Hafizu Inuwa, chairman of the investigation committee on the tanker explosion in Majia, Jigawa state, has submitted a report to Umar Namadi, governor of the state.

In October, a tanker laden with petrol exploded at Majiya town, along the Kano-Hadejia expressway in Taura LGA on October 14, 2024

Initially, Namadi informed President Bola Tinubu that 181 people died and 210 families were affected in the explosion.

The governor subsequently constituted a committee headed by Inuwa, a deputy inspector-general of police, to find out the remote cause of the explosion and advise the government.

The report indicated that 209 persons were confirmed dead in the fire incident.

Inuwa said the findings revealed that damaged pumps, potholes, night driving and excessive speed were some of the causes of the explosion

He said the committee engaged with key stakeholders, visited health facilities, and consulted with affected communities.

“I am saddened to inform His Excellency that the incident led to the total loss of two hundred and nine (209) lives. 38 are on admission and 61 discharged. One hundred and sixty-seven (167) families were affected. It was further discovered that the inferno resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira,” he said.

“The findings revealed that several factors contributed to the fire, including damaged speed bumps and potholes near the scene, night driving, and excessive speed. It was noted that the fire likely ignited due to friction between metallic containers and hard surfaces as victims attempted to scoop spilled fuel.”

On his part, the governor commended the efforts of the committee for their “timely” report and assured them that the government would review the document for “quick implementation”.

On November 13, another petrol tanker exploded along the Jigawa-Kano border in Dutse LGA of the state.

Aliyu M. A, public relations officer of the state’s fire service, said the fire was contained and brought under control.

Nollywood actress, Abimbola Craig, has asserted that ‘marriage is a scam’.

The movie star made this known in an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, on the ‘WithChude’ podcast.

The actress critiqued traditional marital roles where women are often burdened with home management and catering to their partners, referring to the title “Mrs” as the acronym for “Master’s in Residential Servicing”.

Abimbola Craig stated that her decision to remain single is not because she opposes marriage but because she values a partner with self-awareness and purpose.

She said, “All marriage is a scam. When I was small, my mum always told me marriage is an institution. She said when they call you ‘Mrs,’ it stands for ‘Master’s in Residential Servicing’.

“I am not married, not because I do not want to be married, but if you are a man who does not know who he is, you cannot be with me.”

Abimbola Craig is popularly known for her role as ‘Tiwalade’ in the hit web series ‘Skinny Girl in Transit’.

She has also made her mark as a producer, co-producing the 2019 box office hit ‘Sugar Rush’ alongside Nigerian filmmaker, Jade Osiberu.

A Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA test) analysis has revealed that Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior, hails from Cameroon.

The test result recently presented to the player uncovered his ancestral ties to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

Naija News understands that the DNA test was conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com.

The findings were revealed on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, during a ceremony held at Fonte Nova, where Vinicius was awarded a certificate that attests to his heritage.

According to Foot Boom, Vinicius received this certificate in the presence of his father, Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira, and the CBF president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, shortly before Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.

This initiative is part of the CBF’s ‘Roots of Gold’ campaign, which aims to honour the history and pride of the Afro-Brazilian community, especially within the realm of football.

Speaking at the event, Rodrigues emphasized the broader significance of the initiative, stating, “To celebrate Vini Jr. is to celebrate the success of all Brazilians. By knowing his origins, we reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive society, recognising the fundamental role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and our success in global football.”

Moment Vinicius Junior was presented a certificate that confirmed his root after DNA Test

The founder and president of AfricanAncestry.com, Gina Paige, highlighted the importance of reconnecting individuals of African descent with their roots.

“Vini Jr. carries within him the desire to honour his heritage. However, like many individuals of African descent, his ancestral story has been erased by racism and the legacy of slavery. Through a DNA test, we discovered that Vini Jr.’s ancestors belong to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

“We believe that Vini’s reconnection with his African roots is a powerful ‘act of resistance,’ in line with his advocacy for social justice both on and off the football pitch,” Page stated.

Remarking on the development, the player’s father said: “It’s important for us to know where we come from. Many Brazilians don’t know their ancestry or heritage. I’m happy we are from Cameroon too.”

Vinícius celebrated his recently discovered heritage by wearing a distinctive jersey adorned with the flags of Brazil and Cameroon during the match, which concluded with a score of 1-1.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cautioned members of the public against fake Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) messages, purporting to show that foreign currency funds have been transferred to them by foreign entities.

SWIFT is a network that banks use to communicate with each other securely, mainly to give instructions for transferring funds between accounts.

In a press release signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, the apex bank said that in recent times there has been an increase in cases of fake SWIFT messages being presented as evidence that funds have been remitted to a beneficiary’s bank account within the country whereas no such transaction actually took place.

The regulator, which advised members of the public to be careful with unauthentic SWIFT messages, said it will not hesitate to report any bank customer, “making unsubstantiated and illegitimate claims to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.”

The press statement reads: “Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been inundated with claims by private entities, individuals, law firms and government agencies that foreign currency funds allegedly transferred to them by foreign entities have yet to be credited to their accounts with Nigerian banks. In some instances, the claimants alleged that the funds were withheld by either the beneficiary bank in Nigeria or the CBN and requested the assistance of the Bank towards releasing the funds to them. The requests are usually supported with fake documents such as SWIFT MT103, SWIFT Ack copy, etc.

“It has become imperative to state that the SWIFT ack copy and SWIFT MT103 that these claimants usually attach as evidence of remittance to beneficiary banks in Nigeria are not reliable.

“The SWIFT messages are always not traceable on the SWIFT platform, and the funds have not been received to enable their application to the beneficiary’s account.

“In a situation where a fund transfer beneficiary’s receiving bank claims non-receipt of funds remitted by the foreign entity (sending customer), instead of escalating such issue to CBN or Law Enforcement Agencies, the standard practice is for the sending customer to contact the sending bank to send a tracer to trace where the fund is hanging and recall it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state emphatically that the CBN neither provides correspondent banking services for Nigerian banks in foreign payments nor maintains accounts for private business entities.

“Consequently, the petitioners’ claim that the alleged expected inflows for onward credit into the accounts of private business entities are trapped in the CBN is not only spurious but deceitful.

“The general public is therefore advised to be careful with such unauthentic SWIFT messages and documents containing spurious claims of non-application of substantial foreign currency funds allegedly transferred into the beneficiary’s account.

“The CBN will not hesitate to report any bank customer making unsubstantiated and illegitimate claims to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution. Please be guided accordingly.”

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, has asked the upper legislative chamber to support Uchenna, the wife of the late lawmaker, Ifeanyi Ubah, to succeed him.

Ndume spoke during a valedictory session held on Tuesday in the senate to honour the late Anambra south senator.

The lawmaker died in July at the age of 52.

Ndume told his colleagues that Ubah’s wife should succeed him in the senate to preserve his “legacy and aspirations”.

 

“This has happened before. When Chuba Okadigbo, a great politician, passed away, his wife, Margery, joined the senate and carried on his legacy,” he said.

“Similarly, our first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, served in this chamber, largely supported by the goodwill of Lagosians and the legacy of her husband, who was a former governor. In fact, she told me that her dream was to be a pastor.

Ndume said Abdulaziz Yar’Adua sustained the political legacy of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua by joining the senate.

“Senator (Iyabo) Obasanjo, if you remember, is the daughter of general Obasanjo. Sitting in front of me is Dafinone, his father was a great senator.

“What I want to appeal to you, Mr. President, is that we keep the spirit and aspirations of Ifeanyi alive.

“His wife, fortunately, is around 50 years old and has been a wonderful support system to him.

“Finally, Mr. President, my appeal to you and distinguished colleagues, his wife, fortunately, is 50 years or so. A wonderful wife.

“Let us support the family to have a spirit representative of Ifeanyi here in the chamber when the election of Anambra of the senatorial district that he represents comes up.

“This will ensure continuity and honour for the Anambra south senatorial district.”

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SENATE

Senate membership is neither automatic nor transferable from one individual to another.

According to section 65 of the 1999 Constitution, a person can only become a member of the senate through election.

The person shall be qualified for election if he or she has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent, is a member of a political party, and is sponsored by that party.

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday approved payment of N75,000.00 as a new minimum wage for workers in the state.

This was disclosed in a statement issued and signed by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo.

According to the statement, “The Organised Labour in Osun State and State Government after exhaustive deliberations have decided on N75,000.00 as the new minimum wage in Osun State”

Details later…

South Africa has taken over the leadership of the G20 during a handover ceremony at the Rio de Janeiro summit in Brazil.

Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva handed over the reins of leadership to Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, on Tuesday.

South Africa is the only African country in the G20 and will be the host of the 2025 summit.

“We will use this moment to bring the development priorities of the African continent and the Global South more firmly onto the agenda of the G20,” Ramaphosa told his counterparts at the summit.

The South African president said his administration would prioritise inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, employment, and inequality.

“The second priority is food security,” Ramaphosa added. “The third priority is artificial intelligence and innovation for sustainable development.”

“As South Africa, we undertake to advance the work of the G20 towards achieving greater global economic growth and sustainable development. We will work to ensure that no one is left behind.”

Ramaphosa said he is looking forward to welcoming global leaders to South Africa next year.

WHO IS IN THE G20?

The G20, originally a collection of 20 of the world’s largest economies, was conceived as a bloc that would bring the most important industrialized and developing economies together to discuss international economic and financial stability.

Since 2008, the G20’s annual summit has evolved into a major forum for discussing economics as well as other pressing global issues.

Bilateral meetings on the summit’s sidelines have occasionally led to major international agreements.

The forum comprises 19 countries, the European Union (EU) and, as of 2023, the African Union (AU).

Member countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States.

Spain is invited as a permanent guest.

The Federal Government on Tuesday revealed a plan to establish a National Youth Development Bank and a Youth Data Bank.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this at a Stakeholders Roundtable on Northern Youth Development organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, in Abuja.

The President described the banks as crucial tools for “providing financial and informational support to young Nigerians.”

He said since his assumption of office, his administration unveiled a comprehensive youth development strategy spanning multiple key sectors to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Tinubu extolled the legacy of the late Sardauna of Sokoto and former Premier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello.

” The late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was one of the towering giants on whose shoulders we have ascended as a nation.

” His vision was clear: the North cannot progress in isolation, and Nigeria cannot prosper unless every part of this nation thrives,” he said.

Tinubu declared that the development of Northern Nigeria remains fundamental to the nation’s prosperity.

According to him, “whatever disrupts the growth of one region sets back the entire nation.

“For far too long, we have been taunted as a nation with the most children out of school—a reality that should not elicit pride but provoke urgent action.

“This alarming statistic has turned the promise of our population into a challenge rather than the dividend it ought to be,” he added.

Tinubu re-echoed his administration’s pioneering youth development initiatives, including the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters.

“Our creative and digital economy is another goldmine,” the President said, outlining programmes such as the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).

He listed other programmes including the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for higher education access, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) for digital entrepreneurship.

They also included, Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) for global market participation, Youth Enterprise Clusters for business development, and the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme to address accommodation needs.
On agriculture, the President said that investments in the sector and industrialisation would further position the North as Nigeria’s foremost agricultural hub.

Addressing the region’s security challenges, Tinubu further outlined measures “to restore stability to the North.

” The measures include strengthening community policing, rehabilitating displaced persons, and addressing cross-border challenges like smuggling and insurgency.”

He emphasised the urgency of the moment, saying ” By 2050, Nigeria will become the third-largest nation globally, with three-quarters of our citizens under the age of 21.

“Our challenge here is to engineer a transition towards a federation defined by order, stability, and safety,” he added, noting that “this task is both urgent and achievable.”

The President also made a direct challenge to young Nigerians: “You are not just the future of this nation—you are its present.

” Your energy, ideas, and determination are already shaping our policies and programmes.”

“Our commitment is to provide you with the skill set and opportunities to thrive in a competitive world”.

He assured that the administration would unlock the potential of the Nigerian youth, ensuring that their dreams transform the country into an enduring symbol of democracy, development, and progress.

Speaking in the same vein, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasised the critical role of youth education in national development.

‘ Our youths are the foundation of any development we envisage in our society. They are not just leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today,” he said.

The Sultan further highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue with the youth, stating that “forums like this must be held continuously to dialogue with our youths across the northern states.”
He emphasised the primacy of education, asserting that it “is the strongest legacy any leader can leave to society.

“Without education, you are a nobody. I believe in infrastructural development like roads and bridges but more money should be spent educating our children.

“That is why we need to dwell more on how we can ensure that our children are educated.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, Muazu Babangida, noted that the event marked the foundation’s 15th anniversary