Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has described himself as the most abused person in the State but has remained calm in the face of serious provocations.

He, however, urged people of the state to remain calm and allow peace to reign because he is against trouble.

The governor’s remark came on the bedrock of his rift with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara and Wike have been at loggerheads over the political control and resources of the state.

Amid the cold war, despite President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, the governor declared that his enemies had been defeated.

He noted that his political rivals in the state now sleep with their eyes open and are restless.

However, speaking during the flag-off of the construction of Elele-Omoku Road on Thursday, Fubara said: “As a matter of fact, I am the most abused, ‘mumu governor wey no know wetin to do with power,’ Is it not?

“Have I said anything? So, please just endure until when you finish you go your way, I don’t want any trouble.”

The governor vowed never to allow his detractors to cause political tension in the state.

Fubara disclosed assuring Tinubu that he would take the path of peace and not renege on the promise.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, on Thursday, announced May 24, 2024, as the official date for “the opening of the portal for student loan applications.”

The announcement was made in a statement by the media lead for the NELFund,  Nasir Ayantogo.

Ayantogo, in the statement, said the opening of the application portal marked a significant milestone in the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to “fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students.”

On June 12, 2023, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023 into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution. 

The move was in “fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said.

The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to process all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

Although the government initially announced that the scheme would be launched in September, it suffered several delays leading to an indefinite postponement in early March.

The Presidency had linked the delay to Tinubu’s directive to expand the scheme to include loans for vocational skills.

After receiving briefing from the NELFund team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the President had directed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

Tinubu based his decision on the need for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue a university education, noting that skill acquisition is as essential as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas.

“This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.

“In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFund to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he had said.

Through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.

The portal, according to the statement, provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.

“We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.

“Students can access the portal on www.nelf.gov.ng to begin application,” the statement said.

The details of the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Faye have emerged.

Recall that the Senegal President arrived in Nigeria on Thursday and met with President Tinuhu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted President Tinubu saying that countries in West Africa must unite to defeat the scourge of terrorism, human trafficking, and poverty in the region.

He urged leaders in the region to make the people the focal point of governance, noting that the essence of democracy is lost when citizens are not enjoying dividends.

The president emphasised that democratic values and constitutional order are sacrosanct and must be protected.

He added that critical institutions like the judiciary must be respected and obeyed for the sustenance of democracy.

He said: “Constitutional democracy is what Senegal proved to the rest of the world and Africa. It is a joy to have you here and to meet the hope and aspirations of our youths. You fit in perfectly well.

“A critical time it is in the history of constitutional democracy, particularly in West Africa. What you have embarked upon, a struggle couched in freedom, is remarkable.”

The president described Nigeria and Senegal as brotherly nations, recounting both countries’ long history of cooperation.

He added: “We are brothers. We have shared an interest in democracy. To make democracy sustainable in the interest of our people, we definitely must work hard.

“I am glad that you are a shining example of patience, perseverance, and commitment to democratic values.

“We must partner to make our people the focus of our democratic commitment. Your belief in the sovereignty of Africa is shared by all of us.

“But how can we work for our people and make them the focus of our democracy if we are violating the rule of law and promoting an unconstitutional takeover of government?

“As the chairman of ECOWAS, I am inviting you to collaborate and meet those other brothers. To persuade them to come back to the fold.

“We will continue to work together. We share good backgrounds, and we will continue to embrace and promote democratic governance.

“We must be able to partner and build the freedom we believe in – in economic growth, development, and other spheres of governance. It is left for us to provide assurance to our people and walk our talk.

“We must defeat human trafficking; we must defeat terrorism, banditry, and poverty in our society. That must be our focus and commitment.”

Speaking during the meeting, Faye acknowledged Nigeria and Senegal’s shared values and challenges, noting that both nations have always had good relations since the 1960s.

He called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to strengthen bilateral relations across the areas of diplomacy, trade, and other spheres.

On ECOWAS, Faye said with Tinubu’s wisdom and experience, relations among member states can be strengthened for the advancement of the community.

He said: “The good relations we have and the relations between our private sectors should be beneficial to our countries.

“ECOWAS is the beacon of successful regional integration in Africa and globally. It is something we owe to the founding fathers of the community.

“I have no doubt that you want to continue this legacy of integration. The union is going through a rough patch, but not everything is lost.

“I know I can rely on your wisdom and experience, as the leader of this great African nation.

“Your wisdom and your democratic values should be an asset to that vision, and my youth and determination can also be an asset.

“If we come together, with all these assets and advantages, I am convinced we can open a window of opportunity to discuss.

“United, we are stronger. Faced with common challenges, such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and all other challenges, we need to show resolve to confront these challenges so that economically we can thrive and satisfy the wishes of our people.”

Elder statesman, Atedo Peterside has berated the federal government over the payment of N90 billion to subsidise the cost of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

The founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc said the Bola Tinubu-led federal government has continued to repeat the mistakes of past administrations, thereby sending a conflicting signal to Nigerians.

Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved N90 billion to subsidise the cost of the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.

Shettima made this known on Wednesday during the 2024 inaugural hajj airlift at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi capital.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, Peterside said the government continues to make the mistakes of past administrations in terms of spending public funds.

He said the government keeps saying it inherited a difficult economy, while its expenditure does not show the seriousness required to rescue the economy.

Peterside, however, said he has no personal issue with pilgrimage, noting that the religious tradition is a privilege.

He said: “I have nothing against pilgrimage. Our economy is in big trouble. The government is trying to convince people that it inherited a difficult economy, and that is trying to correct the mistakes of the past.

“It gets very worrying when you say you are trying to correct the mistakes of the past, and every now and then, you repeat another mistake of the past, thereby sending a conflicting signal.

“That perhaps you are not serious about trying to correct all past mistakes. As soon as investors and everybody is about to take them very seriously they do something else that causes everybody to worry.

“This is not the first item. It is one in a series. You remember the luxury SUV cars, jamboree trip to New York and Dubai, and supplementary budget that came out with items nobody understood why they were priority. It is part of the trend.

“It is not about religious pilgrimage; it is a setback for the economy by sending the wrong signal. It is an own goal.”

The Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has surprised a mechanic-turned-messenger who works with the church with a four-bedroom bungalow gift.

Ibiyeomie, whose church’s headquarters is located in GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, rewarded the church messenger with the new house for his faithfulness and integrity at the church’s SMHOS 27th anniversary celebration.

A trending video shows the pastor handing over the papers of the beautifully furnished house to the lucky man.

Our correspondent reports that the church’s Instagram handle, #smhosglobal, posted the video on April 13, 2024.

The pastor said, “There is an award, and the person who gets it may shed tears of joy. Let me just say this: Some years ago, a young man said there is a mechanic in Port Harcourt who brings change. I said ‘In this town?’ I said, ‘Call me that mechanic; let me see.’ I said mechanics are not known for honesty.

“I wondered how a mechanic could say that whatever you give him, he will never take your money, not to mention return your balance if he spends less than bargained. I said I do not think it is true, and then everybody testified that it was his nature.

“When he came to me, I asked how much he makes per month, and he answered. Then I told him to resign from his job. Come and work with us as a messenger. You’d be buying things for us since you have integrity.

“We’ve tested him everywhere, and he has stood on integrity impeccably. He has never taken a dime and never stolen where everyone else does—he was exempt.”

The pastor stated that since the man was educated and was a junior staff member, he was convinced that when pastors are rewarded, those who are honest also should be.

He continued, “When pastors are rewarded, we shouldn’t leave out those who are honest. He doesn’t even have any idea, even though I saw him yesterday and told him to keep on doing the good work he is doing. He would be shocked to receive the blessings.

“Then I said no and changed my mind. I said if this man had been this honest, let’s reward him during this anniversary. So, he is living in a rented house somewhere because he is a very junior staffer.

“So, we decided, as a commission, to buy him a four-bedroom bungalow. I want Henry Eremosele to come out.”

Ibiyeomie had barely completed the statement when the joyous congregation began to cheer, as seen in the video.

“Show the video. Bring him. That is the house. It is a four-bedroom bungalow. The documents are here and signed. Whatever made you this honest, keep it up. God bless you. Faithfulness rewards,: he added.

The three-minute and 25-second video ended with a happy Eremosele kneeling as he received the document.

“Give Jesus a big hand,” the pastor said as the video ended.

The three tiers of government in Nigeria — federal, state, and local governments — received a total of ₦1.2 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for April 2024.
This was made known on Thursday in a statement issued by the director of press and public relations in the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF), Bawa Mokwa.

The statement explained that the allocation comprises distributable statutory revenue of N284 billion, distributable value-added tax (VAT) revenue of N466 billion, electronic money transfer levy (ETML) revenue of N18 billion, and exchange difference revenue of N438 billion.

The committee said the total revenue of N2.1 trillion was available in the month of April 2024, adding that the total deduction for the cost of collection was N80 billion; total transfers, interventions and refunds was N903 billion.

A gross statutory revenue of N1.2 trillion was received for April, representing N216 billion higher than the sum of N1.01 billion received in March.

A further breakdown of the figures confirmed that of the total N1.2 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal government received N390 billion, states got N403 billion and the local governments received N293 billion.

A total sum of N120 billion was shared with the benefiting states as 13 percent derivation revenue.

FAAC further said from the N466 billion distributable VAT revenue, the federal government received N69 billion, states received N233 billion and local governments got N163 billion.

A total sum of N2.704 billion was received by the federal government from the N18 billion EMTL, states received N9 billion and local governments received N6 billion.

According to the committee, out of the exchange difference revenue of N438 billion, the federal government got N205 billion, states got N104 billion, and N80 billion was handed to local governments.

The sum of N48 billion was shared with the benefiting states as 13 percent derivation revenue.

In addition, FAAC said oil and gas royalties, companies’ income tax (CIT), excise duty, petroleum profit tax (PPT), EMTL and CET Levies increased significantly in April.

However, import duty and VAT recorded considerable decreases.

FAAC also said the balance in the excess crude account (ECA) for April was $473,754.

A new mother, Susan Ubangha, has cried for help over her deteriorating health condition after giving birth at the Alimosho General Hospital in the Igando area of Lagos State.

This is as she alleged that her husband used the money meant for her medical bill to buy a phone and a dog.

Ubangha, in a lengthy post on her X handle, stated that her ordeal started in the weeks leading to the delivery of her baby as she started to experience sudden and severe shortness of breath.

The nursing mother who claimed to have been rushed to the hospital alleged that her husband failed to pay for her hospital bills.

She claimed that her husband was opposed to a caesarean section due to the financial constraints while he suggested that would deliver the baby naturally

She wrote, “I got traditionally married recently and took in. I thought that was the best thing that happened to me, everything was going well until I entered the 35th week. I suddenly developed shortness of breath, I could barely walk two seconds without being out of breath. Thinking it was one of those symptoms of late pregnancy, I didn’t take it seriously until the 14th of April when I could barely breathe, and couldn’t lift my head up.

“I was rushed to a nearby clinic, they couldn’t handle me, so I was taken to my hospital where I was admitted and placed on oxygen. The doctors told my husband we should opt for CS, as I and my unborn child were at risk. My husband said no, that I’d definitely deliver naturally. He insisted he had no money for CS and that they should work on stabilising my breathing. So for three days, I was on oxygen and feeling better. Seeing that I was responding to treatment, my husband went around and insisted I should be discharged against the doctor’s advice.”

Ubangha said she became weak to argue with her husband whose insistence led her to be discharged from the hospital.

She however noted that she developed breathing problems again after she arrived home, adding that her husband thereafter bought a herbal drink which he asked her to drink to make her baby’s head turn for natural delivery.

She further narrated she was in so much pain that she drank only for the pain to intensify while she struggled so much till about 1 am in the morning when she couldn’t take it anymore.

She said, “I cried out, my neighbours came running and I was again rushed to the hospital, admitted and placed on oxygen. While my doctors determined what to do, my husband insisted he had no money for a cesarean section. All these while, I was spending my life’s savings on medications, this and that tests.”

“This dragged on until the morning of 29th April, I was broken, my baby wasn’t moving, my breathing wasn’t good, I couldn’t push and my baby’s position was beached. I cried out on Facebook where a kind Samaritan sent me 500k to pay for CS and whatever else I might need afterwards.”

On how her husband allegedly squandered the money Ubangha said, “I immediately sent the sum of 180k and an additional 60k so he could pay for the surgery and whatever we might need. He took the money and spent it instead on a phone and bought a dog while I was battling with life, thinking he was paying.

She said, “We waited from 10 am when I gave him the money to about 2 pm, Doctors were shouting, time was running out, I had to call his sister, counted another N180,000 and gave her, she’s the one who paid. He came at 6 pm when I was being wheeled into the theatre. I could hear both of them fighting, the sister threatening to arrest him.”

Ubangha who eventually gave birth through a cesarean section alleged that her husband had abandoned her, as she was left with her newborn baby girl and her aged mother at the hospital.

Ubangha explained that she was stranded having spent all she had on the medical bills and food, and appealed to the public for help to save her.

In a picture attached to the post, the nursing mother could be seen with a swollen leg

“First diagnosis was that I had peripartum cardiomyopathy. I’ve done ECKG, chest X-ray and a series of other blood tests that I’m waiting for a report on. Whatever the outcome, I will need every help I can get. I need about 500k to help with whatever treatment plan and to help facilitate my discharge process,” she added.

Ubangha explained that she was stranded having spent all she had on the medical bills and food, and appealed to the public for help to save her.

In a picture attached to the post, the nursing mother could be seen with a swollen leg

“First diagnosis was that I had peripartum cardiomyopathy. I’ve done ECKG, chest X-ray and a series of other blood tests that I’m waiting for report on. Whatever the outcome, I will need every help I can get. I need about 500k to help with whatever treatment plan and to help facilitate my discharge process,” she added.

A former chairman of the Park Management System in Oyo State, Mukaila Lamidi, also known as Auxiliary, has been remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre by an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

Naija News reports Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi ordered the remand of Lamidi on Thursday due to a lack of jurisdiction.

Recall that Auxiliary was recently arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at his residence in the Olodo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, months after the police had declared him wanted for allegedly involving in a series of armed robberies, kidnapping, and murder cases.

He was subsequently paraded on Thursday morning by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola.

While parading the suspect at the state police command, the state Commissioner said a collaborative effort with other security agencies led to the arrest of Auxillary, who would be charged in court.

Adebola also thanked the public for providing credible information to curb the crime in the state.

Magistrate Ogunkanmi, while speaking, said the remand of Auxiliary was pending the issuance of legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 11, for mention.

Lamidi, was charged with a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, causing death and stealing.

The Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department of the Police Command, CSP Funke Fawole, told the court that Lamidi and others, now at large, allegedly conspired to commit the offences.

The Fawole further said that the offences were committed by the suspect and others who are still at large at Baba-Onilu Shopping Complex, Iwo Road, Ibadan.

She said the offence contravened Sections 383 and 316 and is punishable under Sections 319, l1l, 390 (9), 324 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Fawole said: “On June 16, 2021, at about 3:30 pm, Lamidi and others now at large allegedly caused the death of one Azeez Rahman Abiodun, 36, by stabbing him with a knife in the chest.

“On June 16, 2021, the defendant and others allegedly conspired and stole assorted phones valued at N150 million, property of Azeez Hammed Adebayo.”

The Federal Government on Thursday denied an allegation that it intended to borrow the N20tn pension fund for infrastructure development.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in a statement in Abuja, said the government would comply with the established rules and regulations governing the pension fund.

The minister was reported to have told journalists, after a two-day Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, that the government would unveil a plan to harness local funds, including the fund, to finance infrastructure development.

However, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, Edun noted that the pension industry, similar to other sectors in the financial industry, is strictly regulated by specific legal frameworks.


He said the Federal Government did not plan to exceed these legal boundaries, emphasising that the government was committed to protecting workers’ pensions.

“It has come to my notice that stories are making the round that the Federal Government plans to illegally access the hard-earned savings and pension contributions of workers. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Highly regulated

“The pension industry, like most the financial industries, is highly regulated. There are rules. There are limitations about what pension money can be invested in and what it cannot be invested in.

“The Federal Government has no intention whatsoever to go beyond those limitations and go outside those bounds which are there to safeguard the pensions of workers.

“What was announced to the Federal Executive Council was that there was an ongoing initiative drawing in all the major stakeholders in the long-term saving industry, those that handle funds that are available over a long period to see how, within the regulations and the laws; these funds could be used maximally to drive investment in key growth areas,” Edun clarified.

Furthermore, Edun clarified that the government had no intention of increasing the risk associated with the pension funds or allowing their investments to become less secure.

Earlier on Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria asked the Federal Government to refrain from tampering with the pension fund.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero and the TUC Deputy President, Tommy Okon, in a joint statement on Thursday, advised the government not to risk the future of workers by borrowing the money to fund infrastructure development.

They stated, “Nigerian workers have entrusted their hard-earned savings for retirement security, not as a means for government projects. It is imperative to halt any further plans to tap into these funds, especially given the lack of transparency and accountability in past government borrowing practices.’’


The unions demanded assurances from the government that workers retirement funds [b]“would not fall victim to further Federal Government borrowing, especially when the PENCOM Board has not been constituted as envisaged by the statutes,’’ [/b]arguing further that any plan to borrow the funds is not backed by the Pension Act.

Labour expressed regrets that despite the government’s assurances of widespread consultation with major stakeholders in the pension industry, the NLC and TUC, representing the owners of the entire pension fund contributions, had neither been consulted nor informed about the government’s intentions.

According to the unions, the lack of transparency undermined the sanctity of pension funds, which it said should always be treated with the utmost reverence and protection.

Similarly, the Head of Information, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Bunmi Ogunkolade, urged the government to find an alternative source to fund its infrastructure development plan, noting that the pension fund did not belong to pensioners but to workers.

He said, “Simply put, we are not in support. We have told the government to go and look for where to get their money. We have appealed to them that they should please look for where to get money to fund infrastructure or whatever.

On its part, the Nigeria Union of Pension in Kaduna State also advised the Federal Government against using the money for infrastructure development.

The state Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mallam Alhassan Balarabe Musa, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “The Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari attempted a similar thing but failed.’’

“For us we are not happy about that. As of now, our national headquarters are trying everything to ensure that the fund is not going to be accessible.

“Now, we have so many retirees under contributory pension who are unable to get their gratuities. So, why will the Federal Government take that kind of amount? I think it’s going to be unfortunate and unacceptable.”

The NUP Pensioners, Ogun State Council, gave a similar warning.

The Secretary of the union, Dr Bola Lawal, said “I am sure if you have the opportunity to ask every pensioner none will accept this move of the government. Where is the assurance that this money will be paid back on time?

Osun pensioners

When contacted, the Coordinator, Osun State Contributory Pensioners, Mr Toyin Ayinde, warned the government against tampering with the contributions of retirees.

He said, “The government must not touch our money. What exactly is the matter with them? We don’t want anyone to touch our money under any guise. We are not interested in any proposal from them.”

Six directors and 222 other staff members of the Anambra State Local Government Service Commission have been sacked for possessing fake certificates with which they gained employment into the commission.

In the same vein, two former staff members, one of whom was found to be working with the state owned Nwafor-Orizu College of Education at Nsugbe, and another with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, who were said to be collecting salaries for four years have been directed to refund the illegal salaries they received to the commission.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr Vincent Ezeaka disclosed the scandals to newsmen at the Commission’s office in Awka on Thursday.

Ezeaka said that the sad developments were discovered in the ongoing verification and staff biometrics identification exercise being conducted by a four-man committee headed by a retired Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Ndidi Onuigbo.

He added that the exercise is part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration’s agenda deliberately initiated to sanitise the local government workforce.

Ezeaka further explained that between January and April 2024, a total of 222 ghost workers have been discovered and weeded out of the local government service commission.

He added that the two ex-staff of the commission who collected salaries from the coffers of the commission for four years while at the same time work as staff members of Nsugbe College of Education and the other as an accounting officer with the UNIZIK, Awka whose names he declined to disclose to newsmen would be prosecuted accordingly on the order of the state government.

The local government service boss, however, stated that from the verification exercise the bonafide staff members of the commission currently is about 4, 300, adding that they are the workers in the payroll of the commission pending when the verification committee would conclude it’s assignment.

He stated that the state government is taking serious steps towards ensuring that communities and local government areas are sanitized for things to get better.