Author: Chima Onyido

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has implemented adjustments to the foreign exchange rates used for calculating tariffs and duties. This change is now reflected on the single window trade portal of the federal government. As of yesterday (Sunday), the NCS exchange rate has increased by 1.59%, translating to N783.174 per US dollar. This marks a rise from the previous rate of N770.88 per US dollar. The adjustment applies to various tariffs imposed by the NCS on imports. Customs duties in Nigeria vary for different items, ranging from 5% to 35%. READ ALSO: VC Appeals to Tinubu for Release of Withheld…

Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are reportedly being held hostage in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The commission made this announcement on Sunday, expressing concern over the situation and calling on security agencies to intervene for the immediate release of their personnel. In an official statement, INEC stated, “Unfolding Situation in Brass Local Government Area. The Commission is closely watching the situation in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State where our officials are held hostage. READ ALSO: Imo Poll: Governor Uzodimma Wins All 27 LGAs in Imo “This is detrimental to credible elections. We call on the…

The Governorship Candidate of the LP in Imo, Sen. Athan Achonu, has rejected the result of Saturday’s election, saying he will seek redress in Court. Achonu said this on Sunday, while addressing newsmen in his Umulomo country home in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state. He alleged that the election was “marred by irregularities, including vote buying and physical assaults of LP agents, and thus deserving of outright cancellation”. He further alleged that voting in many locations was done without BVAS accreditation, contrary to the assurances by INEC before the election. Achonu also alleged compromise on the part…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Hope Uzodinma, the incumbent Governor of Imo State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the governorship election in the state. Governor Uzodinma secured a total of 540,308 votes, outperforming his rivals. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sam Anyanwu, garnered 71,503 votes, while Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP) received 64,081 votes. READ ALSO: Imo Poll: Governor Uzodimma Wins All 27 LGAs in Imo Professor Abayomi Fashina, the Returning Officer for the Imo State Governorship Election, announced the results, confirming that Governor…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said collation of results for Saturday November 11 Governorship election in Bayelsa State will begin by 10 am today(Sunday). The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, made this known in Bayelsa, on Sunday morning. Voting ended in all eight local government areas of the state on Saturday, even as INEC began uploading the results to its IREV portal. READ ALSO: Imo Poll: Governor Uzodimma Wins All 27 LGAs in Imo So far the results on the INEC’s IREV show that the incumbent governor and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Douye…

Governor Hope Uzodimma, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), has emerged victorious in all the 27 local government areas results announced in the Imo State governorship poll held on November 11, 2023. The collation of results commenced at the State Collation Centre in Owerri around 02:30 am on Sunday, with the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Abayomi Fashina, serving as the state Returning Officer for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Candidates from 18 political parties contested in the election, but analysts characterized this year’s governorship race in Imo State as a four-horse competition. Governor Hope…

Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured victories in 17 out of the 27 local government areas whose results have been announced in the Imo State governorship poll conducted on November 11, 2023. The collation of results commenced at the State Collation Centre in Owerri around 02:30 am on Sunday, with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Returning Officer for the election, Prof Abayomi Fashina, overseeing the process. While 18 political parties participated in the election, analysts have characterized this year’s governorship race in Imo State as a four-horse competition. READ ALSO: EFCC intercepts N11.04m, arrests…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the collation process for the 2023 Imo State governorship election. The proceedings, led by the returning officer, Abayomi Fasina, who serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University in Oye, Ekiti, commenced at 2:40 am on Sunday at the collation center in Owerri. Despite the early hour, a tense atmosphere enveloped the collation center, marked by a tumultuous session as various political party agents expressed discontent with the ongoing collation process. READ ALSO: Kogi Poll: LG Chairman Allegedly Arrested With Ammunition, Cash “Why are you in a hurry to collate?” one…

Mr Udengs Eradiri, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Bayelsa, says the gubernatorial election held on Saturday in the state has been marred by massive vote-buying. “The level of vote-buying is overwhelming,” Eradiri said while commenting on the general conduct of the election. Eradiri who spoke at Agudama-Ekpetiama, Yenagoa Local Government Area, claimed that he was even approached to step down, but declined. He said he was particularly disappointed about the open cases of vote-buying, because his campaign was partly devoted to educating the people not to sell their votes. “I had thought my messages against money politics would…

Twenty students of the University of Calabar (Unical) were on Saturday rushed to the university’s teaching hospital following a stampede at an examination hall at the campus. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stampede occurred where the students were billed to write the General Studies and Communication Skills (GSS) examination that was postponed to Saturday from Friday. The GSS examination was for the 100 level students from all the faculties of the university. The examination, meant to be taken in batches, saw the students rushing to secure space from the few available ones. READ ALSO: Man Shot…

Vigilant security operatives in Imo, on Saturday, foiled an attempt by alleged political thugs to abduct INEC officials and cart away election materials. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened at a Registration Area Center in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area. It was learnt that the attempt by the thugs to whisk away the INEC officials into their waiting vehicle was quickly repelled by the security personnel deployed in the centre. An eyewitness account said that the armed security operatives fired into the air from a distance, when voters in the area raised an alarm over…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to take steps to put an end to off-season elections. The ex-Nigerian leader expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States after casting his vote at Polling Unit 39, Ward 13, Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Off season election is ongoing in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States. READ ALSO: YIAGA Africa Raises Concerns Over Forged Election Results in Kogi “I’m worried about this issue of off season election because it does not conform with global best practices,” he said. Details…

The Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed financial advisory mandates worth two hundred million dollars ($200m), with the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency. This was contained in a press statement issued by Mr Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state. The statement said that the signing cereony took place on the sidelines of the ongoing 2023 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Africa’s largest trade and investment fair holding in Cairo, Egypt. It said that the $200m development agreement was aimed at ‘Charting a course for the future’ of the state. According to the statement,…

The Police have vowed to go after fake security personnel recruited by politicians to compromise Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa. Mr Daniel Sokari-Pedro, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for South South, told newsmen on Friday in Yenagoa that the police would track and arrest the fake law enforcement agents. He said that the intention of such politicians was to cause problem and disrupt the electoral process. The alert by the police may not be unconnected with reports that some politicians have provided military uniforms to thugs recruited to disrupt the election. READ ALSO: INEC Official Abducted, Boat Carrying…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said one of its election officials has been abducted in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa. The commission also said a boat conveying election materials and 12 election officials has capsized in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. A statement issued in Yenagoa by Wilfred Ifogah, INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Bayelsa, said that the two separate incidents occurred on Friday. “INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to Registration Area-06 (Ossioma) in Sagbama Local Government Area was abducted while awaiting to board a boat at Ammasoma jetty. READ…

Nigerian music sensations Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, and Olamide have received nominations for the upcoming 66th Grammy Awards. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place on February 4, 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Grammy-winning star, Burna Boy, bagged a total of four nominations, while Davido, Asake, Arya Starr and Olamide were nominated for the first time. According to the list published on Grammy Awards website, while the other got one each, Davido bagged three nominations. The Nigerian quintet were all nominated in the maiden Best African Music Performance category alongside South Africa’s Tyla. Asake…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, reiterated on Thursday, November 9, that his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, continues to hold a significant place in his life. Governor Fubara made this statement during the rededication ceremony for the Rivers State Judiciary’s 2023–2024 legal year, where both leaders were in attendance. Governor Fubara used the occasion, which was held at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church on Hospital Road in the state capital, to emphasize the importance of peace in the oil-rich state to overcome the current political challenges. “My oga remains my oga. Whatever that has…

Afrobeats sensation Davido has urged his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, to ‘abort mission’ to help a physically challenged hawker featured in a viral video. Comedian Brainjotter shared the video of the hawker selling bottled water on Lagos streets, whom the comedian commended for her resolute in making honest living despite her condition. Reacting to the video, Davido tagged Governor Adeleke in a post on X, since the hawker mentioned Osun State in the video. The governor responded in a tweet and said, “Thanks for sharing the video, Eniola’s dedication to making an honest living is inspiring. She…

Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, expressed his belief that his song ‘Zazoo zeh’ should have clinched a Grammy award. Portable gained prominence in 2021 when his track, featuring singer Olamide and Poco Lee, went viral. In a live video on Instagram, Portable, speaking in pidgin, claimed that the song achieved global recognition. He credited YBNL boss Olamide for the success of the song. READ ALSO: 2023 Supplementary Budget is pragmatic response to address economic challenges – FG replies Obi “The time wey Olamide give me featuring, we blow for the whole world. Na wuruwuru no make that…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC), to refrain from any plans of rigging as the governorship elections approach in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi States on November 11. In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the party asserted that they have mobilized the populace in the three states to legally safeguard their votes. Ologunagba restated that the PDP will never allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to manipulate the electoral process in the governorship election in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States. READ ALSO: Tinubu Appoints Mohammed Isa as…