Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Chike Ozohili

  • Nasarawa Assembly approves 20 Special Advisers for Gov Sule

    Nasarawa Assembly approves 20 Special Advisers for Gov Sule

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has approved the request of Governor Abdullahi Sule for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi said this after an emergency sitting of the House on Thursday in Lafia.

    Abdullahi said that the approval was to enable Sule to appoint advisers that would assist in implementing his policies and programmes for the people.

    “His Excellency has sent a request for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers that will assist him in the consolidation of his policies and programmes.

    “After an extensive deliberation on His Excellency’s request, the request is hereby granted by the Honourable House,” he said.

    Abdullahi assured of the readiness of the house to partner with the Executive in order to ensure speedy development across the state.

    Mr. Jacob Kudu (APC- Nasarawa Eggon East) and other lawmakers supported the approval.

    The lawmakers said that the appointment of the Special Advisers would ensure the speedy development of the state.

    The Speaker announced that Governor Abdullahi Sule had approved the total renovation of the Assembly Complex.

    He said that the action was in line with the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the lawmakers and other staff for effective service delivery.

    He said that the Ministry of Works would soon commence work at the complex.

    “We are proceeding on recess today, June 8, to resume on July 10, to enable the Ministry of Works to renovate the House, as approved by His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule,” he said.

    Mr Mohammed Omadefu (APC- Keana), the Majority Leader of the House moved for the House to proceed on recess, while Mr. Musa Ibrahim (NNPP- Doma South), the Minority Leader seconded

  • Chinese Yuan weakens to 7.1280 against dollar

    Chinese Yuan weakens to 7.1280 against dollar

    The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 84 pips to 7.1280 against the dollar on Thursday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

    In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

    The central parity rate of the yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. 

  • Gov Alia sacks Ortom’s last-minute appointees, demotes Perm Secs

    Gov Alia sacks Ortom’s last-minute appointees, demotes Perm Secs

    Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has nullified recent appointments into the State Civil Service which were made by the immediate-past governor, Samuel Ortom.

    The governor also demoted some permanent secretaries appointed by the immediate past administration, saying they should revert to their previous positions.

    “All appointments into the state civil service made by the outgone administration from May 2022 to date are hereby nullified with immediate effect,” the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The governor also ordered all those who had retired but had yet to vacate their offices or duty posts, either because of extension or contract appointment, to proceed on retirement forthwith.

    “All civil servants due for retirement but are yet to tender their letters of retirement or notice of retirement should do so forthwith and proceed on retirement immediately.

    “All civil servants and or persons appointed Permanent Secretaries from the month of January 2023 to date should revert to their previous positions forthwith.

    “All the postings and transfers made in the state civil service from October 2022, to date are hereby nullified. The affected staff should revert to their former ranks, stations, or offices with immediate effect.”

  • PDP dissolves Ebonyi, Ekiti States’ executives

    PDP dissolves Ebonyi, Ekiti States’ executives

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has dissolved the party’s Ebonyi and Ekiti States’ executive committees with immediate effect.

    The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba said this in a statement in Abuja.

    Ologunagba said that the NWC approved the dissolution of the two states’ executive after extensive deliberations and consultations.

    He said the decision of the NWC was pursuant to Sections 29(2)(b) and 31(2)€ of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

    “The PDP charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, and teeming members of our Party in Ebonyi and Ekiti States respectively to remain united and focused on the task ahead,” Ologunagba said.

  • BUA Cement secures IFC’s $500m facilities

    BUA Cement secures IFC’s $500m facilities

    In a bid to boost production and expand its operations, BUA Cement PLC has secured $500 million in financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

    In a joint statement, IFC and BUA said the funding would enable the company to part-finance and develop two new, energy-efficient cement production lines at its plant in Sokoto State, in northwest Nigeria.

    The funding includes $160.5 million from the IFC, $245 million in syndicated loans from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and the German Investment Corporation, as well as $94.5 million from institutional investors.

    “The plants will run partly on alternative fuels derived from waste and solar power. Each will produce about three million tons of cement annually when complete, serving markets in Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso,” IFC and BUA said.

    In a regulatory filing with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), BUA stated that it intends to utilize this facility to finance the ongoing expansion of its integrated cement plants in Kalambaina, Sokoto.

    “We are pleased to inform the NGX, our esteemed shareholders and the investing public, in line with our disclosure obligations pursuant to Chapter 17 of the Rulebook, that BUA Cement has achieved financial close in connection with the Financing to be provided by a syndicate of lending development finance institutions, led by International Finance Corporation (IFC), with participation from African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and Deutsche Investitions – undEntwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG).

    “BUA Cement intends to utilize this facility to finance the ongoing expansion of its integrated cement plants in Kalambaina, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

    “The expansion will increase the plant’s capacity to 8.0 MTPA and as well as facilitate the development of other ancillary utilities.

    BUA has a production capacity of 11 million metric tons, and the new investment will add another 6 million metric tons.

    The new financing package will also allow BUA to replace some of its diesel trucks with vehicles that run partly on natural gas in a push to cut emissions, the statement said.

  • Speaker Crisis: Police seal-off Nasarawa Assembly Complex

    Speaker Crisis: Police seal-off Nasarawa Assembly Complex

    The police has sealed off the Nasarawa House of Assembly Complex, to avert a breakdown of law and order following the emergence of two speakers for the seventh assembly.


    DSP Ramhan Nansel, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said in a statement in Lafia.
    Nansel said that the action was due to a directive by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba.


    He said that the commissioner gave the directive after consultation with other security agencies in the state.
    The members-elect on Tuesday, June 6 held two parallel proceedings resulting in the emergence of two different speakers for the assembly.


    An unusually heavy security presence was noticed at the complex on Thursday morning.

  • Subsidy Removal: Governors back Tinubu

    Subsidy Removal: Governors back Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received the endorsement of his decisions to end fuel subsidy payments in the country and other early policy initiatives of the administration.

    The president received the support when he hosted members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, at the State House in Abuja.

    The governors expressed happiness with the president’s subsidy removal decision, all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.

    They congratulated Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy debacle, promising to work with him to ameliorate the short-term impact of the decision.

    Tinubu had earlier called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment is unacceptable.

    The president advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.

    “We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary, it is from the society.

    “Our position is to eliminate poverty, set aside partisan politics; we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said.

    Tinubu stated that the country should be seen as one big family.

    “We are a family occupying one house, and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results,’’ he stressed.

    The president said that good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.

    “Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us.

    “We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,’’ he charged the governors.

    Tinubu assured them that he would maintain an open-door policy and was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions and create bottom-up frameworks that would improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

    “After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

    Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

    He also drew attention to the security problems in some states, urging the governors to put in all efforts to tackle insecurity.

    The president said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that would improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy, and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

    “After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

    Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

    AbdulRazaq promised the president that the governors would support the Federal Government in meeting the targets of human development.

    He thanked the president for the invitation to deliberate on the challenges of poverty and security, promising that the governors will support the federal government in meeting the targets of human development. 

  • Birthday Registration: NYSC, NPC, UNICEF partner to document 12m children

    Birthday Registration: NYSC, NPC, UNICEF partner to document 12m children

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have partnered to register 12 million children in Nigeria.

    A joint statement by the three organisations on Wednesday in Abuja, said that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and support digitalised birth registration process in 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “This partnership aims to provide a robust framework within which the parties can implement a comprehensive and efficient digitalised birth registration process across Nigeria.

    “By leveraging their existing resources and facilities, the NYSC, NPC and UNICEF intend to benefit at least 12 million under-five eligible children who will be registered as primary beneficiaries.

    “Additionally, families, parents, caregivers, communities, households, state and local government areas (LGAs), and ward level administrators will be indirect beneficiaries of this collaboration.”

    The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said that the deployment of 850 corps members as coordinators and supervisors, spread across 22 states and the FCT will ensure effective monitoring and supervision of the birth registration process.

    “Together, we will strive to achieve comprehensive data collection and availability, supporting increased birth registration coverage in our respective LGAs,” said Ahmed.

    He also said that the scheme was honoured to join hands with the NPC and UNICEF in the vital initiative.

    Chairman of NPC, Mr Nasir Kwarra, said that the NPC, as a key partner, would play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the partnership.

    “We are committed to supporting the recruitment of ad hoc birth registrars at the ward levels and ensuring the availability of registration materials to coordinators and supervisors.

    “By distributing protocols, checklists, Frequently Asked Questions and informational materials, we aim to engage local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders and communities to promote the importance of birth registration.

    “Together, we will generate and analyse digitalised birth registration data at the LGAs and wards, ultimately increasing birth registration coverage,” he added.

    The UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristian Munduate, said that as a leading organisation in child welfare and development, it would bring its expertise to the table to support the digitalised birth registration services in focus states.

    She was quoted as saying that the UNICEF’s “primary focus will be on providing technical assistance and evidence-based interventions.

    “By integrating birth registration into routine health service delivery, conducting the digitalised birth registration process, and increasing awareness through state and community-level campaigns.

    “We aim to ensure that every child has access to and benefits from the essential health and birth registration interventions they deserve.”

    The statement said that through the partnership, the three organisations would be committed to promoting the importance of birth registration within the NYSC programmes and stimulating increased demand for birth registration services in health facilities and at the community level.

    The collaboration is also expected to foster constructive engagement with local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders, leveraging their support to enhance the digitalised birth registration process.

    Between 2018 and 2022, UNICEF facilitated birth registration for 7.4 million children under the age of five and by 2027, it expects to increase the number to 83 million.

  • Subsidy: Probe NNPCL’s  spendings on refineries, Ohaneze youths tells FG

    Subsidy: Probe NNPCL’s  spendings on refineries, Ohaneze youths tells FG

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has called on the federal government to investigate how funds were spent by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on refineries in the last 8 years. 

    According to the National President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, Maxi Okwu Nnabuike, it would help unravel the fraud in the subsidy scheme. 

    The administration of immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari had stopped funding of petrol subsidy in the 2023 budget. According to the budget posted on the website of the Budget Office of the Federation, funding of petrol subsidy by the federal government is expected to end by June 30. 

    However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his inaugural speech had said the era of subsidy was gone. 

    Nnabuike noted that by doing it, the government will earn the trust of Nigerians. 

    He said the council have followed the major developments in the country over the removal of fuel subsidy by the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

    “We recall that prior to the 2023 general election, all the major presidential candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, promised one thing in common- removal of fuel subsidy. They all said it was fraud and must be made away with. 

    “The immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari also prepared the ground for the eventual end of the subsidy regime by not budgeting for it beyond June, 2023. It is curious that the former president did not have the political will to end the subsidy regime but laid it as a landmine for the new administration. 

    “If not, how could it stay in power for eight solid years without reviving even one out of the four refineries in the country? What happened to all the billions of naira spent on so-called turnaround maintenance of the refineries? 

    “We demand that one of the first steps this administration must take is to probe into the spendings on the refineries in the past eight years. It should also take a step further in unravelling the fraud called subsidy. This is one of the ways the government will earn public trust and confidence as it goes on with the task of reshaping the country’s economy. 

    “Having said this, we also want to observe that we view the opposition to the removal of subsidy by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, with huge suspicion. We are not unaware of the harsh economic realities occasioned by the subsidy removal, but the truth is that judging by antecedents, we don’t trust the labour unions in the country. 

    “On several occasions, they have failed the masses when it mattered most. Under the immediate past administration of Buhari, they always started a fight but chickened out at the last minute, leaving the masses to their fate.

    “Nothing has changed- they are at it again this time, trying to use the subsidy removal to cash out as usual. But our stand is that they should stop deceiving the gullible public; all of us cannot be fooled at the same time. 

    “Besides, the independent marketers and the NNPCL are even the worst enemies of the citizens. We find it rather strange that a few hours after President Tinubu announced that the subsidy was gone, they promptly adjusted their pump price to over N500.000. Isn’t this the same subsidy that was budgeted for till the end of June,” he said.

  • Man docked for stealing speaker from Mosque

    Man docked for stealing speaker from Mosque

    3[]li=- A 20-year-old man, Halifa Sani, was on Wednesday docked in a Kano Sharia Court in Kano for allegedly stealing a speaker and cable from a Mosque worth N70,000.

    Sani, who lives in Gadon Kaya, Kano is charged with theft.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the case was reported on June 2, at the Gwale police station by Malam Nura Muhammed, who is also the complainant.

    Wada said the defendant stole the speaker, property of Usman Ibn-Affan mosque worth N50,000 and a cable worth N20,000.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubakar, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety who should be a blood relation.

    Lawal-Abubakar adjourned the matter until June 22, for mention.