Author Archives: Newsaccessadmin

Donald Trump to be sworn in as US president today

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Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as president of the United States in Washington on Monday, returning to the White House for a second term four years after his initial re-election bid ended in defeat.

Trump, a Republican, will replace outgoing President Joe Biden in the top U.S. political office at noon (1900 GMT), two and a half months after defeating outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election.

Biden had defeated Trump in 2020, but stepped aside as the Democratic candidate mid-campaign in July amid intense concerns about his age and mental fitness.

Trump, who has long refused to acknowledge his defeat in the 2020 election, ultimately stayed away from Biden’s swearing-in ceremony in January 2021, breaking with tradition.

Earlier that month, Trump’s insistence that he won and that his “victory” was stolen from him led to the storming of the Capitol in Washington, the seat of the U.S. Congress, by his supporters.

Read Also: ‘Trump plans large immigration raid in Chicago on Tuesday’

Biden, on the other hand, is set to attend the ceremony as per tradition.

In the morning, Trump is scheduled to attend a service at St. John’s Church in Washington.

After the swearing-in ceremony, the Bidens are then set to receive the Trumps for tea at the White House.

The inauguration was originally meant to take place outside on the west side of the Capitol as usual, but was relocated indoors as Washington was experiencing stuck in sub-zero temperatures.

After taking the oath of office, Trump will deliver his inaugural speech as the 47th President of the United States of America.

(dpa/NAN) 

BREAKING: Alleged N12.3bn fraud: Otudeko’s counsel protests in court

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Counsel to the Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, charged with N12.3 billion fraud, on Monday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos in protest of the charge.

Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN) told the court that he was protesting  because the charge had not been served on Otudeko and two others charged along with him.

Olanipekun is the council to the three defendants.

Read Also: Alleged cybercrime: Court grants Speed Darlington to N20m bail 

The 13-count charge was  preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Otudeko, a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc., Olabisi Onasanya; and a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo.

They were charged alongside a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained the sum under false pretences.

Details shortly…

‘Trump plans large immigration raid in Chicago on Tuesday’

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…Administration to send 100 to 200 officers to city on day two of new presidency

The administration of united president elect Donald Trump’s is reportedly planning to launch a large immigration raid in Chicago the day after he takes office, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing four people familiar with planning.

The raid, expected to start on Tuesday, would last all week, the newspaper said, adding that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) would send between 100 and 200 officers to carry out the operation.

Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. But a source with knowledge of the incoming administration’s plans said Ice would intensify enforcement across the country and there would not be a special focus on Chicago or surge of personnel there.

“We’re going to be doing operations all across the country,” the person said. “You’re going to see arrests in New York. You’re going to see arrests in Miami.”

Read Also: FULL LIST: Six Nigerian scientists, engineers on Biden’s honours list

Trump’s incoming border czar, Tom Homan, told an event in Chicago that the administration was “going to start right here in Chicago, Illinois”, the Journal reported.

“And if the Chicago mayor doesn’t want to help, he can step aside. But if he impedes us, if he knowingly harbors or conceals an illegal alien, I will prosecute him,” he was quoted as saying.

Immigration was at the center of Trump’s campaign in the lead-up to the 5 November presidential election.

“Within moments of my inauguration, we will begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” Trump said in January 2024.

Trump is expected to mobilize agencies across the US government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants, Reuters has reported, building on efforts in his first term to tap all available resources and pressure so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions to cooperate.

Newsnow

Heavy security as Ondo LG election commences

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The local government LG election in Ondo State, on Saturday, commenced with heavy security presence across the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that personnel of the Nigeria police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were observed at polling centres and strategic places.

As early as 7:00a.m., security personnel were seen at strategic points on major roads across the state, including the front of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Akure, and on the Airport Road in Akure North LGA.

Read Also: Lagos Assembly names new principal officers

Also at Agbogbo roundabout, Fiwasaye/Mobil junction and in front of the A Division, Nigeria Police, on Oba Adesida Road, teams of security personnel were seen enforcing the restriction of movement order as they turned back vehicles and persons who were not on essential duties.

In Okitipupa and environs, personnel of security agencies were also seen on major roads as well as at some polling units.

NAN, however, reports that some residents went about their businesses as some youths were seen at the Ijapo Housing Estate field playing soccer as well as at Ward 10 Unit, Odo-Ikoyi in Akure South LGA.

Commercial activities were also noticed in some areas of the state, as some shop owners and food vendors opened for business.

(NAN)

Prices of food commodities crash in Kaduna 

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Seventeen days into  2025, it has ushered in a bit of hope as the prices of some food items have nosedived  in Kaduna State.

Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that the prices of grains and other staple food items were steadily coming down in markets across the state, against the skyrocketed prices in 2024.

Further checks by NAN Correspondents in Kaduna showed that the prices of food items like rice, beans, yams, garri and noodles had been reduced even though not much.

At the Sheikh Abubakar GumiMarket, Kaduna’s central market, a 50kg bag of foreign rice, which was sold for about N125,000-130,000 before was now being sold for between N120,000 and N123,000.

Also, yams, which were in some weeks in 2024  sold for N7,000 per tuber and N28,000 for a set of five, now sells from N5000  to N6,000 and  N2,500 of medium ones by those who sell on bonanza

A local measure of eight cups of beans which was initially selling for between N3,000 to N3,500, now costs N2,500, while a measure of garri, previously being sold for between N1,400 and N1,500 now costs N1,200.

Read Also: Food prices rose in October – NBS

A carton of Indomie noodles previously sold at N7,700 now sells at  N7,500.

Some consumers, who spoke to NAN in separate interviews said they hoped that the prices of food items would continue to crash.

Hafsat Muhammad said she now buys a local measure of rice at N2,100 against its initial price of N2,400, adding that a local measure of  corn which cost N1200 before  now goes for N900.

Similarly, Hajiya Ummi Shuaibu, a business woman, said she bought bags of maize immediately after the harvest to resell  after some months but her plans changed since the prices of food items began to come down.

” I was expecting the prices to go up like last year but they  didn’t ; so I have to bring out my stock in order not to run on a loss.

” A bag of corn that used to be N60,000 is now around N50,000 to N55,000, that is why I must sell it off as soon as possible, “she said.

(NAN)

Nigeria ranks 5th in countries with cheapest Petrol in Africa

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The retail price of Premium Motor Spirit, (Petrol), increased to between N1030 and N1,150 per litre on Friday, January 17, following a hike by Dangote Refinery and ex-depot prices of the product.

Dangote Refinery had announced a fresh ex-depot price hike from N899 per litre to N955 per litre through an email sent to customers .

The email confirmed the new price regime, noting that marketers buying between two million and 4.99 million litres would now buy at N955/litre, while five million litres and above would buy at N950/litre.

This represents a N55 or 6.17 percent petrol price increase from N899.50/litre announced as a holiday discount for Nigerians last December.

Dangote Refinery’s petrol price increase had sparked different degrees of retail price adjustment across filling stations.

However, Nigeria is still one of the countries with the cheapest fuel in Africa, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com.

Here are the top 10 African countries with the cheapest fuel at the start of 2025.

1. Libya

Libya remains the leader in the African fuel price rankings, with a litre of fuel costing $0.030. This low price is largely due to the country’s rich oil reserves, which make up a significant portion of its economy.

2. Angola

Angola follows closely with a price of $0.328 per litre. As one of Africa’s top oil producers, Angola has a large share of the global oil market.

The country’s reliance on oil exports helps maintain relatively low domestic fuel prices, providing an economic advantage for its citizens.

Read Also: Petrol price rises to N1,150 per litre after Dangote Refinery’s hike

3. Egypt

Egypt is another country where fuel remains affordable, priced at $0.336 per litre. The country has seen substantial investment in its oil and gas sector in recent years, and the government provides subsidies to maintain lower fuel prices for the public.

4. Algeria

Fuel in Algeria costs $0.339 per litre. The country’s vast oil and gas resources contribute to these low prices, and the government continues to subsidise fuel costs, which helps support local economic stability.

5. Sudan

Sudan’s fuel price is $0.700 per litre, which is still quite low compared to global standards. While Sudan faces economic challenges, it benefits from domestic oil production, though it has struggled with fluctuations in oil output and the impact of external factors on fuel prices.

6. Nigeria

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, offers fuel at $0.769 per litre. Despite being one of the continent’s top oil exporters, the country’s fuel prices are impacted by fluctuating global oil prices, governmental policies, and the local economy. While the price is relatively low by international standards, it reflects the challenges Nigeria faces in balancing domestic supply and demand.

7. Tunisia

In Tunisia, fuel is priced at $0.794 per litre. The country has limited domestic oil production but benefits from access to regional markets and government subsidies that help control fuel prices. However, economic pressures mean that prices may fluctuate over time.

8. Ethiopia

Ethiopia, with a price of $0.805 per litre, ranks eighth on this list. While the country is not a major oil producer, it imports most of its fuel, but government efforts to stabilise prices help keep costs low for consumers.

9. Liberia

Liberia’s fuel price is $0.829 per litre. The country relies on imports to meet its fuel needs, and while domestic production is limited, low prices are maintained through government policy and external trade agreements.

10. Gabon

Gabon, with a price of $0.944 per litre, rounds out the top 10. As an oil producer with significant reserves, Gabon benefits from relatively low fuel costs compared to other countries on the continent. However, fuel prices are still higher than those in nations with larger oil production capacities.

Petrol price rises to N1,150 per litre after Dangote Refinery’s hike

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The retail price of Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS), has increased to between N1030 and N1,150 per litre following a hike by Dangote Refinery and ex-depot prices of the product.

Dangote Refinery on Friday announced a fresh ex-depot price hike from N899 per litre to N955 per litre.

Dangote Refinery through an email sent to customers confirmed the new price regime, noting that marketers buying between two million and 4.99 million litres would now buy at N955/litre, while five million litres and above would buy at N950/litre.

This represents a N55 or 6.17 percent petrol price increase from N899.50/litre announced as a holiday discount for Nigerians last December.

Dangote Refinery’s petrol price increase had sparked different degrees of retail price adjustment across filling stations.

The spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, confirmed that the product may sell above N1,100 per litre across members’ filling stations nationwide.

Read Also: Five must have Cybersecurity tools for 2024

“Commuters will likely pay over N1,150 per litre at faraway locations, while locations close to the depot will pay N1,100. This is because we will add about N50 logistics costs. Currently, ex-depot prices have increased to N980.

“This change is immediate because crude oil price increase, too, is immediate,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said although it is too early to project petrol retail price after Dangote Refinery’s upward price review, it is certain that the product would cost more.

“Because right now, we still have an obligation with the MRS to be selling at N935, and some of us bought products there.

So, if they change their prices because of the Dangote price, then the conversation will be different.\

“After the price of buying, there must be the price of logistics. Once that is computed, we can then look at what is the most humane profit margin,” he stated.

Some filling stations in the federal capital territory, Abuja, had already effected at least a N50 adjustment to their petrol prices.

For instance, those selling on Friday morning at N980 per litre have increased to between N1040 and N1,155 per litre.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets still sell petrol at 965 per litre as of Friday evening.

Five UK work visa routes for AI talent 2025

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The UK on Thursday said it will likely evaluate changes to its visa policies to attract highly skilled Artificial Intelligence (AI) professionals from overseas.

This move by the UK aligns with its broader strategy to position the country as a global leader in AI, as outlined in the recently published AI Opportunities Action Plan.

The plan features 50 recommendations aimed at enhancing AI adoption and bolstering economic growth.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan published this week sets out 50 recommendations on how the government should harness the technology and position the UK as a world leader in AI.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer endorsed the plan, stating the government’s intent to implement the recommendations.

Talented AI professionals and graduates from institutions not on the HPI eligibility lists can enter the UK through other visa routes, including:

Read Also: 10 major changes made to UK work visa in 2024

Here are the top work visa routes for AI talent

1. The Skilled Worker route – The most commonly used immigration route for foreign nationals seeking to work in the UK, a Skilled Worker visa may be granted if you have a confirmed job offer with a licensed UK sponsor.

2. The Innovator Founder route – This unsponsored visa is for foreign nationals who wish to come to the UK to set up and run an innovative business. The business idea must be something that’s different from anything else on the market, and you must have your idea assessed by an approved endorsing body.

3. The Global Talent route – An unsponsored immigration route designed to attract the best and brightest talent from around the world. A Global Talent visa allows you to live and work in the UK if you are a leader or potential leader in the fields of academia or research, arts and culture or digital technology.

4. The Scale-up Worker route – This visa allows talented professionals to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business (sometimes called a ‘scale-up business’). Your UK employer must meet specific eligibility criteria in order to sponsor Scale-up Workers.

5. The Government Authorised Exchange route – A temporary visa for workers coming to the UK for work experience, job shadowing or training, to take part in an overseas government language programme, or undertake research or a fellowship through an approved exchange scheme.

The government’s acceptance of these recommendations mean it could soon become easier for employers to bring in highly sought-after AI talent from anywhere in the world.

UK to relax visa rules to attract top AI talent

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The government of the United Kingdom (UK) is evaluating changes to its visa policies to attract highly skilled Artificial Intelligence (AI) professionals from overseas.

This move by the UK aligns with its broader strategy to position the country as a global leader in AI, as outlined in the recently published AI Opportunities Action Plan.

The plan features 50 recommendations aimed at enhancing AI adoption and bolstering economic growth.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan published this week sets out 50 recommendations on how the government should harness the technology and position the UK as a world leader in AI.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer endorsed the plan, stating the government’s intent to implement the recommendations.

Read Also: UK Migration 2025: What you need to know

The 21st recommendation set out in the report suggests that the UK government should ‘explore how the existing immigration system can be used to attract graduates from universities producing some of the world’s top AI talent’.

It goes on to explain that some of the world’s leading AI institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University in the US are not currently included on the UK government’s Global Universities List, making their graduates ineligible for the High Potential Individual visa.

As such, the report recommends that the government should take steps to develop new immigration pathways, and strengthen existing ones, to support these promising graduates. It should also explore how best to address wider barriers like the cost and complexity of visas which create obstacles for start-ups and deter overseas talent from relocating to the UK.

In its response, the government stated that it ‘partially agrees’ with recommendation 21, and that the Industrial Strategy will set out how the UK will attract highly skilled AI workers from abroad.

It argues that the UK already offers ‘internationally competitive’ visas that can support a range of individual needs, including for talent to join UK-based organisations or to start their own business.

Lagos Assembly names new principal officers

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The Lagos State House of Assembly has named four new principal officers following the impeachment of the former Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, on Monday.

The Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Meranda (APC-Apapa 1), made this known on Friday while presiding over plenary as the new speaker.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Mudashiru Obasa was impeached on Monday over alleged  gross misconduct by 32 out of the 40 members.

The Clerk of the House, Mr Lekan Onafeko, was also suspended over alleged gross financial impropriety.

NAN  reports that the House also dissolved all the standing committees inaugurated by the former speaker.

According to Meranda, the announcement of new officers is as a result of the change of the leadership of the House.

Read Also: LASTMA rescued 1,075 from road crashes in 2024 – GM

“The House has named Mr Temitope Adewale (APC-Ifako-Ijaiye 1) as the new Majority Leader, while Mr Adedamola Kasunmu (APC- Ikeja 1) is the new Deputy Majority Leader.

“This House has also named the Chief Whip, Mr Setonjo David (APC-Badagry 2), while the Deputy Chief Whip is now Mr Babatunde Saani (APC-Kosofe 2),” she said.

NAN reports that before Obasa’s impeachment, Mr Mojeed Adams was the Majority Leader, while Adedamola Kasunmu was the Deputy Leader.

Mr Mojeed Adams, the new Deputy Speaker, was the former Chief Whip, while Setonji David was the Deputy Chief Whip.

NAN reports that three lawmakers (Obasa, Adams and Mr Akinsanya) were absent at the first plenary presided over by the new leadership.

(NAN)