Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that it would cease feeding commercial banks with hefty foreign exchange (forex) before year end, urging them to source forex themselves to operate.

This was as the Bankers Committee unveiled the “Race to $200 billion in FX Repatriation” programme (RT200 FX), an initiative that aggregates a set of policies, plans and projects for non-oil exports that will enable Nigeria rake in $200 billion in foreign exchange, exclusively from non-oil exports, over the next three to five years.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, made the disclosures in Abuja at a media briefing on Thursday.

According to him, “the era is coming to an end when because your customers need $100 million demand for FX or $200 million and you want to pack all the dollar and pass it to the CBN to give you dollar. It is coming to an end. Before or latest end of this year, we will end it. Don’t come to CBN for FX again. Go and generate your own export proceeds. Fund those who want generate export proceeds.

“When those proceeds come, we will fund them at five per cent for you. When those proceeds come, they will earn rebates that’s how we can help you. FX import-export is their bread and butter. “Build your foreign exchange from your export customers to generate FX to fund your import customers. That is the best I can do to help them. Run your race for your profitability and make your shareholders happy”, Emefiele said.

On the RT200 programme, he said it is not intended to be a silver bullet to all Nigeria’s problems in the export segment, but a first step meant to ensure that the apex bank carries out its mandate more effectively and efficiently in order to guarantee the preservation of the scarce foreign reserves, and the stability of the Naira. 

“It is only by boosting productive and earning capacity of this economy that we can truly preserve the long-term value of our currency, as well as the stability of our exchange rate”, he said.

Emefiele further said that the apex bank’s cocktail of economic interventions was responsible for the rather swift recovery of the economy after being jolted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“These policies and measures also led to a significant improvement in diaspora inflow from an average of $6 million per week in December 2020 to an average of over US$100 million per week by January 2022.

 

Sun

 

Thousands of telecommunication subscribers nationwide seeking to retrieve their lost Subscriber Identity Module cards or acquire new lines temporarily have been left stranded, following a technical glitch in the National Identity Management Commission portal that has grounded SIM-related services.

The affected NIMC portal enables telecom firms, Nigerian Immigration Service, banks and other organisations to verify the National Identity Number of their customers before attending to them, in line with the Federal Government’s directive.

Following the directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission for the inclusion of NIN in the requirements for all new and existing SIM cards, telecom firms are required to synchronise their SIM registration portals with the NIMC portal in order to verify the details of their subscribers.

Downtime enters sixth day, MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9mobile suspend SIM replacement/acquisition

The downtime experienced over the past five days by the NIMC portal has made it almost impossible for telecom firms to sell new SIM cards or retrieve lost lines.

According to a source at MTN who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to speak on the matter, the downtime in the NIMC network which occurred late on Tuesday has brought SIM-related services to a halt.

The source said, “NIMC made it compulsory that before we can register a customer, we have to verify their NIN. The agency gave us a back route to its server. We connect to the server to verify NIN. When we verify, it will bring the record of the customer (the information the customer gave to NIMC while registering for NIN). We have to confirm the information the customer gave NIMC against what we have. There’s a way we connect to the NIMC server. It is that server that has been down since Wednesday.

“Before now, we didn’t need NIN to do this. We just use the customer’s valid ID card and SIM pack. If the customer does not have that, a sworn affidavit is okay. However, the introduction of NIN has changed that.”

Speaking on how the development might affect the company’s revenue, the official said, “We have registration stores (centres) that attend to hundreds of customers on a daily basis. In my service centre, we attend to not less than 200 customers in a day. We can’t really estimate the amount we are losing. Sometimes, after retrieving their lines, some customers can buy as much as N30,000 airtime. Some can buy as much as N5,000 airtime. So, any day we don’t do business, one service centre can lose up to hundreds of thousands of naira.”

When our correspondents visited some service centres of the telcos, officials and customers narrated their ordeals.

When one of our correspondents paid a visit to a Glo retail outlet in Lagos, a myriad of frustrated subscribers could be seen inside and outside the premises of the service centre.

Some of the subscribers told our correspondent that they had visited the outlet for days on end but they were not attended to due to the NIMC portal glitch.

“Seriously I don’t understand, and I called them to ask if everything was okay before I came here. I came the other day and they told me the same thing,” a disgruntled subscriber said after being told SIM-related services was yet to be restored due to the NIMC server glitch.

In a chat with one of our correspondents, a top official at a Glo retail outlet, who also pleaded anonymity, confirmed that with the new directive by the NCC, all telcos are compulsorily required to verify the NIN details of subscribers before registering their new SIM cards.

“The problem is with the NIMC server. Their server is down; we can’t connect with it. We don’t know when it will be back. All the telecoms (companies) have network but because of NIN verification, we can’t work. It is a Federal Government directive: without NIN, we can’t do anything. Even if you want to buy SIM and register, without NIN, you can’t do it.”

In the same vein, subscribers were seen at an Airtel office lamenting their inability to retrieve their GSM lines despite repeated attempts to do so during the week.

A subscriber, who identified himself as Tochukwu, said, “This is my second time here and they have been saying the same thing, that they don’t have network. They’re saying it’s because of this NIN something. It’s quite disappointing because after today which is Saturday, I won’t have chance to do this again.”

A member of staff at the Airtel office, who did not want to be named, said the NIMC portal downtime had grounded SIM-related services of telcos across the country.

“You cannot get a new SIM until next week because there is no network. It’s not all network. It is this NIN something. It’s because we have to use your NIN to register the SIM. It affects all the telecommunications (companies),” he said.

 

NIMC, telcos, other stakeholders meet

As the problem lingered, it was gathered that NIMC officials held a meeting with telcos and other stakeholders over the development.

It was learnt that NIMC advised telcos to temporarily revert to the vNIN platform until it is able to sort out its technical difficulties.

A top official privy to the development said, “NIMC confirms its service is still down and it doesn’t have an estimated turnaround time from its service provider. Hence, it is looking for alternatives to restore services over the weekend. However, NIMC has proposed that we use vNIN in the interim which the industry kicked against based on technical readiness and process issues.”

However, the meeting held with NIMC resolved that telcos must uphold certain rules while the glitch lingers.

It said, “New registration and SIM swap without a prior verified NIN and linked to our Know Your Customer will not be allowed until full service is restored.

“SIM swap for a previously verified NIN that has been linked to our (telcoms) Know Your Customer will be allowed to proceed based on when approval letter is received from NCC today (Friday).

“New SIM registration (additional SIM for an existing subscriber with a previously verified NIN and linked to our (telcoms) Know Your Customer) will be allowed to proceed based on when approval letter is received from NCC today (Friday).”

As of the time of filing this report, it could not be verified if the approval has been received or not.

According to some telcos’ officials, there is a feeling of discontent among operators due to the technical readiness and bottlenecks that would be required to make the temporary switch to the vNIN.

It was gathered that the telcos had kicked against it when it was suggested initially.

It is understood that the vNIN, which involves generating tokens, is riddled with technical concerns which the telcos are not prepared to commit resources to, particularly given the fact that the switch to the vNIN platform will only be on a temporary basis until the NIMC server glitch is resolved.

“Nobody is prepared for that one (tokenisation). It was supposed to start in January, but they (telcos) were not ready. Now they’re trying to push tokens. It’s possible they deliberately collapsed this one so they can push people to tokens. I don’t know why they do that. There has been no proper training (in how to use the token system),” a top official of a telecom firm said.

Also, officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service told our correspondents on condition of anonymity that passport application process was delayed in some passport offices because the NIN verification process was stalled.

They said some passport capturing appointments might have to be rebooked over the development.

“The glitch at the NIMC portal affected passport application process during the week. There was a need to verify applicants NINs. This could not be done. It started since late on Tuesday,” an immigration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Also, top officials of some banks said the development affected account opening during the past week as applicants who had NIN as their only means of identification could not be attended to.

“Banks have various portals for verifying IDs. Those with NINs could not be attended to because the portal was down,” an official of FCMB said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the development.

When contacted, NIMC spokesperson, Kayode Adegoke, who preferred to revert via SMS, had not responded to text messages as at the time of filing this report.

However, a public statement issued by the NIMC late on Saturday linked the problem to a downtime as a result of a “maintenance service.”

However, checks with some of the telcos reveal that prior information about this maintenance was not communicated to them.

NIN verification service down due to maintenance, says NIMC

In a statement, NIMC said its NIN verification service was down due to maintenance being executed by its service provider.

The statement was titled ‘NIMC NIN verification service temporarily unavailable.”

It read, “The National Identity Management Commission wishes to inform the general public that its NIN Verification Service is temporarily unavailable due to the maintenance service being carried out by one of the Commission’s network service providers.

“NIMC wants to assure the public that verification and authentication services would be restored once the maintenance is concluded.

“The commission apologises for any inconveniences this might cause our esteemed customers, and all hands are on deck to ensure speedy restoration. Meanwhile, the public can make use of the alternative tokenisation verification platform.”

President, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said the association was aware of the NIMC server downtime and had been duly informed that the situation was being handled.

He said, “I learnt it’s a network issue. It’s something they’re looking at. I called two operators, especially the regulatory officials and they said they were working on it and that it would soon be restored. It’s rather unfortunate, but what do you do? I’m sure NCC knows about it.

“What I’ve not done is to talk to the NCC, and that is because the operators have said it’s an issue they are addressing. I want to go to Alausa tomorrow to find out what is happening apart from what the operators have told me.” 

 

Punch

 

 

The Republic of Benin authorities have extended the detention of Yoruba separatist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, by six months.

Yomi Aliyyu, Igboho’s counsel, disclosed this Sunday night.

Aliyyu was quoted to have said Benin Republic renewed Ignoho’s incarceration despite that there was no criminal charge against him and no extradition request from the Nigerian Government.

He said, “Contrary to what was speculated in the news by a lawyer, the government of the Republic de Benin has renewed the incarceration of Adeyemo for another six months even though there is no criminal charge in their file in Cotonou and without extradition request from Nigeria.”

Asked if his client would take any step to challenge the extension of his detention, Aliyyu said he would approach the court of the Economic Community of West African States.

“We will approach the ECOWAS Court which they never obeyed,” he added.

Igboho was nabbed in the neighbouring African country while attempting to escape to Germany after a raid on his Ibadan, Oyo State, residence by the Department of State Service (DSS).

DSS had raided his residence on July 1, 2021 but he was arrested on July 19 together with his wife, Ropo, who was later released.

 

Daily Trust

 

 

Finding a decent place to live can be a daunting task anywhere, but finding 12 months' rent in advance is an additional burden faced by millions of Nigerians.

Landlords prefer large upfront payments as it reduces the chances of tenants defaulting. It is better to chase a tenant once rather than 12 times a year, goes the thinking.

But this system might be about to change.

Lawmakers are debating a law to make yearly upfront rents illegal in the capital, Abuja, while authorities in the biggest city, Lagos, are opting for a voluntary scheme beginning next month.

Lagos state government is hoping that by acting as a guarantor in a new payments system, landlords will be encouraged to switch to accepting monthly rents.

Many residents, especially young people setting out to start a family, like the idea of monthly rents.

Tunde Omotayo, who is getting married in April, is faced with raising 600,000 to 800,000 naira ($1,500-$2,000; £1,000-£1,400) for a "decent apartment" in mainland Lagos as he plans to move out of his friend's house after his wedding.

For someone on a monthly salary of 300,000 naira that is extremely difficult.

"I thought my salary could conveniently take care of my rent but I'm shocked. At this point, I won't mind paying my rent monthly because as things stand I am distressed," he told the BBC.

If he is enrolled on the new system he would only have to pay about 50,000 naira a month, which he reckons would make his life much easier with a wedding just around the corner.

 

Houses don't come cheap in Lagos

As one of the world's fastest-growing cities, demand for housing in Lagos increases every day, and houses don't come cheap.

Two-bedroom apartments close to the city's main business district, Victoria Island, go for between $11,000 and $22,000 a year while low-to-middle-income housing can cost anywhere between $500 and $5,000 on the city's mainland.

It is left up to the tenants to raise the funds, and the majority of working-class Nigerians have had to master the art of putting aside money every month to pay the annual rent.

Some of those that have difficulty saving borrow from loan sharks with interest charges as high as 28% per month, while a fraction receive no-interest loans from their employers to cover the rent.

Flat-sharing has also become popular for young middle-class people in Lagos so they can pool their resources to pay the huge annual rent.

Many others have moved into neighbouring Ogun state where rent is more affordable, but they face a long daily commute to work in Lagos.

Pam Christopher, who has just moved to Lagos from Jos, in central Nigeria where rents are far lower, could not believe the $2,400 rent demanded upfront for a two-bedroom apartment on mainland Lagos.

"[A] house is gold here," he told the BBC.

"I needed the two-bed because I plan to move my family here and now it looks like I can't afford it," he said.

He is currently living with a friend and is looking forward to the government's intervention, which state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said was "designed to make people pay their rents according to their monthly earnings".

But as businessman Tosin Emmanuel found out when he broached the idea of paying rent monthly, it takes more than a speech by the governor to sway a Lagos landlord.

"The landlord asked if it was the government that bought the land and built the house for him. He said no government can determine how he collects his rent.

"The man said I should go and meet [Governor] Sanwo-Olu to give me a house," Mr Emmanuel told the BBC.

 

Retirement funds

For the scheme to be a success, the government is relying on the support of Lagos' powerful landlords. But that may not be forthcoming.

"Yearly rents should not be debated because many house-owners depend on it for survival," landlord Ayem Ojie told the BBC.

Ojie owns flats in Lagos' Ikorodu suburb and said he and many other house-owners built their properties to fund their retirement. "Financial planning is easy when the funds are in bulk," he said.

The word "bulk" comes up a lot in discussions with landlords.

"Maintaining a building demands bulk capital, not piecemeal," said Lekan Ade who owns a house in the middle-class Illupeju area on the mainland.

Demand for housing outstrips supply in Lagos, and the rental sector is seen as a sellers' market, where those with the property can set the terms that tenants need to follow.

Although the government says it has built 14 public housing schemes since 2019, where civil servant occupants pay low rents, there is still a large housing deficit that has been left to private developers to fill.

 

Nigerians used to paying upfront

They build what they want and charge what they want in a sector that is barely regulated.

But many tenants who have already got a home are not so keen to change the system.

Nigerians are used to paying upfront for things; cars, phones, school fees, and there are few mortgage facilities available for those who want to buy their own homes.

Adaobi Asuoha, who lives in the middle-class Ajah district of Lagos Island, prefers to pay her rent annually as it allows her to be more financially flexible for the rest of the year.

"The monthly rental fees is good but yearly payment [takes] the pressure off you. There are some months when I would need my entire earnings for something else," she told the BBC.

She gathers her rent by saving a percentage of her salary each month, Asuoha said.

This mindset of saving large amounts is a reflection of a Nigerian culture of upfront payments, says banker Kayode Omosebi.

He believes that Nigerians are not culturally wired for monthly bills or paying in instalments, and that people see rents as an investment.

"In a place where job security and other bills are not guaranteed, people don't want to joke with their shelter," he said. If they have paid for a year in advance, that is something they don't have to worry about for another 12 months.

But he believes that if more Nigerians open their minds to monthly payments, "things are bound to get easier".

Even the government realises that its ambitious monthly payments plan is at the mercy of the powerful landlords and might be dead on arrival.

"We know we cannot enforce monthly rent collection on landlords," said Toke Benson-Awoyinka, special adviser to the Lagos governor on housing.

But the government says its new scheme was designed after consultations with all stakeholders and sees no reason why it cannot work.

 

BBC

 

 

An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered the remand of four teenagers for alleged murder of one Sofiat Okeowo, 20 -year - old girl 

The police charged Balogun Mustakeem,20, Majekodunmi Soliudeen,18, Abdulgafar Lukman,19, and Waris  Oladeinde,18, on a two count charge of conspiracy and murder. 

Magistrate I. O Abudu who did not take the plea of the defendants, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison.

Abudu ordered that the defendants should be remanded in Oba correctional service, pending Legal advice from Ogun State Director of Public Prosecution(DPP).

She however adjourned the case to March 14, 2022 for mention. 

The Prosecutor, Inspector Lawrence Balogun, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on January 28 at about 11:00 am at Kugba area in Abeokuta.

Balogun, alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves and murdered one Sofiat Okeowo who was a girl friend to one of the defendants, Soliudeen. 

He said the defendants killed her by cutting off her head with a cuttlass. 

According to the prosecutor, the defendants murdered  sofiat with the plan to use her for money ritual. 

The prosecutor, said that the offence committed contravenes sections 324, 316 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.

(NAN) 

 

 

Factions of the All Progressives Congress in several states loyal to some ministers and senators are set to lose out as APC has perfected plans to inaugurate state chairmen loyal to the governors at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday (today).

Some of the losers include Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; and Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

Others who lost out include former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Kabiru Marafa and a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’Aziz Yari’.

Several state chapters had been divided into factions due to the controversial congresses conducted late last year. However, the national leadership of the party is now set to inaugurate chairmen who are loyal to the governors except in Kano State.

According to reports, chairmen from at least 30 states had already arrived in Abuja ahead of their inauguration.

One of our correspondents who visited the party headquarters on Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, reported heavy police presence around the secretariat. The arrangement, it was learnt, was put in place to prevent any breakdown of law and order especially if aggrieved elements stage protests.

Some of the states witnessing crises include Osun, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi, Kano, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bauchi and Zamfara. In some of these states, factions have gone to court, seeking to be recognised as the authentic one.

However, Wednesday began on a dramatic note as Aregbesola, who had been engaged in a feud with his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, lost out. A Federal High Court in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, refused to recognise Aregbesola’s faction as the authentic one.

Emmanuel Ayoola, the presiding judge, dismissed an application brought before it by Aregbesola’s loyalists, citing a lack of jurisdiction. The Judge ruled that the plaintiffs’ application was not covered by the law and could not be adjudicated by any competent court of law. Ayoola said the suit brought before the court was strictly party affairs, and the court lacked jurisdiction on the matter.

When contacted, chairman of Aregbesola’s faction in Osun APC, Rasaq Salinsile, said it was not clear yet who would be inaugurated by the national leadership as Osun state APC chairman.

Speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday, Salinsile simply said, “As it is not clear to you, it is not clear to us who will be inaugurated. But let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

But when contacted, Special Adviser to the Osun governor on Political Affairs, Sunday Akere, said there was no contention about the post of chairman of APC in the state, adding that the Gboyega Famoodun would be inaugurated by the national leadership of APC.

“No contention about who is the chairman of APC in the state. Gboyega Famoodun will be inaugurated by the national leadership of the party,” Akere said.

I have been invited for inauguration, I am in Abuja – Governor Abdulrazaq’s faction factional chair

In Kwara State, the faction loyal to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was invited for the inauguration.

Sunday Fagbemi, who heads the governor’s faction, said he had been invited for Thursday (today’s) inauguration of party chairmen by the national caretaker committee of the party.

Fagbemi said in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday that he was already in Abuja ahead of the inauguration and that the state chapter of APC was fully invited for the inauguration ceremony. “I’m already in Abuja for the swearing in of the APC chairmen that will hold on Thursday”

 

I am not aware of inauguration – Chairman, Lai Mohammed’s faction

However, the faction loyal to Lai Mohammed said that it was not aware of the inauguration.

Sunday Oyebiyi, Deputy Chairman elected by the faction at the APC Congress said, “We don’t know whether anything is being done by the national caretaker committee of APC in Abuja. We were not informed and we were not invited.”

 

Abiodun’s loyalist to be inaugurated

In Ogun State where Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Amosun, control two separate factions, the APC headquarters seems to have recognised Abiodun’s loyalist, Yemi Sanusi.

When Sanusi was asked if he was confident of being inaugurated as the chairman of the party in the state, Sanusi just said “you cannot talk to me now. I just landed in Abuja, till tomorrow.”

Several attempts to speak to the faction loyal to a former governor of the state, Amosun, also failed. The factional chairman, Derin Adebiyi, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

 

Marafa faction kicks as APC recognises Matawalle faction

In Zamfara State where three factions are currently operating, it was learnt that APC would inaugurate the faction loyal to Governor Bello Matawalle.

While the faction led by Marafa kicked against the development, former Governor Yari’s faction did not respond to calls.

Zamfara State APC Publicity Secretary of the governor’s faction, Yusuf Idris, said they were the only faction invited by the national headquarters of the party for the inauguration.

 

We are already in Abuja for inauguration – Matawalle faction

Idris said, “We are already in Abuja for the inauguration as invited by the national headquarters of our great party, the APC”.

“I have been telling people that we have no faction in Zamfara state as both former Governor Yari and Marafa have been saying.

“Their factions are not recognised by the national headquarters because they were not registered members of the party. They refused to revalidate their membership cards as directed by the national headquarters, as such, they have no business in APC.”

In his reaction, Publicity Secretary of Marafa’s faction, Bello Bakyasuwa said, the Matawalle APC faction was only wasting its time.

Bakyasuwa said the Marafa’s faction did not go to Abuja for the inauguration because the case they filed against the national headquarters of the party was still in court.

“We didn’t go to Abuja because of our pending court’s case which will be heard on February 17. But I am telling you, that any faction of our party that goes to Abuja for the inauguration is violating the court’s order because we have been directed by the court to maintain the status-quo”.

Efforts to speak with executive members of the Yari faction proved abortive as both the factional chairman, Lawal Liman and the Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Magaji, did not pick their calls after several attempts.

In Bauchi State, the national headquarters of the party recognised the faction led by the President’s ally and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu. This implies that the faction led by the Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tugar; has lost out.

When contacted, Spokesman for the Adamu-led faction, Adamu Jalla, said that the elected chairman and secretary of the APC in the state would be inaugurated.

“Yes, there will be an inauguration on Thursday (today) in Abuja for the Chairman (Babayo Misau) and secretary.” When asked further questions, he hung up the call.

Chairman of the faction loyal to Tugar, Sanusi Kunde, however, kicked against the action of the national leadership of APC, insisting that the matter was still in court.

“The party executives in any state which has a case in court will not be inaugurated until such issues are first resolved,” he stated.

Winner of the state chairman of the APC in Benue State, Austin Agada, is one of the state chairmen to be inaugurated today by the party in Abuja.

The State Organising Secretary elect and Party Publicity Secretary, James Orgunga told our correspondent on the phone that Austin Agada, who is backed by Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, had been invited to Abuja for today’s inauguration.

It was learnt that while Akume was supporting Agada, a former Deputy Governor, Steven Lawani, is backing the other faction.

Asked about the pending court case restraining the party from inaugurating the chairman-elect, Austin Agada, and two others, Orgunga debunked the restraining order, saying that what the court said on Monday when the case came up for hearing was that it would be given accelerated hearing.

“What the judge said on Monday when the case held is that the suit will be given accelerated hearing, so the chairman elect, Austin Agada will be sworn in on Thursday, in fact I am just arriving Abuja for the inauguration,” Orgunga said.

 

Inauguration will be contempt of court – Benue rival faction

When contacted, the factional leader, Omale Omale,  confirmed that the court at its hearing on Monday submitted that it would give the case accelerated hearing and adjourned till February 3 to consider the motion on stay of execution until the matter is determined.

Omale said, “Regrettably, the court which should have done that (pronounce stay of execution) before now has not but we are also fortified by the position of the law which says that when a party is aware of a pendancy of a suit and does any other things to destroy the rex, the court frowns at it, it comes heavily on them.

“APC is aware of the pendency of this suit we filed on January 18 and the same day our lawyer wrote to them notice of a pendency of a suit and a motion for stay of execution and the APC has entered appearance and filled paper and joined issue with us and adjourned till tomorrow (today) .

“So if they (APC) go ahead to do anything to destroy the rest that will make it impracticable for the court to pronounce on a motion before it, the court will not be happy and as a lawyer we know what to do by taking options open to us, such as contempt.”

 

APC to inaugurate Omo-Agege faction

In Delta State where Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and Keyamo have been engaged in a supremacy battle, it was learnt that the Omens Sobotie, the chairman loyal to Omo-Agege would be recognised by APC.

When contacted, Sotobie said, “Why not wait till tomorrow. I have no comment, tomorrow is the D-day.”

Also, former Delta North Secretary, Victor Sorokwu, who is a member of Omo-Agege’s faction, said that there was only one congress in the state.

He stated, “There was only one congress in Delta, the other faction boycotted both state and LGA congresses resulting from perceived grievance emanating from the ward congress.

“They went to court and but the national body went ahead and conducted both the LGA and state congress and winners emerged, there is no court order stopping the swearing in of the executive, then will you now ask the national body not to inaugurate the state chairman-elect?”

 

Keyamo group to storm Abuja

But the faction led by Keyamo has concluded plans to storm venue of the inauguration to demand that its own chairman be recognised.

When contacted on the telephone, Deputy Chairman of the Keyamo-led faction, Evils Ayomanor, said, “Please we are in serious meeting now, I can’t speak” But a source inside the faction confided in our correspondent that the faction is seriously meeting and has concluded plan to storm to the venue of the tomorrow inauguration.

 

Confusion over Kano APC factions

In Kano, there was confusion as it was learnt on good authority that the national secretariat was insisting on recognising and inaugurate members of APC loyal to the Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

When contacted to confirm whether the national secretariat invited the Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction to Abuja for the inauguration, the Chairman,  Haruna Danzago, said although he was in Abuja but could not give me an update on the ongoing reconciliation process or inauguration.

Also, when contacted, Kano State Commissioner for Information and spokesman man of the State Government, Muhammed Garba, who is also in Abuja, promised to call back to give an update on the current situation but has not at the time of filing this report.

 

Punch

 

 

Lauretta Fagbohun, Ogun

Ogunstate governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and his Oyo State counterpart, Engr. Seyi Makinde, Wednesday held a joint security meeting in Abeokuta, as they both meet to deliberate on critical security issues affecting the two States.

Addressing newsmen, Prince Dapo Abiodun stated that the collaboration between the two states is hinged on the common patrimony between the two states.

Abiodun added that the two states shares about 336 kilometres of borderlines, covering 6 local government areas in Ogun state, saying that the similarities have created a reoccurring security challenges in the corridor.

"Ogun and Oyo States were created the same day, and we share alot of common patrimony with ancestors that binds us together.

"Today's security meeting therefore different in heritage, common history and cultural affinity. 

"Ogun state shares border with the South West states, except Ekiti state. But our longest stretch of borderlines is with Oyo State.

"This collaboration is therefore peculiar because it is with our biggest neighbor by land mass in the South Western states and the political capital of our region", Abiodun added 

He therefore reteraited that the security partnership between the two states is hoped to create an enduring peace that will promote sustainable economic development among the citizens.

In his remarks, the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde stressed that the security partnership between the two states is absolutely important,  considering the recent security breaches along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Makinde, who appreciated his Ogun State counterpart said despite belonging to a different political parties, stressed that they are both committed to the security of lives and properties of the citizens of both states.

He however expresses optimism that the entire South Western region will experience relative peace and economic development at the end of the technical session of the meeting.

 

 

Senate has confirmed Rhoda Gumus as a national commissioner (Southsouth) of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Gumus, a nominee from Bayelsa state, is said to be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a civil society organisation (CSO), had petitioned Senate President Ahmad Lawan against her nomination.

In the petition dated January 26 and acknowledged by the office of the senate president, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA national coordinator, said the CSO found documents proving that Gumus is a card-carrying member of the ruling party.

The documents were said to have been attached to the petition.

However, while presenting a report on the floor of the senate on Wednesday, Kabir Gaya, chairman of the INEC committee, said no petition against Gumus was received.

“The nominees were asked questions and they answered soundly. Mr President, we only received one petition in regard to Major-General Alkali,” Gaya said.

“But through the media, after we had submitted our report, we were hearing news about a different person (Gumus) again. The committee received a petition from Taraba elders against Alkali over incontinence.”

Gaya said the elders wanted the Northeast position to go to Taraba state. He, however, said the committee members dismissed the petition because the president has the prerogative to pick a nominee from any state in the Northeast.

Other nominees confirmed as national commissioners for INEC are Mohammed Haruna (Northcentral), May Agbamuche-Mbu (Southsouth), Ukeagu Nnamdi (Southeast), and Sam Olumekum (Southwest).

 

The Cable

 

 

Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc's shares plunged more than 20% late on Wednesday after the social media company posted a weaker-than-expected forecast, blaming Apple's privacy changes and increased competition for users from rivals like TikTok.

Facebook’s global daily active users declined from the previous quarter for the first time, to 1.929 billion from 1.930 billion.

Meta said it faced hits from Apple Inc's privacy changes to its operating system, which have made it harder for brands to target and measure their ads on Facebook and Instagram. It also cited macroeconomic issues like supply-chain disruptions.

The 18-year-old tech giant, which also faces pressure from platforms like TikTok and Google's YouTube, said it expected slowing revenue growth in the coming quarter due to increased competition for users' time and a shift of engagement toward such features as its short video offering Reels, which generate less revenue.

Facebook reported 2.91 billion monthly active users in the fourth quarter, showing no growth compared with the previous quarter.

The after-hours slump in Meta shares vaporized $200 billion of its market value, while peers Twitter Inc , Snap Inc and Pinterest Inc lost another $15 billion in value.

Shares of Alphabet Inc, which posted record quarterly sales that topped expectations on Tuesday, were down nearly 2%.

Meta, owner of the second-largest digital ad platform in the world after Google, had previously warned its advertising business faced "significant uncertainty" in the fourth quarter.

Meta's chief financial officer, Dave Wehner, told analysts on a conference call that the impact of Apple's privacy changes could be "in the order of $10 billion" for 2022.

Apple's changes to its operating software give users the choice to prevent apps from tracking their online activity for ads, making it harder for advertisers that rely on data to develop new products and know their market.

Meta forecast first-quarter revenue in the range of $27 billion to $29 billion. Analysts were expecting $30.15 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

"It's clear that there are many big roadblocks ahead as Meta faces tough new competition for ad revenue such as TikTok, and as it contends with ongoing ad targeting and measurement challenges from Apple's iOS changes," said Insider Intelligence analyst Debra Aho Williamson.

The company's total revenue, the bulk of which comes from ad sales, rose to $33.67 billion in the fourth quarter from $28.07 billion a year earlier, beating analysts' estimates of $33.40 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

"I'm encouraged by the progress we made this past year in a number of important growth areas like Reels, commerce, and virtual reality, and we'll continue investing in these and other key priorities in 2022 as we work towards building the metaverse," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in the earnings release.

In Meta's earnings call, he said competition for users was one factor impacting the business, mentioning short video app TikTok by name and emphasizing Meta's commitment to providing services for young adults.

Net loss from Meta's Reality Labs, the company's augmented and virtual reality business, was $10.2 billion for the full year 2021, compared with a $6.6 billion loss the previous year. It was the first time the company had broken out this segment in its results.

Zuckerberg had previously warned that the company's investment in this area would reduce 2021 operating profit by $10 billion and would not be profitable "any time in the near future."

Reality Labs posted revenue of about $2.3 billion in 2021. The company has not made public the sales numbers for its virtual reality Quest headsets.

The company said on Wednesday it would this year change its stock ticker to "META," the latest step in its rebrand to focus on the metaverse, a futuristic idea of virtual environments where users can work, socialize and play. Meta did not comment on the price of a deal with Roundhill Investments, which said in January it would stop using the symbol for its Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF.

The tech giant, which changed its name in October to reflect its metaverse aims, is betting the metaverse will be the successor to the mobile internet.

"Investors looking at Meta are starting to realize that buying their stock is no longer mostly an investment into their ad platform," said Flynn Zaiger, CEO of social media agency Online Optimism. "Investing in Meta now looks more like a commitment that you believe that the metaverse will replace much of the internet consumers' experience today."

Meta's rebrand comes at a time of increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators over allegations of anticompetitive conduct and over the impacts of how it handles harmful or misleading content across its Facebook and Instagram platforms.

 

Reuters

 

The United States embassy in Nigeria has lifted the restriction on drop box service or interview waiver for those renewing visas in the country.

The interview waiver was suspended for Nigerian applicants in May 2019.

Applicants must, however, be applying to renew a visa in the same classification as their prior non-immigrant visa.

“Right now, this service is only available to applicants renewing a B1/B2, C1/D, F, M or J, H and L visa. Applicants must satisfy all the following criteria for their visa class. If applying as a group or family, all members must fulfill all criteria to qualify for interview waiver,” the embassy said.

“For B1/B2 or C1/D visa holders: the applicant must possess a full-validity B1/B2 or C1/D visa that expired within the past 24 months or will expire in the next three months.

“The applicant must be a citizen or resident of Nigeria. The applicant must not have been refused a visa since the issuance of the previous visa, or had a visa revoked, or have ever required a waiver.

“The applicant possesses all issued passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa.

“The applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if the applicant has later received a waiver or pardon.

“The applicant has never worked without authorization or remained beyond their permitted time in the United States. C1/D applicants must possess a letter from the employer outlining the scope, duration, and location of the anticipated work.”

The same criteria also apply to Lagos F or M visa holders and Abuja applicants with F1/F2 visas, while for J visa holders, the embassy said the visa must be for academic purposes.

“The applicant’s DS-2019 must be for an academic program (not summer work travel, au pair, or camp counselor,” it said.

The embassy also instructed applicants to complete their applications using this link.

The following documents are to be mailed to the Abuja embassy via a designated document delivery DHL facility: “A printout of your submission letter (printed from https://ustraveldocs.com/ng/); completed DS-160; an approved I-20; a receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; a GTB (MRV) receipt for your visa fee; your passport containing the expired student visa (if that passport is expired, a current valid passport is also required).”

Also required are: “A passport photograph meeting these requirements; proof of continued full-time enrollment (such as transcripts, tuition payment, etc.)”.

The embassy added that only applicants with scheduled appointments can drop off documents at the US Consulate.

 

The Cable