Politics

May God Grant You Success In Kidnapping President Buhari, El-Rufai, Garba Shehu; Flog Them Well In The Bush –Islamic Preacher Prays For Terrorists.

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Apopular Islamic preacher based in Sokoto State, Bello Yabo, has prayed that terrorists who threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, should be successful in their mission. Yabo, who said the prayer while reacting to Shehu’s comment on the terrorists’ threat, however, appealed to the kidnappers to release the innocent victims in their custody. He insisted the terrorists are free to kidnap Nigerian top leaders. SaharaReporters earlier reported how terrorists who abducted passengers of a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, 2022, in a viral video, threatened to kidnap President Buhari, El-Rufai and some lawmakers if they did not comply with their demands. But Shehu while reacting to the threat had said that the “terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world.”

In response to Shehu’s statement, the Islamic cleric berated him (Shehu) for simply describing the threat as prograpanda. The cleric accused Shehu of being insensitive to the unfortunate plight of kidnapped victims. According to a report by Daily Nigerian, Yabo prayed for Shehu to fall into the hands of the kidnappers, “I pray they kidnap you, Garba Shehu, and demonstrate as propaganda.” “We are praying for you kidnappers. May God grant you success in carrying out your threats to kidnap those people. But please release the innocent people in captivity. “If these were the kind of people you have been abducting all this while, we wouldn’t have bothered ourselves. We would instead pray and bless you because they have become a disaster [to us]. “These are people who promised heaven and earth, and now they have the opportunity but became incompetent. Take them to the bush and flog them, instead of humiliating innocent citizens who are striving to make ends meet.

“And please make good your threats, and we will support you with prayers.”

Politics, World News

Umahi emerges Ebonyi south senatorial candidate.

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Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Sunday, defeated his immediate younger brother, Chief Austin Umahi, and three others to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the rescheduled senatorial primary election for Ebonyi South.Umahi scored 250 votes to defeat his closest rival, Austin, who scored 10 votes to come second.Other contestants who stood for the primary, according to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof. Emmanuel Adebayo, included Ann Ago-Eze, who he said got no vote; Nwakaego Chukwu, who scored five votes; and Mrs Ibiam Margaret, who got three votes.However, our correspondent observed that Agom-Eze did not participate in the primary.

Announcing the result of the election, which took place at the Afikpo North Local Council headquarters on Sunday, Adebayo declared Umahi the winner of the election.He said, “I, Prof. Adebayo, by the powers bestowed on me by the National Working Committee of the party, declare as follows: total number of voters, 285, accredited votes, 270 votes; votes cast, 275; number of valid votes, 268; while invalid votes is seven votes.

“I do hereby declare that Mr David Umahi, having scored the highest votes, is hereby the winner of the primary election for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone.”

In his acceptance speech, Umahi commended the electoral committee for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the primary.He also commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him, assuring them that the APC would emerge victorious at the forthcoming general elections in the state come 2023.

Lifestyle, World News

Lifeless body of a young woman who is yet to be identified has been found in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

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Lifeless body of a young woman who is yet to be identified has been found in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A heartbreaking pictures revealed that the young woman was butchered and dumped among refuse waste.

Details of the incident are still sketchy but residents of the area said they don’t know who dumped the body.

The body was discovered in the early hours of today, June 20, one of the eyewitnesses said, adding that the young lady might be a prostitute.

The eyewitness also suggested that the young woman might be used for rituals by one of her customers.

Beware of graphic content, see more pictures below…

Politics, Videos, World News

It feels good to be back home, Tinubu says as he arrives in Lagos.

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The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has arrived in Lagos following his victory at the primary election of the APC.

The candidate, who landed in Lagos on Sunday, was welcomed by an excited crowd from the airport.

On his Instagram story, Tinubu noted that it felt good to be back home, as he was seen waving at ecstatic supporters who hailed him.

The supporters who were waving brooms, which is an APC symbol, were chanting “Emilokan” as they followed his entourage.

Tinubu, who was also waving back a broom, captioned the video, “Feels good to be back home.”

Several videos available on the Internet showed that Tinubu was received by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, upon his arrival.

APC United Kingdom on Facebook wrote, “Aṣíwájú Bọ́lá Ahmed Tinubu arrives Lagos after weeks of absence.

“He left Lagos as a presidential aspirant, but came back as a presidential candidate. It could only be God!”

Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat his closest contenders, Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, two weeks ago.

Amaechi obtained 316 votes while Osinbajo polled 235.

He contested against 13 other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.

Watch below the arrival of Tinubu in Lagos…

Lifestyle, World News

I want new tanker and not national honour – Man who drove a tanker of fire and saved a Delta community from explosion says.

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Ejiro Otarigho, the driver who drove a burning fuel tanker away from a community in Delta state has disclosed that he needs a new vehicle. 
 
Speaking after the senate asked President Buhari to confer him with a “befitting national honour as he may deem fit for his extraordinary act of bravery, courage and skill that prevented the loss of human lives and property on a massive scale”, Ejiro said it’s not been easy since losing the tanker as it was the only way he fed. 

 
He also told Punch that the thought of hundreds of lives and property engulfing in flames as a result of the tanker fire, gave him the spunk to drive the truck to a location where there will be no disaster.
 
Ejiro said; 
 

“I have received calls from them (Delta state government) but I am not interested in any national honour of any sort right now.

“I know God has brought me to a good place where my story is now being told. All I want is a replacement for my burnt tanker so I can go back to my job.
“I have just been at home and truck driving was the only way I fed. It has not been easy for me since I lost my tanker.”

 
When asked if he would like to get a new job and abandon the dangerous business of tanker driving, he said;
 

“of course, I will. It is a risky job.
“Imagine if I had died that day, nothing would have been said of me. If the government has something better for me, I will do it without looking back. All I want is to be able to take care of myself and my family legitimately.”

Politics, World News

NAFDAC, PCN to get offices in Anambra drug market –Soludo.

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Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, on Friday, inaugurated the construction of the Coordinated Wholesale Centre for Pharmaceutical and Allied Products in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Soludo, at the ceremony, said that all open drugs markets in the state would relocate to Oba when the centre is completed.

According to him, the construction of the centre is in accordance with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

“This project is in line with the plan to build a liveable and prosperous homeland in Anambra State. The Oba international drug market will be revived to help form the ecosystem for a new technology driven smart city in Oba.

World News

Five rescued, four dead in Lagos building collapse -LASEMA.

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The Lagos State Emergency Agency has said that four persons died while five were rescued alive in the building collapse which occurred in the state on Saturday.
LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Nosa Okunbor, made this known in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘Final Update on the collapsed four-floor building of Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 4 Alayaki Lane, Lagos Island’.
He said, “After several hours of intense overnight Search and Rescue Operation coordinated by the Permanent Secretary LASEMA, Dr Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, and combined efforts of three LASEMA Response Teams from Lekki, Cappa and the Alausa Command Control Center, a total of five adult males were rescued (alive) and taken to nearest hospitals for further treatment.
“However, four adult males were recovered (dead), bagged and handed over to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU to be processed further after being deposited at the mortuary.

“Remains of the self-collapsed four-floor building were then taken down to ground zero by the Agency with the use of its heavy-duty equipment-the Excavator, thereby eliminating any further threat to lives and all other proximal properties.
“Other primary responders present includes the LASAMBUS, LASG Fire Sevice, LABCA, SEHMU, Federal Fire Service, NEMA, Red Cross, LNSC and NPF
Also, the Zonal Coordinator South-West, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said that further investigation into the incident showed that the collapsed building under construction was located within a compound and it was a frame structure as at the time of the incident. He said that the third suspended slab concrete was already in place with ongoing internal partition.

“The building crumbled during a downpour at about 1:45 p.m. Saturday.
“The building was bequeathed to the family members and some of the family members awarded it to a developer who was converting the bungalow building into a three-storey building before it collapsed,” Farinloye said.
According to the NEMA boss, Alayaki Lane where the building is located, contains a cluster of buildings and the rescue operation was hampered by the lack of space.
He said for now no one had claimed that a relative is missing.

Lifestyle, Politics, World News

Lagos NURTW Caretaker Chairman accuses MC Oluomo.

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The newly appointed Caretaker Committee Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State, Fatai Adeshina, aka Akeweje, has accused the Chairman of the Parks Management Committee in Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, of snatching his wife.

Adeshina’s allegation was contained in a tell-all interview published by The Punch.

The Caretaker Chairman also detailed how Oluomo hijacked his branch and unit from him despite all his efforts to make peace.

He said the age-long rivalry between them took another dimension when he contested the NURTW Chairmanship position with Oluomo in 2019.

Adeshina said despite him being the popular choice amongst the unionists, the Lagos state government settled for MC as the preferred choice, and offered him a Vice Chairman position instead

However, to his dismay, his name was struck out from the executive members list with a pen on the day of inauguration as no position was offered to him.

“When he took over as the NURTW chairman in Lagos. The worst thing he did to me that made me part ways with him was that after his inauguration, I bought a foreign used car for N13m and took it to him as a gift.

“I added N10m to the car gift, but he rejected them. I begged him but he refused to make peace. I am not MC Oluomo’s peer and he knows this, but I prostrated before him to make peace,” Adeshina said.

The Caretaker Chairman alleged that Akinsanya’s rejection of the peace offering was because he had his eyes on his second wife at the time.

He accused Nollywood actress and an associate Ronke Oshodi Oke of helping Oluomo to snatch his then second wife.

“Yes, there was a lady called Ronke Oshodi Oke, a popular actress. She was a friend to my second wife. Though they met outside my residence, Ronke started visiting my home at one point. So, I challenged her and warned her not to ever step into my house again.

“Yes, Ronke was an associate of MC Oluomo and I know what Oluomo is capable of doing. When I challenged Ronke, she told me that she came to see her boss, adding that my second wife was her boss. I told her not to come to my house anymore, because MC Oluomo and I did not belong to the same camp.

“My second wife and Ronke knelt and apologised, but after five days, I met Ronke in my house again. I was furious and I accused her of trying to carry out a mission in my house. I sent the two of them out of my house that day. To my surprise, Ronke took my second wife, who I sent packing, to MC Oluomo.”

Adeshina said his wife was housed in MC’s hotel for over one month before he purchased a house for her.

“Some concerned close allies at MC’s hotel in Oshodi phoned me that they saw my second wife at MC’s place. They asked whether MC and I had settled our issues, but I said we were yet to resolve our differences. They told me that MC had asked them to give my second wife a room in his hotel. She was there for one month and seven days in his hotel.”

“Yes, my second wife, Queen B. She stayed in his hotel for one month and seven days before he bought her a house. Unionists in the state know this story very well.”

Recall that the national body of the NURTW had sacked MC Oluomo as the Lagos branch chairman.

The union said the decision was based on the provisions of the union’s constitution.

Lifestyle

Nigerian govt completes work on damaged Abuja-Kaduna rail track

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The Federal Government has completed repair work on the Abuja-Kaduna rail track, more than one month after it was damaged by terrorists.

Terrorists suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents had on March 28 planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the train and forced it to derail in Kaduna.

At least eight people were confirmed dead, 30 injured and more than 100 others abducted by the terrorists after the attack.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the Abuja – Kaduna Train Service would resume soon with additional security measures put in place.

The NRC chief added that the connection line had been restored, while stabilization works are ongoing on the track.

The statement read: “The connection of the AKTS line has been achieved. This implies that the major track components (Concrete Sleepers and Rails) have been completely laid. The south end of the tracks (which was destroyed by the explosion) has been successfully joined with the north end. Track access between Abuja and Kaduna is now restored.

“The Technical Team continues with other track stabilization works including Ballasting, Temping, Fastening of accessories (clips, bolts, and nuts), and Welding.

“Loco 2502 which was involved in the accident (though not damaged) and trapped at the Rigasa end due to lack of route access has now crossed to the Idu end and taken to the Workshop for proper examination and routine maintenance.”

Lifestyle

SSANU slams Nigerian govt for neglecting education for frivolities

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The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities on Sunday slammed the Federal Government for neglecting the education sector for frivolities.

The SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, who stated this in his address at the 2022 May Day celebration in Abuja blamed the federal government’s insincerity for the frequent closure of universities in the country.

He stated that the standard of education in the country was declining due to the insensitivity of the government.

SSANU and Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions (NASU) extended their warning strike by one month on April 25 to press home their demands for improved working conditions in the universities, among others.

The two unions first embarked on a two weeks strike on March 27 and extended it by another two weeks on April 10.

The second extension expired on April 24.

Ibrahim said: ‘’The morale of university workers is dampened by the poor pay package and the government appears to be paying lip service to funding education. It is very clear that government pays more attention to frivolous things and has neglected the youths that are said to be the leaders of tomorrow.’’

The SSANU president also lamented that Nigerian workers were going through perilous times occasioned by insecurity, economic hardship, and other challenges.

He added: ‘’This year’s Workers Day comes when Nigerian workers are passing through perilous times. Nigerian workers and indeed members of our great union are confronted with diverse challenges like the rising spate of armed banditry, kidnappings, insurgency, economic hardship, and worst of all, the inability of the government to keep to agreements entered into with all the university-based unions in 2009.

Our members have been denied payment of new Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment arrears and a backlog of earned allowances in addition to other violations of our rights and privileges. Our universities have been forced to shut down due to the insincerity of government to keep to its promises.’’

Lifestyle

Nigerian govt working on safe return of abducted passengers of Abuja-Kaduna train – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured Nigerians that the Federal Government had commenced moves at ensuring the safe return of abducted passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train attacked by suspected terrorists in March.

The President stated this when he hosted residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who paid him a Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He directed security agencies and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to provide detailed information to families of the victims regularly, saying the government would explore every opportunity to secure their return alive and unhurt.

Terrorists had on March 28 planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the train and forced it to derail a few minutes into the trip in Kaduna.

At least eight people were confirmed dead, 30 injured and over 100 others abducted by the hoodlums after the attack.

Buhari said: “As we celebrate this occasion with joy amidst friends and family members, we are fully conscious of the fact that many families in our country are in a state of fear and anxiety.

“This is on account of the many captives held by terrorists against their will; including those taken away in the tragic attack of the Abuja-Kaduna train service.

“I have directed security agencies to ensure quick and safe recovery of all victims of kidnapping.

“I urge the railway management to immediately set up a situation room for the coordination of the rescue mission and for a minute-by-minute engagement with families of the captives.

This should ease their pain and anxiety as we push the military to ensure their safe return to their families. My aim is to see all those in captivity safely rescued.

Let me assure Nigerians that the bandits are just pushing their luck, but this is only for a while before they are finally crushed.

“They are using civilians as human shields, thereby making it difficult to confront them directly.”

The President stressed that bandits and terrorists, unlike professional soldiers, don’t respect the rules of engagement and can resort to harming hostages when attacked.

He added: “They don’t care about killing their hostages if they come under attack. It’s a delicate situation that requires wisdom, caution and also patience.

“Any rescue operation that results in the death of any hostage cannot be deemed a success.

“The government doesn’t want this kind of tragic outcome. It’s a complex situation that demands proper handling.

“The primary objective of any rescue operation is to free the hostages safely, unharmed, and alive.

“Let me make it clear, however, that defeating the terrorists and bandits requires more than weapons; we also need human intelligence which is necessary to frustrate terrorists’ plans.

“The people and community leaders should help our security officials with information about the activities or movements of criminal groups.”

Lifestyle

ASUU insists strike continues until Nigerian govt implements UTAS

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Lagos Zone, on Tuesday, warned that the National Information Technology Development Agency’s rejection of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) may prolong the strike.

The strike will not be called off until the government resolves the adoption of UTAS, implements the renegotiated agreement, and pays all unpaid allowances, according to the union.

Adelaja Odukoya, the coordinator of ASUU Lagos Zone, stated that the UTAS suggested by the union passed the test and quality assurance requirements, scoring 99.3 percent, at a press event conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

The refusal, according to Odukoya, was an attempt to play politics with the education sector.

He claimed that the NITDA’s statement criticizing the union’s efforts on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution is incorrect and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

“We, however, wish to draw the attention of all concerned to the deliberate misinformation and disinformation of the public by the National Information Technology and Development Agency on the state of the integrity test and adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution by the government.

The utterances of the NITDA spokesperson are capable of deliberate elongation of the ongoing strike action, suppose the government allows itself to be misinformed and misdirected through the managerial incompetence of the NITDA officers. In that case, our union considers it the peak of insensitivity to the plight of the universities, including staff, students, and indeed the country.

“Nonetheless, it is the considered opinion of our union that we owe the Nigerian people the onerous responsibility of providing the truth in discharging our patriotic duty as Nigerian Academic and the intellectual conscience of the Nigerian state.

ASUU wants to inform you that the current strike action will not be suspended until the government addresses the adoption of UTAS, implement the renegotiated agreement, pay all outstanding allowances without prejudice to the donation of $1 million to Afghanistan and fulfill all other issues contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with our Union,” he stated.

On February 14, the union had embarked on the ongoing strike in protest of non-payment of allowances by the Federal Government.

Politics

Malami dismisses rumours of resignation from Nigerian govt

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has dismissed rumours of his resignation from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

A report emerged earlier in the week that Malami is eyeing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Kebbi State.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Umar Gwandu, the AGF said he remained committed to discharging his statutory obligations and responsibilities in accordance with the laws.

The statement read: “There is naturally an end to everything. My tenure in office has not yet ended. I pray for a glorious end.”

Politics

Malami dismisses rumours of resignation from Nigerian govt

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has dismissed rumours of his resignation from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

A report emerged earlier in the week that Malami is eyeing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Kebbi State.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Umar Gwandu, the AGF said he remained committed to discharging his statutory obligations and responsibilities in accordance with the laws.

The statement read: “There is naturally an end to everything. My tenure in office has not yet ended. I pray for a glorious end.”

Lifestyle

STRIKE: Nigeria govt meets ASUU Tuesday

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The Federal Government will meet with the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) in a bid to end the union’s warning strike on Tuesday.

The union embarked on a 30-day warning strike on February 14 over the federal government’s failure to honour agreements signed by both parties.

The varsity lecturers are demanding revitalisation funding for public universities, earned academic allowances, adoption of University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) as an alternative to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), payment of promotion arrears and the renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement.

The Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He said the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, would meet with the ASUU executives and other relevant government agencies at the minister’s conference room in Abuja.

Akpan said: “The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, by 1:00 p.m. at the minister’s conference room.”

Lifestyle

Exited Npower beneficiaries lament, say Nigerian govt making money off them

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Exited Npower beneficiaries are unhappy with the method with which the Federal Government is handling the selection, confirmation and commencement of the NEXIT training.

With two days to go before the February 4, 2022 deadline issued to exited Npower beneficiaries to confirm their selection and availability for the training, many have trooped to various Npower pages to lay complaints.

Ripples Nigeria had previously reported that the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nneka Anibeze, disclosed beneficiaries should dial *45665# on or before Friday 4th February.

However, many beneficiaries said they’ve been receiving error messages or unable to access the need information after dialling the USSD code which is meant to be done in two steps.

This has raised speculations about the purpose of the USSD code, as regardless of the message received, the exited Npower beneficiaries were charged N30 for usage.

There are about 500,000 previous Npower beneficiaries from batch A and B who were selected in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and exited simultaneously in 2020.

Ripples Nigeria findings showed that if all the NEXIT training hopefuls dialled the code, it means about N15 million was made from the exited Npower beneficiaries who dialled the USSD code one-time.

This prompted Npower beneficiaries to question if the government is using them to make money ahead of the NEXIT training.

According to one of the commenters, Abdullahi Abdulsalam, who posted on NEXIT Discussion Forum, on Wednesday, he said, “NPOWER management will send emails and SMS to all successful shortlisted NEXIT applicants as at when it’s appropriate to do so.

“They only introduce the USSD CODE to make as much money as they could, so irrespective of whether you dial the code or not you will be notified via email or sms if you have been shortlisted for NEXIT batch 1 training program.

“You could recalled that the ussd code *45665# was first introduced prior to the commencement of the Npower batch C stream 1 program where batch C beneficiaries were asked to dial the same code to check their status and that did not stop Npower from contacting them through emails and sms.” Abdulsalam wrote.

Lifestyle

Nigerian govt to honour agreement with ASUU – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari promised on Tuesday the Federal Government would honour the agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The President stated this when members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also assured the delegation of improved funding of universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country.

Buhari thanked NIREC for intervening in the federal government and ASUU disputes in the past.

The President said: “I challenge ASUU to take cognizance of the fiscal pressures that we are currently facing. Nevertheless, we remain committed to honouring our promises.

I will also like to encourage ASUU to continue to work with us toward finding resolutions to the challenges that confront us.

“My administration is committed to this engagement and dialogue, and I urge the union to stay the course toward a joint resolution in the best interest of our children and nation.

“To show our commitment, several payments have been made over the last six months, addressing several of the issues raised by ASUU details of which the Minister of Labour and Employment can make available to you.

“Funding has also been provided for the development of infrastructure across several public universities and several of them have started drawing down on this facility to improve their level of infrastructure.”

ASUU had last year threatened to resume its suspended strike over the federal government’s failure to honour the agreement signed by both parties.

Lifestyle

Nigerian govt declares Monday 27, Tuesday 28 Dec, Jan 3 as Public Holidays

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The Federal Government has declared Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th December 2021 and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day celebrations respectively.

The declaration was made on Wednesday in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore.

“Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Aregbesola enjoined Christians “to practise the doctrine of Christ, which includes but not limited to faith, hope and love.

We must emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on Humility, Service, Compassion, Patience, Peace and Righteousness, that His birth signifies. This will be the best way to portray Christ and celebrate his birth”, he said

He emphasized that peace and security are two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity, urging Christians and Nigerians to make the best use of this festive period to pray for the total eradication of insecurity bedevilling our dear nation.

Aregbesola also admonished all citizens to remain focused and expresses confidence that the year 2022 would be a better year for us all. He wishes all Christians in particular a happy Christmas and all Nigerians a peaceful and prosperous New Year celebration.

Lifestyle

Nigerian govt dismisses reports on nullification of weddings conducted at Ikoyi registry

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The Federal Government on Tuesday evening dismissed as false and misleading reports that the Federal High Court, Lagos, has nullified all weddings conducted by the Ikoyi marriage registry.

The Eti Osa local government area of Lagos had in a suit marked FHC/ LS/CS/816/18 challenged the power of the Ministry of Interior to operate marriage registries, conduct weddings, and issue marriage certificates.

Reports claimed earlier on Tuesday that one Justice D. E. Osiagor, who ruled in the suit, declared that all marriages solemnized in the registry were invalid.

He held that only the local government marriage registries were empowered to solemnize unions between two people by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

However, in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the federal government described reports on the annulment of weddings conducted by the registry as a “deliberate distortion” of the court’s decision.

The statement read: “The attention of the Ministry of Interior has been drawn to news making the rounds on social media claiming that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declared all Marriages conducted by Ikoyi marriage registry to be illegal and invalid.

“We would like to state that this statement is false, misleading and a deliberate distortion of the decision of the Court in Suit No:FHC/L/CS/816/18 between Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 3 others v. Honourable Minister of Interior and 2 others, where the Honourable Court held that only the Local Government councils can conduct valid marriages in Nigeria.”

Politics

Nigerian govt may ban flights to UK, Canada, 2 others

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Nigeria government may ban flights from the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, and Saudi Arabia from coming into Nigeria in a retaliatory move.

The decision may be announced on Tuesday, 14 December according to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

The minister in a leaked video obtained by various media houses and seen by Ripples Nigeria, the Minister stressed that the decision to ban these countries was a retaliatory move and would be made public by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC).

The UK had imposed travel restrictions on Nigeria, claiming that 21 cases of Omicron recorded in England were linked to travellers from Nigeria.

But the travel ban was trailed by global outrage with some national and international stakeholders describing it as racist and discriminatory.

The federal government had also condemned the decision of the UK, with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, describing it as discriminatory, unfair, punitive, indefensible, and unjust.

In the Audio the Minister said: “Also, there is a case of Saudi Arabia, which put Nigeria on the banned list – no visa, no travel, et cetera. So also Canada. So, today, there was a meeting, I participated in a zoom meeting, COVID-19 task force, just for your information also.

We have given our input in aviation, it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries – Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina be also put on Red List, as they did similarly to us.

“If they don’t allow our citizens to go into their countries who are their airlines coming to pick from our country?

“So, I am very sure that in the next few days, between now and Monday, or perhaps Tuesday, at maximum, all those countries will be put on the red list from the PSC (Presidential Steering Committee) from the task force of COVID-19. Once they are put on the red list, which means they are banned, of course, their airlines will be banned.

“I’m so sorry, we are going through a difficult moment, but we have to do it in the interest of our country,” Sirika explained.

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