Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • Presidency Reacts To Reports Of Tinubu Advising Buhari To Print More Money

    Presidency Reacts To Reports Of Tinubu Advising Buhari To Print More Money

    The Presidency has refuted claims suggesting that President Bola Tinubu advised the Muhammadu Buhari administration to print N22.7 trillion. 

    This denial comes in response to statements made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, during a session with the Senate Committee on Finance.

    Edun attributed Nigeria’s current inflationary pressures to massive currency printing during Buhari’s tenure, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in economic management. 

    He disclosed plans for a comprehensive audit of the reported N22.7 trillion printed without productivity.

    In reaction, Paul Ibe, spokesman for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, criticized Edun’s remarks, alleging Tinubu’s encouragement of such actions in 2020. 

    However, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga rebutted these claims, asserting that Tinubu never advised the government to print money.

    Onanuga clarified that Tinubu’s statement in 2020 did not advocate for Naira printing, as erroneously reported, and provided a clarification in Thisday a day after the false report emerged.

  • Police Give Update On Kidnap Of 287 Kaduna Students By Bandits

    Police Give Update On Kidnap Of 287 Kaduna Students By Bandits

    The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has assured that the 287 students kidnapped from a school in Kaduna would be rescued.

    The spokesperson of the Command, Mansir Hassan, gave the assurance while reacting to the unfortunate incident.

    It would be recalled that not less than 287 students from the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, were kidnapped on Thursday when bandits attacked the school premises.

    Reacting to the development, the Kaduna Police spokesperson said operatives have been deployed and are combing the bushes to rescue the victims.

    ”I’m attending a security meeting, but the police tactical team has been deployed to go after the criminals by combing the bushes to rescue the victims,” he said, as quoted by Vanguard.

    Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has vowed that all efforts would be put in place to ensure the students return home safely.

  • Gunmen Attack 2 Banks In Kogi

    Gunmen Attack 2 Banks In Kogi

    Gunmen suspected to be robbers have attacked two commercial banks in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The robbers raided the banks and carted away millions of naira and other valuables.

    Eyewitnesses said that the robbers were shooting indiscriminately shootings during the attack.

    The robbery operation was said to have started around 5 pm.

    It was gathered that operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps engaged them in exchange of gunfire.

    The state police command is yet to react to the incident.

  • Nigeria Air Force Plane Involved In Minor Crash 

    Nigeria Air Force Plane Involved In Minor Crash 

    A Nigerian Air Force Super Mushshak trainer aircraft has been involved in a minor mishap which occured this Thursday, 7 March 2024 at about 2.35pm.  

    NAF Director, Public relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet indicates in a press release that the accident, which occurred about 3.5 nautical miles from Kaduna Military airfield, involved 2 pilots who were returning from a routine training flight. Both pilots escaped the crash unhurt. 

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has directed preliminary investigation to determine the immediate cause of the crash.

  • Bandits Invade Kaduna Primary School, Kidnap Scores Of Students

    Bandits Invade Kaduna Primary School, Kidnap Scores Of Students

    Chaos ensued in Kuriga town, Kaduna State, unknown gunmen stormed LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1) on Thursday, kidnapping numerous students.

    Although the exact number of abducted individuals remains unverified, local residents estimated it to be around 100.

    The victims reportedly included the head teacher of the school and some other staff members.

    The incident occurred at 8:20 am immediately after the morning assembly, leaving the school community in shock and distress.

    It was revealed that most pupils managed to flee from their classes upon sighting the armed bandits on the school premises.

    The LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), relocated its junior and secondary sections to the town’s inner building a few years ago due to security concerns, abandoning the former school building outside the city.

    A resident named Shitu confirmed the abduction, saying that many pupils fled their classes upon realizing the presence of bandits.

    Another resident, Lawal Kuriga, mentioned that the kidnapped victims were forcefully taken into the nearby forest.

    As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from the state government.

  • Nigerian Civil Defence Officer Murdered By Gunmen

    Nigerian Civil Defence Officer Murdered By Gunmen

    An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Obangede, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State has been killed by unknown gunmen.

    The NSCDC officer who lost his life was part of the security detail assigned to protect the abducted Chinese road engineer.

    At the time of reporting, the identities of both the abducted individual and the deceased officer could not be confirmed. 

    When contacted for confirmation and updates on the incident, the state police spokesperson, William Ovye Aya, stated that he would provide further information later.

    This incident comes amidst a similar occurrence on February 3, where approximately 14 passengers of God Is Good (GIG) Motors and ABC Transport were abducted in Kogi while en route to Abuja. The incident took place in Inyele Eteke, Olamaboro LGA.

    The abducted passengers, who were reportedly traveling from the southeast region, were later released after a few days in captivity.

    Reports indicate that the gunmen intercepted the vehicles and forcibly took the passengers captive, demanding a ransom of N15 million from each individual for their release.

  • Why FG may Revoke DisCos Licences – Power Minister

    Why FG may Revoke DisCos Licences – Power Minister

    The federal government has threatened tough sanctions, including licence revocation, against Distribution companies over epileptic power supply and ‘wilful non-performance’. 

    It also said Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) are to be held accountable henceforth for poor power supply in the country. 

    Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu issued the threat in a statement, describing as “disheartening” the decline in power supply despite the concerted efforts to improve the situation.

    He noted that his Ministry has been exerting pressure on the GenCos to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4000MW.

    “Moving forward, I’m committed to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance.

    “Wilful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including licence revocation, may be imposed,” the minister said in a statement.

    Expressing concern over erratic electricity supply, Adelabu has summoned the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

    The supply of electricity has dipped across the country in the last three months, due to many reasons, including lack of adequate gas supply, grid breakdown, low supply from Generating Companies (GenCos), the inability of DisCos to wheel supply from GenCos and sabotage. 

    The minister also expressed concern over the poor performance of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    Adelabu, who tweeted on his X handle, reiterated the reasons for summoning the AEDC and IBEDC chief executives and the TCN Managing Director.

    He gave the reason as an attempt to find a plausible solution to the power supply in their zones.

    “Despite this progress”, the minister said, “certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

    “The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the worsening power supply in their respective regions and to collectively find lasting solutions.”

    The minister threatened to henceforth hold the DisCos accountable for their performance.

    He said: “Willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed.

    “Additionally, I have instructed TCN to prioritise repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions.”

    Adelabu recalled that during recent supervisory visits to power-generating plants, he witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector.

    He spoke of plans to settle outstanding debts to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide.

    Pleading with consumers for understanding, Adelabu said he and his team had been making frantic efforts to tackle the challenges.

    “I urge electricity consumers to remain patient as we work tirelessly to address these issues and provide better service to all Nigerians,” he said.

    It was gathered that the payment of $120 million out of the $1.3 trillion owed to the gas suppliers has unsettled the GenCos.

    The GenCos are said to be meeting to press for the payment of their outstanding debts.

    A source from the GenCos, who was privy to the meeting, said: “Since the Federal Government has made $120 million payment to the gas suppliers as part of their debt, we are also meeting to ask the same government to settle us, the GenCos.”

    Adelabu’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, confirmed the scheduled meeting with the TCN and DisCos.

  • Minimum Wage: Labour May demand N500,000 instead of #1m Earlier Proposed 

    Minimum Wage: Labour May demand N500,000 instead of #1m Earlier Proposed 

    With the public hearing on the new minimum wage, which will be held simultaneously in all six geopolitical zones of the country, it is expected to receive inputs from organised Labour, state governors, ministers, civil society groups, and the organised private sector on a new minimum wage reflective of the current economic realities and the workers’ aspirations.

    However, a top official of the NLC, who confided in newsmen on Thursday said based on proposals submitted by state chapters to the congress’ headquarters, the organised Labour might push for N500,000 at today’s meeting.

    The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, had recently stated that if the ongoing inflation continued, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

    President Bola Tinubu through his deputy, Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, with its membership cutting across the federal and state governments, the private sector, and labour.

    The panel, as learnt, is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country on or before April 1 following the expiration of the current N30,000 minimum wage as provided by the law.

    However, the President of the NLC, Ajaero, stated recently during an interview on Arise TV that if the ongoing inflation continued unabated, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

    According to Ajaero, the demand from organised labour would be influenced by the cost of living which has been increasing since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, notably due to the removal of the fuel subsidy and other policies.

    He said, “This N1m may be relevant if the value of the naira continues to depreciate; if the inflation continues unchecked because the demand of labour is equally dependent on what is happening in the society.

    “You will remember that by the time we were contemplating N200,000 (as minimum wage), the exchange rate was about N800/N900 (to a dollar). As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 or even more.

    “Those are the issues that determine the demand and it is equally affecting the cost of living. And we have always said that our demand will be based on the cost of living index. You will agree with me today that even a bag of rice is going for about N60,000/N70,000 or more.

    “A bag of locally produced corn is about N56,000 or more. Foodstuff is getting out of reach, now are we going to get a minimum wage that will not be enough for transportation even for one week?”

    Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday, a top official of the NLC said organised labour would insist on any amount slightly above N500,000 as minimum wage based on the analysis of proposals got from state chapters.

    The official, who spoke in confidence because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the negotiation, explained that the cost-of-living analysis carried out in states was N900,000.

    “In reality, what they gave us from the states when we deflate inconsistencies is over N500,000, as the cost of living of an average family of six to meet their basic needs, for an average family to survive.

    “But we know that when NLC deflates it taking into consideration some of the things we think are padded, it will come to around slightly over N500,000,” he said.

  • Resident doctors in UCH Begin strike over alleged assault

    Resident doctors in UCH Begin strike over alleged assault

    Following an alleged assault on a resident doctor by relatives of a patient, resident doctors under the auspices of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan in Oyo State have commenced a three-day strike.

    ARD President, Dr. John Oladapo told newsmen on Thursday that the doctors are demanding a public apology from the people who assaulted their member, inflicting injuries on him on Sunday.

    He called on the hospital to improve its security architecture to avoid future occurrences in the hospital.

    “On Sunday, one of our members was the target of a deliberate, premeditated, planned rage and furious assault by a patient’s relation.

    “The doctor was seeing a known Sickle Cell patient in a painful crisis at the Emergency Department when the two men accosted him in the consulting room and started beating him up.

    “The mother of the patient being seen who tried to intervene was also beaten up in this assault. In the doctor’s attempt to escape, the men chased him down and beat him up.

    “The security officers of the hospital intervened and rescued our member, but not before he sustained injuries as well as mental health and esteem”.

  • How Relocating to America humbled me – Femi Brainard

    How Relocating to America humbled me – Femi Brainard

    Nollywood Actor Femi Brainard shared his insights on the realities of living abroad as a Nigerian celebrity.

    He narrated his experience during an interview with Teju Oyelakin, also known as Teju Babyface, on his podcast

    Brainard explained the advantages and disadvantages of relocating, emphasising that it’s preferable to be esteemed and respected in Nigeria rather than becoming anonymous abroad.

    He also said that his wife did not like the idea of living abroad.

    While speaking with the comedian, Brainard noted that anytime he is driving, his Nigerian passengers in particular can’t help but stare at him in disbelief and wonder if he is the star they know. 

    The actor added that the curious ones would approach him to be sure he was the famous actor they knew in Nigeria.

    Brainard said the bills are a lot and he has things like rent to think about while explaining that he was so broke to an extent that he went to the parking lot and burst into tears.

    He said: “At times it would be so hard, I no go get Money for hand. That day I went to the parking lot of our apartment, I cried, na me bring this woman here. Yankee no know star o… I had to feed my family. I know these couple from the airport, the husband was like, ‘ask him if he is Femi Brainard and I said yes. The husband didn’t know when he reached at me and asked ‘bros what are you doing here”.

    “As difficult as Nigeria seems to be, I would rather be a prince and a celebrity in a system that is not working than come to this place and be a nobody. I am still bothered about rent.”