The warning by the Department of State Services of the plot by criminal elements to bomb worship and relaxation centres during and after the Sallah holidays is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Wednesday.
The Guardian reports that the Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, disclosed a plot by criminal elements to bomb worship and relaxation centres during and after the Sallah holidays.
A spokesperson for the secret agency, Peter Afunanya, in a statement, said there were already reported cases of such incidents in some areas.
He added that his organisation had uncovered a ploy by suspected criminal gangs to forge an alliance to launch further attacks on critical infrastructure.
His words: “The objective is to achieve some self- serving interests, as well as cause fear among the citizenry. The service, however, recalls its earlier warning that some groups and individuals were plotting to stoke violence in the country.
“Following these, patrons, owners and managers of public places are advised to be wary of this development and implement basic security measures to deter the threats.
“While the service is committed to the disruption of this trend and pattern of violent attacks, it will continue to partner with other security agencies to ensure that necessary drills are emplaced to ensure public peace and order are not jeopardised.”
IN a related development, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the aegis of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable (IRF), have questioned the rationale behind the recent removal of Nigeria from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) regarding religious freedom by the United States government.
The newspaper says that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has restated the vital role the capital market plays in the development of any country through infrastructure funding.
The Director-General of the SEC, Lamido Yuguda, stated this when a team from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) visited the commission in Abuja, at the weekend.
The Director General said that the capital market can do more in the areas of provision of long-term funds to develop infrastructure for the country and support developmental projects.
He said: “Our collective economic power is bigger than the government and in many countries, you find out that the capital market is funding the government.
“When you save, the fund is used to create economic value that enhances your standard of living and this is a win-win. You get financial returns and also get utility from the investments and this is achievable.”
Yuguda welcomed the collaboration with the NESG, stating that both organisations could do more to boost the economy.
“On the capital market, it is a welcome development that we are talking with the NESG for there is something that needs to happen in this country. When you look at our policy environment, in many areas, it is not conducive for the return of capital to investors and we are working hard to tackle this,” he said.
The Punch reports that the Nigerian Government is planning to generate 21 million full-time jobs through massive investment in social infrastructure and services, the Minister of State, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said on Monday.
According to him, the decision to generate the 21 million jobs was one of the outcomes of the current National Development Plan (2021-2025) which sought to lift 35 million people out of poverty by 2025.
He stated this at a workshop on Harmonisation and Finalisation of Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Implementation of the Second National Programme of Action which held in Abuja.
Agba said this would set the stage for achieving the current regime’s commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
The minister further explained that the development plan would also ensure that Nigeria unlocked its potential in all sectors of the economy.
He said, “Specifically, the plan aims to generate 21 million full time jobs and lift 35 million people out of poverty by 2025, thus setting the stage for achieving the current administration’s commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“It also seeks to, among others; invest massively in social infrastructure and services to alleviate poverty, and enhance capacities to strengthen security and ensure good governance.”
The Nation says that Airtel Nigeria has been granted a full super-agent licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This is coming six months after the telecoms firm announced that it had secured the licence-in-principle.
In a statement entitled: “Nigeria Super-Agent Full Licence Approval” signed by Simon O’Hara, the Company Secretary means Airtel has a full super-agent licence to operate as an agency network. for agency banking, which involves providing financial services to communities on behalf of banks in order to increase financial inclusion.
The super-agent licence is distinct from the Payment Service Bank (PSB) licence for which MTN received approval in principle on November 4, 2021.
The statement filed with the NGX reads: “Further to our announcement of 15 November 2021, Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, today confirms that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has awarded its subsidiary, Airtel Mobile Commerce Nigeria Limited, with a full super-agent licence.”
The company, in the statement, did not specify when operations would resume, but, however, stated: “The licence allows us to create an agency network that can service the customers of licenced banks, payment service banks and licenced mobile money operators in Nigeria.”
The Sun reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, ordered the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar, to go and appear before the Senate probe panel over allegations of misconduct brought against him in a public petition.
The court dismissed Umar’s suit instituted against the Senate and others seeking to stop them from investigating him on an alleged public misconduct at Banex Plaza, in Abuja, on March 29, 2021.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment in the suit, held that the case of the CCT chairman lacked merit and had no cogent reason to stop the Senate from undertaking its constitutional functions.
Justice Ekwo held that sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution, under which the CCT boss sought to be protected by the court, did not confer any protection or refuge on him.
The judge said that as a public officer administering law relating to conduct of public officers, Umar has no reason to institute the suit to stop the senate from investigating a public petition seeking justice on moral standard.
The Judge also said that the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act 2010 are established by the Act of the National Assembly and as such, he is subject to investigation by the National Assembly.
Besides, the judge also said that section 2 of the Code of Conduct Bureau exposes Umar to investigation by the National Assembly than another Nigerian, adding that it will be illogical for him to seek to stop Senate probe, as doing so will give an impression that he is above the law.
GIK/APA