News

Insecurity: Buhari Govt Under Fire Over Latest Decision On AK-47 Rifles

Published

4 years ago

September 30, 2022

Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire over what has been described as double standards of his administration in handling the security issues in the country.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, expressed concerns over the President’s decision to grant a vigilante owned by the Katsina State Government license to bear AK-27 rifles reportedly for just five days training, while it has continued to deny the same privilege to Amotekun Corps in South-West Nigeria.

HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said in order of priority, the Buhari administration ought to have granted the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State immediate license to bear assault rifles, if not for any reason, the June 5 terror attack in a Catholic church in Owo.

Furthermore, the rights group tackled Garba Shehu, a Spokesman to the President, for defending the imbalance.

HURIWA said what is good for the goose is good for the gander and no State in the country is facing a greater level of insecurity or terrorism than the other.

Shehu had also said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has no right to arm the state’s Amotekun Corps with AK-47 rifles, noting that such action is “illegal”.

And HURIWA said, “The defence of presidential spokesman Garba Shehu is lame and unacceptable because the security challenges in the whole country are the same and no region or zone is safe at all.”

The group insisted that the same privilege given to the Katsina State vigilantes should be enjoyed by all State-owned security outfits.

“HURIWA is shocked that President Muhammadu Buhari even rejected the idea of setting up Amotekun at the inception stage but the same President did not raise any objection to the setting up of the civilian vigilantes in Katsina State.

“If Garba Shehu claimed the vigilantes in Katsina were only trained with the weapon, the Amotekun in Ondo would like to be trained with the same AK-47,” HURIWA said.

HURIWA feels it is a display of injustice for the President to back his own State’s move to acquire the prohibited firearms for the vigilante.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

4 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

4 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

6 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.