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News

Fire Guts 17 Shops In Anambra Market

Over 17 shops were razed as fire gutted Timber Market, Umuokpu, Awka, Anambra State, on Tuesday.

Although there was no loss of life, it was gathered that the fire started at about 10:16 pm and burnt till the men of the state firefighters came to the scene.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but eyewitnesses and victims of the fire said the inferno destroyed multi-million naira worth of goods.

Confirming the incident, the state fire service chief, Martin Agbili, said his personnel fought the fire to a standstill and prevented it from escalating further.

He said, “At about 10.16 pm on Tuesday, the Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of a heavy fire outbreak at Timber Market, Umuokpu Awka.

“Immediately, we deployed our fire truck and brave firefighters to the fire scene. The heavy fire was later fought to a standstill.

“The cause of the fire is unknown and no life was lost. About 17 shops were badly affected but we were able to control the fire from spreading to many other shops.

“Time of withdrawal from the fire scene was 01.06 am. We are still at the peak of harmattan, please avoid anything which can cause a fire outbreak. Always remember that time of the fire call, will determine the time of response to the fire incident.”

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News

President Buhari Holds National Security Council Meeting

Ahead of the February 25th polls, President Muhammadu Buhari has convened a National security council meeting at the State House.

The meeting which has all security chiefs in attendance is expected to review the current security situation in Nigeria.

Before the meeting, the President presided over the launch of security equipment donated by the Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) at the Council Chambers.

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News

I Am Alive And Healthy – Yinka Ayefele Cries Out After Being Declared Dead On Tiktok

Yinka Ayefele, musician and Chairman of Fresh media group has denied rumours that he’s dead.
Ayefele debunked the rumour after it had circulated on Tiktok on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the widely watched video, which was said to have been made by one David had his pictures and that of his triplet with a dirge from gospel singer Tope Alabi as the soundtrack.
According to Ayefele he has been getting calls from friends and loved all over the world to ask if all is well.
The musician, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday night confirmed he was alive and healthy while he wondered why someone would create a video to spread rumours of his death.
According to him, he will not die but live to declare the glory of God.
He said “I will not die but live to declare the works of God. God knows the people behind this very dastardly act and will punish them. What will they gain from spreading rumours of my death?
 
“On Fresh FM, Ibadan this evening, I did my programme called Let’s Talk about It jointly with Enitan Olusegun Bamidele (EOB). My phone kept ringing while on the show and Whatsapp messages have jammed by my phone as well.
 
“A lot of my fans and admirers from all over the world kept calling to find out what really happened. On realising it was fake news, they started cursing those behind it.
 
“I wish to tell Nigerians that I am hale and hearty and not dead. I am not even under the weather. For someone to conjure up this kind of wickedness is disheartening. I have handed over those behind it to God who will mete out appropriate punishment to them.
“My fans, please disregard the rumour. If Jesus tarries, we will be here for a long time.”
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News

Regina Daniels reacts as Ned Nwoko gifts over N20 million to Halima Abubakar

Nigerian billionaire, Ned Nwoko, has surprised popular actress, Halima Abubakar, with a whopping sum of over N20 million.

This is coming amid viral reports of the actress’ health condition after alleged affair with Apostle Suleman.

The happy actress shared photos of Regina Daniels and her family via her Instagram page, and showered praises on Ned Nwoko for the gift. She also thanked Regina for her good conduct.

In her words:

“Good morning to everyone who has been following this painful journey I want you all to rush and thank them for me. Say a prayer to them
@regina.daniels and her husband with changing my smile.Mrs Regina you are angel.may Allah be with you anytime…you are young but full of wisdom..you mother raised you well.Am amazing husband. I wish you a massive success ahead as a senator. Clearing over 20m plus no easy. Big man no my mouth.”

Reacting, Regina Daniels said:

“Regina.daniels Oooh mami. Thank you too. I pray that God continues to heal, protect and bless you. love you always Queen 👑 ❤️.”

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News

CBN To Arrest, Prosecute Anyone Spreading Fake News About New Naira Policy

Anyone spreading fake new about the naira redesign police will be arrested, investigated and prosecuted, the Central Bank of Nigeria has announced.
The apex bank issued the threat in a statement on Tuesday jointly signed by the CBN’s Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Edward Adamu, and Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi.
The CBN in reaction to a purported press release shared on the Instagram page of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, that said the old N500 and N1000 notes should remain legal tender for the next 70 days, till May 1, 2023, vowed to fish out the purveyor of the release.
In the statement, the apex bank stressed that it would only abide by the directive of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to re-issue old N200 notes as legal tender until April 10, 2023.
The statement read, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to a FAKE PRESS RELEASE purported to have emanated from the Bank to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reissuance and release of old N500 and N1000 notes as legal tender in the country.
 
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Central Bank of Nigeria reiterates that in line with the directives of Mr. President, only N200 old notes are to be reissued and to circulate concurrently with the new notes. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore this fake news.
 
“The Bank is working with the law enforcement agencies to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the purveyors of this fake news. Please be guided accordingly.”
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News

New Naira: Ganduje Condemns PDP, NNPP’s Support For CBN

Abdullahi Ganduje, the Governor of Kano State has condemned the support of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy, The PUNCH reports.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, said the governor made the remark on Monday while launching the distribution of palliatives to ease the hardships caused by the scarcity of naira notes, which was held at the Open Theatre, Government House.

“To our surprise, opposition parties took the situation to court supporting and protecting the CBN in this ill-timed and anti-people policy. That was not done in the most appropriate way and time. Governors of Bayelsa and Edo are all PDP states and are in the forefront in this blunder.

“So also the NNPP came out and said what the governor of Kano State said in rejecting the CBN’s naira swap was wrong, according to them.

“I wonder what is wrong in speaking the truth that all Nigerians are seriously suffering because of this anti-human and ill-advised phenomenon,” Ganduje asked.

He added, “What the PDP and the NNPP want is for people to continue wallowing in poverty. We will not stop blaming the CBN for this economic blunder. We love our people. Therefore, anything that will disturb their wellbeing must be rejected, till proper channel and good time are put forth.”

Ganduje then disclosed that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had promised Nigerians that he would end the current hardships caused by the CBN, if elected.

On the palliatives distribution, the governor said the state government was distributing the items in order to cushion the effects of the hardships caused to deliberately disturb the wellbeing of Nigerians.

“We didn’t invite this situation, neither did we pray for it. And therefore, we don’t welcome it at all. We gave similar palliatives during the COVID-19 days.

“And today our citizens are being faced with COVID-23 caused by the CBN. We earlier thought it was a simple disease, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a very serious virus going viral,” he lamented.

He further stated that, “…the virus coming from the CBN has affected all our commercial banks, our POS, our ATMs […] and all other things associated with this. Being the most populous state in the country, we are most affected by this unfortunate development.”

The governor said beneficiaries of the palliatives would come from all the 44 local government areas of the state.

“Today’s event is just to launch the distribution. It will continue from today, as we continue providing free buses for our people, just to cushion the effects of the CBN’s virus, COVID-23,” he added.

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News

Governor Wike Finally Opens Up After Being Accused Of Secretly Planning to Join APC

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has finally reacted to claims that he’s secretly planning to join the All Progressives Congress.
Reacting, Wike denied the allegation.
Speaking at the 114th Quarterly General Meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt on Monday, February 20, Wike said he remains an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite being impressed by APC’s support for power shift to the south.
He said;
“I am not a member of APC and will not be. But, they have made me to recognise that they are the heroes of this country. APC governors came out to say for the unity of this country, presidency should go to the south.
 
“They said they want the unity of this country and therefore, the presidency should go to the south. They could have as well said no, it doesn’t matter. As governors we have the number. We can still say it should remain where it should remain. But they didn’t do that.
 
“They said the way we are seeing this country we want everybody to be together. Let no one say because I have the population, therefore, you will continue to dominate. In dominating you need peace, without peace you cannot govern.
 
“We are all Nigerians and we want unity of this country, want Nigeria to move forward as a united country. Rivers has always been in support of one Nigeria and we’ll continue to support one Nigeria. But in doing that, we believe in equity, justice and fairness. As governor of this State, I will vote for the unity of this country. I will vote for anything that will unite Nigeria.
 
“I will not support anything that will divide Nigeria. And that is what necessitated the principle of live and let’s live. If only one person continues to live, things will not be good. It’s not about party, it is about Nigeria. I am a member of PDP, unrepentant who in fact built this party when people ran away.”
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2023 Elections News

Shehu Sani Sends Strong Warning To Nigerians Ahead Of 2023 Elections

Shehu Sani, a former Nigerian lawmaker, has warned Nigerians ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

He warned that electing a wrong leader would plunge the country into another four years of darkness.

Sani also called on Nigerians to be guided by their conscience and experience and elect a competent leader.

His statement was contained in a post via his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday.

Sani, also a social critic, urged Nigerians not to allow religious leaders to mislead them.

“On Saturday, this country has a date with history. Don’t vote for a candidate because your mosques or churches asked you to do so. Be guided by your conscience and experience & elect a competent leader. A wrong choice is another 4 years of journey into darkness,” he tweeted.

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News

Nigeria Better Than We Met It In 2015 – Lai Mohammed

Nigeria has made tremendous progress and better than 2015 when the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, the federal government has claimed.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the claim on Monday when he featured on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) live programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”
Speaking on the programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the minister said the Buhari’ government had met the expectations of Nigerians and true to its mandate giving the time frame and circumstances.
The minister said the attempts to de-market the government and in the process the country were the handwork of die-hard naysayers and very vocal minority.
Speaking on the administration’s achievements, the minister said in 2015, the entire North East region was inaccessible and 20 of the 27 Local Government Areas in Borno were under the occupation and control of Boko Haram insurgents.
He said presently no portion or part of Nigeria territory was under the occupation and control of insurgents.
Mohammed recalled that in 2015, Nigeria was number one importer of rice from Thailand but with the administration’s policies and programmes on agriculture, the country is self-sufficient in the staple and food in general.
He said millions of farmers had been empowered with the Anchor Borrowers Programme while the number of rice mills in the country had been increased from two in 2015 to 60 presently
Under the administration’s social intervention programmes, the minister said 10 million pupils were being fed daily while two million households were benefitting from Conditional Cash Transfer among others.
Mohammed said the administration had constructed 17,000 kms of new roads and rehabilitated 8,000 kms across the country
 
“We completed the Lagos-Ibadan expressway as well as the second Niger bridge, which was a mirage for more than three decades.
 
“Also for more than three decades, Nigerians did not know what it means to travel by train until the Buhari’ government came to power.
 
In spite all the sabotage, today we have working, the Lagos-Ibadan railway, Abuja-Kaduna railway and Ajaokuta- Warri railway which were not in existence before we came,’’ he said.
The minister said the Buhari’ government would continue to build a progressive and prosperous nation and would not be cowed or intimidated by the naysayers.
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News

Falana Gives CBN 7-Day Ultimatum Over Details Of New Naira Notes

Femi Falana, the foremost right activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has sent out a message to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

He wrote the CBN demanding details of the new naira notes disbursed to commercial banks nationwide.

Falana also demanded that the CBN provide the list of customers who have withdrawn more than the N100,000 maximum sum required by the CBN.

Recall that the apex bank had maintained that it printed enough new N200, N500, and N1,000 notes to go around, with claims that politicians are hoarding the new notes.

But, in a letter from Falana Chambers signed by Femi Adedeji, ESQ, dated February 16, 2023, Falana demanded that the CBN provide details on how the new notes were disbursed to commercial banks.

According to Falana, there is an unprecedented social dislocation, pains and pangs for the masses of Nigeria at the present time as a result of the twin problem of currency and fuel scarcity.

“In other to bring the situation under popular control, it is considered imperative for the CBN to urgently disclose the amount of new currency notes printed and distributed through the commercial banks for public knowledge, on the following grounds,” he stated.

The letter partly reads, “Our attention has been drawn to your statement wherein you claimed that some unnamed politicians have mopped up the new naira notes made available to all commercial banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“We are compelled to request you to furnish us with information concerning the amount of the designed notes of N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations made available to each commercial bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, we also request you to furnish us with the list of customers of the commercial banks who collected more than N100,000 approved by you from the commercial banks,” it stated.

Falana also threatened to take legal action should the CBN fail to provide the information in seven days.

“As this request is made pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, you are required to accede to our request within seven days of the receipt of this letter.

“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail or refuse to furnish us with the requested information before the deadline of seven days we shall not hesitate to pray the Federal High Court to compel you to accede to our request.”

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