The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has fined three Nigerian commercial banks for violating its directive on cryptocurrency transactions.
The banks sanctioned are Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and UBA. The three financial institutions were ordered to pay a total fine of ₦800 million.
CBN regulation prohibits banking systems from aiding cryptocurrency dealings by customers. On February 5, 2021, the Apex bank issued a circular instructing all banks to close down customers’ accounts used for any form of cryptocurrency transactions.
“We have been accommodating of other people in our land, but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are free born citizens of Nigeria.”
These were the words of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, as he asked his people to get themselves armed and go out to defend themselves.
The governor, who was reacting to the killing of over 25 persons in fresh attacks on two communities in the state, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen yesterday, Monday night, in a statement by his spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur, directed the people of the state to rise and defend themselves forthwith.
Governor Ortom, who could not hide his anger, said: “it is becoming increasingly glaring everyday that my people are now an endangered species and so we can no longer wait for help from anywhere.
“My people will have to rise up to the occasion to defend themselves and their heritage against the Fulani army of occupation.
“We are law abiding citizens. We have cried for help against these invaders, but nothing is forthcoming. We are left alone and it looks like it is a deliberate strategy. Now we have only one option; to defend ourselves or get extinct. This is a case for our survival.
“We have been accommodating of other people in our land, but our hospitality is misconstrued as weakness. We are not a conquered people. We will never be. We are free born citizens of Nigeria”, the Governor declared.
Governor Ortom nevertheless enjoined security operatives to do more in crime prevention and protection of lives and property in the land, just as he urged the people to cooperate with security agencies to flush out the undesirable elements in the society.
The state government, he said, will not shy away from its commitment to provide welfare and the security for the citizens .
Suspected Fulani herdsmen were said to have invaded Mbadwem in Guma local government area and Tiortyu in Tarka local government area of Benue state, killing the residents.
The former Senate President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr. Olusola Saraki, has said that ex-Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is part of the consensus arrangement of some PDP presidential aspirants.
Saraki, who made this known today, April 12 at Umuobiakwa, the home town of the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, said that they have been going around the country to consult widely to ensure that PDP presents a consensus candidate that will enable the party to win the 2023 presidential election.
“We’ve had a good discussion with his Excellency as a key stakeholder in our party and a leader of our party. As you are aware, four of us who are aspirants have been going around consulting.
“We’ve been discussing the consensus for the interest of our party and the country. And the four of us have agreed to support the consensus arrangement to ensure that we unite and put PDP in a position to win the 2023 election because Nigerians are going through hardship.”
He said that insecurity in the country is much, adding that a few days ago, some people lost their lives, which he stated was the reason they decided to unite because the lives of Nigerians are more important than individual ambitions.
“This is the first time this is happening with aspirants coming together. It is a tough challenge and people believe it will not work. We assure Nigerians that we’re very determined.”
Saraki added that they are driven by the determination to turn Nigeria around, stressing that if accepting consensus is the sacrifice they have to make to achieve that, they were ready.
“We’re motivated to hear leaders like Gov Ikpeazu urging us to go ahead. After here, we’re going to meet the Governor of Enugu State and after that, we must have concluded our tour round the 18 Governors of the PDP who all along have shown their commitment to this arrangement.”
Governor Ikpeazu said he is happy and expressed his hope in the emergence of a new Nigeria that has rekindled.
The governor added that the initiative led by the aspirants is quite commendable, adding that their desires to form an alliance will rescue Nigeria beyond the respective selfish interest of anyone.
“I want to say that you have my commitment and cooperation as you move on. And I’ll do my little bit to ensure that all of us come together. I want to encourage all the aspirants wherever they’re coming from to come together and realise that someone needs to be alive to be selfish.”
Governor Ikpeazu said that the only one person will be president, saying he would love the country to have a president who is ready to serve Nigeria emerge, not the one that will serve himself.
The presidential aspirants who visited Ikpeazu included Dr. Olusola Saraki; Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammad; Governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Tambuwal and the former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Dr Mohammad Hayatu-deen.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said that criminals would want to operate in Abuja for the purpose of creating negative publicity against the government.
The therefore, minister stressed the need for all the stakeholders to work round the clock to keep the FCT safe through active participation in the Security Committee.
Speaking today, April 12 when a delegation led by the Chief of Defence Space Administration, (DSA), Rear Admiral Nnamdi Muogilim paid him a courtesy visit, Malam MusaBello said that because of the special place Abuja occupies in the country, he and his team had decided to work very closely with members of the armed forces and other security agencies to make sure that “we prevent crimes.”
The Minister is optimistic that by sharing relevant data gathered with other security agencies, the DSA will further enhance their proactive capacity to combat crime in the FCT.
This was even as he pledged to continue to seek other possibilities of collaboration with DSA for the overall development of the capital city.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Muogilim commended the Minister for his efforts at keeping the nation’s capital safe, saying: “you have maintained security in the FCT. I know that there are issues but most times, the FCT has been kept safe and that’s one of the critical components of leadership; security of lives and properties. So we want to thank you for that.”
He commended th minister for his support, saying: “without your support and encouragement, they would not have done the much they are doing today. We also want to thank you for the value you are adding to the country by making it safe” he added.
He said that the DSA is established in 2014 to use space resources and satellites to advance the frontiers of defence and security, which he said included food security, weather, road safety and fire -fighting through the provision of early warnings.
He offered the services of the DSA for the provision of required critical information and data for the development of the nation’s capital.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has made it clear that the type of freedom media enjoys in Nigeria can be measured from the point of view of the fact that some media practitioners can and do abuse the President and nothing happens to them.
“This must be one of the very few countries in the world where a section of the media can refuse to recognize popular sovereignty, or how does one describe a situation in which a President who was duly elected by millions of Nigeria is willfully stripped of that title, ‘President’, and then cheekily cloaked in the garb of a dictator by playing up his military title? Despite that abuse of press freedom, those doing that have continued to practice their profession without hindrance.
“Ours must also be one of the few countries in the world where a reputable medium will report fake news and, when called out, will not retract or apologize.”
The minister spoke today, April 12 when the executive members of the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI) paid him a courtesy visit in his office, Abuja. The executive members were led by the President of IPI Nigeria, Muskilu Mojeed.
Lai Mohammed, who stressed that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is not a threat to the media, and it is not about to stifle press freedom or deny anyone his or her constitutionally-guaranteed rights, asked the media to always stick to their constitutional watchdog role, and not to constitute themselves into a political opposition.
He also charged IPI Nigeria to take seriously the issues of ethics, credibility and fake news, among others, in relation to the practice of journalism in the country.
”For example, on the issue of ethics, is it part of the ethics of journalism for a media organization to function like an opposition party, seeing nothing good in the government of the day and only reporting bad news?”
He called for a sustained engagement between the government and the IPI in order to share views on how to enhance the practice of journalism in the country.
This was even as the President of IPI Nigeria, Mojeed, said that the visit was part of a series of engagements with governmental and non-governmental organizations to enhance independent journalism and operating environment for journalists and media organizations in Nigeria.
Both medical personnel and patients at the Kuje General Hospital in Abuja are jubilating as the General Manager of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Management Board (HMB), Dr. Kawu swung into action to address issues that gave rise to bad environment around the hospital. Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters today, April 12, said that following our report yesterday, Dr. Kawu drove straight to the hospital and ordered that things should be immediately put in proper shape. It was gathered that the GM has directed that the borehole in the hospital should be rehabilitated immediately. “We had light (electricity) throughout the night for the first time in three weeks,” an excited lab attendant hailed. Yesterday, we reported that the hospital had for a long time been without electricity and water. We also reported that patients have been resorting to buy water from water vendors outside for the medical personnel to use during treatments.
Former General Manager of the Federal Capital Territory Health Management Board, Dr. Frank Alu has attributed the bad shape into which Kuje General Hospital has been thrown to the collapse of everything in Nigeria. Reacting to a story carried on Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper platform today, April 11, Dr. Alu said: “Am sure this is as a result of the collapse of everything in the country…. national grid collapse; no diesel to power the generators; no water from Water board & no power to pump water from the boreholes! “Those complaining about welfare are actually not complaining about salaries & allowances (because these are paid regularly as & when due) but the uncomfortable working conditions brought about by all these NATIONAL COLLAPSE. God help us.” When a suggestion was made that the hospital ought to be temporary closed, to avoid possible infections of even the medical personnel, the former General Manager asked: “what do you do if there is no diesel to run generators & pump water that water board? And AEDC refuse to provide electricity? “I wanted you to see the perspective of the whole problem when I mentioned “total collapse of the National grid.
“Maybe we should temporarily close Nigeria then.”
We carried a story yesterday that Kuje general hospital now operates without electricity for days and water. That patients now buy water from water vendors for medical attention.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted MTN Nigeria license to operate as Momo Payment Service Bank Limited (Momo PSB).
In a statement by the MTN Secretary, Uro Ukpanah, reads in part: “MTN Nigeria Communications PIc (MTN Nigeria) announces the receipt of a letter dated 8 April 2022 from the CBN addressed to Momo PSB conveying final approval to commence operations.”
However, the statement failed to announce the date of commencement of the bank.
In 2021, the CBN granted approval in principle to MTN and Airtel to operate a payment service bank (PSB) across the country, aimed at further driving financial inclusion in Nigeria.
The approval in principle for both telecoms operators came two years after CBN granted the same category of licence to 9mobile, Globacom and another operator.
Since 2012, an often-stated goal of the CBN has been to deepen financial inclusion in the country.
A significant reason for the optimism shown is the potential of telcos to fast-track the CBN’s financial inclusion goal. This is mainly due to their comprehensive coverage of the country, especially in rural areas that house most of the unbanked population.
With the infrastructural cost of setting up branches and security, banks are not opening branches in new locations and, in some cases, are shutting down operations.
“He allowed me access to everything I needed and to my wife and visitors. The only thing he did not allow was my wife sleeping with me in my cell.”
These were the words of Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, after his release from detention in Cotonou, Benin Republic. He had been in detention since July last year.
In a BBC interview today, April 11, Igboho said that contrary to rumours of a horrid time behind bars, he had a splendid time and was well treated.
“President Talon ensured that I was Ok in prison. He gave me full protection. He instructed doctors to be at my beck and call.
He said it was a policeman who came to inform him about his full release on 7 April.
He had to procure the service of an interpreter, who told him the President of the Republic has released him.
Igboho thanked numerous people, his wife, Yoruba at home and in diaspora, Yoruba and Egun Obas in Benin, his Benin lawyer Adebayo Salami, Professor Akintoye and Professor Wale Adeniran.
He said contrary to some insinuations that Talon would release him to Nigeria, he said there was nothing like that.
Against his anxiety, he said he kept getting assurances from Benin officials to ‘calm down’.
“They told me at every turn to relax. That what they were doing was in my best interest as the sharks from Nigeria were circling around to pick him”.
On his next plans, Igboho who looked radiant in his purple French suit, said he would soon return to Ibadan and Nigeria.
On return, he will demand the payment from the Federal Government of N20 billion awarded to him by the court, following the destruction of his house by DSS officials.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has asked Nigerians to join him in building the kind of a nation that is the dream of everyone.
Osinbajo, who formally declared for the Presidency today, April 11, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2023 elections approaches said: “We will be working together to establish, by the grace of God, the Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation.”
Read the full text of his declaration:
Dear Nigerians, for the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari. We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year. In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and I have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high-level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil-producing communities in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; and in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people. I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims of violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters. I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techpreneurs in Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians from Lagos, Onitsha and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses. I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire. I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great people. This is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started, radically transforming our security and intelligence architecture; completing the reform of our justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel, ensuring justice for all and the observance of rule of law, rapidly advancing our infrastructure development, especially power, roads, railways and broadband connectivity. Providing an excellent environment for businesses to thrive; taking the agriculture revolution to the next level especially mechanization and developing the farm to table value chain. Making sure that the government, its agencies and regulators serve the business community, creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions, enhancing our Social Investment Programmes to a full-scale social welfare scheme, completing the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within this decade. Completing the task of ensuring that all Nigerians, male and female, attend school, reforming our educational system for relevance to the challenges of this century, completing the task of universal health coverage for all and strengthening the capacity of States and Local Governments to deliver on their respective mandates. Above all, front and centre of our efforts will be the provision of jobs and opportunities for our young people. I now most solemnly and respectfully seek the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land, and the diaspora, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey that we have ahead of us. I seek your own support. We will be working together to establish, by the grace of God, the Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation. I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us. Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa. Where everywhere in this land is home for everyone, where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us. Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respect. Where all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation. May God bless and keep our Republic and her great people. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Monday, April 11th, 2022.
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