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Ijaw National Congress Speaks On Rising Inflation, Hardship

Published

2 years ago

February 25, 2024

Editor

The Ijaw National Congress has said that the inability of the Federal Government to effectively stop the attacks and killings of farmers by bandits and kidnappers had contributed greatly to the widespread problem of hunger and economic hardship across Nigeria.

INC said although the challenge of food insecurity was being felt in all parts of the country, it was even more curious that lamentations about hunger were more vociferous in the Southwest area where President Bola Tinubu comes from.

The apex pan-Ijaw socio-cultural organisation stated this in a press release titled, ‘Hunger in the land: Resolve insecurity challenge and create job opportunities for Nigerians,’ signed by its president, Prof Benjamin Okaba, while reacting to the rising inflation and high cost of living in the country on Saturday.

Okaba said, “That there is hunger and deepening economic hardship in Nigeria is an incontrovertible and socially menacing fact nationwide. It is curious that the shout of ‘ebi n pawa’ (we are hungry) is louder and more strident in the Yoruba area of the South West where President Bola Tinubu comes from.

“Even as it is an irony, the truth is that the hunger in the land cuts across all ethnic territories and nationalities. No exceptions. The INC has watched the drift of national discourse on the issue of food insecurity with keen interest. It is the strong belief of the INC that lamenting food insecurity in isolation of the general insecurity in the nation amounts to dealing with the symptoms and leaving out the fundamental problem of general insecurity.

“Why would there not be hunger in the country, where subsistence farmers who have been known to be the food providers to the nation from time immemorial, are maimed, killed daily, and violently chased away from their farmlands for malicious and criminal reasons?

“In the wake of the heightening insecurity challenge, the Federal Government continually demonstrates a lack of commitment in dealing with the bandits and marauders that are ravaging, killing, and maiming helpless farmers across the country. Nobody deals with murderous criminals with kid gloves as Nigeria does.”

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Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.