Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • Edo Assembly Set To Impeach Philip Shaibu

    Edo Assembly Set To Impeach Philip Shaibu

    The Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday commenced impeachment proceedings against the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

    The Majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, who announced the impeachment notice during plenary, said the petition dated March 5, was signed by 21 out of the 24 members against the deputy governor.

    Aiguobarueghian stated, “The petition against the deputy governor came in on March 5 and was signed by 21 out of the 24 members. The number of members who signed the petition was more than the two-third requirement stipulated in the constitution.”

    He also said that the petition was based on two grounds perjury and revealing of government secrets.

    The speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku who acknowledged receipt of the petition, directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve Shaibu the impeachment notice.

    Agbebaku also gave the deputy governor seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.

    The impeachment notice is the latest in the rift between the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, who have been at loggerheads since mid-last year when Shaibu announced his intention to run for the office of the governor of the state.

  • Another attack, Boko Haram, sets IDP Camp, Many Houses On Fire

    Another attack, Boko Haram, sets IDP Camp, Many Houses On Fire

    Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have razed down at least 25 newly constructed buildings meant for returnees in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Amid the heat of insurgency, Dikwa residents fled their homes and took cover as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    However, days after abducting IDPs who went into the forest to fetch firewood, insurgents stormed a remote village in Gajibo, shooting sporadically and burning more than 25 newly built houses.

    According to Daily Trust, Modu Kundiri who was on his to Maiduguri from Gomboru, they were asked by the troops to wait for about 3 hours at Logomani village.

    “The soldiers informed us that we had to wait for about 3 hours from 11:am -2 pm before we were allowed to leave Logomani.

    “I saw and counted more than 25 newly constructed houses at Gajibo village in Dkiwa LGA was on fire,” Modu said.

    A resident of Dikwa town, Sheriff Lawan, confirmed the news to our correspondent via phone.

    He added that they equally planted many improvise explosive devices (IEDs) in the ongoing construction site to truncate the rebuilding and resettlement processes of the state government.

    “The soldiers told us that the insurgents planted many IEDs at the construction site and they discovered some bombs already.”Sherrif said.

    Gajibo town is a some of 110 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the state capital.

  • UAE Has Not Lifted Visa Ban On Nigeria – Presidency

    UAE Has Not Lifted Visa Ban On Nigeria – Presidency

    The presidency has refuted claims of the United Arab Emirates lifting the visa restriction on Nigerian travellers.

    The ban was imposed in October 2022 along with restrictions on citizens from about 20 African nations. 

    Among the affected countries are Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and others.

    Reports surfaced on Tuesday that discussions between President Bola Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, regarding diplomatic issues like flight allocations and travel restrictions, prompted the suspension of the ban.

    However, Bayo Onanuga, senior Special Adviser to President Tinubu on information, clarified that the ban remains in place, stating that the circulating document is unauthorized by both Nigerian and UAE governments.

    “UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorized either by the Nigerian government or the UAE”, he said.

  • Binance Ceases Operations in Nigeria

    Binance Ceases Operations in Nigeria

     

    Binance, a global cryptocurrency exchange, has decided to exit the Nigerian market.

    Effective March 8, 8:00 a.m. UTC, Binance will automatically convert naira balances to USDT (Tether), a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar.

    The decision follows the cessation of support for naira deposits after 14:00 UTC today, with withdrawals set to terminate after March 8, 6:00 a.m. UTC. 

    The conversion rate stands at 1 USDT per 1,515.13 naira.

    Binance will delist all spot trading pairs involving the naira on March 7 at 3:00 a.m. UTC, automatically closing open spot orders for these pairs. 

    Additionally, services like Binance Convert, Binance P2P, Auto Invest, and Binance Pay will no longer support naira transactions.

    This move by Binance coincides with regulatory conflicts in Nigeria, as two executives were recently detained by the National Security Adviser’s office. 

    The company faces accusations of contributing to the depreciation of the naira, prompting its decision to withdraw from the Nigerian market.

  • FG Gives Update On New Minimum Wage

    FG Gives Update On New Minimum Wage

    The Nigerian government is planning to organize a nationwide public hearing as a step in the process of introducing a new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

    A statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed that the public hearing would be done in the six geo-political regions of the country to gather diverse perspectives and recommendations on the new minimum wage.

    The statement added that the six public hearings will hold in North-East, Yola; North-West, Kano; North-Central, Abuja; South-South, Uyo; South-East, Enugu, and South-West, Lagos on March 7, 2024.

    The South-West zonal public hearing will hold in Lagos at the LTV Blue Roof Arena to be chaired by the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

    A diverse panel will lead the discussions including: Government representatives: Edun and Osun Governor Adeleke Ademola (representing State Governments); Employers’ representatives: Omo-Lamai Grace (Manufacturers Association) and Muhammed Nura (Nigeria Association of SMEs); Labour representatives Adeyanju Adewale (NLC) and Shuaibu Afusatu (TUC) as well as Labour and Employment Minister of State Onyejeocha Nkeiruka.

    The Ministry stated that the public hearings offer a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the national minimum wage policy by contributing their perspectives.

  • FCT police Denies reports of looted truck

    FCT police Denies reports of looted truck

    The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has debunked reports claiming a truck carrying food items in the Dei-Dei area of the FCT was attacked and looted on Monday morning.

    In a statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the police said they were unaware of such attacks.

    However, Adeh asked that anyone or any persons with evidence of any such activities to come forward and report to the police.

    “The FCT Police Command is not aware of any looting of food trucks in Dei-Dei Abuja this morning, being the 4/3/2024, but if you have any information pls, come to us with details,” the statement read.

  • SSANU Alleges Abandonment, Threatens Strike

    SSANU Alleges Abandonment, Threatens Strike

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) has alleged abandonment by the Federal Government.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the President of SSANU Mohammed Ibrahim, accused the Federal Government of treating its members and that of the Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, (NASU) with “disdain”. 

    “We have to speak like this because we have been clearly shown that we do not matter in the system. But we all know that there is no university that can function without the non-teaching staff because we are majorly populated by professionals. We own the engine of the administration of every university. They are treating this segment of staff with some disdain. It does not speak good of the system,” he said during the show.

    He said the SSANU and NASU are yet to get a “dime” since President Tinubu’s approval of the payment of the salary backlog.

    “We have been waiting and our patience is running out,” the SSANU leader said.

    President Bola Tinubu, had directed the payment of withheld salaries for university workers owing to their strike of 2022. But SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) said they are yet to get salaries for the said period, threatening to go on strike.

  • Recruitment: Police announce 17 CBT examination centres

    Recruitment: Police announce 17 CBT examination centres

    On Sunday, the police command in Kogi announced 17 computer-based test centres for the 2022 Nigeria Police Force recruitment.

    According to reports, the command’s spokesperson, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, who dropped the hint in a statement, said the recruitment scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday was only for police constables.

    Mr Ovye-Aya said the 17 centres were released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    “All applicants who are invited for the CBT are advised to visit the portal to print their invitation slips and come along with them to the centres. Any applicant that doesn’t have the invitation slip will not be allowed into the CBT centre,” he warned.

    According to him, the recruitment is free and warns applicants to be wary of job scammers, who may want to defraud them.

    He further advised the applicants to shun any form of examination malpractice or any other act contrary to the rules for the examination, stressing that “this is key because anybody caught will be prosecuted accordingly.” 

  • FIFA Debunks Introduction of Blue Card

    FIFA Debunks Introduction of Blue Card

    After reports emerged last week that the International Football Association Board had signed off on the trials of introducing blue card to football, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has rejected the proposed plan. 

    It would have been the first time since the introduction of the classic yellow and red cards at the 1970 World Cup that a new card would be used in football.

    However, following an immediate backlash to the plans, Infantino has now told Sky UK such card does not exist.

    “Blue cards? This is a topic that is non existent for us,” he said.

    “If you want a title it is: red card to the blue card. No chance, no way.”

  • Actor Sisi Quadri Buried Amid Tears

    Actor Sisi Quadri Buried Amid Tears

    Late Nollywood actor, Quadri Oyebamiji, widely known as Sisi Quadri, found his final resting place in his Iwo hometown on Saturday. 

    The actor died on Friday while he was undergoing treatment at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

    The actor’s body, transported from Ogbomoso, arrived in Iwo on Friday, leading to an outpouring of grief. 

    A large gathering of residents, colleagues, and well-wishers attended prayers held at an open field near his residence. 

    Following the emotional ceremony, Sisi Quadri was laid to rest in front of his house in the Agbowo Area of Iwo.

    Toyin Olaiya, former governor of the Association of Nigeria Theater Art Practitioner in Osun State, and leader of the theater group Sisi Quadri joined in 1996, expressed shock over the actor’s passing. 

    Olaiya disclosed that Sisi Quadri fell ill while working on a film set, highlighting the unexpected nature of his death.

    Olaiya shared, “When I heard of his illness, I told some of his contemporaries that trained under me to visit him. I was told he had been moved to a private medical facility in Iwo for treatment. I never thought it would result in death.” 

    Sisi Quadri is survived by his wife and two children.