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Economic Hardship: Catholic Church Slashes Cost Of Marriages, Abolishes Calls For Donations At Weddings

August 22, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

For those scared to plunge into marriages owing to high cost of bridal preparations, reprieve, on Thursday, August 22, 2024, came their way.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, said, for just N22,500, intending couples can hold their marriage ceremonies.

Due to the prevailing harsh economic situation in the country, the Owerri Catholic hierarchy has also scrapped such sundry pre-marital fees as Marriage Course registration, fuel/diesel and others.

The new rules on marriage ceremonies is contained in a letter dated August 15, 2024, and signed by the Archbishop, Lucius Ugorji.

The letter which was availed the media on Thursday in Owerri also urged all Parish Priests, Chaplains and Administrators to ensure full compliance with the new marriage directives.

“To ensure uniformity, equal access to the sacrament of marriage and unambiguity in the collection of its stole fees in Owerri Archdiocese, I, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, hereby give the following directives.

“The official stole fee, or the sacrament of matrimony as ratified by the Catholic Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province is N2,500.00

“This is the basic stole fee for all Parishes ,chap3lains and Special Jurisdictions within the Archdiocese of Owerri till further notice.

“Parishes, Chaplaincies and special jurisdictions may also collect the following for marriages– N10,000.00 for the Choir, N5,000.00 for the CYON, ( N2,500 for parish ad quem and N2,500 for the Mary League Girls Association ( non member) N2,500 for parish ad quem and N2,500 for parish ad quo .

“Therefore, the total amount that may be collected for Marriage in Owerri Archdiocese is N22,500 .00.only . No parish priest ,chaplain or Administrator of special jurisdictions is permitted under any guise to collect any amount of money that exceeds the above stipulated amount”, part of the letter reads .

Similarly, the Archdiocese stated that the practice of collecting money for registration of wedding transfers, reception of files, clerical work, marriage courses as well as fuel/diesel has been abolished.

In the same vein ,the conversion of wedding ceremonies into money making events, through calls for donations has been halted .

“The reply to Banns of Marriage should NEVER be accompanied with a particular sum of money from any Parish or Priest.

“In the event of any imposition,or forceful collection ,the couple is free to apply to the Archbishop for dispensation from the Banns of Marriage.

“Mass or Retreat Weddings are to be conducted free of charge. There should be no collection of any levy whatsoever for this purpose .

“This is to ensure that the needy are not deprived of equal access to the sacrament of marriage.

“The practice of unauthorized post-nuptial thanksgiving after post communion prayer as well as calls for cash donations and support at Wedding Masses is hereby abrogated.

“Couples are however ,free to come for thanksgiving on the Sunday after their wedding”, Archbishop Ugorji stated .

EndBadGovernance Protest: Falana Threatens Legal Action Against Police, Urges It To Charge Protesters In Its Custody To Court

Akinwale Kasali

August 22, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Femi Falana, Constitutional Lawyer and Rights activist, has called on the Police to charge the #EndBadGovernance protesters remanded in its custody to court before August 25 or face legal action.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria accused the authorities of preventing the legal representation of the protesters, leading to their remand in prison.

Falana gave the ultimatum in a statement entitled ‘HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS’.

According to him, “Out of the 2,111 arrested suspects, 1,403 have been arraigned in various courts. Painfully, the suspects were ordered to be remanded in prison custody due to a lack of legal representation.

“The suspects were denied legal representation even though the Nigerian Bar Association had publicly announced its intention to provide lawyers to defend them.

“We have also confirmed that individual lawyers who had applied for the bail of the detained suspects in police stations were not informed that they were going to be arraigned in the courts.

“We submit that the decision of the authorities to deny the suspects legal representation constitutes a violent breach of their fundamental right to fair hearing guaranteed by section 36 of the Constitution and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“This is highly discriminatory and illegal on the ground that politically exposed persons who are arrested for looting the treasury to the tune of several billions of Naira are usually informed in advance of the dates and of their arraignment in the courts. Such highly placed suspected looters are always granted bail in liberal terms and even authorised by trial Judges to travel abroad for medical treatment.”

On the arraignment, Falana said: “Whenever the suspects are going to be arraigned, they must be given adequate notice to be able to contact the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and their family members to make arrangements for their defence.

“However, if all the suspects are not charged before August 25, 2024, the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, will approach the Federal High Court to demand their immediate release.

Falana who is the Chair of Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, said, “ASCAB has also resolved to defend the cases filed against the protests by two state governments and the Federal Capital Territory.

“More fundamentally, it’s important to remind the Nigerian state again that beyond legalism, the solution to the political problem of which protests are mere symptoms lie in the honest application of socio-economic justice.

“Elements of this socio-economic justice include policy instruments fashioned to fight hunger, ignorance, disease and the scandalous inequality which define the Nigerian society today.”

Kano Constitutes Committee To Address Growing Conflict Among Ethnic Group

Ayodele Oni

August 22, 2024

Abba Kabir Yusuf - Governor of Kano Sfate

By Ayodele Oni

Following mounting crisis, Kano State Government has set up a reconciliatory committee to address the growing conflict among the Yoruba community in the state.

The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Abdullahi Bichi, on behalf of Governor Abba Yusuf.

The committee, comprising 11 members, including academics and a representative from the Kano State Emirate Council, is tasked with resolving the conflict between the Oba’s group and the Aare group.

Their terms of reference include, inviting the conflicting parties to address the crisis, receiving written/oral submissions from relevant associations, interest groups, and individuals.

The committee is also expected to dialogue with organizations and institutions, such as the Kano Emirate Council, identifying the immediate and remote causes of the crisis, proffering solutions and recommendations.

It is expected to submit a report to the state government within four weeks.

The committee’s chairman, Prof. Usman Muhammad, promised to deploy effective conflict resolution strategies to address the issue.

The co-chairman, Dr. Ransom Bello, thanked the state government for the opportunity to serve.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-community Relations for Yoruba Affairs, Abdussalam Abiola, urged the Yoruba community to cooperate with the committee and make sacrifices to ensure peace in the state.

Abia Medicine Dealers Voluntarily Hand Over Millions Of Naira Worth Of Expired And Counterfeit Drugs To NAFDAC

Suleiman Anyalewechi

August 22, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

In a rare move at self cleansing ,the leadership of the Abia State Medicine Dealers, Eumi Plaza Aba, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, handed over expired and counterfeit drugs worth over N100 million to the National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration and Control NAFDAC for onward destruction.

The rare and unexpected action attracted praises, huge commendation from the regulatory body to the Medicine Dealers for summoning the will to embark on a self sanitization process.

Speaking while presenting the expired and fake drugs to the South East Zone of NAFDAC led by the Director, Martins Iluyomade, President of the Ecumi Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Association ECPPMDA, Chima Amadi, said the fake and counterfeit drugs were voluntarily mopped up by the traders as a way of ensuring sanity within the drugs distribution chain in the country.

He maintained that the move is part of their collaborative efforts with the Abia State NAFDAC Authorities to combat all forms of sales and distributions of expired and adulterated medicine products in the state.

“When we relocated to this Ecumi Plaza from Ariaria International Market, we inaugurated an Internal Taskforce to carry out serious self- cleansing activities.

“The Taskforce is charged with, among other things, go round the market to enforce the decision of putting an end to any form of sales and distributions of expired and fake drugs within the precincts of the market.

“Majority of the dealers, in deference to our rules and regulations, willingly submitted the expired and fake drugs we are handing over today to NAFDAC.

“This will be a continuous process. We have resolved that within three month interval, the Taskforce will go round the market in search of expired and fake drugs.

“Therefore, henceforth, anybody caught dealing on expired and counterfeit drugs at this Ecumi market will be arrested and handed over to the appropriate authorities.

“We have decided to cleanse ourselves and as such, nobody and group of persons will be allowed to continue to smear the image of this market”, Amadi stated.

The South-east Director of NAFDAC who was accompanied by some zonal officials and the Abia State Coordinator, also, noted that such self-cleansing exercise will positively project the market and attract goodwill and attention from customers.

According to him, much as the regulatory agencies are in place, stakeholders in the system have crucial roles to play in the efforts to rid the system of fake and harmful products.

He appealed to the market leadership to sustain the efforts at eliminating all forms of dealings on unwholesome products, noting that a lot of human lives have been lost owing to the consumption of fake and expired drugs.

“I will enjoin you to continue to make the market a better place. You can do this by resolving that you only want to deal on original products at Ecumi market .

“Yes, people make more money through fake products, but such should not be your guiding principle. Your slogan is: ‘health is wealth’ and anything you do at this market should be in agreement with the motor.

“The first thing that should be on your mind while selling is how the drugs will assist the consumer to come out from his/her health challenges.

“We are having serious treatment failures in the country today because of the administration of counterfeit drugs. A lot of people die as a result of the consumption of fake drugs.

“Mind you, that money you made through the sales of fake products is blood money because a whole lot of people die as a result of the fake drugs.” Iluyomade noted

He charged the market Taskforce to discharge its duties without fear and or favour, as well as be guided in its operations by NADAC rules and regulations.

In his remarks, the Grand Patron of the market ,Chief Aloysius Enyoghasi, described the development as the first of its kind.

He appreciated the traders for their resolve to place the interests of consumers above profit making.

“When I discovered that the leadership of the market is collaborating with NAFDAC in their activities,I became proud of them .

“I am in full support of this move because it will restore the confidence of people and help save lives

“I am happy to see dealers willingly bringing out expired and fake drugs for NAFDAC to them away. It is a beautiful day for me as someone who has been in this business for over four decades”, the Grand patron stated.

NNPC Intensifies Oil, Gas Exploration In Northern Nigeria

James Orji

August 22, 2024

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited has denied claim that it has suspended crude oil exploration in the northern part of the country.

The company said it has intensified oil exploration in the region in its quest to meet the country’s OPEC quota.

The Mele-Kyari-led NNPC said in a statement on Wednesday that oil exploration is still ongoing in the Wadi-2 and Ebenyi-1 wells, noting also that significant discoveries have been made in the Kolmani River ll Well.

According to the statement signed by NNPCL Chief corporate communications officer, Olufemi Soneye, the clarification is necessary in view of the contrary suggestion in some quarters that exploration in the region has been halted.

The government-controlled oil company has no intention to stop exploration in the north whether now or in the future in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, Soneye said

“NNPC has not and will not suspend its inland basins oil and gas exploration activities, as some have suggested. Instead, the company is intensifying efforts to expedite the process and ensure the efficient exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in these areas, thereby contributing to national energy security.

“In collaboration with co-venturers, we are working towards the next phase of field development,” the statement noted.

FG Hikes Passport Fees To N100k

James Orji

August 22, 2024

Effective Sepetember 1, 2024, the Federal Government has approved the increase in the fees for obtaining Nigerian passports.

This was revealed by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, DCI Kenneth Udo, in a statement on Wednesday.

According to him, the fee adjustment is part of the government’s efforts to uphold the quality and security of the Nigerian Standard Passport.

Udo said, “Based on the review, 32-page Passport booklet with 5-year validity previously charged at Thirty-five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) will now be Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) only; while 64-page Passport booklet with 10-year validity which was Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000.00) will be One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) only,” the statement reads.

“However, the fees remain unchanged in Diaspora.

“While the Nigeria Immigration Service regrets any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants; it assures Nigerians of unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”

Cardoso’s CBN Assures Investors Of Better Business Outlook

Tosin Olatokunbo

August 22, 2024

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has disclosed that investors in the country will feel the impact of its various monetary measures as their businesses will begin to improve form August.

The Yemi-cardoso-led CBN, in the Business Expectations report released on Wednesday, assured business owners that their businesses will experience better outlook henceforth starting from this month.

Basically, the apex bank projects that businesses will experience 7.6 points Optimism Index for August, 19.3 in three months, and 30.7 points for the next six months.

CBN said, “the outlook for next month, next three months, and next six months all indicated optimism with indices of 7.6, 19.3, and 30.7 points, respectively,” the report read.

It explained that the Mining, Quarrying, Electricity, Gas & Water Supply, Agriculture, Market Services, Manufacturing, and Non-Market Services will drive optimism in the macro economy.

According to the apex bank, “The expected drivers for the optimism on the macroeconomy in the next month are Mining, Quarrying, Electricity, Gas & Water Supply (35.3 points), Agriculture (9.9 points), Market Services (7.8 points), Manufacturing (6.3 points), and Non-Market Services (4.8 points).

“Respondents indicated optimism on the overall business outlook in July 2024, as the business conditions in Nigeria are expected to improve. This optimism is driven by the opinion of respondents from the Agriculture Sector.

“Respondents’ outlook for the next month, next 3 months, and next 6 months all indicated optimism. The positive outlook in the volume of business activities of the firms in the next month implied improved prospects for employment in the same period. The sector with the highest prospect for employment is the Agriculture Sector, followed by the Industry and Services sectors.

“The respondent firms opined that insecurity was the major factor constraining the business activity in July 2024. Other constraining factors are high interest rate, insufficient power supply, and high/multiple taxes. Respondent firms expect the exchange rate to depreciate in all review periods except the next six months. However, they expect the borrowing rate to rise in all the periods under review. Respondents also opined that the current inflation rate of 34.19 is too high.”

The overall confidence index had slowed in July to 0.1 percent, according to records from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

NIMASA DG Restates Commitment To Quality Training For NSDP Beneficiaries

Tosin Olatokunbo

August 22, 2024

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Dr Dayo Mobereola has restated the Agency’s commitment to the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP noting that the two hundred and ninety six (296) NSDP beneficiaries at Centurion University, India will be given adequate capacity development to acquire quality training and qualify as Seafarers employable globally.

Dr Mobereola described media reports claiming that the Agency plans to withdraw the NSDP cadets from the Centurion University India as false, adding that the Agency is only carrying out due diligence on the existing MoU to align the processes in the best interest of the Nigerian students.

According to the DG, We are “not recalling any NSDP beneficiary from Centurion University. We are only working to close out all identified gaps in the existing Memorandum of Understanding before proceeding to the next stage. A situation where the Agency entered into a contractual agreement with Springdale Academy of Maritime Education and Training, SAMET with agreed courses and timelines only to be faced with additional course duration and an alien programme by the agent, SAMET, unilaterally converting the programme without the consent of the Agency as prescribed by the MoU may not be in the best interest of the students.

Speaking further, he said “There were issues of non-accreditation of one of institution as at the time of the execution of MoU, change of course from Marine engineering to Mechanical engineering without recourse to the Agency, preparing the grounds for additional years of studies and uncertainties for the students, raising issues related to funding, and the various third parties arrangements without duly informing the Agency.

The NIMASA DG also noted that the Management of NIMASA is aware of a sponsored media campaign of calumny against the NIMASA Management stating that it will not deter NIMASA from doing the right thing.

We are aware of orchestrated media campaigns and petitions against the Agency reviewing the existing arrangement. We will not give in to blackmail as the safety and well being of our students are paramount.

The Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme was introduced in 2009 to develop capacity by training young Nigerians as seafarers and bridge the gap of dearth of seafarers globally. Nigerian youths are trained in specialized courses such as Marine Engineering, Nautical Sciences and Nautical Surveys amongst others, to ensure they qualify as Seafarers and are employable globally.

Minister Writes NSA, IGP Demands Rescue Of Kidnapped Medical Doctor

Tosin Olatokunbo

August 22, 2024

Prof. Ali Muhammmad Pate, Nigeria’s Co-ordinating Minister of Health has called for the rescue of Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who was kidnapped last year by kidnappers and is still in the den of her abductors.

Prof. Pate in a petition he sent to thr National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, said it has become pertinent to rescue Dr Popoolat, who before her abduction on December 27, 2023 was a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna State.

She was kidnapped alongside her other family members, including her husband, who was later released on March 8, 2024 after an undisclosed amount has been paid to the kidnappers.

Several negotiation with the kidnappers to get Dr Popoopa freed from their net have proved abortive.

Last Monday, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD across the country embarked on a peaceful protest demanding the freedom of the abducted medical doctor.

They have also threatened to embark on a an indefinite strike from August 26 if the authorities failed to ensure that she’s released from the kidnappers’ den after more than eight months in captivity.

Meanwhile, Prof. Pate in a letter dated August 12, to the NSA and IGP demanded their intervention to ensure that Dr Popoola is freed.

In the letter titled ‘RE: Kidnap of Resident Doctor at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna: A need for urgent intervention to avert industrial disharmony,’ the minister said her rescue will ensure harmony in the nation’s health sector.

The minister said, “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is in receipt of a letter from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors Ref.no.NARD/SG/2023-2024/290724/788, dated 29th July 2024 (copy attached) on the above subject.

“In the letter under reference, the association informed of the abduction of one of their members, Dr. Ganiyat Olawole Popoola, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Care Centre, Kaduna and her nephew over seven months ago (December, 2023) and the victims have remained in the custody of the kidnappers to date.

“In view of the above, the ministry is requesting your urgent intervention not only to save the lives of the kidnapped victims but also to avert industrial disharmony in the health sector.

“While anticipating your prompt action, please accept the warm regards of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.”

Similarly, Nigerian security forces are still searching for 20 medical students who were kidnapped by gunmen last Thursday. The students were on their way to a medical convention when their motorcade was intercepted in central Benue State by their abductors.

Police Invitation To Ajaero: Maritime Workers To Paralyze Ports

Suleiman Anyalewechi

August 22, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, on Wednesday August 21, 2024, said that it is getting ready to lock down all Seaport operations across the country, in deference to the directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

Rising from an emergency meeting on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 , the NLC Leadership had put all its affiliate bodies on notice for an indefinite nationwide industrial action should the Nigeria Police fail to retrace its steps in its current hounding of Joe Ajaero, its National President.

The Police authorities had, on Monday, August 19, lit the tinder box with its invitation to question NLC President on alleged terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime and criminal conspiracy.

The Organized labour leadership and many Nigerians see the development as a deliberate witch hunt of Ajaero over the just concluded EndBadGovernance nationwide protest against hunger and hardship, a protest which NLC was not part of.

In a statement issued by its Secretary General, Comrade Oniha Erazua, the Maritime Workers Union’s Leadership informed that it has concluded mobilization of members for the industrial show down.

To this end ,the body said all members across all Seaports, Jetties ,Terminals and Oil and Gas platforms have been asked to prepare for full participation in the proposed nationwide strike

“As an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we are in compliance, and have consequently directed all our members to commence mobilization to effectively ensure their participation in the nationwide indefinite strike

“This decision is due to the clearly unfounded and politically motivated police investigation being carried out against the Congress President.and the Nigeria’s working class.” part of the statement reads .

The MWUN, therefore, urged its members to remain vigilant and fully prepared for the strike action which can negatively affect the entire maritime sector of the country’s economy.

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