₦airaland Forum

The Ministry of Transport is under the supervision of the Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. Since the inception of the Buhari administration, it has launched various railway stations across the country, one of which is the Abuja-Kaduna Railway.

Information reached NEWSRAND about suspicious activities going on in the Train station, of staff exploiting passengers by selling tickets at a higher price.

Our team conducted an investigation and here’s what we discovered;

https://newsrand.com/2021/05/05/revealed-how-abuja-kaduna-train-station-staff-exploit-passengers/

Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, says that about 260,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state.

Abayomi told a ministerial media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos that the figure represented just one percent of the state’s population.

He said the second phase of vaccination would start soon and warned that Nigeria stood the risk of experiencing a third wave, having vaccinated only less than one percent of its population.

https://newsrand.com/2021/05/05/only-about-260000-people-in-lagos-have-been-vaccinated-commisioner/

BudgIT, a civic-tech non-profit organisation leading the advocacy for transparency and accountability in public finance in Nigeria, has uncovered a N39.5 billion projects scam in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led cabinet.

The scammed money was the totality of 316 duplicated projects in the 2021 budget.

Also amongst other loopholes of corruption, in a statement shared by BudgIT, is zero audit records of the N10.02 trillion received by the security sector between 2015 and 2021.

https://newsrand.com/2021/05/04/budgit-uncovers-n39-5bn-projects-scam-in-buharis-cabinet/

Polaris Bank Limited on Friday said it had given away N26 million to empower 188 Nigerians in its just concluded ‘Save and Win’ draw.

This is contained in a statement by the bank’s Head Corporate Communication, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, and issued to newsmen in Lagos.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/30/polaris-bank-gives-away-n26m-to-empower-188-nigerians-in-save-and-win-draws/

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has expressed confidence that the ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC) will not be able to retain the presidency beyond the next general elections, which is in 2023.

Makinde, who stated this during the inauguration of the South-West PDP Zonal Executives, held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said Nigerians are tired of the APC and would kick it out of power at the 2023 polls.

According to the Oyo governor, the redemption of the country has begun from the South-West geopolitical zone.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/29/2023-makinde-expresses-confidence-that-apc-wont-retain-presidency/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Tuesday depart Abuja for Freetown to represent Nigeria at Sierra Leone’s 60th Independence celebration.

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Osinbajo will be joining several other heads of state and government from Africa and beyond who are expected to converge on Freetown, Sierra Leone, for the event.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/27/osinbajo-heads-to-freetown-for-sierra-leones-60th-independence/

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has announced that another tariff review for Nigeria’s 11 power distribution companies would hold in July.

It disclosed this in its notice of Minor and Extraordinary Review of Tariffs for Electricity Transmission and Distribution Companies, a development that might lead to a rise in the tariffs payable by electricity users.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/27/nerc-hints-on-possible-electricity-tariffs-increment/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is confident Nigeria will become an oasis of peace, security, and prosperity in Africa and beyond.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the vice president spoke at the ongoing 108th Annual Convention of the Nigerian Baptist Convention in Lagos.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/26/nigeria-will-overcome-its-challenges-and-obtain-gods-promises-vp/

Over 20 inmates are expected to write the upcoming 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the Ikoyi custodial center.

This was disclosed by the spokesman of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Lagos State Command, Mr. Rotimi Oladokun, as the inmates showed interest in taking the examination.

According to reports, the 2021 UTME is expected to begin on the 5th of June across the country.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/26/utme-2021-inmates-to-write-exams-at-custodial-center/

The Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) on Saturday said over 10,000 indigent students from its host communities had benefited from its scholarship programmes since year 2000.

Mr Dahiru Abubakar, Manager, Community Relations Department, NPDC, made this known during the conduct of the year 2019/2020 scholarship examination in Warri, Delta.

Abubakar added that about 379 students were invited for Saturday’s examination from all the NPDC host communities.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/25/over-10000-benefit-from-our-scholarships-in-10-years-npdc/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reacted to a claim by Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) printed N60 billion as part of federal allocations to states last month (March 2021).

Newsrand reported that the Edo governor made this known at the Edo state transition committee stakeholders engagement, which held on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/23/osinbajo-obaseki-lied-cbn-didnt-print-n60bn/

Two arrested robbers have confessed to stealing a phone belonging to a 100-level Computer Science student of University of Calabar (UNICAL), Godwin Okoro.

The robbers identified as Kingsley Mathias, 22, and Bassey Edet, 23, said they sold the N88,000 phone and later sold it for N10,000.

Revealing how they robbed their victim, the robbers said he was on his way to withdraw money from a bank when they accosted him and snatched the phone.
https://newsrand.com/2021/04/22/robbers-confessed-to-selling-stolen-n88000-phone-for-n10000/

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu has called for the immediate sacking of Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, for showing sympathy to terrorists.

He made the call on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, during the plenary.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/21/terrorism-scandal-elumelu-calls-for-pantamis-outright-sack/

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has given an insight into the composition of COVID-19 vaccines.

Shuaib said there were several COVID-19 vaccine candidates according to an interview with NAN on Monday in Abuja,

He said while some had been approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation (WHO), others were still in different phases of clinical trials for possible approval.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/20/covid-19-vaccines-are-of-various-categories-dr-shuaib/

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring fairness in commerce and market place, as well as preventing the exploitation of consumers.

Its Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Bababtunde Irukera, made the commitment in an interview with the NAN on Monday in Lagos while speaking on the nature of complaints that could be prosecuted by the FCCPC and the challenges facing the commission.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/19/fccpc-vows-to-stop-the-exploitation-of-consumers/

As part of efforts to boost trade and commerce in Nigeria, Union Bank has unveiled UnionPro, a proposition designed to provide tailored financial services and solutions to supermarkets and large retail chain stores.

With UnionPro, large retailers can now access a single platform offering a wide bouquet of solutions to enrich their businesses and optimise their offerings. These solutions include agency banking; point-of-sale (POS) terminals; in-store ATM deployments; web payment gateways and access to Union360 – a secure web-based solution that offers an end-to-end single point for payments and collections. The retailers can also benefit from business loans such as overdrafts, short-term finance, distributor finance and invoice discounting finance.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/19/union-bank-unveils-unionpro-to-boost-local-trade-and-commerce/

Newsrand readers have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami from his active duty.

This was contained in a poll carried out by NEWSRAND TEAM on their official Twitter handle.

It was earlier reported that the minister had in the past publicly declared his undying love for global extremist groups -the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/19/buhari-must-sack-isa-pantami-from-his-cabinet-newsrand-readers/

Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has dismissed a claim by Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, who stated that the Federal Government printed N60 billion last month (March 2021) as part of the allocation to states.

Newsrand reported that the Edo governor made this known at the Edo state transition committee stakeholders engagement, which held on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/16/printed-n60bn-emefiele-dismisses-obasekis-claim/

Grocery and household store, Shoprite Nigeria has recently been linked to a possible sale, due to the country’s business environment amongst other factors. But eight months after the South African biggest grocer first disclosed its plan to divest from its Nigerian retail entity, Tayo Amusan, the Chairman of Persianas Group, a real estate company, and retail service, emerged as the buyer after a successful bidding process.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/15/shoprite-nigeria-now-has-a-buyer-heres-why-the-grocer-divested/

Yesterday (Tuesday, April 13, 2021) was a sad day in Nigeria’s filmmaking industry, as actress Rachel Bakam passed away.

The film star died at the age of 39 after battling with anaemia.

While the film industry is still mourning the actress’s demise, Newsrand presents below five things its readers should know about her:

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/14/rachel-bakam-5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-late-actress/

Yesterday, April 12, 2021, the video of a debate between the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and Mohammed Yusuf, the late Boko Haram leader, surfaced on social media.

The debate generated a heated controversy among Nigerians, as many queried the minister’s relationship with the late terrorist.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/13/why-pantami-engaged-boko-haram-leader-in-fierce-debate-lawyer/

Nollywood veteran actor, Jide Kosoko has revealed how he ended up marrying four wives, saying it was never what he envisaged.

Speaking with Vanguard, Kosoko explained that though he’s a product of a polygamous marriage, being a polygamist was what his parents kicked against.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/12/how-i-ended-up-marrying-4-wives-jide-kosoko/

Prince Philip, the lifelong companion of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-serving consort in British history, passed away yesterday (Friday, April 9, 2021).

He died at the age of 99, two months before turning 100.

As many Britons and others around the world woke today (Saturday, April 10) to a sense of sadness, Newsrand presents below 10 things you should know about the deceased:

1. He was born in Greece, into the Greek and Danish royal families of Prince Andrew and Princess Alice of Battenberg, being their only son, on the 10th of June 1921.

2. He was just eighteen months old when his family was exiled from the country (Greece).

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/10/10-things-to-know-about-prince-philip-the-late-duke-of-edinburgh/

Special Assistant to The President on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, told Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari has the right to routine medical visits.

NEWSRAND had earlier reported on the President two weeks medical holiday in London, United Kingdom (UK), which started from the 30th of March.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/08/this-wouldnt-be-buharis-last-uk-medical-trip-presidency/

I am certain anyone reading this article will have come across the term bitcoin. Every day on social media we are always splashed with information about this asset class with people asking questions like “did you buy the dip”? Or you see statements like bitcoin hitting all-time highs.

A lot of people do not understand this instrument and this is no fault of theirs, even governments all over the world are still grappling with it and whether or not to accept it as a medium of exchange.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/05/what-causes-bitcoin-to-rise-and-fall/

Chief Afe Babalola, (SAN), Legal luminary and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, said on Friday that he had spent N476.8m as financial rewards to outstanding students of the university.

Mr Tunde Olofintila, Head, Corporate Affairs of the university, who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, added that Babalola made the statement while addressing a special session of the university’s Senate.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/03/abuad-awards-n476-8m-scholarships-to-its-best-students-in-7-years-afe-babalola/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday evening presided over the tripartite committee meeting comprising Executive, Legislative, and leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.

Those in attendance included Senate President Ahmed Lawal, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

https://newsrand.com/2021/04/01/service-delivery-osinbajo-presides-over-tripartite-meeting/

The Federal Government under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari has promised Nigerians that Gas resources in the country will be utilized in other to boost the nation’s economy.

This was disclosed in a statement made by the Nigerian Government’s official Twitter page.

https://newsrand.com/2021/03/31/nigeria-to-fully-utilize-gas-resources-to-drive-industrialization/

Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stated that without Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the ruling-All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s democracy would be incomplete.

The Lagos governor made this disclosure via a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, as he facilitated with the APC chieftain on his 69th birthday.

https://newsrand.com/2021/03/29/sanwo-olu-nigerias-democracy-not-complete-without-tinubu/

President Muhammadu Buhari has said developments in the Nigerian fertilizer value chain is moving the country to becoming a regional and global fertilizer powerhouse and advised investors to look beyond short-term gains to enable them realise the immense economic and social gains available for themselves and the country.

https://newsrand.com/2021/03/26/nigeria-on-the-way-to-becoming-regional-fertilizer-capital-buhari/

Come Tuesday, March 30th, 2021, the Batch A, Stream 1 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), would conclude their orientation programmes and leave their various camps of posting.

As the corps members are gearing towards the conclusion of their orientation course, the controversial debate about the NYSC scheme has again been brought to fore, as many people debated if it should be scrapped or not…

https://newsrand.com/2021/03/26/has-nysc-outlived-its-purpose/