Explosion rocks Governor Nyesom Wike's father's church in Rivers

 

An explosion has rocked the Christian Universal Church International that belongs to the father of Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

 

The Nation reports that hoodlums numbering about five sneaked into the church premises located on Number 25 Azikiwe Street Mile, 3 Diobu, on Saturday night, November 28, and detonated the explosives suspected to be dynamite.

 

It was gathered a significant part of the church was damaged by the explosion, which created panic in the area.

 

Though no group had claimed responsibility for the dastardly act, two of the miscreants were said to have been apprehended by a vigilante group and handed over to the police.

 

The operatives of Eagle crack, an outfit of the state police command, Mopol 19 and other security agencies were said to have cordoned off the area.

 

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No agreement yet to suspend strike- ASUU says

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has denied plans to call off the eight-month-long strike.

 

Last night, social media was agog with reports that the academic union had concluded plans to call off the strike after meeting with the Government negotiation team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige on Friday, November 27.

 

The Federal Government had a meeting with the union at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Labour and Employment where it reportedly increased its offer for Earned Allowances EA to university based unions and funding for the revitalization of public universities from N65 billion to N70 billion.

 

Reports last night claimed the union would call off the strike after the Federal government pledged to pay N40 billion for Earned Allowances and N30 billion for the revitalization of the university system bringing the total payment to N70 billion. It was further reported that the Government agreed to settle the salary arrears of the aggrieved lecturers before December 31. The report also noted that ASUU was expected to report the agreement to its organs and then communicate their decision to the government after which a date for the calling off of the strike would be announced.

 

However in a chat with Vanguard, the president of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, denied knowledge of any agreement to call off the strike, stressing that at the meeting, it was only agreed that union should convey Government message to their organs and get back to Government. 

 

” I am not aware of that. All I know is that we had a meeting and we are going to report to our members. But I don’t know about suspension of strike.” Ogunyemi said

 

Minister of Employment, Chris Ngige, told newsmen after the meeting that he is positive that all issues relating to the strike will be resolved in its next meeting with ASUU.

 “Many issues were discussed at the meeting including salary shortfall, the payment system and revitalization of the university system. I am positive that all the issues would be resolved at our next meeting.” Ngige said

While my PDP counterparts tackled me over Zamfara gold, APC defended me - Governor Matawalle

 

Governor Bello Matawalle has thanked the All Progressives Congress (APC) for speaking in his defence on Zamfara state’s gold reserve.

 

Recounting some of the issues he has had with his PDP colleagues since his government announced that it has started its gold reserve to reduce dependence on federal allocations, Matawalle accused PDP governors of berating him, spreading misinformation and lies about his government instead of defending him. 

 

In a statement by his spokesman Zailani Bappa, Matawalle commended Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state fof decamping to the APC, a decision he said was because of the “bad blood in the present Peoples Democratic Party”. 

 

The Zamfara state Governor said; 

 

"I would rather commend Umahi for his bold decision rather than condemn him because everyone feels welcome only in a house where he feels comfortable. 

“If this trend of generating bad blood amongst us continues unabated, our great party will increasingly be on the receiving end as we move towards the year 2023. 

“I am having a very bad experience of recent from some of my PDP governor colleagues which I still find very puzzling. For instance, the South-South Governors accusing me in the media are PDP Governors and they are the same people who brewed controversy over the so-called Zamfara Gold, premised on deliberate misinformation and outright lies.

“Surprisingly, it is the APC Federal Government which has all the correct records on the gold mining issue that came out to defend me in this saga. As PDP colleagues, I expected the Governors to contact me first and find out my own side of the story before unleashing their venom in the media.

“As the brouhaha lasted, I commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, for being supportive of our efforts to organise the economic sector in the state to avoid using the mineral deposits to promote insecurity in our dear state.”

Two men arrested for selling decapitated heads of murdered policemen for N1000

 

Two men identified as Aliu Mubarak and Adewale Abiodun have been arrested by the Oyo state police in connection with the killing, dismemberment and selling of decapitated heads of policemen for N1000.

 

The suspects were arrested after one Oladipupo Ifakorede confessed to buying the heads from the duo for money ritual purpose.

 

The two policemen identified as Ajibola Adegoke and Rotimi Oladele, were among the police officers killed in the aftermath of the EndSARS protests hijacked by suspected hoodlums. While the policemen were set ablaze after they were killed on Thursday October 22, a third member of the team Inspector Ojo was rescued by Operation Burst, the special security team set up by Oyo State Government.

 

Five persons were arrested in connection with the crime. The police had earlier arrested Kemi Adeyemo and Saheed Oyedepo and they were both transferred to Abuja for further investigation.

 

Recounting how he got the heads from Mubarak and Abiodun, Ifakorede said; 

 

“No, they (police) did not ask me to say so. I want to use them to prepare ritual to make money. It is for myself. They (other suspects) did not let me know where they saw the two heads.

“No. I did not ask them where they see them.”

 

Confessing to selling the heads, Abiodun said they saw the two heads “while coming from Egbeda area of Ibadan.”

 

He said; 

 

“On the day of the incident, I was at home, I did not go to work. I was at home, it was this brother that called me. He said that we should go to Alabata.

“When we got to town, we saw that everywhere was blocked. It was deserted. But, we got to the place, this brother said that we should carry the heads but I said no.

“I told him not to carry them, but we carry them. And we took them to this Baba. They have been burnt already when we carried them.”

 

Oyo Commisioner of Police, Mr Enwonwu who disclosed that five persons have been arrested in connection with the killings, said the suspects who were paraded before newsmen sold the two heads for N1000.

 

Enwonwu  said; 

 

“Discreet investigation later led to the arrest of two other suspects who identified themselves as Aliu Mubarak ‘M’ and Adewale Abiodun ‘M’ who confessed that they carted away the heads of the two policemen which they later sold to an herbalist for ritual purposes for the sum of One thousand naira (N1,000.00) only.

“The herbalist who later identified himself as Oladipupo Ifakorede was arrested and the two heads of the policemen which he has already disembered were recovered from him and he confessed to the crime.

“Efforts are on to arrest other fleeing suspects. Suspects: Aliu Mubarak ‘M’ age 24 years, Adewale Abiodun ‘M’ age 17 years, Oladipupo Ifakorede ‘M’ age 45 years. Exhibits: Two disembered heads.”

 

''May karma visit those in positions of power who let this happen''- Rapper Illbliss speaks on 8-month old ASUU strike

 

Rapper, Illbliss, has prayed for Karma to visit persons in the position of power who let the ASUU strike to linger for over eight months and counting.

 

On Saturday November 27, reports were rife online that ASUU is set to call off the strike. The union has however come out to debunk the claim.

 

Reacting to the lingering strike, Illbliss via his Twitter handle wrote;

''A country in ruins. A country with zero regards for education.took the FG and Asuu 8 MONTHS to call off a strike. Do you realise how many productive months you condenmed for these Undergraduates? Shame on this country. May karma visit those in positions of power who let this happen''

 

Illbliss also had an exchange with a Nigerian who disagreed that Karma will be visiting anyone. See the exchange below

 

 

33 suspected cultists, armed robbers arrested as Army raids criminal hideouts in Plateau state

Troops of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, have arrested 33 suspected cultists, armed robbers, cult activities financiers and other criminals in Plateau state.

 

Commander of the task force, Major General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, who paraded the suspects at its headquarters in Jos on Friday, November 27, said they were arrested during raids on criminal hideouts.

 

 

"They were arrested from Terminus market, Rwang Pam street, Rochas building, Ahmadu Bello Way and Angwan Rukuba In Jos North LGA," he said.

 

"In the same vain, at about 11.30 pm on 26th November,2020, our troops engaged a gang of armed robbers along road Anguldi- Maraban Jamaa In Jos South LGA. One of the armed robbers was neutralized while others fled with gunshot wounds. A Locally fabricated pistol and some quantities of ammunition were recovered from the armed robbers.

 

 

"Operation Safe Haven is resolute in ensuring that armed robbers, cultists and kidnappers have no hiding place on the Plateau. We shall continue to hunt them so as to have a peaceful Yuletide season. All Law abiding citizens are enjoined to continue to give OPSH timely information that will assist us in getting rid of the criminals in the state" the commander stated. 

 

Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad celebrates wife on her birthday

 

Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad has taken to Instagram to celebrate his wife Naeemah Junaid on her birthday. 

 

Bashir who shared a loved up photo with his wife, described her as his "special person and friend". 

 

He wrote; 

 

Happy birthday to my special person, my friend (the Best), my wife, @naeeemah_, I am glad about everything that happened in my life because it led me straight to you. I am deliriously in love with you and always I will be. More amazing years and lots of loves, Hany. 

 

There is no way Biden got 80,000,000 votes, this was a 100% rigged election - President Trump blows hot again

 

President Donald Trump is still refusing to concede to Joe Biden and claiming without evidence that he was cheated by widespread election fraud in the US presidential election. 

On Tuesday, President-elect Joe Biden's total tally of votes surpassed 80 million, making him the first-ever presidential candidate in United States history to achieve that feat.

Currently, the Democrat has 80,063,589 votes to Donald Trump’s 73,904,195.

Reacting on Twitter on Thursday November 26, President Trump claimed he just saw the vote tabulations and that there was no way Biden could gather 80,000,000 votes in the presidential election. 

He also insisted on previous claims that the election was '100%' rigged.

Trump wrote: "Just saw the vote tabulations. There is NO WAY Biden got 80,000,000 votes!!! This was a 100% RIGGED ELECTION."

Twitter immediately affixed a label to the tweet warning users that the 'claim about election fraud is disputed.'

 

Lewis Hamilton named GQ’s game-changer of the year

 

Lewis Hamilton has been named GQ's Game Changer Of The Year.

 

The Formula One racing star will be honoured at GQ’s Men of the Year Awards which is set to take place virtually on Thursday, December 3rd, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hamilton will mark his award win in GQ’s upcoming January/February issue.

 

 

The honour comes days after he won his seventh world championship earlier this month, which saw him equalling Michael Schumacher’s F1 record.

 

The 35-year-old British sportsman, who has been an active voice in the fight against racism, opened up about his own experience with racism.

 

Speaking about his younger years, he said: "I started experiencing racism when I was five and people looked upon it so lightly, when someone would throw out these words, the bullying, and the beatings and the intimidation ... My dad always said, ‘Do your talking on the track,’ so I held my tongue, but we suppress a lot of things and all my suppressed emotions came up and I was like, 'You know what? I have to do something. I cannot stay silent.’ If we all stay silent, it will continue for generations. I look at my niece and nephew and do not want them to experience what I experienced."

 

 

Hamilton also vowed to continue to speak and stand up for others.

 

Speaking to the January/February 2021 issue of GQ, he added: "If I believe it is important enough, I will. I will do it again ... Every weekend that I arrive we have the spotlight on us and every weekend there is an opportunity to raise awareness. 

 

 

We don’t live in a time when everything is OK. And I remember as I went through the day I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got to win this race. I can’t come second and wear this top.’ So I remember racing my heart out, pushing with every ounce for first place and I remember getting that win and I was like, ‘OK. I’m here for you, Breonna.’ And I put that shirt on and in the 70 years of our sport, no one’s ever stood up there for anything but themselves. And I was standing up there for someone else."

 

 

Speaking of Lewis’ game-changer award, GQ’s editor Dylan Jones praised the sports star and recognised his efforts in calling out racial injustice and inequality in society.

 

Jones said: ‘Despite winning more races than anyone else across an impressive 14 seasons in Formula One, it’s Lewis Hamilton’s actions off the circuit that make him GQ’s Game Changer Of The Year.’ 

FG reaches out to Niger Republic and US in search for Maina

 

The Federal Government has reached out to Niger Republic and the United States of America in search of ex-Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Abdulrasheed Maina who is believed to have jumped bail.

 

FG contacted the countries in its efforts to execute the arrest warrant issued by a court in Abuja against the former Pension boss. 

 

This was revealed in court today November 26, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a counter-affidavit it filed against the bail application Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume filed. 

 

The EFCC said in its counter-affidavit; 

 

“The prosecution has obtained the bench warrant and it is making frantic efforts to execute it while enlisting the support of other security agencies in the country as well as some foreign governments, particularly the Republic of Niger and the United States of America."

 

Recall that Justice Okon Abang had revoked the bail he granted Maina who is being tried for money laundering on November 18. He also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

50-year-old Nigerian man shot dead in the US

 

A 50-year-old Nigerian man identified as Kamilu Boyede was killed in a deadly shooting incident which occurred on Wednesday morning.

 

Wichita Police Department in its announcement on Wednesday evening, said the incident occurred at a home in South Ida. Neighbors called the police around 11 a.m on Wednesday November 25, after seeing a door left open at a home in the 600 block of South Ida. 

 

Captain Wendell Nicholson of the Wichita Police Department said; 

 

“We talked to some neighbors in the area and they indicated that this morning at about 12:30 they saw an unknown male walking in the area.

"They were concerned because earlier this morning they heard some shots fired, they didn't call the police, but this morning when they walked ppast the residence in the 600 block of South Ida, they saw the door was ajar so they contacted 911."

 

 

Through an investigation, police think the incident occurred sometime after midnight and before 3 a.m. They believe Boyede was a target and this wasn't a random incident.

 

News of Kamilu's death has been attracting numerous tributes and condolences via social media from friends and other worried individuals.

 

 

Meghan Markle reveals she suffered devastating miscarriage months ago while carrying son Archie in her arms

 

Meghan Markle has revealed that she suffered a miscarriage after falling ill at her home.

 

The Duchess of Sussex said she was changing baby Archie’s nappy at their former home in Los Angeles when she "felt a sharp cramp"

 

The tragedy took place in July on a morning that “began as ordinarily as any other day”.

 

In a personal piece called The Losses We Share, Meghan wrote in the New York Times: “After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp.

 

“I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.

 

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”

 

She added: "Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears.

 

"Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal."

 

Read Meghan's full article here.

US election: Joe Biden becomes first-ever presidential candidate to receive 80 million votes

 

President-elect, Joe Biden's total tally of votes has surpassed 80 million, making him the first-ever presidential candidate in United States history to achieve the feat.

 

The vote-tracking count from the Cook Political Report reported the Democrat has so far received roughly 51 percent of the national popular vote to Donald Trump’s 47.1 percent.

 

Biden is the first presidential challenger to capture more than 50% of the popular vote while running against an incumbent since Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover in 1932.

 

A total of 80,033,996 ballots have been cast for Biden, according to Cook Political Report data.

The previous all-time record of 69,498,516 was set by Barack Obama (with Biden as his running mate) in 2008.

 

Trump’s vote total of 73,878,907 is the most ever for a Republican candidate, as well as the most ever for a presidential loser.

 

More than 156 million people voted in the 2020 election, a turnout of more than 66 percent. 

 

Mr. Biden is preparing to formally announce members of his incoming national security team after the federal agency responsible for his transition to the White House announced that it will begin after Democrats and watchdog groups criticised its chief for “stonewalling” at the president’s behest.

 

In a letter to Mr Biden, the General Services Administration’s Emily Murphy said“I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official — including those who work at the White House or GSA — with regard to the substance or timing of my decision.”

Later, Mr Trump said that “in the best interest” of the US, he recommended that Ms Murphy “and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same”.

#EndSARS protest: FG is not panicking over UK lawmakers’ demand for sanctions, no serious government will take such decision based on fake news - Lai Mohammed

 

Lai Mohammed has reacted to the UK Parliament's call for sanctions against the Nigerian government over reports of alleged human right abuses during the #EndSARS protest. 

 

The minister of information and culture who reacted to this in an interview with NTA on Wednesday November 25, stated that the federal government is not panicking over the demand. 

 

Lai Mohammed who stressed that the entire #EndSARS protest was fuelled by fake news, added that no serious government will take a decision such as imposing sanctions based on ''fake news.''

 

He said; 

 

“We  earlier stated that government all over the world who have taken hasty decisions about Nigeria on this issue should please seek the truth.

“If the decision of any government all over the world is based on fake news, it is very risky. It brings me to the issue of the UK parliament resolution. We are not panicking at all as a government for two reasons – the resolution of the UK parliament is not the decision of the country and no serious government will take a decision such as imposing sanctions based on fake news.

“This is why we are warning foreign countries to seek the truth and beware of fake news. The entire #EndSARS protest was fuelled by fake news.”

FIFA unveils full nominees list of The Best FIFA Player of the Year Awards 2020

 

Nominees for the 2020 Best FIFA  Player of the Year awards have been announced ahead of the annual ceremony.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Lewandowski, Lucy Bronze and Sam Kerr are amongst the biggest names to have been nominated for this year's award.

 

The awards ceremony was introduced in 2016, after FIFA broke out from the Ballon d'or, and
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the first prize, before retaining it in 2017.

 Luka Modric picked up the award in 2018, before Lionel Messi came out on top in 2019.

 

This year’s ceremony will be held on 17 December, and FIFA have announced their full list of candidates for the seven individual trophies on offer , stating that public voting open until 9 December at 11:59pm on FIFA.com.

 

See Full list of Nominees and categories below

 

The Best FIFA Women’s Player:

Lucy Bronze (England / Olympique Lyonnais / Manchester City WFC)

Delphine Cascarino (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway / FC Barcelona)

Pernille Harder (Denmark / VfL Wolfsburg / Chelsea FC Women)

Jennifer Hermoso (Spain / FC Barcelona)

Ji So-yun (Korea Republic / Chelsea FC Women)

Sam Kerr (Australia / Chelsea FC Women)

Saki Kumagai (Japan / Olympique Lyonnais)

Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany / Olympique Lyonnais)

Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands / Arsenal WFC)

Wendie Renard (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

 

The Best FIFA Men’s Player:

Thiago Alcântara (Spain / FC Bayern München / Liverpool FC)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus FC)

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC)

Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München)

Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC)

Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona)

Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain)

Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC )

Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands / Liverpool FC)

 

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper:

Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany / Chelsea FC Women)

Sarah Bouhaddi (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

Christiane Endler (Chile / Paris Saint-Germain)

Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden / VfL Wolfsburg / Atlético de Madrid Femenino)

Alyssa Naeher (USA / Chicago Red Stars)

Ellie Roebuck (England / Manchester City WFC)

 

The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper:

Alisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC)

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid CF)

Keylor Navas (Costa Rica / Paris Saint-Germain)

Manuel Neuer (Germany / FC Bayern München)

Jan Oblak (Slovenia / Atlético de Madrid)

Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany / FC Barcelona)

 

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach:

Lluís Cortés (Spain / FC Barcelona)

Rita Guarino (Italy / Juventus Women)

Emma Hayes (England / Chelsea FC Women)

Stephan Lerch (Germany / VfL Wolfsburg)

Hege Riise (Norway / LSK Kvinner)

Jean-Luc Vasseur (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands / Dutch national team)

 

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach:

Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina / Leeds United FC)

Hans-Dieter Flick (Germany / FC Bayern München)

Jürgen Klopp (Germany / Liverpool FC)

Julen Lopetegui (Spain / Sevilla FC)

Zinedine Zidane (France / Real Madrid CF)

 

FIFA Puskas Award (Best goal award):

Shirley Cruz (CRC) – Costa Rica v. Panama [Concacaf Women’s Olympic qualifying] (28 January 2020)

Giorgian De Arrascaeta (URU) – Ceará SC v. CR Flamengo [Brasileirão - Brazil] (25 August 2019)

Jordan Flores (ENG) – Shamrock Rovers FC v. Dundalk FC [League of Ireland] (28 February 2020)

André-Pierre Gignac (FRA) – UANL Tigres v. Pumas UNAM [Liga MX - Mexico] (1 March 2020)

Sophie Ingle (WAL) – Arsenal WFC v. Chelsea FC Women [FA Women’s Super League - England] (19 January 2020)

Zlatko Junuzovi? (AUT) – SK Rapid Wien v. FC Red Bull Salzburg [Bundesliga - Austria] (24 June 2020)

Hlompho Kekana (RSA) – Mamelodi Sundowns FC v. Cape Town City FC [South African Premier Soccer League] (20 August 2019)

Son Heung-min (KOR) – Tottenham Hotspur FC v. Burnley FC [Premier League - England] (7 December 2019)

Leonel Quiñónez (ECU) – Universidad Católica v. CSD Macará [Serie A - Ecuador] (19 August 2019)

Luis Suárez (URU) – FC Barcelona v. RCD Mallorca [LaLiga[MG(1] - Spain] (7 December 2019)

Caroline Weir (SCO) – Manchester City WFC v. Manchester United WFC [FA Women’s Super League - England] (7 September 2019).

 

Lewandowski is the heavy favorite to win this year's men's award.

Low UTME cut-off mark for admission into universities is making northern youths lazy – Governor El-Rufai

 

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has averred that the low cut-off marks needed for admission into northern universities via the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is making northern youths ‘lazy’.

 

The Kaduna state Governor who said this during the plenary session on “Rethinking Sub-National Competitiveness” at the ongoing Nigerian Economic Summit, stated that even though many think JAMB is building the nation with different cut-off mark for different states, they are however dividing it.

 

El-Rufai also rhetorically asked if the North has caught up with people from other regions even though JAMB is giving them lower cut-off marks. 

 

He said; 

 

“The northerners are at advantage. The low JAMB cut-off mark is making northern youth lazy rather than encouraging them. Despite the advantage of the education in Nigeria, we have the highest number of children out of school.

“For example, Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, (JAMB), gives different cut-off mark for different states and you say you are building a nation, no you are dividing it.

“I am from the north but we have suffered educational disadvantage and the JAMB has given us lower cut-off mark to catch up, have we caught up?

“It is making people lazy."

 

On selecting leaders based on their ‘origin’, El-Rufai said; 

 

“This has become a big problem for Nigeria. Zoning in political parties cannot solve the economic problems we are facing. Selecting the best person to get the job done will benefit everyone.

“The best we can do is to give everyone equal opportunity.”

 

The Kaduna state Governor also called for the federal police and judiciary to be reformed to improve their effectiveness.

 

He added; 

 

“Implement state policing. Some governors have more influence on the police than others; state governors cannot control security actions except there is an order from the IGP. This makes state governors handicapped in serious matters.

“Same is applied to the judiciary system. We are the only country in the world that is running a federal judiciary system. This has exposed the sector to inefficiency. There are decisions for states to take for example, land issues, traditional issues.”

Our recession will be shortlived- Lai Mohammed

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal government is confident that with the intervention policies, with the fiscal and monetary interventions have been put in place, the current economic recession will be short-lived.

 

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS had two days ago said that Nigeria’s economy has slipped into another recession, the second time since 2016.

 

Speaking during an interview with NTA today November 25, Mohammed said the recession is inevitable due to the global collapse in oil prices occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. He said other countries like Finland, Hungary, Spain, and others have gone into recession due to the fall in the price of crude oil worldwide.

 

“It is true we are in a recession. Recession comes when a country records two consecutive quarters of negative growths. But we must go beyond that to understand that despite that, our economy is still very well in circumstances.

The main reason why we have entered into this recession is the oil sector. The oil sector recorded -13.89% and that is the worst in 14 quarters. Of course, it is easy to understand why; with the pandemic, there is low demand for oil…but when you look at the non-oil sector which is about -2.51 % in Q3, it is far better than what it was in the Q2.

Overall, yes, we are in a recession and it is inevitable but while our Q2 result was -6.1%, South Africa was -50% and as we speak today, Finland, Hungary, Spain, Mexico, Russia, Romania, Belgium, Austria have all fallen into recession.

But we are very confident that with the intervention policies, with the fiscal and monetary interventions the government has put in place, the recession will be short-lived.” he said

Nigerians reacts to Member of British parliament claiming that former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon left with half of Central Bank

 

Some Nigerians have reacted to a Member of British parliament claiming that former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon left with half of Central Bank. 

 

LIB reported earlier that British lawmaker, Tom Tungendhat said this while advocating for sanctions against Nigerian officials who flee to the UK with the country's loot.

 

The disclosure has however been trailed with mixed reactions and here are some below; 

 

 

 

Ex-UK Minister asks government to sanction Nigerian officials over #EndSARS protest

 

Theresa Villiers, a former Environment Secretary in the UK has called on the country's government to impose sanctions against Nigerian officials over the 'suppression' of EndSars protesters. 

 

Speaking during a one-hour-twenty-minute debate held in British Parliament to debate possible sanctions against the Nigerian government, Villiers asked the UK Government to place travel ban and freeze assets of Nigerian officials found to be involved in suppression of the protests.

 

The former Minister turned parliamentarian also disclosed that reports she gathered from some of her constituents who were of Nigerian descent and information from the Amnesty International, showed gross violation of peoples’ rights in the way the #EndSARS protests were suppressed.

 

A few other parliamentarians supported her call and argued that the only way the UK government could express its dissatisfaction with the alleged rights violation was through an imposition of targeted sanctions.