News
Niger State Residents Seek Probe Of NGO For Allegedly Promoting Same-Sex Marriage
Amid the controversy arising from the signing of Samoa agreement by the Nigerian government, some residents of Minna, Niger State, have called on the state government to probe the activities of the International Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (INCRESE), over alleged promotion of LGBTQ rights.
They accused the organisation of violating the same-sex marriage prohibition Act 2024 and practices that are capable of destroying the moral upbringing of people of the state.
On July 9, an activist and social commentator, Mohammed Yahaya Usman shared a post on his Facebook page calling for an investigation into the agency’s activities as well as source of funding.
In the post, Usman attached some documents on the activities of INCRESE and wrote, “This NGO (INCRESE) operates from the heart of Minna, capital city of Niger State, some of my Nigerwatch Newspaper staff have under-cover attended their programmes.
“But the Niger State/Nigeria Government will do well to question what they mean by “sexual minorities,” “safer sex behaviour,” “empowering disadvantage groups,” and “linkages to legal services for adolescents, women living under Sharia Law, and sexual minorities.
“In addition, what is their source of funding, and what does their logo or icon represent? Niger State Government, do your homework.”
However, on July 16, a few days after the post, Usman was invited by police for questioning following a complaint filed against him by the organisation.
He was later detained and released on bail after spending four hours in detention.
His arrest, however, sparked outrage from residents of the state, who claimed the organisation was well funded and capable of destroying the values of the state.
Commenting on the controversy, and operational guides of the organisation, Facebook user MD Abubakar, said, “This is a shocking revelation. So this is what the organisation has been all about?
“I know many of my friends and schoolmates who have gone through their mentorship classes years in the past. I pray that many of their consciences are intact.
“I see nothing wrong in calling the Niger State Government to investigate their activities in all these years. No one should be afraid to come out clean if you have nothing hidden or with an unknown agenda.
“We should join hands together to fight any act of immorality that is not known to our society, especially with our young ones being vulnerable. Thank you, Yahaya Mohd Usman, for asking the right questions and asking them to come out clean.”
Another user, Usman Babangida, said, “I thought INCRESE would go ahead and make clarifications on the question raised about its activities.
“Sai Baba Yahaya Mohd Usman, you will come out strong, In Shaa Allah.”
A teacher and activist, Jibrin Yikangi, said, “The arrest has confirmed the fears of most Nigerlites about the group activities.
“Yahaya Mohd Usman has been detained by the police at Police Headquarters Minna for exercising his right, for saying “Increse” NGO activities should be investigated in Niger State. Our fears have been confirmed, You can see how powerful these foreign NGO’S whose purposes we need to be wary of are?”
Responding to the goodwill message he has received, Usman reaffirmed his calls for the investigation into the activities of the NGO.
“I have brought out more than enough facts about the activities of INCRESE in the state.
“The government and people of Niger should now act to protect and defend humanity and laws of God.
“Remember, we shall all account for our roles before Allah.
“We must not relent and never give up on our duty as citizens of state and servants of God.
“Laws must be obeyed, and the government must protect its citizens from destruction”.
When contacted, the founder of INCRESE, Cesnabmihilo Nuhu-Aken’ova, said the organisation was not a pro-LGBTQ but a human rights organisation that respects and provides support for people, irrespective of sexual orientation or status.
She added that they filed a complaint against Mr Usman over an incitful social media post.
“If he’s ignorant and has questions about our work, he could have come and sit with us. If he thinks we are operating illegally, he could have written to the state governor or reported us to the police.
“But he rushed to Facebook to publish things that are not verified. I don’t understand why he thinks right there in our office, we are doing a gay project. I am an advocate for human rights, and when I am providing services, I don’t necessarily have to ask them what their sexual orientation is.
“If a girl is chased out of the house or boy is brought to my organisation by his parents about behaviour and relationship issues, I will address them.
“I won’t chase a boy out of my office because his parents brought him and complained that he is homosexual,” she said.
A tragic plane crash in the city of Gramado, southern Brazil, has claimed the lives of ten family members of influential businessman, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi.
The crash involved a private plane piloted by Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi. He, along with his wife, three daughters, and other family members, died in the crash, according to a statement from his company.
The small aircraft reportedly struck a building’s chimney, as well as a house and a shop, before crashing. Local authorities confirmed that 17 people on the ground were injured, with two in serious condition.
Mr. Galeazzi, 61, was reportedly taking his family on a trip to Jundiaí, São Paulo state. All ten victims were members of his family, as confirmed by the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite.
The plane had taken off in poor weather conditions. The aircraft flew for about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) before crashing into the urban area just minutes after takeoff on Sunday morning.
An eyewitness, Nadia Hansen, described hearing the plane revving up before it hit the building. “At the time, it was revving up. You could see that it was accelerating a lot,” Hansen said. “Then there was a bang as it hit the building and then it passed close to my house and then it fell, and I thought it had dropped in front of the house.”
Emergency workers were seen at the crash site, attending to the wreckage and debris from damaged buildings. Galeazzi was the CEO of Galeazzi & Associados, a corporate restructuring and crisis management firm based in São Paulo. His company expressed its condolences in a LinkedIn statement, honoring Galeazzi’s dedication to his family and his professional legacy.
The crash occurred near the center of Gramado, hitting a house, furniture store, and hotel. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa). Governor Leite assured that the state was mobilized to provide necessary assistance.
Gramado, a well-known tourist destination, has recently been hit hard by devastating flooding earlier this year, which caused extensive damage and displaced thousands of residents.
The Federal Government has allocated a total of N6,364,181,224 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of the residential quarters of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and some of their aides in the 2025 budget proposal.
Sunday PUNCH’s analysis of the proposed allocation, contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, showed that the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa would gulp N5.49bn.
According to the proposed budget, N765m will be used for the renovation of the Vice President’s quarters and guest house.
The renovation of the president’s quarters at the State House will cost N6.39m, while the renovation of security quarters, auditorium, gymnasium and presidential aides’ quarters will cost N49m.
In addition, the renovation of Prescott barracks at Maple State House officers’ mess building and signal office in Asokoro, Abuja will cost N51m.
Further analysis of the budget revealed that Tinubu and his vice are also expected to have N87m as honorarium and sitting allowances, while N127m was allocated for the procurement of SUVs.
Also, N3.66bn was budgeted for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1,09bn will be spent on replacement of SUV vehicles at the State House.
Under the budget of the State House Lagos Liaison Office, there is an allocation of N14.72m for the routine maintenance of State House Lagos facilities (Dodan Barracks, Vice President guest houses at Ikoyi, among others).
Another N140.10m was allocated for the completion of renovation and furnishing of the State House annex (Dodan Barracks), Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is planning to spend N1.83bn on converting forfeited properties from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into State House quarters.
The plan to convert forfeited houses from the EFCC comes in the same month that the commission disclosed the recovery of an estate in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments.
The commission described this as its “single largest asset recovery” since its inception in 2003.
The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09 of the district, and was forfeited in a ruling on Monday, December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.
(Punch)
WHEN we look at this month, USD was traded at ₦ at the beginning of this December on Monday, December 2, 2024. As at today with USD being traded at ₦1,655 we see a % for United States Dollar to Naira exchange rate for this month.
On this page, we are primarily focusing on the Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, the USD to Naira currency pair are the most traded currency in the FX market.
Black Market Exchange Rates
Buying Rate
Selling Rate
Dollar to Naira 1655 1640
Pounds to Naira 2150 2000
Euro to Naira 1730 1700
Canadian Dollar to Naira 1146 1135
Rand to Naira 52 43
Dirham to Naira 0 0
Yuan to Naira 62 62
G.Cedi to Nair 70 50
CFA F. (XOF) To Naira 0.83 0.81
CFA F. (XAF) To Naira 0.74 0.74
READ ALSO: INSIDE LIFE: 26-Year-Old Lady Died In Bangladesh With No One To Claim Her Body, She Is A Nigerian From Enugu (SEE PHOTO)
Having full knowledge how much USD to NGN black market exchange rate today will give you a better opportunity to plan and make informed decisions.
Nairatoday.com
SAD! 10 Family Members Die In Private Jet Crash
Renovation: Tinubu, Shettima’s official quarters to gulp N6.36bn
SEE NAIRA Rates Against The USD, GBP, EURO Today December 23, 2024
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
Politics24 hours agoIhedioha’s Ex-CoS, Others Dump PDP For APC
-
Economy13 hours agoPetrol to sell at N935 per litre from today-IPMAN
-
News12 hours agoNigerian Govt promises support for stampede victims’ families
-
Foreign13 hours agoThere will be no same sex marriage again -Trump vows to end ‘transgender madness ‘
-
News12 hours agoTinubu’s 50% transport reduction scheme may begin Tuesday
-
News24 hours agoWoman Who Lost 2 Kids In Ibadan Stampede Regrets Not Heeding Spiritual Warning
-
News23 hours agoStampedes: You’ve Weaponized Poverty on Nigerians – HURIWA Tells Tinubu, State Govs
-
News7 hours agoBREAKING: FG declares Wednesday, Thursday public holidays for Christmas, New Year