Category: Happenings

Vice President Kashim Shettima will depart Abuja for Sweden on a 2-day visit to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the Scandinavian nation.

At the instance of President Bola Tinubu, the Vice President, during the working visit, will engage in high-level bilateral talks with key government officials, including a meeting with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and the Swedish Prime Minister.

Shettima, according to a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, will use the visit to explore opportunities for strengthened collaboration between Nigeria and Sweden in areas such as ICT, innovation, education, digitalisation, sustainable transport, mining, and agriculture.

“He will also meet with key stakeholders in both the government and private sector. He is expected to also meet with Norrsken, a Stockholm-based venture capital impact investor, which recently launched Norrsken22, a USD 205 million tech investment fund for Africa.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says complaints about the hike in petrol price dropped due to improved electricity supply.

Speaking at an event in Lagos on Tuesday, Adelabu said the improved electricity supply meant Nigerians no longer have to buy petrol as much as they used to for their generator.

“People don’t need to buy petrol again as much as they used to do for them to have power. That’s why the noise is even at this level.

If they had to be going to the filling stations to buy N1,000 per litre of petrol to generate electricity, we would have even had louder noise from the public,” he said.

Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Other Associated Institutions (NASU) have announced plans to resume their suspended strike due to four unpaid salaries from the Federal Government.

Prince Peters Adeyemi, the General Secretary of NASU, shared this information during the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

While he didn’t specify an exact start date for the strike, it’s anticipated that the NEC will finalize their decision during the meeting.

Prince Adeyemi stated that the members’ patience has worn thin, asserting, “We are going to resume the suspended strike.”

Recall that President Tinubu had, in October 2023, directed that NASU and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, members be paid two out of the four months withheld salaries by the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, following a prolonged strike over unresolved disputes.

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says plans are underway to revamp the apex bank’s website as part of efforts to boost transparency and accountability.

Cardoso spoke on Tuesday during a dinner event at the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja.

He said the new look website to be launched very soon, will provide a more user-friendly experience and greater access to information.

The CBN governor said the revamped website will ultimately support its commitment to transparency, and accountability and build trust with its stakeholders.

At least 105 people have been confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya town, in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Shiisu Adam, confirmed the figure in a telephone interview with PUNCH Online on Wednesday.

He said that about 55 people sustained various degrees of injuries and were hospitalized at Ringim General Hospital.

“As I am talking to you now, the casualty figure is about 105 and the number of injured is 55 as against the 50 earlier confirmed,” he said.

According to him, the incident occurred at about 11:30 pm on Tuesday night in Majia Town, when the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University.

The incident happened around 9:17 am on Tuesday, leaving most areas of the country facing another power outages.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) confirmed the collapse in a post on X, stating: “Dear Valued Customer, Kindly be informed there was a system collapse at 09:17hrs which has resulted in a loss of power supply across our network.


“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as power supply is restored.”

This marks the second collapse of the grid in less than 24 hours.

Despite the challenges faced by Nigerians, the Federal Government expresses its sympathy for citizens, particularly the poor.

Vice President Senator Shettima made this statement at an event in Abuja on Monday, October 14. According to him, “Some of the policy decisions, the policy options available are painful, but they are almost inevitable.

My heart and the heart of President Bola Tinubu go to the Nigerian people. We empathise with what the poor and the young are going through in the Nigerian nation but we have no option.

Some of these decisions are unpopular but the truth is most often the truth that men prepare not to hear.”

The World Bank has emphasized that Nigeria needs to continue its current economic reforms for the next 10 to 15 years to position itself as a significant economic force, both in sub-Saharan Africa and globally.

The bank asserts that these reforms are essential for achieving sustainable growth and development, enabling Nigeria to compete with other emerging economies around the world.

The Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, Indermit Gill, gave this advice during the ongoing 30th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday, October 14.

Gill acknowledged that the current administration’s reforms have caused hardship for many Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable poor, but emphasized that these measures are essential for the nation’s economic recovery.

According to him, “Nigeria will need to stay the course of current economic reforms for at least the next 10 to 15 years to transform its economy. Implementing such changes is challenging, but the rewards are substantial

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced that the new curriculum for basic education will commence across schools in January 2025.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, at a stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the new curriculum.

Mamman said under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills.

Vocations such as plumbing, tiling, hairstyling, floor works, POP and solar installation are included in the new curriculum.

“The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life.

The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project; it affects all schools in Nigeria, public & private.

Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So this is already determined.

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has said that a proposed tax bill could impose a 25% income tax on Nigerians earning N100 million or more per month.

Speaking at the ongoing 30th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja, Taiwo also pointed out that 90% of current taxpayers shouldn’t be taxed, and called for a fairer and more efficient tax structure in the country.

Oyedele emphasised the need to strike a balance between easing the tax burden for lower-income earners and ensuring the wealthy contribute more to government revenue. “If you earn N100m a month, we are taking up to 25 per cent from the rich people.

That’s because we need to balance the books,” Oyedele stated. He said the government is prepared and determined to ensure that the right individuals pay taxes, noting that his committee is actively working to achieve the goal.

He added that the proposed changes are expected to take effect from January 2025, based on the passage of the bill by lawmakers.

VAT refers to a consumption tax on goods & services levied at each stage of the supply chain where value is added.

In the executive bill seen by TheCable on Sunday, the national assembly is seeking to raise the tax rate to 10% by 2025.

The legislature also intends to increase the VAT to 12.5 percent by 2026 through 2029, according to the document.

VAT shall be charged on the value of all taxable supplies at the following rates (a) 2025 year of assessment 10%; (b) 2026, 2027 2028 and 2029 years of assessment 12.5% (c) 2030 year of assessment and thereafter 15%,” the document reads.

On May 8, Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, had said the VAT rate needs to be increased.

Reacting to the recommendation on September 8, Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president criticised the proposed VAT hike, describing it as a “regressive & punitive policy”.

Kanye West is facing alarming new allegations in an updated lawsuit filed by his former assistant, influencer Lauren Pisciotta, who has accused the rapper of sexual harassment and stalking during her employment between 2021 and 2022.

The 88-page lawsuit, obtained by DailyMail.com, introduces several disturbing claims, including shocking details about West’s behavior toward his now-wife, Bianca Censori.

According to Pisciotta, West harbored a particular “kink” where he frequently fantasized about having sex with the mothers of the women he was involved with.

One of these instances allegedly involved Censori, who at the time was not his wife but rather described in the lawsuit as a “s3x party participant” and employee.

On September 28, 2022, West reportedly sent Pisciotta a screenshot of a conversation he had with Censori in which he graphically expressed his desire to have sex with her mother, Alexandra, while Censori watched.

A new champion has emerged at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, as Samson Dauda, representing the United Kingdom and of Nigerian descent, claimed the top honor, winning the coveted Mr. Olympia title along with a record-setting prize of $600,000.

The 60th edition of the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, drawing the world’s best bodybuilders to the stage in a showdown of strength and physique.

For Samson Dauda, this victory is the culmination of years of hard work. Having started his bodybuilding career in 2014, Dauda has steadily risen in the ranks, finishing third in last year’s Mr. Olympia competition.

His persistence and dedication paid off in 2024 as he finally claimed the top spot. Dauda is no stranger to success, having previously won the Arnold Classic, one of the sport’s most prestigious events.

Samson Dauda was awarded his first Olympia title and the richest prize in the sport’s history: $600,000.

The Yoruba Nation advocate, Sunday Adeyemo, more commonly known as Sunday Igboho has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer to consider the secessionist movement in Nigeria.

Although the movement described the content of the petition as confidential, SaharaReporters gathered that it revolved around the “Yoruba Nation agitation.”

SaharaReporters learnt further that the Yoruba Nation advocate submitted the petition on Saturday on behalf of  Prof Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.

SaharaReporters saw that other dignitaries who accompanied Igboho were; Diaspora Youth Leader, Prophet Ologunoluwa, Vice President of Ifeladun Apapo, Fatai Ogunribido, General Secretary of Yoruba World Media, Alhaja Adeyeye & Member of Yoruba Nation Movement, Paul Odebiyi.

The movement is seeking the immediate intervention of the UK prime minister & his government on their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous people of Yoruba.

According to the statement:

“The sum of N40.00 only is to be paid by owners of a corpse once it was not buried within twenty-four hours.

“It means that that corpse stays in the mortuary for 100 days, and the mortuary is expected to pay the state sum of N4,000.

“The tax is not meant to generate revenue but to discourage people from taking their dead ones to mortuary all the time,”

Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has warned that if urgent steps are not taken to support poultry farmers, prices of eggs may increase from the current N5,500 to N10,000 per crate.

They attributed the rising cost of the protein to high cost of transportation as a result of fuel subsidy removal as well as indiscriminate increase in prices of feed by the millers.

The Secretary of PAN, FCT Chapter Musa Hakeem said this at a press briefing to commemorate the World Egg Day on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in Abuja.

Hakeem said the FG must as a matter of urgency declare a State of emergency on Egg production in the country given the serious decline in protein intake, saying Nigerians can not afford to depend on importation of eggs.

“If we should go by the proportional increase in the prices of these factors mentioned earlier, we will be buying eggs at N10,000 per create, but because we wanted to be compassionate, coupled with the important of eggs for health, we left the price at the current price of N5,500.

Nigeria’s John Eze aka Obi Flag Boy is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Flag Ever Flown in the World.

The event will take place in Lagos on December 15, 2024

The current world record is held by a group called Gharbaly, which unveiled a flag measuring 2,554.31 square meters in Alexandria, Egypt in 2022.

The Nigerian military command has asked Asari Dokubo to come to the battlefield & witness the capabilities of the military.

This was stated in a statement issued by Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba on Thursday while responding to Dokubo’s claim that he could shoot down a military helicopter hovering around his residence.

The former militants leader had said that he had the power to contain the Nigerian military.

Responding Gen Edward Buba dared him to enter the battlefield & see whether he would not be neutralised by the Nigerian military.

Buba further vowed that the ex-militants leader would be neutralised if he showed up on the battlefield & he called upon the relevant security agency to address the matter.

He stated “Now to comment that he can shoot down military helicopters is laughable & I am tempted to laugh about that. We are in a democracy & we are professional; we cannot simply act on someone’s comments without due consideration, lest we be accused of being undemocratic.