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2023: Reverse Okada Ban In Lagos, Get Our Votes – Hausa Community Tells Sanwo-Olu

Leaders of the Hausa community in Lagos State have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse the ban on Okada operations in six local government areas of the state.

Recall that the Lagos State Government had on Wednesday announced a ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada.

Naija News reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement while briefing heads of security agencies in the state at a meeting at the State House, Ikeja.

The governor stated that the total ban on Okada in the six local councils takes effect from June 1, 2022, and would be fully enforced.

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the ban in the six local councils is part of the phase banning okadas in the state.

The affected councils are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Apapa.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Hausa community leaders stated Okada riders who hail from northern Nigeria contribute significantly to the voting population of Lagos.

They called on the state government not to economically strangulate them as they contribute to the voting population.

The Seriki of Obalende, Saliu Waziri, said that the government should get the data of Okada riders in Lagos to fish out criminals amongst them instead of a total ban.

He said, “This issue has taken us a long time and we have been trying to put our members on the line. I want to advise the government to rethink its decision because Lagos can’t operate without bikes because of traffic. Government should register Okada riders in each local government to know those working in any local government. By so doing, the government would know who to pick when any issue arises.

“Some of our members stay here in Lagos and vote during elections. That should count for something because we contribute to votes during elections. The government should change the system of Okada riders not stopping them.”

The Seriki Hausa of Ajah, Ibrahim Ngoma, urged the government to consider the voting population of Hausa Okada riders in Lagos.

“Truth be told, Governor Sanwo-Olu has been understanding with Okada people unlike Governor (Babatunde) Fashola. Okada members should obey the law while I appeal to Governor Sanwo-Olu to look into the matter and lift the ban before the election because the ban is affecting my people,” he said.

Another leader of the Hausa community in Lagos, Iliyasu Kira, pleaded with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse the ban.

According to the Seriki Hausa in Shasha in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, the governor should not joke with their voting population.

He said, “I appeal to the government to leave Okada riders to continue their operations. These Okada riders help the government during elections with votes. Our voting population in Lagos constitutes over 2.7 million because most of us vote here in Lagos. We are not all bad people.

“Many of our people are Okada riders in Lagos. If the government claims that robbers are rampant among Okada riders, then the government should sieve out the criminals. The government should provide replacement for our members affected by the ban.

“We don’t have the power to start any legal case with the government. This is why I am appealing with the government to reconsider the ban.”

BREAKING: Accountant-General suspended from office over N80 billion Fraud

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris has been suspended indefinitely from office following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC over N80 billion Fraud.

He was suspended on Wednesday by Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that Idris was picked up by EFCC operatives in Kano and moved to Abuja on Monday after being found culpable in a multi-billion naira fraud involving the ward of Bogus contracts.

Several companies Idris awarded contracts to and used in laundering over N80 billion in public funds have reportedly been linked to his family members and associates.

A statement from the anti-corruption agency on the matter read in part; “The Commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.”

His arrest became necessary after he was summoned repeatedly for interrogation but failed to honour invitations.

UBA Upgrades Chatbot features, as Leo launches service on Google Business Chat, Instagram

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced the expansion of the services of Leo, its Artificial Intelligence chatbot to Google Business Chat and Instagram.

Leo – UBA’s AI-powered chatbot, which enables customers to make use of their social media accounts to carry out key banking transactions – was first introduced in January, 2018. It has since evolved to become a custom-fitted, personalised virtual banker to several UBA Customers across its 20 African countries. Before now, UBA’s Leo was servicing customers on Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Apple Chat.

The bank also announced an interesting upgrade to the existing features of Leo, where customers can now carry out their activities in a 3D animated format. Armed with this upgrade and with its recent expansion to Instagram and Google Business, customers will now be able to carry out more transactions from the comfort of their homes and can now perform more activities such as funds transfer, checking balances, buying airtime and data, and getting their bank statements with ease, from any of these social media platforms.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, who spoke about the upgraded features of Leo, explained that the bank was always on the lookout for innovative ways to develop strategies aimed at easing transactions for the bank’s numerous users, while ensuring utmost safety of their transactions.

He said, “At UBA, we have been working with technology giants that have the global capacity to ensure not only seamless but also effortless banking for millions of our customers across Africa. We at UBA, have collaborated with the very best to actualise this unbeatable innovation that is capable of revolutionising the way banking is done in Africa.”

He disclosed that Leo’s activities has aptly spread across Africa, changing the face of e-banking in other key African locations including Cameroon, Zambia, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Congo DRC, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Benin, Mozambique, Zambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali.

Uzoka emphasised that the uniqueness of Leo lies in the convenience. “Customers can initiate transactions without leaving their favoured phone applications. By bringing Leo to the comfort zone of its customers, UBA’s chat banking became a pioneer innovation and has since enjoyed leadership status in the chat banking space,” he explained.

Since inception, Leo has been effortlessly enhancing the digital customer experience in banking and also achieving a range of other benefits like 24/7 availability as the chatbot Leo stays available round the clock to assist customers and handle the common financial queries asked by the customers.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five (25) million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.

Sanwo-Olu Imposes Total Ban On Okada In Six Local Councils [Full List]

The Lagos State Government has banned the operation of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, in six Local Government Areas of the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement while briefing heads of security agencies in the state at a meeting at the State House, Ikeja on Wednesday.

The governor stated that the total ban on Okada in the six local councils takes effect from June 1, 2022, and would be fully enforced.

Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the ban in the six local councils is part of the phase banning okadas in the state.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) under the six local government areas would also be affected.

The governor listed the six affected local councils as Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.

He, however, charged all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders and the Taskforce to enforce the total ban from June 1.

“This is the phase banning we are going to be embarking on so that others know that in a short while, either they get out or get something else to do.

“From the first of June, the LCDAs that are underneath them, we are going to publish them and list all of them, so we are giving the notice now.

“Begin to do your strategy now, from the first of June we want all the okadas to be completely off these major roads,” he said.

Students Destroy School Properties As Principal Absconds With N2m WAEC Enrolment Fee in Edo

A yet-to-be identified teacher at Gilgal Private School, Edo State, has allegedly absconded with the sum of N2 million meant for the registration of students for the forthcoming West African Examination Senior Secondary School Examinations (WASSCE).

It was learnt that the money was handed over to the teacher for safe keeping owing to the lack of commercial banks in Iguobazuwa, the headquarters of Ovia South-west Local Government Area where the school is located.

According to a report by Daily Post, an alarm was raised by one of the parents of the students that eventually led to the arrest of the proprietor of the school by police operatives of Iguobazuwa division.

Ibadan Polytechnic Breaks Silence On Student Who Died During Marathon Romp

The Public Affairs Director of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Alhaji Soladoye Adewole has said that Daniel Igunnu who reportedly lost his life during marathon romp was an Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the institution.

Naija News reports that Adewole confirmed that the incident happened off-campus, precisely, Idi-Ito area.

According to the institution, it is yet to establish the identity of the lady involved in the incident.

It would be recalled that the two lovebirds, were engaged in marathon romp at the deceased apartment in Idi-Ito in the Ido local government area of Oyo State when he died.

The lifeless body of the deceased was seen on the floor while the lady whose identity could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report was met unconscious.

The lady, as reliably informed was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for medical attention.

BREAKING: Court strikes out remaining charges against Nnamdi Kanu

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday morning ordered that the six-count amended treasonable felony charge against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) be struck out, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.

The implication of this is that Kanu has no case to answer.

In April 2022, the court struck out eight out of the 15-count charge filed against Kanu, by the federal government.

Also on Wednesday, Justice Nyako said the absence of the defendant (Nnamdi Kanu) in court after his bail was granted in 2017 must be discussed before another bail is granted. Thus, the defence is expected to apply for a fresh bail.

During the resumed trial on Wednesday, Justice Nyako questioned the Department of State Services (DSS) on why the agency repeatedly flouted her court orders.

Earlier, security operatives barricaded the entrance to the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Kanu was rearrested in Kenya last June and transferred to Nigeria.

Heirs Oil & Gas’ OML 17 wins PFI Africa deal of the year

Heirs Oil & Gas (HHOG), Africa’s integrated energy company has been awarded the ‘Africa deal of the year 2021’by Project Finance International (PFI), following the $1.1 billion financing and acquisition of 45% stake in OML 17 in 2021. The award ceremony which took place on Monday, May 9 2022 in London was a gathering of senior industry leaders across various sectors to celebrate excellence.

“On behalf of the HHOG team, I would like to thank PFI for this great honour which recognises the OML 17 acquisition deal, while also acknowledging the efforts of the entire team involved in the transaction.” said Executive Director, Heirs Oil & Gas, Samuel Nwanze.

The deal, which was announced in January 2021, saw Heirs Holdings, the leading African strategic investor, in partnership with affiliated company Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), acquire a 45% participating interest in Nigerian oil license OML 17 and related assets from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, and ENI.

While acknowledging the award, Chief Executive Officer, Heirs Oil & Gas, Osayande Igiehon said “This great recognition reiterates our commitment to excellence in our bid to fulfil Africa’s unique energy needs and ensure that Africa’s natural resources are directed toward value creation on the continent.”

The PFI awards is organised by Project Finance International (PFI), a leading source in global project finance reporting, covering all the major sectors, including transport, power, oil & gas, infrastructure and mining.

Alfa Caught With Mutilated Body Parts In Oyo

A self-proclaimed Muslim cleric in Oyo State, Alfa Tiamiyu Abass, has been nabbed with human body parts.

The suspect Naija News understands is currently being interrogated by the Police Command in the state.

The dismembered body found with the suspect was identified as a hairdresser with the name Barakat, a resident of the Oyetoro community, in the Oyo West Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, Adewale Osifeso, said “On May 15, 2022, around 6.30 pm, one Oyerinde Gbadegein reported at the Atiba Divisional Police Headquarters that around 1 pm of the same day, a corpse was seen dumped by the side of a stream on Jibola Afonja Street, Oyo town.

“On receipt of the complaint, a team of detectives from the Atiba division swung into action and proceeded to the scene. It was discovered that the corpse was that of a lady of about 25 years packed in a sack bag, which was already decomposing with the head, hands, toes and flesh from the thigh cut off from the body. One Alfa Tiamiyu Abass was arrested in connection with the case.”

The police mouthpiece said the suspect has since confessed to killing Barakat who happened to be his customer.

Abbas told the force that he committed the heinous act with the help of one Qudus who is now at large.

Osifeso told newsmen that a search was conducted in the suspect’s house and that all the parts removed from the deceased’s body were recovered.

However, the investigation is ongoing to arrest the said Qudus for possible prosecution, the police spokesman noted.

Presidential Primaries: PDP Loses Eagles Square To APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost the Eagle Square, the proposed venue of its presidential primary to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News learned that the opposition party lost the venue to the ruling party with the help of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello.

It was gathered that Bello helped the APC to reserve the Eagle Square for its presidential primary scheduled to hold between May 30 and June 1.

According to the Guardian, the minister denied the PDP from holding its special convention/presidential primary at the Eagle Square. The opposition had slated its presidential primary for May 28 and 29.

Following the development, the opposition party has reportedly moved its event to the MKO Abiola Stadium on the outskirts of Abuja.

The PDP Convention Planning Committee, led by former Senate President David Mark, on Tuesday, visited the stadium to assess facilities at the proposed venue of the special convention.

Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has hit back at the presidency over the accusation that the group is pushing for the break up of Nigeria.

NEF submitted that the presidency might be playing some mischief by accusing it of supporting calls for some tribes or regions to leave Nigeria.

The spokesman of NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said at no time did the forum release any statement calling for the break up of Nigeria as claimed by the presidency, adding that the forum is interested in the unity of Nigeria.

The position comes after the call out by the presidency in a statement on Tuesday by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu who said NEF has no right to speak on behalf of Nigerians just because they have access to the media.