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CNN Appearance: Kemi Badenoch’s Distortions Demand Nigeria’s Right to Respond

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You would think that Nigeria and her Conservative Party are competing for the position of British prime minister based on the way Kemi Badenoch is always disparaging Nigeria. Where, after all, is the poison from this most heinous kind of careless comments coming from?

My friend Folorunso Fatai Adisa, a resident student in the UK, made a joke a while back when he asked if Kemi had ever been betrayed by a man in Nigeria. I’ll now list some names of those who should have “femi” and showered Kemi but most likely ignored her. Femi Adeshina, Femi Fani Kayode, and Femi Akinwunmi. We need an explanation from everyone of you as to why you did not “FÉ’KEMI” and spare us this buccal torture. For me, this repetition of falsehoods and fictitious language directed at the Nigerian people can only be understood through the lens of a failed romance. Nigeria seems like a boyfriend you have cheated on or that you have cheated on but are unable to move on from. Should she, however, vent her frustration on the entire country?

Although there have been jokes and innuendos regarding Kemi’s lack of moral character, let’s examine some facts that examine her anxiety and deception of immigrants in the midst of her rage and disdain.

The Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) reports that immigrants, especially those from outside the EU, have made substantial contributions to the British economy by paying more in taxes than they receive in benefits and public services. Estimates of the net positive contribution to the British economy are close to £4.6 billion. An Office for National Statistics analysis released on February 12, 2025, estimates that immigrants add around £83 billion (eighty three billion pounds sterling) to the UK economy per year. And when you consider how many educated Nigerians work in the UK as doctors, nurses, and other professionals, you can only fathom the level of contribution Nigerians make to the UK’s society. But how does Kemi’s attack on Nigeria strengthen the Conservatives’ position as an electoral asset? About 270,768 people who were born in Nigeria and resided in England and Wales prior to 2024. There were 271,390 people who claimed Nigerian ethnicity. Just 0.5% of the UK’s total population is represented by this. What use will Kemi make of disparaging Nigeria, then?

The reason is that instead of focusing on a campaign strategy that elevates her above the Labour Party, she focuses only on Nigeria and keeps making fun of immigrants as though they are worthless parasites. Simply put, Kemi’s strategy is based on the current surge of anti-immigrant sentiment that helped Donald Trump win power. She is adamant that any candidate who can disparage immigration will win over the white supremacist base, whose support is crucial for winning the presidency. And Kemi, who was half-shrewd, saw no problems with immigrants from Bangladesh, India, or Pakistan, even though 52,000 Nigerians moved to the UK in 2024. She decided to use the noose to hang her own people and history. The statement by Edwin Louis Cole that “the pattern of the prodigal is rebellion and ruin” is perfectly summed up by Kemi. Even though he concluded the quote with the words “repentance and restoration,” I don’t think Kemi is doing that.

Read Also: Elumelu Commits N25 Billion Toward Lagos’ Produce‑For‑Lagos Initiative

James Boswell’s statement that “if a man is prodigal, he cannot be truly generous” accurately emphasizes the myopia of willful bastards, therefore she’s a lost cause. In order to fit into a psycho-genocidal fiction, where immigrants are viewed as irritants and have the nuisance reverse-value for campaign trolls, Kemi Badenoch’s purposeful fabrications and her obedient and servile, attention-seeking denigration of immigrants—many of whom have contributed to the development of the UK—are indicative of a condescending, virtue-signaling strategy. This is done in advance of an extinction policy. Unfortunately, this conservative wannabe-racist’s name is Olukemi Olufunto, regardless of how hard she tries to break the ties to her background. She is an immigrant’s daughter and a Yoruba from Nigeria. Born in England, she was returned to Nigeria, where she relished the country’s warmth and communal culture, and was not brought back to the UK until she was sixteen.

Therefore, Kemi will never be white no matter how hard she tries, and the true British people are aware of this. Her ambition to run for office is within her rights, but it does not reflect well on her to undermine the dignity of other races. The ideal beauty in virtue is that while ambition might motivate us to strive, it shouldn’t be used to offer an entire race for murder. Kemi should also refrain from using her kids as a political weapon in a crude and dishonest manner. Because of this, history will not be kind to her. She might not get that office, too. Her day of mockery might not be far off. The Federal Government of Nigeria should, however, seek the right to respond to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria in light of her most recent deceptive tirade in order to refute the latest odor Kemi just spewed like a fart. Reno Omokri will perform this task well. Now is the moment to send him out!

The person in charge of Kemi’s hair and overall grooming should, at the very least, do better. She appears to be many years older than she actually is, regardless of how hard they try.

Elumelu Commits N25 Billion Toward Lagos’ Produce‑For‑Lagos Initiative

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The Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company’s Produce for Lagos Program has received a N25 billion donation from Tony Elumelu, chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA).

It is anticipated that the program will improve food security and encourage the state’s economic growth.

Elumelu made the announcement at the initiative’s Wednesday launch in Lagos.

“It will assist us in addressing the issue of our children’s unemployment in a few years,” Elumelu stated.

“We think that one of the biggest issues facing our youth is unemployment. They shouldn’t be unemployed because our fields are fertile.

Referring to the project as “our initiative,” he called on all parties involved to work together to realize the objective.

“We at United Bank of Africa, Transcorp Group, Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Heirs Holdings will do whatever your excellency asks us to do,” Elumelu declared.

Together with a N500 billion offtake guarantee fund, the Produce for Lagos Program was formally launched by Abisola Olusanya, the state’s commissioner for the ministry of agriculture and food systems.

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According to Olusanya, the project is a component of the 2021-launched Lagos State Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap.

She clarified that by implementing a data-driven structure that allows governments to monitor and maximize the supply of agricultural produce to the state, the program tackles the unorganized and informal flow of food into Lagos.

“Assuring market access for farmers and agribusinesses, enhancing supply chain efficiency, lowering food costs and post-harvest losses, and establishing sustainable livelihoods throughout the agricultural value chain are the goals of the Produce for Lagos Program,” Olusanya stated.

“This is consistent with His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, GCFR, which places a high priority on food security and agriculture as national objectives.”

The program establishes Lagos as a key partner and dependable off-taker in the development of a robust and integrated agricultural economy, the commissioner continued.

An agreement on the production and sale of food products between the governments of Lagos and Niger states was signed in March 2024.

NCAA Mandates Compliance With Passenger Currency Declaration Over $10,000

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All foreign airlines operating inbound flights to Nigeria have been urged by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to adhere closely to the directive’s criteria regarding inbound passengers’ cash declarations.

In a memo from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to “All International Airlines Operating in Nigeria,” the NCAA

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, issued a reminder on Tuesday regarding the Currency Declaration Directive (Ref: NCAA/CPD/ABV/298). He stated that the directive aligns with Nigeria’s continuous endeavors to fortify its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, in compliance with global norms and commitments.

All international airlines that operate inbound flights to Nigeria are therefore reminded by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to adhere precisely to the directive’s criteria regarding inbound passengers’ currency declarations.

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The NCAA reaffirms the following guidelines for all international airlines in keeping with Nigeria’s continuous efforts to fortify its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in compliance with international norms and obligations: Notify passengers throughout the flight or before landing that they are required by law to report any currency or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNI) worth more than $10,000 USD or its equivalent when they arrive in Nigeria. Give passengers currency declaration documents to fill out on board before they land.

The NCAA has received information that several airlines have yet to comply with this request, the press statement added.

Please be aware that Nigeria’s efforts to conform to international financial norms depend heavily on the assistance of all foreign airlines doing business there.

As a result, the Authority stresses how crucial it is that this order be fully implemented, especially with regard to inbound passenger disclosures.

“Airlines that do not comply will be subject to suitable sanctions, and compliance will be closely monitored.”

Edo Governor Under Fire from Wabara Over Remarks About Peter Obi

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Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara has criticized Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, over his recent statements cautioning Peter Obi against entering the state without a security clearance.
Wabara warned that the governor’s actions were “executive rascality taken too far” and that such statements are not only unconstitutional but also have the potential to inflame ethnic tensions and jeopardize national unity.
“If Peter Obi wishes to come here, he should seek proper security clearance,” Governor Okpebholo declared in a recent tirade. Otherwise, we cannot be sure he will be safe. He will be held accountable if he suffers any harm here. I’m not kidding.

Senator Wabara strongly denounced the threat in a statement released on Wednesday, asserting that no state governor is constitutionally empowered to impose restrictions on the freedom of travel of any Nigerian citizen.

“Every Nigerian citizen is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no Nigerian citizen shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom,” he advised, in case the governor had forgotten.

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Therefore, it stinks of executive impunity, power intoxication, political insanity, and egregious abuse of authority for an elected governor to display such an unconscionable authoritarian propensity.

The disgusting display of Okpebholo’s ignorance of the boundaries of his authority as governor is demonstrated by his threat. Or is it an advertisement for his evident intellectual incompetence and hollowness, which would explain his poor understanding of the constitution’s provisions?

Whether the governor’s actions were the result of intentional abuse of authority or “academic hollowness and ineptitude,” the elder statesman further questioned.

Wabara’s actions went beyond simple censure. In addition to a formal assurance of his safety in Edo State, he urged that Governor Okpebholo provide an immediate and unconditional public apology to Peter Obi.

He added, “It is unfortunate that Governor Okpebholo, who ought to know better, has flagrantly violated the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution after serving in the Senate. He ought to immediately apologize to Obi in public for threatening his life.

Holders of public office ought to be polite, courteous, and abstain from reckless vituperations that could ruin Nigeria. They ought to encourage activities that strengthen our fault lines rather than acts that exacerbate them.

In addition, the former Senate President attacked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it was stifling opposition voices more and more and attempting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

He reminded Obi of a similar instance in which Hyacinth Alia, the governor of Benue State, warned Obi and requested President Bola Tinubu to “call his governors to order.”

He stated that those holding public office ought to be polite, courteous, and free from reckless vituperations that could burn down Nigeria.

Wabara went on to caution against the ethnic profiling of Nigerians, stating that it seriously jeopardizes peace and stability.

He issued a warning: “No one should use political fervor to drive our nation to its breaking point. Above political interests, this nation’s peace and stability should come first.

Governor Sanwo-Olu Launches N500bn Agricultural Fund for Lagos, Receives N25bn Support from Elumelu

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In order to guarantee food availability, affordability, and security in the state, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday officially opened the N500 billion Produce For Lagos Off-Take Guarantee Fund.

Also contributing ₦25 billion to the effort was Tolu Elemelu, Chairman of the Elumelu Foundation and Heir Holdings.

Read Also: Datti: Obi Can Run in 2027 With or Without Me

The event, according to Bisola Olusanya, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, is the “launch of a bold history-shaping intervention” that aims to reward all stakeholders in the food systems value chain, rewire the food chain, and reconnect rural abandon with urban demand.

Details will be added soon.

Datti: Obi Can Run in 2027 With or Without Me

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Peter Obi can fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential election with or without him as his running mate, according to Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in the general elections of 2023.

Baba-Ahmed stated this on Wednesday when making an appearance as a guest on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief.”

“There are two important people whom I greatly like; Peter Obi is one of them. I’m open to having him.

“With or without me, the Labour Party encourages him to continue coming, keep the Labour Party ticket, and run in 2027. Baba-Ahmed added, “The ADC is free to choose a candidate from the South.”

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He asserted that Nigeria required a leader who would bring about government rather than catastrophe.

Baba-Ahmed went on to say that Obi’s affiliation with the coalition on the African Democratic Congress platform was a developing circumstance rather than an anti-party action.

“This behavior is not anti-party. The situation is developing. A coalition is the result of individuals, interest groups, and political parties joining together. The scenario is developing.

“I went to coalition meetings. “Peter Obi is free to keep going to those coalition meetings,” Baba-Ahmed continued.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Baba-Ahmed expressed his opinion on the zoning issue, saying he believed the South should produce the president.

Tenants in Southeast Nigeria Decry Soaring Rental Prices

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People in the Southeast region of Nigeria are feeling increasingly overburdened by the rising cost of housing; many have called the situation oppressive and oppressive.

Tenants from big cities and small towns claim they are feeling desperate and financially burdened due to the constant increase in rent prices.

Tenants in key towns like Enugu, Awka, Onitsha, Umuahia, and Aba are complaining about the steep rise in annual rent costs. Some landlords are now asking for up to two or three years’ rent up front.

In Awka, the capital of Anambra State, a three-bedroom apartment that used to cost between ₦450,000 and ₦800,000 per year can now cost up to ₦1.5 million in some places.

Similar trends are reported by inhabitants of Enugu and Abia States, where a two-bedroom apartment that used to cost ₦300,000 now sells for over ₦700,000.

“The ordinary wage earner can no longer afford the rent. A teacher in Onitsha named Chinyere Ndukwe stated, “You have two options: either you get a house in a far-off village or you just go back to your father’s compound.”

Tenants contend that the increases are capricious and frequently predatory, while landlords and real estate brokers have blamed the rent rise on inflation, the overall economic crisis, and the growing cost of building materials.

Inflation is no longer a factor. Some landlords simply have avarice. “They raise the rent every year, but they don’t improve anything or renovate the houses,” another Umuahia tenant said.

Additionally, agents have been criticized for inflating rates and demanding exorbitant commissions and legal fees, which can sometimes match or surpass the rent.

Many families are currently experiencing financial difficulties, high unemployment, and stagnant income, which is compounded by the rising cost of housing. Students, traders, artisans, and civil servants are among those most impacted.

Nigeria has a housing shortage of more than 28 million units, and the Southeast region is a major contributor to that number, according to real estate experts.

Read Also: NiMet Pushes for Law Review to Improve Revenue and Services

A seller’s market that greatly benefits landlords has resulted from the low supply of reasonably priced homes, which has maintained demand high.

Some state governments have responded by introducing measures to restrict rent, especially in Enugu. The state assembly is now debating a plan that would limit rent hikes and shield renters from evictions without warning.

Urgent measures are also needed to stop the problem, according to the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN). The group is promoting tax breaks for developers, subsidized building supplies, and increased funding for affordable homes.

Many Southeast residents say the pain of skyrocketing rents won’t go away anytime soon unless state governments, through their various Houses of Assembly, take serious and intentional action. They hope for quick and long-lasting solutions to lighten their load, but for now, they are left with few options and growing pressure.

NiMet Pushes for Law Review to Improve Revenue and Services

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A public hearing on a bill that would change the 2022 version of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s Establishment Act and was sponsored by Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, the former chair of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, was held at the agency.

A clear and comprehensive framework for the Agency’s cost recovery across the economy, particularly the non-aviation industries, is one of the main goals of the proposed revisions.

The objective is to increase the Agency’s ability to carry out its purpose, encourage efficiency, upgrade facilities, guarantee security, and improve employee well-being.

In his presentation at the public hearing, which was organized by the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Director-General/CEO Professor Charles Anosike stressed that cost recovery is a widely recognized practice and a vital component of the Agency’s long-term viability.

Representatives from WMO, NIMASA, FAAN, NCC, trade unions, and former Director-Generals of the Agency—Engr. Dr. Jide Adeniji, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, and Professor Mansur Matazu—were among the other important participants from a range of socioeconomic sectors who attended the hearing.

Read Also: SSDC’s New Managing Director Gets Appointment Letter, Readies to Take Over

Additionally, previous Agency directors submitted both orally and in writing.

The Speaker of the House, through the Deputy Chief Whip, opened the hearing by restating the National Assembly’s commitment to a people-oriented legislature that guarantees MDAs like NiMet have the ability to support public growth, maintain transparency, respond to national needs, address climate change and hazardous weather, and fortify the resilience of vulnerable communities.

In his concluding remarks, the committee’s chairman, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun, gave attendees his word that the committee will take into account all written and spoken contributions in a comprehensive manner and produce legally compliant revisions. He emphasized the significance of NiMet’s mission in protecting human life on land, in the air, and on the sea—an undertaking that calls for everyone’s support.

SSDC’s New Managing Director Gets Appointment Letter, Readies to Take Over

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, gave the newly appointed board members and Ms. Usoro Akpabio, the Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), their official appointment letters at his Abuja office on Tuesday.

SGF Akume gave the appointees congratulations during the ceremonial event and asked them to fulfill the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda for the South-South. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s confidence in their ability to accelerate transformation in the oil-rich region is evident in their appointments,” he stressed. In carrying out their purpose, Akume urged dedication, creativity, and integrity.

Read Also: Nigerian Senate Insists on Natasha’s Ongoing Suspension

Ms. Akpabio responded by promising that the Commission will give top priority to enhancing primary healthcare systems, modernizing educational facilities, and empowering women and the elderly through focused training programs. The new board’s commitment to making the South-South Commission a model for regional development organizations nationwide was reaffirmed by her.

Each member received their letters of appointment at the event, which signaled the official start of the board’s responsibilities. For the people of the South-South, the SSDC is now poised to usher in a new age of sustainable development, inclusive growth, and regional prosperity with the support of the Federal Government and revitalized energy.

Nigerian Senate Insists on Natasha’s Ongoing Suspension

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According to the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member from Kogi Central, would stay suspended till the Senate returns from recess in two months.

Yemi Adaramodu, the red chamber of the National Assembly’s spokesperson, made this claim on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today show.

This came just hours after the Senate forbade the suspended member from returning to the National Assembly in Abuja to resume his legislative duties.

“The entire National Assembly, including the Senate, has a responsibility to play. We are lawmakers, not bystanders who watch others create content and perform skits. The content was first produced and is now deteriorating into seasoned movies.

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“Until the Senate returns from recess in two months, the Senator will continue to be suspended,” he stated.

Recall that in March 2025, Senator Natasha was suspended for allegedly violating Senate rules following a dispute over seat arrangements with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual assault. Akpabio refuted the accusation.

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the lawmaker attempted to continue Senate business but was denied access.