2023 data from the World Poverty Clock, has pegged the number of extremely poor Nigerians at 71 million.

Tonye Cole, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, who quoted the data also said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) classifies 133 million people as multidimensionally poor.

He spoke during the weekend in Abuja, at the Nigeria Zero Hunger Symposium, organised by T200 Foundation to mark World Hunger Day and unveiling of the “Nigeria Zero Hunger” report.

Quoting the United Nations (UN), Cole said globally, 25,000 die daily from hunger, including more than 10,000 children.

He noted that Nigeria must design a simple, implementable, and sustainable poverty eradication model and stick to it over time.

He said, “Nigeria has the awful distinction of being the world capital of poverty, with 71 million people living in extreme poverty today (World Poverty Clock, 2023) and a total of 133 million people classed as multidimensionally poor according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

“In other words, about 828 million people will wake up every day having no idea when or where their next meal will come from, and many will go to bed that day without eating anything. This is according to a 2021 UN report. The UN further states that of these 828 million people, 25,000 will die today, including more than 10,000 children.

“Nigeria must design a simple, implementable, and sustainable poverty eradication model and stick to it over time.

“Other factors that contribute to hunger, such as violence, weak government, and health-care systems, must be addressed promptly if zero hunger is to be achieved. These are real difficulties in Nigeria and addressing them is critical not only for hunger eradication but also for the country’s overall progress.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (GCFR) government is well positioned to push the goal of strengthening democratic institutions that will yield democratic dividends to the Nigerian people.”

According to the report by T200 Foundation, Nigeria has a Global Hunger Index score of 27.9, which falls into the serious hunger category. However, there are significant variations in the hunger index score across states.

The report noted that the state with the highest hunger index score is Yobe, with a score of 44.2 percent. Yobe also has the highest prevalence of undernourishment, which is 27.4 percent. This is more than twice the national average of 12.9 percent. Yobe also has the highest child-wasting rate of 22.5 percent, which is almost three times the national average of 7.9 percent.

Also, the state with the second-highest hunger index score is Sokoto, with a score of 42.1 percent. Sokoto also has a high prevalence of undernourishment, which is 24.4 percent. The child wasting rate in Sokoto is 18.4 percent, which is more than twice the national average.

The report added that other states with high hunger index scores include Zamfara (37.2%), Kebbi (34.5%), and Jigawa (33.9%). These states also have high rates of undernourishment and child wasting.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Executive Director T200 Foundation, Amb. Emmanuel Osadebay, said Nigeria needs collaboration among stakeholders to end hunger by 2030 in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This was as he called on individuals to be empathetic towards the poor and work collaboratively to eradicate hunger.

He said, “People don’t pay attention to beggars on the street, so how do we eradicate hunger? We have to believe that we can change the world. Change starts from inside, when we go around without empathy, it can’t work that way, so the change starts from within us. So hunger is not a one-man effort, it’s a compiled effort.”

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has declared Wednesday, June 28, 2023, as the day of Eid-il Adha 1444 AH.

The Sultan who is the President-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, through Sultanate Council Sokoto made the announcement on Sunday night.

Posted on the official Twitter page of the National Moonlighting Committee, the Sultan said, “The Sultanate Council Sokoto has declared Monday 19/June/2023 as the first day of Zul-Hijjah 1444 AH.

“Accordingly Wednesday 28/June/2023 will be the day of Eidul Adha 1444 AH. His Eminence The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes the entire Muslim Ummah happy Eidul Adha Mubarak in advance.”

Ex-Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has escaped assassination by hoodlums last Friday along Ihube community on the Okigwe- Enugu expressway way.

Okorocha spoke in brief about the attack, on Sunday, when he attended the birthday celebration of the Imo state Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, at Amaimo, Ikeduru council area of the state.

The security convoy was said to be that of the security operatives from the Enugu state government to provide Okorocha with security.

Explaining further, Okorocha said shortly; “Why is it that after spending two days in Enugu, peacefully. It was only when i came to Imo state that i was attacked. The convoy that brought to Imo when they were going back to Enugu, they were attacked and one person was killed.

“Why must it be so in Imo state. I am not happy what is happening in Imo state. The convoy helped to convey me to the burial ceremony of the mother of former governor, Emeka Ihedioha.”

He added: “The convoy also dropped me at my Spibat masion in Owerri. As they were driving back to Enugu, the convoy was attacked. This is so bad in this Imo state.”

The World Bank Group has approved a loan of $750m to boost Nigeria’s power sector.

The loan with project ID P174622 was approved on June 9, 2023, making it the first World Bank loan approved under the new administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Information obtained from the website of the bank showed the fresh loan as additional financing for the Power Sector Recovery Performance-Based Operation, which was first approved on June 23, 2020.

In a document published on May 19 titled ‘Nigeria – Power Sector Recovery Performance Based Operation Project: Additional Financing (English)’, it was disclosed that the parent project will end on June 30, 2023.

It was also disclosed that out of the $750m initially approved in 2020, only 72 per cent financing of $535.09m was disbursed, with the balance expected by June 30, 2023, for the parent project.

For the newly approved additional financing, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide $449m, and International Development Association will provide $301m.

The International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which make up the World Bank, have, over the years, advanced loans to Nigeria.

The IBRD lends to governments of middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, while the IDA provides concessionary loans – called credits – and grants to governments of the poorest countries.

The document read in part, “This Program Paper seeks the approval of the Board of Executive Directors to provide Additional Financing to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through an International Development Association credit in the amount of $301m and an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan in the amount of $449m to the Power Sector Recovery Performance-Based Operation (PSRO, P164001).

“The proposed AF will build on the tangible results achieved and lessons learned under the parent Program. The proposed AF will continue supporting the implementation of the FGN’s Power Sector Recovery Plan’s critical actions to address the next set of power sector challenges and facilitate the achievement of the FGN’s ambitious access and energy transition targets.”

The document further disclosed that the new financing would run from 2023 to June 30, 2027

Justifying the reason for the loan, the document noted that Nigeria has the largest electricity access deficit in the world.

It read in part, “Nigeria has the world’s largest absolute electricity access deficit. Lack of access to the electricity grid affects 45 per cent of the population (90 million people), making Nigeria the country with the largest number of people not connected to electricity.

“As such, Nigeria accounts for 12 per cent of the global access deficit. Large disparities exist in access to electricity between urban areas (84 per cent) and rural ones (26 per cent). The net access deficit has increased by over seven million citizens over the last decade, as the pace of population growth has overtaken the pace of electrification.

“Even those Nigerians who are connected to the grid face frequent outages and hence do not get reliable supply.”

The document placed economic loss from poor electricity supply at $25bn annually, with firms saying that it is a major business challenge.

“Economic losses from unreliable electricity supply are estimated to be around N7-10tn (~$25bn equivalent) annually, or 5-7 percent of GDP. Firms cite a lack of reliable electricity as the top constraint to their business.

“Faced with unreliable and insufficient supply, businesses and households fill the gap with expensive petrol and diesel-run generators. It is estimated that over 20 GW of gasoline generator capacity is employed by households and small businesses, nearly twice as much as the 12 GW capacity connected to the national grid. Over 22 million diesel/gasoline generators power about 26 percent of total households and 30 per cent of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria,” the document added.

A Lagos High Court sitting Ikeja has summoned Union Bank Plc to explain contentious debt of N119, 773, 826 between it and a multinational company, Ravih Abdul and Co. Limited ahead of the bank’s planned acquisition of minority shareholders by Titan Trust Bank Limited.

Although no date has been fixed for definite hearing, in a writ, suit No: ADR/2520/2023, the court has ordered the bank to file its defence within 42 days.

Ravih Abdul and its managing director, Mr. Adekunle Abdul had approached the court, asking it to compel Union Bank to pay him N119, 773, 826 being the total accumulated indebtedness to the company.

The company and its managing director said the bank’s indebtedness dated between November 1994 and December 2022 “being arrears of accumulated interest.”

In the suit dated May 26, Ravih’s managing director said the bank, which having allegedly received 5, 240 pounds sterling as payment of required fees to process letter of credit, had refused to use the money for the purpose of the letter of credit,”

He said: “Although the defendant had claimed paying the money on the letter of credit, it had failed to make available to the claimants all the accrued interests generated on the money between November 1993 when the letter of credit expired and September 1994 the period they kept the money in their account without payment to the beneficiary which had amounted to 1, 008.77 pounds sterling that should have accrued to the claimants in their account.

“The defendant has refused till date to explain what it did with the interests that were accumulated on the money they paid to the defendant after a long period that the money was lodged with them when they did not pay the money within three months specified in the letter of credit after revalidation which the money was not used for the purpose it was intended.

“The claimants aver that pursuant to the above, they had earlier forwarded letters of demand to the defendant for the payment of the accumulated outstanding due to them and copies of the letters dated September 26, 2022, November 4, 2022 and January 11, 2023 respectively.

“That the defendant had not denied receiving the sum of 5, 240.26 pounds sterling as payment of the required fees for the processing of letters of credit in their favour, more so, it had not denied delaying the payment to the beneficiary until 1994.

However, Ravih Abdul and its managing director “are claiming 220, 838.74 pounds sterling about #119, 773, 826, being total accumulated indebtedness from the defendant to the claimants from arrears of accumulated interests on the claimants’ account with the defendant from November 19194 to December 2022.”

Meanwhile, the court has ordered Union Bank Plc, to file its defence within 42 days to the alleged 3119, 773, 826 debt. It said: “You are hereby commanded that within 42 days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of such service, you do cause an appearance.”

Ex-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he was poisoned and flown out of Nigeria when he was governor of the state.

Wike made the revelation during a thanksgiving service in a church on Sunday, while also revealing that his wife was diagnosed with cancer even as her room was gutted by mysterious fire.

He said he was thanking God for surviving these ordeals especially when the medical doctor who diagnosed him gave a negative prognostication.

“There is a lot to thank God for; from 2015 to 2023, God was in charge; everybody who knew how we came to power knew it was turbulent, but God saw us through.

“I will give three instances why we need to thank God. While in your office, so many people think as governor everything is going on well with you,” Wike said.

He pointed out that, “As governor, nobody wants to ask if you are well, all is, you wake up in the morning, see text messages, accounts you are to send money to… December 2018, that day was the day my former Chief of Staff was to have a Thanksgiving ceremony, and I was to attend that event on a Sunday.

“On that Sunday, I never came down from my room, it was bad. For those who attended the January 1st State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day, I just sat down there and told my deputy to speak on my behalf, people didn’t know what was going on.

“After that banquet, 12:00 am midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over.

“When we got to Beirut the doctors told me they had to do so many tests…they came back the next morning and said it was bad; my kidney, liver were gone.

“Doctors told me I’d been poisoned and that my liver and kidney were no longer functioning. I believe I was poisoned at the secretariat. To God be the glory, I survived it.”

He continued, “I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat; my intestines were all black.

“The doctors did everything they could do, and the next day the doctors came and said everything was turning around; to the glory of God after about one week, they said I could then go.

“I came back to Nigeria and told those who are close to me that we wouldn’t stop at anybody’s house because I could not identify how I was poisoned; everyone was a suspect to me.

“When I was going through my presidential primaries, my wife called me from London that she had been diagnosed with cancer, I called my G5 members who were supporting me, I said ‘there is a problem and I don’t think I can continue with this race.’ I called my wife back and she said ‘no, continue so we started’ (the race).”

According to the former governor, “On the night of the primaries, I went with my wife to Abuja, and from nowhere, we were called that fire gutted my wife’s room. We called the fire service, everything was burnt; up till today, we haven’t repaired that room… and nobody knew, I just kept quiet.

“That is why I said some people don’t ask what I’m passing through–you just want me to give you! give you! you don’t even know if I’m dying.

“But I thank God today that my wife is hale and hearty. When people text me, my wife is sick, my mother is at the hospital, I always say should I text back, my wife is also in the hospital? If anything should have happened you can imagine the effect on my children.

“The last one, as we finished the primary, my wife went to Lagos to bring my daughter, they landed at the air force base, and I said when they land I will just enter and go to Lagos (somebody was waiting for me that I must see).

“After 15 minutes of take-off, we heard a sound, I saw the air hostess running.

“I rushed to the cockpit, but the door was locked; nobody to communicate with; she ran back and told us one engine is gone.

“The pilot said it’s safer for us to turn back (we were three)…by the grace of God before we landed, we saw several ambulances, fire service trucks line up.

“I didn’t know the pilot had communicated with them that there was a serious problem.

“To the glory of God we landed safely; people just see me as a strong man; part of leadership is not to frighten one’s supporters,” Wike said.

THE Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria says it has lodged a petition with the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress ahead of its planned indefinite strike in protest of the refusal of e-hailing firms to raise their pay.

The union’s Publicity Chairman, Jossy Olawale, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said the union was disappointed that despite a seven-day ultimatum issued to the app-based firms, no action had been taken to address the drivers’ concerns.

He said the union had opted to suspend its week-long strike to pave the way for dialogue between the drivers and the app companies.

However, by Tuesday, June 20, the seven working days ultimatum will elapse and the union feels that the chances of coming to an agreement are becoming slim or nonexistent.

Olawale expressed worry that ride-hailing companies refused to reduce their commission by 50 per cent as a measure to reduce the burden of the outrageous cost of PMS on the drivers.

He said, “The union has written a letter to the Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress and other relevant stakeholders to midwife a process of dialogue towards an amicable resolution of the numerous challenge faced by app-based transport workers.”

Olawale also called on the app-based companies to restore the accounts of some of its members who were unjustifiably blocked due to their role in the nationwide strike and protest held by the union last week.

He added, “We are calling on President Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgency prioritise members of app-based transport workers of Nigeria, most of which are unemployed graduates who undertook driving e-hailing cab as a means of finding a legitimate means of living.”

When The PUNCH reached out to Uber, a global app-based company with a strong base of operations in Nigeria, the firm’s Country Manager, Tope Akinwumi, said the increase in fare prices had to be done in a manner that would not discourage riders from making use of the service.

He said, “Uber takes into consideration the economic climate in rolling out any price reviews. We believe this fare increase will have a positive impact on driver earnings while maintaining an affordable service for riders. Where price options are made too high there could be a risk of fewer or no requests from riders.”

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has penned down an emotional father’s day message as she celebretes herself on Sunday.

The mother of one was formerly married to Mr Olakunle Churchill. However, the marriage did not last long as Tonto accused her spouse of physical abuse. The couple both shared a son together, King Andre.

They divorced in 2017 after two years of marriage. She has since declared herself the father and mother to her son, King Andre.

In the post she shared on her Instagram page, the actress wrote, “To myself and My LIttle daddy “Lord King Andre Dikeh”

“Today is a global day where fathers are not only recognised but celebrated. God has continued to shine his light upon us and our collaboration between myself and King has been a partnership between two dads and you’ve always been there with me through good and bad times.

“You have continued to show that you’re a good leaner with your results in school and I won’t stop demonstrating the values of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

“As much as I am Daddy to you, you have also given me a fatherly shoulder too hence I call you “PAPA”.. Thank you Baby for this great collaboration between Us and GIF almighty.. I’ll chose you a million times again if I have to do it all over.

“You’ve always told me that I’m the best dad in the world and I also want to thank you for making my job as the best dad easy.

“Call me Mama de’ Papa

“Happy Fathers Day to me, to all the amazing Dads out there and every Amazing strong woman doubling on this job or parenthood..God bless us all #FATHERSDAY #GIRLDAD #GIRLPOWER #LOVE #IAMDADDY. “

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said cash deposits into domiciliary accounts will no longer be restricted.

The apex bank said this in guidance to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) after a meeting with the bankers’ committee on Sunday.

The guidance includes allowing all visible and invisible transactions to be eligible for the Investors’ and Exporters’ window, granting unrestricted access to funds in ordinary domiciliary accounts, and permitting cash deposits not exceeding $10,000 per day or its equivalent via telegraphic transfer.

According to the CBN, the policy changes aim to promote transparency, liquidity, and price discovery in the FX market in order to improve FX supply, discourage speculation, enhance customer confidence and ensure overall stability in the FX market.

“All visible and invisible transactions (medicals, school fees, BTA/PTA, airline, and other remittances) are eligible for the investors’ and exporters’ (I&E) window.”

“DMBs shall ensure expeditious processing of all eligible invisible transactions on behalf of their customers using the applicable rate at the I&E window. Ordinary domiciliary account holders shall have unfettered and unrestricted access to funds in their accounts. Domiciliary account holders are permitted to utilise cash deposits not exceeding $10,000 per day or its equivalent via telegraphic transfer.

“DMBs shall provide returns to the CBN including the purpose for such transactions. Cash deposits into domiciliary accounts will not be restricted, subject to DMBs conducting proper KYC (know your customer), due diligence, and adhering to the spirit and letter of extant anti-money laundering/ combating the financing of terrorism laws and other relevant rules and regulations.

“The CBN will prioritise orderly settlement of any committed FX forward transactions as they fall due in order to further boost market confidence.”

The CBN said it remains committed to ensuring a stable and efficient FX market that meets the needs of all legitimate users.

No fewer than 18 Ghana-must-go bags containing money and documents have been carted away by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) from the residence of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, Nigerian Tribune has been reliably informed.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the money and the documents were taken from the Lagos residence of Emefiele on Friday afternoon after about a day-long search of the property.

Emefiele, who was arrested June 10 by the DSS, has spent eight days in the custody of the agency.

It was scooped that Emefiele may spend longer than earlier reported in DSS custody as investigation into his activities while in charge of the apex bank is far from being concluded.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the DSS, on Thursday, secured a court order to detain the ex-CBN chief for three weeks, with another source hinting that he might be held for a longer time.

Emefiele was said to have been moved from the DSS custody in Abuja on Thursday and flown to Lagos where his house was searched by DSS operatives.

Upon conclusion of the search, about 18 Ghana-must-go bags containing currency and documents were said to have been taken away the following day [Friday].

Emefiele was flown back to Abuja on Friday afternoon with the bags and investigators have since resumed quizzing, especially about the findings.

The secret Police, it was gathered, have also launched a manhunt for Emefiele’s personal assistant (names withheld) in connection with the revelations from the ongoing investigation.

“DSS took Emefiele to his house in Lagos on Thursday and returned him to Abuja on Friday afternoon. His house was searched. They took away about 18 big Ghana-must-go bags containing money and documents from the house.

“His personal assistant is on the run. DSS is on a manhunt for him. He is the key to unlock Emefiele’s assets and wealth stashed away within and outside the country,” a source told Nigerian Tribune.

President Bola Tinubu, on June 9, suspended Emefiele as CBN governor and ordered his probe, following which he was arrested by the DSS for investigation.