Eteng makes N20k a day selling Agidi in Akwa Ibom

 

• A man in Uyo is making a name and fortune for himself by the uniqueness of his dresses to a common product known as Agidi
• The tray on his head gives him away, else he would be mistaken for a big salary earner in Nigeria.

24-year-old Eteng from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State dorns a neat suit and well-fitted tie daily as he goes to work hawking corn flour jello, popularly called Agidi in Nigerian languages.

Moses Eteng, hawking on the street of Uyo Credit: Premium Times Source: UFC

The Agidi carefully wrapped and placed on the tray on his head sells for N100 each and he has N20,000 worth on it.

Many consider the trade a low-class business and those who hawk it are not usually accorded respect because of their dress sense.

But Moses Eteng has cut a niche for himself by his unique dress style.

Premium Times reports that Eteng chose the type of dressing in order to woo more clients and stand out from the pack of hawkers on the streets of Uyo.

Eteng told the newspaper that in order to get customers, he has to study people and understand what they like. 

He says what he is doing is appealing to people and that many hawkers like it but are unable to and that makes him different. According to him, he dresses to promote his brand.

He said anyone who looks at him will understand his products look like him. He says his neat dressing boosts his business

Eteng has also cut a name for him himself as educated Agidi among those who patronise him,

He is a self-sponsored secondary school leaver and has sold the product for another person for 10 years.

He began his own business in 2018 after he was sent back to the village when he fell out with his proprietor.

The Yankurr Local Government Area indigene said he served a woman who treated him shabbily and when he returned back to Uyo, began to make and sell his own Agidi.

According to Eteng, with the business, he was able to see himself through senior secondary school.

Eteng employs a rigorous process in making the Agidi in order to ensure good hygiene.

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CBN increases weekly cash withdrawal limit for individuals to N500k

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawals across all channels by individuals and corporate organisations to N500,000 and N5 million, respectively.

The apex bank announced this in a letter addressed to banks and other financial institutions.

The CBN has increased the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawals by individuals and corporate organisations to N500,000 and N5 million, respectively. Photo credit: Central Bank of Nigeria Source: Facebook

"The maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawal across all channels by individuals and corporate organizations shall be #500,000.00 and #5,000,000.00 respectively," the letter signed by Haruna B. Mustafa, the director of banking supervision read.

The CBN explained that it made the decision based on feedback received from stakeholders.

The apex bank warned that any bank that aids and abets the circumvention of the policy will be severely sanctioned. The new police takes effect nationwide from Monday, January 9, 2023.

The CBN further gave room for withdrawals above N500,000 and N5 million in "compelling circumstances".

In such situations, the apex bank said the withdrawals will be subject to a processing fee of 3% and 5% for individuals and corporate organizations, respectively.

Also, to process such withdrawals, banks and other financial institutions must obtain some relevant information from the customers and upload the same to the CBN portal created for the purpose.

The information includes:

a. Valid means of identification of the payee (National ID, International Passport, or Driver's License).

b. Bank Verification Number (BVN) of the payee.

c. Tax Identification Number (TIN) of both the payee and the payer

d. Approval in writing by the MD/CEO of the financial institution authorising the withdrawal.

Giving further directives, the CBN said third-party cheques above N100,000 shall not be eligible for payment over the counter.

The apex bank added that the extant limit of N10 million on clearing cheques still subsists.

According to the CBN, monthly returns on cash withdrawal transactions above the new specified limits should be rendered to the Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision and Payments System Management Departments as applicable.

It reminded banks that compliance with extant AML/CFT regulations relating to KYC, currency and suspicious transaction reporting etc. is mandatory in all circumstances.

The CBN also directed banks to encourage customers to use alternative channels (internet banking, mobile banking apps, USSD, cards/POS, eNaira, etc.) to conduct their banking transactions.

The CBN further noted that it recognised the importance of the roles that Bank and Mobile Money Agents play in the financial system, which include enabling access to financial services in underserved and rural communities.

"They will continue to perform these strategic functions, in line with existing regulations governing their activities.

"The CBN recognizes the vital role that cash plays in supporting underserved and rural communities and will ensure an inclusive approach as it implements the transition to a more cash-less society," the letter read.

 Nigerians woke up on Tuesday, December 6, to the news of the policy by the CBN which directed banks to ensure that Over-the-Counter (OTC) cash withdrawals by individuals in a week stood at N100,000, while corporate entities must not exceed N500,000.

The policy, however, caused a nationwide uproar as financial experts, businessmen, politicians and other stakeholders stood against it.

Meanwhile, the CBN has said its governor, Godwin Emefiele, would not be appearing before the House of Representatives on Thursday, December 22 as expected.

The apex bank stated that Emefiele would be represented by the deputy governor on financial system stability, Aisha Ahmad.

The CBN governor had been summoned by the lawmakers to give an explanation about the new cash withdrawal policy

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Doyin Okupe, sentenced to 4 years in prison over money laundering

 

 Doyin Okupe, the director general of Peter Obi's presidential campaign council, has been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for money laundering.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the federal high court in Abuja found Okupe guilty of 26 of the 59 charges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred against him.

Court sentences Okupe to prison.  Photo Credit: Nigerian Lawyer Source: Twitter

The former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan will serve the sentence concurrently, thus, he will spend 2 years in jail.

His son and wife, Adesunkanmi and Omolola Okupe, had pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.

However, the court ruled that Okupe is at liberty to pay a sum of N500,000 fine for each of the charges, which is a total of N13 million.

His wife and son had spoken as witnesses soon after the court reconvened following Okupe's conviction.

Okupe was earlier convicted for breaching the money laundering act, he was found guilty to have contravened sections 16(1) and (2) of the act.

The EFCC has dragged Okupe before the court for receiving hundreds of millions in cash from ex-national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).

 Earlier the Labour Party chairman in Ogun state, Michael Ashade, alleged that Okupe mishandled about N20 million meant for mobilising members of the party for campaigns.

According to Ashade, Okupe received the money to mobilise members of the party for Peter Obi's presidential campaign rally billed to hold in Oyo, but the leader only remitted N4m for the state chapter.

The state chapter of the party had earlier suspended Okupe for some gross misconduct but the national  body of the party stepped into the matter.

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Buhari identifies factors threatening attainment of AU Agenda 2063

President Buhari on Thursday in Washington DC, USA, warned that Africa risks not attaining the goals continental leaders have set for the region by 2063 in view of challenges facing it.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman in a statement, said the Nigerian leader, stated this at the ongoing US-Africa Leaders Summit on the topic, “Partnering on Agenda 2063: A Peaceful and Secure Africa” in the US Capital.

According to President Buhari the Agenda could be achieved ”if there is a unity of purpose among all member states.”

Stressing that "Africa’s security and development landscape had undergone significant transformation over the past decades."

He emphasized that, the Continent has witnessed increased, diverse and complex threats including climate change, the scourge of terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organized crimes, ideological radicalization, and recently, an upsurge in Unconstitutional Change of Governments (UCGs).

“It is clearly evident that these developments negatively impact national, regional and continental stability and undermine our drive towards achieving AU Agenda 2063 and our flagship project ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa’, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

”That is why we must continue to act collectively, in unity and solidarity in our fight against these threats”.

He called on member states to ensure that inclusive governance, constitutionalism as well as strengthening of African Union mediating support mechanisms and conflict prevention mechanisms are emplaced as a panacea to emerging intra/interstate resurgence of conflicts in Africa.

“As leaders, we must recommit ourselves to shared values, vision, unity and solidarity, particularly in upholding constitutionalism, democracy and good governance.

”We must also embrace a multidimensional approach in order to achieve peace, security and sustainable development, in line with our aspirations contained in Agenda 2063,” he said.

”As highlighted in my Independence Day remarks on 1st October, 2022; I should like to reiterate, that no matter what gains we make, without good governance anchored on credible elections that are free, fair, credible and transparent, our development efforts would remain futile and our citizenry would be worse off.

”It is for this reason that I have resolved to bequeath a sustainable democratic culture, which will remain a lasting legacy.

”The signing of the Electoral Act 2021, as amended, with landmark provisions, further assures us of a more transparent and inclusive electoral process.” Source (NAN) 

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2023 Census: Lagos hosts stakeholders’ summit Dec. 20

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government will host a summit as part of activities to prepare residents ahead of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, Special Adviser to the  Government on Intergovernmental Relations, made the disclosure at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos.

Ogunlende said that it became imperative for the state to host the census summit after President Muhammadu Buhari hosted national stakeholders’ summit on the 2023 National Population and Census at the State House in Abuja.

According to him, the communiqués from the 36 States are to be collated and submitted to the Federal Executive Council by December 27, for harmonisation in the National Population Census Calender.

“I am pleased to announce that Gov. Babjide Sanwo-Olu has approved that the state summit holds on December 20, at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.

“The goal of the summit is principally to broaden the state level support base for the 2023 census scheduled for April with the following objectives:

“To create public awareness on the conduct of the 2023 census, including its imperatives, methodology and timeliness.

“To promote a robust and informed conversation on the processes and procedures for the 2023 census.

“To solicit the cooperation and support of the state level stakeholders for the conduct of the 2023 census.

“To provide a platform to offer clarification and receive feedback and suggestion on salient issues and concerns related to the conduct of the 2023 census,” Ogunlende said .

He said that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census would be Nigeria’s first digital census.

Ogunlende noted that the 2006 census declared Lagos as having a population of 9,013,534 out of a total of 140,003,542.

He added that the 2019 census population figures ranked Lagos second with a figure of 12,772,884 out of 201,135,262, with Kano as first with 14, 253,549.

Ogunlende said that the success of the 2023 census is crucial to the developmental growth of the Lagos.

He explained that the aforementioned data could no longer serve the critical purpose of planning for a mega city.

Also speaking, Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Lagos State, urged all Lagos residents to come out en mass to be counted during the exercise.

Salu-Hundeyin said that census data is used for policymaking, planning and evaluation, monitoring, legislation and even building of infrastructure.

She noted that with accurate data, government could solve the challenge of traffic in the state because there would be evidenced based data that would show the density of people at a particular place and time.

Salu-Hundeyin commended the Lagos State Government for being proactive and setting the pace in ensuring that the state has the best census come 2023.

“The commitment of the state government is unrivaled. We have a government in Lagos state that is so concerned about having the best census come 2023,” Hundeyin said.

She added that 80,000 ad hoc staff would be recruited in Lagos for the conduct of the census.

Salu-Hundeyin said that no nation can survive without census, which is the mother of all data.

She said that the new digital census to be deployed in 2023 would eliminate paper work.

“A tablet will be used which have the maps of all enumerated areas,” Salu-Hundeyin said.

She said that the device would make use of satellite imaging leveraging on the GPS of the area.

She said that enumerated areas would be captured digitally. (NAN)

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Ondo state govt generates N800 million from okada riders in 11 months

In what many people will see as a good development, the Ondo state government has revealed that its Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) generated N800 million from ticket sales to commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) in 11 months of the outgoing year.

The Ondo state government disclosed this during an event in which commercial motorcyclists were appreciated with different types of mouth-watering gifts by the ODIRS.

Ondo state govt generates N800 million from okada riders in 11 months. Photo credit: Bunmi Omotoye Source: UGC

Governor Akeredolu who was represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, lauded the consistency of commercial motorcyclists in the daily purchase of tickets.

He said his administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for motorcyclists in the state within the stipulated periods given to them.

On his part, the chairman of ODIRS, Tolu Adegbie, thanked Akeredolu for rewarding motorcyclists. He said they had increased the state’s IGR in Okada from the initial N4.8 million to about 1 billion naira annually.

Adegbie added that before this current administration came on board, the state generated N400,000 monthly from Okada riders which translated to N4.8 million in a year.

Our efforts to appreciate Okada riders in Ondo state for consistently buying their tickets and contributing to the development of the sunshine state, the Ondo State Internal Revenue Services (ODIRS) through a raffle draw presented different gift items to the riders in a fun-filled ceremony in Akure.

Items won by the riders in an event witnessed by our source include: Bags of rice, standing fans, Semovita, packs of Indomie, groundnut oil and other itemsIndomie, groundnut oil and other items.

Ondo state deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa presents a commercial motorcycle (Okada) to Temitope Samuel. Photo credit: Bunmi Omotoye Source: UGC

 Temitope Samuel however emerged winner of the star prize. He won a motorcycle TVS plus HLX valued at about 520,000, with free insurance, number plate, one-year license and renewal of his driver’s license.

While speaking with newsmen at the event which was held at the ODIRs office in Akure, Samuel thanked God and the Ondo state government for the unexpected gift, promising to be consistent with his ticket collection.

He said:

“I was overwhelmed with joy. I never dreamt that I will become owner of two motorcycles, I bought the one I’m using on instalment.

“For me to be picked from the multitude was not my making but grace of God. I’m not the oldest or the most qualified but this is what is called unmerited favour from the above.

“Within a twinkle of an eyes, I’m now owner of two motorcycles, in the next two months I will pay off the “Okada” I bought on instalment. I will give one out to some to be working for me while I will be hustling with this new one."

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Malian Halima Cissé's broken the Guinness World Record with nonuplets in a single birth

 

May 4, 2021, will forever be etched in the hearts of a Malian couple whose world changed after the delivery of their nine babies at once.

Halima Cissé and Kader Arby's children are five girls and four boys. Photo: UK Daily News. Source: UGC

When Halima Cissé and her husband Kader Arby a sailor with the Mali Navy got pregnant, getting worldwide attention was not their goal as a family unit.

It was undeniably an exceptional birth as the nine babies born through a C-section were born prematurely and they all survived.

It was a hands-on-deck affair and when the Malian doctors couldn't handle the heat they thought it best to send the expectant mother to Morocco, BBC reports.

When she was first flown out it was a matter of life and death for both Halima and her little tots who hadn't even been born yet.

The Malian doctors stabilised her and then had her transferred to Morocco so that she and all her babies could survive.

The doctors believed the babies were seven in number and they shocked them when they turned out to be nine in number on the day of the Caesarean section.

The couple with their nine little babies. Photo: Peter Allen. Source: UGC

After the delivery, the mother and her 9 cubs lived in a convalescent home.

They stayed in a convalescent home in Morocco so that they could be properly monitored and looked after by the doctors and nurses.

It is not every day that a mother gives birth and goes home with nine kids.

Arby, their father used to come and visit occasionally as he had to also take care of their first daughter Soda, who remained home in Timbuktu when Cissé was flown out.

The mother of ten children didn't imagine this is how her life would turn out.

The government of Mali sent a delegation to welcome home and receive the family as it will take nine people to help them during and after the flight until they are home safely.

Phoning on Sunday, December 11, 2022, the couple told UK Daily News:

"We are very happy to finally be able to return to Mali together."

The nonuplets after being received by the delegation were given a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records.

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'Omeife' Africa's first human-like robot built in Nigeria

 

The Nigerian Government has launched Africa’s first humanoid ‘Omeife’ to boost Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological development in Nigeria and Africa.

Director General National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA Kashifu Inuwa who represented the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, who was to serve as proxy for the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, unveiled Omeife in Abuja.

The Vice President noted that the federal government would ensure the project's success and urged other stakeholders to support the Omeife project and develop new ones.

Omeife is 6-foot tall. Photocredit: NITDA Source: Facebook

Inuwa said:

“We are living in an exciting time of advanced technological advancement, where the science fiction of yesterday are becoming the reality in products and services of today,”

Omeife, the first African humanoid robot was developed by the Uniccon Group led by Chucks Ekwueme.

Explaining the features, Ekwueme said the humanoid has a real-time understanding of its surroundings, including active listening and the ability to focus on a specific conversation thread as it occurs.

He also noted that Omeife can speak eight languages besides English, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Pidgin and Afrikaans.

Speaking on whether Omeife can frown or show expressions of sadness.

Ekwueme added:

“No, I don’t think we want it to do that even it is possible”

But he explained that what really underscores the Africanness built into Omeife is its ability to speak each language with a native accent, pitch and vocabulary, with detailed pronunciations of words, sentences and even phrases.

He noted:

" African politeness values are also entrenched in their social interaction functions."

Ekwueme also stated that Omeife pays attention to a specific person to keep the conversation alive and chooses its words carefully—sieves out words, phrases, sentences and expressions that are not polite in African cultures.

“This particular attribute makes it safe to interact with kids"

Uniccon Group CEO added that Omeife's learning pipeline helps it improve and understand new things from conversations, and it can also recall and understand old concepts better with new information.

He continues:

"Omeife also has terrain intelligence in that it knows its own ground level and stability on the floor, which helps it navigate on non-flat surfaces and maintain good balance. It also has a position awareness feature and a grip sensor that allows it to size, understand shape, and how to hold things with its hands."

Meanwhile, another company making Nigeria proud Innoson motors, has first exported its vehicles to Sierra Leon.

The president of the country had thanked Innoson Motors as he moves to ensure military officers use it to tackle insecurity

According to reports, Innoson Motors made more than $4 million from the sale

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