The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has explained why the senators did not grill the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, during the ministerial nominees screening.

Akpabio cited Wike’s experiences as a governor and a minister under former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

The former Rivers governor was asked to take a “bow and go” after reading his brief profile and following an appeal by Senator Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers).

Akpabio noted that Wike was not thoroughly grilled because of his records having formerly served as a minister.

He said Wike had appeared before the Senate for screening when he was nominated as a minister by ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan.

“Having been nominated again for a ministerial position, there is no point asking him many questions,” Akpabio said.

[Punch]

The military government in Niger Republic, under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tchiani, is taking bold steps to consolidate on the Transitional regime and ward off threats of military invasion by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Accordingly, Niger on Sunday suspended export of uranium and gold to France with immediate effect.

Building up to the seven days ultimatum from the ECOWAS leaders to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger, General Tchiani noted that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to declare war against the military regime within one week. General Tchiani , however, sent a strong message to ECOWAS leaders that the military regime is looking forward to delivery of heavy weapons from Russia, which has become an ally of Niger.

General Tchiani, therefore, cautioned those collaborating with ECOWAS or the ousted Niger government, saying they are enemies.

Some stakeholders have also called for caution in the Niger crisis, noting that Guinea, Burkina Fasso, Mali, where military has succeeded in coup, may express solidarity with Niger Republic and support the military on the outbreak of war.

[NationalDaily]

President Bola Tinubu has warned federal institutions against “arbitrary increase in sundry fees payable” amid the hardship experienced by Nigerians due to fuel subsidy removal.

Dele Alake, special adviser to the president on communication and strategy, broke the news in a statement on Monday.

Tinubu also approved the removal of all restrictions on the students’ loan to ensure it is easily accessible by students.

“In line with his promise to ensure no Nigerian student abandons his or her educational pursuits as a result of lack of money and economic circumstances of their parents, President Tinubu has also approved the removal of all restrictions on the students’ loan to make it available to any student or household that may desire it,” the statement reads.

“Similarly, President Tinubu has directed the authorities in all Federal Institutions of higher learning to avoid arbitrary increase in sundry fees payable and where possible defer further increase so that parents and students don’t face too much difficulties.

“While it is important to reiterate that President Tinubu has directed release of over 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains to families in 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the government is working to ensure that vulnerable students can also benefit from conditional cash transfers and food distribution.

“The federal government salutes the courage, wisdom and partnership of Nigerian Students as our country navigates this challenging time.

“President Tinubu will continue to prioritise education and the needs of the students, improve welfare of teaching and non academic staff and invest in infrastructure to make our institutions of higher learning become more globally competitive.”

[TheCable]

Rejects Arbitrary Increase Of Fees

President Bola Tinubu has approved provision of buses to the students’ bodies of all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said the development was in furtherance of the President’s desire to ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal on students of higher institutions of learning,

“The desire of the President is to see that students can access their campuses without much difficulty as a result of higher transportation costs.

“The provision of the buses will also remove the burden of additional cost of daily commuting on parents and guardians.

“In line with his promise to ensure no Nigerian student abandons his or her educational pursuits as a result of lack of money and economic circumstances of their parents, President Tinubu has also approved the removal of all restrictions on the students’ loan to make it available to any student or household that may desire it,” the statement read

Alake added that the president also warned authorities of all federal institutions against “arbitrary” increase of fees.

“Similarly, President Tinubu has directed the authorities in all Federal Institutions of higher learning to avoid arbitrary increase in sundry fees payable and where possible defer further increase so that parents and students don’t face too many difficulties.”

“While it is important to reiterate that President Tinubu has directed release of over 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains to families in 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the government is working to ensure that vulnerable students can also benefit from conditional cash transfers and food distribution.

“The Federal Government salutes the courage, wisdom and partnership of Nigerian Students as our country navigates this challenging time.

“President Tinubu will continue to prioritise education and the needs of the students, improve welfare of teaching and non-academic staff and invest in infrastructure to make our institutions of higher learning become more globally competitive.”

A ministerial nominee, Prof Joseph Utsev, has generated controversy in the Senate over the age he started primary school.

Prof Utsev started primary school at the age of three according to his Curriculum Vitae.

Senator Mikhail Abiru (APC, Lagos) had drawn the attention of his colleagues to the CV of the nominee where it was stated that Prof Utsev was born in 1980, started Primary School in 1984 and completed his primary education in 1989.

Prof Utsev said he graduated as the best student from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi in the Department of Civil Engineering.

He proceeded to the same university in 2009 and graduated with Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in Water Engineering.

He is also the pioneer rector of the Benue State Polytechnic, a position he assumed in 2020.

“The polytechnic is a new institution as I speak now we have started session and that is where I am presently,” he said.

Senator Abiru asked the nominee to clarify the dates on his educational qualifications, saying there seemed to be confusion in his academic records.

Responding, the Benue nominee maintained that he was born in 1980 and graduated with first leaving school Certificate in 1989.

Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue) appealed to his colleagues to ignore the discrepancy pertaining to dates in his educational qualifications, claiming it may have been a result of typographical error.

“Looking at the resume that we have, the discrepancies that we have may have necessarily come from typographical error. I want to say at this point, records don’t lie and if you look at what we have there and explain action that he has given. I think we should give him a benefit of doubt.

“I have a point that I want to make here. I want to say that I come from a part of Benue state that is a minority. I want to appeal to my colleagues to approve the nominations of my professor from Benue state,” he said.

But Titus Zam, another Benue senator, disagreed with Moro’s submission, saying that there was no discrepancy in the academic records of the nominee.

“I am from Benue and the nominee is from my constituency,” he said.

At this point, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said said he would not entertain any question pertaining to the date in the academic records of the Benue nominee after Abba Moro approached him.

“I will not want to entertain anything on the issue of when he entered school again. Senator Abba Moro just pointed my attention to an important issue which the nominee will clarify,” Akpabio said.

In a move to bury the issue, Senator Elisha Abbo (APC, Adamawa) said the nominee is exceptionally brilliant like himself for starting primary school at the age of three.

“The nominee is exceptionally brilliant like me. I took entrance exam at the age of three and I won (sic),” he said.

The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said that President Bola Tinubu would not regret nominating him as a minister to serve under his administration.

Naija News reports that Wike, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, was named among the first batch of ministerial nominees sent to the Nigerian Senate last week Thursday by President Tinubu for confirmation.

Appearing before the Senate chamber today for screening, Wike said as a Governor, many lawmakers present at the Senate would attest to his administration’s achievements in Rivers.

According to him, what is important is the passion a leader has and the commitment to solving the challenges of his people.

The former governor recalled that he had invited top politicians and non-politicians to commission projects in Rivers.

Wike, who said he was celebrated as a hero during his handing-over event, vowed to replicate his wealth of experience in the ministerial position if confirmed.

Naija News reports that Wike was asked to ‘take a bow and go’ after reading out his CV during the ministerial nominee screening at the Senate chamber on Monday.

Watch the video below where Wike declared his passion for service:

There was drama in the Senate on Monday when lawmakers grilled a ministerial nominee from Benue State, Joseph Utsev, citing “discrepancies” in his biodata.

Utsev started his introductory comments at exactly 02:07pm immediately after the Senate screened ex-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

He told the lawmakers that he was born in Gboko, Benue State on December 2, 1980 and he attended the University of Agriculture, Makurdi where he studied Civil Engineering and graduated with a Second Class Upper in 2004.

Utsev said he observed the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kaduna in 2006.

The Professor of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering said he bagged his Master’s Degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2007 and further bagged a doctorate degree from same university in 2011.

However, Senator Tokunbo Abiru from Lagos East Senatorial District asked Utsev to clarify his biodata.

“You were born on December 2, 1980 but reading further down, you attended St John Primary School, Gboko, in 1989,” Abiru said. “I am wondering whether you finished secondary school in 1989 which suggest that you started primary school at the age of three to finish in 1989.”

“You also claim that you went to secondary school in 1995,” Abiru continued, adding that “what appeared a bit distorted” is that “you graduated in 2004 meaning that you probably would have spent nine years for your first degree”.

Abiru said, “I just need you to clarify those data starting from primary school, while it took you that long to get your first degree despite the academic brilliance you have exhibited.”

The nominee responded that he started primary school in the year 1984 and got his first school leaving certificate in 1989.

“I furthered to secondary school to 1990 to 1995, that was when I got my SSCE (Senior School Certificate Examination),” Utsev explained.

“I was actually supposed to pass out in 2003 but there was a prolonged strike by ASUU, I spent six years in the programme and that was why I graduated in 2004,” the nominee added.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio interjected and said the nominee probably finished nursery school at the age of three to start primary school at the same age.

“The question was you were born in 1980 and you had your first leaving certificate in 1989, that means that the period you should have been in nursery school at the age of four years, you were already in Primary one,” Akpabio said and the lawmakers had a good laugh.

Akpabio said the nominee was “exceptionally brilliant” and was three years when he started his primary education. “It’s possible that the nominee was a classmate of Senator Abba Moro”.

Taking the floor of the Senate, Moro, from Benue South Senatorial District, urged his colleagues to give the nominee the benefit of the doubt.

Akpabio thereafter said the discrepancy in Utsev’s biodata must have been a typo error.

However, a member from Benue North-West Senatorial District, Titus Zam Tartenger, raised Order 42 on personal explanation, saying that there is no discrepancy in the biodata of the professor.

Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Ishaku Abbo, said there was no discrepancy in Utsev’s biodata.

Abbo shared a “personal story” of how he sat for common entrance examination in Primary 3 and passed because he was “exceptionally brilliant”.

At exactly 02:53pm, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, in Akpabio’s temporary absence, asked Utsev to “bow and go and if there is anything we will get back to you”.

[Channels Tv]

Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission issued a warning targeting a scam company — Binance Nigeria Limited — operating under the same name as Binance as an unregulated and unregistered exchange.

Because the company is operating without any regulatory oversight, the SEC warned that “any member of the investing public dealing with the entity making such solicitation is doing so at his/her own risk.”

This is the second warning the Nigerian regulator has made about the scam company. In early June, the SEC said it was made aware of Binance Nigeria Limited and ordered the entity to “immediately stop soliciting Nigerian investors in any form whatsoever.”

The second warning echoes the June order of asking “platform providers, making such solicitations” to stop soliciting investors in Nigeria. 

Binance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the warning issued by its impersonator.

Outside of Nigeria, the real Binance has struggled with the regulatory environment in Europe and the US — despite the fact that Binance.US, not Binance, operates in the US.

Back in June, French authorities made an on-site visit to Binance as reports claimed that the global exchange was facing an investigation by French authorities. The global exchange, however, said that the on-site visit was “part of regulatory obligations to which all financial institutions must adhere.” It added that it spent “considerable time” and resources cooperating with “law enforcement globally.”

Binance has also withdrawn from multiple European countries as it struggles with registration. Europe recently passed the Markets in Crypto Assets Act (MiCA), which aims to regulate the crypto industry.

Last week, Binance “proactively” withdrew its application to operate in Germany, though earlier reports had stated that BaFin — Germany’s regulatory agency — had declined to issue a license last month. 

In June, Binance also announced its plans to exit the Netherlands and Cyprus. 

It’s not all bad news for Binance, however, as it did announce that it was one step closer to receiving full approval from Dubai’s regulatory agency. The Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority issued Binance a minimum viable product license on Monday, meaning that it will only need to receive a full market product license to offer more authorized services.

[blockworks]

A British Airways passenger who was overweight had to be hoisted out when he got stuck in his first class seat. 

The passenger was traveling from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos, Nigeria to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) on July 29, 2023.

The passenger was occupying seat 1A on the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, a first class seat. According to Seat Guru, a British Airways first class seat on a B777-300ER is 78 inches with a seat width of 22 inches. 

The aircraft landed safely at around 05:00 local time after the 6-hour flight. However, it was at this point that the passenger seated on 1A realized that he was stuck in his seat.

Flight attendants tried to help the passenger out of his seat, and kept him calm.

Various local media reported that an engineering note said: “A volumetric passenger is stuck in seat 1A. The plan is to remove the suite door and use a hoist to eject [him] from the seat.”

“The passenger was mortified. It’s astonishing because the seats are the most spacious available.It was as embarrassing as it can get for him — especially when a door in the cabin had to be removed,” a British Airways insider told The Sun. 

Overweight passengers have roused reactions from fellow plane passengers. 

In October 2022, American Airlines offered a travel credit to a passenger who complained of being “wedged” between overweight passengers on a flight. 

In 2015, an Australian passenger sued Etihad Airways after he claimed that he suffered back pain after being seated next to an overweight man on a flight.

Airlines have different policies regarding overweight passengers. For instance, United Airlines requires “customers who require extra seating” to purchase an additional seat in advance, while some airlines refund the purchase if one or more seats are available after flight takeoff.

President Bola Tinubu has informed Nigerians to expect many more tough policy measures to be introduced by his administration to reposition governance for efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.

Recall Tinubu in May 29, had announced removal of fuel subsidy and alongside the new forex regime. This, according to him, are already yielding positive results.

The President whose speech was read by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr George Akume on Saturday at the Gala/Award Nite, the concluding part of the 2023 Federal Civil Service Week celebration, said the main concern of his administration is to revamp the nation’s economy and improve the welfare of the citizens.

He said Nigeria now has the rare privilege of correcting the errors of the past in order to create the country of “our dreams”.

Recall that the announcement of complete removal of fuel subsidy by President Tinubu while delivering his inaugural speech at Eagle Square, Abuja on May 29, 2023, has led to increase in pump price of petrol twice. First, the price of the commodity jumped from N198/litre to N540 per litre on May 30, 2023, and further increased to 617 per litre.

Marketers have continued to blame the hike on market forces since the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol and the floating of the naira against the dollar, with many speculating that the cost of PMS could rise to as high as N 800 per litre. This has also come with consequential high-cost food items, transportation among others and attendant hardships being faced by Nigerians.

But speaking on Saturday night at the event held the International Conference Centre (ICC), Tinubu said: “The first two policies that I announced during my inauguration, namely the removal of the fuel subsidy and the new forex regime are already yielding positive results.

“We have received support and commendation from the global community for our courage in introducing these policy shifts.

“We shall, without delay, cushion the pains being experienced by our people as a result of these measures, through a number of well-targeted policy interventions aimed at giving adequate relief and succour to the great number of our long-suffering citizens,” he said.

Tinubu lamented that Nigeria is being confronted by a myriad of monumental challenges, which could have been conclusively and decisively addressed over the years, saying for the country to move forward, it has to be recalibrated and redefined in line with the dreams of the Founding Fathers.

The President noted that even though the event was a social gathering to unwind and appreciate the exemplary and commendable performance of deserving civil servants, he said it was also an auspices moment for him to talk to vision of his administration.