TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerians

  • Nigerians too eager to buy ‘anything’ imported, FG slams consumers of Indian garri

    Following the alleged importation of Indian garri into the country, the Federal Government has said Nigerians should be mindful of how they rush to buy and consume ‘anything’ imported into the shores of the country.

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has however promised to liaise with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to investigate the infiltration of Indian garri into the Nigerian markets.

    This was made known by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Minister said that it is “strange and ridiculous” that garri would be imported when there is enough supply of cassava and garri in the country.

    He said that the country produces more cassava that India, adding that Nigerians must change their attitude towards imported goods.

    “Whoever buys that kind of garri should be blamed.

    “I have heard of it. I will find out by tomorrow (today) if NAFDAC indeed did certify any garri from India; unless it is some Indian companies packaging the garri here.

    “Nigerians are too ready to buy anything imported. They will bring in apples and some of them have been preserved with ethanol which is not healthy for our consumption.

    “Whoever is importing garri from India, something must be wrong with them. Why import garri when you do not know the conditions through which the garri was produced over there.

    “ I have no powers to stop imports, but I can recommend to the Nigerian Customs that this is unreasonable. I produce and encourage Nigerians to eat what they produce because it is safer for them,’’ Ogbeh said.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that some sections of the media reported the existence of NAFDAC certified imported garri from India in some departmental stores and open markets across the country.

    NAFDAC has however, denied the certification of such imported agricultural produce.

     

    NAN

  • BREAKING: Buhari writes Nigerians, explains why he needs longer period of rest

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday explained why he extended his medical vacation indefinitely in London, United Kingdom.

    This was revealed in a four paragraph statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and obtained by TheNewsGuru.com.

    The statement explained that the president was advised to wait for the results of the series of medical checkups carried out by his team of doctors in London.

    The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari thanks millions of Nigerians who have been sending good wishes and praying for his health and well-being in mosques and churches throughout the country.

    “The President is immensely grateful for the prayers, show of love and concern.

    “President Buhari wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for worry.

    ‘”During his normal annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the President staying longer than originally planned.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari travelled out of the country on Thursday, January 19 on a medical vacation in London after seeking the approval of the National Assembly. However, while he was expected to resume duties on February 6, he wrote the National Assembly again on February 5, requesting for an indefinite extension of the vacation on the advise of his doctors.

    The president has however handed over power to his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who has since been acting in his stead.

  • Nigerians suffer fresh xenophobic attack in S/Africa

     

    The Nigerian Community in South Africa have confirmed attacks and looting of Nigerian-owned businesses in Pretoria West on Saturday.

    Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, President, Nigeria Union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Pretoria, South Africa, that the attacks began at 4.00 a.m.

    He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigeria mission and South African police.

    “As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a church have been looted and burned by South Africans.

    “One of the buildings is a mechanic garage with 28 cars under repairs, with other vital documents, were burned during the attack.

    “Also, the pastor of the church was wounded and is in the hospital receiving treatment,” he said.

    Anyene said the union had informed Nigerians in South Africa to be vigilant in the face of renewed xenophobic attacks.

    According to him, the union received information that there will be xenophobic attacks against foreigners on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.

    “We began taking precautionary measures when the incident took place today.

    “The attack in Pretoria West is purely xenophobic and criminal because they loot the shops and homes before burning them,” he said.

    Anyene called on the Federal Government to persuade its South African counterpart to protect Nigerians in their country.

    “These attacks should not be allowed to continue because it is a big setback,” he said.

     

  • 161 Nigerians return from troubled Libya, recount tales of torture, rape

    About 161 Nigerians that had traveled to Libya on Tuesday returned voluntarily with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the returnees who had hopes for a better life returned the country with different accounts of how they were maltreated in the troubled North Africa country.

    They said they traveled to the North African country with the hope of crossing to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea in search of jobs.

    Although they arrived Lagos thanking their Creator for bringing them home safely, several of them confessed to newsmen that their quest for greener pastures abroad had left them scarred.

    One of the returnees, Miss Bridget Akeamo, an indigene of Anambra State, said her parents decided to send her to Italy when all hopes of securing a job after graduation faded.

    Bridget, who said she left Nigeria August last year, was four months pregnant when she returned.

    She said she was arrested by immigration officials while trying to cross to Italy from Libya.

    Bridget said, “Ever since then, I have been moved from one prison to another until I was taken to a detention camp in Tripoli.

    “We were subjected to inhuman treatment while in prison, from the food we ate to the water we drank.

    “Most of the young ladies in detention camp were repeatedly raped by Libyan officials; and if you refused their advances, it would be hell for you.

    “Thank God I am back in Nigeria. I know all hope is not lost, but it is painful that I will begin from scratch again with my unborn child.”

    Stanley Iduh, a 34-year-old indigene of Delta State said that he was tricked by an agent popularly known as “Burger,” who promised to facilitate his journey to Spain through Libya.

    He said that when his hope of crossing into Spain was dashed in Libya, he decided to stay back and work there.

    He said, “I worked in a tile producing company and their salary was good, but unfortunately, I cannot save my money in the bank. I lived with other Nigerians. I dug a hole in the ground and hid my money in it.

    “Unfortunately, one day, some Libyans came, kidnapped us and inflicted punishment on us. They asked us to call our relations back in Nigeria and tell them to send N300,000 as our ransom.

    “The $200,000 that I saved disappeared; they moved us to another place until we got to detention camp.

    “Nigerians should be discouraged from travelling to Libya because they don’t see us as human beings. Our ladies were dehumanised by Libyan officials. It is very painful.”

    Iduh, who said he sold the house left by his late father before travelling to Libya, urged the federal and state governments as well as wealthy Nigerians to create job for the youths.

    “It was because I was jobless for three years that I was cajoled to travel abroad to look for greener pasture. I am back in the country after eight months, devastated and humiliated. I have gone to look for greener pasture, but here I am today; I have brought nothing green back home,” he said; with tears running down his cheeks.

    Paul and Marvellous Isikhuemhen are twin brothers who traveled to Libya in March and May 2016 respectively in search of better life.

    Marvellous told newsmen that they regretted travelling out of the country because of the bitter encounter they had in Libya.

    He said though they secured good jobs in a publishing house in Libya, “it was a case of suffering and smiling’’ until they were given the opportunity to return home through the IOM.

    The brothers urged the Nigerian government to stop young ladies from travelling to Libya, saying they were molested by Libyan immigration officials.

    They said most Nigerian ladies bribe Nigerian immigration officers to secure travel documents to travel to Libya, adding that most of the children brought back home by these ladies have no fathers.

    “I can boldly tell you that the children you are seeing in their hands and those pregnant ladies are products of Libyan immigration officers,” one of them said.

     

    NAN

  • Nigerians are hungry, poverty is evident everywhere – Dogara

     

    …inaugurates technical team to end recession

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara has said the current economic crisis experienced in the country is becoming unbearable for some Nigerians as they find it difficult to feed and carry out their basic day-to-day responsibilities.

    However, as part of plans to make life better for ordinary Nigerians, the Speaker on Tuesday inaugurated a technical committee on Economic Recession.

    The committee, comprising of 16 erudite professionals with vast experience in economics and sundry issues, is to monitor the various steps and policies of the Government aimed at taking Nigeria out of recession.

    While delivering a speech during the inauguration at the National Assembly, Dogara said the technical committee of the House will craft “enduring legislative tools to be deployed in helping policy makers and implementors adhere to timelines in their drive to exit recession and return Nigeria to sustainable economic growth and prosperity.”

    He expressed dismay that, “some of our people can no longer afford to feed. Some school children are dropping out of school due to inability of parents to pay school fees. Transportation, power, healthcare are difficult for the ordinary citizens. There is general anguish on the faces of Nigerians due to poverty and hunger.

    “We cannot, however, continue to lament. The problems are well known. At this point in time, it is the solutions that matters more and that is what should engage our attention. As a parliament, we are committed to ensuring that the sufferings experienced by ordinary Nigerians are alleviated.

    “These challenges may appear too difficult to surmount but the good news is that they are surmountable. Other nations have surmounted greater economic challenges in the past and Nigeria’s case cannot be different.”

    The Speaker noted that what Nigeria needed at this point in time was solutions to the problems of the economy and added that, “as a parliament, we are committed to ensuring that the sufferings experienced by ordinary Nigerians are alleviated.

    “These challenges may appear too difficult to surmount but the good news is that they are surmountable. Other nations have surmounted greater economic challenges in the past and Nigeria’s case cannot be different.

    “We in the National Assembly have aligned with the executive arm of government to turn around the economy by focusing on priorities that will make maximum impact on economic recovery and respectable growth.

    “As partners in progress, the National Assembly had in 2016 offered wide ranging legislative and other economic ideas and solutions to the Executive in a concurrent Resolution of both Chambers. Senate Resolution (S/Res./018/02/16) and House Resolution (HR.107/2016) refers.”

    He recalled that the decision to partner with the executive to tackle the recession was in line with keeping with his promise during the inauguration of this 8th Assembly on the 9th of June, 2015, when he said, “we as a parliament can only justify the confidence of our people by keeping faith with our duties of Law making, Representation and Oversight of the Executive arm of government.

    “However, in spite of our responsibility for checking and balancing the Executive, good governance can only be effected when all arms of government are working in harmony and partnership to bring about the CHANGES voted for by Nigerians on March 28, 2015”.

    “In a similar vein, we affirmed that the centre point of our legislative agenda will be to collaborate with the various arms of government and the Senate to legislate for the common good of the Nigerian citizens with emphasis on reforms that will promote rapid national economic growth and development, tackle poverty, unemployment…. Indeed our major legislative initiative was to support diversification of Nigeria’s economy to foster its development from mono product economy to an economy with a diversified base.

    “To this end, we introduced Sectoral Debate on various aspects of the economy as a legislative initiative to address the national economic problems”, he added.

     

  • Brexit: UK to grant fast-tracked visas to Nigerians, other nationals

    Brexit: UK to grant fast-tracked visas to Nigerians, other nationals

     

    Baring any last minute eventualities, the United Kingdom, UK, is perfecting plans to amend its border control system to benefit citizens from 52 Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria.

    According to a report by UK Telegraph, 45 members of the UK parliament said Commonwealth countries may get fast-tracked visas to the UK after Brexit if the proposal sails through.

    The suggestion was made in a letter addressed to the home secretary, Amber Rudd.

    According to the letter, Commonwealth stood with Britain when it witnessed “existential threats”, but that UK has left its allies in the cold as it “pivoted to Europe.”

    The letter reads in full: “I am writing to urge you to extend the hand of friendship to our Commonwealth partners.

    “In the previous century, Commonwealth countries stood with Britain as we faced existential threats from abroad but as we pivoted to Europe, increasingly, our Commonwealth allies were left in the cold.

    “The lack of consideration for Commonwealth citizens is at its starkest at our border. While EU citizens are collecting their luggage or exchanging greetings with loved ones, our Commonwealth friends wait tirelessly in the ‘All other passports’ queue.

    “Firstly, signs at border control that class every non-EU national as ‘All other passports’ should be changed to ‘The Commonwealth and all other passports’. This is a small step but one that can be enacted quickly.

    “Secondly, the government must commit to examine ways to reduce wait times for Commonwealth citizens entering the UK, perhaps through the use of dedicated Commonwealth border control gates.

    “Entry processing may not be as quick as in the EU channel as several of the 52 Commonwealth nations require a visa for travel to the UK however, this would send out an important message about the value Britain places on its relationship with the Commonwealth.”

    Another suggestion made was that Commonwealth citizens be allowed access to the registered traveller scheme, which would allow them access to use UK/EU lanes and reduce time spent waiting in line.

    They added, “Finally, access to the Registered Traveller Scheme should be further expanded to include additional Commonwealth countries. This programmee, predominately aimed at the business traveler, allows some foreign nationals who meet specific requirements to register and use the UK/EU lanes and e-passport gates, dramatically reducing the time spent waiting in line.

    “Home secretary, you are in a position to effect real, positive change in our relations with our Commonwealth partners. It would be a shame to let this opportunity pass us by.‎”

  • Stop abusing leaders, pray for them, Imam advises Nigerians

    Stop abusing leaders, pray for them, Imam advises Nigerians

    The Chief Imam Bida Road Central Mosque, Kaduna, Malam Muhammad Nafi’u on Friday said it is “unholy” the tendency of some Nigerians to abuse their leaders.

    The Imam, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, that leadership is ordained by God, as such it is important to pray for their guidance and ability to govern well.

    “Leadership comes from Allah, who gives power to whoever He wishes, as such it is ungodly to attack such leaders out of envy.”

    According to him, if a leader is giong astray, it behoves on the followers to draw his attention instead of casting aspersions, as whatever action such leader takes would have far reaching effect on the wellbeing of the generality of the people.

    “Leadership is a big task and every leader needs the support of all to achieve the desired result,” Nafi’u added.

    He cautioned those in position of authority to be just and fair to all irrespective of tribal, political or religious affliation.

    The Imam reminded all those in postion of authority that they must account for their deeds before Allah on the Day of Judgement.

    Nafi’u also urged Nigerians to pray for the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation, and cautioned those celebrating his reported ill health, saying every mortal is prone to sickness and death.

    “We should also pray for economic recovery and stability of our country,” the Imam said.

  • FG working to stop killing of Nigerians in South Africa – Dabiri

    FG working to stop killing of Nigerians in South Africa – Dabiri

     

    The Federal Government has expressed concern over spate of extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa, and demanded speedy action on pending cases.

    Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said in Abuja on Tuesday that there was no justification for the killings.

    Dabiri-Erew, who visited the South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Lulu Aaron- Mnguni, appealed to authorities in that country to ensure that justice was
    done in the case of Nigerian killed last December to serve as deterrent to others.

    Tochukwu Nnadi, a 34-year-old business man was killed by South African police on Dec. 29, 2016.

    She said “we are worried about the criminalisation of illegal migration, especially among ourselves as brothers in Africa.

    “We are worried in particular about the criminalisation of Nigerian migrants in South Africa. Yes, some do commit crimes and deserve to be punished, but the extra-judicial killings worry us a lot.

    “We also want to appeal to Nigerians wherever they are to obey the laws of the land:
    we are worried as well, about extra-judicial killings anywhere in the world.”

    She said Nigeria lost 116 persons to such killings in South Africa and in 2016 alone, 20 persons were killed.

    Dabiri-Erewa hoped that relationship between both countries remained strong and
    better and distractions avoided.

    Aaron-Mnguni said the killings would be investigated and those involved would be
    punished.

    He said “South Africa has high level of technology to know how a person dies.”

    According to him, pathologists and the police will fish out the truth and those found guilty will be sentenced.

     

  • Nigerians ignore warnings, invest in Bitcoin to the tune of $1.3 million

    Nigerians ignore warnings, invest in Bitcoin to the tune of $1.3 million

    Nigerians have again showed interest in in crypto currencies such as Swisscoin, OneCoin, Bitcoin and other virtual/digital currencies despite warnings from the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and other regulatory agencies against investing.

    Investigations revealed that despite the stiff warnings, Bitcoin exchange volumes in Nigeria over the past 45 days is pegged at $1.3 million.

    With this development, the continent may soon turn African nations into leading adopters of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

    The African continent is a hotbed of cryptocurrency innovation. Many crypto-platforms are actively operating in the region, bringing financial inclusion to the masses. However, the South African Reserve Bank believes that the challenge lies in balancing the advantages offered by blockchain technology with the potential risks it poses.

    South Africa is going ahead with its planned digital currency. The country will join the ranks of Tunisia and the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

    Tunisia already has eDinar in place, currently undergoing the process of migration on to blockchain.

    The Western African Economic and Monetary Union nations are expected to have a digital version of West African franc sometime next year.

  • Nigerians angry over cancellation of 2face’s anti- government protest

    Nigerians angry over cancellation of 2face’s anti- government protest

    Following the cancellation of 2face Idibia’s planned protest, Nigerians have been expressing their views over the cancellation of the planned anti-government march.2face who has been spearheading the much publicized protest, shocked many Nigerians when he announced on Saturday night that it has been cancelled.

    Thereafter, Nigerians have been expressing their displeasure over the cancellation. Ever since 2face posted the video on Instagram, it has had over 195,000 views and 8,740 comments

    Nwanyi Ukpor who isn’t pleased with the cancellation wrote:”Shame on 2face!”.

    A certain makeup artiste with the moniker Cect Signature added that:”2face from his looks has cried, he was pressurized to make that statement. Infact that statement was written by DSS. My broda no mind them, abeg make them no kee u like them kee fela. Nigeria go survive.

    Another commenter, Fali said the video was made under duress:”This video was made clearly under duress.. wat happened to your glasses 2baba.??.. dis is very much unlike you.. without ur glasses… he is being threatened”

    Officialtflow said:” Thunder Fire all of una wey don abuse this broda with all manners of words. sorry sorry nigeria my country”.

    Juliet Unanma on her part said:” I wish people will just stop talking or commenting anyhow. I have read so many comments here and there are so many selfish comments here. What if 2baba dies or gets hurt in the process of protesting, what then happens? Some people will obviously say he’s foolish to protest yet they’re the ones pushing him to go ahead. If someone wants to protest, take the lead na and others who are ready to die will follow u. So many unfair comments here about him loosing his self confidence and abt gain. Be real people please. He’s listened to his mama and doing the right thing for him and his family.”

    Justina on her part, chose to blame the cancellation on the oppressors themselves, adding that our leaders are scared of being confronted with the truth.

    “I can see da pains in your eyes @official2baba. We know the hijackers of the protest. It is the oppressors themselves. The clueless and wicked leaders we have in power. They are just scared of being confronted with the truth. They are blood suckers and merchants of death, hunger n poverty. But, #fellownigerians God pass them. They might have succeeded in intimidating @tubaba to back out, but our voices, tears and cries have been heard. If not by them, then by God. God bless you a million times over.”

    Faboade Dapo admonished 2face to focus on his music, stating that he knew this was going to happen

    “Can’t just stop laughing, I knew this would actually happened. Mr 2baba if you will use my honorable advice sir, you better face your music career don’t let any Damm destroy it for you.” #maximumrespect

    Amazingly, Enough is Enough an advocacy group ,and other celebrities like Seyi Law have vowed to go on with the protest.