News
Gaza peace accord under threat after Trump’s warning
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The peace pact between Hamas and Israel appeared increasingly fragile Tuesday after US President Donald Trump warned “all hell” would break loose unless Hamas releases every Israeli hostage by the weekend.
The truce, in place since January 19, largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip and saw five groups of Israeli hostages freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
But tensions spiked after Trump proposed taking over Gaza and removing its more than two million inhabitants.
On Monday, he ramped up pressure, saying he would call for an end to the ceasefire if all Israeli hostages were not freed by noon on Saturday.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock — I think it’s an appropriate time — I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The ceasefire agreement says staggered releases should take place over the ongoing 42-day first phase of the deal.
Trump’s threat came hours after Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said the next hostage release due to take place on Saturday would be “postponed until further notice”.
The group accused Israel of failing to meet its commitments under the agreement, including on aid deliveries, and cited the deaths of three Gazans on Sunday.
Hamas later said it announced the delay five days in advance to give mediators time to push Israel to comply.
“The door remains open for the prisoner exchange batch to proceed as planned, once the occupation complies,” it said.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Hamas announcement was a “complete violation” of the ceasefire agreement, signalling that fighting could resume.
“I have instructed the IDF (military) to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza,” he said.
The military later said it had raised “the level of readiness” around Gaza, and “decided to significantly reinforce the area”.
On Tuesday, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a fierce opponent of the ceasefire, demanded the immediate release of all hostages, adopting the slogan: “Everyone Now.”
Negotiators were set to meet in Qatar to discuss the truce’s implementation, which remains unsettled.
Talks on a second phase were supposed to start on day 16 of the truce, but Israel had refused to send its negotiators to Doha.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group said on Monday it had “requested assistance from the mediating countries to help restore and implement the existing deal effectively”.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has appointed Rep. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka as the new Deputy Chief Whip.
Rep Isiaka who represents Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency of Ogun State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), steps into the role following the passing of the former Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, earlier this year.
Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, confirmed Isiaka’s appointment during Tuesday’s plenary session, stating that it followed consultations with the APC caucus and other stakeholders from the Southwest.
Prior to this appointment, Isiaka served as Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development. Since joining the House in 2015, he has held key positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Ecological Funds, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs, and leadership roles in several Ad Hoc Committees.
News
More headache for Nigerians as CBN imposes N600 charge on every N20,000 withdrawn from another bank’s ATM
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The apex bank in Nigeria, CBN, has imposed a withdrawal charge of between N100 and N600 for every N20,000 worth of interbank ATM withdrawals.
The three free monthly withdrawals that customers enjoy on interbank ATM withdrawals.
According to a CBN circular, FPR/DIR/GEN/CIR/001/002 with title, ‘Review of Automated Teller Machine Transaction Fee,’ dated February 10, 2025, the new fees would take effect March 1, 2025.
The Apex Bank said, “In response to rising costs and the need to improve the efficiency of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the banking industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed the ATM transaction fees prescribed in Section 10.7 of the extant CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions, 2020 (the Guide)”.
The CBN said customers withdrawing at the ATM of their financial institution in Nigeria would not be charged.
“Withdrawal from another institution’s ATM in Nigeria (Not-On-Us): On-site ATMs (within bank premises): A fee of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal will apply,” the apex bank further directed.
For Off-site ATMs (outside bank premises), the apex bank said a charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 for every N20,000 withdrawal would be applicable.
It said that international withdrawals would be based on the exact amount imposed by the international acquirer.
The CBN said, “This review is expected to accelerate the deployment of ATMs and ensure that appropriate charges are applied by financial institutions to consumers of the service.
“Accordingly, banks and other financial institutions are advised to apply the following fees with effect from March 1, 2025.”
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has directed the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to put the planned increase in telecom tariffs on hold until service quality improves.
This resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance on the “NEED FOR THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NOT TO APPROVE THE IMPENDING HIKE IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TARIFFS”, by Rep. Obuku Oforji, member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma Opokuma Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State on Tuesday T plenary.
Rep. Oforji recalled that after a meeting with mobile network operators in Abuja on January 8, 2025, the minister hinted at an impending tariff hike. According to him, telecom companies have been pushing for an increase, with some proposing a 100 percent hike. However, Tijani clarified that while there would be an increase, it would not be as high as 100 percent, and the NCC would determine and announce the new rates.
The lawmaker explained that telecom operators justified the planned hike by citing rising investment costs, the need for better network infrastructure, and the increasing demand for digital services in sectors such as education, banking, and healthcare.
Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka Appointed Deputy Chief Whip of House of Reps
More headache for Nigerians as CBN imposes N600 charge on every N20,000 withdrawn from another bank’s ATM
Reps Urge FG to Stop Planned Telecom Tariff Increase
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