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A bill seeking to revive and provide a framework to regulate the Igbo apprenticeship scheme known as ‘Igba Boi’ has passed a second reading at the Anambra House of Assembly. The bill, ‘Anambra State Igbo Apprenticeship Bill 2024,’ was sponsored by Ejike Okechukwu, a member representing Anaocha Constituency II. In his submission, Mr Okechukwu said that if the apprenticeship scheme were regulated, it would become lucrative and reduce the rate of unemployment. He said the apprenticeship system was a major source of employment in the South-East in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, as many youths were absorbed into it. According…

The leadership of United Abia Artistes and Patriots Forum (UAAP) has congratulated the Chairman Abia Warriors Football Club Chief John Obuh on his birthday. In the press release signed by the UAAP President Amb. Dr. Osita Osita and UAAP General Secretary Comrade Emenike Iroegbu, the organization, appreciated God for the life of Chief John Obuh and prayed for a long life and prosperity for the legendary coach. “Chief Obuh is an outstanding and foundational member of UAAP, and our culture is to always celebrate our own and wish them well at all times”. “Obuh was appointed the chairman of Abia…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, has condemned the abduction of a Lagos-based journalist and editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji by suspected soldiers. Olatunji, a veteran journalist was whisked away last Friday by ten armed men from his Lagos home and till date has not been found, causing panic about his health condition and whereabout. Assistant National Secretary of the NUJ, Akorede Rauph Opeyemi in a statement on Tuesday, described Olatunji’s abduction as another threat to freedom of the press. The statement read “the disappearance of Segun Olatunji, the editor of First News newspapers is another sad reminder of the danger…

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Wednesday, visited the Barkin-Iku Suleja Central Mosque, located along the Suleja–Kaduna road in Niger State. In a statement via his official X handle on Thursday, Obi said his visit to the mosque is a continuation of his nationwide tour to identify and share with the Muslim faithful during this sacred Ramadan season. Obi said during the visit, he was able to offer aid to about 100 individuals, break the Ramadan fast with about 1000 individuals, and share a meal with the devout Muslim community. He wrote: “In continuation…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the National Assembly’s constant summons could disturb and distract his appointees from carrying out their primary duties. The Nigerian leader asked the lawmakers to be accommodating enough and ‘let the poor breathe’. President Tinubu stated this during the Ramadan fast-breaking event in Abuja on Wednesday, March 20. At the religious event, Tinubu acknowledged the importance of oversight in ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. However, he said that excessive summoning of officials can lead to disruptions in operations and affect service delivery to citizens. Tinubu advised lawmakers to exercise discretion in carrying out…

Police operatives of the FCT Command have arrested a pregnant woman after she faked her kidnap, with the husband paying the sum of N2 million ransom for her release. However, since the husband already reported the kidnap to the Police, investigation later revealed that the pregnant woman connived with her boyfriend to perpetrate the act. She later gave N800,000 to the boyfriend as his share, while she took N1.2 million. FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, made this known at a briefing. He disclosed that N793,500 cash was later recovered from them after arrest. He said: “On 11 March 2024 at…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that all valid foreign exchange backlogs of $7 billion have now been settled, fulfilling a key pledge of its Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardosoo. In a statement on Wednesday, the apex bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, in Abuja confirmed that independent auditors from Deloitte Consulting meticulously assessed these transactions, ensuring that only legitimate claims were honoured. She said that the CBN recently concluded the payment of $1.5 billion to settle obligations to bank customers, effectively settling the residual balance of the FX backlog. At a recent meeting, Governor Cardoso…

President Bola Tinubu has suspended all public funded foreign trips, with effect from 1st of April, 2024. The suspension was contained in a circular signed by the Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President and sighted by The Whisperer, on Thursday morning. The circular SH/ COS/ 63/1A/ 5746 and dated 12th March, 2024, was addressed to Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, for onward circulation to all the MDAs The President said the move is part of the administration’s cost saving measures, which are also intended to make all heads of MDAs, “ focus on effective…

Following the directive of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Sanctions Committee on Monday, March 18, revealed the identities of 15 entities including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change firms that have been sanctioned over alleged terrorism financing. The nine individuals under sanctions are 1. Tukur Mamu 2. Yusuf Ghazali 3. Muhammad Sani 4. Abubakar Muhammad 5. Sallamudeen Hassan 6. Adamu Ishak 7. Hassana-Oyiza Isah 8. Abdulkareem Musa, 9. Umar Abdullahi The six BDCs and firms are 10. West and East Africa General Trading Company Limited 11. Settings Bureau De Change Limited 12. G. Side General Enterprises 13. Desert Exchange…