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Recall Your Envoy, Llewellyn-Jones For Interfering In Nigerian Politics — Fani-Kayode To UK

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  • Says he is “bullish, uncouth, dangerously incompetent and painfully inconsiderate”.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council’s Director of New Media, Femi Fani-Kayode has called on the British Government to recall its Deputy High Commissioner, Benedict Llewellyn-Jones, from Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode on Tuesday described the British envoy as “bullish, uncouth, dangerously incompetent and painfully inconsiderate”.

According to the APC chieftain, Llewellyn-Jones is “like a bull in a China shop”.

The former aviation minister earlier warned the Deputy High Commissioner of the UK to Nigeria, saying he should remain a silent observer and keep off from Nigeria’s politics.

On Monday, Fani-Kayode described Llewellyn-Jones as a “mischievous, misguided, unlettered and little Englander” who is representing a country that has committed the highest atrocities across the world and is trying to impose same-sex marriage on Nigeria.

The former aviation minister was reacting to Llewellyn-Jones’ statement on Sunday where he faulted him for his recent comments considered to be inciting.

Fani-Kayode had in one of his tweets said that the greatest lesson of the 2023 presidential election “is that God will NEVER allow a practising sodomite and his repugnant retinue of perverts, pimps, fraudsters, court jesters, degenerates, monkeys, slaves and malefactors to lead Nigeria”.

On Sunday, the British envoy said, “Yes, let’s be specific, there were some people like Femi Fani-Kayode; what is he saying and why is he saying it? I don’t understand.

“It is wrong from my perspective that he will speak on behalf of a party and that party does not distance itself from him and say stop doing that. It is wrong to say that.”

“To me, it is really important, people who have said I am part of a party’s press and media campaign, well, the party itself should say no you are not, and you should stop and we do not agree. I know that some leaders very clearly said we are about unity, and that is good, I encourage that,” he added.

However, on Tuesday, Fani-Kayode in another statement said the British Government should withdraw the envoy from Nigerian “for interfering in our internal affairs and attempting to involve himself in our politics”.

The APC chieftain further said, “He is better suited to work as an air host/hostess on British Airways, serving drinks and food to the passengers in the economy class of the long haul London/New York trans-Atlantic flight route, than working for the British High Commission in Nigeria.

“It is a sign of great disrespect to our country that a so-called diplomat that is as shallow, dim-witted, intellectually-stunted, partisan, unprofessional, partial, arrogant, forward, disrespectful and limited in his knowledge base as this can be sent here to represent the UK.”

He said Nigeria deserves “far better”.

The statement further read, “I am still waiting for evidence of my so-called ‘hate speech’ against the Igbo from him.

“I guess in his little globalist mind saying that Lagos belongs to the Yoruba and is not ‘no man’s land’ is hate speech.

“I guess to him saying that those that come from outside the South West to live in Lagos ought to respect the Yoruba is hate speech.

“Again I guess that to him saying Enugu belongs to the Igbo and is not a ‘no man’s land’ is also hate speech or that non-Igbos that choose to live in Enugu should respect the Igbos that have hosted them is hate speech.

“Yet again I guess that to him saying that Kano belongs to the Hausa-Fulani and is not a ‘no man’s land’ is hate speech or that non-Hausa Fulani’s that live in Kano should respect the Hausa Fulani’s that have hosted them is hate speech.

“Permit me hop across to Ben’s own UK to drive home the point.

“I guess in his little globalist world Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast (the capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively) are no longer Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish cities and territories but are now ‘no man’s land’ even in the era of devolution where each of those three ethnic nationalities take immense pride in their growing independence from the English and in their cultural and historical values and roots.

“I guess saying that Edinburgh belongs to the Scots and is not ‘no man’s land’ is hate speech to the likes of Ben.

“It is also hate speech to him to say that non-Scots that have chosen to live in Edinburgh should respect the Scots that have hosted them.

“Same goes for Cardiff and Belfast. If you say that either belongs to the Welsh or the Irish respectively and that they are not ‘no man’s land’ Ben will describe it as hate speech and if you say that the people of each must be respected by those from the outside that have chosen to stay there, he will again call it hate speech.

“What type of man is this little Englander who sees hate in everyone and everything? What an inelegant and priceless fool he is.

“Forgive me for describing him as being one step removed from the village idiot.

“Someone please tell him that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being an ethnic nationalist and seeking to preserve your identity, land, culture, values and ways as a people whilst at the same time opening your doors to others from your nation and welcoming them with open arms.

“There is a great difference between peaceful co-existence based on love and mutual respect for your fellow compatriots and a total and complete capitulation and rejection of who we are and where we are coming from as a people.

“We espouse the former and reject the latter. Being a proud Nigerian does not mean I have to turn my back on the fact that I am also a proud Yoruba man. They are not mutually exclusive. The two can go together and we take pride in both.

“The same goes for my fellow Nigerians who happen to be Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, Ijaw, Tiv, Itsekiri, Bini, Efik, Kanuri, Shuwa Arab or anything else.

“We are ALL first and foremost Nigerians but we all came from somewhere that existed for thousands of years long before Nigeria was established.

“Would someone please try and explain all this to this poor, lost, ignorant little soul called Ben? He needs to know before he makes any more embarrassing blunders about our people and country and before he attempts to lecture us or involve himself in our politics again.

“Next time we will be ready for him.”

BIG STORY

Federal Government To Grant Mining Licenses To Only Companies That Process Locally

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Nigeria will only grant new mining licences to companies that present a plan on how minerals would be processed locally, under new guidelines being developed, a government spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.

This is a departure from Nigeria’s long-standing practice of exporting raw commodities, as governments around Africa work to increase the value derived from their substantial mineral reserves.

To spur investment, Nigeria will offer investors incentives including tax waivers for importing mining equipment, make it easier to secure electricity generation licences, allow full repatriation of profits and boost security, Segun Tomori, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s minister of solid minerals development said.

“In exchange, we have to review their plans for setting up a plant and how they would add value to the Nigerian economy,” Tomori said. He did not say when the guidelines would be finalised or come into effect.

However, last week the minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake, said it was now government policy to make value addition a condition for obtaining licences so as to create jobs and help local communities.

Alake, who also chairs an African mining strategy group comprising mining ministers from Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia, is pushing for a continent-wide effort to get maximum local benefit from mineral exploration.

Nigeria, Africa’s top energy producer, has struggled to extract value from its vast mineral resources due to poor incentives and neglect. The underdeveloped mining sector contributes less than 1% of the country’s gross domestic product.

Last year Nigeria exported mostly tin ore and concentrates worth about 137.59 billion naira ($108.34 million), mainly to China and Malaysia, according to the country’s statistics bureau.

The government aims to drive more investment into the sector by issuing more licenses. It has set up a state-owned solid minerals corporation offering investors a 75% stake and established a special security unit tasked with fighting illegal miners.

The government is also trying to regulate artisanal miners, who dominate the sector, by grouping them into cooperatives.

Foreign mining companies operating in Nigeria include Canada-based Thor Explorations which is involved in gold exploration, Chinese-owned Xiang Hui International Mining which partnered with a local company to process gold, and Indian-owned African Natural Resources and Mines, which is building a $600m iron ore processing plant in northern Nigeria.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Felicitates President Tinubu At 72

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 72nd birthday, describing him as a brave, bold, and passionate leader who is dedicated to the advancement, growth, and development of Nigeria.

He said that President Tinubu’s contribution to the nation’s growth is cause for celebration, citing the President’s unparalleled bravery, integrity, honesty, and patriotism in his efforts to steer Nigeria’s ship in the correct path since he into office on May 29, 2023.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said President Tinubu has provided honest and transparent leadership in Nigeria by taking bold decisions to address challenges militating against the prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Sanwo-Olu further described the President as a visionary and master strategist whose democratic credentials are scholarly materials for study in political economy.

He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, the people of Lagos State,  members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), leaders, and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, I congratulate our leader, President Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday.

“President Tinubu has sacrificed the greater part of his life in the service of our dear State and Nigeria. He contributed to the enthronement of democracy and good governance, serving first as a Senator in the aborted third republic and later as a pro-democracy activist, working tirelessly as a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to struggle for the de-annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“President Tinubu’s financial wizardry and economic intellect, which he put to good use as the Governor of Lagos State, have taken our dear state to a greater height. Today, Lagos is the pride of Nigeria, occupying an enviable position as the fifth largest economy in Africa.

“President Tinubu has made positive impacts in the country through the Renewed Hope agenda of his administration. His unblemished service and track record of impressive achievements in public office have made him a role model for many Nigerians.

“As President Tinubu celebrates his 72nd birthday, it is our prayer that God will grant him more prosperous years in good health and wisdom as he continues to serve our dear nation.”

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JUST IN: CBN Increases Banks Capital Base To N500bn, N200bn For National Commercial Banks

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The capital basis for commercial banks with international permission has been raised to N500 billion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The policy change was confirmed by Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s acting director of corporate communications. in a declaration.

She added that commercial banks with regional authorization are expected to reach a capital floor of N50 billion, while those with national authority must meet a ceiling of N200 billion.

Announced on Thursday, March 28, 2024, this comprehensive financial reform requires significant increases in banks’ minimum capital bases, which vary depending on the size of the bank.

The latest policy directive specifies that commercial banks with international authorization are now required to shore up their capital base to N500 billion.

In a bid to tighten the financial fabric, the CBN has not overlooked merchant banks, which are now subject to a N50 billion minimum capital requirement.

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