The ambitious project, spearheaded by Richard Gamble, is set to become the United Kingdom’s largest Christian monument. Towering at 168 feet tall, the Wall is so vast it will surpass the size of the iconic 98-foot Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, potentially making it the largest Christian monument in the world.

According to the Christian Broadcasting Network, the design of the Wall is inspired by a vision Gamble described as a giant infinity loop built from one million bricks. The monument uniquely fuses faith with modern technology: each of the million bricks will be digitally linked to a specific, recorded story of an answered prayer. 

Visitors will be able to use their smartphones to scan the bricks and immediately access the testimony, creating an immense, interactive record of faith.

After two decades of planning and development, the project is moving forward. Gamble views the monument as a necessary, “unashamedly Christian” statement in a country where the Christian faith is often marginalized. 

Despite a general decline in UK church attendance, the project aligns with the thriving sector of independent evangelical, charismatic, and Pentecostal churches. The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is scheduled to open its doors to the public in 2028.

The apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin disclosed this in a statement on Monday. This is coming 10 days after the Supreme Court ruled that old naira notes should co-exist with new ones till the end of the year.

“In compliance with the established tradition of obedience to court orders and sustenance of the Rule of Law Principle that characterized the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as a regulator, Deposit Money Banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling of March 3, 2023.

“Accordingly, the CBN met with the Bankers’ Committee and has directed that the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes remain legal tender alongside the redesigned banknotes till December 31, 2023.

“Consequently, all concerned are directed to conform accordingly,” the statement read.

The highest court of the land had on March 3 ordered that old N200, N500 and N1000 notes remain valid till December 31, 2023.

This was after 16 states of the Federation instituted a suit to challenge the legality or otherwise of the introduction of the policy.

The 16 states led by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara had prayed the apex court to void and set aside the policy on the ground that it is inflicting hardships on innocent Nigerians.

The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that President Muhammadu Buhari’s disobedience of its February 8 order is a sign of dictatorship, adding that the President breached the Constitution of the Federation in the way he issued directives for the re-designing of the Naira by the CBN.

After the March 3 judgement by the Supreme Court, the Presidency, CBN and the AGF kept mum, throwing many bank customers and Nigerians into confusion as the ruling of the apex court contradicted the directive of the President on February 16 that old N500 and N1000 notes are banned and old N200 notes remain valid till April 10.

However, the Presidency broke its silence on Monday, saying the President never told the CBN and the AGF not to obey the order of the apex court.

“The CBN has no reason not to comply with court orders on the excuse of waiting for directives from the President,” the Presidency noted.

The Presidency also said the President is an absolute respecter of the rule of law and that the “negative campaign and personalised attacks against the President by the opposition and all manner of commentators is unfair and unjust”.

In a statement by Osita Nwanisobi, CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications on Friday, the apex bank said for the avoidance of doubt, the CBN is only reissuing and recirculating the old N200 banknotes.

It said these notes are expected to circulate as legal tender for 60 days up to April 10, 2023, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s national broadcast on Thursday.

The CBN advised members of the public to disregard any message and/or information not formally released by the bank on this subject.

It also advised media practitioners to endeavour to verify any information from the correct sources before publication.

The apex bank announced on Tuesday amongst other things that the exercise will be open only between February 15 and 17.

The bank emphasised that the deposit is not a cash swap program and that new notes will not be issued in exchange for old notes. Instead the old notes will be accepted by the bank and an account which will be provided by the depositor shall be credited.

“Please note that this is a Cash Deposit Program not a Cash Swap Program. You will not be issued new notes in exchange for old notes, instead your bank account will be credited after your account is validated by law enforcement.

“This process may take up to 4 weeks,” the guideline read, adding that “If the validation of account turns out negative, the Bank will return the deposited notes.”

The CBN also disclosed that third party deposits will not be allowed during the exercise as account information must be provided by their real owners.

“Third party deposits are not allowed. The account information provided must be that of the depositor.

“Members of the public are required to complete an online application form and generate a reference number before coming to the CBN.

“Where a customer did not pre-fill their form, he/she will be given the opportunity to fill the form at the Branch.

“The Cash Deposit Window is open to the public from February 15 – 17, 2023, between 9am to 2pm daily,” the guideline further read.

The bank listed a reference code generated from a form on CBN portal, an active bank account, Bank Verification Number (BVN) and a valid government identity card as requirements to particiapate in the process.

Speaking in his Christmas message, Bishop Yahaya called for State, Local Government and Ward Police, to secure every space and the people in the country.

This was even as he advised that the nation’s military should go back to the barracks, saying they have outlived their usefulness in tackling internal security challenge.

He, however, said that there was hope that things will soon turn around for good in the country, adding that the nation is favoured by God to attain greatness among nations of the world.

“We have ungoverned spaces today, that is what security experts tell us. Is it not a shame that as a nation we have ungoverned spaces? Who is supposed to govern these spaces? So, for me, whenever things happen and there are excuses here and there, I think those excuses are not tenable.

“There is the need to hold somebody responsible. If you are a Commissioner of Police in a particular State and somebody is kidnapped and killed, you must explain beyond reasonable doubt why such life was lost. The Area Commander should be called to order, the DPO should be called to order, the people at the post should be called to order. When nobody is responsible, the space will be ungovernable, but if somebody is held responsible for insecurity, I think we will have more security in our country.

“There is the need for the rejig of the security architecture. We are talking about policing of our nation, and we are just talking about a federal police. I hope there will be a state police, local government police and I propose that there should be a ward police, that every ward should have the police that the people in that ward feel should be able to protect them because police affairs is an affair that should be everywhere.

“I want to say a big thank you to those who have died gallantry trying to defend this country. Those who worked assiduously, tenaciously with every zeal and patrotism to ensure that this nation is great.

“But if you look at some of the things we see, military officers betraying military officers. It is like some people within the system are beneficiaries of insecurity. A house divided against itself cannot stand. When you talk about insecurity, how many police men do we have in the entire nation because the work the military is doing is the work of the police ever since we started this insecurity?

“I want to see the rejig of the Nigerian Police and soldiers should go back to the barracks. These things that are happening, police can handle them. If we have a viable police, if we have a modern police, if we have a number of police that we should have on ground, I tell you they can take care of this situation. But look at what we have done today; we have brought in the military, and it looks like the military is not getting tired of this matter. They want to remain there.

“I want to say this with all sense of humility that what we have done with the military, it will take some time to heal in our country because it is like this insecurity has become like a market and some people seem to be benefitting from it. If you are one of those benefiting from this insecurity, remember that if you spill the blood of the people, your blood will not be spared because whatever a man sows, he reaps,” the Bishop said.

Speaking on his Christmas message, the Clergyman said, “My Christmas message to Nigerians is that this Christmas brings hope. For about 400 years, look at the book of Malachi and the New Testament, there was hopelessness and silence. But I want to assure Nigerians that this Christmas 2022 signals hope for this nation. Hope for better things, hope for turnaround in our lives. We must not give up hope on our nation. There is still hope, we can be the greatest hope on planet earth.

“This nation is endowed with so many things that God has given us. This nation is better than any nation of the world. There is hope in this country, and this hope shall touch every life in this great country. And we will be very happy about it. My Christmas message is that there is hope for this country and we must not give up,” he explained.

On the issue of next year’s elections, Bishop Yahaya said, “I want to say that democracy is about canvassing for votes, I want to plead with the politicians to play the game by the rules. They have signed peace accord but it is as if there is no integrity. If there is integrity, everybody should be given a level playing field. The attacks here and there, it means that we have anti-democratic forces.”

On the issue of the CBN’s cashless policy, he said, “As a leader that knows this country very well, I have lived in Kebbi State, camped in all the interiors, lived in Jalingo, Taraba State, camped in all the interiors, and here am I in Kaduna State. As a man that has traveled through this nation, I want to advise the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that it cannot equate us with other nations where technology is everywhere. Even in the city of Kaduna where we are, how many people are so enlightened to make cashless policy. Our policy should reflect who we are.

“Cashless policy is a great policy all over the world, but look at the nations that are implementing it hook, line and sinker. Today, even in Kaduna network fails. You go to PoS machine, it fails, you go to ATM to withdraw money, it fails. The network providers we have here need to wake up and be very serious. Therefore, for me, the cashless policy is a great thing but we have to be very careful before we destroy the economy of this country. I am talking about the reality of who we are, the reality of what we are, does it say we should go cashless, because there are people out there, young people out of schools, whenever you talk about a cashless policy, you look at the people you have.

“Today, to get a tank of fuel, you have to spend more than N20,000. In some of the villages where filling stations are operated, there is nothing like PoS. So when you are even talking about cash withdrawal limit, it is like you are living in another continent, not Nigeria. Whoever is making policy in CBN must reflect what Nigeria stands for and must reflect the people. We should look at what Nigerians are, study the demography very well before we enact a policy.”

Good evening great friends and Partners. We bring you update reflections on the recent announcement of the Governor of Central Bank Nigeria Mr. Godwin Emefiele on Wednesday in Abuja. First it’s agreeable that international standard or Global best practice is for central bank to redesign, produce and circulate new local legal tender between five to eight years.
Second it’s true that Central bank is the key administrator of currency management as enshrined in Section 2b of the Central bank of Nigeria Act 2007. Third it’s a fact that most percentage of currency in circulation are outside the vaults Commercial banks which affects financial stability and short supply of calculated currency. Few things that requires clarification and that will help you plan ahead.

First December is too sudden to return all the cash in circulation if 80% of the cash in circulation is not in vaults of any commercial bank except there is underground plan to print more currency than required to cushion the effect of shortage.
Second, the exercise coming up at the heels of general election is something of worry for curious minded person.
Third, redesigning of the currency is not a major challenge to the state of the economy of Nigeria
Fourth, what is the plan to make sure that this over 80% of cash in circulation but not found in any vaults of any commercial bank is returned.
Fifth this exercise will cost or increase our indebtedness and doesn’t add value to the living conditions of Nigerians
Sixth, agreed that the exercise may force Politicians who have hoard the cash to release it for avoidance of lost in value but will that increase purchasing power of Nigerians in any way.
Seventh, how much of our cash are in circulation and that is the only way to know how much to print.
Eight, we hope the redesigning exercise will not tamper with the existing images on the notes.
Ninth, Nigerians should be shown samples of these intended newly designed notes. In fact this is global practice that citizens have the privilege to criticize their notes before it’s finally printed.
Tenth, Nigerians hope that the obtained approval should include Nigerians knowing their fate if they are short paid for the amount they brought to bank.
Eleventh, Nigerians should expect shortfall of the returned cash.
Twelfth, we want to counsel that January may not be possible as when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender. No rightful thinking person who has this Nation in mind will want to support that January 31st as the last day when the elections are starting in February 2023. Honestly that is a clear path of cash anarchy and election rigging. For now we will like drop the pen and promise to keep updating you on the implications of new redesign of NAIRA notes. It is not something you should keep quiet or else what happened years ago will repeat itself. Don’t keep quiet and nobody should intimidate you.

His BONDSERVANT Chidi COLLINS OPARAOJIAKU

The bank said the credit will be implemented under its Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES).

“The CBN, as part of its policy measures to address rising youth unemployment and underemployment, introduces the Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES) to create a paradigm shift among undergraduates and graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities, from seeking white-collar jobs to entrepreneurship,” the bank said. “The Scheme aims to provide an innovative financing model that will boost job creation, enhance entrepreneurship development, and support economic growth.”

The loan ranges from N5 million for individual/sole proprietorship/small company projects, to N25 million for partnerships/company projects.

Applicants for the first option of the award are expected to have graduated from any Nigerian university or polytechnic within the past seven years.

Their scope of activities must be around agribusiness, information and technology, creative industry, science and technology.

Businesses are expected to start paying back after 12 months and repayment should be completed in five years.

Interested person can apply online via the designated online portal  providing requisite information and documents, such as:

PremiumsTimes

A statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande said: “Our attention has been drawn to statements and reports in the media mis-characterising as a call for devaluation, the view of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN that the Naira exchange rate was being kept artificially low.

“Prof. Osinbajo is not calling for the devaluation of the Naira. He has at all times argued against a willy-nilly devaluation of the Naira.

“For context, the Vice President’s point was that currently the Naira exchange rate benefits only those who are able to obtain the dollar at N410, some of who simply turn round and sell to the parallel market at N570. It is stopping this huge arbitrage of over N160 per dollar that the Vice President was talking about. Such a massive difference discourages doing proper business, when selling the dollar can bring in 40% profit!

“This was why the Vice President called for measures that would increase the supply of foreign exchange in the market rather than simply managing demand, which opens up irresistible opportunities for arbitrage and corruption.

“It is a well known fact that foreign investors and exporters have been complaining that they could not bring foreign exchange in at N410 and then have to purchase foreign exchange in the parallel market at N570 to meet their various needs on account of unavailability of foreign exchange. Only a more market reflective exchange rate would ameliorate this. With an increase in the supply of dollars the rates will drop and the value of the Naira will improve.

“The real issue confronting the economy on this matter is how to improve the supply of foreign exchange, but this will not happen if we do not allow mechanisms like the Importers and Exporters window to work. If we allow this market mechanism to work as intended, we will find that the Naira will appreciate against the dollar as we restore confidence in the system.”

Sunnews

According to the CBN spokesperson, Mr Osita Nwanisobi, the decision to postpone the unveiling of the E-naira, scheduled for October the 1st, was made to avoid any distractions from the country’s 61st Independence Day celebration.

Nevertheless, the CBN has assured Nigerians that the bank and other partners are working to ensure a seamless process for the benefit of all.
Meanwhile, no new date has been announced for the launch.

The authorities at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) have described as “false and inaccurate” the allegation of poor management of the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia, by the staffers of the facility.