Watch Signature TV News Update: Sanwo-Olu cancels peace walk, gives reasons

This is the Signature TV News Update

 

Buhari Visits Lagos, Inaugurates Project

President Muhammadu Buhari is in Lagos State for a one-day visit during which he inaugurated a locally made Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) 111.

In a statement by the presidential aide, Femi Adesina, the Nigerian leader, who arrived at the Presidential Lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, for the third series of the locally made Seaward Defence Boat to be built by the Nigerian Navy, was received by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and other officials.

Aside from the inauguration of the vessel, Buhari will also attend the book launch of a former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande.

 

Sanwo-Olu cancels peace walk, gives reasons

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has cancelled the peace walk meant to herald the healing of the state.

Sanwo-Olu had invited a few celebrities, youths, civil society organizations and the media to join him in the peace walk, and although a few people publicly turned down the invitation, despite the governor saying it will signal a new beginning for the state, some others accepted the invitation.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu explained that the peace walk was cancelled due to the rise in cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant as he would not want to endanger the life of any Lagosian in his search for peace.

Sanwo-Olu said that he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support the initiative received from far and near, but however, his preparations would stand down as there has been a significant rise in cases associated with the Omicron variant of this pandemic.

 

Nigerian govt killing Imo youths for driving flashy cars – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday, lamented the alleged killing of youths in the southeast, especially in Imo State.

It petitioned international organizations and human rights groups to join in the protest against the alleged genocide in the region.

IPOB made this known in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State where they alleged that the killings of youths in the region, especially in Imo State, has forced traditional rulers, elders and religious leaders to go into hiding to avert attacks.

 

IN BUSINESS

eNaira to function offline – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is working on offline use for eNaira, which will help onboard those who don’t have access to the internet.

This is according to the Director, Payments System Management Department of the bank, Musa Jimoh at the 2021 Business Luncheon of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) on Wednesday.

According to Jimoh, the apex bank wants to increase eNaira’s use cases, boost its adoption, and make it more relevant to the payment ecosystem, while noting that the CBN was considering enrolling Nigerians without cellphones and using unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) to reach financially excluded individuals and areas with limited internet access.

 

ON THE FOREIGN SCENE

US orders arms embargo on Cambodia cites Chinese influence

The U.S. has ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption and human rights abuses by the government and armed forces in the Southeast Asian country.

The added restrictions on defence-related goods and services, issued by the State and Commerce departments, are due to be published and take effect Thursday.

A notice in the Federal Register said developments in Cambodia were contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, adding that the aim of the embargo is to ensure that defence-related items are not available to Cambodia’s military and military intelligence services without advance review by the U.S. government.

 

IN SPORTS

Europa League: Nigerian legend Okocha recognized in Turkey before clash between two former sides

The former Nigerian international left behind a trail of excellent records in Germany and Turkey, and he has been shown respect by two of his former clubs

Austin Okocha has been afforded some recognition in Turkey ahead of the Europa League clash between Fenerbahce and Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

The two teams, former employers of Okocha, are scheduled to trade tackles in the matchday six fixture at the Ulker Stadyumu Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi.

According to Aspor, Fernabache, led by President Ali Koç, hosted Okocha and the delegation of Frankfurt executives and players to a dinner on Wednesday night. It was done in recognition of the former playmaker’s contribution to the history of both clubs.

In the nineties, Okocha played for both Fenerbahce and Frankfurt, where they still regard him as a hero.

The Super Eagles legend spent four years at the German side before he left in 1996 after they were relegated.