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Yuletide: FG Declares Dec. 27 and 28, 2021, Jan. 3, 2022 Public Holidays

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Nigeria Spends N2.49tn Servicing Debts in Nine Months – DMO

 

By Edozie Obasi-Eze

The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday, December 27 and 28, 2021 and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays in commemoration of the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year Day celebrations respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration in a statement on Wednesday, on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, who signed the statement, said the Minister felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

According to the statement, Aregbesola enjoined Christians to uphold the doctrines of Christ, including but not limited to faith, hope and love.

He said, “We must emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness, that His birth signifies.

“This will be the best way to portray Christ and celebrate his birth.”
Aregbesola identified peace and security as two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity.

He called on Christians and Nigerians, generally, to make the best use of this festive period to pray for the total eradication of insecurity bedeviling the country.

The Minister observed that this Yuletide called for Spartan discipline in order to prevent the spread of the vices in the country.

“Moderately celebrate the festival without large groupings and observe all the protocols stipulated by medical authorities. Take it as a point of personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus,” the Minister added.

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Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda

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Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.

Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.

He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.

SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time

“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.

The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.

He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.

According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.

He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.

As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.

He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.

Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.

Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

 

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Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.

The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.

ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road

“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.

The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.

“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.

LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.

“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.

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‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria

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Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.

Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.

RELATED NEWS: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case

“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.

“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.

Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.

“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.

He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.

“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.

His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.

Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.

Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.

NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.

The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.

 

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