Connect with us

News

Nigerians Queuing For Palliative Is Height Of Indignity — Bishop Kukah

Published

on

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has criticised the mode of distribution of palliatives to Nigerians amid the severe hardships facing the country.

Following the removal of fuel subsidy, among other economic policies, governments at all levels have implemented palliative measures.

Advertisement

Such measures include distributing food items to the vulnerable, in an effort to alleviate the hardship.

Reacting, Bishop Kukah faulted the distribution of palliatives, adding that the people most often don’t get them. He noted that a good part of the money meant for such is always stolen.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Leaders Like Men In ‘Drunken Stupor’ – Kukah

Advertisement

Kukah made this known in an interview on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics.

His words: “We need to see a much more robust programme designed by the government to help us go away from just lining up and collecting palliatives when we are not at war.

“I think it is the height of indignity to see Nigerians lining up every day under the sun and waiting to collect bags of rice, which probably never come, not because money has not been given but because everybody who gives out money in Nigeria from the Federal Government knows that a good part of this money is always stolen.”

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Christmas: God, History Won’t Forgive Tinubu If He Fails – Kukah

‘Nigeria needs healing’
Besides the issue of palliative, Kukah spoke on the country’s need of healing. He urged the government to fix insecurity issues in the country.

He said, “This is a severely broken and fractured nation; the evidence is before all of us. What we have been doing in the name of politics is picking up the pieces.

Advertisement

“The entire country is littered with broken dreams, hopes, and promises made and never fulfilled.

READ ALSO: Japa: ‘Feel Free To Leave Nigeria’ – Bishop Kukah Encourages Nigerian Youths

“There are more than half a million abandoned projects in the country. It’s a testament to the brokenness of our country. The country in the last 10 years or more has become almost a graveyard; we’re burying people in the hundreds, and we are not at war.

Advertisement

“We don’t need to explain further how broken our country has been.

“Nigerians are not looking for handouts. Ordinary farmers just want to go back to their farms. People just want to be able to get back to their lives.

“Ending insecurity is the beginning of this healing, and a decisive programme and plan to end it is the beginning of the healing.”

Advertisement

The cleric added that rather than blame the government or an individual, we should return to the scene of the crime to see the range of opportunities missed.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

News

Immigration Officer Gets N5m For Arresting Fleeing Ritualist

Published

on

An immigration officer, Ugochukwu Orji, who arrested a fleeing Enugu State-based native doctor accused of killing and kidnapping people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million for his efforts by an industrialist, Ebuka Onunkwo.

Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, according to a press statement released by his media team on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Orji was at his duty post along the Seme Border area last month when the fleeing native doctor, popularly known as “Ichie Billion” attempted to use a motorcycle to cross over to the Benin Republic from Nigeria at Seme Border, but having seen his face on the internet, he quickly intercepted him.

READ ALSO: Our Country A Home, Not Hotel, Badenoch Decries UK Immigration Crisis

Recall that “Ichie Billion”, who hails from Umuojor village in the Isiagu Community of Enugu State, had been on the run after being declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in connection with the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl and alleged multiple ritual killings.

Advertisement

The native doctor was thereafter intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently handed over to the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest at the border by the immigration officers.

Onunkwo, an industrialist, while presenting a cheque of ₦5 million to the immigration officer at his residence, said the gesture was part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and encouragement for moral renaissance in the society.

 

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

Tariff Hikes Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Power Crisis, Expert Tells Tinubu

Published

on

Attempts by the current administration to rely on increased electricity tariffs to resolve Nigeria’s chronic power supply issues are unlikely to succeed, according to energy expert Nick Agu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Agu argued for a fundamental restructuring of the power sector, prioritising infrastructure over tariff hikes.

Advertisement

Responding to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s optimism and recent celebration of Nigeria reaching a new peak generation of over 5,000 megawatts, Agu acknowledged the incremental increase as “a good thing, is good news.”

However, he quickly added, “But should we celebrate? The answer is probably not.”

READ ALSO: Investors Gain N1.93trn In 2 Days As Stock Market Hits 15-year High

Advertisement

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Tinubu Hosts Gov Adeleke, Deji Adeleke, Davido In Lagos

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

Advertisement

“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

From 158 To 351: Lagos Teen Excels In UTME After Initial Glitch

Published

on

A 16-year-old student, Oyindamola Apampa, has achieved a remarkable aggregate score of 351 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with 65 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, and 90 in Chemistry.

Apampa, a student of Lagoon Secondary School in Lagos, described the feat as the result of determination, strategic preparation, and divine favour.

Advertisement

A statement on Tuesday revealed that it was her second attempt at the UTME, explaining that her initial score of 158 was later invalidated due to technical issues experienced at her exam centre.

She said, “In my first UTME attempt, I scored 158. However, the results were widely criticised and later acknowledged by the authorities as inaccurate due to technical glitches affecting several examination centres, including mine.

READ ALSO: Mass Failure: UTME Candidates To Sue JAMB Over Technical Glitches

Advertisement

“Consequently, the examination body authorised a resit to address these irregularities. In the resit, I achieved a score of 351.”

She added that her parents played a crucial role in supporting her academic journey by fostering a learning-friendly environment at home.

“My parents made our home a positive place for studying. We have a full library in the family living room, in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn,” she shared.

Advertisement

Apampa also credited a learning centre in Lekki, Lagos, for providing her with additional academic support through UTME preparation classes and frequent mock examinations.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: JAMB Admits To Errors In 2025 UTME

The frequent mock exams at our learning centre were a great help in my preparation for UTME,” she said.

Advertisement

In his reaction to the learning centre head, Osayi Izedonmwen, stellar 98 per cent pass rate in the 2025 UTME, attributed the achievement to its hybrid learning approach.

“At Teesas, we are fully IT-equipped to seamlessly support both online and physical learning within a convenient and friendly environment. This has played a key role in helping our students excel,” Izedonmwen stated.

Apampa is no stranger to academic excellence. She was placed on her school’s Honours list after securing 10 As and one B in her Junior WAEC.

Advertisement

She has also represented her school in international competitions, such as the Conrad Challenge, where her team reached the final stage and earned a special mention.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending