Politics

Nigerian govt says AfCFTA will curb illegal mining

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The Federal Government said on Sunday, February 28, that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative would help to stem illegalities in the mining sector.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, made the assertion while featuring at a news forum in Abuja.

Speaking on how to promote solid minerals export to maximise the potential and benefits of AfCFTA, Adegbite expressed his optimism that AfCTA would discourage illegal mining.

“Right now, many Nigerians are into artisanal mining and this was caused by the fact that when oil was discovered, Nigeria moved away from mining, which was the mainstream of the economy.

Before oil and gas, Nigeria relied on coal and tin; we were exporting and were indeed, quoted on the London Metal Exchange.

“And that is basically what was giving Nigeria money in those days before oil came but when oil came, we moved away. We left mining behind.”

The minister recalled that the Indigenisation Decree of 1973 sent many companies out of Nigeria.

This, he said, resulted in many workers being laid off by the companies they were working pushing some of them to resort to artisanal mining.

Adegbite noted, however, that the artisanal miners did not have formal experience or skill in mining, making them engage in subsistence mining to make their livelihoods.

Some people now exploit this and they aggregate whatever they mine and take them out of Nigeria illegally.

“Gold is the most traded mineral in Nigeria and these people mine gold and get nuggets. There are several thousands of such miners, when you aggregate what they mine, it comes in large volume and several kilos of gold.

“To know the extent of the money they make in the gold business, they hire private jets to take them out illegally because they realise a lot of money.

“At the rate gold is selling, one ounce of gold is selling for $2,200 and by the time you carry a thousand kilogrammes, you are making several billions of naira.

But with AfCFTA coming into effect, we hope that other countries will cooperate with Nigeria because now it is a free trade but there is documentation.”

Adegbite lamented that a lot of the illegal miners used neighbouring countries, especially the Niger Republic as a route to get to their destinations.

The minister argued that there must be active connivance of highly placed people because one would not fly an airplane into another country without clearance in such a country.

“They essentially fly the planes into neighbouring countries and take the minerals through our land borders.”

Adegbite recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people helped the ministry with videos of how gold was being taken out of Nigeria.

“During the COVID-19 lockdown, no flight was coming into Nigeria and they were getting the quantity of gold they needed to take to Dubai.

So, with AfCFTA coming into effect, we hope this will help to stem the problem because now we are supposed to trade freely among ourselves with documentation.

“We hope that other countries will cooperate with Nigeria. I will not allow such illegal activity to go on within those countries,” the minister vowed.

Nigeria joined 53 other African countries on Jan. 1 this year, to set AfCFTA in motion.

AfCFTA, the world’s biggest trade bloc, was established to speed up intra-continental trade.

Politics

Nigerian govt reveals COVID-19 vaccines to arrive country Tuesday

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, has confirmed that Nigeria will on Tuesday, March 2, receive the first tranche of COVID-19 vaccines.

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, made the disclosure on Saturday, February 27, in Abuja while evaluating the country’s fight against the disease.

“They (vaccines) should depart India on March 1, 2021, in the night and arrive in Abuja on the 2nd of March, 2021, ” he said.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that Nigeria is set to receive its first four million shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX, a global scheme set up to procure and distribute vaccines for free, as the world races to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

COVAX, which was set up in April 2020 to help ensure a fairer distribution of coronavirus vaccines between the rich and poor nations, said it would deliver two billion doses to member-states by the end of 2021.

Nigeria’s four million vaccines would be its first COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility.

The facility promised access to vaccines for up to 20 per cent of participating countries’ population with an initial supply beginning in the first quarter of 2021 to inoculate three per cent of their populations.

The Nigerian government had earlier announced that the first four million doses of the vaccines would arrive in the country by the end of February.

The SGF disclosed that the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) would be organising the shipment from Mumbai, India, with the World Health Organisation (WHO), both backers of COVAX.

Meanwhile, the PTF chairman praised Nigeria’s health workers and the various frontline workers for working hard to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Mustapha, while evaluating the county’s response to COVID-19 in the past year, said the PTF had performed “very well’’ with a very robust national response.

We have succeeded in discharging our mandate of managing the pandemic with a well-defined process and a robust national response,” he noted.

The SGF said that the strategies evolved by his committee to manage the pandemic had been replicated in some other countries, especially the compulsory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for travellers.

He explained that the pandemic had helped the country to scale up its health infrastructure, citing the increase in the number of infectious diseases testing laboratories from four to 132 across the country.

Nigeria’s health minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday admitted that the country may have to wait till March to receive its first doses of the vaccines.

Ghana received 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines on Wednesday, making it the first country on the continent to benefit from the COVAX programme.

Cote d`Ivoire, a country with more than 32,000 COVID-19 cases and 188 deaths, also received over 500,000 doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

It is exactly one year ago, Feb. 27, 2020, that Nigeria detected its first case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), believed to be the first reported case in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With more than 150,000 cases reported since then, the NCDC said Nigeria’s response had been led by science and driven by the power of coordination, collaboration, and solidarity among federal and state governments, partners, the private sector, and the citizens.

Politics

SERAP writes minister, seeks probe of ‘missing billions’ in water ministry, agencies

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a Freedom of Information request to the Minister of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, urging him to “clarify the action that his Ministry has taken to address and find the alleged billions missing from the Ministry and its agencies, and if there is relevant admissible evidence of corruption and mismanagement, to refer the allegations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.”

The organisation is also urging him to “ensure the full recovery of any missing public funds, revealed in the 2017 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

In the FoI request dated 27 February 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry and its agencies can cause serious harm to the socially and economically vulnerable. Satisfactorily addressing these allegations and recovering any missing public funds is a critical matter of public health, human rights, transparency and accountability. The COVID-19 crisis makes this action all the more urgent.”

SERAP said: “Knowing how the Ministry has responded to the queries from the Auditor-General, and ensuring a thorough investigation and prosecution of these allegations would end impunity for corruption in the water sector, serve the public interest, as well as help to improve access of Nigerians to clean water and sanitation services.”

According to SERAP, “Millions of Nigerians continue to lack access to an improved water source and access to proper sanitation. Limited availability of water in public hospitals makes it difficult for health professionals and the public to wash their hands – restricting the ability of people to respond to COVID-19.”

The letter, read in part: “According to the Auditor-General’s Annual Report for 2017, Federal Ministry of Water Resources spent ₦343,957,350.60 without any documents. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may be missing. The Ministry also reportedly spent ₦14,993,950.00 as advance cash to staff to buy store items and for services without due process.

The Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa, Niger State also reportedly spent ₦33,652,281.00 to train 170 unemployed youths and women between 10th and 11th November 2016 without due process and without any documents on the names and number of those trained. There was no evidence to justify the spending.

“The Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Makurdi reportedly ‘misapplied’ ₦42,277,285.50 meant for project monitoring and supervision. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may ‘have been diverted for other purposes.’

The National Water Resources Institute, Mando Road, Kaduna reportedly paid ₦84,401,940.74 to a contractor on 4th May 2017, being 10% payment on the construction of a 2-story building for UNESCO. But there was no existing contract between the Institute and the contractor. The Institute also failed to show any documents on how the money was spent.

“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Abuja reportedly paid ₦24,800,000.00 to a staff in September 2016 to produce the 2016 annual flood outlook (AFO) by Agency, but without any documents of the spending and evidence of the services performed. The Agency also paid ₦31,439,300.00 to another staff in September 2016 to organise sensitization workshops on 2016 flood prediction/prevention but without any documents. The Agency has also failed to retire the money.

We would be grateful if your Ministry would indicate the measures being taken to address the allegations and to implement the proposed recommendations, within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.

“If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your Ministry to implement these recommendations in the public interest, and to promote transparency and accountability in the water sector.

SERAP is concerned that these allegations may have hampered the ability of the Ministry and the agencies involved to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing public funds could have helped to invest in the provision of access to clean water and sanitation services for Nigerians, especially at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Effectively addressing the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry of Water Resources and its agencies and recovering any missing public funds would be entirely consistent with Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], which imposes responsibility on public institutions and officials to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office, and the country’s international obligations.

Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the water sector undermine public confidence in the sector, and obstruct the attainment of commitments made through Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 6 which calls on states to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

“The Cross River Basin Development Authority, Calabar, Cross River State reportedly paid ₦10,387,490.00 for a contract for construction of Link Road between Cross River and Ebonyi State, but without approval and any documents. The Authority also reportedly spent ₦30,616,110.00 for construction of erosion control works at Nguzu but failed to show any documents for the spending.

The Gurara Water Management Authority, Utako, Abuja also reportedly failed to remit ₦27,449,153.50 deducted from contractors as Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax, contrary to Financial Regulation 234. The Authority reportedly paid ₦63,075,336.00 to contractors but without any documents.

The Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State reportedly failed to account for two Toyota Prado Jeeps which were purchased in 2013 and 2014 with registration No. 45KOIFG for one Jeep and none for the other. No reason was given for not registering the second Prado Jeep. The Institute also failed to account for another Toyota Hiace bus with registration No. 45KO3FG.

“The Hadejia – Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Kano State reportedly spent ₦204,893,978.09 without any documents. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have ‘been mismanaged.’

The Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, Edo State also reportedly spent ₦210,921,849.66 without any documents. The Institute also spent ₦30,010,963.65 in 2017 without any documents.

“The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria paid ₦33,425,000.00 to a contractor in March 2017 for National Extension Awareness Training and Agricultural Extension Community Research. But there was no evidence that the contract was executed. The Services also paid ₦60,435,515.00 as cash advance to a staff to buy store items without due process.

“The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, Lagos State reportedly spent ₦18,022,931.74 to buy store items in 2017 but without evidence of the items and without any documents of the spending.”

The letter is copied to Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Politics

JUST IN….Kidnapped Zamfara schoolgirls regain freedom

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The schoolgirls of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara local Government Area of Zamfara State who were kidnapped from their school recently, have been released by their abductors.

They are presently at the palace of the Emir of Anka waiting to be transported to Gusau, the State capital.

An aide to the President, Lauretta Onochie confirmed the release of the schoolgirls on Sunday.

Politics

Ekiti State govt publishes name, photo of man jailed for life for sleeping with 14-yr-old girl

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The Ekiti State government on Saturday, February 27, published the name and photograph of a man who is currently serving a life imprisonment for sleeping with a 14-year-old girl in its offenders list, making him the fifth person to have the name and photographs published.

The man, Lateef Afere Oluwaseun, aged 39, and a native of Aramoko Ekiti, living at Number 38, Anaye Street, Aramoko Ekiti, before the sentence, is currently serving a life imprisonment at the Ado Ekiti Correctional Centre for sleeping with a 14-year-old girl.

He has therefore had his name and photograph registered in the Offenders Register of the state Ministry of Justice.

According to a statement from the ministry on its Facebook Wall on Saturday by Olalekan Suleman, Special Assistant to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the naming and shaming is in furtherance of the zero tolerance policy of the state government for violence against women and girls.

According to the statement: “The Ministry of Justice, Ekiti State, today published the details of another convicted offender. 

“Lateef Afere Oluwaseun from Aramoko-Ekiti was recently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ado-Ekiti High Court for sleeping with a 14-year-old girl.

The ministry will continue to prosecute offenders and will also ensure persons convicted do not benefit from the governor’s powers of early release from prison.”

Politics

Kwara govt approves use of hijab in public schools

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The Kwara State Government has approved the use of hijab in all public schools in the state.

The government also directed the 10 schools it shut last week in Ilorin, the state capital, over hijab controversy to reopen on Monday.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Mamma Jibril, Thursday evening.

The state government had shut down C&S College, ST. Anthony College, ECWA School, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, CAC Secondary School, St. Barnabas Secondary School, St. John School, St. Williams Secondary School and St. James Secondary School pending resolution on the matter.

The statement read in part “Consequently, the government hereby acknowledges and approves the right of the Muslim schoolgirl to wear the hijab, and directs the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development to come up with a uniform hijab for all public/ grant-aided schools, which will be the accepted mode of head covering in schools. Any willing schoolgirl with the approved (uniform) hijab shall have the right to wear same in public/grant-aided schools,” he said.

Also, the government affirms the right of every child in public schools to freedom of worship. The government hereby directs that the affected 10 schools should reopen to commence classes on Monday 8th March 2021.

“Similarly, the government has carefully noted submissions regarding ownership of grant-aided schools and related issues. While the status of these schools is the subject of judicial determination, this and other related matters will soon be subjected to a technical committee to advise accordingly. The government reassures all members of the public that it will act in good conscience at all times.

The government asserts that there is no victor or vanquished on the hijab question. It urges the two faith communities, especially the leaders, opinion moulders and media personalities to act with restraint and great responsibility in their public utterances and actions, and continue to live in peace and harmony with one another. The government commends all the thought and religious leaders on both sides for their forbearance, understanding and commitment to peace.”

Politics

To curb insecurity, Benue CAN urges govt to stop Visa on Arrival policy

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The Venue State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the Visa on Arrival Policy.

This call was contained in a statement issued by the Benue CAN chaiman, Rev. Akpen Leva, during a media briefing in Makurdi, Benue State, on Friday, February 26.

The CAN chairman stated that herdsmen from countries like Chad, Mali, Niger, Cameroun, and Burkina Faso have continued to troop into Nigeria and are the ones carrying highly sophisticated weapons and killing Nigerians on their ancestral land.

Furthermore, Leva noted that Nigerian Fulani was not known for violence, but for carrying sticks in their business of animal husbandry.

“We are worried by this ugly situation and we call on the President to without further delay stop the policy of Visa on Arrival to enable security agencies to check the influx of militia herdsmen,” said the CAN chairman.

The Benue CAN chairman also called on President Buhari to openly condemn the killing by herdsmen.

“We have come to a level where anything that affect other Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria, the presidency reacts with immediate alacrity, but when other Nigerians are crying, it does not worry the presidency,” he said.

He called on the federal government to enforce open grazing law and compel all those involved in animal husbandry to ranch their cattle to avoid clashes between farmers and herders.

On the recent call by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for the creation of herdsmen commission, Rev. Leva said it is not relevant as the commission will not provide the solution to the problem of insecurity but will rather empower herdsmen to continue to attack farming communities in the country.

Politics

DSS denies hand in alleged attempt to arrest Sunday Igboho

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The Department of Security Services (DSS) has denied being involved in the alleged attempted arrest of self-styled Yoruba activist and freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho, on Friday along the Lagos-Ibadan highway.

A video had surfaced on social media platforms yesterday showing a confrontation between Igboho’s supporters and some security officials and it was widely reported that a combined team of the Police, Army and the DSS had trailed the convoy of the activist on his way to Lagos in a bid to arrest him.

It was also gathered that Igboho was on his way to Lagos to meet with some Yoruba elders including National Leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, when he was allegedly waylaid by security officials from the Oyo State Operation Burst team which made attempts to abduct him.

However, the DSS has reacted to the allegations and said its operatives were not involved in the alleged attempt to arrest Igboho.

In a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of he Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS said:

“The Department of State Services wishes to refute the news that it attempted to arrest one Sunday Igboho, today, at Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The said news is misinforming and should be taken as fake and therefore be disregarded. This is not true.

“The DSS did not arrest him. It did not attempt to too. Disregard such misinformation please.”

Politics

#JangebeGirls wouldn’t have been abducted if Buhari displayed Orlu military might in Zamfara —Reno

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Former spokesman to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, says if the soldiers, fighter jets and helicopter gunships deployed to battle the Indigenous People of Biafra’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Orlu local government area of Imo State were in Zamfara State, the abduction of female students of the government secondary school in Jangebe, Talata Mafara local government area of the state would not have happened.

The kidnap of the over 300 students in an early morning raid in their hostels on Friday by gunmen has caused a lot of consternation in the country with many Nigerians calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign for failing to provide security for citizens

In a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle on Friday, Omokri wondered why the Nigerian government and the military would concentrate its artillery and might in the South-East when the insecurity in the northern region called for a lot of concern.

He also questioned the rationale behind the number of police checkpoints at every point on roads in the South-East and South-West but none in the North-West which he said was one of the critical zones of insecurity.

“If the soldiers, artillery, and helicopter gunships sent by @MBuhari to terrorise Orlu, had been in Zamfara, where they are really needed, the #JangebeGirls wouldn’t have been abducted. SE is peaceful. Yet, there are more checkpoints there, than in the NE/NW,” Omokri he stated on Twitter, handle, @renoomokri.

In another series of tweets, he wrote:

“You can’t travel 5 miles in the SE without encountering checkpoints. Imagine if this was the case in the NW. The #JangebeGirls would have been safe. @MBuhari is more committed to punishing the 5% that did not vote for him, than in protecting the 97% that did.”

Sheikh Gumi says he will update the media on #JangebeGirls abduction. How come Gumi immediately turns up after abductions by bandits? Are they a tag team? Are they partners? I find it strange that they abduct and next thing is that Gumi turns their spokesman!”

“Nobody is safe in Nigeria. Anyone can be abducted, be they former Presidents or heads of state, or elected or appointed officials. Years of paying ransom to killer herdsmen and bandits have caught up with Nigeria. These criminals are now in control of Nigeria.”
“Zamfara pioneered amnesty for bandits. If amnesty works, the #JangebeGirls would never have been abducted. The fact of their abduction is proof that amnesty for bandits does not work. Those who brought them from Mali to fight @GEJonathan should deal with them,” he added.

Politics

DHQ warns against obstruction of food products between Northern, Southern Nigeria

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The Defence Headquarters has warned persons and groups of persons attempting to prevent free movement of agricultural goods from the North to the Southern part of the country.

The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, gave the warning in a statement on Friday, February 26, in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the armed forces would not condone any attempt to disrupt legitimate economic and commercial activities in a bid to cause clashes along ethnic divides.

He called on the members of the public to promptly report anyone found engaged in such activities to security operatives.

According to him, DHQ had been notified of a video trending on social media about obstruction of vehicles conveying agricultural products from the North, heading towards the southern part of the country.

“DHQ wishes to clarify that following the tension generated by the incident, joint troops comprising the military and other security agencies were deployed to clear the Jebba – Kaduna road and have since restored normalcy in the general area.

“There is currently free flow of traffic along the axis. Members of the public, commuters, and residents are please urged to go about their normal businesses,” he said.

Politics

Zamfara govt confirms abduction of female students in Jangebe by terrorists

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The Zamfara State Government has confirmed the abduction of female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

The confirmation was made by the Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran in a brief interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Friday, February 26.

Ripples Nigeria had earlier reported that the abductors in their hundreds invaded the town and took away the students at about 2am.

“I can confirm to you now that we have sadly received the report on the abduction of the students of GGSS Jangebe and right now, I am on my way to the school.

“At this moment, l cannot say how many students were taken away by the gunmen until l get there, but we have already mobilized security men and members of the vigilantatè who are now in pursuit of the abductors,” the commissioner stated.

A staff of the school who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity said, “the gunmen in their hundreds invaded the town around 2am on Friday, shot sporadically in the air to scare the residents before coming into the school.

“After taking away most of the students, we rounded up those that escaped or hid from the bandits and conducted a census where we counted 54 students and we are still searching to see if we can get more,”

Also, a resident who gave his name as Haliru Jangebe said, the local vigilantes had tried to repel the invaders but were overpowered.

“The bandits were too many and they all seemed to be carrying heavy arms as we heard gunshots from all parts of the town and when the shots stopped, we heard that the students had been taken away”.

Politics

Buhari’s aide, Adesina, debunks rumours he is suffering from stroke

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Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, has debunked rumours that have been making the rounds that he is suffering from stroke.

Adesina, who wrote in his regular column on Facebook, ‘From the Inside’ on Friday, with the title, ‘My $1.9 Billion In Minnesota Bank’, lamented the fact that “people love evil reports about those serving in government, particularly about those serving in this government.”

“Have we got so bad as a people, that we can’t have genuine, patriotic service again? Quite baffling,” he wrote.

This leads me to a lie peddled about me from the pit of hell in the past fortnight. I had traveled to Umuahia, in Abia State, to deliver a paper at the Social Media Converge organized by the state government.

At the Abuja airport, I had met former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and we greeted pleasantly, as we always do. As we spoke, the former Minister’s aide took our photograph with his phone, which was later posted online.

“The camera angle was a bit awkward. My cloth seemed too baggy than it was, and my hand appeared twisted in the seemingly oversized sleeves.

“And what next? Some people subjected my arm and legs to photoshop, twisting them further, making me appear as a stroke patient. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Those who know me would testify that I like a good laugh. I laughed till my ribs ached, and I put my two feet up in the air. They were having a baleful ball, while I was having the time of my life.

“Life and health belong to God. And He has not denied me of that grace. Why then do the heathens rage, and the people imagine vain things? Let them continue to wail, and we will continue to laugh, and say; ‘back to sender.’

Politics

Ondo nurses and midwives to begin warning strike

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Ondo Chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, (NANNM) would begin a three-day warning strike, starting March 1 to March 3.

A letter on Thursday signed by NANNM Secretary in Ondo State, Comrade Aina Emmanuel Oluwasegun disclosed this.

This decision is coming as a result of the inability of the state government to fulfill its part of the aggrement to pay hundred per cent of their salaries. The government paid fifty per cent breaching the initial agreement.

The statement reads “Sequel to the meeting the State Executive Council of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM held on 16th February 2021 which resolved that State Government should:

“Pay 100% salary of January 2017, December 2020, January 2021, 20% balance of December 2016, 50% November 2020 and commencement of New Salary Adjustment for Local Government Nurses within seven working days,” the statement partly read.

“Following the expiration of the seven (7) working days ultimatum without a response from the government you are directed to proceed on three (3) day warning strike from 12midnight on Monday 1st to Wednesday 3rd March 2021 at first instance.”

Politics

Breaking News:Gunmen Storm Zamfara School, Abduct Female Students

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Gunmen have kidnapped some students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata Mafara local government area of Zamfara State.

Daily Trust gathered and Naijapremiumgist reports that the incident happened in the early hours of Friday.

A resident of Kawaye village identified as Sadi Kawaye told Daily Trust that his daughters, Mansura and Sakina were among those abducted.

“I’m on my to Jangebe now to see the situation myself. I was told they invaded the school around 1am,” he told our reporter over the phone.

When contacted, SP Muhammad Shehu, Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara, said he could not react.

“Give me some time, I can’t say anything now,” he said.

Details later…

Politics, World News

Regard the Dead: Cremation Order has to be reversed in Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka has reversed a controversial mandatory order to cremate the bodies of all those who died of Covid-19.

Critics had said the order was intended to target minorities and did not respect religions. The cremation of bodies is forbidden in Islam.

The government had argued that burials could contaminate ground water.

The reversal came after a visit by Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan. Sources told the BBC that Sri Lanka has sought Pakistan’s support at a UNHRC session.

The council is expected to consider a new resolution responding to mounting rights concerns in Sri Lanka, including over the treatment of Muslims.

Sri Lanka is being called to hold human rights abusers to account and to deliver justice to victims of its 26-year-old civil war, which killed at least 100,000 people – mostly civilians from the minority Tamil community.

Sri Lanka has strongly denied the allegations and has asked member countries not to support the resolution.

The country had earlier come under intense criticism from rights groups, including the UNHRC, over the cremation order.

They said it failed to respect the religious feelings of the victims and their family members specially of the Muslims, Catholics and some Buddhists.

The government had argued that burials could contaminate ground water, based on the say-so of an expert committee, the exact composition and qualifications of which are unknown.

But political, religious and community leaders had repeatedly questioned this, pointing to the more than 190 countries allowing burials, and World Health Organization advice

It even took its fight to the Supreme Court, but the cases were dismissed without any explanation.

Public debate intensified when a 20-day-old Muslim baby was forcibly cremated.

Politics, World News

Russian diplomats leave North Korea by hand-pushed trolley

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A group of Russian diplomats and their families made an unusual exit out of North Korea on a hand-pushed rail trolley due to strict Covid measures.

The eight people travelled by train and bus before pushing themselves across the Russian border for about 1km (0.6miles) over train tracks.

North Korea has blocked most passenger transport to limit the virus’ spread.

The country maintains it has not had any confirmed cases, but observers dispute this claim.

Since early last year, trains and wagons have been forbidden to enter or leave the country. Most international passenger flights have stopped as well.

The Russian diplomats were thus left with little choice.

“Since the borders have been closed for more than a year and passenger traffic has been stopped, it took a long and difficult journey to get home,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Facebook post.

Photos shared by the ministry showed the diplomats on the trolley with their suitcases amid a wintry landscape. They were also seen cheering in a video as they crossed into Russia.

The main “engine” was the embassy’s third secretary Vladislav Sorokin, who pushed the trolley across a rail bridge over the Tumen River into Russia, said the ministry.

This was after the group, which included Mr Sorokin’s three-year-old daughter Varya, had travelled 32 hours by train and two hours by bus from Pyongyang to reach the Russian border.

Ministry officials greeted them at a station on the Russian side, and the group then travelled by bus to the Vladivostok airport.

Pyongyang’s strict anti-Covid measures have affected travel movements and access to amenities. Extra troops have been sent to border areas with orders to block any possible transmission of the virus.

Over the past year, many foreign diplomats have left the country and Western embassies have closed.

Most travellers have gone overland and crossed the border into China, although there was one flight in March last year to Vladivostok carrying diplomats from Germany, Russia, France, Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Mongolia and Egypt.

Politics

Bauchi state government releases N32m to vaccinate 800,000 cows.

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The Bauchi State Government has released the sum of N32m for the vaccination of over 800,000 herds of cattle in the state.

The state governor, Bala Mohammed, disclosed this at the inauguration of 2020/2021 annual livestock vaccination campaign at the Galambi Cattle Ranch, Bauchi on Wednesday, February 24.

“We have released over N32m for this exercise which will cover vaccines, equipment and allowances for our staff to do this exercise.

The Ministry for Local Government has been directed to pay the allowances of all the participating staff in the 20 local government areas, as well as to purchase more materials to vaccinate more than 800,000 herds of cattle.”he said.

Politics

PDP tells Gov Lalong to apologize to farmers over comments they also carry AK-47

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The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told Governor Simon Lalong to apologise to farmers and the people of Plateau State for saying farmers also carry AK-47 rifles.

The PDP, while reacting to comments by Lalong that farmers also carry AK-47, counseled the governor to go “back to school and learn how to talk” over comments on farmers/herders clash in the State.

According to the party, the governor lied in his comment and needs to return to school on how to talk properly on such sensitive matters.

It would be recalled that Lalong, during a TV show on Tuesday, had said security reports at his disposal indicated herdsmen and farmers carry AK 47 riffles to protect and defend themselves.

In a reaction on Thursday in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, John T. Akans, the PDP described APC’s defence of the governor as “reckless.”

The statement read in part: “The reckless response of the APC to the genuine concerns of Plateau people on the recent irresponsible comments of Governor Lalong leaves one with no feeling other than that of utter disappointment and disgust.

“We continue to wonder how a sane person or party would condone such shameful and self- indicting comments of a supposedly elected governor against his people before the entire world, describing it myopically as “a storm in a tea cup” Such an idiomatic sense needs recalibration.

The APC in its desperate attempt to do damage control has created more harm to Lalong and its party and have further exposed their cluelessness in governance.

“The writer, in his usual garrulous, uncouth manner, and attempt to divert people’s attention from the colossal disgrace and failures of the APC, failed woefully to address frank and glaring issues raised by the Peoples Democratic Party.

“They have however succeeded in exposing their immaturity in the whole saga.

“What the APC through Mallam Bashir Sati would have done was simply to apologse to Plateau people by acknowledging their principal’s lack of decorum and emotional Intelligence and his blind romance with a superior power outside of Plateau.

The damage control mechanism Bashir Sati adopted further exposes the total disregard for the masses that toiled to bring their party to power.

“On an advisory note, we urge the APC to carry out an opinion poll and weigh the level of regret by those who brought the APC to power.

It will interest Sati and his cohorts to know that intelligent people within that party have times without number hid their faces in shame, hoping and praying for 2023 to come so Mr. Lalong doesn’t continue with this show of shame and disgraceful spree of the beautiful Plateau spirit.

“For the records, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State is not aware of any faction as being promoted by APC in the state because any statement released by the APC lacks facts, but always laying emphasis on faction as if they have become a competent Court of law.

Lalong’s desperate but failed attempt to create a faction within our party is known to the world. This has hugely deviated his attention from anything governance to 2023 where he hopes to be APC’s presidential running mate.

“APC on the Plateau should advice Lalong to know that having failed woefully as a Governor, he should stop deceiving himself for any future political consideration.

“Once again, Governor Lalong and Plateau APC should know, that Plateau farmers do not carry AK47″ but hoes and other farming implements, and we have no land for ranching. You lie! Lalong, you lie!.”

Politics

DRUNKARD COMMENT: Smart Adeyemi is jealous of Ikpeazu’s achievements –PDP

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The spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described Senator Smart Adeyemi’s attack on Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, as one borne out of jealousy and envy of the governor’s achievements.

The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District had, on Tuesday, verbally attacked Ikpeazu, a PDP governor, on the floor of the Senate by calling him a drunkard during a plenary session.

The lawmaker, who was making his contribution to a motion on the urgent need for the restoration and revalidation of the Safe School Initiative in Nigeria, said Abia State is governed by drunkards.

In some states of Nigeria today, where we have highly intelligent people, highly educated people, very enterprising people, like Abia, they are governed by drunkards. The governor of Abia is a champagne drinking man.

“Abia people are impoverished more than ever before. Abia people are unfortunate.”

However, the PDP, in a statement on Wednesday, described Adeyemi’s comment as the highest form of irresponsibility and unbecoming of a sitting lawmaker.

In a short statement, Ologbondiyan said:

“Senator Adeyemi must have noted the widespread national detestation and opprobrium that he had brought to himself by his unguarded comments against the highly respected Governor Ikpeazu and the people of Abia State.

“Moreover, our party has equally noted that Senator Adeyemi’s uncouth comment is borne out of bitter envy for the achievements of Governor Ikpeazu in every sector of life in Abia State, which no APC governor, including Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, can compare.”

The PDP also warned that it would not tolerate such comments from any individual, and urged Ikpeazu not to be to “distracted by sidetracking elements such as Senator Adeyemi, but to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people.”

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