News

Students to block Abuja airport, Kaduna road today

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2022

Advocate News Nigeria

• Reps to meet Buhari, Ngige, Adamu absent at parley

The National Association of Nigerian Students has said its members will block the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Wednesday (today) as part of its protest against the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The students had on Monday, blocked the access roads to both the local and international terminals of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, leaving air passengers and others stranded.

Speaking to The PUNCH on Tuesday, the chairman, NANS National Task Force, ‘EndASUUstrike,’ Olumide Ojo, said students did not protest at the Apapa Port as earlier scheduled for Tuesday to allow them strategise and plan for an impactful protest on Wednesday.

Ojo said, “We decided to use today (Tuesday) to appraise our protest on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. By tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, we will be grounding the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja and Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

“We will also be at Iwo Road, Ibadan where we will hold a press conference. It will be a simultaneous action. On Thursday, our colleagues in the South-South and South East will mobilise for a showdown too.”

The Coordinator of the South West Zone D of NANS, Adegboye Olatunji, also confirmed the Wednesday plan, saying “Yes, there will be protests at the Abuja Airport on Wednesday.”

Also speaking, the National President, NANS, Usman Barambu, said Nigerian students had overstayed at home, saying the government should open the universities so that students could go back to school.

A letter written by Barambu to some organs of the association, a copy of which was obtained on Tuesday, indicated that the students’ protest would last till October 11, 2022.

Kaduna govt kicks

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government on Tuesday warned the students against moves to block the Kaduna-Abuja Road.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, explained that while the state government was not depriving citizens of the right to express discontent, public security and safety must always be the foremost consideration.

The statement read, “The Kaduna State Government wishes to remind members of the public that any move to block the Kaduna-Abuja Road (or any routes) to express dissatisfaction, is unacceptable and a prelude to the breakdown of law and order.

“The danger of barricading a strategic route like the Kaduna-Abuja Road is better appreciated within the context of ongoing security operations covering the route, and other areas of interest. Citizens are therefore strongly advised against participating in such processions.”

FAAN speaks

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, said security operatives have been deployed to Abuja airport.

“All I can say is that we have security agencies at the airport. Nobody will open his or her eyes and allow someone to put their hands in the eyes,” she told The PUNCH.

Reps to meet Buhari

The stakeholders’ meeting called by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday over the strike was inconclusive, forcing the leadership of the House to call further meetings with other stakeholders.

Gbajabiamila, at the end of a closed-door meeting that lasted about five hours, said the lawmakers resolved on seven points which he would not disclose as there was a need for further engagements.

The Speaker, however, disclosed that one of the highlights was that the leadership of the House would meet with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to present the resolutions of the parliament on the crisis to him.

Gbajabiamila had summoned the stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the crisis that had led to the strike.

The Speaker had invited the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chris Ngige; Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu; the national leadership of ASUU and other critical stakeholders.

The leadership of the House and ASUU were in attendance, while the ministers of finance and labour were absent. The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, and a representative of the labour ministry were also in attendance.

Sanusi seeks resolution

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, has urged the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve the lingering crisis.

Sanusi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in New York on the sidelines of a three-day Transforming Education Summit.

“Both sides (ASUU and Federal Government) have a stake in sitting down and have a dialogue, making compromises, I believe it can be resolved in good faith,” he said.

IMSU lecturers adamant

Lecturers at the Imo State University, Owerri, on Tuesday, said they had not pulled out of the ongoing strike.

The chairman of ASUU in IMSU, Odinakachukwu Ejiogu, disclosed this in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents.

Ejiogu said, “We have not pulled out of the ASUU strike. We will continue to be on strike until the national body of ASUU says otherwise.”

ASUU speaks

Meanwhile, ASUU said the union wrote to the House of Representatives and Senate in September and October 2021 but got no fruitful intervention before proceeding on strike.

The Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU, Prof Ayoola Akinwole, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

The union accused the National Assembly also of reneging on its promise to the union before it suspended its strike in 2020.

Activist tasks parents

The Executive Director, Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations, Oyebisi Oluseyi, has said that parents have a say in the ongoing strike, as they are critical stakeholders in the educational sector.

Oluseyi disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference in Lagos. (PUNCH)

News

Senate confirms Cardoso as CBN Governor, 4 deputies

Published

6 mins ago

September 26, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

•Newly confirmed CBN Governor by the Senate, Olayemi Cardoso

The Senate confirmed the appointment of Dr Olayemi Cardoso as the Governor of the CBN on Tuesday.

It also confirmed the nomination of Mrs Emem Usoro, Mr Muhammad Dattijo, Mr Philip Ikeazor and Dr Bala Bello as the bank’s deputy governors.

Their confirmation followed the consideration and approval of a motion moved by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central).

Before their confirmation, the Senate suspended its orders to facilitate the admittance of the nominees into the chamber.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel led the nominees into the chamber.

Thereafter, the CBN governor and the deputies took turns to highlight their career profiles and professional experiences.

Cardoso said for 12 years, between 2010 and 2022 he had the privilege of serving as the chairman of Citi Bank where: “I dedicated myself to enhancing both the financial and non-financial operations of the institution.’’

He told the Senate that the issue of exchange rate of the Naira to other currencies was worrisome.

“For the type of economy that we want, we need to have an exchange rate that is stable and we must apply short and medium term measures to achieve this,’’ he said.

Cardoso added that CBN’s new management team would evolve rules that were open and transparent and comprehensible by all players in the finance business.

“We cannot expect serious foreign investors, portfolio investors who have an impact on the market to do so if we do not have a transparent system that everybody understands and can rely on,’’ he said.

On the issue of inflation and costs of goods, Cardoso said the CBN management would adopt evidence-based monetary policies.

“There is the need to significantly revamp the infrastructure at the central bank with respect to data and to ensure that our data gathering capacity is significantly enhanced.

“This is necessary so that we can make decisions based on stellar data. This is crucial in measuring inflation,’’ he stressed.

He added that reliable studies showed that in the past 10 years to 15 years, at least 50 per cent of inflation resulted from money supply and deficit financing.

“This is a big problem; at least it certainly has been over a period of time and it is something we have to face frontally,’’ he said.

Cardoso also told the Senate that the CBN would ensure that the issue of deficit financing ceased to be a national problem.

Earlier, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa Ibom North-West) said the Senate reconvened from its annual recess to expeditiously consider and confirm the nominees.

He said the expeditious confirmation also resulted from of the emergency resignation of the former CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Akpabio urged the Senate Committees on Finance and Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to regularly conduct thorough oversight of the CBN. (NAN)

News

Naira crashes to N1,000 per dollar

Published

24 mins ago

September 26, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

The naira on Tuesday exchanged at N1,000 to the United States dollar at the parallel market, a historic dip that spotlights the weakness of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to manage the national currency amid runaway inflation.

While the central bank’s rate appeared to stabilise at N768 per dollar over the past week, the currency value has sunk to critical depths for those trying to access it at the parallel market, where most foreign exchange transactions are conducted in Nigeria.

According to Abokifx, a website that aggregates daily rates for Nigerians using parallel market sources, the dollar sold at N1,000 on Tuesday morning.

Abokifx gained prominence shortly after the naira began a steep freefall in 2016, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s brazen display of power over the central bank’s activities, which turned off international investors and reduced dollar inflow into Nigeria even as demand grew from within the country.

Ousted Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) attacked Abokifx in 2021 for allegedly manipulating the exchange rate at the parallel market.

Abokifx’s shutdown in September 2021 has so far done nothing to stop the naira’s free fall and steep crashing at the parallel market. But critics admonished Mr Emefiele at the time to focus on stabilising the naira rather than his 2023 presidential ambition, which appeared to have distracted him from functioning efficiently as Nigeria’s top banker.

The naira has continued to depreciate considerably against the dollar despite Mr Tinubu’s attempt to allow the free market to determine its value. It was exchanging at about N650 when Mr Tinubu took over from Mr Buhari on May 29.

Spokespersons for both the presidency and the central bank did not respond to requests seeking comments about the naira’s historic fall on Tuesday.

News

MOHBAD: I’m returning to Nigeria to clear myself – Naira Marley

Published

43 mins ago

September 26, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

Mohbad and Naira Marley

Popular artiste Naira Marley on Tuesday stated that he’s making plans to return to the country to help the ongoing inquiry over the death of his former signee Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka MohBad.He said this in an official statement by his management team via his Instagram handle.

Naira Marley acknowledged the recent accusations of cultism and drug dealing that has been associated with his record label since MohBad’s death.

The statement reads: “In the last few days, there has been a lot of onslaught on my person and reputation globally over the death of my former signee.

“All manner of stories has been woven against me in respect of his untimely death.

“I have not only been in shock over the death of the deceased whom I considered to be my brother and member of our music family, but over the various lies spread and threats against me.

“Before I progress further, let me say that as it is traumatic for a lot of people to bear the reality of lleri’s death, so it is to me. May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace and may God grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Naira Marley claimed that he had nothing to do with MohBad’s death stating, “Permit me to categorically state that I have no hand in the death of llerioluwa, either directly or indirectly. It is not unusual in the industry, just like in several other industries to have family friction, even amongst blood relatives.

“Truly, we had our own share of misunderstandings whilst working together, but the disagreement between us was never to the extent being painted by some hirelings. It never degenerated to the extent of wishing each other death. Even at that, we were resolving our business disputes legally before he had passed.

“I have chosen not to say anything since due to being distraught over his death and in order not to jeopardize the investigation being carried out by the government agencies.

“In addition, I have been out of the country since the 31st of August 2023 and I’m yet to return. In light of the police invitation, I am making arrangements to return to the country to assist the investigation and give my version of the events. I am fully cooperating with the Police team and I certainly have no reason to be a fugitive when I have no hand in his death.

“I am certain that the culprit behind his death has a vendetta against me and are fueling public opinions to have me lynched for reasons known to them. In due time the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death will be unveiled and the world will know the truth. This kind of scenario of attempting to set someone up is not novel in the industry as other great musicians have experienced the same and came out better and stronger. Mine will not be an exception as I am innocent of the accusations.

“Mohbad left the label in September 2022, the label accepted his departure. Marlian Music did not stop or interfere with his career or releases since and he has been with oneRPM. Legal efforts were made to reconcile his concerns regarding the work we had done together.”

He further decried allegation of drug dealing, stating “The rumors regarding the label being a drug cartel are untrue. I am not a drug lord, neither do I Marley belong to any cult or fraternity. I’m dedicated to proving my innocence and I’m cooperating with the authorities to clear my name with sufficient evidence.

“I will like to clearly state that I have never fought or attacked Mohbad. For the avoidance of doubt I have never instructed anyone, friend, known associates or fans to attack, bully or harass <Mohbad. With regards to the talent on the label, none of our artists ever fought or mistreated Mohbad.

“I share my deepest condolences to the family. Let’s be mindful as we seek justice to focus on supporting the police and authorities with relevant information and evidence surrounding his death so that those responsible will be apprehended. I am positive that at the end of the day. the truth will prevail and I shall be exonerated.

“My lawyers are already in touch with the police and government agencies and will support in every way necessary.

“Without a doubt I will honor his memory and I promise to do right by him and his family.

“Thank you.”