The ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration organised a meeting for Needs Assessment and Project Identification for Cross-Border Women in Development Networks (WID). The event took place in Accra, Ghana.

The primary objective of the meeting was to assess the needs and identify potential areas of intervention for women in border communities across ECOWAS Member States. This first phase of the meeting brought together representatives of Women Groups from Benin, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, and Nigeria.

Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the Commissioner in charge of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Touré-Litse. During his speech, he emphasized the importance of assessing the needs of women in development and exploring possible areas of intervention. He further highlighted the ECOWAS financial grant offered to the Women in Development Networks, which Member States can access to enhance women’s capabilities and provide support for small and medium-scale enterprises.

“The ECOWAS Commission and the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration remain committed to fostering regional integration and socioeconomic development within the region. Initiatives like the WID Networks in border communities play a vital role in advancing these objectives”, the Director affirmed.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission and the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration to foster Regional Integration and socioeconomic development within the region, spearheaded by initiatives like the WID Networks in border communities.

Mrs. Atinuke Folashade Oloni, the Representative from the Ministry in Charge of Women’s Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the Meeting, emphasized the significance of the meeting, highlighting that it marked a pivotal stride toward the actualization of the WID Networks.

During the meeting, several projects were endorsed to address the needs of women in border communities and ease mobility in region. These projects include:

Benin: Cross-border empowerment and transit centre for women (Centre Transfrontalier d’Autonomisation et de Transit pour les Femmes de Grand-Popo), to be based at the Hillacondji border;

Ghana: ECOWAS Cross-Border “On the Border Rest Stop” for Women, to be based at the Ghana-Togo and Ghana-Burkina Faso borders;

Guinea-Bissau: Women’s Transitional Shelter (Centro de Acolhimento Transitorio para las Mujeres), to be based at the border areas;

Nigeria: ECBCSP-Cross-Border Women Hub, to be based at the Seme-Krake border.

The Cross-Border Women in Development Networks (WID) Initiative was developed by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration in recognition of the important role of women towards regional integration and the implementation of the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme (ECBCSP). The main aim is to assess and identify critical areas of intervention in order to build the capacity of women in border communities and empower them through Trade, Agriculture, Healthcare, Education amongst others.

[africabusinesscommunities]

As part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA's official schedule of activities.

To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria's Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.

By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event. Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.

The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

As 130 economies explore CBDCs, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria have fully launched their versions, while G20 nations proceed cautiously.

According to the Atlantic Council Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) Tracker updated on Aug. 16, only three countries have fully launched their CBDCs: the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria. Eight advanced economies, including China and the UK, have also conducted CBDC pilots.

In a report provided by CoinGecko, emerging nations like the Bahamas and Nigeria are among a handful of nations that have strategically introduced CBDCs to enhance financial inclusivity and digitize their economic landscapes. 

The report notes that their economies’ relatively compact size and less intricate financial systems have facilitated quicker adoption rates. 

The study also highlighted that the utilization of Nigeria’s E-naira has been modest, with an estimated uptake of merely 6% of the population as of March 2023. 

Major economies late in exploring CBDC

On the other hand, larger advanced economies are exhibiting a more cautious approach, driven by apprehensions regarding potential disruptive effects on established banking systems and monetary policies. Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are dedicating considerable efforts to in-depth CBDC research before initiating any pilot endeavors, the report notes.

A noteworthy observation, exemplified by the ECCU, is that CBDC adoption extends beyond individual countries. Collaborative CBDC projects between countries or regions are gaining traction, including initiatives like the Stella project involving the European Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, and the Bank of England. 

Additionally, efforts like Project Jura, connecting France and Switzerland, and Project Icebreaker, involving Israel, Norway, and Sweden, underline the growing trend of cross-border CBDC ventures.

Amid the current landscape, 130 economies are exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). 

Prior instances of noteworthy CBDC advancements also deserve recognition. Uruguay claimed the distinction of being the first nation to embark on an expansive pilot program for its CBDC in 2017. 

Meanwhile, China’s foresight was evident as it took the mantle of the first G20 country to initiate CBDC research as early as 2014. Nevertheless, both Uruguay and China find themselves still entrenched within the pilot phase of CBDC development as of the time of the report.

The research also mentioned that China’s e-CNY, the digital Yuan, is leading the final testing phase among countries trying digital money. Chinese citizens enjoy direct access to the government’s e-CNY app, facilitating seamless yuan exchange for e-CNY at a fixed 1:1 ratio. 

Transactions involving this CBDC witnessed remarkable growth, reaching 1.8 trillion yuan by June 2023, a substantial escalation from the 100 billion yuan noted in August 2022.

In addition, several prominent economies are actively engaged in CBDC pilot programs. Among them, South Korea, Japan, and Canada command attention. The Bank of Korea is poised to conduct public testing of its CBDC in the upcoming year.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Project Jasper has collaborated with Singapore’s Project Ubin, jointly exploring cross-border testing strategies.

In contrast, the United States, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom (UK) remain engaged in extensive research and strategic evaluation of CBDC potential. 

However, the EU’s digital Euro initiative is in its nascent investigative phase, with an anticipated conclusion targeted for October 2023. This ongoing deliberation underscores these economic entities’ cautious and thorough approach toward CBDCs.

US against CBDC adoption 

In an interview granted exclusively to Forbes on Aug. 23, Rep. French Hill, a member of the House Financial Services Committee and the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion, commended the recent strides undertaken by the U.S. Federal Reserve in the direction of modernizing the country’s payment infrastructure with the introduction of FedNow, a payment service provided by the apex bank. 

While acknowledging these advancements, Hill remained steadfast in his viewpoint that a clear demarcation must exist between the initiatives associated with FedNow and the ongoing discussions surrounding the potential development of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

His belief supports the idea of keeping these projects separate to understand the unique goals and consequences of each one fully.

Hill recently introduced legislation prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC. The bill, called the Power of the Mint Act, was co-sponsored by Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA).

However, Hill is not the only one who is fighting against CBDCs.  Last April, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle W. Bowman clarified her stance, articulating that the perceived risks associated with Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) surpassed their potential benefits.

Adding to the discourse, Republican congressman Warren Davidson criticized the idea of a digital dollar in July. Davidson characterized CBDCs as tools capable of perverting money into instruments of coercion and control. 

Some U.S. politicians agree with Davidson’s concerns about the potential for CBDCs to be programmed in a way that could be used to control and coerce people.

Proponents of CBDCs say it would have advantages like boosting global competitiveness, while skeptics raise concerns about privacy, security, and its impact on the financial system.

In the ongoing narrative, it becomes increasingly apparent that the role of Congress will be decisive in shaping the nation’s digital currency trajectory.

[crypto]

 "Big Brother Naija" (BBNaija) is more than a television sensation in Nigeria; it's an embodiment of the nation's rich tapestry of culture and creativity. Augmented by the robust partnership with HFM (HF Markets), BBNaija beautifully articulates Nigeria’s heartbeat across various dimensions.

Celebrating the Cornucopia of Nigerian Cultures

 BBNaija serves as a cultural compass, guiding viewers through Nigeria's vast and varied landscapes. By embracing participants from distinct regions, it provides a panoramic view of traditions, dialects, and narratives, capturing the essence of Nigerian unity in diversity.

 An Unstaged Play of Real Emotions

The magnetism of BBNaija is in its raw authenticity. It chronicles the ebbs and flows of human interactions, from tender moments of affection to spirited disagreements, forging an intimate connection with viewers.

Spotlight on Rising Stars, Elevated by HFM

The symbiotic relationship with titans like HFM has transformed BBNaija from a mere platform to a launchpad for talent. Over its course, it has championed individuals who've transitioned from being housemates to household names in Nigeria's entertainment space.

 A Nexus for National Discourse

BBNaija's influence extends beyond entertainment. The issues aired and debated in the house resonate outside, provoking thought, generating discussions, and influencing societal perspectives.

 A Surge in Economic Possibilities with HFM's Handshake

Beyond the glitz and drama, BBNaija, in tandem with HFM, ripples through the economic corridors. The alliance generates a spectrum of opportunities in media, advertising, and ancillary domains.

 Continuously Reinventing Cultural Reflections

BBNaija's adaptability is its strength. Each season presents a renewed lens through which viewers can engage with evolving themes, challenges, and cultural expressions representative of modern Nigeria.

Concluding, "Big Brother Naija", when seen through the lens of its association with HFM, emerges as more than entertainment. It stands as a testimony to Nigeria's captivating canvas, highlighting cultural gems, championing fresh talents, and setting the tone for progressive dialogues.

Chamberlain Peterside, the Chief Executive Officer at Xcellon Capital Advisors, has indicated that Nigeria’s Ministries of Finance, Trade and Investment, and Telecommunications and Digital Economy are poised to propel foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country.

In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Peterside underscored that while Nigeria is partially prepared for business, additional immediate steps are necessary.

Wale Edun, the finance minister, holds a pivotal role within Tinubu’s ministerial cabinet, noted Peterside.

As the Coordinating Minister of Nigeria’s Economy, Edun’s responsibilities encompass driving economic growth and fostering foreign direct investment inflows, according to Peterside.

Additionally, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister for Trade and Investments, commands the second most crucial portfolio for attracting FDIs, as outlined by Peterside. Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister for Telecommunications and the Digital Economy follows suit with the third most significant portfolio for driving foreign investments into the nation.

Peterside elaborated that Nigeria has witnessed a surge in foreign direct investments into its digital economy, specifically in the financial technology (FinTech) sector.

This trend has brought in substantial investments that could potentially exceed $2 billion.

In Peterside’s assessment, if ranked, these three ministerial portfolios would stand out as the most instrumental in drawing foreign investments into Nigeria.

Concurrently, he stressed that concerns surrounding the country’s debt burden and the recent revelation by JP Morgan about significantly lower external reserves than previously assumed should influence decisions made by the highlighted ministries.
 The Q1/2023 GDP report context 

 In the Q1/2023 Capital Importation Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the total capital influx into Nigeria for the first quarter of 2023 amounted to $1,132.65 million, which is a decrease from the $1,573.14 million reported in the same period of 2022.  

Notably, the primary contributor to this capital inflow was portfolio investment, constituting 57.32% (equivalent to $649.28 million) of the overall capital imported during Q1 2023. 

Following closely, other investments accounted for 38.31% ($435.76 million), while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) represented 4.20% ($47.60 million).  

In terms of sectors, the banking industry saw the highest capital injection, recording an inflow of $304.56 million, making up 26.89% of the total capital brought in during Q1 2023.  

Subsequently, the production sector garnered $256.12 million (22.61%), and the IT Services sector secured $216.06 million (19.08%) in imported capital. 

[Nairametrics]

Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, has said no government can provide food to its entire communities.

The governor stated this while supervising the distribution of food items to 18,000 heads of households at Damboa Local Government Area on Monday.

Zulum noted that his government has identified and selected the most vulnerable citizens to be the beneficiaries of the subsidy removal palliatives to help cushion the effect of hardship in the state.

“I want you to take note that it is never feasible for any government, be it the federal government, state or local government, to provide food items to its entire communities.

“Following this, we have selected the most vulnerable persons across all local governments to help cushion the effect of hardship, Gwoza and Damboa in southern Borno are greatly affected by food shortage, and in Northern part, almost all the LGAs are experiencing food shortage apart from Kaga, Magumeri and Gubio, while in central, MMC and Jere have less of the hit,” he said.

[DailyPost]

Yemi Kale, former statistician-general of the federation, has faulted the new methodology used in computing Nigeria’s unemployment data.

Kale spoke on Arise Television’s Global Business Report on Monday.

On August 24, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics released a new report that pegged the unemployment rate at 4.1 percent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 and 5.3 percent in the previous quarter.

The new figure showed a difference of about 29.2 percent from the unemployment rate of 33.3 percent announced in 2020.

The NBS said the new methodology — introduced by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) — aligns with global best practices.

Reacting to the report, the former statistician-general said he had refused to change the country’s unemployment data-gathering methodology because it contradicted the system Nigeria operates.

Kale said during his time at the NBS, the committee in charge of reviewing the minimum number of work hours to count as employed, felt one hour did not make sense because the income generated within that time frame was not necessarily liveable.

The economist also stressed that the most important point of data is to “give policymakers the tools they need to understand the problems, proffer solutions, and monitor the impact of those problems”.

“If the policy and data are to match, policymakers need to come out to say that all they are promising Nigerians is one hour of employment, then the methodology works. But if the methodology is focused on one hour and policymakers are trying to look for full-time employment, the data won’t help them,” he said.

“It is only there for textbooks, researchers, and international comparison, and there is nothing wrong with that.

“The most important use of data is to provide information for policymakers, not for international comparisons. You have to ensure that your policymakers can use your data.

“This is why I resisted for 10 years because it did not make any sense in terms of providing the information that our policymakers need.

“So, the 20 hours was set because the committee that was set up, which included the ILO, university professors, UNDP, population commission, and CBN, presented their findings and they decided that one hour did not make sense because the income you will generate on an average from one hour’s work was not going to work.

“The 20 hours was decided on because it was agreed that if you work for that duration, you might be able to generate enough income that might sort of equate to what working one hour in the US is, then you have a bit more comparison.”

Kale, however, said unemployment figures from the NBS have always been in line with the international benchmark.

He said in many of the countries that pushed for the new standard, one hour of work made sense, adding that what the ILO had set was a base guideline and countries could tweak it to suit whatever their needs are.

The economist, therefore, said the new unemployment rate could be misleading to policymakers.

‘NEW METHODOLOGY QUESTION OF THE CHANGING WORLD’

In his response to Kale’s views, Wakili Ibrahim, the head of communications and public relations department at NBS, said times have changed and some Nigerians now earn from working for just one hour.

He insisted that the new methodology was in line with international standards.

“The new methodology is internationally accepted. All our neighbouring countries in Africa are using the new methodology of one hour,” Ibrahim told Punch.

“The world is changing. In high-tech countries, if you work for one hour, you can earn what somebody in a bank cannot earn in one year because of IT.

“Look at lecturers, a lecturer can go lecture for one or two hours, and they will pay him about N200,000 or N300,000 in one or two hours. So, what is the basis for ignoring those ones?

“It is the dynamic world that informed ILO and NBS to adopt this method to capture these people that spend one hour.”

Ibrahim added that if the new methodology was not used, “people will be left out when you use 20 hours as the minimum hour. It is not the question of NBS but the question of the changing world.”

[TheCable]

The 2023 BRICS Summit held at the Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa, from 22-24 August 2023, has come and gone. It was the 15th edition of the annual international conference normally attended by the heads of state or heads of government of the six member countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The Chairman of the 15th edition of the Conference and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa also invited the leaders of 67 countries to the summit of which several honoured the invitation. Nigeria sent its Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

BRIC is an acronym coined in 2001 by then Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O’Neill in a research paper that underlined the growth potential of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The grouping began to evolve as an informal club in 2009 as an initiative of Russia. South Africa became the first beneficiary of the group’s expansion in 2010 when it was admitted into its fold, changing the acronym from BRIC to BRICS. South Africa is the smallest member of the group in terms of population and size of the economy. Together, the BRICS countries account for more than 40% of the world population and a quarter of the global economy. Besides the formal goal of economic cooperation, members also seem united by an unspoken desire to engineer a multipolar world in which the hegemony of the current Western and US-dominated system is whittled down considerably, if not overthrown.

One of the important outcomes of the 2023 BRICS Summit was the invitation of six nations (from over 40 countries said to have indicated interest)  to join the group – Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The new members seem strategically selected – the admission of Ethiopia, one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and the permanent seat of the African Union, is symbolic. It is the same for Egypt, which connects Africa to the Arab world. Saudi Arabia joining BRICS would mean that the world’s largest crude oil exporter will find itself in the same economic bloc as the world’s biggest oil importer, China.  Also both Russia and Saudi Arabia are members of OPEC+, a group of major oil producers. Similarly the invitation to   Iran, home to around a quarter of the Middle East’s oil reserves and which shares the burden of Western sanction with Russia, seemed again to be carefully thought through not just in terms of oil politics but also for its influence in the Middle East.  Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi was said to have celebrated his country’s BRICS invitation with a swipe at Washington. He was quoted as saying that the BRICS’ expansion “shows that the unilateral approach is on the way to decay”.

The invitation to Argentina not only connects to the Latin American angle but also taps into the current sentiments in the country. With a triple–digit inflation, a steadily deteriorating value of the peso and an overwhelming burden of debt repayment on a $44bn loan agreement with the IMF, frustrations with the Western system and a yearning for an alternative path to development and international cooperation seem quite widespread in the country.

The UAE, another influential Middle East country, has been a friend of BRICS for quite some time. It joined the BRICS New Development Bank in October 2021, after it was established in 2015. The UAE which enthusiastically accepted the BRICS’ invitation, said it has consistently championed the value of multilateralism in supporting peace, security, and development globally.

Where is Nigeria in all these?

BRICS has come a long way since 2001 when it was first hyped. As many of the then BRIC economies began to face challenges and failed to live up to expectations,  investor attention was shifted from ‘emerging markets’ to ‘frontier markets’, a classification made up of economies smaller than those of the BRICs. Following from that, in late 2013, Jim O’Neil, the same Goldman Sachs analyst who created the BRIC acronym, popularized another acronym, MINT, which was coined by the Boston-based asset management firm Fidelity. MINT is a neologism referring to the economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. What was instructive about the four countries listed in the MINT club was that they were all members of the Next Eleven (also known as the N-11). The N-11 were eleven countries – Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, and Vietnam – identified by the same Jim O’Neill in a research paper on December 12 2005 as having a high potential of becoming, along with the BRICS, the world’s largest economies in the 21st century.

At the end of 2011, the top four countries in the N-11 – Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey (also known as MIKT) made up 73 percent of all Next Eleven GDP.  MINT simply meant that Nigeria was given South Korea’s spot in MIKT. To add to the wave of Nigeria-optimism at that time , Filipino billionaire, Enrique Razon, was quoted as declaring during the closing activities at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 2014, that Nigeria was the best place to invest in that year. Razon, who controlled a $4.7 billion fortune at that time, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, reportedly signed a deal to develop and operate a port in Lagos by 2016 in which he was to invest $225 million.

Essentially from 2005 (the Obasanjo years) until Buhari took over in 2015, the international optimism that Nigeria would be a breakout economy persisted. But in just eight years of the Buhari government, the optimism about Nigeria evaporated and the country became infamous for being pronounced the poverty capital of the World. This is one of the prices any country has to pay for an inept and nepotistic leadership.

I have read some commentaries by some Nigerians that BRICS is a mere hot air and that the country shouldn’t bother about it. With all due respect, I believe arguments like this are made either out of sheer ignorance of the dynamics of international economic relations or a consolation for being left out. The fact is that being located within important groupings like BRICS, even before it has fully taken shape, is itself power. It has emerged that Nigeria did not even apply to be a member of BRICS – either because it felt South Africa is taking a spot that should rightly belong to it (entitlement mentality) or because it wrongly believes in its own exceptionalism.

As Nigeria is pushed further out of relevance in an emerging bloc that has been consolidating since 2009 (despite intermittent challenges), there are fears that the West, suspected to be nudging the ECOWAS into war with Niger ostensibly to restore constitutional order in that country, may deceitfully try to move closer to the country to use her to blunt the current hurrah the BRICS expansion is generating across Africa. But I feel such, if it happens, will make Nigeria more of a pariah among African and BRICS countries.  I also believe that effective diplomacy should be able to make the country part of an evolving BRICS bloc without discarding old partnerships – as the UAE is apparently trying to do.

Given that the desire to be a counter weight to the current Western-dominated global system is a shared value among members of the BRICS, it should be expected that the issue of restructuring the United Nations’ Security Council will sooner than later come up again.  Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya had featured as possible African members in various permutations floated in the past on how the UNSC should be restructured to make it more inclusive. Africa, which has the largest members in the United Nations General Assembly, has always felt short-changed by the current structure of the UNSC where only five countries (USA, Britain, France, China and Russia) wield veto powers. Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who chairs the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), captured Africa’s expectations with the BRICS expansion  when he reportedly told the BRICS-Africa dialogue meeting in Johannesburg that the  “partnership between BRICS and Africa goes beyond convenience… It is a step that places Africa in its rightful position within the global order.”

With two more African countries set to become members of BRICS from January next year, Nigeria seems to have already lost out a potential membership of UNSC – at least for now. It is time for the country to wake up to the reality  that it is fast losing its clout in international affairs and  that it has not been sufficiently strategic  in its choices in international affairs.

Jideofor Adibe is Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841(Text or WhatsApp only).

Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, says the ministry has concluded plans to reintroduce monthly sanitation as part of strategies to keep the city clean.

Wike stated this in Abuja on Monday, after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

He said that he had already briefed President Bola Tinubu on the idea that at least two Saturdays in a month would be declared for sanitation from 7a.m. to 10 a.m.

According to him, the move would enable companies supporting the FCT with logistics to go to market, and other public places to evacuate refuse.

Wike said for Abuja to be clean, everybody has to cooperate.

“We must all make sacrifices. There is nothing like we are going to suffer. You also contribute to refuse.

“So, if you spare three hours on a Saturday at home, to clear the refuse and bring them out for us to evacuate and dispose of, then that is the little way you can help.

“We are appealing to you (residents) to cooperate with us so we can achieve our goals,” he said.

On streetlights, the minister said that there were some improvements.

“We are not there yet, but I can assure you that everywhere in Abuja will be lit up,” he said.

For those who have distorted the Abuja Master Plan, Wike said that the issue would soon be addressed.

Famous Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma has berated Nigerian youths who are into fraudulent activities on the Internet, saying they may not end well.

In a video posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday morning, the priest who spoke during a sermon, lamented how the internet fraudsters defraud innocent people of their hard earned money, stating that it would have been better if they target politicians.

Fr Oluoma said although some music artistes sing to endorse Yahoo, such lifestyle cannot be justified.

He said, “When you pursue wealth at the expense of fellow humans, you are trashing people to get a treasure that will be a trash in your life.

“I don’t understand when people who steal and dupe others get angry when ministers condemn it. Yahoo means a set of people who will just lock themselves in a house, look for somebody who is vulnerable using their computers and dupe the person everything he laboured for.

“Then the person becomes so broke after 30 to 40 years of labouring. You steal everything the person has and the person is dying of depression, High Blood Pressure and heart attack and you are comfortable.

“That some musicians even sing to endorse that kind of lifestyle means to you that it is normal?

“If Yahoo means tricking people, defrauding them of their hard earned money, leaving them penniless and they die of heart attack, how do you want to end well?

“Some people even consider it as a legitimate hustle. How can stealing be a legitimate hustle? If you are that kind of person, you can’t end well.

“If you are into such a thing, please don’t marry because if you marry and you give birth, your children will suffer the consequences.

“At least if you want to be a Yahoo, target politicians who are stealing money. But you won’t target such people, it is people who worked honestly. At least target the bad politicians so that on the last day you and God may have conversations on it”.