In little over two weeks he has banished a longstanding petrol subsidy, ejected the country’s central bank governor and ended restrictions on the rate of the naira, Nigeria’s currency. But they have also increased living costs and drawn criticism from many Nigerians who have faced years of economic mismanagement. Joseph Essien, 47, a taxi driver in Lagos, said he had stopped working altogether because he was no longer making any profit after the rise in petrol prices. “Over the weekend I just told myself it wasn’t worth it; I’m just working to pay Bolt [the ride-hailing company] their commission and I’m left with nothing,” he said. The devaluation of the naira combined with the dropping of the fuel subsidy was already causing inflation, he said.

In a recent development, the Osun State Police Command has apprehended a 28-year-old man, Kehinde Adekusibe, for his use of hateful language on the microblogging site, Twitter. The arrest was announced by the Public Relations Officer of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, via his verified Twitter handle, @Princemoye1, on Thursday. According to a statement titled “Osun Police Arrests Social Media User Who Tweeted ‘Let’s Kill All The Igbos’,” Adekusibe violated the social media policy on hate speech. On May 18, 2023, Adekusibe, using his Twitter handle, posted the following tweets: “Let’s kill all the Igbos. Let’s hate them without holding back.”Upon learning of this hateful act, the Osun State Police Command’s cybercrime section at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo swiftly launched an investigation.

The Director General of the Department of State Security Service, (DSS) has been ordered to grant Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the central bank, unrestricted access to his lawyers and members of his family. The order was granted on Friday, by Justice Hanza Mu’Azu, of the Federal High Court, sitting at Maitama, Abuja. Read also: Stocks jump to 15-yr high, Eurobonds cool as market cheers Emefiele exitEmefiele’s lawyers led by JB Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had filed the application before the court. He informed the court that he had written letters to the DSS on June 14 , requesting to be allowed access fir the purposes of taking further instruction from his client which was turned down by the organisation. Details shortly…

The manager of SEAP Microfinance Bank in Saki, Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, Sola Ogungbe, has reportedly committed suicide over loan facilities in the state. PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday at his home in Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area of the state. “The issue of suicide is becoming alarming. He made a great mistake by taking his own life because of debt. The body of the deceased has been taken to his hometown in Omu-Aran, Kwara State for burial.

He wrote and I quote;" $300, 000 = N223, 000, 000. According to the video, a reporter was heard narrating how Mr Bawa spent $300k in Mecca with his wife, kids, parents and other family members as the lodged in a hotel within just a period of 10 days a month ago. Many have reacted to how the former EFCC Boss could afford this exorbitant amount without blinking an eyelid. Recall that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, suspended the EFCC Boss on account of alleged abuse of office not so long ago. This viral video has thrown social media in disarray, with many pointing accusing finger at the past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mathias Schmale on Thursday, lamented the misuse of digital platforms to subvert science and spread disinformation and hate speeches to billions of people. It is threatening democracy and human rights now. “Social media platforms have helped the United Nations to engage people around the world in our pursuit of peace, dignity and human rights on a healthy planet. But today, this same technology is often a source of fear, not hope”, he said and described hate speech as a violation of human rights. Having identified hate speech as an impediment to voter participation and access, the Commission, he said set up a National Hate Speech Register to record incidences and reports of hate speech from across Nigeria, training its staff on Monitoring and Reporting Hate Speech and the setting up of Enforcement Mechanisms on Hate Speeches resulting from the electoral process.

Seven UN Volunteers are serving with UNCCD and the Panafrican Agency for the GGWI in West and Central Africa. Another is El Moctar Mohamed Yahya from Mauritania, who is 64 years old. Meanwhile, in Mauritania, El Moctar is a senior national UN Volunteer Expert with the National Agency of the Great Green Wall. –Sidna Ould Ahmed Ely, Director General of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall, Mauritania. My efforts have already sparked a new dynamic within the national agency, enhancing its work in areas beyond my assigned mission.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that it is interrogating the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa. Earlier on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu suspended Bawa over allegations of abuse of office. Bawa, who was nominated as EFCC chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2021, succeeded former EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu who was also suspended and underwent trial on alleged diversion of recovered government assets. The Buhari Presidency said Magu’s suspension is to “allow for unhindered inquiry” by the panel investigating allegations of corruption during his tenure as EFCC chairman. The outcome of President Buhari’s enquiry into Magu’s tenure as EFCC chairman is yet to be known two years after his removal from office.

More than 150,000 people in India and Pakistan have been evacuated from the path of a fierce cyclone a day before it is expected. Forecasters have warned that ‘Cyclone Biparjoy’ meaning ‘disaster’ in Bengali could destroy homes and crops. Biparjoy has been travelling across the Arabian Sea and is anticipated to make landfall in Gujarat, India, on Thursday night local time. Trains in the Gujarat region have been suspended while the ports of Kandla and Mundra – two of the largest in India – have stopped operations, authorities said. Fishing has been suspended along the Gujarat coast, while fishermen in Pakistan’s coastal region have also been warned to stay off the water.

In retrospect, Nigeria today arrived late and many decades behind global development conversations but we can catch up. We must understand that for Nigeria to exude greatness at our desired pace, the subsidy regime must end. A critical examination our exchange policy indicates that corruption is not an abstract concept in Nigeria. I led a similar trek to Nigeria during the elections with 60 students of the Kennedy school and other Harvard affiliates. Do we pray for Nigeria in one breathe and by default curse in another when things go wrong?

The Federal Government says it is working out modalities to begin the disbursement of student loans in September. According to Adejo, President Tinubu has directed that the first recipients of the loan must be available for the 2023/2024 academic session. It will also perform normal banking functions and make sure loans are given because we had cases of loan recovery in the past,” he addedMeanwhile, the recently signed student loan act has continued to get support from interested stakeholders. The association praised President Tinubu for its signing while urging him to review the constitution of the special committee that will oversee the new Nigerian Education Loan Fund to include student representatives. We want to equally thank you for the Students Loan Bill.”

A 41-year-old blood donor, Nathan John, has explained that the willing act to save lives is the reason he has donated his blood 78 times. He said this on Wednesday, during an event organised by the National Blood Service Commission to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day in Abuja. John, who is the official highest blood donor in Nigeria, added that blood donation is not about money but about giving others a chance to live. Speaking with our correspondent, John said, “I am so proud to be a regular blood donor. The perm sec represented by the Acting Director General of the National Blood Service Commission, Joseph Amedu, hinted at the proliferation of the blood black market due to operations of unaccredited blood service delivery and stressed the need for more awareness on voluntary donations.

This means that we need stronger consumer protection laws that prohibit false advertising, hidden fees, and other deceptive business practices that mislead consumers. We need to ensure that consumer protection agencies and regulators are adequately empowered and equipped to enforce the laws and regulations that protect consumers. Also, there is a need to promote education and awareness about consumer protection issues. In conclusion, we must prioritize the protection of consumer rights in our communities. We must work together as consumers, business owners, government officials, and community members to create a culture of trust, transparency, and fairness that benefits all parties involved.

The federal government has urged Nigerian youths to engage in regular blood and plasma donation to address the 1.5 million units of blood deficit required to save lives and treat life-threatening diseases. “It is sad to note that out of these 200 million units of blood required as a nation, the blood service commission collects only 500,000 units, 25 per cent of the expected annual blood donation. “This leaves us with a shortfall of 1.5 million units of blood which is 75 per cent of our expected annual blood donation. “For as long as the demand exceeds the supply, racketeering of blood and blood products will continue to thrive. He further disclosed that the NBSC had instituted the Tertiary Education Blood Safety Club (TRBSC) to improve non-remunerated blood donation among youths and create voluntary blood donation ambassadors.

Political leaders, as stewards of policy and governance, possess the ability to influence and even disrupt investments through their decisions. Conversely, political power grants decision-making authority, enabling politicians to shape policies that impact the accumulation and growth of wealth. By participating in public-private dialogues and promoting transparent and equitable policies, investors can contribute to shaping favorable business climates. Finally, while power and wealth are intertwined, the influence of political leaders on investments should not discourage investors. By strategically engaging with governments, fostering relationships, and advocating for investment-friendly policies, investors can position themselves for long-term success.