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The member representing the Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Daniel Reyenieju has berated some Federal Government-owned media houses for the airing of video clips of the civil war in its bid to discourage secessionist agitations in the country, noting that there are better ways of achieving the objective.
The lawmaker disclosed this to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, yesterday.
Hon. Daniel Reyenieju
According to him, the present method of usually showing video clips of the civil war, and other gruesome incidents in the country as a way of discouraging agitations is counter-productive, as it is hardening a sizeable proportion of the agitators; instead discouraging them.
Reyenieju appealed to the media, (particularly government-owned ones) to be more innovative and reconciliatory in their news programs, particularly on the need to enlighten Nigerians on the advantages of being together as a one united and prosperous country, instead of balkanizing and bringing into being miniature 'countries' that will not enjoy international respect.
The lawmaker further noted that since the agitation for secession, resource control and restructuring is largely from a particular section of the country, the dominant thinking among agitators is to assume that the usual airing of such frightening video clips is being orchestrated by those section(s) of the country not favourably disposed to self-determination, resource control and restructuring; and the implication is that contemporary inter-sectional/regional relationship is now characterized by heightened mutual distrust and acrimony.
Reactions have continued to trail the recent criteria announced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the admission of candidates into tertiary institutions for the 2017/2018 academic session.
Newsmen report that Prof Is'haq Oloyede, Registrar of the board, had announced 120 marks in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as minimum for placements into universities.
JAMB-CBT-Centre
He made the announcement at the end of a recent policy meeting with heads of tertiary institutions across the country.
Oloyede also said that 100 marks in the UTME was minimum score for candidates seeking placement into the country's Polytechnics and Colleges of Education respectively.
He announced 110 as minimum score for candidates seeking admission into the Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEI).
The criteria have continued to generate divergent views from various sectors of the society, with many saying it will have a negative effect on the education standard in the country.
A former Education Minister, Prof. Nora Obaji, told newsmen on Monday that the cut off marks were "unacceptable".
"This cut-off thing for the various sections of our institutions of higher learning, I will describe, as rather appalling.
"It is not encouraging and I will dare say it is unacceptable.
"I mean, what are we really looking out for in this country, quality or quantity?
"If we, as a nation, are striving to improve on our developmental strides and be relevant among comity of nations, one thing we must learn to take seriously, then, should be our quality of education at all levels.
"Take for instance, our Colleges of Education, a place that is supposed to train and produce future teachers that will teach at our primary education level that should be the bedrock or foundation of learning, admitting people with 25 per cent obtained from an entrance examination.
"What quality are we anticipating to see from such teachers, and that is why I asked if what we need in this country is quantity rather than quality," Obaji said.
The ex-minister said for the country to move forward, it must insist on quality of students and graduates and be sure of their capabilities.
She said that there was nowhere in the world where 25 per cent was being considered as pass mark, as was set as requisite minimum qualification mark for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education by JAMB.
"I feel worried because it seemed the respective administrative heads of institutions present at that policy meeting could not say anything during such announcement to kick against the decision.
"I expected them to know better and speak out when such decision was reached, especially as we are in the era of democracy.
"Be that as it may, it is a good thing that individual institutions have been given the go ahead to conduct post-examination screening to select candidates of their choice.
"I therefore want to implore administrators of these institutions to ensure that only candidates that are credible are admitted during the screening.
"They should ease out those not qualified, irrespective of whose children they are, or where such children are coming from," Obaji said.
Another stakeholder, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, a lecturer with National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), told NAN on telephone that the cut-off marks were ridiculous and would do the system no good.
"I was not in that meeting and may not have all the facts on how they arrived at such grades.
"Yes, it is true that the responsibility of admitting students rests solely with the universities and what I find not quite right is setting cut-off marks for university by JAMB.
"I think it ought to be right if these institutions were given the opportunity to set what they deem fit as their cut-off marks.
"All JAMB would have concerned itself with was to just announce results of the test it conducted," he said.
Mafiana said it was ridiculous for JAMB to have taken it upon itself to fix such cut-off marks.
"They may have their reasons but one would have also expected that the various heads of administration of these institutions would have been courageous enough to say yes, even though government has set cut off marks, we will take our own decisions.
"So, I expect universities to be courageous enough and come up with their respective take on how they intend doing their own selection without going below acceptable standards.
"This is the time for universities to show how they intend to uphold the much needed quality assurance in our system," Mafiana said.
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), also said that such cut-off was not a good omen for the already troubled sector.
According to the 2nd Deputy National President of the association, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the sector has, in the recent past, been plagued by various challenges.
He said these range from poor funding to examination malpractice, poor facilities and a host of others.
"Going to peg cut-off marks at 120 for universities and 100 for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education will further bring down the quality of graduates that would be produced,'' Ogunbanjo said.
He said one would have ordinarily expected that the cut-off marks ought to have been pegged at a minimum of 160 for the universities and 150 for the polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
Returnee Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has fired a warning to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon ahead of their double header world cup qualifier clash in Uyo and Yaounde.
Ighalo
Ighalo who was an unused sub in the last qualifying match against Algeria had also missed out of some recent matches played by the Eagles but is delighted to be back in the fold.
Ighalo has been in fine form in recent weeks for Changchun Yatai, topping the Chinese Super League with 11 goals this seasons.
Expected to lead the Eagles attack line come Friday, Ighalo said ” It is true, I have been on a great scoring run. I must say I came back with my scoring boots and I pray I convert my chances against Cameroon. Though, winning is paramount to me as that is the main aim of the team, I desire to score against Cameroon,"
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion being alleged loot recovered from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Newsmen report that Justice Abdulazeez Anka granted an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government.
He said: "I have read the motion on notice seeking the final forfeiture of the sum of N7.6 billion reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
"I have also gone through the affidavit in support of the application. In the circumstances, I am of the view that the application has merit and is hereby granted as prayed. Parties have a right of appeal."
Former Petroleum minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
Moving the application, the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, said the money was part of "huge sums of cash" allegedly diverted by Alison-Madueke from the various subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to him, it was fraudulently converted from NNPC by Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke.
Oyedepo added that the anti-graft agency published an advertorial after the court ordered the money's temporary forfeiture, but no one came forward to claim ownership.
In a supporting affidavit to the application, an EFCC investigator, Mr Usman Zakari, said he was part of a team of operatives who investigated an intelligence report that huge sums were laundered by Alison-Madueke.
He said the N7.6billion was allegedly looted through former Group Managing Director, Crude Oil Marketing Department, Gbenga Olu Komolafe and former Group Managing Director, Petroleum Products Management Company (PPMC), Prince Haruna Momoh.
Other are the Group Managing Director, Nigerian Products Marketing Company (NPMC), Umar Farouk Ahmed, Stanley Lawson, Babajide Sonoiki and some bank chiefs on behalf of Mrs Alison-Madueke.
Zakari said Mrs Alison-Madueke called a bank chief to her office for a meeting where she informed him that some officials of her ministry would be bringing funds to his bank.
She allegedly directed that the "funds must neither be credited into any known account not captured in any transactional platforms of the bank."
The investigator added: "In carrying out this alleged scheme of fraud, the sum of $153.3million was moved from NNPC through Mr B.O.N Otti and Mr D. Stanley Lawson, both former Group Executive Directors, Finance and Account of the NNPC" to the bank.
He said using the same fraudulent scheme, another $45million was also conveyed to the bank.
He said the money was conveyed in cash from Abuja to the bank's headquarters in Lagos, while $113.3 million was taken out of it and moved to another bank in a bid to conceal its illicit source.
The investigator said the remaining $40 million was further conveyed in cash to a bank by Mr Dauda Lawal.
Zakari said $108.3 million was taken from the $113.3 million and was further disguised and invested in an off balance sheet investment using an asset management company owned by the bank as a special purpose vehicle.
He said the remaining $5 million was conveyed in cash to another bank's Managing Director "for sake keeping".
The sum in the asset management company was allegedly converted to N23.4 billion which EFCC said it recovered in drafts from the bank.
It also recovered the $5 million held by the bank MD.
The operative said the $40 million conveyed in cash to Lawal was subsequently converted to N9billion and retained by him.
Zakari said cash sums of N23.44 billion $5 million and N9 billion were forfeited to the Federal Government on Feb. 16 following an order by Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court.
According to him, the $45 million was converted to naira by the bank in a bid to conceal and disguise its illicit origin.
He said EFCC received N7.6 billion in draft from the bank.
He recalled that the court on Aug. 9 granted an interim order of forfeiture of the money and directed EFCC to publish the order in national newspapers to enable any person interested in it to appear in court and show cause why it should not be forfeited permanently to the Federal Government.
"The applicant has complied with the order of this court by publishing the said order on Aug. 16; it is in the interest of justice to grant this application," Zakari said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the national female basketball team, D'Tigress, for winning the 2017 FIBA Women's Afrobasket tournament in Mali and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain.
The President's congratulatory message was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina in Abuja, on Monday.
Buhari joined other sports-loving Nigerians in saluting the heroic performance of the victorious D'Tigress over their Senegalese counterpart in the final of the 2017 FIBA Women's Afrobasket tournament on Sunday.
The President commended the players for displaying "uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.''
He urged members of the team and their handlers to remain focused and dedicated even as they prepared for greater glory to Nigeria at the forthcoming FIBA World Cup.
President Buhari assured the team, its managers and the Nigeria Basketball Federation of his support and that of the Federal Government to ensure that they excel against other top competitors in Spain.
The Nigeria's senior women basketball team, D'Tigress, on Sunday in Bamako, Mali, restored the nation's lost glory in the Women Afrobasket having defeated defending champions, Senegal to clinch the title for the third time after 12 years.
Newsmen report that the D'Tigress walloped their Senegalese counterparts 65-48 points to beat them a second time in the championship.
Newsmen report that the team recorded no loss in all their games to the final in the 2017 edition after they had won it last in 2005. They first won it in 2003.
ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the national female basketball team, D'Tigress, on winning the 2017 FIBA Women's AfroBasket tournament in Mali and qualifying for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain.Nigeria’s D’Tigress celebrate Afrobasket 2017 triumph Photo credit: fiba.basketball
President Buhari in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina joined other sports-loving Nigerians in saluting the heroic performance of the victorious D'Tigress over their Senegalese counterpart in the final of the 2017 FIBA Women's AfroBasket tournament on Sunday.
The President commended the players for displaying uncommon strength, confidence, skill and dexterity in their victory over the defending champions.
Buhari urged members of the team and their handlers to remain focused and dedicated even as they prepare for greater glory to Nigeria at the forthcoming FIBA World Cup.
The President assured the team, its managers and the Nigeria Basketball Federation of his support and that of the Federal Government to ensure that they excel against other top competitors in Spain.
By Demola Akinyemi ILORIN – The authorities of University of Ilorin,in Kwara state Monday announced the new vice-chancellor for the university in the person of Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem.
The new Vice chancellor is widely known to be a thoroughbred administrator and academician with very impressive credentials.
The Pro chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the university, Dr Abdullahi Jibril Oyekan made the announcement at a press conference in the university.
According to him, the new appointment of another five years for the newly appointed vice-chancellor take effect from 16th October 2017.
Recall that the tenure of the five year term of the outgoing vice chancellor Professor abdulganiy Ambali will end in 15th October 2017.
Vanguard reliably gathered that the newly unveiled vice-chancellor,Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem born on 21st January 1954 at Oro in Irepodun local government area of kwara state clinched the plum job among other aspirants who also parade incredibly coloured credentials because he has held the post of a vice-chancellor of a university which any other aspirant never had.
Between June 2010 to June 2015 Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem was the vice-chancellor of Al-Hikmah University,a popular private faith based university also in ilorin.
Similarly, in the university of ilorin where he was before the latest appointment,Professor Abdulkareem was the Director SIWES from 2000-2008;Head,University admissions unit 2006-2009,Deans Students affairs 2008-2010 and Director, Laboratory-To-Product Centre from September 2015 till date.
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone `A' of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted cars, rice and Indian hemp, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N531.47 million.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Mohammad Garba, disclosed this in Lagos on Monday.
On Aug. 8, the command intercepted various items, including vehicles and Indian hemp, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.61 billion. Garba said that the command intercepted 27 vehicles, including a Toyota Prado Jeep, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Highlander, Mercedes Benz, among others, with a Duty Paid Value of N228.21million.
"Our reinvigorated anti-smuggling operations yielded positive gains through the interception of other contraband comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, Indian hemp, medicaments, used tyres and various general merchandise.
"Three containers were also seized for false declaration, with a Duty Paid Value of N303.20 million. "Sixteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures.
"In the same vein, the unit, through our interventions, recovered N253.17 million from duty payment and Demand Notice on general goods that tried to outsmart our officers at seaports, airport and border stations through wrong classification.
"Also there were wrong transfer of value and short change in duty payments that are meant for the Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative sum of N783.64 million between Aug. 9 and Aug. 25,'' Garba said.
The controller said that the Federal Government's policy banning importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders was still in force. He said that the service remained tenacious in its determination to enforce these policies.
Garba urged smugglers within the South-West Zone to desist from such illegal trade as Customs officers were well equipped with necessary arsenal to cripple them and send them out of their illegitimate business.
He admonished compliant traders not to exercise any fear while embarking on their legitimate business but to be honest in their declarations. The controller said that the unit would continue to work toward ensuring compliance with all extant laws governing imports and exports in Nigeria.
He, however, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali and the entire management of the NCS for providing the necessary incentives and logistics for officers that achieved the feat.
The command handed over the Indian hemp and medicaments to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for thorough investigations.
Taking to Instagram, the attacker expressed his disappointment even as he urged his team mates to grab all the maximum six points.
Iwobi wrote: "Gutted I'll be missing our two big qualifiers because of injury but I am behind the boys 100%. Massive thanks to all our awesome fans for your continued support! Let's do Nigeria proud."
Having been torn to pieces in their humiliating 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, a similar fate befell Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in the post-match post-mortems.
Arsenal’s Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 27, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Wenger’s players were variously described as “lazy”, “pathetic”, “arrogant” and “disgraceful”, while the manager himself is under scrutiny once again just three months after signing a new two-year contract.
“Last season, I called them ‘cowards’,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports after Sunday’s match.
“And afterwards maybe I got a little bit of criticism. Maybe that’s a bit too strong and you can’t say that on live TV, but I’ll say it again –- cowards.”
Arsenal’s defeat, their second in succession after a 1-0 loss at Stoke City, exhibited failings that have become endemic under Wenger.
Defensive disorganisation allowed Liverpool to take control of the game and Arsenal’s over-eagerness to get back into the match left them hopelessly exposed on the counter-attack.
Liverpool’s third goal, scored by Mohamed Salah in the 57th minute, summed up the Arsenal malaise.
Liverpool cleared a corner, Salah beat Hector Bellerin to a bouncing ball midway inside the hosts’ half and then had a clear run on goal before beating goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Furious Arsenal fans on Twitter pointed out that in the build-up to Roberto Firmino’s first-half opener, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were not even looking at the ball.
“How can you play like this in a big game for so many of Arsenal’s players?” asked former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
“Forget not turning up, forget not playing well, but just the general attitude or lack of respect for the shirt from three or four of them in not running back and not bothering is disgraceful.”
Arsenal great Thierry Henry, analysing the game for Sky Sports, confessed: “At one point I wanted to leave. I didn’t want to watch the game any more. It’s too much to take.”
While it was Arsenal’s defensive shortcomings that were exhibited at Anfield, the player who featured on almost all the British newspapers’ sports pages was star forward Alexis Sanchez.
– ‘New low’ – Making his return to action against Liverpool after an abdominal injury, the Chile international was despondency personified as he traipsed to the dug-out following his 62nd-minute substitution.
After the game, he took to Instagram to post a caption-free picture of himself sitting on his haunches on the Anfield pitch and dejectedly gazing at the ground.
Sanchez has been repeatedly linked with a move to Manchester City and Henry said none of Arsenal’s players could be blamed for casting glances elsewhere.
“Everything that you see on the day has been happening for the past 10 years,” said the Frenchman.
“We talk about Sanchez and is he staying, but they are not going to want to be part of this team. That is why players are not renewing their contracts. They can see something is wrong.
“The word I have used for a long time — comfort. Everyone is comfortable at Arsenal. It’s not the same pressure you have at a big club. Everything is… nice.”
The newspapers were singularly stinging in their criticism.
The Daily Mirror branded Arsenal “a lazy, arrogant, broken team with no ideas and no hope” and directly blamed Wenger, who last led Arsenal to the title in 2004.
The Sun called Arsenal “lazy” and “pathetic” and said their torment at the hands of Firmino, Salah and Sadio Mane represented “a new low”.
The Times called it “unacceptable, unwatchable, unforgivable”.
Wenger generally chooses his words carefully, but he conceded that Arsenal’s display had been “absolutely disastrous” and “unacceptable”.
Cech echoed his manager’s verdict, while Ramsey admitted: “We’re going to have to change something if we’re to compete this year.”
Arsenal’s supporters hope Wenger uses the last four days of the transfer window to strengthen his squad, but they know, as does everyone else, that the club’s problems run much deeper.
—-Says sharing of resources reason for agitations —–Blames successive administrations for decay of infrastructure in Niger Delta By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – DESPITE the hues and cries in many quarters for the restructuring of the country, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Chairman, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Chief Ede Dafinone has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has already taken some bold steps to restructure the country. *Ede Omueya Dafinone Chief Dafinone who contested the bye-election for Delta Central Senatorial District in 2013 on the platform of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, also said that successive administrations in the country and in South-South geopolitical zone should be blamed for the dilapidation of infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.
He also said that sharing of the nation's resources was the reason for the ongoing agitations in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard in Abuja, he said that the present administration has taken bold steps to restructure the country and that the dividends of the restructure will begin to manifest from the third and fourth years of the administration.
He said, "This administration has taken bold steps to restructure, I expect the dividends of that to show through in the 3rd and 4th years for the Nigerian people to see that the APC led government can perform and will perform in the next term also."
On the areas that the government has restructured, he said, "The economic recovery and growth plan is a bold step; the ease of doing business in Nigeria is an even bolder step. I think somewhere within that document, there is a new policy direction where the government says if you apply for a permit and it is meant to take 45 days, on the 46th day you should rightly assume that your permit has been granted if you have not heard from that office."
On the impact of the alleged restructure in the polity, he said, "I said we should expect the impact to show through in the 3rd and 4th year. In fact, my personal estimate is that by 4th quarter 2017 Nigerians should be able to see some difference in the economy and for me that stems significantly from the change in direction of the foreign exchange policy of the CBN.
"For about two months now they have made foreign exchange freely available which means that importers can have access to foreign exchange and therefore import the raw materials for their manufacturing or the goods for trade.
"Previously importers could not get their hands on foreign exchange and businesses were crumbling and that alone should feed through into the 3rd maybe 4th quarter of this year and that will have a big difference on its own."
Dafinone who is also the Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Export Group, stated that the reason for agitations especially in the Niger Delta was on the sharing of the nation's resources.
He said, "The reason for the agitations looking backward is the sharing of wealth. But with the whole dilapidated infrastructures within the Niger Delta, you have to blame successive governments and when I say governments I want to include federal, states and local governments because very often we from the Niger Delta are heard to complain that the federal government have deprived us of our resources.
"But you do not hear the same Niger Deltans say that our state government did not develop our area with all the resources to him or our local government did not do any development but we are quick to blame the federal government because they are not Niger Deltans largely.
"But the local government chairman is from the local government and he did nothing, the state governor is from the region and he did little. So our primary complains should be with those individuals and if they have performed then we can go up to the federal government to say look you have not given us a fair share.
"So we need to have more responsible governments at the local and state levels in order to ensure better infrastructure development."
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – The Federal Government has declared Friday, 1st and Monday 4th September, 2017 as Public Holidays to mark Eid-il-Kabir celebration.
This was contained in a statement issued Monday in Abuja and signed by Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary DOOPS, Dr Rufa'i Kawu Attahiru. Eid-il -Kabir: Women and children praying at the National Prayers Ground, Umaru Musa Yar’radua Expressway, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
In the statement, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians, urging them to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country's democracy.
“Gen. Dambazau further urged all Nigerians to join hands with the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari in its avowed determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country, where the rights of every citizen, are protected and guaranteed, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Minister assured citizens of their safety in all parts of the country, emphasizing that security agencies have been directed to maintain the peace and protect lives and property.
“He condemned in strong terms the prevalence of Hate Speeches in the country and warned that the government would henceforth deal with perpetrators according to the law, while emphasizing that the government would continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march towards actualizing the full potential of Nigeria.
“The Honourable Minister wishes all Nigerians a most rewarding and Happy Id-el-Kabir celebration”, the statement added.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regrets over the neglect of the cocoa sector over the years, saying his administration will work to re-position it and other non-oil export commodities.
Buhari said this at the First International Cocoa Summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in collaboration with Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja on Monday.
Buhari
The President, represented by Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the country's annual production of cocoa declined from 420,000 tonnes in the 60s to 192,000 tonnes in 2015.
He noted that the position of the country had dropped from being the fourth global cocoa producing country to the seventh.
Buhari said that the theme of the conference titled `Cocoa, a strategic Commodity for National Economic Development', was apt as it was in line with his administration's agenda to diversify the economy of the country.
He appealed to stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Government to improve the production, packaging and marketing of non-oil export commodities.
"This sector has suffered neglect as a result of over reliance on crude oil.
"Government is working hard to improve the business environment for local and foreign investors as well as encouraging the development of domestic consumption.
"The Federal Government is committed to restoring the agricultural and industrial sector to its prime position and I call on all stakeholders to key into the government policy of promotion of non-oil export as an alternative source of revenue.
"I wish to assure you that the implementation of our reforms of the Ease of Doing Business will be the backbone for the repositioning of the cocoa sub- sector in Nigeria,'' he said.
In a message, Sen. Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate, called on state governors to make land available to youth farmers to cultivate cocoa.
Saraki, represented by Sen. Yusuf Abdullahi Yusuf (Taraba Central), assured cocoa farmers that the National Assembly would consider legislation aimed at promoting cocoa production in the country.
In his words, Ogbeh said that Federal Government was planning a relaunch of cocoa production in the South-West part of the country.
The minister, who said that Ondo and Cross River States produced 60 per cent of cocoa in the country, appealed to other states to join in the production to promote non-oil export.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the summit would enable stakeholders to brainstorm with a view to achieving economic diversification and maximum return on investments.
The President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr Sayina Riman, said that a five year strategic plan would be formulated at the end of the conference to move the sector forward.
"This sector is apt because we will arrive at a document to upscale Nigeria cocoa production.''
Dr Jean-Marc Anga, the Executive Director, International Cocoa Organisation, said the organisation would assist the country in the implementation of its action plan on cocoa.
Anga said that research and development was a major driving force toward improving cocoa production in Nigeria.
"We will assist Nigeria to develop a plan on cocoa but emphasis should be on quality and value addition,'' Anga said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government at the conference declared cocoa as a national drink for citizens of the country.
By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO – Bayero university, Kano has rejected the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) new benchmark of 120/100 as the university’s senate pegged 180 as minimum cut-off mark .
Briefing reporters in Kano Monday, the Director Public Affairs of Bayero University, Kano Malam Ahmad Shehu said that the university’s senate pegged 180 mark as minimum cut-off after comprehensive evaluation of the minimum recommendation set by JAMB.
The Director stressed ” what we have done in BUK is not in disagreement with what JAMB is requesting for, and don’t forget that 120 is just minimum and university has the authority to decide its minimum too”.
The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) last week released a new cut-off marks as minimum standard for admission into Federal, State and Private tertiary institutions in the country.
According to the admission board, universities are expected to admit applicants with minimum score of 120 while other institutions were pegged at 100.
Ahmed who insisted that the university justification also based on the volume of application and allotted quoter.
While maintained that 180 remain the minimum score, Ahmad insisted that the university would still sustain 200 and above for some courses including Medicine, Law and Engineering.
The university’s spokesperson hinted that courses like Hausa Language, English and other related courses would not be stepped down below 180.
On whether the decision would not affect the falling standard of education, Ahmed revealed that BUK’s cut-off marks has always fall between 200 and 180 saying the new scheme will not in any form affect standard
The Super Eagles'goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, on Monday said that the players were confident of beating Cameroon in Friday's Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier.
Ezenwa told Newsmen that the players were abreast with what was at stake which made victory imperative.
He called on Nigerians to expect victory from the match, adding that the team was ready to achieve that.
"Nigerians should expect victory from us because we are determined and are in high spirit to win Cameroon.
"In the goal post, Nigerians should expect the best from me, Akpenyi and Alampasu,'' the goalkeeper said.
Contributing, Ola Aina, who recently moved from Chelsea FC of England to Hull City, said that he and other players were in good form and very determined to give Nigeria victory.
Aina, who said he was excited playing for Nigeria instead of England, expressed optimism in the capability of the team to win Cameroon.
He said that it was an honor for him to be part of the Super Eagles that would defeat Cameroon.
Chairman Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Uba , Senator Stella Oduah, former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince John Emeka and a member of the House of Representatives, Lynda Ikpeazu on Monday, staged a protest at the venue of the PDP primaries in Anambra state over what they termed unwillingness of the party to listen to the yearnings of aspirants.
Speaking in a telephone interview with newsmen, Mr. Anayo Ekeanya, Special Adviser, Media to Senator Stella Oduah said the senator was among four other aspirants who staged a protest in Awka.
Ifeanyi Ubah
Ekeanya said other people who protested included: a member of the House of Representatives, Lynda Ikpeazu; Chairman Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Uba as well as former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince John Emeka.
According to him, the Senator has threatened to abstain from the race if the party does not consider the demands of the aspirants over the delegates' conference which was marred with irregularities.
Senator Stella Oduah
Our correspondent was unable to reach other aspirants for comment at the time of this report
Speaking in a telephone interview, Oduah confirmed the protest adding that the aspirants could not allow the party to begin another era of imposition.
She maintained that she would protest to the end or abstain from the primaries if the party does not revisit the delegates' conference.
Oduah alleged that the returning officers of the conference personally filled the result sheets that was submitted in Abuja and discarded the one used for the conference.
On Friday, Senator Oduah while addressing newsmen, said that ward congress of the party held last Wednesday to elect three delegates per ward was fraught with "irregularities and sabotage''.
"As if the case of hijacking was not enough, the ultimate result of the ward congress which was submitted by the Secretary of the panel was switched for a doctored result.
"The exercise violated all known principles of democratic practice. Several complaints have continued to trail the exercise as most party faithful are disgruntled and agitated,'' Oduah said.
She disclosed that she had petitioned the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, over the matter, and threatened to withdraw from the primary if the party failed to address the problem.
"Based on the above, I wrote to notify the chairman of my protest and intention to withdraw from the 2017 gubernatorial primaries in Anambra if the party fails to address the issues presented.
"This is because the approach employed for the party primary is not aimed at winning election.
"The implication of this is to subject loyal party faithful to stressful and rancorous primary to weaken and sap the strength of candidate that will emerge from the exercise.
"It should be recalled that this has been the reason our party has been losing gubernatorial elections in Anambra,'' she said.
…chides those insulting Buhari on ill health By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor
The National Association of Nigerians Students, NANS, has asked the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency in the nation's education sector in order to arrest the rot and instability inherent in the system.
Besides, the students drawn from ten northern states tertiary institutions, have called on the Academic Staff Unions of Universities, ASUU, to suspend its ongoing strike and return to the negotiation table with the federal government as a means of resolving the crisis in the universities.
In the document, which was jointly signed by the Convention Chairman, Comrade Adamu Kabir Matazu and Gambo Umar, the Secretary of the Zone, the students also urged the federal government to increase education funding to the 26 percent threshold specified by the United Nations in order to address the deficit in infrastructure and human capital. NANS took a swipe at some politicians playing politics with the health of President Muhammadu Buhari and asked them to stop playing God on the matter, as no human is beyond sickness.
The students said, "NANS frowns at the attitude of some Nigerians politicising the president's health challenge and appeal to them to be guided by national interest and desist from their ungodly behaviour and give the needed support to Mr. President to deliver on his mandate to Nigerians.
"We ask them to desist from their ungodly behaviour that is already heating up the polity and setting the country at odds with itself," NANS warned.
The students however praised the federal government's effort in checkmating corruption in the country and passed a vote of confidence on the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, and asked the National Assembly to stop playing politics with his confirmation.
The students also lauded the government for its unrelenting effort to contain the wave of insurgency in the North east and other militant groups in the land.
French wonderkid Ousmane Dembele shrugged off comparisons with Neymar and insisted he still has much to learn, despite becoming the second most expensive player in history as he was presented by Barcelona on Monday.
Dembele
The 20-year-old’s 105 million-euro ($125 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund could rise to 145 million with add-ons depending on his performance, as Barca splashed out to fill the gap left by Neymar’s own world record 222 million-euro move to Paris Saint-Germain.
“I’m not here to replace Neymar,” said the Frenchman.
“I will try to make good progress. I am only 20 years old and have a lot to learn. That’s why I came to this big club.”
Dembele will form a fearsome forward line alongside five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as Barca aim to wrestle the Champions League and La Liga titles back from rivals Real Madrid.
And Dembele expects to learn firsthand from Messi, who he described as the best player in history.
“It’s an honour to be a part of Lionel Messi’s team,” added Dembele.
“He’s a great player, the best player in the world, the best in the history of football and I am very happy to play in his team.
“I will learn, watch how he plays, and how he is on and off the field.”
Dembele’s Barca career got off to an inauspicious start as his presentation in front of 18,000 waiting fans at the Camp Nou was delayed for nearly two hours due to a paperwork issue in releasing his registration from Dortmund.
With the supporters’ patience tested there were whistles during the delay and chants for Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu to resign.
Barca’s board has been under huge pressure due to the club’s fading fortunes on the field and being caught cold by Neymar’s decision to leave.
The attendance was also well down on the 50,000 fans that welcomed Neymar on his presentation four years ago.
“With a player like Ousmane we have a competitive team that can aim, like every year, for the greatest success,” said Bartomeu.
Dembele finally emerged in Barca’s famous red and blue strip, sporting the number 11 jersey vacated by Neymar.
However, he will have to wait until at least September 9 to make his debut when Barca host Espanyol in a Catalan derby.
Dembele announced himself as one of Europe’s top prospects with a stellar season at Dortmund, scoring 10 goals, after joining from Rennes for just 15 million euros a year ago.
However, he had been suspended by Dortmund since he boycotted training on August 10 in protest after the German club rejected Barca’s first bid.
Dembele becomes Barca’s fifth signing of the summer after Marlon Santos, Gerard Deulofeu, Nelson Semedo and Paulinho.
And the Catalan giants intend on completing at least one more deal before the transfer window closes on Friday with Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho top of their wish list.
Coutinho, 25, hasn’t played for Liverpool since submitting a transfer request to try and force through a move earlier this month.
“My intention is that another player will come, if possible two,” said Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez.
A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Monday dissolved the four-year-old marriage between one Labake Fagbola and her husband, Seun, over barrenness and exploitation.
Mr Ademola Odunade, the President of the court held that the court was clearly convinced that Seun was taking undue advantage of Labake's childlessness.
" In the interest of peaceful coexistence, the union between Labake and Seun has ceased to be.
" To forestall any crisis and cheating, Labake shall give any of the property she is willing to give away to Seun because she owns the bakery business in contention.
"Consequently, both of you shall maintain orderliness after this judgment," said the arbitrator.
Labake had earlier told the court that her husband was taking undue advantage of her barrenness to exploit her and sleep with her employees.
"My lord, I have been through hell as a wife to Seun in the last four years as a result of my inability to conceive.
"All the steps I have taken so far to ensure pregnancy had yielded no result.
"Seun, to whom I devoted all that I have made in life, has done little or nothing to support me in my attempt to get pregnant.
"Worse still, he has suddenly and ungratefully converted the business I founded with my hard-earned resources.
"He is now laying claim to the bakery that I established, thereby, pushing me aside.
"Furthermore, I own the lion share of the money used in the purchase of the landed property which Seun had also assumed sole ownership of.
"May be he has totally given up on the hope that I might ever conceive again.
"He now sleeps with my female employees and apprentices to the extent that he is even ready to marry one of them," Labake said.
Seun, who resides at Femi Taiwo Street, Joyce B area of Ibadan, however, opposed the dissolution of the union..
The respondent also denied all the allegations levelled against him.
"My lord, it is very true that she provided the capital used in the running of the business, but it is now a jointly owned venture.
"I have also been providing both the technical support and direction.
"I am not denying the fact that she possesses most of the inputs, but my impact cannot be wished away.
"Please, my lord, I still love Labake. Help me save the union," Seun had urged the court.
The Ikeja High Court has rejected an application to vary the bail conditions brought by Marco Ramirez, an American, accused of defrauding three Nigerians of $565,000 (N204.2 million) in a green card scam.
In his ruling on Monday, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, the vacation judge said: "There is nothing before this court to support the claims of the defendant.
"The application is dismissed and I order that the file should be returned to the registry."
Ramirez had approached the court through his counsel, Mr Ademola Adefolaju, to vary the bail conditions granted him on July 10 by Justice Josephine Oyefeso.
The applicant has been reminded in Kirikiri Prisons for over two months.
"Remirez is unable to meet up with various bail conditions set out for him by the court which included providing an executive director of a company as a surety.
"At the moment, the applicant is ill and it is our sincere prayer for the court to vary his bail conditions so that he could fulfill them.
"My Lord, we have approached the court with the application for the applicant's bail conditions to be varied in the interest of justice,'' Adefolaju told the court.
On his part, Mr M.F. Owede, the Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while opposing Adefolaju's application, told the court that "Ramirez is an international fugitive."
"The defendant is a fugitive in the U.S.A. and he is already flagged by the Interpol, despite the court was magnanimous to have granted bail him bail on liberal terms.
"The court, by those conditions, did not ask for too much from the applicant. My Lord, I pray the court to dismiss this application and stick to the earlier bail conditions," Owede said. Justice Oshodi, however, noted that the application could not be heard because Ramirez was not present in court.
He said he could not just overrule Justice Oyefeso, the judge handling the case, adding that the application was incompetent.
He said there was nothing before the court to prove Ramirez's alleged ill-health.
NAN reports that the EFCC had slammed a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretences on Ramirez.
According to the anti-graft agency, Ramirez, the Managing Director of three companies — USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group — allegedly committed the offences between February 2013 and August 2013.
EFCC alleged that Ramirez fraudulently received 545,000 dollars from Godson Echejue to invest in his company — Eagleford Instalodge Group — in order to procure an American green card (residency permit) for him (Echejue).
He also allegedly received 10,000 dollars from Abubakar Umar through a non-existent investment programme in the U.S. which was billed to make Umar eligible to obtain an American passport.
The EFCC also accused Ramirez of illegally receiving yet another 10,000 dollars from Olukayode Sodimu on the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees with the American Immigration Services for an American green card.
Justice Oyesfeso had on July 10 admitted Ramirez to 250,000 dollar bail or its Naira equivalent with two sureties in like sum.
Oyefeso had ordered that one of the sureties should be resident in Lagos and a director of a reputable company with landed property in the state.
