₦airaland Forum

Taiwojon:
Say no to drug!

Drugs will not save you, Jesus will.

He is the saviour of the world.

iampeterben:
Good for them.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from a statement alleged that it had directed a to sit-at-home on October 18, 19 and 21 for its leader, and one year anniversary of #EndSARS protest.

The group said it did not issue any sit-at-home directive except on October 21 when its leader was expected to appear in court.

In a statement from its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB warned those behind the rumour to retrace their steps and stop tarnishing its image.

The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the fabricated statement being circulated by mischief makers and paid agents of darkness that IPOB had directed Biafrans to sit-at-home Monday, October 18; Tuesday, October 19; and Thursday, October 21 for our leader, and One year anniversary of#EndSARS protest.

“We want to make it categorically clear that the above purported statement did not emanate from IPOB, and we completely dissociate with such falsehood. IPOB did not issue any sit-at-home except on October 21 when our leader is expected to appear in court.

“We, therefore, urge members of the public to ignore the purported statement and utter falsehood being peddled by paid agents of the government to create confusion and demarket IPOB. Their intension is to portray IPOB as a violent and insensitive movement but we know their antics, and shall beat them to it.


“For the sake of clarity, IPOB has not called for any sit-at-home except on Thursday, October 21 when our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will appear in court in Abuja. Biafrans will solidarise with him by staying indoors on that day because we are all in the struggle together. He did nothing to deserve any persecution by the federal government.

“As a responsible and responsive movement, we stopped Monday Sit-at-homes in the interest of our people. When we discovered that hooligans and paid agents of death wanted to hijack the opportunity to unleash mayhem on our people are cleverly blame it on IPOB, we stopped it. So, anybody sitting at home on Mondays does so out of ones volition and not on the orders of IPOB.


“We also urge the general public to ignore the fake news that our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been taken away by foreign government.”

Traplord09:
The United Nations World Food Programme has said the agency may soon cut its food rations to women and children in the Boko Haram-ravaged North-Eastern region of Nigeria.

Chris Nikoi, the West Africa Regional Director of the UN WFP stated this, while noting that funding sources had become limited warning that over half a million people benefitting from its food aid may be shut out.


According to a statement shared in Abuja on Saturday, Nikoi said, “Cutting rations means choosing who gets to eat and who goes to bed hungry. We are seeing funding for our life-saving humanitarian work dry up just at the time when hunger is at its most severe.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the UN official also said the body urgently needs a $5million donation in a matter of weeks to sustain the programme.

The number of internally displaced persons in Boko Haram ravaged states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa surpassed two million in September 2021, reaching another grim milestone, the director noted.

A cut in the WFP supply in the area would compound woes as severe hunger reached a five-year high in the country. Unending insurgency, which has hampered farming, has been worsened by the socio-economic fallout from COVID-19.

“Our food assistance is a lifeline for millions whose lives have been upended by conflict and have almost nothing to survive on. We must act now to save lives and avoid disruptions to this lifeline,” Nikoi added.

The WFP director said that current food security analyses showed that 4.4 million people in North-East Nigeria did not know where their next meal would come from, and over one million children are already malnourished.

He cited continued attacks on communities by non-state armed groups, harsh lean season conditions amid an economy dealing with the fallout from the COVID-19, as portending great danger for the people.

Nikoi added that high food prices and a severe reduction in household purchasing power had also contributed to a bleak outlook for the most vulnerable people in North-East Nigeria.

At least two persons have sustained injuries from gunshots fired by some unidentified persons who invaded the venue of the state Congress organised by a faction of the All Progressives Congress in Osogbo, Osun State.

In a report by Punch, the incident happened around 12.50pm after the congress organised by the Osun Progressives, a faction of APC backed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had commenced the process of electing new executives.


Unknown gunmen
A car with about five occupants that were armed with guns was seen driving along Osogbo/Gbongan Road towards the entrance to the venue of the Congress.

The vehicle was eventually prevented from advancing to the entrance to the venue of the Congress held at Ladsol Bus Stop, Ogo Oluwa, Osogbo, by another group leading to an exchange of gunshots between the two groups.

After the incident, two people were discovered to have been injured

Falana & Falana Chambers, the firm of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has written to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, seeking police protection for #EndSARS protesters holding the anniversary protest on October 20.


Femi Falana (SAN)
The letter to the IGP stated that the law firm sought protection for the protesters considering attempts by unscrupulous elements to hijack similar events in the past.

The letter cited Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act, 2020 to support the call for police protection.

It reads: “We are a law firm committed to the enthronement of justice, constitutionalism and rule of law in Africa.

“We are counsel to a number of compatriots who have resolved to hold an event in commemoration of the 1st Anniversary of the #ENDSARS# Protests at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja on October 20, 2021, at 10am.

“Mindful of attempts to hijack similar events in the past, we hereby notify the Police and request for adequate police protection at the venue of the event in accordance with Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act, 2020 which provides thus:

“Where a person or organisation notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilise personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.

”As Adekeye JCA professed in the celebrated case of IGP V ANPP & 11 ORS (2008) 12 W.R.N 65-112 Democracy admits of dissent, protest, marches, rallies and demonstrations. True democracy ensures that these are done responsibly and peacefully without violence, destruction or even unduly disturbing any citizen and with the guidance and control of law enforcement agencies. Peaceful rallies are replacing strikes and violent demonstrations of the past.

“The Police Order Act relating to the issuance of police permit cannot be used as a camouflage to stifle the citizens' fundamental rights in the course of maintaining law and order. The right to right to demonstrate and the right to protest on matters of public concern are rights which are in the public interest and that which individuals must possess, and which they should exercise without impediment as long as no wrongful act is done.

“Whilst anticipating your prompt favourable cooperation, please accept the kind regards of our professional esteem.”

The October 20 EndSARS anniversary protest across the country is being planned, among other things, to demand for justice and compensation for the police brutality victims who have yet to hear anything from the government.

Already some of the police commands in flagrant disregard of human rights had threatened to stop any protest on October 20, while warning that it would arrest anyone who indulges in violence.

The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has taken a swipe at Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Citadel Global Community Church over the latter's comment on running for president in 2023.

Bakare, who paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, said he will contest for the position if God and Nigerians asked him to.


He further described himself as a nation builder.

Reacting, Primate Ayodele frowned at the remark stating that Pastor Bakare should face his missionary work and stop mismanaging the grace of God upon his life.

Ayodele noted that Bakare cannot win an election in his church not to talk of winning an election in Nigeria.

In a statement by his media aide, Oluwatosin Osho, the clergyman advised him to spend his money on the less privileged in his church rather than waste it on something that has no reward from God.


Pastor Tunde Bakare Back In Aso Villa To See Buhari 82 Days After Vowing 'No More Visits'
17 Comments23 Hours Ago
‘’Tunde Bakare is mismanaging the grace of God upon his life and ministry. The dream of becoming Nigeria’s president is not realistic for him; he can’t even win an election in his church not to talk of Nigeria.

‘’If he has money, he should use it to help the less privileged in his church instead of going about to waste his time for nothing.

‘’Tunde Bakare should relax, forget the dream of becoming Nigeria’s president and face his missionary work that God sent him to do. He should preach the gospel, win more souls for Christ.,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bakare launched the “Nigeria-for-Nigeria” group some months ago. Addressing his members, Bakare had said the new group would be greater than the “Save Nigeria Group”, a pressure group which he convened in 2010.

Bakare was quoted as saying, “I am going to champion it and it will go like wildfire across this nation. Nigeria-for-Nigeria will be bigger than Save Nigeria Group."

However, Ayodele cautioned Nigerians against joining the group, stating that Bakare created the group to further his political ambition.

He said at the time, “Tunde Bakare’s Nigeria for Nigeria movement is not divine, it is another means to put Nigerians in bondage again. Nigerians should not join this movement or else, another disaster awaits us.”

On Wednesday in far away Abuja, the news of the defection of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke filtered into the state. This did not come to many as a surprise because it has been long rumoured.

With the eventual movement to APC, the new argument has shifted to what political value Okeke took away from APGA, and what will the APC, his new party gain.

APGA in reacting to his exit has, however, said that the deputy governor has no relevance, and cannot affect the chances of the victory the party hopes to gain, during the election, which is less than a month away.

But the APC in a reply to APGA has insisted that it has everything to gain from Okeke’s defection, describing the deputy governor as a shinning light in the field of politics.

In a press release by the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Barr Tex Okechukwu, APGA dismissed Okeke as a paper weight politician, whose movement to APC cannot change anything about who Anambra people have decided to vote.

The press release titled: Defection Of Nkem Okeke Of No Consequence, stated: “The deputy governor had thought that the governor and the party were going to hand over the governorship ticket of the party in the last primary to him on a platter. When that didn’t happen, he started behaving abnormally, even to the point of insubordination and dereliction of duties.

“The exit of the deputy governor, without formal notification to the party or his principal, is uncalled for, ill-timed and ill-advised as the governor had always treated him with respect, love and consideration. Let nobody be deceived, APC has no root anywhere in Anambra State and that is why all that they do is going about luring political deadwoods with money and other lucres.”

The party said it would win the governorship election without the Deputy Governor, while also describing him as one who has no political value. The party frowned at what it called the desperation being exhibited by the APC in the build-up to the November 6 Anambra State Governorship Election, calling on all members of the party to remain united to ensure that APGA wins the election with wider margins.

“We call on Governor Willie Obiano not to be distracted by the defection of his deputy, which is a ploy to create a semblance of disunity in his government. No matter the designs of the opposition and other subterranean forces, APGA is poised to win the forthcoming election and continue with the massive infrastructural development going on in the state”, the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the APC, Senator Andy Uba has welcome the deputy governor to the party, describing the move as very commendable. A release by the Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation, SAUGCO which was signed by the media and publicity secretary of the organization, Hon Afam Ogene said: “We heartily welcome our deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, an intellectual of no mean standing who has over the years striven to steer the ship of Anambra State from the parochialism and maladministration which his Principal, Governor Willy Obiano has foisted on the state.

“For several years, Dr. Okeke remained the only sane voice of reason in Government House, Awka, thus before long, he was easily sidelined by Governor Obiano who elevated his wife to the status of co-Governor. For taking this patriotic step, in the face of daunting personal discomfort, this generation of ndi Anambra, and indeed Anambra children yet unborn, would remember the name, Dr. Nkem Okeke, as one who rejected the accoutrements of high office and elected to align with the people.”

Besides the APGA, which has described Okeke’s exit as being of no consequence, some members of the APGA who spoke to DAILY POST on the political value of the deputy governor dismissed him, saying that the party, including his ward, community and local government would do well without him, especially as he moved alone, without any supporters.

Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye a chieftain of APGA said: “The defection of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke is politically inconsequential and non-sequitur to the fortunes of APGA either at his electoral ward, local government, or at the state level, come November 6th, 2021. Evidently, Dr. Nkem Okeke’s drift to the APC is for personal pasture, more than any desire to serve the interest of Ndigbo. Whereas the APC may see him as a big catch, he remains a political paperweight in the politics of Anambra State.”

On his part, the Anambra state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C Don Adinuba said that the defection of Dr. Nkem Okeke is unconstitutional. Adinuba said that the Deputy Governor who was elected on a joint ticket under the platform of the APGA with Governor Willie Obiano in 2013, and had their mandate renewed in 2017, should follow the honourable path and resign from office.

Also, Dr. Uche Nworah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), who is also the Spokesperson of Forum of APGA Political Appointees from Enugwu-Ukwu said the forum and its members were not informed by the deputy governor that he was decamping.

“Like everyone else, we saw the viral pictures of the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke holding the APC flag at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday. We were disappointed because by virtue of his position in government, he is our political leader in Enugwu-Ukwu and Njikoka local government and never hinted us that he was decamping. He is on his own in making that move. We are not in support at all. Enugwu-Ukwu and Njikoka will give their votes 100% to the APGA candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo”, Nworah said.

Another indigene of Enugwu-Ukwu, Mr. Emeka Ozumba, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Willie Obiano said; “We are disappointed that Dr. Nkem Okeke abandoned a joint ticket with Governor Willie Obiano in pursuit of personal gains. Every discerning Onye Anambra and indeed Njikoka and Enugwu-Ukwu know that he is completely on his own in making such a move. Thankfully, his decamping does not in anyway affect the fortunes of APGA in the coming gubernatorial elections. APGA is still formidable in the four Wards of Enugwu-Ukwu.”

In a sharp contrast, however, Ikechukwu Emeka Onyia, a member of the APC said it was wrong for APGA to describe someone in the rank of a deputy governor as being inconsequential.

He said, “The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke is very consequential and of value in Anambra politics and development. Nkem Okeke is so consequential in all endeavours he has ever engaged him with, from University lecturer, community leader and deputy governor of Anambra State. Nkem Okeke represents a shining star in anything he touches.

“Now, if he was such a paper weight, how come he was chosen as running mate in Obiano’s first term, and still retained in the second? APGA should stop crying over their loss and deal with the reality of looming defeat.”

Meanwhile, the state has less than three weeks to go to polls, to elect a new governor, and the defection of Okeke is one among the many horse-trading going on in the state. Many believe that the defection of the deputy governor, whether inconsequential as the APGA believe, or consequential as APC thinks, his absence would be felt, and the knowledge by APGA that an opposition member exists in its rank, in a government that it controls is enough to haunt it in the next month’s election.

Oyo state government on Thursday said that it has commenced the revocation of about twenty-two contracts from 22 contractors handling some projects in the state.


The government noted that it will not hesitate to revoke more projects.

The state government maintained that the revocation became necessary due to failure of the contractors to meet expected deadlines.

According to the government, some contractors handling some projects on renovation and construction projects, under 2012-2018 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Project have failed to deliver.

Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran who addressed the contractors on Thursday, noted that the contracts would be terminated following a breach of contract terms.


Adeniran who spoke on behalf of the state government, noted that many of the contracts, including those awarded by the previous administration had been dragging since 2018.

Adeniran, added that this is in contravention of the time frame of the contractual agreement which stipulated two (2) weeks for completion of borehole and maximum of 24 weeks for completion of Model schools.

He said the board would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against these defaulting contractors, who have failed to meet project specifications in the execution of UBEC/SUBEB jobs in the State.

#EndSARS campaigner and social media influencer, Rinu Oduala, has reacted to a statement attributed to the Lagos State police commissioner, warning residents to desist from participating in any protest planned to commemorate those who died during #EndSARS protest in 2020.

In a statement on Monday, Odumosu promised that his officers would resist any of such protests.


A statement from the police stated, “The police in the state will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the state.

“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest...”

Reacting via a post on her Twitter handle on Wednesday, Rinu said the Lagos police boss and his officers have no right to clamp down on peaceful protesters.

According to her, the youth are not scared of the guns and weapons wielded by officers.

She added that any form of attack by policemen would be resisted.

Her post reads, “CP Hakeem Odumosu, you have no jurisdiction, right or authority to warn against, prevent or clamp down on peaceful protests.

“You are a public servant whose job is to ensure the security & rights of protesters. Do not trespass your limits or the constitution.

“You & many of your officers are known for extortion, kidnappings, profiling & extrajudicial killings, committing crimes daily against Lagos inhabitants with impunity.

“It’s a shame we have to demand for dignity from you who benefits from our indignity.

“Your guns & teargas will not deter us from protesting. It is better to go to prison/the court of law to justify our rights, than sit in the court of our conscience to justify our fear.

“That fear won’t still save us from being extorted or killed extrajudicially by your officers.

“Any attempt of yours to encroach on our fundamental rights to protest shall be resisted. Evil will not last forever."

In October 2020, Nigerians across the country stormed the streets to demonstrate against police brutality and bad governance under the #EndSARS campaign.

However, on October 20, soldiers from the Bonny Camp, 81 division, invaded the Lekki tollgate, where some demonstrators had gathered, and fired gunshots.

Though the right to peaceful assembly and the right to protest are constitutional rights of Nigerians, the police have continued to clamp down on protesters.

Just recently, Nigeria police opened fire on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during a peaceful procession in Abuja.

Also, during a peaceful protest on Nigeria's 61st independence day, men of the Nigeria Police Force fired tear gas canisters at protesters in Abuja.

The peaceful protesters could be seen chanting and displaying banners and placards saying 'Buhari Must Go'.

Six of them were arrested by the police, brutalised and detained for demanding the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

They were later released.

fergie0o1:
SOURCE

Odunharry:
I hope you are not among those who think the vaccine is evil?

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigerians will fare better living together as one in spite of ethnic differences. Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the vice president had an interactive session with top officials of Nigeria’s High Commission, UK, at the Abuja House residence of the High Commissioner in London.
The vice president said the Federal Government would strive to ensure fairness and balance.

“If you look at all of us sitting here, we represent all the geo-political zones. This is the Nigeria that will succeed, anything else doesn’t make sense.” He said citizens at home and in the Diaspora should promote the message of one country.

According to him, anybody who looks at how Nigeria operates will recognise that it is better off in this system.
“Yorubas are not better off on their own, Igbos are not better off on their own, the North is not better off on its own.

“We are better off as one nation, that is why we are strong and that is why we can face the world.


“Everywhere in the world today, people are coming together to form stronger units, they are not breaking up, this is not the time to break up.

“If you read of the economics of smaller nations, they are looking for ways of how they can become stronger by aligning with other nations.

“How does a country with all the potential and everything that we have, think that the best way is to break up?”
Osinbajo said that Nigeria was at a point in time in its history where it had security and economic challenges. He said that such challenges could happen to any government, adding that Nigeria would overcome the problems.

“Security challenges that we have didn’t show up in one day but it is the government, the people, the men and women that will handle them.

“We happen to be that government, and I am very convinced that we are entirely capable of handling it. I think we are in the best possible position to solve these problems.”


The vice president spoke about the popularity and credibility of President Muhammadu Buhari, identifying it as a crucial factor in galvanizing the entire system in resolving the challenges. He said that the president was possibly the most popular Nigerian politician that the nation had in generations.

Osinbajo said that the president could possibly be the only person who could go into a place or somewhere without bossing people to gather and they would come and listen to him speak.

“We need that level of credibility to be able to solve problems in our country.

“And I think because of his level of credibility, despite everything, he is still the only one that can call everyone, and even people who do not necessarily agree with him know that he is a man of his words.”

He urged staff of the high commission to remain good ambassadors of the country and endeavour to promote justice and fairness in their activities as they made more efforts to promote government programmes and policies.

“We must promote one country; but, of course, everybody talks about justice, fairness and balance, and that is what we must try to do on a continuous basis.


“Let us not be discouraged, let us be very confident because our country will come out of all these problems and emerge stronger.

“So, I urge every person who represents our country to ensure that we must represent the country well and be able to speak up at the right forum about the country and what we are doing.”

Osinbajo commended the high commissioner and top officials of the mission. He said he was pleased with the great report of developments at the High Commission.

“And I agree entirely with the High Commissioner that clearly there is a demonstration here of high professionalism, and a desire to completely correct the image that might have been created about Nigeria.

“I want to really commend you and to say the news we hear about the High Commission is very commendable,” he said.
Nigeria High Commissioner to UK, Amb. Sarafa Isola, Deputy High Commissioner, Amb. Sanni Suleiman, the Defence Adviser, Brig.-Gen. Buhari Baffa, among other members of staff attended the meeting.

Gunmen from gangs of cattle thieves and kidnappers have opened fire on a market in northwest Nigeria, killing at least 19 people, officials and local residents said Sunday.

Northwest and central Nigeria are plagued by criminal gangs of cattle thieves and kidnappers for ransom called bandits, who raid villages, killing and abducting residents as well as looting and burning homes.

The gangs have been targeting schools where they abduct students.

Officials and local residents said the gunmen Friday raided a market in Unguwan Lalle village in Sabon Birni district of Sokoto state, near the border with Niger.


“They attacked the market in the afternoon, killing 19 people,” said Aminu Al-Mustapha Gobir, a local lawmaker representing the district in the Sokoto parliament.

Several people injured in the attack were taken to a hospital in Sabon Birni town, said Gobir, who attended the funeral of two of the victims in the state capital Sokoto.

One trader who escaped the attack, Abubakar Shehu, said around 20 people were killed and many others badly injured.

“They came around around 3:00 pm after everyone had returned from Friday prayers,” he said.

He said the attack could be a reprisal for the killing of 11 bandits by local vigilantes fighting the gangs at a market in nearby Mamande village on Thursday.

News of the killings was slow to emerge due to the shutdown of telecommunication services in the area.


For several weeks troops have been conducting air and ground operations on bandit camps in neighbouring Zamfara state where authorities have shut down telecom services to disrupt communication between the gangs.

Bandits fleeing the military operation in Zamfara have set up camps in Sabon Birni district from where they raid villages.

The influx of bandits from neighbouring Zamfara state prompted authorities in Sokoto to suspend weekly markets and shut down telecom towers in areas on the border with Zamfara, including Sabon Birni.

Sokoto state internal security commissioner Garba Moyi confirmed Friday’s attack, blaming non-observance of a government ban on weekly markets in the area.

“We have observed non-compliance with the suspension of markets in areas prone to bandits attacks including Sabon Birni,” Moyi said.

Last month 17 Nigerian security personnel were killed when gunmen raided their base in Sabon Birni’s Dama village which the military blamed on Islamic State-aligned jihadists.

BlowYourMind:
Hehehehehe Igbo Catholic girls and lies.



First it was at the checkpoint some was calling you on your hundred thousand phone, are you a customer service representative?


at the check point you brought out your smart phone to check who was calling? so the dull un-smart girl uses a smart phone.



So the tall Fulani soldier who has Fulani soldier written on his forehead or speaks fulfude and you Igbo girl understand smashed your phone without listening to explanation.




two thing must be involved either you are those easy virtue girl with sharp uncouth mouth or the or the emotional blackmail was concocted by some bunch of IPOB members trying to portray the Nigerian Navy in bad light, which ever way, we know your works.

noleflendum:
Rest in peace in advance
Thailand is not India you develop anyhow
You will face firing squad soon
One less ipob miscreant

KingAttitude:
�Black fighters are being defeated back to back this year, something must be wrong somewhere: Wetin pain me pass be say 3 of them are Nigerians!
�
• Israel Adesanya.
• Anthony Joshua.
• Efe Ajagba.
• Deontay Wilder.

UltimateStarman:
You will see the signs

UltimateStarman:
if only you knew

ofiko123:
I am sensing deep inside me that this year's budget would be quite helpful and would help all well meaning Nigerians...

UltimateStarman:
order will soon be restored

UltimateStarman:
Believe

UltimateStarman:
things will change

Many MTN Nigeria subscribers across the country could not make voice calls, send SMS or use their data as the telecom operators experienced service hitch for most part of Saturday.

The service hitch which began around noon cut off many of the 77.53million subscribers on the network as they tried endlessly to connect their loved ones and clients.


The situation forced some of the MTN subscribers with alternative lines to switch to those lines to link up with friends and family.

MTN didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on what actually caused the hitch.

But a message by one of the company’s spokespersons Funso Aina simply read:” Yello! Some of customers are having difficulty connecting to the network today (Saturday). We’re looking into this and are truly sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

It would be recalled that MTN, the largest telecom provider in Nigeria, had in June notified its subscribers of service disruption due to the rising insecurity in parts of the country.

This year, Nigerians have had to battle kidnappings, clashes between farmers and herders, mass abductions of students and armed robberies.

“Sadly, we must inform you that with the rising insecurity in different parts of Nigeria, service delivery to your organization may be impacted in the coming days. This means that in some cases, our technical support team may not be able to get to your site and achieve optimum turnaround time in fault management as quickly as possible,” MTN said in the message.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume, has described as worrisome, the decision of the federal government to borrow more funds to finance the 2022 budget.

Next year’s budget of N16.39 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday has a deficit of N6.26 trillion.

Nigeria’s proposed N16.39trn budget raises more questions, less hope


Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, had said the government would source more loans to fund the deficit.

Senator Ndume, in a statement on Saturday, said the government’s proposal to finance the budget by borrowing more is worrisome.

He, instead, advised the executive to cut down personal and recurrent costs; increase revenues and plug all leakages.

The estimated budget for recurrent expenditure for the projected year, which is N6.83 trillion, represented 41.7% of total expenditure budget.

“This is still on the high side,” Ndume said.

He also advised that the “Presidential Economic Advisory Committee and finance experts should be actively involved in the debt management and re-evaluation of our debt profile.”

The Borno South senator, however, commended Buhari for prioritising spending on defence & security, infrastructure and education with the sectors getting a combined N5.15 trillion allocation in the 2022 Budget.

From the proposal, defence and security got N2.41 trillion (15%); infrastructure N1.45 trillion (8.9%); education N1.29 trillion (7.9%); health N820 billion (5%) and Social Development and Poverty Eradication N863 billion (5.3%) of the entire allocation.

Ndume urged the president to pay more attention to the effective, transparent, and accountable implementation of the budget by the MDAs when passed so that the impact will be visible to Nigerians.

“The National Assembly should also be more active in the discharge of its oversight function to ensure effective implementation of the budget,” he added.