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Comptroller inspects Nigeria-Niger border forward of reopening

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Comptroller inspects Nigeria-Niger border forward of reopening

As part of preparations for the reopening of the Nigerian border with the Niger Republic, the Customs Area Controller, Sokoto/Zamfara Command, Comptroller Kamal Mohammed, on Tuesday, paid a working visit to Illela Border Station to ensure all is set in anticipation of the reopening order.

During the visit, the comptroller, who was accompanied by his management team, said, “With the lift of ECOWAS sanctions on Niger Republic, and subsequent restoration of power supply to Niger Republic, it is on this premise I came to ensure all is set towards the reopening of the Illela border while  we await the last order.”

The Federal Government had shut its borders with the Niger Republic following the takeover of government in the West African country by the military.

The border closure followed the decision of ECOWAS to impose sanctions on the country, with a view to forcing the military junta to step down from power.

The adamant junta, however, rebuffed the sanction and held onto power to date.

Furthermore, the Niger military junta formed an alliance with its counterpart in Burkina Faso and Mali and announced their pullout from ECOWAS.

However, following the intervention of Nigeria’s ex-military head of state, Gen Yakubu Gowon, ECOWAS on February 24 announced the lifting of sanctions on Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic.

Speaking during the inspection of the Sokoto border, the Customs comptroller advised stakeholders and security agencies at the border station on the need for cooperation, especially in the area of intelligence and information sharing.

 “With collaboration, each agency will be able to effectively and efficiently fulfill its assigned mandate,” he said.

He appreciated the Customs Licence Agents for their patience during the seven-month border closure.

 “We know it has not been easy for you, but God willing it will soon become history,” Mohammed said.

He also thanked the Illela community for their hospitality.

He announced the plan by Customs to build a primary health care centre at the border station as a form of Cooperate Social Responsibility in appreciation of the community’s hospitality to Customs personnel.

The comptroller also paid homage to the Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa, Muhammad Zayyanu, calling on the traditional ruler  to advise his subjects against smuggling.

Volleyball’s Golden Woman dwelling the dream

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Volleyball’s Golden Woman dwelling the dream

Today, Ifunanya Udeagbala is one of the most gifted volleyball players on the continent ready to take over the keys of the sport and dominate for the next decade, According Sports Extra reports.

Sports has always captivated fans with the extraordinary talent and athleticism displayed by athletes.

From the iconic basketball legend Michael Jordan to the legendary tennis megastar Serena Williams, sports has always captivated the world, with the stars leaving an indelible mark on the memories of the fans.

And while fans bask in the glory of their favourite sportsmen and women, it is often the next generation of athletes that ignites curiosity and excitement.

While she is only 16, Udeagbala, a promising star set to take the world by storm, never ceases to dazzle at every tournament, with the Anambra-born teen winning laurels both in the domestic league and in Africa.

In 2023, Udeagbala was selected among the players that represented the country at the 2023 CAVB Zone 3 U-21 Women’s Championship in Niger Republic, and she didn’t disappoint, helping coach Rakiya Mohammed’s side win the championship.

Speaking with According Sports Extra, the tall and lanky star talks about her journey as a volleyball player.

“I started playing volleyball when I was 12 and it has been a great journey because it has helped me to develop as a person and as an athlete,” she said.

“Even though I am only 16, I think I am living the dream and I hope to continue to grow further.”

The young Anambra Queens star already boasts several individual accolades along with her 2023 CAVB Zone 3 U-21 Women’s Championship gold.

At 14, Ifunanya won the ‘Youngest Raw Talent Identified’ at the 2022 Thunder Games in Lagos. She also won the best striker award at the Legacy Championship in 2023, while also claiming the MVP for the 2023 season.

However, combining education and sports hasn’t been an easy task, but the youngster says with the help of her coach she has been able to seamlessly combine both.

“My coach helped me growing up and he looked for a way to help me balance my studies and training,” she added.

“While I was still in secondary school, he would exempt me from some training so that I don’t miss classes and I tried to make up for that whenever I was free.

“But it is usually tough on occasions when we have competitions and I have to travel.”

Not one of the most lucrative sports around, Ifunanya insists she made the right choice playing volleyball.

“A lot of people like to play football and some friends think I should be playing football because of my height and my stature, but I like volleyball and I think it is the best for me.

“Maybe not as lucrative as football but I like the fact that I don’t have to stress myself that much and I appreciate that we use our hands a lot.”

The quest for the next rising star is a continuous process for scouts and coaches alike. It’s a journey that often involves combing through countless competitions, searching for that one individual who possesses the perfect combination of skill, passion and dedication.

Ijeomah Ndudi, Anambra Queens coach, who also specialises in discovering grassroots talents, expressed joy in discovering the gem at a very tender age.

“Ifunanya is a very special and talented girl,” he told According Sports Extra.

“She started training with me when she was just 12  because she was part of the team that went for the 2021 Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara.

“Since then she has made massive progress and that is why she is representing the country and has also been invited into the U-21 team at just 16.

“Ifunanya started with the U-19 national team invitation and even though we know how talented she is and the quality she possesses, I was surprised at that time because she was very young. The federation organised an event for them and they had one Alexander Bolskovi, who came to monitor them and give them the necessary guidance.

“After the camping, Alexander tagged Ifunanaya a player for the future and asked that we take proper care of her.”

Interestingly, Udeagbala’s volleyball journey might not have seen the light of the day but for fate. Rather, it was her brother who wanted to play the game, but after unsuccessful trials with the Anambra State team, their mother encouraged Udeagbala to try her luck in the game.

“During the trial, she impressed everyone, and today the mother must be proud that she pushed so hard,” a family source said.

And now the youngster is already dreaming of winning a gold medal at the ongoing African Games in Ghana.

“I just want to thank God for the journey so far but I know I still have a long way to go. I want to start that long journey by winning another gold medal at the African Games in Ghana. I believe we can win it.”

Place of work has change into extra violent for footballers – Balogun

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Place of work has change into extra violent for footballers – Balogun

Glasgow Rangers and Nigeria defender Leon Balogun feels social media has contributed to a rise in abusive behaviour aimed at players in their workplace – and says dialogue is needed to help create safer working environments in football.

Balogun, a member of FIFPRO’s Global Player Council, was speaking during a Space on X (Twitter) about the impact of violence towards footballers in their workplace.

It follows the release in January 2024 of FIFPRO’s Workplace Safety Report, which highlights the scale and impact of violence and abuse by fans towards professional footballers in the men’s game. The report draws on player interviews, a survey of 41 national player unions and media reviews.

“I have this feeling that this constant access to the real me as a player has lowered the threshold for fans in the stadium to a point where some think they are entitled to do things which they really aren’t,” said Balogun, 35.

“Some people, not the majority, feel because they have paid for a ticket to come to the stadium that it somehow automatically gives them the right to abuse you. There are people who just want to voice their frustration at you in a very inappropriate way.

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Wema Financial institution launches MSME cost answers

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Wema Financial institution launches MSME cost answers

Wema Bank has announced the re-launched of its suite of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise solutions designed to provide businesses and customers with a diverse range of seamless collection and payment platforms.

According to a statement, it noted that the MSME collection and payment suite includes ALAT For Business, NQR, ALATPay, MyBusiness Card and the Wema POS machine.

“ALAT For Business [AFB] is the bank’s digital App made exclusively for business owners. While customers use ALAT to pay merchants, these merchants use AFB for bulk payments.

“On AFB, business owners can make payment to 5,000 beneficiaries in one transaction, optimise salary payments, invoice discounting, cash flow analysis, Form Q Initiation, and even FX transactions,” the statement said.

ALATPay on the other hand, is a payment gateway website that allows seamless payments with instant confirmation for both customers and business owners. Wema NQR provides “scan-to-pay” options for faster contactless payments via QR Code.

It stated that the Wema POS Machine allowed businesses to receive card, transfer, and alternative point-of-sale payments without hassles. MyBusinessCard, is a Business Card that offers business owners priority service in Branches, increased transaction limits, and supplementary cards.

The Wema Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail and SME, Ayodele Olojede, said the unique suite of solutions presented a unique opportunity to engender and accelerate digital and MSME empowerment in Nigeria.

“At Wema Bank, MSMEs hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedication to supporting MSMEs with viable solutions and resources is not just ‘box ticking’, it’s a lifelong mission that we are committed to seeing through. These re-launched platforms guarantee business owners the flexibility to focus more on profit-adding business activities.

“Seamless and efficient processes are a non-negotiable requisite for achieving and sustaining true business success and with these relaunched solutions,” she concluded.

Nigerian Change leads in Africa with 33.70% acquire

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Nigerian Change leads in Africa with 33.70% acquire

The Nigerian Exchange has emerged as the number one exchange in Africa in the first two months of 2024, as investors enjoyed 33.70 per cent returns on investors.

A statement from the NGX on Tuesday revealed that the local bourse was rated as the best-performing in Africa ahead of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Egyptian Exchange (EGX 30) Index and The Ghana Stock Exchange.

Earlier in January, NGX emerged as world’s best-performing stock market in the first three weeks of 2024, beating Argentina, which came second.

Between January and February, the market capitalisation has appreciated by N13.79tn. The market cap of listed equities had opened the year at N40.917tn and closed February at N54.707tn.

Similarly, the NGX’s All-Share Index, which is the benchmark index closed February at 99,980.30 points, marking an increase of 25,206.53 basis points or 33.71 per cent from 74,773.77 points it opened for trading this year.

The equity market’s impressive performance in the first two months of this year was despite rising insecurity, inflation, and unstable foreign exchange, among other domestic macroeconomic challenges and global uncertainty.

The market, which was bullish in January, producing N1tn cap companies fairly regularly, slowed in February as the bears reared their heads.

The bearish has been sustained amid lacklustre corporate earnings as well as better yields in the fixed-income market.

Reacting to the performance of the market, the Chief Executive Officer of Wyoming Capital and Partners, Tajudeen Olayinka, said the stock market was in a repricing mode because of an interest rate hike and continued issuances of one-year Treasury bills at a high effective yield of over 20 per cent.

“So, we are witnessing a shift to the fixed-income market,” he said.

The Managing Director of ARM Securities Limited, Rotimi Olubi, reiterated that the high fixed-income yield was driving traction from the equities market to the fixed-income market.

“We expect this to be sustained in the short term given the recent 400 basis points hike in interest rate.

“However, this presents an opportunity for investors to enter into the equities market at a cheaper price to lock in on dividend payments in the coming months.”

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria had recently hiked the benchmark interest rate to 22.75 per cent.

 

Transcorp Energy, FBN Holdings elevate marketplace cap through N194bn

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Transcorp Energy, FBN Holdings elevate marketplace cap through N194bn

Newly listed stock, Transcorp Power, its parent company, Transcorp and FBN Holdings were the major drivers of the N194bn gain the market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange recorded on Tuesday.

The market cap rose by 0.35 per cent to N56.083tn while the All-Share Index of the market increased to close trading at 99,190.46 points.

Transcorp Power Plc listed its shares via introduction on the Main Board of the NGX on Monday, adding about N1.8tn to the market capitalisation of the exchange.

It gained 10 per cent on the first day of trading, to close at N264 per share, up from the listing price of N240 per unit.

Market breadth, which is the measure of investors’ sentiment was negative as reflected in 10 gainers and 37 losers.

Indigenous conglomerate, Transcorp, led the gainers with a 10 per cent rise in its share value to N17.27; Transcorp Power gained 10 per cent for the second consecutive day to close trading at N290.40 and FBN Holdings added 9.88 per cent to close at N31.15.

The losers were led by International Breweries and NASCON Allied Industries which lost 10 per cent each to close at N4.32 and 48.15 each. May&Baker closed at N5.08, dipping by 9.93 per cent.

Transaction volume for the day recorded 398.13 milion, compared to the previous day’s volume of 429.64 million trades valued at N31.78bn from the 10,976 deals executed. The number of stocks which saw some activity on Tuesday was 126.

The volume and value drivers of the day’s market trend were led by stocks of Transcorp, Transcorp Power and MTN Nigeria.

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Radda tackling lack of confidence, boosts Katsina LGs with N10bn

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Radda tackling lack of confidence, boosts Katsina LGs with N10bn

The Katsina State Government has released over N10bn from May 2023 to date for various developmental projects and to tackle insecurity in the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.

Arewa According exclusively learnt that this expenditure is with a view to ensuring development at the various council levels and to encourage residents to live and migrate to the rural areas.

The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Professor Badamosi Lawal, who made the revelation in an interview with  Arewa According explained that Governor Dikko Radda has a passion for the development of council areas in the state, hence the release of the funds for the projects.

He added that the governor had at various times approved the release of N1.8 billion; N1.7 billion, and N2.4 billion since the current administration came into office in 2023.

The Commissioner also pointed out that the Governor facilitated the deployment of 1,500 Community Watch Corps to the eight councils in the state with a view to assisting the regular security agencies to tackle banditry and other crimes in the councils.

Lawal further informed our correspondent that Gov Radda had equally directed the resuscitation of 1,500 vigilante groups in all the 34 local Government Areas of the state and to ensure that ward heads totalling 6,652 as well as three officials, including the imam in each of identified 2,500 mosques across the state were placed on monthly stipend with a view to monitoring what goes on in their respective councils.

The Commissioner revealed, “His Excellency, Governor Dikko Radda is passionate about the development in our council areas. He has  put in place the necessary strategies to ensure security in the councils, especially in the eight council areas we have tagged to be prone councils because of security challenges there.

 “The councils are: Jibia, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume.

“Over N10 billion has been spent to ensure security and for  various developmental projects  from 2023 when we came into office and to date. On security alone, N5.4 billion and N2 billion were released at various times for the procurement of arms and ammunition including purchase of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers that were purchased and deployed to the eight prone councils I mentioned.

“Earlier, 1500 youths were also screened and trained before they were deployed to these eight councils to aid security in the areas. Also, Hilux patrol vehicles were deployed to allow for effective patrol and monitoring of the 34 local government areas. While each of the eight prone councils got three patrol vehicles, the other councils got one patrol vehicle each.

“Also, 700 motorcycles purchased for the purpose of security were equally deployed to all the council areas just as thè Community Watch Corps were also placed on a monthly stipend of N30,000 each,”

Lawal, insisted that, “with the assistance of the governor, no fewer than 1,500 vigilante members across all the councils were resuscitated, all with a view to assisting in ensuring the safety of our people in the council areas.”

According to the Commissioner, Governor Radda had also ensured that agriculture is resuscitated in all the local government areas, revealing that N1.9 billion was released specifically for the scheme. He cited the dry season farming irrigation that has been aided in all the councils with the installation of solar powered bore holes.

The Commissioner explained more, “His Excellency has a special passion for agriculture. With his assistance, we have identified six areas in each council where we install solar powered boreholes. 10 farmers have been attached to each area for dry season farming. The farmers, totalling 2,040 have been given improved seedlings of water melon cabbage, tomato, etc; and have received training on how to ensure good cultivation and yields. This is with a view to improving farming yields in the state.

“Apart from this , normal farming activities are  also being encouraged to assist the state to become food  basket of the nation, again.”

The Commissioner while maintaining that the various councils have been engaged in various projects that would assist communities within the councils cited the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of schools, especially classrooms, construction of drainages and culverts; construction and rehabilitation of roads including asphalt and feeder roads, among others, in some councils as part of the developmental projects.

He pointed out, “As we are discussing now, I am telling you that there is no council area that is not embarking on any development project or the other. The projects will boost development in council areas and further provide jobs for the residents of the areas and also attract businessmen to the council areas. In Kankia, Kankara, Malunfashi, Katsina, and other councils, either a feeder road or an asphalt road is being constructed with a view to opening up the council areas for further development.”

 Lawal mentioned such councils as Jibia, Matazu, Kurfi, Musawa, and Maashi, where new vehicles had been bought to boost transportation and health centres  constructed for the healthcare programme of the residents.

 Thus, he remarked further, “Local Government Areas in Katsina State have brighter future as more and more developmental projects are being executed and as more funds are being made available for them.”

Bauchi group will get virtual hub to bridge cyber web hole

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Bauchi group will get virtual hub to bridge cyber web hole

Communities in the Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State have been urged to think out developmental issues that will grow the area.

The call was made by a community leader in the area, Dr. Abdulmumini Muhammad during the commissioning of the Jama’are Digital Community Hub.

He noted that only the bond of unity as against division and politicising developmental issues is what the community, the state, and the country need to promote peace and security.

According to Abdulmumini, health, education, and security issues deserve unanimous escalation and not politics.

Therefore, he advised youth to lead the way in the promotion of development activities in the area.

On his part, the Madaki of Jama’are, who also doubles as the chairman of the Jama’are Community Network, Muhammad Sabo Madaki lauded the establishment of the digital hub saying more than ever before internet accessibility is very demanding.

While thanking the CITAD and collaborators for the gesture, he applauded the fact that the facility will bridge the gap in internet access and provision to some villages of Jama’are, saying that the development is timely.

Madaki urged the community to properly utilise the digital hub.

Also speaking with Arewa  According on the sideline of the event, the Executive Director of the Center,

Yunusa Zakari Ya’u observed that the Jama’are digital community hub is the second established in Nigeria after the first, which was established in Dakwa, Abuja.

He stressed that the effort is part of the center’s aim at promoting digital inclusion in the country.

He maintained, “We know that there are many people who are left behind digitally. The USPF statistics indicate that 27.1 million Nigerians are living in areas without access to the Internet even though the Internet is the right of every individual.

“So we are making an effort to make the internet not only available but also affordable to people.”

Continuing, Ya’u insisted that it was for the purpose of bridging this gap that the digital community hub was established to provide free internet to benefit communities.

He noted that the N26 million project was supported by digitally oriented organisations such as Hello World, 48 per cent, the Association for Progressive Communication, and the Center for Information Technology and Development.

Meanwhile, he hinted of plans to build 20 digital community hubs across Nigeria before the end of 2024.

Arewa According reports that the digital community hub is targeted at internet-underserved communities across the country.

Sokoto commissioners beg for professional automobiles

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Sokoto commissioners beg for professional automobiles

As the various state governors across the country brace up to celebrate their first year in office, the state commissioners manning the different ministries in Sokoto State have pleaded with their governors to better dignify their offices and make their jobs a lot easier through the allocation and use of official cars.

Arewa According investigations indicate that the Sokoto State  Commissioners’ request may not be out of place as it was observed that none of the commissioners had indeed been allocated an official vehicle for use to aid them in the delivery of their official responsibilities.

Our correspondent in the state who monitored the development further gathered that the commissioners who were appointed by Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto about eight months ago have been driving their personal vehicles for all official duties.

Although none of the sitting commissioners volunteered to speak with Arewa According in the open, however, a few others only agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity while explaining their plight.

One of them noted that there is no need to deny the fact that the absence of official vehicles for his use is severely affecting the smooth running and operations of his office.

In spite of the situation, the commissioner defended that Governor Aliyu Ahmad’s action and reason for the delay may not be unconnected to the probe panel instituted by the governor to unravel the excesses of the previous administration  which included the disappearance of some government properties and vehicles.

“I can not deny to you that I’m not affected. Truly, I’m also suffering from the absence of official vehicles in my ministry and for my personal use. I can’t lie to you. I’m a Muslim, and I’m not a baby. I can’t lie to you that it is not adversely affecting my duties,” the ministry’s helmsman stated.

Continuing, he maintained, “Many times, I have to call some of my friends at different times to use their cars to state events and functions.

“Although, I’m not happy about this development because it is a shame on me, but I can not blame the governor because he’s trying to recover and reposition this state.

“The previous administrations did some unimaginable things like going away with government properties that included vehicles.

“That is another reason, I think is responsible for the delay, and we are the ones suffering their misdeeds and wickedness. So we wait for the panel instituted by the governor to submit its report and recover the missing items. After that, I’m sure things will be okay,” he disclosed further.

Meanwhile, an aide to another commissioner who was mandated by his boss to speak with Arewa According but also on condition of anonymity explained that his boss and other cabinet members have made a few  appeals to the governor to as a matter of urgency approve the use of official vehicles for the state executive members in a bid to improve their productivity.

The aide emphasised, “It’s about eight months now that my boss and other Commissioners were sworn into office by the governor.

“However, it is unfortunate that  it is taking too long for the state government to procure official vehicles for the commissioners’ use, despite the huge allocation from the federal government,” he added.

Arewa According meanwhile recalls that in a bid to ensure accountability, the state governor upon assumption of office set up a judicial commission of enquiry to look into some of the actions of the previous administration in the state which includes the need to recover some of the government vehicles allegedly taken away by the officials of the past government.

When Arewa According contacted the spokesman to the state governor, Abubakar Bawa, he reacted thus, “This is beyond the purview of my office.

“However, I know that the state government is working on it, and you will surely witness the presentation of the cars to the commissioners very soon.”

Taraba NYSC boss blames talent deficit for Nigeria’s financial woes

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Taraba NYSC boss blames talent deficit for Nigeria’s financial woes

The Taraba State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Mr. Anthony Nzoka, on Monday, disclosed that the lack of skills, especially among the young people, is responsible for the suffering going on in the country.

Nzoka stated this at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sibre near Jalingo during the graduation of the 2024 Batch A Stream 1 SAED training.

According to him, “Nigeria is suffering because we don’t have enough skills and every nation is as rich as the skills of her population. We have to do something no matter how small to contribute to our gross domestic product.

“I want to call on you not to depend on government jobs that are not readily available but to think of what you can do especially with the training you have received for the good of yourself and the country.

“Considering the growing population, the government can not provide jobs for all, and I urge you to use the skills acquired to create jobs and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

“You have great opportunities out there with these skills you have received. However, you are not yet professionals in the various skills you were introduced to, so I want to encourage you to do post-camp training to advance in the skills you have been introduced to and transform these skills into money-making ventures,” he admonished them.

Earlier, SAED Coordinator, Mr. Japhet Saidu urged the corps members to use the skills acquired to develop themselves and help the society, even as he charged the corps members to make use of the skills in their various communities of assignment.

He also charged the corps members to use the SAED grant windows to get grants to finance their business.

“NYSC is partnering with several organisations for funding of corps members business ideas, so I urge you to take advantage of the funding window to establish and grow your businesses.”

Arewa According reports that the corps members who were trained in various skills like soap making, beads making, solar installation, make-up, shoes, and various bags making among others exhibited their works during the graduation ceremony.

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