On Air Now:
Now Playing:Loading...
site loader
January 22, 2025 FG Announces Online Visa Applications Launch Before March 1

FG Announces Online Visa Applications Launch Before March 1

The Federal Government has announced that all visa applications will be moved online before March 1. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this disclosure on Monday during an appearance on ‘X Spaces’ hosted by influencer Dr. Segun Awosanya.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo explained that a centralized visa approval centre has been established to unify the visa process, enhance national security, and reduce corruption. "This visa approval centre is a significant achievement for this administration," he said. "It will address corruption, improve national security, and streamline the visa regime for consistency. Before March 1, all visa application systems will be online to ensure thorough vetting."

The minister also highlighted the creation of a harmonized data centre at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Sauka, Abuja. He detailed the progress made, stating, "We have successfully built one of the largest data centres in Nigeria's history, an 8.3-petabyte centre. Prior to this, the Nigeria Immigration Service lacked a dedicated data centre, with Nigerian citizens' data being stored by private contractors in violation of the Data Protection Act."

Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for proper security document management, stating that Nigeria's previous reliance on private data storage was a breach of due process. "We promised a 1.4-petabyte data centre but delivered an 8.3-petabyte one, which is now among the largest in the world," he concluded.

January 22, 2025 Court Rejects Bail Request for El-Rufai’s Former Chief of Staff

Court Rejects Bail Request for El-Rufai’s Former Chief of Staff

A Federal High Court in Kaduna State has rejected the bail application filed by Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Saidu, who also served as Commissioner for Finance under El-Rufai's administration, is facing a 10-count charge that includes money laundering, embezzlement, and misappropriation of public funds belonging to the Kaduna State Government.

Saidu was arrested on January 2, 2025, and has since been held at the Kaduna Correctional Centre. During Tuesday’s court session before Justice Isa Aliyu, Saidu pleaded not guilty to the charges read against him.

The charges include allegations that Saidu sold $45 million in government funds at an undervalued rate of  ₦410 per dollar instead of the parallel market rate of ₦498 per dollar, resulting in a loss of  ₦3.9 billion to the state. The prosecution claims the alleged offence occurred in 2022 while Saidu was serving as Commissioner for Finance.

The prosecution further alleges that the ₦3.9 billion discrepancy was laundered, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Defense counsel M.I. Abubakar urged the court to grant bail to his client, citing his 21-day detention. However, prosecution counsel Professor Nasiru Aliyu opposed the application, arguing that the law allows the prosecution seven days to file a response to the bail request.

Justice Isa Aliyu ruled in favor of granting the prosecution adequate time to respond, as stipulated by law. The court has adjourned the case to January 23, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application.

RELATED: ICPC Charges El-Rufai’s Former Aide Lawal with Alleged Money Laundering

January 22, 2025 Netflix Announces Subscriber Surge and Price Increases

Netflix Announces Subscriber Surge and Price Increases

Netflix announced on Tuesday that it added nearly 19 million subscribers during the holiday season, closing 2024 with over 300 million global subscribers. The company credited its consistent investment in shows and films for fueling this growth while also revealing price hikes in Argentina, Canada, Portugal, and the United States.

“As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask our members to pay a little more so that we can re-invest to further improve Netflix,” the company stated in a letter to investors.

In the United States, the price of premium and standard memberships will increase by $2 per month to $25 and $18, respectively. The standard ad-supported tier will rise by $1 to $8 per month.

Netflix reported a profit of $1.87 billion on $10.25 billion in revenue for the final quarter of 2024, marking double-digit growth compared to the same period the previous year. This strong performance caused Netflix shares to soar by more than 14%, reaching over $993 in after-market trading.

“We enter 2025 with strong momentum, coming off a year with record net additions of 41 million subscribers and re-accelerated growth,” company executives said. They noted that Netflix is in a “leadership position” regarding engagement, with subscribers spending about two hours per day on the platform.

Despite its success, Netflix acknowledged the intense competition it faces from both traditional entertainment providers and big tech companies. The company plans to continue improving its platform by offering more content, refining user experiences, expanding advertising capabilities, and exploring new areas such as live programming and gaming.

Netflix closed the year with strong offerings, including the highly anticipated second season of the global hit Squid Game. The dystopian Korean drama remains the most-watched Netflix TV series to date, solidifying South Korea's cultural prominence alongside the Oscar-winning film Parasite and K-pop superstars BTS.

Ad-supported plans have also gained traction, accounting for over 55% of signups in regions where they are available and growing by nearly 30% from the previous quarter. Expanding its ad business remains a key focus for Netflix in 2025.

In late 2023, Netflix introduced an ad-subsidized subscription tier alongside a crackdown on password sharing, both aimed at bolstering subscriber growth. For 2025, the company forecasts revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion, targeting a robust 29% operating margin.

Upcoming releases include new seasons of fan favorite series like Wednesday and Stranger Things. Additionally, Netflix plans to broadcast 52 weeks of WWE programming and NFL games on Christmas Day in the United States. The company has also begun offering bundled subscription packages with competitors like Peacock and Apple TV.

Despite formidable rivals, Netflix continues to dominate the streaming landscape. Disney+, launched in November 2019, has faced challenges despite featuring blockbuster franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. Over the past year, Netflix shares have risen 80%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 and NASDAQ indices, reinforcing its position as a leader in the streaming industry.

 

January 22, 2025 2025 Budget: NLC Criticizes FG’s ₦8bn Allocation for Public Awareness on Electricity Bill Payments

2025 Budget: NLC Criticizes FG’s ₦8bn Allocation for Public Awareness on Electricity Bill Payments

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the ₦8 billion allocated in the 2025 federal budget to raise public awareness about the need to pay electricity bills, describing the move as “absurd.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero expressed strong opposition to the initiative, which was proposed by the Federal Ministry of Power. According to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the funds are intended to address issues such as power theft, poor payment habits, and the protection of national power infrastructure. Adelabu explained during his budget defense at the National Assembly that the campaign would utilize various media platforms—including social, digital, and print channels—to reach Nigeria’s population of over 200 million. He emphasized the importance of educating citizens that electricity is not a free resource and that safeguarding infrastructure is crucial for ensuring a stable power supply.

Reacting to the proposal, Ajaero criticized the ministry for what he called misplaced priorities and gross mismanagement in the power sector. He urged both the Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to focus on revitalizing the sector to prevent its total collapse. In a statement titled "Before the Collapse of the Power Sector: ₦8 Billion Budget for Electricity Bill Sensitization and Matters Arising," Ajaero highlighted systemic corruption and the repeated failure of leadership to provide lasting solutions to Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

He remarked that while the ministry is requesting billions for public sensitization, contractors in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are reportedly owed over ₦200 billion. Ajaero also criticized the inability of the ministry to avert frequent grid collapses, noting that under the current leadership, grid failures have occurred more frequently than ever before. He described these failures as evidence of incompetence and suggested that those responsible should resign.

The NLC accused NERC of complicity in unethical practices, pointing to a recent incident where a whistleblower was allegedly sacked for exposing corruption within a distribution company (DISCO). This, according to the NLC, reflects a lack of transparency and accountability in the agency responsible for regulating the power sector.

The NLC called on the government to address the systemic issues plaguing the power sector rather than allocating funds to campaigns. It warned that continued mismanagement would deepen public distrust in government institutions and exacerbate the economic hardships faced by Nigerians. The statement concluded with a commitment to hold the government accountable, cautioning against further misuse of public funds and hinting at possible mobilization against wasteful expenditures.

Watch Live

x
PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com
X