News 2-10

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared support for the cashless policy and the redesigning of Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying Nigerians should not “abandon our currency to the activities of money launderers, exchangers, drug and nacrotic traders.”

The students body also urged CBN to come up with enough stiffer measures that will save the Naira

Yuletide: Cleric advises Nigerians on sacrificial giving

Mr Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, the Area Pastor, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Latter House Assembly, Province 2, Isheri Berger, Lagos, has advised Nigerians to imbibe the virtue of sacrificial giving as a lifestyle during the Yuletide. Nweke who spoke on the theme: “The Perfect Gift” gave the advice during the parish’s carol service on Sunday in Lagos. He said that sacrificial giving is a scriptural principle put in place by God who is known as the perfect gift to humanity. Nweke noted that God exemplified such act of sacrificial giving while on earth and it behoves on everyone to exemplify such virtue. He advised that the Yuletide known as the season when people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ should be used to give willingly to the less privileged. “I want to congratulate everyone for divine preservation and am calling on Nigerians to imbibe the lifestyle of sacrificial giving, it is Christ-like with great reward. “This is the season when we all should give to others as a way of showing love, we should extend help to the less privileged regardless of their faith,” he said. Nweke encouraged Nigerians to continue to trust in God bearing in mind that with God, healing and overall victory are guaranteed for individuals. Also speaking, Mrs Morayo Soares, an elder in the church, urged Nigerian to embrace peace while they celebrate the birth of Christ in calmness. Soares said every feeling of overexcitement should be curtailed as it could lead to accidents or death. Also, Mrs Oluwakemi Yusuf, a member of the church, said “Jesus is the gift for the season, we all must embrace him to benefit from the blessings meant for the season.” The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the congregants

NANS declares support for CBN cashless policy

further depreciation.

There have been voices in support and against the new policies bu the CBN in the recent time.

But reacting to the development on Tuesday through a statement after the emergency meeting of the association’s leadership which held at the weekend, where they reflected on issues bothering on the welfare of Nigerian students and how recent happenings in the country would impact their lives and citizens at large, the students body urged Nigerians to embrace the change, while the banks improve on their online applications to encourage consumers confidence.

The statement signed by the NANS Senate President, Comrade Felix Attah Nnalue, said Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy and population has experienced an unbelievable exchange rate in the last 7 years which needs to be stabilised.

“We cannot continue like that, the CBN must come up with enough stiffer measures that will save our Naira, we cannot abandon our currency to the activities of money launderers, exchangers, drug and nacrotic traders and the bewildering ‘ information that over 80% of Currency in Circulation of over 2.7trillion naira is outside the banks, is this a Joke? What are our law enforcement agencies doing, is the CBN short of Potices?

“Our interest is in the future, for there we will spend the rest of our lives. This is why we absolutely support the redesign of our Naira, so that 2.7trillion Naira and more should go right back into the banks, the currency change is necessary at this political period, I mean it is long overdue and according to Lamido Sanusi, it could stop rigging and the constant security information of counterfeits, hoarding and discoveries of stashed Naira notes etc. Even stakeholders agreed that the advantages of the cashless and redesign of the Naira far outweigh its vilifying; effective monetary policy, fight corruption, help in the stabilisation of the exchange rate, reduce inflation, and ensure free and fair election.

“While alot of concerns have been raised by the withdrawal limit, it is commendable, Nigerians are always afraid and impatient of everything even Progress, the limit which is strategic, seems harsh for Political Bandits, the same way the rejected BVN, There was a drastic fall in the exchange rate as soon as the policy was announced, there has been humongous deposits coming into the banks, the masses are looking out for stashed funds, Cash handling fees are available for a fee and more documents are required, we believe and urge Nigerians to embrace this change, while the banks improve on their online applications to encourage consumers confidence.”

Speaking on the advantages of cashless policy, the NANS Senate President said: “As Nigerians we are exposed to many opportunities for great changes, that have the capacity to develop and promote the integrity of our Nation, however our first reaction is to always reject innovations without looking at the attendant benefits. We have therefore released a 4-paged document on the benefits of the CBN’s currency redesign and revised cash withdrawal limits policy for the enlightenment of Nigerians.

“Who knew we would get here with cashless policy? we would have missed the opportunity of banking technology, the transfers, the recharges, the Apps, ATMs, the BVNs, the POS, the 24 hour access to your bank accounts, I mean there are persons who have not been to the banks in Six months, how much do students have, imagine the COVID-19 era, how many could wait till it was their turn at the banks?

“We therefore would support the deepening of the Cashless Policy as it gives Nigerians access and ownership of their legitimate monies and the will to port to other banks whose services are shabby, also it has the very important ability of tracking and tracing illicit activities like that of Kidnapping for ransom, terrorism financing and the fighting of corruption.”

•Says money launderers, exchangers, narcotic traders against redesigning of naira

L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari Chats with Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa Niass, Sheikh Tijjani Shehu Hadi Almauritany, Sheikh Sirajuddeen Niass, Sayyidi Muhammad Kasim Yahaya, Sayyidi Muhammad Nuru Murtala during an courtesy visit with members of Jam’iyyatul Ansarudeen (Attijaniyya) at the State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. DEC 20TH 2022.

Yuletide: DEPOWA honours past coordinators

The Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), on Sunday honoured past coordinators of its defence branches and institutions as part of its end-of-the-year activities.

The President of DEPOWA and Wife of Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Vickie Irabor, said the event was organised to appreciate God’s faithfulness and protection throughout the year.

Irabor said the Muslim sisters had on Friday, gone to the mosque at Mogadishu Cantonment while the Christians were also at the Protestant church on Sunday to thank God for helping and seeing them through in their activities during the year.

She said that DEPOWA and services’ wives associations had a eventful year with successful activities in line with their objectives.

“We are particularly grateful to God for the life of one of us, Mrs Omolara Tuwase, Coordinator of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, who was kidnapped in the Kaduna-bound train on March 28 and released on July 9 after spending 104 days in captivity.

“You can now understand why we went all out to thank God at the mosque and Church at the weekend to show our appreciation to God for his faithfulness towards DEPOWA throughout this year.

“It would be necessary for us to note that the armed forces of Nigeria, in synergy with other security agencies, have been able to secure our nation against adversaries.

“The victory witnessed in 2022, in the theatre of operations across the country is unprecedented.

“This effort has been sustained by our husbands, leading to the relative peace in hitherto troubled parts of the country.

“On behalf of my darling husband, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and the service chiefs, I would like to use this medium to thank all the officers’ wives across the country for supporting, encouraging and praying for our husbands and the armed forces of Nigeria and its operational engagements,” she said.

The DEPOWA president said the event was to say well done and thank you to all the wives of officers for keeping the home front while their husbands were in the field working to protect the nation.

She said the association conducted a series of non-kinetic activities within and outside the barracks in support of the military’s offensive campaigns against terrorists and other criminal elements.

According to her, DEPOWA and other sister organisations visited wounded troops at the Maimalari Hospital in Maiduguri as well as reach out to the widows of fallen heroes during the year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four immediate coordinators were honoured for their contributions to the successes recorded by DEPOWA during the year and sent them forth.

Those honoured are the immediate past coordinators of Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Officers Wives Association (NAFRCOWA), Mrs Nabila Idoko, and that of the National Defence College Officers Wives Association (NDCOWA), Mrs Feyisayo Daji.

Also, past coordinators of Armed Forces Command and Staff College Officers Wives Association (AFCSCOWA), Mrs Oluwasola Alade, and that of the Defence Research Bureau Officers Wives Association (DRBDOWA), Mrs. Judith Uzezi. (NAN)