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Famous Nollywood actress, Chizzy Alichi breaks silence after knocking out and winning her colleague, Laide Bakare in a boxing match.
Recall that Alichi and Bakare decided to settle their differences through a celebrity boxing match held on Saturday, just as Portable and Charles Okocha did a few months back.
Videos captured the intense scuffle as the actresses engaged in combat.
Following the match, Alichi emerged as the winner after defeating Bakare.
Despite the physical altercation, Alichi took to her Instagram page to extend love to her rival, reminding Bakare of her promise to provide her with champagne.
Expressing joy over her victory, Alichi expressed gratitude to her colleagues and the event organizers for their efforts in putting together the remarkable event, which she described as fun.
She wrote:
“We WON !!!!
About last night, thank you guys for coming out, I appreciate my colleagues and to the organizers of the show, amazing work, Weldone???????? we had fun. My co winner @laidebakare love you and I’m still waiting for my champagne.”
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Immediate past regent of the Warri kingdom, Prince Emmanuel Omotsho Okotie–Eboh, has said the current economic hardship is a result of past mismanagement.
Okotie–Eboh, in a statement made available to Vanguard, said institutionalised corruption has taken the country backward.
He wondered if Nigeria could move forward with the continuous looting, lamenting that the nation’s financial resources were drying up.
According to him, the citizenry must join hands together to put the nation back on the path of growth.
His words: “That there is a suffocating economic hardship in Nigeria today is self-evident. And this endemic suffering is without regard to religion, tribe, or political affiliation. It knows no bounds and therefore must not be placed squarely at the doorsteps of President Bola Tinubu though the bulk end on his table rightly as the President of the current Africa hungriest but richest nation.
“It is a quagmire of over 60 years ago when the military boated out of leadership the real patriots and founders of Nigeria in the personalities of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mbadiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Okotie-Eboh, Mbakwe and others and imposed mediocre as leaders on the Nigeria nation.
“Indeed, the ascendance of the near ignorant self–styled Messiahs after the 1966 putsch marked a watershed and instituted lootocracy, plutocracy, and all manner of unfathomable corrupt practices that saw our hitherto buoyant, economy nose diving into abyss to date.
“What happened to all the manufacturing firms of yesteryears set up by the past visionary leaders? They are all gone with the winds? Where are the groundnut pyramids of old in the North? Shoe Factories? Textile Mills, Cement companies, Coal mines e.t.c.
“What we have today by the grace of our current plutocratic leaders and looters are multi-billionaires with pseudo–non–productive factories where our commonwealth is exported to aid the economic growth and infrastructural development of foreign nations.
“Prices of even the commonest food items have gone beyond the reach of the masses. Accommodation is no longer affordable because of the cement monopoly granted a few.
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“Graduates now fall back to their old parents who toiled day and night to train them to the universities for succour while a few Nigerians smile to the banks daily and gleefully go to Churches and Mosques to thank God for his mercies and goodness in their lives.
“Imagine garri going out of the reach of the poor. Beans is a no-go area. Bank owners and managers have milked the economy dry through all devious manner of financial manipulation of our forex such that most of them have become richer than Nigeria.
“Critically, to exhibit how wicked our leaders are in this biting hardship and painful challenges in Nigeria, the state Governors were given an additional N30 billion to tackle food scarcity and the hardship faced by the people by the FG and they all kept sealed lips, sat on the money, perhaps awaiting the poor masses to take to massive road protest first.
“What degree of callousness and mans’ inhumanity to man. It was the Senate President, Senator Akpabio who only recently made this revelation about N30 billion largesse quite outside State regular Federal Allocation. How can the economy survive this kind of lootocracy and we want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fix all these malfeasance in just Eight (8) Months?
“How can we ever move forward with this kind of mind-boggling looting of our financial resources? We all are to be blamed and be ready to bear the hardship awaiting when we are prepared to take the bull by the horns and take the right action to put our dear nation on the path of growth to take its rightful place in the comity of nations. Just a Steady power supply for three months all over the country will pick up and the financial managers should also be up and doing. We will see the change, let us put our country first then we will sing a new song so leave Mr president alone all hands must be on deck.”
‘I want to be part of Afrobeats’ - Usher hints at collaboration with Nigerian Afrobeats singers
AdminInternational R&B superstar Usher expressed his desire to be a part of the Afrobeats music scene, citing his admiration for the genre and its artists.
He claimed that he collaborated with Nigerian artists, Burna Boy and Pheelz, on his latest album because he wants to be part of the Afrobeats surge.
Usher was the latest Western musician to catch the Afrobeats trend when he featured Pheelz in ‘Ruin,’ the lead single from his current album, and Burna Boy in the album’s title tune, ‘Homecoming’.
Usher claimed in a recent interview with Apple Music that Pheelz had influenced his working with Burna Boy.
He said:
“I am all about collaboration and bringing African, you know, Nigerian culture to my own world. Their music is really popular now. I wanted to be part of it [Afrobeats], that’s why I went to Africa to make this album.
“I picked up things when I was in Ghana. I picked up things when I was in Nigeria. And working with Pheelz, he created the record [‘Homecoming’]. I just felt that Burna Boy would take it to a different level of credibility. I really do enjoy him as an artist. I just felt that this song would only be lifted better if he was part of it.”
Afrobeats Superstar Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, better known as Kizz Daniel, caused a stir among fans when he opened up about his romantic history during an interactive session on X.
Without hesitation, the ‘Buga’ crooner admitted to having slept with a grand total of 67 women.
A fan asked, “What is your body count?” to which Kizz Daniel simply replied in now-deleted post, “67.”
In another intriguing revelation, the singer disclosed that ‘Kerewa’ by Zule Zoo held the top spot as his favorite song growing up.
He said the best advice he has received is “Shora fun obirin”, which translates to “Fear women”.
The ‘Twe Twe’ hitmaker also revealed his preference for a Woman’s ass over her boobs, during the interactive session.
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Omowunmi Aloba, the wife of the late singer Mohbad, has recently taken to social media to express her fears of facing the same fate as her husband.
Taking to her Instagram page, she bravely spoke of her deep understanding of his tragic end, recalling how those who tormented him silenced him through vicious rumors.
According to her, her husband faced continuous public assaults and lived in constant fear because of his tormentors
She mentioned knowing a lot but feeling unable to speak her truth due to her oppressors and expressed genuine fear that they might kill her as they did her husband.
Her words;
“They silenced my husband by spreading rumors that he was on drugs, and now they’ve been targeting me by releasing a voice note I recorded a few years ago for medical purposes. They’re attacking our only child by libeling him as illegitimate.
My husband was messed up mentally, psychologically, and physically, if he had continued speaking publicly about his challenges, perhaps he would still be alive today. I wish he had summoned the courage to come public as many times as he could, but he didn’t want anyone to see his vulnerability; he was a gentle and calm soul.
Making a man feel inferior, making him live in fear, assaulting him publicly, amongst other is what they subjected my husband to. The last time they attacked him, I begged him to speak out, but he felt powerless against the influence of the industry gods.
Mohbad would have sought medical treatment after his injury if he didn’t live in constant fear. He avoids hospitals because he believed the medical system could be compromised, and doctors bribed to harm him. I know a lot, but they won’t allow me to speak my truth.
So many things have happened since I lost my husband, yet I can’t speak. I am helpless, but I know God will see me through this. I want the whole world to know that I tried to speak up, just as my husband always wanted to, but they bullied him to silence as they are currently doing to me.”
Speaking on the DNA test saga involving her father-in-law, Mr. Aloba, she mentioned that her husband, while alive, never denied the paternity of their little boy.
Wunmi reiterated her inability to fulfill the condition of leaving her only son with her father-in-law for the DNA test, expressing her distrust in him. She added that she’s prepared to protect her son with the drop of her last blood.
She continued:
“The DNA issue is one that has brought tears to my eyes and pain to my heart, and my legal team has advised me not to dignify anyone with a response. However, I feel compelled to address the misconceptions arising from my silence. Let me clarify; there has never been any doubt or discussion about Liam’s paternity until my husband’s demise. It is disheartening to hear false narratives circulating on social media. My husband never for once questioned the paternity of our SONSHINE during his lifetime, neither did my father-in-law or his families.
The first time I heard about his doubt was on social media. He never spoke to me personally about the DNA till this very day. My father-in-law’s legal team reached out to my legal team, who then gave him the terms and conditions in which the DNA will be conducted.
Since November, I have been waiting for a court order to proceed with the DNA testing. However, I am now being asked to take Liam to my father in-law so the test can be done. Which of you will take your son to such a man in this circumstance? If you were in my shoes, will you feel safe to take your son to a man who has come online to defame your character and lie of you. You’ve all seen the curses and threats made on my son’s enemy yet some of you are telling me to expose my son to further potential harm? The relentless social media bullying and threats have made it impossible for me to even take Liam out in public safely. All i ever did was love Ilerioluwa selflessly and expected nothing in return. Yet, this is the cruel reality I now face. Liam is our SONSHINE and the only precious gift Ilerioluwa left me with. I will protect him with every ounce of my blood and until my last breath.”
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Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says the removal of the petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu was done out of “sheer arrogance”.
Speaking in a chat with TheCable, Lawal said the president’s hasty decision to announce the removal of the petrol subsidy on the day of his inauguration led to the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
“I have a different view of what is happening today and I did say it on quite a few occasions that Bola Ahmed Tinubu exhibited an unimaginable degree of insensitivity and arrogance first, in the face of the Muslim- Muslim ticket and in some of the earlier decisions he has taken,” Lawal
“My view is that fuel subsidy removal was driven by a sense of arrogance. You are now sworn in and you believe that since you are now in charge, you can boss everybody around and you just announced the removal of fuel subsidy without due consultation.”
Lawal said Tinubu ought to have consulted widely and held a series of meetings with his cabinet members and other relevant stakeholders before announcing the removal of the subsidy.
He argued that the removal of subsidy is a monumental decision which may affect the lives of over 200 million Nigerians, either positively or negatively.
“My experience in life is that when you are going to take a monumental decision especially one that affects the lives of over 200 million people, you have to do wide consultations,” the former SGF said.
“Taking such a spur-of-the-moment decision on that very important issue is very insensitive and probably, he (Tinubu) was ignorant of the challenges he was going to face.
“That was why everything came crashing down immediately after he was sworn in because of the removal of fuel subsidy.
“He ought to have waited, formed a cabinet, got every relevant person in place and held discussions among his advisers and the cabinet. By so doing, they will get alternative solutions to the removal of subsidy, whether or not it should be done.
“If they agree that subsidy must go, what are the actions that will be put in place to mitigate the negative outcomes? If the outcomes are positive, they will also consider how to maximise it. They will also list their options. If this happens, then we fall back on this.
“He has enough examples in the past to rely on. When (Sani) Abacha removed subsidy, he created the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) to channel the additional income into social development and everybody today knows the various projects undertaken by the PTF such as hospitals, schools, social services and so on.
“When (Olusegun) Obasanjo removed the subsidy and created SURE-P to renovate roads and carry out social services.
“I don’t understand how my friend Tinubu got this arrogance that he can do things radically different from others who were before him and get results.
“So, Tinubu is only reaping the benefits of his hasty decision and we are also reaping the benefits of putting in power somebody that works in a cavalier manner.”
The Court of Appeal in Gombe has upheld the conviction of the Auditor-General for Local Government in Yobe State, Alhaji Idris Yahaya over financial misappropriation.
Delivering judgment, a three-member panel of justices led by Justice A. A. B. Gumel upheld the conviction of Yahaya and unanimously dismissed the appeal and consequently affirmed the judgment of the trial court.
Recall that Yahaya was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Yobe State High Court on March 13, 2023 on EFCC charges of misappropriating the sum of N19 million.
Yahaya was said to have received funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use.
According to the single count, Yahaya was alleged to have between May 20 and 21, 2017 at Damaturu, received the amount into his account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc.
Amid the free fall of the naira to the United States dollar, traders who deal in grains have devised a way to sell their wares to neighbouring countries for higher profits, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.
Many of them, who spoke to our correspondents, claimed that they preferred to sell their wares to the countries because they had stronger currencies compared to the naira.
This, several experts have said, may lead to hoarding and an artificial grain scarcity and can cause the price of the goods to further head north, thereby leading to a food crisis if nothing is done about it.
This is coming at a time when the country is battling severe hunger, as the prices of staples have increased by over 300 per cent.
In Cross River State, an unholy alliance exists between Nigerian and Cameroonian traders dealing not only in foodstuffs but other items of value to earn CFA franc.
A Cameroon-based Nigerian, simply identified as Ebere, described Cameroon as one country that was good for trans-border trade, adding that it was not lacking food.
He, however, said traders from Cross River State and other nearby states sold stockfish heads to Cameroonians to earn CFA franc.
Ebere told Sunday PUNCH that apart from stockfish heads sold by Nigerians to Cameroonians, iron rods were also being exported to the country.
He added that Nigerian traders also move stockfish heads to Gabon, adding that the increase in such trade had further strengthened the CFA franc against the naira, especially in the black market.
Ebere stated, “There is an increase in the sale of stockfish heads and iron rods by Nigerians. They (Nigerians) are ready to do business, especially when the currency they will receive will mean doubling or tripling their gains.
“Cameroon has food; the country even sells food items to Gabon, which is also a neighbouring country, but Nigerians make a lot of money selling stockfish and iron to Cameroonians. The interest there is the CFA franc.”
A road transport operator, Mr Godwin Eze, who plies the Ikom-Mfum-Ekok border roads in the state, told Sunday PUNCH that high trade volume between Nigerian and Cameroonian traders stemmed from the cascading fall of the naira against the backdrop of the high value of the Cameroonian CFA franc.
He further noted that Cameroonian traders had infiltrated the Nigeria-Cameroon borders to neighbouring towns in the Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State to buy foodstuffs and other valuables and ferry same to their country for further sales.
Sunday PUNCH also gathered that apart from that, traders in Nigeria had also found Cameroon as a safe haven to market their foodstuffs, among other trade items, to have unfettered access to the Cameroonian currency, which at the moment is higher in value than the naira.
A trader involved in the trade, who begged to remain anonymous, confirmed this to one of our correspondents.
She said, “It is no longer news that we have a trading alliance with traders from Cameroon. Our politicians are stealing billions, so we too must find a means of making enough money to cater to our family needs since we don’t have access to government money.
“What crime did we commit by buying and selling with Cameroonians?”
A major trans-border grains and commodities merchant, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu, told Sunday PUNCH that 1,000 CFA francs were exchanged for N2,900 in the black market as of Saturday.
He said, “This shows a sharp contrast to just a few years ago when 1,000 CFA francs exchanged for as little as N320.
“With a comparatively strong naira to the CFA franc, we used to troop to Niger to buy so much rice and other essential commodities not available here just a few years ago.
“Now, the table has turned against us because the Nigeriens now seize the advantage of the drastic depreciation of the naira and exponential rise of their CFA franc to troop into Nigeria to buy as much of our grains as they can to resell in their country.
“To make sure they benefit from the depreciation of the naira to the utmost, many grain merchants in Niger, in a hot race for Nigeria’s food grains and other commodities, now even sell their residential houses to generate enough money for as much of the maize and millet as they can purchase from Nigeria to resell in their country.
“A bag of rice will cost around 22,000 CFA francs but in naira, it is around N75,000.”
The trader lamented that a Nigerien merchant having just enough to buy 10 sacks of Nigerian maize or millet just about a year ago, could now afford to buy 100 to 150 sacks with the same amount of money he traded for the 10 sacks a year ago.
Aliyu stated, “In one year, the draining of Nigerian grains to the Niger Republic through the Geidan (Yobe State) and Damasak (Borno State) borders has more than tripled.
“If the naira does not gain strength against the CFA franc, the situation may worsen next year.”
The trader also absolved any Nigerian farmer selling his grains to Nigeriens of any blame.
He added, “With the persisting economic hardship, the Nigerian farmer or grains merchant, who needs cash for pressing needs, will be tempted to sell his grains to the Nigerien who has the cash to give him than to his fellow Nigerian who doesn’t have the cash.
“So, in a short time, the food grains needed to feed a large population of Nigerians will be drained to the neighbouring countries, leaving Nigerians hungry, especially as they now do not have the money to cross the borders to buy food when they need to.”
Most exporters of foodstuffs from Sokoto State to the neighbouring Niger Republic have explained that their decision is the only way to make more money by selling their goods.
They added that most of them shared family ties with Niger with many intermarriages happening between them.
A trader within Sokoto’s old market, Mallam Abubakar Salisu, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, said he was in business to make money, hence he decided to sell his goods at any available market to maximise profits.
Salisu stated, “I honestly don’t know why there is a lot of noise about where we decide to do our business and who we sell to.
“I believe everyone is doing business to make money. Why will our own be different from others that Nigerians now take us to be criminals?
“I believe you know there is a huge difference between the Nigeria currency and CFA franc, which is the legal tender in Niger and Cameroon. That is one of the major reasons why I decided to go there to sell my grains.
“If I take my goods to Niger Republic, I will make double what I will get in the Nigerian market here. So, why will I remain here to sell when I can make more money by simply changing location?
“The government should fix the economy and allow us to do our business in peace. They should stop harassing us. We are not the ones who caused the economic woes.”
A Nigerian rice seller in Niger Republic, Nuhu Illela, said even though he does a legal service, agents of the government still disturb him unnecessarily.
He said, “I have been selling the same rice in Illela (a border town in Sokoto) for over 20 years now without any rancour or disturbances.
“Since the closure of the border by the Economic Community of West African States, the rice we used to get from Niger Republic has stopped coming. That is one major reason food prices are increasing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
“I normally sell my products to our people in Illela, which is a border community between us and Niger Republic.
“Now that we don’t have the opportunity to get rice from Niger Republic, we resort to selling local rice here in the market and now the government looks at it as if we are criminals.
“I know some of my people here who have their families over there in Konni, Niger Republic. So, can’t I take my own goods to them to buy? What is my offence?
“Now that the government is setting up a task force to stop it, how do they expect us to survive and take care of our business and families?
“What they are supposed to do as a government, they are not doing. Why can’t the government find a solution to the falling naira, which is the reason we are taking our goods to these countries to sell?”
Meanwhile, in order to curtail the continued exportation of foodstuffs to Niger Republic from the state and to tackle the smuggling and hoarding of foodstuffs in the state, the Sokoto State Government, on Thursday, approved the task force to deal with the menace.
The nine-member committee is headed by Dalhatu Sidi Mamman, while Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.) serves as the secretary.
Others members are the Garrison Commander, 8 Division; Comptroller of Customs; Comptroller of Immigration; Commissioner of Police; representatives of the DSS and the NSCDC; the Sultanate Council; and the Grain Sellers Association of Nigeria.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa, and made available to newsmen, the governor charges the task force members to identify all the routes through which smuggling activities are taking place.
The statement read in part, “To identify all hoarding facilities and ensure foodstuffs are released and sold to the general public at controlled prices.
“To identify hoarders and smugglers and take appropriate action against them.”
It also noted that the government would take any necessary measure to ensure food sufficiency in the state, while the committee would report to the secretary to the state governor’s office periodically on all its activities.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, on Saturday, declared that it had intensified efforts to halt the illegal export of food items from the country, adding that it had intercepted food smugglers in Kano, Katsina, and Sokoto states.
It also warned members of the public to desist from smuggling food items out of Nigeria for selfish reasons to the detriment of the larger masses, stressing that culprits would be caught.
Recall that on Sunday the NCS revealed that it intercepted 15 trucks that were fully loaded with food items and were heading out of the country through the Sokoto State border.
It said the trucks were stopped and the food items were returned to Nigeria, adding that this was part of measures to stabilise the prices of food items across the country in line with the mandate of the Federal Government.
When contacted on Saturday and asked whether there had been fresh seizures by the service, Maiwada, stated that interceptions were made in three states in the North.
He said, “We have some seizures or interception of some grains that were to be illegally exported out of the country for selfish desires by some members of the public.
“We have made several interceptions in Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, and around the Jigawa area.”
Maiwada urged Nigerians to desist from the illegal export of food items.
He said, “Our call on members of the public is not to fall for these unpatriotic acts by some elements who are only out to benefit themselves financially without recourse to the masses.
“So we encourage Nigerians to partake in legitimate trade and avoid anything that has to do with smuggling of items either into or out of the country.
“We will continue to re-strategise our enforcement strategies so that we will be ahead of them (smugglers).”
Recall that while assessing the government’s action to tackle the hardship in the country, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and the organised private sector had supported the decision of the President and the governors not to adopt importation as a solution to the biting food crisis facing the nation.
They also backed the planned action against hoarders as the NCS vowed to stop the smuggling of food out of the country.
The AFAN President, Kabir Ibrahim, had told one of our correspondents that the decision of the government to order food producers to release their products to the market would help check the continued rise in the prices of food items.
He said, “I encourage the security agencies to move in with some other government officials and ask people to open their stores to sell what they have at the prevailing prices. The commodities should be sold at the prevailing prices.
“Nobody is asking them to bring down their prices, for once they sell at the prevailing prices they will not lose anything. But hoarding is not allowed anywhere in the world. You cannot keep what is needed and make it scarce.
“So the government should move in and do all it can to address this situation in Nigeria now. The prices of commodities are rising and the government has to intervene to tackle this issue, and it has our support on this.”
The Nigeria Customs Service said on Saturday that it had, within the past month, seized contraband items worth over N13.352m.
This, it said, was across 15 different raids.
The seized items include 16,675 litres of petrol packed in 643×25-litre jerry cans and three × 200L drums; 20×50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice; and one used V/Wagon Golf with a big, reconstructed fuel tank, according to the Adamawa/Taraba Area Controller of the NCS, Salisu Abdullahi.
Ibrahim said on Saturday, “To put things into perspective, when someone takes things out of the country without paying duties, it is called smuggling.
“But if you look again at the Africa bilateral agreement, it presents that all of Africa is one market.
“By that, it is not illegal for any foreigner from Africa to come into Nigeria and Nigerians to go into neighbouring states for trade, but there are conventions and agreements which also require that things be done right.
The Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Ishaq Hussaini Magaji has called on all social media users, especially content creators to register their activities as business with the commission or risk penalty.
The Nigerian government is soon clamping down on the social media space, by the time the exercise starts if your business online is not registered with the CAC as a business name it will stop operating, the CAC boss hinted.
The RG also stated that any business running for over 28 days and not registered will be penalised, most social media business owners have been running their businesses online without any form of registration from the government, these as far as the government is concerned calls for immediate penalty which will be made known soon.
According to him, “The social media space is a wide space where a lot of transactions are taking place, there is instagram, tiktok, snapchat, facebook twitter, crypto and a whole lot of them. These groups of people are not paying any form of tax to the federal government even though the government is lamenting that the Nigeria tax level is the lowest in the world with only 10% considering how large the country is.”
Citing the law of the company and Allied Matters Act, 2020 particularly section 814 which made it mandatory for any person doing business in his own name to be registered with the Corporal Affairs Commission, Magaji stressed that it is mandatory now it is no longer optional.
“Whatever business you do as long as you have a business name that name must be registered with the CAC.”
Justifying the need for the new policy regime, Magaji said the whole idea behind the business names registration is to checkmate terrorism, money laundering and other negative vices in the country.
“President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has given the directives that all businesses must be regularised into the system, this is to encourage youths so the government can track negative activities in the country. Ignorance of the law is therefore not an excuse,” Magaji stated matter-of-factly.
“Another point of note is President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s 50 million jobs for Nigerian youths. which is presently receiving a boost with the CAC. The business name registration done through the microfinance banks comes with a discount rate for those who cannot afford it if they have to do it on their own.”
Speaking with some social media users, they lamented what they described as attempts by the government to gag the social media space.
Mercy Peters who spoke with The Nation noted that it will be difficult to regulate, stating that Tiktok is a different world entirely. “Before you make money on Tiktok you go through a live video and people come to your live video to gift card, some people can send you dollars or pounds in what is called live, when you get this money it can be withdrawn at the end of the live video meaning you have acquired multiple followers.
“For me I cannot earn because I do not have followers that support me that much. The government can have a hold on tiktokers because most of them are instagram influencers as they get their endorsements from instagram. Tiktokers can be regulated through their instagram page even though it is a very large community. For the government to regulate social media influencers it has to be through their instagram page because instagram is the power house.
“Once you get blown from tiktok you move to instagram because that is where as a social media influencer you make your money, you get endorsement and become ambassador. They pay on snapchat. It is more like a digital marketing app, where people can advertise their products. For you to make an impact on snapchat and be paid you should have at least five thousand and above followers, this qualifies you as a subscriber, then you start boosting your account.”
The Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, has conferred a bachelor degree on 2,172 graduates of various disciplines during a 6th and 7th combined convocation held at the school convocation ground.
Meanwhile, the school also inaugurated its 2nd Chancellor of the University, His Majesty, King W.S. Joshua, Igbugburu X, (CON), JP, the Ebenanawei of Bomo Kingdom and the Pioneer Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Council.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Abdulkarim Saboda Muhammad, said “the 5th convocation ceremony took place in 2020 before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. After that, we had a prolonged ASUU strike which distorted the university calendar and made it difficult to organize the subsequent convocation ceremony”.
The vice chancellor explained that 1058 graduates were for the 2019/2020 academic season with 38 first class, 321 second class upper division, 564 second class lower division and 135 with third class lower.
“For the 2020/2021 academic season, a total of 1814 to be awarded with bachelor degree in which 36 with first class, 515 with second class upper division, 946 second class lower division and 317 with third class lower.
“We also have two (2) Ph.D, forty-seven (47) M.Sc, three hundred and seventy-six (376) Masters and one hundred and eighty-nine (189) Postgraduate Diploma graduates”.
He said that the university has recorded remarkable achievements in the area of Academic, Research and Innovation.
The Vice Chancellor noted that some of the achievement include the ranking as the overall best federal university in the North-West geopolitical zone in 2021 by the National Universities Commission (NUC), 1st in Nigeria for quality of researchers and research innovation by Scimago, Academic Ranking in 2021 and in 2022, Scimago also ranked FUD the best centre for mathematical science in Africa.
“In a related development, the 2022 Ethics and Compliance Scorecard by ICPC ranked Federal University Dutse 1st among Federal Universities, 2nd among all MDAs under Federal Ministry of Education and 7th overall among all MDAs nationwide with a score of 81.85 compliance. The score was based on performance in the categories of Management Culture and Structure (30%), Administrative system (30%) and Financial Management System (40%)”.
Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammad added that “In 2022, the University successfully secured re-accreditation of 21 programmes from the National Universities Commission (NUC). The University also got accreditation of its Pre-Clinical MBBS Programme at the first instance after hosting the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the re-accreditation of the Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital to serve as the University’s Teaching Hospital.
“Towards the end of 2023, the University also got NUC’s approval to mount the B.Nsc. Nursing Science, B.Sc. Public Health and B.Sc. Environmental Health Sciences. The University has commenced the construction of the Faculty of Law building and all things being equal, the Faculty of Law will take off next academic session, In Sha Allah. Plans are also under way for the establishment of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOUs signed with Morgan State University USA, University technology Mara Malaysia, University Malaysia Kelantan, Skyline University Kano for Academic and Research.
The Vice Chancellor stated further that, “The University Library has over 27,000 books and Over 500,000 e-Resources and 1000 journals in different fields. We have also installed servers and more than 150 new computers in the library so that students can access electronic information resources in the form of e-Books and e-Journals both on and offline.”
He therefore expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinibu, minister of education and Jigawa state Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, for their support on the academic activities in the university.
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American talk show host, Steve Harvey has absolved Nigerian Grammy winner, Burna Boy of any accusations that he stole from the music genre in America.
He stated that contrary to such belief, it was the West, especially America who are inspired by African beats, rhythm, and soul which is done by Burna Boy and other African artistes.
Harvey made the revelation when he appeared as a panelist on a TV programme while emphasising that Africans and Black American are the same
The comedian said in part;
“They talk about ‘Burna Boy stole this’, no we stole from Burna Boy. Them Africans is us. Africans are the beats, soul, rhythm, and hard work. We get our courage from them. When you see them people, they look just like your family.”
This comes as Burna Boy told Apple Music last year that he doesn’t do the popular West African music, Afrobeats but Afrofusion which he said was a fusion of American hip-hop, R&B, soul, Jamaican reggae and dancehall, and African music elements.
Recall Nigerian rap star, Eedris Abdulkareem and singer, Burna Boy clashed online recently.
The clash started with Eedris criticising the ‘Last Last’ crooner for saying that nobody in the Nigerian entertainment industry helped him, and he said that is a stupid talk.
This was in response to Burna Boy’s earlier shade where the self-acclaimed African Giant hinted that he is not happy with the people who contributed money for the Hip Hop artiste to undergo kidney transplant.
However, reacting via his Instagram page, Abdulkareem said Burna Boy wishing him or any other person dead was “truly saddening and very disappointing.”
Watch video below:
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Big Brother Naija level up winner, Phyna has revealed the cosmetic surgery she underwent to get her curvy look.
In an interview with Naija 102 FM, Phyna admitted that she has worked on her tummy, but clarified that she hasn’t touched her body. Explaining the difference between the two, Phyna stated that touching her body means doing breast enlargement, BBL and others.
The reality star disclosed that she is open to undergoing surgery in the future, but it would be done overseas because she loves everything she does to be perfect.
According to her, when she is ready and has done it, she will announce it to Nigerians because it’s her body and her money.
Phyna said in part:
“I no do body, I just worked on my tummy. Body na when dey do nyash, do proper surgery. I didn’t do buttock enlargement. If I want to do it, it wouldn’t be in Nigeria.
For me, anything I want to do, I like to do it well, to do it finish. I haven’t gotten to that stage yet, when I get there, Nigerians will know I have done it”.
In 2023, Phyna admitted that she worked on her stomach and not her backside as many assumed.
The entertainer added while bragging, that her backside is all hers and she only took out her belly fat.
Following rumors of her undergoing surgery, her co-reality star, Chichi had thrown a subtle shade at her, noting how Phyna has always admired and wanted to be like her.
She alleged that Phyna’s buttocks might have undergone cement injections to achieve its current appearance as they looked poorly done.
Watch Phyna speak below:
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Nigerian Fuji star Wasiu Alabi, popularly known as Pasuma, has opened up on the pivotal moment that redirected his career path from football to music.
The iconic artist, who just celebrated his 56th birthday, shared how a setback in his football aspirations steered him towards the world of music.
Pasuma revealed that his initial ambition was to become a professional footballer, and he had high hopes of representing Nigeria on the international stage.
Nigerian fuji star Pasuma reflects on his football ambitions as he celebrates 56th birthday
Pasuma.
His dreams were centered around securing a spot on the national team for the FIFA U-16 World Championship in China in 1985.
However, the Fuji star faced disappointment as he failed to make the cut for the prestigious tournament.
Recalling the moment of rejection, Pasuma said;
“I was a footballer, so I was invited for Kodak, but I decided to go into music because I wasn’t picked to go to Kodak for the World Cup then, so I now said I want to be a musician straight. I was a footballer before.”
Despite the setback in his football career, Pasuma did not let the disappointment dampen his spirits.
Instead, he channeled his focus and passion towards music, ultimately carving a niche for himself in the industry.
Nigerian film actress, Rosy Meurer, has debunked rumours that her husband, Olakunle Churchill, is planning to take a second wife.
The actress while speaking with Saturday Beats disclosed:
“About the rumors that my husband is taking a second wife, nothing could be further from the truth.”
Recall Olakunle Churchill was formerly married to controversial actress, Tonto Dikeh, whom he shares a son, with. Rosy was his personal assistant at the time.
Responding to accusations that she was the cause of their marriage crash, the thespian said;
“Not every action needs a reaction. I have had my moments of exchanging words with people. But, if anybody says anything to me, I will give it back to them.
“When you learn that a person’s behavior has more to do with their own internal struggle than it ever did with you, you learn grace. Self control is strength.
“I have got to the point where my mood does not shift based on the insignificant actions of someone else. I can never allow anyone to control the direction of my life.”
The beautiful mother-of-two also said that she resolved to always choose peace over drama, and distance over disrespect. Rosy Meurer added:
“I learnt a lot in 2023. I have learnt to leave people where they’re at; be it friends, family or coworker. I have stopped overplaying my role in anyone’s life. Some people take advantage of one’s kindness and vulnerability.
I am in my soft girl era. If anyone stresses me, I would disappear. I am choosing peace over drama, and distance over disrespect.
I have learnt to accept situations for what they are. I’ve realised that one does not have to understand everything, because some things are not meant to be understood but accepted.”