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Tag: Nigerians

  • Shun protest, hardship should be resolved through ballot— Kwankwaso tells Nigerians

    Shun protest, hardship should be resolved through ballot— Kwankwaso tells Nigerians

    Ex-governor of Kano State and the 2023 presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on Nigerians to employ the power of the ballot box to resolve the current economic hardship in the country.

    Kwankwaso spoke on the background of a planned nationwide hunger and hardship protests by Nigerians.

    In a statement published on his official X handle on Saturday, Kwankwaso said although the idea of a protest resonates with him, Nigerians should rather be patient with the Bola Tinubu government, and give it all necessary support to succeed.

    “Today, I speak to you not just as an elder and a concerned citizen but as someone who deeply believes in the power and potential of our great nation. The recent calls for protests against bad governance resonate with me, as they reflect our collective frustration and yearning for a better Nigeria.

    “However, I urge Nigerians to put our country first before any other consideration by way of being patient with the government and giving it all necessary support to succeed.

    “If any government fails to provide the necessary leadership for better Nigeria, we will have opportunity as citizens to elect the people who can bring the required change using our votes.

    “In these trying times, our nation stands at a crossroads. Our collective frustration with bad governance has reached a boiling point, and the urge to protest is strong.

    “As an elder and patriotic Nigerian, I share your concerns and your desire for change. However, I urge you to consider the consequences of national protests and to channel your energy into a more effective and peaceful means of transformation—through the power of your ballot. “Protests, while a fundamental democratic right, often come with unforeseen and dire consequences. The tragic events of the past have shown us that protests can escalate into violence, leading to loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread chaos. The repercussions of such actions extend far beyond the immediate moment, leaving scars on our communities and deepening divisions among us.

    He traced the current economic crisis to bad leadership, saying that the hardship and hunger spreading across the country was avoidable.

    He said, “We found ourselves in avoidable hardship because our leaders missed some steps since 2007. However, there is always room for correction and setting the country on the right track for economic development, prosperity and better welfare of citizens.

    “This could be achieved through ensuring good governance, respect for the rule of law, transparency and accountability. It is sad to note that the attitude of our leaders to poor governance plunged the citizens, especially youth, into anger, hunger, insecurity, hopelessness and giving up on the country.

     

  • How vote-buying increased by 5% in 2023 general election — NBS reveals

    How vote-buying increased by 5% in 2023 general election — NBS reveals

    National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has stated reasons vote buying increased by 5 per cent in the 2023 general elections.

    The NBS report released on July 11 titled, ’Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends third survey on corruption as experienced by the population’, said the elections recorded 22 per cent of vote buying, which is five per cent higher than the 2019 general elections with 17 per cent.

    “In 2023, 10 per cent reported that they were not personally offered money or another favour in exchange for their vote, but that instead another member of their household was approached, compared to 5 per cent in 2019.”

    The agency disclosed that 22 per cent of Nigerian citizens reported that they were personally offered money in exchange of a vote before or during the 2023 general election, while nine per cent were offered another favour.

    “This represents an increase in both types of vote buying compared with 2019 when personal offers of money were reported by 17 per cent and personal offers of other favours were reported by four per cent of citizens.

    However, NBS said its survey revealed that some electorates were not influenced by their voting decisions even after collecting money or favour.

    “Just over half (55 per cent) of the citizens who were personally offered money or another favour in exchange for their vote in the 2023 general election reported that the offer did not influence their vote choice, while 40 per cent of those citizens said they voted for the person or political party which offered them money or a favour precisely because of the offer.

    “Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of Nigerians who were personally offered bribes in exchange for votes increased similarly across sexes, urban and rural areas, and age groups”, the agency said.

    In an analysis of the vote buying by zones, NBS stated that there were minimal to no changes in South-West, South-South and North-Central parts of the country between 2019 and 2023.

    The North-West, according to the NBS, increased from 23 per cent in 2019 to 44 per cent in 2023, adding that the North-West zone recorded “a relatively high share of 55% of citizens who were offered money or another favour in exchange for their vote.”

     

  • 190 Nigerians repatriated from UAE

    190 Nigerians repatriated from UAE

     

    A day after lifting visa ban on Nigerians the Federal Government has successfully repatriated 190 Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    According to a statement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), signed by the Director General, Bashir Garga, the returnees were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 5:57 am on Tuesday by a team of government officials led by NEMA.

    The returnees have been profiled and documented by relevant agencies and were sensitized on the need to “behave with decorum and responsibility” upon their return to Nigeria.

    “The federal government urges all Nigerians, wherever they may be, to act as exemplary ambassadors of their country, upholding the fundamental values of patriotism, rule of law, decency, and integrity,” the statement said.

    This follows a similar repatriation in October 2022, when the Federal Government brought back 542 Nigerians from the UAE.

    In related news, the Federal Government has announced that Nigerian passport holders will be able to obtain visas for travel to the UAE starting July 15, 2024.

    This development was disclosed by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, on Monday during a briefing with State House correspondents following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    “Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” Idris stated.

    “This agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa. The resumption of visas will be effective from July 15, 2024.”

    Nigerians wishing to learn more about the updated visa conditions can visit the UAE’s official website.

    This announcement comes over two years after the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians, following a prolonged diplomatic row with Africa’s most populous nation. It also comes about two months after UAE national carrier Emirates Airlines announced the resumption of flights to Nigeria, with daily Lagos-Dubai flights scheduled to resume from October 1, 2024.

     

  • NIMC advises Nigerians to avoid giving data to Phishing sites, list websites ‘harvesting’ fraudulently 

    NIMC advises Nigerians to avoid giving data to Phishing sites, list websites ‘harvesting’ fraudulently 

    The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has listed five websites allegedly harvesting Nigerians’ data fraudulently.

    This comes against the backdrop of the recent alarm raised by Paradigm Initiative that some websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), International Passport, and other data.

    The Commission in a statement issued on Saturday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, said the websites engaging in the illegal harvest of data without its authority include:

    idfinder.com.ng,
    Verify.Ng/sign in,
    championtech.com.ng.
    trustyonline.com, and
    anyverify.com.
    “NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services these websites offer and should not give their data as they are potentially fraudulent and data provided by the public on such websites are gathered and stored to build the data services they illegally provide,” it stated.

    The Commission further stated that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative, adding that it has taken measures to strengthen the NIN database further.

    “At this moment, the Commission assures the public that the data of Nigerians has not been compromised, and the Commission has not authorized any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) amongst all the identities stated in the report.

    “The public should know that the Commission has taken robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats- a secure, world-class, full-proof database is in place. The commission’s infrastructure meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law,” it said.

    NIMC advised Nigerians to avoid giving their data to unauthorized and phishing sites as they pose the danger of data harvesting and comprise individual data.

    While reaffirming its commitment to upholding ethical standards in data protection in line with federal government directives and data privacy regulations, the Commission noted that its licensed partners or vendors are not authorized to scan or store NIN slips but to verify NINs through approved channels.

    NIMC added that it is working closely with security operatives to apprehend elements masquerading as online vendors, and they would face the full wrath of the law.

    “NIMC urges the public to remain vigilant against false information and rely on verified sources for accurate updates. The Commission remains committed to providing secure and reliable identity management and upholding the highest level of security for systems and databases, which are critical national asset. ”

     

  • Nigerians not only ones undergoing dibilating poverty, Tinubu declares

    Nigerians not only ones undergoing dibilating poverty, Tinubu declares

    President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigerians are not the only ones facing poverty in the world.

    While admitting that there are poverty and suffering in the land, Tinubu said the challenges must be tackled.

    One of the ways of tackling them, he explained, is to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers cab return to the farm.

    According to a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Ajuri Ngelale, the President said this in Lagos on Monday when he received a delegation from the National Assembly who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.

    The delegation was led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, alongside the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, among others.

    According to him, it is imperative for Nigerians to have a change of value system for the nation to make progress.

    “Yes, there is poverty; there is suffering in the land. We are not the only people facing such, but we must face our challenges.

    “We must find a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers can bring out food from the farmland.

    “If you do not have good roads to bring the food to the population, even if you grow the food and you are losing 60-70 per cent to damages, you will pay the price,” the President said.

     

    He challenged citizens to have a change of mindset about Nigeria if the nation is to overcome its current challenges.

    “The need (for some citizens) to change the rent-seeking mindset and become more productive to the economy is a challenge. The need to stop smuggling and all economic sabotage.

    Why should we have people removing rail tracks and all that, stealing electric cables and sabotaging the economy?

    “We must embrace the campaign to change our value system. We must tell our people that the challenge we face is for all of us to change our mindset about our country,” Tinubu stressed.

    The President also commended the leadership of the National Assembly for the support extended to his administration, which he said had resulted in some of the important developments recorded by his administration.

    “It is great pride for me to have the best of partners in the National Assembly. We have to drill down and be all-inclusive in our bid to satisfy our people.

    “It is daunting, but we cannot run away from the fact that this country must survive the hardship,” he stated.

    The President acknowledged the challenges and the task ahead, assuring the nation of his unwavering determination to turn things around.

  • Democracy Day: More dividends coming to Nigerians, says Speaker Abbas

    Democracy Day: More dividends coming to Nigerians, says Speaker Abbas

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has congratulated Nigerians as they mark Democracy Day and celebrate 25 years of unbroken democracy in the Fourth Republic.

    He said the country has evolved in the past 25 years, and the dividends of democracy are bound to reach more Nigerians.

    Speaker Abbas noted that this year’s celebration is significant in the life of the National Assembly, as it also marks the one-year anniversary of the 10th Assembly.

    The 10th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 13, 2023.

    The Speaker, who stated that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, said the country has been navigating through the learning curves successfully. He added that though it is not perfect yet, the country has continued to grow in democratic experience and practice.

    He enjoined fellow Nigerians across tribes and religions, genders and age groups, to continue to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the country, saying Nigeria promises to be a nation that the citizens would be proud of.

    Speaker Abbas further urged Nigerians to continue to support the government at all levels and remain law-abiding citizens. He stated that it is the collective responsibility of all – with the people as the critical stakeholders – to make the government succeed on its plans, policies, and programmes.

    The Speaker wished Nigerians happy celebrations.

  • We’re reengineering financial sector for Nigerians to enjoy better days-FG

    We’re reengineering financial sector for Nigerians to enjoy better days-FG

    President Bola Tinubu has again acknowledged the economic challenges confronting Nigeria, assuring citizens that his administration is “retooling” the financial system to ease their economic difficulties.

    Tinubu, former Lagos governor, who was sworn in as Nigeria’s President on May 29, 2023, said it has been “a very challenging time for us in the country”.

    “Up till now, we are still retooling and rejigging our financial system to bring prosperity and relief to the people of this country,” the President said when he commissioned the Guzape Lot II Infrastructure Project in Abuja on Saturday.

    He said the completion of the project was testament to what could be achieved through “diligent planning, collaboration and shared commitment to excellence”.

    The President said commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for delivering on the infrastructure renewal promises of the Federal Government to the people of the FCT.

    “Nyesom Wike, you have provided exceptional leadership at a trying time for the country,” Tinubu said. “You’ve (Wike) demonstrated the capacity to build a team, to lead a team and to deliver on promises. I commend you. Well done.”

    Pursue Dialogue, Not Litigation’
    The President also urged the stakeholders in the FCT to pursue dialogue and not litigation to resolve land disputes.

    “To all of you here and the district head of Guzape or representing the district head, litigation is not the answer, conversation is the answer,” Tinubu said.

    Development that is focused on the people for the economic prosperity, the benefit of all, is what should reside in us.

    “Of what value is the land that is blocked by these high mountains and rocks that you cannot access, nor provide drinkable water?” the President queried.

    “It’s not a personal thing. I stand here as the President. I don’t have a plot here but I have the people’s support and the mandate to deliver good quality of life and living environment. That should be enough for all us to share in the joy of commitment, dedication, perseverance, and the gifts that God has endowed us with.”

    The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud; among other dignitaries were also at the event.

    Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last weeks, as Nigerians battle the country’s current economic crisis sparked by the current government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.

    On Sunday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, assured Nigerians that food prices would come down in the coming months.

    “Inflation, yes, it is high at 33.65%, food inflation at 40.5% is worrisomely high but the fact is that inflation is coming down, month-on-month. It is slowing and it is expected to reduce as we continue the dry season harvest and then we go into the wet season harvest.

    “That is the place to focus on and a lot of emphasis is being placed on that to get agriculture output up, to get prices down, and that will be a big factor in bringing down inflation.”

  • 10 Nigerian teenage girls rescued from human trafficking, forced prostitution in Ghana

    10 Nigerian teenage girls rescued from human trafficking, forced prostitution in Ghana

    Ten Nigerian teenage girls with an average age of 16, have been rescued from human trafficking and prostitution by the Nigerian authorities in Ghana.

    The girls were forced into prostitution after being reportedly lured to Ghana with promises of a better life according to words obtained from the girls.

    Surprisingly, three of the victims are from the same parents, while the suspect, a Nigerian man, has been arrested and is currently in police custody.

    Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, explained that the girls were rescued after a tip-off by NIDO, the umbrella body of Nigerians living in Ghana.

    NIDO explained that  the victims revealed that they were beaten, molested, and forced into prostitution without pay, saying that their phones were reportedly seized, and they were unable to contact their parents.

    According to a video obtained by TNG reporter, the girls were seen explaining their ordeal and torture in Ghana.

    One of the girls is said to be the sister of the man responsible for their travails in Ghana.

    According to the video obtained, three of the girls belong to one family, a pair of twins and their Immediate elder sister.

    “They give us out to men, and they don’t give us money; they collect everything.” They said.

    Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, the Chairman of NIDO, appealed for support to ensure the girls’ safe return to Nigeria.

    Dabiri-Erewa called on the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to take decisive action, describing the situation as “very, very heartbreaking.”

  • HUNGER! 31.8m Nigerians to face acute food insecurity in June, August – WFP warns

    HUNGER! 31.8m Nigerians to face acute food insecurity in June, August – WFP warns

    Hunger looming as the World Food Price has projected that 31.8 million Nigerians (16 per cent of the population analysed) are projected to face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity between June and August 2024.

    WFP, in its latest June to October 2024 outlook sourced from its X account, said nearly 1 million people in the country are projected to be in a state of emergency mode of acute food insecurity.

    Highlighting the five phases of food insecurity on a scale of 1 to 5, WFP explained that phase 1 represents minimal food insecurity; phase 2 stressed food insecurity; phase 3 crisis food insecurity; phase 4 emergency food insecurity and phase 5 catastrophic food insecurity.

    The statement partly reads, “Between June and August 2024, 31.8 million people (16 per cent of the population analysed) are projected to face crisis or worse ( Phase 3 or above) levels of acute food insecurity, with nearly 1 million people projected to be in Emergency ( Phase 4).

    This represents a 3 percentage point increase in the number of acutely food insecure people compared to the same time in the previous year. Acute malnutrition levels remain high, above 10 per cent, in the northern states (Borno, Yobe, Sokota, Katsina and Zamfara), with 4.4 million children and 585 000 pregnant and breastfeeding women projected to be acutely malnourished in 2024.”

    The statement projected that food insecurity would likely remain highly concerning, due to a multidimensional crisis driven by weakening macroeconomic conditions, heightened insecurity and subdued agricultural production in the northern part of the country.

    The security situation is likely to continue to deteriorate, exacerbating population displacement. This is a particular concern for the northern states, which have already seen an uptick in insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in the first quarter of 2024.

    “Insecurity has been disrupting agricultural livelihoods and affecting the functionality of markets.321 Insecurity results in high humanitarian access constraints, particularly in the northeast, restricting the delivery of assistance to government-controlled towns and their immediate surroundings.

    “This is a particular concern for the northern states, which have already seen an uptick in insurgency, banditry and kidnapping in the first quarter of 2024. The latter increased by 44 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Insecurity has been disrupting agricultural livelihoods and affecting the functionality of markets. Insecurity results in high humanitarian access constraints, particularly in the northeast, restricting the delivery of assistance to government-controlled towns and their immediate surroundings.”

    WFP stated that in March 2024, the inflation rate exceeded 33 per cent year-on-year, eroding the frail purchasing power of households in a country where 38 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line.

    “On top of that, the naira has been strongly fluctuating, registering a yearly depreciation of 60 per cent in February 2024. Due to below-average cereal production in 2023 and high transport costs, prices of major staples such as rice and maize were 105 and 241 percent higher, respectively, on a yearly basis, in February 2024.

    “During the outlook, import restrictions amid abating foreign reserves, increasing farming costs, and high levels of conflict in the North East, North West and parts of the North Central zones will likely impact the 2024 agricultural season. This will cause reduced yields and elicit further inflationary pressures.”

     

  • TNG X-RAY: One year after, ’emilokan’ admin is a continuation of Buhari’s collateral damage as hunger overwhelms Nigerians

    TNG X-RAY: One year after, ’emilokan’ admin is a continuation of Buhari’s collateral damage as hunger overwhelms Nigerians

    …how 33.7% inflation swallowed 35% wage increase

    … insecurity remains largely unabated

    … ‘tokunboh’ economic policies continue to show Nigerians film tricks

    One year after, the President Bola Tinubu’s administration so far so good has continued to showcase all the collateral damages inflicted on Nigerians by the immediate past administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

    In this x-ray, TheNewsGuru.com, TNG will take a careful look at some of the Tinubu’s administration landmarks and how it has affected Nigerians as hunger in the last one year wore ‘sokoto’ and even laced a bow tie to match.

    On May 29, 2023 when Tinubu mounted the rostrum to take over from Buhari who spent eight years doing nothing at Aso Rock Nigerians expected so much with the Renewed Hope mantra of the fresh administration.

    Tinubu like an ‘egbe wager’ boldly scrapped fuel subsidy which his predecessor, an armoured tank general was so scared to touch with a very long spoon.

    FUEL SUBSIDY ABRACADABRA:

    The layman’s understanding of fuel subsidy withdrawal is that within a certain period market forces will force down prices.

    As at today, since the subsidy is gone forever as Mr President declared one year ago, the price of the essential source of energy has continued to soar higher and pump price has climbed beyond N700 and may hit N1000 before December.

    So far, all the palliatives designed to cushion the effects of subsidy removal has remained a mirage as you can’t fight hunger with palliative. It’s like fighting a tiger with bare hands and is like the president had no economic adviser in his team.

    Throwing away such an economic policy without a structural adjustment program to help cushion the bitter pills you want Nigerians to swallow was the first fatal error of this administration.

    Nigerians are still bitting their fingers, those who can’t continue swallowing the bitter pills ‘don Japa’ and those who can’t ‘japa’ have to face the fangs of hunger.

    The fuel subsidy withdrawal ‘na just the more you look the less you see’ nothing is happening.

    35% WAGE INCREASE:

    The 35% wage increase which this administration will proudly announce to Nigerians as a major achievement today has been swallowed by 33.7% inflation, meaning that technically the wage increase was just 2.3% increase.

    Nigerian workers are not smiling as the salary they earn can’t take them home as the cost of foodstuffs continue to leak their pockets monthly.

    INSECURITY:

    This was one area so much was expected from this administration, a leader who could boldly scrap fuel subsidy should be bold enough to scrap insecurity in a matter of weeks.

    The situation as at yesterday and today has not changed. It’s a national issue that has continued to rubbish this administration as insurgency is fast looking like a permanent feature in the Nigerian project.

    ECONOMIC POLICIES:

    The economic policies being imposed on Nigerians from forex operations and to what have you are all film tricks, on paper they’re perfect but when it comes to implementation they display film tricks as we watch on Nollywood.

    Some of the policies are ‘tokunboh’ and the system just swallow them hook, line and sinker forgetting that their ‘tokunboh’ origin is where the institutions are strong. Where the judiciary is firm, the legislature don’t consider changing a national anthem or see it as an achievement.

    Conclusively, Tinubu and his men are just beginning or better still they are in the kindergarten still learning on what medicine to apply to the various wounds inflicted on the economy.

    Nigeria is still very far from recovery as the ’emilokan’ administration still has a lot of catch up to do. They should not be in a haste to forget that the hungry man is a very very angry man.