I Can’t Feed My Family Again, I Make N20,000 Daily But Spend N17,000 On Fuel — Taxi Driver Laments

A commercial driver identified as Wahab Ajibaye based in Ilorin, Kwara State has expressed frustration over the rising fuel prices, saying it has left him struggling to provide for his family.

Despite earning N20,000 daily, Ajibaye says he takes home only N3,000 after fuel expenses, leaving him unable to cater to his children and wife.

He said: “I am buying fuel for N1100 and I make N20,000 (daily) but I take only N3,000 with me to my house (after work). I am the owner of my car but I am no longer making enough to cater to my children and my wife. The All Progressives Congress (APC) government will not end well. Nigeria is becoming worse and we pray God takes away this set of current leaders.”

Ajibaye blamed the ruling APC government for the hardship faced by Nigerians, saying, “Their government is bringing more suffering. They’re not ashamed, despite many Nigerians cursing them. They should rethink.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had recently agreed that the policies initiated by President Bola Tinubu resulted in growing economic hardships in Nigeria.

The party in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka had said this, while responding to a former national vice chairman (North West) of the party, Salihu Mohammed Lukman.

Recall that Lukman had berated the party for bad governance, adding that former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have failed to deliver on their campaign promises.

Lukman, therefore, urged opposition leaders to unite and work hard to defeat the APC-led government in 2027.

But reacting, Morka in a statement on Tuesday argued that President Tinubu was taking bold measures to reset the country’s “long broken economy”, explaining that his reforms had increased economic hardship in the country.

Again, President Tinubu Goes Missing In Transit

President Bola Tinubu’s overseas travels and exact whereabouts have again become a subject of speculation. On August 29, Tinubu embarked on a trip to China, and Nigerians were told he would make a brief stopover in Dubai. He suddenly reappeared in London on Wednesday.

He had landed in Beijing in the early hours of September 1. He had a busy week meeting and signing agreements with Chinese political and business leaders on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The President concluded his official engagements in China by meeting with Nigerians living in the country on September 5. He left China the same day.

Since then, Nigerians have not been told exactly where he was until he visited King Charles III on Wednesday. A State House statement on September 6 said that the President had directed that victims of the Maiduguri flood should be evacuated, and relief provided. The statement neglected to indicate where the President was issuing orders from.

It is disturbing that citizens do not know the whereabouts of their President. The office of the President is a public trust, and citizens have a right to know where the President is. Between his departure from Beijing and appearance in London, no explanations were offered. Such evasiveness is below the Presidency.

This is not the first time that Tinubu has given Nigerians the slip. On April 23, the President travelled to The Netherlands to visit the then Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, before journeying on to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum held between April 28 and 29.

Six days after the event, he had not returned, and Nigerians started asking questions which were met with silence by the Presidency until May 8 when it revealed that Tinubu would be returning from Europe the next day.

On January 24, Tinubu left for a “private visit” to France details of which were shrouded in secrecy and set off health rumours until his return after two weeks. On August 19, Tinubu flew for the first time in the new presidential jet to Paris, France, for what the Presidency described as a brief work stay, details of which were not given. He returned after three days.

While the President has been away, the home front has been in disarray with the petrol crisis lingering for over a month and floods overtaking many states including Borno and Bauchi. Terrorists and bandits have been running riot as usual. Such situations require the leader of the country to be on the ground, rallying a response and finding solutions, not taking extended holidays.

The President should appreciate the weight of his responsibilities. Pontificating in China about the necessity of petrol subsidy removal being the magic wand to bridge the country’s massive infrastructure deficit when citizens at home are spending 16 hours in petrol queues is insensitive.

It is inconceivable that the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and China will not account for their whereabouts to citizens.

Tinubu has continued in the disdainful tradition of his predecessors, taking Nigerians for granted. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua spent months in foreign hospitals in a vegetative state while his aides lied to Nigerians about his ability to function in office until he died in May 2010. Former President Muhammadu Buhari spent 225 days abroad on medical trips without any accounting to the citizens.

In a presidential system, the office of the President is of utmost importance as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The president of the United States travels around with the country’s nuclear codes. Americans know where he is always.

Democracy means accountability and Tinubu should know. A penchant for the President to undertake surreptitious visits to foreign capitals diminishes the office.

Again, Lagos Government Shuts Quilox, Over Noise Pollution

 

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, on Saturday, shut down a popular nightclub, Quilox, on Ozumba Nbadwe Street, Victoria Island, for organising an event without a sound control permit.

 

 According to a statement on Sunday, the enforcement exercise, which was jointly carried out by LASEPA and the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (task force), took place around 4 pm.

The club is owned by Shina Peller, a member of the House of Representatives representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency in Oyo State.

Similarly, the club was sealed off by LASEPA on December 23, 2019 over noise pollution and traffic congestion.

The General Manager of LASEPA, Dolapo Fasawe, on Sunday disclosed that the club was again shut down over non-compliance with the law on obtaining a sound control permit.

She said the agency received several distress calls with video evidence from concerned neighbours on the alleged environmental nuisance constituted by the club.

“To avert situations like this, we recently held a stakeholders’ parley with the owners and chief executive officers of night clubs in the state to address the issue of noise pollution during the festive period. The state, in its magnanimity, compassionately increased the decibels to accommodate leisure and hospitality business interest,” she said.

“We urged them to apply for sound control permits to enable us to reach out and notify the host community of the intended programme and further deploy our officials to the venue for proper monitoring and prevention of excessive noise pollution.”

Fasawe noted that an invitation was extended to Quilox management, like every other stakeholder, which was ignored by the club.

 

Again, Another Assistant Superintendent Of Police Stabs Colleague To Death In Nigeria

 

A yet-to-be-identified Assistant Superintendent of Police has stabbed his colleague to death in Kebbi State.

The deceased, identified as Shuaibu Sani Malumfashi, an ASP, was said to have been killed following a misunderstanding between the duo.

He was the Divisional Crime Officer 11 of the Argungu Divisional Police Station in Kebbi before his death.

It was reported that the officer who stabbed the deceased is currently in custody.

Recall CelebrityWatch had earlier reported on Monday that a police Inspector, Ugwor Samuel, attached to a member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, had been shot dead.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday at Umuahia, the state capital.

Further report says that the deceased Inspector was shot dead by his fellow policeman, Inspector Atule Benedict, who is attached to the same lawmaker, Onwusibe.

An aide to the lawmaker who witnessed the incident told said trouble started when the deceased had a misunderstanding with his colleague over a comment on the attitude of Inspector Atule.

“Atule reacted angrily and there was an altercation which led Inspector Atule to take his gun and shoot the deceased Inspector,” the aide said.

The aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said efforts to disarm Atule by other policemen in their team failed, and that he threatened to kill “more policemen if they come close to him”.

The police later confirmed the killing of Inspector Ugwor Samuel and described the incident as unfortunate and barbaric.

Again! Tinubu Missing As Presidential Candidates Sign Peace Accord In Abuja Ahead Of 2023 Election

 

Presidential candidates of political parties in the 2023 elections have today in Abuja signed a peace accord with the National Peace Committee as campaigns officially kick off on Wednesday. Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, was, however, conspicuously missing at the highly symbolic ceremony set to signpost the preferred direction for next year’s power transition.

 

The event which held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja featured Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Kwankaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) among others.

 Mr Tinubu, who was absent for an undisclosed reason, was represented by the APC vice presidential candidate Kashim Shettima.

 However, Tinubu’s absence has triggered reactions among social media users as many are questioning Tinubu’s credibility to run for the seat of the number one citizen of Nigeria.

 

Again: Terrorists Attack Guards Brigade Soldiers In Abuja

Scores of terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) on Thursday night attacked soldiers of the Guards Brigade at the Zumu Rock, Madalla area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This is the second attack within 48 hours on the sit of power targeted at the elite brigade responsible for the safety of Presidential Villa, military formations and other critical national assets housing top hierarchy of government

The attacks came days after terrorists who kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna train passengers some months ago released a video where they threatened to kidnap President Buhari.

It was learnt that Thursday night’s attack occurred few minutes past 9pm at the 102 Guards Battalion along the Abuja/Kaduna expressway.

The terrorists were said to have gunned down some of the soldiers on duty in an attempt to take over the barracks but were later overpowered as reinforcement troops were drafted from closest police, military formations.

Hours before the attack, Nigerians on Twitter who reside in that axis raised alarm about heavy shooting around the Zuma Rock area with some alleging that criminals were kidnapping people.

It was learnt that all the barracks in the FCT are on red alert as the authorities have ordered soldiers to defend the city.

Sources said the battle lasted over 30 minutes and caused gridlock

Again! Many Injured As Unknown Gunmen Attack Owo, Second Time In 7 Weeks

 

Residents Ondo state have been thrown into panic as unknown gunmen attack the ancient town again.

This is coming barely seven weeks after terrorists attacked worshippers at Owo, in Ondo state.

Many people were said to have been injured in the attack which took place Wednesday evening, at Folahami Junction, where a construction company called Craneburg Construction Company was located.

It was reported that the gunmen opened fire on those at the site.

Further report also claimed that some explosives devices were also used during the attack.

However, the casualty figure was yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report but many people were said to be injured in the attack.

Again! NDLEA Uncovers N22billion Tramadol Imported By Drug Baron Linked To Embattled DCP, Abba Kyari

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said that ongoing investigation of a billionaire drug baron, Chief Afam Mallinson Ukatu, has led to the discovery of how the suspect imported into Nigeria in a single month, October 2019, two containers containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol with market value of over N22billion.

 

The Agency stated this in a statement on Tuesday 3rd May to counter insinuations by some hirelings that NDLEA has no evidence to pin a crime on Ukatu, who is the Chairman/CEO of Mallinson Group of companies.

After months of surveillance, Ukatu was eventually arrested on board a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja on Wednesday 13th April.

Investigations reveal he’s been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit. Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.

The Agency said in the course of investigating the N3billion Tramadol saga between Ukatu and the Abba Kyari’s IRT team, its operatives have unearthed more evidences establishing how Ukatu has been importing large quantities of Tramadol far above the approved threshold allowed into the country.

In one instance, Ukatu through his Mallinson Group of companies imported into the country two-conatiner loads of five different brands of Tramadol in October 2019 through the Apapa ports in Lagos.

 

Again, EFCC Arrests Cubana Chief Priest For Alleged Money Laundering

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Nigerian socialite Cubana Chief Priest on charges bordering on money laundering and tax fraud, officials familiar with the matter said.

Pascal Okechukwu, his real name, was arrested at the Lagos airport on Thursday, but anti-graft officials hushed the development amidst pressure from his associates and family, who said the matter could complicate conditions for others likely connected to the alleged racket.

Mr Okechukwu’s arrest has made it impossible for him to return birthday greetings from his nearly four million Instagram followers, Peoples Gazette understand, with only his wife being permitted to see him in custody.

It was not immediately clear when he would be granted bail or the level of information officials had been able to squeeze from him as of Saturday night.

“The matter is still under investigation,” a source said anonymously.

Cubana Chief Priest has gained nationwide acclaim as an ambassador for many national brands, including Bullet and LVMH.

His arrest came weeks after another socialite Obi Cubana was arrested by the anti-narcotics agency NDLEA.

Ukraine Invasion: I Don’t Know Yet Whether I Will Ever Set My Foot In Ukraine Again – Adelaja

Pastor Sunday Adelaja has been living in Ukraine for 36 years, and within those years, he rose to become one of the most influential pastors in the country. He built “the biggest church in the country” that boasted of thousands of members. But now, he has to leave everything behind because of the crisis currently rocking the country, and he doesn’t know whether he will ever set his foot in Ukraine again.

In a recent interview with BBC, Pastor Adelaja said that people are talking about leaving, but it is not easy as they put it. He said that leaving means that he is leaving his entire life and everything he has ever worked for behind.

He said that he built the largest church in Ukraine that cost millions, and that he feels sad that he has to leave all his members and his house with everything inside it behind.

He said that his wife only managed to take toothpaste and a few other items, and that they escaped with a car. He said that this is an experience he cannot even wish upon his enemy.

He said that he would have stayed behind if he was just an “ordinary person”. And that several Africans and Ukrainians are hiding in the basement in his house now. He said that he and his wife had to escape from the country because of his profile.

He said that he left Nigeria when he was 19 years old, and that things will never remain the same for him again.

Pastor Sunday Adelaja made headlines a day ago when he cried out that he was on the hit list of Russian President Vladimir Putin, following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian troops.

In the report which was made by Daily Post and other verified news platforms, he alleged that he got to know from American intelligence that Russia has a list of people to eliminate, and that he is on that list.

He said that he knew he would be on the list because he has been a personal enemy of Putin for over 20 years, and that Putin even banned him from going to Russia.

War is bad. It destroys things that people used years to build. We pray that the crisis between Russia and Ukraine will soon come to an end.

 

Breaking: Again, Court Shifts Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

Nnamdi Kanu’s trial has been rescheduled from January 19 to January 18, 2022.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja rescheduled Kanu’s trial on Thursday, Dec. 2.

The shift in the trial date followed the abridgment of time granted by the judge following a passionate plea to that effect.

Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had approached the court with an application seeking an order of the court to accommodate the trial in November and December this year as against the earlier fixed January 19.

Shuaib Labaran, who stood for the Federal Government, however, told the court that a counter affidavit opposing the request by the government has been filled and served on Kanu.

Justice Nyako however cut in and informed Kanu’s lawyer that the application for time abridgment cannot be considered because there is no judicial time for such an issue.

In the drama that ensued, the case diary of the court was read to the lawyer to establish that the court has other cases to attend to.

However, following the insistence, Justice Nyako agreed to shift other cases slated for January 18 to accommodate the trial which will last till January 19 and 20.

Justice Nyako ordered DSS to allow Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes, and be given the maximum possible comfort in the detention facility

Buhari’s 2022 Budget Dubious, Annoying, Questionable – APC Senator, Smart Adeyemi Blows Hot Again

An All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator, Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West, has comdernmed the 2022 national budget.

The controversial senator says the 2022 national budget proposal presented before the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari is not in tune with Nigeria’s economic reality, describing it as “dubious” and “questionable.”

Mr Smart derided the Buhari-led administration and its economic eggheads for failing to invest in Ajaokuta steel project, despite huge unemployment issues in the country.

“And you will ask a question, the economy team of Mr President Muhammadu Buhari, are they Nigerians? If they are Nigerians, it means they are not in tune with the reality in this country today. Today we have a large army of unemployed people and you are bringing a budget that is so annoying, so questionable, so dubious,” Mr Adeyemi said.

Speaking to reporters in a viral video, Mr Adeyemi lamented the neglect of Ajaokuta iron and steel complex, situated in his home state, Kogi, while budgeting billions on frivolities.

“In essence if you have asked us in Kogi State what will be our priority in the 2022 budget, we will tell you come and complete iron and steel complex,” Mr Adeyemi said. “Not for the sake of Kogi State alone but for Nigeria itself. This is a complex that will provide about 60,000 jobs, about 20,000 engineers and technicians.”

He added that “How do you justify a ministry in Nigeria asking the Senate to approve N82 billion to buy mosquitoes nets? This is money that is more than enough to kick start or give appreciable push to building of iron and steel complex.”

Recall that president Buhari presented 2022 budget to the National Assembly in October.

Photo: Rihanna Find Love Again,See Her New Man

A singer popularly known as   Rihanna has found love and is in a hot romance with rapper, A$AP Rocky.

Again, Cynthia Morgan Calls Out Jude Okoye In New Post, Says He Will Suffer For His Evil Ways

A message shared via Cynthia Morgan's Instagram account cussed out Jude Okoye for his "evil ways."

Again! Another Police Officer Kills Colleagues In Lagos

The Lagos state police command has arrested a police Sergeant whose name has not yet been revealed, for allegedly stabbing an Inspector, Francis Adekunle, to death and injuring another victim while under the influence of alcohol over the weekend.

Biafra: What We’d Do If Igbo People Are Attacked Again In Lagos – IPOB

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to go on reprisal if Igbo people are attacked in any part of Lagos again.

it was gathered that there were pockets of violence in some areas believed to be dominated by the Igbos in Lagos during the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Yvonne Nelson Vows Never To Date A Nigerian Again

Award-Winning Gollywood actress, Yvonne Nelson has promised never to date another Nigerian man after her relationship with Nigerian singer Iyanya failed.

The actress who finally opened up that she has broken up with her baby daddy, Jamie Roberts, made this known on a cooking show hosted by Yvonne Okoro, Dining with cooks and braggarts.

President Buhari Goofs again, Calls APC Flagbearer In Delta “presidential, senatorial, governortorial” candidate

Campaigns rallies are often embellished with drama, or turn out dramatic itself, and no candidate or party member is immune to such drama scenes.

President Muhamadu Buhari, on Wednesday, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lokoja, Kogi state, made a mistake about the time he assumed office.