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Census: Ohanaeze youths reject Nigerian Govt’s National Committee

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The youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has rejected the National Census Committee formed by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The presidency had through a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, (Information & Strategy) to President Tinubu announced the inauguration of a high-level committee on the forthcoming national population and housing census.

Nigeria’s last census was in 2006, nearly two decades ago. It recorded a population of 140,431,790, with 71,345,488 males and 69,086,302 females.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, will chair the Presidential Committee.

Other members are the Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, the National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who will also serve as the committee Secretary, as well as the the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Principal Private Secretary to the President, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff).

Reacting, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the Committee was skewed against other sections of the country in favour of the South-West.

Okwu said census was a very sensitive matter, adding that every process pertaining to it must be seen to be fair to all the regions of the country.

In a statement he made available to journalists on Monday, Okwu noted that “we have waited to see whether the presidency will do the needful, but the situation remains the same nearly two weeks after that one-sided committee was inaugurated.

“Nigerians are aware of the issues that always trailed past census figures and we expect that for once, the country should get it right.

“It is, however, regrettable that the current government has started on the wrong footing by appointing a committee that is totally dominated by people of the South-East, yet it tagged it National Committee.

“We state clearly that there is nothing national about that committee as it completely nenages the principle of federal character, just like most appointments done so far by the current government.

“This is totally unacceptable and we urge Mr President to either disband the committee it or expand it to accommodate other regions of the country,” Okwu stated.

He added that Census should not be handled like other actions of the current administration, stressing “we are not going to accept allocation of figures to Ndigbo.”

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18 ships discharge petroleum products, goods at Lagos ports – NPA

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The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has disclosed that 18 vessels are currently offloading petroleum products and assorted cargoes at major ports in Lagos, including Apapa, Lekki and Tin Can Island.

In a cargo status update issued on Saturday, the authority said the ships are discharging a mix of commodities such as bulk fertiliser, general cargo, bulk sugar, petrol, bulk urea, condensate, gypsum and containerised goods.

An additional 46 vessels carrying petroleum products, food items and other imports are scheduled to arrive at Lagos ports between Saturday and February 22.

The NPA noted that the expected vessels will deliver a wide range of consignments, including general cargo, bulk urea, wheat, empty containers, crude oil, refined crude, gypsum, trucks, bulk gas, pallets, containerised goods, salt and petrol.

It added that seven ships have already reached the ports and are awaiting berthing approval. These vessels are laden with cargoes such as bulk urea, crude oil, diesel, aviation fuel, general merchandise and petrol.

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Bashir El-Rufai says his father did not tap anyone’s phone

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Bashir El-Rufai has clarified that his father, Nasir El-Rufa’i, has never admitted to tapping anyone’s phone.

According to him, his father only stated that another person carried out the phone tapping and later passed the information to him without being asked.

He also appealed to the public not to misrepresent the issue in a way that could cause trouble for his father, urging people to stop attempting to implicate him.

He wrote on X: “He did not say HE tapped anybody’s phone. He alleged someone else did and unsolicitedly shared the information to him. No dey try help dem put my Papa for prison, abeg.”

His clarification comes after calls by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s aide on Information and Strategy, for an investigation into El-Rufa’i, citing the gravity of the former governor’s comments.

El-Rufa’i had previously stated on live television that he had information about a conversation on the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone.

His son, however, denied that his father had initiated the phone tapping.

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Suspected Boko Haram fighters kill 21 in fresh Niger State attacks

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Suspected Boko Haram fighters launched fresh attacks in parts of Borgu and Agwara local government areas of Niger State late last night.

According to renowned security reporter and analyst Comrade Zakari Y. Adamu Kontogora, who shared the disturbing incident on his Facebook page, the attackers moved from village to village, shooting residents and setting homes on fire.

He quoted security forces who spoke to his newspaper as saying that at least 21 people were confirmed dead after the gunmen stormed the Konkoso community.

The sources added that the attackers also invaded nearby villages, including Pissa, Zango and Tungan Maƙeri. Several people were reportedly killed, while houses and shops were burnt during the raids.

As of the time of filing this report, the gunmen were said to still be operating within the area, causing fear and panic among residents.

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