Destkelamedia

In an ironic turn of events, a power outage disrupted a session at the National Assembly on Tuesday, causing disarray while the Minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo, was present. The session, which was scheduled to commence at 10 a.m., was delayed until around noon after electricity was restored and Senate President Godswill Akpabio made his appearance. As the power outage persisted, the temperature inside the chamber rose, leaving many senators, who had arrived early for the day’s proceedings, in discomfort. The power failure affected not only the Senate chamber but also about nine other offices within the complex. Senate President Akpabio remarked on the inconvenience, acknowledging the discomfort felt by everyone, including the press, some of whom resorted to fanning themselves due to the heat. “If it gets too hot then we may have to adjourn for a while to allow them to conclude, but they are working on it. I apologize for any inconvenience,” he stated. The Chairman of the Committee o...

  The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to halt the rollout of the newly proposed electricity tariffs. This directive came during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion of urgent public importance brought by Nkemkanma Kama, a Labour Party lawmaker from Ebonyi State. The move to increase charges was initiated on April 3 when NERC announced a hike in electricity tariffs for customers categorized under Band A, who benefit from up to 20 hours of electricity daily. According to the new plan, these customers would see their rates soar from N66 to N225 per kilowatt starting immediately from the date of announcement. The push for higher tariffs has been met with resistance. Defending the decision before the Senate Committee on Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, explained that the federal government is no longer in a position to maintain power subsidies. Adelabu emphasized the need for substantial investment, appro...

Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate for 2023, has made a public appeal to President Bola Tinubu to terminate the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, warning that it could lead to significant job losses for Nigerians. Obi criticized the project as a poorly timed initiative, misaligned with the current economic realities facing the nation. The controversy began following statements by Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, who revealed that the government plans to construct the highway at a staggering cost of N4 billion per kilometer, totaling an estimated N2.8 trillion for the 700-kilometer route. The project aims to connect Lagos directly to Cross River State, crossing through several states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom. Recently, Umahi initiated the demolition of structures located in the proposed highway's path, starting at Mani Chula Beach, Oniru Waterfront. He assured that property owners affected by this initiative would rec...

INTERPOL has clarified that it was not involved in the extradition of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya. Garba Umar, the Vice President of INTERPOL Africa, emphasized this point during an interview with News Central TV. The assertion came in response to reports linking INTERPOL to the 2021 detention of Kanu, instigated by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Contrary to previous claims involving INTERPOL's assistance, Umar confirmed that the international police organization had no hand in the actions leading to Kanu's return to Nigeria. During the interview, Umar expressed confusion over the allegations, stating, “Believe you me, I want to tell you I don’t know what you are talking about. You are bringing an issue that INTERPOL is not aware of." He continued to detail INTERPOL's role as a global entity that supports law enforcement in 196 countries in tracking fugitives. However, he made it clear that the organization was not notified or involve...

  Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has taken the unusual step of assigning himself the role of Commissioner for Land, Survey, and Physical Planning. This decision, according to Oguike Nwachukwu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, was made to cleanse the ministry of elements that have negatively impacted its reputation. In an effort to enhance oversight and efficiency within this key department, Governor Uzodinma's strategy focuses on direct intervention. The governor's office will now directly supervise the ministry’s operations to eliminate corrupt practices that have tarnished the image of the state government. "The intervention by Governor Uzodinma is expected to be welcomed by many citizens of Imo, who believe in his commitment to safeguarding their collective interests," Nwachukwu stated. He highlighted that this move is aimed at ensuring the integrity and proper management of the state’s land resources. Previously, Enyinnaya Onuegbu held the commission...

  The Nigerian passport has been identified as one of the least powerful in the world, landing in the tenth position from the bottom in the latest rankings by VisaGuide's World Passport Index. It is positioned 191st out of 199 countries, sharing the lower ranks with passports from North Korea, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia. This index utilizes a sophisticated ranking method known as the Destination Significance Score (DSS), which evaluates the global mobility each passport offers based on factors like visa requirements, GDP, Power Index, Tourism Index, and Human Development Index (HDI). These criteria help determine the "travel strength" of each passport. According to the index, a passport’s value is greatly influenced by the number of destinations its holders can visit without a visa, or with simplified visa processes like visa on arrival or e-visa options. The more accessible high-value destinations are, the higher the passport ranks. Glo...

The Federal Government has authorized a salary increase of 25% to 35% for Civil Servants under six specific Consolidated Salary Structures. These structures include the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS), and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS). This adjustment follows earlier salary enhancements granted to sectors such as Tertiary Education and Health. Universities have previously seen increases under the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS). For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, raises were applied under the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolid...

   *PUNCH* ‘Yahoo Boys’ll end in destruction’, Oyedepo warns internet fraudsters Enugu gov vows swift action after deadly herdsmen attack Ooni preaches unity as council rejects call for Yoruba Nation Gombe gov urges LG chairmen to stem farmer-herder clashes Oyo LG poll rape of democracy, says APC 1.4 million UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB Edo Poll: Orbih group threatens to work against PDP Lagos holds summit on fire outbreaks Sanwo-Olu approves annual celebration of Yoruba week EFCC officers disperse pro-Yahaya Bello protesters LASG begins screening, vaccination of Hajj pilgrims today Ex-CBN director admits collecting $600,000 bribe for Emefiele NSA asks security agencies to embrace open communication NCAA refutes N250m vehicle purchase allegation Army nabs suspected human trafficker in Lagos $2.4bn of $7bn forex claim fictitious – CBN EFCC grills 13 suspected oil thieves in Lagos NCPC to commence Easter pilgrimage in June Channels TV disowns deepfake Dangote visual d...

  In a recent turn of political events, Segun Showunmi, a prominent figure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused President Bola Tinubu of betraying key allies within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). These allegations have stirred considerable controversy, highlighting deep-seated issues of loyalty and support in Nigerian politics. According to Showunmi, who ran as a gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, President Tinubu failed to support Yahaya Bello and Nasir el-Rufai during their times of need, despite their substantial contributions to his election campaign. Both Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, and el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, were notable for their vigorous support during the 2023 electoral process. El-Rufai’s appointment as a ministerial nominee ended in disappointment when the Senate rejected him, a situation that could have been influenced by the President, suggests Showunmi. This rejection was particularly humiliati...

The Nigerian government has outlined a bold initiative requiring $10 billion in yearly investments over the next decade to rejuvenate its struggling power sector. This revelation came from the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during a one-day investigative hearing in Abuja focused on halting a recent electricity tariff hike proposed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The session, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the Senate Committee on Power, also addressed the pressing need for a N2.9 trillion subsidy to support the sector's financial health. Amidst discussions, there was a unanimous call from the senators urging Minister Adelabu and NERC to reconsider the tariff increase for Band A consumers, which has sparked widespread concern. Minister Adelabu emphasized the critical liquidity challenges facing the sector, noting the operation under a subsidized tariff regime has accumulated substantial liabilities owed to Generation Companies (GenCos) and Gas Comp...

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 arraigned four suspects before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna. They were docked for alleged obstruction of lawful duty and assault against officers of the Commission. The suspects are; Rukayya Ahmed Mustapha, Sadiya Usman Mohammed, Ameera Uthman and Nafisat Usman. They were arraigned on one count separate charges bordering on obstruction of lawful duty. The one-count charge against Sadiya Usman Mohammed reads: " That you, Sadiya Usman Mohammed on or about the 15th April, 2024 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the Kaduna State High Court willfully obstruct officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while carrying out an official assignment (effecting a lawful arrest at No. 13 Jafar Organizer Street, Rigachukun, Kaduna) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 38(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Comm...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially declared the results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a historic milestone in gender representation among examinees. JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed the statistics during a press conference at the JAMB headquarters in Bwari, Abuja. This year, the examination attracted over 1.94 million registrants who tested their readiness for university admission across more than 700 centers in 118 towns nationwide. The series of exams, which ran from April 19 to April 29, noted a substantial turnout with only 80,810 registered candidates absent. "Out of the 1,842,464 results that we have released, only 0.4% of candidates scored above 300, highlighting the competitive nature of the examination," Oloyede explained. Furthermore, 24% of candidates scored 200 or more, constituting 50% of the total possible score. Conversely, a significant 76% did not meet the 200-point mark. In an...

  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed restrictions on several prominent microfinance banks, including Moniepoint, Opay, and Kuda, prohibiting them from acquiring new customers or opening new accounts. This move comes amid allegations that these institutions facilitated cryptocurrency transactions which are thought to have contributed to recent fluctuations in the naira's value. The restrictions are part of a broader effort by the CBN to stabilize the national currency and prevent money laundering. The naira, which traded at N950 against the dollar in early April, experienced a sharp decline, hitting N1350 to the dollar by Monday evening. This volatility has raised concerns about the potential impacts on the economy and the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks. The decision to ban these financial institutions from enrolling new customers was communicated privately to Peoples Gazette by sources who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the infor...

In a significant upcoming event, Prince Harry, alongside his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, are scheduled to visit Nigeria in May. The visit aims to deepen diplomatic ties and promote cultural exchanges between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. During their time in Nigeria, the royal couple plans to engage with local service members and participate in diverse cultural festivities, according to Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information at Defence Headquarters. This visit underscores their ongoing commitment to supporting the rehabilitation and recognition of service personnel on a global stage. The Duke of Sussex, who established the Invictus Games—an international adaptive multi-sport event—is keen to spotlight the achievements and rehabilitation of wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women worldwide. Nigeria, a participant in the Invictus Games, has shown remarkable prowess, securing gold and bronze medals in its debut last year. "The aim of t...

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Wednesday 24, April, 2024 granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, an interim order to freeze One Thousand, One Hundred and Forty Six (1,146) bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies being investigated for alleged offences bordering on unauthorized dealing in forex exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing. The judge ordered that the accounts be frozen “pending conclusion of investigation." While ruling on a motion moved by the EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, the judge stated “that an order of this honorable court is hereby made freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule below which accounts are owned by various individuals who are currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of unauthorized dealing in foreign exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing to the extent that the investigation will be for a period of 90 (ninety) days.” The judge added "tha...