Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) air crafts have killed three terrorist kingpins and 30 of their foot soldiers in Borno State.
The terrorist kingpins, Ali Dawud, Mallam Ari and Bakurah Fallujah, along with their fighters, were killed on April 13 at the hideouts of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) within Kolleram village along the shores of Lake Chad, according to NAF’s spokesperson, Air Vice Marshall, Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Tuesday April 16.
Gabkwet said the the air strikes also destroyed many terrorists vehicles, motorcycles, and logistical assets.
He said: “Intelligence gathered after the air strike further indicated that the aerial bombardment effectively obliterated a key facility within the Kolleram enclave, which served as a hub for the terrorists’ food processing activities, including grinding machines.”
He said that with the destruction of the terrorists’ logistics, the the strikes had severely hampered their operational capabilities.
Gabkwet said: “The success of these airstrikes underscores NAF’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and ensuring the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.
“By neutralizing key terrorist figures and destroying their logistical infrastructure, the operation has significantly degraded the capabilities of the ISWAP group in the region.
“These airstrikes complement the ongoing efforts of ground forces in the Lake Chad flank and represent a crucial step forward in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.”
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed this during a briefing in Abuja on Monday.
He said Nigeria’s total crude oil and condensate reserves increased to 37.5 billion barrels on January 1, 2024, with a life index of 68.01 years.
“The commission, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders from NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, representatives of Crude Oil/Condensate Producers, Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria, and Dangote Petroleum Refinery came up with the template for the buy-in of all.
“This is in a bid to foster a seamless implementation of the DCSO and ensure consistent supply of crude oil to domestic refineries.
“The Petroleum Industry Act, PIA intends to make the implementation (of crude oil obligation) easy for producers and refineries.
“So, the answer simply is that the transaction currency would be in Naira or dollar. That is the simple answer.
“But we all know that if the transaction is carried out in Naira, that will free the pressure on the exchange rate.
“That will help the exchange rate. So that is the intent, and besides, the overall intent of the Petroleum Industry Act is to develop our midstream, which is a very laudable provision of the PIA,” he said.
55-year-old Alabi Ogundeji, who is one of the arrested Yoruba Nation agitators who invaded the Oyo State Governor’s Office and the state House of Assembly on Monday declared that he doesn’t regret his action.
Corroborating his view, a 29-year-old phone repairer, Ademola Adeniyi, who was part of the arrested agitators, also said he didn’t regret joining the struggle.
About 20 persons were arrested by the police after some masked men in military camouflage with rifles and charms suspected to be Yoruba Nation agitators early Saturday invaded the Governor’s Office and the state House of Assembly.
Speaking with newsmen separately at the state Police Command, Eleyele in Ibadan, the state capital, during their parade by the police, the duo insisted that their actions were lawful under Nigeria and international law.
Ogundeji said, “I’m part of the agitation and I can’t deny it. Yoruba as an indigenous nation is a nation on its own. We have so many nations in Nigeria and Yoruba is one of them.
“Oodua Nation leaders have taken every step and action that needed to be taken. So, we embarked on a referendum which was 500 petitions signed by all Yorubas, and this has served as the referendum.
“Our leadership went to all Yoruba-speaking states to serve official letters written by our leaders and we were given our copy. After that is proclamation, declaration, occupation, and notification to the world that Yoruba is an indigenous nation.
“We were at the Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan to celebrate and rejoice because of the new nation that was born. It is not a new thing that Yoruba is a nation and we want to stand on our own. We have been together with Nigeria for over 100 years.
In his own, the 29-year-old phone repairer, Adeniyi, also amongst those arrested said, “We all know that nothing is working in Nigeria and things are hard for everyone except those in government. We were at the Secretariat waiting for our leader to address us.
“We believe our leader knows much about the law. So, we are not afraid to join when we are called upon. Our leader told us that all challenges Yoruba are facing shall be addressed if we achieve our aim,” he stressed.
While parading all the suspects, the state Police Commissioner, Hamzat Adebola, described the act as criminal, unpatriotic and a clear case of treasonable felony and terrorism which would be meted with adequate sanctions.
He explained that the continued existence of Nigeria as a sovereign indivisible entity is a task that must be accomplished, adding that “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”
“As a parent, I enjoin other parents, guardians and leaders in every sphere of political, religious and socio-economic influence to prevail on their children, ward, protégés and followers against being used by unpatriotic individuals to promote anarchy in the state and by extension, Nation.
“I would like to use this medium to remind the criminally minded that the state is home to many responsible, hospitable and extremely intelligent individuals who pride themselves on creativity, hard work and resourcefulness.”
He, therefore, vowed that it would not be reduced under his watch to a playground for the criminally minded and misguided individuals or groups who intend to make their livelihood by distorting the relative tranquillity enjoyed by the good people of the state.
Dollar to naira exchange rate today black market (Aboki dollar rate):
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1100 and sell at N1115 on Monday 15th April 2024, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN)
Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate
N1100
Selling Rate
N1115
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN)
CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate
N1138
Selling Rate
N1139
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
The value of the naira gained strength on Monday afternoon in the parallel market, having opened at N1,130 to the dollar in the morning.
It was learned that the naira was selling at N1,000 to the dollar at the parallel market by noon on Monday.
Last week Monday, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offered $15.88 million to BDC operators at N1,101 to the dollar, pushing up the value of the naira on the streets.
The CBN sells dollars to the BDCs at the lower band of rate quoted on the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).
Last Friday, the value of the naira was between N1,265 and N1,100 to the dollar in anticipation of another liquidity push by the apex bank.
According to Leadership, the value of the naira, which opened trading activities on the parallel market at N1,130 to the dollar, had firmed up to N1,000 by midday.
Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice-President, Mr Jamiu Abiola, has faulted the invasion of Oyo State House of Assembly and the Governor’s Office by suspected Yoruba nation agitators.
Abiola, in a chat, also said it was sad that a woman connected with his father, late Moshood Abiola, could have declared the South-West region a Democratic Republic of Yoruba Nation, stressing that her call for secession was against all that MKO was known for.
He noted that Abiola, presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, was prominent for his belief in Nigeria’s unity, saying it convinced the citizenry to give him their votes.
“I have never met her and I don’t think that she told members of the Abiola family because the family members I spoke to are furious about this. They are shocked. Our family patriarch, Chief Moshood Abiola, was well known for his strong belief in Nigeria’s unity and that was why it was easy for him to convince Nigerians from all regions to give him their votes.
“Even after his election was annulled by top army generals mostly from the Northern part of the country he never spoke about splitting Nigeria. It is sad that a woman bearing his name could have made such a declaration, particularly now that the Nigerian President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a Yoruba man who is doing a lot of what my father had wanted to do as Nigeria’s President.
“By doing that we would be giving her declaration more attention than it deserves. We will ignore her just like most Nigerians have done. We have a principled matriarch in the person of Mrs Adebisi Abiola. She became our matriarch following the death of both my step mother and actual mother Alhaja Simbiat Abiola and Alhaja Kudirat Abiola respectively.
“She is a noble woman known to speak the mind of my father even after his death. We also have our eldest sibling, the first child of my father, Mrs Lola Edewor Abiola. She is an intelligent woman accomplished as a politician and technocrat. She can also speak on behalf of the Abiola family,” he added.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has clarified its stance on the new national Identity card project designed to promote financial inclusion and other social services.
The clarification became necessary following the barrage of criticisms against the new policy considered unnecessary and a waste of resources. Major stakeholders have asked NIMC to improve on its infrastructures and conclude the ongoing capturing of citizens into its National Identity database, instead of toying with the idea of a new national identity card mid-way and taking over the roles of financial institutions.
Due to infrastructure deficits, the commission had encountered a series of issues with its Servers in the past creating major problems for citizens who needed to link their National Identity Numbers (NIN) with their Subscriber’s Identity Modules (SIM) and those who were seeking the NIN for Passports issuance.
However, the Head of Corporate Communications of the NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, clarified in a message that “the new National ID Card is a single, convenient, and General multipurpose card (GMPC), eliminating the need for multiple cards—not three.”
He said: “The single GMPC has multiple use cases: Payments/Financial, Government intervention/services, travel, etc
“The National Identity Management Commission is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System to deliver the payment and financial use cases.
“The card will be powered by the AFRIGO card scheme, an indigenous scheme powered by NIBSS.
“Applicants for the card will have to request with their NIN through the self-service online portal, NIMC offices, or their respective banks
“The card will be issued through the applicants’ respective banks in line with existing protocols with the issuance of the Debit/Credit cards.
“The card can be picked up by holders at the designated centre or delivered to the applicants at the requested location at an extra cost to be borne by the applicants.”
“The National Identity Management Commission is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System to deliver the payment and financial use cases.
“The card will be powered by the AFRIGO card scheme, an indigenous scheme powered by NIBSS.
“Applicants for the card will have to request with their NIN through the self-service online portal, NIMC offices, or their respective banks
“The card will be issued through the applicants’ respective banks in line with existing protocols with the issuance of the Debit/Credit cards.
“The card can be picked up by holders at the designated center or delivered to the applicants at the requested location at an extra cost to be borne by the applicants.”
The Anambra State Police Command said it has recovered the three remaining bodies of the victims of a boat accident that occurred on Wednesday along the coastline of the River Niger.
This was as the command urged all water commuters to be safety conscious and avoid behavior that may jeopardize their safety and that of others while on transit on water. This was disclosed in a press statement by the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Friday.
On April 10th, a popular Nollywood actor, Junior Pope and four others were confirmed dead in the boat tragedy. The boat, one of two that conveyed a movie crew to a film location in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state, was returning to its takeoff point in Asaba, Delta State when the unfortunate accident occurred.
This prompted the Actors Guild of Nigeria to bar its actors from all film productions involving riverine areas and boat rides.
Ikenga said the Marine Police of the Anambra State Command recovered the bodies of the three remaining victims of the unfortunate boat accident late on Thursday.
He said, “The two of the bodies were recovered on Thursday, April 11, 2024, while the last was washed in by the tide this morning.
“All the bodies have been deposited in the hospital mortuary in Asaba while the President of the Guild of Actors and Actresses has been notified of the recovery.
“The CP promised an expedited investigation into the sad accident that claimed the lives of five actors. He also commended the Command’s Marine Unit and its Commander for dedication to duty.”
Following the Friday imprisonment of Idris Olarewaju Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, for abusing the naira, PUNCH Online presents a list of nine actions involving the naira that could lead to legal consequences.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro said the sentencing of Bobrisky, a controversial crossdresser, would be a deterrent to others who are found abusing and mutilating the naira.
The Clean Notes Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria was implemented with the aim of enhancing the visual appeal and durability of the banknotes in circulation, as stated on the official website of the apex bank.
According to the CBN, the objective is to guarantee that the naira banknotes in circulation maintain a high standard of quality, enabling them to be easily processed and accepted by the general public.
Below are the ways you can abuse the naira:
Spraying: It is illegal to spray banknotes at events.
Writing: Writing on banknotes is prohibited by law.
Stapling: Stapling banknotes is prohibited by law due to the potential for corrosion caused by the pins.
Tearing: Tearing banknotes is also illegal.
Dancing or stamping on naira: Dancing or stamping on naira banknotes is prohibited by law. Getting oil or ink on the banknotes can be considered a form of defacing.
Selling: Selling currency banknotes is illegal.
Mutilation: Anyone caught tampering with the naira note will face legal consequences, as stated in the CBN Act Section 21.
Rejecting the naira: Rejecting the naira is strictly prohibited by law (Section 20, Subsection 5).
Money bouquets: In February 2023, the CBN also identified money bouquets as a type of naira abuse.
Bobrisky’s Friday sentencing is not an isolated incident.
Earlier in February 2024, actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for defacing the naira notes by spraying and stepping on them at a social event in Lagos.
The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted bail to a former Central Bank (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele. Justice Rahman Oshodi granted him bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.
The court also held that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have three years of tax payment with the Lagos State Government. Justice Oshodi said that the sureties must show proper identification and they must be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
The judge also said that he was satisfied with the bail conditions of N1 million, earlier given to Emefiele’s co-defendant Henry Isioma-Omoil who is standing trial on another charge before Justice Olufunke Sule-Hamzat of the Lagos High Court sitting in Yaba.
According to the court, the bail documents must be transferred to the special offences court and it must also be registered in the Lagos State Bail Management System.
Last week Monday, the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Emefiele before the court on a 26-count bordering on alleged abuse of office and irregular allocation of $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion respectively.
Controversial cross-dresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine for abusing the Nigerian currency – naira.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in her sentence, said the judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.
Before the sentence, the judge asked Bobrisky about his sex, and he quickly replied that he is a man. He was subsequently sentenced to serve his jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The judge in her ruling held that the jail term would commence on March 24, 2024, the day of his arrest.
The court had on April 5, convicted him after he pleaded guilty to a 4 counts charge of abuse of the naira, made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge adjourned to last Thursday for sentencing, but the Federal Government declared the day a public holiday for the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
The counts against him read: “that you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on the 24th day of March 2024, at Imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the total sum of N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira) notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, between July and August 2023 at Aja Junction, lkorodu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, sometimes in December 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000.00 (twenty thousand naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, sometimes in 2022 at Event Hall, Oniru, Victory Island, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000.00 (twenty thousand naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
