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Heavy security at N’Assembly as lawmakers hold emergency session

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Heavy security at N’Assembly as lawmakers hold emergency session

A heavy security presence has been established in and around the National Assembly Complex in Abuja as lawmakers hold an emergency plenary session today.

Contrary to the usual practice, the Sergeant-At-Arms has barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, requiring identification cards for entry at the MOPOL Gate.

The heightened security is allegedly intended to prevent protesters from gathering at the venue.

The Red and Green Chambers had announced an emergency session for Wednesday (today) on Sunday.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Rotimi Akin, the Wednesday plenary will focus on critical matters requiring immediate legislative attention.

The statement read, “The House of Representatives wishes to announce that, pursuant to the directive of the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., a plenary session has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

“Honourable members have been duly summoned from their respective constituencies to attend this crucial session. This directive was communicated through an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., on Sunday.”

Akin noted that it is customary for the House to reconvene from recess to address pressing national issues.

Similarly, a memo from the Clerk of the Senate, Francis Akubueze, to Senators indicated that the Red Chamber would also be sitting on Wednesday. The memo read:

“The President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened,” it added.

The memo noted that the plenary will commence at noon on Wednesday.

Hardship: Protect sports infrastructure – SWAN President tells protesters

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Hardship: Protect sports infrastructure – SWAN President tells protesters

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has appealed to protesters to be mindful of mostly sports infrastructure across the country as any form of destruction will further create a needless deficit.
Making the call on Wednesday in a statement by the National President,
Isaiah Benjamin, SWAN urged Nigerians, mostly youths and sports personalities to toe the path of peace and dialogue, instead of engaging in violent protest regarding the challenges facing the country.
The call is coming on the heels of planned protests by some persons in parts of Nigeria, beginning August 1, 2024.
Benjamin, in the statement which was signed on his behalf by the association’s Secretary General, Ikenna Okonkwo, said while citizens have a right to protest, such should be done peacefully.
“Instead of embarking on the destruction of lives and properties, citizens should reflect on positive and progressive moves aimed at ensuring improved sports development, which has obvious potential to uplift the country’s economy,” Benjamin pleaded.
“As the second most economically viable option in the entire world, Sports serve as a catalyst for needed growth and development in any society.
Sportsmen and women including athletes, officials, administrators and of course, the sporting media, have the responsibility to lead the way in terms of conduct and influence in various residential and public places.
“Instead of joining any bandwagon of destructive tendencies, let us encourage fellow Nigerians to engage in sporting activities in terms of physical exercise and other areas of gainful endeavours,” he said.
The number one sports writer in Nigeria, also admonished leaders at all levels to, in line with global standards, use legislative means to initiate sustainable policies that will loosen tight ends and clear bureaucratic bottlenecks, which had hampered sports development in the country.
He asked that Nigeria, as a developing nation, be made a fortress for talent discovery and development because of the abundance of human capital resources that abound in each of its nooks and crannies.
“Again, the government at all levels should do more in the provision of sporting infrastructure at the grassroots, as a veritable way of engaging mostly the young people, because sports, with the right funding approach, has enormous potential to drastically reduce unemployment.”
Hardship: Protect sports infrastructure – SWAN President tells protesters

US embassy changes service providers in Nigeria over racketeering

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US embassy changes service providers in Nigeria over racketeering

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a new visa services provider for its Abuja and Lagos consulates, expected to take effect from August 26, 2024.
The announcement was made on its website and its official X account on Wednesday.
This comes amid complaints from Nigerian applicants over late appointment dates and racketeering at its consulate general office in Lagos.
Following the development, the embassy announced a change in its service providers.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos are moving to a new visa services provider on August 26, 2024,” it said.
The embassy explained that applicants in Nigeria who had already booked an appointment date would no longer have access to the U.S. travel website from August 16.
“This means you will not be able to cancel or reschedule your appointment from August 16, 2024, and will have no access to customer service. You should print your appointment confirmation letter before August 16, 2024, and we strongly encourage you to attend your visa interview if possible – if you fail to appear for your scheduled interview, please check here on or after August 26, 2024, for instructions on rescheduling your appointment,” the announcement stated.
According to the announcement, a “new visa appointment website goes live” by August 26 to ease visa services.
Recall that in the past weeks, many Nigerians applying for a U.S visa have lamented over the difficulty in getting appointment dates despite charging and paying visa fees.
US embassy changes service providers in Nigeria over racketeering

Olympics 2024: There will be sanctions – Sports Min vows after Ofili’s 100m race ban

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Olympics 2024: There will be sanctions – Sports Min vows after Ofili’s 100m race ban

Nigeria’s sports minister, John Enoh has said he would not tolerate ‘utter recklessness’ after Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, was denied a 100m race at the ongoing 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Ofili, in a series of tweets on Tuesday, disclosed she will not take part in the 100m race at the Olympics.
She explained that the reason was because of administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, and the Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC.
However, upon hearing Ofili’s distress on Tuesday, Enoh said he had reached out to the AFN and the NOC to find out the root cause of the matter.
According to him, there will be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated.’
Enoh made this known in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday.
He said, “I reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
“I am in touch with the President of the NOC on this and await his explanation.
“As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated.
“All parties must take their duties very seriously.”
Olympics 2024: There will be sanctions – Sports Min vows after Ofili’s 100m race ban

Nigerian students to get N850m loan today

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Nigerian students to get N850m loan today

The Nigerian Educational Loan Fund on Tuesday said it would disburse the sum of N850M to institutions as fees Today (Wednesday).

This is apart from the over N1.7Bn that has been disbursed to about 20,000 students.

The Managing Director of the Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made this known during an ongoing press briefing in Abuja.

“The sum of N850M will be leaving the account of NELFUND Today to institutions. This is apart from the N1.7Bn naira that has already been disbursed.”

Earlier, Sawyer revealed that the Fund had disbursed institutional fees to 20,000 students through their institutions.

He also noted that a total of 260,000 loans including institutional fees and upkeep have been approved.

No fewer than 1.2 million students are expected to benefit from this cardinal programme of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The President approved N35bn for the take-off of the scheme after signing the law backing the scheme on April 3.

Deborah Tolu-Kolawole

Deborah, has three years of experience covering the education sector, trade unions, politics and international affairs, and is a journalist with The According

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]

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    • PROTEST: Ekiti yet to recover from EndSARS violence, Oyebanji tells youths

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    PROTEST: Ekiti yet to recover from EndSARS violence, Oyebanji tells youths

    The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday, begged the residents of the state not to fall into the agenda of those who wreak havoc in the state all in the name of protest.
    Recall that the #EndBadGovernance protests targeted at drawing the Federal Government’s attention to the economic hardship in the country is scheduled to begin tomorrow.
    Oyebanji, who spoke in a Special State Broadcast, titled: ‘Need to uphold peace during the August 1 planned nationwide protest’ to the people of the state ahead of the planned nationwide protest, noted that the state was yet to recover from the violence and destruction of the 2020 EndSARS protest.
    However, he appealed to Ekiti residents to go about their daily routine without any fear or hesitation.
    He added that nobody will be allowed to obstruct, intimidate, impede, or harass anyone in the name of protests in Ekiti.
    Oyebanji said: “On our part, we want to assure our citizens that we are more than resolved to protect our state and to ensure no breakdown of laws and orders. The security agencies will be on high alert and will not allow anybody to bloodstain our immaculate name as a peaceful and progressive state.”
    He also urged parents and guardians, traditional rulers, and religious leaders “to appeal to the youths not to submit themselves to the evil merchants who want to use them to cause violence in our state as protests can easily be hijacked by hoodlums. No matter how peaceful a protest might seem at the beginning, no one can predict its eventual dynamics and its ending.”
    The governor acknowledged that it is the Constitutional right of the citizenry to protest.
    READ ALSO: Kenyan cleric warns Nigerian youths against violent protests
    “It is therefore expected that a protest will be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere without recourse to any violent disturbances to other citizens who also enjoy their inalienable right to unhindered movement and life,” he said.
    Oyebanji said that violence would be “counterproductive now that everything is being done to re-set the economy to productivity through different fiscal and monetary measures that are already showing early indication of success and we cannot afford a rollback of the present gains.
    “As a people, we cannot also afford another expensive destruction of our economic base as we did in 2020 during the #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of many private and government infrastructures. Multimillion naira businesses were completely ruined and the owners destroyed forever.
    “Till today, the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency’s store room and other government institutions remain in ruins because of the arson and looting that were visited on the State by retrogressive elements masquerading as protesters.
    “Many of our silos which serve as national strategic reservoirs for food and seedlings were burnt, looted, and vandalised. Government is still struggling with replacing or repairing these infrastructures, even in the face of scarce resources.”
    The post PROTEST: Ekiti yet to recover from EndSARS violence, Oyebanji tells youths appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

    MTN resumes operations after nationwide shutdown 

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    MTN resumes operations after nationwide shutdown 

    Nigeria’s leading telecommunications provider, MTN, has resumed nationwide operations after a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday.

    The temporary closure came in response to widespread customer outrage and vandalism, sparked by the disconnection of subscribers who failed to link their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers.

    On Wednesday, MTN announced its return to operations via X (formerly Twitter), confirming that its physical shops would be open to customers from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

    “Y’ello customer, please note that our shops nationwide will be open today, 31 July. Operating hours: 8.00 am-3:00 pm. We are also available 24/7 to support you via digital channels,” the operator said.

    Over the weekend, many subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone lines after failing to verify their NINs with SIMs, leading to their numbers being blocked in compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations.

    This blockage prompted thousands of subscribers to storm telecom offices on Monday, leading the Nigerian Communications Commission to direct telecommunications operators to immediately restore all affected lines.

    The NCC, in a statement signed on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, explained that the directive was in response to the widespread disruption and subscriber outrage caused by the blockages.

    The mandatory linkage of NINs with SIMs, initiated in December 2020, was geared towards enhancing the country’s security and ensuring an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite several deadline extensions, including the latest to July 31, 2024, many lines remain unverified.

    Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline multiple times. Initially, April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network, barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.

    This deadline was then extended to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.

    We can’t pay N70,000 minimum wage, Gombe State Governor, Yahaya, declares

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    We can’t pay N70,000 minimum wage, Gombe State Governor, Yahaya, declares

    The Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, yesterday disclosed that it would be difficult for the state to pay the Federal Government approved N70,000 minimum wage due to the lean allocation it receives.
    Recall that the minimum wage was recently assented to by President Bola Tinubu following an agreement with joint labour unions.
    Speaking during a meeting held with stakeholders on the planned nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest at the banquet hall of Gombe Government House, Yahaya declared: “I cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament.”
    On the donated trucks of rice to states, the governor commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
    READ ALSO: RipplesMetrics: The economic reality of Nigeria’s N70,000 new minimum wage
    He, however, said: “We are yet to receive the Federal Government’s 20 trucks of rice to Gombe State.”
    He also emphasised the state’s commitment to providing relief to its citizens, noting that previous palliative distributions and ongoing investments in human capital development, education, health, and agriculture among others.
    Speaking on the forthcoming nationwide hardship protest, Yahaya reaffirmed the essence of peaceful and orderly conduct, acknowledging the role of civil society organisations, labour unions, and traders in maintaining social stability and economic resilience.
    He appealed for continued cooperation and dialogue to collectively navigate these challenging times.
    The post We can’t pay N70,000 minimum wage, Gombe State Governor, Yahaya, declares appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

    I’ll work with Wike if he apologises — Kingibe

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    I’ll work with Wike if he apologises — Kingibe

    The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has said that she is willing to work with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, if he apologises for comments made about her activities as a lawmaker.

    Recall that the minister threatened to unseat the lawmaker in 2027 after he claimed the Senator queried his activities in the territory, including the rot in schools, and the deplorable state of hospitals across the FCT.

    The minister in responding to Kingibe’s comments, asked what she had done as Senator representing the FCT, adding that she could go “hang on a transformer” if she was displeased with his and the Minister of State’s progress and successes.

    “You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector? I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you.

    “The Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, and I have not been in office for more than 11 months and the person is angry that people are praising us. If you don’t want, or you are angry about that, go and hang yourself in a transformer”, he said.

    However, in an interview on Channels Television Political Paradigm, of which a short clip was posted on the broadcast station’s YouTube Channel on Wednesday, the Senator said she would work with Wike if the latter apologises for his comments, noting that she was older and that he shouldn’t have addressed her in that manner.

    “I’m actually willing to do everything to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as long as he apologises first for saying I should go and hang on a transformer.

    “Once he does that, it is all over. We can start afresh but until then, everybody stays in your lane. With all due respect, I am so much older than him. Even courtesy demands he should not speak to me like that.

    “He doesn’t understand the concept of the FCT. If he did, it is nothing personal. He says ‘I don’t want to be her friend.’ How does governance translate into friendship?” she added.

    Protest: Cross River College sends all students home in fear

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    Protest: Cross River College sends all students home in fear

    The Management of College of Health Technology Calabar has closed today due to fears of the impending planned protest billed to commence Thursday 1st August 2024, which federal and state governments fear might become violent.
    The school has forced all boarding students as well as day students to vacate the premises this afternoon.
    The school management summoned all students to an emergency meeting where a decision of management was announced.
    “We won’t be able to provide security for students in the event that the planned protest turns out to be bloody and destructive. We remember how the school was affected four years ago during the ENDSARS protest which was hijacked by hoodlums”, an official of the school who gave his name as Ibor Ikpi said.
    Protest: Cross River College sends all students home in fear

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