A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The Supreme leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said that Bayelsa is part of Igbo and being that one of the region's founding fathers, Late Ken Saro-Wiwa equally supported the cause of Biafra, then Bayelsa is not South-South but Biafran.
Kanu who was joined by his father to welcome some Biafran supporters from Bayelsa also said that the Igbo man is more related with the Nkwere man from Bayelsa than a person from Maiduguri. He also said that Nigeria will return to the original state where it was before the coming of the whites who amalgamated her.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – ACTING president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Thursday summoned security chiefs and the Governor of Taraba State Darius Dickson Ishaku over the recent violent attack that led to the death of many in Taraba state.Osinbajo and Darius Ishaku
Prof. Osinbajo also condoles with the victims of the attacks in a number of communities and outrightly condemned the acts of violence, adding that perpetrators of the attack would be brought to book.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President, Laolu Akande said. “While commiserating with the people of the affected communities, the entire government and people of Taraba State, the Acting President Thursday summoned and held an emergency meeting with top security officials of the Federal Government and Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
“Acting President Osinbajo has therefore ordered the deployment of an extra military battalion, police reinforcements and also a deployment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to the areas affected.
“Equally the Acting President has ordered the provision of relief materials to be delivered to the affected communities in Toffi, Mayo Daga, Mayo Sina, Tamiya, Kwara-Kwara, Tungan Lugere, Timjire, Nguroje and other villages in the hinterlands of Mambilla Plateau.
“The Federal Government has also put in motion long time solutions including mediation between opposing groups in the communal conflict.”
Also Governor Darius Ishaku, asked security agencies to restore peace in troubled Mambilla Plateau.
Ishaku enjoyed the people of Mambilla Plateau to embrace peace describing crisis, which has reportedly led to the deaths of over 100 people and destruction of property worth millions, as "a sad development".
"I hereby appeal to the people of the state, especially the people living on Mambilla Plateau to eschew violence and live in peace with one another," he said.
"Security agencies have already been charged to be on top of the situation in order to ensure peace return to the area as soon as possible."
A foremost political leader in Oghara Community, Chief Henry Ofa has disclosed that his kinsmen are currently gearing up to occupy one of the federal legislative positions in Nigeria.
Chief Henry Ofa addressing newsmen
Ofa, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State, said the decision is a proactive measure to correct the series of poor representation which the concerned constituents have received on the floor of the National Assembly.
“I will not tell you the positions we are targeting now, but I can assure you that come 2019, Oghara will certainly contest for one of the federal legislative seats”, the former DESOPADEC Commissioner told newsmen in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He added: "When you look around our constituency, you will find no viable project being executed by those representing us at the National Assembly; not even a functional constituency office that people can visit to address relevant issues.
"That is a deliberate act of misrepresentation that has to be stopped through the ballot and I am convinced that Oghara is eminently qualified to produce a leader that will bring out purposeful leadership to the masses”.
He said the Ethiope West Local Government Area, particularly Oghara community, is notable for working hard to legitimately poll the winning votes during national assembly elections, regretting that some politicians have jettisoned their promises after enjoying the support of the masses to climb the seat of power.
"The situation is very clear; you cannot enjoy the support of the people only to dump them when you have achieved your aim.
“We need a more vibrant and viable representation on the floor of the National Assembly and I am sure that at all legitimate costs, Oghara is prepared to contest for and win one of the federal legislatives seats", he stressed.
The Government of Edo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Institute of Welding (NIW) to establish a fabrication yard in the state.
Signing the MoU at Edo State Government House in Benin on Thursday, the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, revealed that the MoU was to fast-track industrialisation in the state, assuring the body of power supply to the proposed fabrication site in the state.Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo (r) after signing an MoU with Dr Solomon Edebiri (l), President, Nigerian Institute of Welders (NIW) at the Government House in Benin City to establish a fabrication village in the State, on Thursday.
He said, "Industrialisation is at the core of my administration; at the core of industrialisation is fabrication, and welding drives fabrication. We are very excited to work with you and it is an understanding that we will give life to," he said.
He noted that Human Capital was needed to coordinate all aspects of development and commended the institute for its initiative to train human capacity in state, adding that the MoU with the institute would give the state global access to welding processes and technological capacity to have welding colonies.
Meanwhile, the President of the Institute, Dr Solomon Edeberi, said the signing of the MoU went to show the level of confidence the state government had in the institute.
Edeberi assured that the team working on the fabrication project would bring its wealth of experience to bear to justify the confidence reposed on them, and that the institute would work with all aspects of the state to ensure that professionalism was inculcated in technical training.
He added, "We will work to actualise your vision of a technologically driven state and bring up a centre for welding and technology.
——-Accuses FG of paying N1trn for darkness By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – HUMAN Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, Thursday said that it was the utterances of a one-time Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Prof. Ango Abdullahi over the brutal killings of four students of the university that allegedly led to the protests by the Nigerian students and the arrest of eight students of University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida's military regime and plan to sentenced them to death. Falana Falana who is the legal adviser to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also noted that the person behind the quit notice to the Igbos living in the 19 states of the north does not stay in the north rather he lives in Lagos.
Meantime, the human rights lawyer has accused the Federal Government of paying about N1 trillion to Electricity Generating Companies, GENCOS, in what he described as paying for darkness.
The Acting President had on Tuesday disclosed that the Federal Government will soon release a second tranche of the N701 billion for Power Assurance Guarantee approved by the Federal Executive Council in March this year for the Bulk Electricity Trading NBET, Plc.
The Acting President at the inaugural event of the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roundtable organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, said it was expected that the release of the funds would free up the value chain that had created several problems of its own.
Speaking at the media briefing organized by the NLC on the raging agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and the quit notice given to the Igbos to vacate the 19 states of the north before 1st October by 16 northern youth groups which has the backing of Prof. Abdullahi, Falana said that it was the utterances of Prof Abdullahi that sparked off the nationwide students protest.
He said, "The recently concluded election in the UK, two weeks ago, seven Nigerians emerged as Legislators, can we repeat that, can we look at the challenges before us and stop following those ones trying to divide us?
"This information is very crucial to all of us and I want to say this publicly. The man who is giving quit notice (to the Igbos to leave north) does not live in the North, he lives in Lagos, he is a Lagos man. So to stay in Lagos and be giving quit notices is not the answer.
"On May 23, 1986, young people, four of them were killed in the Ahmadu Bello University because somebody had said we are against coup… Ango Abdullahi was the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University when these students were killed by the Police, he came out and said only four students were killed.
"That angered Nigerians particularly the Nigerian students and there were protests. One of the universities where that protest was very successful was the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Please listen to me, the man who led the protest was late Chima Ubani, what happened? The state did not like the case that it was a national protest against the killing in ABU.
"What did they do? They didn’t arrest the students who were protesting in the North. They didn’t arrest the students who were protesting in the West, (Ibrahim) Babangida regime went for Chima Ubani and arraigned him and eight of his colleagues under a military rule that required that they be sentenced to death.
"I left Lagos to go to Enugu to defend those men. We got them freed when they returned to campus, the Vice Chancellor expelled them. Again, I went to court and got them freed. Please this story is very important.
"A Hausa Vice Chancellor invited the police and they killed young Hausa students, four of them. Nigerian students protested and an Igbo young man led that protest in the East against injustice, a Yoruba man in the West to free them. So we must look at those things that the elites are using to divide our people. Injustice is injustice, so there no nation without challenges."
Calls for economic restructuring
Speaking on the implementation of the 2014 National Conference, he said, "Please those who are talking of restructuring, many of them are talking in the air. We must concretize this debate now.
"You can’t have political restructuring without economic restructuring. If you are talking of restructuring you won’t be selling the assets of a country to individuals. How can a serious nation be giving serious items to individuals when states are broke? You are not giving what belong to the states to them, states are not buying the electricity companies. Nigeria paying N1 trillion for darkness
"Please Mr. President, you have just informed us that what is owed to pension those who served our fatherland is N300 billion. Just this week, the Federal Government has just released N701 billion to those who bought our electricity companies, are you not aware? Initially they were given N300 billion, that’s over a trillion naira to manage darkness in our country. So let us begin to ask the relevant questions.
"On the National Conference, I beg you, don’t be carried away. Power is not given without a fight. Those who want implementation of the recommendations should be prepared for struggle like the labour and the struggle by the civil society.
"The most important recommendation is never touched by the ruling class, which is what the President of the NLC has just addressed our minds to. It is Chapter 2 of the Constitution that the fundamental objectives of the state shall be made justiceable in order words, right to education, right to life, right to employment benefits, right to living minimum wage.
"These are all centre in that chapter. This who are talking of restructuring and federalism are not interested in these. But please all of us must remind them that the Awolowos, the Ahmadu Bello’s when we have the First Republic addressed social services of our people. That is no longer the case.
"Please this talk about restructuring, we must concretize it, this talk about federalism, we must concretize it. You can’t be coming to Abuja every month to collect money and you are talking of true federalism. True federalism means you must produce what you need in your area ad they can ask everybody to pay tax." Debate on State and Local Governments budgets: On his take on the 2017 budget, he said, "We only talk about the budget of the Federal Government, we don’t talk about the budget of the States and Local Governments. Whereas, the money that goes out of the federation account, while Federal Government takes 52 percent, the Local Governments and States take 48 percent. Just like we are debating the budget of the Federal Government, we must be debating the budget of the State Governments and the Local Governments."
The image seen therein is an alleged pastor caught with charms being chased out with his family by the residents of Enugu community.
It was gathered via the voices in the clip that the unknown pastor is from Na’ara in Nnobi, an impoverished small rural town in the hinterland located within the axis of Idemili south, Anambra state.
What is you opinion on this?
Note this video was extracted from Pulse television.
By Emmanuel Elebeke ABUJA – THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Thursday shared the sum of N462.359 billion among three tiers of government in the month of May. The amount was N47 billion more than N415 billion shared in the previous month.
The amount shared consisted of N317.562 billion from the statutory Federation Account shared for the month; N64.812 billion from the exchange rate differential; 0.067 billion Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) Account and N79.985 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), while the NNPC refund was empty.
He further noted that there was a slight drop in the average price of crude oil from $55.38 to $55.18 per barrel and another decrease in export volume by 1.023 million. Barrels, which reduced oil revenue by about $57.12 million.
According to him, Crude oil production suffered due to leakage. Shut-ins and shutdowns at terminals for maintenance and the Force Majeure declared at Forcados Terminal since February, 2016 subsisted.
A breakdown of the allocation showed that Federal Government received a total of N147.682 billion; the states got N74.906 billion, while the Local Governments received the sum of N57.750 billion.
The sum of N20.505 billion was paid to the oil producing states in the Niger Delta as 13 per cent derivation on oil revenue.
From the VAT, the Federal government got N11.518 billion, states received N38.393 billion, while Local Governments received N26.875 billion.
The Minister disclosed that the Excess Crude Account currently stands at $2.303 billion.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the meeting, the minister explained that the NNPC refund was zero because the payment had been completed.
On possibility of paying salaries before Sallah, she promised that government would do everything possible to ensure that workers are paid their June salaries on or before the Sallah break.
•As Wizkid, Davido, others battle for Best Int’l Act award
By Benjamin Njoku with agency report
WITH just two days to go, this year’s BET Awards is adding more big names to its performer line up. The latest additions include, Mary J. Blige, A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Gucci Mane, Maxwell, Swae Lee, SZA, Xscape, Khalid, El DeBarge and Kamasi Washington. They join such previously announced hit makers as Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Migos, Future, Trey Songz, Tamar Braxton, New Edition, Post Malone, Roman Gian Arthur and Jessie Reyez.
Yvonne, Wizkid and Davido
Concurrently, Remy Ma, Irv Gotti and the cast of the forthcoming movie Detroit (Algee Smith, Jason Mitchell, Laz Alonso and Jacob Latimore) have signed on as presenters. They will be sharing those duties with Yara Shahidi, Issa Rae, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx and Demetrius Shipp Jr., among others.
Organizers revealed that iconic RnB group New Edition will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards night. Also, receiving special tributes that evening will be Chance the Rapper (humanitarian award) .
Africa will be greatly represented at the prestigious event with singer and humanitarian Yvonne Chaka Chaka and social activist Ilwad Elman being awarded with International Global Good Star and Power Awards. The South African songstress, fondly known as the Princess of Africa, has long been synonymous with excellence in the music industry, locally and internationally. Her lyrics resonated with freedom fighters during the apartheid years. After democracy, her focus shifted when one of her backup singers died of malaria. "She began the Princess of Africa Foundation, where she worked to eradicate the effects of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and to carry out community and social charity works," said BET. "There, Chaka Chaka focuses on healthcare, education and sanitation."
Eight leading African artists including AKA, Nasty C, Babes Wodumo, Wizkid, Tekno, Mr Eazi, Davido and Stonebwoy will all vie for the Best International Act: Africa category.
"Amazulu" hitmaker Amanda Black and Tanzanian performer Ray Vanny are nominated for Viewer's Choice Award "Best International Act", in conjunction with performers from the UK, South Korea, Canada, Australia and Jamaica. Recall that Beyonce leads with seven nominations, followed by Bruno Mars with five and Solange, Chance the Rapper and Migos with four nominees apiece. Comedian Leslie Jones will host the BET Awards for the first time. BET Network will air the show live on Tuesday, June 27, on BET (DStv channel 129)
Pix. 1: from the left, DIG Habila Joshak; DG SSS, Lawan Daura; NSA, Babagana Monguno and the Minister for Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau welcoming Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo to the meeting.Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo being received by the SSA Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu and the SA Media to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina as he arrived for the meeting.from the left, Publisher Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka; President NPAN, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; Publisher Leadership, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah; Publisher Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Publisher Daily Trust, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf; Publisher Source Magazine, Ms. Comfort Obi and the GMD, Champion Newspapers Limited, Dr. (Mrs.) Nwadiuto Iheakanwa during the meeting.: from the left, Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, Edward Dickson; the GM Publications, Vanguard, Gbenga Adefaye; MD The Nation, Victor Ifije and Ms. Ijeoma Nwaogugu of This Day Newspapers at the meeting.Cross section of Editors at the meeting.: (l-r) Publisher Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka; Publisher This Day, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena and the Political Advier to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu at the meeting.the SSA Social Security, Hajia Maryam Uwais discussing with the MD Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu at the meeting.the Publisher Daily Trust, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf exchanging greetings with the Editor Vanguard, Eze Anaba while the Editor Northern Region, Sony Daniell (m) looked on during the meeting.
The Benue state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom is tampering with the future of Benue children by failing to conduct the state's annual Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Junior Secondary School students.
The party also alleged that while parents are being owed salaries by the Ortom administration, the government went ahead to collect an increased registration fees for the said yet to be conducted exams.
A statement signed by Bemgba Iortyom, the state's Publicity Secretary of the opposition PDP also said that Governor Ortom had sacked the substantive Executive Secretary of the Benue State Examinations Board, Mr. Charlie Young and replaced him with Mr. Asen Alexander, all in a failed promise that the exams would be conducted. It said, despite that, Ortom's administration has still not been able to conduct the exams but has rather engaged in shifting blames from one ministry to another.
Gov. Ortom
The statement read thus:
"It is a shocking and unacceptable development that the Administration of Gov. Samuel Ortom in Benue State has failed to conduct the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Junior Secondary School students in the state.
"The examination routinely held every academic year immediately after the conclusion of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations for Senior Secondary School candidates, and before the conduct of the National Examination Council (NECO) examination.
"This year, the WAEC examination has been concluded and the NECO examination is currently ongoing, yet BECE is yet to be conducted, and this is in spite of the fact that interested students have since paid the registration fees which were even raised to very high rates.
"Each student was made to pay the sum of N5,500.00 this academic year, from the N5,000.00 paid in the 2015/2016 Academic year and N3,500.00 in the 2014/2015 Academic year.
"This represents an increment in excess of 50% by the Ortom administration from the N3,500.00 which was the highest fees paid during the immediate past Suswam administration, a development which in itself is insensitive considering that this administration is owing workers salaries for upwards of ten months.
"Yet, having charged and collected those exorbitant fees, the Ortom administration has failed to conduct the examination which represents the assessment and certification platform for students who have completed the junior stage of the two legged secondary school education system.
"Only a few days back, the administration sacked the substantive Executive Secretary of the Benue State Examinations Board, Mr. Charlie Young, and in his place, Asen Alexander has been appointed in Acting capacity, a move which the Commissioner of Education, Mr. Dennis Ityavyar, says was taken to re-position the examinations board and have it conduct the delayed examination in a matter of weeks.
"But the questions remain, that why did it take the Ortom administration this long to realise that things were wrong at the examinations board?
"Why did parents and students have to suffer this much for what is clearly incompetence and lack of forward planning on the part of the Ortom administration?
"Findings reveal that in the course of this delay, a round of blame-trading and buck-passing has been going on between the state’s Ministry of Education and the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS).
"The Ministry of Education is said to have claimed that BIRS is yet to remit to the Benue State Examinations Board the full amount of monies paid by students as registration for the examination, that being the reason for the delay in conducting the examination.
"But BIRS insists it remitted to the Exams Board 75% of the total amount realised from the registration and that being the statutory stipulation by the state’s tax law for all revenues generated by such Essential Services bodies through the operations of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) financial system.
"Ortom administration needs not more than N1,500.00 per candidate to conduct the examinations, and if the Examination Board got 75% of N5,500.00 from BIRS, then there is no excuse for the failure to conduct the examinations up to this moment.
"This is a situation which is totally unacceptable, one which further highlights the lack of vision and weak capacity for delivery of good governance to the people of Benue State by the Ortom administration.
"We demand that the Ortom administration ensures the BECE examination which poor parents laboured to pay for despite being owed salaries, be conducted without further delay.
"This must be done to save the parents and students further suffering, and the promises made for the conduct of the examination within weeks must not end up being another of the administration’s many empty promises."
THE last is yet to be heard of the lingering marital crisis between actress Tonto Dikeh and her estranged husband, Churchill Olakunle Oladunni, as the former has opened a can of worms, revealing how she paid her bride price, clothed and supported her husband with every sweat in her body.
Tonto and Churchill Tonto's photo
The actress made this shocking revelation, in a leaked chat with her mother-in-law, which went viral on the Internet during the week. The chat was released online by Lara Olubo, an OAP who is also a niece of Churchill.
According to Tonto Dikeh, "Thinking back and after talking to Bimbo Coker, it's safe to say you are (mother-in-law) in on Kunle's fraud and dirty lifestyle. I flew your son, clothed him, gave him pocket money, helped him with every sweat in my body, you watched your son dupe me for all my hard earned money."
Tonto Dikeh went on to reveal how her hubby's ex-wife sponsored her own wedding. "You disappoint me, even Bimbo Coker (ex-wife) paid for her own wedding and bride price. Is this a curse?"
However, reacting to the leaked chat, Churchill's former wife, Bimbo labels her ex-husband family as liars. "These people will never stop lying or even change from their evil ways… soon I know your can of worms will be open, Kunle and your mom. Someday people will know the real you, Kunle, just can't wait for that day to come," she wrote.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Churchill is planning to announce his marriage to the actress. Speaking through his rep, he refuted Tonto Dikeh's claims, saying "All traditional necessities regarding his traditional marriage, including payment of the bride price, were met.
"Churchill has stated officially that he has all intentions of annulling his marriage to his wife," said the rep.
South Sudan's media regulatory body has lifted the ban on foreign journalists to allow them operate in the country.
Alfred Taban, Head of Information, Steering Committee for National Dialogue, made the disclosure on Thursday in Juba during a meeting with diplomats and UN envoys.
He said that the leadership of South Sudan Media Authority (SSMA) had pledged to allow unhindered media coverage of the war-torn country.
He added that the authorities had agreed to relax restrictions placed on foreign journalists to allow them cover the ongoing national dialogue, the humanitarian crisis and issues of concern to the public.
Taban, who also heads the association for Media Development in South Sudan, said that the media authority had pledged to ease conditions for acquiring media accreditation permits.
"I took up the issue of banning foreign journalists from the country with the Media Authority and they promised me that the (ban) has been suspended.
"So now if somebody wants to come, there will be no question of the person being denied visa because that has been cleared.
"The South Sudan Media Authority recently said it had banned at least 20 foreign journalists from media coverage in the country for what it termed "unsubstantiated and unrealistic stories," Taban said.
He said that the media regulatory body however did not name the journalists or media outlets affected by the ban.
The ban attracted condemnation from the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), the Foreign Correspondents Association of East Africa (FCAEA) and Reporters without Borders (RWB).
However, Elija Alier, Managing Director, SSMA denied imposing ban on foreign journalists entering South Sudan.
He said that the body would continue to ease entry and work permit for foreign media in the East African nation.
"We have never stopped foreign journalists from coming to South Sudan and they will continue coming.
"As media authority, we will continue giving them permits," Alier said.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says his ministry is working toward commercialising research findings to encourage the development of Science and Technology for national development.
Ogbonnaya Onu
Onu made the remark in Minna on Thursday while inaugurating a two day workshop tagged: "Nanotechnology: An Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Tool for National Development'' organised by the ministry for stakeholders.
"I am happy to inform you that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to securing our nation, growing economy, fostering sustainable and productive industries.
"Government is also committed to providing jobs and creating wealth through building a robust, effective and resilient national system of innovation.
"Our endeavour and commitment shall remain to look inward as a people so as to produce locally, many of the things we now import into the country by commercialising research findings.''
He said that the policy would be realised through collaboration with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.
The minister said that the measure would create jobs and wealth thereby eradicating poverty and re-orienting the people toward knowledge based innovative driven economy.
He said that the policy would ensure that research findings materialised and fully implemented.
Onu said that the ministry had put together a National Science, Technology and Innovative Roadmap (NSTIR) from 2017 to 2030.
He said that the responses from stakeholders on the NSTIR would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
The minister said that the workshop aimed at encouraging stakeholders to embrace a new direction where science, technology and innovation would help the country become a world leader.
Earlier, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, Niger Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, appealed to the minister to consider staff of the state ministry in all their trainings on nanotechnology.
"We want to be part of your trainings to build the capacity of our staff in order to help the Federal Government achieve technological advancement,'' she said.
Madugu said that nanotechnology was science, engineering and technology conducted in a small scale.
"Nanotechnology is about how all fields of sciences such as chemistry, biology physics, material science and engineering can be made small,'' she said.
The workshop will is expected to develop a framework for the development and utilisation of nanotechnology in the country.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted cloudy morning conditions over the Central States of Nigeria on Frigate with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over Abuja, Bida, Minna, Ilorin, Jos, Yola and Jalingo.
NiMet's weather outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO), on Thursday in Abuja, also predicted day and night temperatures of 25 to 31 degrees Celsius and 17 to 22 degrees Celsius.
It added that prospects of localized thunderstorms were likely over Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Abuja, Lokoja, Kaduna, Jalingo and Mambila plateau later in the day.
The agency predicted that the Southern states would experience cloudy conditions with isolated thunderstorms and rains over Iseyin, Shaki, Abeokuta, Akure, Enugu, Umuahia, Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Calabar in the morning hours.
It also localized thunderstorms over Obudu, Ogoja, Awka, Owerri, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Eket in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius and 21 to 23 degrees Celsius.
According to NiMet, Northern states will experience cloudy morning with prospects of localized thunderstorms over Sokoto, Kano, Gusau, Kano and Katsina.
"There are chances of localized thunderstorms over Maiduguri, Potiskum, Damaturu, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi and Dutse in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 29 to 33 degrees Celsius and 20 to 23 degrees Celsius.
"Cloudiness with prospects of rains and thunderstorm activities are expected over most parts of the country in the next 24 hours," NiMet predicted.
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has debunked reports in some quarters of the media that he was barred by the court from seeking adjournment in his case.
Recall that Chief Metuh is being tried over allegation that he received N400million from the Ex-National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, prior to the 2015 general election.
A statement signed by his counsel, Barr. Obinna Okonkwo, however, said that the report that the court barred him from seeking adjournment to his case was misleading, malicious and completely false.
Metuh said that the report was authored by a correspondent who was not even in court on the said day and that the reporter also twisted the submission of his lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, in the false report to further "enhance the well orchestrated and unrelenting media trial" against him.
Chief Olisa Metuh
Chief Metuh who cautioned against media trial however reminded that he was not being tried for stealing, corrupt enrichment or abuse of office, but that the payment he received for a national assignment approved by the last administration was from alleged unlawful activity of that administration's National Security Adviser for which he is establishing his innocence in court.
The statement read thus:
"We read with rude shock the malicious, misleading and completely false report sponsored in a prominent Nigerian online news portal, claiming that the Federal High Court on Wednesday barred our Client, Chief Olisa Metuh from seeking further adjournment in his on-going trial.
"This false report, which is now being circulated in other section of the media, also went ahead to heavily twist facts regarding the circumstances surrounding the request by our lead Counsel in the matter, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.
"It will be recalled that Dr. Ikpeazu had informed the Honourable Court on the 19th of June 2017 that he will be appearing before the same Federal High Court, Port Harcourt division in an EFCC prosecuted case involving a retired Chief Judge.
"More shocking is the fact that the correspondent who authored this mischievous report was not even in court and only spread the falsehood to enhance the well orchestrated and unrelenting media trial against our client.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal High Court did not at any time bar our client, Chief Metuh from seeking further adjournment.
"It is instructive that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) under Section 396 (5) is clear in providing for adjournments in a criminal trial. This section states, without ambiguity; "where it is impracticable to conclude a criminal proceedings after the parties have exhausted their five adjournments each, the interval between one adjournment to another shall not exceed seven days inclusive of weekends."
"In fact, the only option left for the court on issues of adjournments, if for any reason it believes the request is frivolous is to award costs and this is clearly stated in section 396 (6). Furthermore, the fact that our Client is entitled to as many adjournments as justified by circumstances has since been settled before the same Court.
"It is therefore totally inconceivable that a Court can bar a defendant from seeking adjournments in the course of establishing his innocence as guaranteed by the laws and the constitution.
"On the unfortunate twisting of the request for adjournment by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, on Wednesday, we find it scandalous that normal Court practice and procedure, which has also been enjoyed by the prosecution in the past, is moved from the courts and made a subject of media controversy with heavy distortions.
"We also find it ridiculous that whereas Dr. Ikpeazu SAN’s letter which I, Barr. Obinna Okonkwo, also a Counsel in the matter, directly presented to the Court, clearly sought for an adjournment between June 21 and 22, 2017 to enable him attend a crucial matter at the Port Harcourt division of the Court, what is in the media is that Dr. Ikpeazu said "he would be at another matter at the Federal High Court, Enugu on the dates" and that he "prayed the Court to 'adjourn to any date other than June 26, 2017."
"Whereas we are aware that these distortions are meant to put our lead Counsel in bad light, we know that the whole aim of the unrelenting media trial against our Client is to upset, tarnish and cow our defence while attempting to stampede and sway the Court against our Client.
"This resort to media trial in the war against corruption must stop. The essence of the anti-corruption war is not to harass, hound and scandalize people in the court of public opinion, neither is it to secure conviction with intimidation and manipulation. The fight must be within the ambit of the law and not through media court-martial.
"While we commend the media for their support in the anti-corruption war, the newsroom gatekeepers must endeavour to examine and cross-check the facts in the report being pushed to them especially on judicial matters to ensure that they are accurate.
"It is our firm view that media trial always leads to the ridicule of the war against corruption as media convictions obtained are often not sustained by Court verdicts.
"Finally, while we will not join in externalizing proceedings in the Court like the prosecution, who issue skewed and subjective media releases after Court sessions, we wish to restate that our Client is not being charged for stealing, corrupt enrichment or abuse of office, but that the payment he received for a national assignment approved by the last administration was from alleged unlawful activity of that administration's National Security Adviser for which he is establishing his innocence in the Court."
In a recent report published by a national daily, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy was listed among the 11 key reforms that block corruption in the Nigerian civil service. It was one of the initiatives credited with saving the government billions of naira monthly and promoting service efficiency. The report quotes Professor Badayi M. Sani of Bayero University saying the 11 reforms stand a good chance to outlast the current administration by instilling a culture of accountability in the nation's public sector. This is impressive and signals a new dawn in the administration of public funds and accountability.
So much has already been said and written about the TSA, but its inclusion on this list is significant, given the amount of flak the policy has taken since implementation by the current administration in September 2015.
Whatever the case, no policy can wear a bad label for returning over N7 trillion to the country's coffers by the close of March this year like the TSA has done. While making the announcement, Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris clarified that the figures recorded so far represent monies belonging to different Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) viewable as one balance, but not meant for spending or borrowing to fund budget deficits like many argue. This is instructive and puts to rest the submission that the TSA is a fund where monies are 'trapped' while the nation languishes needlessly.
If we are still experiencing pockets of financial impropriety gulping trillions of Naira 2 years after the adoption of the policy, one begins to wonder how bad the situation would have been if there was no such policy to start with. Take the Senate, for instance, where the Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff is currently probing a N30 trillion customs tax evasion. This probe has such high-ranking government functionaries and captains of industry such as CBN Governor Godwin Emefelie, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and the managing directors of all commercial banks, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service being invited to explain their knowledge of this gross financial impropriety and how further revenue leakages can be plugged going forward. It is quite commendable that none of these statistics on revenue were accurately represented until the adoption of the TSA.
If not for the TSA, I am sure the rot in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would not have been unearthed. For some strange reason, executives of the NHIS took up arms against the inclusion of the scheme in the TSA last year amid claims that it stifles the liquidity of funds meant for the healthcare of enrolees. Their passionate appeal seemed altruistic to all who cared to listen. But some months down the line, investigations have revealed that former Executive Secretary of the NHIS Dr. Femi Thomas and acting Executive Secretary Mr. Olufemi Akingbade have unilaterally made payments running into billions of Naira to dubious HMOs which were not remitted to hospitals where enrolees were supposed to get treatment. At this point, there are claims that several of these HMOs are owned by former Senate Presidents David Mark and Anyim Pius Anyim. If the TSA identifies cases of high-wire fraud such as this, I would rather we vote for it rather than against it to keep top government functionaries in check.
Lest we forget, a financial crisis is currently rocking Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, whose top management has been found to operate 97 different bank accounts and HMOs. The institution was said to have received a cumulative N13.7 billion from owner states in the last 5 years which it failed to remit into the TSA in compliance with policy. The benefits of this tracking mechanism are two-fold. First, it updates the government on the actual state of its finances at any point in time. Second, defaulters are quickly identified and probed, while a steady pipeline of funds into the Treasury is maintained after years of mismanagement and impunity.
Arguments to the contrary will always abound, but the TSA has lots of merits that we should not overlook. Its successful implementation by the current administration is meant to be celebrated in a society where people-oriented policies hardly see the light of day. In fact, we should at this point consider exporting the policy to less fortunate African nations were mismanagement of public funds holds sway without any end in sight. And just for our education, Nigeria is not the only African country that has implemented the policy. Rwanda adopted a zero-balance drawing system in 2005 which mandates its MDAs to maintain accounts in the National Bank of Rwanda. The policy stipulates that all ministries and budget agencies begin a new fiscal year with zero cash balance on their accounts. Uganda did same in 2013 to ensure the efficient and cost-effective cash management of its Consolidated Fund. In 2015, Kenya announced its proposed adoption of a TSA policy in reaction to the loss of billions of dollars in its public system. Its earlier Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) had proved ineffective in waging and winning this war.
Digitalised governance is the future, and the TSA includes Nigeria in the comity of nations that appreciate this trend and are prepared for it. There have been several changes in the payment system since the policy was adopted that have increased process efficiency and saved productive man-hours for busy individuals and groups. These days, commercial and microfinance banks are not the only avenues through which customers can make payment to the government. Alternative channels abound such as POS terminals, debit/credit cards, online banking sites and digital wallets, among others. Long queues in banking halls for taxes, levies and subventions are much reduced, leaving room for customers to deploy their productive energies elsewhere. Distance is no longer a barrier to payment because government can receive funds from any part of the country, and pay salaries without uploading salary schedules from varying software. The MDAs, on their part, make less deals with physical cash and contractors are paid for their services much faster due to the new system.
The Nigerian dream is achievable if only we can make sacrifices today for the beautiful tomorrow we envision. To be sure, the anti-TSA elements will stop at nothing to vilify the policy for their own selfish interests. Recognising this, we must continue to counter their offensive until probity returns to the administration of public funds meant for our welfare and generations still to come.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – Twenty Four governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC have blamed the current wave of separatist agitation on weak governance as provided across the different tiers of government.SYMPATHY VISIT—From left: Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Kashim Shettima of Borno State, during a sympathy visit to the Enugu State Governor, by his colleagues, over the recent attack by herdsmen, in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN.
The governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF also blamed the dwindling fortunes of the economy as well as poor law enforcement mechanisms for the agitations.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, and signed by the Director General of the PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman, the APC governors also called on separatist groups in the country to refrain from making further inciting comments.
“In line with the social democratic principles of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PGF promotes all-inclusive government, for the development of policies and programs that improve the life of every Nigerian citizen, regardless of ethnicity and religious orientation. It is with this in mind that the Forum condemns in the strongest terms the present secessionist and separatist agitations promoting ethno-regional identity in the country. These sundry factional groups, claiming to represent different ethnic nationalities, sow seeds of disunity and promote secessionist agenda in the nation. We decry and reject their activities in all intents and purposes.
“Acknowledging the rich diverse heritage of Nigeria as a country, the PGF particularly notes that the resurgence of desperate youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions from the different geo-political zones across the nation as currently experienced is a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system in Nigeria”, the governors stated.
They noted that the challenge before Nigerians therefore is to commit themselves to the unity of the country.
“We must create by all means necessary, a country that we can collectively call our home, irrespective of tongue and locality. This is a vision the APC as a party is committed to lead and for which the PGF is unapologetically and intrinsically loyal. These threats to national unity must cease totally and put away into history.
“While acknowledging that as a nation, we do have challenges, PGF believes that the resolution of those challenges rests with the development of our democracy and with it, the ascendancy of structured processes of national consultations, negotiations and invariably, agreements. As Governors elected under APC, we will work with our party leaders, the Federal Government and all Nigerians who are committed to democratic development of all parts of the country to ensure unencumbered protection of lives of all citizens in every part of the territorial boundary of our nation.
“PGF therefore call for the rise of all Decent Voices across this country to speak up against the upsurge of some desperate irredentist movements across all ethnic groups and support the emergence of a stronger and virile unified Nigeria for us all. The Forum insists that, regardless of our diverse identities and whatever differences, Nigeria has to thrive. Hence, there has to be a nation first”, they submitted.
The UK has deployed officers from the Royal Air Force (RAF) Force Protection (FP) Wing from RAF Lossiemouth to Nigeria to train the Nigerian Air Force Regiment for six weeks.
The Royal Air Force is the UK's aerial warfare force formed toward the end of the First World War on April 1, 1918 and it is the oldest independent air force in the world.
A statement by the UK High Commission, Press Officer in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, said this on Thursday in Abuja.
Abuku said that the detachment was made up of a 66 person Short Term Training Team (STTT) from No. 5 FP Wing of RAF.
"The focus of the STTT is to deliver a training package which enables students to operate effectively in the Complex Air Ground Environment (CAGE) by understanding their role to provide security and Force Protection operations both inside and outside an Air base.
"This forms a key part of a layered defence system; deterring and defeating an enemy away from the airfield whilst also assuring internal security of a base.
"Additionally, Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers will be given the opportunity to enhance their tactical leadership and planning skills, whilst the Junior Air-officers will build on the skills they learned during basic training," he said.
He explained that the detachment, the third undertaken by 5 FP Wing in a five year programme came after a request from Nigeria.
He said that the Nigerian Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had requested UK to assist in capacity building for the Nigerian Air Force Regiment.
He quoted Abubakar as saying, "given the importance of bases in the airpower delivery matrix, it is not inconceivable to expect our adversaries to target our airbases.
"As a matter of fact, we have had an attack on one of our airbases in the recent past, and current intelligence reports keep highlighting the possibility of attacks on our bases.
"All these reinforce the need to emplace a robust base defence concept that is capable of providing guidance for responding to a wide range of situations that may threaten our bases."
He quoted Officer Commanding 5 FP Wing, Wing Commander John Rees as expressing delight that the detachment was in Nigeria and appreciated the warmth welcome given to them.
"We are proud of our Royal Air Force heritage and the opportunity to represent our service in the Defence Engagement arena," Rees said.
The Wing Commander said that the detachment had already delivered Train the Trainer package to 50 Non Commissioned Officers and Commissioned Officers.
He added that a further 250 students would now begin the Foundation Phase bringing a total of around 300 Nigerian personnel to be trained across a mixture of ranks.
The programme, according to him, will culminate with a demanding final exercise at a live airfield to validate the understanding of all skills taught in a realistic environment.
He said that this would be prior to the graduating students deploying to their first operational assignment in the Nigerian Air Force.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday remanded a former minister, Olajumoke Akinjide, and Olanrewaju Otiti, in EFCC custody over alleged N650 million fraud.
recall that former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Sen. Ayoade Adeseun, as well as Akinjide and Otiti where arraigned on a 12- count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion and stealing of N650 million in the build up to the 2015 general elections.
Abdulmaleek adjourned the case till July 6 to hear their bail application.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution counsel, informed the court that the commission had amended the charges against the accused persons and prayed that the amended charges be read.
But the defence counsel objected to the amendments and reading of any charge to their clients.
Mr Bolaji Ayorinde, Mr Michael Lana and Mr Adeniyi Isola, all defence counsel, argued that no charge had ever been read to their clients before, adding that there was therefore no cause for any amendment.
The defence counsel also submitted that it was an irregularity on the part of the prosecution to be amending charges that were not known to be existing.
The judge, however, overruled them directing that the charge sheet be read to them.
The two accused persons present in court—Akinjide and Otiti– pleaded not guilty to the 12- count charge.
There was a stir, however, as Ayorinde and Lana in separate submissions told the court that they were withdrawing further appearance in the case, claiming the court had not been fair to their clients.
The two defence counsel subsequently walked out of the court.
Akinjide, however, had begun moves to explore plea bargain arrangement with EFCC.
Oyedepo, who confirmed the move during the court's proceeding, said that the process was still ongoing.
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