Home Blog Page 1454

Globacom has partnered with CashToken Rewards Africa to reward all Glo users in the CashToken GloRewards Program

0

The CashToken Glo Reward program offers Globacom’s loyal customers a chance to win between N5k-N100M and other amazing devices (smartphones and tablets)

As a Glo customer, all you have to do is opt-in by dialing *301*8# and recharge a minimum of N1000 on your Glo line weekly.

  • Customers can continue receiving CashTokens under the GloRewards program from 1st February 2024 till 26th May 2024.
  • Glo Customers get instant cash and a chance to win N5k – N100M weekly, exciting devices. Customers can use accumulated instant cash to purchase airtime, data bundle, pay electricity bills, pay LCC bills, and pay Cable TV bills.
  • Customers can transfer accumulated instant cash to their Money Masters accounts directly.
  • The program is open to existing & new prepaid customers provided they opt-in to the CashToken GloRewards by dialing *301*8#

During the Launch of this program, the MD of CashToken Rewards Africa, Chief Lai Labode, mentioned that Glo customers who emerged winners in the CashToken National Consumer draw could cash out these wins to their account using the CashToken Code *6700#. He also mentioned that this program would give Glo customers hope in this current economic climate and allow them to win life-changing cash.

Mr. Vikas Ghai, the Partnership driver at Globacom, mentioned that the partnership’s objective to drive and increase Customer loyalty will be met as he looks forward to celebrating winning Customers. He further elaborated that gadgets, including smartphones and tablets, as well as Gloworld vouchers await Glo customers who opt-in to the CashToken GloReward program.

The core features of the CashToken GloRewards are meticulously crafted to offer users maximum flexibility and convenience. Participants can accumulate ₦8.00instant cash rewards with entry in the weekly draws, enhancing opportunities to win substantial prizes.

Moreover, these instant cash rewards can be utilized for various purposes, including purchasing:

  • Airtime
  • Data bundles
  • Settling bills such as electricity, LCC, and cable TV.

Chinaenyenwa Nwokedi, the CMO of CashToken Rewards Africa, explained that the company has provided customer support channels for both CashToken and Globacom. Customers who have inquiries or challenges related to the reward program can promptly contact Globacom’s dedicated customer care team for assistance. In addition, Specific questions or challenges regarding CashToken GloRewards should go to the CashToken Rewards Africa helpdesk via phone at 09077555557 or email at [email protected].

For more information, customers can follow CashToken Rewards Africa on social media  Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as subscribe to CashToken’s YouTube channel to stay up-to-date with the latest news, updates, and winner announcements. Additionally, the weekly national consumer draw will be aired on YouTube and AIT every Friday at 9 pm WAT, providing an opportunity for participants to witness the excitement firsthand and stay informed about the program. Through proactive engagement, users can unlock a plethora of rewards and incentives, enriching their overall Glo experience.

Dial *301*8# to opt-in Today!

Best Forex Brokers in Uganda for Beginners (2024)

0

Online forex trading in Uganda is not regulated by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) so there is no government protection for anybody trading forex in Uganda.

We will discuss external forex brokers operating from outside Uganda but accept Uganda traders. We have checked how credible they are and the trading criteria they offer Ugandan traders.

Best Forex Brokers in Uganda are Listed Below

  • Exness – Best Forex Broker in Uganda
  • HF Markets – Best Forex Broker for Beginners in Uganda
  • FXPesa –  Best Forex Broker in Uganda for Local Funding Methods
  • Pepperstone –  Best MT4 Forex Broker in Uganda
  • XM Broker – Best Forex broker in Uganda with Deposit Bonus
  • FxPro – Broker with Best Forex Trading Platforms in Uganda

Comparison of Best Brokers for Forex Trading in Uganda

💼 Broker 💵Minimum deposit 🎁Welcome Bonus 💻Forex Trading Platform in Uganda 🦚UGX Base Currency 💵EUR/USDaverage spread 🚀Leverage ⚖Regulation
Exness

$10 No Exness Mobile App, Exness Web Terminal, MT4, MT5 Yes 1.0 pip Unlimited CMA, FSCA, FSA
HF Markets

$5 Yes HFM Mobile App, MT4, MT5 No 1.6 pips 1:2000 CMA, FSCA, FCA
FXPesa

Any amount Yes MT4, MT5 No 1.4 pips 1:400 CMA
Pepperstone

Any amount No TradingView, cTrader, MT4, MT5 No 1.2 pips 1:400 ASIC, CMA, FSCA, FCA
XM broker

$5 Yes XM Mobile App, MT4, MT5 No 1.8 pips 1:1000 CySEC, FSA, FSCA
FxPro

$100 No FxPro Web terminal, FxPro Mobile App, FxPro cTrader Mobile App, MT4, MT5 No 1.3 pips 1:200 FCA, FSCA, SCB

 

Who is the best broker for Forex Trading in Uganda?

1. Exness– Best Forex Broker in Uganda

🌐 Website www.exness.com
💵 Starting deposit  $10
💳 Account currency  UGX, KES, ZAR, USD, USC, EUR, GBP
🎁 Welcome bonus  No
💵 Leverage  Unlimited
💵 EUR/USD spread  1.0 pip
🛒 Markets  FX, Stocks, Indices, Crypto, Commodities
💳Platforms  MT4, MT5, Exness Mobile App, Exness Web Trader

 

Trade with Exness Uganda if:

a) If you want a regulated forex broker with a presence in Africa

Exness is available in Uganda. Exness (SC) LTD is owned by Cyprus but holds forex broker licenses from different continents. In South Africa Exness is regulated by the FSCA, & in Kenya Exness is regulated by the CMA.

In The Caribbean Exness is regulated by the Central Bank of Curacao & Sint Maarten, in Seychelles Exness is also regulated by the FSA.

b) If you want a forex broker with low minimum deposit in Uganda

Exness minimum deposit is $10 minimum deposit (about 38,500 UGX) for the Standard Account & Cent Account. These accounts have low trading costs with spreads starting from 0.2 pips, charging zero commissions, and no inactivity fees. Read more: Review of Exness minimum deposit.

You can trade CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, & Crypto on the Exness Standard Account with 1: unlimited leverage.

The Exness Cent Account restricts what you can trade to only Forex CFDs & Metal CFDs with 1: unlimited leverage since this account is mainly for newbies.

Difference between Exness Cent & Standard Accounts

Exness Cent Account Exness Standard Account
Forex, & Metals Markets Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, & Crypto Markets
1: unlimited leverage 1: unlimited leverage
US Cent Trading currency UGX, KES, ZAR, NGN, USD, EUR, GBP, Trading Currencies
EUR/USD 1.0 pip average spread EUR/USD 1.0 pip average spread
Zero commission Zero commission

 

Read more about Exness account types in thisExness Review.

 c) If you want copy trading

Exness offers copy trading services for Forex, Metal, & Crypto Markets with 1:200 leverage. You can start by opening a Social Trading Account with $500 minimum deposit.

d) If you want a forex broker with zero overnight fees in Uganda

Exness lets you trade without paying overnight swaps. You can leave your trading positions open overnight without paying nightly fees for Forex (excluding exotic pairs), Crypto, & Gold markets.

Pros & cons – Exness Uganda

👍Pros 👎Cons
Exness offers UGX base currency accounts Limited CFD markets
No overnight swap fees on specific markets Zero spread Exness accounts requires a $500 minimum deposit
Exness minimum deposit is low ($10) No bonus on deposits
Regulated in Kenya & South Africa Cent Account cannot be used for copy trading
Exness provides copy trading services (but you need to open a special account for this)  
No inactivity fee is charged by Exness  
Demo account  
Multiple forex trading platforms to choose from  

 

Visit Exness for more trading information & account opening steps

2. Hotforex (HF Markets) – Best Forex Broker for Beginners

🌐 Website  
💵 Starting deposit  $10
💳 Account currency KES, ZAR, USD, USC, EUR, GBP, THB
🎁 Welcome bonus  Yes
💵 Leverage  1:2000
💵 EUR/USD spread  1.6 pips
🛒 Markets Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Soft Commodities, Precious Metals, & Energies
💳Platforms  MT4, MT5, HFM Mobile App

 Trade with HF Markets Uganda if:

a) If you want an international forex broker with a presence in Africa

HF Markets (SV) LTD is regulated in global jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, & United Arab Emirates. In Africa it’s also regulated in Kenya & South Africa.

b) If you want low minimum deposit accounts

HF Markets is a good broker for low minimum deposit. HF Markets minimum deposit is $5 on the Cent, Zero, & Premium AccountPackages. Let us explain why this is remarkable:

  • The HF Markets Zero Account charges very low spreads with EUR/USD benchmark average being around 0.2 pips. Most brokers who offer such low spread always impose higher minimum deposits.
  • The Cent Account is almost like a demo account because although you are trading live markets, you are not allowed to open large positions. This is good for ‘demo account graduates’ who have never traded live before.

Read further about HF Markets various account types in our HF Markets Review.

c) If you want swap-free trading (no overnight fees)

HF Markets will let you leave your trades active till the next day without imposing swap fees and this only applies to Forex & Gold trades. This helps you cut down trading cost

d) If you want to trade CFDs on multiple financial markets

HF Markets lets you trade various asset classes, so you don’t concentrate your risk in one place. CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Soft Commodities, Precious Metals, & Energies are all on the menu. To give you some context, most forex brokers don’t offer Bond & ETF CFDs for trading.

e) If you want a forex broker with copy trading in Uganda

HF Markets has copy trading where you can copy strategies of Strategy Providers automatically. You can copy trades of others using any HF Markets account even the Cent Account type.

You don’t need to open a special copy trading account again. Minimum deposit varies & will be determined by the Strategy Provider.

f) If you want a forex broker with deposit bonus in Uganda

HF Markets gives new account holders a 20% top-up on every deposit they make during the lifespan of the promotion.

👍Pros 👎Cons
Copy trading using any HF Markets account (no need to open a special account for copy trading) No UGX base currency
HF Markets is a regulated forex broker High trading fees (watch out for commissions)
HF Markets minimum deposit in Uganda is $5 HF Markets charges an Inactivity fee of $5 on inactive accounts
HF Markets does not levy overnight swap fees on forex & Gold trades Limited forex trading platforms to select from
HF Markets lets you trade a diverse range of markets  
HF Markets gives you a bonus on deposits  
Demo account  

 

Visit HF Markets to try their demo account for beginners

3. FXPesa – Best Forex Broker in Uganda for Local Funding Methods

🌐 Website  www.fxpesa.com
💵 Starting deposit Any amount
💳 Account currency USD
🎁 Welcome bonus Yes
💵 Leverage 1:400
💵EUR/USD 1.4 pips
🛒 Markets Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, ETFs
💳 Platforms MT4, MT5, Equiti Mobile App

Trade with FXPesa Uganda if:

a) If you want a forex broker with a strong regional presence in East Africa

FXPesa is the brand name for EGM Securities who are registered and licensed by the Capital markets Authority in Kenya. FXPesa also has study centres across East Africa including one in Kampala Uganda.

b) If you want multiple ways to deposit & withdraw funds

FXPesa accepts various local payment processors including Airtel Uganda, MTN Uganda, MPESA, EazzyPay, Vodacom, TigoPesa, HaloPesa, & Airtel Tanzania, at no cost.

EWallets specifically Neteller & Skrill are also accepted but there is a withdrawal charge of 1%. Local bank transfers and bank cards are also accepted by FXPesa at no cost.

C) If you want an account with no minimum deposit embargo

The FXPesa Standard Account has no minimum deposit so you can deposit any amount you have. It is also commission-free 7 charges spreads from 1.4 pips upwards.

d) If you want a forex broker with welcome bonus

FXPesa gives you a 30% karibu bonus when you fund your account for the first time. However, the minimum deposit must be $100.

👍Pros 👎Cons
Focus on beginner education No UGX base currency
Regulated regionally in Kenya Limited trading platforms to choose from
Accepts deposits from Airtel & MTN Uganda No swap-free trading
Study centre located in Kampala  
Deposit bonus program  

 

Visit FXPesa for account opening information

4. Pepperstone– Best MT4 Forex Broker in Uganda

🌐 Website  
💵 Starting deposit Any amount
💳 Account currency USD, GBP, AUD
🎁 Welcome bonus No
💵 Leverage 1:400
💵EUR/USD 1.2 pips
🛒 Markets Forex, Commodities, Indices, Currency Indices, Shares, & ETFs
💳 Platforms MT4, MT5, Pepperstone mobile app, TradingView, CTrader, DupliTrade

Trade with Pepperstone if:

a) If you want a forex broker with an International Presence

Pepperstone is a trusted forex broker originating from Australia whereit is regulated by the ASIC. Pepperstone is also regulated in the UK and in Africa it is regulated by the CMA Kenya. Pepperstone is available in Uganda meaning they accept Ugandan traders.

b) If you want a forex broker with additional MT4 tools

For majority of forex traders, MT4 is the preferred platform for trading currencies because MT4 is highly modifiable.

Pepperstone self-developed their Smart Trader Tools which you can plugin to MT4 or MT5 to make it function better.

Pepperstone also provides educational video tutorials to help you setup your MT4 account. Some of the pepperstone educational videos as seen on their website are:

  • How to login & connect to MT4
  • How to place a trade on MT4
  • How to manage your positions & view history on MT4
  • How to customize your watch list on MT4
  • How to customize charts & add indicators on MT4

c) If you want a forex broker with no minimum deposit restriction

Pepperstone offers 2 account types – The Standard Account & Razor Account which you can open with any amount of money you have. Pepperstone has no minimum deposit.

The Pepperstone Standard Account charges competitive variable spreads from 1.20 pips meaning EUR/USD spread can be expected to be around 1.2 pips most of the time.

d) If you want Raw Spreads

Raw spreads come directly from the liquidity provider such as banks, and your forex broker does not increase or mark it up. Raw spreads are very transparent.

The pepperstone Razor Account charges you Raw Spreads plus a $3.5 commission per side for standard lots traded. On the Razor Account EUR/USD benchmark average spread is 0.1 pips.

e) If you want a forex broker with multiple forex trading platforms in Uganda

💻Pepperstone platform 🏆Ideal for
Pepperstone mobile app Casual day to day CFD trading
MT4 & MT5 Automated trading with robots
cTrader Automated trading with robots
TradingView Advanced charting

Pepperstone has a new mobile app which is available on app stores. The MT4, & MT5 platforms are also available, and they are good for automated trading.

For complex charting Pepperstone offers the TradingView Platform which lets you trade from highly advanced charts and lets you customize the chart as you wish.

Pepperstone offers the cTrader platform as an alternative to MetaTrader. cTrader is also ideal for automated trading but uses a different programming language from MetaTrader when building trading robots.

👍Pros 👎Cons
Pepperstone is a legit broker regulated in many jurisdictions No UGX base currency
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit requirement No swap-free trading
Multiple trading platforms including TradingView & cTrader Pepperstone doesn’t handle copy trading directly, they redirect you to use DupliTrade platforms
Pepperstone spreads are low  
Pepperstone does not charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts  
Trading guides, beginner education, & demo account  

 

Visit Pepperstone for more information on MT4 & account opening

5. XM Broker – Best forex Broker in Uganda with Deposit Bonus

🌐 Website  www.xm.com
💵 Starting deposit $5
💳 Account currency USD, EUR, GBP
🎁 Welcome bonus Yes
💵 Leverage 1:1000
💵EUR/USD 1.8 pips
🛒 Markets Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Turbo Stocks, Crypto, & Indices
💳 Platforms MT4, MT5

Trade with XM if:

a) If you want a forex broker with low minimum deposit in Uganda

XM minimum deposit is $5 on all their account types.

b) If you want a forex broker with Micro Account in Uganda

XM offers a Micro Account with a focus on new traders.  The advantage of the Micro Account is that your trade size is limited to 1,000 units per lot, thus making it less expensive to open an order.

c) If you want a forex broker with zero commissions in Uganda

All XM Accounts don’t charge commissions instead their spreads are a bit higher. The advantage of zero commission trading accounts is it is easier to calculate profit/loss.

The spreads on the XM Micro & Standard Account starts from 1.0 pips while XM Ultra-low Accounts charge lower spreads from 0.6 pips.

d) If you are looking for a forex broker with no overnight feesin Uganda

When you open the XM Ultra-low Account, you can leave trades on Major Forex pairs & Gold Pairs open overnight without attracting a penalty (swap fee)

e) If you want a forex broker with copy trading in Uganda

XM offers copy trading services so you can copy trades of Strategy Providers. XM minimum deposit for copy trading depends on the Strategy Provider.

f) If you want a regulated forex broker in Uganda

XM Global LTD is regulated in Cyprus and Belize. XM is also regulated by the FSCA in South Africa

g) If you want a broker with deposit bonus in Uganda

XM offers a bonus to all account holders both new & existingwhen you fund your account from $5. How to claim XM bonus is by depositing between $5 and $1,000 to get 50% bonus.

XM Bonus Review as follows (how to get XM deposit bonus)

  • When you deposit between $5 and $1,000 you get a 50% bonus credit
  • When you deposit between $1,000 and $23,500 you get 50% XM bonus on $1,000 then 20% XM bonus on the balance.
  • So if you deposited $5,000 you get 50% on $1,000 and 20% on $4,000.
  • You can only withdraw the profits realized while trading with the XM bonus, but you cannot withdraw the XM bonus itself.
👍Pros 👎Cons
Copy trading service No UGX base currency
Micro Account XM Ultra-low Account users are excluded from bonuses
Swap-free Ultra-Low Account with spreads from 0.6 pips  
XM minimum deposit is low  
Demo account  
XM deposit bonus can be claimed with a $5 deposit  
XM bonus is for everyone not just new accounts  

Visit XM for more bonus terms & conditions and account opening

6. FxPro – Broker with Best Forex Trading Platforms in Uganda

🌐 Website  www.fxpro.com
💵 Starting deposit $100
💳 Account currency USD, EUR, ZAR
🎁 Welcome bonus No
💵 Leverage 1:200
💵 EUR/USD 1.3 pips
🛒 Markets Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto
💳 Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, FxPro Direct Mobile App

Trade with FxPro if:

a) If you want a highly reputable forex broker with FCA regulation

Apart from being regulated in South Africa by the FSCA, FxPro Global Markets is also regulated in the UK by the FCA, & in The Bahamas by the SCB.

b) If you want a broker that lets you customize your accounts

When you are opening your account, FxPro gives you control of custom building how you want the account to function.

For MT4 Accounts you can choose between fixed & variable spread, & Instant or Market Execution mode.

For MT5 Account you can choose the hedging or netting strategies which are ideal for automated trading especially for Stock CFDs.

c) If you want a broker with multiple forex trading platforms in Uganda

FxPro offers a Mobile App, Web Terminal, MT4/5, cTrader & TradingView platforms. For the MT4 platform, FxPro provides MetaTrader upgrade tools which can be downloaded & plugged in to MT4 for better functionality

👍Pros 👎Cons
Multiple forex trading platforms include MetaTrader & cTrader High minimum deposit
FxPro holds tier 1 regulation from the United Kingdom No UGX base currency
FxPro Accounts are suitable for automated trading Inactivity fee
FxPro spreads are competitive with EUR/USD averaging around 1.3 pips No swap-free trading
Demo account  

Visit FxPro for more information & account opening

 Forex Trading in Uganda (How to start)

Forex trading in Uganda has a loss rate of about 90% so you should possess adequate knowledge before starting. Forex trading is also unregulated in Uganda, so there’s no government protection against scam brokers.

 1. Register

This is the part where you type in your email and password to create yourself a wallet with the broker. Registration is usually cone on the broker’s website or mobile app.

Registration does not mean you have opened an account; it just means you have created a wallet where any accounts you create will be linked to.

2. Open account

After registration you get to choose the kind of trading account you desire. A demo account is a practice account where you get to trade with unreal money, & it’s advisable you open a demo account to test the platform.

A real account is for live trading and here your capital is at risk. Some forex brokers offer Cent & Micro Accountsso that new traders can trade with restricted conditions such as:

  • Limitations on opening big orders (to prevent big losses)
  • Limitations on trading volatile instruments (to prevent big losses)
  1. Deposit funds

Your newly created real trading account will remain inactive unless you deposit funds into it. Check for your brokers minimum deposit and fund your account using the mobile app or on the brokers website.

The minimum deposit is very crucial in deciding which forex broker to trade with as you cannot always deposit below that amount.

💼 Broker 💵 Min deposit
Exness $10
HF Markets $5
FXPesa $0
Pepperstone $0
XM $5
FxPro $100

How to Trade Forex in Uganda

After making your first deposit you are ready to trade live markets and emotions such as fear and greed will begin to take hold.

a) Decide if you want to buy or sell an instrument: Buying carries limited risk but selling carries unlimited risk so you need to choose wisely.

  • If you think the price of an instrument will rise, then you buy now and sell for higher later.
  • However, if you think the price of an instrument will fall, you sell now and rebuy for less.
  • Either way you make a profit (which is the difference between buy & sell prices) but you lose if your prediction is wrong.

b). Apply risk management: when you are preparing your buy/sell order to be sent to the market, always set a Stop Loss (SL). An SL automatically closes your trade when losses exceed your specified limit (you are the one to set this limit).

You can also set a Take Profit (TP) order, so greed does not let you miss out on profits. The TP order closes your trade once you make a specified amount of profit.

c) Trade during the right time zone/session: best time to trade forex in Uganda is between 3pm & 6pm Ugandan time. This is because the Europe sessions overlaps the American session, so spreads are lower on instruments that contain the US Dollar (example EUR/USD, GBP/USD) etc.

d) Avoid risky instruments: certain financial markets are riskier than others and losses can be huge. Beginners should avoid exotic currency pairs (currency pairs between a developing & developed country) example USD/UGX or USD/KES pair.

Exotic pairs have higher fees, and the liquidity is poor as not many people trade them. Beginners should also avoid trades on Commodities & Energy as they are usually based off futures contracts which are complex to understand.

Best instruments for beginners are major forex pairs like EIR/USD which is the most popular in the world of forex trading.

Frequently Asked Questions on forex brokers in Uganda

Who is the best forex broker online in Uganda?

Exness is the best forex broker in Uganda because they are regulated in Kenya, South Africa, & Overseas; and they offer low trading costs.

Is forex trading legal in Uganda?

Yes, forex trading is legal in Uganda, but the forex brokers are not under the supervision of the Ugandan government. This means your trading accounts are opened overseas and any disputes will be settled in courts of law overseas. 

Who is the best forex broker for beginners in Uganda?

HF Markets is the best forex broker for beginners in Uganda because they are regulated in Kenya, South Africa, & the United Kingdom, HF Markets minimum deposit is $5, they offer Demo Accounts, & Cent Accounts for beginners.

How much do I need to start forex trading in Uganda?

You need $5. Pepperstone, HF Markets, & XM broker have the lowest minimum deposits of $5 in Uganda.

Which forex broker has the lowest spread in Uganda?

Exness has the lowest spread in Uganda.

📉Exness Instrument (Standard Account) 💵Average spread
EUR/USD 1.0 pips
USD/CAD 2.2 pips
NASDAQ 53.8 pips
Bitcoin USD 843.2 pips

 Which forex brokers accept mobile money in Uganda?

FxPesa, Exness, HF Markets, FxPro, & Pepperstone accept mobile money deposits including MPESA by Safaricom.

 

Sokoto varsity VC urges students to be good ambassadors 

0

The Vice Chancellor, Sokoto State University, Prof. Garba Bashir, has called on new students of the school to strive and be good ambassadors to their families as well as the school wherever they find themselves.

He stated this on Thursday when administering oath on the  3,195 newly admitted students for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Bashir enjoined them not to indulge in cultism and examination misconduct that would truncate their academic programmes.

He urged them to be diligent in their studies so that their parents and families would not be disappointed at the end.

He noted that the university is a nurturing ground for future leaders who will create impact in the world.

He said, “Obey rules and regulations of the university, uphold and promote the noble ideals, principles, and those values for which the University is Known for.

“This great institution has long stood as a symbol of academic excellence and a nurturing ground for future leaders. The degrees of the university are only awarded to deserving students who are found to be worthy in character and learning.

“Do not disappoint yourselves, your parents, your families, your state, your country, and of course, humanity. Let the nurtured of the university  pass through you so that, in the end, you will be a liberated human being.”

Traders feared killed as bandits invade Niger market

0

An unspecified number of traders and customers were feared killed on Thursday when bandits stormed a popular market in the Madaka community, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The attack happened two days after bandits were said to have attacked another community, Pangu Gari, during which they killed the district head and four other people.

The residents who disclosed the killing of the district head said they were still trying to come out from the tragedy when the Rafi market incident occurred.

According to residents of the community who spoke on condition of anonymity, an unspecified number of persons were killed in the incident as the traders were taken unawares.

The bandits were said to have stormed the market at 3 pm when the market was at its peak and started shooting indiscriminately at the traders and their customers.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Bello Mohammed, confirmed the attack by the bandits without giving details.

He said the state government was working in collaboration with security agencies to put an end to the incessant attacks on farming communities in the state.

“Niger State Government and the security agencies are working to put an end to these incessant attacks on farming communities in the state,” he said.

Recall that bandits are still found in more than nine local governments in the state making life unbearable for farmers.

They have severally been reported to have killed farmers in the state, set farm produce ablaze, and demanded levies for the farmers to be able to go back to their farms.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

Malaysia rejects 2026 Commonwealth Games hosting right

0

Malaysia on Friday decided against hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games because of the cost, the government said, in a fresh blow to an event seen as outdated by some.

The decision, made at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, follows the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria last year.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports today announced the government’s decision not to accept an offer from the Commonwealth Games Federation to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” Minister Hannah Yeoh said in a statement.

The CGF is scrambling to find a host after Victoria withdrew last July because of soaring costs.

The CGF offered Malaysia and other potential hosts 100 million pounds ($125 million) to step in with just over two years to go until the Games are supposed to take place.

But the Malaysian government said the offer was “not expected to be able to cover the entire cost of organising a large-scale sports event,” Yeoh said.

“The government wants to focus on the development of sports as well as the welfare and well-being of the people,” she added.

Victoria’s sudden move, and the lack of an obvious alternative, triggered debate about the future of the Games, which take place every four years and were last held in Birmingham in 2022.

The CGF earlier this month hailed Malaysia’s “fantastic track record,” the country having staged the Games — which mostly includes former British colonies — in 1998.

But the CGF also suggested that Malaysia was not the only country it had approached to host the Games.

Singapore recently said it was “assessing the feasibility” of the CGF’s proposal.

The wealthy city-state also holds the Formula One night race annually and will be staging the World Aquatics Championships in 2025.

– ‘Reckless’ –

The prospect of Malaysia stepping in to host the Games had sparked fierce debate.

Mohamad Norza Zakaria, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia, had called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that could put Malaysia back on the sporting map.

But doubts emerged last week over the idea after current and former senior officials expressed reservations.

Khairy Jamaluddin, a former youth and sports minister, rubbished the idea and called it “reckless” because the Games are coming up fast, leaving little time for planning.

Any host would need at least four years to upgrade venues, plan sponsorship and set up infrastructure, he told AFP.

“The Commonwealth Games is not a significant, marquee sporting event,” he added.

“As far as multi-sports Games are concerned, it is nowhere near the Olympics or even the Asian Games in terms of participation, exposure and returns,” Khairy said.

AFP

Uzodimma appoints brother as deputy chief of staff

0

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved the appointment of his brother, Ferdinand Uzodimma, as his Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of General Services.

The governor also reappointed Cosmos Iwu as the Secretary to the State Government; Nnamdi Anyaehie as his Chief of Staff and Sydney Agbor as the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations.

The three officials served in the same capacities in Uzodimma’s first four years as governor.

Also appointed are Patrick Ekeji as the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration and Sam Nwaobasi named as the Special Adviser on Programme and Policy Implementation and Monitoring.

A statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s spokesman, Oguwike Nwachuku, disclosed that the appointments took immediate effect.

The statement read, “The Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, has reappointed Chief Cosmos Iwu as the Secretary to the Government of Imo State.

“In the same vein, Nnamdi Anyaehie, Chief Patrick Ekeji and Olisaemeka Sydney Agbor have been reappointed as Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) and Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) respectively.

“Also, the governor has approved the appointment of Chief Ferdinand Uzodimma, a one time Councillor, Transition Committee Chairman and Sole Administrator of Oru East Local Government Area as his Deputy Chief of Staff (General Services) with Mr. Sam Anyalewechi Nwaobasi named as Special Adviser on Programme and Policy Implementation/ Monitoring.

“The appointments take immediate effect.

“Governor Uzodimma, who congratulated the new appointees, urged them to bring to bear their professional competence in the efforts to drive the vision of the Shared Prosperity 3R Government of Imo State.”

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

Smoke out illegal miners, FG tells 2,200 new mining marshals

0

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Development Minerals has secured the services of 2,220 security personnel under a new security architecture with the mandate to smoke out illegal miners and all those who flout the nation’s mining laws.

It also charged the new operatives to stem theft and all nefarious activities around the nation’s mineral resources to enable the nation to reap maximum benefits from its God-given resources.

The Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dele Alake, gave this charge when he received the specially trained officers drafted from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps code-named “Mining Marshal Corps” at the ministry’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

This latest development came two months after President Bola Tinubu established an inter-ministerial committee led by the Solid Minerals minister to deliberate on modalities in achieving its mandate of producing a blueprint for securing the country’s natural resources including solid minerals, forests, and marine economy.

With a command structure spread across the 36 states and the FCT, the mining marshals will have their command and control domiciled in the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, with  60 operatives first deployed in each state of the federation and the FCT.

According to him, the official reception of the marshals will ensure security at mining sites, eliminate illegality, and sanitise mining environments to counter illegal mining and smuggling of solid minerals from Nigeria. He described this as a major success in his seven-point agenda.

He added that the mining marshals devised to be an inter-agency security outfit will incorporate special operatives from other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, army, amongst others.

Speaking during the event, Alake said, “Insecurity has bedevilled the mineral sector of this economy and it has combined with other variables to short-change revenue generation. So amongst others, the issue of combating insecurity in this sector is very crucial if we are going to record any success. Without the security of the operating environment in the mineral sector, you can’t even talk of increasing the revenue yield. We hope and believe that the minerals will become the revenue saver of the Nigerian economy and we are pursuing the goal of making the mineral sector contribute more than 50 per cent to the gross domestic product and that is our long-term objective.

“Today’s event of launching and formally handing over the civil defence structure to engage illegal miners and sanitise our mining environment was also part of what we conceived at the inter-ministerial committee. I am very happy to let the public know that we did say at the onset that we are going to tackle insecurity and the first batch of the security apparatus that we are using in this sector is what we are launching here today. The civil defence structure already existed before and we thought that amongst other logistic support that are necessary for the takeoff of the new security architecture for this sector.

“And then in terms of the numbers, we are starting initially with 60 personnel per command. But that is just for the takeoff phase. I have also mentioned that other security agencies will come on board very soon. So the number is going to keep increasing as the need arises. But because we needed to fast track the execution of this policy that’s why this civil defence structure had to be used to execute the mines marshals.”

In his remarks, NSCDC Commandant-General, Abubakar Audi, stated that the new mining marshals would give verve to the corps’ mandate of protecting national assets and infrastructure in which solid minerals are a major component.

Audi revealed that the marshals would liaise with mines inspectorate in states to garner intelligence and will directly and operationally be under the command of the solid minerals minister for the effective execution of its mandate.

“We have a list of illegal miners across the nation, and we will go after them. Their days are now numbered, “Audi declared.

The Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Jonathan Gbefwi, who graced the occasion, expressed satisfaction with the new security outfit, noting that with improved security around mining areas, Nigeria’s economic fortunes is bound for a forward leap.

“When the minister reeled out his 7-point agenda during his inaugural address, which included the Mines Police, not a few people were sceptical about it. But today, he has matched words with action. On behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I doff my hat for him and say, “Well done.” You can be rest assured of the continued support and cooperation of the House of Reps and, by extension, the National Assembly, Hon. Gbefwi said.

The new Mines Marshal is led by a Commander, Chief Superintendent of Corps, CSC Attah John Onoja.

Kanu’s family knocks South-East politicians for abandoning IPOB

0

The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has criticised political leaders in the South-East for failing to meet with President Bola Tinubu to secure the release of their son.

The IPOB leader has been in detention since June 29, 2021.

 

His recent bail application was declined by Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday.

However, in a statement on Thursday on behalf of the family, Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, questioned why Igbo political leaders had not met with Tinubu to address Kanu’s situation nearly a year since the president assumed office.

The statement partly read, “How be it that nobody among Igbo political leaders has reached Tinubu to discuss Nnamdi Kanu’s release almost a year after he came to power?

“Is it not deliberate? Have they not been gaining access to the President concerning other issues? It’s a shame that Kanu is being punished for asking for the freedom of Ndigbo, and the leaders have abandoned him to die in DSS custody.”

He alleged that some people were benefiting from his continued incarceration, hence the apparent apathy on the part of the political elite to engage the President in his release.

Emmanuel added, “Why can’t they go for his release if they truly love the  South East? Something is wrong somewhere. They are benefiting from his continued detention, and that’s why they are not making any serious moves to engage Mr President. Don’t forget that some people sponsored his abduction and extraordinary rendition.

“Why should he be abandoned for asking for the freedom of Biafra? He didn’t take up arms against the government, but he was tagged a terrorist. Yet the same government is busy releasing terrorists from detention.”

Emmanuel threatened to expose the beneficiaries of Kanu’s continued incarceration and the insecurity in the Southeast region.

He said, “If they fail to act, Ndigbo and Biafrans at large must hold them responsible. And it may get to a point where the masses may no longer be held back.

“Nobody dies with any secret. Very soon, all those behind Kanu’s continued detention will be exposed. Those benefiting from the insecurity in the South-East are the ones enjoying his continued stay in detention. But nothing lasts forever. One day, they will be out of power.”

Emmanuel also expressed sadness over the refusal of  Justice Nyako to grant him bail.

The family wondered if the trial Judge had taken time to go through the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the matter which held that the Federal High Court ought not to have revoked Kanu’s bail in the first place.

Fire guts Anambra market

0

A fire outbreak has occurred at the Ogbo-Osisi Plank Section of the Bridge Head Market in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State.

The cause of the fire could not immediately be ascertained, but it was gathered that it emanated from the Port Harcourt Road section of the plank market opposite Zenith Bank on Thursday night.

This is just as traders and other residents around the market were seen crying for urgent intervention from the men of the state fire service.

It was corroborated by a video currently circulating on social media, which also showed the fire as it raged, while residents and traders watched helplessly.

A male voice in the video who explained how the fire started, also called the attention and presence of other shop owners in the market who had gone home.

Efforts to reach the Anambra State Fire Chief, Martin Agbili, proved abortive, as calls and messages to his telephone line were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Agbili was among the individuals recently appointed as permanent secretaries by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

More details later…

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]