the political space and ensuring the satisfaction of those who contributed to Tinubu’s emergence as President.

“Why must he resign? He is the National Secretary of the winning party that has just ushered in the new government of President Bola Tinubu.

“He is proud of what the President is doing and the party enjoys the confidence of the President, vice versa

“What he is doing now is to stabilise the political space and ensure that those who worked for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people are happy with the government,” Ajulo said.

Nigeria’s inflation increases for 6th consecutive time to 22.79% in June

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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Nigeria’s inflation increases for 6th consecutive time to 22.79% in June

THE latest data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown that Nigeria’s inflation rate increased by 0.38 per cent to 22.79 per cent in June 2023.

This is the sixth consecutive increase in 2023 but the highest increase when compared month by month in the year.

Also, this is the first inflation figure announced after President Bola Tinubu assumed power on May 29. The increase might not be unconnected to several economic policies implemented since the new President assumed power.

READ ALSO:
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IMF, experts fault NBS methodology on Nigeria’s inflation rate

Some of these policies include the removal of fuel subsidy, devaluation of the naira in the exchange rate market and several controversies across tax and household electricity tariffs.

According to the NBS, the inflation rate increased from 22.41 per cent in May 2022. 

“On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 4.19% points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2022, which was 18.60%. This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in June 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (June 2022),” the NBS said.

However, the urban inflation rate in June 2023 was 24.33 per cent while the rural inflation rate was at 21.37 per cent. 

The ICIR reported how some policies introduced by the Federal Government affected commuters, and bolt drivers, and might push more Nigerians into poverty. The ICIR also reported how some of these unsettling policies might increase the inflation rate in June and July with a prediction of 22.5 per cent. 

Food inflation

Meanwhile, NBS data also showed that food inflation rose to 25.25 per cent.  This is 4.65 per cent higher than the 20.60 per cent recorded in June 2022. 

The rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fruits, meat, vegetable, milk, cheese, and eggs. 

The NBS said, “On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in June 2023 was 2.40%, this was 0.21% points higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023 (2.19%). 

“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve months ending June 2023 over the previous twelve-month average was 24.03%, this was a 5.41% points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in June 2022 (18.62%).”

In June 2023, the inflation rate, on a year-on-year basis, was highest in Lagos (25.75%), Ondo (25.40%), Kogi (25.23%), while Borno (20.44%), Zamfara (20.93%) and Ekiti (21.06%) recorded the slowest rise.

Climate Tracker offers fellowships for COP28 coverage

Joshua Ovorumu
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Climate Tracker offers fellowships for COP28 coverage

CLIMATE Tracker is accepting applications for its COP28 African energy justice team.

Four fellows will be selected to join this team and cover COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Journalists from Africa, ranging from 18 to 35 years of age, with an interest in climate reporting, can apply for a fellowship.

The final two will be fully funded to attend the COP28, while an additional two will be part of a virtual team reporting from their preferred locations.

Fellows will receive pre-COP28 online training, global exposure, mentoring and more. Furthermore, fellows travelling to Dubai will receive accommodations and a stipend.

Finally, Applicants must submit a story and attend two webinars.

The deadline for submission of applications is August 3, 2023. Interested individuals can apply here

Seven children rescued as fire guts Lagos orphanage

Beloved JOHN
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Seven children rescued as fire guts Lagos orphanage

AN inferno caused by a power surge has gutted an orphanage home in the Aguda area of Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the fire engulfed a storey building where the orphanage is located. The power surge was said to have been triggered from an air conditioning unit inside the building.

LASEMA, in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, on Monday, July 17, disclosed that about seven children were rescued from the incident.

“The fire which had initially spread to the storage room of the home has been extinguished with dampening down concluded.

“A one-storey building housing an orphanage/motherless babies home was engulfed by fire which reportedly started from an air conditioning unit in the house due to a power surge which was said to have quickly spread out.

“A total of seven boys with ages ranging between one and seven years were quickly evacuated from the Home and safely relocated to the compound opposite the Home.

“Management Team of the Home informed LRT of plans to relocate the children to the house of the owner of the Home temporarily, to ensure their welfare was sustained,” the statement read. 

The incident came shortly after a gas explosion caused a fire outbreak at a residential building on Cachol Street in the Ojo area of Lagos on Saturday, July 15.

The ICIR reported that an occupant of the building was cooking in the corridor when the explosion occurred.

“The call came in at about 9:05 am and we were able to isolate the fire to only the building alone while adjoining buildings were safe from the gas-induced fire,” the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services said.

Similarly, an explosion in June at Ijaiye, beside the Apostolic Church in the Agege area of the state, affected four persons – three females and one male.

A shop where gas cylinders were stored caught fire. 

According to reports, one of the gas cylinders exploded due to gas leakage and, in the process, caught fire, affecting the shop whilst other shops and adjoining buildings were salvaged.

Also, the LASEMA had earlier urged the state government to conduct regular drills on safety measures to prevent fire outbreaks in the state.

Flooding: Kogi govt reacts to ICIR’s report on inadequate preparations

Ijeoma OPARA
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Flooding: Kogi govt reacts to ICIR’s report on inadequate preparations

THE Kogi State Government has reacted to The ICIR’s report on its inadequate preparations ahead of predicted flooding in the state this year.

Kogi is among the states that were devastated by flooding in 2022 and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned that the state is among those likely to be affected by the disaster in 2023.

However, an investigation published by The ICIR revealed that the state is largely unprepared in the face of imminent flooding as the rainy season intensifies.

Reacting to the report, the Commissioner for Environment Victor Adewale Omofaiye, in a statement sent to The ICIR on Sunday, July 16, said the Kogi State Government is making efforts to improve its emergency response mechanisms.

“We acknowledge that flood warnings are crucial indicators for prompt action, and we have an established system in place to receive and respond to such signals.

“The Kogi State Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with relevant agencies, constantly monitors weather patterns, river levels, and flood forecasts provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” he noted.

The ICIR reported that residents of Kogi State are still at risk of losing lives and properties due to inadequate mitigation strategies, despite early warnings.

Many drainage systems in the state have been converted into dumpsites due to a lack of proper waste management and some residents of rural areas were unaware of the impending flood.

Residents of Kogi also continue to reside in flood-prone areas, despite recommendations by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that such inhabitants be relocated by the government.

The ICIR contacted the Ministry of Environment on plans being made ahead of the predicted floods but did not get answers to questions sent.

However, reacting to the report, Omofaiye said the ministry’s strategies following flood predictions include early sensitisation and public awareness campaigns.

“We have implemented early warning systems in flood-prone areas to alert residents and local authorities of impending floods. These systems utilise various communication channels, including text messages, sirens, and community mobilisation,” he noted.

He also said construction of infrastructure, including embankments and reservoirs, and plans to evacuate residents of flood-prone areas, were part of the ministry’s response to flood warnings.

“We have developed comprehensive evacuation plans in collaboration with local government authorities to ensure the safe relocation of residents living in high-risk areas. These plans are regularly updated and tested to enhance effectiveness,” the statement read.

The commissioner, however, stated that human factors such as blockage of water channels and climate change were contributing to the problem of flooding in the state.

“It is important to note that despite our best efforts, flooding remains a complex and challenging issue. Kogi State is prone to both riverine and flash floods due to its geographical location and topography. The severity and unpredictability of weather patterns, combined with human activities such as illegal construction and blockage of drainage channels, contribute to the complexity of flood management,” Omofaiye noted.

Victory Gbakara wins Nigerian Idol Season 8

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Victory Gbakara wins Nigerian Idol Season 8

DELTA State born singer, songwriter and performer, Victory Gbakara has emerged the winner of Nigerian Idol Season 8.

Following weeks of performances by the top 10 contestants, Nigerian Idol Season 8 came to an end on the evening of Sunday, July 17 with Gbakara clinching the esteemed title ‘Nigerian Idol’ after beating his strongest rival, Precious Mac, to the top prize.

Following the victory, Gbakara secured exciting prizes presented by the Executive Head, Content & West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola including a cash prize of N35 million, a brand new SUV, an all-expense-paid trip sponsored by Tecno, a Bigi-branded refrigerator and a year’s supply of refreshing Bigi drinks.

Also, he was bestowed with a record deal, accompanied by a music video shoot. Furthermore, he received a year’s supply of WAW detergent and a fully installed DStv Explora with a premium subscription for a duration of 12 months.

Final performances

The evening kicked off with a joint performance from the host, judges, and top 10 Nigerian idols as they sang ‘Hall of Fame’, a 2014 song by the Star of Copenhagen, Switzerland. 

Then Precious Mac performed ‘Rockabye’ by Cleabandit. This was followed by performances from other Nigerian artistes including Fave, Johnny Drille and the Nigerian Idol Season 7 winner, Progress.

Thereafter, Victory Gbakara performed ‘Locked out of Heaven’ by Bruno Mars. The two top finalists performed ‘Stay’ by Rihanna, the final performance before the winner was announced.

As earlier reported by The ICIR, Nigerian Idol has been providing a platform for many talented singers to launch their careers and gain recognition in the Nigerian music industry.

The winner of this year’s edition had said winning the competition will give him an excellent platform to grow and move his music career to the the level.

NDLEA arrests teenager, female lawyer for drug possession

Ijeoma OPARA
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NDLEA arrests teenager, female lawyer for drug possession

A 19-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi, has been apprehended with 7.2kg of mathamphetamine by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, July 16.

The consignment was concealed in a bag of crayfish with the intention to export the products to Europe, where Daberechi was headed for his undergraduate studies.

“The teenage suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

“While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish. A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine,” Babafemi noted.

He also said a female lawyer based in the Lekki area of Lagos state Ebikpolade Helen was arrested in Anambra State for the production and distribution of ‘skuchies’ a local drink manufactured using cannabis, opioids and blackcurrant.

Twelve bottles of the prepared drink and 5kg of cannabis were recovered from her Lekki-residence by the NDLEA.

Other operations carried out across the country led to the arrest of a Lagos resident Abubakar Shuaibu caught with 86 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, an Ondo resident Abubakar Zayanu Gyambar found with 262 jumbo bags of skunk, among others.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Nigeria is a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets.

Traffickers smuggle large amounts of illicit drugs through the country which is having adverse effects on migration conditions for Nigerians.

On Saturday July 15, The ICIR reported that The Republic of Seychelles confirmed a ban on Nigerian tourists due to criminal activities traced to some Nigerian tourists, including drug trafficking and fraud.

“We have seen a clear link between this with certain people from Nigeria. In the past two weeks, for example, 13 people coming from Nigeria have been arrested when entering Seychelles because they were carrying drugs into the country,” the country’s Vice President Ahmed Afif said.

 

FG borrowings from CBN hit N25trn in March, CBN says

Harrison EDEH
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FG borrowings from CBN hit N25trn in March, CBN says

THE Nigerian Federal Government’s borrowings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through Ways and Means Advances hit N1.83 trillion in the first quarter of 2023.

This pushed Federal government’s borrowings from the CBN to N25.36 trillion in March 2023, from N23.53 trillion in December 2022, as disclosed in provisional data from the apex bank through its quarterly statistical bulletin.

The Ways and Means Advances is a loan facility a central bank offers the government to finance temporary budget shortfalls, subject to limits imposed by law.

Rising debts and debt servicing have remained a huge problem to Nigeria’s economy. According to a World Bank report, the Federal government uses over 90 per cent of its revenue to service debts. The development, economic experts say, does not augur well for funding of key infrastructural projects in the country.

To worsen the situation, the Federal government’s unification of exchange rates has resulted in the rise of the national debt to N82 trillion.

Economic watchers had kicked against the apex bank’s lending to the Federal government because of what they regarded as its dire consequences on inflation.

“The inability of the Federal government to repay money loaned it by the CBN is responsible for rising inflation, rising cost of borrowing, and crowding out of the private sector from business,” an economist and chief executive officer officer of CFG Advisory, Adetilewa Adebajo, said.

Another economist, Kelvin Emmanuel, told The ICIR that one implication of the development is that it puts intense pressure on lending to small and medium enterprises.

Emmanuel said, “You notice that cash supply deposits are higher than the production outlook of the economy. When so much cash is chasing few goods without commensurate production and services, it creates a problem.”

According to Section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007, the apex bank may grant temporary advances to the Federal government with regard to temporary deficiency of budget revenue at such rate of interest as the bank may determine.

The section declares that in the event of a revenue shortfall, the CBN must not lend to the Federal government an amount more than 5 per cent of the previous year’s revenue of the government.

That section of the CBN Act aims to prevent the overreliance of the Federal government on CBN financing, instead of opening up the economy to boost domestic investments and attract foreign direct investments.

Emefiele: NBA, rights groups say charges politically motivated

Vincent Ufuoma
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Emefiele: NBA, rights groups say charges politically motivated

THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), some senior lawyers and human rights groups have called on the Federal Government to uphold the principles of the rule of law, fairness, and justice in the case against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

They also described the charges filed against Emefiele by the Department of State Services (DSS) as politically motivated.

Emefiele was arrested on June 10 over allegations bordering on economic sabotage and threat to national security amongst others and has since remained in the custody of the DSS.

He was arrested and detained shortly after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu on June 9, to pave the way for an investigation into criminal offences he was alleged to have committed as CBN governor.

A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the DSS one-week ultimatum to either charge him in court or release him. Another judge ordered for his release last week.

Shortly after the court issued the one-week ultimatum, the DSS announced that charges have been filed against Emefiele.

Emefiele was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a single-barrel shotgun and ammunition without a license under the Firearms Laws of the Federation 2004. The DSS claimed to have found the items during a search of Emefiele’s Ikoyi residence.

However, in separate reactions to the development, the NBA, human rights activists and some civil society organisations (CSOs) have criticised the DSS for arresting and detaining Emefiele for nearly a month.

They argued that the recent charge of gun and ammunition possession was politically motivated.

They called on the Federal Government to respect the decisions of the courts regarding Emefiele’s arrest and detention, and to ensure that his trial follows legal procedures.

They groups also dismissed the charges filed against Emefiele as lacking substance and a distraction from more pressing issues.

The groups equally urged the DSS to focus on resolving pressing security issues affecting the country, and to uphold the rule of law and respect individual rights.

The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, emphasised the importance of respecting court decisions regarding Emefiele’s arrest and detention.

He expressed his expectation that Tinubu, as the newly appointed head of state, would not allow the organisations under his purview to disobey court orders. Daudu insisted that Emefiele’s trial should adhere to established legal procedures.

“I do not think that the President, Bola Tinubu, who is a newly minted President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will like to start his administration with the organisations under him disobeying court orders,” Vanguard newspaper quoted him as saying.

An Abuja-based human rights activist Abdulazeez Tijani faulted the prolonged detention of Emefiele while the DSS was still investigating his case.

Tijani pointed out that the DSS had been trying to arrest Emefiele for more than four months, and they should have concluded their investigation by now.

“The DSS cannot hide under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, to hold a Nigerian citizen till eternity because ACJA is inferior to the 1999 Constitution.”

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Monday Ubani, also described the charges against Emefiele as false and misleading.

“I think these people are taking us for granted. They believed we are all fools. Did they not tell us that Emefiele was involved in financing terrorists? What has happened to that allegation? What has happened to the allegation of misappropriation of the money for printing new currency?

“What has happened to the allegation of stamp duty money allegedly squandered by Emefiele? What has happened to the allegation of manipulating our foreign exchange with Buhari cabals? What has happened to the allegation of operating several secret accounts not known to the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

Constitutional lawyer and Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Chima Williams, believed that the charge against Emefiele was politically motivated.

“Some of us see his travail as political more than any other thing. I had predicted that Emefiele will be in trouble if Tinubu becomes the President of Nigeria and there are no two ways about it, and I am not disappointed because what we thought will happen is happening.

“If we are going to move our nation forward we should look beyond the individuals and look at the laws because that is what would guarantee freedom, safety and people’s respect for institutions.”

The Chair of the Board of Trustees for Amnesty International (Nigeria), Auwal Rafsanjani, also dismissed the charges against Emefiele as lacking substance and serving as a distraction from more critical issues.

He criticised the DSS for prioritising frivolous allegations while the country grappled with severe challenges such as insecurity, economic instability, and social unrest. Rafsanjani called on the DSS to focus on resolving these pressing issues instead.

Outrage as GTBank mobile app update leaves customers stranded

Ehime ALEX
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Outrage as GTBank mobile app update leaves customers stranded

FOLLOWING a recent update on GTWorld mobile banking app, customers of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) have been unable to access the new version, cut off from the old application and thereby left stranded in efforts to effect transactions.

GTBank, a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, had announced an app update, informing its millions of customers through text and email that it would automatically update to the new version on July 12.

“On the 12 July, we will release the new and updated version of the GTWorld Mobile Banking App to Play Store and App Store. This means that when you launch the GTWorld Mobile Banking App, you will see a newly designed interface if you have App Updates set on automatic.

“However, if App Update is not set to automatic on your mobile device, you will need to manually update your GTWorld Mobile App to experience the newly designed app. Please note that we will discontinue support of the current version of the GTWorld App on 12 August,” the message read.

The bank’s customers are, however, finding it impossible to update to the new version as the process keeps returning errors.

“I have been trying to update the GTWorld banking app on my phone to the new version since July 14 but to no avail,” Tope Somuwa, a GTBank customer told The ICIR.

The process of updating to the new version is a total failure, Somuwa lamented.

The customer, a technology expert, said the project manager was supposed to test-run the update processes before launching the new version.

He explained that when he attempted to update the app, the process requested he put his phone number, but after he did, it returned an error, saying no Internet connection.

He said he tried with another Internet network, but the same issue persisted.

“You can keep trying it for a whole day without a result,” Somuwa lamented.

When the process of inputting the phone number eventually went through, the OTP (One Time Password) code expected to be generated did not arrive on his phone line up till the time he spoke with The ICIR.

“Subsequent retry will ask you to put another phone number,” Somuwa said.

He spoke of how he tried unsuccessfully on Friday, July 14, to transfer money to a client.

“I even tried to use the bank’s website but it was down as of Friday, July 14. I tried it out many times,” he added.

A GTBank staff, who spoke with The ICIR on Saturday, July 15, admitted to the issue, and said the bank had been having a network problem over the past three days.

The staff said GTBank marketers had been appealing to customers to be patient with the bank, but that in the meantime, customers can use the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) code, *737*1*amount*account number#, for their transactions.

Many of the bank’s customers have gone to the social media to express their disappointment for being locked out of the GTBank’s app.

A customer Ahmadu Galadima with handle, @AhmaduGaladima, tweeted, “@gtbank don’t know what happened to you, but why on earth will you force an app update and not allow me log in with old credentials, do a password reset, use a secret question, the actual account number or card last 6digits etc? Why ask for just a phone no with an OTP that takes a year 2 drop?”

Similarly, @jude_chiji said, “Please fix this app asap, I am not able to go from the first screen and stock on the OTP screen, cos no OTP is coming forth. Please fix this.”

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