The naira, on Friday, appreciated to N1,150 per dollar at the parallel section of the foreign exchange (FX) market.

Currency traders in Lagos, also known as bureau de change (BDCs) operators, quoted the buying rate of the greenback at N1,110 and the selling price at N1,150 — leaving a profit margin of N40.

The naira appreciated by 0.86 percent from the N1,160 recorded on April 11.

“The dollar is falling and it is not my fault. It is how the FX market is now,” Lawal, a BDC operator, said.

Also, FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees official foreign exchange (FX) trading in Nigeria, said the naira rose by 7.16 percent or N88.23 to N1,142.38/$ on Friday — from N1,230.61/$ on Monday.

The appreciation of the naira is coming a few days after the CBN opened the third tranche of sales to BDC operations.

The apex bank began the sale of foreign exchange to BDC operators at the rate of N1,101/$ on April 8.

Also, on the same day, the CBN directed all banks to stop the use of foreign currency-denominated collaterals for naira loans.

The financial regulator is intensifying its efforts to boost liquidity and strengthen the naira.

Meanwhile, earlier today, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said the naira could extend gains to trade below N1,000 to the dollar.

President Bola Tinubu has assured that the nation’s economy will roar back to glory in the coming months, re-echoeing the fact that the worst is over in the economic travails being faced by the nation.

Tinubu however called for unity of purpose and more collaboration between the federal government, state governors, and members of the National Assembly to achieve national development goals.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Ajuri Ngelale, the President spoke while receiving state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly in Lagos on Friday.

The President, who spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was also at the head of the entourage of of Governors and federal law makers, emphasised the fact that the future of the black race rests on Nigeria.

Others on the delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the President, Vice-President Shettima expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic resurgence and called for collective efforts to propel the nation forward.

He urged unity and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve shared prosperity and promised a brighter future for the nation under President Tinubu’s guidance.

”The future of the black man rests on Nigeria to make or mar. Our economy has turned the corner. By the coming months, the economy will roar back to glory.

“Let us unite, rally around our leader, and catapult this nation to a greater pedestal. By December, I hope we will have cause to celebrate. Let us coalesce to take the nation to a greater pedestal,” Vice-President Shettima said.

Emphasising President Tinubu’s role as a unifying leader, transcending ethnic and religious lines, the Vice-President noted that the gathering of 27 governors in Lagos, along with the leadership of the National Assembly and some former governors, bears the testimony of a detribalized leader who has embraced all.

”This gathering cuts across ethnic, religious, and political lines. Here, we have Pastor Eno of Akwa Ibom and Father Hyacinth of Benue, and as the President was seated, he was asking, ‘Where is Wammako, where is Yari’? That is the hallmark of true leadership. What binds us together supersedes whatever it is that may divide us.”

Akpabio commended the Governors for emulating President Tinubu’s leadership style, characterized by listening to diverse voices and consulting widely with the people, irrespective of political affiliations.

“The Governors are doing well. I can say so because I have been there before,” Senator Akpabio said.

Expressing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, Akpabio noted that the President enjoys the broad support of Nigerians across political divides.

“As you coast home to victory for a second term, may all the governors seated here also coast home to a second term victory in their states,” Senate President Akpabio prayed.

AbdulRazaq expressed support for the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a huge project that will have a significant impact on the nation when completed.

He commended the President’s efforts in stabilizing the economy and improving living conditions, highlighting the positive developments in the country, which include the stabilization of the exchange rate and decreasing food prices.

He attributed these improvements to the President’s initiatives and also lauded the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s funding for 8,800 primary healthcare centres.

“We commend your efforts because the ship is gradually turning. We have seen how the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar is coming down. The cost of food is coming down. The dry season harvest is commencing soon. Things are getting better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” the Governor said.

He urged President Tinubu to persevere in his efforts towards achieving economic stability.

The governor also expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Federal Government to states, particularly in distributing grains to alleviate food shortages.

”We are here to support you, and we also thank you for the support that you are giving to the sub-nationals. Trucks are wheeling up across the nation, distributing grains. I have received, and most of the states have.

”Because of what you are doing, those who are hoarding food items are releasing them, and that is why the prices of food are coming down,” he said.

Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated the Governors’ commitment to supporting the President’s initiatives and pledged to continue complementing the efforts of the federal government in driving progress and prosperity across the nation.

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has met the bail conditions imposed on him by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja and subsequently released.

Emefiele met the bail terms before the court closed on Friday, and he was released after the court proceedings.

Justice Oshodi had granted Emefiele, who is standing trial before him over allegations of abuse of office and fraud, $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion bail with two sureties in like sum.

The judge also directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have paid tax to the Lagos State Government in the last three years.

The court further directed that the sureties must show proper identification, and they must be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoil, was also granted bail by the court.

Isioma-Omoile is to continue to enjoy the conditions of the N1 million bail, earlier granted to him by Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Lagos State High Court sitting in the Yaba area of the state

Justice Oshodi, however, ordered that the bail documents must be transferred to the Special Offences Court and that they must also be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.

The defendants were accused of accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent property receipts.

He was also accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000 in the charge filed on April 3rd by the EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

At the hearing on Friday, a prosecution witness, Monday Osazuwa, had narrated to Justice Oshodi how the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on different occasions directed him to collect the sum of $3 million cash in tranches.

Osazuwa, an employee of the CBN, also told the court that he collected the money from a businessman on behalf of Emefiele, who is accused of abuse of office and fraud of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

While being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Osazuwa narrated to the court how he served as a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank and later joined the CBN running errands for the former CBN governor.

The witness told the court that he worked with Zenith Bank Plc as a dispatch rider till 2014 before he started working with the CBN.

Osazuwa said, “I joined the CBN in 2014 as a contract staff and became staff in 2015. I have known the first defendant since he was a Deputy Director of Zenith Bank, and he became Director. I have worked with him since then.”

Osasuwa said that he was later appointed a senior supervisor (full-time) to record and handle documents while working in the CBN Governor’s office in Lagos.

“I was still working in the governor’s office while I was appointed as a full staff, and we usually communicate through WhatsApp or email. I perform as a senior supervisor, recording and filing, with other official roles.

“When he called me, he directed that I call a businessman who gave me 11 million dollars on his behalf. Some weeks later, the first defendant also called me to go and see the man, and he gave me $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 in cash,” he said.

Osazuwa further testified that he knew Dumies Oil and Gas Limited while in Zenith Bank and that the former governor, who was also the MD of the company, always sent him to collect cheques from one Monday.

The witness told the court that he always logged the money into the account of Dumies on the order of Emefiele.

Osazuwa also stated, “Whenever I receive the money and take it to the residence of Mr Emefiele, he always tells me to give it to the second defendant whenever he is not at home.

“I did not record transactions because the instruction was to collect and bring the money to his house. The highest amount I collected is $1 million in cash,” Osazuwa said.

The witness also told the court that the embattled former CBN governor had never rewarded him by giving him a part of the collected sum, saying, “He has never for one day said to take this. I have never been rewarded, paid or given anything.”

Scores of people have been feared killed in Kukawa village of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State during airstrikes by the troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadarin Daji.

This was as the army denied the killing of any civilian in the state saying “the military was fighting bandits and not the innocent people of the state.”

An indigene of the village, Musa Abubakar who narrowly escaped told newsmen on Friday that his community was performing the Eid El Fitr prayer last Wednesday when the Nigerian Air Force bombarded the area.

Abubakar said the bombardment led to the death of no fewer than 40 people.

He said, “We were performing the Eid El Fitr prayer when we saw a plane approaching the area.

“Immediately the plane approached the Eid praying ground, we heard a terrifying sound and everybody took to their heels

“I was one of the lucky ones who escaped unhurt but several people were killed and many others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“I lost 13 people who are my blood relations while two others.”

However, another person from the village who sought anonymity said the bombardment of the village was a result of gunshots from the suspected bandits who targeted the military aircraft.

He said, “The aircraft was passing over the village and suddenly the bandits started shooting toward its direction

“This forced the military to drop several bombs in the village during the Eid El Fitr prayer and many people lost their lives.”

Speaking newsmen , the spokesperson of Operation Hadarin Daji, Lieutenant Suleiman Omale, said the military was fighting bandits and not the innocent people of the state.

He added that he was not aware of any civilians killed during the bombardment.

“We are fighting bandits, not the innocent Nigerians. I am not aware of any civilian that was killed during the operation.”

On Sunday that airstrikes by the air components of Operation Hadin Kai and Hadrin Daji killed terrorists planning to attack soft targets.

The strikes were conducted at various terrorist hideouts in Katsina and Borno states.

In Katsina, a terrorist enclave located Northwest of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area was bombed.

The UK on Thursday increased the income required to sponsor someone coming to the country on a family visa as part of the government’s plan to cut immigration.

This was revealed by the UK home office via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday.

“We’re delivering the biggest-ever cut in legal migration and an immigration system that works for the British people.

“We have increased the family visa minimum income requirement,” the statement read.

From Thursday, the minimum income requirement needed to bring a family member to the UK will go up to £29,000 ($36,800) from £18,600, rising to £38,700 early next year.

The move forms part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to “cut unsustainable and unfair levels of migration, and ensure those arriving here do not burden the taxpayer”.

Immigration, at record levels in recent years, is likely to be a key issue in a general election due later in 2024, with polling showing that Sunak’s Conservatives are due for a heavy defeat.

“We have reached a tipping point with mass migration. There is no simple solution or easy decision which cuts numbers to levels acceptable to the British people.

“We’ve acted to cut unsustainable numbers, to protect British workers and their wages, to ensure those bringing family to the UK do not burden taxpayers,” Interior Minister James Cleverly said.

The income requirement is designed to ensure families are self-sufficient and can be met in a number of ways, including through savings and income from employment.

The government unveiled a raft of measures in December aimed at cracking down on the record migration levels, including a 47-percent hike in the minimum salary for skilled work visas.

The government intends to ultimately synchronise the threshold for family visas with that of skilled work visas.

Tightened regulations for students and a 66-percent increase in the health surcharge for foreigners using the National Health Service (NHS) were also part of the broader immigration strategy.

Cleverly said at the time that the overall plan was to reduce annual net migration to the UK, currently running at 745,000, by 300,000.

We’re delivering the biggest-ever cut in legal migration and an immigration system that works for the British people.

We have increased the family visa minimum income requirement.

This will ensure people only bring dependants to the UK they can financially support. pic.twitter.com/dbpORREDdk

— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) April 11, 2024

The Olubadan-In-Council, on Friday, nominated Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Recall that the seat became vacant on Thursday, March 14, 2024, after the death of Oba Lekan Balogun, who reigned for two years and died at the age of 81 years.

The kingmakers agreed to appoint Oba Olakulehin as the next Olubadan at a meeting called by Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

He was nominated by the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe.

His name is expected to be sent to the state governor, Seyi Makinde, for approval.

Obey Etok Chima, the Nollywood actress, has lost her father — a few hours before the burial of her husband.

The movie star announced the passing of her dad on her social media pages.

In a Facebook post, Obey disclosed that her father passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The film star added the “tragedy” happened a day before her husband’s burial.

“What a tragedy, 2024. I just lost my dad early hours of yesterday 11th April. Just a day to bury my husband. It is well,” she wrote.

Obey described the death of her father as “another blow on me” via her Instagram page.

“Another blow on me. I just lost my dad and I am burying my husband today. It is well oo,” she wrote.

The film star lost her husband on January 15, 2024, at age 57.

Obey gained prominence after she took the role of Sandra in the soap opera ‘Super Story; No Pain, No Gain’.

In 2008, the film star took a break from acting to focus on her marriage and returned in 2021.

Obey has starred in several movies including ‘Forever’, ‘Hidden Scar’ and ‘Betrayer Sister’.

In light of Idris Olarewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, being imprisoned on Friday for mishandling the naira, we have compiled a list of nine actions involving the naira that could result in legal repercussions.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro said the sentencing of Bobrisky, a controversial crossdresser, would be a deterrent to others who are found abusing and mutilating the naira.

The Clean Notes Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria was implemented with the aim of enhancing the visual appeal and durability of the banknotes in circulation, as stated on the official website of the apex bank.

According to the CBN, the objective is to guarantee that the naira banknotes in circulation maintain a high standard of quality, enabling them to be easily processed and accepted by the general public.

Below are the ways you can abuse the naira:

• Spraying: It is illegal to spray banknotes at events.
• Writing: Writing on banknotes is prohibited by law.
• Stapling: Stapling banknotes is prohibited by law due to the potential for corrosion caused by the pins.
• Tearing: Tearing banknotes is also illegal.
• Dancing or stamping on naira: Dancing or stamping on naira banknotes is prohibited by law. Getting oil or ink on the banknotes can be considered a form of defacing.
• Selling: Selling currency banknotes is illegal.
• Mutilation: Anyone caught tampering with the naira note will face legal consequences, as stated in the CBN Act Section 21.
• Rejecting the naira: Rejecting the naira is strictly prohibited by law (Section 20, Subsection 5).

Money bouquets: In February 2023, the CBN also identified money bouquets as a type of naira abuse.

Bobrisky’s Friday sentencing is not an isolated incident.

Earlier in February 2024, actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for defacing the naira notes by spraying and stepping on them at a social event in Lagos.

Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba has asked Nigerians to contribute money for him.

The father of late singer, Mohbad has now setup a GoFundMe account for that reason.

According to reports, he is asking Nigerians to donate towards seeking justice for his late son.

Some internet users had earlier slammed him for wearing Mohbad’s clothes and not acting like a man who has just lost his son

Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okuneye, a crossdresser who delights in adorning female outfits, will be kept in the male section of the prison facility throughout his six-month imprisonment, Peoples Gazette has reliably learnt from officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Friday sentenced Bobrisky to jail after he pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of naira abuse.

Bobrisky told Ms Awogboro that he was a man when asked to clarify his gender status before the court. The Gazette was told that his answer would later inform the prison officials to keep him in the facility designated for men.

“Since he admitted to being a male in court, then we have to abide by what was submitted in court,” the correctional spokesperson told our masthead on Friday.

Prison officials also said Bobrisky will be offered adequate protection from other inmates who might want to sexually violate him.

“He shouldn’t be afraid of sexual assault from other male inmates because our men can give him protection.”

Bobrisky, posting a video of him clutching what appeared to be bosoms and posing half-naked in a bathrobe, has given his five million Instagram followers the impression that he has transitioned to a female.

In one of his photos on Instagram, he wrote, “My journey transitioning into a woman has been going smooth, no health issues, everything is going smooth for me.”