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Ogun assures bankers of adequate security, urges reopening of financial institutions

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The Ogun State Government has assured bankers in the state of adequate protection while promising to continue to engage the Central BANK of Nigeria (CBN) and proffer lasting solutions to the issue of cash shortage.

The Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the state government, Dr. Dapo Okubadejo, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a meeting with the Bankers Committee in his Oke Mosan, Abeokuta office.

This was a follow up on the meeting earlier held between the group and the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, where the Governor extracted commitment from the bankers to adequately dispense cash to the public.

Okubadejo, moved with the determination to address the scarcity of the naira notes, said the situation is hampering economic activities in the state and that the government is fully prepared to forestall any destruction of banking facilities.

With an assurance of improved security across all financial outlets, the CEA said the unfortunate incident involving the destruction of some banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATM) was as a result of frustration caused by the unavailability of cash to the citizenry.

He revealed that the State Governor  had earlier held a meeting with the Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Ogun State, Mr Wahab Oseni.

Abiodun, he added, is concerned about the security of, not just the bankers, but of all lives and property, saying there are frantic efforts at ensuring the safety of every individual in the state.

Okubadejo reiterated that the State would continue to encourage peace and protect lives and property, charging residents of the State to exercise patience as the crisis would soon be a thing of the past, as well as desist from attacking banks and bankers.

Okubadejo, who also noted that the State is always ready to provide adequate security across the State, said the onus lies with the banks to furnish the populace with new naira notes.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has indicated that it would give money to the various banks, so as a State, we are using this opportunity to appeal to the Bankers’ Committee to ensure that people have access to their funds, for the smooth running of economic activities across the State,” Okubadejo said.

He further highlighted the need for the state to be at the forefront of industrialisation, saying the State Government will continue to engage the CBN in order to deal with the current situation.

In his remarks, the leader of the Bankers’ Forum, Mr. Adeniran Oladele appreciated the State Government for its responsiveness, explaining that the meeting earlier called by the State Government with the CBN had positively reduced the impact of the crisis.

He revealed that the crisis was caused by misinformation which has led to the banks losing revenue as a result of the closure.

He advised on the aggressive sensitisation of the general populace on the availability of the naira notes, saying it will go a long way in reducing public unrest.

“Ogun State is known to be a very peaceful state mainly because of the Governor’s deliberate strategy, not only to engage the youth, but also to be pragmatic, responsive and responsible.”

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Troops neutralise 192 terrorists, apprehend 341 others in 1 week – DHQ

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The Defence Headquarters says troops have in the last one week neutralised 192 terrorists, apprehended 341 others and rescued 62 kidnapped hostages.

It also said a total of 122 ISWAP/JAS terrorists surrendered with their families.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this at a news briefing on operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

Buba said the troops also recovered 211 assorted weapons and 6,288 assorted ammunition within the week.

He said the recovered items comprised 128 AK47 rifles, 26 dane guns, 1,301 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 3,260 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,325 live cartridges, 140 rounds of 9mm ammunition among other items.

In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 71 terrorists, arrested 143 suspects and rescued 58  kidnapped hostages during the week.

He added that the air component conducted air strikes on ISWAP/JAS terrorists hideouts and logistics hub, including their food processing unit in Kolleram village, along Lake Chad.

According to him, Battle Damage Assessment revealed that over 30 terrorists, including senior commanders; Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari, were neutralised as well as their logistics destroyed as result of the strike.

In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 29 insurgents, arrested 53 violent extremists and rescued eight kidnapped hostages.

In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 62 terrorists, arrested 49 terrorists and rescued 36 kidnapped hostages.

He added that troops of Operation Whirl Punch arrested 14 criminals and recovered cache of arms and ammunition as well as military accoutrements.

According to him, other items recovered are 620 parcels of  substances suspected to be marijuana, 10 Yoruba Nation flags, eight mobile phones, four handheld radios, among other items.

In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe had maintained momentum against activities of crude oil theft and recovered 792,660 litres of stolen crude oil and 117,070 litres of illegally refined AGO.

He added that troops discovered and destroyed 31 illegal refining sites with 99 dugout pits, 11 boats, 29 storage tanks, 192 cooking ovens and nine vehicles.

According to him, troops apprehended 27 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremists, recovering five weapons and 162 assorted ammunition.

In the South-East, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operation UDOKA neutralised nine terrorists, arrested 11 violent extremists, rescued 17 kidnapped hostages and recovered weapons.

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War: We will reconsider nuclear doctrine – Iran threatens Israel

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Iran on Thursday threatened to “reconsider” its nuclear doctrine if Israel attempts to attack any of its nuclear facilities amid heightened tensions between the duo.

Brigadier General Ahmed Haqtalab, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in charge of the protection of nuclear centres, said Iran would respond if Israel threatened the country’s nuclear facilities.

The warning comes amid speculations that Tel Aviv is mulling a military response to IRGC’s unprecedented direct attack on multiple positions in Israel on Saturday that involved hundreds of missiles and drones.

Tehran said the attack was in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus that killed seven Iranian military officers, including two top-ranking IRGC commanders for Syria and Lebanon.

Israeli officials have warned of retaliation despite many Western countries urging restraint and de-escalation of tensions.

Haqtalab said if Israel takes action against Iranian nuclear facilities and centres, it will “definitely face response” in the form of attacks on Israeli nuclear centres.

He said: “The threat of the Zionist regime against Iran’s nuclear facilities makes it possible to revise and deviate from the declared nuclear policies and considerations.”

Haqtalab noted that based on international protocols and regulations defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), all countries are obliged to refrain from attacking nuclear facilities, but Iran is “prepared to deal with all threats.”

The IRGC commander said Iran has the “necessary information” to identify nuclear targets in Israel and “hands are on the trigger” if the need arises.

He accused Israel of “violating all international laws and regulations” by carrying out an attack on Iran’s diplomatic mission in the Syrian capital, calling it a “criminal act.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who landed in New York for a UN Security Council meeting on full Palestinian membership on Thursday, has also warned of a “strong response” in his conversations with foreign counterparts in recent days.

His Deputy and Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, on Monday said any fresh military action by Israel against Iran will see a response “within seconds.”

“In the event of another mistake (by Israel), they must expect a response that is more swift and strong,” he asserted.

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Nigerian govt conducts price enforcement in Abuja supermarkets

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has initiated a campaign to enforce price display and quantity compliance at supermarkets throughout Abuja.

The Commission started this at 4U Supermarket, Wuse 2 Abuja on Thursday.

This move, it said, is a direct response to concerns raised by consumers about the rising costs of goods, which go against the recent strengthening of the naira.

The Commission said price discrepancies remain a significant issue.

It stressed that consumers have the right to be informed of the prices of items they intend to purchase.

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