Nationwide blackouts will commence across Nigeria as electricity workers reveal they will be withdrawing their services from Sunday midnight for the organized labour’s indefinite strike slated for Monday.
The acting General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Dominic Igwebike, disclosed this in a notice on Friday.
The development comes in compliance with the indefinite strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress over the failure of the federal government to sign and implement a new minimum wage and the reversal of the April 3, 240 percent electricity tariff hike.
“The withdrawal of services becomes effective Sunday 2nd June by midnight”, the notice stated.
DAILY POST reports that organized labor announced the commencement of the indefinite strike starting on Monday.
The federal government had offered N60,000 as a minimum wage but organized labor proposed N400,000.
Earlier, workers staged a walkout over the government’s N60,000 minimum wage proposal.
Nigerian workers are also using the strike to press home their demand for the immediate reversal of the electricity tariff to N65 kilowatt-hour from the current N208.80.
Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu has vowed that she will always sit down during the rendition of the re-introduced national anthem, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’.
The socio-political activist has been in the news following a viral video that captured her sitting down while the national anthem was being recited at an event.
The video which is presently making the rounds, captured the co-convener of BringBackOurGirls, BBO crossing her legs during the recitation of the anthem.
In the video sighted by DAILY POST, most guests at the event were astonished by Aisha’s display.
In another viral video, Aisha explained why she may never acknowledge the new anthem.
Citing the economic and security crisis bedevilling the nation, she noted that there are better things that should have taken the attention of the National Assembly.
She said, “As far as I am concerned, there is no new and old national anthem, there is only one ‘Arise O Compatriot’ and that is what I know.
“If I am at any occasion I will stand up for the national anthem but if they start playing the ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ I will sit down and operate my phone.
“For me, that is an obnoxious law, the National Assembly Assembly has things they should focus on. If they are not ashamed of themselves, we citizens of the country are ashamed on their behalf.
“That is not what they should be focused on. Right now, we have companies that are leaving Nigeria, we are losing a lot, our GDP is going down, and there is no security of lives and properties.
“In the midst of all these, adults who are supposed to sit down in one place, said they want to take Nigeria back, saying Nigeria we hail thee. We have a national anthem”.
Grammy-nominated Nigerian singer and songwriter, Ayra Starr, has opened up about her struggle with writer’s block and how it affected her.
The ‘Rush’ crooner said she couldn’t write songs for about six months until she received the demo of her song ’21’ off her new album, ‘The Year I Turned 21,’ from a friend as a birthday present which opened her mind. She said in a viral podcast interview:
“I got the demo of ’21’ from a friend as a birthday gift the day I turned 21,”
“I had told him that it has been so hard… I was having a writer’s block for six months. I couldn’t write about myself then he gave me the first version of the song in a demo as my birthday gift. Recording ’21’ was quite easy for me, I did it in one-take. I was even lying down with the mic in my hand.
“’21’ is special because it is what opened my mind to the rest of the album. With ’21’ I started to see myself again the way I wanted to see myself.”
Still on album releases, Award-winning Nigerian music star, Yemi Eberechi Alade, has opened up on why she named her forthcoming album ‘Rebel Queen’.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, the ‘Johnny’ crooner said she is a true rebel in words and action, and the body of work is a combination of her thoughts, melodies and truck load of nostalgia.
Yemi Alade also noted that she made the album because she got tired of the “monotony in genre and style” of Afrobeats music.
The songstress further disclosed that the 16-track album theme encompasses feminity, liberation and consciousness in life.
Nigerian media personality and actress, Moet Abebe, has said she is open to having sex on the first date.
According to her, she has done it before and has no regrets, because she has no shame regarding things like that.
The thespian disclosed this on the latest episode of the ‘Bahd And Boujee’ podcast, co-hosted by her and reality star Tolanibaj.
Tolanibaj asked: “Would you have sex on a first date?”
Moet replied: “Yes, why not? I have done it before. To be honest, I have no regrets. I don’t regret anything in my life. If I want you, I want you. And I’m also shameless.”
The actress also said she dislikes it when her friends suspect her of snatching their partners.
“I hate when women who are close to me think I want to take their man,” she said.
Tolanibaj inferred, “It’s because you are endowed. I can understand why they are insecure. Your backside is intimidating. But that is because they are also not sure of themselves.”
Award-winning Nigerian music star, Yemi Eberechi Alade, has opened up on why she named her forthcoming album ‘Rebel Queen’.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, the ‘Johnny’ crooner said she is a true rebel in words and action, and the body of work is a combination of her thoughts, melodies and truck load of nostalgia.
Yemi Alade also noted that she made the album because she got tired of the “monotony in genre and style” of Afrobeats music. She said;
“I am a true rebel in words and in action. So many albums tend to have monotony in genre and style and it bores me easily most times.
This album is a blend of what my playlist consists of right now; the new and old pop music that cuts across generations and boundaries. I am generally known as someone who has always charted her own course and walked the path less travelled.
“Rebel Queen has something new, old and borrowed. I want to emphasise to you that every song is unique and a capsule of my thoughts and melodies and truck load of nostalgia.”
The songstress further disclosed that the 16-track album theme encompasses feminity, liberation and consciousness in life.
Yemi Alade said;
“It’s a 16 track album that takes you through sounds of Africa on different tempos and rhythms with features from a few of your favorite artistes from different parts of the world. The album covers feminity, style, dance, motivation, liberation and consciousness”.
‘Rebel Queen’ is Alade’s sixth studio album. Her other projects include ‘King of Queen’, ‘Mama Africa’, ‘Black Magic’, ‘Woman of Steel’ and ‘Empress’.
Prominent Nigerian singer, M.I Abaga, has made a surprising revelation about the 2023 general elections.
In a recent interview, M.I disclosed that he and fellow singer, Wizkid were approached with substantial monetary offers from political parties to influence their decisions during the election period.
M.I admitted that he received a payment from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support their candidate in the presidential election.
However, Wizkid declined his own offer, opting to remain neutral in the political process.
M.I commended Wizkid, stating that his(Wizkid) decision reflected the sentiments of many Nigerians who were seeking change and tired of the status quo.
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, the ace Nigerian musician, who is popularly known as D’banj has spoken out on the moral disparity between his generation of musicians and the present crop of musicians.
The ‘Koko Master’ noted that there is a huge difference between the moral compass of the times his generation of musicians held sway and now.
He disclosed that sometimes he calls his colleague 2Baba who was engulfed in scandals for having children out of wedlock years back, to jokingly chide him for not encouraging him to do the same.
D’banj noted that, unlike his generation where having a child out of wedlock could end one’s career, celebrities are now being celebrated for having children out of wedlock.
Speaking in an interview with The Beat FM, Lagos, the Koko Master said, “Our generation was so hard. If you had a child out of wedlock, your career could just end. But now everybody is just embracing it.
“I am angry. Sometimes I call 2Face to chide him for not encouraging me back then because it is something different when you now see them celebrating with their kids. They are in their 30s and their kids are teenagers.
“But I think it goes beyond people, it goes to your state of mind: Are you mentally and financially ready? You don’t have to have everything in the world, if you’re ready to embrace what is coming to you, I think that is the best.”
Anita Alaire Afoke Asuoha, the Nigerian comedienne and actress, who is popularly known as Real Warri Pikin, has revealed she underwent weight-loss surgery.
Recall that Real Warri Pikin flaunted her new looks on social media last year after undergoing weight-loss surgery.
Speaking at a recent function, the comedienne explained that she made the decision after she was embarrassed with an automated bank security.
She said, “When I was plus-sized, one of the reasons I decided to do weight-loss surgery was an embarrassing situation at the bank. I entered into the bank door and the next thing I heard was, ‘Step back, one at a time, one at time’.”
She, however, admitted that she is suffering from the side effects of the surgery.
“Everyone is saying I look better and younger after the surgery but they don’t know what I am passing through. My breasts have become sloppy,” she lamented.
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Why I decided to do a weight-loss surgery
— @????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) May 31, 2024
- RealWarriPikin pic.twitter.com/ivIR0JTKtE
A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress, Joe Igbokwe, has slammed Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu for what he perceives as disrespectful behaviour towards the new national anthem.
Yesufu, known for her activism, refused to sing the national anthem “Nigeria we hail thee” at an event, opting to sit down while others stood up to honor the anthem.
In a video she posted on X on Friday, the co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls advocacy group, could be seen seen sitting while the new national anthem was being recited.
Captioning the video, she wrote: “#NotMyNationalAnthem.”
Reacting, on his Facebook page on Saturday Igbokwe criticized Yesufu’s behavior as “nonsensical” and warned that her actions may harm her and her family.
He wrote, “Aisha Yesufu cannot respect the National Anthem. Let us see where all the nonsensical behaviour will take her to.
"She may not understand the damage she is doing to herself and her family. Continue.”
President Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, restoring ‘Nigeria we hail thee’ as the national anthem.
Cristiano Ronaldo Bursts Into Tears As Al Nassr Lose King’s Cup Final - End Season Trophyless
AFOLABI
Cristiano Ronaldo, the superstar player for Al Nassr, was overcome with emotion and burst into tears as his team suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat on penalties against Al Hilal in the King's Cup final last Friday.
The defeat means Ronaldo will not win any trophy this season.
Al Hilal have now also completed the league and cup double.
The match in Jeddah ended 1-1 in regulation time and extra time failed to provide a winner.
Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Al Hilal the lead in the seventh minute, before Aiman Yahya levelled the game in the 88th minute.
A feisty game saw the referee produce three red cards, with David Ospina sent off for Al Nassr in the 57th minute before Ali Al-Bulayhi and Kalidou Koulibaly followed late on for Al Hilal.
Al Hilal goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou was eventually the hero as he saved Al Nassr’s final two penalties to secure the trophy.
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Story highlights
- The African Development Bank (AfDB) has made several financial pledges towards Nigeria’s socio-economic development since 2023.
- The financial commitments relate to infrastructure, and agriculture development among others.
- Amid these multi-billion commitments, Nairametrics digs into the status of the bank’s pledges to Nigeria for the past year.
When it comes to Nigeria’s multilateral creditors, the African Development Bank (AfDB) stands out as one of the country’s largest and most reliable sources of credit.
According to data from the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s loans from the AfDB have increased from approximately $3 billion in 2022 to $3.2 billion by the end of 2023.
This is up from $2.8 billion in 2021, demonstrating steady growth in the extension of credit to Nigeria.
The World Bank is the only multilateral creditor to have extended more credit to Nigeria than the AfDB.
Support from the AfDB has grown significantly since the Tinubu administration, with numerous pledges made over the past year to both public and private institutions, supporting various initiatives.
AfDB’s Financial Commitments to Nigeria
We looked at the AfDB website and from their records, between 2023 and March 2024, a total of 372.3 million UA has been approved for Nigeria.
For this year, its website showed only 37,548,813 UA was approved on March 15, 2024.
According to the AfDB, the Bank uses a unit of account (the “Unit of Account” or “UA”) equivalent to the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Right (SDR) as its reporting currency.
The value of the SDR, which may vary from day to day, is currently computed daily in U.S. dollars by the IMF.
We also looked at the entirety of projects and amounts that have been approved for Nigeria since 1971 and as per their records, a total of 6.1 billion UA has been earmarked for Nigeria out of which 4.5 billion UA has been approved or completed while 1.4 billion UA is under implementation or ongoing.
186.5 million UA has been cancelled so far while the bulk of the cancellation occurred in 2016 at an estimated 173.8 million dollars.
Nairametrics also collated official press releases from the AfDB on pledges made to Nigeria in the form of financial support.
Some of these amounts may be part of the 372 million UA, but Nairametrics cannot independently verify.
However, these are the pledges that we have collated.
AfDB’s Financial Commitments to Nigeria Since 2023
As part of Nairametrics’ review of the government’s first year in office, we take a closer look at the various pledges from the AfDB over the past year, detailing the beneficiaries and the intended uses of the funds.
Here are the pledges made since last year per Nairametrics collation:
$1.44 billion investment in Nigeria
The African Development Bank (AfDB) had on May 22, 2024, announced an investment of $1.44 billion to aid the development of energy and power, transport, water, and sanitation infrastructure in Nigeria.
- Director-General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Country Department, Lamin Barrow, said Nigeria is having a huge infrastructure deficit problem, at the Nasarawa Investment Summit 2024, held from 15 – 16 May in Lafia, Nasarawa state.
- “To address this problem, the African Development Bank is supporting the federal and state governments to improve the national and state infrastructure. As of April 2024, 31 per cent of the Bank’s active portfolio, valued at $1.44 billion, is supporting infrastructure development in Nigeria,” Barrow stated.
$75 million loan with Nigeria’s Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited
On March 28, 2024, AfDB stated it signed a $75 million loan agreement with Nigeria’s Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited.
It explained the loan will enable Indorama to increase its fertilizer production and develop a port terminal for exports, supporting food production and food security across regional and international markets, while fostering job creation in Nigeria.
$50 million loan to Yobe State Government
On March 26, 2024, the Board of Directors of the AfDB stated it approved a $50 million loan for the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Change Action Project (ECCAP) to enhance climate change resilience, boost food security, and improve livelihoods for over 3.5 million people in northeast Nigeria.
While the project cost was estimated at $101.34 million, the African Development Bank pledged a $50 million loan.
$80 million To Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project
On February 22, 2024, AfDB stated it committed $80 million in loan financing to the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project in Ekiti State, describing the project as a hub for digital innovation and knowledge economy in Nigeria.
The Ekiti State Government was expected to commit $14.8 million towards the $94.8 million project.
$175 million financial package for UBA
On December 15, 2023, the AFDB said it approved a $175 million financial package for United Bank for Africa (UBA), comprising $100 million in long-term senior debt, $50 million of trade finance medium-term senior debt and a $25 million risk participation program.
According to its statement, the long-term senior debt will enhance UBA’s capacity to finance projects in Nigeria in the key sectors inclusive of agriculture and related value chains.
$20 million Trade Finance Facility Agreement with FSDH Merchant Bank
On December 8, 2023, AfDB said it signed a $20 million Trade Finance Facility Agreement with FSDH Merchant Bank to support small- and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria’s industrial and manufacturing sectors.
$115 million for Abia state road rehabilitation
On June 30, 2023, AfDB stated it had approved a loan of $115 million to support a major road rehabilitation project in Nigeria’s Abia State.
“Financing for the project, estimated at a total cost of $263.80 million, will come through an African Development Bank loan of $100 million; a Canada–African Development Bank Climate Fund (CACF) loan of $15 million; and a $125 million co-financing loan from the Islamic Development Bank,” AfDB said in a statement.
$15 million loan to InfraCredit
On May 18, 2023, AfDB stated it approved a $15 million subordinated loan to Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (InfraCredit) to strengthen its capital base and help close Nigeria’s infrastructure financing gap.
The financing was aimed at enabling InfraCredit to leverage domestic capital markets to bolster access to long-term local currency infrastructure financing in Nigeria.
$525,000 grant to AFN
On April 26, 2023, AfDB said it signed a $525,000 grant agreement with Africa Fintech Network (AFN) for the setup of the Africa Fintech Hub(link is external), an online portal that will serve as a one-stop shop for all fintech activities in Africa.
The agreement was signed on 4 April 2023, according to AfDB.
€362,000 to Yobe Basin-Trust Fund
On March 23, 2023, AfDB, signed a €362,000 grant agreement with Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Basin-Trust Fund to prepare additional studies for the development of a strategic plan for managing water resources in the Komadugu-Yobe Basin in northern Nigeria.
“Specifically, the grant will support the preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Challawa Gorge Dam Watershed Management Project; a stakeholder engagement plan; a grievance redress mechanism, and stakeholder consultations involving riparian communities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission comprising Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The project will be implemented over eight months,” AfDB revealed in a statement.
How many pledges came in?
Nairametrics has been unable to confirm whether the pledges made to extend credit to institutions in Nigeria have been disbursed.
- Ahead of this publication, a Nairametrics analyst sent an inquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. seeking details on the financial commitments made to Nigeria by the African Development Bank Group since 2023.
- Specifically, Nairametrics requested information on which pledges had been fulfilled.
Nairametrics faced challenges in obtaining a response from the AfDB. Efforts to reach Christin Roby, an official in the AfDB’s Communications Department, were unsuccessful.
Eventually, Ms. Roby explained that the team was busy with the Annual Meetings and a response would likely come next week.
As of this publication, Nairametrics has not received a response from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. regarding the inquiry.
FG’s perception of AfDB’s interventions
- On June 24, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed an investment of $520 million in specialised agro-processing zones by the AfDB.
- According to a statement from the presidency, Tinubu had praised AfDB’s president, Dr Adewunmi Adesina for further opening up the economy for investments that provide job opportunities and reduction in poverty.
- President Tinubu had assured Dr Adesina that the Federal Government would provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the sustenance of the projects, adding that electricity remained a priority area that needed urgent attention.
- The $520 million pledge was launched by AfDB and partners, as disclosed on its website on October 24, 2022.
- The Nigerian presidency notes the AfDB President’s visionary and noble endeavour to transform agriculture in Africa and ensure food security on the continent.
Nairametrics previously quoted the AfDB stating that its funding for development projects in Nigeria is worth around $4.4 billion.
[Nairametrics]
Nigerian activist and politician, Aisha Yesufu, has openly opposed the newly adopted national anthem, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’.
Naija News reported that President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, reinstating the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
A video making the rounds on social media shows the activist sitting while others stood during the recitation of the new anthem at an event.
Most guests at the event were visibly astonished by Aisha’s display, as seen in the video.
Aisha shared a video clip of the moment on her official X handle with the caption, “Not my anthem.”
Similarly, Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has frowned at the decision of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, to reinstate the old national anthem.
In a post via X on Thursday, Kate Henshaw faulted the timing of the change and questioned how returning to the old anthem would tackle the country’s hardships.
According to the movie star, the country is facing “excoriating hardship and lack of good governance on every level.”
She sarcastically wrote: “In the midst of excoriating hardship & lack of good governance on every level but not to worry, going back to a colonial anthem will be a soothing balm and inject patriotism back into our veins, a much needed drug.”
In another post, Henshaw wrote, “The labour of our heroes past… o ti lo [is gone].”
Media
She’s a septuagenarian. She was sighted comfortably sitting beside her wares of biscuits, sweets, groundnuts and other articles under a broad canopy right opposite the popular Traffic Light, Ikpa Road, Akwa Ibom State.
From a distance, one could see the widow gazing at the vast, endless, and ever-changing canvas of the sky colors. Her eyes were locked onto an imaginary object. She was simply lost in deep thoughts. Thoughts of life after her husband departed, thoughts of the good old days and thoughts about what life has apportioned her since inception and a drab business atmosphere flooded her subconscious!
The mother-of-three thus appeared idle, as she had no customers in sight to patronise her when Saturday Tribune walked up to her for a chat.
Like several struggling folks across the Niger Delta, the current economic debacle has taken its heavy toll on her. She has three mouths to feed! Life is simply tough; her voice betrayed this assertion. However, in the midst of the distressing atmosphere, she still betrayed some smiles and was willing to engage in a chat with our correspondent. She obliged a slice of her eventful life story and how she’s navigating the present reality:
“My name is Ekaite Akpan from Okono Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. I am 60 years old and my mother is still alive at Ikono.
“I am a widow, as my husband died some years ago when I was in Lagos, hustling. When my husband died, I left Lagos for Port Harcourt.
“I have three children. Before my husband died, I was selling cooked food at an Air Force Base in Ikeja, Lagos.
“Everything changed when my husband died because even though I was hustling to take care of some of the family bills, he was a support system; but when he died, the responsibility of training my three children fell solely on me.
“It was during that period that my family members asked me to come back to Port Harcourt where my children started and finished secondary school.
“When I was there, I was selling the same petty things I am selling here, but the difference is that the business was booming there and it was the proceeds I used in training them through secondary school.
“However, I left Port Harcourt because my first daughter wanted to start a job here. She complained of the discomfort and risk of Port Harcourt life as she was kidnapped twice when we were there.
“She was kidnapped because her paternal grandmother was a white woman and she got her complexion so the kidnappers thought that she was an American.
“She was taken to Aba from Port Harcourt by her kidnappers but by the Grace of God, she was brought back to Port Harcourt through prayers and fasting without paying a dime.
“It was because of this that my family insisted on us relocating back to Akwa Ibom State.
“So when I came back here, I started my business selling sweets, biscuits and other petty things because that was what I was selling in Port Harcourt.
“But the market here is very bad as people hardly patronize me. I think the problem is with the location so I have told my daughter to look for another place for me.
“The challenges I am facing here is lack of sales. Two of my children are in the university and if not that my eldest daughter is working to support us, I have no idea how I would have coped with life here. Sometimes, I still think that it is because I am just starting.
“Another challenge is the continuous increase in the prices of foodstuffs. If the prices of foodstuffs remain as they are, people working honestly to make money won’t complain, but imagine you are making N20,000 from your business at the end of every month and a basket of garri is N3,600, how much are you going to spend for feeding in taking care of yourself and your children in a month?
“The country is suffocating us; they want to choke us out of this life, we’ve never had it this bad, but with God, we will pull through.”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has cancelled Civil Service jobs approved by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, ordering a fresh recruitment process.
Making the announcement on Friday, May 31, Fubara claimed the beneficiaries of the scheme which he phased out were smuggled in for political patronage. He added that a more transparent process would commence soon.
The Rivers state Governor said;
“On the 10,000 jobs, when we came on board, we already had details that were submitted to us from the 23 local government areas. You will agree with me that when we subjected those names to proper scrutiny, most of those names, in fact, 60 per cent of those names were over-aged. They were names that people brought for political patronage.
“But what we are talking about today is employment for the future. I, personally after the analysis of those things, said ‘How will you employ somebody who is 52 years old as a civil servant?’
“How many years is the person going to work before retirement?