The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has said that inflation, debt, and forex crisis is pushing Nigerian and other African economies to the brink.

Georgieva disclosed this in a report titled, “Facing a Darkening Economic Outlook: How the G20 Can Respond“, on the IMF’s website.

The IMF Managing Director said that ministers of finance and central bank governors on the continent disclosed this to her this week.

She added that most countries on the continent could raise money from the global financial markets and do not have large domestic markets to turn to.

She stated: “The particularly difficult conditions in many African countries at this moment is important to consider. In my meeting with Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors from the continent this week, many highlighted how the effects of this, entirely exogenous, shock was pushing their economies to the brink.

“The effect of higher food prices is being felt acutely as food accounts for a higher share of income. Inflation, fiscal, debt and balance of payments pressures are all intensifying. Most are now completely shut out from global financial markets; and unlike other regions don’t have large domestic markets to turn to.

“Against this backdrop, they are calling on the international community to come up with bold measures to support their people. This is a call we need to heed.”

The report, which was released on Wednesday, is a backdrop to the meeting that G20 ministers and central bank governors will have in Bali later this week.

According to the MD of the Washington-based lender, the human and economic impact of the war in Ukraine has worsened with commodity price shocks and an increase in cost of living leading to a crisis for hundreds of millions of people.

She said inflation is now higher than expected and has broadened beyond food and energy prices which has prompted major central banks to announce further monetary tightening.

She disclosed the fund would downgrade its global growth projection for both 2022 and 2023 in its World Economic Outlook update later this month.

She explained that it is going to be a tough 2022, and the possibility of a tougher 2023 is quickly materialising.

Georgieva stated, “It is going to be a tough 2022—and possibly an even tougher 2023, with increased risk of recession.

“That is why we need decisive action and strong international cooperation, led by the G20. Our new report to the G20 outlines policies that countries can use to navigate this sea of troubles.”

Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha, has been convicted of sexually assaulting 14-year-old foster daughter of comedienne Princess, by an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

Baba Ijesha was on Thursday July 14, convicted of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault in a 2-hour judgement. 

He was however discharged and acquitted of count one and count six, which were: sexual assault by penetration and attempted sexual assault by penetration.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo who held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Baba Ijesha is guilty of all the charges against him, sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment

Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) on Monday commenced the biometric enumeration and registration of traders in Eke Awka Main market in with the new digital system of tax collection in the State.

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has earlier stated the readiness of his administration to digitize the system of tax collection in the State to ensure transparency and eliminate double taxation in the system.

Speaking during the exercise, the chairman of Eke Awka main market chief Jude Agunmadu (Baby Awka) described the exercise as the most efficient way of increasing the revenue generation of the state government.

He pledges total support to Governor Soludo’s administration and further sensitization and mobilization of the traders in the market to ensure that they comply with the new government directives of tax collections in the state.

According to Soldo TV, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on IGR Hon. Isaac Okoro was on ground at Eke Awka to monitor the exercise.

Okoro later visited the Tricycle Owners Association office where he interacted with Union leaders and explained the modalities of the new system of tax payment in the state.

[PM News]

A security expert and retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ambrose Aisabor has lamented the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria.

According to Aisabor, the terrorists, bandits and other criminals attacking citizens of the country appear more prepared, coordinated and with superior intelligence information compared to the government and the security agencies.

He said this is why the terrorists can launch daring attacks, escape with victims and then make ransom demands from the families of the government.

According to the former AIG, the money the insurgents are making from ransom payments is being used to procure more sophisticated weapons while the government is getting more helpless in handling the situation.

Specifically, he expressed concerns about the Kuje prison attack, the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the inability of the government to so far free the victims.

As a way out, Aisabor submitted that it is time for the government to seek foreign help.

He as quoted by Daily Trust: “This will tell you that the situation the Federal Government is in now is that of helplessness. They don’t have the wherewithal to fight these terrorists. The intelligence system of the terrorists is better than that of the Federal Government. You can see this from the way they are attacking.

“You can imagine N800m for seven people and one man last time paid N100m.

“The situation has gone beyond them and that is why I suggested that they should now seek foreign assistance immediately.

[NAIJANEWS]

President Buhari on Monday, July 11, called on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off their five-months-old strike saying ”enough is enough”.

The president called on ASUU made the call while receiving APC governors who paid him a visit in his home in Daura, Katsina state. According to the President, the leadership of ASUU should reconsider their position on the continued strike, expressing worry that the strike will have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.

The President said the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that already beg for
attention.

He noted that the future of the country rests on the quality of educational institutions and education, while assuring that the government understands their position, and negotiations should continue, with students in lecture halls.

“We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,” he said.

The president called on all well meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to the leaders and members of the association, to intervene in persuading the lecturers to reconsider their position, and the ripple effect on an entire generation and the nation.

President Buhari said students from Nigerian universities will be faced with the challenge of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-driven work space, and keeping them at home only deprives them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.

“Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there. Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.

Through technology we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get education, not only to look for government jobs,” he said

President Buhari said resources should be channeled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sector, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.

“By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and the remaining months I will do my best,” the President noted.

Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, on Monday, stated that the 2023 presidential election is on set to take off.

Gumi stated this in a post on his Facebook account while reacting to the choices of presidential candidates under political parties in the country.

The cleric claimed the agitation of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has reduced since the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate.

He further stated that the call for the Yoruba Nation has reduced since Bola Tinubu emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

Gumi claimed that the agitations across the country are a political gimmick to get power in the 2023 general elections.

The cleric wrote, “The 2022 presidential Run is on set ready for Go!

“The just-concluded Eid celebrations in MADA village Zamfara that witnessed banditry and migrations of locals a few months earlier this year had peaceful Sallah celebrations because the locals have gone into a peace treaty with the bandits. Peace works more than violence! People are learning from that. This is politics. So after all the conflict is political.

“The IPOB rhetoric and loud voice of Biafra agitations have muffled out with the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labor party presidential candidate. To them, Igbos have a platform. It’s clear now that the entire IPOB outcry was a political gimmick to get power.

“The Oduduwa clamours have abated also since Tinubu has clinched the APC ticket never to resurface again until probably if he didn’t win the race. 

“Northern Ultra conservatives too have no mouth to speak of marginalization or suppression of representation, the NNPP kwankwaso has satisfied that segment of the society. No more claims of candidate suppression and manipulation.

“Those cosmopolitan nationalists and full democrats can finally say that the people’s Democratic Party also represented their aspirations. The late National Security Adviser General Andrew Owoeye Azazi once blamed the PDP’s zoning and power rotation arrangements for the increased spate of violence in the country.

“Therefore President Jonathan went ahead to disrupt it. This was good for the democrats. The straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Those that are religiously inclined like the American Republican party, have in this race the APC, LP, and other parties that presented the same religion president/ Vice President Ticket or their religious preference candidate as the president.

“Every Nigerian political persuasion and aspiration is well represented and the choice is left for Nigerians to elect. This is true democracy. So we are optimistic that 2023 will bring the maturity of our chosen system of governance to the optimum.

“This is the elephant in the Room, political pundits and commentators are shying away to say. I have no party; I once opposed OBJ, GEJ, and PMB all as politicians publicly because of what I see as bad policies or governance. Nothing personal.

“Our only problem now is whether I.N.E.C. will conduct free, fair, and Transparent Elections?

“Time will tell. May Allah bring peace, tranquillity, stability, and progress to our Nation. And also give us working frictionless governance. Amin”

[NAIJANEWS]

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso has said he will support his counterpart from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, if he perceives he cannot win.

Kwankwaso made this known in an interview on Arise TV on Sunday night. 

Former Kano governor spoke following Tinubu’s announcement of Sen Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

He claimed he had good rapport with the APC national leader in the past and could not underrate his capabilities and tactics to manage Nigeria’s affairs. 

Kwankwaso said: “I am so happy about the combination, my only worry is the platform, I know Bola Tinubu is a strategist; he is a good man, I have had reasons to sit with him several times, from 1990 till date.

“The only thing I don’t know is what he will tell Nigerians he will do differently from what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing. Ordinarily, if I cannot get (the presidency) I can recommend Tinubu”.

[VANGUARD]

Nigerians have reportedly been barred from accessing the e-visa provisions of Republic of Turkey. 

Leadership Newspaper reported that Nigerian visa applicants have been advised to apply via any Turkish Consulate. The sudden change came without prior notice or communication from the Turkish Mission in Nigeria.

It however came shortly after some suspected terrorists attacked Kuje prison in Abuja and freed some high-profile Boko Haram terrorists. 

One of the affected Nigerians said in a viral message; 

“Just putting this out there. Someone out there with a Schengen /UK/US visa might be booking a ticket to Turkey right now thinking they will apply for a visa electronically. DONOT. Turkey decided to delist Nigerians from the e-visa list yesterday evening. With no prior warning/ communication. They clearly don’t rate us. Anyway all Nigerians have to apply  via the consulate wherever they are.

“Turns out so many people are/were planning to go to Turkey soon. Honestly, just apply through the consulate. There is still no information online. No press release, nothing! They are disrespectful. An agent told me she applied on behalf of someone yesterday and within the space of 5 minutes the message on the site had changed. Apparently, it has something to do with the “prison break”/ concerns of terrorism.

“Unfortunately, nationals of the country that you selected are not eligible for e-visa. Kindly visit the nearest Turkish mission to apply for a visa application. Please visit http:www.visa.gov.tr for the full list of the Turkish Embassies and Consulates.”

Members of the diplomatic community such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada also issued security alerts to its citizens in Nigeria after the jail break.

Saudi Arabian authorities have deported seven intending pilgrims from Kano State, who departed to Jidda on Thursday July 7. 

While five of the intending pilgrims who were deported over fake visas issued to them travelled to  Saudi Arabia for hajj through tour operators, the remaining two were from the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.

One of the deported pilgrims, Dahiru Yau Musa, told Daily Trust that he secured his visa through Quraish Travel Agency, while the remaining four got theirs from Mafimishkila Travel and Tours.

He said they did not know they were issued fake visas until they reached King Abdulazeez Airport.

Musa said; 

“We were in the queue with other pilgrims and when it was my turn, they directed me to stay behind. It was when they finished the screening of other pilgrims, they told me about the fake visa.

“They spoke with NAHCON officials. It took them some time trying to resolve the issue but all to no avail. At the end, we were told that we were being taken back to Nigeria. And the rest is history now.

“It was really a sad experience. I couldn’t believe it will happen to me. You know as Muslim to see yourself there (Holy Land) and you were taken back to your country is not something easy to comprehend.”

Musa vowed to take legal action against the tour operator. He added; 

“Since I returned, my tour operator was looking for me to meet with me, but I am avoiding him because I don’t want to hear anything from him until we get to the court.

“Again I will take the issue to Saudi Consulate here so that I can be cleared for future travel.”

Executive Secretary of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Muhammad Abba Danbatta who also confirmed the deportation, said the two deported pilgrims were not from the board, but were infiltrated into the list by one of the staff members. 

Danbatta stated that the issue had been reported to relevant authorities for further investigation, adding that the staff member would face the wrath of the law.

He said;

“When I heard the incident around 2:00 am, I rushed to the airport and met with the two pilgrims one female and a male who claimed to be from our Sumaila centre.

“I called the Sumaila centre officer but he doesn’t know them and they did not know him. It was when we carried out thorough investigation we found out that the two pilgrims were deceived by one of our staff members by name Abdurrahman. He issued fake visas as well as receipts to them.

“As I am talking to you now we are yet to meet with the accused staff as he couldn’t be reached on his mobile phone.

“But the case has been handed over to the Immigration for further investigation. I am assuring you that if he is found guilty he will definitely face the wrath of law accordingly.”

Hundreds of Kenyans on Thursday, July 7,  took to the streets of Nairobi and went to the office of the President to protest the high cost of living in the East African country. 

According to the angry citizens, the price of basic commodities including cooking oil, maize flour, wheat flour, and sugar have doubled in recent weeks, putting pressure on households struggling to make ends meet.

The protesters even threatened that election won’t hold in the country if there’s no food for them eat. 

Business capital reported that some protesters who addressed the media accused leaders of failing to address the issue, leaving them with no option but to fight for themselves.

“Our elected leaders have failed us and Kenyans are going through so much and that is why we are here to demand the reduction of prices for basic commodities,” one of the activists said.

Another protestor said that the government shouldn’t blame the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the high cost of living, claiming that the conflict has just worsened the situation.

“The prices of food were high even before the issue of Ukraine came, we are in this situation because of too much borrowing and the money goes into the pockets of a few,” he stated.

With just 32 days to the elections, the protesting Kenyans lamented that the two front runners in the presidential election , Raila Odinga and William Ruto, are just giving promises instead offering solutions.

“Raila is a friend of the President so it’s just a phone call away, Ruto has been in government for ten years and he is also giving promises, why can’t they help us now? another protester wondered.

Government Spokesperson, Cyrus Oguna defended President Uhuru Kenyatta over the high cost of living currently being witnessed in the country.

Oguna pointed out that the Head of State is not to be blamed for the situation as he attributed it to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

“It is not fair to put this blame on one person, it is not the President. The war in Ukraine has made things difficult for nations across the globe,” he said, adding that the situation was not unique to Kenya alone.

Emmanuel Onakoya, a 60-year-old guard has been arraigned in court for stealing a piano and a plasma television from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Peculiar Parish, Ayobo, Lagos, where he works.

The suspect who was brought before an Ikeja magistrates’ court on Thursday July 7, was accused of committing the offence on June 19.

The prosecutor, Insp Funmi Akinleye said the defendant told the pastor in charge of the church that thieves broke into the premises when he was not around.

The pastor reported the incident to the police after he found the claim to be untrue. The Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Fajana, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned to September 20.

The Westminster Magistrate court in the UK has ruled that David Ukpo who was to donate his kidney to the ailing daughter of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is not a minor.

Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were on June 23 arraigned before the court on charges bordering on conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

The Ekweremadus were arrested after David raised an alarm that he was 15 years old and was brought to the UK for his kidney to be harvested. He was on the verge of being operated on at the Royal Fee Hospital when he opted out and informed the doctors that he was ’15”.

However, his details with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and with two bank accounts he operates in Nigeria show he is 21 years old.

At the hearing of the case today, July 7, the Ekweremadus pleaded not guilty to the charges of human trafficking and organ harvesting in the United Kingdom.

Counsel to the Ekweremadus argued that the victim lied about his age but the prosecution insisted that he is a minor. The court has now ruled that the victim is not a minor.

Thereafter, the judge adjourned the case till August 4. Meanwhile, the UK attorney-general has approved that the case be tried at the Central Criminal Court in London.

The Ekweremadus are to remain in custody till the next hearing.

Photos and a video which captured moment Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje’s church was demolished in Anambra state have been shared online. 

LIB reported earlier that a chaotic scene was recorded at Nwagene, Onitsha, as Anambra state government carried out the demolition of The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, a church owned by Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje.

Prophet Odumeje was seen in a clip shared online, trying to stop the demolition which started on Thursday morning, July 7. 

The demolition exercise is said to be part of the urban renewal programme launched by the state government. 

Here are photos and video from the scene below…….

The Anambra State governor, Charles Soludo, has confirmed it authorized the demolition of the church of popular Pastor Chukwuemeka Odumeje.

In a press release signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, Gov Soludo said Odumeje’s church and other buildings marked for demolition failed to comply with the government directive to remove the illegal structure built on waterway.

The press release with the title: Anambra State Government begins demolition of illegal structures in Fegge, reads;

“Following the expiration of the more than two weeks notice beginning from April 2022 served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, Anambra state government has begun demolition of such structures.

The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced the exercise from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha.

The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences

The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners were served notice to remove such illegal structures”

The Federal government has declared July 11 and 12 public holidays to mark this year’s Eid Kabir celebration.

In a statement released, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who announced this, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

“I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment” Aregbesola said

The Minister assured that the administration of President Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools” he added.

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslims a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies with the use of N-Alerts application that has been designed to mitigate security challenges with prompt response from security agencies: as soon as you “See Something Do N-Alerts”, most especially during this festival.

He also enjoined all Nigerians to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities. “We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival” he said.

Aregbesola craves the indulgence of every Nigerians to come together, put our heads, hearts and all we have together, in order to achieve relative peace for harmonious coexistence and put an end to insecurities in Nigeria, he reiterated.

The Minister assured all Nigerians of the government’s protection of all under the law, maintenance of law and order and keeping the peace in all situations.

A chaotic scene was recorded at Nwagene, Onitsha, as Anambra state government carried out the demolition of The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, a church owned by Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje.

Prophet Odumeje was seen in a clip shared online, trying to stop the demolition which started on Thursday morning, July 7. 

He was however pushed away by security operatives and stopped from accessing the building. 

Watch the video below…