The Plain News Media, No. 7 Ibiono Lane, Uyo (2026)

29/01/2023

NEWSBREAKING: CBN Extends Deadline For Old Naira Notes

THe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria’s apex bank led by Governor Godwin Emefiele, has finally extended the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes by 10 days.

This online news platform understands that the CBN in a press statement issued on Sunday, January 29, 2023, by Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, said the new deadline for old Naira notes is Friday, February 10, 2023.

This is coming a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) insisted that the January 31 deadline for the validity of the old 200, 500, and 1,000 naira notes remain unchanged.

This is as calls from various quarters have poured in pleading and demanding with the apex bank to shift grounds and extend the deadline in order to allow Nigerians more time to return their old notes to deposit money banks, better known as commercial banks.

But refusing to yield to pressure, the apex bank, via its verified Twitter page, insisted on Saturday evening, January 28, 2023, that the January 31, 2023 deadline remains.

Reposting a video of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, from the just concluded Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the apex bank said, “Deadline for the return of old series of 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes remains January 31 2023.”

While in the video posted Emefiele said, “Unfortunately, I don’t have good news for those who feel we should shift the deadline, my apologies.

“The reason is because, just like the president has said more than two occasions and even to some people privately, 100 days is more than enough for anybody who has the old currency to deposit it in the banks. And we took every measure to ensure that all the banks were and are still open to accept deposits.”

However, today, the CBN Governor has issued another statement extending the deadline for the old Naira notes to February 10, 2023.

The CBN Governor said on Sunday that as a result of measures put in place to ease the scarcity, President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the extension of the deadline.

29/10/2022

LET GOD'S WILL BE DONE AGAIN IN 2023...Jak abiak ake biak...nsibehe

13/10/2022

El-Rufai Carpets NNPC, Says Declaring Profit Without Dividends Should Push FG Out Of Oil & Gas

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday said the Federal Government has failed in the oil and gas sector and should get out of the business.

The governor spoke recently on occasion of the seventh edition of KadInvest, an annual event organised by the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s KadInvest, ‘Building a Resilient Economy’, El-Rufai said whatever the government manages turns out bad and noted that the sectors doing well in the country like entertainment, telecoms, fintech and others have no government involvement.

He said nothing has changed with the commercialisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company in July 2022, adding that NNPC is Nigeria’s biggest problem and should be privatised.

He said though the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari is trying his best, the company has failed and has no business in the sector.

The governor cited an example of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited which achieved nothing until the private sector came in and revolutionalised the sector.

“I am giving this example so that when I say government should get out of oil and gas, people should not think it is crazy. It is not. There is no reason why the Nigerian Government should still be in the oil and gas sector. It should just get out, it has failed. By every measure it has failed,” El-Rufai noted.

“This year, NNPC has not brought N20,000 to the federation account. We are living on taxes. It is PPTs, royalties, income tax and VAT that is keeping this country going because NNPC claims that subsidy has taken all the oil revenues. I don’t believe it.

“So, the government should sell everything in oil and gas sector. The government should get out of everything that is left of electricity, leave it to the private sector, create the environment, the money will come.

22/02/2022

Uyo Senate Seat:
I am The Man To Beat - Usenobong Akpabio

A front line aspirant for the Uyo Senate Seat come 2023, Barr. Usenobong Akpabio has boasted of his chances to floor other aspirants in the forth coming Senate race for Uyo Senatorial District, insisting that he remains the man to beat ahead of the National Assembly polls.
The former two time lawmaker for Uruan State Constituency who had between 2015 and 2019 contested for the same office handed down the statement recently when he consulted his kinsmen in Uruan Local Government Area.
Barr. Akpabio who stormed Uruan Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) with members of his campaign organization, hinted that he is by no means, intimidated by the caliber of aspirants who have so far expressed interest in the 2023 Senate race.
While acknowledging the right of others in Uyo Senatorial District to contest for the Senate Seat, Barr. Akpabio maintained that he's got towering heights above others as a ranking lawmaker who represented the Uruan State Constituency between 2003 to 2011.
According to him, he has remained a faithful and loyal PDP member over the years who has never challenged the decisions of the party, inspite of the huge sacrifices he made between 2015 and 2019 when he sought for the same office he is currently agitating for.
He specifically thanked the PDP family in Uruan for always standing by him in the past and once again, he is consulting them to do better what they are known for, when it comes to supporting their own.
"I am here to officially inform you that I, your son is ready for the position, of which I've enormous sacrifices in the past and now is the time for Barr. Usenobong Akpabio"
Presenting the aspirant to the gathering held at the PDP office, Idu Uruan, the Director General of the campaign organization, Eld. Archibong Inyang described Barr. Akpabio as an experienced Lawmaker, whose pedigree is rare among his contemporaries.
He informed the gathering made of delegates, party chieftains, youth and women representatives, that the Lawmaker's score card, while he served in the third and fourth are bare before them for assessment.

26/01/2022

PDP Stalwarts Seek Enoidem's Exit As MPM Chairman

Recent crisis in Etim Ekpo chapter of the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) have so far raised doubts about Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem's ability to successfully deliver on the mandate behind the formation of the organization in Akwa Ibom State.

These concerns became ripe following recent media attacks at the National Chairman of the Maintain Peace Movement, Barr. Enoidem, over accusations on his authoritarian style of leadership.

Recent reports in the State indicates that the first lady of Akwa Ibom, Dr. (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel had recently postponed plans to commission a FEYREP project in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area , after commissioning a similar project in Ika, citing the rising tension in the area.

Concerned members of the State PDP have questioned the moral grounds why Barr. Enoidem is still calling the shots at MPM, after declaring his interest to run for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial seat ahead of the 2023 elections.

Those calling for his head have reasoned that the MPM National Chairman could use his position against those within the PDP family, who are not sympathetic to his senatorial ambition currently zoned to the Abak-Etim Ekpo-Ika axis of the State.

Our investigations have revealed that the recent inauguratin of MPM, Lagos chapter, had ended in fiasco, with the members pointing accusing fingers at Bar. Emmanuel Enoidem's attitude in running the affairs of the organization.

Many believe that the purported use of veto power, amongst other complains against Enoidem, are enough grounds to disqualify him from running an organization with it's aims and objectives anchored on promoting peace and tranquility in the land.

A PDP chieftain who confided with our correspondent in Uyo, have expressed fear that other members of the organization may soon follow the steps of their contemporaries in Etim Ekpo, where exco members of the MPM have thrown in the towel, over perceived grievances against the leadership of the organization.

To nib the wound in the bud, the party chieftain have suggested that Barr. Enoidem be relieved of his appointment to enhance fairness and equity in running the affairs of the organization for the overall interest of the PDP Family.

05/11/2021

Proprietor Drags Mpat Enin Chairman to EFCC over Fraud
Barely two weeks after the Mkpat Enin Council Boss, Mr. Anieokpon Ekpo was dragged to the State House of Assembly over cases of financial misappropriation and abuse of office by a number of Councilors, the Proprietor of Albert Institute of Technology, Uyo, has dragged the Chairman to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over cases of fraud and impersonation.
The Institution's Proprietor, Engr. Augustine Udoh had in a petition served by his lawyer, Barr. Anthony Udoh, dated 17th May, 2021 and duly received by the Commission on the 31st of May, 2021, asked the EFCC to prevail on Mr. Anieokpon Ekpo to return the sum of N480,000 he fraudulently obtained from him under pretence that he is a qualified Town Planner.
Our correspondent gathered that the Council Boss had induced the Proprietor to believe that he is a qualified Town Planner who is competent and capable to carry out Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) and as well issue the environmental analysis Report to him for which he obtained the said sum of N400,000.
It was however discovered that Mr. Anieokpon Ekpo was not a qualified Town Planner, competent and capable to carry out E.I.A as well as issue the E.IA Report as was discovered by the regulating bodies, Uyo Capital City Development Authority and the National Board for Technical Education who accordingly rejected the EIA Report.
Engr. Udoh equally disclosed that Mr. Ekpo who was then, the Proprietor of Edar Polytechnic, Uyo, had in the same year collected about N80,000 for admission and graduation purposes of which he equally failed to deliver on the purposes for which the money was paid.
"In the circumstance, we do hereby passionately implore you to use your good offices and prevail over Mr. Anieokpon Ekpo and his fraudulent intrigues by causing him to refund to our client the sum of N480,000 he fraudulently obtained from our client" the letter
letter stated.
The EIA Report, according to Udoh, is a requirement inline with relevant agencies, before approval can be obtained for the permanent site of the proposed Albert Polytechnic in Uyo.
According to the Proprietor, he is optimistic that the EFCC will resolve the matter in his favour, otherwise, he will have no other option than to seek redress in Court.
When contacted on WhatsApp to comment on matter, the Council Boss said the Proprietor's claims were unfounded and mere fabrications meant to tarnish his image.

31/10/2021

Jubilee Syringe Coy Threatens Shutdown Over Disturbances

The Managing Director of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company (JSM), Onna, Mr. Akin Oyediran has threatened to shut down operation if the repeated cases of infractions against the company by the host community is not curtailed.
Mr. Oyediran handed down the threat while fielding questions from our correspondent who paid an on the spot visit to the Turkish owned company following a recent showdown by members of the host community.
Youths from the host community comprising of Awa Iman, Awa Nkop and Awa Atai had recently barricaded the entrance of the company for hours while demanding the immediate sack of the Managing Director, Mr. Akin Oyediran over allegations of frivolities, which according to them are detrimental to the growth of the company.
The protesting community stakeholders as well as respective signatories of the company's MOU had in a strong worded letter addressed to Mr. Oyediran, dated 17th September, 2021, asked the M.D to immediately vacate his office or be ready for a continuous protest until their demands are met.
Putting words to action, hundreds of youths from the host communities, backed by the Chieftains of the Awa Village Council had about a week ago barricaded the gates of the company currently producing about 2.5 million Syringes daily.
Among other allegations against Oyediran were cases of ill treatment against workers in the company, especially those from the host community, outright sacking of staffs without recourse to due process and allegations of favouritism to female folks in the company with ulterior motive.
They also sited cases of disrespect/disregard to the directives of the respective Village Heads who are equally signatories to the company's MOU, all to detriment of the community and the state at large.
Interacting with our correspondent who visited the company, Mr. Oyediran explained that the Syringe Syringe Company which according to him, is 100% owned by private investors, has fulfilled all the agreements reached between the company and the host communities.
He equally debunked claims of ill treatment against workers, of whom he said majority are from the host communities maintaining that the infractions against the company are from external forces, some with ulterior motives.
While acknowledging that the matter is currently under control, he however expressed fears that any further disturbances may force the investors to either shut down operation.

The Plain News Media

29/01/2023

29/10/2022

13/10/2022

22/02/2022

26/01/2022

05/11/2021

31/10/2021

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