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Gunmen attack customs base, kill officer in Kebbi

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Gunmen attack customs base, kill officer in Kebbi

Gunmen suspected to be hoodlums have reportedly attacked a Nigeria Customs Service patrol base in Koko, Kebbi State killing one officer and abducting one other in the process.

A press statement made available to newsmen on Sunday evening by the Public Relations Officer, Kebbi Area Command, Mohammed Tajuddeen Salisu, said the incident occurred on Thursday.

“With deep regret, we announce a distressing incident which occurred at our Koko Besse patrol base on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at approximately 2100 hours.

“A group of hoodlums attacked the patrol base, destroying properties and targeting our officers in a contest to the recent boost to anti-smuggling activities in the area.

“The armed men after causing mayhem to the base trailed and attacked two of our officers, one was shot and the other abducted. Unfortunately, Assistant Superintendent Customs I, Dabo Umar, lost his life while Superintendent of Customs, Babagana Abba Kabiru, was abducted and a hefty ransom was demanded for his release.”

The statement said the deceased officer’s body was retrieved and conveyed to Kaduna for burial according to Islamic rites.

“While a manhunt was launched for the killers and abductors of the officers, the Customs Area Controller, Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, has commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed for the release of the abducted officer.”

The statement however urged the public to provide any information that might lead to the safe return of the abducted officer, while assuring them that other relevant security services were involved in the matter.

“We will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the affected officers and the deceased’s.”

Ogun seeks better waste disposal in Redemption Camp, others

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Ogun seeks better waste disposal in Redemption Camp, others

The Ogun State government has expressed the need to pay particular attention to the handling of waste at religious camps to avoid either an outbreak or the spread of diseases.

It noted that given the huge number of people are religious camps, it had become imperative to pay attention to the handling of waste in the interest of public health.

According to a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, stated this when he led the management team of the agency on an inspection tour of the Redemption City of the Redeemed Christian Church of God along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Hunye said there was a need for the RCCG Camp to collaborate with OGWAMA to ensure proper waste handling.

Hunye said, “Part of the collaboration will be to expose the environmental health management teams of these camps to the best waste management practices which will safeguard the immediate and general environment as well as public health.

“Our experts will be visiting them periodically to organise training, workshops and inspect their dumpsite  and other facilities, especially that of  medical waste with the sole aim of instituting global best standards in their operations, so that their camps will not only be clean but also safe and healthy for human visitation and habitation.”

Hunye, therefore, called on various campgrounds across the state to cooperate with OGWAMA officials who will be visiting them to inspect their waste management facilities so that they will get it right going forward and save the state any outbreak of diseases emanating from improper waste management.

Responding, the National Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Sunday Akande,  said the church had given the waste management and environmental sector the attention it deserve as all its facilities were top-notch and comparable to any of its contemporary worldwide.

He, however, said the church would collaborate with OGWAMA in its mandate to standadise waste management in all religious camps across the state for the well-being of everyone.

Foreign scholars write minister, reject 56% allowance cut

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Foreign scholars write minister, reject 56% allowance cut

Stranded foreign scholars under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship have written to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and pleaded for the reversal of the 56 per cent deduction in allowances.

The BEA scholarship is for the purpose of education exchange between Nigeria and the partnering countries.

The Federal Scholarship Board is supervising the scholarship under the Federal Ministry of Education.

The According exclusively reported how the Federal Ministry of Education announced a slash in allowances for foreign scholars, who are currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among others.

The ministry attributed the development to economic crises.

The government’s decision to slash the scholars’ allowances was contained in a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

“After due consultations, the Federal Scholarship Board has come up with adjustments in line with budgetary provisions in the payment of BEA scholar’s supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year,” the memo, dated July 23, 2024 and addressed to the scholars’ association, read.

In a letter addressed to the minister on Friday and obtained exclusively by our correspondent, the scholars begged the minister to reverse the deduction.

The scholars said they wrote “to formally express our concern and strong opposition to the recent decision to reduce the supplementation allowances, as communicated in your letter dated 23rd of July 2024.”

“Honorable Minister, Sir, we appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian government in ensuring that we, the beneficiaries of this scheme, are well taken care of so that we can pursue our education without distractions. On our part, we have remained committed to our studies despite the financial hardship and have never been found wanting for crimes or any illegal activities.

“Sir, we have been struggling to survive for 13 months without the stipend and many of us have resorted to taking loans to pay our bills in the hope that this payment will be made to offset them. In the face of increasing global economic challenges and inflation.

“The 56% reduction in this stipend will leave us with little or no means of survival, as it is not even enough to pay our house rent, light and water bills, transport and food, as well as other necessities. The monthly allowances provided to overseas scholars are critical in ensuring that they can focus on their academic pursuits without undue financial stress. These allowances cover essential living expenses, such as housing, food, transportation, and educational materials, all of which are often significantly higher in foreign countries,” they added.

Speaking further in the letter, the scholars demanded full payment of the amounts owed over the past 13 months

“The UNBEA scholars have, therefore, decided not to accept this payment as stated in the mandate. We request that the FSB pay us the number of months that this total amount paid to various embassy’s account can afford to at the 500 USD per month as stated in our award letter, and that the remaining months be completed when the funds are made available.”

NAF destroys 12 illegal refineries in Abia, Rivers

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NAF destroys 12 illegal refineries in Abia, Rivers

The Nigerian Air Force said on Sunday its Operation Delta Safe destroyed 12 illegal refining sites and two reservoirs in airstrikes in Abia and Rivers states.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the NAF had intensified efforts to minimise the activities of oil thieves and other economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta.

He said the armed reconnaissance undertaken by the aircraft revealed several illegal refining sites located in many fenced households at Umueze in Abia.

He said the information was subsequently relayed to ground troops for further exploitation and necessary action.

According to him, the illegal refining sites, which were subsequently destroyed, were observed hidden under thick vegetation around Owaza.

“Thereafter, the crew followed the river line down to Komkom and Okoloma in Rivers State, where nine illegal refining sites and two reservoirs were discovered and destroyed.

“In total, 12 illegal refining sites and two reservoirs were destroyed.

“The sighting of illegal refining sites in fenced living environments is indicative of the sophistry of the illegal oil refining trade that would require other means beyond air strikes to checkmate,” Gabwet said.

He said that those engaged in these acts, especially in fenced living environments, should be reminded that such illegal activities were dangerous to human lives and health as well as the environment.

“Be that as it may, armed reconnaissance missions as well as destruction of illegal refining sites will continue unabated until crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

Woman arrested for attempting to sell off three-year-old daughter

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Woman arrested for attempting to sell off three-year-old daughter

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old woman, identified as Yetunde Gbadebo, for attempting to sell her three-year-old daughter on Aladiye Street in Sagamu.

Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the incident occurred at about 10:00 on July 25, 2024.

 According Metro learnt from a police source at the command that the suspect was caught while negotiating a N700,000 price for the toddler with a 38-year-old man identified as Sunday None.

 A team of police detectives from the Sagamu Division stormed the area after a resident reported witnessing the duo during the negotiation.

During interrogation, the spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, stated that Gbadebo denied the allegation, while None had confessed to the crime.

She said, “The woman was about to sell her three-year-old daughter to another suspect. A resident who saw the two suspects negotiating the price approached our station in Sagamu to report what she saw.

“The Sagamu Police Division detached a team of detectives who stormed the scene and arrested the two suspects. The man has confessed to the crime.

“The case will be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department as soon preliminary findings are concluded.”

In January 2024, According Metro reported a similar incident in which a 38-year-old woman, identified as Chinyere Chukwu, was arrested in Anambra State for attempting to sell her two sons, aged nine and seven.

 The suspect allegedly conspired with her eldest daughter, Joy Chukwu, 17, to sell the minors to Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, who posed as a buyer after receiving a tip-off.

Nigeria may lose N400bn daily, says CPPE

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Nigeria may lose N400bn daily, says CPPE

A planned nationwide protest, scheduled to commence on August 1, 2024, has sparked concerns among economic experts, who warn of devastating consequences if not properly managed.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise has cautioned that the protests could inflict an estimated daily loss of N400bn, with severe consequences for the country and its citizens.

The Director/CEO of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“The protests could inflict an estimated daily loss of N400 billion, if not properly managed. The consequences of such a huge loss for the country and the citizens would be very severe,” he said.

The protests, organised by various groups in the country, are aimed at drawing attention to the country’s economic woes, including high inflation, production costs, unemployment and hunger.

However, economic experts fear that the protests could lead to shutdowns and disruptions in major sectors of the economy, including trade and commerce, manufacturing, and financial services.

“There is a high risk of shutdowns and disruptions in major sectors of the economy. This is in addition to risks to lives and properties of innocent citizens and corporate bodies,” Yusuf warned.

The CPPE has urged the protest organisers to cooperate with the police to ensure peaceful and orderly protests and advised that the duration of the protests should be short, possibly one day.

“Prolonged protests create opportunities for hoodlums, miscreants, and other criminal elements in the society to build momentum to unleash mayhem and destruction on the country,” he said.

The organisation has also urged the administration to implement its economic stabilisation plan to ease production costs and reduce inflationary pressures.

Sanwo-Olu, minister to grace Jakande memorial lecture

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Sanwo-Olu, minister to grace Jakande memorial lecture

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and a former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, will grace the second Alhaji Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture on Tuesday in Lagos.

At the event, the Chairman, THISDAY/Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, is expected to share with editors, media executives and other stakeholders, the survival strategies as Nigerian media grapple with a harsh economic environment.

With the theme “Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Survival Strategies,” the lecture, which is slated for 10 am at Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja, Lagos, will be chaired by Idris; while Governor Sanwo-Olu will be the Special Guest of Honour.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Nigerian Guild of Editors President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, it was revealed that the Publisher of Vanguard Media Group, Uncle Sam Amuka; former governor Osoba and an ex-minister of foreign affairs, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (retd.), will be Fathers of the Day.

According to the professional body of editors and media executives, the annual lecture, which was instituted in 2023 by the NGE – in honour of its Founding President, the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, is both a testament to the cherished service rendered by Jakande, and an acknowledgment of the significance of having such a conversation for the overall good of the media and the country.

The NGE was formed on May 20, 1961 to serve as an elite organisation of editors, through which editors as professional heads of their publications could enhance their professional interests by networking to discuss/address common challenges and developing relationships with their various audiences in the media itself, governments, professional and trade associations.

Originally named the Guild of Newspaper Editors of Nigeria, it was later renamed the Nigerian Guild of Editors to accommodate colleagues in the broadcast/online media.

According to the NGE, Jakande rallied his professional colleagues to form the body that was conceived to occupy the strategic middle ground of editorial senior managers between media owners and the general workforce of journalists.

The guild said after discharging “uncommon duties” to the Nigerian media, Alhaji Jakande went on to render appreciable service  as the first civilian governor of Lagos, and as a federal Minister of Works and Housing.

The statement said, “Sixty-three years after, the NGE,  the professional body of editors and media executives, remains a respected organisation among professional associations, and a leader in the media landscape.

“And Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s name remains treasured whenever committed service is mentioned in the media and public service.

“Consequently, as part of nurturing a culture of appreciation, the NGE, in 2023, instituted an Annual Lecture in honour of its late pioneer president, Alhaji Jakande – to continue to interrogate developments affecting the media and society.”

LH Telecoms acquires majority stake in 9mobile

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LH Telecoms acquires majority stake in 9mobile

LH Telecommunication Limited has acquired a majority stake in Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, the parent company of 9mobile.

According to a statement on Sunday, the acquisition, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, allows a new board to take over the struggling telecom operator.

Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the company indicated that the takeover was subject to regulatory approvals.

“The investment, approved by the African Export-Import Bank, the senior lender to 9mobile in May 2023, has resulted in a change in control of 9mobile in favour of the new investor by the issuance of new shares amounting to 95.5 per cent of 9mobile to the new investor in consideration for the injection of fresh capital into the company,” the board said.

The new ownership structure is expected to bring stability and fresh investment to the company, enabling it to compete more effectively in Nigeria’s highly competitive telecom market.

The new board will be chaired by Thomas Etuh, with Nahim Ibraheem and Femi Edun joining as new members.

Others include a former Nigerian Senator, Daisy Danjuma, Michael Ikpoki, Ibrahim Puri, Gloria Danjuma, and Emmanuel Etuh.

Obafemi Banigbe was appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to lead the company through its transition phase and drive its recovery.

The new CEO, Banigbe, whose appointment was announced a few weeks ago, is expected to bring his extensive experience at the C-suite level and a profound understanding of the African business landscape.

9mobile, formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria, was acquired by Teleology Holdings with high hopes of turning it around but has continued to struggle in the Nigerian market.

The operator has faced customer attrition, losing subscribers from its peak of 22 million in October 2016 to just over 15 million in November 2018.

Six years later, the operator trails behind with 11.7 million voice subscribers and 3.3 million internet users, according to the National Bureau of Statistics Telecoms Data released early this month.

CBN classifies inactive 10-year accounts as dormant

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CBN classifies inactive 10-year accounts as dormant

The Central Bank of Nigeria has clarified that only accounts that have been inactive for over 10 years are eligible to be classified as dormant and will be used for investment purposes.

It also stated that a dedicated office would be created to manage dormant accounts and unclaimed balances.

The apex bank disclosed this in its recently issued document titled, “FAQs – Guidelines on Dormant Account and Unclaimed Balances – July 25, 2024,” posted on its website.

The Guidelines on the Management of Dormant Accounts, Unclaimed Balances and Other Financial Assets in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria is a policy issued by the CBN that seeks to operationalise Section 72 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and standardise the management of dormant accounts and unclaimed balances.

The CBN had earlier disclosed that it might invest funds from dormant accounts, unclaimed balances in Nigerian Treasury Bills, and other government securities.

According to the apex bank, it will manage these funds in trust, refunding the principal and any accrued interest to beneficiaries within 10 working days of receiving a reclaim request from the financial institution.

It stated, “Dormant accounts are accounts that have been inactive for more than 10 years.  Eligible accounts are dormant account balances that have remained with the FIs for 10 years or more.

“These eligible accounts include current, savings, term deposits in local currency, domiciliary accounts, deposits for shares and mutual investments, prepaid card accounts and wallets, government-owned accounts, and others as specified in the Guidelines by the CBN.”

The CBN also noted that financial institutions were required to notify customers immediately and every quarter when their accounts become inactive or dormant.

The FAQ document read, “The CBN shall establish a dedicated office for this purpose. The office will be supervised by a management committee.”

“The interest payable shall be at a rate to be determined by the CBN from time to time. For non-interest banks, the profit and loss on the unclaimed balances shall be determined by the CBN from time to time.

“The CBN will refund the principal and any interest on the invested funds to the beneficiaries within 10 working days of receiving a reclaim request from the FI.”

According to the new guidelines, the CBN will create and manage a dedicated account called the “Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund Pool Account” to warehouse unclaimed balances.

The guidelines specify that eligible accounts for dormant status include current, savings, term deposits in local currency, domiciliary accounts, deposits for shares and mutual investments, prepaid card accounts and wallets, and government-owned accounts.

Reactivating a dormant account involves account owners completing a reactivation form at their respective financial institutions, providing evidence of ownership and valid identification.

However, some accounts are exempt from being considered dormant, such as accounts subject to litigation, judgment debts under active court cases, accounts under regulatory investigation, and encumbered accounts like collaterals and liens.

Justifying this policy, the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, said dormant accounts in Nigeria are more susceptible to fraudsters and the reason for the apex bank’s latest policy is for the safe keeping of the funds in dormant accounts.

NIDCOM commends Optiva Capital on national development

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NIDCOM commends Optiva Capital on national development

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commended wealth management and investment immigration firm, Optiva Capital Partners, for its commitment to national development.

A statement from the firm on Sunday said that the commendation came during the 18th annual National Diaspora Day celebrations held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa expressed her gratitude to partners and sponsors, particularly highlighting Optiva Capital Partners for their collaboration with NIDCOM.

She emphasised the importance of providing a platform for Nigerians globally to engage and invest in their home country in meaningful and impactful ways.

Dabiri-Erewa stressed the importance of creating investment opportunities for the diaspora, noting that NIDCOM is working with private companies and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to facilitate these investments.

National Diaspora Day, celebrated annually on July 25, acknowledges the significant contributions of Nigerians living abroad, including their economic, social, and cultural impact.

The theme for this year, ‘The Japa Phenomenon and its Implication for National Development,’ reflects the growing trend of migration for better opportunities.

 Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Business Development at Optiva Capital Partners, Amaka Okeke-Lawal, representing Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jane Kimemia, said, “Our partnership with NIDCOM extends beyond the National Diaspora Day celebrations. Optiva Capital is committed to leveraging our extensive network to support Nigerians interested in investing in key sectors such as real estate, hospitality, health, education, ICT, and agriculture. This partnership aims to create new opportunities and enable our diaspora community to achieve their investment goals while contributing to national development.”

Optiva Capital Partners and NIDCOM recently formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on providing services tailored to the needs of Nigerians worldwide.

Nigerians in the diaspora have been pivotal in the country’s development, with remittances totalling $99bn over the past five years, according to World Bank statistics.

In a message delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urged the Nigerian diaspora to be active participants in the nation’s development.

He shared his experience in the United States and his subsequent return to Nigeria, motivated by a desire to contribute to national growth.

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