Contrary to reports, a presidency source has denied that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was summoned by President Bola Tinubu over the alleged financial infractions involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The Interior Minister has been linked to financial transactions with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs through a company in which he was reported to have an interest.
Sources close to the Minister refuted claims of being summoned, stating, “We are too intelligent to be stupid.”
The details of the meeting between the Interior Minister and the President remain undisclosed.
Dr. Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has arrived at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters.
She was invited by the EFCC for questioning regarding an alleged N585 million fraud in her ministry.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu on Monday following accusations of diverting humanitarian funds meant for grants to vulnerable groups in several states.
This development makes Edu the first minister to be suspended from office since the swearing-in of the Federal Executive Council in August of the previous year.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has asserted that the Federal Government discontinued the payment of the N35,000 minimum wage after the first month, despite having the necessary revenue to fulfill the commitment.
Festus Osifo, the President of the TUC, conveyed this claim during an interview with Arise Television on Monday. According to the TUC, the government ceased the 6-month wage award payment promised to workers after the initial disbursement.
Osifo highlighted that the government possesses ample revenues to meet the union’s demands but lacks the will to implement the agreed-upon measures. He stated, “It is not because they don’t have revenue, but it is the will for them to actually do what is right.”
In response to this, the TUC presented a 10-point agenda to President Bola Tinubu as part of their demands to the federal government. Osifo emphasized the need for sincere implementation and accountability, noting that some provisions in the agreement reached with the government had not been fully executed.
He pointed out, “It is left for government to tell us the reason why they have not taken that document to court, it’s left for them. But for us, our responsibility is to hold them accountable to be sure and certain that every statement in that agreement as agreed with them must be implemented.”
The TUC president linked the demands in the 10-point agenda to the challenges faced by the average Nigerian, including the impact of inflation, the removal of fuel subsidy, and other economic difficulties. He urged the government to address these issues, stating, “This government must sit down, buckle its belt, and address the issues that are affecting Nigerians.”
The Federal Ministry of Education is set to address the rising issue of degree mills by inaugurating an inter-ministerial committee, as announced by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong.
In a statement to journalists in Abuja, Goong stated, “Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, will this afternoon, inaugurate an inter-ministerial committee on degree mills.
” The move comes in response to recent revelations about the activities of degree mills in Benin Republic and Togo, highlighted in an investigative report by Umar Audu with the Daily Nigerian newspaper.
Audu’s report detailed how he obtained a degree within six weeks and participated in the National Youth Service Corps scheme with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication certificate from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Following the exposé, the Nigerian government imposed a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo. Education Minister Tahir Mamman emphasized that the government would extend its scrutiny to institutions in other African countries, including Ghana.
The ban is expected to impact over 10,900 Nigerian students studying in Benin and Togo, according to statistics from the National Association of Nigerian Students. Additionally, the National Universities Commission revealed that 18 out of the 58 suspended universities in Nigeria are foreign-owned.
The establishment of the inter-ministerial committee reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the issue of fake degrees and ensuring the integrity of educational credentials in the country.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed that the Federal Government is poised to initiate a full contactless passport application process coupled with home delivery, scheduled to kick off on March 8.
Tunji-Ojo outlined the details of the upcoming service, emphasizing the convenience it would offer to Nigerian citizens. He stated, “Plans are almost ready for the commencement of full contactless passport applications and the delivery of the same to applicants via courier.”
Highlighting the phased approach, he explained, “We have phase one, phase two, and phase three. This is phase one that we have delivered. Phase two is the one in the diaspora, set to be delivered on February 8. Then phase three is the contactless biometric, whereby you don’t even need to go again, and that’s March 8.”
The minister assured the public that the Ministry of Interior is committed to fulfilling its promises, aiming to make passport application processes in the country more seamless. He urged Nigerians to trust in the implementation of the new system, stating, “The Ministry of Interior is poised towards the delivery of every promise that we made.”
With the commencement of the automated passport application portal to the public, as pledged by the minister late last year, citizens can look forward to a streamlined process. Tunji-Ojo encouraged confidence in the upcoming changes, stating, “I guarantee you that in two months’ time, you sit at home, do your biometrics, fill in your delivery address, and we send it to you via courier.”
This development signifies a significant step towards enhancing the efficiency of passport application procedures, offering citizens the ability to complete the process from the comfort of their homes.
The Nigerian stock market witnessed ongoing positive momentum as investors gained N363 billion, bringing the cumulative capital appreciation for the year to N3.04 trillion.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) closed 0.83 percent higher, crossing the 80,000-point mark to reach 80,328.58 points.
The market capitalization rose to N43.957 trillion, marking a 0.83 percent increase. Notably, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Company (GTCo), and United Bank for Africa (UBA) drove the market performance with positive returns.
All five sectors, including insurance, banking, industrial goods, oil & gas, and consumer goods, reflected overall market appreciation.
The market saw increased activity, with total traded volume rising by 33.3 percent to 1.19 billion units, and the value traded increasing by 6.48% to N15.26 billion.
The $19 billion Dangote Refinery is set to commence refining operations after receiving its sixth one million barrels of crude oil.
The latest delivery of Agbami crude oil via MT ALMI SUN will provide the refinery with the required stocks for test runs.
The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is under construction in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Nigeria. Once fully operational, it is expected to be Africa’s largest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility.
The initial run will produce diesel, aviation fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) before progressing to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The refinery is a significant development for Nigeria and the West African region, aiming to reduce dependence on fuel imports.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 General Elections, has raised concerns about the Federal Government’s substantial borrowing and extravagant spending on non-essential procurements.
Obi warned that such a pattern, if not curtailed, could lead to economic wreckage.
The former Anambra State governor particularly criticized the government’s securitization of Ways and Means borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), emphasizing that this practice is against the law and the CBN Act.
He highlighted the act’s stipulation that the federal government’s borrowing from the CBN should not exceed 5% of the previous year’s revenue.
Obi expressed his worry about the unsustainable trend of lavish spending funded by substantial borrowing, citing non-essential procurements and luxury projects labeled as “capital” expenditure in the 2024 budget.
He urged the government to halt this pattern, emphasizing the potential risks it poses to the nation’s economy and the well-being of its citizens.
The former governor called for a focus on rational economic management, stating that the administration’s current approach piles an unsustainable level of debt on the economy, burdening the populace. Obi also criticized the lack of transparency in accounting for the accumulated debts and questioned the specific projects being funded by the borrowed funds.
He raised red flags about the illegal securitization of Ways and Means borrowing, citing violations of the CBN Act. Obi highlighted the need for public accountability and transparency in disclosing the purpose and utilization of the borrowed funds.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of addressing fundamental issues of rational economic management beyond political considerations.
Tragedy Strikes as Two-Year-Old Girl Electrocuted in Lagos
A two-year-old girl lost her life in the Langbasa area of Lagos State after coming into contact with an exposed wire connected to her neighbor’s house. The incident occurred on January 2, around 11:30 am.
The victim’s father, Mudashiru, shared the heartbreaking details, revealing that his daughter touched a wire linked to the neighbor’s gate, resulting in electrocution.
The distraught father conveyed the pain of losing his beloved daughter, expressing the depth of his grief. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital, where the doctor confirmed her death. The body has been deposited in the mortuary.
A neighbor emphasized that residents had been cautioned to cover exposed wires in their homes, particularly when small children are present. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of electrical safety measures to prevent such heartbreaking occurrences.
The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the report, stating that the investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided.
Additionally, another incident in Mushin involves a mother battling for her life after losing two children to electrocution when they attempted to turn on the television after returning from school. The parents were reportedly away or inside the room during the tragic incident.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, announced the arrest of approximately 30 suspects, including kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, and hoodlums, during a press briefing in Awka.
The arrests were made between December 1, 2023, and the present, contributing to improved security in the state.
Among the apprehended suspects were 12 kidnappers, nine armed robbery suspects, six cult members, and three insurgents.
The operations led to the rescue of two abducted victims during confrontations with criminal elements. Additionally, 11 stolen vehicles, 12 firearms, and 40 live ammunition were recovered from the criminal groups.
Commissioner Adeoye highlighted the dedication of law enforcement during the holiday season, sacrificing celebrations to ensure the safety of Anambra residents.
He emphasized the successful manhunt against criminals responsible for the killing of two police officers in Aguata LGA on December 28, 2023, and the subsequent rescue of a kidnapped individual during a confrontation in Ogboji, Orumba South LGA.
While addressing the media, Adeoye expressed gratitude for the peaceful New Year in the state and assured continued efforts to maintain security and transparency in reporting law enforcement activities.
