Buhari Postpones Official Visit To Ogun

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended his planned official visit to Ogun state.

The president was billed to visit the state on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, to commission some projects executed by the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

Some of the projects listed for commissioning are the Gateway City Gate (GCG); Sagamu Interchange-Siun-Abeokuta Road; Kobape Housing Estate; King’s Court Estate; and Ijebu Ode-Mojoda-Epe Road.

But in a statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Tokunbo Talabi on Friday, the government said that a new date for the president’s visit and commissioning of the projects would be announced in due course.

CBN Accepts Appointment Of Ahmad Abdullahi As First Bank Chairman

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmad Abdullahi as the non-executive director of First Bank Holdings Plc and chairman of the company to replace Remi Balalola.

Reports has it that Babalola had on Friday resigned his position as chairman of FBN Holdings. His exit came after the company confirmed a significant investment by billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola as single largest shareholder in the company.

CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, disclosed late on Friday that the bank had been duly notified of the resignation of Babalola as the chairman of the company against the backdrop of contest by some significant shareholders for the control of First Bank Holding Plc.

While congratulating Alhaji Abdullahi on his appointment, the CBN described Babalola’s resignation as chairman of the company as regrettable, especially given the fact that CBN’s regulatory interventions had made positive impact and increased attractiveness of the company to both local and foreign investors.

FG Okays Construction Of Airport In Okpella, Edo State

The Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) has approved the construction of an airport at Uzairue/Okpella in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state.

The grant of approval was conveyed to the Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, through a letter dated 16th December, 2021 signed by the Ag Director, Aerodrome Development Department, Engr. Clement Olayinka Awogbami on behalf of the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

Aviation experts and other allied engineers from the Federal Ministry of Aviation had in early November this year inspected the proposed site for the proposed airport.

The Aviation team led by the Director of Aerodrome, Engr. Awogbami visited the proposed site for Uzairue Passenger Airport in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state.

Nine dead, Two injured as Bandits storms Kaduna communities

Suspected bandits have killed at least 9 persons and injured 2 in separate attacks across Chikun, Zaria, and Zangon Kataf LGAs of Kaduna state.

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai has however expressed sadness over the development.

While wishing the injured speedy recovery, El-rufai conveyed his sympathies to the victims’ families and called on security forces to intensify operations against criminal elements across the state.

2023: Hausa Community Approves Osinbajo For President

The Hausa community in Oyo state has backed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for president.

The members gave the endorsement on the sidelines of a three-in-one programme that was chaired by Osinbajo in honour of a former governor of Oyo State, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The events include the commissioning of Senator Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, fourth Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable titled: ”Election Security and Good Governance” and his 72nd posthumous birthday.

While the programme was ongoing, scores of Hausa community members, led by Alhaji Yahaya Alli, stormed the venue. Holding a large digital banner accompanied by local Hausa entertainers, they voiced their support for Osinbajo to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Court Asserts Danzago As Kano APC Chairman

An FCT High court presided over by Justice Hamza Muazu, on Friday affirmed that the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano have conducted ward and local government congresses in the state.

On November 30, the judge granted all the reliefs sought by Mr Shekarau’s faction, seeking a declaration that Ganduje-led group did not conduct ward congresses.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the court, the Ganduje-led faction filed a motion seeking the court to stop proceeding, set aside its decision on the ward congress.

Delivering the ruling on Friday, the judge dismissed their motion and fined them N1million for filing frivolous and time-wasting motion. The court further held that the local government congress conducted by the Shekarau faction remains valid and that they have the authority to elect the state exco.

Remi Babalola Step down As Chairman For FBN Holdings

Mr Remi Babalola has resigned his appointment as chairman of FBN Holdings Plc.

This is coming about eight months after he assumed the position following the abrupt exit of his predecessor, Oba Otudeko in April 2021.

His exit is coming at a time when the biggest shareholder has emerged at the holdco in the person of billionaire mogul, Femi Otedola.

Mr Babalola was formerly an executive director of FBN Holdings commercial banking arm FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, with his broad experience spanning consulting, auditing, training and banking.

Ohanaeze Orders S’East Govs To Kick-off Ebubeagu Before Dec. 31

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has directed the governors of the zone to float the proposed Ebubeagu security outfit to tackle the insecurity challenges in the zone before the end of the year.

President General of the Igbo group, Professor George Obiozor disclosed this on Friday in his Christmas and new year message to Ndigbo in Owerri.

He said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide calls upon the governors of the southeast to keep their promise by rolling out the security outfit, Ebubeagu before December,31 2021. This will go a long way to enhance security situation in the southeast.”

NLC Announces Date For Nationwide Protests Against Fuel Price Hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has fixed January 27 and February 1, 2022 for a nationwide protest against the Federal Government’s plan to remove fuel subsidy and increase the pump price of petrol.

The Union however added that should the proposed price hike in the pump price of petrol take effect before the date scheduled for the protest, the congress would immediately mobilise members to shut down services without delay.

The union said that the government should rather promote local capacity to refine petroleum products for domestic use rather than importation.

According to NLC, any further increase in petrol would “expose Nigerian workers and the generality of the citizenry to acute deprivation, hardship and suffering as it would worsen the already established trend of hyper-inflation in the country.”

Omicron: Canada Cancels Travel Ban On Nigeria, Nine Other Countries

Canada on Friday, lifted the ban on foreign travellers from Nigeria and nine other African countries.

Canadian Health Minister, Jean-Yves Duclos, at a news conference on Friday, said the lifting of the travel ban would take effect from 11:59 pm on Saturday.

Apart from Nigeria, the travel restriction on flights is also lifted on South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Malawi and Egypt.

Canada however reimposed testing, warning that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 risks quickly overwhelming hospitals.