Saudi Arabia To Open First Alcohol Store In Its Capital Exclusively For Diplomats – Report.

Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh which will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats.

According to a source familiar with the plans and a document showed on Wednesday to Reuters, customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases, the document said.

The move is a milestone in the kingdom's efforts, led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the ultra-conservative Muslim country for tourism and business as drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam.
It is also part of wider plans known as Vision 2030 to build a post-oil economy.

The new store is located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, a neighbourhood where embassies and diplomats reside and will be "strictly restricted" to non-Muslims, the document said.
It was unclear if other non-Muslim expatriates will have access to the store. Millions of expatriates live in Saudi Arabia but most of them are Muslim workers from Asia and Egypt.

A source familiar with the plans said the store is expected to open in the coming weeks.

Saudi Arabia has strict laws against drinking alcohol which can be punishable by hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment and expatriates also face deportation. As part of the reforms, whipping has largely been replaced by jail sentences.
Alcohol has been available only through diplomatic mail or on the black market.

The Saudi government did not respond to a request for comment.
State-controlled media reported this week that the government was imposing new restrictions on alcohol imports within the diplomatic consignments, which may boost demand for the new store.

The new regulation will curb imports to counter "improper exchange of special goods and alcoholic beverages received by the embassies of non-Muslim countries inside Saudi Arabia", Arab News daily reported on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia, which was relatively closed off for decades, has in recent years relaxed strict social codes, such as segregating men and women in public places and requiring women to wear all-covering black robes, or abayas.

Prince Mohammed's tightening grip on power has been accompanied by changes which included opening the country for non-religious tourism, concerts and allowing women to drive, as well as a crackdown on dissent and political rivals.

Vision 2030 also includes developing local industries and logistics hubs, and aims at adding hundreds of thousands of jobs for Saudi nationals.

CBN, FAAN: Onuesoke Urges FG To Relocate Multinational Oil Firms To N’Delta

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has called on the Federal Government to relocate the headquarters of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and all multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to the region.

Onuesoke resonated the demand with respect to the recent Federal Government’s order for the relocation of the headquarters of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos State.

The environmental activist who made the call yesterday in Asaba, Delta State, said the relocation of the headquarters of the multinational oil companies from Lagos to Niger Delta region was long overdue.

He recalled that on September 2021, the Senate passed a resolution for the relocation of multinational oil companies to Nigeri Delta region, adding that since then the matter had been swept under the carpet.

Onuesoke insisted that before the headquarters of CBN and FAAN would be relocated to Lagos as ordered by the Federal Government, the issue of relocation of headquarters of multinational oil companies from Lagos to Niger Delta region should be resolve in a case of first come, first serve.

According to him, “Most multinational and Nigerian oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta region had relocated their headquarters and operational bases to Lagos, citing security concerns and restiveness in the Niger Delta. Presently, all that had changed. The Niger Delta region is now more secured and peaceful than Lagos and other parts of the country.

”The Niger Delta people cannot continue to accept this kind of injustice. You can’t milk oil from our soil and then be paying royalty to other state(s) that don’t produce oil and gas. It is not done anywhere in the world. Communities in the Niger Delta region are the hens that lay the golden eggs, they should be allowed to benefit from it.

”The people of the Niger Delta must be treated fairly and must participate fully in the oil and gas sector. We must get our due benefits and not the usual crumbs.

“We must renegotiate the modus operandi of the oil companies with particular regards to the well-being of the Niger Delta people that are hosting these companies.”

BREAKING: Gunmen Invade Army Barracks In Kurudu, Kidnap Popular Businesswoman.

It was gathered that despite the presence of soldiers in the estate, the kidnappers went away with the woman through the hillside.

On Thursday night, unidentified gunmen attacked Hilltop Phase 2 Extension of the Nigerian Army Post-Housing Estate, kidnapping a well-known businesswoman.

It was gathered that the heavily armed men invaded the area around 9 pm, shooting sporadically to scare residents, according to Daily Post.

It was gathered that despite the presence of soldiers in the estate, the kidnappers went away with the woman through the hillside.

A source told our reporter that the kidnappers had targeted the victim’s husband but missed him by a whisker.

The source said, “Yesterday at about 9 pm, some kidnappers entered this estate and kidnapped a woman at the Hilltop.

“The target was the husband but they couldn’t get him as he was not around but unfortunately, as the woman was driving into her compound, they got her.

“As her son started shouting, they too started shooting.

They went away with her through the hillside.

Soldiers have been deployed to trace them; hopefully they will be apprehended. The CCTV in the house captured them.”

Tension Heightens In Abuja As Multinationals And Embassies Plan Relocating To Lagos Over Worsening Insecurity In The Nation’s Capital.

A northerner, Hidima, has alleged that several multinationals and embassies are contemplating moving from Abuja to Lagos due to escalating incidents of kidnappings and growing insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory.

This comes amid a noticeable trend, with the Central Bank of Nigeria announcing its intention to transfer some of its departments from Abuja to Lagos State.

The decision, as stated by a CBN official speaking anonymously to PUNCH, aims to decongest the apex bank’s head office.

Despite resistance from some staff members who claim tribal motivations, the source insists that the move is primarily for safety reasons and to enhance productivity.

Obasanjo Call On President Tinubu To Investigate Buhari’s Government.

Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate former President Muhammadu Buhari, expressing concern that the anti-corruption fight could be perceived as one-sided.

He made the call on Sunday during his speech at the retirement Thanksgiving service for Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma. Chukwuma, in his sermon.

President promises higher allocations to healthcare, education.
Akande Played Great Role in Founding APC, Says Abbas
Obasanjo highlighted the emergence of vices, making life difficult for ordinary Nigerians, citing issues like Boko Haram, banditry, armed robbery, poverty, and hunger.
Despite the challenges, he encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, emphasizing perseverance.

Chukwuma, addressing the state of Nigeria, criticized bad governance and corruption, urging Tinubu to investigate Buhari for a comprehensive anti-corruption effort. He also called on the National Assembly to address the country’s frustrations, emphasizing the importance of living up to their responsibilities.

In his retirement, Obasanjo urged Chukwuma to continue serving humanity, stating that he remains an inspiration. Chukwuma, in turn, stressed the church’s role in preaching sound gospel amidst the difficulties facing the nation.

Benue University Ban Dreadlock Hairs, Make-up, Wearing Of Earrings, Others On Campus.

The management of Benue State University (BSU), has announced a ban on dreadlock hair, make-up, skirts above knees, and other certain dress codes it deemed inappropriate and indecent.

The task force committee set up by the university which made this known in a statement issued on Saturday warned that the institution would sanction any student found violating the approved dress code.

The statement read, “The Taskforce Committee writes to address students on the dress code and artificiality both on campus and off-campus as follows:

“BOYS: No sagging, No Makeup, No dreading of hair (dada), No dyeing of hair (colouring of hair), No wearing of shorts/three-quarter trousers to Lectures, No leaving of hair uncombed, No wearing of armless shirts, No wearing of an earring, No plaiting of the hair, No keeping of heavy beards, No wearing crazy trousers and other indecencies.

“GIRLS: No body hug, No wearing of armless clothes, No dyeing of hair (colouring of hair), No wearing shorts, No exposure of sensible parts of the body, No Leg chain, No Nose ring, No putting of multiple earrings (only one earring is allowed).

“No folding of shirts on a trouser or skirt, only black and brown colour attachment is allowed, No wearing of crazy trousers, No wearing of skirts above the knees, No wearing of leggings without long top (shirt) and other related indecencies.

“Students should adhere to these rules, failure to comply shall attract sanctions from the university Management.”

EFCC Reopens Fraud Cases Against Fayose, Kwankwaso, Nnamani, Lamido, Sylva, Others.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reignited its investigation into money laundering cases against 13 former governors and several ex-ministers, with the total amount involved surpassing N853.8 billion.
Why We Visited Dangote Head Office - EFCC
This resurgence in high-profile corruption cases signifies a major step in Nigeria’s fight against financial crimes.

According to Punch, the sum implicated in cases involving the former state leaders and ministers amounts to at least N772.2 billion.

The EFCC is also probing an alleged N81.6 billion embezzlement within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Additionally, a staggering $2.2 billion is reported to have been misappropriated through money laundering and fund diversion, primarily in the defense sector.

This $2.2 billion was allegedly mishandled by individuals including former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki; late media mogul Raymond Dokpesi; former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa; and ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, among others.

The funds, intended for arms procurement to combat terrorism, were reportedly laundered and misappropriated.

Key figures implicated in these cases include ex-governors Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State; Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State; Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Peter Odili of Rivers State; Theodore Orji of Abia State; Danjuma Goje of Gombe State; Aliyu Wamako of Sokoto State; Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State; and Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

These investigations stem from allegations ranging from non-remittance of pension funds to campaign fraud and massive money laundering.

Matawalle, who is currently serving as the Minister of Defence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, is being probed for alleged N70bn money laundering; while Fayemi, who served as Minister of Solid Minerals Development in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet from November 11, 2015 to May 30, 2018, before resigning to contest the governorship election for his second term, is being investigated for an alleged N4bn fraud, while Fayose, a two-term governor of Ekiti State, is being investigated by the anti-graft agency for an alleged N6.9bn fraud.

Nnamani is being probed for an alleged N5.3bn fraud; Chime is being investigated over an alleged N450m campaign fraud as part of the N23bn allegedly shared by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, while Adamu is under probe for alleged N15bn fraud.

Kwakwanso is being probed for alleged non-remittance of N10bn pension fund; Orji is being investigated over alleged N551bn money laundering; while Odili is similarly being probed for alleged N100bn fraud. It is not yet clear how the probe of the ex-Rivers State governor will be handled as he obtained an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and other security agencies from a Federal High Court in March 2008, which has not been vacated to date.

Goje is being probed by the commission for an alleged N5bn fraud; Wammako is being investigated for allegedly diverting N15bn; Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum under Buhari, is under probe for alleged N19.2bn money laundering; while Lamido is being investigated over an alleged N1.35bn fraud.

Diezani is being probed over several alleged money laundering cases running into several billions of naira and millions of dollars.

Sources that spoke with the Platform on Friday said that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was reviewing all the high-profile cases, and had since his assumption of office reappointed investigators to take up the several probes without prejudice to the suspects’ social or political status.

The reopening of these cases marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption at the highest levels of government and public service. The outcomes of these investigations are awaited with keen interest by the public and are expected to have substantial implications for governance and the rule of law in the country.

The source said, “The chairman is reviewing all high profile cases, and he has ordered the investigators not to treat anyone differently, especially politically exposed persons, such as former governors and ministers, who were indicted for money laundering.”

The EFCC had also recently commenced the probe of some former ministers, Olu Agunloye (power, mines and steel), Olu Agunloye, over an alleged $6bn fraud on the Mambilla Power Project; and Sadiya Umar-Farouk (humanitarian affairs), over an alleged N37.1bn fraud.

Agunloye and Umar-Farouq served under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, respectively. The EFCC is probing both former ministers and arraigned Agunloye, who was remanded in a custodial centre pending the perfection of his N50m bail.

The commission is also probing the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the embattled Coordinator of the suspended National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, over alleged N81.6bn fraud uncovered in the ministry.

The platform noted that the commission was also probing the chief executive officers of several banks, civil servants, and contractors in connection with the humongous fraud uncovered in the ministry.

Olukoyede had on Friday declared that all high-profile cases would be reviewed and revisited, while noting that indicted former or incumbent public officials’ corruption cases would not be overlooked or abandoned by the commission.

He made the declaration in Abuja through the acting Director of Public Affairs, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke to journalists following a protest by members of the Zamfara Alternative Forum at the commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

Members of the group had urged the anti-graft agency to revisit the probe of the immediate past governor of the state, Matawalle, over alleged N70bn money laundering.

Responding to the request of the protesters, Uwujaren revealed that Olukoyede had reviewed all inherited high-profile cases since he assumed office, adding that the commission would proceed with the probe of every indicted high-profile person.

He said, “I want to assure you that, as far as the commission is concerned, nobody is above the law. What the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has done since assuming office is that he has reviewed all the high-profile cases he inherited.

“And the EFCC Chairman has asked me to assure you that this case, like others, will not be an exception. The case will be reviewed, and the chairman assures you that something will be done under the law, and no one is above the law and no case shall be swept under the carpet.

“Rest assured that these cases will be revisited because the EFCC believes that no case should be swept under the carpet. If you have done something wrong and if our investigation is able to establish that you have a case, we will proceed with the matter.”

On May 18, 2023, the EFCC, through its spokesman, Osita Nwajah, had said Matawalle was being investigated by the commission over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70bn.

He stated, “The money, which was sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors, who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The commission’s investigations revealed that more than 100 companies received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state.

“Some of the contractors, who had been invited and quizzed by the commission, made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States dollars.”

Tinubu To Support Akwa Ibom Seaport, Palm Oil Projects- Gov. Umo Eno.

Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, says the Federal Government has pledged to support its Ibom deep seaport and the palm oil projects.

At a briefing after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Wednesday in Abuja, he said this would improve the economic sector of the state.

“We’ve talked and requested the President to support us with our Ibom deep seaport, and agricultural programme on the oil palm. Akwa Ibom is an oil palm zone. And we have started the process of revamping the moribund industry that has laid there for 28 years.”

He said the President acceded to the request as well as made important inputs on the ways to make the project a viable and job creating venture for Nigerians.

Eno said the state needed the support of the Federal Government in the development of the various sectors of its economy.

He said the economic impact of the Ibom deep seaport would be a game changer for the state and the Niger Delta region, adding that it would complement the Lagos ports.

“We need the support of the Federal Government to be able to have a full value chain and then bring people to work and be able to help Nigeria,” he said. Naira Lost 11% as Banks Issue New Update on FX Spending

The governor added that with support from the Federal Government, the state would graduate to exporting palm oil in the long run.

“We can even get to exporting palm oil, because right now, we’re still importing a lot of it. So that’s why I came and it was a good visit.

“We need to partner with the Federal Government of course, to get work going in the state. Akwa Ibom is part of Nigeria.

UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC scheme.

The story of obtaining questionable degree certificates from universities in Benin Republic and Togo is not new. What is new, however, is how these certificates can be obtained with ease and speed.

Cotonou is not only famous for the thriving second-hand car business popularly called ‘tokunbo’; it also serves as a mecca for those in need of express degrees.

The requirements are O-level certificates – fake or genuine – and the required amount of money, which varies depending on the course, urgency and class of degree.

And in less than a month or two, one can be a ‘graduate’ from any of the mushroom universities dotted across the two West African countries.

The beneficiaries of these substandard certificates, who are either unintelligent or lazy, compete for jobs and other opportunities with hard-working graduates who undergo academic rigours for at least four years to obtain their degrees.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that some use the questionable certificates to get civil service jobs or aspire for elective offices, while some of their peers with hard-earned credentials languish in joblessness and hopelessness.

To get first-hand information on how these certificate racketeers operate, DAILY NIGERIAN reporter, Umar Audu, went undercover to investigate the booming business.

Obtaining a Cotonou degree.

In December 2022, our reporter reached out to a racketeering syndicate that specialises in selling the infamous degree certificates from neigneighbouringntries to willing buyers at an ‘affordable rate’.

The agent however gave our reporter the option of “studying” for a year or month, but he opted for the month option.

“That’s not a problem; we can help. If the money is ready, we can help you out. We have done it for a lot of people. If you make the payment now, the results will be ready next month,” he assured.

Our reporter’s choice of mass communication from any “university” in Cotonou was premised on the fact he could easily scale through the screening as he knew the course.

The agent gave the reporter the breakdown of the amount to pay, which included tuition fees, an evaluation letter, a resident permit, immigration stamps at the border post and transportation.

On December 27, 2022, our reporter made the payment and was issued a payment receipt.

True to the agent’s words, the certificate and transcript of Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, ESGT, Cotonou, Benin Republic, were delivered to his office on February 17, 2022.

The degree certificate transcript indicated that this reporter commenced the institution in 2018 and graduated on September 5, 2022.

Unfortunately, there was a slight mistake on the transcript, so it had to be transported back to Cotonou for correction, and one month later, the corrected version was received on March 29.

Before that, this reporter had never issued an admission letter or knew about the school the agent was processing for him.

What the agent said was, “don’Don’try, everything will be sorted out.”

Like miraa cle, our reporter “finished” the four-year degree programme in less than two months without application, registration, studying, writing exams or crossing the border.

But despite having the certificate and transcript in his possession, the reporter had fefearedhey could be fak until he discovered a scan code placed on the left bottom of the transcript. And when the reporter scanned through, it directed him to the website of ESGT University, indicating that he is a genuine product of the institution.

On its website, ESGT, established in 2009, said, “It is an institution built upon a vision that enables individuals from a mix of different nationalities and cultures to get the best in undergraduate and postgraduate international education.”.

The institution is fully accredited by both the governments of the Benin Republic and Nigeria. It offers over 30 courses in management sciences, social sciences applied and natural sciences as well as technology.

It was gathered that the racketeering agents in Nigeria work hand-in-hand with the top management of the university campus in Cotonou, whose registrar and English section coordinator are Nigerians.

“The evaluation letter doesn’t come from us. It comes from the Ministry of Education. They are the ones causing the delay; they want more bribes, but we are still negotiating with them. But please be a little bit patient with us; it’s a general problem,” he said in response our reporter’s complaint over evaluation delay.

After payment of additional money through the agent, the evaluation letter was eventually released. The letter is a mandatory requirement for NYSC mobilisation.

In separate letters dated May 25 and 26, addressed to the director general of the National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that the ESGT is on the ministry’s list of accredited institutions.

The letter, which was signed on behalf of the minister by the deputy director of Evaluation and Accreditation, Koli Salihu-Mongodiba, also cleared 51 ESGT graduates to participate in the NYSC, “having met all the requirements set by the ministry”.

“The institution is on the ministry’s list of accredited institutions in Benin, and the bachelor degrees awarded to the students as indicated on the attached list are equivalent to bachelor degrees awarded by any Nigerian university in a similar field of study,” the letter read in part.

DAILY NIGERIAN investigation reveals that agents of these mushroom universities connived with some corrupt officials at the Federal Ministry of Education to get evaluation letters for a fee ranging from N40,000 to N70,000 per “graduate”.

Double NYSC participation.

When the NYSC opened its portal for 2023 Batch B registration in June, this reporter was afraid that the system would reject him outright as he had genuinely participated in the scheme in the past.

But soon after he began the screening, his fear was allayed as NYSC seemingly lacked a digital tool to flag attempts to participate in the scheme twice or more.

The only initial obstacle he had was when he inputted the email and phone number he used during his genuine NYSC registration, a message popped up saying, “This email and phone number have already been registered.” Our reporter then immediately switched to his alternative phone number and email.

He therefore created a new profile and uploaded all the required documents, including fingerprints.

The next stage was the physical verification of documents. Usually, there are two stages of verification — physical and online evaluation.

On July 3, while registration was going on smoothly for students who obtained certificates from less questionable foreign institutions, those from Benin Republic and Togo were subjected to a more thorough screening exercise.

At that stage, NYSC officials rejected our reporter’s evidence of Cotonou residency, but after months of back-and-forth, he was eventually linked with an immigration official who facilitated the stamping of his passport to show evidence of multiple entry and exit from Seme Border between 2018 and 2022.

A page in the reporter's passport shows exit and entry stamps for the Nigerian and Beninois immigration.
Although our reporter never crossed any Nigerian borders, the officer was able to get his passport stamped by both Nigerian and Beninois immigration agents.

After the tedious process, the DAILY NIGERIAN reporter was eventually cleared for both physical and online evaluations, and on November 22, posted to Cross River for one year of ice.

My experience at Obubra

I arrived at the orientation camp in Obubra, a predominantly rice farming community, at exactly 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, 26, 2023, for the 21-day orientation course.

On the posting letter eve, the prospective Corp member was expected to arrive at the camp from Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26, 2023.

I scheduled my journey for Saturday, and there was no direct flight going to Calabar on that day.

So I had to fly to Enugu, from where I travelled for 250 kilometres before arriving at Obubra.

As expected, we were subjected to security checks at the gate by operatives consisting of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Military, and the Russian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

After successful screening at the gate, we were asked to take a certain direction where we saw some NYSC officials who asked us to write down our names, and immediately gave us room allocation.

The registration spot for foreign graduates is different from that of home-trained graduates.

The female official I met requested I bring out all the documents I used in applying for NYSC, which I obliged. I was subjected to another round of written and oral interviews. I answered all the questions diligently, and I was cleared and given a tag.

The tags contain my state code and the platoon number.

I moved to Platoon 9, where I was deployed. My credentials were documented and I was given a complete NYSC kit.

FULLY KITTED: Umar Audu at Obubra NYSC Orientation Camp, Cross River State.

While accepting the kits with mixed reactions, I reminisced about the experience I went through at the NYSC orientation camp in Ede in 2018.

It was a similar process, except that in 2018 I spent four years studying at an Australian university before being allowed to participate in the scheme.

I hurriedly dashed to the hostel to change my mufti and put on the approved dress.

Due to the regimented nature of the camp activities, the camp director and state coordinator, at every opportunity, would appeal to corps members with underlying illnesses to apply for exit if they couldn’t cope with the stress.

I took the ntage of that offer and applied for exit after spending eight days in Obubra Camp.

Having received a payment of N39,400 as bicya cle and November allowances, I later refunded the money to the federal government account through Remita.

Where the problem lies.

In April 2018, the federal government, in a bid to tackle the menace of the proliferation of substandard degrees, announced the blacklisting of some questionable institutions in Benin, Cameron, Ghana, and Togo.

Adamu Adamu, the then minister of education, set up a 16-member committee to screen 40,000 Nigerians with degrees obtained from foreign tertiary institutions.

But despite the measures, the business seems to be thriving – no thanks to corrupt officials in the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Immigration Services, and other government agencies who collect bribes to lower the bar.

A source familiar with the work working the syndicate blamed the Department of Education Support Services at the Federal Ministry of Education for the high rate of the “importation” of shady degrees into the country.

The source said the department, headed by Giginna Lydia Ifeyinwa, had granted accreditation to institutions that have failed to meet the required standard.

He noted that almost all the universities attended by Nigerians in Benin and Togo lack the necessary approval to offer courses in the English language, and they operate in contravention of UNESthe CO declaration of language instruction.

“None of these mushroom universities have the accreditation to offer courses in the English language.

“The former minister of education Adamu Adamu once dispatched some officials of the ministry to Cotonou, and Togo on a fact-finding mission.

“The team, which was led by a former director of Education Support Services, Justina Ibe, discovered that there was no university in Cotonou that had the approval to offer courses in English Language.

“They also discovered that most of the institutions offered health-related courses despite not having laboratories and other facilities to offer such courses.

“So the evaluation unit stopped evaluating certificates of pharmacy, medical lab sciences nursing and others until a team of NYSC, ministry and the relevant professional bodies visited the country and asceascertained standards of the university.

“Presently, the ministry has evaluated certificates of pharmacy and medical lab awarded by Bilingual University Togo, contrary to ministerial directives.

“Another challenge is that some of the experts in the evaluation and accreditation division who understand the job have been transferred out of the unit. Most of the officials in that division now are grossly inexperienced.

“Is it surprising that there are no Arabic or French language experts in that unit, and these are people who easily evaluate French and Arabic certificates,” said the source.

Federal Ministry of educEducationSC, NIS, ESGT react

When contacted for a response, the director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education, Bem Goong, requested our correspondent show him all the documents used in the investigation before he could respond.

And when the correspondent politely declined, he dared him to go ahead and publish the report.

He said: “But if you are saying someone committed that kind of academic fraud and is known to the Ministry of Education, I will require evidence to dig deeper. And if you can’t provide those documents, you can please go ahead and publish your report.”

On his part, the NYSC director of Press and Public Affairs, Eddy Megwa, said the scheme is aware of the activities of some Nigerians to cut corners in their bid to participate in the youth service.

Mr Megwa boasted that it would be almost impossible for any person to beat the NYNYSC-integratedCT system.

He said, “What you said is part of what NYSC is contending with. Ordinarily, we shouldn’t have any reason to scrutinize any graduate from a tertiary institution outside the country, especially when one is accredited by the Federal Ministry of Education.

“But over time discovered that some so-called graduates cannot even express themselves; they cannot even write a simple sentence. That raised the curiosity of the NYSC.

“If you say you are a foreign-trained graduate, NYSC will now subject you to a little test, to know if you are actuaduate. Since the inception of NYSC, we have not done this.

“But when we discovered the problem, NYSC sat up and began to ensure thorough scrutiny in our screening.

“After tramp training will send them to go and teach in a secondary school, and the person can’t say a single sentence. They begin to speak in broken English. That defames the image of the Nigerian nation, not NYSC because we don’t train them. We receive graduates from institutions.

“And in every human endeavour, you can only do your best; attaining that point of perfection is another thing. But it would be very difficult for anybody to beat the procedure we have put in place,” he said.

Unbeknownst to Mr Megwa whose reporter had previously served, he said it’s almost impossible for anybody to participate in the NYSC twice.

“We have an integrated ICT system. Once you are captured in our database and you come back to register again, our system will indicate that this person has served before. Except if the person will change his thumb, which is practically impossible,” he said.

According to the NYSC spokesman, even in Nigeria, some institutions are involved in degree racketeering.

“Even some universities and polytechnics in Nigeria engage in such activities. You will see bread and groundnut sellers giving money to student affairs officers, and they will enrol their names as if they have gone through the system. And of course, they will push them down to NYSC. Some institutions were found culpable, and the people involved were punished severely. All these things have now gone down,” he added.

But the spokesperson for the Seme Border Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Enoch Aparshe, denied knowledge that some officers at the command were granting entry and exit clearance without physically assessing the passport holders.

“I’m not aware that our officials engage in such nefarious acts, and all I know is that it is the Ministry of Education that validates their certificates.

“At the Seme border here, we don’t backdate stamps. International passports are digitised, and the stamps are issued in such a way that you cannot backdate them.

“And for the ECOWAS passport, which is manual, it is very unlikely, and I am not sure any immigration personnel will want to engage in such risk, at the detriment of their job,” he added.

ESGT — the foreign university that awarded our reporter a degree — did not respond to DAILY NIGERIAN on the matter.

This report was supported by Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism, WSCIJ, in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation

Olukoya of Mountain of Fire Ministry

Step-By-Step Guide To Apply For Nigerian International Passport Online.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior, has launched the online passport application portal to allow Nigerians to apply for their passport seamlessly.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had announced in December that the FG was working to ensure a fully automated system of passport application in the country.

At the time, the minister said the automated application system was “99 per cent done,” adding that the process would include uploading passport photos and supporting documents.

He noted that Nigerian applicants who want 32-page passports with five-year validity would pay N35,000, while those who want 64-page passports with a 10-year validity would pay N70,000.

Meanwhile, foreign applicants, who wish to apply for passports with a five-year validity period and 32 pages, will pay $130, while those who prefer passports with a 10-year validity period and 64 pages will pay $230.

To apply online, follow the steps below:
1. Visit the online application portal http://passport.immigration.gov.ng.

2. Click on “Apply for Fresh Passport” (for new applicants)

3. Enter your NIN and date of birth and complete other required data

4. Upload your passport photograph and other supporting documents.

5. Visit the closest Immigration Office for your biometric capture.

6. Within two weeks, your passport will be ready for collection.

For fresh applicants,
1. You must be a Nigerian

2. You must have NIN

3. Have a passport photograph that meets ICAO standards

4. Have your documents such as birth certificate, local government certificate of origin, and other documents ready

To renew your passport:
1. You must have NIN

2. Have an old passport number

3. Have a passport photograph that meets ICAO standards.

4. Have your documents such as birth certificate, local government certificate of origin, and other documents ready.

NNPCL, Marketers Clash Over Subsidy, Operators Peg Petrol At N1,200/Litre.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and fuel marketers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, on Tuesday, clashed again over the removal of subsidy on petrol.

This came against the backdrop of the depreciation of the naira against the United States dollar at both the official Investors & Exporters Window and the parallel market.

On Tuesday, the local currency closed at 998/dollar at the official market, while it traded at 1,225/dollar at the black market.

On the back of the falling naira rate, economists and oil marketers said PMS subsidy was increasing in recent times, but the NNPC quickly countered these positions and declared that it was recovering its full cost on the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, countering the positions of The Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, had during a live television programme on ChannelsTV on Sunday, explained that fuel subsidy was not removed but reduced.

Similarly, oil marketers told our correspondent on Tuesday that subsidy on petrol was increasing considering the crash of the naira against the United States dollar and the cost of crude oil, stressing that PMS should sell for N1,200/litre in a free market.

Petrol, which is solely imported into Nigeria by the NNPCL, currently sells for between N617/litre to N660/litre, depending on the location of purchase in Nigeria.

Also speaking on the matter, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, said there was partial subsidy on petrol, but noted that the commodity was subsidised by the government for political, social and economic reasons.

But when contacted, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, described the positions of economists and marketers as assumptions, and insisted that the Federal Government had stopped subsidy on petrol.

President Bola Tinubu had during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, declared that subsidy on petrol was gone, a declaration that was effectively implemented the next day by NNPCL.

Before Tinubu’s declaration, the pump price of petrol was below N190/litre, but it jumped to over N500/litre after the President’s statement, and moved up again to over N600/litre a few weeks later.

Asked to state if the NNPCL, being Nigeria’s sole importer of petrol, subsidising the commodity as posited by dealers and experts, the oil firm’s CCCO replied, “We prioritise our time on substantive matters rather than responding to assumptions.

“At NNPC Ltd, we prioritise national development through energy security and sustainable growth. We reiterate that the Nigerian government does not pay subsidy on fuel; we recover full costs from our imported products.

“As a global energy company, our focus remains on fostering a vibrant and energy-secure Nigeria.”

Rewane had earlier explained that subsidy on petrol was reduced and not removed, while featuring on a live television programme on Sunday evening, as he further highlighted the effects of the reduction in fuel subsidy and how it was affecting salary earners in Nigeria.

He said, “At the inauguration, it was said that (fuel) subsidy was gone but subsidy was actually reduced.”

Buttressing his position, he explained, “There is the convergence of exchange rates and reducing the windows into one. The consequence of that is that money has been transferred from consumers to the government.

“Subsidies are reversed taxes; if you reduce them, you increase the people’s taxes and reduce their income. What has happened is that government revenue has increased by 44 per cent between May and June (2023). Money has been transferred to the government but what is the government doing with it?

“The consumers, on the other hand, had a minimum wage, which in dollar terms was $40 in 2002. In 2019, it was about $70, but it has now been reduced to $24.”

The National Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, stated that subsidy on petrol was rising and that the cost of the commodity should be around N1,200/litre in a free market.

“To be pragmatic in this analysis let’s consider the cost of petrol today in the United States. For premium petrol, it is $2.99, while super petrol sells for $3.15 or $3.10 depending on the part of that country where you are making the purchase.

“Now, $3 in Nigeria is over N3,000, because a dollar in the parallel market is over N1,000. You can also see the cost of diesel, that is over N1,000/litre, and it is important to state that petrol is usually higher in price than diesel in a free market.

“So if you consider the cost of diesel, dollar and other international factors, the price of petrol in Nigeria should be around N1,200/litre, but the government is subsidising it, which to an extent is understandable,” he stated.

Ukadike noted that he had earlier explained that the government was implementing quasi-subsidy, and by this it means that “the Federal Government, instead of taking out the subsidy by 100 per cent, decides to take out about 50 per cent.”

The IPMAN official, however, expressed optimism again that the cost of refined petroleum products would reduce as soon as the Port Harcourt and Dangote refineries start producing the commodities.

“I also believe that there will be a reduction in the prices of petroleum products this year when you consider what the government is currently doing. The coming onboard of the Port Harcourt refinery and the supply of crude to Dangote refinery are good developments in the sector.

“Their operations will help stabilise the price of PMS and other petroleum products in Nigeria, because it will definitely cut down the importation of products,” Ukadike stated.

Oil companies withdrew from importation because of PIA responsibility -Kyari
Protesters storm Chevron terminal, Escravos jetties
NNPCL to give Dangote refinery six million barrels of crude
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise CEO said subsidy was being retained partially because of its economic, social and political implications.

Yusuf said, “To protect the citizens from further hardship is the reason why the government seems to have applied the brakes on subsidy removal. We are all witnesses to the pain and hardship that citizens are going through.

“So when you are adopting some of these policies, especially these liberal economic policies, it comes to a point where you have to moderate your position for social reasons.

“Just as the World Bank said, if we want to leave the price fully to market forces and the liberal economic policies, the fuel price will be above N800/litre. Can any government that is sensitive to the feelings of its citizens allow that to happen?

“Even if economically that is the way to go, there must always be a human face to economics. So what the government has done is to moderate the reform, and that is why I think the government has insisted that the NNPC should still hold the price at the current level.”

Yusuf noted that the government must balance the gains and side effects of subsidy, stressing that economic hardship may worsen should subsidy be removed 100 per cent.

“All of us who were saying that they should remove the subsidy, we can see that they have partially removed it now, but look at the consequences. Economically it will sound good, but socially and politically it is very costly.

“So those in government need to balance all those considerations. They need to balance economic, political and social considerations. That is why we find ourselves in a situation where we have partial subsidies, both in petrol and electricity,” he stated.

The World Bank had stated in December that subsidy on petrol was still being implemented by the Federal Government, as it insisted that the cost of PMS should not be less than N750/litre if there was no subsidy.

The naira closed at N988.46/$ on the first day of official trading on the Investors and Exporters Window on Tuesday.

This is an 8.97 per cent decline from the N907.11/$ it closed trading on Friday (the last day of official trading for 2023) according to data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange. This continues a worrying trend for the naira which was one of the worst performing currencies of 2023.

According to Bloomberg, the naira had one of its worst years in 2023, a title that 2024 might usurp. It noted that the national currency lost about 55 per cent of its value as of Thursday 28, 2023.

Based on Kyle Chapman, FX markets analyst at London-based Ballinger & Co, the naira was the third worst-performing global currency in 2023 due to a backlog of unsettled forwards, undelivered promises of dollar inflows, and a two-decade peak in inflation.

Chapman said, “The naira’s downward momentum is likely to continue through much of 2024, and its ultimate trajectory will depend on whether the CBN’s rhetoric transforms into concrete policy moves that drive up the flow of US dollars into Nigeria and shore up trust in the official market.

“If the CBN’s promised measures materialise and Tinubu’s government enacts structural changes to increase oil production or to drive foreign investment, there is plenty of opportunity for the naira to lift from its record lows. But a quick fix is unlikely, and further depreciation will come to counteract supply and demand imbalances.”

In its December Nigeria Development Update, the World Bank noted that naira had depreciated against the US dollar by 41 per cent in the official market and by 30 per cent in the parallel market. It noted that the naira needs increased volume to stabilise in the official market.

It said, “Further monetary policy tightening is expected to help underpin the value of the naira. However, there is also a need to increase FX supply in the market. Facilitating FX flows, especially from all exports, through the NAFEM can help provide additional volumes in the official window that can help provide stability.

“In addition, clarity on the CBN’s net reserve position, and on the CBN’s continued progress in clearing the FX backlog, would also strengthen market confidence.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, on Tuesday, said a total of 112 cases of crude oil theft were recorded in the Niger Delta in one week.

It said the oil theft incidents occurred between December 23, 2023 and December 29, 2023, adding that in the past week, 42 illegal refineries were discovered in several locations in the oil rich region.

It outlined the locations to include Konsho and Tebidaba in Bayelsa State; Obokofia in Imo State; as well as Ogidigben, Mereje and Obodo Omadina, in Delta state

The oil firm disclosed this in a documentary posted on its official X handle, adding that the “illegal refineries in Umuire, Abia State, and Upata in Rivers State, were also discovered and destroyed.”

It further stated that 14 illegal connections were uncovered in several parts of the Niger Delta, as a tunnel covering an illegal connection was also uncovered in Owaza, Abia State, while 10 cases of vandalism were discovered.


In the two minutes and 44 seconds documentary, the company stated that, “Illegal storage sites were discovered in Ebocha and Ton Kiri in Rivers State where oil pits were found.

“In Ogbia, Bayelsa State, sacks of crude oil were discovered. More illegal storage sites were uncovered in Urhonigbe, in Edo State; Ekuku-Agbor and Bomadi in Delta State.”

According to the firm, 22 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were discovered in Okrika and Tombia in Rivers State as well as Emereje, Delta State.

It stated that during an operation, 11 vehicle arrests were made in Delta State, as eight of these (oil theft) incidents took place in the deep water, 46 in the eastern region, 32 in the central region, while 26 took place in the western region.

“Between the 23rd and 26th of December, 2023, 18 suspects were arrested,” the national oil company stated, adding that it would not back down in the war against crude oil theft.

Nigeria loses billions of naira to oil theft and finds it tough to meet the production quota approved for the country by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, due to the menace of oil thieves.

5 Good Reasons Peter Obi Should Return To PDP Ahead Of 2027.

Peter Obi’s performance at the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria marked a significant chapter in the nation’s political landscape.....CONTINUE READING

As the candidate of the Labour Party, Obi pulled strings that had never been seen before as he showed his electoral relevance on the ballot, going toe-to-toe with political titans like President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

His giant stride at the election poll earned him 6,101,533 votes, closely behind Atiku, who scored 6,984,520 votes, and President Tinubu, who topped the log with 8,794,726 votes.

In the build-up to the election, Obi’s campaign focused on economic development, social justice, and good governance, resonating with diverse nationwide voters.

One of the key highlights of Peter Obi’s electoral journey was his commitment to addressing Nigeria’s economic issues.

Drawing upon his extensive experience as a former governor and successful businessman, Obi outlined comprehensive plans for economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.

His emphasis on prudent fiscal management, investment in infrastructure, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises struck a chord with voters who sought tangible solutions to the country’s economic challenges and even outclassing Tinubu in his backyard in Lagos at the presidential polls.

Despite all these attributes, many believe Obi’s one last puzzle of becoming Nigeria’s president is returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This report encapsulates some key reasons why Obi should rejoin the PDP, as compiled by Legit.ng.

1. LP Factional Crisis

Yes! The Labour Party has been plunged into structural anarchy over the party’s leadership following several litigations on who the original leader of the party is.

The battle between Julius Abure, the elected chairman of LP, and Lamidi Apapa, the party’s factional chairman, became a critical issue in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.

The origins of their altercation can be linked to the commencement of the presidential election petition tribunal.
On Wednesday, May 17, the two factions of the Labour Party clashed at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

The faction led by Lamidi Apapa, attending the petition hearing, encountered the supporters of Joseph Abure, the suspended national chairman.

The party’s internal crisis persists, and Obi cannot afford to nurture that energy and ill luck into 2027.

2. Atiku’s Age Factor

Before the 2027 general elections, Atiku would be 80, and he exhausted two golden opportunities under PDP (2019, 2023) to become the President of Nigeria.

Going by simple logic and the antecedents of the internal crisis in the PDP, Atiku’s place in the party has shrunk and may no longer be considered for the golden ticket.

3. PDP’s Nationwide Presence

Undoubtedly, since 1999, the ruling party and the primary opposition have wielded significant influence in Nigeria’s political landscape by placing their members in key political positions.

The PDP has successfully produced Governors, lawmakers, and other pivotal political figures who play crucial roles in election victories.

In contrast, the Labour Party experienced a surge in popularity mainly due to the candidacy of Peter Obi. Consequently, a charismatic candidate like Obi, operating within the more robust framework of the PDP, stands a higher likelihood of success, provided he receives adequate support from the public and political elites.

Despite holding power for a substantial 16 years from 1999 to 2015, the PDP has transitioned into the role of Nigeria’s primary opposition party.

It still commands the second-highest number of political seats at the state and federal levels.

The prevailing belief is that armed with practical strategies, internal cohesion, and a marketable candidate such as Obi, both the ruling party and the major opposition have the potential to wrestle power from the APC in the upcoming 2027 elections.

4. Zoning Presidency To The East

This is arguably the best moment for the PDP to present a southeastern candidate, as Obi remains the only strong option from the region.

In the last election, a northern candidate (Atiku) strategically annexed the southern slot, allowing the PDP to rethink their strategy in zoning the ticket to the east.

With APC having a southwestern candidate (Tinubu) in power, it is safe to say PDP can avoid microzoning its ticket to the west.

Conversely, the North has already used its spot in the last election with Atiku.

5. Weak Labour Party Structure

Pulling over 6 million votes as a first-time Presidential candidate under a less fancied Labour party is no mean feat.

However, there is a strong belief that Peter Obi would have won the 2023 Presidential elections under the platform of any of the two major political parties and, in this case, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

There is no gain in saying that the ruling party and the major opposition have dominated Nigeria’s political terrain through the personnel it has produced into political offices right from 1999.

The PDP, for instance, have produced Governors, lawmakers and other critical political stakeholders and statesmen who would be instrumental in winning elections.

The Labour Party, on the other hand, only gained popularity due to the emergence of Peter Obi as its candidate.

Reacting to this concept of Obi rejoining the PDP, experienced election observer and public affairs analyst Moshood Isah told Legit.ng that Obi’s political capacity would be a good fit for a stronger political party.

He said: “A popular candidate like Obi under the platform of a much stronger party like the PDP will stand a better chance with the right support from masses and political elites.

“After holding power for at least 16 years in the centre from 1999 to 2015, PDP remains Nigeria’s major opposition party. The party still has the second-highest political seats at the State and federal levels.

“Thus, with the right plans and internal stability coupled with a sellable candidate like Obi, the bet remains that both stand a chance to usurp power from the APC in 2027.”

Racoon:

https://politicsnigeria.com/plateau-killings-why-military-failed-to-stop-killing-of-over-200-nigerians-defence-hq/?utm_source=operamini&utm_medium=feednews&utm_campaign=operamini_feednews

Stupid excuses.
Why do the military use helicopters?
With two helicopters, our military can get there in less than 15 minutes.
This idiotic military officer will not focus on the North, their concern is the East looking for ipob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5LIGg1PkkU?si=WCF7NT8UGqQVjHnD

If you did not watch this match then you are indomie Generation

Miracle of Dammam
Also known as The Dammam Miracle was the name given to the result of a quarter-final football match between the Nigerian U-20 football team and the USSR U-20 football team at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia which the Nigerian U-20 team went on to win on penalties.

Nigeria defeated Russia 9-6, Russia was leading by 4-0 before Nigeria changed the game and equalised 4-4, and later won the match by penalty shootout.

Former CBN Governor Emefiele Freed From Kuje Facility.

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja after meeting his bail conditions.


The development was confirmed on Saturday by Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the correctional facility, stating that Emefiele was released on Friday, December 22.

Emefiele, who served as CBN chief from 2014 to 2023, was arrested in June by the Department of State Services (DSS), the day after he was suspended as CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu.

He has since remained in custody and was later arraigned on a 20-count charge of procurement fraud.

The charges were later reduced to one, accusing him of awarding a contract for the purchase of 43 vehicles worth N1.2 billion to a female employee of CBN and her company.

Emefiele was also charged alongside Sa’adatu Yaro, a female employee of CBN, and her company, April 1616 Investment.

Following his plea of “not guilty,” Emefiele was remanded in the Kuje correctional facility in November pending a ruling on his bail application.

On Wednesday, November 22, a federal capital territory high court granted him bail in the sum of N300 million, with strict conditions including two sureties with property within the Maitama district of Abuja.

Emefiele’s release comes amidst ongoing investigations into his tenure at the CBN, where he was accused of operating 593 bank accounts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, where Nigerian funds were allegedly kept without authorization by the CBN’s Board and Investment Committee.

According to a report by Jim Obazee, a special investigator appointed by the president, billions of naira were allegedly stolen from the CBN’s accounts by Emefiele and other officials, including a “fraudulent cash withdrawal of $6.23 million” just before the 2023 elections.

“The former governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele, invested Nigeria’s money without authorization in 593 foreign bank accounts in the United States, China and the United Kingdom while he was in charge,” the report said.

“All the accounts where the billions were lodged have all been traced by the investigator.”

The investigation report stated that in the United Kingdom, 543.4 million pounds were kept by Emefiele in fixed deposit accounts, noting that Emefiele manipulated the Naira exchange rate and committed fraud in the CBN’s e-Naira project.

It also disclosed the embezzlement of $6.23 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s vault between February 7 and 8, just two weeks before the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The funds were reportedly released under the pretext of presidential approval for payments to foreign election observers.

CCTV Footages Show Emefiele Removed $6.23 Million Cash From CBN Vault, Used Cronies To Acquire Banks.

The special investigator on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Jim Obaze, has made another damning revelation of the massive corruption which allegedly took place under Godwin Emefiele’s leadership.

In the final report of his panel which was submitted to President Bola Tinubu, Emefiele and CBN’s management team alleged made a strange payment of $6.23 milion from the vault of the apex bank in one day last February.

It was gathered that Emefiele, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and 12 top officials of the bank may face trial in connection with the payment of the $6.23 million.

Those recommended for trial include directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Director and Branch Controllers of the CBN.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with what was described by the Special Investigator as “forgery, concealment, conspiracy and fraud”.

According to the document, the alleged withdrawal, which was captured on CCTV, was committed at the Abuja branch of the CBN.

The document states that: “Around the date, 7th February and 8th February, 2023, the sum of US$6.23 million was unlawfully removed from the vault cash from the Foreign Payments Office, Abuja Branch, of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The physical acts of the unlawful removal of this amount were captured on the CCTV footage which was viewed and preserved.

“Findings show that: A letter dated 23rd January, 2023, with a signature mark, ‘Muhammadu Buhari’, was sent to a government official with caption, ‘ Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions’

“The letter referred to in (i), above, trail another letter dated 26th January, 2023, with signature mark, directed to’ Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria’, for payment of the sum of $6.23million as ‘ a contingent logistics advance… in line with Presidential directive.

“A follow-up letter dated 31st January, 2023, was sent to the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, requesting for approval to effect payment of the sum of $6.23m.

“The letter referred to in {iii), above, contained a signature mark and approval notation of the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and conveying consent to pay the sum of US$6.23m.

“The letter referred to in (iv) above trailed a letter dated 7th February, 2023 sent to Abuja Branch, furthering process for the payment in cash of the sum of $6.23m to persons yet to be identified.”

The document said an official took steps, procured the dollar cash, and released same to persons yet to be fully identified.

It said another official of the CBN has admitted in a written statement that he “acted in collaboration with, an Assistant Director in the Banking supervision Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria and some persons he is yet to identify, to conceive and carry out the act of stealing the sum of $6.23 million out of the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The document State Ted that: “A fraudulent cash withdrawal of $6.23million perpetrated since February 8 2023, was not discovered nor taken seriously till the 4th of December, when a Request for Information was issued by the Office of the Special Investigator.

“There is therefore an appearance of concealment by officers who occupied some positions up to, and around the period 7 and 8th February, 2023.”

Obaze further detailed how a second generation bank was acquired in 2019 allegedly by Emefiele and a late businessman in circumstances deemed opaque.

The private investigator further disclosed that the bank was acquired by the two individuals without evidence of payment

He rated Emefiele as a “mysterious shareholder” who gave interest – free, long-term loan (with no fixed repayment schedule) to the entities that acquired the old generation bank.

According to Obaze, the two entities which acquired the bank do not have physical presence in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where they claim to be domiciled.

On the acquisition of the old generation bank , Obaze said he discovered that some persons were used as proxies by Emefiele to set up the main entity that acquired the bank.

He said his team has completed its investigation on the acquisition and has also held meetings with the relevant parties except an expatriate said to be hospitalized in Switzerland.

The investigator gave the story line of the acquisition to support his findings.

He said the entity first sought the CBN’s no-objection to its proposed consolidation with the old generation bank, excluding its UK operations via a letter dated October 25, 2021.

The entity stated that the consolidation was being contemplated in four phases; the acquisition of 91.5% of the issued shares of the bank, Mandatory Tender Offer (MTO) for the remaining shares of the bank, buy out of shares that are not voluntarily sold to it( entity) on the MTO; and merger with the bank, with the bank now the surviving entity.

BREAKING: ‘Lagos to Owerri, PH’ – FG lists transport companies giving 50% slash, releases available routes.

President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has given an update on the private inter-state transport companies, saying that they would pay 50 per cent for their passengers in the Christmas and New Year period.

On Wednesday, December 20, the government announced a plan to cut the cost of transportation for interstate travelers by 50 per cent for the end-of-the-year celebration.

Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, announced the development in a tweet.

On Thursday morning, December 21, the presidential aide gave the update on the transport companies the government has partnered with.

According to the new list by Onanuga, the government’s package was estimated to cover five million Nigerian travelers between December 21 and January 4, and at least five transport companies have been listed as beneficiaries.

The private transport companies are: God is Good (GIG) Chisco Transport Young Shall Grow God Bless Ezenwata Area Motor.

Also, the federal government released a list of 28 routes where travelers plying the routes in this Yuletide period will enjoy a 50% slash. According to the list from the presidency, the routes are listed below: Lagos to Kano, Lagos to Abuja, Lagos to Kaduna-Zaria, Lagos to Jos, Lagos to Enugu, Lagos to Onitcha, Owerri, Aba, Abakaliki, Nsukka, Uyo, Port Harcourt.

Passengers plying the routes of Onitsha to Kano, and Onitsha to Lagos, Jos, Abuja, Sokoto, Gombe, and Zakibiam have also been listed to benefit from the government packages.

Others on the list are Port Harcourt to Owerri-Abba-Kano, Abba to Owerri-Abuja, Abba to Lagos, Abuja to Sokoto, Abuja to Lagos, Abuja to Onitsha, Owerri-Port Harcourt, Abuja to Enugu/Abakaliki, Abuja to Gombe and Abuja to Kano.

Two Edo Refineries Receive 75,500 Barrels Of Crude Oil, Set To Begin Operation.

Two refineries receive 75 500 barrels of crude oil in Edo set to begin operation
Decklar Resources Inc. and its partner, Millenium Oil & Gas Company Limited, have stated that they have supplied a total of 75,500 barrels of crude to two modular refineries in Edo State to date.

The Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company (ERPC) plant in Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Council, and the Duport Midstream Company Limited (DMCL) facility in Egbokor, Orhionmwon Council in the State are the two refineries.

Sanmi Famuyide, Chief Executive Officer of Decklar Resources, stated that the supplies were part of the agreement between the two firms for the delivery of crude for processing.

He said: “Trucking of oil from the Oza Oil Field has continued to the ERPC facility and the DMCL refinery, both located in Edo State, Nigeria. Delivery of a total of over 75,500 bbls has been completed to date, with over 60,000 bbls delivered to ERPC and over 15,000 bbls delivered to DMCL.”

The ERPC is a 6000 barrel per day (bpd) facility that produces diesel, Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), and naptha for use within the country and export.

The refinery was established through the provision of an investment guarantee by Governor Godwin Obaseki government in Edo State, which paved the way for the construction of the refining facility, opening up the petroleum refining sub-sector in the State.

Tinubu : Osinbajo, Amaechi, Yerima, Others Float New Group

Presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election said they have all agreed to drop their ambition for the 2027 presidency to pave the way for President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid.

Accordingly, the presidential hopefuls including former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, have formed a forum known as Forum of 2023 APC Presidential Aspirants, which is billed to be inaugurated on Monday, December 18, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The forum disclosed this in a statement signed by its convener/acting Chairman, Senator Ahmed Yerima, and the youngest APC presidential aspirant in the 2023 polls, Nicholas Felix, on Sunday.

“That because we are committed to the success of President Tinubu and his administration, all members who hitherto had presidential aspirations have all agreed to drop such even ahead 2027 so as to pave a smooth sail for President Tinubu to seek a second tenure. This project we are already working on and will leave no stone unturned,” the statement issued in Abuja stated.

While noting that Monday’s inauguration of the forum will also double as its end-of-the-year dinner, the APC presidential aspirants said their main objective is to support President Tinubu and the APC administration for the interest of the country.

“Today, as a people and country, we are faced with myriads of socio-economic problems and we believe that we can only surmount them when we come together, irrespective of our religious, ethnic and even political differences to face these challenges head on.

“It is therefore on this premise that all the Candidates in the 2023 APC Presidential primary have decided to come together under one umbrella to Mobilise support for our President, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and his Renewed Hope Administration playing advisory role to enable him succeed and transform this great nation,” the forum said.

World Bank, IMF Gives Stupid And Nonsensical Advice To Africans – Onuesoke

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Delta State gubernatorial aspirant, Sunny Onuesoke has urged the federal government to ignore the demand by the World Bank to stop the subsidy payment on petrol and raise the cost of the product to N750/litre.
The PDP chieftain appealed while speaking with newsmen in his office in Warri, Delta State.
He lamented that it was unfortunate that the World Bank and IMF now determine Nigeria's fate and how to run the country’s economy.

Onuesoke argued that the institutions have continued to destroy Nigerian economies with their theoretical ideology of a balanced and liberal market which has never recorded any success.

“The World Bank and the IMF have never meant well for any African Countries. It’s this same World Bank, during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, that kept on hammering that fuel subsidy must be removed when they knew there was no concrete substitute (e.g. refinery not working) to cushion its effects on the masses.

“IMF on the other does nothing but give stupid and nonsensical advice to policymakers in African Countries on monetary tightening like increasing taxes and devaluation of their currencies -when they already know the effects on the already beaten and battered citizenry,” he recalled

He stated that the fuel increase President Tinubu did on resumption of office is presently hunting Nigeria with a high inflation rate coupled with hunger.

The PDP Chieftain who said the World Bank and IMF were set up by the slave masters to impoverish African countries and keep them on their leash forever, cautioned them to steer clear of Nigerian economic policies and allow the country to implement its policies that will be of benefit to its citizens.

”Nigerians Should Pay Around N750 Per Litre For Petrol” – World Bank Tells Tinubu’s Govt.

The World Bank has raised alarms over the prevailing fuel prices in Nigeria, stating that current rates are not cost-reflective and hint at the federal government’s continued payment of petrol subsidies.

During the presentation of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU), December 2023 Edition, the World Bank’s lead economist for Nigeria, Alex Sienaert, expressed concern that fuel prices in Nigeria, currently around N650 per litre, do not align with market conditions.

He suggested that Nigerians should pay around N750 per litre for petrol.
His words: “It does seem like petrol prices are not fully adjusting to market conditions. So, that hints at the partial return of the subsidy if we estimate what is the cost reflective of the retail PMS price of the would-be and assume that importation is done at the official FX rate.

“Of course, the liberalization is happening with the parallel rates, which is the main supplier, the price would be even higher. These are just estimates to give you a sense of what cost-reflective pricing most likely looks like.

“We think the price of petrol should be around N750 per litre more than the N650 per litre currently paid by Nigerians.

PoliteActivist:
*Politeness*

I don't understand fighting and dying in a war you know you'd surely lose. Can someone explain it to me?
Different if it were guerrilla warfare

Palestinians believe Hamas is fighting for their liberation.

While Hamas fighters believe they are fighting a Jihad War

Leave Amaechi Alone, He Is Not The Problem Of Nigeria – APC Chieftain Tells Tinubu.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka has claimed that the dissolution of the APC executive in Rivers State is a ploy by President Bola Tinubu to demolish the political influence of the former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi in the state.
Recall that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had announced the dissolution of the executive of the Rivers State chapter of the party.
The Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC also disclosed that a caretaker committee that will oversee the conduct of a congress to elect new excos has been put in place.

The development came two months after some chieftains of the party loyal to Amaechi, and led by the state governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, lamented that Tinubu has subtly sacrificed them for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his loyalists.

Speaking during an interview with Punch, Chukwuemeka claimed that a cabal and the president were behind the plot.

“The dissolution is part of the ongoing efforts in a series to wane and totally demolish the political influence and legacies of Amaechi in Rivers State. The public should expect more in the coming months as the stage is set for the cabal to publicly display what has been strategically agreed upon behind closed doors,” he said.

When asked if the plot was orchestrated by Tinubu and Ganduje to spite Amaechi, he replied in the affirmative.

The APC chieftain urged Tinubu to leave Amaechi alone, adding that he is not the problem of Nigeria.

According to him, “Yes. It was a grand ploy to demean Amaechi. It is a whole lot of conspiracy that doesn’t profit the Tinubu. Amaechi is not the problem of Nigeria. So I urge the President and his cabal to channel the energy they have deployed to execute their political scheme in Rivers, to curbing insecurity, ending hunger, solving the ever-rising and unbearable cost of living and its attendant frustration on Nigerians, and leaving Amaechi and his political family alone”

BREAKING: Policemen ‘kidnapped’ me, collected N1m for my release, man alleges.

One Mr. Samuel Soyemi has recounted how some men who claimed to be police officers from Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State invaded his house and drove him and his family away in their vehicle. In what Soyemi described as both an abduction and armed robbery, he said the cops transferred the sum of N1,025,000 from his account before he, his wife and other family members were let go.

Soyemi told on Thursday that the incident happened at around 11 p.m. on October 10 when the armed men invaded his house in the Osiele area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

According to him, the police officers accused him of being a ritualist and cultist, an allegation he said was untrue and unfounded.

The young man recalled how the officers drove them to the premises of the Ifo Police Station and asked them to pay a sum of N10m, otherwise, they would not be seen again.

Without going into the station for any documentation, Soyemi said the officers later succeeded in transferring money from his bank account into an Opay account.

“We hardly eat at home as I am talking to you, because I had to borrow the money I sent to them that day. My wife and I are going through hell, with a nine-month-old baby at hand. Everything they took from me is almost N3m, including phones and jewellery. I need justice. We went to Zone 2, but nothing was done about the matter. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, should come to my aid,” he cried out.

Soyemi‘s lawyer, Kayode Aderemi, told our correspondent that a petition had been written to the office of IGP Egbetokun.

A copy of the petition, it was gathered, was also made available to the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on November 30.

According to a copy of the petition obtained by our correspondent, seven armed men reportedly stormed Soyemi’s residence in Osiele, seizing valuables worth over N2m aside from extorting him to the tune of N1,025,000.

The petition read, “At about 23:00 hours (11:00 p.m.) of October 10th, 2023, seven men stormed our clients’ house at Alanco axis, Osiele, Abeokuta, Ogun State. These men were fully armed with guns. They later identified themselves as police officers from the Police Zonal Command, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State.

“Without stating allegation of any crime against our clients, they ransacked our clients’ two-bedroom flat and took several valuables belonging to our clients. The valuables include a golden bracelet worth N750,000; a diamond earring worth N650,000; an iPhone 11 worth N400,000; a New Age power bank (20 mAh) worth N20,000; and three iPhone chargers worth N6,000 each.

“After all these items were forcefully taken at gunpoint, our clients (a total of six family members) were arrested that same night and driven to the Ifo Police Station, Ogun State.

“While at the Ifo Police station, the police officers told our clients that if they did not transfer the sum of N10,000,000, they would be killed and no one would know, since their arrest at Abeokuta was not documented.

“Afraid for their lives, our clients immediately placed emergency calls to family and friends to request financial support. Then, a total N1,025,000 was immediately transferred to the account provided by one of the officers later identified as Officer Oladapo Olayemi.

“The account that the police officer received the money N1,025,000 is OPay 9126240487, belonging to one Olufunke Ebunoluwa Samuel. Our clients later learned that on the same night, the money was remitted to the Access bank account of Officer Oladapo Olayemi.

“Our clients also informed us that they have reported the matter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 who has invited them. Our clients have honoured the invitation but that nothing concrete has come out of it.”

In his appeal, the counsel pleaded with Egbetokun to investigate and prosecute the seven police officers “that committed this act tantamount to robbery.”

He also asked that Soyemi’s N1,025,000 and other items taken away be recovered.

Aderemi urged Egbetokun to protect the Soyemis over fear that the cops could return to harm them, “since these seven police officers already know the house and other details of our clients.”

He added, “We are ready and willing to provide statement of account to evince the transactions referenced above should they be required.”

When contacted on Thursday, the FPRO, Adejobi, acknowledged the petition, stating that every petition was treated objectively, especially when the petition bothers on unprofessionalism and corruption.

Asked if any action had been taken, Adejobi expressed assurance that necessary action must have been taken on it, asking the complainant to follow up through police complaint platforms.

“Definitely, every petition is attended to and treated objectively, more so when it borders on unprofessionalism, highhandedness, and corruption.

“I am sure necessary action must have been taken on it. He can also follow up on the case through our complaint platforms,” Adejobi said in a text message

Fix Warri Refinery, Stop Deceiving Nigerians, IPMAN To Federal Government

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on the Federal Government to fix Warri Refinery and stop deceiving Nigerians under the guise of Turn Around Maintenance (TAM)while they are doing nothing.

The Association also appealed to the Federal Government to make Petrolleum products available to Warri Depot just as they have called on authorities to stop diverting Petrolleum products meant for the Depot to private individuals.


Chief Ben Odjugo, Chairman, Electoral Committee, Warri Depot and National Officer, IPMAN Mid West Zone made this call in Warri, Delta State during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IPMAN, Warri Depot, held at Government House, Annex, Warri.

According to him “previous administrations have always said that they are doing turnaround maintenance but none of the eo called maintenance have made the Refinery to work. So until this government is seen to be working and they are able to make the Warri Refinery work, that is only when the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can prove to Nigerians that they are sincere.”

During the Annual General Meeting, the executive of IPMAN Warri Depot under Comrade Zino Onaemo whose tenure had expired was dissolved and a Management Team that will handle the affairs of the Depot pending resolution of all issues bedeviling the Depot was set up.

He spoke further, “because of what is happening in the Depot recently, the acrimony and series of court cases that have cropped up in the course of this election, as law abiding citizens, we decided to put the election aside and set up a Management Team that will run the affairs of the Depot until election is conducted. For now the Management Team will do the work of the executive.”

The chairman of the Management Team, Mr Harry Okenini who was emotional promised that the team will do their best to ensure that they bring everybody together in a bid to move the Association to greater heights.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State who was represented by the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, urged IPMAN to conduct themselves peacefully, promising that his administration will continue to support them.

Oborevwori said that IPMAN is key to the success of his administration, he appealed to members of the Association to remain focussed and united.

Earlier, the out gone chairman, Comrade Zino Onaemo, while giving his stewardship report during the AGM lamented that he could not fulfill some of the promises he made when he was elected because the Warri Refinery was not working and the Depot was not getting enough petroleum products from the Federal Government.

Calabar port comes alive as Chinese cargo ship berths with A/Ibom refinery consignment

Calabar port in Cross River State is roaring back to life, heralding a new era of economic activity as a Chinese cargo ship, laden with a consignment of Akwa Ibom refinery project, berth.

The port, once bustling with trade, has received its first cargo from China, marking a significant milestone in the construction of a state-of-the-art refinery in Akwa Ibom State.

This development not only revitalizes Calabar Port but also underscores the strategic importance of the region in the nation’s economic landscape.

According to a post, the arrival of the inaugural cargo paves the way for increased trade and positions the port as a pivotal hub for future endeavors.

“As the construction of the refinery in Akwa Ibom State gains momentum, the revival of Calabar Port stands as a testament to the commitment towards infrastructure development and economic growth in the region,’ the post stated.

According to checks, there are two refinery projects expected to be located in Eket and Onna Local Government areas of the state. One of the refineries is being promoted by BUA Group of companies while another refinery project has witnessed a ground breaking.

Uganda Gay Couple Sent To Prison By Their President. They Will Be Release When One Of Them Become Pregnant.

Prices of foodstuff increase as bandits prevents farmers from harvesting crops in Taraba.

Prices of foodstuffs are on the rise in Taraba State following activities of bandits who have prevented farmers from harvesting their crops.
Findings revealed that…

Prices of foodstuffs are on the rise in Taraba State following activities of bandits who have prevented farmers from harvesting their crops.

Findings revealed that bandits have chased away many farmers in farming communities in parts of Bali, Ussa, Takum and Ardo_Kola local government areas of the state.

The activities of bandits, it was gathered, forced many farmers to abandon their farmers without harvesting their matured farm produce.

Presently, a 100kg bag of maize costs N32,000 as against N18,000 sold during harvesting period last year.

Similarly, a 100kg bag of paddy is sold at N25,000 as against N17,000 sold at this period last year.

Many farmers were killed by bandits while several others were abducted in the affected areas.

A farmer, Lami John, told Daily Trust on Sunday that they harvested their maize last around Kwando area in Ardo Kola Local Government Area but armed bandits in their numbers invaded the community.

She said many farmers, as well as their families, were abducted and the lucky ones including herself and her children escaped to a nearby forest.

“We slept in the forest till the following day and trekked to Jalingo and since then, l have not gone back to my farm and l don’t know if my crops are still there or eaten by cows,” she said.

In Ussa and Takum local government areas, many farmers were killed in recent attacks and as a result, many farmers have abandoned their farms without harvesting their crops.

Mr Bulus Andeyake told Daily Trust on Sunday that bandits invaded their communities and prevented farmers from harvesting their crops.

“In our area, going to the farm is very risky because bandits are everywhere, harassing innocent farmers,” he said.

Bulus stated that apart from many farmers killed by bandits in the last few months, 11 farmers were killed by bandits on Sunday around Jenuwagida while going to harvest their crops.

He said two farmers were also killed on Tuesday in their farm in the same area.

Bulus appealed to security agents to double their effort in fighting bandits in order to free farming communities from the bandits.

Another farmer, Dauda Maihula, said many farmers are afraid to go their farms to harvest their crops because of the presence of armed bandits.

He said on Tuesday, 14 hunters were killed in the area by bandits during a face-to-face confrontation.

Dauda said the hunters got killed while fighting the bandits who invaded farming communities and prevented them from going to their farms.

A grain trader at Iware grains market, Alhaji Haruna Jafar, told Daily Trust that prices of grains will continue to rise because of the activities of the bandits.

He said in areas around Kwando in Ardo Kola LGA and Dakka in Bali LGA, bandits have taken over many farming communities and prevented farmers from harvesting their crops.

Haruna stated that many rice, maize, soya beans and cowpea farmers did not harvest their crops for fear of the bandits.

He commended hunters and security agents for doing their best in confronting bandits in the state.

‘You Claim To Be From A Rich Family But Spent N2 Billion On Entertainment In 3 Months’ – Omowaiye Knocks Adeleke.

A former Commissioner for Works and Transportation in Osun State, Remi Omowaiye, has claimed that the incumbent governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, spent N2 billion on entertainment in three months.
Omowaiye lamented that Adeleke’s one year in office was uneventful.

The former Commissioner wondered why Adeleke was mismanaging the state’s resources despite claiming that he is from a rich family.

He argued that the former administration led by Gboyega Oyetola worked hard to move the state forward, adding that when he handed over, Osun had become one of the best states in terms of health care indices in Nigeria.

According to him, “Instead, in three months he spent N2bn naira on entertainment at the governor’s office, while neighbouring Kwara State has used N88m for nine months. This is a man who claims to be from a rich family. So, if you are from a rich family, why are you mismanaging our resources? Look at the health indices, when Oyetola came in, Osun used to have the highest maternal death rate.

“But when we were leaving, Osun had become one of the best states in terms of health care indices in Nigeria. This is because we painstakingly built and revitalised 332 health centres in the state.

“Not only that, we renovated and also provided basic equipment needed for those primary health care centres according to World Health Organisation standards. We also ensured that those primary health care centres were funded through basic provisions fund and the people who delivered at the primary health care centres increased annually from over 20,000 to over 50,000.