Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday, said he has no interest in the rumoured presidential ambition of All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu, in 2023.

Fayose, who stated this on a PUNCH Live interview, expressed confidence that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, would produce Nigeria’s president in the 2023 general elections.

He said “Bola Tinubu is a leader in the West. It is a statement of fact” but noted that he has not met or spoken with the former Lagos State governor in years.

Fayose said, “I have never met former governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the last three years and I have never spoken with him on the phone once. So, I don’t how they are tying the relationship politically.

“To the best of my knowledge, I am not a member of APC. I have no influence on how he will become if he wants to become. I have no interest; the only interest I have is that a PDP president must be put in place.”

“If this country exists for the peace and enjoyment of all us, we will not be talking about it is APC, it is PDP…A PDP man cannot attend a function with an APC man. An APC man cannot greet a PDP man, we can’t continue like that, it shows level of hypocrisy,” he added.

The ex-governor of Ekiti also said he has not abandoned his ambition to be Nigeria’s president. “The office of the president is a noble one and I will love to be the president of Nigeria if the opportunity permits,” Fayose stated.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has explained why it banned cryptocurrency-related transactions in the country. 

CBN in a statement released on Sunday February 7, said cryptocurrencies have become well-suited for conducting many illegal activities including money laundering, terrorism financing, purchase of small arms and light weapons, and tax evasion.

It read; 

“The use of cryptocurrencies in Nigeria are a direct contravention of existing law. 

“It is also important to highlight that there is a critical difference between a Central Bank issued Digital Currency and cryptocurrencies. As the names imply, while Central Banks can issue Digital Currencies, cryptocurrencies are issued by unknown and unregulated entities. 

“The question that one may need to ask therefore is, why any entity would disguise its transactions if they were legal. 

“It is on the basis of this opacity that cryptocurrencies have become well-suited for conducting many illegal activities including money laundering, terrorism financing, purchase of small arms and light weapons, and tax evasion.

“Many banks and investors who place a high value on reputation have been turned off from cryptocurrencies because of the damaging effects of the widespread use of cryptocurrencies for illegal activities.

“The role of cryptocurrencies in the purchase of hard and illegal drugs on the darknet website called “Silk Road” is well known. They have also been recent reports that cryptocurrencies have been used to finance terror plots, further damaging its image as a legitimate means of exchange.

“More also, repeated and recent evidence now suggests that some cryptocurrencies have become more widely used as speculative assets rather than as means of payment, thus explaining the significant volatility and variability in their prices.”

Have you ever wondered how each state in Nigeria got their names, why was the state given a particular name or who even named it.

Check out all the states in Nigeria and how they got their names.

1. Abia

Abia is an acronym from the four main groups of people in the state as at the time it was formed in 1991, Aba Bende Isuikwuato Afikpo picking their first letters, ABIA.

2. Adamawa

The State was named after a warrior, Modibbo Adama Bin Ardo Hassan, that conquered the region in the beginning of the 19th century.

3. Akwa-Ibom

Akwa Ibom was named after a river in the region at that time. The State got its name from the Qua Iboe (or Kwa Iboe) River.

4. Anambra

Anambra got its name from the name of the Oma Mbala (Omambala) River (in Ibo, the native name of the river is Ànyịm Ọma Mbala).

5. Bauchi

‘Bauchi’ is Hausa word meaning the southern flanks of Hausaland. Tribes living in the southern parts of the Hausaland were referred to as “kasashen bauchi” and the area they lived in later came to be known simply as Bauchi.

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6. Bayelsa

Bayelsa was formed as a result of the clamour from the three LGAs in old Rivers (Brass LGA known as BALGA, Yenegoa LGA known as YELGA and Sagbama LGA – SALGA). The name came about from the combination of their acronymns. BA + YEL + SA = BAYELSA.

7. Benue

The state was named after the “europeanised” corruption of ‘Binuwe’, the Batta word for ‘Mother of Waters’.

8. Borno

The alternative name of the Kanuris, the predominant ethnic group in the state, is ‘Borno’ which gave inspiration for the naming of the state.

9. Cross River

The state took its name from a River called Oyono or Cross River.

10. Delta

The state is where the River Niger forms a delta as it enters the Atlantic Ocean.

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11. Ebonyi

Ebonyi is the anglicised version of ‘Aboine’, a river that cuts through Abakaliki, the state capital.

12. Edo

The Bini people who dwell in the area had always referred to themselves as Edo or Iduu. This inspired the name of the state.369297

13. Ekiti

‘Okiti’ is a term that is said to denote a settlement of many hills. It later became ‘Ekiti’.

14. Enugu

Due to the many hills and rocky terrain in the area, the people named it in igbo, “Enu Ugwu” meaning “top of the hill”. The state is named after the anglicised version, Enugu.

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15. Gombe

Gombe is the dialect of Fulani language (Fulfulde) spoken in the area.

16. Imo

Just like many of the Nigerian states, Imo took its name from the popular river, Imo Mmiri.

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17. Jigawa

Jigawa takes inspiration from its distinctively golden-coloured soil.

18. Kaduna

‘Kadunas’ is the plural form of crocodile in Hausa. The state therefore got its name from the many crocodiles in Kaduna River

19. Kano

Kano was the name of a blacksmith from the Gaya tribe who settled in the area while sourcing for ironstone. The state was named after him.

20. Katsina

The state was named after the wife of a popular local ruler known as Janzama. Her name was Katsina

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21. Kebbi

It is said that Kebbi was named after the Ka’abba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

22. Kogi

Since the popular confluence in Nigeria is located in the state, Kogi is said to have been derived from ‘kogin’, the hausa word for river.

23. Kwara

River Niger used to be called River Kwara by the Nupes at the Northern border of the state. The state was named after this.

24. Lagos

In 1472, the first set of Europeans to set foot in Lagos were the Portuguese. Due to the many lagoons and rivers in the town, they named it Lagos, which is the Portuguese word for ‘lakes’.

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25. Nasarawa

Nasarawa is a native word for ‘victorious’. The state was named by the founder of Nasarawa kingdom, Makama Dogo

26. Niger

This was named after the River Niger

27. Ogun

This state was also named after a river — Ogun River.

28. Ondo

Ondo is a word used for settlers. The state was named after the settlers of the old Ondo Kingdom

29. Osun

This state was also named after a river — the River Osun.

30. Oyo

The state was named after the Old Oyo empire

31. Plateau

The state was named after the picturesque Jos plateau. Jos got its name from the mispronunciation of the town ‘Gwosh’.

32. Rivers

Rivers State was named after the many water bodies present in the area.

33. Sokoto

Sokoto is the anglicized version of the Arabic word ‘suk’ meaning ‘market’ or ‘place of commerce’. The state itself was named after the defunct Sokoto Caliphate.

34. Taraba

Taraba state got its name from the Taraba River.

35. Yobe

Komadugu Yobe (Waube or Ouobe) or River Yobe (or River of Yo) inspired the name of the state.

36. Zamfara

This state was named after Zamfarawa, one of the subdialects of the Eastern Hausa group.

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ; also known as Abuja Federal Capital Territory, administrative territory, central Nigeria, created in 1976.

The FG has made it mandatory for Nigerians to Link NIN Number with MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, Glo, others or risk having their lines blocked.

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The Nigerian National Identification Number (NIN) is a unique identification number issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

HOW DO YOU GET AN NIN?

If you don’t have a National Identification Number yet, locate any National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) office around you or check if your Local Government is an accredited area.

READ: List of Accredited Centres for NIN Registration.


How to Retrieve NIN Number Using USSD CODE

For those that have enrolled in the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) scheme, the NIMC has provided a USSD code to check their National Identification Number (NIN) on their mobile phones.

Dial *346# to retrieve the NIN. The USSD code is available on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile.

Type ‘1’ to choose NIN Retrieval Option if you are dialing from the phone number you used in registering you NIN.
Type ‘2’ to choose NIN Search if you have lost your number, you will be required to input some of your registration details
Once you have retrieved, congratulations

ALSO READ: List of Accredited Centres for NIN Registration.

How to Link Your NIN Number on MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, Glo, Others

You can link your national identification number on these network operators as follows;

Link NIN to MTN:

Mtn users can link their NIN to their line in any of these three ways
1. Online registration portal via https://mtnonline.com/nin
2. USSD code: Dial *785#
3. Via myMTNApp, get it on Google Play or Apple Store
Complete the NIN linking form by entering your name, phone number, NIN, and email address.
Submit the form as soon as you’re done.
Wait for feedback from the network.

Link NIN to AIRTEL:

Airtel users can link NIN to their line in the following way:
1. Visit the online registration link via www.airtel.com.ng/nin

2. dial *121*1# on your Airtel line to submit your NIN
Type 1 for “NIN Capture” and send.
Enter your 11-digit NIN and send.
Wait for the message confirming your submission.
If you get an error, just wait for some time and try again.

Link NIN to 9MOBILE:

9MOBILE users can link NIN to their line in the following way:
1. Dial the USSD code *200*8# and follow the prompts to submit your details;
2. Visit 9mobile.com.ng/nin to submit online
Click on ‘Verify and Link your NIN now’
Fill the required information and submit.

Link NIN to Glo:

Glo users can link NIN to their line in the following way:
1. Visit the online registration portal via www.gloworld.com/ng/nin to fill your information and link.
2. Dial *109*yourNIN# (e.g *109*90123456789#) and follow the prompts to submit your details Or
By SMS – Simply text your 11-digits NIN number to 109 (e.g 90123456789 to 109) and wait for reply.

PLEASE NOTE that the USSD code *346# is the general NIN retrieval code for all network. If you are unable to link your NIN through the methods outlined on this page, then
You should simply visit the nearest office of your service provider to submit/link your NIN.
Go with your NIN and SIM pack or call the customer care line of your service provider.

LEAVE A COMMENT FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

Students in Public Higher Institutions in Nigeria’s hope of resuming after the 9-month-old Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike was suspended on Thursday December 24, 2020 has been put in question due to the National Universities Commission directives to close Universities because of the recent upsurge of COVID-19 cases.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) sent a directive to Vice-Chancellors to put academic activities in universities on hold for now in compliance with COVID-19 protocol of prohibition of activities involving large gathering of people.

In the directive issued in a circular signed by Chris Maiyaki, its Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), NUC  said classrooms, hostel accommodation, conferences and seminars should be suspended in accordance to COVID-19 protocol of prohibition of large gatherings.

It further directed that universities should remain closed pending further directives by FG on the reopening of schools.

“Vice-Chancellors are to please note that the directive is part of the measures approved by Mr. President to mitigate the second wave of Coronavirus infections in the country. The affected officers are expected to perform their duties from home while those on GL 13 and above should strictly adhere to the extant preventive measures, including maintenance of physical distancing, regular washing of hands and/or sanitizing of hands, wearing of face masks and reducing the number of visitors to offices,” it said.

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