The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Students carpet Buhari for extending use of old N200 note only

    Students carpet Buhari for extending use of old N200 note only

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) have berated President Muhammadu Buhari for lifting restrictions on the use of old N200 notes only.

    The students’ bodies said Buhari should have listened to the voices of Nigerians by sacking the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele for insisting on the new naira policy which according to them had brought untold hardship on Nigerians.

    The students stated this in a statement jointly signed by the Ogun State Chairman of NANS, Comrade Kehinde Simeon and the National President of NAOSS, Comrade Oluwagbemileke Ogunrombi in Abuja on Thursday.

    Buhari, in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday morning, announced the old N500 and N1,000 notes remained illegal while only the old N200 note is legal tender.

    But the students’ bodies said the President’s decision might further aggravate the tension in the country and push Nigerians into more violent protests.

    They said: “It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to take into consideration the plight of Nigerians in taking his decision. This new development may snowball into total unrest in the country if proactive action is not taken.

    “The fact remains that N200 notes are not as much in circulation as N500 and N1000. This is because many ATM machines do not dispense N200 notes.

    Read Also : Buhari under attack for disobeying Supreme Court on cash swap

    “It is now clear that the President and the CBN governor are now working together against the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of the country.

    “Because how else can you explain President Buhari’s refusal to sack the CBN governor who has foist an anti-people policy on Nigerians, despite the nationwide cry that Emefiele should be removed?

    “This is the same CBN governor that bought the Presidential nomination form of the APC even as the governor of the apex bank. It is clear that both Emefiele and Buhari are working against Nigerians.

    “President Buhari and Emefiele have inflicted untold hardship and pain on innocent Nigerians with the unpopular naira redesign policy and Nigerians have shown their opposition to the policy, but Buhari and Emefiele have remained adamant.

    “The question we want to ask President Buhari is that, is Emefiele bigger than the entire people of Nigeria that the policy cannot be reversed?

    “Is Buhari not in charge of the country that he has find it difficult to yield to the demands of Nigerians and sack Emefiele?”

  • Falegan shades Nkechi Blessing, unveils new lover

    Falegan shades Nkechi Blessing, unveils new lover

    Opeyemi Falegan actress Nkechi Blessing’s former beau has slighted her while unveiling his new lover.

    The politician shared a video clip of his Valentine’s Day outing with a new partner whose face is well hidden.

    Unlike his ex who has been flaunting her new man ceaselessly on her social media pages, Falegan insisted he would keep his new relationship private until things were concretised.

    While assuring the online community he had no intention of going on some dating spree with different women, the ‘prospective governor of Ekiti State’ dissed his ex, stating he had ‘closed all doors on expired blessings’.

    Read Also : I made over N1m from twerking- Nkechi Blessing

    “We will keep it private until it’s permanent, no face no case. Nobody would count the number of my relationships for me on social media.

    “Won’t be a serial date on social media I can assure you that.

    “I am a lover boy and also in a healthy relationship/attachment. Have closed all doors on expired blessings,” he said.

  • Buhari’s disregard for court orders legendary – HURIWA

    Buhari’s disregard for court orders legendary – HURIWA

    Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Thursday said the appetite of President Muhammadu Buhari for flouting court orders has become public knowledge with his placement of a blanket ban on old N500 and N1,000 notes despite an order of the Supreme Court to the contrary.

    HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said Buhari had in a similar fashion disobeyed an Appeal Court ruling granting unconditional bail to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in 2022.

    The group said Buhari is laying a bad precedent by disobeying court orders which is crucial for the sustenance of democracy and its values.

    HURIWA said Buhari should know enough that democracy is about the rule of law and not by fiat and decree as done by military Heads of State.

    The group cautioned that the President should not rule Nigeria like a country under military rule.

    Many protests and vandalisation of banks and ATM outlets rocked States like Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Delta, Oyo, Ogun and others in reaction to the hardship faced by the common man over the naira redesign policy.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) extended the deadline for the swap of old N200, N500, and N1,000 from January 31 to February 10 following complaints by many Nigerians but the Supreme Court ruled the Federal Government, the CBN and commercial banks must not continue with the deadline pending the determination of a notice in respect of the issue on February 22.

    Read Also : Buhari under attack for disobeying Supreme Court on cash swap

    But the President, in a national broadcast on Thursday, ordered the apex bank to release old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days.

    He said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender in Nigeria.

    Onwubiko said: “The President’s knack for the disregard of law and order is legendary as displayed again on Thursday morning during his broadcast on the naira redesign policy. HURIWA rejects the President’s fiat and demand his compliance with the Supreme Court order directing that status quo be maintained on the matter till its hearing on February 22.

    “The deaths and killings of protesters angry over the artificial scarcity of new naira notes by security agents is also condemnable. We, therefore, call for the arrest and prosecution of the trigger-happy soldiers and police over the extrajudicial execution. We also demand the prosecution of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele for complicity in the killings since he created the whole chaos in the first instance”.

  • ‘Burning of patrol vans will impede distress call response’

    ‘Burning of patrol vans will impede distress call response’

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, has reacted to the burning of two police vans by soldiers.

    On Wednesday, a mob of soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 174 Battalion in Ikorodu allegedly razed two patrol vehicles and allegedly attacked Ogijo Division to protest the murder of their colleague.

    The deceased’s soldier was said to have been stabbed to death by a Police Corporal during a fight at Odogunyan Bus Stop in Ikorodu.

    Enraged by the murder of their colleague, soldiers from the battalion reportedly went on a revenge mission and burnt two patrol vehicles belonging to Ogijo Police Station.

    Stating the implication of the angry mob action, Hundeyin explained it has further reduced the capacity of the police in responding to distress calls.

    Read Also : One injured in Lagos eatery attack

    According to the PPRO, the police had a tough time responding to distress calls swiftly due to insufficient patrol vans.

    He noted with the recent razing of the two patrol vans that were being managed by the force around the Ikorodu axis where the incident took place, it would now be almost impossible to respond to such calls.

    He stated this via his Twitter handle on Thursday where he expressed his stance in Pidgin English.

    “Two patrol vans wey we dey manage for dat axis, dem burn am. Di capacity to respond to distress call, wey no reach before, don dey further reduced,” he tweeted.

  • Tinubu felicitates with El-Rufai at 63

    Tinubu felicitates with El-Rufai at 63

    The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has eulogised the leadership virtues of Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who turns 63 on Thursday.

    The commendation was contained in his goodwill message to mark the 63rd birthday of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

    Tinubu, in the felicitation by his media assistant, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, in Abuja on Thursday described El-Rufai as a committed public servant who has exhibited high level of competence in the various public offices he has held.

    “I join friends and family members in celebrating the cerebral technocrat and administrator,” he began.

    The APC standard bearer applauded El-Rufai for being “a strong-willed man who gives his all to any cause he believes in”.

    Read also : Between El Rufai and Lai Muhammed

    “Mallam El-Rufai has admirably moved from an ‘accidental public servant’ to a well-accomplished polished one whose achievements are admired by both friends and foes.

    “As a politician and patriot, Mallam El-Rufai has played vital roles at different junctures of our recent political developments, especially in the events leading to the formation of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.

    “He has continued to make useful contributions within the party and our campaign to achieve victory in the coming election so that we can give people renewed hope in a better, stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.”

    The presidential hopeful prayed for more wisdom and good health for the Kaduna governor to enable him to offer more to the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria.
    End.

  • Burna Boy, Tems, Rema for NBA All-Star Game 2023

    Burna Boy, Tems, Rema for NBA All-Star Game 2023

    Grammy award-winning singers Burna Boy and Tems with Afro-rave sensation Rema are set to headline the NBA All-star game 2023 halftime show.

    The Afrobeats-themed will see Nigerian’s global super stars perform in Utah, United States of America on Sunday, February 17.

    The NBA Communications in charge of official league news and information directly from NBA PR shared the information on Wednesday night on its official Twitter handle.

    Read Also : MCSN congratulates Tems, calls on Fed Govt to fund NCC

    It wrote: “GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer @burnaboy, 2023 GRAMMY Award-winning singer and Oscar-nominated singer and producer @temsbaby and rapper and singer @heisrema will headline the NBA All-Star Game 2023 halftime show with an Afrobeats-themed performance.

    “Prior to tip-off, global superstar @PostMalone will perform a medley of hits following the first-ever in-arena NBA All-Star Draft (7:30 p.m. ET), and
    @vindiesel, star of the upcoming “Fast X” movie, will welcome fans to the evening.

    “Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck who produced, directed and stars in the upcoming film “AIR,” which will be exclusively in theaters globally April 5, will introduce the 2023 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game participants at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN on Friday, Feb. 17.”

  • NECO blacklists four supervisors

    NECO blacklists four supervisors

    The National Examination Council (NECO) has recorded a sharp rise in the number of malpractice cases in the 2022 External Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with 11,419 cases of malpractice recorded.

    The Council has also blacklisted four supervisors for aiding and abetting and poor performance during the external examination.

    Read Also : Rivers spends N3b for WAEC, NECO registration annually, says Wike’s aide

    The NECO Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi disclosed this when he released the 2022 SSCE External results at the NECO Headquarters in Minna.

  • I was highly criticised after debut in ‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent’ – Idia Aisien

    I was highly criticised after debut in ‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent’ – Idia Aisien

    Fast-rising actress Idia Aisien has stated she received criticism for her not being Igbo and light-skinned in her debut role in the movie, ‘Nneka the Pretty Serpent’.

    The 1994 horror-mystery classic was remade in December 2020 with Aisien playing the lead role alongside Bovi Ugboma, Bimbo Ademoye, Zack Orji, Shaffy Bello, Beverly Osu and Ndidi Obi.

    She explained the Nigerian audience precisely left her heartbroken with their criticism as they expressed disappointment for having to see a dark-skinned, non-Igbo lady play the role of Nneka which was originally acted by a light-skinned, Igbo Nollywood veteran, Ndidi Obi.

    However, the Nigerian-Cameroonian noted she was highly compensated by the positive reviews that her role in the movie attracted from the international scene.

    Speaking in an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, the 31-year-old movie star said: “When it first came out in the cinemas, I was a little bit heartbroken by some of the comments that people were leaving.

    “Comments about me not being light-skinned or Igbo, about me destroying what meant something to a lot of Nigerians. Nigerians loved their veteran actors. They love their Nollywood classics.

    Read Also : Promoting reading, spelling culture among pupils

    “So, it was something that I just wished people could see how much passion went into it at the time.

    “But, with the international market, and the kind of feedback we are getting, I am getting messages from the Philippines, French Guiana, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, and Los Angeles.

    “I was hurt at first because Nneka is a fictional character and anyone could bring something different to the character but I don’t think that tribe and skin colour should matter.

    “I mean, Black Panther was Americans pretending like they are in Africa. A lot of people who criticised it (the film- Nneka the pretty serpent), criticised it because of the choice of Nneka, which broke my heart.

    “When Nneka came out, some were like, ‘we heard Idia killed it o’. This very famous female said, ‘abeg, I am sure she paid for that job’.

    “She saw me recently and was nice to me. She said she finally watched it, and it was great, but you know when you hear stuff, it’s like, ‘do I take the one I heard you say’. or ‘do I take how you feel now that you have watched it’. This is why it is important to give people a chance.”

  • Buhari off to Addis Ababa for AU Summit

    Buhari off to Addis Ababa for AU Summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to depart Abuja on Thursday for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU).

    A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, also said Buhari will participate in three high-level meetings at while he is in Addis Ababa.

    The statement, which revealed the theme of the Summit to be “Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation,” also explained Buhari would be attending an extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on the sidelines of the Summit.

    “The President will participate in three High Level meetings on peace and security, climate change and the political situation in some West African countries.

    “First is the Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting of Heads of State and Government on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (AUPSC High Level AU), to be chaired by the President of South Africa, in his capacity as the Chair of the Council for the month of February.

    Read Also : Currency Swap: Buhari orders arrest, prosecution of saboteurs

    “Second is the meeting of the Committee of the Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), currently chaired by the President of Niger Republic.

    “On the margins of the annual meetings of the AU, President Buhari will also attend an extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

    “The Nigerian leader will deliver remarks at these events as well as present his National Statement at the opening session of the Summit, which brings together leaders from the AU member countries as well as a number of non-AU countries and international institutions accredited to the AU in Addis Ababa,” the statement reads

    The President, who would be accompanied on the trip by some Ministers and other top government officials, will return to Nigeria on Monday, February 20.

  • Tiwa Savage makes acting, directing debut in ‘Water and Garri’

    Tiwa Savage makes acting, directing debut in ‘Water and Garri’

    Afrobeats songstress Tiwa Savage is set to make her acting debut as the lead cast in a new movie.

    The singing sensation will also be making her directing debut in the movie titled: ‘Water and Garri’.

    The title coincidentally happens to be the same with Tiwa’s second EP, which houses five tracks and was released in August 20, 2021.

    In the movie, while in the city of Cape Coast in Ghana, the Number 1 African Bad Gyal plays the role of a fashion designer with a budding career in the U.S. who returned to her home in Africa to confront the guilt she left behind.

    The movie co-directed by Tiwa alongside Meji Alabi also starred Jemima Osunde, Mike Afolarin and Andrew Bunting.

    Read Also : I don blow, says excited Portable as Tiwa Savage replies Instagram message

    Tiwa also wrote and performed the film’s original soundtrack and is an executive producer through her ‘Everything Savage’ company.

    Sharing a post of a picture of her on set with other directors via her Instagram, the 43-year-old screen diva wrote: “This is about to be an ICONIC moment. My first calling and co-directing debut with the GOAT @meji Alabi.”