‘I can’t k!ll myself’ – Ex-SGF, Babachir Lawal, shares photo from farm, says ‘Akara and 5-Alive To The Rescue’


Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, took to social media at the weekend where he shared a photo from his farm.

The Adamawa-born politician, who was sacked as SGF by then President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017, said he was exhausted during the weekend’s farming activities and had to resort to the available juice and ‘Akara’.

Stressed on the farm today. Akara and 5-alife to the rescue. I can't kill myself abeg.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0J3wjrPwPUSy4uTp3L6iVkSsSTsMXoKPm1mFGsFW5dn2k5PQaHsguAqrgdaCgfvaal&id=100000600624436&mibextid=2JQ9oc

This is me enjoying in my village, Kwambla. There is no poverty or election riggers here.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02G4j7XMnzcSBQ7ZK2qQ228epj9YHXpWCTfkGunh6k3Lyxosa2jeBRkzKhpmhDqye2l&id=100000600624436&mibextid=2JQ9oc

Obasanjo Warns Against Opening Nigeria Boarder For Poultry Importation.

Following the removal of forex ban on the importation of poultry products and 42 other items, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned against opening Nigerian boarder for importation of the product into Nigeria.

Obasanjo, who was the grand patron of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) while speaking virtually at the second summit of the association yesterday in Abuja, harped on the need for government to support the industry and not open the market for others to dump their poultry products in the country.

Obasanjo said: “When you talk of poverty eradication, wealth creation or employment generation, poultry is one of the best that you can go into either at Small, Medium or large resources level, moreso, the market is at the door step.

“When the poultry industry is thriving, it will trickle down the value chain including maize and soybean farmers and pharmaceutical companies producing drugs for the birds will also benefit.”

The former Head of State stressed the need for the government and private sector to pay attention to the poultry industry given its importance to provide job opportunities, food and nutrition security.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Sabi Abdullahi, in his remarks, revealed that the per capita poultry consumption is 1.75 kg which falls below the 6.2 kg Africa average, adding that the annual consumption of poultry meat in Nigeria is put at 1,500,000 MT and production output is just about 55 per cent of consumption, estimated at 826,902.42 MT.

This he said, has left a huge deficit of 45 per cent, which is about 675,000 MT. He lamented that the deficit was unfortunately met through smuggling of poultry and poultry products which most of the times, are unwholesome, with its attendant negative effects on the citizen, industry and the economy.

To save the poultry industry from imminent collapse, he revealed that the government is putting in place measures to meet up with requests Poultry farmers including the possibility of import duty waiver, VAT exemption on the importation of feed grade maize and soya-bean as well as on the issue of the recent lifting of the forex restriction on importation of poultry and poultry products.

He however tasked the Research Institute to focus efforts on coming up with maize varieties for livestock feed only to reduce the demand pressure on the ordinary maize used for food and other purposes by human.

The President of Poultry Association of Nigeria, Chief Sunday Ezeobiora, while highlighting the challenges bedeviling the sector, regretted that Nigeria banks are not willing to provide the with finance saying they are waiting for the take off of the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund, with the hope that when the fund take-off it will not toe the line of the Anchor borrowers Scheme and the interest rate will not go beyond four per cent.

The association also called on the government to immediately halt exportation of Soya beans and maize, hinting that some exporters are at the verge of exporting the available grains. He appealed to the government to urgently attend to their request so that the industry does not collapse.

https://guardian.ng/news/obasanjo-warns-against-opening-nigeria-boarder-for-poultry-importation/amp

Japa Wave Hits Nigeria’s Investment Banking Industry, Construction Site


A disturbing development fast becoming a major concern for most companies in Nigeria has taken its toll on the investment banking and financial advisory industries as SBG Securities Research, a member of Standard Bank Group, issued a statement in its investor note that it will no longer be providing coverage on the analysis of sub-Saharan African food producers and beverages.

The financial advisory company’s statement is interpreted by some as indicating that the ‘Japa’ wave, depicting the significant emigration of Nigerians, has severely impacted their operations.

This impact could potentially harm not just their reputation but also their sustained presence within the country.

On the company’s X page (formerly known as Twitter), SBG Securities issued a disclaimer warning existing and prospective investors about its “termination of coverage” of certain companies in the sub-Saharan African food and beverage industry.

In essence, it said that as a result of staff movement out of the company, which seems significant, it will no longer be able to provide forecasts for some companies.

These companies are Dangote Sugar Refinery, Nestle Nigeria, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, and Nascon Allied Industries. Others are Unilever Nigeria, International Breweries, Guinness Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries, East African Breweries, and Tanzania Breweries.

SBG Securities, however, added that all “forecasts should now be considered redundant.”

In a recent BusinessDay publication titled, “’Japa’ wave empties construction sites,” it was reported that the Nigerian construction industry faces a labour shortage due to skilled workers leaving the country.

In the report, BusinessDay said that the departure of skilled workers, which had been influenced by the current economic challenges in the country, impacts project timelines and costs, demanding government support and access to resources for the industry’s sustainability.

This public confession from SBG Securities exposes not only the mass exodus of Nigerians out of the country but also the dangers that it portends for the financial industry if highly skilled professionals continue this mass exodus out of the country.

It also pushes the question of how the government can arrest brain drain in the country and, most importantly, try everything possible to improve the living conditions of Nigerians, which are at an all-time low.

There has been a substantial reaction on X regarding SBG Securities’ disclaimer, with some expressing concern over the mass emigration of Nigerians. Meanwhile, others have suggested that the company could use this situation as an opportunity to hire individuals with the necessary skill sets.

Rufybaba, an investment management and finance expert, expressed his surprise: “I didn’t understand how much of a problem the recent wave of brain drain was until I saw this some days ago. Like I knew it was existent, but after seeing this, I sighed.”

Shocked by this revelation, he added in a tweet, “I mean, if a whole Stanbic (a really premium employer in the Nigerian financial space and particularly the Nigerian capital market) is making this kind of decision, then I can imagine how terrible the situation is.”

However, Chenemi Abraham queried the financial company’s notice, tweeting, “Staff movement from where to where?
Can’t they hire new staff?
How many Nigerians are ever leaving the country?

Others chimed in, underscoring the urgency for a solution to the perceived serious situation.

Nigerian UK-Based Nurse Reportedly Sacked And Deported For Praying For Patient

A yet-to-be-identified Nigerian nurse in the United Kingdom has been reportedly sacked by the management of her hospital after she was found praying for an elderly patient.

The doctor narrated the incident to warn Nigerian doctors moving to the UK not to pray for patients.

The said Nigerian health worker was further deported for what believed was unethical for health workers in the UK to bring religion to their work.

It is not customary for nurses to pray for patients, but they can ask for a cleric to carry out any religious service on patients, regardless of whether they want them (the nurses) to do so.

I just read the sad story of a Nigerian who came to the UK and was employed by an agency to work as a caregiver for elderly people. She was assigned to care for an elderly patient who was dying, and she was reported for ‘praying for the client to get better’. Yeah. She got sacked and deported.

“Praying for your patient is seen as an abuse of trust and misuse of your position. You are expected to simply do and focus on your job.

Muslims, Get Out Of Netherland, Leave For An Islamic Country - Dutch PM Geert Wilders.

Geert Wilders, the leader of the Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands, has called on Muslims who value the Quran more than secular laws to leave the country.

Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders gestures as he meets with members of his party at the Dutch Parliament, after the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Geert Wilders has urged Muslims who find the Quran more important than the law of the land to leave the country.
The leader of the Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands, likely to be the next prime minister of the Netherlands, was heard saying so in an unverified video.

“There are many of those. Research by Professor Koompans shows there are 7 lakh. And, my message to them is: Get out! Leave for an Islamic country. Then, you can enjoy Islamic rules. Those are their rules, but not ours,” he added.

“Today, tomorrow or the day after, the PVV will be part of government and I will be prime minister of this beautiful country,” Wilders earlier wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Wilders declared his readiness to adjust his positions to form a government. Despite his party winning the most seats in the recent election, the PVV is projected to hold only 25% of seats in the Dutch parliament, necessitating collaboration with other parties for governance.

The conservative VVD Party, under new leader Dilan Yesilgoz, hasn’t dismissed the possibility of supporting a Wilders-led government from the outside. They’ve, however, ruled out cabinet participation. Meanwhile, Pieter Omtzigt from the centrist NSC Party sees challenges in aligning with Wilders due to his extreme views, which might conflict with the Dutch constitution’s religious freedom protections.

Coalition talks in the Netherlands often extend over several months, with shifting positions on party cooperation. If Wilders fails to form a government, more centrist alliances excluding the PVV could emerge, with new elections being a last resort, as per Reuters.

Nigerians react as Ooni of Ife claims Jews originated from the Igbo tribe.

The Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi of Ife has said that the Jews, the dominant tribe in Israel, originated from the Igbo tribe
In a viral video, Ogunwusi claimed that contrary to popular opinion, the existence of the Igbo predated that of the Jews and the world needed to correct that
Before now, the Igbo have always claimed that they migrated from Israel and that they were originally from the Jews
Ife, Osun – Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, has claimed that the Jews, who are the major tribe that occupied Israel in the Asia continent and found in some parts of Europe, came out of the Igbo tribe of Nigeria.

The monarch made the comment in a video seen by TheTalk.NG, where he also said that the Igbo were the first to discover commerce and wealth in the history of the human race.

Ooni of Ife/Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi/Osun/Igbo/JewsOoni of Ife speaks on connection between Igbo and Jews
Photo Credit: Ooni Enitan OgunwusiSource: Twitter

Before now, many of the Igbo people have claimed that they originated from the Jews, and the claim has remained a popularly accepted notion about the dominant people of Southeast Nigeria.

Ooni of Ife speaks on true identity of Igbo
However, the Yoruba monarch said that the reverse was the case, stating that the race of the Jews is very similar, but the Igbo are older than the Israelites.

The Ooni said:

“There is this mistake that the world usually makes; they make this mistake that the Igbos came from the Jews. No, it is the other way round.

“The truth be told, the first human race that existed was the Igbos before the Jews, and we were all living together at the centre of tropical rain forest, which is the heart of the whole thing.”

Amid Israel-Palestine War, Ooni of Ife speaks of Igbo connection
Ooni Ogunwusi’s comment came amid controversies that Lagos, a Yoruba land, was a no man’s land, a claim first made by Jaja Anucha Wachukwu, the first speaker of the House of Representatives.

FG to spend $1.1bn on rehabilitation of six ports

The Federal Government on Monday revealed that it will spend a total sum of $1.1 billion on the rehabilitation of six ports across Nigeria.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) disclosed this in a statement on X and said it will reduce the high turnaround times of vessels and improve ports efficiency.

“To improve the efficiency of our existing ports, the Federal Government, through @nigerianports will be investing $1.1 billion to fully rehabilitate decaying port infrastructure at TinCan, Apapa, Rivers, Delta, Calabar and Onne ports,” the statement read.

NPA in the statement said some of these ports were built a century ago and have not been rebuilt since then.

Due to the decaying quay walls, the Terminal Operators are unable to deploy modern cargo handling equipment such as ship-to-shore cranes.

According to the agency, this has often resulted in high turn around times of vessels.

Nigerian Soldier Are Using Scissors To Cut Boys Dreadlock Hair Of Motorists (Video).

Tori NewsNov 28, 2023 9:33 AM
The young men were stopped by the soldiers who then went ahead to use scissors to cut their hair forcefully.

A video has surfaced online showing a Nigerian soldier cutting the hair of a civilian with scissors.

The incident happened at a roadblock in Nigeria. The young men were stopped by the soldiers who then went ahead to use scissors to cut their hair forcefully.

It is not yet known who posted the soldiers to the road to undergo such mission.

More Woes For Nigeria As Tinubu’s $1 Trillion Economy Ambition Comes Under Threat Over Forex Instability, Naira Weakness.

The pursuit of Nigeria’s ambition to become a $1 trillion economy faces significant challenges amidst currency volatility and the depreciation of the naira, reflecting a potential setback for the nation’s economic growth trajectory.

Analysis by Nairametrics unveils the profound impact of naira devaluation, indicating a substantial loss of approximately $193 billion in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) when converted from naira to dollar.

The GDP for the year-long period from Q4 2022 to Q3 2023 stood at N224.54 trillion, translating to approximately $292.08 billion at the prevailing exchange rate of N768.76/$1 in September 2023.

However, reverting to the exchange rate before the FX unification policy at about $462.88/$1, Nigeria’s GDP could have been approximately $485.09 billion. The 39.79% naira devaluation also triggered a commensurate loss in GDP value in dollar terms.

Despite observing growth in naira terms over quarters, Nigeria grapples with a currency depreciation of up to 40% throughout the current year, depicting significant currency volatility.

Nevertheless, Nigeria maintains its lead as the continent’s largest economy, surpassing South Africa. While South Africa’s currency also experienced a decline, it was not as drastic as Nigeria’s, with a currency devaluation of approximately 15%.

Comparatively, for Nigeria’s GDP to fall below South Africa’s in USD terms, the naira would need to plummet to approximately N900/$1, a scenario not yet encountered, considering the official exchange rates.

However, projections outlined in the Federal Government’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) anticipate Nigeria’s GDP to hit $436.73 billion by 2026, a significant deviation from its $1 trillion ambition.

President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious target to grow the economy to $1 trillion by 2026 and $3 trillion by 2030 faces hurdles amidst forex market unification efforts that inadvertently spurred instability.

While recent reforms aim to strengthen the naira against the dollar and bolster Nigeria’s GDP in dollar terms, achieving the $1 trillion milestone by 2026 necessitates formidable economic growth.

Experts say prevailing currency dynamics and macroeconomic uncertainties make the task even more challenging.

I If you have any unemployed person, tell them to go register at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) office near them Nationwide immediately. Registration is for 3 weeks only.
Kindly Share to help someone today.
Thanks.

Offices/Address Phone number

Abia Employment House, Aba road, Amuzuta old Umuahia, P.M.B. 7247, Umuahia, Abia State 08038777048

Adamawa Behind former Ministry of Works & Housing, Off Sir Kashim Ibrahim way, Yola 08020911708

Akwa Ibom Federal Secretariat Complex, Abak road, Uyo 08095695077,
07066864747

Anambra 35, Nnamdi Azikwe Avenue, Amawbia, Akwa 08035888922; 08184764587

Bauchi Off Gombe road, Behind Chief Magistrate Cort, kofar Idi, Bauchi, Bauchi State 08038380704

Bayelsa No. 2, Asingbi Street, Off Imgbi road, Amarata, Yenagoa 08032756363; 08183334531

Benue Federal Secretariat Complex, Makurdi 08033153598

Borno Federal Secretariat Complex,Kano Jos road, Maiduguri, Borno State 08022626357

Cross River Federal secretariat Coplex, Muhammed Murtala High way, 3rd Floor, Left wing, Calabar 08034732083, 08056411518

Delta Federal Secretariat Complex, Okpanam road, Asaba 08032360078; 07028304975

Ebonyi Former Ministry of Women Affairs, Unity Square, Off Ezza road, GRA, Abakaliki

*Ekiti Beside UBA, No. 91 Ajilosun Street, Off Ikere road, Ado Ekiti 08060105270*

Enugu CCB Building, 1st Floor, 28, Okpara Avenue, Enugu 08059409960; 08099786443

Edo 222A Upper Mission road, Before Ewah road Junction, New Benin, Benin City 08063241240, 08023304530

Gombe New Federal Secretariat Complex, Behind Bauchi Motor Park, Gombe 08035076677; 08083433766

Imo Federal Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt road, Owerri 08033370393, 08092341187

Jigawa Federal Secretariat Complex, 2nd Floor, Sani Abacha road, Dutse 08099370224, 08055282947

Kaduna No. 5A Yakubu Gowon way, Kaduna 08035952001, 08023759990

Kano After ARTV 44/48, Hotoro, Maiduguri road, Kano 08036827944, 08054605942

Katsina No. 1, Justice Muhammed Bello road, GRA Round About, Katsina 08033847925; 08153657886

Kebbi No. 19,, Murtala Muhammed way, Tudun wada, Birnin Kebbi 08036129284; 08124869880

Kogi Kunama Crescent, After Edgedrive Hotel, GRA, Lokoja 08036517350

Kwara Federal secretariat Annex, Fate road, Ilorin 08055834677, 07033368086

Lagos No. 7, Barkisu Iyede Street, Onike Yaba, Lagos 08033014555; 08183184445

Nasarawa No. 18, Jos road, Behind Natson Petrol Station, Off Sandaji Hotel road, Lafia 08036367880, 08026362500

Niger Ladi Kwali road, Off IBB road, Minna 08035958975

Ogun Federal Secretariat Complex, Oke Omosa, Ibara, Abeokuta 08035660075; 08082428818

Ondo Federal Secretariat Complex, Igbatoro road,Akure 08034171011; 08066554611

Osun No. 6, Adebimpe Lane, Opp. Plant and Pilars College, Ago-wande, Osogbo 08056677202; 08098027202

Oyo Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikolaba Area, Ibadan 08065310946; 08028218223

Plateau No. 5 Naraguta Road, GRA 930105, Jos
Rivers Federal Secretariat Complex, 8th Floor, Left wing, Aba road, Port Harcourt 08039383247; 07017083004

Sokoto No. 7, Dendo road, Off Ibrahim Dasuki rioad, Sokoto 08036255444; 08088674908

Taraba No. 2, Agadah Attah drive, Jalingo 08036837304, 08186207519

Yobe Federal Secretariat Complex, Gassua road, Damaturu 07038368112; 08023722366

Zamfara No. 3, Yahaya Abdularim road, Opp. Tanking Ruwa, Sabon Gari, Gusau 07082235403; 08180208078

NDE FCT office, Abuja Skill Centre Complex, Kuduru, Bwari,
@
This information will be useful

FIVE TYPES OF WOMEN WHO CAN'T MAINTAIN A MARRIAGE


1: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
-It takes the holy spirit only to make a beautiful woman to be in a marriage.
-They are in high demand
-Many beautiful ladies are still single, and you keep wondering what is keeping them
-They use their beauty as capital for money-making.


2:. THE MOST EDUCATED WOMEN.
-A woman having a degree, master's, or Ph.D. to have to stay in a marriage, it's the grace of God.
-Their qualifications make them independent.
-Visit offices in the companies, most high-ranked women and rich are single, or divorced.


3: WOMEN FROM RICH FAMILIES
-Women raised in rich families find it difficult to get married because they want the same environment they grew up in in a marriage.
-They want no one to advise them.


4: THE MOST ANOINTED WOMEN OF GOD.
- Most women with the calling of God have no husbands, either divorced
-No time to do house works
-No time to care for their husbands
-Their husbands can't advise them because they only listen to the Holy Spirit.
You will find a man with a Ph.D. who goes to the village and marries a grade 5 woman, what is he looking for Because that is the one that would understand and respect him better.
Speaking in tongues will never make you a wife, only a submissive woman will stay in a marriage and not the beauty and the like.
I know you will oppose this message, but read it again and again before you oppose it.


5. CLUBBING WOMEN OR DRUNKARDS.
-Most men don't want to settle down with this kind of women. but if they are to go for a one-night stand, the woman will.
That is how some of these girls have kids that hit-and-run even know who the father is.
Just for hit-and-run.

Catholic Priest Arrested For Allegedly Impregnating Teenager.

A Catholic Priest from Anambra state, Rev. Fr. Nwaigwe Stephen, has been arrested and detained on charges of allegedly raping and impregnating a teenager.
In a ruling during the weekend, the Anambra State Chief Magistrates’ Court, which is also recognized as the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, ordered that the priest be held in prison until December 6, 2023.

Furthermore, the magistrate has instructed the prosecutor to send the original case file to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State, Naija News understands.

In addition to the rape allegations, the priest is accused of forcefully taking the pregnant minor to Benin City, Edo State, where she gave birth. However, police investigations have revealed that the whereabouts of the baby remain unknown.

The cleric’s act, which is engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor, is a punishable offence under section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.

Nwaigwe was previously expelled from the Two Hearts of Love Congregation (Ugwu Nso), a well-known Catholic Faith-Based Religious Congregation in Orlu, Imo State, in 2018. His expulsion resulted from alleged misconduct that tarnished the order’s reputation.

The priest was said to have met the teenager at the St. Albert The Great Catholic Church Parish, Obosi, Anambra State, where he was invited for a religious church programme.

According to the victim, while answering questions in court during remand proceedings on Monday, November 20, 2023, the priest took her from her parents to live with him when she was 14 years old, promising to sponsor her education while she equally served as his cook.

She stated that not long after she moved into the priest’s house, he started forcing himself sexually on her, saying he continued the act until she became pregnant at the age of 17.

The minor further stated that when she informed the priest about her pregnancy, the priest took her from Ihiala Anambra State, where they lived, to somewhere in Benin City, Edo, to the house of a man and woman whom the priest introduced to her as his brother and brother’s wife.
“But when I gave birth to my baby at a native birth attendant’s house in Benin City, I was told that the baby died, and when I made efforts for them to show me the dead baby, they said the baby had been buried,” the minor reportedly said.

When the court asked if she had been gang-raped before, the minor noted, “While on our way to Benin City, father told me to say that I was gang-raped. But I have never been raped before, except the ones he (father) did to me in his house”.

Also, during remand proceedings, the Police prosecutor informed the court that there was probable cause to order the remand of the priest; witnesses were bound over to appear before the High Court to give evidence whenever the case would be mentioned.

However, the defence counsel applied for bail of the defendant, urging the court to exercise his direction of bail in favour of the defendant while citing Sections 13(3), 71(3), 72 and 73 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Anambra State, 2022, as well as, Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as Amended.

He also prayed the court to grant bail to the priest in most liberal terms, assuring the court that Nwaigwe would never jump bail if granted.

But the police prosecutor prayed the court to refuse bail to the clergyman, stating that the case before the court was an offence against a minor who was supposedly under the spiritual guardianship of the defendant.

Ruling on the bail application, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, stated that the case before the court was an offence punishable with life imprisonment, regretting that the offence of rape against minors was becoming rampant in society.

She warned that the court would not fold its hands to watch the society decay, irrespective of whose ox is gored.

The court gave numerous instances of similar offences which had appeared before it in the past, mentioning specifically a case involving an a-75-year-old man who also allegedly raped a minor and was accordingly remanded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0TC4cNCqjI?si=aDXIBUX5bz9uSlXD


Mali Signs Deal With Russia To Build Gold Refinery

Mali has inked a deal with Russia to construct a gold refinery, the junta in Bamako has announced.

The agreement, part of a number of bilateral accords, outlines the establishment of gold refinery in the capital city with a 200-tonne annual capacity. This would be the largest gold refinery in West Africa.

The non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bamako and Moscow is for an unspecified four-year term, although there has yet to be a definite timeline for construction.

This was revealed by Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousseni Sanou, in an interview with national television station ORTM. According to San, Mali hopes to build the refinery so that the country can have complete control over the entirety of its gold production, while also improving oversight of regulations, taxes and duties.

In 2022, Mali boosted its gold production to 72.2 tonnes, up 8.4% from 2021. The country mainly exports to South Africa, Switzerland and Australia.

The latest deal between Mali and Russia is another sign of the growing cooperation between the two countries, which has seen a significant boost since Mali’s coup in May 2021. In recent months, Bamako has signed deals with Russian state energy company Rosatom to produce nuclear energy, while an unnamed Russian firm has agreed to construct a solar power plant in Mali.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun openly supporting military juntas in West Africa, including in Mali, according to a recent report by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

This move follows Moscow’s decision to subsume the Russian private military company Wagner Group into the structure of the army, in response to its decision to stage a mutiny against the MoD in June 2023. Wagner is Russia’s main military force in Africa and has made significant profits working on behalf of politicians on the continent, many of them unpopular, authoritarian leaders, with payment often in the form of mining concessions.

On September 16, a Russian military delegation led by Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and GRU General Andrei Averyanov visited Bamako, Mali. They met with defence ministers from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, along with junta leaders Assimi Goita and Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Notably, on that same day, these three West African countries signed a security pact to support each other in case of rebellion or external aggression.

China is closing, destroying and repurposing mosques, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a new report.

The crackdown is part of a “systematic effort” to curb the practice of Islam in China, HRW said.

There are about 20 million Muslims in China, which is officially atheist but says it allows religious freedom.

Observers, however, say there has been an increased crackdown on organised religion in recent years with Beijing seeking greater control.

The BBC contacted China’s Foreign Ministry and ethnic affairs commission for comment in advance of publication of the HRW report.

“The Chinese Government’s closure, destruction and repurposing of mosques is part of a systemic effort to curb the practice of Islam in China,” said Maya Wang, acting China Director at Human Rights Watch.

The report follows mounting evidence of systematic human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China’s north-western Xinjiang region. Beijing denies the accusations of abuse.

Most of China’s Muslims live in the country’s North-West, which includes Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia.


In the Muslim-majority village of Liaoqiao in the autonomous region of Ningxia, three of six mosques have been stripped of their domes and minarets, according to HRW.

The rest have had their main prayer halls destroyed, it said.

Satellite footage obtained by HRW showed a round dome at a mosque in Liaoqiao village being replaced by a Chinese-style pagoda sometime between October 2018 and January 2020.

About 1,300 mosques in Ningxia have been closed or converted since 2020, Hannah Theaker, a scholar on Chinese Muslims, told the BBC.

That number represents a third of the total mosques in the region.

The Chinese Government claims the consolidation of mosques which often happens when villagers are relocated or combined helps reduce the economic burden on Muslims, but some Hui Muslims believe it is part of efforts to redirect their loyalty towards the Party.

Some residents have publicly opposed these “Sinicisation” policies, but their resistance has so far been futile.

Over the years, many have been jailed or detained after clashing with authorities over the closure or demolition of mosques.

After removing external elements from mosques, local governments would then remove facilities essential for religious activities such as ablution halls and preacher’s podiums, according to US-based Hui activist Ma Ju.

“When people stop going [to the mosques, the authorities] would then use that as an excuse to close the mosques,” he is quoted as saying in the Human Rights Watch report.


Another video verified by HRW showed an ablution hall in Liujiaguo mosque in Southern Ningxia being demolished shortly after the removal of its two minarets and a dome.

After removing external elements from mosques, local governments would then remove facilities essential for religious activities such as ablution halls and preacher’s podiums, according to US-based Hui activist Ma Ju.

“When people stop going [to the mosques, the authorities] would then use that as an excuse to close the mosques,” he is quoted as saying in the Human Rights Watch report.

Another video verified by HRW showed an ablution hall in Liujiaguo mosque in southern Ningxia being demolished shortly after the removal of its two minarets and a dome.

In Gansu province, which shares a border with Ningxia, officials have made periodic announcements of mosques being closed down, consolidated and altered.

In 2018, authorities banned minors under 16 from participating in religious activities or study in Linxia, a city in the province previously known as China’s “Little Mecca”.

A 2019 report by a local television station said authorities converted several mosques into “workspaces” and “cultural centres” after “painstaking ideological education and guidance work”.

Before the “Sinicisation” campaigns, Hui Muslims have in many ways been receiving support and encouragement from the State, said Dr Theaker.

“The campaign has radically narrowed the space in which it is possible to be Muslim in China, and thrown the weight of the state behind a very particular vision of patriotism and religious observance.

It reflects the profoundly Islamophobic orientation of the State, in that it requires Muslims to demonstrate patriotism above all, and views any sign of ‘foreign’ influence as a threat,” she said.

Arab and Muslim leaders across the world should be “asking questions and raising concerns“, said Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch’s Asia Director.

Other ethnic and religious minorities have also been affected by the government’s campaign.

“I Can’t Marry And I Can’t Save Anything”, Tinubu Supporter Earning N200k Laments

A young Nigerian marketer who supported Tinubu during election struggles to cope with the high inflation shares his story.
Khalidu speak about how he manages his expenses, looks for additional income, and supports his family. He hopes for the government to take urgent and effective measures to address the economic situation.
Nigeria is facing a severe economic crisis, with inflation reaching its historic high in 2023.

The rising cost of living has eroded the purchasing power of many Nigerians, especially the young and salary earners.

One of them is Sada Khalidu*, a 29-year-old man who works as a marketer at a private media company in Kano, the second-largest city in the country. He earns N200,000 a month, but he said that is barely enough to cover his basic needs.

He lives alone in a rented apartment and had hoped to get married soon, but the current reality may postpone that longtime wish.

“The inflation has significantly reduced my purchasing power, making it challenging to maintain my previous standard of living. I have to carefully budget for the high costs of food, transportation and essentials, and prioritize my needs over my wants.”

Khalidu revealed that the fuel subsidy removal, which was implemented by the President Tinubu-led government in 2023 as part of its economic reforms, has increased his daily commute expenses, impacting his overall budget for transportation.

“I used to spend N800 a day on transport, but now I spend N1500. That is a 90% increase. It means I have less money to spend on other things,” he said.

He also disclosed that he can’t save anything from his salary due to currency depreciation and exchange rate fluctuations, which have made the naira lose more than 20% of its value against the dollar in the past months.

“I used to save between N30, 000 to N50,000 a month, but now I can’t save even 1 kobo. The naira is losing value daily, and everything is becoming more expensive,” he said.

Khalidu plans to find another source of income to cope with the uncertainty which has also worsened the situation.

“I am looking for a side hustle to supplement my income. I have some skills in graphic design and photography, so I am trying to market myself online and get some clients. But you know these things are not easy.”

At the moment, Khalidu said, he is rearranging his personal and professional obligations based on his income, and exploring additional ways to support his family, who depend on him more at this time.

“Right now I support them in any little way I can but the call for support has increased from my family more than ever. Everybody is truly affected,” Khalidu reiterated.

Also, he is dealing with the psychological and emotional stress that comes from his current situation:

“I access quality health care and education on available alternatives. I am focusing very much on mental well-being which is one of the ways I deal with my psychological and emotional stress. Also I am staying connected to cost-effective things while adapting to the economic challenges,” he concluded.

We won’t allow ceding Ogun oil-rich Island to Benin Republic – Senate panel.

The Senate Committee on Navy said it will come up with a plan to resist the takeover of oil-rich Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government…

The Senate Committee on Navy said it will come up with a plan to resist the takeover of oil-rich Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State by the Benin Republic and its foreign allies.

Oil was first discovered on Tongeji Island in 2008. An oil firm, Gasoline Integrated International, in an expression of interest, planned to build a $3 billion refinery on Tongeji Island.

Speaking at the end of a facility tour of the Western Naval Command in Lagos, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Gbenga Daniel, expressed concern over the abandonment of Tongeji Island.

He said the federal government cannot afford to lose the island just like it did with the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon.

Daniel said his committee would strategise on what to do to ensure that Nigeria did not lose Tongeji.

“We are currently strategizing on what we need to do as a government so that we don’t lose Tongeji just like we ceded certain areas in Calabar to Cameroon.

“We are working on that but we will not disclose our strategies because these are security matters,” he said.

Emeraldicon:
I am not in support of killings especially of innocent lives but HAMAS must be the most useless and foolish group on earth.

What was their plan, what were they thinking by evading Israel and killing up to 1400 Israeli?

Are they expecting Israel to just clap for them and let them go?

You know Israel are looking for opportunity to even annex all of Gaza and you willing provided them with the right excuse.

Please who can tell me what point are HAMAS trying to prove by evading and killing Israelis

There are two reasons that made Hamas to attack Israel.

1. Deep hate for Israel made Hamas to attack Israel.
2. To create crises that will put pressure on Saudi Arabia to stop the proposed signing a peace agreement with Israel

God1000:
And they continue commiting war crimes, Israel will surely pay for all these atrocities

Israel evacuated everybody from the hospital including all the medical staffs to a safe place before bombing the hospital because Hamas bunker is underground the hospital

OGIBRA:
Chai, see them already believing and commenting on a post that as no source, no event or interview or the show name, where obasanjo say so, and they are already celebrating a news that end wt DETAILS LATER...no wonder someone in FINLAND tel them sitting at home on mondays wil gv them independence and they believe...COMMON SENSE IS NOT TRULY COMMON..
I.O.T

My guy watch the video and stop fooling yourself.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdsvZehqmOc

Kashim Shettima,
Tell Nigerians The Truth About Your Role In Chibok Girls Abduction- Goodluck Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan, the former President, has asked Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State, to tell the truth about his role in the abduction of Chibok school girls by Boko Haram in April 2014.

On Thursday, Shettima had said Jonathan performed poorly in office because he surrounded himself with “an assorted crop of religious bigots, tribal kindred and reactionary elements.”

The governor spoke at the public presentation of a book, ‘On a Platter of Gold — How Jonathan won and lost Nigeria’, written by Bolaji Abdullahi, who was Minister of Sports in the Jonathan administration and is now the spokesman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reacting to Shettima’s comment, Jonathan said he knew the role played by the governor in the abduction of the schoolgirls that caused international outrage, including why the principal of the abducted girls’ school is now a commissioner in the state.

“We didn’t expect anything less from Governor Shettima, knowing the ignoble roles he played in frustrating the war waged by the past administration against Boko Haram, even in his own Borno State,” read a statement by Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s spokesman.

Jonathan wondered why Shettima did not comply with the federal government’s directive that students writing external examinations at the time should be relocated to safe environment.

Jonathan also questioned why the principal of the Chibok school was rewarded with a post of commissioner by Shettima.

“He should be able to tell us if it was Jonathan’s poor choices that led the governor to expose students of Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok to avoidable danger, in total disregard of a federal government directive to the governors in the three states most affected by Boko Haram to relocate their students writing the West African School Certificate Examinations to safe zones.

“The governor is now denying that he had no hand in the kidnap of the Chibok girls even before anybody accused him of culpability. However, we share the view of those who insist that the governor had other things up his sleeve when he promised the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) that he would secure the girls and ended up doing the very opposite by deliberately abandoning them to their fate, without any security presence in their school.

“It is instructive that while other governors in the zone heeded the security advice, Shettima remained the only one who flagrantly flouted it.

“Should we also fail to point out that his decision to reward the principal of Chibok Secondary School, who was uncharacteristically absent on the night terrorists stormed the school, with the post of a commissioner, did throw up more questions than answers?”

Atiku’s Presidency Is Threatened Because Of Breach Of Power Rotation – Okechukwu


A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu has said that the refusal to honour the power rotation principle is destroying Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar‘s chances at the 2023 election.
Okechukwu, while speaking to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, referred to the APC Northern Governors’ letter to President Muhammadu Buhari dated June 4, 2022, as evidence that the rotation of the presidency between the North and South is intended to unite the country.

He quoted the governors saying, “After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for 2023 election should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party. We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united.”

He also recounted former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s statement on the matter: “I am very much aware that it’s the turn of the South to produce the next President of Nigeria. I was part of the meeting when the agreement was made between Northern and Southern Leaders. I am even surprised PDP gave her ticket to another North candidate.

“It will be an injustice to the South if the North retains Power after 8 years of rule.”

He, therefore, argued that it would be quite difficult for Atiku to defeat the APC Northern Governors’ Forum, President Muhammadu Buhari, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and a host of other unifier patriots like Afenifere Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Governor Wike, Chief Edwin Clark and uncountable unifier patriots who support power shift from North to South.

According to him: “My take is that Atiku is not a unifier and cannot defeat the Northern Governors’ Forum, Buhari, Obasanjo, Adebanjo, Clark and the sophisticated northern electorate by his mission to win by dividing the north and the south.

“It is an unforced error to think that he can manipulate our fault lines and the abundance of unifier patriots of the north. The Northern electorate is very sophisticated. They voted for Zik, Abiola and Obasanjo.

“Truly, take it or leave it, Governor Nyesom Wike’s main grouse is Atiku’s violent breach of PDP’s Constitution, manipulation of Governor Aminu Tambuwal and our fault lines.

“I bet that the wound of Machiavellian dosage Atiku infested the PDP is not likely going to heal before the 2023 presidential election.

“These unifier patriotic forces won’t allow him no matter his gusto to trample and rubbish the good works of patriots who sacrificed their presidential ambition and instituted the rotation convention in our political firmament.”

Dino Melaye Comes Under Fire After Showing Off Atiku’s ‘Country Home’ In Dubai

Former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has come under criticism over a recent post on social media.
Naija News reports that Dino Melaye took to his Instagram page on Saturday, to share a photo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and some party chieftains.

According to Dino, the picture was taken during their visit to the country home of Atiku in Dubai.

He captioned the photo: “At Atiku’s country home in Dubai”

However, this earned him much criticism online as Nigerians questioned if people from the western world also own a home in Nigeria.

@ikhefe wrote: “This one go dash our resources to Dubai/ UAE for accommodating him all these years o”

@okanu_ambassador wrote: “Country home in Dubai Dino repent”

@irem_bishop wrote: “How can you have a country home in someone country Some words can hit our system at this point!!! Control”

@jojodbaba wrote: “How many Dubai leaders get home for Nigeria”

@wendu124 wrote: “Where did he get money to buy a country home in another man’s country? How many Dubai leaders have a country home in Nigeria? Shame on you !!”

@kaiz_santana wrote: “Mumu why u go dey post atiku Dubai home during election time”

@theidealofficial_ wrote: “Uncle Dino imagine your writeup you no even get a single respect for people wey you wan rule when we caution you now.. You will say we don’t have respect… Is he suppose to be contesting Nigeria presidency from Dubai ehhh.. Make una Dey give us small respect we don Dey provoke ooo”

@mc_donzy wrote: “Na person wey dey exile for Dubai wan be your president. It’s a shame… why not have his home here in the country.

‘Nigerians don’t value good leaders until they leave office,’ Oshiomhole praises Jonathan

The former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday praised former President Goodluck Jonathan for leaving behind enviable legacies in the country.

Oshiomhole, who spoke at the one-year memorial lecture in honour of late Captain Hosa Okunbo in Abuja, said Nigerians don’t appreciate good leaders until they leave office.

The former president and Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwase III, were among the speakers at the event.

The ex-Edo State governor admitted that he fought Jonathan out of office because of their differences in political interests.

Oshiomhole’s remark will come as a surprise to many Nigerians as he was one of the fiercest critics of the Jonathan’s administration and he sustained his attack on the former president even after he left office in 2015.

On Saturday, he said: “You (Jonathan) left legacies even though I had cause to fight because it is politics. The legacy you have left, there is no successor who can afford to do less.

“But the beauty of a multi-party democracy is that even an angel can be defeated. Sincerely speaking, you have set a standard that none of your successors can afford to go below.

“Part of your legacies was when you launched the Almajiri School and your thought was that no Nigerian child should be left on the street and also appropriated special funds.

“These ideas are not new but what we lack is the will to transform them into practice. We don’t know who our friends are until we are no more.

“No one is appreciated until he or she leaves office.

ImperialYoruba:


As governor, Peter Obi sacked civil servants that were non-citizens of Anambra. It didn't matter how long they had been in service, Obi fired them.

As governor, Peter Obi discriminated against Anglican Ibos.

As governor Peter Obi discriminated against osu.

As governor, Peter Obi discriminated against other Ibos of non Anambra stock.

Do you think people forget?

Lies

Biafra War Comment: We won’t allow another civil war – Sunday Igboho warns Buhari

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s remark that millions of Nigerians were killed during the Biafra civil war to ensure the country’s unity.

Igboho warned that such large-scale killing would never be allowed to happen again in Nigeria.

Buhari had urged political leaders to stay focused and uphold the ultimate objective of promoting the interest of the country.

He stressed that the country can’t afford another civil war.

Reacting, Igboho, in a statement by his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, said: “We know President Muhammadu Buhari is the Patron of all the Fulani worldwide. But Yoruba land can never be conquered by Fulani.

“President Muhammadu Buhari was reminding Nnamdi Kanu and the Igbos of the massacre they carried out during the Biafra War. The President should know that this can never be repeated again in any of our land.

“We have all woken up to Fulani Agenda.”

somenody:
May this man ,his supporters and their families face endless suffering and destruction for the evil they have done to this country.
↓
↓
↓

The worst President of Nigeria,
Using our resources to develop another country.

Buhari single handedly build Refinery in Niger Republic.

He approved a Double gauge railway line From Nigeria to Niger.

He approved the Gas pipeline from Nigeria to Niger to Morroco

Now he has approved purchasing Vehicles for the same Niger Republic.

,,

BREAKING: UN tells Nigeria to unconditionally release, compensate Nnamdi Kanu


. Wants officials responsible for his torture, rights violations punished

. Gives Nigeria 6 months to comply or…
. Indicts Nigeria, Kenya for unlawful arrest, rendition

. Says Kanu targeted for galvanizing momentum for Biafra referendum
. Threatens action if…

The United Nations, UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, has indicted both Nigeria and Kenya Governments for the arrest and extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, without due process.
UN therefore, asked Nigerian Government to, “immediate release Kanu unconditionally” and pay him adequate compensations for the arbitrary violation of his fundamental human rights.

It also recommended that Government officials responsible for the torture meted to the IPOB Leader be investigated and punished.
The UN body further directed Nigeria to report back within six months of the transmission of its opinions on Kanu’s matter, steps taken to comply with all the recommendations thereof.
It referred the case of Kanu’s torture to Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for further consideration
The UN Working Group also threatened to take further action to ensure the recommendations are complied with, noting that both Nigeria and Kenya are signatories to the Convention and should comply.
The 16-page report dated July 20, 2022 was adopted on April 4 by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 93rd session, held between March 30 – April 8, 2022.
The unedited version of the document sighted by Vanguard, was marked:”Opinion No. 25/2022 concerning Mr. Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Kenny Okwu-Kanu (Nigeria and Kenya).
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was established in resolution 1991/42 of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
In accordance with its methods of work, the Working Group, on December 30, 2021, transmitted to the Nigeria and Kenya Governments, a communication concerning
Mr. Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Kenny Okwu-Kanu.
According to the report, Nigeria replied to the communication on 25 January 2022 while the Government of Kenya did not reply.
Both countries are parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Working Group said in the report that Kanu was a victim of State persecution as Nigeria failed to provide convincing explanations with proof that he is guilty of treason and other criminal allegations levelled against him.
“Noting the failure of the Government to explain what actions of Mr. Kanu amounted
to such criminal acts and how, and observing the lack of any evidence that any of his actions may in fact amount to such crimes, the Working Group concludes that Mr. Kanu is in fact being persecuted for the peaceful exercise of his rights, most notably his freedom of opinion and expression.
“In the present case, the Government of Nigeria has presented no exceptions permitted under article 19 (3) of the Covenant nor is there any evidence to suggest that Mr. Kanu’s exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression was anything but peaceful.
” In fact, the Government has chosen not to provide any explanation for the arrest, detention and subsequent proceedings against Mr. Kanu. In these circumstances, the Working Group concludes that Mr. Kanu’s detention is thus arbitrary under category II”, UN Working Group said.

The Working Group also said there was no evidence that International laws were observed in the arrest and rendition of Kanu from Kenya.
The 16-page dossier read in part: “In the present case, Mr. Kanu was not furnished with an arrest warrant by Nigerian
authorities nor was he promptly informed of the grounds for his arrest in Nigeria.
Consequently, the Working Group finds that Mr. Kanu’s continued deprivation of liberty
violates his rights under articles 3 and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article
9 of the Covenant, and principles 2, 4, and 10 of the Body of Principles and constitutes
arbitrary detention under category I.”
“Turning to the uncontested allegations that following his rendition to Nigeria,
Mr. Kanu remained in pre-trial detention with his trial having been scheduled to commence
in January 2022, the Working Group recalls that it is a well-established norm of international law that pre-trial detention should be the exception rather than the rule, and should be ordered for the shortest time possible. Put differently, liberty is recognised under article 9 (3) of the Covenant as the core consideration with detention merely as an exception.
“Therefore, detention pending trial must be based on an individualised determination that it is reasonable and necessary for such purposes as to prevent flight, interference with evidence or the recurrence of crime. Such determination was not carried out in the present case, in violation of Mr. Kanu’s rights under article 9 (3) of the Covenant.
“Further, in accordance with article 9 (3) of the Covenant, an arrested person is to be
brought before a judge within 48 hours.27 This was not satisfied in the case of Mr. Kanu and
the Working Group therefore finds a violation of articles 3 and 9 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, article 9 (3) of the Covenant and principles 11, 37 and 38 of the Body of
Principles.
“Furthermore, in order to establish that a detention is indeed legal, anyone detained has
the right to challenge the legality of his or her detention before a court, as guaranteed by
article 9 (4) of the Covenant. The Working Group wishes to recall that according to the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Remedies and Procedures on the Rights of Anyone Deprived of their Liberty to Bring Proceedings before a Court, the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention before a court is a self-standing human right, which is essential to preserve legality in a democratic society.

“This right, which is in fact a peremptory norm of international law, applies to all forms of deprivation of liberty, 29 to “all situations of
deprivation of liberty, including not only to detention for purposes of criminal proceedings but also to situations of detention under administrative and other fields of law, including military detention, security detention, detention under counter-terrorism measures”.
“Moreover, it also applies “irrespective of the place of detention or the legal terminology used in the legislation. Any form of deprivation of liberty on any ground must be subject to
effective oversight and control by the judiciary. This was also denied to Mr. Kanu, thus, violating his right under article 9 (4) of the Covenant.
“Finally, turning to Mr. Kanu’s pre-trial detention in Nigeria, the Working Group
recalls that according to international human rights law, in particular article 9 (3) of the
Covenant, any person detained while awaiting trial is entitled to trial within a reasonable
time, or otherwise shall be released. Article 14 (3) (c) of the Covenant also guarantees the
right of anyone charged with a criminal offence to be tried without undue delay. In the
absence of a substantive response from the Government of Nigeria, the Working Group finds no legitimate grounds for the delays in the trials against Mr. Kanu.
“Consequently, the Working Group finds that the Government of Nigeria failed to
establish a legal basis for the detention of Mr. Kanu. His detention is thus arbitrary under
category I.”
The UN Working Group said that both the Nigerian and Kenyan Governments should take responsibility for Kanu’s rights violations.
“The Working Group wishes once again to underscore the collusion between the
Governments of Kenya and Nigeria in the rendition of Mr. Kanu and reiterates that both
Governments bear joint responsibility for any violations of Mr. Kanu’s rights in Kenya and
Nigeria.

“The Working Group has already established in its discussion of the detention of Mr. Kanu in Kenya that he was arrested and detained due to the peaceful exercise of his rights (see paras 52-54 above). The Working Group notes that the source has argued the same in relation to Mr. Kanu’s arrest, detention and trial proceedings in Nigeria. Notably, the
Government of Nigeria has chosen not to address the substance of these allegations.
“The Working Group notes that it is not contested that Mr. Kanu is accused of the crime of conspiracy to commit a treasonable felony through an agreement with others to be broadcast from London, in view of the establishment of a Biafran sovereignty. The source notes that, while treason consists of “levying war” against Nigeria under Nigerian law, the Federal Government of Nigeria does not allege any action implicating Mr. Kanu in the contemplation, planning, or incitement of war against Nigeria. The source argues that
Mr. Kanu was in fact advocating for a peaceful referendum for the establishment of a Biafran
sovereignty, in conformity with international and other relevant laws.
“The Working Group recalls that freedom of opinion and expression, as expressed in article 19 of the Covenant, is an indispensable condition for the full development of the person. It is essential for any society and constitutes the foundation stone for every free and democratic society. It also recalls that freedom of expression includes the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, and that this right includes the expression and receipt of communications of every form of idea and opinion capable of transmission to others, including political
opinions.
“by
Mr. Kanu to be represented by lawyers of his choice, including an international counsel,
the Government denied Mr. Kanu’s right to legal assistance at all times, which is inherent in the right to liberty and security of the person as well as the right to a fair and public hearing
by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, in accordance with articles 3, 9, 10 and 11 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 14 of the
Covenant, articles 37 (b) and (d) and 40 (2) (b) (ii) and principles 15, 17 and 18 of the Body
of Principles and principles 1, 5, 7, 8, 21 and 22 of the Basic Principles on the Role of
Lawyers.
“The Working Group is also disturbed by the source’s report of the treatment of
Mr. Kanus’s lawyers and recalls its jurisprudence highlighting that such treatment of lawyers is entirely unacceptable and violates articles 10 and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as article 14 (3) (b) of the Covenant.41 It is the legal and positive duty of the State to protect everyone on its territory or under its jurisdiction against any human rights violation and to provide remedy whenever a violation still occurs.
“The Working Group also considers that Mr. Kanu’s presumption of innocence was
violated as the Department surrounded the court complex with an array of armed forces,
creating an atmosphere of intimidation and danger (see para. 9), a submission which the
Government has chosen not to contest. The Working Group recalls that defendants should
not be presented to the court in a manner indicating that they may be dangerous criminals, as this also undermines the presumption of innocence.The Working Group finds a breach of article 14 (2) of the Covenant.
“Further, according to the source and uncontested by the Government, following his
rendition to Nigeria, Mr. Kanu was detained in solitary confinement within the headquarters
of the Department in Abuja, Nigeria. He is reportedly currently still held in a very small cell where he is exposed to daily psychological and mental torture without access to other inmates or any other person except for the Department officers. Mr. Kanu is also allegedly denied access to reading or writing materials and has been refused access to professional medical care despite a serious heart ailment.
“The source reports that Mr. Kanu’s life is in jeopardy and that he suffers from a medical condition occasioned by gradual depletion of potassium in his system, which has defied any medical solution given to him within the Department facilities.

“The Working Group is seriously concerned about the treatment to which Mr. Kanu
has been subjected. Especially noting its finding that Mr. Kanu was subjected to
extraordinary rendition as well as his treatment prior to that, the Working Group considers it unlikely that Mr. Kanu would have been able to effectively assist with and participate in his own defence during the proceedings against him, and that such treatment roceedings against him, rendering them inherently unfair and unjust, in violation of article 14 of the Covenant. For all the reasons above, the Working Group finds that the fair trial rights and procedural guarantees of Mr. Kanu under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Covenant and other relevant human rights standards, were not observed and that such violations are of such gravity as to render Mr. Kanu’s detention arbitrary under category III.”
The UN Working Group said Nigeria also failed to disprove that Kanu was a victim of political persecution.
“Mr. Kanu is an activist and the leader of the organisation Indigenous People of Biafra,
which he founded in 2012. The source alleges that the Government of Nigeria is targeting
Mr. Kanu due to his political expression, in particular, due to his membership in a group
politically opposed to the Nigerian Government on the question of Biafra, his widely published criticism of the Government, and his work with and advocacy for the Indigenous People of Biafra. The Government has chosen not to address these allegations.
“The Working Group finds that Mr. Kanu has indeed been targeted by the Government
as a human rights defender on account of his freedom of opinion and expression as well as
his position regarding the sovereignty of Biafra. As Mr. Kanu has been targeted on account of his activism in galvanising momentum for a referendum on the sovereignty of Biafra, the Working Group considers that his detention violates articles 2 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2 (1) and 26 of the Covenant, and is arbitrary under category V.
Concluding remarks: “The Working Group wishes to record its very serious concern for the well-being of
Mr. Kanu, who, according to the source and uncontested by the Government of Nigeria,
remains in solitary confinement since his arbitrary detention in Nigeria on 29 June 2021. He has been denied medical treatment and medication for his heart condition. The Working Group recalls that prolonged solitary confinement in excess of 15 consecutive days is prohibited under rules 43(1)(b) and 44 of the Mandela Rules.
“The Working Group is also obliged to remind the Government of Nigeria that in accordance with article 10 of the
Covenant, all persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and with respect to the inherent dignity of the human person and that denial of medical assistance constitutes a violation of the Nelson Mandela Rules, rules 24, 25, 27 and 30 in particular.
” According to the source, throughout Mr. Kanu’s detention in Kenya and transfer to
Nigeria, no family members knew about his location or could access him, and Mr. Kanu was not permitted to contact his family during this detention. These allegations have not been contested by either Governments. The Working Group stresses that, under international human rights law, all detained and imprisoned individuals have the right to communicate and be visited by their families.
“The right to receive visits applies to all detainees, “regardless of the offence of which they are suspected or accused.” Under Principle 19 of the Body of Principles, this right could be subject only to conditions and restrictions that are appropriate to a legitimate aim. Neither Governments have argued that the restrictions placed on Mr. Kanu’s contact with his family conformed with this requirement. As a result, the Working Group finds that the restrictions placed on Mr. Kanu’s contact with his family violated his right to contact with the outside world under rules 43 (3) and 58 (1) of the Nelson Mandela Rules and principles 15 and 19 of the Body of Principles.
“Noting the treatment to which Mr. Kanu has been subjected at the hands of both
Kenyan and Nigerian authorities as well as his continued solitary confinement, the Working
Group refers this case to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for further consideration.
“The Working Group also wishes to reemphasize its very serious concern over the
apparent collusion between the Governments of Kenya and Nigeria in this case and reiterates its findings that both Governments are jointly responsible for the violations of Mr. Kanu’s rights in both jurisdictions. The present Opinion concerns solely the treatment and rights of Mr. Kanu and is sposition
“In the light of the foregoing, the Working Group renders the following opinion:
In relation to Kenya and Nigeria.

The deprivation of liberty of Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Kenny Okwu-Kanu, being in
contravention of articles 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and articles 2, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19 and 26 of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls within Categories I, II, III and V.
“The Working Group requests the Governments of Kenya and Nigeria to take the steps necessary to remedy the situation of Mr. Kanu without delay and bring it into conformity with the relevant international norms, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
” The Working Group considers that, taking into account all the circumstances of the
case, the appropriate remedy would be for the Government of Nigeria to release Mr. Kanu
immediately and for both Governments to accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.
” In the current context of the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the threat that it poses in places of detention, the Working Group calls upon the Government of Nigeria to take urgent action to ensure the immediate unconditional release of Mr. Kanu.
”