The Nigerian government has expressed concern over the lack of willingness among many Nigerians in Lebanon to return home despite the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to a statement issued by Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, only about 500 Nigerians have registered for evacuation, though over 2,000 are currently residing in Lebanon.
“Even though most of them have not indicated a willingness to return home in spite of the persuasion by our embassy, we will continue to do everything to ensure the safety of our citizens,” Abu-Obe stated.
The ministry stated the importance of cooperation with the evacuation process, urging Nigerians in Lebanon not to resist evacuation as the conflict could escalate further.
The government has activated emergency protocols to prioritise the safety of its citizens, collaborating with various agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Immigration Service, to ensure a smooth evacuation process.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the Nigerian Embassy in Beirut has been actively advising Nigerians to stay indoors and follow local authorities’ instructions.
It also encouraged those who have not registered with the embassy to do so immediately via the provided email address.
The statement added that no Nigerian lives have been lost in the conflict so far. Arrangements are being made to send a C-130 aircraft or other available flights to facilitate the evacuation from Beirut, where many Nigerians have relocated from southern Lebanon—the epicentre of the conflict.
The Nigerian government extended its appreciation to the international community for their understanding and vowed to continue monitoring the situation closely.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has refuted reports suggesting that his first daughter, Mrs. Helen Obareki, was appointed as the First Lady of the state.
He clarified that his daughter was appointed as the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, a point he made clear to Senator Oluremi Tinubu during her condolence visit.
Speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, on Sunday, the governor explained that his decision was a natural outcome, not one motivated by political considerations.
He maintained that first ladies are not appointed. However, following the passing of his wife, it was appropriate and comforting for his daughter—who had been her mother’s closest assistant—to oversee and implement the programs of the office.
He noted that priority attention would be given to his late wife’s pet project, Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), as well as other support programs for women, the elderly, the vulnerable, and the less privileged. He added that these activities could only be sustained with Mrs. Obareki as coordinator due to her experience, exposure, education, and access.
His words: “Appointing our daughter, who had worked closely with her late mother, as the coordinator is not an appointment as First Lady. You don’t appoint a First Lady. The Office of the First Lady has responsibilities to the women of this state, and my wife had programs she was running—the GIFA, the support for the elderly, and other programs.
“As long as I remain governor, those programs will not die. There must be a coordinator, and it must be someone I see on a daily basis, someone who can walk into my room and brief me, not a distant person.”
Governor Eno further explained that, by the appointment, his daughter would be addressed as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, stating that this decision was one way to bring healing to the family and comfort to himself.
While expressing gratitude to the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and her entourage, the governor also thanked the church for their words of comfort and encouraged them to find solace in the word of God.
Daredevil terrorists, who are locally dubbed as bandits, are said to now receive ransom through bank electronic transfer in Zamfara State.
SaharaReporters reports that some of the terrorists were paid N2million ransom through a moniepoint virtual bank account on October 3, 2024.
A money transfer instrument seen by SaharaReporters showed that N2million was paid into a Palmpay virtual bank account number 7026353728, owned by one Musa Muhammad, believed to be a bandit in Zamfara State.
This was reported by a conflict and crisis journalist in Nigeria's Northwest, Bakatsine on his X social media handle.
Bakatsine, disclosed that after the N2 million bank transfer, the bandits instructed that additional millions be delivered to a specified location according to a credible source.
The incident, reportedly happened in the Shinkafi Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
"Bandits in Zamfara State received ransom through bank transfer. After transferring N2million to their bank account as requested, they later instructed that additional millions be delivered to a specified location according to my source the incident happened in Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State," Bakatsine posted.
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, a group of Nigerian and foreign students protested outside the Nigerian High Commission in London, calling on President Bola Tinubu to reverse his "anti-poor policies" and drop all charges against those arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The demonstration was organized by a group of socialist students under the banner of ‘Fight for Socialism’.
The protesters who comprised Black and White students displayed placards with inscriptions such as "Drop all charges and release protesters" and "Reverse all anti-poor policies."
In a video clip obtained by SaharaReporters, the protesters are seen chanting repeatedly, "When I say Tinubu, you say thief," as they voiced their discontent with the government's treatment of #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The group's demands include not only the release of detained protesters but also bring an end to the policies they believe harm Nigeria's poorest citizens.
The protest took place at the Nigerian High Commission in WC2N 5BX, London.
“When I say Tinubu, you say thief. Tinubu, thief; Tinubu, thief,” they chanted multiple times.
Media
WATCH: Nigerian, Foreign Students Call Tinubu ‘Thief’ During Protest In London pic.twitter.com/3UefAk86al
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 6, 2024
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has revealed that his negotiations with bandits consistently take place in the presence of police and government officials.
When asked in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH why he has taken the matter of speaking to terrorists seriously, Gumi said, “I am in the eye of the storm, and I am a full-fledged Nigerian. I also have an interest in peace and tranquility. I cannot wait for the official narrative because I have been in the army and I know how things go.
“Today, 90 per cent of our intelligence is garbage. What we have left is just about 10 per cent. That is why we have coups because intelligence does not have a way to identify these people.
“They also killed their leaders because no intelligence picked them up. Can we wait until we get a government that understands, then, we can make plans to intervene and see if it can calm nerves to achieve peace. No, as individuals, we have to do our best. Then I can advise the government on what we have seen.
“One thing Nigerians should understand is that I have never been to any den of these people without officials of the government. I go with the police because one cannot go alone; you must go with them.
“Only that they will tell you there is a perimeter—don’t come with some of them. Sometimes, I also go with traditional institutions and state government officials. My plan is only to broker peace with them. They open their doors for us to sit and discuss issues.”
This revelation comes as killings and kidnappings continue to rise in northern Nigeria, despite the government’s heavy expenditure on security.
Gumi criticised the government's reliance on military solutions, likening it to administering the wrong medicine for an illness.
“No matter how many expensive drugs you give to patients, if they are not the right drugs, they will not get cured,” he explained, stressing that the banditry problem is rooted in social issues.
He further noted that most bandits are young, and the situation demands dialogue rather than military intervention.
“When a society is neglected until it becomes harmful, like the military, the next line of action is dialogue,” Gumi said.
He questioned the government for insisting on military action when the bandits are open to negotiation, urging a change in approach.
“It is really useless when we spend our money on modern gadgets, intelligence gathering, and all that; we are going astray,” Gumi remarked, suggesting that expanding the police force would be a more effective solution.
Gumi also warned that using the military in guerrilla warfare is counterproductive.
“Using the military to fight a guerrilla war is like punishing the military,” he said.
He elaborated on his negotiation strategy, noting that approaching bandits as a preacher opens their hearts to discussions.
“When one approaches them as a negotiator or a preacher, they open their hearts,” Gumi added.
He expressed concern over the bandits’ increasing religious motivations, citing their chants of “Allahu Akbar” as a worrying sign.
Addressing allegations of political sponsorship of terrorists, Gumi firmly denied such claims, saying, “No politician is sponsoring these people. We are all victims.” He attributed the violence to longstanding neglect and deprivation.
Motunrayo Olaniyi, a 30-year-old Nigerian man, is now cooling his heels in police custody for allegedly stabbing his wife and setting her body on fire in their apartment at Amazing Grace Estate, Elepe community, Ikorodu area of Lagos.
The newlywed couple was engaged in a disagreement that degenerated into a fight at about 1 p.m., on Friday.
The man was said to have accused his six-month pregnant wife, Olajumoke, of infidelity, alleging that one of his brothers was responsible for the pregnancy. But she denied it
Before Friday’s tragedy, neighbors told Vanguard that he had attacked her earlier in her mother’s presence.
A neighbor, who pleaded anonymity, said: ‘They did their traditional marriage three months ago when Jumoke was three months pregnant. Then, all of a sudden, problems started.
“He was accusing his wife of being promiscuous. He said the pregnancy she was carrying was not his, but his younger brother’s.
“Earlier in the week, he attacked Jumoke in the presence of her mother, who came visiting. She (Jumoke’s mother) took him to church for deliverance prayers because they suspected he was possessed and needed deliverance.
“This second attack happened after Jumoke’s mother left.'”
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin, confirmed the arrest and explained:“On Friday, October 4, a distress call was received at the Ikorodu division that Olaniyi and his 25-year-old wife, Olajumoke, allegedly engaged in a domestic scuffle in their apartment.
“In the process, the husband stabbed the wife to death, locked her in the room, and set it ablaze, while he inflicted wounds on himself.
“Based on the report, a team of detectives visited the scene, where the fire was put out, and the lifeless body of the wife was found lying on the floor with wounds on her abdominal part.
“The husband was rescued with injuries, rushed to a nearby hospital, treated, discharged, and taken into police custody.
“Upon interrogation, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect stabbed his wife during an altercation between them and gave himself mild stabs.
“Meanwhile, the corpse has been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Investigation is in progress.”
Popular Nollywood actor, Saheed Balogun, is mourning the tragic loss of his daughter, Zeenat Balogun.
The actor announced her passing on Saturday through his verified Instagram account, sharing a poignant image of a candlelight surrounded by flowers, accompanied by heartbroken emojis.
The news of Zeenat’s death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, prompting an outpouring of condolences and tributes from fans and colleagues alike.
Fellow actress Ronke Oshodi Oke later confirmed the heartbreaking news on her own Instagram account, expressing her sorrow over the loss.
Posting an image of a candle, she wrote, “No words can ease the pain of losing someone so precious. My heart goes out to you @saidibalogun during this incredibly difficult time. May you find strength in the love and support surrounding you.”
Also mourning the death, popular actress, Fathia Balogun, who is a stepmother to the late Zeenat, posted on Instagram, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”
Other actors and well-wishers, including Kunle Afod and Adeniyi Johnson, have also expressed their condolences over the death.
As of the time of this report, the cause of Zeenat Balogun’s death remains unknown.
Media personality, Daddy Freeze launches heavy criticism against the practice of paying tithes in church.
In a video making rounds online, Daddy Freeze reasoned how a church would demand 10% of a person’s income. Providing examples, he averred that if a person earns N100K monthly, he is expected to return N10K and so is someone who earns N40K, expected to return N4K.
According to Daddy Freeze, tithing is a fraud (Yahoo). He asked why people would give money to pastors cruising in private jets.
He further urged people to use their money to feed the poor and needy rather than paying tithes.
Watch the video below:
Nigerian activist, Verydarkman has taken to social media to vent after a lady informed him that she was pregnant a few months after they engaged in coitus.
In a video on Instagram, the controversial media personality revealed that he had intercourse with the lady, gave her money and went on to remind her to take contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. However, it appears his warning fell on deaf ears as the lady recently called him to tell him that she is pregnant.
Verydarkman who claimed that he and his family stand against abortion noted that he has no other option than to become a father unexpectedly.
Venting, VDM further argued that a lady’s deliberate attempt to have a child for a man who’s not ready should be considered a criminal offence.
He further outlined some problems that could be associated with this; which may include the man dodging responsibilities because he’s not ready.
Sharing the video, VDM wrote:
“Got a girl pregnant which is not our agreement, now one has to be an unprepared father which is not fair at all, forced responsibility.”
See the post below:
Nigeria’s mobile money transactions have grown nearly 30-fold over the past five years. Between January and July 2020, mobile money transactions grew from N1.37 trillion to N41.54 trillion in the same period in 2024, according to data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).
Mobile money transactions rose by 2,472.75 per cent to 1.64 billion in 2023 from 63.79 million in 2020. Despite boasting 17 companies licensed by the CBN as mobile money operators (non-bank-led), this growth has been driven by Chinese fintech companies Opay and Palmpay.
“OPay and PalmPay are the most prominent non-MNO-led mobile money providers and have gained significant market share in Nigeria since receiving their MMO licence,” stated GSMA, the global telecom industry body.
They achieved this by tapping into Nigeria’s mobile boom, offering free and fast transfers during their early years and then heavily discounted transfers as they matured. They further gained credibility during a failed Central Bank of Nigeria naira redesign and withdrawal policy in 2022.
Humble Beginnings
OPay began operations in 2010 as PayCom Nigeria Limited, a mobile money platform incubated by Telnet (Nigeria) Limited. In 2018, it was acquired by Opera, owned by Chinese billionaire Yahui Zhou, and rebranded as OPay.
PlamPay launched later, entering the Nigerian markets in 2019 after raising a $40 million seed round led by Chinese mobile phone maker Transsion. As part of the investment, PalmPay was preinstalled on Transsion’s mobile brands Tecno, Infinix, and Itel.
Market Entry Strategy
OPay gained its way into the hearts of many Nigerians by becoming a super app after Opera’s takeover. The company operated numerous services, including ride-hailing at cheap rates. According to reports, its monthly active users surged from around 100,000 in April 2019 to 5 million a year later (which rose to 30 million in June 2023).
At its peak, the company provided 10 million weekly rides across 18 cities while expanding its agent network to over 500,000 agents. By July 2020, it shut down its other services to focus exclusively on fintech.
PalmPay, leveraging Transsion’s dominance in the smartphone market, rapidly grew its user base, now at 35 million. By 2023, Canalys, a leading global technology market analyst firm, revealed that Transsion and Xiaomi accounted for 85 per cent of the smartphone shipments into Nigeria in the third quarter of 2023.
In 2019, Greg Reeves, PalmPay’s chief executive officer, said, “On channel and access, we’re going to be pre-installed on all Tecno phones. You’re gonna find us in the Tecno stores and outlets. So we get an immediate channel and leg up in any market we operate in.”
By investing in an extensive agent network of around 500,000 agents, PalmPay gained a foothold in urban and rural areas.
“These fintechs were aggressive with their approach to penetrating the market. Most importantly is embracing the agent network model where agents can recruit other agents for all of these operators with very good incentives in place, particularly for Moniepoint,” Victor Olojo, former national president of the Association of Mobile Money and Banking Agents of Nigeria (AMMBAN) earlier told BusinessDay.
Free and Cheap Transfers
OPay and PalmPay employed similar strategies to retain customers: free and low-cost transfers.
OPay offered free transfers until June 2023, after which they introduced a minimal charge of N10 after the third transfer in a day. PalmPay implemented the same strategy, introducing the N10 fee after years of offering free transfers.
Both fintechs achieved this by leveraging fundraising. OPay has raised $570 million so far, while PalmPay has raised $400 million. “Their success can be attributed to first their financial strength. Top players must have deep resources,” noted Olojo.
Failed Naira Redesign
In 2023, OPay gathered journalists in its Ikeja office to explain how its IT investments gave it an edge when Nigerians needed cashless terminals. The company pointed out that its agile IT network enabled rapid capacity expansion, surpassing traditional banks’ capabilities.
He said this against the backdrop of a naira scarcity that had almost crippled the economy. In 2022, the CBN announced the release of redesigned naira notes for higher denominations (N200, N500, and N1000) and a withdrawal policy to encourage cashless transactions.
During the implementation of this policy, traditional banks struggled to handle the surge in demand, leading to widespread transaction failures. This allowed OPay and PalmPay to fill the gap. By March 2023, both apps were Nigeria’s most downloaded finance apps, and OPay became the country’s most-downloaded app by October 2023.
“They made payment methods easier, faster, and better, and people began relying on them for everyday things,” said Adedeji Olowe, founder of Lendsqr.
Boosting Financial Inclusion
Both fintechs powered a boom in microtransactions, enabling more transactions to be cashless. “There was a boom in microtransactions when the cashless issue happened,” noted Nosa Oyegun, VP of product and innovation at Kuda.
The growth of these fintechs drove financial inclusion, with more people onboarded into the financial system. “MMOs have succeeded in onboarding unbanked users using lower know-your-customer (KYC) requirements,” GSMA said.
“The future is all about financial inclusion. We want to reach out, especially to the last man. For the people who don’t even use a smartphone,” said Chika Nwosu, the managing director at Palmpay Nigeria. “Our major objective is to use technology to support financial inclusion.”
Nigeria’s mobile money transactions have also contributed to global increases. In 2023, total transactions rose to $1.4 trillion, driven mostly by growth in Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, according to Mats Granryd, director general of the GSMA.
[Businessday]
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Residents of Rivers State on Saturday ignored the political crisis in the state and came out en mass to vote for leaders at the grassroots level.
Naija News reported that despite the controversy in the election, the Action Peoples Party(APP) emerged victorious, sweeping 22 of the 23 LGAs.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, announced the election results in Port Harcourt.
He mentioned that the declaration of results for Etche Local Government Area has been put on hold due to the continuous process of tallying the votes.
See the full list below:
1. Abua/Odual – Vincent Reuben Obu
2. Ahoada-East – Chibudom Ezu.
3. Ahoada-West – Iyekor Ikporo.
4. Akuku-Toru – Hon. Mrs. Tonye Oniyide-Briggs (served as Commissioner for culture and tourism under former Gov Wike).
5. Andoni – Lazarus Gogote Nteogwuile.
6. Asari-Toru – Sule Amachree.
7. Bonny – Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua Claude-Wilcox (re-elected)
8. Degema – Harry Agiriye (former permanent secretary)
9. Eleme – Brain Gokpa (serving Caretaker Committee Chairman)
10. Emohua – David Omereji (serving Caretaker Committee Chairman)
11. Etche – Ongoing Collation
12. Gokana – Monday Dumiye
13. Ikwerre – Isreal Abosi
14. Khana – Martins Nwigbo
15. Obio/Akpor –Chijioke Ihunwo (serving Caretaker Committee Chairman)
16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni –Prince Isaac Umejuru (served as Commissioner for Urban Development under Gov. Fubara)
17. Ogu/Bolo – Ishmael Oforibika
18. Okrika – Igwe Achese (Former NUPENG President)
19. Omuma – Promise Reginald (serving Caretaker Committee Chairman)
20. Opobo/Nkoro – Enyiada Cookey-Gam (Re-elected)
21. Oyigbo – Gift Okere (former leader of the All Progressives Congress)
22. Port Harcourt – Ezebunwo Ichemati (serving Caretaker Committee Chairman)
23. Tai –Matthew Nenubari Dike (serving Caretaker Committee Chairman)
[NaijaNews]
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, says the recent increase in corps members’ allowance has not been implemented due to funds.
Daily Trust had reported how the Federal Government approved the increment of corps members’ monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, effective from July 2024.
The increment, according to a statement by the NYSC on its official Facebook page, was contained in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
But despite the official announcement, the increment did not reflect on corps members’ September monthly allowance as they received N33,000 instead of the approved N77,000.
But speaking to BBC Hausa service, the NYSC DG explained that although there was approval for the increment, government was yet to release funds to the scheme for the implementation of the new allowance.
He said, “Not only the corps members, even our staff members’ salary has been increased about four to five months ago, but it has not been implemented yet. But we are hopeful that the new pay will be implemented soon, but the funds have not been released to us yet.
“The information we have did not specify when the new allowance will be paid, but we were assured that their monthly allowance has been increased from 29th July 2024.”
[DailyTrust]
Abdulmumuni Abiola, one of the sons of the late MKO, has vowed never to forgive his elder brother, Kola.
He accused Kola of refusing to give Abiola’s children their inheritance despite carrying out blood tests.
Abdulmumuni said Abiola willed £650,000 to his first four wives, but Kola refused to release the money to them.
Featuring on ‘Mic On Podcast’ hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, on Saturday, Abdulmumuni said: “Let me give you some background on that.
“We did blood tests so we had a list of qualifying children. If you look at the will and you see how systematic it is, he names the wives and he apportions the money to them.
“I would like to give you some information on that. My mum was number two (Kudirat Olayinka Abiola). I think she was apportioned £150,000.
“At the time, Kola had sighted the fact that my mum died before my dad died, and because of that, British law would not allow him to release the £150,000 to us.
“He also said that his mum too is dead and he didn’t get the £300,000 for his mother. But you are the one sharing the money, so it’s odd…If he wanted to, he could have given us the money.
“Not to mention my mum’s apartment in the UK, before we knew anything, Kola had sold it without telling my brothers or my sister anything about it.
“So you can see that they were systematic to try to impoverish my mum’s side of the family. And for that reason, I don’t think I will be able to forgive him (Kola).”
[Dailypost]
Chelsea Football Club coach, Enzo Maresca, has named Moses Caicedo the team’s captain.
According to a statement from Fabrizio Romano’s X account on Sunday, the midfielder praised Chelsea’s coach for appointing him captain.
“I’m grateful to Maresca for making me Chelsea’s captain.
“I want to become a legend here, and that’s what I’m working hard to achieve every day.
“It means a lot to captain Chelsea. It’s a dream come true
because I grew up supporting Chelsea,” he said.
Chelsea is set to battle Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the 2024/2025 season.
It should be recalled that Moises Caicedo signed an eight-year deal with Chelsea in a £100m transfer from Brighton, with an additional £15m in performance-related add-ons, after turning down a £111m move to Liverpool.
[Punch]