A Country Will Not Survive If Government Officials Are Richer Than Businessmen And Manufacturers – Peter Obi
AdminThe 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has emphasized the need for the ruling class to tackle corruption and criminality as a means of moving the country forward.
The LP flag bearer insisted that corruption and criminality kill professionalism and hard work.
He urged the government to do everything in its power to fight the situation and ultimately drive the country forward.
Obi stated this at the 21st CVL Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium on Skills-Driven Entrepreneurship, to mark the 68th birthday of Prof. Pat Utomi on Monday in Lagos.
“Any country where the government officials are richer than businessmen and manufacturers will not survive.
“We must dismantle corruption and reward people for their talents, skills and energy,” he said.
According to him, the country must be structured in a way that people’s talents and hard work give them the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the economy.
In a panel discussion, Dr Alfred Okoigun, Founder/ Group Managing Director, Arco Group Plc, charged the government to be deliberate and intentional in supporting local production.
Okoigun implored Nigerians to scale-up their skills to improve their lives and contribute to the economy.
He also advised entrepreneurs to be concerned about making impact in business and not just making money.
Popular Nigerian singer and entertainer, Charles Oputa, also known as Charly Boy, has revealed that he was involved in fraud in the past.
He claimed that he was “scamming” banks way before fraud, otherwise known as 419, became popular in Nigeria.
Charly Boy disclosed this in the latest episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, co-hosted by actor, Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, aka Nedu.
“I was scamming banks. Even before una begin hear of 419, I don do small,” he said.
Nedu inferred, “You used to scam banks and they paid?”
Charly Boy replied, “Yes, of course.”
The veteran singer also disclosed that he had his first child at 16.
While reiterating his love for gay people, Charly Boy recounted how a “woman” he went into the bedroom with “changed to a full-blown man” after showering.
He said he is tired of a submissive wife and now wants a woman who would make him submit.
Watch the video below,
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Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have apprehended suspected notorious kidnappers, including one Buhari Muhammad, along with five other members of the syndicate in Abuja.
In a statement released on Monday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, it was disclosed that the suspects were captured at a hotel in Bassa village within the nation’s capital.
The statement further identified the five other suspects as follows: Muhammad Sabiu, a wanted kidnapping kingpin, Isah Abdullahi, Hamzat Musa, Fatima Abdullahi, and Zuliat Yusuf.
The notorious kidnapping syndicate, according to her, was responsible for the abduction of Joshua Eze, the husband of Blessing Eze, who sustained a bullet injury during her husband’s kidnapping.
Joshua was reportedly abducted on January 27, 2024, but was successfully rescued unharmed by Police operatives of the command within 24 hours.
The PPRO confirmed that the arrest was carried out by the command’s operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, which is dedicated to combating criminal activities in the territory.
She also disclosed that one AK-47 rifle, 10 mobile phones, a cash sum of N345,000, and other valuables were recovered from the suspects.
Nollywood actress, Mary Njoku has shared her thoughts about marriage.
According to the thespian, being married is not an achievement but finding the right partner is.
The actress made this known via a post on her Instagram account while calling out women who pressure others to get married.
She noted that the majority of married women are not happy in their marriages, but would not open up about it, because of societal expectations.
She said, “Dear married women, Enough! Marriage is not an achievement. Finding the RIGHT partner is.
“Give the singles space to make the biggest decisions of their lives and find GOOD partners in peace. Over 60% of couples claim happiness often because of societal expectations.
“That was how Ifeoma was pushed to marry nonsense. Every weekend na hospital appointment for black eye, and spiritual warfare against physical side chicks
“Yet she is among those trolling single girls for the same marriage. Rest Biko. Focus on the Economy! And Let the singles BREATHE.”
Medical personnel attached to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, are battling to save a four-year-old girl, Faridat Shittu, who is in critical condition after a cooking gas explosion ravaged their residence at 1, Odubanwo Street, off Olaniyi Street, Gbinrinmi in Ojokoro LCDA, Lagos.
It was learned that Faridat’s grandfather, grandmother her uncle also suffered burns in the incident that occurred on Sunday.
Narrating what happened, one of the victims, Faridat’s grandmother, who is currently in severe pain in hospital said she was frying meat and suddenly the oil caught flame and efforts to control it got beyond their capacity, which led to an explosion of the cooking gas.
“The little girl of four years, Faridat Shittu was sleeping in the room when the incident happened about 2p.m., but was rescued by community members and other injured victims.
The 14-room building, including shops was burnt down due to the intensity of the explosion, thereby rendering 11 families homeless.
Jimi Solanke was a Nigerian folklore musician, film actor, dramatist, poet, and playwright, renowned for his mastery of storytelling as a cultural custodian who skillfully preserves and promotes Nigeria’s rich heritage through captivating performances.
The iconic figure, known for his multifaceted talents, breathed his last on Monday morning after a brief illness while en route to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
Here are 15 things to know about the late Jimi Solanke
1. Jimi Solanke, a native of Ipara-Remo, Ogun State, was born on July 4, 1942, in Lagos.
2. He was fondly called ‘Uncle Jimi’ or ‘Baba Agba’
3. He was a Nigerian storyteller, film actor, dramatist, folk singer, poet, and playwright.
4. He attended Olowogbowo Methodist School for his elementary education before proceeding to Odogbolu Grammar School, Ogun State.
5. He graduated from the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma certificate in drama.
6. Solanke joined the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) in 1969.
7. After graduation, Solanke moved to the United States, where he created a drama group called The Africa Review, focusing on African culture. Members of this group usually put on African clothing, specifically Yoruba costumes.
8. Jimi Solanke established himself in Los Angeles, California, where his storytelling career began. He was described as a “master storyteller.”
9. In 1986, he returned to Nigeria with three members of the African Review Group to work with the Nigerian Television Authority. Then, he came up with Storyland, where he tells stories with the insertion of artistic works by artists. At the same time, he plays his guitar with kids surrounding him, singing and dancing.
10. Some of his songs include Onile Gogoro, Eje ka jo, Jenrokan, and Na today you come. He also produced albums such as Eke ka jo (Let us Dance), In the Beginning, Ase, Storyteller, America Has Got Magic, Orin Orisa, Multiplicity of Praise, Hidden Gold, and Once Upon a Time.
11. He starred in several shows on Nigerian Television (NTA) starting from the 1960s to date, including The Bar Beach Show, For Better for Worse, Village Headmaster, Family Scene on Lagos Television (LTV), Children’s Half Hour, Storyland, African Stories on (AIT), and Sango.
12. He began his professional acting career in 1961 as one of the pioneer members of the Orisun Theatre Group, founded by Wole Soyinka.
13. He was part of the team that made the film Kongi’s Harvest by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
14. As an actor, he played different characters in movies such as Kurumi, Chattering and the Song, Ovoramwen Nogbaisi, The Divorce, Death and the King’s Horseman, and Siswe Bansi’s Death.
15. He was the voice of the narrator in Nollywood movie, Jagunjagun.
Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria have said they are storming the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to protest against the ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets.
In an invite sent to The PUNCH on Monday, the association said the protest would hold today (Tuesday) at NAFDAC Office on the Lagos-Oshodi Apapa Expressway, Isolo, Lagos.
“We are extending our invitation to you to attend the peaceful protest on NAFDAC’s ban on alcoholic beverage drinks in sachets and pet bottles,” the notice said.
The association’s reaction came shortly after the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye,announced on Monday that the agency would begin the enforcement of the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.
Adeyeye also told The PUNCH that NAFDAC would collaborate with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to enforce the ban.
She said, “We intend to work with the NURTW to ensure the enforcement of the banned products. We surely will work on that, and ensure that they are stopped and phased out.”
The NAFDAC DG, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, said the agency had commenced the enforcement of the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.
“As of January 31st, 2024, there is no alcoholic beverage in these categories that are registered by NAFDAC. I also want to inform you that the agency has started enforcement actions to enforce the implementation of this policy. The window period given to manufacturers by NAFDAC to sell off all alcoholic drinks in this category elapsed on January 31st, 2024.
“To this end on the first day, after the elapse of the window period, the agency commenced nationwide enforcement actions on February 1st, 2024 to enforce the implementation of the new policy,” she said.
She noted that during enforcement actions, it was discovered that some manufacturers of these banned products were still in production of the products, and still had stacks of both finished products and packaging materials of the products in their possession.
“This situation is of course not acceptable, and the agency views this as flagrant disobedience to the laws of Nigeria. NAFDAC views this matter seriously, and will engage all statutory means, which may include prosecution, to deal with the matter.
“I want to use this medium to ask all holders of alcohol in sachets, PET and glass bottles, empty sachets, PET bottles, empty glass bottles, and other packaging materials of these banned products to immediately report to the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC for hand-over of same to NAFDAC for destruction, to prevent sterner measures including prosecution,” she declared.
In January 2022, NAFDAC stopped the registration of alcoholic beverages in sachet and small volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml.
This decision was based on the recommendation of a high-powered committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and the Industry represented by the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, in December 2018.
As a result of the decision reached at the end of the committee meeting, producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce the production by five per cent with effect from January 31st, 2022, while ensuring the product is completely phased out in the country by January 31st, 2024.
“NAFDAC committed to ensuring that the validity of renewal of already registered alcoholic products in the affected category does not exceed the year 2024.
“NAFDAC is resolutely committed to the strict implementation of the regulations and regulatory measures towards safeguarding the health of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable youth, against the dangers of reckless consumption of alcohol,” Adeyeye assured.
The don warned that the people mostly at risk of the negative effects of consumption of the banned pack sizes of alcoholic beverages are the under-aged, commercial vehicle drivers and riders.
“The World Health Organisation has established that children who drink alcohol are more likely to use drugs, get bad grades, suffer injury or death, engage in risky sexual activity, make bad decisions, and have health problems. The WHO also stated that harmful consumption of alcohol is linked to more than 200 health conditions including infectious diseases – Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; and non-communicable conditions- liver cirrhosis and different types of cancer.
“It is also associated with social problems, such as alcohol addiction and gender-based violence.
“To curb the menace of abuse of alcohol, WHO recommended some actions and strategies to policymakers that have shown to be effective and cost-effective, which includes regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages, and regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol,” she said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it will arraign the General Overseer of Faith on the Rock Ministry International, Nasarawa State, Apostle Theophilus Ebonyi, whom it reportedly arrested for allegedly defrauding church members and other Nigerians as soon it concludes its investigation.
The anti-graft agency made this known in a statement tagged “EFCC Arrests Pastor for N1.3 Billion Fake Grants, Money Laundering” posted on its verified X handle, @officialEFCC, on Monday.
The statement said the pastor was arrested for allegedly using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of $1,319,040,274.31.
However, Ebonyi, in a Facebook Live video monitored by our correspondent on Monday evening claimed he was not arrested by the EFCC or any other organisation while faulting bloggers for being responsible for the “fake news”.
This was countered by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who told PUNCH Metro exclusively that Ebonyi had been released on bail after his arrest in June 2023.
The statement partly read, “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested the General Overseer of Faith on The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, for defrauding church members and other Nigerians using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1,319,040,274.31 (one billion, three hundred and nineteen million, forty thousand, two hundred and seventy-four naira, and thirty-one kobo).
Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising non-governmental organizations, NGOs, and individuals, by advertising an intervention project through his NGO (Theobarth Global Foundation), claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20,000,000 (twenty billion United States dollars) to assist the less-privileged in society.
“He allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phony grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters. Each subscriber was made to pay N1,800,000 (one million, eight hundred thousand Naira only). Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040,274.31.
“His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.
“Investigations by the EFCC showed that the Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship or business with Ebonyi.
“The Foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them. The Commission has also traced five properties he acquired as a result of his criminal dealings.
“Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from the Ford Foundation.
“He will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
Olaiya Igwe, the esteemed Yoruba actor also known as Ebun Oloyede, has issued a public apology to Nigerians for going naked at a beach to campaign for Bola Tinubu.
In a now-deleted video shared on his Instagram account on Monday, the actor explained that his actions were driven by a divine revelation he claimed to have received regarding Tinubu.
In the video, Igwe acknowledged Tinubu’s assistance, particularly in matters related to his health, as the reason behind his show of support for the politician.
Speaking in Yoruba, Olaiya said, “Because of things he has done for me, health-wise, and I received a revelation to pray for him at the beach, which I did.
“I was criticised and cursed after I did, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t annoyed with him (Tinubu), and neither did I react negatively to him. I knew the criticism was inevitable because I am a much-loved actor.
“People who didn’t expect my actions must have been shocked, wondering why I did what I did. I know the criticism would have come from Bola Tinubu’s rival parties.”
Igwe attracted attention in 2023 for praying naked at a beach for Tinubu.
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VIDEO: Veteran Yoruba Actor, Olaiya Igwe Apologises for Praying Naked For Tinubu
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) February 5, 2024
Olaiya Igwe, the esteemed Yoruba actor also known as Ebun Oloyede, has issued a public apology to Nigerians for going naked at a beach to campaign for Bola Tinubu.
In a now deleted video shared… pic.twitter.com/jwA3D9jRx2
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has disclosed that over 50 percent of certificates of imported pharmaceutical products into Nigeria are counterfeit.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this revelation during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with regulators, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies held in Abuja on Monday.
The certificate of a pharmaceutical product follows the format recommended by the World Health Organization. It confirms the status of the pharmaceutical product and the applicant for the certificate in the exporting country.
This certificate is specific to a single product, given that manufacturing arrangements and approved information for various dosage forms and strengths can differ.
Adeyeye indicated that the objective of the meeting with stakeholders is to ensure that medical products available in the market are of appropriate quality, safe, and effective.
She also stated that substandard and falsified products pose a threat to the accessibility of safe, effective, and affordable medicines and hinder the attainment of universal health coverage in Nigeria and Africa.
“We have 55 countries in Africa, and we belong to the Member States globally, and we agreed to ensure that products coming to the region are of quality and WHO created a scheme called certificate of pharmaceutical product, and what this means is that if we send a certificate of pharmaceutical product out to another country, we are assuring the receiving country that it will be of quality.
“Most of our medicines come from South East Asia, and we belong to the member states too. We have a scheme where before medicines that were approved leave that part of the world, we do pre-shipment testing, and that comes with CPP to assure us of quality, but that is not the case because, through our scheme, we have been able to stop over 140 products that were approved from coming in.
“We found out that more than 50 per cent of the CPPs that come into our country are fake. Part of the responsibility is our people who go to China or India, and we are going to deal with it. It’s a Member States issue, and we are going to deal with it.
“We are very stringent than ever, and there is no cutting of corners, we have blacklisted many companies, we have sanctioned them because we want people to respect our people. Trade is a mutual agreement and if that agreement is harming one part of the agreement, we will stop it. If a company is suspected to be compromising, in two hours we will be there, and we will shut the company down,” she noted.
The NAFDAC boss lamented that the relatively high prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines in Africa is a major threat to public health.
According to her, the prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines in the region is due to limited regulation processes.
“Only about 10 per cent of national regulatory agencies have attained maturity level three. What leads to maturity level three is market control, and that is one of the nine models of maturity level three, so we have a lot of work to do in Africa.
“The NAFDAC’s mandate puts a burden on us to see a reduction in substandard and falsified medicines, both the ones that are locally manufactured and the ones that are imported.
“NAFDAC is doing its best to fight substandard and falsified medicines and products based on three thematic areas, which are to prevent, detect, and respond. It is a community effort to fight this, and we seek partnership to find out lapses so we can fight it,” she stated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) certified NAFDAC in 2022, affirming its stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system with a maturity level 3 rating on the Global Benchmarking Tool scale.
NAFDAC meets the criteria for inclusion in the transitional WHO Listed Authority, a compilation of the world’s regulatory bodies of reference recognized for meeting WHO and other international standards.
Attaining ML 4 status signifies the highest level in the WHO’s classification of regulatory authorities for medical products.
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Some gunmen hijacked transport buses heading to Abuja from Kogi State and kidnapped the passengers.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Bethrand Onuoha, has deployed a tactical team to rescue the victims of Sunday’s incident, in which some transport buses heading to Abuja yesterday were hijacked by kidnappers on the Kogi State axis of the Abuja expressway.
In a statement by the Command’s Spokesperson, SP William Ovye Aya, “the incident happened, but the DPO, local vigilantes, and hunters have been in the bush in an effort to rescue the victims.”
“CP has deployed an additional Tactical Squad consist of Quick Response Unit, Police Mobile Force, and Counter-Terrorism Unit, as well as conventional police personnel, to the area to continue with the bush combing and to ensure all victims are rescued unhurt.”
Narrating his ordeal as a result of the kidnapping of his wife, a middle-aged man (names withheld) disseminated the information about the ugly incident on social media.
According to him, “I tried to message you on X and IG, but none went through, so I decided to send you a mail.
“Kindly assist in raising awareness about the hijacking of a bus by gunmen at Kogi yesterday, and unfortunately, my wife was in that bus.
“The bus left Umuahia at 7:30 a.m. and was hijacked in Kogi State. The company said they have contacted security services, and they are tracking them.
“The kidnappers called this morning via my wife’s phone and were demanding N15 million. Kindly assist in creating awareness on social media.”
This development has sent shivers down the spines of road users, as they are now afraid of being victims of the activities of kidnappers within the Kogi/Abuja expressway.
However, many road users are optimistic that with the level of mobilization by security agencies, the victims will be rescued and the suspects arrested.
Nollywood actress cum politician, Tonto Dikeh, and his former boyfriend, Prince Kpokpogiri, are reportedly back together as friends.
Naija News reports that this was made known by Nigerian entertainment journalist, Stella Dimoko Korkus.
According to her, Tonto and Kpokpogiri agreed to become friends again after the Intervention of Senator Ned Nwoko, husband of Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels.
Recall that the former lovebirds had a messy break-up in 2021, a few months after they announced their romantic relationship online, with Tonto Dikeh alleging threats to her life.
However, Ned Nwoko reportedly invited Tonto and Kpokpogiri to his Abuja house on Sunday, February 5, 2024, and pleaded with them to make peace and be friendly towards each other.
They both agreed, shook hands and decided to bury the past and move ahead as friends.
According to the source, the duo were spotted laughing over their controversial fight that shook the internet and their reality.
The General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He stands accused of defrauding his congregation and other Nigerians through the use of counterfeit grants, purportedly from the Ford Foundation, totalling N1,319,040,274.31.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Ebonyi’s arrest stems from allegations of swindling victims, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals.
He allegedly promoted an intervention project via his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, falsely asserting that the Ford Foundation was offering a $20,000,000.000 grant to aid the less fortunate in society.
It was reported that Ebonyi utilized various social media platforms to promote his fraudulent grant, supposedly from the Ford Foundation, to his followers.
The statement added that Ebonyi “allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phony grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters.
“Each subscriber was made to pay N1,800,000. Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31. His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country.”
EFCC investigations revealed that the Ford Foundation had no affiliation, grant, association, or dealings with Ebonyi.
The Foundation explicitly disavowed any connection with him or his NGO, emphasizing their lack of association.
Additionally, the EFCC has traced five properties acquired by Ebonyi as proceeds from his illicit activities.
The anti-graft agency further stated that the suspect would face charges in court once investigations are concluded.
Nigerian sprint icon, Tobi Amusan has set a new African women’s indoor 60-meter record of 7.75 seconds at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.
The 27-year-old’s 7.75 seconds in Boston means she has retired the 7.77 mark she set in Kazakhstan at the Astana Indoor Meet in January.
Despite setting an African record, Amusan’s 7.75 effort was insufficient for first place in Boston, where she finished second to America’s Tia Jones in 7.72 seconds.
On January 27, in her first race of the new season, the Nigerian broke the 7.82seconds African record set by fellow Nigerian Gloria Alozi.
Amusan now has two of the fastest times ever run by an African woman in the 60m Hurdles and is on track to break the World Record of 7.68 seconds before the indoor season ends.
Amusan is ranked second on the world top list for the season behind Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas who ran 7.75 last week at the Corky Classics in Lubbock, Texas.
Amusan has also moved up to number 20 on the world all-time list and the reigning Commonwealth Games champion has now broken all three African records held by Alozie.
She first broke her predecessor’s African Games record of 12.74 set in 1999 when she ran 12.68 to win 10 years later (2019).
Amusan followed up by breaking Alozie’s 12.44 African record when she ran 12.42 seconds on her way to winning her first Diamond League title.
The sprint hurdler now owns the Nigeria, Nigerian Championships, African, African Games, African indoor, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and world records.
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7.72 ‼️@tia_ajones wins the women's 60m hurdles with an incredible 7.72, beating Tobi Amusan who sets an African record of 7.75.#WorldIndoorTour pic.twitter.com/dEtktoFPsu
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) February 4, 2024