Allegations of money laundering, tax evasion trail Rev. Mother Ajayi’s suspected ban from UK

Who is after Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, the General Overseer of Love of Christ (LOC) Generation Church, United Kingdom? This is the mind-boggling question that has been troubling many of her admirers and followers. The highly revered evangelist, preacher, motivational speaker and philanthropist has become a subject of derision among some Nigerians living abroad, especially in the United Kingdom, where her church is based. The church, which sources said is small, is reportedly located in Clapham, London. Sources disclosed that Iya Adura, as Rev’d Mother Ajayi is fondly called,…

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Ogun Industrialisation: Arobieke pledges to fulfil Gov. Abiodun’s set objectives, endorses Lagos/Ogun Trade Fair

Sola Arobieke, the Deputy Director-General of the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency has reiterated the organisation’s commitment towards delivering on the directive by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to drive massive investment into the Gateway State. Hon. Sola Arobieke, flanked by Project Consultant, Prince Adeola Amusat as she receives a proposal on the forthcoming Lagos/Ogun Multi-Sector Trade Fair from its CEO, Olajide Ige amid other staff of the agency at its Isheri office on Thursday Hon. Arobieke, who is also a Special Adviser to the governor,…

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Late Olubadan buried, as Oba Olakulehin prepares to mount the throne

The remains of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, were interred according to Islamic rites on Friday, March 15, 2024, at his Aliiwo ancestral home in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. The late monarch, who reigned for two years, joined his ancestors at the age of 81 late Thursday evening at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, after a brief illness. The state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, led other government functionaries to the family burial ground at Aliiwo in the Ibadan North Local Government Area…

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Emefiele awarded Nmulti-million contracts to frunish, decorate official residence to wife -Witness

Michael Agboro, a witness presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Maitama, Abuja, in the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele’s ongoing alleged money laundering trial has told the court that Emefiele awarded multimillion naira contracts to his own wife’s company. Agboro, told the court that Emefiele awarded contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira to Architekon Nigeria Limited, a company where his wife, Margaret Omoyile, is listed as a director. Agboro, who is an investigator…

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Celebrity Couple: Folorunsho and Modupe Alakija end marriage

After over 30 years of marital bliss and just at the twilight of her marriage, former society matriarch turned minister of the gospel, Folorunsho Alakija has suffered a devastating marital crisis. According to very reliable sources close to THEWILL, the mother of four who is also Nigeria’s wealthiest woman, has allegedly separated from her husband, Modupe. The businessman allegedly, no longer spends cold nights in the arms of his wife on their matrimonial bed in their highbrow Ikoyi, Lagos home. The couple were alleged to have been having frequent squabbles…

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Havarde College reacts as student allegedly commits suicide over school’s failure to secure accreditation

Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Ogun State is in the news for bad reasons as a 300-level student of the institution reportedly took her life after the school allegedly failed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. The management of the private tertiary institution has however refuted the reports that one of its students, simply identified as Ajoke, committed suicide after the school failed to meet the accreditation requirements. It was gathered that the deceased student had on Monday evening, consumed…

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Boxing: Joshua pockets N79bn, Drake loses N950m in Saudi “Knockout Chaos”

Anthony Joshua was well rewarded for his second-round knockout win over Cameroonian boxer Francis Ngannou in the main event of the “Knockout Chaos” card in Saudi Arabia in the early hours of Saturday morning (Nigerian time). The British-Nigerian boxer had a huge payday pocketing $50.9m {79bn} while Canadian born rapper, Drake who is accustomed to placing large wagers on high-profile sports games and losing most of those bets was on the losing side again after Joshua defeated former UFC champion Ngannou as the Grammy winner lost $615,000 (N950m). Joshua won…

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Photos: Herbert Wigwe’s father hale and hearty -Police reports, as dignitaries storm Isiokpo for burial of Herbert, wife and sona

Reports quoting a police source insist that Herbert Wigwe’s father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, did not slump during the funeral of his late son as published in some quarters. Earlier, there was apprehension as an unconfirmed report stated that the father of late Access Bank Holdings CEO, Dr Herbert Wigwe, collapsed during his son’s funeral service at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state. Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, in his late 80s, was said to have slumped following the shock of his billionaire son, Herbert Wigwe; daughter-in-law, Chizoba, and grandson,…

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The Wigwes bodies arrive Isiokpo for burial

The bodies of the late former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Dr Herbert Wigwe, his wife and son have arrived their hometown, Omueke in Isiokpo, Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State for burial today (Saturday). Their remains, which were accompanied by a huge motorcade on Friday, had left the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre LGA at about 1:33pm straight to his father’s compound in Omueke, Isiokpo. Recall that Wigwe’s kinsmen had insisted that their son must be buried in his hometown. Omueke, even as they vowed…

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Heavyweight Boxing: Nganou falls to Joshua in round two

Anthony Joshua has won his fourth straight fight by securing a second-round knockout win over Cameroonian boxer Francis Ngannou in the main event of the “Knockout Chaos” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After securing consecutive victories in 2023 with wins over Jermaine Franklin in April and Robert Helenius with a seventh-round knockout in August, Joshua cruised to a fifth-round technical knockout win over Otto Wallin in December, who had been expected to be a formidable opponent, especially with his southpaw stance. Joshua has now secured knockout wins over two fighters…

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MTN’s Y’ellopreneur to power 1000 female owned MSMEs

The MTN Y’ellopreneur Initiative seeks to contribute to the reduction in women’s unemployment and advance women’s development in ‘Entrepreneurship’ through capacity building and access to capital through loans, grants, and advisory support services for long-term business sustainability. The initiative targets Female Entrepreneurs across the country who display passion and commitment to self-employment and run an existing business of two years and above in the areas of; circular economy, manufacturing, processing, agriculture, ICT/digital services, waste management, etc. The focus is on businesses that source their raw materials locally. MTN Nigeria Foundation…

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EXCLUSIVE: How Access Bank funded N50bn contracts awarded to Craneburg Construction by Abia Gov, Otti

Facts have emerged that the Craneburg Construction firm owned by the late Mrs Chizoba Doreen Wigwe, wife of the late Dr Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank had used a loan from the bank to finance contracts across the country. Herbert Wigwe, who was the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, had his late wife serving on the legal board of the bank before venturing into the establishment of the Craneburg Construction in 2016. A document obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday shows how Craneburg Construction Company received a…

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Fresh EduGate: How Beta instructed AGF to warehouse N66Billion days before 2023 financial year ended

“From 2020 to date, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has in its budget line the National Social Investment Office which runs the National Social Investment Programme saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring social Investment towards enhancing the livelihood of the people which is in line with the renew hope agenda of the present administration.

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My Access Bank story – ex-Emir Sanusi

Khalifa Mohammed Sanusi, a former Emir of Kano, has shared the story of how his association with the late Access Holdings Plc’s CEO, Herbert Wigwe, led to Insinuations that he was the owner of the bank. The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made this known on Wednesday at the night of tributes organised in Wigwe’s honour in Lagos. Sanusi, who broke down in tears thrice, said Wigwe’s kindness to him gave many the impression he owned Access Bank, while Wigwe and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede were his stooges.…

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See photos of 3 ladies killed for money ritual by Ogun notorious cultists

The Ogun State Police Command has released pictures of three women who fell victim to the recently apprehended serial killer, Adebayo Olamide Azeez. Adebayo, along with two accomplices, was arrested and presented by the police two days ago following the disappearance of Sulaimon Adijat. The investigation revealed that the suspects targeted females through the “Mychat” hook-up platform on social media, leading to the confession that they lured and killed seven victims between September 2023 and January 11, 2024. Adebayo disclosed the chilling details of collaborating with Moses Abidemi Awuraji and…

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Reps plot Binance Holdings CEO arrest over alleged tax evasion, money laundering

The House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes has recommended the arrest of the Chief Executive Officer of Bianace Holding Ltd over alleged tax evasion and money laundering in Nigeria. The recommendation followed a motion by Rep. Isah Dogonyaro (APC- Jigawa state) at a public hearing on Monday in Abuja. The hearing was on a petition by Empowerment Fund for Nigerian Youth Initiative and the Niger Delta Youth Council of Nigeria on several crimes allegedly committed by Bianance. Binance is an online financial company, operating in the cyberspace of Nigeria…

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Why Ogun State shut Harvarde College over non-accreditation of programmes

An enforcement team comprising the Ogun State Ministry of Health and Nursing and Midwifery Committee has sealed the Nursing Department of Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Obada in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state. The state government moved against the school for allegedly offering a degree programme in Nursing Sciences for six years without accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Sunday PUNCH had earlier reported how the institution operates as an academic institution with no clear specification of where it belongs among…

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As NCC bars 40m GSM lines: Follow this step-by-step guide to link your NIN with your telephone number

No fewer than 40 million telephone lines were barred by telecommunication operators over the weekend following the expiration of the February 28, 2024 deadline issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission mandating telecom consumers to link their Subscriber Identity Modules to their National Identity Numbers. This represents a 28 million increase from the 12 million telephone lines initially planned to be deactivated by telcos, following the NCC directive. In a December 2023 notice, the NCC had asked telcos to bar SIMs that had not been linked to their owners’ NINs by…

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LASG to enforce monthly house rental scheme

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, has disclosed that the state’s monthly rental scheme will be enforced before the end of 2024 or early next year. She stated it during a recent press briefing of the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority in Ikeja, Lagos. She said, “We all see what is being done in other climes, rents are collected monthly. Hence, we are looking and hoping that before the end of the year, or by early next year, we will be able to implement…

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UBA takes centre stage at ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has been announced as the official sponsor of the 4th edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Petroleum Forum (ECOMOF 2024) scheduled to take place at the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou, Benin from February 22 to February 24, 2024. The regional event is expected to see a large gathering of key players and stakeholders in the mining and petroleum sectors of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and as the financial institution of choice, with presence in 20 African…

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How I lure women from dating site, kill them for ritual -Suspect opens up

One Adebayo Olamide Azeez, a suspected ritual killer, has revealed how he lured seven women through a dating app, “MyChat,” and killed them for ritual purposes. The 32-year-old suspect disclosed this on Thursday during a parade held at the Officers Mess, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta. He informed that he was a member of a ritualist gang that specialized in killing women and selling their body parts for different purposes. Members of the gang, including Moses Abidemi Awuraji, Oluwo Samuel Monday, Peter Oluwalolese, Jamiu Yusuf, Akinwunmi Ifatosin, Sherifff Agbai, and Osojieahen Alioneitouria, had…

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Squad Powers OmniPay’s Trade Business to Simplify Payments for FMCG Industry

In a strategic move aimed at furthering its mission to empower African traders with the necessary payment solutions for thriving in the digital era, Squad, a fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), offering comprehensive payment and e-commerce solutions for businesses, has entered a partnership with OmniPay, a subsidiary of OmniRetail Inc. This collaboration has currently benefited more than 65,000 stakeholders, which include retailers, distributors, and manufacturers through improved payment and collection methods using Squad’s Virtual Bank Account without incurring any charges. Additionally, they have gained more accessible…

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Senate proposes 6-year tenure for CBN gov, N1trn recapitalization for banks

The Senate is considering sweeping reforms in the administration and function of the Central Bank of Nigeria by amending the CBN Act, 2007. Some of the amendment being proposed include the pegging of the tenure of governor of the apex bank to six years single term as against renewable five years in the extant act, a N1 trillion recapitalization for commercial banks which presently stands at N100 billion to meet the demands of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s N1 trillion Dollar projected economy amongst others. The amendment bill was passed for…

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Wigwe: Family announces burial plans, omits RCCG City of David

The family of the late Herbert Wigwe, the former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, has announced arrangements for his burial rites. The banking guru with his wife, Chizoba, and son died in a chopper crash in the US on February 9. According to the funeral announcement, the Wigwes will begin with a celebration of the professional legacy of the former GCEO of Access Holdings at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on March 4, and will end with an outing service at the Redeemed Christian Church Of…

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Subsidy removal: Petrol import reduces by 990million litres per month -Minister

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Wednesday, said the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, into Nigeria has reduced by 50 per cent since the withdrawal of subsidy on the commodity. During his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu declared that fuel subsidy was gone. Within 24 hours after that declaration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigeria’s sole importer of PMS, withdrew subsidy on petrol. This led to a jump in the price of the commodity from about N198/litre to…

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Tinubu visits Akeredolu’s family in Owo, says we lost an illustrious son who served with unwavering dedication

The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, paid a condolence visit to lat Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu’s family in Owo and also visited the palace of the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III. Speaking at the palace of the monarch, Tinubu eulogised the late Akeredolu as a statesman and a distinguished legal luminary who served his people with unwavering dedication. The President said “We lost an illustrious son. Akeredolu was very close to me and an ally. He was a son of the soil, and…

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Tinubu begs Nigerians for understanding says “We are navigating the twists and bends on the road to prosperity”

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, appealed for patience from Nigerians over the current economic hardship in the country, giving the assurance that there was light at the end of the tunnel. The President said he was fully aware and took responsibility for the difficulties Nigerians had been subjected to on account of government policies. He said he would not complain but welcome all criticisms since he was the one who asked to be Nigeria’s President. The President spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during his visit to the leader…

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NDLEA, PMAN unite to fight drug abuse

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria PMAN, convened in Lekki at the Nigeria Music House for a landmark meeting, heralding a significant step towards addressing the pervasive issue of drug abuse within the nation. The rendezvous witnessed the proposal of a collaborative initiative between the esteemed organizations, aimed at harnessing the power of music to disseminate awareness and combat the scourge of illicit substance abuse. Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa, (Retd) CON, OFR, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug…

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Senate approves resolution asking FG to continue electricity subsidy

The Senate has approved a resolution requesting the federal government to continue the electricity subsidy due to the ongoing difficulties faced by the nation. The decision was reached following a thorough review and endorsement of a motion presented during the plenary session by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP), who represents the Adamawa Central zone. The proposal highlights the importance of maintaining the electricity subsidy for the near future, taking into account the ongoing difficulties experienced by Nigerian citizens.

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How Police killed notorious Rivers cultist, 2Baba -Tunji Disu

The end of the road for a notorious cult leader, Gift Okpara, a.k.a ‘2Baba’ who was killed in a joint security operation on Monday in Embrass community, Ahaoda West Local Government Area of Rivers State was confirmed on Friday as the police retrieved his decomposing body. The wanted Iceland cult leader, whose corpse was displayed at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police, on Friday was the prime suspect in the murder of a former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division, Bako Angbashim, in Odiemudie community, Ahoada East on September 8,…

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Akeredolu’s wife blasts critics as she pays tribute to late husband

Former Ondo State First Lady, Betty Akeredolu seized the opportunity of her tribute to her late husband and former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, to lash out at her critics asking “do they know what love is? Betty, in her tribute, hit hard on the critics of her relationship with her late husband. The former first lady said “It’s me, your adorable Betty. You just left me. Just like that! It hurts. Badly it hurts. Now alone to face all mockery from the so-called friends and adversaries alike. Now…

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Prophet drowns during Valentine’s day hangout at Lagos beach

A fun-seeking Lagos-based prophet, Oriyomi Remilekun, was said to have drowned during a beach hangout in the Ajah area of the state to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day. PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased led some youths of his white garment church to the Avista Beach situated in the area on Saturday, February 17, to commemorate the Day. A source privy to the incident told our correspondent that the picnic which lasted through the evening had ended when the whereabouts of the late Oriyomi became unknown. The colleagues were said…

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Account of court proceedings as Kwara ex-Gov. Ahmed is docked for N10bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, for N10 billion fraud. Ahmed allegedly spent an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500 to charter private jets for local travels. The former governor was on Friday, February 23, 2024 brought before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin. Ahmed was arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N10 billion. Count one of the charges reads: “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while…

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Aide laments alleged secret trial as EFCC docks Kwara ex-Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed for N10bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former governor of Kwara State Abdulfatah Ahmed at Federal High Court Ilorin. However, journalists were barred from covering the arraignment of the former governor as they were denied entry into the court. Speaking with journalists outside the court premises, Wahab Oba, Chief Press Secretary to Ahmed, lamented what he described as secret trial of the former governor, saying the trial is a political persecution. “The former governor Dr. Ahmed is supposed to be arraigned by the EFCC so we are here…

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Tinubu names Nandap as Immigration boss

President Bola Tinubu has appointed DCG Kemi Nanna Nandap as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The appointment takes effect from March 1, 2024. DCG Nandap takes over from Mrs. Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, whose term in office expires on February 29, 2024. Before her appointment as Comptroller-General, Nandap was the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of the Migration Directorate of the Service. Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, said the President anticipates that the new Comptroller-General will deepen the ongoing reforms in the…

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Why we are probing Buhari, Emefiele -Senate President, Akpabio

Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President has revealed that the current food and security crises confronting the nation now are traceable to the way and manner the Ways and Means loan granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria during Godwin Emefiele’s tenure as Governor to the Buhari administration were given, collected and spent which has necessitated a probe of the immediate past administration. The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday resolved to probe how the N30tn Ways and Means loans of the Central Bank of Nigeria was obtained and spent by the administration…

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PDP protest as Kwara ex-Gov. Abdulfatah spends 2nd day in EFCC custody

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State on Wednesday converged at the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to protest against the continued detention of a former governor of the state, Abdulfatah Ahmed, by the agency. The protesters, who displayed placards with various messages to express their frustration and anger over the development, said the former governor has been detained for more than 48 hours without being charged in court. Some of the messages on the placards read: “Ahmed was very transparent; EFCC is…

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𝗚o𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀: 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗯𝘂 m𝗼𝗿𝗲 t𝗶𝗺𝗲 t𝗼 t𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮’𝘀 problems

A former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), on Wednesday urged Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu’s administration more time to resolve the country’s various challenges. Gowon, who addressed State House correspondents after a meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja, said it was too early in the life of the administration to begin to resolve all inherited crises in different sectors. He said: “Well, I was telling him that no Nigerian leader that got there and will not have all the reports of what is being said about him.…

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Nigerians can’t afford beer any more – Brewery boss laments

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi, has said that the economic situation in Nigeria has deteriorated to the extent citizens can no longer afford to buy beer. Essaadi said this on Monday at the company’s investor call following the release of its 2023 results. “It has been unprecedented year for our business in Nigeria. We saw a significant decline in the mainstream lager market as a result of Nigerian consumers no longer able to afford a Goldberg after a hard day’s work,” Bloomberg quoted Essaadi as…

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State Police: Bill scales second reading at House of Reps

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, passed for second reading a bill to provide for the establishment of state police in the country. Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu and 14 others, the bill seeks to alter the relevant Sections of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for states to establish their own policing outfits. As lawmakers took turns to contribute to the debate on the floor of the House during Tuesday’s plenary, Kalu who stood in for the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, urged members to…

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Why we are moving Computer Village out of Ikeja -LASG

“We are moving the village into a place where their business would thrive while maintaining the status quo, Ikeja Computer Village was a residential area before, it is presently, and I think it will continue to be a residential area. We must ensure that things are done according to the law, since the law says it is a residential area, it should remain as such.

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FIRSTBANK CLINCHES THE PRESTIGIOUS CORPORATE BANK AWARD AT THE 2023 EUROMONEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, was announced as the Best Corporate Bank at the recent prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence, Nigeria 2023. The Bank clinched the coveted award based on its 130-year commitment to enabling its corporate customers achieve success through relevant and tailored financial solutions. FirstBank’s continuous investment in technology has been crucial to its leading industry role in optimally meeting the needs of its corporate customers. Recent investments in technology include the development of its smart and interactive Transaction Banking Platform known as…

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