The Nigerian Insurers Association has said insurers had paid over N11 billion as claims for losses suffered during the 2020 #EndSARS protest.
The chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association, Ganiyu Musa, disclosed this during a news briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
Musa said: “As of January, insurers have paid over N11 billion as claims that arose from the #EndSARS protest of 2020.”
According to him, NIA will continue to emphasize the need for insurance companies to pay all genuine insurance claims and will not hesitate to sanction erring member companies.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that insurers as of October 2021 had paid over N9 billion as claims of possible N20 billion estimated from the protest.
Hence, the operators paid an additional N2 billion between October 2021 and January.
The Association had put the number of insured businesses that were affected as a result of the protest at about 2,000.
Protesters under the banner of #EndSARS had trooped out in Nigeria’s major towns and cities in October 2020 demanding an end to police brutality and comprehensive reform of the police in the country.
The two-week protest, which was initially peaceful, suddenly turned violent after it was hijacked by hoodlums.
All is now set for the 2022 annual Gospel Festival organised by the Power Word Ministries International Umuahia Abia State scheduled to commence on February 14 to 20 when the grand finale will take place.
Those expected at the gospel festival which coincides with the church’s anniversary are former President of Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Senior Pastor Shepherd’s House International, Abuja Pastor Joshua Talena, Pastor Zili Agiri of Royal House of Grace Port Harcourt, Music Ministers Sinach, Chioma Jesus and many more ministers.
Rev. Uche Ume
Speaking with ABN TV on Monday, the chief host and Senior Pastor Power Word Ministries International Umuahia, Rev. Uche Ume said the event is centred on reason for the coming of Jesus Christ as manifested in his death, burial and resurrection which he said is the essence of Christianity.
According to the clergy, the annual event affords the church the opportunity to minister to souls about salvation, their physical needs as well as community services to demonstrate the love of Jesus.
“We are expecting all that God can do, we are expecting what man cannot do for himself God coming to do it, we are expecting God to prove Himself in those whose hearts are strayed, we are expecting healing, miracle and salvation, we are expecting that people should rejoice and be liberated from every yoke upon which they labour” he stated.
The event will take place at klm 1 Ishi Court Road off Aba Road, Umuahia Abia State capital.
The clergy is appealing to residents of Umuahia and environs to take advantage of this soul renewing event to re-energise their covenant with God.
Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, says the number of universities in Nigeria cannot meet the present demand for higher education in the country.
He said this in Abuja Tuesday while presenting operational licences for two new universities to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, bringing the total number of universities in the country to 205.
He said despite the increasing number of private universities in Nigeria, they could only account for 5.06 per cent of students in the nation’s ivory towers, leaving the remaining 94 per cent in public universities.
Justifying NUC’s decision to approve the University of Education, Ijanikin/Epe and the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Rasheed said Lagos had been exceptional in the running of the Lagos State University for the past 39 years.
Earlier, Sanwo-Olu had said the new universities would provide massive opportunities for those seeking university education in the state.
Former Aviation Minister and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osita Chidoka, says the main opposition party is in a dilemma over the zoning of presidency to any region.
Chidoka, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said he would personally want the PDP to field a southerner from the eastern part of the country as its candidate.
He however explained that his party is faced with two tough options – either to struggle to clinch power or embrace zoning to the detriment of winning the polls.
He said: “PDP is in a kind of dilemma. Do we struggle to win power first or continue our zoning as we have done or do we continue with the zoning even if that candidate may or may not win the election?
“First of all, the Igbo people will have to bring out a candidate that can convince Nigerians because Nigerians are not a party to this internal party zoning structures.”
In the event that both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP field a south-easterner as their respective candidates, Chidoka explained that Nigerians would be left with the choice of voting the best candidate that will deliver the dividends of democracy to them.
When asked if the PDP has lost hope of fielding an Igbo man for it to coast to victory, the former minister neither confirmed nor denied.
Rather, he said Nigerians have gotten to the stage whereby they will overlook their ethnic identities and consider the national interest first while voting for credible leaders at the polls.
While the 17 southern governors have demanded that the region produces the next President, their colleagues from the 19 northern states have warned that no region can threaten them over the zoning formula.
Although few northern governors have called on political parties to produce a southerner as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor, Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) also of the PDP has demanded that the opposition party field a northern candidate in 2023.
A chieftain of Abia APGA, Sir Chikwe Udensi has said only the people will determine who will fly the flag of the party in the upcoming 2023 governorship election in the state.
He said the more people the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA welcomes into the party, the merrier, saying the party is not a one man affair.
Speaking with ABN TV, Sir Udensi who had in recent times embarked on massive outreach for the elderly and retirees in the 17 local government areas of state said he is ready to submit to the will of the party in anyone it chooses as governorship candidate.
Recall that one Major General Ijioma (Rtd) had on Thursday declared his intention to vie for the ticket of the party in readiness for the governorship election.
He described himself as a man with character and discipline, maintaining that he has what it takes to lead the state.
Udensi who was instrumental in giving APGA a voice in Abia urged Abians to identify with APGA as a party of choice, saying the party is committed to bringing about effective leadership.
“If the greater people in Abia say it’s Major General Ijioma they want, we will all join him, but if they say it’s me they want, everybody will join me.
“I like what he said when he declared that he is going to respect whoever the party picks as its candidate. That is the spirit of APGA.
“We are not a one man party arrangement. All hand should be on deck for us to select the best candidate that will represent the party.
“We want more people to come in. I am also told that some people from Diaspora are coming in. The more the merrier. Let everyone join APGA” he said.
A governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Abia State, Major Gen. Ijioma N. Ijioma (Rtd) has said he refuse to join the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the state because it is responsible for all the ruins the people have faced in the last 23 years.
Speaking at APGA state secretariat in Umuahia, Major Gen. Ijioma who joined the cock party last month noted that his attraction to the opposition party is because of its principle, practice and belief.
While insisting that he is a man of principle and character, he further noted that APGA remains the only party that is not corrupt in the state, making it a party of choice for him.
Ijioma who further declared that he will contest for the governorship ticket of APGA come June expressed optimism that he will win and emerge victorious at the general election in 2023 as the governor.
On what he intends to do differently, he said, “The hunger for leadership that Abia people are yearning for, I will feed that hunger by providing sincere, honest and transparent leadership because all the problem we are having here is because of leadership deficit.
“If you have a sincere, committed leader who is God-fearing the way I am, the state would change for better,” he said.
On his readiness to be a democrat, being a military officer who rose to the rank of a Major General, Ijioma said he is a disciplined, diligent and brilliant man who rose to the peak of his career by merit.
Stating that he retired in the last six years from service, Ijioma said he has lived his life as a civilian and is more democratic than many others.
He pledged to bring the party APGA under one umbrella by rebuilding it to ensure victory for the party in the upcoming election.
Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Chief Edwin Clark, has reminded former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of the roles they played to prevent the re-election of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for allegedly violating zoning principle in 2015, advising them not to run for the 2023 ticket in the interest of national unity.
In a statement he made available to the media in Abuja, on Tuesday, the elder statesman told them that after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, no northerner should be seeking to be president, noting that the region has already ruled Nigeria for 45 out of its 61 years as a nation in both civilian and military dispensations.
He said the three prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other northern politicians who are contemplating contesting the 2023 presidential election should abandon their plans, saying that to continue with ambitions is to invite chaos.
Clark noted: “Firstly, I wish to use this medium to advise my most respected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftains in the persons of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, and other PDP aspirants from the north, that in the interest of maintaining the unity of this country to which they have contributed so much, to re-consider their desire of wanting to contest for the Presidential election in 2023, because both by the PDP Constitution and by convention, it is now the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the President of Nigeria, in 2023, after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years.
“To do otherwise is to invite chaos, which will lead to the disintegration of our dear country.”
Going into history, the foremost Ijaw nationalist recalled that Nigeria had practised zoning since the pre-independence era, which saw political posts shared among the regions.
He explained: “Zoning has been practised in the nation’s policy even before Independence, when Tafawa Balewa, in 1954, was the Prime Minister, Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Governor-General. Zoning of political offices, particularly the Presidency of the country, is the best antidote to the breakup of Nigeria, and the panacea for peace and unity of the country.
“One of the reasons why the north opposed Chief Anthony Enahoro’s motion for independence in 1953, was that they felt they were not equal to the South in education; that they were not in a position to produce proportional candidates who will run an independent government with the south because, at that time, they had only about 4 graduates. They subsequently walked out of the Parliament, went back to the north, and swore never to return to Lagos again. That was what led to the Constitutional Conferences held both at the Lancaster House in London and at Ibadan, Nigeria, purposely to keep Nigeria one. The impression was that no one group or section of the country should dominate the government of Nigeria at the expense of other parts of the country.”
Clark pointed out that as a result of zoning consideration, northerners did not want Jonathan to contest the 2011 election even though it was within his constitutional right to do so.
He explained: “Because of this zoning consideration, northerners did not want him to continue and contest the election in 2011. They objected to his appointment as Acting President of the country. I remember, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, the father of Dr. (Sheikh) Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, came to my house and pleaded with me to ask Dr Jonathan to step down for a northerner because it was the turn of the north. That Dr Jonathan should, in fact, be a Vice President to another northerner who should take the place of Dr Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and that when the north had finished, then Dr Jonathan could come back and become the President of the country.
“My response to him was that that will be against the Constitution of Nigeria, which provides that when the Office of the President becomes vacant either by death, or by illness, or any other occurrence, the Vice President shall take over, under Section 15 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The opposition against Dr Jonathan was from various quarters; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr Bukola Saraki were major parts of that opposition, which was carried through the 2015 Presidential elections.
“Though it was his constitutional right to re-contest in 2015, to complete the eight years, as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Dr Jonathan’s succeeding late Dr Yar’Adua, did not obliterate his right to seek a second term.”
Clark added: “Nevertheless, the northerners still felt Dr Jonathan should not contest the 2015 election because it was their turn. Hence most of the northerner leaders, including Governors and politicians from the PDP decided to support Muhammadu Buhari and even contributed funds to his campaign, including the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr Bukola Saraki.
“Most PDP leaders, from the north, who collected campaign money from the party did not use the money for the purpose. There were only a few exceptions among the northern leaders of the PDP. That was why I said that it was ‘PDP that defeated PDP in the 2015 Presidential election.”
The SMBLF leader also observed that both the PDP and the APC have been applying the north-south zoning principle, stating: “It is instructive that the nation’s two main parties, the APC and the PDP, have been religiously, following the zoning and rotation system between the north and the south.
“By 2023, the north would have ruled for another eight years. It is, therefore, rational and right, to insist that the Presidency should rotate to the south. It does not matter whether the presidency has been produced from the APC or the PDP since 2015.
“To which sub-region the presidency should be further zoned to in the south, is a different matter entirely. At the appropriate time, we will decide as to which area, section or region of the three regions of South-East, South-South and South-West, should have it.
“It must be understood that the north has had the Presidency for about 45 years of our nation’s history as an independent country.”
While listing the former Nigerian leaders and the period they spent in office, Clark stated: “As I have said earlier, I have observed with dismay, that some of my respected friends, especially, the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the distinguished former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan for contesting the Presidential elections because they felt it was the turn of the North, are now wanting to contest for the presidency under the PDP in 2023.
“They are already campaigning through the length and breadth of the country, even after a northerner will be having a straight 8 years, come May 2023. Is it no longer not a negation of the ‘zoning agreement,’ for which former President Goodluck Jonathan was castigated? Is it no longer threatening the unity and survival of the country? As the intention of these and others who may follow will be going against the zoning system of the PDP. It may even be the deciding factor for the PDP, whether to be or not to be.”
“The recent resolution by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum that the presidency should be zoned to the south and that those who refuse to heed to our plea/decision, should not count on our support, is wholly supported by me, as the leader.”
He further said: “The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, under the zoning arrangement, contested the PDP Presidential Primaries in 2019, with other northern presidential aspirants, like the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State, former Senate President David Mark, former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makafi, former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN and Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
“There was no single southern candidate that contested with them. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won overwhelmingly with about 3000 votes. We all supported him. Unfortunately, he lost in the general election. All that is now history.
“The issue of 2nd term for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar does not arise, because he did not win the presidential election in 2019. He is, therefore, not entitled for a second term, which is only meant for a sitting president serving the first tenure. As a result, power has to return to the south. The same also applies to my respected former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
“However, I am very happy to note that there are still some patriotic Nigerians from the North, who believe in the unity of Nigeria and are advocating for the return of power to the South in 2023. Among these patriotic Nigerians from the north are Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, and my life long friend, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, who is now 96 years old, while I am 94 years old. We both have seen it all in Nigerian politics.”
The British High Commission in Nigeria on Tuesday said its visa and immigration process for applicants seeking to visit the United Kingdom will take six weeks.
British High Commission in Nigeria on its official Twitter handle issued by the UK Visas and Immigration office.
The UKVI office said that they are working on reducing the current processing time as quickly as possible.
The increase in processing time is due to unpredictable demand across all visa centres, a fallout of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the global travel restrictions.
What the UK Visas and Immigration office is saying
The statement from the UKVI reads, ‘’Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and global travel restrictions, UKVI is experiencing unpredictable demand across all visa routes.
Standard visitor visa applications are taking on an average of six weeks to process. UK Visas and Immigration are working to reduce the current processing time as quick as possible. You should bear this in mind when making travel arrangements.”
The UKVI advised applicants against unnecessary visits to the Visa Application Centres (VACs) unless they were invited, stating that applicants whose passports were ready for collection would be contacted by officials at the centre for pick up.
It, however, stated there would be a consideration for extremely compassionate or compelling circumstances such as medical emergencies, although that would come at an extra cost.
It said, “You will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when your passport is ready for collection. Please do not attend the VAC until you have been invited to do so,” it said.
“Where there are extremely compassionate or compelling circumstances (for example, a medical emergency), we may consider expediting specific cases. However, the bar for this is high and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
“If your request is exceptionally urgent you can contact UK Visas and Immigration for help. Please note that this is a chargeable service for overseas customers. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, warned that any political party that fields a Northern candidate in the 2023 Presidential election will lose.
Akeredolu said that governors in the Southern part of the country are determined to ensure that the next president comes from the South.
The Ondo State governor said this during a courtesy visit by members of Power Rotation Movement, led by its Chairman, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum.
Other members of the group include the Co-Chair, Gen. Collins Ihekire (retd), representing the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu; representative of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Mr Ayodele Oni; National Publicity Secretary of Afenfere, Mr Jaye Ajayi; National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Mr Ken Robinson, and National Coordinator of Power-Shift Movement and Forty Million Ballots, Mr Kennedy Iyere.
Akeredolu, who said those pushing against the power rotation, are tinkering with the existence of Nigeria.
His words: “In about two or three meetings, we have come out and declared that power must move to the south.
“Only a party that is determined to lose will field a northern candidate. You are now a movement of members of political parties coming together.
“What we stand for is fair and equitable power rotation. The only thing fair is that after 8 years in the north, it should come to the south.
“Some of us believe in one Nigeria that is fair and equitable. We have a reason for it and it can be defended. Some people have argued that the Presidency should be based on competence. Are they saying there are no competent ones in the south?
“My brother Governors from the south are determined. Whosoever we pick, for as long as it is south, we will support him.
“We are saying the President must come from the south. There are people who merit it in the South-South, South-East, and the South-West.
“I also support your approach. If you are able to mobilize the youths and do not allow the election to be rigged, then we will win. You should also get our women to support us.”
The Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority on Tuesday said adulterated petrol, fuel with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification, was discovered in the supply chain.
In a statement, it said the supplier had been identified and appropriate sanction would apply.
It also said oil marketers had been directed to ensure a sufficient supply of quality petrol in all outlets in the country.
Queues had surfaced at filling stations in parts of the country on Monday stretching into Tuesday in what appeared as growing scarcity for Premium Motor Spirit, a commodity that has achieved an indispensable status in the Nigerian economy, no thanks to epileptic power supply, rising cost of gas, and dependent by vehicle owners.
In its statement, The regulatory authority said, “Limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as Petrol, with methanol quantities above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in the supply chain.
“Methanol is a regular additive in Petrol and usually blended in an acceptable quantity.
“To ensure vehicular and equipment safety, the limited quantity of the impacted product has been isolated and withdrawn from the market, including the loaded trucks in transit.
“Our technical team in conjunction with NNPC Ltd and other industry stakeholders will continue to monitor and ensure quality petroleum products are adequately supplied and distributed nationwide.
“The source supplier has been identified and further commercial and appropriate actions shall be taken by the Authority and NNPC Ltd.
“NNPC Ltd and all Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.
“Meanwhile, NNPC has intensified efforts at increasing the supply of Petrol into the market in order to bridge any unforeseen supply gap.”
ABN TV had earlier reported that retailers of petrol said the recent petrol queues in parts of Abuja, Nasarawa, Lagos, Niger, among others, surfaced because some private depot owners were hoarding the commodity as they awaited subsidy removal.
The Federal Government had recently suspended its plan to remove fuel subsidy in June this year. It also proposed to extend the subsidy removal implementation period by 18 months.
Abia State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, has expressed concern over what he described...
