Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • I left Nigeria better than I met it – Obasanjo

    I left Nigeria better than I met it – Obasanjo

    Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that his administration was one of the best the country has had so far.

    Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, yesterday, June 18, at the Safe Online Youth Fellowship Bootcamp organised by NerdzFactory Company, supported by Meta at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

    He recalled landmark achievements his administration recorded while in office between 1999 and 2007.

    He said he was responsible for setting Nigeria free from the bondage of immense debt, adding that he takes pride in the celebration of the 25 years an uninterrupted democracy, which started during his reign as democratic ruler in 1999.

    He said: “When I came in as elected President, I wanted to get debt relief because we were spending $3.5 billion every year servicing debt and the quantum of the debt was not going down. Today, I can say that I made Nigeria better than I found it from an economic perspective.

    “I found $3.7 billion in the reserves and we were spending $3.5 billion to service our debt. By the time I left, we had a debt of about $36 billion with the debt relief, and I left with a debt of $3.6 billion. Also, I left a reserve of over $50 billion. I also achieved excess crude for the country worth over $25 billion.”

  • NFF Considers Three Coaches to Replace Finidi George as Super Eagles Boss

    NFF Considers Three Coaches to Replace Finidi George as Super Eagles Boss

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has narrowed down its search for a new head coach for the Super Eagles to three candidates.

    This follows the resignation of Finidi George last weekend.

    With the team’s fixtures in the next window fast approaching in September, the NFF is under pressure to make a swift decision.

    According to sources, the three coaches in contention for the top job are Antonio Conceicao, Samson Siasia, and Salisu Yusuf.

    Antonio Conceicao, a Portuguese coach, boasts an impressive resume with stints in Romania, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia. His tactical skills and player development expertise make him a strong contender for the role. He was fired by Cameroon in 2022 but is eager to return to coaching.

    Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles coach, also has an impressive coaching record, particularly with youth teams. He led Nigeria’s U-20 and U-23 teams to podium finishes at various tournaments, including the Olympic Games. Although his FIFA ban for match-fixing is set to expire in August, his controversial past still raises eyebrows.

    Salisu Yusuf, a Nigerian coach, has an impressive track record in the domestic league, winning NPFL titles with Kano Pillars. He has experience as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles and Head Coach of the Super Eagles B team.

  • Rivers LGA crisis: No tenure extension for chairmen, Fubara declares

    Rivers LGA crisis: No tenure extension for chairmen, Fubara declares

    Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has held a crucial meeting with heads of security agencies in the State amidst the ongoing local government succession crisis.

    Rising from the state council security meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Governor warned against what he described as a grand plot to arrest his supporters.

    He said his administration would no longer allow arresting his supporters on trump-up charges, saying security agents must pass through him before undertaking such action.

    The Governor assured that he would fearlessly lead the way to ensure peace in the state and also protect all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.

    Fubara said no extension of tenure of elected local government chairmen, explaining that the law was unambiguous on it adding that the court also affirmed the position of the law.

    The Governor said: “Let me also say this. I’m also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters. This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us has done. Rather, thy are standing on the side of truth. 

    “If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course”.

    Governor Fubara further said: “Let me assure everyone, more especially, the great and peace- loving people of Rivers State: the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure. 

    “The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this State.

    “I assure everyone of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that”.

     Fubara explained that the Security Council Meeting was called because of the recent threat to the peace of the state by the outgone chairmen of the local government councils.

    He said: “You are all aware that the tenure of the council chairmen ended yesterday, 17th June, 2024, and today, we have ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to be in charge while they await further directives.

    “It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of council secretariats, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the Security Council Meeting so that the needful will be done.

    “We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the State,” he added.

    He thanked the media and the peace-loving people of the state for their support, and urged everyone to continue to remain law-abiding for the unity and progress of the state.

  • I felt like a stranger to myself – Simi 

    I felt like a stranger to myself – Simi 

    Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has opened up about her struggles to find herself.

    The ‘Duduke’ singer shared that while she has cherished the process of understanding herself deeply, she now feels uneasy as she experiences a sense of losing herself.

    On her X handle on Tuesday, she explained that she felt like a stranger to herself, while noting that her upcoming album ‘Lost And Found’ helped her rediscover herself.

    Simi wrote: “For most of my life, I have enjoyed the privilege of knowing myself deeply, unwaveringly, truly. In more recent years, I have also endured the discomfort of losing myself.

    “Sometimes, to make room for something else that I needed to be – other times, because I could not, for the life of me, find my way. I felt like a stranger to myself. This version of me has been the hardest one to look at in the mirror.

    “Making this album is a symbol of finding parts of myself again that I hoped I hadn’t lost permanently. I don’t believe that we ever stop finding ourselves. If you’re willing to look, there’s always more. This is a tribute to the things we continue to find and rediscover.”

  • Nigerian Soldier Shoots Self At Army Base Gate, Four Months To Retirement

    Nigerian Soldier Shoots Self At Army Base Gate, Four Months To Retirement

    An indigene of Okpuala in Ngor-Okpuala, Imo State, serving in the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Imo state, has shot himself in front of the 144 Battalion’s Forward Operation Base (FOB) gate.

    Identified as Vitalis, a senior non-commissioned soldier, Command Sergeant Major (CSM), he reportedly shot himself without leaving a suicide note.

    Before his death, he served with the 14 Brigade Headquarters, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Barrack, Ohafia, Ohafia local government area of Abia State.

    According to security sources who spoke to The Nation, a thorough and discreet investigation is necessary to determine the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s suicide.

    Speculation or premature conclusions could compromise the investigation’s outcome, which is being led by the army’s leadership in the state. Notably, there were no reported incidents of domestic violence or disciplinary actions against the soldier prior to his death, suggesting that the motives behind his actions may be complex and require a thorough inquiry.

    The tragedy struck the military camp when the soldier, reportedly just months away from retirement in October, committed suicide after mysteriously disappearing without communication for two weeks.

    The sudden reemergence of the soldier, who apparently returned to the camp and then took his own life, shocked his colleagues and left many wondering what could have driven him to such despair.

  • We’ve not slashed subscription prices -MultiChoice

    We’ve not slashed subscription prices -MultiChoice

    Amid a recent drop in subscribers, MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv and GOtv pay television in Nigeria has denied slashing its subscription fees in Nigeria.

    This is according to BusinessDay quoting a source in the company on Tuesday.

    The source said the company only reduced decoder prices but subscription prices remained unchanged.

    “We only reduced our decoder prices and not subscription prices.

    Recall that MultiChoice Nigeria is currently in the middle of a legal case as it is challenging a ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT that mandated it to offer one-month free subscription services and imposed a N150 million fine.

    The development comes as the company announced that its subscribers in Nigeria dropped by 18 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

    This is according to BusinessDay quoting a source in the company on Tuesday.

    Since March 2022, the company has hiked its subscription fee four times. The latest was in April 2024 when it hiked subscription fees by 17 percent.

  • BREAKING: Police rescue kidnapped Fouani Brothers

    BREAKING: Police rescue kidnapped Fouani Brothers

    The famous Fouani family, recently traumatized by the abduction of three of their members, can now heave a sigh of relief as the Lagos police command has rescued the three abductees.

    In a brief statement pushed out a while ago, the police listed those released as Abbas Fouani, Youssef Fouani, and Amtal Fouani.

    It would be recalled that the brothers, who are part of the prominent Fouani Nigeria Ltd family, were kidnapped on June 14 around 6 pm while travelling by boat from their factory.

  • Presidency Speaks On Plans To Take Over Kano

    Presidency Speaks On Plans To Take Over Kano

    The Presidency, on Monday, categorically denied claims made by the National Leader of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, regarding a purported plan to declare a state of emergency in Kano State.

    These allegations were described as baseless and were dismissed as “mere rumours” by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

    The controversy arose after Kwankwaso, who also ran as the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the previous year’s election, accused the Federal Government of bias in the ongoing Kano Emir tussle.

    He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government was plotting to undermine the democratically elected structures in the state by imposing a state of emergency.

    In response to these serious allegations, Bayo Onanuga communicated to The Nation last night, asserting that there were no circumstances that would justify such an extreme measure as declaring a state of emergency in Kano State.

    The Presidency said: “There is no truth in it. It is a mere rumour. The Federal Government cannot declare any state of emergency in any state without the involvement of the National Assembly. There is no such plan. It is a mere rumour.

    “The National Assembly is in recess. No President can just wake up and declare a state of emergency in any state.”

    Also, the Commissioner of Police in Kano, Ussain Gumel, denied allegations that his men were biased in the emirate crisis.

    The police chief, in a conversation with the platform, said the force’s mandate is to protect lives and property.

    He said it was their duty to protect both emirs, “which is what we are still doing.”

    Gumel said men and officers of the police and other security agencies have been neutral.

    He added that the police received about five court orders on the emirate tussle.

    The CP said: “The issue is before the federal and state courts. We are waiting for judgment.

    “We received about five court orders and forwarded them to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. We are waiting for his response and directives.

    “And while awaiting the outcome in court or directives from the AGF, we must protect the contending emirs.

    “We also have to protect the subjects of both emirs as well as residents of the state.

    “My appeal to the public is for them to exercise patience and calm while we await the outcome from the relevant authorities.”

  • AMFSON Holds OGM, Inaugurates National, P/Harcourt Excos

    AMFSON Holds OGM, Inaugurates National, P/Harcourt Excos

    The Association of Mega Filling Station Owners of Nigeria (AMFSON) has inaugurated its national executive committee with Chief Davison Nwankwo as the national president.

    The inauguration ceremony was the highpoint of the 2024 Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which held at Tokyu Grande Hotel, Port Harcourt marked to full return of the umbrella body of owners of filling stations branded in NNPC colours across the country.

    The rejuvenation of AMFSON is coming as the nation continues to battle epileptic supply and the high cost of petroleum products across the country.

    Before the inauguration ceremony, members of the association who converged in Port Harcourt from across the country lamented the harsh operating environment under which their members were operating.

    According to them, some of the challenges include rising energy costs to run their outlets, huge transportation costs in ferrying products to their stations, as well as shrinking margins in the sale of products.

    Addressing AMFSON delegates shortly after the inauguration, the National President, Chief Davison Nwankwo, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by the members in asking him to pilot the affairs of the association.

    Nwankwo, who is also the Managing Director of Deez Oil & Gas Limited, assured members that the business interest of AMFSON members would be fully protected under his leadership.

    He further assured that AMFSON would constructively engage the leadership of the NNPC Limited in order to ensure that the businesses made by its members yield positive returns on investment.

    Earlier, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of AMFSON, Ambassador Kenneth Nwachukwu, recalled that AMFSON came into existence in 2010 with the aim of protecting the interest of its members.

    Nwachukwu, therefore, urged AMFSON members to remain united and committed to the cause of the association in order for them to derive maximum benefits from the association.

    The inaugurated national executive committee of AMFSON include, Chief Davison Nwankwo (President), Barr Jacob Obande (Vice President), Ambassador Kenneth Nwachukwu (National Secretary), Obi Okechukwu (Publicity Secretary) and Comrade Prince Omugbe (Treasurer). Others are Hon Ejike Amedu(Public Relations Officer), Toyin Ogunwole (Zonal Vice Chairman, South-West), Emmanuel Okon(Zonal Vice Chairman, South-South) and Salem Ahmed (Zonal Vice Chairman, North-West).

  • Court Order Forces MultiChoice To Reduce Prices For DStv, GOtv Users, See Price 

    Court Order Forces MultiChoice To Reduce Prices For DStv, GOtv Users, See Price 

    MultiChoice, Nigeria’s leading satellite television provider, has adjusted its subscription rates for DStv and GOtv users following a court order. 

    The company had faced backlash after implementing a price hike, citing increased costs and inflation. 

    The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja intervened, instructing MultiChoice to revert to previous prices pending further review. 

    As of June 16, 2024, the DStv Premium package now costs N29,500 (reduced from N37,000), Compact+ is N19,800 (down from N25,000), Compact Bouquet is N12,500 (from N15,700), and Confam is N7,400 (previously N9,300). 

    GOtv subscribers also benefit from reduced rates: Super+ is now N12,500 (was N15,700), Super is N7,600 (down from N9,600), Max is N5,700 (from N6,300), Joli is N3,950 (previously N4,500), and Jinja is N2,700 (down from N3,200).