News

By Uzair Adam Imam

A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of California has uncovered intriguing insights into the mechanics of sleep, particularly focusing on the brain’s activity during this crucial rest period.

Published in Nature, the study sheds light on how sleep acts as a “reset” for the brain, primarily during the initial half of the night.

According to the research, during sleep, the brain undergoes a process of weakening newly formed connections between neurons, known as synaptic pruning. This phenomenon predominantly occurs during the first half of sleep, suggesting that this period is crucial for streamlining neural connections.

However, the purpose of the second half of sleep remains enigmatic. While researchers speculate that it may involve processes such as waste removal or cellular repair, further investigation is needed to elucidate its exact function.

Lead author Professor Jason Rihel from UCL Cell & Developmental Biology explains, “When we are awake, the connections between brain cells get stronger and more complex.

“If this activity were to continue unabated, it would be energetically unsustainable. Too many active connections between brain cells could prevent new connections from being made the following day.”

The study supports the Synaptic Homeostasis Hypothesis, suggesting that sleep serves as a necessary reset for the brain, facilitating optimal cognitive function.

Using optically translucent zebrafish, researchers monitored synaptic activity over multiple sleep-wake cycles.

They observed that brain cells gain connections during wakefulness and lose them during sleep, with the extent of synaptic rearrangement influenced by sleep pressure.

Furthermore, the study revealed that synaptic remodeling predominantly occurs in the first half of the nightly sleep cycle, correlating with patterns of slow-wave activity.

While the findings provide valuable insights into the role of sleep in synaptic regulation, questions persist regarding the functions of the second half of sleep.

The study hints at potential avenues for future research into the broader functions of sleep beyond synaptic pruning.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the families affected by the tragic stampede that occurred during the sale of rice in Lagos on February 23, 2024. 

A delegation led by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs/Zonal Coordinator Zone “A,” Hammi Swomen, visited the family of the late Comfort Ajayi on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Anthony, Lagos.

The delegation expressed the service’s condolences and commitment to continued support. ACG Swomen stated,

“In line with the CGC’s directive, it is an ongoing interaction and support for the families…we will continue to keep in touch with them and see the best ways going forward that we can support them in this difficult time.” 

The husband of the late Comfort Ajayi, Murphy Ajayi, appreciated the delegation’s visit, saying, “They have been trying in their effort to get in touch with us and check on us. I say a big thank you, though it has not been easy, but life continues.” 

The team also visited the families of late Eugene Anyanwu and late Mercy Christopher on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

The wives of the late victims, Sarah Anyanwu and Christopher Onah, commended the gesture by the Nigeria Customs Service and prayed for the service’s success. 

This is not the first visit by the customs service, as they had earlier visited the family of the late Susan Odulaja in Jibowu, Lagos, on Friday, April 26, 2024. 

The Nigeria Customs Service’s continued support demonstrates their responsiveness, care, and responsibility as a Nigerian government agency.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Witnesses recounted an incident in Maiduguri as repentant Boko Haram insurgents made an attempt to storm a police station, aiming to free their arrested comrades allegedly involved in drug offenses.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday night, unfolded with the assailants clad in military attire and brandishing cutlasses.

Confirming the incident, Borno State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Daso, reported that officers on duty successfully repelled the attackers.

Daso explained that the breach stemmed from a joint police operation targeting illicit activities at Kasuwar Fara, where eight individuals, including alleged drug peddlers and repentant insurgents, were apprehended with illicit substances.

Following the arrests, the attackers, purportedly repentant Boko Haram members, struck the police station at Ibrahim Taiwo, but were promptly thwarted.

Subsequently, they targeted Nigeria Immigration Service and NDLEA checkpoints, setting ablaze some structures.

An ongoing investigation seeks to identify the perpetrators behind these acts.

Eyewitnesses recounted a scene of chaos as the attackers forcibly entered the police station, freeing some detainees and injuring officers on duty.

Despite efforts by police operatives, reinforcements were necessary to regain control.

The incident has left residents apprehensive about Maiduguri’s safety, with some drawing parallels to past attacks.

Fanta Modu, a local resident, urged a reevaluation of the government’s approach to reintegrating repentant insurgents, questioning their true intentions.

Governor Babagana Zulum’s spokesperson, Abdulrahman Bundi, stated that official comment would follow once the government receives comprehensive information on the matter.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 30-year-old actor, identified as Praise, over accusations of abducting and defiling a 14-year-old girl in the Mowe area of the state. 

Omolola Odutola, the command’s Public Relations Officer, affirmed the arrest in a statement released to the press in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. 

According to Odutola, the arrest followed a report filed by the teenager’s grandparents, who stated that their granddaughter had gone missing since April 27, 2024. 

“The Divisional Police Officer of Mowe Division apprehended one actor, Praise, a 30-year-old male, on allegations of defiling a 14-year-old female,” the statement disclosed. 

It continued, “The arrest came after a report on May 1, around 2:05 PM, from the grandparents of the teenager, who reported that their granddaughter had been missing since April 27, 2024.” 

The grandparents claimed that the suspect had sexually assaulted their granddaughter, leading to severe bleeding upon her discovery. 

Furthermore, the statement mentioned that medical examinations have been initiated, with forms issued for examination and treatment at a government hospital to gather more credible evidence. 

While a preliminary investigation has commenced at the Mowe Divisional Headquarters, the case is slated for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation. 

Odutola noted, “No child in Ogun State should endure such inhumane treatment, sexual assault, and abuse.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Speaking at the 2nd Chronicle Roundtable, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima emphasized Nigeria’s historical endurance of economic sabotage.

However, he expressed optimism, foreseeing significant economic growth once the country navigates through the ongoing reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Shettima assured that positive changes would soon manifest across various economic indicators, including inflation, per capita income, GDP, poverty reduction, and food security.

He urged Nigerians to exercise patience as the administration tackles prevailing economic challenges.

Highlighting key policy decisions and the economic agenda of the Tinubu administration, the Vice President discussed the removal of petroleum subsidy, describing it as a necessary step to save the nation from impending economic collapse.

He affirmed the need for collective sacrifice and patience to address the nation’s economic ailments.

Shettima acknowledged the continuity of governance, noting that the decisions made were essential for the nation’s survival.

He noted the importance of policy consistency and long-term vision in transforming critical sectors of the economy.

The event saw the presence of notable figures including Minister of Information Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, and Chairman of 21st Century Chronicle Amb. Gbara Awanen, among others.

 By Sabiu Abdullahi 

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to improve the living and working conditions of all Nigerians of working age, saying that workers “deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare.” 

This promise was made in his maiden May Day message dedicated to workers nationwide. 

According to a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu affirmed his administration’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, citing various relief programs, including the wage award and the imminent minimum wage review. 

“The President strongly believes that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare, and that a laborer is deserving of not just any reward but fair and commensurate wages,” the statement read. 

President Tinubu’s remarks come amid a cost-of-living crisis believed to be a result of his administration’s economic reforms. 

Since assuming office, he has implemented policies such as the discontinuance of subsidies on petrol and the unification of foreign exchange rates, which have sparked instability in the value of the naira and heaped hardship on Nigerians. 

Despite this, President Tinubu defended his actions, saying they were necessary to prevent the country from going bankrupt and to reset the economy towards growth. 

On May Day, President Tinubu saluted Nigerian workers for their “fidelity to the peace, progress, and development of the nation evident in their tireless efforts and patriotic zeal to keep the national engine running.” 

He commended workers across all spheres, from clerical officers to teachers, doctors, and all Nigerian workers who keep the country running. 

“The President wishes Nigerian workers Happy May Day celebrations,” the statement concluded. 

Workers’ Day celebration in Nigeria has its origins in the People’s Redemption Party government in Kaduna and Kano, which adopted May 1 as a public holiday in 1980. 

The Federal Government later declared May 1 a national holiday in 1981 to celebrate International Workers’ Day.

By Jamilu M. Magaji 

Nigerians from all walks of life have been urged to embrace local productions with a view to tackling exchange rate volatility and promoting sustainable economic growth in the country. A professor of Financial Economics from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Prof. AU Sanda, made the call at Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) during the 21st Seminar titled “Exchange Rate Volatility in Nigeria: Lessons and Policy Implications,” on Tuesday.

The Seminar, chaired by Professor AS Mikailu, tripartite former Vice Chancellor of UDUS, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States Universities, was attended by members of academia, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as other public and private organizations.

Prof. Sanda, a first-class economist of high repute, highlighted a number of variables that appear to correlate well with exchange rate volatility, which include interest rate, money supply, inflation (foreign reserves and for an oil exporting country) and crude oil prices. He described the exchange rate as the price of local currency in exchange for a foreign currency, noting that it is also an important economic variable with huge potential to affect lives and livelihoods, as Nigeria’s recent experience has simply demonstrated.

“Interest rate hikes to tame inflation have been accompanied by a surge in money supply, rendering the initial policy to stymie inflation difficult to achieve, He said.”

He lamented that when inflation rises, a country’s currency will depreciate, as experienced in Nigeria when petrol prices rose in response to President Tinubu’s announcement on May 29, 2023, of his government’s plans to remove fuel subsidies. He stressed that foreign reserves, when they are buoyant, could strengthen a country’s currency, while for oil exporting countries, an increase in the crude oil price should help strengthen the currency as long as the foreign exchange management system allows some flexibility.

“If you are engaged in purchasing whatever goods from outside the shores of this country, be it furniture or whatever, then you are a party to this”. He said

“So, taming this menace is a collective responsibility from fiscal and monitory authorities down to the citizenry. We all have a role to play by at least embracing local productions, a key to sustainability and economic growth,” he added

Prof. Sanda advised fiscal authorities to undertake policies that assist the monetary authorities in maintaining stability in the foreign exchange market, noting that growth in money supply should be accompanied by economic growth. He cautioned that where the former grows faster than the latter, inflation (and foreign exchange volatility) will be the inevitable consequence, and there is a need to adopt the proposed methodology for the measurement of the exchange rate of the naira.

In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of FUBK, Prof. MZ Umar, noted that the recurring exchange rate volatility in Nigeria is also associated with reckless hoarding and exchange of goods and services with foreign currencies. He called on government and other regulatory agencies to intensify efforts towards promoting economic growth and development in the country.

“The efforts of the CBN to calm nerves and reduce naira volatility in Nigeria is commendable, although more need to be done by the appex bank and other regulatory agencies in this is regard,” said the VC.

He thanked the presenter and participants, while pleading for sustained frequency of the seminar series in the institution.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In a recent decision, the US Supreme Court has rejected Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s attempt to overturn a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that mandates preapproval from a lawyer for certain Tesla-related tweets, colloquially known as his “Twitter sitter.”

The settlement stems from Musk’s 2018 tweets regarding taking Tesla private, during which he falsely claimed to have “funding secured.”

As part of the agreement, Musk agreed to seek approval from a lawyer for tweets that could significantly affect Tesla.

Despite agreeing to the terms, Musk has persistently sought avenues to circumvent the settlement.

Reports indicate that the identity of the purported “Twitter sitter” remains undisclosed, with Tesla declining to reveal this information.

Investigative efforts by Bloomberg’s Dana Hull have thus far been unsuccessful in uncovering the individual behind the role.

In 2023, a federal appeals court dismissed Musk’s attempt to modify or annul the settlement.

Musk’s legal team subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the requirement infringed upon his free speech rights.

However, the highest court declined to hear the case, affirming the lower court’s ruling.

The federal appeals court noted that the SEC had investigated only three of Musk’s past tweets, including the notorious 2018 “funding secured” tweet, which led to the consent decree, a $40 million fine, and Musk’s resignation as Tesla’s chairman.

The other tweets under scrutiny contained misleading information about Tesla’s vehicle production and a poll suggesting Musk sell a portion of his Tesla stock.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Opay, a prominent financial services provider in Nigeria, has moved to reassure its customers about the safety of their funds amidst the recent directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the creation of new accounts.

It was reported that Kuda Bank, Moniepoint, Palmpay, and Opay were halting new account openings in response to the CBN’s directive.

This suspension follows closely on the heels of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) taking action against 1,146 bank accounts involved in unauthorized forex dealings.

In a statement released on its X account on Tuesday, Opay affirmed its commitment to combatting illegal financial activities in the country.

The statement reads, “Opay remains committed to collaborating closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulatory bodies in the fight against money laundering, fraud, terrorism financing, and other illicit financial activities.”

“As a regulatory-compliant institution, Opay adheres to the rules set by the CBN and other regulators to uphold the integrity of the financial system.

“In line with this commitment, we have closed non-compliant accounts, implemented stringent security measures, and educated customers to help combat fraud.

“To support government efforts in cleansing the financial industry, Opay and other fintech companies have temporarily paused onboarding new customers and creating new wallets. This action underscores our dedication to fostering a secure financial environment and combating illicit activities.

“It’s important to note that existing accounts and wallets remain unaffected by the CBN’s directive. We want to assure our customers that their funds are secure, their data is protected, and this measure is temporary.

“Customer satisfaction remains our top priority, and we are committed to promoting financial inclusion and contributing to economic growth as key players in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has visited the family of Susan Odulaja, a victim of the tragic stampede that occurred during the sale of 25kg bags of rice in Lagos on February 23, 2024. 

A delegation led by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs/Zonal Coordinator Zone “A,” Hammi Swomen, visited the family in Jibowu, Lagos State, on Friday, April 26, 2024, to offer condolences and support. 

“We remember the unfortunate incident that led to the loss of four precious lives during the disposal of 25kg bags of rice at a reduced price of N10,000. We are here to support this family and demonstrate our commitment to their well-being,” said ACG Swomen. 

This visit marks the second time the NCS has reached out to the family, demonstrating the service’s commitment to showing compassion and empathy to those affected by the tragedy. 

The NCS has pledged to work with the family and support them continuously, saying, “When you are grieving and have people around you, it reduces the trauma. Right now, we are going to report to the CGC, and the service is considering, in concrete terms, what to do going forward.” 

The widower, Michael Odulaja, appreciated the service representatives for their visit and support, saying, “I thank God and the Nigeria Customs Service for their support. Any support that they give us, I will ensure that I use it wisely and invest it in the children.” 

The NCS had earlier issued a press statement promising to follow up with the families of the stampede victims, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families during this challenging time, and we assure them of our unwavering support.”