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Armed Forces Day: Families Of Fallen Heroes Deserve Better Treatment – Kaigama

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The Federal Government must ensure the prompt payment of benefits to families of fallen heroes and pay close attention to the welfare of the veterans still alive, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has said.


He said such measures will motivate others who are serving presently in the armed forces to give their all, by serving selflessly.

According to him, the government must ensure the provision of good and functional weapons and resources to acquire transparently and accountably modern technology to lessen casualties and defeat terrorism and banditry.



“The authorities must ensure that good and functional weapons are available, provide the resources to acquire transparently and accountably modern technology, to lessen casualties as they engage in a multidimensional fight with bandits, terrorists, criminals, kidnappers, etc.


“With arms and strength of the will, our armed forces men and women can decimate the enemies who don’t wish Nigeria and Nigerians well”, he said.

While describing the situation presently being experienced in Nigeria as the “peace of the graveyard”, the cleric said so long as there are no consequences for wrongdoing, the system will never outgrow corruption.


Kaigama emphasised these in his message delivered in Abuja during Armed Forces Inter-Denominational Service as part of activities marking the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

He said, “We owe a lot to our fallen heroes of the armed forces, for the supreme price paid and sacrifice made to unite this country and to represent it abroad excellently. Their loyalty, commitment, dedication to service have culminated in the freedom, democracy, and some progress we are enjoying today in Nigeria.

“The leaders of the nation at the end of the Civil War thought the Armed Forces Remembrance Day would help heal the wounds of the War. I recall how my uncle left home when I was a child to join the army during the Civil War. We never saw him again. Joining the military is a call to a very serious patriotic service. You know the outcome could be that by God’s grace, you could serve out your years and retire gloriously – officers are pulled out in a special ceremony.

“We owe it a duty to pray for those who risked their lives to defend us and our territorial integrity. By this honour we give them, we are saying that Military service is not just socially a useful job but a good and honorable vocation which is also a very risky one. We must never forget those who died gallantly in active service and the families they left behind. We doff our hats to veterans still alive.


“A good tribute would be to help their families by donating to them either personally or collectively. The political authorities must ensure the prompt payment of benefits to families of fallen heroes and pay close attention to the welfare of the veterans still alive. This will motivate others who are serving presently in the armed forces to give their all, by serving selflessly.

“Increased insecurity has continued to haunt our nation. All hope is not lost however; we are still optimistic that Nigeria can come back from the brink. We continue to insist that the government has a constitutional and statutory duty to protect human rights and secure basic justice for all. The role of government is to guarantee the minimum conditions that make human rights and justice possible. We thank God for the measure of peace we presently enjoy in this country, but our situation seems to be the peace of “the graveyard.”

“One reason we have conflicts all over the world, but especially in Nigeria is because there is a disparity in material well-being. The gap between the rich and the poor has continued to widen. The “haves” gather their harvest into the barn and the “have nots,” the dispossessed, wait eagerly with all resentments in their hearts to burn the barns and destroy the owners. This, certainly, is a breeding ground for conflict.


“We also have ethnic division, the son of the soil syndrome versus the stranger tussle; sad to say that, even in the Church, this ugly monster is beginning to rear its head. We also have the unnecessary distinction between the Alhaji and the commoner; the Muslim and the Christian; and the Protestant and the Catholic. These are all veritable grounds for breeding conflict.

“But most importantly, conflicts are rooted in the violation of rights. We all have a number of rights and freedom and in exercising them, we tend to forget other peoples’ equal rights and freedom. We forget that our rights end, when and where our neighbor’s rights begin. We therefore owe each other a duty to respect each other’s rights and freedom.

“The first step to rebuilding Nigeria is justice; not economic growth, not job growth, not any growth. As long as there are no consequences for wrongdoing, the system will never outgrow the mire of corruption. Since it is justice that brings peace and since peace will avoid or at least minimize conflicts, we must ensure that the peace we advocate is founded on justice and not on other weaker foundations like power, violence, wealth, suppression, rights of minorities and what have you.”

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US Embassy, Consulate To Close Monday For Presidents’ Day

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The United States will temporarily shuts its Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos on Monday, 17 February 2025, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

This was disclosed in a post on X by the diplomatic mission.

It assured the public that normal operations would resume the following day.

“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents’ Day. We will resume normal operations on Tuesday, 18 February 2025,” the mission said.

The Presidents’ Day is observed in the United States annually on the third Monday of February to honour past and present leaders of the nation.

Although essential services will remain accessible through emergency contact channels, routine consular services will resume after the holiday.

Nigerians seeking U.S. visas or consular assistance are advised to plan their visits accordingly.

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Alleged ₦96bn Fraud: Edo Panel Indicts Obaseki, Impeached LG Chairmen

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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, receives the report from the Administrative Panel of Enquiry set up to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in the state.


Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has received the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry set up on the 18th of December, 2024 to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State from 4th September, 2023 to November, 2024 and has vowed to petition the EFCC over its findings.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the Chairman of the panel, Solomon Imohiosen, while submitting the report and recommendations to Governor Okpebholo over the weekend disclosed that findings and forensic investigations uncovered that huge sums amounting to ₦96 billion were either mismanaged and/or diverted to private accounts.

“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Governments Councils. The recommendations outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in the Local Governments finances,” Imohiosen said.

According to the statement, the panel observed that ₦95 billion was received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period investigated. It, however, reported that the funds were not judiciously utilized as no meaningful projects were on the ground to justify the amount received.

The panel reportedly confirmed fraudulent diversion of Local Government funds to political godfathers in the State, alleging that over ₦10 billion was fraudulently siphoned, using the psudo name, “Security, Environment and Training.

The report is said to claim that the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen contributed to the account, which was used as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, as money were transferred from there to various individuals and companies.

Besides the impeached Local Government Chairmen who were reportedly indicted by the report, former governor Godwin Obaseki, and leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, were also allegedly fingered.

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‘Taxes And More Taxes On Over­burdened Masses’, Nigerians Fault CBN’s Decision To Impose Minimum Charge On ATM Transactions

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By Augustine Akhilomen

Nigerians have questioned the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria boss, Olayemi Cardoso, to impose a mini­mum charge of N100 for ATM transactions exceeding N20,000, which is expected to take effect from March 1st, 2025.

Under the revised fee struc­ture, withdrawals from one’s bank ATMs will remain free of charge.

However, customers using ATMs of other banks will be subjected to a charge of N100 per withdrawal of N20,000 or less at on-site ATMs, which are located within or directly affiliated with a bank branch.

Off-site ATMs, which are po­sitioned outside bank premises such as shopping malls, fuel sta­tions, and other public spaces, will attract an additional sur­charge of up to N500 per trans­action.

However, such policies have angered some Nigerians who believe that President Bola Tinubu has increased the burden of the masses with such policies.

Meanwhile, bishop Herbert Ekechukwu, a cleric and economist, recount­ed: “This new policy is expected to take effect from March 1, 2025. Another bank ATM will attract N100 levy, plus additional sur­charge of up to N500 per N20,000.”

“Taxes and more taxes on over­burdened masses. The average Nigerian is struggling to make a living.

“They are already encum­bered with super runaway in­flation. To suffocate them again with more taxes shows a high level of insensitivity by the elite ruling class.

“Not quite long, we discussed the proposed increase of telecom tariff and now this.

“I remember many years ago when Military President Ibrahim Babangida was putting Nigerians under great affliction with the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

“General Olusegun Obasanjo warned that SAP should have a human face. I do not see this gov­ernment having a human face.

“Please, let us think outside the box to grow this economy. Taxation is not the only way to grow the economy.

“Let us look at other options available without putting more stress on the already suffering masses.

“Let our emphasis shift to youth empowerment, agricul­ture and rural industry, quality education, etc.

“Taxation is necessary, but people’s welfare is of utmost im­portance.”

Also, Tola Oresanwo, an activist and public affairs analyst, said, “It portrays this administra­tion as one that is insensitive, unresponsive and callous.

“The weight of the burden being placed on the common man in the country is becoming unbearable day by day.

“Although the CBN attributes this review to rising operational costs and the need to enhance the efficiency of ATM services in Nigeria’s banking industry, I want to disagree with that notion because going by the huge profits after tax being declared by these commercial banks, year in, year out, there is no basis whatsoever for an upward review of the ATM transaction charges.

“The increased fees may discourage the use of banking services, especially among low income earners who may see the upward review as a means of cheating or shortchanging them, and this move could negatively impact the CBN’s financial inclu­sion campaign.”

In the same vein, Utase Joseph Utase, a consul­tant, stated: “The new CBN poli­cy imposing a minimum charge of N100 per N20,000 withdrawn from other banks’ ATMs will sig­nificantly impact on everyday Nigerians.

“Many rely on ATMs for cash transactions, especially in areas with limited banking services.

“This additional cost could strain low income earners who frequently use ATMs for small withdrawals.

“It may also discourage cash transactions, pushing more peo­ple toward digital banking.

“However, for those with lim­ited access to mobile banking, it could lead to frustration and increased financial burden.

“Ultimately, while the policy may benefit banks operationally, it adds another expense for regu­lar Nigerians.”

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