President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate re-opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with neighbouring Niger Republic.
According to a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu also directed the immediate lifting of other sanctions against the country.

The statement further explained that the President’s directives were in compliance with the resolution of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government during its last extraordinary meeting in Abuja.

He said: “President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.

“This directive is in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

“ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

“The President has directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately: Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.

“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as a freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.

“Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks.

“Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD. Travel bans on government officials and their family members.”

President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed on Wednesday has expressed his displeasure at the action of thr Nigerian Senate to suspend Senator Ningi.

Describing him as one of the ‘best of us from Bauchi’, the Governor said he is saddened that the Senator was suspended for telling the truth and called for proper investigation into the alleged N3 trillion budget padding in the approved 2023 fiscal document.

Abdul Ningi, a senator representing Bauchi Central under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the amount is strange to the lawmaker and has no allocation in the approved budget.

Ningi, was also the Chairman, Northern senators was deserted by his colleague for raising the issue, saying the claim did not represent the views of the Forum. He has come under fire and was suspended by the Senate for three months. The lawmaker also resigned his position as the leader of the Forum on Tuesday after the suspension.

Meanwhile, while reacting to the development, Governor Bala Mohammed while speaking during a meeting of the State Executive Council on Wednesday, said that he is in support of Senator Ningi.

He said: “We will continue as opposition to the Federal Government but that will be done in our own modesty and that is not to disparage our country. Yesterday, I was very sad that the Senate suspended one of our best in Bauchi for telling the truth, for standing to be the beacon of truth –Senator Abdul Ningi.”

“Equally I don’t know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing. And that is the face of the opposition, especially if what he is saying is the truth. We will investigate that. I am not too quick to go to the media but, certainly, he has shown courage. He has shown he is from Bauchi and we have to be with him,” he said.

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has claimed that the attack on the North is being orchestrated by forces within and outside the country.

He stated this while reacting to the abduction of 61 people in Buda village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Tuesday.

Fani Kayode condemned the act, describing it as cowardly, condemnable and despicable.

He wondered who had decided to inflict Kaduna State and its people with troubles through the kidnap of their indigenes.

Speaking via his X account, Fani-Kayode wrote, “The attack and kidnapping of another 61 people in Buda Village, Kajuru Local Government, Kaduna State in the early hours of Tuesday is yet another cowardly, despicable and condemnable act.

“Four days ago, I wrote that this whole nightmare was being orchestrated by some dark and sinister forces from within and outside our country and that for our nation to have experienced 3 mass kidnappings and abductions of women and school children in the space of one week in three separate states in the North (namely Borno, Kaduna and Sokoto) was NO coincidence.

“Tuesday morning’s dastardly act makes it the fourth!

“Who is targeting the North and by extension Nigeria for destruction and who has decided to afflict the beautiful state of Kaduna and trouble its people and hardworking and diligent Governor just after he has established a bridge of peace, love and unity between Christians and Muslims in the state?

“Who seeks to rob us of our peace, who hates our people so much, who is trying to bring us to our knees and who wishes such ill for Nigeria?

“In the fullness of time, all these questions will be answered and those behind this great evil will be exposed and brought to justice.

“Once again my heart goes out to @ubasanius and the people of Kaduna state and I join millions of others in praying for them and boldly proclaiming that we shall overcome.”

Tobechukwu, the son of Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, has tied the knot with his partner.

Naija News recalls that the movie star in January announced the engagement of his son via her Instagram page, alongside photos of the proposal.

Omoni Oboli took to her Instagram page on Wednesday to share a photo of the wedding ceremony, stating that they had the most beautiful wedding with close family and friends.

She captioned the photo, “God did!!!  It was a cold winter evening but it was very warm in our hearts We had the most beautiful wedding ever with close family and friends. Still reeling from the beauty of that day Thank you Jesus ❤️
Presenting the latest Mr and Mrs Oboli

“Welcome to our world @marelleoboli love you so much my baby girl  PS: Thank you @wannebaybee for hooking me up with @pearls_bridals for my beautiful dress and @onyix_craft for my auto gèle and accessories more pictures and videos loading”

The Kano State Hisbah Board’s Department of Public Enlightenment has arrested 11 Muslims for eating during daylight hours, a time when fasting is obligatory for all adult Muslims.

The arrests were made on Tuesday, as confirmed by Hisbah spokesman Lawal Fagge to the BBC.

The group consisted of 10 men and one woman, caught eating across different parts of the city, notably near bustling marketplaces.

The Hisbah Board, a religious police force in Kano State, Nigeria, enforces Sharia law among Muslims. The arrested individuals, including a woman selling and consuming groundnuts from her own stock, were reportedly released after they committed to abstain from eating during fasting hours for the remainder of Ramadan.

They were required to swear an oath to this effect, with some also needing their relatives or guardians to vouch for their future compliance.

This crackdown follows the announcement by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, marking Monday, March 11, 2024, as the commencement of the 1445AH Ramadan.

During this period, Muslims are expected to fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations, among other prohibitions, to purify the soul and practice self-discipline as ordained in the Holy Quran.

Fagge emphasized that the board’s operations are targeted exclusively at Muslims, with non-Muslims exempt from these restrictions.

However, he issued a warning against non-Muslims selling food to those who are fasting, indicating that such actions would be deemed offensive.

A yet-to-be-identified woman residing in the Gbagada area of Lagos State reportedly met a tragic end after being fatally stabbed by her househelp.

Naija News reports that the househelp, identified only as Peter, is currently on the run, with the timing of the murderous act still unclear.

The sombre revelation came to light on Saturday, March 9, 2024, when the deceased’s son, visiting his mother, stumbled upon the harrowing scene.

According to reports from Vanguard, he found his mother’s lifeless body on the staircase, a sight marred by blood, signalling a violent struggle.

Reports detailed that the building was securely locked, indicating an absence of occupants after the incident. It was revealed that the victim lived alone, and the property also hosted three shops at the front.

A local, preferring to remain anonymous, detailed the chilling moment the woman’s son encountered the tragedy, highlighting the discovery of a long piece of wood nearby, suspected to be the murder weapon. Indications suggest that the murder might have occurred several days prior to the discovery, given the condition of the victim’s body.

Further investigations revealed that Peter, the accused househelp, had only been employed for a week before the incident. This raises questions about the vetting process and the safety of in-home workers. A relative of the agent responsible for Peter’s employment has been detained, and the agents themselves are currently evading authorities.

The aftermath of the discovery saw the involvement of the Ifako Police Division, who promptly evacuated the victim’s body from the scene. Efforts to garner statements from the devastated son were unsuccessful, as he was understandably overwhelmed by grief.

Divisional Police Officer, DPO Owolabi Sefunmi, of the Ifako Police Division, directed inquiries to the Lagos State Police Command for further comments. The Lagos State Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended and is now in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCIID, Panti, ensuring that justice is pursued rigorously.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, again increased the exchange rate for calculating Customs duties at the country’s seaports by 1.9 per cent to N1.624.732 per US dollar amid the Naira crisis.

Data on the official portal of the Nigeria Customs Service indicated that the rate was raised from N1,593.888 to N1.624.732 per USD on Tuesday.

The implication is that importers who opened Form M on Tuesday will pay more to clear their goods as import duties are benchmarked against the dollar.

Meanwhile, port users have rejected the policy of using the exchange rate on Form M for import duty payment because it will add more challenges to the trade process.

The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Emenike Nwokeoji, said using the Form M rate will create a discrepancy in duties paid on similar imports.

According to him, it would further create uncertainties around the country’s pricing structure of goods and services.

“It will also create abnormal increases in the final sale prices of items, which is largely driven by uncertainties, rather than market fundamentals, and will have implications on inflations,” he warned.

DAILY POST recalls that the CBN had raised the exchange rate for import duties at least six times in the last six weeks.

On February 2, the CBN adjusted the exchange rate for calculating import duties from N951.941 to N1,356.883 per US dollar; on February 3, it was raised to N1,413.62/$; on February 10, it was raised to N1,417.635/$; on February 12, it was reviewed to N1, 444.56/$ and February 14, the rate has been raised to N1, 481.482/$.

Meanwhile, the CBN also reduced the exchange rate depending on the standing of the Naira against the USD in the forex market.

Earlier in a fresh guideline in February, the apex bank advised NCS to adopt a foreign exchange closing rate on the date of the Form M submission by importers for the clearance of goods and import duty assessment.

The Lagos State Police Command has debunked a report alleging that Afro singer Ibrahim Owodunni, aka Primeboy, was re-arrested over the death of his colleague, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Reports had earlier emerged indicating that Primeboy was re-arrested on Tuesday during his visit to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba.

DAILY POST reports that Primeboy, who was earlier arrested following the controversy surrounding Mohbad’s death a few months ago, has been visiting the SCID every week since the commencement of the investigation.

A report which went viral on Tuesday alleged that he was re-arrested and detained by the Lagos police command during his Tuesday visit.

However, when contacted on Wednesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the report as false.

He told DAILY POST that the singer was allowed to go home on Tuesday to report back on Wednesday (today).

In a chat with our correspondent, the PPRO simply said the report is “False. He was allowed to go home and report back today.”

The federal government has intensified its scrutiny of Binance, requesting detailed information on its top 100 users in Nigeria and their transaction history over the past six months. This move comes amidst ongoing investigations into allegations of currency speculation, which have been unfolding for the past three weeks.

Binance finds itself at the center of these investigations, facing allegations of involvement in speculative attacks against the Naira, which has recently experienced unprecedented volatility against major currencies, particularly the Dollar, due to currency devaluation concerns.

According to reports from the Financial Times, the Office of the National Security Adviser has also demanded that Binance settle any outstanding tax obligations owed to the federal government arising from its operations within the country.

Nigeria’s focus on Binance and other cryptocurrency platforms stems from its efforts to mitigate its worst economic crisis in three decades and restore public confidence in its currency, which has faced significant challenges.

Gumi Urges Tinubu to Pursue Dialogue with Bandits, Avoiding Buhari’s Approach
In response to these allegations, security agencies, in collaboration with officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have taken action, including blocking web access to cryptocurrency exchanges and detaining two Binance executives who traveled to Abuja to discuss the crackdown.

As a result of the escalating situation, Binance has removed the Naira from its trading platform.

Reports suggest that the detained Binance executives are being held at a guest house in Abuja, adjacent to the office of the national security adviser. Their phones and passports were confiscated upon detention. They could not communicate with Binance until March 5, 2024, a week after their detention, and have yet to be formally charged in court.

According to the Financial Times, the federal government obtained permission to detain both Binance executives for 14 days, which ended on Tuesday.

The crackdown on Binance follows ongoing investigations into the country’s foreign exchange market, which has reportedly suffered from years of distortions, manipulations, and speculative activities, leading to the continuous depreciation of the Naira against major currencies, especially the US dollar, in recent times.

At the recently concluded meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso justified the central bank’s actions, particularly against Binance, citing the platform’s facilitation of speculative activities against the Naira. He expressed concerns about illicit inflows and suspicious transactions, emphasizing the CBN’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerians from the disruptive activities of such cryptocurrency platforms.

Cardoso highlighted collaborative efforts between the CBN, EFCC, police, and the Office of the NSA to crack down on alleged economic saboteurs, stressing the determination to maintain market integrity and prevent manipulative practices that distort economic stability.