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Nigeria Opens Land and Air Borders with Republic of Niger, Lifts Other Sanctions

President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria's land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.

This directive is in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

The President has directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately:

(1) Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.

(2) Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.

(3) Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks.

(4) Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.

(5) Travel bans on government officials and their family members.

President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞 𝙁𝙤𝙧 3 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙊𝙛 𝙉3.7𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙋𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜

The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over allegations of budget padding.

Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population, had alleged that the leadership of the Senate padded the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Senate was thrown into a rowdy session over the allegation.

SaharaReporters had reported that Ningi, a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Bauchi Central, last week raised the alarm that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the presidency padded the budget currently implemented against the budget passed by the chamber.

The allegation had generated public outrage.

The Bauchi senator, however, maintained his position on Monday that N3.7 trillion could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

However, at the plenary on Tuesday, a commotion ensued after a senator raised an order that Senator Olamilekan Adeola presented the budget padding issue and needed no back and forth on it.

While the parties called for a probe into the allegation, some northern senators disowned the claims made by Ningi, saying the Bauchi State senator did not speak for them.

Adeola (APC, Ogun West) raised a motion that there was an urgent need to address the “false allegation” made by Ningi.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations read the transcript of Ningi’s BBC Hausa interview on the floor of the House after Senate President, Godswill Akpabio called for a committee of the whole house.

𝘽𝙐𝘼 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙪𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙜𝙨 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙉3500

The management of BUA Cement Company has explained the reasons why its cement was not sold at the promised ex-factory price of N3500 per bag.

Although the company said it honoured its pledge to reduce its price of cement to N3500, it accused the intermediaries and wholesalers whom the company said had prevented the intended recipients, the end-users, from accessing the reduced price.

SaharaReporters had reported in October 2023 that the Management of BUA Cement announced the reduction of ex-factory cement prices to N3,500 per bag, and would take effect from Monday, October 2, 2023.

The firm had in a statement published on its X account, said that the gesture was in keeping with the previous promise to reduce prices of Cement upon the completion of its new lines at the end of the year, in order to spur development in the building materials and infrastructure sectors.

SaharaReporters had reported that BUA Cement didn't stop slashing the price but also promised that all pending, undelivered orders which had been paid for at the old prices would be reviewed downwards to N3500/bag in line with the new pricing from October 2, 2023.

"Our licensed dealers are also enjoined to ensure that end-users benefit from this reduction in ex-factory prices as we will monitor field sales to ensure compliance," it had warned.

Five months later, BUA Cement and indeed all other cement products rose to N12,000 to N13,000 per 50kg bag, a development that has cast doubt on the purported reduction of the price of cement by the company considering that its product had never been sold to N3,500 since October 2023. Instead of reducing it rose to an all-time high and sold N13,000.

Meanwhile, following threats from some civil rights organisations to picket the company for non-implementation of its avowed commitment and solemn promise to Nigerians to reduce the price of cement to N3,500 per 50kg bag, the company said no fulfillment was hindered by market forces.

The company's clarification followed a seven-day deadline issued by two civil society groups to its management, demanding the sale of cement at N3,500 per bag or face the picketing of the company.

Mr. Timothy Sogbeinde, who oversees Creatives & Visual Identity management at BUA Group, in addressing the CSO picketing threats over the company's alleged failure to deliver on its commitment to reduce the price of cement to N3,500, the company asserted that it had indeed honored that promise.

Sogbeinde shared that the company had been selling cement at an ex-factory price of N3,500 for several months before discontinuing the offer.

The executive director, Mr Kabir Rabiu said, “We actually sold our cement for three to four months at N3,500. We thought other players in the cement industry would join us in making the price of cement affordable.”

Kabir noted that BUA was unable to maintain the discounted price of N3,500, as the intermediaries and wholesalers prevented the intended recipients, the end-users, from accessing the reduced price.

𝘽𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙖

Cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has announced plans to discontinue all services related to the Nigerian naira.

Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, was accused of exploiting the Nigerian currency, Naira, leading to its free fall in value.

The company is, in addition, facing allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering and tax invasion, among others.

Nigeria is one of the largest peer-to-peer crypto markets in the world. Between July 2022 and June 2023, crypto transactions in the country reached $56.7bn, according to Chainaly

Cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has announced plans to discontinue all services related to the Nigerian naira.

Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, was accused of exploiting the Nigerian currency, Naira, leading to its free fall in value.

The company is, in addition, facing allegations of terrorism financing, money laundering and tax invasion, among others.

Nigeria is one of the largest peer-to-peer crypto markets in the world. Between July 2022 and June 2023, crypto transactions in the country reached $56.7bn, according to Chainalysis.

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But the company, in a statement on Tuesday, advised users to withdraw NGN, trade their NGN assets or convert NGN into crypto.

The statement read, “Users are encouraged to withdraw NGN, trade their NGN assets or convert NGN into crypto prior to the discontinuation of these NGN services.

“From 2024-03-08 08:00 (UTC), any remaining NGN balances in users’ Binance accounts will be automatically converted to USDT based on the conversion rate below.

Binance will not support deposits of NGN after 2024-03-05 14:00 (UTC). Withdrawals of NGN will not be supported after 2024-03-08 06:00 (UTC).

“After 2024-03-08 08:00 (UTC), Binance will convert any remaining NGN balances in users’ Spot and Funding wallets into USDT on behalf of users at a ratio of 1 USDT = 1,515.13 NGN.

Please note that the conversion rate is calculated based on the average closing price of the USDT/NGN trading pair on Binance Spot in the last seven days.

“The conversion may take approximately up to 24 hours or longer. USDT tokens will be credited to users’ Spot wallets thereafter, and users can confirm receipt of the tokens via the Convert History page.

“If users hold less than 0.00000001 USDT worth of NGN in their Spot and Funding wallets, they will each receive 0.00000001 USDT in their Spot wallets after the conversion.”

The PUNCH had last week reported that the Federal Government allegedly detained at least two senior executives of Binance, a crypto currency exchange company.

According to a report by Financial Times, both executives flew into Nigeria last week following a ban on their website and were arrested by officials of the office of the National Security Adviser and their passports seized.

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧, 𝙈𝙧 𝙄𝙗𝙪 𝘿𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙄𝙡𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨

Ailing Nigerian comic actor, John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, has passed on at 62 years old.
According to multiple reports from sources close to him, the veteran comedian passed away at Evercare hospital.
Many fans have shared condolences on X, reminiscing movies the late actor has featured.

𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿: 𝙋𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙤 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝

Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro, has confirmed his exit as coach of the Super Eagles after his contract officially expired on Thursday.

Peseiro who guided the Eagles to a second-place finish at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, on Friday, said he was fulfilled coaching the West African nation.

“Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure.

“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you,” the former Porto manager wrote on X

Peseiro’s departure brings to an end a roller coaster association with the three time African champion

Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro, has confirmed his exit as coach of the Super Eagles after his contract officially expired on Thursday.

Peseiro who guided the Eagles to a second-place finish at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, on Friday, said he was fulfilled coaching the West African nation.

“Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfillment.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure
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“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you,” the former Porto manager wrote on X

Peseiro’s departure brings to an end a roller coaster association with the three time African champions.

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Despite qualifying the team for Ivory Coast, the Portuguese’ future was uncertain after starting the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

The 63-year-old however penned a six-month contract till the end of AFCON with a key clause of reaching the showpiece semi-finals. He surpassed the target losing 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in the final.

Talks of a new contract by the Nigeria Football Federation were said to be in the works though Peseiro admitted he had interests from seven national teams. One of the teams touted to be interested in the Portuguese, Algeria on Thursday announced Bosnian, Vladimir Petkovic as head coach.

Since his appointment, Peseiro took charge of 22 games, winning 11, losing seven and recording four draws.

The NFF will now have to name a replacement before the next international free window on March 18.

𝘽𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙉𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙖 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙋𝙚𝙚𝙧-𝙏𝙤-𝙋𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩 𝘼𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝘽𝙮 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩

Apopular cryptocurrency trading platform, Binance on Wednesday removed the Nigerian currency, Naira from its peer-to-peer feature.

The feature, known as the P2P market, allows users, buyers, and sellers to transact without the intervention of a third party.

It became widely known among Nigerians in 2021 after former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration banned crypto trading in the country.

SaharaReporters learned that many Nigerian users can no longer enjoy the feature because of the removal of their currency.

The removal of Naira by Binance from its P2P market came amid claims by Nigerian authorities that the platform contributed to the devaluation of Naira.

A Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday said if not stopped, Binance would destroy the Nigerian economy because of the way it arbitrarily fixes foreign exchange rates.

Financial Times reported on Wednesday that two employees of Binance were detained by the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja as part of an investigation into the cryptocurrency exchange's operations in Nigeria.

Their detention in Nigeria was in an attempt to curb naira speculation and steady its free fall by clamping down on cryptocurrency exchanges.

𝘾𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝙏𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙗𝙪 𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙚, 𝘽𝙐𝘼, 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙏𝙤 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙏𝙤 𝙊𝙡𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚 – 𝙐𝙢𝙖𝙝𝙞

The Minister was responding to the Executive Director of BUA group, Alhaji Kabiru, who said they were selling bag of cement at the rate of N6000 as part of their commitment to Mr. President that a bag of cement should not be sold more than 7000 every where in Nigeria.

“On the issue of pricing I can authoritatively say that they can still do better in line with their discussion with Mr. President.”

“Mr. President insisted that, they should go bag to the status quo as far this cement price is concerned for the common man.

“I want to encourage them to abide by the directive of Mr. President so that we can achieve massive housing programme and the renewed hope agenda of concrete roads by the President,” he said

Umahi commended the company for completing its 5th line.

“When the chairman of the company visited Mr President last week, he assured that the 5th line will soon commence operation and with my visit here, I can confirm the 5th line, though waiting to be commissioned has already commenced operation,” he testified.

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙝 𝘾𝙂 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙨, 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙂𝙤𝙫 𝙔𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙛 𝙊𝙛 𝙁𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙞𝙢

Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa has announced his resignation as the Commander General of Kano’s Hisbah Board, citing “discouragement” from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano.

Daurawa said he was discouraged by the governor’s comments despite his efforts to promote societal morality during his tenure at Hisbah.

In a video shared on his social media handle, Daurawa said, “Currently, I’m in Kaduna State, meeting with lawmakers led by the Speaker to discuss implementing a mandatory pre-marital health check in Kano, similar to other Nigerian states.

“However, I’ve encountered discouraging comments from Kano, despite my efforts at Hisbah to promote societal morality.

females were doing unholy things. They were picked up and beaten with bamboo sticks while they took to their heels. They were being packed up inside the vehicle like animals. This, I think is a big mistake for you to hold an adult and throw him like a goat into a Hilux.

“Hisbah is a board that we take in high esteem and bring in God fearing people that we know they can deliver given the people’s mandate in line with what is right.

“I want to call on the attention of agencies saddled with the responsibility of putting youth on the righteous paths especially Hisbah.

“The meaning of establishing agencies like this is to do the right thing and also advise us and all stakeholders on the right thing to do.

“We want the right thing to be done, what if, God forbids someone got injured on his spinal cord, he is finished. I saw a video where students’ rooms were raided, beaten and thrown into the vehicle.

“There is a problem, we establish a board to help strengthen Islamic values but if these things are like this, the children will not also obey. What we want them to change into the will then be the opposite of it. God forbids.”

Daily Trust reports that Hisbah has been on ground holding several raids at public places across Kano.

𝘽𝙖𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙉396,963,000𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙖𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙞 𝙎𝙎𝘾𝙀 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙨.

Bauchi State Government has allocated over 396 million naira for the payment of external examination fees, NECO, WAEC, NBAIS, and JAMB to 14,170 students in public schools across the state for the 2023/2024 academic session.

In a statement signed by the Information Officer of the State Ministry of Education, Jalaludeen Usman, said that the aim was in line with the educational support of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s continued steadfastedness and dedication to the advancement of education in the state.

The statement said unlike previous governments where payments for external examinations were delayed and by borrowed funds, Governor Bala Mohammed has made the immediate payment and also settled the over 800 million naira in debts for examination fees since 2020, to enhance and improve learning process of students.

The statement added that, the state government effort of paying JAMB examination fees for 1,542 outstanding students during this year's aptitude test, was a strategic move to inspire other students to strive hard on their academic activities and the government's dedication to nurturing a culture of meritocracy in education.

The State Ministry of Education and its stakeholders has appreciated Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, for his visionary leadership and steadfast towards supporting for educational development in the State.

𝙕𝙖𝙢𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙧𝙮, 𝙆𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has reportedly impeached its Speaker, Bilyaminu Moriki, over the alarming insecurity in the state and appointed Bashar Gummi, as the pro-tempo speaker.

The impeachment was sequel to a motion moved by a member of the House representing Maru Constituency, Nasiru Abdullahi, and endorsed by 18 out of the 24 House members.

The 18 out of 24 members unanimously agreed to impeach the speaker during an emergency meeting held on Thursday night due to security challenges affecting the state without any attempt by the House to stop the menace.

A member of the assembly who made this known urged the appointed pro-temporal Speaker to use his position to end banditry that had almost crippled socio-economic activities in the state.

One of the lawmakers, Shamsudeen Basko, representing Talata Mafara Constituency, told the pro-temporal Speaker that the issue of insecurity was one of the key issues to be given top priority which led to the suspension of the former speaker.

Basko was quoted by PUNCH as saying, “I have two issues, but an observation was made on one, which is that of insecurity which has been disturbing our people. Our people are being killed and abducted on a daily basis.

“What are we doing in the assembly? We need to stand up and do something to defend our people. This is because the armed bandits are invading local government headquarters unchallenged. Let us call on the government to act now to protect our people.”

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙨 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙆𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙣𝙖-𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞 𝙄𝙨𝙮𝙖𝙠𝙪 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝘼𝙗𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 39 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮

Troops of the Nigerian Army have shot dead a notorious terrorists leader, Boderi Isyaku, during a gun duel between troops and the bandits around Bada/Riyawa general areas of Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, in a release obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday confirmed this, adding that it was Boderi who plotted and executed the 11th March 2021 abduction of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi LGA.