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FG To Make Rice Cheaper, Sufficient Before Christmas

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The National Food Security Council (NFSC), chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, will make rice available before the Christmas festivity.

The Deputy Chairman of the Council, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

He stated that the Council was aware of the current high prices of rice, assuring Nigerians that rice would be made available at a cheaper rate.

According to the governor, the government is also aware of the activities of some individuals and groups bent on frustrating the new rice policy.

“The good news is that there is a lot of production in the country. All the Millers in Nigeria have enough paddy and farmers are producing and the harvest is coming in strong.

“We believe in addition to market forces, there are some people bent on manipulating the situation in order to exploit bigger revenue, bigger profits and some may even be doing so for the wrong reason.

“They want to truncate policy which is helping the Nigerian economy; which is helping Nigerian millers; which is helping the Nigerian farmers and the Nigerian population.

“We are taking steps to ensure that more rice is taken to markets where shortages can easily be created.

“There is enough product in the country and the National Food Security Council is focused on how to ensure that availability is restored all across the country so that prices will come down reflective of the cost of production,” he said.

On the reported loss of about N1 billion by Onion farmers in Kebbi State, Bagudu said the government would always respond to farmers’ predicaments promptly.

The governor, however, said that relevant agencies had not completed the assessment of the total loss by the farmers.

He disclosed that the federal government had approved N23billion for distribution to States affected by flood disaster this year.

“We have always responded to farmers’ issues or any trade group that has a misfortune, both the State and the Federal Government has been very active in helping.

“You may recall that recently, Mr President approved about N23 billion for states affected by the flood which Kebbi is one of them, and this is in addition to our own resources that we mobilize to support our farmers.

“This year’s rainy season is unusual, as of last week there was rain and it’s unusual.

“For the onion farmers, they have calculated that the rain will stop by September because when the onion is growing there is a point at which it does not desire rainfall, now we have rainfall.

“I’m not sure of the N1 billion lost in terms of the quantum because we have not done the assessment but we are always willing and ready to support all our producers especially when they are faced with unforeseen circumstances like this,” he said.

NAN reports that Bagudu was on the entourage of Buhari’s official visit to Saudi Arabia which ended on Saturday.

Other governors on the president’s entourage included Prof. Babagana Zulum of Borno and Aminu Masari of Katsina. (NAN)

BIG STORY

Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Now In Our Custody — EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has been detained in the agency’s custody for allegedly misappropriating over N110 billion in public funds.

The EFCC stated that the former governor appeared at its headquarters after months of ignoring invitations and avoiding court summons related to fraud connected to his administration.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday said that Bello had been detained and would be questioned about the allegations against him.

According to reports, Bello responded to the EFCC’s invitation on Tuesday, arriving at the EFCC office with his lawyers, but without his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who had reportedly been shielding him from arrest.

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Libya Arrests Four Nigerians Over Drug Trafficking, Health Risks [VIDEO]

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Libyan authorities have arrested four Nigerians in Sabha and Bani Walid on charges related to drug trafficking and testing positive for infectious diseases.

The arrests were announced on Monday by Migrant Rescue Watch, an advocacy group, through a post on X (formerly Twitter).

In Sabha, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted a raid at the residence of two Nigerian suspects and seized 1,200 hallucinogenic pills along with other illicit substances. Both suspects were handed over to the Sabha Security Directorate for further investigation.

In a statement, Migrant Rescue Watch confirmed: “CID in Sabha carried out a raid on a reported location and arrested two Nigerian drug traffickers. During a search of the premises, police found 1,200 hallucinogenic pills and other illicit drugs. Both individuals were transferred to the Sabha Security Directorate.”

In a separate incident, two Nigerians, a male and a female, were detained in Bani Walid during a routine health screening after testing positive for infectious diseases.

The Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) in Bani Walid transferred the suspects to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, for further processing and eventual repatriation to Nigeria.

Migrant Rescue Watch’s statement read, “DCIM Bureau in Bani Walid transferred two Nigerian #migrants (female and male) who tested positive for infectious diseases to Tripoli for repatriation.”

Bani Walid, located south of Tripoli, is known as a transit hub for migrants attempting to cross into Europe. Libyan authorities continue to crack down on illegal activities and enforce public health measures within the region.

 

Watch video below:

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Two US-Based Nigerians Bag 30-Year Jail For $3.5m Romance Scam

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Two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced by a United States federal jury to a combined 30 years in prison for defrauding US citizens of $3.5 million.

The sentencing was announced in a press release made available on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, Ibekie and Aniukwu deceived their victims by claiming they had received substantial inheritances that required money to be claimed. The duo would then ask the victims to send money with the promise of reimbursement once the inheritances were secured.

The statement also highlighted that the pair carried out romance scams, building online relationships with their victims to gain their trust, only to later demand money.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

The statement further noted that after facing at least 14 charges, Ibekie and Aniukwu pleaded guilty to the accusations. As a result, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, while Aniukwu received a 10-year sentence on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Ill., on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, an accomplice of Ibekie and Aniukwu, US citizen Jennifer Gosha, is set to be sentenced on December 18 following her guilty plea.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.

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