So @officialEFCC pulled up to my house with 3 men with guns and some with sticks and hammers lol, they broke my back door while I was sleeping on the bed with my 6month old daughter, imagine I had a panic attack Cz of my health issues…. Is this not a crime ?
They hit my producer with a stick on his leg imagine @officialEFCC una father ! You guys are a criminal organizations..it’s sad the kind of power you are given.. that’s why you’re abusing it… enikure
God go purnish una @officialEFCC I am not a criminal , I have never don fraud in my life , you came in with guns to oppress me in front of my daughter and her mother & my staffs. you will never prosper in anything you do as long as you’re efcc staff! You will always be a failure
I don’t even believe in the Justice system of nigeria Cz it’s all lies .. who you wan report to for nigeria … they are all the same and they are together
My hate for @officialEFCC just began … why do you operate at night.. is armed robbery part of your job description because I need explanation… truth is who you wan report to Cz nothing works in this country ! They only know how to abuse power
This my 6 month old wey no let me sleep wey I finally come put to sleep.. them con wake am…. Useless agency @officialEFCC with your ugly faces
They said they got an intel that I’m into fraud lol. They said it’s a routine check That’s all and they found nothing
I can boldly say today with what I’ve witnessed!! @officialEFCC don’t care about naija like that Cz they would be professionals if they do.. they are actually after the lives of young people like me and to think that I’m against fraud is shocking it happened to me
I can’t even remember the last time I was this angry and scared in my life … @officialEFCC I hate you with every thing in my spirit and soul…I’ll always be against this organization from now hence forth
Imagine this useless @officialEFCC people telling me “you know how many artiste I don out for jail” una papa @officialEFCC Bleep you
I can never forget the look on my daughters face and how scared she looks …. Una Dey mad @officialEFCC una papa
To a great extent it will explain all the missing Vaginas and joysticks in Lokoja, Ilorin, Abuja, etc
Here is a Quick summarized read on what the medical Condition 'KORO' is.
So KORO is a Psychological condition in which the person believes that their genitals is shrinking or disappearing.
Usually the person believes their sexual organs are vanishing and it becomes so bad that it can cause severe anxiety or even depression to the person.
Usually it usually related to Culture or a particular group of people (culture bound) especially people who are open to believing in Sexual related myths
In men, they could believe their penis is disappearing. Women can even perceive their breast is vanishing.
If you look at the news of disappearing vaginas and joysticks...they seem to come from a similar region and culture which perpetuates it, and can blame it on people who end up accepting they are responsible.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has expressed concern over the rejection of corps members by some employers in the North-East region.
The NYSC director in charge of the zone, Garinvwa Ishaya, stated this at a one-day corps employers’ forum, on Monday in Yola.
The theme of the workshop is: “Deepening Corps Employers Participation towards Improved Welfare And Security of Corps Members”.
He said the trend was discouraging to the corps members and the scheme, adding that they should be accorded enabling environments in their places of primary assignment to contribute to the social and economic development of the country.
“The scheme was established to add value to our socio-economic development as a nation and it has made tremendous impact in further uniting the country.
“We passionately appeal to the employers to always accept corps members deployed to their organisations for prosperity of the scheme and the nation at large.
“Employers are expected to make statutory welfare provisions for corps members to cover their transportation and accommodation,” he said.
He, therefore, urged state governments to provide decent accommodation for the corps members and sought the support of local council chairmen towards promoting the objectives of the scheme.
Earlier, the NYSC state coordinator in Adamawa, said the forum would enable the participants to brainstorm and exchange ideas on implementing its mandate as well as get feedback on the scheme.
The NYSC North-East zonal office is supervising Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Yobe and Borno.
Today, we celebrate a seasoned officer, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training Department, DIG Frank Mba, who has dedicated his career to the service and safety of our great nation. His contributions, as a former Force Spokesperson, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, and his contributions as a member of the Force Management Team, representing the South Eastern region have been invaluable.
May this new year bring you more success, good health, and happiness. Your commitment to duty and leadership inspire us all. Happy birthday DIG Frank Mba 🥳🧁
Cairo official says Israel focused on West Bank instead of Gaza; Egypt’s spy chief said to warn PM of ‘terrible operation,’ Netanyahu’s office denies
Mounting questions over Israel’s massive intelligence failure to anticipate and prepare for a surprise Hamas assault were compounded Monday when an Egyptian intelligence official said that Jerusalem had ignored repeated warnings that the Gaza-based terror group was planning “something big” — which included an apparent direct notice from Cairo’s intelligence minister to the prime minister.
The Egyptian official said Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had spoken repeatedly with the Israelis about “something big,” without elaborating.
He said Israeli officials were focused on the West Bank and played down the threat from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is made up of supporters of West Bank settlers who have demanded a security crackdown there in the face of a rising tide of violence over the last 18 months.
"We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the content of sensitive intelligence discussions with the media, told The Associated Press.
In one of the said warnings, Egypt’s Intelligence Minister General Abbas Kamel personally called Netanyahu only 10 days before the massive attack that Gazans were likely to do “something unusual, a terrible operation,” according to the Ynet news site.
Unnamed Egyptian officials told the site they were shocked by Netanyahu’s indifference to the news and said the premier told the minister the military was “submerged” in troubles in the West Bank.
The Prime Minister’s Office denied the reports in a statement Monday, claiming they were a “complete lie.”
“No early message came from Egypt and the prime minister did not speak or meet with the intelligence chief since the establishment of the government — not indirectly or directly. This is completely fake news,” the statement read.
However, Israel was not only ignoring clear warnings from its allies.
For Palestinians in Gaza, Israel’s eyes are never very far away. Surveillance drones buzz constantly in the skies. The highly secured border is awash with security cameras and soldiers on guard. Intelligence agencies work sources and cyber capabilities to draw out information.
But Israel’s eyes appeared to have been closed in the lead-up to the surprise onslaught by the Hamas terror group, which broke through Israeli border barriers and sent hundreds of terrorists into Israel to carry out a brazen attack that killed over 700 people and wounded over 2,000.
Israel’s intelligence agencies have gained an aura of invincibility over the decades because of a string of achievements. Israel has foiled plots seeded in the West Bank, allegedly hunted down Hamas operatives in Dubai and has been accused of killing Iranian nuclear scientists in the heart of Iran. Even when their efforts have stumbled, agencies like the Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence have maintained their mystique.
But the weekend’s assault, which caught Israel off guard on a major Jewish holiday, plunges that reputation into doubt and raises questions about the country’s readiness in the face of a weaker but determined foe. Over 48 hours after the start of the attack, Hamas terrorists continued to battle Israeli forces inside Israeli territory, and over 100 Israelis were in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
“This is a major failure,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “This operation actually proves that the [intelligence] abilities in Gaza were no good.”
Amidror declined to offer an explanation for the failure, saying lessons must be learned when the dust settles.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, acknowledged the army owes the public an explanation. But he said now is not the time. “First, we fight, then we investigate,” he said.
Some say it is too early to pin the blame solely on an intelligence failure. They point to a wave of low-level violence in the West Bank that shifted some military resources there and the political chaos roiling the country over steps by Netanyahu’s far-right government to overhaul the judiciary. The controversial plan has threatened the cohesion of the IDF, seen as the people’s army.
But the apparent lack of prior knowledge of Hamas’s plot will likely be seen as a prime culprit in the chain of events that led to the deadliest attack against Israelis in decades.
Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, stripping it of a close handle on the happenings in the territory. But even after Hamas overran Gaza in 2007, Israel appeared to maintain its edge, using technological and human intelligence.
It claimed to know the precise locations of Hamas leadership and appeared to prove it through the targeted killing of terror leaders in surgical strikes, sometimes while they slept in their bedrooms. Israel has known where to strike underground tunnels used by Hamas to ferry around fighters and arms, destroying miles (kilometers) of the concealed passageways.
Despite those abilities, Hamas was able to keep its plan under wraps. The ferocious attack, which likely took months of planning and meticulous training and involved coordination among multiple terror groups, appeared to have gone under Israel’s intelligence radar.
Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general, said that without a foothold inside Gaza, Israel’s security services have come to rely increasingly on technological means to gain intelligence. He said terrorists in Gaza have found ways to evade that technological intelligence gathering, giving Israel an incomplete picture of their intentions.
“The other side learned to deal with our technological dominance and they stopped using technology that could expose it,” said Avivi, who served as a conduit for intelligence materials under a former military chief of staff. Avivi is president and founder of Israel Defense and Security Forum, a hawkish group of former military commanders.
“They’ve gone back to the Stone Age,” he said, explaining that terrorists weren’t using phones or computers and were conducting their sensitive business in rooms specially guarded from technological espionage or going underground.
In Joint Military Drill, Palestinian Factions In Gaza Simulate Rocket Attacks On Israel, Takeover Of West Bank Israeli Military Outpost, Attack On Israeli Tank
Gaza militants practice kidnapping Israeli soldiers in a video posted on December 30, 2022, to the Telegram account of the Joint Operations Room of the Resistance Factions. The military drill, which took place on December 28, involved a simulated attack on an Israeli military base, which concludes in the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier.
Hamas built a mock Israeli town in Gaza and practiced its attack in plain sight — but Israel didn't react, report says
The Palestinian militant group Hamas built a mock Israeli town in Gaza and practiced attacking in plain sight — but Israel didn't react, Reuters reported on Sunday.
Hamas militants launched a surprise offensive on Israel on Saturday, in what has been described as the worst breach in Israel's defenses in decades.
The attack followed a careful campaign of deception by Hamas that ensured Israel was caught off guard over the weekend, an unnamed source, with connections to the group, told Reuters.
Despite convincing Israel that they had no interest in war, Hamas militants were practicing for the offensive in plain sight by setting up a mock Israeli settlement in Gaza to train its fighters.
Gaza is a narrow strip of land wedged between Israel and Egypt, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2006.
The Hamas militants used the town to practice a military landing and train how to storm it, the report said. As per the source, they even made videos of the maneuvers to study them.
"Israel surely saw [the videos], but they were convinced that Hamas wasn't keen on getting into a confrontation," the source told Reuters.
"Hamas was able to build a whole image that it was not ready for a military adventure against Israel," they added.
It is unclear whether Israel was aware of the settlement at all. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
In the years leading up to the attack, Hamas fighters wanted to give the impression that they were war-weary and more concerned about ensuring that workers in Gaza had access to jobs in Israel.
"Hamas used an unprecedented intelligence tactic to mislead Israel over the last months, by giving a public impression that it was not willing to go into a fight or confrontation with Israel while preparing for this massive operation," the source told Reuters.
Since the attacks over the weekend, Israel conceded that it was duped by Hamas.
Major Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces said over the weekend: "This is our 9/11. They got us."
"They surprised us and they came fast from many spots — both from the air and the ground and the sea," he added.
More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its attacks.
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said he had ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip: "No electricity, no food, no fuel."
Authorities name 44 soldiers, 34 police officers killed in Hamas attack
*Col. Jonathan Steinberg, commander of Nahal Brigade; Col. Roi Levy, 44, commander of 'Ghost' Unit, are among the most senior officers to be killed in combat in recent memory
The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday published the names of 26 soldiers killed during fighting with Hamas terrorists on the border with the Gaza Strip during the past day.
Meanwhile, the Israel Police listed 30 officers who were killed confronting the terrorists.
At least 300 people were killed Saturday as Hamas terrorists in Gaza launched a war on Israel, infiltrating towns, rampaging through military positions, shooting travelers dead on roads and in their homes, and firing thousands of rockets at a wide swath of the country in a shocking assault. Terrorists also dragged dozens of soldiers and civilians into Gaza, where they are currently being held hostage.
Officials were still not certain of the total number of soldiers killed, along with the numbers of those taken captive in Gaza.
The IDF dead include:
Col. Jonathan Steinberg, 42, the commander of the Nahal Brigade.
Steinberg was killed Saturday morning during clashes with Hamas terrorists in the Kerem Shalom area near the border with the Gaza Strip, the military said.
Steinberg, from the southern town of Shomria, was en route to the site of clashes being managed by his subordinates when he was killed by a terrorist in an encounter.
IDF Lt. Col. Sahar Machluf, 36, the commander of the 481st Signal Battalion, from Modiin. (IDF)
Col. Roi Levy, 44, the commander of the Multidomain Unit, also known as the “Ghost” Unit, from Shavei Tzion
Levy was killed as his forces battled Hamas terrorists in the southern community of Re’im.
The IDF said he “led his team bravely, engaged [the terrorists], and was first into the battle in Kibbutz Re’im, in order to save citizens who were besieged in their homes.
Some 10 Palestinian terrorists were killed in the exchange, the IDF said.
He, along with Steinberg, is one of the most senior Israeli officers to have been killed in combat in recent memory.
Lt. Col. Sahar Machluf, 36, the commander of the 481st Signal Battalion, from Modiin. Maj. Chen Buchris, 26, the deputy commander of Maglan, from Ashdod. Cpt. Adir Ovadi, 23, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Modiin. Cpt. Yotam Ben Bassat, 24, a commander in the Multidomain Unit, from Bat Hefer. Lt. Or Moses, 22, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Ashdod. Lt. Yiftah Yaabetz, 23, a commander in Maglan, from Ramat Hasharon. Lt. Menashe Yoav Maliev, 19, an officer in the 7th Armored Brigade, from Kiryat Ono. Lt. Or Yosef Ran, 29, a commander in Duvdevan, from Itamar. Lt. (res.) Ido Edri, 24, an infantry officer, from Givaton. 2nd Lt. Adar Ben Simon, 20, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Neve Ziv. 2nd Lt. Yanai Kaminka, 20, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Tzur Hadassah. Sgt. First Class Amir Fisher, 22, a Duvdevan soldier, from Tel Aviv. Staff Sgt. Ofir Tzioni, 21, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Yokne’am Illit.
Lt. Or Yosef Ran, 29, a commander in the Duvdevan unit who was killed in the fighting in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy) Lt. Or Yosef Ran, 29, a commander in the Duvdevan unit who was killed in the fighting in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy) Staff Sgt. Omri Niv Feirstein, 20, a Home Front Command soldier, from Givatayim. Staff Sgt. Yuval Ben Yaakov, 21, a soldier in the 7th Armored Brigade, from Kfar Menahem. Staff Sgt. Ido Harush, a soldier in the 7th Armored Brigade, from Mitspe Ramon. Sgt. Or Asto, 21, a logistics NCO in Golani, from Beersheba. Sgt. Ofek Rosental, 20, a Maglan soldier, from Kfar Menahem. Sgt. Eden Alon Levi, 19, a commander in the Home Front Command, from Nirit. Cpl. Dvir Lisha, 21, a Golani soldier, from Nitzan. Cpl. Guy Bazak, 19, a Golani soldier, from Givatayim. Cpl. Netanel Yang, 20, a Golani soldier from Tel Aviv. Cpl. Adi Gurman, 19, a Unit 414 soldier. Pvt. Neria Aharon Nagiri, 18, a Home Front Command soldier, from Talmon. Pvt. Naama Buni, 19, a soldier in the 7th Armored Brigade. Lt. Col. Yonatan Tzur, 33, the commander of the Nahal Reconnaissance Battalion, from Kedumim Maj. Avraham Hovlashvili , 26, an officer in Carcal, from Ashdod Maj. Ido Yehoshua, 27, an Israeli Air Force instructor Maj. (res.) Omri Michaeli, 35, a Duvdevan soldier, from Nes Tziona Cpt. Arye Shlomo Tsering, 27, an Oketz officer, from Raanana Lt. Shoham Tomer, 23, a Nahal officer, from Srigim Lt. Itay Maor, 23, a Golani officer, from Rosh Haayin Lt. Rom Shlomi, 23, a Shalgad officer, from Ganot Sgt. First Class Vitaly Shipkevich, 21, an Egoz soldier, from Ariel Staff Sgt. Ilay Gamzu, 20, a Paratrooper, from Ashdod Staff Sgt. Ohad Cohen, 20, a Shaldag soldier, from Idan Sgt. Itay-El Marciano, 20, a Paratrooper, from Shoham Cpl. Itamar Ayish, 19, a Home Front Command soldier, from Kiryat Gat Cpl. Ori Looker, 19, a Golani soldier, from Pardes Hana-Karkur Cpl. Yaron Zahar, 19, a Golani soldier, from Kiryat Ata Pvt. Ofir Davidian, 18, a logistics soldier in the Home Front Command, from Patish Cpt. Tal Grushka, 25, a Nahal officer, from Kfar Saba
The names and ranks of 32 Israel Police officers who died in combat yesterday were also released.
In a statement, the force said officers and soldiers “stood fiercely at the front of the battle against the enemy.”
They are:
Chief Superintendent Ge-ar Davidov, commander of the Rahat station Chief Superintendent Yitzhak Bazuka Shvili, commander of the Segev Shalom station Superintendent Vadim Blich, a commander in the coordination of enforcement operations unit Superindentent Martin Kozmichekis, commander in the coordination of enforcement operations unit Superintendent Shlomo Moshe El, officer in the Yamam counter-terror unit Superintendent Nisim Lugasi, deputy commander of a Magav unit Superintendent Amin Ohonadov, squad commander in the Yoav unit Chief Inspector Stas Shainkman, a member of the Yamam counter-terror unit Inspector Andrei Poshivi, town station patrol officer Inspector Alexei Shamkov, officer in the Yamam counter-terror unit Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Meir Abragil, Sderot station investigation coordinator Sergeant Major Chen Nahmias, sniper in the Yamam counter-terror unit
Staff Sergeant Elina Astafniko, town patrol Ofakim, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Staff Sergeant Elina Astafniko, town patrol Ofakim, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Advanced Staff Sergeant Alec Pozniakov, detective Magen unit, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Advanced Staff Sergeant Alec Pozniakov, detective Magen unit, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Sergeant Major Roman Gendel, instructor in the Lotar counter-terror unit Sergeant Major Yehuda Kedar, non-commisioned officer Border Police officer at the Eshkol Ein Habsor station
Advanced Staff Sergeant Alon Barad, investigator in Rahat station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Advanced Staff Sergeant Alon Barad, investigator in Rahat station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Deputy superintendent Yitzhak Bazooka Shvili, commander Regev Shalom station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) Deputy superintendent Yitzhak Bazooka Shvili, commander Regev Shalom station, southern region, killed in action on October 7, 2023 (Israel Police) First Sergeant Melik Karim, investigator at the Beersheba station First Sergeant Yoram Eliyahu Cohen, fighter in the Yamam counter-terror unit First Sergeant Dvora Avraham, a patrolwoman at the Ofakim station Staff Sergeant Major Dror Elton, sapper in the Yamam counter-terror unit Staff Sergeant Yaakov Shlomo Karsninski, fighter in the undercover police unit Sgt. First Class Avi Buzaglo, detective at the Rahat station Sgt. First Class Michael Lizmi, detective at the Beersheba station Sgt. First Class Shai El Knafo, town patrol in police’s Southern District Staff Sergeant Elina Astafniko, town patrol at the Ofakim station Corporal Ravit Hana Assiyag, Border Police officer in police’s Southern District
The Shin Bet also named five members and retirees killed during the Hamas attack.
Yossi Tahar, 39, Maor Shalom 46, and Amir Wax, 48, were killed when Hamas terrorists attacked southern towns; and Ili Nahman, 23, and Ido Edri, 24, were killed when terrorists attacked an outdoor rave near Re’im.
Aside from soldiers and police, civilians, young rave-goers mowed down as they fled through fields of yellowing grass, residents of kibbutzim and towns overrun by Hamas gunmen, a local politician killed trying to defend homes, an emergency rescuer and firemen, elderly Israelis at a bus stop, workers and holiday-makers traveling on normally peaceful roads, young children pulverized by rockets.
As gun battles continued early Sunday morning, only a few names of the dead had been released.
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists reportedly kidnapped over 30 farmers in the early hours of Saturday in the Chikuri community of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A resident, Dogara Peter, who confirmed the sad incident to The PUNCH on Saturday, said his mother and his sister were among the victims.
According to him, the victims were abducted while working on Maikudi’s Farms.
Peter noted, “Our community has been thrown into confusion as we have yet to establish any contact with the abductors.
Peter noted, “Our community has been thrown into confusion as we have yet to establish any contact with the abductors.
“We want the security agencies and the government to swing into action and ensure our people return safely.
Peter lamented that this was the third time people were kidnapped in his family, noting that it has crippled their family economically.
“We have nowhere to raise money for any ransom, the whole community is traumatised by this sad situation. Our last hope lies in the security agencies and the government”, Peter added.
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, did not respond to calls put to him by our correspondent as of the time of filling this report.
Dash, the Ghanaian fintech has shuttered after a tumultuous run. The company did not achieve its vision to solve cross border payments for Africans by connecting mobile money wallets.
Dash, the Ghanaian fintech company with a mission to connect mobile money wallets and bank accounts across Africa, has confirmed that it is shutting down operations. The startup’s closure was first reported by WeeTracker
Dash was founded in 2019 by Prince Boakye Boampong, and investors were excited by the problem the startup wanted to solve. Dash was working to ensure interoperability between mobile money wallets and bank accounts across Africa; its solution would have made sending money across Africa easy and efficient.
The startup raised $86.1 million in five years and attracted big-name investors. It raised $32.8 million in a seed round—the second largest seed round for an African startup—in 2021. Insight Partners led the round and other investors, like Global Founders Capital, 4DX Ventures and ASK Capital, participated. It went on to raise additional funding with convertible notes and debt financing from October 2021 to 2022.
In 2021, Dash began sharing eye-popping growth numbers. Per one publication, Dash claimed to have processed transactions worth $1 billion and said it had acquired a million users from Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. Those numbers represented a 5x increase in its users in only five months.
In February, at least two publications reported suspicions about Dash’s user numbers and metrics, and later that same month, Prince Boakye Boampong was suspended as CEO. Internal audits of Dash’s numbers proved that Boampong misrepresented and exaggerated user numbers. He was eventually fired and replaced by Kenneth Kinshua.
New reporting suggests that the damage was already done by the time Kenneth Kinshua became CEO. The publication claimed that upon another audit of the company’s account, there was a shortfall of at least $25 million that was unaccounted for. With a reported burn rate of $500,000 per month and no revenue, Dash’s primary problem appeared to be its high overhead, as it had operations across five countries.
As reported by WeeTracker, Boampong was earning $50,000 per month and allegedly diverted at least $8 million. There are claims that the money was used to buy property and luxury cars. Boampong has not spoken publicly about any of the allegations.
The leadership and members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have unanimously appointed Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo as the acting chairman of Zone 2 of the union.
The union pleaded with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to reinstate the activities of NURTW in their states, which will afford them the opportunity to nominate candidates for the national president of the union zoned to Southwest.
The union during the Zonal Conference held yesterday at Zone 2 Council Secretariat, Plot 12/13, Dagbolu Layout, Ikirun Road, Osogbo, announced Akinsanya as acting chairman of the zone pending the time when election would be held later this month.
The Federal Government Thursday began opening bids from 47 companies for the supply of 1.25 million electricity smart meters funded by the World Bank’s $155 million loan.
The bid opening is part of the Federal Government’s National Mass Metering Programme started in 2021 with the supply of one million meters in “phase -0”. The phase-1 of the project however failed to kick-off as the N200 billion funds expected from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, failed to materialise.
This prompted the World Bank intervention of a $500 million loan for the phase-2 with the balance $345 million going directly to the electricity distribution companies, DisCos, to fund the expansion of the distribution networks across the country.
Speaking at the opening of the bids in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Veihejen expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to provide meters for all electricity customers and estimated billing in the Nigerian electricity market.
According to her, “The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to delivering reliable and cleaner electricity to Nigerian people and businesses. We are embarking on reforms that will improve the performance of Distribution Companies as we continue our trajectory to cost reflective tariffs. In the first step to fulfilling our campaign promise to end estimated billing, we are launching phase two of the ambitious National Mass Metering Programme.
“The phase involves procuring 1.2 million pre-paid meters, with the procurement process set to begin this month, ending estimated billing which Nigerians have complained about for decades and ensuring cost reflective tariff etc”, Veihejen stated.
Also speaking on the programme, the Assistant General Manager, World Bank PIU, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Engr. Tukur Musa Bamalli, explained that the first set of meters under phase-2 are expected by June next year.
Engr. Bamalli explained that “we are procuring 1.25 million meters funded by the World Bank to supply the smart meters to the eleven distribution companies in order to end estimated billing. The loans became effective in February 2023. The contracts will be signed very soon.
“The NMMP is in three phases, phase 0, 1 and 2. This is under phase 2 of the mass metering programme funded by the World Bank for $155 million”.
He explained that local companies would be given special consideration as they are allowed “to bid up to 15 percent higher than the foreign companies for the lots available”.
He expressed optimism that the entire 1.25 million meters would have all been supplied by the first quarters of 2025.
A Nigerian, Jeremiah Fasipe, has emerged as the President of the Students’ Union at Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom.
According to a statement released by the Representation and Democracy Team, the body that organised the election, Fasipe, who is currently a postgraduate student of Public Relations and Crisis Management, defeated five other candidates with 792 votes and was declared the winner.
Fasipe, also the winner of the Inspirational Individual Award became the 30th president of the university’s SUG.
Speaking with our correspondent on his victory, Fasipe said hard work, resilience and determination saw him through, noting that he has always believed in himself and viewed the victory as a dream come true.
He noted that his emergence as the president was a step toward greater accomplishments, saying that he would use his position to bring about positive change while promoting the image of Nigeria abroad.
He said that he is ready to foster the relationship between the students’ union and the university to improve students’ engagement, academic performance and experience.
“I am so euphoric. This is the result of hard work and determination. I have always dreamt of a day like this and I can’t thank God enough for making me witness this milestone.
“I want to seize this opportunity to improve students’ academic life at Sheffield Hallam University, making sure that students are well represented in every decision regarding their academic needs and uphold all the mandates upon which I am elected,” he assured.
He, however, encouraged the students not to give up on their dreams, but aspire for greatness, saying that experience may not be enough in some cases, but belief and determination should be strength.
He continued, “Despite my growing up in penury, in Kirikiri town, Lagos, Nigeria, I never allowed uncontrollable circumstances to make me relinquish my dreams.
“I want to use this occasion to thank and appreciate all and sundry for their support and encouragement. I wouldn’t have gone this far without them.”
When I wanted to restart my business, I relocated from 2bedroom flat to selfcon In a student environment. Where house was cheap, infact the next year, I returned to my papa house on his request.
Not because I couldn't afford rents, but I had loan obligations to settle then, yes I also took loans, and I still buy credit as a businessman, I didn't buy new clothes from 2017 to 2019, I was washing and rewashing.
My elder brother's did not support me but one gave me one useful advice that I still follow" whatever you don't use frequently" you don't need it.
So I sold one TV to Oguachuba Kingsley, why should I have two when I don't even watch any.
If you are taking loans and buying credit, nwanne, you just need pen and paper to plan your finacial life. Find alternative hubby to anything that eats money off your pocket. If you must knack, find your class, don't compete with careless people.
The world didn't need to know that am in debt until I cleared all, they rather think I am broke. That even helped.
Today I can access credits from anywhere because I am clean, na them dey rush me now sef
A 14-year-old suspected armed robber Gift Peace 'm' has been arrested at Enerhen junction, Warri by operatives of "B" division Warri. He confessed that he has been in the business of armed robbery since he was seven years old. Arrested alongside him are two other suspects namely; Idigbe Osreis 'm' aged 19yrs and Idigbe Perfect 'm' aged 16yrs. Two locally made guns were recovered from them.
Who do we blame, Parents, school, or society?
Source: DSP Bright Edafe PPRO DELTA STATE (Twitter)
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered fintech company, Opay to explain account anomalies Nigerians have identified in the last few days.
As a fintech company, OPay uses users’ mobile numbers as their account numbers because it is a regulated mobile money provider. However, it is not yet obvious how individuals who have not contacted the business to register an account are seeing their number as an OPay account with their full identities.
Recall that social media platform X, is awashed with complaints by Nigerians who claimed their names and phone numbers were used to open an Opay account, without them actually opening the account with the company.
Sharing his ordeal, an X user, @hackSultan wrote, “just checked now and someone, I have an Opay account, same with every member of my family. None of us has ever opened an Opay account. How’s this even legal?”
Another X user, @0sadebame tried this and confirmed that there is an OPay account for her two lines. “It’s quite a discovery. Both my lines have an OPay account registered to them. I’ve never used Opay before, she said.
@Lost_DWTBF, also confirmed this anomaly, when he tweeted that, “I just checked mine and is the same. @OPay_NG, is there a reason why my number is registered when I have never?”
Others were inspired by this to look up their phone number.
You can accomplish this by attempting to send money from another bank app, choosing OPay as the receiving bank, and using your phone number instead of the first “0” digit as the account number.
In his reaction, the chief executive officer, FCCPC, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, called on OPay to explain how this is happening and promised to provide an update.
“OPAY is bound to @fccpcnigeria to address and explain this and other anomalies consumers have identified in the last few days,” he said in his X post while responding to posts on the issue.
Meanwhile, Opay, in its reaction, said: “We are now analysing what happened internally after seeing these tweets yesterday. We ensure that all wallet owners are properly registered. It’s possible that some users have interacted with the platform at some point; but, before we answer, I need to hear from my colleagues and review the results of our inquiry.”
OPay is safe & Secure 🔐, Your funds and accounts are safe with OPay ALWAYS! Kindly ignore fake news and posts.
Thank you for trusting OPay.
@OPay_NG
DISCLAIMER!
Dear esteemed customer,
Our attention has been drawn to a video that resurfaced on some social media platforms (TikTok, Twitter & WhatsApp) regarding alleged fraudulent activities on some OPay Agent accounts. This incident occurred over 2 years ago (August 23, 2021) and we took the right and appropriate actions with the relevant stakeholders to resolve the stated issues. From that point onward, we have periodically educated and sensitized our customers about account data security, encouraging them not to fall victim to malicious information, fraud, and scams.
In order to further protect our users, we have taken significant measures to protect customer data and accounts by continuously upgrading our security system and adding extra layers of security measures such as BVN verification, and Face ID verification. Furthermore, we also provide 24-hour Customer Service to help our customers resolve any issue. We implore our customers and the general public to disregard the video and its content and beware of individuals and groups of people who peddle wrong information.
We wish to reiterate our unwavering commitment to protecting our users from fraudulent activity or scams as customer data protection is our priority. OPay is a leading digital payment platform licensed by the CBN and insured by NDIC with over 40m users, 500,000 agents, and 150,000 merchants in Nigeria and remains committed to providing the best service and user experience to its valued customers.
Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of Interior, has issued a two-week timeline for the processing of the Nigerian passport.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has cleared over 204,000 backlog of passport applications in the last three weeks.
He apologised to Nigerians that the clearance of the backlog had spilled into three weeks as opposed to the two weeks deadline he gave.
“On September 7, we made a promise to sort out the backlogs in two weeks but we made it in three weeks and I sincerely want to apologise to Nigerians for that,” he said.
"The Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu is one that matches its words with actions.
“The issue of passports must be a fight and not a privilege.
“Visa is a privilege but passport is a right and we are happy that today, we have been able to handle over the rights of Nigerians to them.
"For us, we are assured that if it can work in NIS, it can work anywhere else. Nigeria is undergoing a process.
“We inherited 204,332 enrolments without passports being issued. People that had applied and captured. That was the figure and we gave a marching order because the president was also on our necks to bring solutions and succour to Nigerians.
“We went into strategic meetings with the NIS and with the support of our service providers, we were able to increase printing machines to four in passport offices where we had two. Our service providers gave us the machines at no cost.
“The NIS personnel were doing three shifts, working 24/7 to make sure that we cleared the backlogs and to ensure that never again are we going to have backlogs of passport production.
"We want to ensure that nobody waits for more than two weeks to get their passports.
“As of October 1, we had cleared all the 204,332 backlogs and from the records produced by NIS, the number of passport already collected is 91,981. Outstanding but available is 112,351.”
The minister pleaded with Nigerians to go to the NIS offices to collect their passports, adding that they should not pay but report any officials engaged in racketeering.
“Please, do not give money to anybody. If there is any passport office where you have done your capturing and they do not give you your passports, please lodge your complaints via the following; 0802 375 3414, preferably SMS and Whatsapp. Or email aa-ajiboye@yahoo.com.”
Following a viral video that has been trending on various social media platforms vividly showing Railway Staff negotiating with our esteemed passengers on-board Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS) to pay without obtaining official boarding ticket, the General Public is invited to note that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) seriously condemn such act of misconduct which is a flagrant disobedience to laid down rules and utter betrayal of the confidence reposed on such workers, especially at this time that the Federal Government is making all efforts at revitalising and modernising the Corporation.
This misconduct is regrettable and unacceptable as it negates the tenets and norms of the Corporation. The Corporation has therefore placed the identified erring officers on immediate SUSPENSION pending the outcome of the in-depth investigation already on-going by the Management Committee set up to look into the issue.
Our esteemed Passengers and the General Public are assured that this unwholesome attitude and image dent to the Corporation by any staff will not be tolerated nor treated with any levity. Accordingly disciplinary proceedings in line with the Extant Rules citing relevant sections of the NRC General Rules and Public Service Rules (PSR) will definitely be visited on all those found wanting or connected to this irresponsible act.
The Management of NRC wishes to use this medium to enjoin all our intending passengers on LITS and other train corridors to insist and demand for boarding ticket(s) after making appropriate payment at the designated stations or book online appropriately. Please note that the Electronic ticketing system is being deployed and will be available on both the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service and the Warri - Itakpe Train Service (WITS) by the end of OCTOBER 2023.
UNABLE TO RAISE FUNDS INDEPENDENTLY, AFREXIM SHOPS FOR $3B TO FULFILL AGREEMENT WITH NNPC
Laolu Akande New York
Not being a depositors' bank, AFREXIM is unable on its own to raise the $3B loan it agreed to provide to the NNPC Ltd in August, Empowered Newswire can now authoritatively reveal.
The money, - the $3B- it is said in official FG circles, besides supporting NNPCL, is also meant to help with foreign exchange liquidity as a strategy of stabilizing the Naira in the FX market. The NNPCL came up with the idea in what was deemed a brilliant concept just as the Tinubu administration terminated the Dual Foreign Exchange policy two months ago in a bid to sanitise the FX market.
But sources said AFREXIM can only raise $500m by itself and therefore the financial institution-has resorted to seeking out the money as a loan to it from some other global banks in the US, Singapore, India and other parts of the world.
Authoritative sources in New York financial circles confirmed that staff and agents of AFREXIM have been shopping for funds and financial instruments in the US in the last few weeks and discussing raising funds from top notch American Banks like JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup among others.
A member of the Board of one of the banks who pleaded anonymity told Empowered Newswire over the weekend that some of the US banks are raising questions about the strategy of Nigeria using a third party non deposit financial institution and broker. "It raises credibility issues," he said.
He added that Nigeria has top notchers and executives who are Nigerian citizens in the New York financial markets and across the world who could easily provide a more credible and cheaper means to raise the funds for Nigeria. In New York alone there is Mr. Bayo Ogunlesi and Mr. Jide Zeitlin.
While Ogunlesi, an investment banker is currently chairman and managing partner at the private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Zeitlin is the immediate past CEO of Tapestry — parent company of international luxury brands such as Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman.
Outside New York, there is Kase Lawal, a Texas based oil business guru and the chairman of Unity National Bank of Texas.
Besides seeking the funds from US banks, AFREXIM is also reported to be shopping for the money from international oil traders.
But industry watchers here in the US are also concerned that the option of engaging a broker instead of a deposit bank could raise the level of risk involved in the loan since AFREXIM would have it own charges besides those of the eventual financiers it may manage to enlist.
In August, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL), announced it has secured an emergency $3 billion loan from pan-African financial institution, African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank), to improve its services across the entire petroleum value chain.
According to the NNPCL, the loan which will be repaid using a limited amount of future crude oil production – will enable the company to settle taxes and royalties in advance while supporting the Nigerian government to stabilize the local currency from devaluation against global major currencies.
“A strengthened Naira as a result of this initiative will lead to a reduction in fuel cost. This means that if the Naira appreciates in value, the cost of fuel will drop and further increases will be halted,” the NNPC said in its press statement
Afreximbank, a development bank, has a mix of shareholders drawn from public and private entities divided into four classes and consist of African governments, central banks, regional and sub-regional institutions, private investors and financial institutions, as well as non-African financial institutions, export credit agencies and private investors.
The bank, according to public records "provides loans, guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services to sovereigns and private-sector entities. As part of the mandate, it also extends countercyclical loans to assist its member states in tackling negative economic impact of external shocks"
The bank operates in 52 African countries who are among its shareholders. It also has offices in few other parts of the world including the Caribbean Islands.
Unlike other MDBs, however AFREXIM has a profit-driven business model, which focuses on trade finance and most of its loans have fairly short maturity and self-liquidating nature.
On my way to Lagos from Ibadan today, some NRC employees lured us to board the train without tickets. Initially, they acted like they were taking us to the ticket counter only for them to lead us to the Railway without official ticket. They collected cash on transit.
On 02nd October 2023, my friends and I were going back to Lagos after a weekend getaway in Ibadan.
We arrived at the Train Station around 03:40pm. While we were walking to the entrance of Obafemi Awolowo Train Station Ibadan, a uniformed NRC official approached us.
Oh the story did not end there!
When we got to Funmilayo Kuti Station in Abeokuta, people boarded the train but guess what? They sold Coach 7 tickets to them without assigned seat!
These people got onboard and no seat.
It was so embarrassing. I had to let a lady share with me.
I shared this experience on one of the Tourism forums I am part of on WhatsApp and here is what someone shared on the group.
My question is, what did the RDM (Railway District Manager) do about it?
Why is this still a problem after someone has raised the awareness?
Celebrities › Skales Cries Out As EFCC Officials Break Into His House At Night by nlfpmod(mod): 9:05am On Oct 10, 2023
