News & Announcements

The Governor, of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has announced that the bank would release re-designed Naira notes by December 15, 2022.

He also said that existing notes would seize to be regarded as legal tender by January 31, 2023.
Emefiele disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

The CBN said that it is worrisome that 85 percent of the currency in circulation is being hoarded by Nigerians.

He further urged Nigerians to proceed to their banks to deposit their Naira notes, adding that the deposit fee would be waived for transactions below N150,000.
Emefiele added that the redesigning of Naira notes would help to curb counterfeit notes, as well as hamper ransom payments to terrorists and kidnappers.

On his first full day as PM, Rishi Sunak will meet his new cabinet Wednesday morning before facing opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer in PMQs at midday.
Sunak spoke of the need to unite his party and a number of Liz Truss’s cabinet have kept their roles – including James Cleverly as foreign secretary, reports the BBC.

But Therese Coffey, a close friend of the former prime minister, was demoted from deputy PM to environment secretary.

Key figures in Boris Johnson’s government, including Michael Gove and Dominic Raab, have also returned to cabinet roles.
Jeremy Hunt remains as chancellor – he took on the role after Kwasi Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-budget, swiftly scrapping most of it.

Suella Braverman is reappointed as home secretary, a week after resigning from the same role, and Grant Shapps replaces Jacob Rees-Mogg as business secretary.
Sunak’s former leadership rival Penny Mordaunt remains the leader of the House of Commons.

President Joe Biden said Russia would be making a “serious, serious mistake” should it deploy a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine, his latest warning to President Vladimir Putin against escalating the months-long conflict.

Top administration officials are working to decipher Moscow’s claims that Kyiv is preparing to use a dirty bomb on the ground in Ukraine, an allegation that Western leaders have called false.
The claims have nonetheless raised fears Russia could be laying the groundwork to launch such an attack as a pretext for escalating the war in Ukraine, a prospect Biden offered a sharp warning against in brief remarks Tuesday.

“I spent a lot of time today talking about that,” Biden said when questioned about Russia’s intentions.
“Let me just say Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake if it were to use a tactical nuclear weapon,” he went on. “I’m not guaranteeing that it’s a false flag operation yet. We don’t know. It would be a serious, serious mistake.”

Biden was speaking after receiving a Covid booster shot at the White House.
Without providing any evidence, Moscow claimed this week there are scientific institutions in Ukraine housing the technology needed to create a dirty bomb – and accuses Kyiv of planning to use it.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a briefing on Monday that it has information showing that Kyiv is planning a provocation related to the detonation of a dirty bomb.

Russia’s allegations have been strongly refuted by Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO, which have in turn accused Moscow of trying to launch its own false-flag operation.

American officials have said they do not see evidence that Russia is currently preparing to use an unconventional weapon, such as a dirty bomb, on the battlefield in Ukraine. Nor do they see evidence that Putin has decided on using one.

Eleven people, mostly children, have perished in a blaze that tore through a dormitory at a school for the blind in Uganda in the early hours of Tuesday as pupils were sleeping.
“The cause of the fire is currently unknown but so far 11 deaths as a result of the fire have been confirmed while six are in critical conditions and admitted (to hospital),” the Uganda Police Force said on Twitter.

The disaster occurred at about 1 am (2200 GMT Monday) at the Salama School for the Blind in the Mukono district, east of the capital Kampala.
Police said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the inferno and more details would be released later.

“Most of the dead are children at the school and our sympathies go to the parents,” Internal Affairs Minister General Kahinda Otafiire told AFP.
He said the school has been cordoned off as a “crime scene” and vowed that there would be a full investigation.

“As a government, we shall go to the root cause of the fire and if there are any culprits they will be apprehended and the law will take its course,” he added.
The school’s headmaster Francis Kirube, who is also blind, told AFP the flames swept through the dormitory as the pupils slept.

Images broadcast on Ugandan television showed a charred but still largely intact building where the fire broke out, its window frames and door blackened and the corrugated roof damaged.
Forensic teams were seen in white protective gear at the school while grieving parents gathered nearby.
– ‘He is gone’ –Richard Muhimba, the distraught father of one of the dead children, told AFP: “No words can explain the pain I am going through.

“I visited my child on Saturday, he was in good health, and in less than three days he is gone… Please give me time to go through this pain,” said Muhimba, before hanging up.
A friend told AFP that the child was aged 15 and that Muhimba was a father of five.
Salama was built in April 1999 by the local government in Mukono and catered to children and young adults between the ages of six to 25.

Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles III, had been due to visit the school during her trip this week to Uganda, which marked its 60th anniversary of independence from Britain earlier this month.
The East African nation has suffered a string of deadly school fires in recent years.
In November 2018, 11 boys perished and another 20 suffered severe burns in a suspected arson attack at a boarding school in southern Uganda.

In April 2008, 18 schoolgirls burned to death along with one adult when a fire engulfed their dormitory at a junior school near the Ugandan capital.
In March 2006, at least 13 children were killed and several hurt when a fire razed an Islamic school in western Uganda. In July of the same year, six children died in a similar fire in the east.

Britain’s Boris Johnson on Sunday dramatically ended an audacious bid to return to power within weeks of having been ousted, announcing he would not run to replace outgoing leader Liz Truss.
The surprise decision, which the ex-leader said he had reached reluctantly after recognizing he would not lead “a united party in parliament”, removes a major obstacle to his political foe, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, becoming prime minister.

That could now happen as soon as Monday.
Johnson, 58, said he had reached out to both Sunak and cabinet member Penny Mordaunt — who launched her leadership campaign on Friday — to “come together in the national interest”.
But the three of them had “not been able to work out a way of doing this”, he added.
“Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds,” he said in a statement.

“I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.”
Earlier Sunday, Sunak formally announced he was standing for the top job, just weeks after having failed in a first attempt.
The former finance minister vowed “integrity, professionalism, and accountability” and to lead Britain out of a “profound economic crisis”.

“I want to fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country,” he said in a short statement posted on Twitter confirming his widely expected candidacy.
The Tories have been forced into a second, this time expedited, leadership contest since the summer following Truss’s resignation after only 44 disastrous days into her tenure over her calamitous tax-slashing mini-budget.

Johnson had cut short a Caribbean holiday to return to Britain Saturday to try to stage a political comeback less than two months after leaving office.
He was reportedly lobbying Conservative colleagues ahead of a Monday afternoon deadline to secure the 100 nominations required to face a vote of the Tories’ 357 MPs.

In his statement, he said he had met the threshold by gathering 102 nominations, after being “overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the… leadership”.
There was “a very good chance” he could win the race — to be decided by the approximately 170,000 party members this week if a run-off is held.

“But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do,” he added.
“You can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament.”
Johnson, who only relinquished power in early September following a government revolt over a slew of scandals, is still seen as the grassroots’ favourite.

Sunak had raced ahead in the count for Tory MPs’ support, drawing backing from across the parliamentary party and crossing the minimum threshold Friday.
He currently boasts the public backing of 146 Tory lawmakers, according to a BBC tally. The publicly declared support for Johnson ran at 57, and 23 for Mordaunt.

The United States embassy in Nigeria has warned Americans in the country to be cautious of their movement in response to an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja.
In a security alert issued on Sunday, the US advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel or movement, stay alert and avoid crowds.

The statement read, “There is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically in Abuja. Targets may include but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations.

“The U.S. Embassy will offer reduced services until further notice. Actions to Take: Avoid all non-essential travel or movement. Stay alert. Avoid crowds.
“Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency. Carry proper identification.”

Similarly, the United Kingdom, on Sunday, updated its terrorism alert to citizens in Nigeria.
The UK warned of an increased threat of terrorist attacks in the federal capital territory.
UK citizens were admonished to stay alert, “consider movements carefully, follow the local news and the advice of security authorities.”

The foreign travel advisory cautioned against visits to markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, football viewing centers, displacement camps, transport terminals (including train networks), government buildings — and schools.

Recall that there was tension in Abuja months ago when terrorists overran the Kuje Correctional Centre and set free 800 inmates, including all the Boko Haram suspects in detention.
After that, troops of the Presidential Guards Brigade were killed in an ambush within the nation’s capital.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had ordered a beef up of security in the Federal Capital Territory in order to fortify the nation’s capital against terrorists.

Britain’s King Charles III on Tuesday appointed new Conservative leader Rishi Sunak as the second Prime Minister of his reign, shortly after accepting the resignation of Liz Truss.

Rishi Sunak on Tuesday became Britain’s third Prime Minister this year and the first person of colour to lead the former imperial power, vowing to mend its stricken finances after Liz Truss lasted just 49 days.
Sunak spoke outside 10 Downing Street after his appointment by King Charles III, capping the latest extraordinary twist in UK politics following Boris Johnson’s resignation in July.

Departing Downing Street a little before, Truss wished Sunak “every success” and said she remained “more convinced than ever” that Britain needed to be “bold” in confronting the challenges it faced.
Sunak became the ruling Conservatives’ new leader on Monday after triumphing over rival contender Penny Mordaunt, who failed to secure enough nominations from Tory MPs. It became a two-way fight after Johnson dramatically aborted a comeback attempt late Sunday, failing to persuade Sunak to share power. He has maintained a deafening silence since.

Sunak, a Hindu, is the first British-Indian Prime Minister and, at 42, the youngest leader in more than two centuries.

US President Joe Biden called the choice “groundbreaking” and vowed to reach out to Sunak shortly.
Sunak took power in a morning audience with Charles, who anointed his first prime minister since ascending the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Rishi Sunak has emerged as the new Leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party.
According to an announcement made by Sir Graham Brady, only one nomination was received by the 1922 Committee for the new leader of the party and backed by 100 MPs.

Sir Brady, therefore, declared Sunak to be the next party leader, and consequently the new Prime Minister.
He confirmed that the new Tory leader Rishi Sunak will address MPs at 14:30 BST.
Earlier, one of the contenders for the UK top job, Penny Mordaunt, had announced his withdrawal from the race, leaving Sunak as the sole candidate for the position.

Mordaunt, in a statement, said, “Our Party is our membership. Whether we are elected representatives, activists, fundraisers or supporters. We all have a stake in who our leader is.
“These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest, it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today. They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country.

“Members should know that this proposition has been fairly and thoroughly tested by the agreed 1922 process.
“As a result, we have now chosen our next Prime Minister. This decision is a historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi has my full support.

“I am proud of the campaign we ran and grateful to all those, across all sides of our party, who gave me their backing. We all owe it to the country, to each other, and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation. There is much work to be done.”
Triumph for 42-year-old Sunak came after Johnson’s decision late Sunday to abandon his political comeback bid.

Just weeks after he lost out to Liz Truss to lead the ruling Tories, Sunak, therefore, pulled off a stunning reversal in fortunes.
Addressing members of his party behind closed doors after the announcement, Sunak reportedly received a rapturous reception.
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, whose nationalist government in Edinburgh wants to hold an independence referendum next year, was among the first to congratulate Sunak.

“I wish him well… notwithstanding our political differences,” she said.
“That he becomes the first British Asian — indeed the first from any minority ethnic background — to become PM is a genuinely significant moment,” she said.

The contest, triggered by outgoing leader Truss’s resignation on Thursday, had required candidates to secure the support of at least 100 Conservative MPs by 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday.
Only Sunak made the threshold, Brady announced.
Sunak, a wealthy Hindu descendant of immigrants from India and East Africa, had crossed that threshold by Friday night and amassed nearly 200 public nominations — more than half the parliamentary Tory party.

Johnson’s withdrawal from the race — before he had even formally announced his candidacy — left cabinet member Mordaunt the only other declared contender.
However, she failed to garner the necessary support, putting an abrupt end to the contest.

– ‘First British Asian PM’ –Sunak’s victory came on the day Hindus worldwide marked the start of the five-day festival of Diwali — a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

When he was chancellor of the exchequer, in November 2020, Sunak marked the occasion by lighting oil lamps on the front step of the chancellor’s official residence at 11 Downing Street.
The Tories were forced into their second leadership contest since the summer due to Truss’s resignation after only 44 days following a disastrous market response to her tax-slashing mini-budget.
Truss — who pledged Sunak her “full support” — had replaced Johnson in early September following a government revolt led by Sunak over a slew of scandals, most notably the “Partygate” controversy involving Covid lockdown-breaching parties.

Johnson’s attempt to make an immediate return to Downing Street had raised the prospect of months of disarray and disunity within the ruling Conservatives.
Critical backbench Tory MPs warned there could have been a wave of resignations under Johnson’s renewed leadership, which might have led to the general election demanded by opposition parties. One is not due for at least two years.

Johnson had cut short a Caribbean holiday to return to Britain on Saturday.
But in a sign of his diminished political standing, Johnson swiftly conceded late Sunday, admitting “you can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament”.

“I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time,” he said while insisting he had secured the 100 nominations needed to progress.

Sunak was quick to pay tribute to Johnson, tweeting: “I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad.”

Following the death of a South-Africa-based Nigerian, Gabriel Nwankwo, the Consul General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, Andrew Idi, has led his team to pay a courtesy visit to the wife of the deceased.
Nwankwo who was reportedly killed on October 13, 2022, at East and West Axis Point, South Beach, Durban, fathered four children and was the husband to a South-African wife, Stephany Nwankwo.
Nwankwo died just three days after the wife celebrated his birthday via a Facebook post.

On Friday, October 14, 2022, she took to the same social media platform to express her ‘heartfelt’ condolences, saying, “At this moment, I can’t get myself thoughts are going through my mind it’s the worst day of my life may your soul rest in peace my other half God knows why I will always love you (sic).
In another post, the wife wrote, “Playing the blame game what happened I am trying my best if you don’t see it it’s your problem (sic).

The death of Stephany’s husband has led her into consistent grief and aberration of the situation that she couldn’t stop making a series of posts on her Facebook wall to mourn her lover.
Barely 24 hours ago, she wrote, “In my heart, you made heaven, rest on, Saint,” adding another, “Chaii”.
Meanwhile, the Consulate General of Nigeria had earlier noted with great concern reports of violent killings of Nigerian nationals in KwaZulu-Natal province, Durban.

In a public notice dated October 17, 2022, the Nigerian envoy expressed sadness over the “condemnable, unnecessary and utterly callous” murders which happened in the last three weeks.
The consulate general said the mission is confident that the South African Police Service will conduct full and thorough investigations into the murders.

“It is pertinent to enjoin all Nigerians residing in KwaZulu-Natal Province to remain calm, security conscious, and law-abiding.
“To this end, it is advised that Nigerians should endeavor to avoid flash points and immediately report any threat to life and property to the police,” he maintained.

The convoy of popular Nigerian cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman, senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministries International was attacked by gunmen on Friday.
The attack happened along the Benin Auchi Road, Edo State, as seven persons including three policemen were killed.

During the attack, the gunmen reportedly opened fire on his convoy, allegedly killing three of his police orderlies and four other yet-to-be-identified persons.
Suleman’s lawyer, Samuel Amune, who confirmed the attack to this newspaper, said the cleric just returned from a program in Tanzania, adding that he escaped death by a whisker.

He said, “He was returning from a journey and he had almost gotten to the shores of Auchi when some assassins attacked him. Three of his police orderlies, among others, died. He traveled before and just finished a program in Tanzania the day before yesterday.

“He was returning to Auchi when the gunmen attacked him along Sabingida down to the Warake area, and Auchi shares a direct boundary with Warake. So, he had passed Warake and was entering the boundaries of Auchi when the attack happened.”

A close aide to the cleric who also confirmed the attack said: “It’s true. They attacked him (Suleman); seven people including policemen were killed. The country is not safe; our can people move around with guns at the express and they are not detected. It is a disturbing situation.”