₦airaland Forum

Subscribers, particularly football-loving Nigerians using GoTV, a prepaid satellite cable service, were frustrated on Tuesday night when multiple channels suddenly disappeared.

PUNCH Metro reports that the outage experienced by the subscribers on Tuesday led many customers to demand compensation from Multichoice, GoTV’s parent company, during separate interviews on Wednesday.

Several football fans watching on cable TV were eager to witness their favourite clubs take to the pitch as the Champions League, a popular game where clubs from Europe showcase their skill and determination, returned on Tuesday night.

However, some football fans, especially those watching on GoTV, were disappointed when all the football channels on the cable service suddenly disappeared.


Several other channels, including M-Net Movies 4, ROK, Africa Magic Epic, TNT Africa, Al Jazeera, CNN International, Arise News, TVC News Nigeria, and Channels Television, also went off on Monday and had not been restored as the time this report was filed.

PUNCH Metro’s findings on Wednesday revealed that the Intelsat 33e, a geostationary high-throughput satellite serving Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of the Asia-Pacific, experienced a severe power failure on Saturday.

According to a report on Monday by Developing Telecoms, an online platform operated by a UK-based company, the failure caused a significant disruption, cutting service to all customers. Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that MultiChoice is among the affected customers.

While many football fans, eager to watch their favourite clubs in action on Tuesday night, were left outraged by the service interruption, others expressed their disappointment to our correspondent, criticising MultiChoice for failing to communicate the disruption promptly.

A football viewing centre owner in Ojodu Berger told PUNCH Metro on Wednesday that his customers were disappointed when they couldn’t watch their teams on Tuesday.


“I’ve never been in this situation before. I use both GoTV and DSTV. On Champions League nights, there are usually many matches, so I use GoTV to show the games that my customers want to watch.

“I was shocked when I couldn’t find any of the sports channels. I thought there might be an issue with the antenna, so I tried changing the location, but the problem persisted.

“I checked the menu for any messages to customers about the disruption, but there was nothing. It was a catastrophe,” Sanjo lamented.

Another subscriber, Adebola Oluwatosin, who identified himself as a devoted Real Madrid fan, while demanding compensation from MultiChoice for the service failure, described his experience on Tuesday as disturbing.


“If I knew something was wrong with them (GoTV), I would stay with my friend who owns a DSTV to see the Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund match.

“I bought fuel because there was no power supply at the time, only to find that all the sports channels had disappeared. I had just paid for a subscription of 13,900.

“They need to compensate us. Since this is a monthly subscription, will they extend the expiration date to account for the days the channels were unavailable? We need answers,” Oluwatosin demanded.

When contacted on Wednesday, the company’s spokesperson, Caroline Oghuma, stated that MultiChoice was working to restore services for all its customers.

“We are experiencing a temporary disruption in our services due to a technical issue with one of our satellite providers, Intelsat.

Uthman Salami
Uthman, a Mass Communication graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has over six years experience in journalism. He reports crime to community-related news for Metro, business with a focus on the capital market and the oil and gas.


punchng.com © 1971- 2024 Punch Nigeria Limited

President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council have announced the scrapping of the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.

According to a tweet by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, the decision was reached during the FEC meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement read, “President Tinubu and Federal Executive Council scrap Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of sports development.

“There will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission , North East Development Commission.”


“The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports,” he stated.

Additionally, the FEC approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy, creating a single entity.


punchng.com © 1971- 2024 Punch Nigeria Limited

Brittle nails

Nails are primarily composed of the protein keratin, so it's crucial to eat plenty of protein to keep nails healthy and strong.
Nails are primarily composed of the protein keratin, so it’s crucial to eat plenty of protein to keep nails healthy and strong

Eyelid twitching

Myokymia is the scientific term for the orbicularis oculi, a muscle that surrounds the eye and closes the eyelids, contracting involuntarily.
Myokymia is the scientific term for the orbicularis oculi, a muscle that surrounds the eye and closes the eyelids, contracting involuntarily.
Myokymia is the scientific term for the twitching that mostly affects the lower eyelids. Dr. Anthony Youn recommends getting more sleep, reducing caffeine consumption
“Twitching in the eyelids or the limbs indicates magnesium deficiency, which is critical for transmitting nerve impulses,” Sethi explained.
Myokymia is the scientific term for the orbicularis oculi, a muscle that surrounds the eye and closes the eyelids, contracting involuntarily.

The condition has been linked to stress, fatigue, caffeine consumption, an electrolyte imbalance, eye strain from staring at a computer for too long, certain medications and, less commonly, brain and nervous system disorders.

Magnesium plays a critical role in muscle function, and while magnesium supplementation is popular, experts encourage consulting with a doctor beforehand to ensure you’re taking the type of magnesium that best suits your needs.

Cracking, clicking or popping knees are a common occurrence, especially as the body ages.

However, Sethi warned “it could be a warning sign of vitamin D3 or calcium deficiency.”



Calcium builds and maintains strong bones, while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from foods such as milk, sardines and leafy greens.

Premature graying of the hair

The exact cause of premature greying is still unclear.
The exact cause of premature graying is still unclear.
Premature graying of hair is when hair grays before 20 in white people and before 30 in African Americans.

Researchers don’t know exactly why this happens, but they have pointed the finger at genetics, autoimmune diseases, pollution, smoking, stress and vitamin deficiencies.

“This could indicate a deficiency of vitamin B12, which is crucial for [red blood cell] production and oxygen transport at the hair follicles,” Sethi said. “This could also be a sign of copper deficiency, which is responsible for melanin production, imparting color to your hair.”


Bruising easily

You may be bruising easily for a host of reasons, including vitamin deficiencies.
You may be bruising easily for a host of reasons, including vitamin deficiencies


This may be due to old age since the skin thins as the years pass; genetics, as some people are more prone to bruising easily; underlying medical conditions like Cushing syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; medications that can reduce the blood’s ability to clot, such as aspirin or blood thinners; or vitamin deficiencies.

“This could mean that you’re running short of vitamin C, which is responsible for collagen formation,” Sethi shared. “It could also mean a deficiency of vitamin K1, which helps in blood clotting.”


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Did Nigeria Cheat The Defeated Biafrans With The Twenty Pound Policy?

Again, the recent revision of history by Peter Obi, where he tried to cast General Gowon as a villainous enemy, emboldened other fantasists to come up with false narratives.

Much of their fallacious narrative has to do with a fable that the Nigerian government seized all funds belonging to Igbos and gave them only £20. But is this true?

The whole issue about the twenty pounds (not Naira) arose as a result of the fact that after declaring the independent Republic of Biafra, the authorities of that Republic declared the Nigerian Pound as non legal tender, and on January 29, 1968, they introduced the Biafran Pound as the legal tender of Biafra.

The Federal Military Government, led by General Gowon, immediately countered before the currency was declared by declaring that that currency was illegal and would not be recognised or accepted by Nigeria. Nigerian citizens, including those who referred to themselves as Biafrans, were urged to reject the new so called currency.

Upon this announcement by the Federal Military Government, many prudent 'Biafrans' withdrew all their Nigerian Naira and kept it at home. One such Biafran was Evelyn Okororie, who is still alive and told her story to CNN, which published it on January 16, 2020, in a piece titled 'Biafra war: Survivors relive account 50 years after Nigerian civil war ends.'

It is necessary to note that though Haiti, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Gabon formally recognised the Republic of Biafra, none of them accepted the Biafran Pound as a currency freely convertible with their own local currencies. Meaning that if you somehow found your way out of Biafra to those nations, you could not exchange your Biafran Pound for their local currency.

After the Republic of Biafra was militarily defeated and the East Central state rejoined the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Minister of Finance, faced a conundrum. What was Nigeria to do with the Biafran Pound?

The currency was illegal and had been printed without the backing of the Central Bank of Nigeria. There was no way even to verify who had genuine Biafran Pounds because Biafra had collapsed, and those responsible for printing the currency had either died, fled the country, or were denying involvement.

As a personal initiative of Chief Awolowo, who refused to take his plan to the Federal Executive Council for fear that it would be defeated by hawks in General Gowan's cabinet, the Ministry of Finance issued a circular to pay £20 to those former Biafrans whose account records of monies domiciled in Nigerian Pounds were lost, and to those who held their bank balances in Biafran Pounds.

Every account holder got a blanket £20. That money was a gift from Nigeria and, more specifically, from the humanness of Chief Awolowo. Those former Biafrans who could prove their account balances in Nigerian Pounds received all their monies.

The late Senator Arthur Nzeribe is an example of an Igbo who could prove his account balances in the Nigerian Pound. All former Biafrans who had accounts in banks outside the Eastern Region got access to all their funds after the war. The late Chief Alex Ekwueme is an example of this.

I urge those who harbour a grudge against Nigeria for that policy to please put themselves in Chief Awolowo’s shoes. Many of the banks in the then Eastern Region had been destroyed. The accounts were in Biafran pounds. Records were lost. And even the banks themselves destroyed records for fear of being punished for holding Biafran currencies, which was an act of economic sabotage against Nigeria, which was then under a military government.

What would they have Chief Awolowo to have done? Accept the Biafran Pound and freely convert it to Naira? Does that even make sense when the Federal Military Government warned Colonel Emeka Ojukwu's government against the act and told Biafrans not to accept that currency?

After the Union defeated the Confederate states during the American Civil War, the Confederate States' dollars became worthless from May 26, 1865. The Union did not give any $20 to holders of the Confederate States dollars. As it should be. After the war, holders of the Confederate States dollars just lost their money. Period. That is the sad reality of war.

But in our case, Chief Awolowo, out of the goodness of his heart and not out of any obligation, gave as a gift £20 to all Biafran Pounds account holders.

If the Biafran Pounds had any value whatsoever, why did Colonel Emeka Ojukwu not take it along with him when he fled Biafra for Ivory Coast?

And to even the field and create a level playing ground, he took the extraordinary step of abolishing the Nigerian Pound and introducing the Nigerian Naira. He introduced the policy in 1971, although it was not implemented until January 1, 1973.

Furthermore, after the war, Chief Awolowo paid the East Central state all their monies from the Federation Account from 1967-1970. He had invested the funds and returned it to them, for which he was acknowledged by SG Ikoku, the Commissioner for Economic Development in East Central State, in the Daily Times of May 22, 1971.

Some others have accused Chief Awolowo of using starvation as a means of war. Others have written on my Twitter timeline that Chief Awolowo sent poisonous food to Biafra to kill Igbos. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Why would Chief Awolowo poison the food he sent to Biafra to feed civilians? First and foremost, he had no duty to send food. It was a humanitarian gesture because Chief Awolowo had personal principles. The gesture brought him into conflict with General Gowon and Murtala Muhammed.

You have to understand that Chief Awolowo was a very committed ascetic Christian, as well as an esoteric mystic (I choose not to say more about this), and he could not live with himself as Biafran civilians were dying. The food itself was sent in conjunction with the Red Cross, the World Council of Churches, as well as The Catholic Church through Caritas. Are you telling me the Red Cross and these other bodies would allow Chief Awolowo poison food relief?

That particular propaganda was imitated and spread by a man called Okokon Ndem, a presenter on Radio Biafra. The purpose was to make the civilians, for whom Chief Awolowo intended the food, reject it so that it could be given to Biafran soldiers.

Do you see what the Igbos call okporoko (stockfish)? It was a prominent aspect of the relief materials. That is why and how okporoko became popular in Biafra and Igboland till today. They have Chief Awolowo and the nation of Norway to thank for Okporoko. Before the war, they did not know anything like Okporoko.

Even in Europe, when the Germans surrounded the Russian city of Leningrad for 900 days during the Siege of Leningrad, they did not send in any food. When the Allies surrounded Germany, they also did not send in any food.

During the American civil war, the Union forces blockaded the Confederate rebels and starved them.

But Chief Awolowo sent food relief to Biafran civilians (which Colonel Ojukwu diverted to Biafran soldiers), and today, rather than gratitude, the children of those he tried to save harbour so much venom against him while spending money with Murtala Muhammed's image. If only they knew what Murtala did to them.

Every family in former Biafra owes a debt of gratitude to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. But sadly, many parents who should have taught their children this documented history have instead filled them with hatred by regaling them with wartime propaganda.

Reno's Nuggets

Popcorn is more valuable than corn, but before it pops, it must be heated. Don't get upset when challenges heat you up. God intends for the heat to pop your corn and release the value inside you. The heat should not make you bitter. It is intended to make you better. Bitter people complain, and better people contribute. Contributors ultimately become leaders. If you want to be a leader, don’t look for a position. Instead, look for how to add value, and a position will look for you.

#RenosNuggets

Reno Omokri

Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.

Overall, daily workouts are a great option if you are currently sedentary and want to get in shape or already work out but need to fit your fitness into a tighter schedule. So, let's dive into the five best daily exercises for men to stay fit. Perform one or two sets of five to 25 repetitions five days per week or more.

Squats
man doing squats
Shutterstock
Daily squats help maintain mobility and muscle strength. Early on in your fitness training, they will build strength. However, once you can comfortably perform 25 or more bodyweight squats, the main benefit will be muscular endurance.

How To Do It:

Place your feet wider than shoulder-width distance apart.
Sit back and down as you drive your knees to the sides while maintaining an erect torso.
Push through both feet to return to the starting position.
Find a rhythm with each set.
6 Best Leg Workouts for Men After 50


Pushups
Pushups are a simple and effective exercise that builds immense strength in your chest, shoulders, and triceps. For men who don't already have a dedicated chest workout, it's a smart idea to perform pushups every day to stay fit in the upper body.

How To Do It:

Begin in a plank position with your arms under your shoulders.
Lower your chest to the floor while bracing your core throughout the motion.
When the front of your body is about an inch off the floor, push through your hands to return to the starting position.
You can move your hands closer together to emphasize your triceps and add variety.
The #1 Daily Workout for Men To Lose Weight

Pull-ups
Pull-ups are the "yang" to a pushup's "yin" and are one of the best daily exercises for men to stay fit. Simply put, a proper upper-body fitness program includes at least one movement involving pushing and one involving pulling.

Pull-ups are a favorite pulling exercise for many reasons. For one, they allow multiple grips to vary the targeted muscles and stimulus, allowing tons of variety without any equipment modifications.

How To Do It:

Hold onto a pull-up bar with a prone, neutral, or reverse grip. Your arms should be totally extended.
Pull yourself up until your chest reaches the bar.
Slowly lower back to the starting position.
The 30-Day Workout for Men to Supercharge Their Strength

Dips
man doing dips from bar
Shutterstock
Dips are a great upper-body option that helps with shoulder strength and mobility. You can perform dips on a couch, chair, or bench, although our preference is parallel bars or rings if you have them. Keep your fingers pointed outward if performing chair dips.

How To Do It:

If doing dips on rings or bars, lower your chest toward the floor as you bend at the elbows and shoulders.
When you reach the bottom of your range of motion, push through both hands to return to the starting position.
The 10-Minute HIIT Workout for Men To Get Shredded

Lunges
man doing forward lunge exercise
Shutterstock
Lunges are a great way to cap off a full-body workout. You can perform walking lunges or lunges in place with alternating steps. If you have the space, walking lunges are preferable.

How To Do It:

Take a step forward with one foot nice and deep.
Lower your back knee toward the ground as you enter the bottom of the lunge position.
Drive through your front foot, and bring your rear foot forward to step into the next lunge.

Life is full of worries, isn’t it? We often find ourselves tangled up in stress over things that, in the grand scheme of things, aren’t worth the worry.

But here’s the thing. There are so many things we fret about that truly don’t matter in the long run. Letting go of these concerns can free up a whole lot of mental energy.

In this article, I’m going to share with you 10 things you should stop worrying about. Because trust me, they’re just not worth losing sleep over in the long haul.


1) Other people’s opinions

Life can sometimes feel like a never-ending popularity contest, right? We can get so caught up in what others think of us, our choices, and our lives.

Here’s the truth: It’s impossible to please everyone all the time. And frankly, it’s exhausting even trying to.

The opinions of others can weigh heavily on our minds, causing unnecessary stress and worry. But in the long run, they just don’t matter as much as we think they do.

It’s your life. You’re the one who has to live it. So why let other people’s thoughts dictate how you feel about yourself or your choices?

Start focusing on what makes you happy and content. Trust me, once you stop worrying about other people’s opinions, you’ll feel a weight lifted off your shoulders.

2) Past mistakes

I’m sure we’ve all been there, replaying past mistakes over and over in our heads. I know I have.

Once, I made a major blunder at work. It was a simple miscommunication, but it led to a significant client being unhappy. I spent weeks agonizing over it, losing sleep, and constantly questioning my competence.

But you know what I realized? Worrying about it didn’t change anything. It didn’t fix the mistake. All it did was steal my peace of mind and confidence.

Mistakes are a part of life. They’re how we learn and grow. And in the long run, they don’t define us or our worth.

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Instead of losing yourself in worries about past errors, learn from them and move forward. Trust me, your future self will thank you for it.

3) The future

It’s easy to get caught up worrying about the future. What’s next? What if things don’t work out? What if, what if, what if?

But here’s something to consider: According to a study published in the journal Science, our minds wander about 47% of the time, and a good chunk of that is spent fretting about the future.

This constant mental time-travel can cause significant stress and anxiety. And while it’s natural to think about what lies ahead, excessive worry about the unknown doesn’t serve us well.

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Instead, focus on the present moment. It’s the only one we truly have control over. By being present and taking action today, you’re already shaping your future in the best possible way.

Let go of those future worries. Because in the long run, they’re just not worth it.

4) Aging

Getting older is a natural part of life, but it’s also a common source of worry. We stress about the physical changes, the health concerns, and yes, the wrinkles.

But here’s the thing: Aging is something every single one of us will experience. It’s an inevitable part of being human.

Instead of worrying about the passing years, embrace them. Each year brings new experiences, wisdom, and opportunities.

Don’t waste your energy fretting over something you can’t control. Live fully in each moment, and remember that age is just a number. It doesn’t define you or your worth.

5) Social media comparisons

We’ve all been there, scrolling through social media, comparing our lives to the perfectly curated ones we see on our screens. It’s easy to feel inadequate and start worrying that we’re not doing enough, not achieving enough.

Remember, social media is a highlight reel. It’s rarely an accurate reflection of someone’s day-to-day life. People tend to share their best moments, not their struggles or insecurities.

Comparing yourself to others’ online personas can rob you of joy and contentment in your own life. It’s just not worth it in the long run.

Focus on your journey, your achievements, and your happiness. Because at the end of the day, that’s what truly matters.

6) Not being “good enough”

How often do you find yourself worrying that you’re not smart enough, talented enough, successful enough, or simply just not “good enough”?

This is a worry that can eat away at us, undermining our confidence and happiness.

But let me tell you something heartfelt. You are enough, just as you are. You don’t need to prove your worth to anyone. You don’t need to be perfect or live up to an impossible standard.

Your value isn’t determined by external achievements or other people’s perceptions. It comes from within. It’s in your kindness, your resilience, your passion, your spirit.

Let go of the worry that you’re not good enough. Because you are, and you always have been. In the end, it’s self-acceptance and self-love that truly matter.


7) Money

Money. It’s something we all need, but it can also be a constant source of worry. Will I have enough to pay the bills? Can I afford that vacation? Will I ever be financially secure?

I remember a time when I was living paycheck to paycheck, unsure of how I was going to make ends meet. It was an incredibly stressful period in my life, and it felt like I was always worrying about money.

But what I’ve learned is that money, while important, doesn’t guarantee happiness or contentment. Yes, it’s crucial to be responsible and plan for the future, but constant worry about money can overshadow the joy in today.

Strive for financial peace, but remember that your worth isn’t tied to your bank account. Life is about more than material wealth. And in the long run, experiences and relationships are worth much more than dollars and cents.

Perfect timing

We often wait for the “perfect” time to do things. Start a new project, pursue a dream, even start a family. The idea is that if we wait for just the right moment, everything will fall into place.

But here’s a little secret: There’s rarely a perfect time for anything.

Life is unpredictable and waiting for that ideal moment can lead to missed opportunities and regret. Instead of worrying about timing, focus on taking action.

Time waits for no one. So don’t let worry over perfect timing hold you back from pursuing your goals or dreams. In the long run, it’s the steps we take, not when we take them, that truly matter.

9) Perfection

Striving for perfection can seem like a noble pursuit. After all, why settle for anything less? But the truth is, perfection is an illusion and chasing it can lead to endless worry and dissatisfaction.

Perfectionism can keep us stuck in a cycle of self-criticism and procrastination. It can rob us of the joy found in progress and improvement.

Instead of worrying about being perfect, aim for growth and learning. Celebrate your efforts and small victories along the way.

It’s our imperfections that make us unique and human. So let go of the worry about being perfect. Because in the long run, it’s not perfection that matters, but authenticity and growth.

10) Things out of your control

There are things in life that we simply cannot control. The weather, traffic, other people’s actions, the list goes on.

Worrying about these things is like trying to steer a ship with no wheel. It’s exhausting and fruitless.

Here’s the most important thing to remember: Focus on what you can control. Your actions, your attitude, your responses. These are the areas where you have power.

Letting go of worries about things outside your control can be incredibly liberating. It allows you to focus on where you can make a real difference. And trust me, that’s what truly matters in the long run.

Dear Peter Obi, General Gowon Is Not an "Enemy" To Be 'Forgiven', But a Hero To Be Celebrated!

For years, Peter Obi has been romancing Professor Wole Soyinka and celebrating him on his birthdays. But when Mr Soyinka turned ninety on Saturday, July 13, 2024, Mr. Obi ignored him completely. Why? Because on Thursday, September 14, 2023, Mr. Soyinka had exposed him as an ethnic bigot who directly controls his Obidient hordes and unleashes them on his political enemies.

Speaking at an event in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Mr. Soyinka further revealed that Peter Obi was not rigged out and, that he came third in the 2023 Presidential elections. More importantly, he said that Obi knew that he came third and was only capitalising on the ignorance and gullibility of his supporters to unnecessarily create tension in the country to keep himself viable to rerun in 2027.

Annoyed at Mr. Soyinka's exposé, Obi blanked him and attempted to use his Obidient movement of rudapests to cancel out Soyinka. But it was as fruitless as a boy trying to quench the sun with his breath.

Peter Obi never explained why he stopped congratulating Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, or Mr. Soyinka's close all, the Ooni of Ife, who recently turned fifty. But he has explained today why he congratulated General Yakubu Gowon on the former Head of State's 90th birthday.

Why?

You see, when the rest of the nation is upset with Peter Obi, but the mainstream of Ndi'Igbo is happy with him, Peter Obi does not mind. That is why he carefully avoids saying anything that may upset them.

For example, he has refused to condemn the Monday sit-at-homes declared in the Southeast or condemn killings in the Southeast, as he does in other parts of the country.

Mr. Obi was last week publicly disgraced by a British diplomat for calling the killers of three Supersport journalists 'non-state actors' instead of criminals because the killings occurred in his state. The diplomat drew Mr. Obi's attention to the fact that he had called killers in the North and others in the Southwest criminals. But not the Supersport killers.

Peter Obi is a tribal leader who cannot afford to upset his sectional base. And that is why he had to release a lengthy statement explaining why he congratulated General Gowon on his birthday.

Because a huge chunk of his base, who are sympathetic to the cause of secession from Nigeria being championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra movement, are very diametrically opposed to General Gowon, who they blame for scuttling their 1967-70 dream of seceding from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

And in his verbose explanation, Peter Obi described General Gowon as an "enemy" to be forgiven. His exact words were as follows:

"I needed to show to the World that the ultimate heroism is forgiving the enemy and moving forward."

My question to Nigerians is this: is the unity of our country safe in the hands of a man who sees a person who fought a war to preserve Nigeria's unity as an 'enemy to be forgiven'?

Peter Obi also described what General Gowon did as 'acts of evil'.

If a man believes that it is evil to fight to keep Nigeria united, how can you trust that man to be President of a united Nigeria? Would he not have an agenda to undo the 'evil' that General Gowon did in keeping Nigeria as one nation under God?

Nigerians should remember that this is a man who, in a leaked audio, plotted a "religious war" against the Muslim Ummah. And now he says this about Nigeria and General Gowon.

The inescapable truth is that Peter Obi's commitment to one Nigeria is doubtful at best. At worst, he appears to be a closet secessionist who will use executive powers to see to the dismemberment of Nigeria if he ever finds his way to Aso Rock as President.

Reno Omokri

Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.

WeddingParol:
Interesting names without meaningful achievements

The nick name is not about achievements

SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND THEIR NICK NAMES. But. Why are other little African countries like Ghana 🇬🇭, Cameroon 🇨🇲, Angola 🇦🇴, South Africa 🇿🇦, etc. jealous of the giant?

• South Africa – Rainbow Nation 🇿🇦
• Rwanda – Land of a Thousand Hills🇷🇼
• Madagascar – The Red Island 🇲🇬
• Lesotho – The Kingdom In the Sky 🇱🇸
• Egypt – The Gift of the Nile 🇪🇬
• Burkina Faso – Land of the Upright Men🇧🇫
• Ghana- The gateway to Africa/The Blackstar of Africa🇬🇭
• Nigeria- The Giant of Africa 🇳🇬
• Namibia- Land of the Brave 🇳🇦
• Uganda- The Pearl of Africa 🇺🇬
• Malawi- The Warm heart of Africa 🇲🇼
• Zambia- The real Africa 🇿🇲
• Kenya - the pride of Africa 🇰🇪
• Tanzania - Brain of Africa (Bongo) 🇹🇿
• Gambia- the smiling coast of Africa 🇬🇲
• Ethiopia- the land of origin 🇪🇹
• Burkina faso - the land of upright men🇧🇫
• Morroco -the land of colours 🇲🇦
• Mauritius- the continental island 🇲🇺
• Comoros- the perfum island 🇰🇲
• Sierra leone - salone 🇸🇱
• Chad- the dead heart of Africa 🇹🇩
• Mali- the eyes of africa🇲🇱
• Djibouti - the pearl of the gulf of tadjiboura 🇩🇯
• Cabo verde - llha do 🇨🇻
• Sao tome and Principe- the chocolate island 🇸🇹
• Cameroun- the hinge of Africa 🇨🇲
• Seychelles - the land of perpetual summer 🇸🇨
• Gabon - Le bled 🇬🇦
• Somali - the horn of Africa 🇸🇴
• Botswana - Peaceful nation 🇧🇼

The online reports suggested that Lagbaja died from stage three cancer at an undisclosed hospital abroad, sparking widespread speculation.

In an official statement, Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu dismissed the claims, describing them as “fake news.”

He clarified that Lagbaja is alive and currently on leave. During his absence, Abdulsalami Ibrahim, Army’s Chief of Policy and Plans, is acting on his behalf.

“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Nwachukwu said.

He emphasised that the Nigerian Army operates under a highly structured system with established procedures to handle any situation, including the temporary absence of its leaders.

Nwachukwu assured the public that all necessary protocols were followed before Lagbaja proceeded on leave, and the Army’s routine activities continue as scheduled.

He reiterated that rumours of a leadership crisis within the Army were baseless.

The report, which gained traction on social media, had claimed that Lagbaja died two days ago, and that his death was being concealed due to internal power struggles within the military.

The Nigerian Army quickly took to its official X (formerly Twitter) account to label the report as “fake news.”

The Army’s swift response aims to quell further speculation and reassure the public that its leadership remains intact.


© 2023 - Businessday NG. All Rights Reserved.

A CNG-powered vehicle explosion at the NIPCO filling station in Aduwawa, Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday left three people severely injured, including a motorist who suffered eye injuries.
An attendant at the station, who requested anonymity, told The PUNCH on Thursday that two others—a woman whose stomach was ripped open and another person whose foot was amputated due to the blast—are also receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Ugbowo.

According to the source, the explosion was traced to a cylinder that had been fabricated by a welder without proper approval. The welder has reportedly turned himself in to the police.

“The explosion occurred while vehicles were queuing to refill their cylinders at the station. The vehicle being attended to suddenly exploded.

“One motorist suffered an eye injury, a woman’s stomach was torn open, and another person’s foot was amputated from the impact. They are all at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital receiving treatment, and we hope none of them will lose their lives.”


When The PUNCH visited the scene, a technician was seen inspecting cylinders before vehicles were allowed to refill. Attempts to speak with the station manager were unsuccessful as he declined to comment, stating that he had no authority to speak on the incident.

However, the Public Relations Officer of UBTH, Joshua Uwaila, confirmed that he had spoken to the man with the eye injury, who was reported to be in stable condition.


“The Presidential CNG Initiative notes the unfortunate incident involving an illegally modified vehicle at a NIPCO CNG station in Aduwawa, Benin City, on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. We commiserate with those injured and are thankful that no lives were lost. Safe handling of hydrocarbons is critical to their safe use.”

The PCNGI further explained that an investigation revealed the cylinder involved had been welded and modified, contrary to approved safety standards for CNG.

“The police, regulatory authorities, and NIPCO management are investigating the incident, and we are coordinating with them,” the statement added.

The Initiative also reiterated the importance of strict compliance with safety regulations.

It added, “This incident underscores the need for the soon-to-be-launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NMDPRA, NADDC, and FRSC to tackle any bad actors jeopardizing the safety of CNG usage. We call on stakeholders to adhere to these regulations and ensure that only accredited conversion centres are patronised to guarantee safe handling of CNG.”



punchng.com © 1971- 2024 Punch Nigeria Limited

AguaAqui:
China is paying while Africa is praying.

We need hope. So, we need to pray.

hope without work amount to nothing

Most of the religion in Africa, particularly Pentecostal Christianity, is in reality just a reaction to extreme poverty. The more the poverty is eased, the less we sub-Saharan Africans are religious. The more the suffering increases the more churchy we get.

You see this most when Black Africans relocate to Europe and America and get access to jobs, housing, healthcare, stable electricity and public transport. Once this happens, their dependency on religion begins to wane. The only exceptions would be adherents of religions or denominations with African roots, such as Ifa practitioners or White Garment churches.

What Africa needs is not religion. We need good governance. Sadly, we do not see that. If you look at all colonised countries, the ones thriving today are those who rejected the coloniser's religions but accepted their science.

That is what China, India, and Vietnam did. But look at us in Black Africa. There is a Christian Bible in almost every single language in Africa. But since you were born, have you ever seen a science textbook in Hausa, Yoruba, Zulu or Xhosa?

Meanwhile, please fact-check me: Bibles are restricted in China. You can be jailed if you preach on the streets of China and hand out Bibles. However, science textbooks are translated into every major language in China. No wonder China is paying while Africa is praying!

#TableShaker

The family denied any family battle over the late Herbert Wigwe’s estate.
byFriday Omosola October 15, 2024 Reading Time: 3 mins read
The family of the late CEO of Access Bank Holdings Herbert Wigwe has responded to allegations of a raging family dispute over the iconic banker’s estate.

Several online platforms reported on Saturday that Herbert’s father, Shyngle Wigwe, is at the centre of the alleged dispute regarding the distribution of his late son’s estate. Mr Wigwe has reportedly filed a caveat at the probate registry to challenge the proposed distribution.

According to the reports, the caveat was allegedly submitted by Mr Wigwe and backed by an affidavit from Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, who identified himself as Herbert’s cousin.

This comes about eight months after Herbert, along with his wife Chizoba and son Chizi, died in a helicopter crash in February near the California-Nevada border. Six people were killed in the crash.



The reports alleging family dispute over the Herbert’s estate indicated that his father initiated the legal action to alter the deceased’s instructions concerning the management of his estate.

Moreover, the reports alleged that Mr Wigwe requested 20 per cent of his late son’s estate be allocated to him and other family members, a move the reports stated contradicted Herbert’s will, which stated that his assets should be distributed exclusively among his children.

Additionally, the reports alleged that the will had been lodged at the Ikeja Probate Court in Lagos before Herbert’s untimely death.

However, a statement signed by a member of the family, Emeka Wigwe, and made available to this newspaper on Tuesday, refuted the allegations, denying dispute over his late son’s property.


The statement partly read: “We, the family of Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, wish to formally address two recent articles —one titled, ‘Family dispute erupts over estate of late banking executive Herbert Wigwe,’ and another titled, ‘Herbert Wigwe’s Estate: Parents filed caveat to disinherit children,’ both published on 13 October 2024.

“These reports, unfortunately, have gained significant traction across both social and national media. While we respect the role of the press in disseminating news, it’s imperative that such reports are based on truth and accuracy.”

20 per cent
Furthermore, the statement described the reports as entirely “false and grossly misleading’’. It emphasised that the well-being and unity of his family have always been his top priorities.

Furthermore, Pastor clarified that neither he nor any member of his family has sought 20 per cent of his late son’s estate.

“To clarify, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe has never sought 20% of the Estate of the late Herbert Wigwe, and no such request has been made by any family member. The claim in these reports that Pastor Shyngle Wigwe intended to disinherit his grandchildren is entirely false and grossly misleading,” the statement stated, adding that, as a devout Christian and loving father, Mr Wigwe “has always prioritised the well-being and unity of his family.”

“Any assertions to the contrary are not only unfounded but also misrepresent his values and intentions. The facts concerning the Estate of the late Herbert Wigwe are clearly outlined in the Probate Registry, Lagos where an affidavit containing the correct details is publicly available. A basic fact check of inquiry at the registry would have revealed this truth, preventing the spread of baseless narratives,” added the statement.

Painful period
It urged the platforms that reported the false news to rectify the inaccuracies in their reports and to commit to more rigorous fact-checking in future stories.

It also noted that the Wigwe family is still going through a painful time, adding that their focus is on healing and growing stronger together.




Additionally, it noted that the family has no interest in public disputes or rebuttals, as there are no sides to take—only the task of navigating an immeasurable loss with grace and dignity.

“Herbert Wigwe’s lasting legacy as a visionary banker and entrepreneur is what should be remembered. His transformation of Access Bank into a financial powerhouse and his philanthropic work, particularly through The HOW Foundation, which emphasizes education and healthcare, are the true reflections of his life. These values and contributions should be celebrated, not overshadowed by inaccurate and harmful speculation.

“In light of the seriousness of this matter, we respectfully urge all those who are concerned with preserving the good legacy of Herbert Wigwe to fact-check stories before publication. The consequences of publishing misinformation can be extremely damaging to the reputation of the family and the cherished legacy Herbert left behind,” the statement said.

All content is Copyrighted © 2024 The Premium Times, Nigeria

This Is Why Lagos Is Progressing More Than Your State

Lagos stopped being the capital of Nigeria thirty-three years ago in 1991, yet today, Lagos's contribution to Nigeria's GDP is more than double what it was in 1991. Lagos is responsible for 30% of Nigeria's GDP, though it accounts for less than 10% of our population.

Please face-check me: In 1991, Nigeria's total GDP was $59.53 billion, and Lagos was responsible for only 10% of that. Today, the GDP of Lagos is $108 billion. Lagos's economy grew faster than the national economy after it stopped being the federal capital. Think about that.

If Lagos was progressing economically because it was the federal capital, as some people who claim to have 'developed' Lagos posit, then why is Abuja not competing with Lagos in terms of contribution to the economy? After all, it had been the capital for thirty-three years.

Rivers, Edo, and other states also have ports. Why are they not like Lagos?

Lagos is progressing because of leadership, not because it is a former federal capital or hosts a port. Without good leadership, Lagos would be just like any other state that has a port.

For example, in these times when oil income is dwindling and states are struggling, Lagos is not complaining. Instead, they are building cutting-edge technology.

They just commissioned the Red Line metro railways to add to the already existing Blue Line, and they are preparing for the Green line. Their public infrastructure does not depend on PHCN. Lagos built and operates six functional Independent Power Projects that powers their infrastructure and utilities.

Lagos has been paying ₦70,000 minimum wage since February, and they built their own port and Free Trade Zone and are now about to build their airport.

So, stop making excuses for your state and putting all the blame on President Tinubu and the Federal Government. You should be thanking Tinubu for making more money available to your state government.

Before subsidy removal, Nasarawa was receiving ₦4.3 billion monthly. After subsidy removal, Nasarawa is receiving ₦12.3 billion monthly. Enugu's monthly allocation went from ₦3.4 billion to ₦6.7 billion.

Anambra State is receiving almost 70% more revenue under Tinubu than under Abacha. Ditto for many other states.

This year, the thirty six states are projected to receive ₦5.6 trillion. Last year, they got ₦3.3 trillion. And their wage bill has not increased. It remains the same. In addition to this, their Internally Generated Revenue has also increased. Their VAT revenue has also risen.

So tell me, why should you be facing economic hardship when your Governor receives double the allocation he used to receive? Leave Tinubu alone for a minute and ask your Governor to learn from Lagos and bring development to the grassroots.

Reno Omokri

Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.

budaatum:
To put this in perspective, Niger gained independence in 1960 and are only just removing French shackles.

Makes me ask, Is Nigeria free yet?

No, British names and monuments adorns every nooks and crannies in Nigeria

Since it took control over the country in a July 2023 coup, Niger’s military junta has been cutting ties with France and forging stronger ones with fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali. One example of this shift is Tuesday's rebranding of a major avenue in Niamey after Djibo Bakary – a key figure in Niger’s struggle for independence.


Niger bid goodbye to the Avenue Charles de Gaulle on Tuesday as its ruling junta renamed several historic sites in the capital Niamey which previously bore references to old colonial master France.



Since taking power in a coup in July 2023, the Sahel nation's military rulers have turned their backs on Paris, instead forging ties with fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali – as well as Russia.


"Most of our avenues, boulevards and streets... bear names that are simply reminders of the suffering and bullying our people endured during the ordeal of colonisation," said Major Colonel Abdramane Amadou, Minister for Youth and a junta spokesman.



"The avenue which once bore the name of General Charles de Gaulle is henceforth christened 'Avenue Djibo Bakary'," Amadou added.

A socialist politician who died in 1998, Bakary was a key figure in the struggle for Niger's independence, which it obtained in 1960.

A few hundred metres further on, the memorial to those who died in the two world wars now pays "homage to all civilian and military victims of colonisation to the present day".

With the ruling junta frequently accusing France of wishing to topple it, the renaming of monuments and streets marks a symbolic confirmation of Niger's break with its former imperial ruler.

Since the coup, Niger's authorities have expelled both the French soldiers fighting against the region's persistent jihadist threat and the French ambassador, while the Franco-Nigerien cultural centre is no longer run as a joint venture and has been renamed after Niger's filmmaker Moustapha Alassane.

'Honour our ancestors'
Other monuments across Niamey will bear new names from Tuesday onwards.

A portrait of French commander and explorer Parfait-Louis Monteil, engraved for decades in stone, was replaced by a plaque bearing the effigy of neighbouring Burkina Faso's iconic communist leader Thomas Sankara.

An anti-imperialist hero nicknamed Africa's Che Guevara, Sankara was killed in a 1987 coup his widow and supporters accuse France of having a hand in organising.

Amadou hailed Sankara as a man whose "struggle for liberation" and "emancipation of peoples" was "still inspiring people" today.


Meanwhile the Place de Francophonie was renamed after the Alliance of Sahel States – a confederation created with Mali and Burkina Faso in 2023, cementing relations between the coup-hit countries.

All three had their membership suspended to the 88-state International Organisation of La Francophonie in the wake of their coups.

From now on "we are going to honour our ancestors", vowed General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, the capital region's governor and a junta figure.

Oumarou Abdourahamane, president of the Niger branch of the NGO Urgences Panafricanistes, welcomed the new names.

"It makes no sense for our streets to continue to bear the names of former colonists... and so justice is being done by renaming these streets, by naming them after our country's heroes," he said.

Urgences Panafricanistes is headed at the international level by activist Kemi Seba, known for his virulent anti-Western views, who was arrested on Monday in Paris for as-yet unknown reasons.

Seba, who was born in France to Beninese parents, holds a Nigerien diplomatic passport as special adviser to junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani.

The controversial militant, who was recently stripped of his French nationality, is a radical black power activist who is regularly accused of anti-Semitism and has been sentenced in France several times for incitement to racial hatred.

In June 2023, shortly before the coup that toppled elected president Mohamed Bazoum, Niger also adopted a new national anthem titled "For the honour of the fatherland", which references the anti-colonial struggle.

It replaced "La Nigerienne", whose lyrics were written by French composer Maurice Albert Thiriet in 1961, a year after the country gained its independence.


© 2024 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved.

Senator Ned Nwoko has disclosed that some Indigenous Igbos in Edo State have expressed a strong desire to join the proposed Anioma State in a bid to reconnect with their cultural and ethnic kin in the Southeast. According to Nwoko, these communities reached out to him, seeking integration with their fellow Igbos in the new state. The push for inclusion in Anioma stems from the shared cultural history between the Igbos in Edo and those in the Southeast, dating back to pre-colonial times.

In response to this development, the outgoing governor of Edo State acknowledged the significant presence of Igbos in Edo, but raised concerns about the economic implications of their departure. The governor emphasized that the oil fields located within these Igbo-dominated communities play a critical role in sustaining Edo’s status as an oil-producing state.

“If they leave, it means we will lose our oil,” the governor reportedly said. “They should remain here with us in Edo State, as one can maintain their identity regardless of which state they belong to.”

This situation raises important questions about how Igbos are perceived across Nigeria. Why does it seem that Igbos, whose industriousness and resilience have become legendary, are viewed as assets that other tribes in Nigeria are reluctant to part with? Is it genuine admiration, or is it merely the resources in their communities, like the oil in Edo State, that make them so valuable?

It is equally troubling that despite their contributions to the state, many Igbos in Edo face challenges such as being denied certificates of state of origin unless they adopt Edo or Benin names. Why should names like Emeka, Chinedu, or Okechukwu be seen as unfit for recognition as part of the state’s identity? This discriminatory practice not only undermines the unity that Nigeria aspires to but also speaks to a deeper issue of ethnic marginalization.

Join the conversation and stay informed by following @tvauthorityng on Instagram and Twitter, and visit us on Facebook at TV Authority.

#TVAuthority #Myafrik #AniomaState #IgboUnity #NedNwoko

Denalarian:
Sack letter warming up..

he deserves it, he's playing with the lives of the passengers

Authorities in California have confirmed the arrest of a man in possession of illegal firearms shortly before a rally held by former President Donald Trump on Saturday.

At approximately 5 pm, deputies stationed at a security checkpoint near the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive in Coachella Valley stopped a black SUV.


Upon investigation, the driver, identified as Vem Miller, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was found to be carrying a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine, all in violation of the law.


Miller was taken into custody, and the investigation remains ongoing.

A report published on Sky News quoted Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco saying to newsmen on Sunday his deputies probably “stopped the third assassination attempt”.

Sheriff Bianco said his deputies became suspicious when the man approached the perimeter.

“There were many irregularities that popped up,” said Sheriff Bianco at a press conference on Sunday.

His officers “noticed the interior of the vehicle was in disarray and had an obviously fake licence plate”.



© 2024 Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria

Six persons have lost their lives while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a road accident in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday morning.

The incident which involved a trailer conveying tiles and a lorry loaded with soft drinks, occurred at Oke Eleshin, Amuloko on Akanran Road, in the Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state.

The accident claimed six persons while injuring five others in two tricycles.

Among the injured was a pupil whose mother reportedly died in the crash.



Four of the injured who were conveyed to the Amuloko City Hospital nearby included two primary school children who were treated as out-patients while two with severe injuries have been admitted for proper treatment.

The deceased were conveyed to a hospital that was not yet ascertained.

A staff of the Oyo Road Transport Maintenance Agency, who did not want his name in print said, “The accident occurred in the early hours of today Monday). It was caused by brake failure of the trailer that was descending the slope of the road.”

An eyewitness said the accident occurred when a trailer lost control and crushed an unsuspecting tricycle.

The eyewitness stated, “When the trailer lost control, it crushed a tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP. Another lorry conveying soft drinks was coming from behind it and tried to avoid hitting the trailer in front, and in the process hit and crushed another Keke NAPEP.


“We learnt that six persons died while five persons sustained injuries. They have all been conveyed away from here.”

The accident caused a serious gridlock with passengers alighting and trekking.

Aside from the vehicles and tricycles, two other cars were damaged in the multiple accidents.

Sympathisers who were prevented from burning the vehicles blamed the drivers (now at large) and claimed that the accident could have been minimized if the driver of the one that lost the brake had swerved into a ditch instead of facing the incoming tricycle.

The Managing Director of the Amuloko City Hospital, Raji Wale confirmed that some of the victims were rushed to his hospital.

Wale said, “Four patients were taken to his hospital. The accident occurred in the early hours of today ( Monday). Six victims were brought here with varying degrees of injury. Some were taken to other hospitals. We were able to absorb the ones brought here. Two have been treated as out-patient victims and they have been stabilized and they have left.

“Two kids have been treated and they are downstairs. One of them, I was told was in the Keke NAPEP with his mother. The mother died. The other two with severe injuries have been admitted and are being treated. They have been optimized and we are taking care of them presently. He explained.

When contacted, the state Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mary Alo, confirmed the accident but said she was yet to be appropriately briefed about the details of the incident.

punchng.com © 1971- 2024 Punch Nigeria Limited

Customers of Nigerian banks are to brace up for the possibility of more service disruptions as financial institutions race to migrate their core banking systems to more secure software.

The move, which many banks have already begun, is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, potentially leading to further outages and transaction delays.

President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) and former Registrar of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, while speaking with THISDAY, on Friday, criticised the banks for failing to adequately notify their customers about the impending disruptions.

Ogubunka said, “The ultimate aim is to improve the system and services to customers, but whether all these upgrades should happen simultaneously is debatable, as it’s causing major disruptions. Additionally, many banks failed to give enough notice to their customers, leaving them unprepared.”

With millions of customers affected, Ogubunka highlighted the importance of better communication, especially for those less familiar with technology.

“Not every customer is technology-compliant. Banks need to take time to explain these changes and even provide some training to help customers adjust. The lack of preparation is making things worse,” he added.

However, an insider within the banking industry who pleaded anonymity argued that the disruptions were only beginning, saying more banks were preparing to migrate their systems.

He noted that this rush to upgrade was driven by the need to address rising costs and increasing security threats.

According to the source, many Nigerian banks have been paying for core banking software in United States dollars, a heavy burden given the ongoing devaluation of the naira.

He said: “The banks pay in dollars for every account held, along with the cost of additional services. With the naira’s decline, these expenses have become unsustainable. That is why banks are looking for cheaper alternatives, whether local or foreign.”

Sterling Bank was one of the first to experience service outages after it transitioned from the T24 system to SEABaaS, a locally developed platform, in September. Customers were unable to transact for days during the migration. GTBank has also joined the wave, recently announcing its plan to switch from Jordanian/UK software provider ICS Financial Services to India’s Finacle platform.

In the same vein, Zenith Bank experienced a major service outage on October 1 when it began migrating from Phoenix, developed by UK-based Finastra, to Oracle’s Flexcube. Access Bank, which had scheduled its migration, recently notified its customers of a postponement. They noted that a new date for migrations would be communicated to their customers.

The source further explained that security concerns were also pushing banks to carry out the systems upgrade.

“There has been a rise in cyberattacks targeting financial institutions. Banks need systems that are not only cost-effective but also secure. This migration trend is largely about safeguarding against those threats,” the source said.

However, the speed at which multiple banks are upgrading their systems at the same time remains a source of concern.

The simultaneous nature of these migrations is leading to service disruptions across the industry, with more banks expected to follow suit. This has prompted Ogubunka and other industry observers to call for a more measured and customer-focused approach.

“Yes, the goal is to improve service quality, but banks should not rush the process and neglect the needs of their customers. Without adequate preparation and communication, we will continue to see more disruptions, and the frustrations will only deepen,” Ogubunka said.

The BCAN president urged banks to prioritise customer education and ensure smoother transitions to mitigate further disruptions.


© 2023 Arise News - Part of the Arise Media Group.

Ritchiee:
They are working.
Google is there to help you.

they are not working at full capacity,there's sabotage somewhere

Ikaeniyan0:
Jonathan built a river port at Onitsha, there's Onne port at Rivers state and there's calabar port at Cross River state.

these ports built by the FG in the south are not working

Zaheertyler:
Same talk since I was 5 years
If y’all wanted a seaport
Y’all would have had it by now

who will give it to them

Some Yoruba people have bragged about Igbo people being in Lagos, but they never knew that had it the Yoruba had not monopolised the seaport in Nigeria, no Igbo man would be in Lagos as Lagos would have turned into a graveyard.

Nigeria is a country where more than 200 million people make use of the Lagos seaport when it can be distributed among regions. There are seas with proximity to the ocean in Bayelsa, Calabar, Akwa Ibom, Warri, Anambra, Abia, and Imo, yet the Nigerian government has denied the East seaport.

Ndi Igbo being in Lagos is a plus to the Yoruba people. These Igbo people were denied seaports and forced to be in Lagos. As the highest importers in Nigeria, Ndị́ Igbo were forced to travel miles away from their homes to clear their goods. Many had lost these goods to bad federal roads in the East while bringing them down to Ịgbo land. Instead of losing goods all the time, they decided to lock up their shops in Onitsha and relocate to Lagos. Since then they are not only contributing to the IGR of Lagos, they are also developing Lagos.

Imagine a situation where Anambra or Warri, or even Abia or Akwa Ibom, have a working Seaport. Do you think our people will be trooping into Lagos? They will stay in their land and develop it.

If you take away the monopoly of seaports from Lagos, Lagos will lose its taste. That's because Igbo people will head home and replicate what you see in Lagos back home.

As an Igbo man, you must stop feeling that Yoruba people are doing you a favour because you are in Lagos. It is the other way around. You are the one doing them a favour. They connived with the Fulani to have the seaports to themselves.

When you say this they say don't you have seaport in Warri and Calabar. Funny people. This is how they do it. They will make sure you pay more if you decide to use Calabar or Warri seaports. They will also use their men in charge of those places to frustrate your goods. By the time your goods spend 6 months without clearing it, you will learn to use Lagos seaport. If you are from Warri or Calabar and you claim you have a seaport, then you are a clọ́wn.

Elochukwu Ohagi, Philosopher, Teacher and Activist, 2024.

In James 1: 22, the Bible enjoins Christians: “Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your selves.”. This biblical injunction is most likely contained in the Quran, Muslims’ holy book.

A classic example of hearing but not doing the word is found in Matthew 19:16-24, where Jesus Christ and the rich man discuss what to do to have eternal life. When the rich man heard the prescription, he walked away with sorrow. He disregarded the instruction. He did not follow the instructions.

Many believers – Christians and Muslims alike – rarely abide by the word of God or Allah. Our politicians, particularly those in positions of authority such as governors and presidents, are the type of people who listen but do not act on what they hear.


And if the time-honoured Latin phrase coined by English scholar Alcuin, “Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” which means the voice of the people is the voice of God, is any indication, then the Almighty has been speaking loudly and clearly to Nigerian authorities for the past 16 months. Since President Ahmed Bola Tinubu removed oil subsidies on May 29, 2023, the voices of reason have been heard across the country. However, rather than listening to the suffering masses who are starving to death in large numbers, the powers that be have told the downtrodden citizens to endure the suffocating hardship.


However, rather than listening to the suffering masses who are starving to death in large numbers, the powers that be have told the downtrodden citizens to endure the suffocating hardship. Nigerians, like the patient dog, have endured deprivation in the hope that the president will act quickly to alleviate their suffering. They eagerly awaited President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary on October 1, 2024. Then came Tuesday, October 1. Nigerians listened closely to radio and television stations across the country, hoping to hear directly from the Commander-in-Chief.


SERAP urges Tinubu to 'immediately' reverse new petrol hike
They marked the lips of Mr. President to pronounce the good news. Their hopes were raised when President Bola Tinubu stated in the first paragraph of his address, “… Our administration understands that many of you are struggling with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment.” I want to reassure you that your voices have been heard. The assurance that their voices were heard caused the listening public’s heart to leap for joy.


Finally, Mr. President will reverse the federal government’s flawed policies and programs, as well as implement measures to alleviate the excruciating economic hardship that is dehumanising and decimating the population. However, the hope that petroleum subsidies would be restored was short-lived.

Reading further, the President intoned: “As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding long-term solutions to alleviate our citizens’ suffering. Until the end of the broadcast, no progress had been made towards restoring oil subsidies.

Until the end of the broadcast, no progress was made on the restoration of oil subsidies. Nigerians are deeply disappointed that their expectations and hopes have been dashed, and they believe that their voices have not been heard at all.


The conclusion is that, by failing to listen to the cries of the people, this administration, like the Jewish soldiers in Mark 15:17 did to Jesus Christ before His crucifixion, has placed a crown of thorns on the heads of poor Nigerians.


© 2023 - Businessday NG. All Rights Reserved.

Not a single legal practitioner worth their onion is mused by the unguarded, reckless and kindergarten statement made by Justice John Terhemba Tsoho. For proper record, John Tsoho from Mbaduku, Vandeikya L.G.A of Benue state is the current Chief Judge of Federal High Court. Incidentally, John Tsoho is one of the two judges that recused themselves for conflict of interest that was largely due to executive pandering, external meddling and lack of judicial independence.

For the avoidance of doubt, a recusal request is made when a judge is perceived to be impartial; it is a challenge made to a bias judge and represents a constitutional and legal right to an accused and his counsel. Furthermore, the justice system of the Anglophone (English speaking) countries differs quite remarkably from those of Francophone (French speaking) in a significantly obvious way. In English speaking countries, an accused is innocent until proven guilty whereas the accused should show proof of their innocence in the other case. However, an irreducible denominator and requirement by law is fair and unbiased trial.

Neither the prosecutor nor the accused is allowed by law to gaslight, intimidate or shoplift evidence. The statement made by John Tsoho is kindergarten and lacking substance. It is tantamount to asking Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to prove his innocence. Nigerian judicial system is not Francophone based. Demanding that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu writes to prove why a judge should recuse from a case is a judicial rascality. It is the judge who immersed herself in the case and became a party instead of a neutral judge that should show why she should not recuse herself. Unfortunately, we have passed that stage because the accused made the request in an open court with proof, and the biased judge admitted and accepted the request.

Perhaps, it maybe that the case has reached a dead end by this current recusal. It is quite deducible. Apparently, the Nigerian government’s leverage on Binta Nyako was ironclad that no contingency was made. They did not anticipate the public interest in such a high profile case; neither did they accept the doggedness Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra possess. In the characteristic mentality of Nigerian government engulfed by corruption, once the contracted judge is in line for the hatchet job then the accused will yield.

The legal team of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must not resurrect this dead case by writing to the Chief Judge since an accused has no maximum recusal right by law. That is unprecedented. In any case, the judge has accepted the demand. Evidently, she has realized the glaring conflict of interest, baggage to her judicial career and no longer wish to be a party. Engaging in any further writing will not stop the rubber stamp Chief Judge from executing his contract; it will only be a jamboree, an academic exercise and an effort in futility. The Nigerian government does not respect court order, neither is it law abiding. So, there lies the fundamental question: Why should Mazi Nnamdi Kanu be compelled to write? Do you think it will change the Kangaroo nature of the Nigerian court?

There is no indication that anything will change by writing any useless letter to a Chief Judge under presidential control. The Nigerian government should be allowed to carry this baggage they created. It is obvious that other judges do not want to have a part in this draconian drama. Possibly, those interested in the case have told government in clear terms that they will not allow bribery or government control to taint their career or personality. Nigerian government is handicapped for lacking an incentivizing leverage of blackmail over these unyielding judges.

Hence, Nigerian government’s insistence that Binta Nyako must finish this case. It is also clear that Binta Nyako is tired of the blackmail and wishes no longer to be a willing tool. That a judge will accept a recusal request and a Chief Judge will deny the accused the benefit tells you all you need to know. Does a Chief Judge have power to compel a judge not to recuse herself from an obvious case with a clear conflict of interest? When has a Chief Judge denied an accused recusal request even when the presiding judge has tendered her recusal? Do you see the new game of using the Nigerian judiciary to subvert the truth? Do you see why Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will not get justice with this rubber stamp Chief Judge?

John Tsoho’s claim that the case has taken long is misleading. This case has been concluded by the Court of Appeals. The courageous appellate court Justices found no evidence against the accused. Infact, the only evidence was the issue of extraordinary rendition against Nigerian government. It was on 13 October 2022 that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was discharged and acquitted. Without doubt, the Nigerian government keeps holding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in solitary confinement for lack of evidence. This disastrous plan to shop for evidence to pin on him prolonged this case. Nigerian government must be allowed to benefit from their mess by helping them redirect and resurrect this case through any writing.

Again, in December 2023, the Nigeria Supreme Court supported the evidence of extraordinary rendition, found Nigerian government guilty for sending the army to invade Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s house leading to the unnecessary death of over 28 unarmed innocent youths, and found Binta Nyako guilty for revoking Mazi Nnamdi Kanu bail. This was the last era of courageous judges even with a terrorists sympathizer, ethnic and religious bigot, Muhammad Buhari, in power. This new era of an election rigger, a certificate forger and a drug peddler as a Nigerian president, it is obvious he is a puppet under heavy blackmail. He has a record of emptying the treasury to buy his way.

Under the present circumstance, it is clear that Bola Tinubu, an illegitimate president, a Yoruba man under heavy control of Washington DC must do the bidding of his master. Therefore, the Nigerian government’s bluff is called out. They should go ahead and do whatever the imperialists and colonialists told them, but they will live with a heavy consequence for their actions. The order given to them by their master will not benefit the indigenous people. However, the consequence of that action will be brutal and disastrous for the indigenous people including the Yoruba and their cherished Lagos.

Family Writers Press International

Access Bank has announced that it will temporarily shut services for a system upgrade aimed at optimising its offerings to customers.

In an email sent to its customers on Tuesday, the bank stated that the upgrade will take place in phases, starting on Saturday, October 12, at 10 pm and ending on Sunday, October 13, at 6:30 am.

The bank added that during this period, customers may experience temporary service disruptions on the Access More app, Internet Banking platform, and ATMs.

The message read, “Dear Valued Customer, in line with our continuous drive to better serve you, we embarked on a comprehensive system upgrade to optimise the functionality of our systems.

The upgrade exercise, which will take place in phases, starts on Saturday, October 12 at 10pm to Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 6:30 am (West African Time).”

However, the bank assured customers that their cards will remain operational, and the *901# service will still be available for funds transfers, airtime and data purchases, as well as bill payments.

“During this period, there will be a temporary service disruption on our Access More app, Internet Banking platform, and ATMs. However, your card will work seamlessly and *901# will be available for funds transfer, airtime, and data purchase as well as bill payment.

“Upon completion of this exercise, service across all channels will be fully restored,” the bank stated.

It also emphasised its commitment to keeping customers informed about subsequent phases of the upgrade exercise.

The PUNCH reports that the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers in Nigeria have expressed concern over the persistent criticisms directed at Nigerian banks on social media.

Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria has emphasised its commitment to the stability of the country’s financial system, highlighting that regular stress tests are conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities in banks.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/access-bank-announces-temporary-service-disruption-for-system-upgrade/%3famp

No fewer than 21 passengers are feared to have drowned in an accident involving two boats that occurred at Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to eyewitness accounts, the tragedy struck when two boats, each ferrying 16 passengers, collided and capsised in the middle of the lagoon.


A press release signed yesterday by the Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that the incident was reported to the Ilashe police division at about 7.00 p.m.

According to him, emergency responders, including marine police and local divers, were swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued 11 passengers who sustained injuries. He added that the injured were rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention.

The statement read: “On October 7, 2024, at about 7’00pm, a distress call was received at the Ilashe Division reporting that two unregistered passenger boats, each carrying 16 passengers, allegedly collided in the middle of the lagoon at Imore town. As a result, the boats capsized, and the passengers drowned along with their goods.


“Based on the report, teams of conventional and marine policemen, local divers, and other emergency responders were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where 11 passengers were rescued with injuries and rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention.”

In the meantime, other passengers remain unaccounted for, with Hundeyin confirming that efforts to recover their bodies are currently underway. He further noted that an investigation into the incident is underway.






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