Month: January 2023

The poetics of Bola Tinubu’s palm kernel By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters
Bola Tinubu

Listen to Senator Bola Tinubu Wednesday last week in Abeokuta: “If you want to eat palm kernel, put a stone on the ground; put a palm nut on it, take another stone and smash it on the palm nut. The nut will be cracked and the kernel will come out. You can see that it is not easy to get palm kernel to eat.” The Yoruba who watched how he strung his words together and the histrionics while saying what I translated above would say I have not done enough…

Democracy without democrats, leadership without honour. By Owei Lakemfa

Emporium Reporters

IN Geneva, Switzerland, an acquaintance once apologised that he was some minutes late for our appointment because he went to vote that morning. Everywhere and everything appeared normal. There was no indication of voting going on. I reflected that back home, elections even at state level are emergencies in which curfew is imposed, movement restricted and the army, police, intelligence and other security services turned out on the streets.   In November, 2021, I was an observer at the elections in Venezuela. It was a Sunday because the Venezuelans would…

Niger Govt moves to tackle arbitrary pricing, scarcity of PMS

Emporium Reporters

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has directed the constitution of a Committee to monitor the artificial scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and its arbitrary pricing across the State. The constitution of the Committee by the Government followed the persistent fuel scarcity being witnessed in the State as a result of the arbitrary pricing and hoarding of the product. A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane revealed that the Committee is to ensure strict compliance with the approved allocation to filling…

FGM: Survivors narrate experiences dealing with absence of the clitoris

Emporium Reporters

With an estimated 20 million survivors, Nigeria has the third-highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide     One could almost feel the intensity of her emotions as Osarieme Oziegbe, 28, told the story of her birth and recalled the ugly consequences of the removal of her clitoris (genitalia) by a nurse in Benin City, Nigeria, as narrated to her by her mother.   The nurse had convinced Ms Oziegbe’s mother to circumcise the new baby as part of the cultural rites of the Binis. She…

DSS intercepts syndicates selling redesigned Naira notes ….. Bank officials fingered

Emporium Reporters

The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the new redesigned naira notes. In the course of its operations, the service also established that some Commercial Bank officials were aiding the economic malfeasance.   Sequel to this,the Service warned the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act. Also urged appropriate regulatory authorities to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address the emerging trends.   Meanwhile, the Service has ordered its Commands and formations to further ensure…

Change of Baton: Brig Gen YD Ahmed assumes duty as NYSC DG …. unfolds 5-point policy thrust,seeks staff support

Emporium Reporters

Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed has officially assumed duty as the 22nd Director General of National Youth Service Corps(NYSC).   He took over the mantle of leadership at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters (Yakubu Gowon House) in Maitama, Abuja, today, in a colorful handing over ceremony witnessed by NYSC Management, Staff, Corps Members, retinue of friends and family members of the Director General. General Ahmed stated that he was taking over the administration of the NYSC at a very unique time in history, as the Scheme will be 50 years old…

ITF Launches framework for National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System to tackle unemployment

Emporium Reporters

By Abdulateef Bamgbose     In a bid to tackle unemployment in the country, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has launched the first framework for National Apprenticeship and Traineeship System (NATS) to train youths on skills acquisition that will enable them to be self-reliant and add to national development in Abuja.   The Director General/Chief Executive, Sir Joseph Ari says that the launch is aimed at effectively deploying skills acquisition as a vehicle for combatting unemployment, reducing poverty and the overall growth and development of Nigeria. According to him, the…

JUST IN: House of Reps rejects 10-day extension of deadline for naira notes swap

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian House of Representatives has rejected the decision on extension of the naira swap deadline by 10 days despite the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele on Sunday said Buhari gave permission for the deadline to be extended to February 10. But in a swift reaction, the chairman of the adhoc committee mandated to interface with the CBN bank and commercial banks on the naira chaos, Alhassan Doguwa, rejected the extension, insisting that the CBN must comply with Sections 20 sub 3, 4,…

Flight Interest Rate, New Naira Note and Fuel Scarcity By Adefolarin A. Olamilekan

Emporium Reporters

Given the social, political and economic uncertainty that is projected by leading international bodies,from World Bank Group (W BG), International Monetary Funds (IMF) and World Economic Forum( WEF). For instance that of WEF was much more scary as it pin pointed a global risks that is eminent. WEF used data from the Global Risks Perception Survey 2022-2023 to highlight the risks the world was likely to face. This includes High cost of energy, food crises, debt burdens, and natural disaster. For instance WEF identified the cost-of-living crisis as the most…

FCT Police foil armed robbery in Kabusa area

Emporium Reporters

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in the early hours of January 28, 2023, at about 0440hrs, subdued an armed robbery incident in the Kabusa area of the FCT.     The prompt intervention of the police followed a distress call to the Kabusa Police Division about an armed robbery incident in the ECWA 2 community of Kabusa Village. Some of the exhibits recovered from the scene include one (1) Barreta Pistol, one (1) round of 9mm live ammunition, two (2) axes, one (1) mobile phone, and…