Biztellers (2024)

15/06/2024

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), led by Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, has rejected the list of successful applicants for constable and specialist cadre roles released by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

In a statement on Saturday, Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi made it clear that the list was plagued by irregularities, noting that many individuals who did not apply to join the force had their names on the recruitment list.

Biztellers reports that when the list was released on June 4, former PSC Chairman Solomon Arase had noted that the selection process was rigorous to enhance the force’s capacity and effectiveness.

However, six days after the list’s publication, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Arase and appointed Hashimu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, in his place.

The statement reads, “The Nigeria Police Force has raised alarm on the irregularities and alleged corruption of the recently released names of successful candidates in the ongoing 2022/23 Police Constables Recruitment Exercise.

“This became necessary upon being inundated with a series of complaints and allegations of corruption raised by unsuspecting candidates and stakeholders on the irregularities that marred the exercise most especially the disappearance of the names of screened candidates who were successful to the last stage.

“Upon careful scrutiny of the list released on the PSC portal, it was discovered that
i) Several names of persons purported to be names of successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in the recruitment exercise.
ii) The published list contains several names of candidates who failed either the Computer Based Test (CBT) or the physical screening exercise or both.
iii) There are those who made it to the last stage of the exercise but were disqualified having been found Medically unfit through the standardised medical test but who also made the list of successful candidates as published by the PSC.

https://biztellers.com.ng/controversy-as-police-reject-constable-recruitment-list-after-arases-dismissal/

14/06/2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the fight against cybercrime, terrorism, and other related crimes.

The Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

The President spoke during a meeting with FBI Director, Christopher Asher Wray, at the State House in Abuja.

Security chiefs who attended the meeting include the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the Chairman
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd); Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Major-General Emmanuel Undiandeye; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede; and the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Laka.

President Tinubu described the presence of the FBI Director alongside his team in Nigeria as a recognition of the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against financial crimes and terrorism.

”It is an honour for me to receive Director Christopher Wray, the leader of an organization that has demonstrated consistent procedural sophistication and a reputation for excellence over several years. Your visit conveys the importance of Nigeria and Nigerian partnership in the work of America’s law enforcement institutions and vice-versa. For us, it is a recognition of what stage we are at, who we are, and the level of interest both countries share in eliminating crimes locally and globally.

”We cannot achieve this important feat of eliminating crimes without collaboration. Incidentally, as the Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria is also collaborating with other West African countries to fight economic and other related crimes,” the President said.

https://biztellers.com.ng/just-in-tinubu-meets-fbi-director-calls-for-stronger-collaboration-to-fight-cybercrime-terrorism/

13/06/2024

MultiChoice’s financial woes continue to deepen as the company records a staggering R4.1 billion ($222 million) loss for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, marking its bleakest financial performance in history.

The media giant has been declared technically insolvent amidst a 9% decline in active subscribers, with its operations in the Rest of Africa suffering a 13% decrease and South Africa seeing a 5% downturn.

Amidst these challenges, MultiChoice finds a glimmer of hope with its streaming service, Showmax, which experienced a promising 16% increase in paying subscribers following its February relaunch.

MultiChoice faced a challenging year with a 5% decline in group revenues, amounting to R56 billion, largely due to dwindling subscriber numbers and adverse foreign exchange rates.

This financial strain extended to a 21% reduction in group trading profit, plummeting to R7.9 billion.

The company’s latest financial statements paint a bleak picture, revealing a significant deterioration in performance.

MultiChoice reported a staggering 42% increase in losses, rising from R2.9 billion to R4.1 billion, marking its worst recorded performance.

Most concerning is MultiChoice’s declaration of technical insolvency, reflecting the severity of its financial predicament amidst ongoing operational challenges.

https://biztellers.com.ng/multichoice-declares-technical-insolvency-after-historic-222m-loss/

13/06/2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly planning a significant cabinet reshuffle, which will involve appointing new ministers and establishing a new ministry dedicated to livestock development.

The move aims to address farmer-herder clashes and support the administration’s livestock master plan.

The reshuffle will also include appointing state ministers for most ministries that currently have only one minister, as well as filling vacant positions in ministries with suspended or absent ministers.

Ministries without ministers of state are arts, culture and creative economy; foreign affairs; special duties and inter-governmental affairs; communications, innovation and digital economy; finance; marine and blue economy; solid minerals development; tourism; transportation; industry, trade and investment; innovation, science and technology; works; sports development; and Women affairs.

Others are aviation and aerospace development; power; budget and economic planning; information and national orientation; justice; and Niger Delta affairs.

One of the sources also disclosed that some ministers of state had been penned down for upgrade and that it was certain that some ministers would be sacked.

He said, “I can confirm to you that a former governor is among the ministers that will be dropped in the cabinet shake-up. There is also a minister of state that has been penciled for an upgrade.”

https://biztellers.com.ng/tinubu-set-to-reshuffle-cabinet-appoint-new-ministers/

12/06/2024

In a groundbreaking move aimed at bolstering public health, Kano State has implemented a new Mandatory Premarital Law necessitating medical screening for all couples prior to marriage.

12/06/2024

Tragedy struck in Onitsha, Anambra State, as a four-storey building being constructed at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) collapsed early Wednesday morning, trapping many people.

The collapse, which happened at around 7:15 a.m. on June 12, saw the structure crumble from the top floor into rubble.

Though there were no immediate reports of fatalities, concerns lingered about the fate of those trapped underneath.

The construction, which was nearing completion, had seen a substantial investment of funds before the unfortunate incident occurred.

https://biztellers.com.ng/four-storey-building-collapses-in-onitsha/
Chijioke Ojji, Director of Operations at DMGS Centenary, expressed the severity of the situation, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding potential casualties.

Immediate rescue efforts were mobilized to locate and safeguard everyone affected by the incident. Victor Meju, the Anambra State Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), also verified the occurrence of the collapse.

He indicated plans for a thorough forensic investigation to determine the collapse’s cause, preliminarily pointing to human error.

Meju noted that the building materials had undergone inspection and were deemed adequate, but emphasized the need for further investigations to identify the precise failure points.

In the wake of this incident, the community is grappling with the aftermath. State officials, including Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwi Ibezim, and numerous commissioners, along with emergency response teams, have assembled at the site to coordinate efforts and provide assistance.

12/06/2024

In a disturbing incident on Sunday, gunmen kidnapped Catholic priest Gabriel Ukeh from the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

12/06/2024

Francis Inegbeniki, the Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has resigned from the party.

12/06/2024

My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.

Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator.

We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.

They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one.

Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.

The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.

While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun.

https://biztellers.com.ng/why-we-must-preserve-our-democracy-being-full-text-of-president-tinubus-2024-national-democracy-day-broadcast/

12/06/2024

Candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Yobe state has won all the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the local government elections held on Saturday.

11/06/2024

Nigerian singer-songwriter, television presenter, actor, and producer, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, recently opened up about his experiences with early marriage, fatherhood, and the pursuit of his own identity.

11/06/2024

Nollywood actress, Mary Remmmy Njoku, has given advice to women on avoiding becoming victims in Nigeria.

11/06/2024

Record-breaking Nollywood producer and actress Funke Akindele has discussed the influence that superstar artist D'banj has on her professional life.

11/06/2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has embarked on a thorough investigation into claims of the mismanagement of a staggering N423 billion by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and several high-profile individuals within his administration.

In addition to the former governor, those to be questioned include finance commissioners and accountant generals who served between May 29, 2015, and May 29, 2023, along with chairpersons of KADIRS from 2018 to 2023.

Former managing directors of Kaduna Market Development and Management Company Ltd during the same period, as well as former managing directors of KADRA from October 11, 2017, to November 2021, are also under scrutiny, with the exception of Amina Ja’afar Ladan.

A source said, “We are in receipt of a petition from an NGO. So, we have started an investigation in the matters raised in the petition. The report of the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly is also handy. We will soon invite el-Rufai and some members of his team for interrogation.

“The Special Task Force on Monday (yesterday) held a long session on the contents of the petition and the report of the Ad-Hoc Committee. The report of the House of Assembly has actually laid a solid foundation for the probe by our team.”

https://biztellers.com.ng/el-rufai-officials-under-efcc-probe-for-alleged-n423bn-fraud/

11/06/2024

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has clarified why the organized labor will not resume its suspended nationwide strike after the one-week negotiation period over the minimum wage ended on Tuesday.

Following a meeting with a federal government delegation last week, the organized labor had suspended its two-day strike, stating it would resume if no agreement was reached on a new minimum wage for workers.

Speaking at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, Ajaero explained that the tripartite committee has submitted two figures to President Bola Tinubu, and the organized labor is now awaiting the president’s decision.

He said: “The tripartite committee submitted two figures to the President. Government and employers proposed N62,000 while labour proposed N250,000. We are waiting for the decision of the President. Our National Executive Council (NEC) will deliberate on the new figure when it is out.

“We cannot declare strike now because the figures are with the President. We will wait for the President’s decision. During the tenure of the immediate past President, the figure that was proposed to him was N27,000 by the tripartite committee but he increased it to N30,000.

“We are hopeful that this President will do the right thing. The President had noted that the difference between N62,000 and N250,000 is a wide gulf. Now that labour has demonstrated this high level of goodwill, we expect that the government will reciprocate this.”
https://biztellers.com.ng/why-strike-wont-resume-on-tuesday-nlc/

11/06/2024

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) announced on Friday that it will begin a widespread disconnection of power to customers with unpaid bills starting June 10, 2024.

10/06/2024

A disturbing video circulating on social media platforms has brought to light a case of alleged s*x trafficking involving underage girls in Ghana.

10/06/2024

The autopsy on singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, indicates that a drug reaction may have contributed to his death.

10/06/2024

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of secretly diverting public funds through a covert petrol subsidy scheme.

10/06/2024

Organised Labour has hinted on the possibility of resuming its strike on Tuesday after rejecting the N62,000 minimum wage proposed by the government.

The union also dismissed the suggestion of a N62,000 or N100,000 minimum wage, describing both as “starvation wages” for Nigerian workers.

During the latest meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on Friday, the union reiterated its demand for a N250,000 minimum wage, which it deems a necessary living wage for the average Nigerian worker.

Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), conveyed this position on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show.

Onyeka stated that the one-week grace period given to the Federal Government on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, would expire at midnight on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

He further indicated that if the Federal Government and the National Assembly fail to meet the workers’ demands by the deadline, the leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would convene to decide on resuming the nationwide industrial action that was paused last week.

He said “Our position is very clear. We have never considered accepting N62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know is able to take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.

“We have never contemplated N100,000 let alone N62,000. We are still at N250,000, that is where we are, and that is what we considered enough concession to the government and the other social partners in this particular situation.

“We are not just driven by frivolities but the realities of the market place; realities of things we buy every day, bag of rice, yam, garri, and all of that.

https://biztellers.com.ng/minimum-wage-strike-looms-tuesday-as-labour-rejects-n62000-insists-on-n250000/

10/06/2024

By Segun Adeleye

See how time flies!

It’s a year since that symbolical declaration in his inaugural speech “….that these things are within our proximate reach because my name is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

A lot can be said about the confidence that President Tinubu exuded, that everything he promised are within reach because of who he is.

Many can convincingly argue that one year is too short a period to assess the performance of an administration, and there are innumerable evidences in the long history of this unlucky country with leaders that wasted opportunities and ruined hopes in spite of many years they spent in power.

Having started as a series of my opinions ‘If I Were Tinubu’ shortly after the 2023 general elections that metamorphosed into a book – Tinubu The Audacity To Hope, that envisaged the great challenges he would face along with the accompanying hardship and practical solutions, using this as a barometer I may be unfairly classified among those that should be able to assess the administration coming a year after.

However, one fact about a prophesy is that there must always be an outcome. It either comes to pass or turn out as something that was presumptuously said which may not materialize.

With everyone consciously or unconsciously prep by prejudice like a shadow, it will be very tough to present a fair assessment of this administration, more so at a time of great hardship when many cannot imagine their current plight is the product of leaders that meant well.

Tinubu may be the only one perfectly qualified to assess himself after this one year being the dreamer and the visionary. As a visionary, he is who he is by the reason of what he saw and sold as hope.

Therefore, anyone that wants to correctly assess the President one year after must go beyond reading his mind, but try to find a way of sneaking into it and his conscience

Read More
https://biztellers.com.ng/tinubu-the-audacity-to-hope-one-year-after/

10/06/2024

According to the latest Foreign Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), imports in the UK have experienced a significant surge in the first quarter of 2024, reaching a staggering N12.64 trillion.

This marks a 39.65% increase from Q4 2023 and a notable 95.53% rise from Q1 2023.

The report highlights China as the UK’s primary import partner, contributing 23.18% of the total imports. Other significant contributors include India (8.46%), the United States (7.98%), Belgium (7.56%), and the Netherlands (4.68%).

The value of agricultural imports alone reached N920.54 billion, exhibiting a 29.45% increase from Q4 2023 and a substantial 95.28% surge from Q1 2023. Meanwhile, manufacturers’ imports of raw materials amounted to N1.47 trillion, indicating a 51.78% rise from Q4 2023 and a 164.18% jump from Q1 2023.

The NBS report stated, “The share of total imports accounted for 39.75 per cent of total trade in the first quarter of 2024 with the value of imports amounting to N12.64tn in Q1, 2024. This value indicates an increase of 39.65 per cent over the value recorded in Q4 2023 (N9.05tn) and rose by 95.53 per cent compared to the value recorded in Q1 2023 (N6.46tn). The merchandise trade balance for Q1 2024 stood positive at N6.5tn.”

As imports continue to rise, the UK economy faces the challenge of balancing trade deficits and fostering growth amidst global economic uncertainties.

https://biztellers.com.ng/british-imports-soar-to-n12-trillion-in-q1-2024/

10/06/2024

Renowned media personality, Oseni Rufai has sounded the alarm about the impending eviction of police officers from their barracks.

09/06/2024

In a decisive move, Premier League clubs have opted to retain video assistant referees (VAR) for the upcoming 2024-25 season, with Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) standing alone in their call to abandon the technology.

09/06/2024

“Aunty Ramota allegedly in coma after undergoing BBL surgery in a hospital in Ikorodu” - Tosin silverdam #

09/06/2024

The total expenditure on direct social investments by the three Shell companies in Nigeria and their partners in 2023 towards the promotion of the socio-economic development of host communities was $42.2 million.

09/06/2024

Aisha Yesufu, co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, has made a bold call for the abolition of the Nigerian Senate in a bid to reduce the nation’s expenditure on governance.

Speaking exclusively to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, Yesufu addressed mounting suggestions to transition Nigeria from its bicameral legislature to a unicameral system, citing the potential for significant cost savings.

The proposal comes amidst growing scrutiny over the efficiency and financial burden of maintaining a bicameral legislature, with Yesufu suggesting that Nigeria could follow the lead of countries like China, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Portugal, which operate successful unicameral legislatures.

Moreover, Yesufu advocated for a reconsideration of the parliamentary system of government, emphasizing the need to curb excessive spending in the National Assembly.

According to Yesufu, without addressing the high cost of governance and rampant corruption, Nigerians will continue to be deprived of the benefits promised by democracy.

She said “We need to really and critically examine our democracy and look at what fits us and serve the ordinary people and the masses. The one that will not be too expensive.

“What we have now is too expensive. We need to cut cost and not just continue what we have that has not been working for Nigerians. I totally support the call for us to have a unicameral legislature. It is very important because the kind of governance that we are practising is very expensive.

“As a country, we really don’t have that kind of money. Apart from this, the fact is that both the Senate and House of Representatives end up duplicating functions in terms of what they do.”

She criticized the Senate, referring to it as “a retirement home for many incompetent and failed governors who didn’t adequately serve their states.”

Yesufu highlighted the burden placed on Nigerians due to the annual allocation of resources to these political figures in the Senate.

https://biztellers.com.ng/scrap-nigerian-senate-to-reduce-costs-aisha-yesufu/

09/06/2024

Nigeria achieved a trade surplus of N6.52 trillion in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1’24), reflecting a 79 percent increase from the N3.64 trillion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 (Q4’23).

This was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report on Sunday.

The NBS report shows that the total merchandise trade for Q1’24 was N31.8 trillion, up 46.3 percent from N21.75 trillion in Q4’23. Of this total, exports accounted for N19.2 trillion, while imports were N12.6 trillion.

NBS said “Nigeria’s total merchandise trade stood at ₦31.8 trillion in Q1, 2024. This represents an increase of 46.3 percent over the value recorded in the preceding quarter and rose by 145.58 percent compared to the value recorded in the corresponding period of 2023.

“Data revealed that export accounted for 60.3 percent of total trade in the reviewed quarter with a value of ₦19.3 trillion, showing an increase of 51 percent compared to the
value recorded in Q4’23 (₦12.69 trillion) and by 195.5 percent over the value recorded in the first quarter of 2023 (₦6.5 trillion).

“Exports trade in Q1’24 was dominated by crude oil exports valued at ₦15.5 trillion representing 80.8 percen of total exports while the value of non-crude”

“oil exports stood at ₦3.7 trillion accounting for 19.2 percent of total exports; of which non-oil products contributed ₦1.8 trillion or 9.3 percent of total exports.

“On the other hand, the share of total imports accounted for 39.8 percent of total trade in the first quarter of 2024 with the value of imports amounting to ₦12.64 trillion in Q1’24.

“This value indicates an increase of 39.65 percent over the value recorded in Q4 2023 (₦9.05 trillion) and rose by 95.53 percent compared to the value recorded in Q1 2023 (₦6.5 trillion).

https://biztellers.com.ng/nigeria-achieves-n6-52trn-trade-surplus-in-q1-2024-nbs/

09/06/2024

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticized the Kaduna State House of Assembly's report on his administration, calling it a "politically motivated hatchet job."

09/06/2024

In a landmark decision, the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, has given its nod to a bill sanctioning a remarkable 300% increase in salaries for key judicial figures across the nation.

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