The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stern warning to heads of tertiary institutions, cautioning against any unwarranted increases in tuition fees following the Federal Government’s introduction of student loans under the NELFUND scheme. This warning was articulated in a statement released after NANS’s 74th Senate sitting in Kano, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Wednesday. The statement was signed by Comrade Okunomo Adewumi. “Any institution found doing so will face the full wrath and consequences of NANS. We will mobilise our members and take decisive action against such institutions. The leadership of…
Author: Editor Francis
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government regarding the demarketing of local industries. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the Director General of MAN, emphasised the need for government agencies to foster an enabling business environment that allows local investments to flourish. Ajayi-Kadir particularly highlighted the ongoing situation involving the Federal Government and the Dangote Refinery. He urged major actors, government agencies, and regulators in the oil and gas sector to exercise caution, stressing that no regulatory body should undermine a significant homegrown investment like the Dangote Refinery. He pointed out that the allegations of poor…
The Nigerian government has scheduled an emergency meeting on Wednesday in response to a planned nationwide protest set for August 1, 2024. This development was announced in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Richard Pheelangwah, dated July 23, 2024, titled ‘Planned Nationwide Protest.’ The circular stated: “I am directed to invite you to attend a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the above subject, slated as follows: July 24, 2024, Time: 10 am prompt, Venue: Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Conference Room.” This emergency…
Leading opposition parties, various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and prominent Nigerians have voiced strong opposition to the Senate’s proposed bill to repeal the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act of 2017. This bill aims to expand the eligibility for registration to include all residents in Nigeria, not just citizens. The Senate advanced the bill to its second reading on July 2, 2024, without significant debate. The bill, titled “National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2024 (SB. 472),” is sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin (Kano North). The proposed legislation seeks to allow residents of Nigeria,…
Amnesty International has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, cautioning against threats directed at Nigerians planning to protest against the current economic hardship and hunger in the country. The global human rights organization emphasized that threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful, underscoring that Nigerians have a constitutional right to protest. Reports indicate that some youths are organizing a nationwide protest, scheduled between August 1 and 15, to express their discontent with the rising cost of living and economic challenges. In response, Dada Olusegun, President Tinubu’s media aide, issued a strong warning to potential protesters, stating they would face…
The Senate has approved a bill to amend the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, raising the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. Additionally, the bill reduces the periodic review of the minimum wage from five years to three years. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019 to increase the National Minimum Wage and reduce the time for periodic review of the national minimum wage from five years to three years and for related matters, 2024 (SB. 550),” was presented by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central). Originally proposed…
Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old beauty queen, is facing backlash after advancing to the top 16 of the Miss South Africa (Miss SA) Pageant. Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and South African mother, Adetshina has been targeted by some South Africans who claim she is not “truly South African.” According to a South African vlogger, some South Africans are not pleased that Adetshina made the top 16 in the pageant. They claim her Nigerian background disqualifies her and resort to harmful stereotypes about Nigerians. However, responding to the trolls, the beauty queen said in various interviews that she is…
A Nigerian national, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, 50, was sentenced today to 85 months in prison for his involvement in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States. With this sentencing, all six defendants in the case have now been sentenced. Ezemma and his co-conspirators sent personalised letters to elderly U.S. residents, falsely claiming to be representatives of a Spanish bank. They informed the recipients that they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from a deceased family member in Portugal. Victims were instructed to send money for delivery fees and taxes before receiving their supposed inheritance. The…
Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), has convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the oil sector to resolve issues concerning the Dangote Refinery, according to a statement by the oil ministry. The meeting, held on Monday in Abuja, had Aliko Dangote, Chairman/CEO of Dangote Group, and Farouk Ahmed, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority CEO (NMDPRA), in attendance. Others were Gbenga Komolafe, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission chief executive and Mele Kyari, GCEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. A recent face-off in the industry saw the leadership of the Dangote Group, NMDPRA…
Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate. Pelosi emphasized the need for the Democratic Party to unite in order to defeat former President Donald Trump of the Republican Party. Pelosi announced her endorsement on X, stating, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.” This endorsement comes after President Joe Biden decided to support Harris as the party’s nominee, following his…
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has come to the defence of Alhaji Aliko Dangote amid criticisms regarding the purchase of dollars at lower rates during the construction of his refinery. In a statement shared via SOP Chat Group, Sanusi emphasised that Dangote should not be blamed for the exchange rates he received, as they were determined by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and available to all at the time. Sanusi began by acknowledging his hesitation to comment but felt compelled to address the misconceptions. “I honestly do not think it is a good idea for me…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reported a significant 39% increase in inflows through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This data, drawn from the CBN’s quarterly statistical bulletin for Q1 2024, highlights the success of recent reforms aimed at boosting dollar supply through IMTOs. Breakdown of the Data – January 2024: Inflows reached $383.04 million, up 30% from $295.21 million in January 2023. – February 2024: Inflows surged to $322.83 million, a 65% increase from $195.23 million in February 2023. – March 2024: Inflows were $363.70…