The senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, of contributing to the collapse of Nigeria’s industrial sector.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oshiomhole, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged that the administration of Obasanjo was responsible for the closure of major companies, including Michelin and Dunlop, leaving the country increasingly dependent on imported goods.

He made the allegation on Thursday while speaking at the APC presidential campaign rally in Ekiti State.

The former labour leader also recalled that Atiku, during his time as vice president, had publicly acknowledged that the Obasanjo administration spent $16 billion on the power sector.

“Atiku Abubakar, as Vice President, was crying on television that his government and his oga, Obasanjo, spent $16 billion on power. So you ask Atiku how many more US dollars do you need?” Oshiomhole said.

The senator also dismissed Atiku’s concerns about rising unemployment, arguing that the administration in which he served contributed to the problem by allowing Nigerian industries to shut down.

“I understand that Atiku is lamenting about unemployment; who closed down Nigerian industries? Who closed down Michelin? Who closed down Dunlop? Who reduced Nigeria to importer of everything from underwear to socks? It was done by the government and party to which Atiku belonged,” he stated.

Oshiomhole urged residents of Ekiti State to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, pointing to the current administration’s approval of a new minimum wage for workers.

OPay has informed its customers that only users who receive a special notification on their mobile app qualify for the Federal Government’s monthly ₦50,000 relief payment.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The fintech company made the clarification in a post on X on Tuesday, amid growing public interest in the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI).

According to OPay, customers selected by the government will receive a pop-up notification on their app homepage, providing instructions on how to access the financial support.

The company stated that customers who do not see the notification are not eligible for the programme, adding that it has no role in determining beneficiaries.

“Kindly note that customers who are unable to see the feature on the app are not eligible for it. Please note that we do not determine your eligibility,” the company said.

OPay directed customers seeking further clarification to contact the NERSI helpline on 07000222222.

The company also warned users to remain vigilant against fraudsters seeking to exploit the relief programme.

“OPay will never ask for your PIN or OTP to process a NERSI relief payment. Do not pay any agent or click unverified links,” it cautioned.

It advised customers to use only its official mobile application and USSD channel to check their eligibility status.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, had announced on October 30 that the Federal Government had commenced the programme, which is designed to provide vulnerable Nigerians with ₦50,000 monthly to help them cope with the rising cost of living.

Doro explained that the government had partnered with licensed digital financial service providers to manage the disbursement of the funds.

He added that beneficiaries would receive a consent SMS before the money was transferred to their bank accounts or digital wallets.

The participating platforms include ALAT by Wema, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.

The minister emphasised that beneficiaries were not required to submit applications, pay fees or register through agents to access the support.

He also warned Nigerians against disclosing their PINs or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone, advising those uncertain about messages relating to the programme to contact the official helpline on 0700-022-2222.

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a suspect over the attack on the convoy of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Calabar, the state capital.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The incident reportedly occurred at about 2:20 p.m. at the Watt Market Roundabout while the convoy was returning from the palace of the Obong of Calabar to the Metropolitan Hotel, where the party’s presidential town hall meeting was scheduled to take place.

The attack resulted in the windshields of some vehicles in the convoy being smashed.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, identified the arrested suspect as 27-year-old Victor Edet Yellow Duke.

According to the command, a group of suspected hoodlums, allegedly armed with machetes and sticks, emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis before attacking vehicles in the convoy.

The police said the exact number of vehicles affected had yet to be determined.

Officers deployed in the area quickly intervened to contain the violence. Their response, which involved the use of tear gas, resulted in the arrest of Duke, while the other suspected attackers escaped.

The suspect was subsequently transferred to the State Police Headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) for what the command described as a discreet investigation aimed at preventing possible reprisals or further threats to public order.

The police added that normalcy had returned to the area.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the other suspects involved and establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

The command also cautioned the public against assuming that the arrested man was guilty, stressing that he remained entitled to the presumption of innocence.

“The arrest of a suspect does not amount to a determination of guilt, as the suspect remains entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of investigation and any subsequent judicial proceedings,” the statement said.

The police assured residents, political stakeholders and visitors that adequate security arrangements remained in place across the state.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to “providing equal security protection to all political parties, candidates and their supporters, irrespective of political affiliation.”

The command urged members of the public to remain calm, refrain from circulating unverified information and report suspicious activities through established police channels.