A review of foreign exchange trading in the past four weeks shows that Naira gained N234.01 and N340 against the US Dollar at the official and parallel foreign exchange market.

FMDQ data indicated that Naira traded for 1,431.49 per USD on Friday, March 22, compared to N1,665.50 on February 23, 2024.

This represents a N234.01 gain in the past four weeks.

Similarly, the Naira gained N340 against the USD in the parallel market. This is as Naira exchanged at N1,460 per USD on Friday, March 22, compared to N1,800 a month ago.

DAILY POST recalls that in the period under review, the Central Bank of Nigeria had introduced several sweeping policies to rescue the Naira, including halting cash payment of Personal Travel Allowance, PTA, and Business Travel Allowance, BTA, ‘Financial Markets Price Transparency and Market Notice of a Revision to the FMDQ FX Market Rate Pricing Methodology’ and drafted guidelines for Bureau De Change operators.

On Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu begged Nigerians to patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods to grow the Naira against USD.

Kafayat Shafau, the famous Nigerian dancer and choreographer, who is also known as Kaffy, has said that she lost friends by virtue of being a dancer.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, she said, “Taking on a career without any gender focus is already tough. As a dancer, the only place we were appreciated was when we were displaying for the National Troupe, or when were called by a governor for a national assignment.

"Dancing was not a mainstream career, neither was it commercially viable. Breaking into that door that did not exist was the main sacrifice for me, as well as the pain of losing family friends and people around me. I was practically isolated.

"There even some people who initially supported me, but withdraw their support because they did not see what I was seeing.”

She also stated that women in the entertainment were often viewed as sexual objects.

She said, “As a woman, one is often asked what value one brings to the table to be considered with one’s male peers. I struggled a lot with that, because while expressing myself, I had to deal with music directors, editors and different stakeholders who felt one’s opinion was not necessary.

"But, one of the things that helped me was the fact that I am highly educated and intellectual enough to express my ideas and implement them in ways that earned me respect. I was also hands on with whatever I said.”

The award-wining dancer also noted that in the course of her career, she got more support from men than women.

She said, “I have got more admiration and support from men, than women. It came after a bit of resistance, which is normal, because there will always be some of resistance when one newly gets into a field.”

Toke Makinwa, the Nigerian media personality, has disclosed that she underwent surgery to remove 13 fibroids from her body.

Toke Makinwa made this known following the release of Stephanie Coker’s documentary titled “Where the Heck is My Period.”

She narrated that fibroids affected the majority of women in her family and some had to remove their wombs.

According to her, growing up she knew something was wrong because she had a very big tummy, irregular periods, and a bulge when she lay down.

“PCOS I haven’t had but I’ve had fibroids. Just watching the documentary, there are a lot of similarities between symptoms and the bloating. I remember when I started off in this industry and you had to host shows. I remember I had to wear like two waist cinchers or three waist cinchers because I was so tiny but I had a belly and people would always ask if you’re pregnant. I was tired of people asking “are you pregnant?” and you know how there would be photos on red carpets and it’ll be everywhere and everyone would be talking about the fact that “oh my god, is she pregnant, or what has she eaten?”

“I’ve had cousins who’ve had to take out their wombs. It’s very daunting. It’s one of the most stressful things. I think one of the worst parts of it is bleeding excessively. I mean, I didn’t bleed for a hundred and something days, but I know about you just seeing your period when you’re not expecting it. I know about you sitting somewhere and you get up and someone has to move close to you and say “oh your period”.

“I’m happy Stephanie Coker did this documentary because women can come together and talk about it. It does a lot to your self-esteem. You’re just nervous all the time. The anxiety levels are high. Eventually, when I got surgery, I had 13 fibroids taken out of me. Tiny me, thirteen.”

A video showing passengers seated on top of a moving bus in Lagos has sparked mixed reactions from the public.

Two passengers were spotted at an unknown location in the metropolitan city of Lagos.

Apparently, chairs had been arranged on the bus to accommodate extra passengers on the bus.

Two sat and held steady to avoid falling off the bus which was moving with speed.

Below are some reactions that followed …

rosythrone said: “As a Nigerian I can assure you there’s nothing in this life dat we’ve not seen, nothing remain!”

ms_naomii commented: “Based on experience, Lagos is traumatizing????‍♀️”

generallado remarked: “If someone explains Lagos to you and you understand, they did not explain well”

veradollar1 stated: “This is how much I want to Trust in God.”

queenari_ella said: “The view must be beautiful though”

@afrisagacity wrote: “That’s the thing with poverty – it makes you value your life far less than it’s worth. You take blind risks not minding the fact that it may just end your life.

But when you’re rich, you find yourself placing more premium to your life. Life becomes far attractive to live. Your risks are calculated and value-driven.

Those men took such risks because they’re poverty-stricken. Same life with those people who perch on top moving trains.

Hope this helps”

Abosede, the bereaved mother of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, has claimed that Joseph, the father, buried the late singer even before he died.

Abosede disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH titled, “Uncensored: Mohbad’s mother opens up on late son, ex-husband, Naira Marley.”

She said she was not aware of the day Mohbad died despite being in his (Joseph) house for 10 days shortly before the late singer’s demise.

“I actually did not know when my child (Mohbad) died. His father did not tell me. I was in his house for 10 days, shortly before he died. I ran back there when I heard that he had died. I was the one who called his father and siblings to inform them. I brought them all together.

“I called their father to come and see me with all the children despite all he had done to me. I did not have the strength to fight with him because I found happiness in my children, and because they are grown-up, I brought them all together. But, their father separated us.

“I believe that my son was not dead as of the time he was buried. I actually told them not to bury him, but they refused. If they had not buried him at the time he did, I believe he would have lived. Joseph is actually my problem. I believe that he buried my son before he died,” she added.

Although, Aloba gave Yoruba culture as the reason for the quick burial, explaining that it is customary not to delay the burial of a deceased person when both parents are still alive.

He mentioned that if Mohbad had passed away at an older age, the option of keeping his body in a mortuary for a later date might have been considered.

The late singer’s father further revealed that the land where his son was laid to rest belonged to Mohbad and that he had given it to him to build a church.

He clarified that the decision to bury him swiftly was in accordance with Yoruba customs.

“In Yoruba land, his corpse is not the kind to be kept when both of his parents are still alive,” he said.

“That land where Mohbad was buried is his only land, that is the only land I know him to have owned.

“Truly he gave me the land to build my church because we had both agreed to build the church there and since that’s the only land I knew him to have,” he added.

Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27 in Lagos State.

Following an investigation by the Lagos State Police Command to unravel the cause of his death, Mohbad’s remains were exhumed for an autopsy.

Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed displeasure over quality of food at one of the State’s Ramadan Feeding Centres in Gidan Maza, Kano Municipal local government area.

Governor Yusuf, who paid an unscheduled visit to the centre on Friday evening, described what he saw as “nonsense” despite allocation enough foodstuffs by the State government. He, therefore, ordered a review of the feeding programme and demanded an investigation into the Gidan Maza incident.

Taking to his verified X handle (formerly Twitter), Governor Yusuf wrote: “This evening, I visited Gidan Maza, one of the Ramadan feeding centers in Kano Municipal Local Government.

“The result I met during the impromptu visit was disappointing and disheartening, despite allocating ample foodstuff and resources for each center.

“I’ve already directed a comprehensive probe, and I demand an immediate change in the conduct of the program. – AKY.”

Godwin ‘Kabaka’ Opara, a pioneering figure in Igbo highlife music renowned for his songwriting and guitar skills, has died at the age of 77, his record label announced Thursday.

Opara rose to fame in the 1970s as the co-founder of The Oriental Brothers International Band, whose politically conscious lyrics made them popular across Africa. After going solo in 1976 and forming The Kabaka International Guitar Band, he released 14 albums over his prolific career.

“Derda Promotions is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed artist, Godwin Kabaka Opara, an icon who pioneered and revolutionized highlife music, on March 21st,” the label said in a statement.

Born in Owerri in 1947, Opara picked up the guitar at a young age and quickly became a talented multi-instrumentalist. He first made his mark with the Oriental Brothers, fusing highlife with Afrobeat, juju and other regional styles.

Songs like “Another Brickhouse” became anthems calling for social change in Nigeria during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and 80s. Opara continued performing and recording as a solo act until recent years.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has refused to grant an interim injunction restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from disbursing the N3.8 trillion naira deposited into the CBN NIPOST Stamp Duty Collection Account by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) or commercial banks.

Kasmal International Services, represented by its legal team led by Dr. Alex Izinyon SAN, had approached the court claiming a percentage in the N3.8 trillion domiciled in the Stamp Duty Collection Account. The applicant joined the CBN and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/335/2024.

According to the applicant’s lawyer, Kasmal International Services was appointed by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) to represent them in the collection of a 50 naira stamp duty on all receipts given by banks or financial institutions for services rendered in respect of electronic transfers and teller deposits from N1,000 and above, in compliance with the Stamp Duties Act and the Nigeria Financial Regulations 2009. The agreement between NIPOST and the plaintiff included a remuneration of N7.50 from every 50-naira deduction.

The applicant argued that if the disbursement is done without considering its percentage, it will suffer irreparable losses. However, instead of granting the interim injunction, Justice Ekwo ordered the CBN to appear before the court and explain why the applicant’s request should not be granted.

At the resumed sitting on Friday, the court was informed that the CBN’s legal team had not yet shown cause as directed. Justice Ekwo then adjourned the matter to April 16 for hearing.

The stamp duty, an indirect tax imposed on several financial transactions, has been a subject of contention. In 2023, former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele revealed that the total revenue collected as stamp duty on behalf of the Federal Government between 2016 and 2022 was N370.686 billion.

Former beauty queen, Precious Chikwendu has survived a ghastly car accident in Abuja.

Naija News reports that Precious, the wife of the former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, made this known in a lengthy Instagram post, stating that she lost an aide in the accident.

Recounting the incident, Precious said a reckless driver at the traffic light at Kur Mohammed Avenue ran into their vehicle, and she lost her aide.

She wrote, “I’ve been dealing with survivor guilt for weeks now, I am just able to begin proper communication with “humans” because I’ve been mute and going through the phase of trying to understand why I survived with minimal injuries and the person who was next to me didn’t. Feb 29th, 2024, remains a day I never got clarity about anything, but I am positive it will all make sense in no time.
My driver, aide, and I were run into by a reckless driver at the traffic light at Kur Mohammed Avenu, right in front of Taj Bank. I won’t talk about this person who hit me and all he has done since then because it is already a manslaughter case, but I would talk about God’s mercy on me and the pain of losing my best aide ever.

“God came through for me and sent me a special gift ahead of time for this season and beyond. I’ve grieved for Sanusi, I’ve looked at my cameras every day, hoping he would be out there cleaning his boots as usual. That fateful morning he was with my kids and me at the national stadium for their inter-house sports, he followed Aiden and Ragnar around like he knew he might never see them again, and the last I remember was seeing him argue the routes to take with my driver, as if he knew there was danger ahead but surrendered to fate by letting using go the opposite way. Will I continuously miss my ‘Sule’? Yes !! Everyday.

“He was one little brother that was too protective of me. Meeting his whole family coincidentally at Sahad stores in January made me see him as a family from that moment, aside from him being the most peaceful, loyal, and easy-to-learn aide I’ve ever had. I virtually camped at the hospital and prayed for the brain injuries to heal with high hopes of having him laugh again at my silly jokes whenever I’m in excellent spirits. God alone will heal us all from this pain. I’ve cried my heart out, but most importantly, I’ve learned a lot from this incident. I am grateful to be alive even though I questioned it all for many reasons, I am alive and grateful. Ekwensu ntooooor!.”

Abosede, the mother of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has alleged that singer, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, alongside Lagos socialite, Sam Larry, frustrated her son to death.

Naija News reports that Abosede made this known in an interview with PUNCH, stating that Mohbad did not experience peace throughout his lifetime because the duo of Naira Marley and Sam Larry always got him into one problem or another.

Abosede noted that she had always been involved in Mohbad’s life and warned him over his association with Naira Marley.

She said, “Mohbad did not know peace throughout his lifetime. He was always going from one problem to another in the hands of Naira Marley and Sam Larry. His manager was Naira Marley’s brother, and I did not like him.

“Every time I went there, I always told Mohbad to stay away from him, yet he was always sleeping on Mohbad’s bed. I told Mohbad to keep away from everyone associated with Naira Marley and should not work with them anymore. I had always been involved in my son’s life. Every curse that Naira Marley rains on me will return to him.”

Speaking further, Abosede debunked the claims of Mohbad owing Sam Larry money, revealing that Naira Marley had one time beat up the late singer, and he ended up in the hospital.

She added, “Sam Larry beat Mohbad, complaining that he owed him money, but that is not true. My son confided in me.

“Naira Marley beat him up one time, and he ended up in the hospital. We had to use hot water to massage his body, and he could not talk for two days because he was seriously beaten. He even developed hypertension.

“When Mohbad recovered from the sickness, Naira did not want him back in Marlian Music. He said he was spoiling their name; and Mohbad also did not want to go back. I went with the father to plead with Naira. That was the first time I went to the house. It was Joseph that was always going there. I want justice for my son.”

Meanwhile, both Naira Marley and Sam Larry have denied involvement in Mohbad’s death.