President Bola Tinubu and his aides have returned to Nigeria from Europe today, a statement by the Presidency has said.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the development in a post on his X handle today, welcomed the president into the country.

“Welcome Home Mr President!,” he wrote.

President Tinubu had travelled for a meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, over two weeks ago, from where he took a trip to Saudi Arabia to attend a special World Economic Forum (WEF).

He subsequently travelled to Europe after the summit.

It would be recalled that on April 22, the president left Abuja for the Kingdom of The Netherlands on an official visit.

The Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, said he was visiting The Netherlands at the invitation of Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

After the engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu proceeded to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to attend a special WEF meeting between April 28 and 29.

The president was expected back in the country after the forum in Saudi Arabia, but he did not return, fueling speculations about his whereabouts.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has described the planned cybersecurity levy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on all electronic transactions, as another burden on Nigerians.

According to a circular issued to various financial institutions, including commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, the apex bank indicated that the levy would come into effect in two weeks from May 6.

The levy’s introduction has sparked widespread criticism among Nigerians and civil society organisations.

Rejecting the policy, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said such deductions directly affect the disposable income of workers, and further diminish the purchasing power of the common citizens.

He said the directive is another gang up by the ruling elite, to continue its extortion and exploitation of helpless workers and the masses.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress recognises the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age,” the statement reads.

“However, imposing such a levy on electronic transactions without due consideration for its implications on workers and vulnerable segments of society is unjustifiable.

“This levy stands as another tax that is too much for Nigerians, burdening them with additional financial responsibilities.

“We see this levy as another gang-up by the ruling elite to continue its extortion and exploitation of hapless and helpless workers and the masses.”

Ajaero lamented that domestic manufacturers and other businesses were already shuttering as a result of the stifling socio-economic environment.

“We urge a collaborative approach between the government, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders to develop sustainable cybersecurity measures that do not unduly burden the populace.

“We reiterate our commitment to championing the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and the masses,” the NLC President said.

1. The authorities of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti, have expelled two female students for bullying a colleague. The development followed the outcry that trailed the video of two female students assaulting another female student of the institution on social media.

2. The Federal Government, on Tuesday, offered 12 oil blocks and five deep offshore assets for sale as it marketed the assets to global oil sector investors at the ongoing 2024 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, United States. Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, told investors at the gathering that Nigeria has 37.5 billion barrels of crude oil and condensate reserves and 209.26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

3. The Department of State Services, DSS, has reportedly arrested Mukaila Lamidi, the embattled chairman of the Oyo State Park Management System, popularly known as Auxiliary. It was gathered that Auxiliary was arrested at about 4:00 pm on Tuesday at his residence in the Olodo area of Ibadan, the state capital.

4. Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday reportedly arrested some Bureau De Change operators at the popular Wuse Zone 4 market. It was also gathered that some BDC operators resisted arrest during the sting operation.

5. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is probing 10 senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps over an alleged N7.5bn fraud. The anti-graft agency has also invited 10 contractors linked with the alleged fraud. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had on April 26, 2024, written a letter to the NSCDC CG, inviting the 10 indicted NSCDC officers for questioning.

6. Multichoice Nigeria has challenged the jurisdiction of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal sitting in Abuja restraining it from increasing the prices of its DStv and GOtv packages. Multichoice’s lawyer, Moyosore Onigbanjo, said he filed an application on April 30 challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to make the order it made on April 29.

7. Nigeria and other West African countries battling terrorism will receive support from a standby force to be formed by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, broke the news in Abuja on Tuesday.

8. The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has directed its members in the House of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminialayi Fubara. The party warned that it would invoke its rules against its lawmakers in the House if they failed to comply with the directive.

9. Those living in flood-prone communities should start relocating now, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has counselled. The agency also called for the monitoring of dams, desilting and clearing of debris in water bodies by relevant authorities to prevent blockages and the creation of detention dams.

10. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, yesterday cautioned Nigerians against panic buying of petrol. NNPC said it has 1.5 billion litres of the product which if spread at 50 million litres daily would last the nation one full month.