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Jakub Zulczyk could face up to three years in jail for his Facebook post criticising the president.

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A police officer was among those confirmed dead following the Monday afternoon attack in Boulder.

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The US record label says the deal with China's tech giant will help make its artists "impossible to ignore".

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She has continued to call for safe water in the decades since the major case in the town of Hinkley.

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Israel holds its fourth election in two years, with Benjamin Netanyahu fighting to stay in power.

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Firms are using fermentation to produce honey and milk and say they can match the taste of the real thing.

The Nigerian Students and Youths Association (NISYA) has asked the Nigerian government to end all forms of monopoly in cement production and distribution in the country.

Specifically, the group in a protest in Benin City, Edo state, accused Dangote Cement Company, owned by African richest man, Aliko Dangote of increasing the price of its product by 100 per cent.

It gave the cement company and others 48 hours' ultimatum to revert to the old price, adding that failure to heed the call would amount to blocking the highway to stop the distribution of cement in the state.

The spokesperson for the group, Osemudamen Elvis Ogbidi, said, “We reject the incessant increment in cement prices. We are suffering in all sectors ranging from education to agriculture, health, and security. Are they saying Nigerians should no longer build houses?

“They increased cement from N2, 000 to N4, 000 in Edo State, yet the raw materials are got from the state.

“You produce cement here, yet the price has been in increased by 100 per cent. In the North, cement is sold for N2, 000 and here in Edo it is sold for N4, 000, while in Abia State, a bag of cement is sold for N6, 000.

“We are calling on the Federal Government to ban all forms of monopoly in the cement industry, if they support other cement companies the way they have supported Dangote, there will be competition in the industry and that will bring down the prices and companies will produce quality products for higher patronage.

“If Dangote does not revert to the old price, we will barricade the Benin By-Pass and make sure every truck is sent back,” he said.

Also, a former Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Students and Youths Association, Mr Ikehi Lawrence said the bone of contention is the government’s inability to have a good price control mechanism.

He said that prices should not be increased arbitrarily.

“The problem is that the government should be responsible and responsive. In a serious country, there must be a price control mechanism. That is what the government should do,” he said.

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The Christian Association of Nigeria has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to suspend a bill before the House of Representatives seeking to institutionalise the use of hijab in the country.

In a statement by its General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, CAN said the bill is ill-timed and uncalled for.

The bill titled ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021’ seeks to provide a mechanism for enforcing certain provisions of the Constitution and other international laws that recognise the right of females to adorn hijab in both public and private establishments in Nigeria.

The body said sponsors of the bill are all out to compound the security problems and issues currently surrounding the use of Hijab in public and Christian schools.

CAN also questions if the lawmakers should be more interested in making laws seeking to promote one religion when they ought to make laws that will address the insecurity issues and economic predicaments in the country.

The statement read, 'According to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the ‘National Assembly shall have the power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to this Constitution’.

“To what extent does this controversial bill seek to promote peace, order and good governance? Has the dress code become part of the Exclusive Legislative List? While the citizens are expecting the National Assembly to make laws that will address the lopsided appointments, insecurity, unemployment and economic predicament, our lawmakers are interested in making laws that seek to promote one religion. This is unacceptable in a country with multiple religions.

“Candidly speaking, it is not the wearing of hijab that is our problem, it is the legislation of the wearing of it in private schools, especially of the schools whose proprietors have a different culture to that of wearing of the hijab. If anyone travels to Rome, it is common saying that he or she should do as the Romans do since he was not forced to come! If any Christian pupil goes to a Muslim School, he or she should abide by their practices there and vice versa.

“Why should a Muslim student come to a Christian school which operates under different dressing culture and insist on her own culture? That appears provocative and disrespectful! Legislating the wearing of hijab in private schools would lead to the trouble that those who started it may not be able to handle. Abandoning school uniform for religious dressing is going to divide the students along religious lines and further polarise our society. Should the children of Ifa worshippers (god of divination) wear Ifa costume to the school as well? Is that not going to bring confusion? Will the wearing of the religious dress make one student brighter in class than the other? What are we legislating for?

“CAN has been consistently calling on some state governments that are enforcing the wearing of hijab in the public schools to exempt the Christian schools where hijab culture is alien. We are not against the wearing of hijab in public and Islamic schools but our schools should not be included unless those states are looking for trouble. We have resolved to close down our schools and colleges to protest against this ungodly and disrespectful policy.

“We should return to the status quo ante where we were before the politicisation of hijab. Let those who want to be wearing hijab go to schools where it is allowed. Alternatively, let those state governments return our schools and stop funding them. We can manage them. We did not beg the government ab initio to partner with us. It was the government that couldn’t provide enough school that came in subtly to partner with us but now going another mile to take over completely.

“Can the government own what they did not spend their money to build? Those who took over our schools did not tell us that our religious traditions and culture would be eradicated. We call on all Christians in every legislative house, including the National Assembly, to arise and speak for the Church if they have not compromised their faith for political reasons and if they fail to do so, God Himself will ask them of their stewardship one day and equally fight for His Church.”

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused the Federal Government of treating criminals with levity. 

This follows the attack on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who was ambushed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits along Tyo-MU Makurdi/Gboko road on Saturday.

The Christian body challenged the Nigerian government to bring out a list of bandits, terrorists, murderous herdsmen and kidnappers in prison or police custody. 

Ortom was allegedly attacked by over 15 gun-wielding herdsmen while inspecting his farm near Makurdi. He was said to have narrowly escaped death.

In a statement issued by CAN's General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, the body said the attack on a sitting governor goes a long way to show the collapse of the security architecture.

The body urged the Nigerian government to immediately outlaw the Fulani Nationality Movement which claimed responsibility for the attack.

The statement read, “We are worried, sad, shocked, disappointed, and pained at the collapse of the security architecture of the government and the failure of those in charge to rise to the security challenges. If a state governor is unsafe despite all the security operatives in his convoy, then who is safe? 

“We welcome the Presidential directive and that of the Inspector General of Police that the investigation of the matter should be thorough and we hope that the matter will not be swept under the carpet. We are disappointed that the shadowy group, the Fulani Nationality Movement that claimed responsibility has not been outlawed and the herdsmen leaders who publicly threatened the Governor are still going about their businesses as if they have done nothing unusual.

“Is the government waiting till they have successfully carried out their evil and wicked enterprise? What are these people turning the country into, in this century? If these murderous Fulani herdsmen are not Nigerians, as we are being told, why do our security agencies appear powerless before these criminals? Are they holding superior ammunition? Are they waiting till everyone results in self-defence with the attendant consequences?

“The primary responsibility of any government is to protect the lives and property of the citizens. If President Muhammadu Buhari wanted his name to be written in gold, let him fix the security problems in this nation before his tenure is over.

“We challenge the Federal government to roll out the list of names of the kingpins of those murderous herdsmen, kidnappers, bandits and terrorists in the prison and Police custody and those under trials. As long as the government continues treating these criminals with kid gloves so also will they continue operating with impunity!”

The body joins several others who have since called for investigations into the attack, stating that the culprits should be arrested and prosecuted.

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A Nigerian national and a Trinidadian have been arrested for allegedly smuggling 25 Venezuelan women into Trinidad during an anti-crime exercise conducted at Icacos overnight.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Force disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The exercise, which was conducted between 3 pm on Saturday and 5 am, on Sunday also included officers of the South Western Division’s Intelligence Unit.

During the exercise, officers paid special attention to the Icacos area where they arrested the Venezuelan women for illegal entry into the ports of Trinidad, and the Nigerian and the Trinidadian for aiding and abetting in suspected human trafficking.

The detained persons were taken to the Santa Flora and Erin Police Stations and the Immigration Department was contacted. 

Investigations are ongoing, according to the police.

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The Peoples Democratic Party is planning to return former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as its candidate in 2023 as part of efforts to win the presidential election.

Top party sources told Sunday Telegraph that the PDP believed that it is better to repeat the 2019 formula, which it used to contest against President Muhammadu Buhari - an election which was deemed to be won by Atiku.  

It was learnt that within the PDP hierarchy, the belief is that Buhari did not win the election against Atiku, but muscled him out with the power of incumbency. 

But in 2023, where Buhari would not contest, it is strongly believed that an Atiku candidacy would be able to beat any other candidate of the All Progressives Congress. 

It was learnt that the PDP is still divided on the zoning of the presidency because of a battle between Atiku and the South-East Caucus of the party, who are strongly arguing that it is their turn to take a shot at the presidency. 

But within the party, many believe that a ‘strong candidate’ like Atiku is needed to wrest power from the APC first before the case of the South-East would be considered. 

It was further learnt that should the Atiku option fail to fly because of age and other factors, the party might settle for a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the second option. 

The PDP presidential primaries held in Port Harcourt in 2018 ahead of the 2019 elections, Atiku beat Saraki to the third position while Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, came second. 

But it was learnt that some powerful forces within the PDP are rooting for Atiku, following his strong showing against President Buhari in the 2019 election, which the party insists was lost to Buhari’s incumbency factor.

Although it was learnt that Tambuwal still has a strong interest in running for the president with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as his possible running mate, it was learnt that most governors of the party believe that an Atiku candidacy would be strong enough to battle the APC, which may settle for a candidate from the South, going by sentiments within the party. 

The PDP has not hidden its desire to field a candidate from the North for the 2023 election. 

In fact, the party’s 2019 Election Review Committee, headed by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, had recommended that the ticket should be thrown open to every interested Nigerian. 

The committee submitted its report last week. It was learnt that the only major obstacle to Atiku’s candidacy is coming from the South-East, a region which feels marginalised and is seriously spinning with the party to be given the slot.

It was also learnt that the South-East caucus of the party is also negotiating that in the event that Atiku runs, he should do only one term. 

He is expected to retain his running mate in 2019, Peter Obi, again, although some forces within the party are rooting for a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as Obi’s replacement on the ticket.

However, a source at the party’s headquarters said the leaders of the party are not well disposed to the Ekweremadu calculation. 
 
A party chieftain said, "A lot of governors in the PDP have made up their minds that it is either Atiku or nothing. So, definitely, PDP’s ticket is not coming to the South. It is not. Some forces within the party want to use former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to push out Peter Obi. Others said it can’t work. Ekweremadu is overambitious.

"He wants to be governor too in Enugu State, even as he is also chasing the Vice Presidential ticket. The powers in PDP are telling him to go for governorship. 

“The major problem is that the South-East Caucus is pushing that Atiku should do one term. If he does one term, Peter Obi will come in." 

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The Peoples Democratic Party is planning to return former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as its candidate in 2023 as part of efforts to win the presidential election.

Top party sources told Sunday Telegraph that the PDP believed that it is better to repeat the 2019 formula, which it used to contest against President Muhammadu Buhari - an election which was deemed to be won by Atiku.  

It was learnt that within the PDP hierarchy, the belief is that Buhari did not win the election against Atiku, but muscled him out with the power of incumbency. 

But in 2023, where Buhari would not contest, it is strongly believed that an Atiku candidacy would be able to beat any other candidate of the All Progressives Congress. 

It was learnt that the PDP is still divided on the zoning of the presidency because of a battle between Atiku and the South-East Caucus of the party, who are strongly arguing that it is their turn to take a shot at the presidency. 

But within the party, many believe that a ‘strong candidate’ like Atiku is needed to wrest power from the APC first before the case of the South-East would be considered. 

It was further learnt that should the Atiku option fail to fly because of age and other factors, the party might settle for a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the second option. 

The PDP presidential primaries held in Port Harcourt in 2018 ahead of the 2019 elections, Atiku beat Saraki to the third position while Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, came second. 

But it was learnt that some powerful forces within the PDP are rooting for Atiku, following his strong showing against President Buhari in the 2019 election, which the party insists was lost to Buhari’s incumbency factor.

Although it was learnt that Tambuwal still has a strong interest in running for the president with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as his possible running mate, it was learnt that most governors of the party believe that an Atiku candidacy would be strong enough to battle the APC, which may settle for a candidate from the South, going by sentiments within the party. 

The PDP has not hidden its desire to field a candidate from the North for the 2023 election. 

In fact, the party’s 2019 Election Review Committee, headed by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, had recommended that the ticket should be thrown open to every interested Nigerian. 

The committee submitted its report last week. It was learnt that the only major obstacle to Atiku’s candidacy is coming from the South-East, a region which feels marginalised and is seriously spinning with the party to be given the slot.

It was also learnt that the South-East caucus of the party is also negotiating that in the event that Atiku runs, he should do only one term. 

He is expected to retain his running mate in 2019, Peter Obi, again, although some forces within the party are rooting for a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as Obi’s replacement on the ticket.

However, a source at the party’s headquarters said the leaders of the party are not well disposed to the Ekweremadu calculation. 
 
A party chieftain said, "A lot of governors in the PDP have made up their minds that it is either Atiku or nothing. So, definitely, PDP’s ticket is not coming to the South. It is not. Some forces within the party want to use former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to push out Peter Obi. Others said it can’t work. Ekweremadu is overambitious.

"He wants to be governor too in Enugu State, even as he is also chasing the Vice Presidential ticket. The powers in PDP are telling him to go for governorship. 

“The major problem is that the South-East Caucus is pushing that Atiku should do one term. If he does one term, Peter Obi will come in." 

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Olayomi Koiki, the spokesperson for Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), has warned Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati to stay off conversations that have to do with Yoruba sovereignty.

Koiki spoke on Monday while reacting to a claim by Abati that the ongoing clamour for Yoruba secession was a treasonable felony.

Abati, who was a special adviser on media and publicity to a former president, Goodluck Jonathan, had criticised the calls for secession in the South-West.

Speaking on Arise TV Morning show, Abati had said there was no basis for calls for secession as that the South-West had no clear leadership. 

He also noted that Nigeria has been kind to Yoruba people.

He said, “Nigeria has been very kind to the Yoruba people, are they not the ones that dominate the economy? Are they not the ones who produced a president twice in the person of Olusegun Obasanjo, did they not also win the election in 1993 through Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola? Is there any section of the Nigerian community where Yorubas have not been well served?

“Going to the full extent of saying Yorubas should secede, may need the consensus of the people in form of a referendum. If you put it to vote among Yoruba people, I'm not too sure that the majority of the Yoruba will want to leave Nigeria so I don't think we should have any heartache over Yoruba secession from Nigeria.

“They did not secede in 1967 when the people of the East spoke about secession, they didn't secede at that time, is it now when there is no clear leadership in Yorubaland that they want to secede. And none of the people who are calling for secession is known, it amounts to a treasonable felony.”

But reacting to this, Koiki said, “I want to respond to what Dr Abati said, they think we are joking. It seems the Federal Government thinks the Yorubas are joking. Dr Abati said what we are doing is a treasonable felony, yes, let it be a treasonable felony, Nigeria will go to war, we know that already, that there will be no war is a lie.

“But they should know that every single one of them will also be held responsible because those that are lying to Nigerians, one of whom is Dr Reuben Abati, are comfortable in their cocoon. You see, all those you refer to as elites, are now telling us that what we are doing is a treasonable felony. Let it be a treasonable felony, let it even be more. We told you we will not relent, it does not matter how many times they come on air because they believe they are the voice of Nigerians, they are no longer the voice of the Nigerians, we are now the voice of the Yoruba people, and we must determine and decide how we want to be governed out of this contraption called Nigeria.

“Nobody will tell us how and when it will be in the best interest of the Yoruba people. Abati said a Yoruba man has once been a president, who has that helped? When Olusegun Obasanjo was president, what was the benefit? This country was merged, we were never Nigeria and that has been the point they refused to discuss with Nigerians outside and inside Nigeria. Why do they continue to lie to Nigerians as if Nigeria was something created from the creation. Why do news media lie to Nigerians as if the Yoruba kingdom had not been in existence before the creation of Nigeria?

“When was Nigeria created? Let's go back and ask questions, so when we are saying we want to part from this contraption called Nigeria, why must they force us to stay? Who are the beneficiaries of this country?
There is no job, no industry, the economy is completely flawed, they are now saying they want to use $1.5 billion for a refinery that has not worked for a long time. Do you know what that amount of money will do if we invest into the local government areas in Nigeria, the 774 local government areas where the hospitals are not functional?

“You think we are joking? For every day we wake up, we wake up with different spirits, we are not the ones who’ll fight this war, you think you want to fight with me? Abati was talking about treasonable felony, we will see to that when we get there. People woke up this morning, some have died because of the negligence of this ‘shithole’ country, people have no comfort in this country anymore, people are dying every day, a governor was about to be killed. If a whole governor was about to be killed, why then are we talking about staying as one? Nigeria will divide very soon by God’s grace. They say we are in one unity, which unity?

“Unity that does not give an average Yoruba man access to the port authority, immigration and Chief of Defence, a position that should be spread around. This nepotism has been going on for too long and they keep telling us the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, who said so? You don’t know what we will do, you will all run, including the British.

“Young kids are on the streets, is that not enough for you to weep? They have no school, food, nothing and you ask us to be patient, Nigeria is not working. Go to Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo, people are suffering there, you think we are joking. God will fight, even idols will fight.”

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Olayomi Koiki, the spokesperson for Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), has warned Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati to stay off conversations that have to do with Yoruba sovereignty.

Koiki spoke on Monday while reacting to a claim by Abati that the ongoing clamour for Yoruba secession was a treasonable felony.

Abati, who was a special adviser on media and publicity to a former president, Goodluck Jonathan, had criticised the calls for secession in the South-West.

Speaking on Arise TV Morning show, Abati had said there was no basis for calls for secession as that the South-West had no clear leadership. 

He also noted that Nigeria has been kind to Yoruba people.

He said, “Nigeria has been very kind to the Yoruba people, are they not the ones that dominate the economy? Are they not the ones who produced a president twice in the person of Olusegun Obasanjo, did they not also win the election in 1993 through Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola? Is there any section of the Nigerian community where Yorubas have not been well served?

“Going to the full extent of saying Yorubas should secede, may need the consensus of the people in form of a referendum. If you put it to vote among Yoruba people, I'm not too sure that the majority of the Yoruba will want to leave Nigeria so I don't think we should have any heartache over Yoruba secession from Nigeria.

“They did not secede in 1967 when the people of the East spoke about secession, they didn't secede at that time, is it now when there is no clear leadership in Yorubaland that they want to secede. And none of the people who are calling for secession is known, it amounts to a treasonable felony.”

But reacting to this, Koiki said, “I want to respond to what Dr Abati said, they think we are joking. It seems the Federal Government thinks the Yorubas are joking. Dr Abati said what we are doing is a treasonable felony, yes, let it be a treasonable felony, Nigeria will go to war, we know that already, that there will be no war is a lie.

“But they should know that every single one of them will also be held responsible because those that are lying to Nigerians, one of whom is Dr Reuben Abati, are comfortable in their cocoon. You see, all those you refer to as elites, are now telling us that what we are doing is a treasonable felony. Let it be a treasonable felony, let it even be more. We told you we will not relent, it does not matter how many times they come on air because they believe they are the voice of Nigerians, they are no longer the voice of the Nigerians, we are now the voice of the Yoruba people, and we must determine and decide how we want to be governed out of this contraption called Nigeria.

“Nobody will tell us how and when it will be in the best interest of the Yoruba people. Abati said a Yoruba man has once been a president, who has that helped? When Olusegun Obasanjo was president, what was the benefit? This country was merged, we were never Nigeria and that has been the point they refused to discuss with Nigerians outside and inside Nigeria. Why do they continue to lie to Nigerians as if Nigeria was something created from the creation. Why do news media lie to Nigerians as if the Yoruba kingdom had not been in existence before the creation of Nigeria?

“When was Nigeria created? Let's go back and ask questions, so when we are saying we want to part from this contraption called Nigeria, why must they force us to stay? Who are the beneficiaries of this country?
There is no job, no industry, the economy is completely flawed, they are now saying they want to use $1.5 billion for a refinery that has not worked for a long time. Do you know what that amount of money will do if we invest into the local government areas in Nigeria, the 774 local government areas where the hospitals are not functional?

“You think we are joking? For every day we wake up, we wake up with different spirits, we are not the ones who’ll fight this war, you think you want to fight with me? Abati was talking about treasonable felony, we will see to that when we get there. People woke up this morning, some have died because of the negligence of this ‘shithole’ country, people have no comfort in this country anymore, people are dying every day, a governor was about to be killed. If a whole governor was about to be killed, why then are we talking about staying as one? Nigeria will divide very soon by God’s grace. They say we are in one unity, which unity?

“Unity that does not give an average Yoruba man access to the port authority, immigration and Chief of Defence, a position that should be spread around. This nepotism has been going on for too long and they keep telling us the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, who said so? You don’t know what we will do, you will all run, including the British.

“Young kids are on the streets, is that not enough for you to weep? They have no school, food, nothing and you ask us to be patient, Nigeria is not working. Go to Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo, people are suffering there, you think we are joking. God will fight, even idols will fight.”

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President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke has warned the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdul-Raman Abdulrasaq not to set the country on fire with the hijab crisis currently raging in the state.

On account of the degenerating security situation in the nation, the body also kicked against the tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. 

Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Instead, it demanded the immediate resignation of the IG as the police helmsman in the country. 

The PFN gave the warnings on Monday at Cornerstone City, Ibadan, through its President, Oke while separately hosting the Ekiti and Ondo chapters of the fellowship, led by Bishop Clement Abifade and Bishop Joshua Kolawole Opayinka respectively.

Oke said unless the hijab issue was handled with care, it could degenerate into a major crisis in the country, lamenting that most of the nation's travails were self-inflicted.

He warned the Kwara State Governor to avoid playing religious and divisive politics, saying, "I am appealing to Your Excellency, Mr Governor, to let the sleeping dog lie. Respect the tradition and feelings of others. Avoid divisive politics that can set this nation on fire." 

The cleric asserted that no amount of intimidation could cow Christians, adding, "Bring everybody together; don't force hijab on our people, they won't back down. Your Excellency, stoop to conquer; stoop for peace, stoop for harmony."

In the same vein, the PFN President advised Christians in the state and across the federation against taking laws into their hands; saying, "Stop violence. Say no to violence. You have the right to protest but there should be no violence."

Bishop Oke who urged them to be full of prayers, advised that whenever they were called for a dialogue, they must make themselves available to attend.

The cleric also decried the attempted assassination of the Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom, noting it showed the level of security degeneration in the country.

"The Inspector General of Police should resign immediately. He has overstayed his welcome. The Federal Government must investigate, arrest and bring to book all those claiming to be responsible for the attempt on Governor Ortom's life. This is unacceptable to us at PFN," he said

Oke added, "At PFN, we say no to the extension of the Inspector General of Police. This is because, his tenure has witnessed all manner of lawlessness and we see it as a reward for failure if his tenure is extended."

He promised his vistors that with their support and prayers, his leadership at the PFN would not be compromised in any form, assuring that he and his team would further serve God through the assignments at hand.

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The Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has warned Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho and others agitating for a sovereign Yoruba State to stay away from the state.

Just like Biafra agitators are seeking a breakaway of the South-East from Nigeria, some Yoruba campaigners are also agitating for the secession of the South-West from the country.

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Among those calling for South-West secession is Igboho, a self-acclaimed Yoruba activist.

Igboho had last Thursday, declared Yoruba as a separate nation and demanded the secession of South-West states from Nigeria. 

During his declaration, the self-acclaimed activist said the major resources of Nigeria were in the hands of Northerners, stressing that Yorubas were being killed and their land taken over.

“If the police attack us for that, we are ready for them. We do not want Nigeria again but the Yoruba nation. There is no essence for one Nigeria when the major resources in the country are in the hands of the northerners.

“Enough is enough. There is no going back… We are not scared of anybody. These killer herders are taking over our land and they are killing our people,” Igboho said.

Speaking while swearing in Princess Catherine Oladunni Odu as the new Secretary to the State Government on Monday, Akeredolu said Ondo people have elected to stay in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as constituted at present.

He said no part of the entire state, known and delineated as Ondo State, would permit any gathering or agitation which may suggest, however remotely, that the people are in support of what he termed ‘unthinking rabble rousing.

The governor said the state would not subscribe to banditry and recklessness in putting forth its demands.

He said the right of citizens to discuss, agitate and even fight to right perceived wrongs, culminating in self-determination, must be done within known and acceptable parameters and all concerned must agree to pursue the same objectives to achieve a desirable or desired end.

Akeredolu noted that the reasons for the declaration of hostilities must not be fleeting fancies of disaffection engendered by perceived politics of exclusion for personal benefits.
 

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Parents of the 39 kidnapped students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have taken to the streets to protest against the captivity of their sons and daughters by bandits.

During the protest, the parents and students blocked the Mando -Kaduna Airport Road leading to the school, demanding the immediate release of the students from the custody of their abductors.

They also issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government and security agencies to facilitate the return of the abductees.

Some colleagues of the victims also protested alongside the parents chanting “release our students” while they blocked vehicular movement.

The students were abducted on March 12, 2021.

A day after the abduction, a video surfaced online, where the students were seen sitting on the ground in an unknown location and guarded by armed men whose identities were concealed.

The victims, who were seen being tortured by the armed men, appealed to the government to rescue them.

The spokesperson for the aggrieved parents, Kambai Sam said the government has not done enough to rescue their children.

“We have put our trust in the government and the school authority to rescue the students in good time and safety but that has not happened.

“We as parents have not received any positive message from either the school management or the Minister for Environment under whose ministry the school is or the Kaduna State government under whose territorial jurisdiction the school is located.

“This silence is unacceptable as it only feeds our hopelessness with each passing day,” Sam said.

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The warehouses are nearly empty, with scanty goods and people who come at intervals. Some of the traders wobbled in disappointing silence while others form circles of jokes and discussions. In the past, that time of the day would have been the peak of the business bubbles. The warehouses would have been filled with people and goods, with money moving from hand to hand, bank account to bank account, and goods, from the warehouses to shops - but a lot has changed.

It is past 2 pm outside the warehouses, a man (identified as Okwudiri) noticed as he looks at his watch. He has sat in front of his shop since 8 am, waiting for customers. There is none. His phone has not rung from a customer's call either. Many of his colleagues take a walk in the hope of finding someone looking for an engine or any vehicle spare part to buy. The fact that they have not returned means that they haven't found one. He shakes his head in disappointment. In the past, customers used to wake him from sleep very early in the morning, but those days are gradually becoming a thing of nostalgia. 

That is the current situation in Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, a multibillion-naira vehicle spare parts market located in Mushin, a Lagos suburb. A lot had changed there since 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic putting the market's estimated $1.9 billion annual revenue in jeopardy.

Although in every conventional market in Nigeria, the impact of COVID-19 does not escape notice; there are scanty customers, scanty goods, and depleting business capitals. But like every other import-based market, the Ladipo market has an amplified case.

"You can stay for a whole day in the market and see no one to ask you; how much is this or that," Okwudiri said in fluent Igbo. 

"And sometimes when they do come, you will not have what they are looking for because goods have become scarce; importers are no longer travelling overseas to buy goods."

In December 2019, when COVID-19 became public knowledge in Wuhan, China, the world was oblivious of its impact on lives and economies. As the virus turned pandemic, forcing countries to initiate precautionary and safety measures to protect, foremost lives, and then businesses, it beckoned despair and tragic economic consequences. For Nigeria already grappling with a flawed health system and economic turmoil, the stakes became higher.

On February 27, 2020, when Nigeria recorded its index COVID-19 case, it came with a disproportionate size of anxiety based mainly on its perceived inability to contain the transmission and treat those infected. 

About 6,164 miles away in China, the government shut down cities and businesses as the number of cases rose significantly. The alarming increase was stoking other countries' eagerness to shut their borders and ports to prevent the further spread of the virus by travellers. But for economic consideration, many countries, especially in the west, hesitated, leaving the global supply chain window open, but it didn't last long.

By May 2020, almost every country in the world was in a race to shut its airports, borders and seaports. Nigeria was no exception. Ships were quarantined for two weeks following a safety protocol issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

By May 31, 2020, Nigeria had recorded 10,162 COVID-19 cases. Lagos was the epicentre of the pandemic forcing the government to impose a lockdown. That was the beginning of the plights of Ladipo traders. Spare parts importers were caught in their tracks. And as the last of the shipments from their previous trips were delivered, the scarcity of goods set in.

"It was the hardest time I have ever had to face in my time in this market," Okey, who works in one of the warehouses, recounts. "Everywhere was dry. After we survived the lockdown, there was no business, no goods, customers were not coming, and there's no work to do."

Before the pandemic, traders imported over 30 container shipments daily, each worth nearly N20 million.

The Ladipo market bubbles involve unloading these container shipments in different warehouses and selling them off to buyers in the shortest period possible. The buyers are mainly retailers who own shops within and outside the market. Through these activities, many earn a living – unloading goods from containers and moving them from the warehouses to customers' vehicles or the retailers' shop.

The travel restrictions resulted in a significant drop in the number of shipments coming into the market daily. Sales plunged; so did revenue, and not a few were out of business.

"Even overseas there, the governments initiated lockdown, and that's part of the problem. I have not travelled since the beginning of the pandemic," Sylvester Mogbo, CEO, S O Mogbo Motors Ent. Nig., who used to travel to the United States, said. 

"The few consignments I have managed to receive were possible because I sent money to someone over there, and he shipped the goods to me."

To keep the business going, the importers rely on their overseas partners, mostly Nigerians. They would send the money to their partners, allow them time to scout goods and ship them to Nigeria. It's a half-bread-is-better-than-none approach but with risks.

"Sending money comes with risks. You can send the money, and the person will ship whatever he likes to you. Because many people overseas don't really know what the Ladipo market needs, even when they're sent samples and given instructions, they will never get it the way you would if you travel yourself. And there is a delay in shipment now due to safety COVID-19 protocols that involve quarantining ships," Mogbo added. 

Ejike (a spare part merchant) who used to travel to Malaysia said, "The disadvantage is that the person you are sending the money to may have an ulterior motive. He can defraud you or start his own business with it."

He narrated the experience of a friend who waited longer than required for a consignment because his overseas partner nearly double-crossed him.

"It happened that his overseas contact used his money to make the shipment to another importer in Onitsha. It was until the Onitsha-based importer sold off the goods that his contact was able to make my friend's shipment to him. That's not quite long ago. That's part of the risks," he said.

He explained that another disadvantage is that overseas partners may inflate the price of goods. For instance, if the price is $500, he may add $50.

"But when you travel, under two weeks, you are done buying. You ship your goods and come back to Lagos to wait one or two months, depending on where the goods are coming from," he said.

Although overseas partners sometimes ship goods with their own money, counting on their Nigerian partners to sell and return the invested capital with profit, the availability of goods in the market depends mainly on Nigerian importers' ability to travel. They travel up to four times a year pre-pandemic era.

"When you travel, your turnover becomes faster because you know what the market needs and could easily find it. But when you send money to your partner, he will only make purchases based on the accompanying list. And it may take him more than a month," Ejike added.

For importers, retailers, and warehouse managers, COVID-19 has created a survival-of-the-fittest situation.

"COVID has ruined everything; no business, importers are not travelling, goods are not coming in. Before, we used to have over 20 containers weekly. But now, we'd be grateful to have three in a month. We that run warehouses are barely surviving; our overhead cost is increasing while business is decreasing. No turnover. We pay warehouse owners their rent fees without making close to what we are paying. We are running at a loss," Kenneth Aniche, a warehouse manager, lamented.

Nwanagu, Triumph Warehouse manager, said seeing one container to unload in a month had become difficult, unlike before, when they used to have as "many as 10 containers weekly."

The COVID-19-induced import challenges have spiked the cost of goods and services in the market. Before the outbreak, an average vehicle engine sold for around N300,000 now costs nearly N600,000, Mogbo explained.

"This means that business right now is left for those with huge capital. Many shop owners who used to buy up to 10 engines can only afford five or less. Those who used to buy three engines can no longer afford any," he disclosed.

Apapa gridlock and forex: Adding insult to injury

The importers also attributed the rising cost of auto spare parts to the instability of forex and the high cost of moving cargoes from the ports.

Mogbo said he spent N1.2 million to move a 40-feet container from Tin Can Island port to Ladipo Market in December, nearly the cost of shipping it from the United States. 

Congestion and gridlock at the port's terminals are a national menace both the federal and Lagos governments have struggled to contain. On April 25, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari created a task team chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to reduce the traffic. 

However, the traffic situation degenerated. The task team was accused of corruption and worsening an already terrible situation. Trucks piled up in queues, and the cost of haulage rose in Tin Can Island ports. In February 2020, the House of Representative resolved to probe truck drivers' extortion in Apapa port by law enforcement agents. 

The motion titled, 'Urgent Need to Investigate the Unwarranted Extortion of Truck Operators and Other Port Users by Law Enforcement Agents at Apapa Port,' was moved by Olusola Fatoba, representing Ado Ekiti Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency. Due to the traffic managers' illicit activities, he said, the trucks spent up to two months before gaining access into the terminal. That inflates the cost of haulage from the Apapa ports to every other part of the country. Fatoba added that truck operators pay as high as N300,000 to gain access into the port as the Task Force had turned traffic management into a cartel. 

"So you have one entrance and exit serving the busiest seaport in the country. Maybe 10 containers get out in a day. One thousand trucks are on the queue to get in; nobody is directing trucks to keep moving. There seem to be concerted efforts to keep the system moving slowly," Sam Hart, an importer who had goods to clear from the port, lamented.

He explained that the entire place could be at a standstill for two days.

"So it takes weeks for flatbed trailers to get to the front of the queue. The closer the trailer is to the loading point, the higher the bargain. Like ticket sales at rush hour. The driver you negotiated with last week can accept double what you offered and ditch your deal," he added.

With growing calls for the task force to be disbanded, in December 2020, the federal government handed the Apapa traffic management over to the Lagos government.

"After weeks of careful planning, I am pleased to announce that the presidential task team charged with the responsibility of the restoration of law and order on Lagos roads, leading to Apapa and around Lagos port and maritime logistics corridor, has successfully handed over its activities to the Lagos state government to be supported by the Lagos State Police Command," said Kayode Opeifa, the Vice Chairman of the task force.

Based on this assurance, the traffic-induced high cost of clearing that has contributed to the economic pains of Ladipo traders was expected to decline. 

Also, Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said on February 18 that drastic measures are taken to curtail the surging adversity of gridlock around the ports. She said an app, 'Eto,' was developed to remove human interference in the trucks call-up process, while seven parks are designated for the trucks to put them out of the roads.

"Sanitizing the ports corridor is to have a designated parking space. If you don't tell people where to park, they will park anywhere. So we have seven truck parks available in collaboration with the Lagos state government. It means that you can't go into the port if you are not parked in the truck park," she said.

With the electronic call-up system in place, road users and residents said Apapa routes had been cleared of trucks for the first time in many years. However, there is concern about how long the current situation will last, as other factors like bad access roads persist.

A chief executive officer of a logistic company who does not want to be named said it's too early for the electronic call-up system's success to be ascertained.

"This e-call-up system just started. It is too early to say if it's working or not. It's until all the trucks start operation fully that we can say whether they have gotten it right or not. And that will take weeks," he said.

On forex, Ejike said, "The price of the dollar keeps going up with each consignment. If you buy $1 for N475 today, it will be N485 or there about next time. It lessens the number of goods you will buy and makes the goods more expensive."

Nigeria's exchange rate disparity deteriorates further as the economy came under the pandemic's weight following the decline in oil revenue. The exchange crisis, characterized by internal foreign exchange shortages and consistent high black-market rates, has become the nightmare of import-based businesses.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has adjusted its FX policies to unify the exchange rate. The policies include the repeated devaluation of the naira, increased sales of dollar to bureau de change operators, lifting of the restriction on dollar circulation in the country, and the 'Naira 4 Dollar Scheme,' designed to stimulate dollar liquidity in Nigeria through diaspora remittances. The scheme offers diaspora remittances recipients through CBN's International Money Transfer Operators, N5, for every $1 received as remittance inflow. But these policies have done little or nothing to lessen the exchange disparity; the parallel market price keeps going up.

The overseas partners of Ladipo market importers have learnt to take advantage of the situation whenever the naira plunges. Instead of buying goods and shipping them to Nigeria, they send the foreign currency equivalent. The money gets sold in the parallel market. That way, they make more profit than they would have if they shipped goods and avoid the risk of incurring loss due to forex disparity.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Nigeria's current situation of multiple exchange rates and non-transparent rules for foreign exchange allocation creates uncertainties for the private sector. Unifying the various rates into one market-clearing rate would establish policy credibility.

"Sustained premiums in the parallel market and unmet foreign exchange demand indicate the need for further adjustment in the exchange rate to reduce the gap between supply and demand. An appropriately valued exchange rate and a clear exchange rate policy would also help instil confidence and private sector-led recovery," the IMF said.

Vaccine to the rescue

Mogbo, like other importers, said one of the fastest ways to get out of the predicament is COVID-19 vaccines because in overseas-destinations of Ladipo importers, there are still restrictions preventing life from returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, and it takes only vaccine passport for one to use more freedom.

Jonathan Nwinyinya, chief executive officer, Jona O Int., who used to travel to Europe, said COVID-19 safety restrictions contributed to the scarcity of vehicle spare parts in Europe, especially in Germany, currently experiencing its third wave of the pandemic.

"Goods are very scarce in Europe right now due to coronavirus, especially in Germany. Now our partners mainly buy from Poland, Norway and Denmark," he noted.

He explained that lockdowns and other safety restrictions limited the ability of their partners in Europe to scout for goods, and it has also increased the cost.

With this situation, the solution undoubtedly lies in vaccines. Still, with many countries yet to vaccinate most of their population, it's a solution farfetched, and Nigeria is more distant from the solution than other countries where Ladipo market importers travel.

So far, there have been only 10 vaccines licensed and approved for general use, but Nigeria lacks the financial and infrastructural capability to secure enough for her large population.

A member of the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID (CACOVID), the BUA Group, as a gesture beyond its corporate social responsibility, had paid for one million doses of vaccines for Nigeria in early February. In March this year, the country has begun giving the COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens.

The revival of the Ladipo market lies in importers getting their vaccine passport, a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination with QR code for authentication that affluent countries are currently hinting on as a compulsory document for future travels. Nigeria expects more vaccines in the near future, but they will come in quantities that will only cover a fraction of its population. With Nigeria's vaccine procurement's current prospect, Ladipo Market traders' economic adversity may linger into the distant future.

The number of container shipments coming into the Ladipo market has reduced by more than a half, which means about 60 percent of its $1.9 billion annual revenue lost to the pandemic.

Nwinyinya said the situation affected everyone in the market, no matter how large one's capital is. He said those who manage to have some goods are not selling enough because the parts have become more expensive and unaffordable for most customers. But the hardest hit are those with little capital. While some have succeeded in getting another business or job to do, others are barely surviving.

"Most of the shops are now empty; many traders can no longer pay for shops. If there are 10,000 people in Ladipo, three to four thousand are no longer in business. Many are just littering, looking for customers to hustle," he said.

He explained that although shipments come once or twice a year, importers who have trusted overseas partners who can make the shipments are fortunate because the rest of them are almost going bankrupt.

"If the situation continues like this for the next year, many people will leave Lagos for their respective villages," he lamented.

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The Arewa Youth Federation (AYF) has challenged Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to prove that he was attacked by Fulani herdsmen.

On Saturday, gunmen had opened fire on the governor’s convoy when he was returning from his farm.

While briefing the media about the attack, the governor had said Fulani herdsmen were behind it.

He said at a meeting of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Yola, Adamawa State, the group threatened to capture him alive.

But speaking with Daily Trust, AYF President, Adamu Kabir Matazu, wondered how Ortom arrived at that conclusion.

“We’ve seen attacks even against governors like was seen in the Boko Haram attack on Borno Governor Babagana Zulum and there was evidence.

“But Ortom did not provide any evidence. Criminals come from all segments of the society, and there was not any evidence that he was attacked let alone by Fulani herdsmen.”

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The paramount ruler of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi has said he will never be in support of Oduduwa Republic, accusing those agitating for it as enemies of Yorubaland.

Just like Biafra agitators are seeking a breakaway of the South-East from Nigeria, some Yoruba campaigners are also agitating for the secession of the South-West from the country.

Among those calling for South-West secession is Banji Akintoye, President of Yoruba World Congress (YWC) and Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, a self-acclaimed Yoruba activist.

Igboho had last Thursday, declared Yoruba as a separate nation and demanded the secession of South-West states from Nigeria. 

During his declaration, the self-acclaimed activist said the major resources of Nigeria were in the hands of northerners, stressing that Yoruba people were being killed and their land taken over.

“If the police attack us for that, we are ready for them. We do not want Nigeria again but the Yoruba nation. There is no essence for one Nigeria when the major resources in the country are in the hands of the northerners.

“Enough is enough. There is no going back… We are not scared of anybody. These killer herders are taking over our land and they are killing our people,” Igboho said.
Speaking in a video sighted by SaharaReporters, Oluwo said the agenda was to prevent the South-West from producing the best presidential candidate in 2023.

“Those demanding the secession of South-West states from Nigeria are enemies of Yorubaland, they don’t want us to rule Nigeria, why are they coming out now that it’s the turn of a Yoruba man to be the next president? This is our turn, they said they want to fight, burn down Lagos again.

“Lagos that is still being developed. They said they want war and plan to destroy everything again. We won’t allow them, not now at all. Definitely, a Yoruba man will be Nigeria’s next President come 2023. There is nothing anybody can do against that,” he said.
 

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