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Nigerian Energy Export To India To Hit Over $100bn

By
James Orji
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0
Niyi Adebayo

Nigeria’s export earnings from India will hit over $100 billion by the end of 2030, Bloomberg report citing the Standard Chartered Bank Plc.

According to the British online medium, the proceed is expected to be earned from Nigerian energy export to the Asian giant and second most populous nation in the world, which in 2020 peaked at over $40 billion.

The online newspaper report that India is one of the top destinations for Nigerian exports with over 14 percent of goods exported to the country in the first quarter of this year.

Ricky Kaura, the bank’s Regional Head of Transaction Banking in Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East said that more countries are demanding for Nigerian goods, adding that China and Indonesia will buy more from the countryby 2030.

“There’s a number of macro-economic dynamics that are creating a lot of demand — new marketplaces, newer more progressive organizations”.

“Indonesia and mainland China will also remain key markets for Africa’s biggest economy, accounting for 12% and 10% of exports respectively by 2030” Kaura stated.

India 2022: Flamingoes Rout New Zealand To Record First Win At World Showpiece

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nigeria Flamingoes at Indian U17 World Cup

By Akinwale Kasali

Two first half goals from Amina Bello and Miracle Usani were the confidence booster the Nigeria Under-17 Female National Team, the Flamingoes needed to bring back hopes of advancing beyond the Group stage at the ongoing FIFA Under-17 Female World Cup in India.

The promise by Coach Bankole Olowookere that his Girls would do the nation proud in their second Group match against Oceania Side, New Zealand was what played out.

At the signaling of the match by Thailand Center Referee, the Flamingoes set out like a house on fire, attacking their opponents from every angle.

The Nigeria Girls mounted pressure on their New Zealand counterparts who were forced to be on the defensive side, as the quartet of Ajakaye, Bello, Mosaku and Dah-Zossu threatened their defense line which resulted in the first goal from a header courtesy of Bello.

Not too long in the first half, Usani scored the second with a slight deflection from a New Zealand defender to give the Flamingoes the needed lead going into the second half.

The second half wasn’t different from the first as the Flamingoes continued where they stopped from, attacking and shooting at the goalkeeper, Aime Danieli-Feinberg, who made several saves to keep the lead at 2-0.

Unfortunately for Danieli-Feinberg, she was unable to stop a ferocious shots from Afolabi and Edidiong Etim to give the Flamingoes a 4-0 win.

Coach Olowookere made some changes in the squad that started the match against Germany, retaining Faith Omilana in goal, Comfort Folorunsho, Tunmininu Adeshina, Shakirat Oyinlola and Miracle Usani remained in the starting line up.

Taiwo Afolabi, Blessing Emmanuel regained their place in the midfield, while Amina Bello and Bisola Mosake replaced Edidiong Etim and Mary Aderemi in the midfield.

Opeyemi Ajakaye and Alvine Dah-Zossu led the attack.

With this victory, Nigeria have Three point and need a win against Chile to book a place in the Quarter Finals of championship.

Ikare Chief Imam: Jumat Service Put Off As Armed Security Men Seal Up Mosque

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ikare Central Mosque

By Ayodele Oni

To guard against breakdown of law, armed policemen and soldiers were deployed to cordone off the Ikare Akoko central mosque, in Ondo state on Friday.

The mosque, which is at the central of the town, is under lock preventing Muslims from observing their Friday jumat service.

Tension enveloped the town since Thursday, following an alleged sack of the Chief Imam of Ikare Central Mosque, Alhaji Abubakar Abass Mohammed.

The Ikare Muslim Council noted that the Chief Imam was sacked following decision to that effect by muslim council on October 9, 2022.

The letter dated October, 10 sacking the Imam was signed by the Council’s chairman, Adewale Jimoh Abayomi and the secretary, Alhaji R. Aiyegbusi.

Both the Ondo state League of Imams and state Council for Islamic Affairs have however called for caution among warring parties, advising that the status quo should be maintained to allow for implementation of state government white paper on the matter.

Ghanaian UK Born British Finance Minister, Sacked One Month In Office

By
James Orji
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0

Britain’s finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked after less than six weeks in the job, the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, reported on Friday, as the government’s massive tax cuts sparked financial market turmoil.

Kwarteng is no longer chancellor of the exchequer, the BBC said. The Times newspaper reported earlier that Kwarteng was expected to be sacked.

His sacking makes Kwarteng Britain’s shortest-serving chancellor since 1970, and his successor would be the UK’s fourth finance minister in as many months as the nation grapples with a cost-of-living crisis.

Speaking after his resignation, Kwarteng said he reached an agreement with the UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss to resign from office.

Truss is expected to make a statement anytime from now as the Kingdom faces one of the highest inflations in decades.

Reuters

Why Ayu Must Go, His Other ‘Sins’  –  Wike

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, revealed other allegations against the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, allegeding that the party leader lacks integrity.

Wike, during a media chat in Portharcourt, alleged that the PDP chairman also received double pay for a single project.

“If people know what we know, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children,” Wike said in his ongoing live media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

When asked about the N1 billion he claimed Ayu collected and that there has been no reaction from the national chairman, Wike said, “There cannot be any comment. He (Ayu) cannot say anything. Look, I am the governor of Rivers state and I don’t just come out to speak.

“Let Ayu say he did not collect N1 billion. In fact, let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100 million naira from a governor that he was going to renovate our democratic institution and then he (Ayu) went back to the PDP NWC and took the same N100 million naira for doing the same work.

“What kind of system is that? I am telling you all these are facts. Let him (Ayu) say no first and I will tell you (those he collected money from).”

“A leader must be a man of integrity. And I have realized that people find it hard to have that (integrity) lately.

“You a presenting a man (Ayu) who lacks integrity as chairman of the party. Somebody that wants to lead a campaign to take the reigns of government?

“What is the problem with what we are asking of Ayu? We are saying let there be equity, let there be fairness and justice.

“But if you don’t want it that way then you are the one causing the crisis (in the party) and that shows you (Ayu) don’t have leadership skills because this is the time to show it. This is the time to show leadership skills on the part of those who are leaders of the party.”

Wike had insisted that there must be balance of power within the PDP saying the presidential candidate and chairman cannot come from the north leaving out the south from the power equation.

ASUU Hails Gbajabiamila, Ends 8 Months Strike

By
James Orji
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0

The Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU has hailed the role played by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in bringing the strike to an end.

ASUU ended the eight-month strike on Friday following various interventions by some well-meaning Nigerians, particularly the leadership of the House of Reps.

Recall that the Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke-led union had last week promised to end the strike after a ‘fruitful’ deliberation with the leadership of the house.

The union and the federal government had hit a deadlock in their negotiations to end the strike, to the point that the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige was forced to drag the union of the National Industrial Court, NIC. The matter is still in court.

The intervention of the Speaker, who broker a deal with the striking university teachers, many insist, served as the last-ditch effort to bringing the strike to an end.

In a statement released on Friday by Prof. Osodeke, the union said the intervention of Gbajabiamila was key to ending the months-long labour dispute.

The union however said all their demands have not been fully addressed.

The statement said: “ The National Executive Council of ASUU held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, October 13, 2022”.

“The National Industrial Court in its wisdom gave an order compelling ASUU to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit. Given the nature of the order, and in the opinion of our counsel, there was the need to appeal the interlocutory injunction granted against our union at the Court of Appeal.

“The Court of Appeal acknowledged the validity of the grounds of the union’s appeal but still upheld the order of the lower court and ordered our union to comply with the ruling of the lower court as condition precedent for the appeal to be heard.

“NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as intervention efforts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside the government and the progress made so far. “While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute were yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

“However, as a law-abiding union and in deference to appeals by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and in recognition of the efforts Hon. Gbajabiamila, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on February 14, 2022. Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, October 14, 2022,” ASUU said.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that part of the deal reached with the federal government is the payment of the eight months salary owed the striking teachers.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said the salary of the lecturers will not be paid for the period they were on strike in line with the federal government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy.

Uzodimma Never Faulted Appeal Court Judgement On Kanu – Imo Govt.; Blames Ihedioha, PDP For Fake News

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

The Imo State Government has, vehemently, distanced itself from a trending fake news in the social media that Governor Hope Uzodimma faulted the Appeal Court judgement that acquitted and discharged Nnamdi Kanu.

It blamed the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and one of its leaders in the State,  Emeka Ihedioha, for sponsorship of the fake news to tarnish the image of the Governor.

In a statement he signed in Owerri on Friday morning, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba deplored what he called satanic and vile propaganda and falsehood always perpetrated against the Governor all in the name of politics.

According to him,at no time did the Chief press secretary to the Governor or any official of the Government speak to the press concerning the Appeal Court judgement.

He also said the Governor as a law abiding citizen of Nigeria who believes in the rule of law could not have queried the judgment as insinuated by the fake news.

“We are aware that Ihedioha, after his ill-advised attacks on Ndigbo where he called them saboteurs, is desperately trying to drag His Excellency to the mud he emeshed himself in. But this infantile stunt is a new low for him”, Emelumba declared.

He noted that after the series of successes recorded by Uzodimma in governance and other national assignments, Ihedioha and PDP have been trying to whittle down his popularity.

The Commissioner declared that those familiar with the character of the State Governor would affirm that he has never criticized the judiciary even when judgements did not go his way in personal matters.

He described as the height of mischief and perjury for the opposition in the State to attribute such a comment to Uzodimma.

He also made it clear that Uzodimma, as a compassionate man, and philanthropist would never rejoice in the misfortune of anyone.

Emelumba reiterated his call for the managers of public information to be circumspect in the discharge of their duties.

Said he: “The fake news didn’t attempt to answer the fundamental questions of 5Ws and H,which are who, what, when, where,why and how concerning any news story”

He asked Nigerians to ignore the fake news as neither the Governor nor any of his Aides has reacted to the Appeal Court judgement on Nnamdi Kanu

Kanu: Ozekhome ‘Thanks Jesus’ For IPOB Leader’s Acquittal

By
James Orji
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0

Mike Ozekhome, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and lead counsel to the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, said the Court of Appeal judgment releasing Kanu was a divine one “thanking Jesus” for the judgment.

The court sitting in Abuja on Thursday discharged and acquitted the IPOB leader and ordered his release.

Ozekhome took over the defense of Kanu this year, and not a few insist that the senior lawyer has done a good job by handling the case in the most effective manner.

In spite of the judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said the coast is not yet clear for Kanu, that he will remain in detention untill cases against him are cleared.

Malami disclosed this immediately after the court cleared Kanu of all the seven count charge brought against him by the federal government following his arrest in Kenya last year.

Ozekhome however said the judgment freeing Kanu was ordered from the above and beyond human comprehension.

According to the rights activist, the Court of Appeal was “one of those things that you can say (are) ineffable, indescribable, it is only God that can fathom it, because its depth and breadth, its plenitude and amplitude are too wide, too complex for any human understanding.

“Nnamdi Kanu was today discharged of all the remaining seven charges, which…were retained by the Federal High Court. Kidnap, torture and extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya back to Nigeria on the 26th of June, 2021, the lower court glossed over it…”

In August 2020, the IPOB leader said like Jesus Christ who faced temptations, he was under pressure to abandon the Biafra struggle

“In my most private moments – when I reflect on this struggle and its fallouts, I have often been tempted, like Christ, to ask that this cup be passed from me,” Kanu said.

“I am sure you all feel the same in many fleeting moments of despair that is common with the fragile human spirit.

“So, as we mourn this latest mass murder of our people, let us all take some comfort that they didn’t die in vain, they died in honour, they fell in defence of freedom and their precious blood will be best requited by our collective and abiding resolve to never back down until Biafra is restored,” Kanu said.

IPOB: Open The Gate of Freedom For Kanu- CUPP Spokesman

By
James Orji
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0

Ugo chinyere, the spokesman for the Coalition for United Political Party, CUPP, has appealed to the federal government to obey the Court of Appeal judgment which set free Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

On Thursday, the court sitting in Abuja upheld the appeal of the detained leader of the proscribed IPOB.

The court also discharged and acquitted the embattled Kanu citing a lack of evidence.

The court also declared as illegal and unlawful, the abduction Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the entire terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government

The judgment followed the appeal filed by Kanu on April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022 in which he prayed to the court to discharge and acquitted him.

Reacting to the judgment, Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said Kanu still has a case to answer and is not yet free.

“For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted. Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public,” Malami said in a statement.

Speaking the CUPP spokesman said the judgment is an opportunity for the Buhari administration to end the bloodshed in the southeast, adding that prolonging the court case will only aggravate the crisis in the region.

“Stop looking at Nnamdi Kanu like one person. Consider the economic interest of the region. “I’m begging President Buhari to open the gate of freedom” for the IPOB leader, Chinyere said while featuring on the AIT programmme Kakaaki on Friday.

He said the president and southeast leaders should meet and put an end to the bloodshed in the region in the same manner former President Yar’adua resolved the Niger Delta problem while he was president.

Breaking: ASUU To End Strike Today

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
ASUU Meeting

There are strong indications that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU will end its eight-month strike today.

The magazine learned from competent sources in the Union that the university teachers took the decision to end the prolonged strike during the meetings held by all the state chapters of ASUU on Thursday.

Recall that ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said last week after a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila that the strike action will soon be called off.

It was also learned on Wednesday that the federal government has agreed to release N50 billion to the Union as part of the efforts to build trust with the lecturers in the nation’s ivory towers.

The fund, sources in the government said will be used to take care of outstanding earned allowances and will be handed over to the governing Council of Federal Universities.

Top sources in ASUU told the magazine on Friday that the strike will be ‘officially’ called off today, adding that the president of the union will soon issue a statement to that effect.

The union embarked on strike on February 14 this year over a disagreement with the federal government on issues relating to salary, allowances, and funding for the nation’s universities.

Last week, the federal government formally registered two new university unions, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics, CONUA and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA, citing the need to promote “harmonious industrial relations” in the university system.

Government said that with the registration granted the two unions, they are now entitled to all rights and privileges ascribed to unions and will be given access to those rights by the government and university authorities.

Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment speaking after the registration said the move will help liberalize the academic sub-sector and allow for freedom for university workers.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in the discharge of her mandate in the management of employment relationships and the administration of Trade Unions to ensure harmonious industrial relations system in the nation has decided to approve the registration of two (2) more Trade unions in the Nigerian University academic sub sector. The University sub-sector is a major development plank of any nation’s Socio economic growth.

“In view of this registration, you are entitled to all rights and privileges acruable to union of similar status which include right to receive check off dues of members. You can now go back to your institutions and open the doors of your classrooms to teach the students,” the minister said in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

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