Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, has drawn criticism for opposing President Bola Tinubu's decision to reduce gasoline subsidies.

                                                                                                         AJIBOLA BADIRU

Bakare had questioned the president on some of his economic decisions, such as rolling out palliative to cushion poor Nigerians from the effect of the withdrawal of petrol subsidy, while making a nationwide broadcast on the nation's status on Sunday. "Mr. President, even though you have announced some palliatives, let me remind you that palliatives cannot address the root cause of the problem," the priest stated in his broadcast, according to Bakare in an ideologically laden "State of the Nation." 

According to multiple persons acquainted with the negotiations, the United States and Iran have agreed to liberate five American prisoners in exchange for the detention of several Iranians and access to around $6 billion in Iranian oil money in the future. Iran has released five Iranian American dual citizens into house detention as a first step in the arrangement, which comes after more than two years of covert discussions, according to representatives from the State Department and the National Security Council.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated on Thursday that "this is just the beginning of a process that I hope and expect will lead to their return home to the United States." To bring them home, additional effort has to be done. I think that this is the beginning of their nightmare's end. The detainees include two more whose families suppressed their names and Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz, who had all been imprisoned on fictitious allegations of spying. Two persons informed on the release's preparations said that one of the anonymous Americans is a scientist and the other is a businessman.

The three indicted prisoners and one other person were moved from Evin Prison, one of Iran's most notorious prisons, to a hotel in Tehran, the country's capital, on Thursday. According to Jared Genser, Mr. Namazi's attorney, they will be held there for a few weeks before being allowed to board an airplane. According to multiple persons acquainted with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the final agreement, one other prisoner, an American lady, had already been freed into house arrest.

In a statement, Mr. Genser remarked, "While I hope this will be the first step to their ultimate release, this is at best the beginning of the end and nothing more." But there are just no assurances as to what will occur next. He said that Iranian authorities had informed the Americans that they would be confined at the hotel under watch. Iran's deputy foreign minister and principal nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, said that the United States and Iran had achieved an agreement for the release of Iranian assets worth billions of dollars in exchange for the exchange of prisoners.

He said that the US has given Iran the "commitments necessary" to uphold the agreement. According to IRNA, the official news agency of Iran, five Iranians will be freed from American jails in return for the release of five Americans. Iranian media portrayed the agreement as a win for President Ebrahim Raisi's conservative administration and referred to it as "honorable diplomacy."

Officials from the Biden administration declined to disclose or confirm specifics of what Iran will receive in return. But according to some who are acquainted with the deal, the Biden administration would free a few Iranian citizens who are currently serving jail terms for breaking sanctions on Iran once the Americans are permitted to return home.

According to the persons familiar with the agreement, the US would also transfer almost $6 billion of Iran's current assets located in South Korea and deposit the money into a Qatari central bank account. According to them, the Qatari government would be in charge of the account and supervise it so Iran may only use the funds to pay suppliers for humanitarian expenditures like food and medication.

The Biden administration has orchestrated several high-profile prisoner exchanges to return Americans that the State Department believes are unlawfully jailed abroad. The most recent one included Iran, a bitter American enemy. The 51-year-old Mr. Namazi has been detained in Evin Prison since 2015 on allegations of "collaborating with a hostile state." He was handed a 10-year term. A businessman named Mr. Sharghi was found guilty of espionage and given a 10-year jail sentence in 2020. The environmentalist Mr. Tahbaz, who was detained in 2018, received a 10-year sentence for allegedly having "contacts with the U.S. government."

The three have all refuted the accusations, and according to the US, they were all illegally jailed. Siamak's brother Babak Namazi issued a statement in which he said, "We have suffered tremendously and indescribably for eight horrific years and wish only to be reunited again as a family." In a statement sent by their attorney, Neda Sharghi, Emad's sister, stated, "My family has faith in the work that President Biden and government officials have undertaken to bring our families home and hopes to receive that news soon."

Officials in the Biden administration do not think that there are any additional Americans detained in Iran. According to a statement from his family at the time, in 2020, authorities in President Donald J. Trump's administration concluded that Robert A. Levinson, the former FBI agent who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unapproved assignment for the C.I.A., passed away while in an Iranian prison.

According to two Iranians close to the regime who were acquainted with the plan, the prisoner exchange deal that would take place on Thursday was almost finished in March but was put on hold when Iran jailed one of the unidentified U.S. dual citizens. The two Iranians said that Iran originally opposed the United States demand that the prisoner be included. The final agreement took shape in recent months, according to people with knowledge of the discussions between the United States and Iran, which were mediated by Oman, Qatar, and Switzerland. All parties had been working on the logistics for weeks.

According to Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention organization, who is familiar with the terms of the deal, this exchange will take place in a series of planned steps as opposed to prior prisoner swap agreements where detainees immediately boarded a plane out of Iran. The Americans will be permitted to leave Iran once the money is deposited in the Qatari bank account, which is anticipated to take four to six weeks due to the difficulty of obtaining the necessary licenses and sanctions exemptions documentation.

The exclusion of several well-known members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from appointment has been criticized by an organization called the Progressive Young Leaders Assembly (PYLA). …

                                                                                                                 BELLO MASARI

The absence of several prominent members of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's appointments has drawn criticism from an organization called the Progressive Young Leaders Assembly (PYLA). It claimed that the fact that some important members—including former governors Kayode Fayemi, Umaru Tanko Almakura, Bello Masari, Ahmad Sani Yerima, and Abdusalam Abdulkarim Zaura, among others—had not yet been recognized for their contributions to the president's victory had demonstrated the need for a complete overhaul of the party's reward system.

                                                                                                    Abdusalam Abdulkarim Zaura

This was said Tuesday in Abuja by the chairman of the PYLA, Abubakar Kurawa. He expressed his displeasure with President Tinubu's appointments of ministers and other officials so far, saying that they failed to take into account those who had toilingly contributed their time, physical energy, and hard-earned resources to ensure the party's victory in the February 25 presidential elections.

The fact that individuals like Fayemi, Almakura, Masari, Dambazzau, Abdulkarim Zaura, Senators Aishatu Binani, Ovie Omo-Agege, Andy Uba, and others have yet to get even a letter of praise for their work, according to Kurawa, is concerning. According to him, the 'democratic injustice' might lead to the APC's demise in the campaign for office in 2027 and beyond if it is not properly handled.

Harry Kane departs for Bayeny for medical checks With 280 goals in 435 appearances, Harry Kane holds the record for most goals scored by a player for Tottenham. The Spurs academy product is about to leave his alma mater to join Bayern Munich.

Later today, Harry Kane will go to Germany to finalize his £100 million transfer to Bayern Munich. This morning, Kane was scheduled to go to Munich but was advised against it. After turning around, he proceeded to a family house close to the airport to wait for approval to finalize the transaction.

Tottenham denied that their agreement with Bayern Munich had altered despite rumors that they were seeking to make last-minute adjustments to the arrangement.

Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, has decided against joining President Bola Tinubu's government. According to sources in the presidency, Mr. El-Rufai informed President Tinubu during a meeting on Tuesday that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister but would still make his contribution as a private person to the development of Nigeria.

One of our sources stated, "He also told the president that he needed time to concentrate on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands." Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, a new ministerial nominee for Kaduna State, was proposed by the former governor, who said the President would find him to be extremely valuable and resourceful, according to another insider who spoke to this medium. While Mr. El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Sani served as commissioner in three ministries (Local Government, Education, and Environment).

                                                                                                     Jafaru Ibrahim Sani

A day after the Senate approved 45 ministerial nominations following a week-long review of 48 of them, Mr. El-Rufai paid a visit to the President at the White House. However, the higher parliamentary body refused to ratify him and the nominations of the other two, citing State Security Service security reports as justification. Sani Danladi, a former senator from Taraba, and Stella Okotete, a contender from Delta State, were the other two.

Senators from Oyo State are given oversight duties. The chairman and vice chairmen of the Senate's standing committees have been named by the selection committee, which is led by Senate President Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio CON. It is my pleasure to inform you that I have been chosen to lead the committee on the environment, according to a statement made by Hon. Senator Yunus Akintunde of Oyo Central.

The honor did not stop there; I was appointed the committee on police issues vice-chairman. The Federal Ministry of Environment and its parastatals/agencies are subject to scrutiny by the committee on the environment in the following areas:

1.       Environmental Health & Registration Council of Nigeria.

2.       Forest Research Institute of Nigeria which runs the Federal College of Forestry, a monotechnic based in Ibadan.

3.       National Environmental Standards Regulatory & Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

4.       National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) which was established chiefly to address land degradation and desertification, in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states.

5.       National Oil Spill Detection & Response Agency (NOSDRA).

6.       National Parks Service The committee on police affairs shall oversee the activities in the Ministry of Police Affairs and its parastatals namely the NPF, Police Service Commission, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Police colleges and formations and the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.

Senator Yunus Akintunde claims that he wants to utilize legislation as a vehicle for fostering economic growth and national development, carry out thorough and effective oversight activities using the senate's standing committees, and uphold the integrity of the rule of law.

In a related event, Yunus Akintunde used the chance to congratulate Sarafadeen Alli and Fatai Buhari, the other senators from Oyo state, on being chosen to lead committees. Distinguished Senator AbdulFatai Omotayo Buhari (Oyo North) has been selected to lead the committee on aviation. Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun All serves as vice-chairman of the committee on customs and chairman of the INEC committee.

General Abdourahmane Tiani, who was named the new head of state of Niger by the coup's leaders, arrives in Niamey, Niger, to meet with ministers. A new movement aspires to bring back President Bazoum, who was dismissed. Just before the regional meeting in Niger, there is a launch. Army leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso firmly support the regime, which has rejected diplomatic envoys. NIAMEY, A former rebel commander and politician in Niger has started a movement opposing the junta that seized control in a coup on July 26. This is the first indication of internal opposition to army rule in the strategically significant Sahel nation.

In a statement made public on Wednesday, Rhissa Ag Boula stated that the goal of his newly formed Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) was to restore former President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held captive at his home since the coup. The statement claimed that those tasked with defending Niger were behind the disaster.

The launch comes as diplomatic attempts to overthrow the coup looked to be at a standstill after the junta rejected the most recent diplomatic mission and the army governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, two neighboring countries that support the armed takeover, appealed to the UN to forbid any military action. In response to demands to talk before a conference on Thursday where the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would debate the use of force, the coup leaders in Niger on Tuesday refused access to African and U.N. envoys.

The CRR, according to Ag Boula's statement, supports ECOWAS and any other foreign players attempting to restore constitutional order in Niger, and it added that it will make itself accessible to the group for any helpful purposes.

Several Nigerien political personalities, according to a CRR member, have joined the organization but were unable to publicly declare their support due to safety concerns. In the 1990s and 2000s, Ag Boula was a key figure in Tuareg uprisings, a nomadic ethnic minority living in the desert north of Niger. He was absorbed into the administration under Bazoum and Mahamadou Issoufou, like many other ex-rebels. Ag Boula's comments may alarm the coup leaders given his popularity among Tuaregs, who dominate politics and trade in parts of the vast north, even though the level of support for the CRR is uncertain. In order to extend the junta's power outside of Niamey's municipal borders, Tuareg's support is essential.

The United Nations, Western countries, and democratic ECOWAS members like Nigeria call on the junta to restore the civilian administration that had been mostly effective in curbing a violent Islamist insurgency that was wreaking havoc in the Sahel area. The fact that Niger is the seventh-largest producer of uranium, the most popular nuclear energy fuel, increases the strategic significance of the country. ECOWAS members Mali and Burkina Faso, whose own juntas seized power in coups during the previous two years, have sworn to support Niger's new army rulers from any attempts to overthrow them violently.

They urged the Security Council to stop any military action against Niger in a letter to the UN, arguing that such an action would have unanticipated effects such as the dissolution of ECOWAS, a humanitarian catastrophe, and a deterioration of the security situation. They asserted that they were dedicated to resolving disputes via diplomacy and dialogue and accused Western powers of using ECOWAS as a front to hide a hostile agenda towards Niger. The Niger junta has repeatedly rejected attempts by African, American, and United Nations envoys to negotiate with it despite these pledges from its friends, and the ruling generals have shown no hint that they are willing to make any concessions.

In one of the poorest nations in the world, the coup has already resulted in border and airspace bans that have cut off the supply of food and medicine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported speaking with Bazoum late on Tuesday to emphasize continuing attempts to settle the conflict peacefully. He sent a message on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, "The United States reiterates our call for the immediate release of him and his family."

Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and the head of ECOWAS, placed more sanctions on Niger on Tuesday in an effort to squeeze the takeover's participants and stated all alternatives remained on the table. According to ECOWAS, using force would only be a last choice. The heads of state will examine a potential military response plan that the bloc's defense chiefs have agreed upon during their summit on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria.

The influence of Russia in the Sahel area, which Western nations worry might become stronger if the junta in Niger follows the pattern set by Mali by expelling Western soldiers and bringing in Wagner mercenaries, further complicates the political situation. Under agreements established with the now-removed government, Niger presently hosts soldiers from the United States, France, Germany, and Italy.

There is still work to be done on the specifics of Harry Maguire's departure, but West Ham are cautiously confident about completing the deal from Manchester United after having a £20 million bid for him rejected last month.

West Ham With Manchester United, a deal to recruit defender Harry Maguire is in principle agreed upon by West Ham and is expected to cost in the neighborhood of £30 million. Personal issues should not be an issue, but there is still work to be done on the specifics of his departure from United. Despite the fact that West Ham's £20 million offer for the England international was turned down last month, they remain cautiously hopeful about finalizing the acquisition.

Prior to Man Utd's opening Premier League match against Wolves on Monday Night Football, Maguire practiced with the team on Wednesday morning. Should United be able to acquire defenders to replace Maguire and Eric Bailly, whose agents have spoken with Al Nassr, they have done their homework on a number of defenders, notably Jean-Clair Todibo of Nice.

Todibo's representatives have been consulted in order to determine the specifics of a prospective contract. Erik ten Hag stated to Sky Sports News that he wants competition for positions and depth in the squad so they can compete on all fronts.

CBN GOES AFTER FIVE BANKS DIRECTOR

Don't Write-Off," the CBN warns, as four banks approve loans totaling over N112 billion. Financial institutions should follow the recommendations the Central Bank of Nigeria provided about their senior directors who have debts. This is because directors of the Union Bank of Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sterling Bank, and Access Holdings have received loans totaling more than N122 billion. Executive directors and staff members frequently receive loans with interest rates below the market.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced strict fines aimed at directors of financial institutions that obtain loans from the banks they are linked with in an effort to combat possible conflicts of interest within the banking industry. This action comes after N122.7 billion in loans and advances from four commercial banks were given to companies in 2022 that were under the control of senior management executives and connected parties.

The financial institution's directors, associates, and staff members received insider-related loans.

These financial institutions include Access Holdings, Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, and Union Bank of Nigeria.

CBN insider loan guidelines The Central Bank of Nigeria's Circular BSD/1/2004, published February 18, 2004, on "Disclosure of Insider Related Credits in the Financial Statements of Banks," sets forth requirements for insider-related loans and advances. A bank is prohibited under the BOFIA Act 2020 from lending any of its directors or important shareholders more than 5% of its paid-up share capital.

Breakdown of banks' director's/employees' loans.

Holdings of Stanbic IBTC: N56.5 billion 53.4 billion Naira at Union Bank of Nigeria N2.4 billion, Sterling Bank N469.01 million Access Holdings Directors are strongly cautioned by CBN over non-performing loans. In another circular, the CBN emphasized that it would do away with directors who had defaulted on loans from bank boards and place them on a blacklist for employment at all other financial institutions. The following is taken from the document: "Any director whose credit facility or that of his/her related interests remains non-performing in the banking subsidiary of an FHC, for more than one year, shall cease to be on the Board of the Financial Holding Company (FHC), shall be blacklisted from sitting on the Board of such banking subsidiary, or that of any other financial institution under the purview of the CBN."

The time frame set by a group of West African countries for Niger to revert to democracy; however, neighboring military-led Burkina Faso and Mali have rejected this demand and jointly warned that any involvement would equal a declaration of war. Although war is far from inevitable, the circumstances for a significant escalation are rapidly developing on a continent that has seen some of the worst conflicts of the previous century.

Such a conflict may potentially include major nations like the United States, France, and Russia in addition to having significant effects well beyond the peoples of the Sahel area. The possibility of conflict remains large on the horizon as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has pledged to reverse Nigerien General Abdourahamane "Omar" Tchiani's seizure of the neighboring country last week.

Ibrahim Maiga, the senior consultant for the Sahel Project of the International Crisis Group, told Newsweek that "I don't think we should underestimate ECOWAS' resolve to see this coup fail in Niger." "Tinubu has shown firmness in terms of seeing this not go through, and Tinubu is loyal for all the strong decisions that he took in his country," the speaker continued. Therefore, we shouldn't undervalue his willingness to take drastic measures, such as using military force.