Uncategorized

Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ to crack top 20 of Billboard Hot 100

On Sunday, August 22, 2021, Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar, Wizkid’s smash hit single, ‘Essence’ was predicted to hit a new peak of 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This was made known by a Twitter account, Wizkid Radio. On the aforementioned date, the account wrote that, “Due to the remix with Justin Bieber, Essence received 23.2 million radio audience in the US, with 87.3 thousand unit sales this week. Rises to 58% chart points and emerging as the highest gainer amongst 100 songs.

“Predicted to reach a new peak of #16 on Billboard Hot 100.”

This comes after the song hit #44 on the chart last week Monday, three days after the remix with Bieber was released. The Canadian superstar also shot his own video for the song.

 

 

 

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Athletics / Sports

Nigeria grabs first gold medal at World U20 Championship, sets new record

• Godson Brume, Praise Ofoku in 100m final
Team Nigeria became the center of attraction at the Kasarani Stadium, venue of the ongoing World U20 Championship in Nairobi yesterday, as the country’s 4x400m mixed relay team grabbed the first gold medal at the event. They also set Championship record twice.

After Nnamani Johnson, Opeyemi Oke, Ajayi Bamidele and Imaobong Nse Uko dazzled the spectators with a new record of 3:21.66 on their way to the final, the athletes increased their pace in the final race to shock the entire crowd with their spectacular display of talent, which earned Team Nigeria, the gold medal with another Championship record of 3; 19.70. The first time in a long while, Nigeria’s flag was held by the athletes running round the entire stadium with cheers from the spectators.

In the women’s 100m semifinal event, Praise Ofoku gave the spectators a tip of what to expect in today’s final as she powered past all contestants to anchor at a time of 11.57 seconds. She came from behind to win the ticket to the final.

Nigeria’s hope of having two women runners in today’s 100m final was aborted when God bless Tima ran a slow race of 11.61 second to finish in the 8th position.

Tima had earlier in the day run 11.59sec to raise the hope of Nigerians.

One of Nigeria’s best male junior sprinters, Godson Brume lived up to the expectations of the people yesterday, as he raced to the men’s 100m final in 10.24 seconds.

Brume, who is the younger brother of Tokyo Olympics medalist Ese Brume, had run 10.35 second earlier in the day to win the heat.

Team Nigeria now has two contestants in today’s 100m event, one each in male and female categories.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa was full of praises for the athletes and their coaches. He stated that the gold medal was a good beginning for the current AFN board.

Also, former AFN President Solomon Ogba commended the …

Crime / Military / News

Africa needs more than US military aid to defeat terror, by Muhammadu Buhari

Though some believe the war on terror winds down with the US departure from Afghanistan, the threat it was supposed to address burns fiercely on my continent. Africa is the new frontline of global militancy. Yet few expect the outlay expended here to be as great as in Afghanistan. The fight against terrorism begun under the George W Bush administration was never truly global.

Despite rising attacks across Africa in the past decade, international assistance has not followed in step. Mozambique is merely the latest African state in danger from terrorism. The Sahel remains vulnerable to Boko Haram, 20 years after its formation, and other radical groups. Somalia is in its second decade fighting the equally extreme al-Shabaab. Many African nations are submerged under the weight of insurgency.

As Africans, we face our day of reckoning just as some sense the west is losing its will for the fight. It is true that some of our western allies are bruised by their Middle Eastern and Afghan experiences. Others face domestic pressures after the pandemic. Africa was not then, and even less now, their priority. But the threat cannot be ignored. Covid-19 has been like oxygen for terrorism, allowing it to gain in strength while the world was preoccupied. Sooner or later, the reverberations will be felt beyond Africa. If extremist groups are able to hold territory, it can inspire disillusioned people living in the west to commit heinous acts of terror in their own countries. The self-proclaimed caliphate of Daesh in Iraq and Syria fulfilled that propaganda function, boosting transcontinental recruitment.

We must not complacently assume that military means alone can defeat the terrorists. If Afghanistan has taught us a lesson, it is that although sheer force can blunt terror, its removal can cause the threat to return.

The US and its western allies cannot be expected to underpin the security of others everywhere and indefinitely. Africa has enough soldiers of our own. However, more can be done to help with technical assistance, advanced weaponry, intelligence and ordinance. The US …

Covid 19 / News

COVID-19: Nigeria registers 8,197 infections in 15 days

Nigeria has registered 8,179 COVID-19 infections in 15 days, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said on its website on Tuesday.

It said the country confirmed 584 additional infections on Monday, from the 541 recorded on Sunday, bringing the total cases to 183,087.

The public health agency added that the number of known active cases stood at 13,554, an increase from 13,152 reported on Sunday.

Again the agency did not state the percentage of variants of concern made up of the known active cases across the country.

The NCDC reported four COVID-19 related fatality within the last 24 hours.

It noted that the country, in 15 days, had also reported 72 fatalities, noting that the figure was more than double the 31 deaths its registered in July.

The agency added that about 2,648,684 samples had been tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria, a country with an estimated 200 million population.

The NCDC stated that the 584 confirmed cases were from 14 states and the FCT.

Lagos (201), Rivers (149), FCT (82), Ondo (73), Ekiti (17), Cross River (13), Oyo (11), Ogun (9), Delta (8), Osun (8), Bayelsa (4), Kaduna (4), Kano (2), Kwara (2) and Sokoto (1).

It said a multi-sectoral national emergency operations center, activated at Level 2, continued to coordinate the national response activities.

The NCDC said a total of 178 people had recovered and were discharged from various isolation centers in the country on Monday, with total recoveries nationwide since the onset of the pandemic clocking 167,310.…

Crime / Law / News

31 Northern lawyers volunteer to defend Kyari

 

No fewer than 31 lawyers of Northern extraction have volunteered to defend the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, over allegations of fraud in the United States of America.

This was disclosed to newsmen by one of the lawyers involved, Sunusi Bappah Salisu, in Abuja on Thursday.

A well known internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, had in a statement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America, mention Kyari in a fraud cases involving $1.1 million.

Hushpuppi alleged that he gave Kyari N8 million to arrest one of those involved in the fraud, Vincent Chibuzor.

Based on this, a District Court in the United States of America ordered the FBI to arrest Kyari and bring him to court in the US.

But Salisu said 31 lawyers from the Northern part of Nigeria had offered their services to Kyari, who is from Borno State.

He said: “In apparent response to recent calls for support for Abba Kyari by the Coalition of Northern Groups, a group of about 31 young northern Nigerian lawyers, has volunteered to render legal services to the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police.

“We would raise questions involving the possibility of the occasioning of breaches to Kyari’s fundamental rights entrenched in Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right, which essentially state that every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person and every individual shall have the right to have his cause heard.

“This comprises the right to an appeal to competent national organs against acts of violating his fundamental rights as recognized and guaranteed by conventions, laws, regulations and customs in force.”…

Athletics / Basket Ball / Olympics / Sports

Five ‘Nigerians’ who won medals for other countries

There is hardly any top sporting competition in the world that Nigerian names don’t pop up even if the Green and White flag of the country is conspicuously absent.

From the American Super Bowl to the NBA and even the recent Euro 2020, participants with Nigerian lineage are always present.

The situation was not any different at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics even though Team Nigeria was actually on parade in Japan – returning home with two medals.

The 27-year old was part of the all-conquering Italian Men’s 4x100m quartet that stormed to gold in Tokyo.

Though Desalu is of Nigerian origin, he was born and raised in Italy and acquired full Italian citizenship in 2012.

“I have never been to Nigeria and, right now [2019], I don’t feel the need to go. I don’t even know the national anthem of Nigeria. My roots are in Africa and I don’t ignore them but I consider myself deeply Italian,” Eseosa said.

While Desalu is celebrating his gold for Italy, Nigeria failed to qualify for the men’s 4x100m event in Tokyo despite pushing hard after failing to attend the World Relays where they could have gotten a ticket more easily.

Ujah Chindu

Competing in his second Olympic Games for Great Britain after his debut in Rio, Ujah narrowly missed out on the 4x100m gold but would be pleased with the silver nonetheless.

Ujah’s father was an engineer who moved from Nigeria to England as a boy. The sprinter admits it was difficult convincing his father that a career in athletics was the right choice for him.

“I used to play football for my local club and was pretty good. Dad was not too impressed about football and he didn’t like the idea of me going pro. When I was doing athletics he thought it was just a hobby, and I set my heart on showing him that it wasn’t just a little thing on the side.

“He got a letter in the post when I was 17 saying I’d been selected for the …

Olympics / Sports

10 Nigerian athletes banned from Olympics

A huge scandal rocked Team Nigeria’s camp on Wednesday at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when 10 Nigerian athletes were disqualified from competing in the event after they failed to undergo mandatory tests ahead of the global sports event. Our correspondents learnt the Nigerian camp was thrown into a mourning mood after word went round that the affected athletes, who compete in track and field events, had been sent packing from the Games with just two days to the start of their events.

The Athletics Integrity Unit in a statement on Wednesday made available to correspondent, did not mention the names of the affected Nigerian athletes, but said a total of 20 athletes across the world were disqualified from the Olympics for not meeting minimum requirements by Category A countries. However, findings by our correspondent showed that the only Nigerian track and field athletes eligible to compete in Tokyo were Enoch Adegoke, Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Patience Okon- George, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Samson Nathaniel, Grace Nwokocha, Divine Oduduru, Emmanuel Ojeli, Blessing Okagbare and Nse Uko, as their names were listed on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics portal.

The names of the other track and field athletes for the event namely Knowledge Omovoh, Ruth Usoro, Favor Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Glory Patrick, Yinka Ajayi, Tima Godbless, Chidi Okezie, Chioma Onyekwere and Annette Echikunwoke were omitted by the International Olympic Committee, meaning they were the athletes banned from competing at the Games.

Other countries, who had some of their athletes disqualified, are Belarus and Ukraine, who both had three athletes banned, Kenya (two) and Morocco and Ethiopia, who had one athlete each sent packing from the Games.…

Business / News

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire to strengthen maritime trade – NPA MD

The Nigerian Ports Authority on Thursday expressed its readiness to strengthen relations with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in the areas of port and shipping operations.

Mohammed Bello-Koko, acting managing director of NPA, stated this in a statement signed by Mr Olaseni Alakija, NPA’s general manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, in Lagos.

Bello-Koko made the statement when he received a delegation from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, who paid him a courtesy visit at the NPA corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos.

He said the relations would focus more on strengthening the capacities of both countries to participate competitively in global and regional trade. “The Nigerian government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has introduced far-reaching reforms to facilitate cross-border trade, particularly nurturing a multimodal port system to reduce the cost of shipments in and out of the country.

“The Buhari-administration has also invested heavily in major public infrastructure upgrades, including construction of modern rail lines and deep seaports, to boost the international competitiveness of the country’s trade.

“This will also position Nigeria as a gateway to the African economy,” he said.

Bello-Koko said one of the Greenfield Ports – the Lekki Deep Seaport, capable of handling ultra large cargo vessels, would commence business by the second quarter of 2022.

He also highlighted efforts by the Authority to give priority to non-oil export trade.

According to him, export processing terminals are now being established to take advantage of opportunities under African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA).

He urged the Ivorian government and business sector to increase their share of trade with Nigeria.

The managing director assured the delegation that NPA would address non-tariff barriers and restrictions to trade between the two countries.

He added that there was room for information sharing, just as both countries needed to cooperate more in the areas of joint training of staff and technology transfer.

The NPA boss solicited the support of Republic of Cote d’Ivoire towards Nigeria’s candidate emerging as the next Secretary-General of the Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa (MOWCA).

He …

News

Kukah’s US mission statement unfortunate, disappointing – Presidency

The Presidency has described as unfortunate and disappointing the way and manner Bishop Matthew Kukah castigated his country, Nigeria, before the United States Congress.

A statement by the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Sunday in Abuja, advised Kukah to desist from sowing discord and strife among Nigerians.

The presidential aide believed that the opinions expressed by Kukah before the US Congress were personal, and not opinions held by majority of Nigerians.

According to him, religious leaders who preach respect for truth have a duty to practice it, and it is a moral and practical responsibility to stand up publicly for the truth.

He said: ”There is no place in mainstream civil discourse for those who actively, negatively, and publicly label an individual ethnic group, especially before a foreign audience.

”These are not the views expressed or opinions held by the vast majority of the citizens of Nigeria.

”For all our challenges as a nation, nearly all of us seek to live together in harmony, celebrating differences, and finding a common ground as Nigerians above all.

”But people like Kukah are doing their best to sow discord and strife among Nigerians.

”More than any other set of people, leaders – in politics or religion who preach respect for truth have a duty to practice it. It is a moral and practical responsibility.

”Going by the history of the Church as is well known, it will stand up publicly for the truth.

”It is time others did the same.”

Shehu described Kukah’s mission statement in the US as a familiar ”overseas political tours that opposition politicians take – visiting foreign leaders and legislators in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe.”

He said such ‘tours’ were meant to attract maximum media attention back home to score cheap political goals.

”So, the argument goes, if they are heard seriously abroad, then Nigerian citizens back home should surely listen to them too.

”But in order to be heard at all, and to maximize media coverage back home for their activities, inevitably these visits

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Basket Ball / Sports

Nigeria Beat Argentina in exhibition game 94-71 two days after beating Team USA

Nigeria continues to tear things up on the hardwood ahead of the Summer Olympics.

Led by former NBA head coach Mike Brown, Nigeria followed up its 90-87 upset of Team USA with a 94-71 demolition against Argentina, the world’s No. 4 side. That’s two massive wins for D’Tigers as they ramp up ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. And they’re not just hitting shots on the court.

Jahlil Okafor led Nigeria with 15 points while Josh Okogie and Chimezie Metu had 10 each. Nigeria limited Argentina to 35.9 percent shooting from the floor while hitting 48.1 percent of its own shots. D’Tigers didn’t make an insane amount of triples this time around, but did well enough in other areas to win in a rout.

Many pundits and fans were blasting Team USA for losing to Nigeria, but it’s becoming clear D’Tigers are no pushovers. A 23-point win over Argentina shows Nigeria has the talent and coaching to make noise in the upcoming Olympics. Keep an eye on this group going forward.…

Business / News

FIRS makes historic tax haul, rakes in N650b in June

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has raked in over N650 billion in June 2021, the highest revenue realized in a single month since the COVID-19 pandemic started and the assumption of office of the current management.

The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Muhammad Nami, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nami stated: “This feat was achieved as a result of the efficiency and effectiveness of the TaxProMax Solution, notwithstanding the challenges and resistance faced in the early stages of its adoption, and the downturn orchestrated by slow economic recovery.”

Nami recalled that as part of its efforts at modernizing tax administration in the country, the FIRS recently introduced the Tax Administration Solution (TaxProMax) for ease of tax compliance.

He had noted that the Solution “enables seamless registration, filing, payment of taxes and automatic credit of withholding tax as well as other credits to the Taxpayer’s accounts, among other features. It also provides a single-view to Taxpayers for all transactions with the Service”.

The TaxProMax platform, which took off on June 7, 2021, is a channel for filing Naira-denominated tax returns in the country.

The TaxProMax platform is accessible at www.taxpromax.firs.gov.ng.

Nami reminded taxpayers of the one-off one-month extension granted earlier this month for the filing of Company Income Tax returns by taxpayers with December 31, 2020 accounting year-end whose statutory tax returns were due not later than June 30, 2021.

He urged them to take advantage of the extension as it “provides an opportunity to all taxpayers whose company Income Tax returns were due in June 2021 to file up to the 31st July 2021”.…

Movies / News

Netflix launches affordable mobile plan with New Partial Download feature

Different people have different entertainment preferences. Some want Ultra HD and the ability to stream on four screens at once. Some only watch movies and shows on their phone. Adding a mobile plan gives consumers more choice no matter what their budget or requirements

Country Currency Mobile Price Basic
Price		 Standard Price Premium Price
Nigeria NGN 1,200 2,900 3,600 4,400
Kenya KES 300 700 950 1,200
South Africa ZAR 49 99 139 169
Other SSA Countries USD 3.99 $7.99 $9.99 $11.99

Additionally, Netflix simultaneously launched the Play Partial Download a new feature allowing members with Android phones and tablets (v7.64+) to start playback of a title or episode before it has completed downloading. Netflix previously tested this feature back in July of 2020 where we found that 35% of new members & 24% of existing members played a partial download at least once. Netflix members can now watch titles that are partially downloaded through the Play Partial Download feature on Netflix.

According to research done by the streaming platform, the African market is most popular for downloading titles which means that the launch of the Play Partial Download feature is apt for the market. This feature will enable members save time because they no longer must wait more than 10 minutes for complete downloads before watching their favorite titles. Additionally, it would save cost because members across Africa, have pivoted to using offline viewing after cellular data prices have increased in markets.

Whether it’s a long flight or an extended commute, downloaded series and movies can make any moment on the go more entertaining and It’s disappointing when you realize your download never completed because of unreliable wifi or a maxed out data plan and Play Partial Download solves this problem. Once you’ve regained a strong enough connection, the feature allows you to choose to finish the download and keep watching — avoiding those surprise notices that you’ve gone over your data limits.

To access this feature from the ‘download’ menu on their mobile device or from the continue ‘watching

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News / Oil & Gas

PIB: Anger as Senate slashes host community share to 3% of oil profit

At long last, the Senate yesterday passed the much-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), with 30 per cent of profits accruing from Oil and Gas operations by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) now to be set aside for exploration of oil in the frontier basins.

All exploration of frontier basins shall fall under the purview of the Upstream Regulatory Commission. Similarly, three per cent has been reserved for the development of host communities.

However, the Senate reached these decisions amid uproar due to disagreements on the right percentage of oil revenue for host communities.

The report of the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum, which processed the bill, had proposed five per cent for host communities, while stakeholders had in the original bill proposed 10 per cent. But when the Senate began clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, it was reduced to three per cent.

The decision caused a moment of stalemate as Senators from the Niger Delta region rose against it. Senator James Manager (Delta State) proposed an amendment to retain the provision of five per cent in the report but he was defeated.

As Senate President Ahmad Lawan hit the gavel to re-confirm the three per cent host community provision, Senator George Sekibo ((River State) called for a division. His motion challenged the ruling of the Senate President and the floor again became tensed up.

Fearing the consequences of embarking on a division, the Senate leadership swiftly resorted to pleading with Sekibo to withdraw his motion. Senate leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, said the Senate would be ‘heading to Armageddon’ if it allowed that division to happen.

Lawan also supported the Senate leader and preached the gospel of patriotism to Sekibo who later agreed and withdrew his motion.

Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee that processed the bill, Sabo Muhammed Nakudu (APC, Jigawa West), while presenting the report explained that “the Joint Committee’s recommendation recognises the need for the country to urgently and aggressively explore and develop the country’s Frontier Basins to take advantage of the foreseeable threats to the funding of …

Football / Sports

Eagles depart Abuja for international friendly with Mexico in Los Angeles

Super Eagles’ contingent for Saturday’s international friendly game against Mexico will depart Nigeria today for Los Angeles, U.S., venue of the game.

Made up of solely home-based players, the team is expected to travel aboard a Turkish Airline flight for the game billed for the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 77,500 capacity facility that has hosted major international games.

The team, led by Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, with support from former U-20 national team coach, Paul Aigbogun, has been preparing for the encounter in Abuja in the last six days.

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, will also be with the squad in America to monitor the performance of the players and advise the handlers where necessary.

Eguavoen recently trimmed the team to 23 for easy management of the players, who are expected to use the match to justify their demand for more representation in the Super Eagles main team.

The players got their visas from the U.S. Embassy and also did their COVID-19 tests yesterday ahead of their journey today.

Among the players billed to make the trip to the U.S are goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland), John Noble (Enyimba) and Lobi Stars’ Stanley Nwabali Bobo.

The defenders are Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Enugu Rangers); Imoh Obot (Enyimba); Tebo Franklin Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara United); and Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers United).

The midfielders are Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa United); and Uche Onwuasoanya (Plateau United.

Anayo Iwuala of Enyimba, who has been part of the main Super Eagles in recent times, will lead the attackers, who also include Stephen Jude (Kwara United); Ibrahim Olawoyin (Enugu Rangers); Charles Ashimene (Akwa United); Auwalu Ali Malam (Kano Pillars); Nenrot Emmanuel (Plateau United); Abdulmutalif Sanusi (Katsina United); Sunday Adetunji(Rivers United); Mohammed Zulkifilu (Plateau United) and Chinonso Eziekwe (Enugu Rangers).

Saturday’s match against Nigeria is part of Mexico’s Mex Tour Series, which involves four games. The game kicks off at 7.30 p.m. Los Angeles time on Saturday, which is 3.30 a.m. on …

News / Production

Nigeria faces import crisis as reserves hit 13-month low

Nigeria’s economy could be leaning against the wind as the country’s external reserves fell to a 13-month low last week, tumbling quickly to $30 billion, the level it was between 2015 and 2017.

Last Thursday, the figure slid to $33.79 billion, as it dropped by $30 million. This represented a 0.09% decline compared to $33.824 billion recorded on Wednesday, June 16. A total of $1.58 billion has been lost in reserves year-to-date, while month-to-date loss stands at $405.33 million, hardly reflecting the marginal gains in rising oil prices in recent months.

The reserves fell by $222.3 million between May 31 and June 10 to $34.0 billion, according to figures published by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The last time it fell below that mark was between June and July of 2017.

The country’s forex reserves continues to trend downwards despite the positive rally recorded in the global crude oil market, with Brent crude currently trading at $73.5 per barrel. It has sustained a steady troubling decline in the past two months after a short-lived upswing that took it to $35 billion.

The foreign reserves lost $120.18 million last Tuesday, the highest single-day loss recorded since February 22, 2021.

This is largely attributed to the decline in crude oil sales, due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the buying capacity of India, which is one of the world’s largest importers of oil.

However, reports suggest that India’s oil imports are beginning to pick up after months of lessened activities due to the pandemic’s effect on its economy. This also comes as good news to Nigeria as India remains one of the highest importers of Nigeria’s crude oil.

The falling reserves, experts have warned, could leave the country’s embattled economic outlook worse off as the confidence of foreign investors is partly influenced by the size of the reserve. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the figure oscillated between $34 billion to $36 billion and even crossed $36.5 billion occasionally.

Nigeria’s current reserve is among the poorest of the oil-producing …

News / Security

Nigeria ranks 146th on Global Peace Index, 8th least peaceful in Africa

The 2021 Global Peace Index (GPI) has ranked Nigeria 146 among 163 independent nations and territories, according to its level of peacefulness. Nigeria moved one step from 147 in 2020, though it still ranked eighth among the least peaceful countries in Africa after South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali.

In the report released yesterday, Nigeria finished with 2712 points and was graded low on the state of peace out of very high, high, medium, low and very low on the chart.

The GPI, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), measures the state of peace in countries. It assesses countries in three domains, including the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict and the degree of militarization.

Describing the situation, the report said Nigeria continues to face challenges on both safety and security and ongoing conflict domains. The conflict between government forces and Boko Haram in the Northeast led to an estimated 1,606 people killed in 125 fatal incidents in 2020, making an average of 13 deaths per violent event in the Boko Haram insurgency of last year.

Civil unrest rose 10 per cent globally, driven by the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic caused a global rise in civil unrest and political insecurity, according to the GPI report. There were 14,871 violent demonstrations, protests and riots recorded globally in 2020.

The report said COVID-19 was a “multiplying force” in future political instability and civil unrest. It added the level of this unrest going forward is likely to hinge on the speed and effectiveness of economic recovery. Countries with less debt and higher levels of positive peace were more likely to recover faster.

Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal and Slovenia. Mauritius is the most peaceful African country ranked 28th, followed by Ghana (38), Botswana (41), Sierra Leone (46) …

Importation / News

Importers, agents groan as Customs adopt N404.97/$1 as new import duty rate

Importers in the country are to pay more, as the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) adopts a higher exchange rate band from N381 to N404.97 for calculation and payment of import duty.

The situation, according to stakeholders, would trigger higher cost of goods in the market and trigger further the country’s already high inflation.

The Guardian gathered that the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has immediately implemented the rate on duty payable on consignments imported into the country. Therefore, all transactions and cargoes cleared from the port from Tuesday, had their duty computed based on the new rate of N404.97 to a dollar.

President, Shippers Association of Lagos, Reverend Jonathan Nicole told The Guardian that the increment is not palatable with importers, because the move will increase the cost of cargo clearance.

He noted that such developments would also cause hike in prices and goods in the market and lead to inflation.

“It will raise the cost of clearing astronomically. Shippers will have to source for more funds to clear their goods. The ripple effect is that goods will become more expensive in the market and this will lead to inflation,” he stated.

Nicole said shippers were not happy with the increment but have begun to pay, since the Customs have adjusted the duty payable on goods. National President, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, said the increase would create more hardship for the citizenry, considering the fact that Nigeria runs an import dependent economy.

He said: “The latest increase will also affect purchasing power of Nigerians. The continuous increase will cause a problem because it will get to a level where inflation rate will be terribly high. The economy is not growing and the people’s purchasing power is gradually going down, which an indication that government should do something to avoid more economic woes.”

Vice President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto, said the increase took effect on Tuesday, adding that it was unfortunate that the cost …

News / politics

Nigeria better united than separated, says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said Nigerians would fair better staying together than break up.

Obasanjo stated this in Abeokuta at his investiture as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyor by the Ogun State chapter of the Body of Fellows of the NIS.

The elder statesman called on agitators for the disintegration of the country to shelve the idea and work for the oneness of the country.

According to him, it is better for Nigeria to remain as one indivisible nation than for each tribe to go its separate way.

The former president, who acknowledged that Nigeria is passing through challenges, insisted that “disintegration is not the solution”.

According to him, any Nigerian who does not feel concerned about the challenges of the country is a human being without being human.

Obasanjo said: “It is better that Nigeria stays together and find solutions to its challenges than for each tribe to go its separate way.

“I am a strong believer of one Nigeria, but not one Nigeria at any cost, but one Nigeria where every Nigerian can feel proud that he or she has a stake in this country.

“Those of us who have shed part of our blood and sweat for this country, we did so because we wanted a country where every Nigerian can claim as his or her own.

“I believe that if we talk among ourselves the way we should and if we change the narrative, I believe this is a great country.

“The fact that we are not making Nigeria what God wants it to be is not the fault of God, but our fault, particularly the leaders.”

Obasanjo, who noted that Nigeria’s diversity remained a major source of its strength, explained that disintegration would result in “weak republics”.

He added: “One thing that gives us strength is our diversity.

“If all that we have is Republic of Oduduwa for those who say so, members of that country will be diminished compared to being a citizen of Nigeria.

“Citizens of Oduduwa Republic …

News / Security

Police speak on reported killing of 15 Soldiers, attack on Imo Government House

The Imo State Police Command has rebutted the report on some social media platforms that gunmen attacked the Imo State Government House and Obinze Army Barracks.

Reacting to the report in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bala Elkana, urged the public to disregard the report.

He described it as “a false alarm, which only existed in the imagination of the writer”.

The social media report also stated that 15 soldiers were killed in the attack.

The PPRO described the report as “the handiwork of mischief makers and conflict entrepreneurs.

“The command, therefore, warns the public to be wary of such posts,” Elkana stated, adding that it was aimed at causing tension and instilling fear in Imo people.

He further warned mischief makers to desist from such fake alarms else they would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Elkana, who said that peace had returned to Imo State, advised “night crawlers and hospitality patrons to feel free, come out in in pursuit of their regular pleasure”.…

Football / Sports

Super Eagles’ Austria winless jinx continues, hold Indomitable Lions to goalless draw

Super Eagles’ search for their first victory in Vienna, Austria, continued yesterday, as they could only manage a goalless draw with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a friendly match. It was the fifth time the Nigerian senior national team would fail to secure a win in that country.

 

The coach Gernot Rohr-led team lost 0-1 to Cameroon on Friday at the same venue, and Nigerians were looking forward to something different in their second friendly match yesterday.

The Super Eagles search for victory in Austria dated back to May 2008, when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by the host country, Austria, at the UPC Arena in Graz.

In October 2020, Nigeria played two matches against Algeria and Tunisia, losing 1-0 to the Desert Foxes and drawing 1-1 with the Carthage Eagles.

In their last 13 friendly matches dating back to November 2017, the Super Eagles have won only three times: Against Argentina (4-2 in Krasnodar, Russia), Egypt (1-0 in Asaba) and Poland (1-0 in Stadion Miejski, Wrocław). They lost four of the friendly matches and drew the remaining six.

While Friday’s encounter was action-packed with the Eagles having more scoring chances than the Lions, who, however, won 1-0, yesterday’s game was a dour affair.

Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, tweaked his side with Terem Moffi, Abraham Marcus and Valentine Ozornwafor getting opportunities to show the gaffer what they can do.

While Nigeria lacked the urgency required of a team seeking revenge in the first half, they had a few scoring chances in the second half, but Kelechi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi could not make hay.

Speaking after the game, Rohr said his boys played under difficult conditions, adding, however, that the team is gradually taking a shape.

Nigeria’s next match will happen in the United States on July 4 when they face Mexico, perhaps, with the full complement of first-team stars available.

The team played without Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Joe Aribo, Victor Osimhen, Simi Nwankwo and Sodiq Umar, who missed the matches because of club …