BREAKING! Christ Embassy Headquarters On Fire

The headquarters of Believers Love World, the mega church popularly known as Christ Embassy, is currently on fire. The cause of the fire outbreak at the church in Oregun, Lagos, is unknown as of the time of filing this report. When contacted, Okunbor Nosa, Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), told Daily Trust the cause was not yet known. Videos and pictures of the incident are circulating on social media. In one of the videos, heavy smoke was seen billowing from the building painted in white. Officials of the Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders were seen making efforts to contain the inferno. Details later…

Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of N12.18b Property Linked To Godwin Emefiele

The court has decreed the permanent forfeiture of a property valued at N12.18 billion associated with former CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the ultimate forfeiture order following a court session where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by lawyer Chineye Okezie, presented and discussed a motion. The properties, situated in highly sought-after locations within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, were included in two separate listings. Justice Aneke directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to give all concerned parties the opportunity to challenge the final order. On June 21, when the court resumed proceedings, there were no parties present to contest the temporary order. After carefully examining a detailed 41-paragraph affidavit presented by EFCC Investigating Officer Michael John Idoko, along with the 19 accompanying exhibits and a written address signed by Okezie, Justice Aneke approved the application. The judge said, “Having carefully considered the application and submission of counsel, it is hereby ordered as follows: a final forfeiture order is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, properties contained in Schedule A, which were traced and reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.”

I left Nigeria better than I met it – Obasanjo

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that his administration was one of the best the country has had so far. Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, yesterday, June 18, at the Safe Online Youth Fellowship Bootcamp organised by NerdzFactory Company, supported by Meta at the Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL). He recalled landmark achievements his administration recorded while in office between 1999 and 2007. He said he was responsible for setting Nigeria free from the bondage of immense debt, adding that he takes pride in the celebration of the 25 years an uninterrupted democracy, which started during his reign as democratic ruler in 1999. He said: “When I came in as elected President, I wanted to get debt relief because we were spending $3.5 billion every year servicing debt and the quantum of the debt was not going down. Today, I can say that I made Nigeria better than I found it from an economic perspective. “I found $3.7 billion in the reserves and we were spending $3.5 billion to service our debt. By the time I left, we had a debt of about $36 billion with the debt relief, and I left with a debt of $3.6 billion. Also, I left a reserve of over $50 billion. I also achieved excess crude for the country worth over $25 billion.”

NFF Considers Three Coaches to Replace Finidi George as Super Eagles Boss

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has narrowed down its search for a new head coach for the Super Eagles to three candidates. This follows the resignation of Finidi George last weekend. With the team’s fixtures in the next window fast approaching in September, the NFF is under pressure to make a swift decision. According to sources, the three coaches in contention for the top job are Antonio Conceicao, Samson Siasia, and Salisu Yusuf. Antonio Conceicao, a Portuguese coach, boasts an impressive resume with stints in Romania, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia. His tactical skills and player development expertise make him a strong contender for the role. He was fired by Cameroon in 2022 but is eager to return to coaching. Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles coach, also has an impressive coaching record, particularly with youth teams. He led Nigeria’s U-20 and U-23 teams to podium finishes at various tournaments, including the Olympic Games. Although his FIFA ban for match-fixing is set to expire in August, his controversial past still raises eyebrows. Salisu Yusuf, a Nigerian coach, has an impressive track record in the domestic league, winning NPFL titles with Kano Pillars. He has experience as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles and Head Coach of the Super Eagles B team.

I felt like a stranger to myself – Simi 

Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has opened up about her struggles to find herself. The ‘Duduke’ singer shared that while she has cherished the process of understanding herself deeply, she now feels uneasy as she experiences a sense of losing herself. On her X handle on Tuesday, she explained that she felt like a stranger to herself, while noting that her upcoming album ‘Lost And Found’ helped her rediscover herself. Simi wrote: “For most of my life, I have enjoyed the privilege of knowing myself deeply, unwaveringly, truly. In more recent years, I have also endured the discomfort of losing myself. “Sometimes, to make room for something else that I needed to be – other times, because I could not, for the life of me, find my way. I felt like a stranger to myself. This version of me has been the hardest one to look at in the mirror. “Making this album is a symbol of finding parts of myself again that I hoped I hadn’t lost permanently. I don’t believe that we ever stop finding ourselves. If you’re willing to look, there’s always more. This is a tribute to the things we continue to find and rediscover.”

Nigerian Soldier Shoots Self At Army Base Gate, Four Months To Retirement

An indigene of Okpuala in Ngor-Okpuala, Imo State, serving in the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Imo state, has shot himself in front of the 144 Battalion’s Forward Operation Base (FOB) gate. Identified as Vitalis, a senior non-commissioned soldier, Command Sergeant Major (CSM), he reportedly shot himself without leaving a suicide note. Before his death, he served with the 14 Brigade Headquarters, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Barrack, Ohafia, Ohafia local government area of Abia State. According to security sources who spoke to The Nation, a thorough and discreet investigation is necessary to determine the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s suicide. Speculation or premature conclusions could compromise the investigation’s outcome, which is being led by the army’s leadership in the state. Notably, there were no reported incidents of domestic violence or disciplinary actions against the soldier prior to his death, suggesting that the motives behind his actions may be complex and require a thorough inquiry. The tragedy struck the military camp when the soldier, reportedly just months away from retirement in October, committed suicide after mysteriously disappearing without communication for two weeks. The sudden reemergence of the soldier, who apparently returned to the camp and then took his own life, shocked his colleagues and left many wondering what could have driven him to such despair.

We’ve not slashed subscription prices -MultiChoice

Amid a recent drop in subscribers, MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv and GOtv pay television in Nigeria has denied slashing its subscription fees in Nigeria. This is according to BusinessDay quoting a source in the company on Tuesday. The source said the company only reduced decoder prices but subscription prices remained unchanged. “We only reduced our decoder prices and not subscription prices. Recall that MultiChoice Nigeria is currently in the middle of a legal case as it is challenging a ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT that mandated it to offer one-month free subscription services and imposed a N150 million fine. The development comes as the company announced that its subscribers in Nigeria dropped by 18 percent in the first quarter of 2024. This is according to BusinessDay quoting a source in the company on Tuesday. Since March 2022, the company has hiked its subscription fee four times. The latest was in April 2024 when it hiked subscription fees by 17 percent.

APC South-South Region Urges Tinubu to Contest Again In 2027

The All Progressive Party (APC) in the South-South region has called on President Bola Tinubu to re-contest for the office of the president in the 2027 election.  This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the APC Congress South-South Zonal Executive after a meeting in Calabar, Cross Rivers, on Sunday. It commended Tinubu for his policies, projects, and programmes, adding that the economic reforms were targeted at repositioning the country. The committee reaffirmed its unwavering support for the policies and programs of the Tinubu administration in areas of good governance, economic reforms, national security, and infrastructural development. Tinubu had on May 29, 2023, declared an end to petrol subsidies, a move that saw Nigeria’s headline inflation rising to 33.95 per cent in May, according to the latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data revealed that on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.54 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023, which was 22.41 per cent. The NBS report also revealed that the Food inflation rate in May 2024 was 40.66% on a year-on-year basis, which was 15.84 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023 (24.82 per cent). Despite the rising inflation rate, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also implemented several money-tightening policies which have been criticised by the World Bank. Different tax policies to increase revenue have also been put in place by the apex bank. As if the inflation was not enough, the Federal Government is currently battling the duo of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, on a new minimum wage. FG has insisted on N62,000 despite rejection by labour. But the committee has expressed optimism with Tinubu’s reforms and also commended the president for his commitment to the coastal road project, and the commencement of the construction from both ends of the project. The committee said it has resolved to set up a reconciliation committee in the South-South region, to be headed by the Coordinator of the South-South geo-political zone, Senator Bassey Otu. The communiqué said the move is to bridge any existing gap, foster collaboration, and work towards a common goal of strengthening the party’s presence and influence in the region. It also resolved to mobilise available party assets towards winning more states; particularly using the forthcoming elections in Edo State as a test case. “Resolves to mobilise efforts towards the e-registration program of the All Progressives Congress by creating the required awareness to engender inclusivity, participation, and ownership of the party,” the communiqué added. It also passed a vote of confidence on the President of the Senate, Sen (Dr) Godswill Akpabio, as the Leader of the APC in the zone, and on Victor Giadom and the zonal executive members of the party. The meeting concluded with a call to action for all party members, to actively participate in the re-building and strengthening of the APC in the zone.

EID-EL-KABIR: Feast of the Sacrifice

Eid-el-Kabir is an Arabic expression for “Feast of the Sacrifice”. It is also called Bakr-Eid, Sacrifice Feast. Eid-el-Kabir can also be called Eid-al-Adha. The origin of the feast is linked to Ibrahim being ordered to sacrifice his son and he simply obeyed, but, Allah in His infinite mercy gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead of his son Ishmael.  It was the angel Jibril that stopped him and told him that due to his submissiveness, his sacrifice had been accepted. Following this was Ibrahim’s journey from Canaan to the rocky desert of Mecca, Saudi Arabia with his wife Hagar, Adnan, and Ishmael.   On his return to Canaan, he left behind Hagar and Ishmael who ran out of food and water, but by Allah’s divine provision, Hagar and her son were able to drink from a spring of water and even got food to freshen themselves. Ishmael became a prophet and dedicated himself to spreading the message of submission to Allah to nomads in Arabia. This served as a precedent to the Hajj performed during the period.   Eid-el-Kabir is considered the holiest of the two Muslim celebrations; the other being eid el fitr.  During eid, worshippers come out massively for congregational prayers. This is done worldwide.  After the prayers, usually at open fields that serve as masjid or mosques, animals are slaughtered symbolising Ibrahim’s own willingness to sacrifice his own son. The symbolic sacrifice is done in various countries by slaughtering a cow, ram, camel or goat, depending on the predominant culture in a given place.   However, the domestic animal used must be in top form and healthy, outstanding in all ramifications, to qualify for the sacrifice. The animals sacrificed are meant to be divided into three parts. One part is for the family who slaughtered it. While the other two are for relatives and friends. Also, families visit one another and share meals together even after the celebration.   The period is usually characterized by intensive prayer by the faithful for individual families, those in authority and for global peace. Muslims climax the period with gorgeous dressing. Significantly, women seem to attach more interest to trending fashions. Thanks to their husbands who always provide for their families to ensure their wives and children come out in their best attires.   Usually, eid festivities are kicked off by annannouncement by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, regarding the sighting of the new moon, following which a date for eid is calculated.   In Nigeria, on the sideline of activities during the period is the flamboyant display by the royals across all the emirates who richly dress and ride on horses that are well decorated, holding durbars and other social activities which attract all citizens. There is also an exchange of official visits between the traditional rulers and political leaders. For many years, Eid-El-Kabir celebration, like other religious festivals was used as a tool for galvanizing the citizenry by the government. On the ocassion of the 2024 Eid el Adha, Nigerian Anchor Newspaper felicitates  with our Muslim readers and, indeed, all Nigerians on this blessed month, being a period for sacrifice, charity and dedication to the worship of Almighty God.  As we celebrate the festival, May God accept our prayers and other acts of devotion and bless our families and our nation with Peace, Stability and Progress. Happy Eid-el-Kabir.  

Tinubu sacks BPE director-general, appoints replacement 

President Bola Tinubu has relieved Mamman Ahmadu of his duties as director general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). In a statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale on Saturday, the president also approved the appointment of Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi as the new DG of the BPE. “Mr. Gbeleyi is a renowned financial expert and award-winning chartered accountant,” the statement read. “He is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). “He is also an alumnus of executive programmes of the prestigious London Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Lagos Business School. “He has over 30 years of post-qualification experience in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), investment & commercial banking, project finance, telecommunications, infrastructure, and public administration. “He was the board Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State from 2013 to 2015. “The President expects the new Director-General to bring his vast experience and competence to bear in this role to strengthen the agency as the national resource centre for capacity building and sustenance of reforms through the promotion of a competitive private sector-driven economy, ensuring social accountability and efficient deployment of public resources, as well as advancing effective corporate governance and fiduciary discipline in the public and private sectors.”