Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

Delta Flags Off 4th Tranche of D-CARES to Boost Economic Resilience

Delta State government commences the fourth tranche of Delta Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES), doling out grants of varying sums to 97,365, bringing the total to 110,000 beneficiaries.

At an event, today, Tuesday, 17th September 2024, at the Dome Event Centre in Asaba, presided over by the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis O. Oborevwori, alongside key dignitaries, indigenes of the state had live-changing encounters as they were granted various sums in cash and tools to activate their economic potentials.

The Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning and Chairman of the State CARES Steering Committee, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen announced a formal name change of the programme, now titled Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES).

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (left) in a handshake with Mr. Sunday Ekedayen

This initiative, originally designed as part of a national effort to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been instrumental in supporting the poor and vulnerable across Delta State.

To date, over 110,000 beneficiaries have been impacted by grants, livelihood support, and improved rural infrastructure.

The 4th tranche aims to reach an additional 97,365 beneficiaries across six platforms, including cash transfers, public works, livelihood support, rural infrastructure, agricultural inputs, and MSME support.

The Commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and fairness in selecting beneficiaries.

With over 200,000 Deltans reached since the programme’s inception, the D-CARES initiative continues to play a pivotal role in fostering economic resilience and inclusivity across the state.

09/17/2024
Again Nigeria’s inflation rate eases in August

BREAKING! Again Nigeria’s inflation rate eases in Augus

Nigeria’s annual inflation rate eased again in August after a persistent rise in nearly two years.

Inflation rate eased further to 32.15 per cent in August 2024 relative to the July 2024 headline inflation rate of 33.40 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced Monday.

Inflation indicators compare prices of goods and services in 12 months. A decline does not necessarily imply a reduction in prices; instead, it shows the rate of price increase had fallen compared to previous months.

According to the NBS food inflation was 37.52 per cent in August 2024 as against 39. 53 per cent recorded in July.

09/16/2024
Peter Opara Appointed as New FCT Police Commissioner

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has confirmed the appointment of CP Peter Opara as the new Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The appointment was announced on Saturday by Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations.

Opara replaces CP Benneth Igwe, who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police and posted to Zone 7, Abuja, as the Zonal Assistant Inspector General of Police.

CP Opara brings extensive experience to his new role. He previously served as the Commissioner of Police in the Force Secretary’s office and as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance in Imo State Command. He has held various key positions, including Personal Assistant to former PSC Chairman, IGP Mike Okiro (Rtd), and DCP at the Legal Studies Police Academy (POLAC) in Wudil, Kano. His career also includes roles as Area Commander in Aba and Uyo, Area Crime Officer in Kubwa, and Senior Deputy Defence Adviser at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York. Opara has served as Personal Assistant to several top police officials, including the Inspector General of Police, DIG Operations, and CP Lagos State Command.

Additionally, the PSC has approved the appointment of CP Festus Eribo as the new Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State, replacing CP Miller Gagere Dantawaye. Eribo, a law graduate from the University of Calabar, has held several prominent positions, including Liaison Officer at the Police Service Commission, Assistant Commissioner of Federal Operations at Force Headquarters, and Area Commander in Lagos and Oyo States. He was also previously the Commissioner of Police in Taraba State.

The Commission had earlier sanctioned the posting of four other Commissioners of Police to Abia, Lagos, and Ebonyi states, in line with recommendations from the Inspector-General of Police.

09/15/2024
Tinubu commends military feat in North-West

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday received with relief the news of the strings of successful operations against security threats in the northwest by troops of the Nigerian military.

This came as troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, on Thursday, killed a wanted bandit leader, Halilu Sububu, who had been terrorising residents of Zamfara, Sokoto and other parts of Nigeria’s Northwest.

The troops also killed another terrorist, Sani Burki, in a Joint Operation in Katsina and busted a terrorist enclave in Kaduna, where 13 kidnapped students were freed.

“The success of the operations gives further assurance that our security operatives are up to the task of ensuring the peace and security of the nation,” the President said in a statement signed on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu commends military on successful operations in North-West, pledges sustained support.’

Onanuga noted that the successful operations followed the President’s directive to the service chiefs to relocate to the zone until normalcy returns.

Tinubu commended the military high command, the intelligence agencies and the troops for “their valiant efforts, synergy and dedication, which have resulted in the recent laudable outcomes.”

He also commended the entire security apparatus for improved security in the nation and encouraged them to sustain their efforts until immediate and latent threats are permanently removed.

He reassured the security agencies of his continued support in achieving the priority objective of keeping the nation safe and secure.

09/15/2024
Eid el Maulud: FG declares Mon Sept 16, Public Holiday

The Federal Government has announced Monday, September 16, 2024, as a public holiday to celebrate Eid-ul-Mawlid, marking the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

In a statement, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo extended congratulations to the Muslim community both in Nigeria and abroad.

Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, conveyed Dr. Tunji-Ojo’s message urging all Nigerians to embrace the values of patience, sacrifice, and resilience during this festive period.

“While congratulating the Muslim Ummah on the occasion, the Minister implored them to use the opportunity of the period to pray for enduring peace and a more prosperous egalitarian nation”, the statement added.

09/14/2024
Police to deploy 35,000 personnel for Edo election

Furthering the usual routine which positive outcome remains to be seen, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced on Wednesday that 35,000 police officers will be deployed across Edo State for the September 21 governorship election.

Additionally, 8,000 personnel from sister security agencies, including the armed forces and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will be mobilized to support the police.

He also confirmed that security aides assigned to VIPs will be withdrawn to ensure neutrality and security.

Egbetokun stated this at the stakeholders meeting as part of activities ahead of the election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where its chairman, Professor Mamhud Yakubu announced that former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar was already in town presiding over the signing of the peace pact between contending parties and their candidates on Thursday.

The event had the representatives of the 17 participating political parties, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), representatives of the palace of the Oba of Benin, civil society groups and others.

In his remarks, Egbetokun also said the suspension of the activities of quasi-security organizations like the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and others set up by the state government to check insecurity remain suspended and that they have no role to play on the day of election.

He said security aides attached to VIPs would also be withdrawn even as he reeled out the various election offences and warned that anyone caught against them would be treated according to the law.

According to him, “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that elections take place and trhe security of all is the responsibility of the police and it will be supported by other security agencies to ensure safety. We understand the importance of our role in this election and we will ensure that everything is done in compliance with that.

“We will deploy sufficient personnel for the election. For the Edo state governorship election, we will deploy 35,000 personnel, there will be another 8,000 from other security agencies to complement us. We have undertaken several measures including a tour of hot spots, engaging stakeholders and operational visits and we will continuously engage all.”

He said all entry and exit points in the state would manned while movements would be restricted between 6 am and 6 pm and urged the political leaders to warn their members against any form of violence.

09/13/2024
CBN directs payment service providers to begin PoS transaction tracking

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed all Payment Service Providers to route all transactions from PoS terminals at merchant and agent locations through an approved CBN Payment Terminal Service Aggregator.

The Apex Bank explains that this directive is without prejudice to whether such transaction was physical or electronic.

It also issued a 30-day deadline requiring service providers to comply with enhanced routing guidelines for Point of Sale transactions.

This move aims to strengthen the monitoring of electronic transactions across Nigeria and decentralise PoS transaction routing, addressing concerns about the centralisation of such transactions under a single entity.

The apex bank, in a circular signed by Oladimeji Yisa Taiwo on behalf of the CBN’s Payments System Management Department on Thursday, stated that all PoS transactions from merchant and agent locations must now be routed through any CBN-licensed PTSA.

The circular read, “To achieve the objective of tracking electronic transactions in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in August 2011, granted a Payment Terminal Service Aggregator license to Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc.

In furtherance of the above, the CBN hereby directs acquirers to route all transactions from PoS terminals at merchant and agent locations, whether on physical or electronic PoS terminals, through any CBN-licensed Payment Terminal Service Aggregator.”

“PTSAs are required to send PoS transactions to only processors certified by the relevant Payment Scheme, nominated by the Acquirer, and licensed by the CBN.”

This development follows the expiration of the 5th September deadline for PoS agents to formally register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Although the directive was challenged in court, the CAC recently announced that it has commenced taking drastic actions, including shutting down PoS businesses that failed to register.

The directive on PoS business registration comes against the backdrop of frequent fraud incidents involving PoS terminals and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s plans to prevent trading in cryptocurrency or virtual currency.

According to a report by Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, PoS terminals accounted for 26.37% of fraud incidents in 2023

09/12/2024
APC pulls out of Edo election peace accord

Less than two hours before the signing of the Peace Accord between contending political parties ahead of the September 21 governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it was not disposed to signing the peace accord.

This position is barely 12 hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki while receiving the Chairman of the Presidential Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar said his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the peace accord because the party have lost faith in the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, Emperor Jarret Tenebe said the reasons for their declining to sign among others was that for over two months after a police inspector Onuh Akor who was the orderly to the candidate of the party, Sen Monday Okpebholo was shot and killed along Airport Road, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted, despite claims by the former Commissioner of Police, Funsho who “told Nigerians that the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport.”

He said instead of them being arrested, Governor Godwin Obaseki is allegedly keeping them in the government house.

Tenebe said, “This failure of the police has emboldened the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Peoples Democratic Party to attack members of our political party at rally grounds and in their private business premises ceaselessly.”

He claimed that the governor has made inflammatory statements that have undermined his position as the Chief Security Officer of the State.

He chronicled the various attacks the APC campaign team have suffered in different communities Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Esan West local government area while mobilising supporters for the election.

“In the wake of this very worrisome and dangerous trend, Governor Obaseki kept mute and refused to condemn the attacks as the Chief Security Officer of the state. Instead, one Odion Olaye, the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Edo State, while in the company of Obaseki, openly threatened the country that, “Nigeria will burn if INEC fails to declare the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.”

He mentioned several other chieftains of the PDP who he alleged have publicly boasted that they would do anything and go away with it and that the party’s petition to the police about these incidents with the names of suspects attached have not been treated.

He said “The summary of these episodes is the unwillingness of Obaseki to embrace peace and the refusal of the security agencies to guarantee a peaceful environment for the conduct of September 21st, 2024 scheduled election.”

As part of its demand to sign the peace accord, Tenebe said the police should be seen to taking steps to declare those fingered in the killing of the police allegedly being hidden in government wanted.

09/12/2024
Two Ondo poly students killed in road crash

Two students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, were killed in a fatal road accident along the Akure-Ondo Expressway on Wednesday evening.

It was gathered that the victims, Chukwu Athanasius and Oladokun Oyindamola, who were said to be on a motorcycle, were reportedly crushed by a speeding vehicle leading to their deaths on the spot.

The incident was confirmed in a statement by the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council Ondo State Chapter on Thursday.

The statement was signed by the association’s chairman, Oluwarotimi Tobiloba Joshua, General Secretary, Oluwanishola Ajibola and Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Blessing.

The statement read, “This loss is a heavy blow to the Ondo State student community.

“The tragic deaths of Chukwu Athanasius and Oladokun Oyindamola remind us of the fragility of life. These were young individuals with promising futures, and their loss is deeply felt.”

09/12/2024
Anambra threatens closure of 2,000 unaccredited schools

As primary and secondary schools set to resume for academic activities, Anambra State government vows to sanction about 2,000 unaccredited schools operating in the state.

Paul Nwosu, the state Commissioner for Information, in a press statement on Thursday, stated that the affected schools risked closure if the operators did not obtain the necessary approvals and accreditation.

Primary and secondary schools in the state are set to resume September 17, and the commisioner says, the government discovered during recent evaluation of accredited schools, that some of them are operating illegally.

He said, “The government of Anambra State is concerned that about 2,000 unaccredited/unapproved schools are operating across the 21 local government areas in the state.

“This is unacceptable, given the priority that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, a first-class academic himself, has accorded quality education.

“Setting up and running a school without requisite accreditation and approval is an indication that the school is not operating in accordance with the standards set by the government through the Ministry of Education.

“The government is of the view that our children, irrespective of their location in Anambra State, deserve the best learning environment, teachers and curriculum.”

Similarly, Nwosu noted that the state government has directed all the affected schools whose names are listed should obtain the requirements for proper accreditation and registration from the Anambra State Ministry of Education, and take immediate steps to comply before the resumption of schools.

“Failure to do this will attract dire sanctions and risk of closure,” he warned.

The commissioner added that the list of approved schools will be made available to the Education Departments of the Local Governments through the Transition Committee Chairmen for easy access.

Recall that the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, had last week warned parents in the state to enrol their children at only government-approved schools, vowing that they would be liable as accomplices in prosecution if they failed to do so.

09/12/2024