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Some Nigerians have expressed outrage over suspected discrimination against Nigerians at the Indian Language School, Ilupeju, in Lagos.
This is as the Lagos State Government condemned the development and subsequently ordered a probe.
The PUNCH reported on Wednesday that the Indian High Commission vowed to sanction the workers at the school who refused The PUNCH correspondent access to the school facility for inquiries.
This followed online reports that the school was not admitting or welcoming Nigerians on its premises which prompted our correspondent to proceed to the school to investigate the claims.
While reacting to a post by @DejiAdesogan on Sunday, bordering on discrimination against Nigerians at an Abuja-based Chinese store, an X user @decommonroom shared his experience about the school.
He wrote, “The Indian school in Ilupeju only admits Indians. You need an Indian passport for enrollment.”
In a further chat with our correspondent, the user said, “My experience with the Indian international school in Ilupeju dates back to when my school had a debate competition with them in 2009. I discovered there were only Indian students. I was curious as to why because my school was also an international school and run by a foreign embassy with primarily expatriate kids and few Nigerians. Then I was informed their passport was a prerequisite for admission.”
Our correspondent visited the school on Monday but was denied entry by security officials who claimed to be acting on instructions of a receptionist.
When our correspondent asked to make inquiries for his uncle who had two kids and would like to enroll them in the school, one of the security men asked, “But that your uncle is an Indian man?”
“They said as a Nigerian, they (the management) cannot attend to you. So the person should come, the Indian person,” another security man added, saying that was the response of an unidentified administrative worker, said to be an Indian.
An email sent to the principal of the school, Sonali Gupta, seeking a reaction was not responded to on Tuesday. A reminder was also sent by our correspondent on Wednesday with no response as of the time of filing this report.
On Tuesday, the press officer of the Indian High Commission in Abuja, Vipul Mesariya, said the commission was shocked by the experience of our reporter vowing sanctions.
Vipul said, “We are shocked to hear that you were not allowed inside the school. We are disciplining the security guard and the receptionist as they did not have the authority to make such a decision.”
It was however gathered that the school is primarily meant for Indian wards where they get accustomed with Indian style of learning and traditions.
Some Facebook users who commented on The PUNCH investigation expressed dissatisfaction over discrimination against Nigerians.
A Facebook user, Valentine Leo wrote, “Indians and Chinese are doing the most in this Nigeria. What’s the socioeconomic advantage of these businesses in Nigeria to Nigerians?”
“Terrible things are going on in this country,” Emmanuel Wilson lamented.
Another user, Freeman Ayo, called attention to how some Nigerians were treated at some Indian restaurants in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, but did not provide specific details.
He wrote, “You people need to go to Indian restaurants, especially in Abuja and see how Nigerians working there are treated especially the girls. It’s a long story.”
A user identified as More Blessing Catering and Rental Services, called the attention of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the issue, saying, “Your attention is needed this shouldn’t be happening in Lagos State.”
“I know the school they’re talking about. They should be questioned as well. It’s high time Nigeria stepped up to some of these foreigners (who) look at us like slaves most especially Indians” Agber Lover Victor commented.
Busuyi Johnson wondered why Nigerians would be discriminated against in their country with the government folding arms. The user said, “Chinese bar Nigerians in their supermarkets, Indians bar Nigerians in their school and we have a government in Nigeria.”
Posting a laughing emoji, Uvwie Girl wrote in pidgin language, “Dem go dey come Nigeria come open schools and supermarket, dem no go allow Nigerians, inside Nigeria.”
But Ridwan Abdulkadir expressed a different opinion noting he would ordinarily not want his children to get used to the Indian culture. He wrote, “Why would I (a Nigerian) want my child to school in an Indian school? Schools don’t just teach Maths, English and sciences. They also teach customs/traditions and moral values. So why would anyone want his children to be taught by people whose customs/traditions and moral values are completely different from Africans?”
On X, users expressed similar outrage and some shared their experience with the school.
“I used to live close to the school 14 years ago. Even the black drivers that brought children to school will park and wait till closing hours so the children won’t interact with nobody,” @demongoakombo wrote.
Another user noted it was important for foreigners to respect Nigeria’s democracy.
@ezechukwumicha4 wrote, “We practise democracy and if you can’t operate on a fair ground, please leave Nigeria, period.”
“They are like this almost everywhere in the world. They form their own community, do their own things, hire their own people, etc. All Asians not just Indians,” @daviconet22 also said.
A user asked if Nigerians could do same in India. “Can Nigerians do this in Indian? Lols,” @victor_omonowa_ asked.
However, checks online show that some Indian and Chinese schools in the United States are primarily for natives. It could not be immediately verified if they were open to foreigners or barred foreigners from visiting the school premises.
Riverside Indian School in the United States is home to nearly 800 students representing over 75 native American tribes from throughout the US, according to information on its website.
Information about the school located in Oklahoma as seen on the website of Oklahoma Historical Society, said, “Riverside school presently has students from dozens of Indian regions attending grades four through 12. Admission requires a Certified Degree of Indian Blood. Riverside’s board of education, administration, staff, and faculty are predominantly American Indian. The State of Oklahoma and the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Elementary Schools accredit the school, which offers numerous specialised academic programmes.”
An activist and General Secretary of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, Gerald Katchy, in an interview with our correspondent, said discrimination of any kind “is a serious breach of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Article 23, Article 28 Article 30 and other international and national treaties including our constitution.”
Gerald said, “Discrimination is any unfair treatment or arbitrary distinction based on a person’s race, sex, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, language, social origin or other status.”
When contacted on Wednesday, the Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, said the state ministry of education would be informed and a probe would be carried out to ascertain what was going on in the school.
The commissioner said the state government was not in support of any form of discrimination.
“The Lagos State government frowns at any form of discrimination in whatever guise or disguise. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is in the second term of his administration and in everything he has done, he has not discriminated against anybody irrespective of religion, colour or affiliation. I’m not sure the ministry of education has gotten a complaint from anybody but if what you’re saying is true, it is not in our character.”
Omotosho added, “The ministry of education will investigate the matter.”
With Naira rebounding, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stated the need to ensure that garri and beans sellers are not increasing prices just because dollar went up.
He said that increment in prices of these food items does not have anything to do with dollar.
The governor stated this on Wednesday at the launch of the Eko Cares, an umbrella of all Lagos State Government social intervention programmes.
Sanwo-Olu said that even diesel price is coming down, and urged the people to be their brother’s keeper.
He said: “You can see that the tides are turning. That is why we must commend the intervention of the President, who has been leading from the front. He has been able to pass on grains to all the 36 states. We will be distributing ours to all of you. You can also see that Mr President has not sat back to fold his arms… to let us have a free flow of the issues that started this thing, which was the currency.
“Now we have seen that there has been a rebound. We can see that the currency is now getting strengthened. Naira is becoming a currency that we are truly proud of now because it is taking its proper pride of place. Now we should ensure that all gari sellers, all beans sellers are not increasing prices just because dollar went up. Prices don’t have anything to do with dollar. Even diesel is coming down. We have no excuse again. We need to be our brother’s keeper.”
Sanwo-Olu noted at the event that his government has fulfilled the promise he made to the people of the state during a media chat in February – to stand by the vulnerable amid the current economic hardship.
“We have fulfilled the promises we made during the Media Chat in February – that we will not leave the vulnerable among us on their own – in health, transportation and education. We created 59 markets and turned them into Sunday markets. We promised that we will be selling food at 25 percent discount. That we have kept faith with. The medical outreach will start next week at the latest to give medical attention to a lot of our citizens who may not want to go to our hospitals. Medicines will be given and counsel will be given. You have continued to enjoy the 25 percent fares rebate on our ferry services. On our buses and on our trains,” the governor said.
“Today we will be launching an attempt to reach 500,000 households. All we have done is a tip of the iceberg. Now the real deal is about to start.”
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has said Kano and Jigawa states top the list of states smoking tobacco in Nigeria.
CISLAC senior programs officer, Solomon Adoga stated this at a one-day multi-stakeholders’ engagement on tobacco taxation in Jigawa State, organized by CISLAC, with support from Tax Justice Network
He said the aim was to reduce the level of tobacco usage in the state, especially among the youth.
According to him, “it’s unfortunate that research shows Kano/Jigawa are on top the list of states in use of tobacco in Nigeria, while the majority of users are youths, some within minor age.
“To control tobacco usage, the state government must adopt and domesticate National Tobacco Control Act (2015) and Tobacco Tax Policy to save the lives of our youth who are future leaders.”
He added that the purpose of engaging and interacting with relevant stakeholders like traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations and the media was to help in creating awareness on the dangers of tobacco, as well to advocate to both the legislature and the executive to domesticate and adopt the laws.
American rapper Kanye West is set to join the adult industry.
The billionaire business mogul announced the launch of his own porn company called Yeezy Porn recently.
There have been reports that West was venturing into the adult industry. He has now confirmed his entry into the adult industry.
On his Instagram story on Wednesday, Kanye West wrote: “Yeezy Porn is cumming.”
West has been very critical of the porn industry in the past, saying it “destroyed my family but Jesus will heal everything.”
Nigerian singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed his top three favourite artists.
Appearing on an American podcast, Business Untitled, Davido was asked to name his favourite artists in terms of collaboration and he mentioned Chris Brown, Kizz Daniel and Zlatan Ibile.
“I love working with Chris Brown, Kizz Daniel and Zlatan [Ibile],” he said.
Davido also disclosed that he made $1.3 million from his recent concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.
He added that he made $600,000 with a single post.
The singer recalled how he made about $600,000 from his fans on his birthday in 2021 and later donated the money to charity.
Tanzania has shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid, the prime minister Kassim Majaliwa has said.
According to Majaliwa, the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, has alone generated enough electricity to power major cities.
Among the cities that are being powered is Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from the state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere hydropower dam is said to be almost full of water, following heavy rains that started early this year.
A current spell of extreme weather has led to at least 58 deaths in Tanzania and devastated other East African nations like Kenya.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations as a result of excess production.
A tragic incident occurred at BrickHall Schools in the Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura, Abuja, when a four-year-old pupil, Miguel Ovoke, died during the school’s feeding hours on Wednesday.
The boy was pronounced dead upon arrival at Excel Specialist Hospital, following complications during lunch.
According to the death certificate issued on April 24, 2024, Miguel was brought into the hospital around 11 am by his teachers in an unconscious state.
The medical report from Excel Specialist Hospital detailed that the young boy had aspirated on meat while eating at school.
Upon examination, doctors noted that Miguel exhibited severe symptoms, including fixed and dilated pupils, unresponsive to light, absence of peripheral pulses, unrecordable blood pressure, and no signs of cardiopulmonary activity.
Dr. Akinwande Ajayi, who signed the medical report, indicated that despite exhaustive resuscitation efforts by the medical team, Miguel was ultimately declared “Brought in Dead.”
According to Punch, the sudden and distressing nature of the death has prompted Miguel’s parents to suspect foul play.
They have enlisted the services of lawyer Deji Adeyanju to pursue legal inquiries and actions regarding the circumstances of their son’s untimely demise.
“We are devastated and demand answers,” said Adeyanju, confirming his representation of the family.
The founder of Woodhall Capital, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, has disclosed that despite being married for 20 years she has never cooked in her home.
In a conversation with Ifedayo Agoro on ‘The Diary Of A Naija Girl” podcast, Hunponu-Wusu explained that though she would have loved to cook and do other chores, she never had that time.
” I don’t get to cook. I would have loved to get more time; not even for cooking but for other things across the family. So, I’m not even zooming in on cooking…
” I love and admire women who have the time but I’m through to the path God has set me and that is the entrepreneurial path,” she said.
When asked if her husband was bothered, she responded that cooking might not be his love language.
Hunponu-Wusu’s revelation has again brought to the fore conversation about the roles of a woman in the home.
Though it is believed that, these days, men should compliment their wives in kitchen duties, a popular Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, aka Hilda Baci, recently declared that she wouldn’t date or marry a man who knows how to cook.
According to the former Guinness World Record holder, she loves cooking and would not want a man who will outshine her in the kitchen.
“I don’t want a man that knows how to cook. I don’t want it. I like cooking so much. My friends would tell you like Hilda would show you love, she will send you food. You will cook for you. That’s kind of one of the things I like to do for people that I care about, especially for my man.
“You can wake me up in the middle of the night and say, ‘Babe, I want a doughnut. I want meat pie.’ And I’m flying to the kitchen to make it for you. That’s my thing. I want a man that can order me food. If you don’t have a problem with ordering me food, I’m in love,” Baci said in a viral podcast video that made the rounds on X (formerly Twitter).
[Punch]
The University of East Anglia, located in Norwich, UK, has announced scholarships worth £33,150 (N44.3 million) and transportation cost of £4000 (N5.3 million) to Nigerians seeking masters programmes.
According to the information on the school website, the funding opportunity is the David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health, which is fully funded for students planning to travel to the UK for study.
The offer by the University of East Anglia is hugely available for Nigerians and other foreign students willing to do their masters programmes under scholarships, covering travel expenses.
The applications from its David Sainsbury Scholarships in Global Plant Health is for candidates wishing to undertake an MSc in Plant Health at the University of East Anglia in the 2024/2025 academic year.
Among other benefits catered for in the scholarship at the University of East Anglia are tuition fee, living stipends and transportation allowance.
The scholarship offers funding to the tune of £33,150 (N44.3 million) and transportation costs of £4000 (N5.3 million).
Interested candidates must first apply and be accepted into the University of East Anglia beforebeing considered for the scholarships, the school website said.
The information on UEA website reads, “Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you will automatically be considered for the scholarship, on a competitive basis – no separate application is required.
“You will be evaluated for the scholarship based on the same criteria used to evaluate your application to enrol on the course.
“The criteria are: academic achievement and academic awards together with knowledge/experience/potential of molecular biology, genetics, molecular interactions, data science such as bioinformatics and statistics, laboratory skills, and independent study.”
Addressing interested Nigerian applicants, it says, “All self-funded Nigerian students applying to a Master’s course at UEA starting in September 2024 will automatically be awarded the UEA Nigeria Award scholarship.
“The scholarship is worth £4,000 – if you meet UEA entry requirements, £5,000 – if your final undergraduate grade is a CGPA 4.1 and above. Amounts will be deducted from your tuition fees, in line with terms and conditions.”
The applications for the scholarship are currently open and expected to close on May 31, 2024.
The University of East Anglia (UEA) was founded in 1963 and is located in Norwich, a historic city in the east of England.
U.S. prosecutors are seeking an above-guidance sentence of 36 months for the former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance on charges of enabling money laundering, according to a sentencing memorandum out late Tuesday.
The memorandum, which was filed with the court for the western district of Washington, states that Zhao should serve a higher sentence than suggested under advisory guidelines to “reflect the gravity of his crimes.”
Under advisory guidelines, Zhao’s sentencing would come in at a range of 12 to 18 months in prison.
“A custodial sentence of 36 months — twice the high end of the Guidelines range — would reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for law, afford adequate deterrence, and be sufficient but not greater than necessary to achieve the goals of sentencing,” U.S. prosecutors said.
Zhao is accused of willfully failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering program as required by the Bank Secrecy Act, and of effectively allowing Binance to process transactions involving proceeds of unlawful activity, including transactions between Americans and individuals in sanctions jurisdictions.
Binance has separately been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over the alleged mishandling of customer assets and the operation of an illegal, unregistered exchange in the U.S.
The U.S., which separately accuses Binance and Zhao of violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions on Iran, ordered Binance to pay $4.3 billion in fines and forfeiture. Zhao agreed to pay a $50 million fine.
Zhao stepped down as Binance’s CEO in November last year after reaching this plea and was replaced by the former Abu Dhabi markets regulator’s chief, Richard Teng.
Zhao was not immediately available for comment when contacted via social media platform X. Binance has yet to respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Prosecutors say Zhao violated U.S. law on an “unprecedented scale,” and that he had a “deliberate disregard” for Binance’s legal responsibilities.
In the memorandum Tuesday, prosecutors said under Zhao’s control, Binance operated on a “Wild West” model.
“Zhao bet that he would not get caught, and that if he did, the consequences would not be as serious as the crime,” the memorandum stated.
“But Zhao was caught, and now the Court will decide what price Zhao should pay for his crimes.”
Zhao’s official sentencing is expected to take place April 30.
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Should the proposed Executive bill be passed, politicians found guilty of tax evasion will be barred from seeking elective offices.
The plan was made known yesterday by chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Taiwo Oyedele.
He said an amendment to an existing tax law will be sent to the National Assembly to ensure tax compliance and prevent default by the political class.
Oyedele, who spoke at the 2024 strategic retreat for staff of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) in Abuja, outlined key reforms on tax compliance among politicians and the plan to set up a national tax amnesty programme.
He said a proposed amendment to the existing tax law would disqualify those who fail to meet their tax obligations from running for political office.
Oyedele said: “We’re moving beyond a tax clearance certificate, which can be easily obtained. Effective compliance involves a thorough examination of tax declarations, filings, and payments to determine if a candidate is genuinely fulfilling his tax responsibilities as outlined in the constitution.
“This issue arose during the last election. The argument was that the constitution doesn’t explicitly list tax compliance as a qualification criterion. We’re rectifying this oversight to ensure financial responsibility among those seeking public office.”
Oyedele unfolded plans for a tax amnesty programme later this year titled: the “Voluntary Disclosure or Declaration Program.”
Emphasising the JTB’s role in the initiative, he said: “The term ‘amnesty’ can have negative connotations. However, the core objective is to encourage tax compliance. The JTB, as the leading tax coordination body, is perfectly positioned to spearhead this programme.”
Oyedele reflected on the previously implemented Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) programme, implemented previously, saying that “VAIDS could have achieved greater success if the JTB had been placed at the forefront, rather than acting as one stakeholder among many.”
He added: “I recall a JTB meeting where I asked for a live response to the question of how many members supported VAIDS. To my surprise, over 50% indicated their disapproval. This wasn’t about a lack of desire to collect taxes from evaders; it was about disagreement with the government’s approach.”
“This time around, we’ll adopt a different strategy, ensuring not only the JTB’s involvement but also the collaboration of all stakeholders. We’ll work together to co-create a solution that addresses everyone’s concerns.”
Oyedele also highlighted the proposed reforms that will transform the JTB’s role.
He said: “We all recognise that the JTB’s mandate goes beyond personal income tax. The current reform package includes a draft law to replace the traditional tax return system. This will pave the way for the establishment of a new entity with a broader scope.
“The name will change, but the JTB’s core function will remain: to coordinate and harmonize all taxes and levies, not just personal income tax. It’s vital that you begin preparing for this new operating environment that’s just around the corner.”
JTB Secretary OlusegunAdesokan emphasized the need for adaptation, saying: “Our domestic tax ecosystem is undergoing significant reforms. The JTB, with its critical role in tax administration, needs to be positioned to seize the opportunities that this transformation presents.”
He added: “Achieving this goal requires the JTB Secretariat staff to embrace a culture of collaboration and innovation. By fully comprehending their evolving roles within this new dispensation, they will ensure the JTB’s continued success.”
The Philippines Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered Apple and Google to remove the Binance app from their respective app stores for users in the Philippines.
According to CoinTelegraph, a press release by the SEC on April 23 said it is working with Apple and Google to remove applications operated by Binance, the biggest crypto exchange in the world. It confirmed that the big tech companies received separate letters to that effect on April 19.
“The SEC has identified [Binance] and concluded that the public’s continued access to these websites/apps poses a threat to the security of the funds of investing Filipinos,” the SEC said.
Chair of the SEC, Emilio Aquino explained that Binance selling or offering unregistered securities to locals and acting as an unregistered broker is against the laws of the country’s securities regulation.
He added that by removing Binance applications from the digital app marketplace the big tech companies would help reduce the spread of illegal activities in the country’s securities sector.
This move by the SEC follows the blocking of access to Binance websites by the SEC and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on March 25.
The Philippines SEC has actively warned its citizens to desist from using Binance for investing since November 2023 citing that the crypto exchange was yet to secure a license to solicit investment from the public or operate an exchange to buy and sell securities.
The Philippines is the latest country to make moves to ban Binance from its shores following compliance concerns and accusations of illegality.
The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, has blamed peer-to-peer cryptocurrency platforms like Binance for the recent depreciation of the Naira against the Dollar in the foreign exchange market.
The National President of ABCON, Aminu Gwadabe, disclosed this in an interview with NAN on Wednesday.
He stated that as long as Binance and other platforms remain profitable, the Naira’s depreciation will persist.
He said that the recent wave of depreciation of the Naira was of concern to the BDC operators.
“I am happy that the authorities, and even the BDCs as operators, have identified the peer-to-peer (P2P) platform.
“The P2P is a platform like Binance, where speculators use the Dollar to buy USDT, a stablecoin that is pegged at one to the Dollar.
“As long as Binance and other platforms remain profitable, the Naira will continue to depreciate.
“There are many of them in the system. Binance has been nipped in the bud, but there are still many. They are online platforms with no registration, no restrictions,” he stated.
Recall that Naira slumped against the Dollar in the foreign exchange market despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s release of an additional $10,000 each to legible BDC operators on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, resumed clamping down on Binance and other cryptocurrency platforms to defend the Naira in the FX market.
The anti-graft agency had arraigned Binance and two of its executives before an Abuja High Court over alleged fraud and currency manipulation.
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, said it arrested a father writing exams for his son during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
The board warned that it has improved its technology check for those engaging in all forms of examination malpractices.
Speaking in Kaduna on Wednesday, the JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede who inspected the UTME centres in Kaduna, expressed satisfaction over the 2024 examination, which had 1.94 million students this year.
He, however, frowned at few cases of impersonation, adding that some people now have multiple National Identity Number, NIN, which the examination body would take up with the Identification Management body.
“For those who engage in cheating, they should know that it does not pay. The technology is helping us to check that. Across the country, most of the problem we have is impersonation. For instance now, we say we have NIN, we now have cases of people with two NIN and therefore, that has defeated the purpose of identity verification. We are going to take that up with NIMC, that there are people who have two NIN.
“We have a case of a father impersonating his son, writing examination for the son and I wonder, are you not destroying your son’s future? Of course, two of them are now in custody. I can’t understand what the father will now tell his son when they are both locked up in the same cell. This happened definitely not in Kaduna, but I don’t want to disclose the state,” he said.
He said JAMB needs support of highly populated states like Lagos, to build mega CBT centres like that of Kaduna, which accommodates 4,000 candidates per day.
He expressed hope that the authorities in Lagos would provide a suitable land for JAMB to build the Mega CBT centre in the city.