The son-in-law of former Borno State Deputy Governor, Adamu Shettima Yuguda Dibal, Abdulraman Sabo Maina has reportedly died.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Maina died on Sunday morning, barely five months after his marriage to Dibal’s daughter, Yasmin.

The couple got married in February 2024.

According to Daily Post, the family members, friends and the couple’s wedding photographer, Maigaskiya Studio, also confirmed the sad news on their social media pages.

In a post on Facebook, a family member, Usman Sabo Maina wrote in Arabic: “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihirrajiun Allah yayiwa kanina rasuwa Abdulrahman sabo Maina Allah ka gafarta mass.”

[TNG]

Following the lift of visa ban on Nigerian passport holders on Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has demanded that applicants pay a sum of N640,000 as non-refundable application fees for visas.

BusinessDay’s findings show that before the visa ban, the fee was $100. With the current naira to dollar exchange rate (N1,555), in the I & E window, it cost N155,500.

Also part of the requirements to visit UAE with a Nigerian passport is that applicants must obtain a Document Verification Number, (DVN) before applying for visa.

The N640,000 fee does not guarantee a visa to UAE as issued DVN will only be valid for 14 days of issuance or once the visa application has been processed by the visa application department (whichever of these come first).

These are in accordance to the new visa issuance guidelines established by the government of the UAE.

Several Nigerians have taken to their X handle to express their displeasure on the new visa fee.

NEFERTITI with X handle @firstladyship stated, “It is obvious the UAE don’t want Nigerians. They reluctantly unbanned the Nigerian passport, but slammed a hefty N640,000 on Nigerians.
“Guess what? The money is nonrefundable & has expiration date. This is see finish.”

Prince with X handle @Peco3D, state “This is just extortion in fine words. Shameless”

“This is exploitation and shameful if allowed by Nigeria government,” Lucky man with X handle
@Comr_lucky1 stated.

“You think FG constant solicitation was for mere Nigerians? The constant appeal from the Nigerian government to lift travel bans to the UAE appears to primarily benefit wealthy individuals and politicians seeking a haven for their ill-gotten wealth, rather than ordinary Nigerians,” MAYOR @Enokeran2016 with X handle stated.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation on Tuesday disclosed that the UAE has lifted the Visa ban on Nigerians travelling to the country.

The Minister made the announcement in a statement issued by Rabiu Ibrahim, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister on Monday in Abuja.

“You are aware that Nigeria has been discussing with the United Arab Emirates on the issue of Visa for Nigerian passport holders going to the United Arab Emirates.

“Today, an agreement has been reached on that, and effective from today July 15, Nigerian passport holders are able to obtain Visa to go to the United Arab Emirates.

“I can tell you that the agreement has been reached and effective from today, Nigerian passport holders intending to travel to the UAE are able to do so,” said Idris.

The UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigeria about two years ago due to various diplomatic disputes.

Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline halted flights to Nigeria because the Central Bank of Nigeria couldn’t remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.

In June, following several meetings with the UAE government, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that the visa ban would soon be lifted. In the same month, the Nigerian government announced that it had paid 98 per cent of $850m.

[Businessday]

The cost of living in Nigeria continues to rise, with June 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) data showing a consistent increase in inflation rates across both all items and food, affecting the daily lives of people in states.  

The latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the nation’s inflation rate at 34.19% in June 2024.

Inflation continues to bite hard across Nigeria, with varying impacts on different states.  

Also, food inflation, currently at 40.87%, drives all-item inflation rates for some states. However, inflation is gradually declining for several states on this list.   

Based on the latest data from the NBS, here are the 10 most expensive states in Nigeria as of June 2024: 

#10 Lagos 

After dropping out of the list for about two consecutive months this year and returning as the ninth then fifth most expensive state in Nigeria, Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria, has an all-item inflation rate of 36.37% for June 2024, slightly lower than the previous month’s rate of 37.39%. Despite this decrease, food inflation remains high at 40.64%, though it is also down from 43.03% in May 2024.  

#9 Jigawa 

Leaving its sixth position on the previous month’s list, Jigawa’s all-item inflation rate of 36.42% in June 2024 shows a marginal decrease from 37.34% in May. Similarly, food inflation has reduced to 41.19% from 42.57%.  

#8 Osun 

Leaving its fourth position in May 2024, Osun State drops to the eighth position, as its inflation rate for all items stands at 36.58% for June 2024, a slight decrease from May’s 37.45%. Food inflation remains a significant concern, recorded at 43.23%, down from 44.57% the previous month.   

#7 Kwara 

From its 10th position in May 2024, Kwara State took a step forward, with an increase in its inflation rate. 

Kwara’s all-item inflation rate increased slightly to 36.64% in June 2024 from 36.19% in May. Food inflation remains high and relatively stable, at 44.57% compared to 44.66% the previous month.    

#6 Abia 

From being seventh on the previous month’s list, Abia recorded an all-item inflation rate of 37.04% in June 2024, slightly up from May’s 36.75%. 

Food inflation also rose to 44.28% from 44.01%. The state continues to experience upward pressure on food prices, contributing significantly to its overall inflation. 

#5 Ondo 

A newcomer to the list of the most expensive states in Nigeria, Ondo’s inflation rate for June 2024 increased to 37.05% from 35.61% in May. 

Food inflation also climbed to 43.48%, up from 41.29%. These increases indicate growing economic pressures on consumers in the state, particularly related to food prices.  

#4 Rivers 

Another newcomer to the list, Rivers State saw its all-item inflation rate rise to 37.20% in June 2024 from 36.00% in May. 

Food inflation also increased, reaching 43.22% compared to 41.61% the previous month. The state’s economic dynamics show substantial inflationary pressures, particularly in the food sector.  

#3 Oyo 

Maintaining the third position on the list for the third time, Oyo’s inflation rate rose to 39.14% in June 2024 from 37.72% in May. 

Food inflation also saw an increase, reaching 44.37% from 43.26%. These figures highlight ongoing economic challenges, particularly in managing food prices. 

#2 Kogi 

Kogi used to be the most expensive state in Nigeria consecutively. However, it has been unseated in May 2024, falling to the second position. 

Maintaining this second position, Kogi experienced an all-item inflation rate of 39.91% in June 2024, up from 39.38% in May. Food inflation remained almost steady, slightly increasing to 46.37% from 46.31%. This reflects persistent high inflation in the state, particularly in food costs. 

#1 Bauchi 

For the second time, Bauchi tops the list with an all-item inflation rate of 43.95% for June 2024, up from 42.30% in May. 

Interestingly, its food inflation rate is lower compared to other states, at 34.78%, down from 34.35%. This disparity suggests that while general prices are high, food prices have been relatively more stable in Bauchi. 

[Nairametrics]

The Osun State Government has issued a public alert on the security breach of Governor Ademola Adeleke‘s official telephone number.

The compromised number, +234 803 365 7555, is reported to have been hacked, leading to potential fraudulent communications being sent from it.

In a statement released by the Governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the public has been strongly advised to disregard any calls or messages received from the hacked number.

“Members of the public should ignore any such communications as they are not authorized by the Governor,” Rasheed emphasized.

The state government is actively taking measures to address the breach and restore security to the Governor’s communication channels.

An investigation into the incident is underway, and efforts are ongoing to prevent future occurrences.

Residents and officials have been urged to report any suspicious activities or interactions related to the compromised number.

The government promises to keep the public updated as they work to resolve the situation and strengthen security measures around the Governor’s telecommunications.

Naija News understands that this is not the first time the phone number of a state Governor will be hacked as the Cross Rivers State Governor, Bassey Otu, on the 11th of February, 2023, saw his phone numbers hacked by criminals.

[Naijanews]

A driver of a bus, together 18 passengers in the vehicle were last week kidnapped by gunmen in Akwa Ibom State.

Police authorities in the state confirmed the abduction on Tuesday, stating that the incident occurred along the Azumini boundary between Akwa Ibom and Abia states.

The ill-fated bus which departed the Uyo Terminus, was traveling through Iwukem in Etim Ekpo local council area of Akwa Ibom before it was intercepted by the gunmen.

Eyewitnesses, who requested anonymity, revealed that the assailants halted the bus by firing shots into the air.

More gunmen emerged from the bush to join the initial gang in the shooting before ordering all passengers to disembark from the bus under the death threat.

“The driver was the first person to come down. Other passengers were ordered to follow suit immediately. The kidnappers moved all of them to the bush and escaped with them. The passengers’ whereabouts are not known for now,” a source disclosed to Channels Television.

Akwa Ibom State’s Police Public Relations Officer,
ASP Timfon John, confirmed the incident in a phone conversation with Channels Television.

“The state police command is aware and is still monitoring the situation. All I can say is that the police are still monitoring the situation now,” ASP John added.

[Leadership]

The Federal Government has  announced the release of  results of the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Unity Colleges and Federal Government Academy (FGA), Suleja.

NCEE is for admission into Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) of Federal Unity Colleges and this year’s edition was written on Saturday, June 1, 2024 in Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo.

Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu,  while announcing the results on Tuesday in Abuja said, 71,291 candidates registered for the 2024 NCEE and 66,931 candidates sat for the examination, while 4,360 were absent.

He said: “Out of the maximum obtainable score of 210, one candidate obtained the highest score of 203, while 13 candidates obtained the lowest score of 1”

Sununu noted that this year, 52 candidates (2 candidates from Lagos State and 50 candidates from Rivers State) were involved in examination malpractice.

[DailyTrust]

The Supreme Court judgement on July 11, granting financial autonomy to the 774 local councils and recognising them as the third tier of Nigeria’s governance architecture, was truly historic. It was perhaps the most remarkable judgement ever delivered by the apex court in recent times, as it used its power to interpret the law to give a different meaning to Section 162 of the Constitution.

Since 1999, governors have used this section to withhold and tamper with the funds federally allocated to the councils, using a joint account that has proven to be a honeypot of abuse.

Last Thursday, the Supreme Court described the payment of the allocations to the account as gross misconduct and scolded the governors for dissolving democratically elected councils and setting up caretaker committees.

The court ruled that caretaker committees are illegal and that councils run by them should not receive the federal allocation.

Henceforth, the court ruled that the allocations should go directly to the accounts of the 774 local councils.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgment, said Nigeria runs a three-tier governance structure, where no one tier is subject to the whims and caprices of the other. He criticised the governors and the state assemblies for almost allowing the councils to go into extinction with their treatment of them.

The judgment was generally well received by Nigerians. According to reports, the verdict ignited jubilation by workers in some local councils as they sang the praises of the Tinubu administration.

The Kano State Government on Tuesday filed fresh charge against former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje.

In the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, the state government accused Ganduje and erstwhile Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, of Criminal Conspiracy, and misappropriation contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.

The offence, the state government said, is contrary punishable under Section 97 and Section 315.

The state government accused Ganduje and Lawan of abuse of office.

In the charge sheet, the state government said it intends to present four witnesses.

No date has been fixed for the arraignment.

[DailyPost]

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has asserted that the federal government is not constitutionally superior to state governments, emphasizing that the Oyo government is best suited to determine what is good for its people.

During an emergency consultative stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Governor Makinde addressed the implications of a recent Supreme Court judgment that granted autonomy to local government councils across Nigeria.

He highlighted a gap created by this judgment in relation to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I’ve been reading a lot of sensational headlines in the newspapers,” Governor Makinde said.

“They claim, ‘The governors’ hands have been tied; this is a first for Nigeria.’

This morning, NULGE declared, ‘With this judgment, there’s now freedom in the land.'”

In the meeting, Governor Makinde proposed discussing the Supreme Court’s decision on the financial autonomy of local government councils.

He pointed out that the judgment has created a constitutional gap.

“We all swore to uphold the constitution,” he stated.

“But when laws conflict, it’s our duty to find our own solutions for transparency and effective operation. When elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.”

Governor Makinde recalled that since his administration began, Oyo State has conducted local government elections twice.

“When I was sworn in on May 29, 2019, I dissolved the local government councils,” he said. “The Supreme Court has now stated that governors do not have the right to dissolve these councils. So why did I dissolve them then? It was because elections were held into the LCDAs, and the Supreme Court has clarified that there are only 774 local governments in Nigeria.”

He emphasized the need to address confusion and ensure the stability of structures within the state. “We will address the major challenges at the local government levels and develop our own solutions,” he said.

“Addressing these challenges will ensure seamless implementation of processes that allow Oyo State to continue running smoothly.”

Governor Makinde also addressed the issue of local government elections in Oyo State, noting that the state does not have caretaker committees at the local level.

“We planned the elections meticulously so that not a single day was wasted,” he explained.

He reaffirmed the responsible administration in Oyo State and the state’s capability to make decisions that benefit its people.

“We don’t need the federal government to tell us what to do; we know what’s best for our people,” he declared.

“When we took over in 2019, the local governments were burdened with backlogs of salaries, gratuities, and pensions. Oyo State will emerge stronger from this.”

In conclusion, Governor Makinde stated, “Constitutionally, the federal government is not superior to the state government; their jurisdictions are coordinate. So, we will continue to do what is right in Oyo State, as we have been doing.”

[Tribune]

Another member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams, has reportedly died. 

Adams, who represented Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna State as a first-time member, reportedly died after a protracted illness. 

Until he died on Tuesday morning, he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports.

An ex-footballer with Remo Stars, he was once a General Manager of Kada City Football Club of Kaduna and elected on the platform of the Labour Party during the last general election. 

He is the second member of the House to die within the last seven days after Hon. Akinremi Olaide representing Ibadan North and the fourth member to die since the inauguration of the House in June 2023.

As at the time of filing this report, the House spokesman, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi and the Chairman of the Kaduna caucus, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji could not be reached for confirmation.