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Ekiti Varsity Expels Student Over Physical Assault Of Fellow Student, As Police Command Investigates Incident

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bamidele Olumilua University of Education

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Police Command has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged assault of a female student at Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI).

This is just as the management of the university ordered the immediate expulsion of the student responsible for the assault.

According to report, the student, Ajayi Precious Gloria,was attacked and assaulted by a female colleague whose identities has not been disclosed.

The police command, in a statement released on Tuesday, condemned the incident and assured the public that thorough investigation would be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the assault.

Police image maker, Sunday Abutu stated that “This is to inform the general public especially all concerned citizens and good people of Ekiti State that the State Police Command is not unaware of a video circulating currently on the social media where a female student of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti(BOUESTI) was seen assaulting and molesting her fellow female student. The Command describes the act as inhumane and unacceptable.

“The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, mni, has therefore, ordered a discreet investigation into the incident as he has already directed Ikere Area Commander to liaise with the Management of the Institution and ensure the perpetrator is identified, .investigated and made to face the legal consequence(s) of her barbaric action.

“Meanwhile, members of the public are implored to be calm and avoid taking laws into their hands as necessary action is underway.”

The management of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere, in Ekiti State has expelled one of its students captured in a viral video assaulting and flogging fellow student with a stick.

It was gathered that the management took the decision on Tuesday after a disciplinary committee was set up to investigate the incident which reportedly happened on Sunday in one of the hostels.

In the viral video, the bully ignored pleas from the victim, saying, “Let me draw blood from you easily or hardly.”

The incident reportedly took place on Sunday, the same day the video appeared on social media. The witness who recorded the video claimed it occurred on BOUESTI’s campus.

According to the video’s commentator, the victim is Ajayi Precious Gloria, while the perpetrator is a “very popular” Mass Communication student, suggesting that the two were friends.

Although the reason for the attack is not yet known, the video showed other individuals present during the assault, yet no one attempted to intervene.

Kano: Potential Couples To Undergo Health Screening Under New Law

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Couples going into marriage in Kano state without certified health certificate will now be liable to five years imprisonment, an option of fine or both.

This follows the signing into law by Kabir Yusuf, the Kano State Premarital Health Screening Law, mandating health screening for all potential couples.

Under the new regulation, no wedding will be allowed in Kano without a health screening certificate for genotype, hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and other related illness.

The governor’s spokesman, Bature Dawakin Tofa, explained that the law aims to “reduce the likelihood of children being born with underlying health issues such as sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis.”

“The law mandates testing for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, genotype, and other relevant examinations before marriage.

“It also prohibits discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis, and other related conditions.”

Governor Yusuf mentioned at the signing ceremony that the aim of the is “to uphold the sanctity of marriages in Kano State and ensure the birth of healthy offspring, free from any preventable illnesses.”

The law was enacted by the state house of assembly and approved by the Kano state governor on May 6, 2024, and will become effective on May 13, 2024.

The law mandates that anyone planning to get married must undergo HIV, Hepatitis B and C, genotype, and any other relevant tests before the wedding.

Furthermore, it is illegal to formalize a marriage contract for couples who do not possess a test certificate from a government-approved health facility.

The law stipulates that anyone who violates it will be committing an offense and could face a fine of up to five hundred thousand Naira, imprisonment for at least five years, or both.

CSO Groups Launch Global Campaign Against Oil Pipelines Contract For Ex-Militants; Blame Saboteurs For Fuel Scarcity

By
Akinwale Kasali
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CSO Groups Launch Global Campaign Against Oil Pipelines Contract

By Akinwale Kasali

The call for the revocation of Pipeline Contract Licenses to Ex-Militants is yet to abate as a Coalition of Civil Society Groups In Lagos has launched a global campaign against it.

The Group said the involvement of ex-militants in Oil Economic Management and distribution is partly responsible for the current fuel scarcity in the country.

It added that it would continue the protest to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Members of Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Economic Community for West African States, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, UN, Security Council to ensure Nigeria stops the habit of awarding pipeline protection to people with historic link with terrorism, banditry and rebellion against the Nigerian State.

Close to a thousand members of the Group gathered in Lagos with placards calling on President Tinubu to halt the growing custom of giving oil pipelines protection contracts to people associated with violence and banditry in Nigeria.

The Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, CSC-MAP, established in 2010,  said the campaign was necessary to stop the proliferation of arms in Nigeria.

The Group said that the reforms made by President Tinubu is commendable for his genuine intention, his economic reforms and his courage and determination to deal with the rot in the oil sector.

It added that the crisis in the oil sector as seen in the current fuel scarcity is partly a product of the engagement of ex-militants in the oil economy which strengthens them to hold the country to ransom and sometimes use their network to create artificial scarcity.

Speaking further, Popoola Ajayi, General Secretary of the Group said that the most dangerous threat to democracy is the proliferation of arms and pockets of violence across the country.

Ajayi said that President Tinubu needs peace and stability to be able to deliver the dividends of democracy.

“Today, we have launched the beginning of mass campaign to free Nigeria from the source of terror to create a free, prosperous and strong country”.

It also disclosed that it is networking with local and international organizations to intensify the campaign against the award of contract to people suspected to be linked with armed insurrection against the Nigerian State

“We have started building a network with groups across the country and in the West Africa sub region.This is the second of such rallies to sensitise Nigerians on the need to immediately stop the award of oil pipeline contracts to people associated with violence”

Ajayi said the group will also these Peaceful rallies will be held in Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja and at the ECOWAS headquarters. He said the rallies will be peaceful.

“It is to depeen democracy and create peace and harmony in Nigeria. It is to block a major source of arms proliferation which undermines democratic development and sustainable livelihood in Nigeria,’ he said.

The group said this week they would deliver its protest letters to the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, OPEC and ECOWAS.

“We are going to write letters to Presidents of all OPEC members. We are producing 1million pamphlets to be distributed across Nigeria. We are also producing T-shirts that every Nigeria can put on. We are also going to stage a protest at the National Assembly in Abuja”, Popoola said.

Speaking at the rally, Mallam Abuka Nuru, the coordinator in Northern Nigeria said, “We want peace in Nigeria. We comment the efforts of President Tinubu. We commend his reforms in the oil sector. We commend his determination and his commitment to democracy. We support the Coastal Roads. It Will open up the Niger Delta and ensure greater business opportunities”.

He add that President Tinubu has set best practices in his determination to deal with poor road network between the Niger Delta and the remaining states of the Federation.

“As he marks one year in Nigeria, we say that he his efforts are commendable. He needs to do something urgently.

“What President Tinubu should go further to ensure peace in Nigeria.Without peace, development is not possible. The first point of call is to tackle arms proliferation in Nigeria including the Niger Delta which produces oil, the mainstay of Nigerian economy”, Nuru said.

The Rights Group said they are worried about armed conflict in Nigeria and in the West African sub-region and the implication for peace and sustainable development in Nigeria and the danger of awarding oil pipeline contracts to leaders of armed rebels that had waged war against Nigeria in the past saying that the group is determined to forge a country where peace and prosperity reign.

The Niger Delta region is made up of nine states namely, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Abia, Imo, Bayelsa, River, Akwa-Ibom and Ondo States.What ever happens in these states, the groups said,  have the potential of affecting the entire country

CSC-MAP said awarding oil pipeline protection to ex-militants is an indirect way of arming them since they can use the funds realised from the contract to import illicit weapons into the country. ‘We are worried that the potential to hold Nigeria ransom is growing, the prospect of building individuals above the country is becoming legendary. We have to rise to this occasion.’

They said the contracts for ex-militants violates the international conventions that protect the rights of indigenous people from violence and environmental destruction.

Such conventions include but not limited to the following: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” that has been ratified by 196 nations.

There is also the Convention No. 169 represents a consensus reached by ILO tripartite constituents on the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples within the nation-States where they live and the responsibilities of governments to protect these rights.

All these conventions are relevant in the current debate. The award of contracts to elements linked with armed rebellion undermine these international conventions.

The CSC-MAP is also aware of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is an international instrument adopted by the United Nations on September 13, 2007, to enshrine (according to Article 43) the rights that “constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous people.

This treaty establishes common international standards for regulating the international trade in conventional arms, and seeks to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion.

The Arms Trade Treaty requires all states-parties to adopt basic regulations and approval processes for the flow of weapons across international borders, establishes common international standards that must be met before arms exports are authorized, and requires annual reporting of imports and exports to a treaty

Awarding pipeline protection to people associated with banditry is dangerous and raises fundamental questions about the security of Nigeria and the prospect of continuous proliferate of arms in Nigeria.

We are also aware that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

The OPEC’s objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.

In terms of OPEC international principles, awarding oil pipeline contacts to leaders of armed groups undermines the integrity of Nigeria in OPEC and in other international forum and in the comity of nations.

The Group however demands that the United Nations Security Council should impress on the Nigerian government to stop the award of pipeline contracts to people linked in the past or present to armed insurgency in Nigeria.

It added that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS should be aware of what is going on in Nigeria, the regional body should impress on Nigeria to stop the tradition of giving pipeline contracts to ex-militants, armed militants and known terrorists.

It also revealed that the Group have already sent a petition to Organisation of Petroleum Producing Countries, OPEC should reinforce international standards to ensure pipeline protection is not associated with armed groups and militants in any of the member states. OPEC President should as a matter of fact insist that member states must henceforth stop the award of oil contracts to armed groups.

It urged President Tinubu as a matter of urgency to set up a judicial inquiry to probe the proliferation of arms in Niger-Delta.

It added that the International community should ensure that henceforth, no pipeline contract should be given to individuals linked to banditry, kidnapping and violence in the Niger-Delta.

The Group is however set to embark on intensive campaign in Nigeria and at the International community, against the award of pipeline contracts to elements associated with terrorism.

It also urged President Tinubu to investigate the possible collusion of officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, with the deal that has surrendered pipeline protection to suspected criminal elements once associated with armed rebellion against the Nigerian State.

It stressed that the CSC-MAP is not in anyway opposed to professional stakeholders engaged in pipeline protection, but its concern is the involvements of people once associated with armed insurrection against the Nigerian state.

Why JAMB Still Withholds 64,000 UTME Examination Results, Releases Additional 531

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Ishaq Oloyede

By Ayodele Oni

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that it is continuing with the screening of over 64,000 withheld results of the recently conducted Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) due to cases of examination misconduct.

This is just as the board announced on Tuesday release of additional 531 results making the total number of results released to 1,842,897.

This is contained in a statement by the Public Communication Advisor of the Board, Dr Fabian Benjamin in Abuja.

He added that “In the course of the exercise, other cases of examination misconduct were also established to make a tally of 92 from the 81 initially discovered.”

According to him, the Board is also looking at cases of unverified candidates and would soon come up with a position.

He added that the attention of the Board has been drawn to some fallacious publications purporting that an unknown candidate, who did not sit for the Board’s 2024 UTME obtained scores.

Benjamin described this as fake, malicious and a calculated attempt to undermine the integrity of the Board, while urging the public to disregard such publications.

He pointed out that the publication which levels such a grievous allegation, has no details of the candidate for proper verification.

“The Board is not surprised as this is the season of mischief makers, who would want to deceive gullible candidates.

“The examination template of the Board is designed with the highest sense of responsibility and is not an allocation platform where scores are doled out to candidates.

“It is most unfortunate that anybody could even believe such narration or that the story could even gain traction given the Board’s integrity.

“This again has gone to further vindicate the Board’s stance that candidates should desist from disclosing their classified details to third-parties.”

He stated further that in investigating some of these allegations, the Board discovered that some of these mischief makers copy results sent to other candidates.

“They then edit the details sent to them and then parade this as emanating from the Board.

“The Board challenges any candidate, parent or anybody with such a claim to prove it wrong by coming forward with the details of such claims, and the phone number with which such results were conveyed.”

Benjamin maintained that this development would only propel the Board to further tighten the process of checking its results to make it more personalized adding that it would be stringent when it should actually be a simple and straightforward exercise.

“The Board reiterated that neither its results nor any of its processes have been compromised.

“Hence, it will continue to protect the integrity of its systems against such malicious actors, who are hell-bent on creating confusion where none existed.”

Benjamin said that the Board will add more features like registration number to the existing UTME Result checking process going forward, to make it extra difficult for anybody to edit.

Ekiti Police Command Says Pastor Demanding Money For Rapture Not Recent

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nigeria Police Force

By Ayodele Oni

The Ekiti State Police Command has explained that it actually prosecuted a Pastor that charged  his church members N310,00 to fly them to heaven.

The command, while expressing surprise at a current trending video about the incident stated that the incident happened two years ago.

A statement on Tuesday by Sunday Abutu, Command’s spokesman advised members of the public to take note that the incident was not a recent one.

“Ekiti state Police Command noticed a video currently circulating on the social media concerning one Pastor Ade Abraham of Christ High Commission Ministry who allegedly charged members of his church a sum of three hundred and ten thousand naira (₦310,00:00) each to fly them to heaven.

“The Pastor was equally alleged to have convinced his followers to relocate to a camp in Ekiti State in order to prepare them for the rapture.

“The Command wishes to state clearly that though the news is not untrue, but it is staled as the incident occurred over two years ago precisely in April, 2022.

“Members of the public are therefore implored to give less or no attention to the resurfacing video as the Command, after receiving the complaint from some of the members of the church on 27th April, 2022, invited the alleged Pastor, investigated and prosecuted him accordingly.”

Atiku’s Bitterness, Alarming, He Is  Kettle Calling Pot Black – Presidency Tackles Fmr. VP Over Seyi Tinubu, Coastal Highway

By
The Source
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0

In a stinging, strongly- worded statement, the Presidency has tackled former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, over his stand on the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Way and attack on Seyi Tinubu, a son of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Sunday, Atiku, a strong opponent to everything, almost, about the Coastal Highway, had said that the contract may have been given to HITECH, a competent Company, because Seyi is on the Board of CDK, a tile manufacturing company where the Chagourys, the main promoters of HITECH, also has an interest, coupled with the fact that the Chagourys are friends of President Tinubu.

But in the response signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, the Presidency accused Atiku of judging others by his own standards. It pointed out the number of times Atiku, while in office, either as a Customs Officer or Nigeria’s Vice President, committed exactly the same offence he is accusing President Tinubu of committing.

In a strong defence of Seyi, the statement said that Seyi, a 38-year old, is a full grown, independent adult who is free to conduct his own affairs and run his businesses anywhere in the world, and wondered if being the President’s son stops him from running his life and businesses.

The statement revealed that Seyi became a Board member since 2018, and disclosed that the highest shareholder in the company is retired Lt. General TY Danjuma – not the Chagourys who have only a Board member, or Seyi Tinubu.

Following is the full text of the Presidency’s response to Atiku.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR’S PENCHANT FOR DISTORTING FACTS

“Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, is fast developing a reputation for distorting and manipulating facts for his self-serving objective of discrediting the current administration.

“In his latest press statement, the defeated PDP presidential candidate made wild claims on a number of issues that need to be corrected so that the public will not be misled into accepting fallacies as the truth.

“The President Bola Tinubu-led administration believes that every true and patriotic Nigerian, regardless of political differences, should work to promote the unity and economic well-being of the country and not delegitimise genuine efforts of the federal government to encourage local and foreign investments into the economy.

“Contrary to Atiku’s claim, the Tinubu administration, within its first year, has attracted over $20 billion into the economy. While President Tinubu was in New Delhi, India for G20 Summit last year August, Indian business leaders committed over $14 billion in new investments. A substantial part of this sum is already in the country.

In an unmistakable vote of confidence in the economic reforms being executed by the Tinubu administration, foreign investment in Nigeria’s stock market has ballooned, from N18.12 billion in Q1 2023 to N93.37 billion in Q1 2024, an increase of 415%. The last time Nigeria saw such level of investment was in the first quarter of 2019, when N97.6 billion was invested. The market, since Tinubu came to power, has broken records and created more wealth for the investors.

During President Tinubu’s recent trip to The Netherlands, the Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, announced a fresh $ 250 million investment by Dutch businesses in Nigeria.

“Different sectors of the economy, especially telecoms, manufacturing, solid minerals, oil and gas, e-commerce, and fintech, are attracting new Foreign Direct Investments from discerning investors who know Nigeria is a good market for bountiful returns.

We found it strange that Atiku could accuse President Tinubu of conflict of interest in the award of Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway to Hitech Construction Company which he claimed is owned by Chagoury family because the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, sits on the board of CDK, a tiles manufacturing company, based in Sagamu, Ogun State.

“Nigerians should, by now, be well accustomed to Atiku’s hypocrisy on many national issues. Is it not amusing that the former vice president, a man who openly said he formed Intels Nigeria with an Italian businessman when he was serving in the Nigeria Customs Service, a clear breach of extant public service regulations, is now the one accusing someone else of conflict of interest?

When he was Vice President of Nigeria between 1999-2007, he maintained his business links with Intels that won major port concession deals.

“Was this not an abuse of office, a flagrant violation of his oath, that a company where he was a co-owner won major government contracts and concessions when he was vice president?

As Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, he approved sales of over 145 State-owned enterprises to his known friends and associates and openly said during his failed campaign for the presidency last year that he would do the same, if elected.

“It is important to state clearly that Seyi Tinubu is a 38 year-old adult who has a right to do business and pursue his business interests in Nigeria and anywhere in the world within the limits of the law. The fact that his father is now the President of Nigeria does not disqualify Seyi from pursuing legitimate business interests.

“For the records, Seyi joined the Board of Directors of CDK in 2018, more than six years ago. He is representing the interest of an investor company, in which he has interest. He is not a board member because his father is a friend of the Chagourys. Information about owners and shareholders of CDK is a matter of public record that can be openly accessed from the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission and CDK’s. Atiku and his proxy did not need a little-known journal to recycle open-source information to make a fallacious argument. The Chairman of CDK and the highest shareholder of the company is respected General TY Danjuma (rtd). The Chagourys are minority shareholders in the company, and only one member of the clan is on its five-man board.

We wonder how Seyi’s membership of the board of CDK conflicts with Hitech Construction Company’s work on Lagos-Calabar Coastal superhighway.

“Alhaji Atiku has been waging an unrelenting war against this all-important and transformative project for no justifiable reasons other than bad politics. Atiku knows that its grand success and other projects to be unfurled, such as the Badagry-Sokoto superhighway, will be a major boost for President Tinubu and finally upend his perennial presidential ambition.

“If not blinded by political ill-will, Atiku knows that the right thing for him to do is to applaud President Tinubu for the ambitious and audacious Lagos-Calabar Highway, which was authorised by the Federal Executive Council.

“It is important to remind Atiku that infrastructural projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are used to galvanise the economy. In the US, President Joe Biden has used his $2 trillion bi-partisan infrastructure deal to revamp decaying American infrastructure and inject life into the US economy.

“How can an elder-statesman be waging a campaign of calumny against the economic fortunes and prosperity of a country he wishes to govern or trying to scuttle a project that will bring prosperity to nine coastal states and the nation in general?

“That Nigeria’s economy is being reclassified by the IMF as the fourth largest in Africa is stale news. This happened because of the devaluation of the Naira and President Tinubu’s determined effort to set the economy on the path of sustainable growth. Under the progressive, bold, inventive, and innovative leadership of President Tinubu, Nigeria will bounce back to where it rightfully belongs as Africa’s largest market and biggest economy.

“The Tinubu administration targets a $1 trillion economy in the next few years, with audacious economic programmes and critical infrastructure projects in key sectors . With revenue rising in trillions and the creation of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, which is poised to raise over N20 trillion this year alone, we have no doubt that the $ 1 trillion economy is realisable.

“Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, May 6, 2024.”

Osun: “I Did Not Borrow N10bn”, Adeleke Counters Critics

By
James Orji
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0

The rebuttal comes on the heels of claims that his government obtained the loan to fund some critical infrastructure since he came to office two years ago.

The governor issued the denial in a statement by his Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed in Osogbo, the state capital on Monday.

Governor Adeleke’s denial also came following a suit filed by SERAP against 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for obtaining close to N6 billion without recourse to due process.

The human rights body also accused the governors and FCT minister of mismanaging the huge loans, because such loans have allegedly reflected on the lives of their people.

Adeleke however said he did not obtain any loan describing the claim not to be ‘true.”

“Our attention has been drawn to a report by the Nation Newspaper alleging that Governor Ademola Adeleke has taken a loan of over ten billion naira. We strongly affirm that the story is not true”.

He said critical infrastructure in the state have been financed through the “state  resources”.

The statement said: “Governor Adeleke has not at any point since assuming office taken any loan either through a resolution of the State Executive Council or that of the State House of Assembly.

“The ongoing multi-billion naira infrastructure projects across Osun have no loan components. They are all being financed through state resources. The dualisation of roads, the overhead bridges, the school and health centres upgrades, and several roads projects are being funded through  special project account created by the State Government.

“What the newspaper report referred to as loans taken by Governor Adeleke were World Bank Development financing which were inherited from the previous administrations and which are national projects operated through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Economic Council amongst others.

“Such programmes of World Bank and multilateral institutions development includes  Ilesa Water project; establishment of Osun Investment Promotion Local Business Offices across nine Federal Constituencies; O-Cares For Agricultural Support Services; World Bank On Saber For Development Of PPP;  World Bank On Saber For Establishment Of Osun Investment Promotion One-Stop-Shop.

“Others include World Bank On O-Cares Projects For Coordination Of State Cares (O-Cares) Activities; World Bank On Rural Access And AgriculturalMarketing Project (Raamp 3) for Rural Development Projects; World Bank For Community And Social Development Project On O-Cares; World Bank For Labour Intensive Public Workfare On O-Cares and World Bank For Social Support Programme (Cash Transfer To Indigent Elderly On Osun Covid-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus) – (O-Cares).

“As can be seen from the above, all the projects are related to the World Bank country programme for Nigeria which targets subnational entities using the mechanism of the Nigerian Governors Forum and the National Economic Council. Previous Governors in Osun State joined in the implementation of the projects which Governor Adeleke inherited.”

The governor said what the state currently owes are loans left by his predecessors.

“We reaffirm again that Governor Adeleke has not borrowed a kobo since assuming office. Inherited liabilities and contracts cannot be tagged on the Governor of the Year on Infrastructure,” he said.

Bank Customers To Pay 0.5 Percent Cybersecurity Fee To NSA

By
James Orji
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0

Commercial bank customers are now to pay 0.5 percent cybersecurity fee for making electronic transfer, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has disclosed.

The Yemi Cardoso-led apex bank made this known on Monday in a circular issued to banks operating in the country.

The directive comes on the heel of complaints by bank customers that transaction charges from their accounts is already to many.

Some customers had on many occasions reported some banks to the CBN for charging various fees from their accounts, the new fee, analysts insist will further generate serious furore from the banking public.

According to the circular sent to banks yesterday, the cybersecurity fee shall be deducted at the point of making electronic transfer and remitted by the banks.

The CBN stated that the circular which is in line with the Cyber security Act of 2015 was a follow-up on an earlier one dated June 25, 2018 (Ref: BPS/DIR/GEN/CIR/05/008) and October 5, 2018. .

Following the enactment of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (amendment) Act 2024 and under the provision of Section 44 (2)(a) of the Act, a levy of 0.5 per cent (0.005) equivalent to a half per cent of all electronic transactions value by the business specified in the Second Schedule of the Act, is to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund which the Office of the National Security Adviser shall administer, the apex bank said.

The CBN said: “The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination, then deducted and remitted by the financial institution. The deducted amount shall be reflected in the customer’s account with the narration, ‘Cybersecurity Levy’.

“Deductions shall commence within two weeks from the date of this circular for all financial institutions and the monthly remittance of the levies collected in bulk to the NCF account domiciled at the CBN by the fifth business day of every subsequent month.”

The implementation of the circular starts in two weeks, the apex ban said warning banks to comply strictly failure of which defaulting banks will pay not less than two per cent of their annual turnover as penalty.

Tinubu Can Rule From Anywhere, Atiku Ex Aide Tackles Him

By
James Orji
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0

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence from the country has generated an altercation between the 2023 presidential flagbearer of the PDP Atiku Abubakar and Daniel Bwala, his former spokesman.

Atiku had recently challenged the presidency to inform Nigerians the whereabout of the president who has not been seen in public for clos to two weeks.

The former vice president had accused the president and Kassim Shetima, the current vice president of leaving the country rudderless at a critical time when their presence is greatly required due to the challenges facing the country.

The former PDP presidential candidate’s remarks came following serious concerns among Nigerians on the absence of President Tinubu who was last seen in public when he attended the World Economic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 26.

The president has reportedly travelled from Saudi Arabia to France where he’s currently receiving medical treatment. The Source magazine cannot authoritatively confirm this report.

The Presidency has also kept mum over the issue, thus causing more apprehension among not a few Nigerians.

Reacting, Bwala said the physical presence of the president is not required to govern the country, stating that Tinubu can rule from anywhere in the world.

Citing section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, Bwala who dumped the PDP early this year, and has since been supporting the president stated that the president and his vice are not required by the law to be present in the country before they can govern.

The former spokesman for Atiku made the remark on his official X handle on Monday.

He said: “The president @officialABAT is in charge of the country and can govern from anywhere in the world whether the vice president is also in Nigeria or not. Aso Villa is not a block industry and the president is not a bricklayer. Read Section 5 of the constitution.”

While demanding information on the whereabout of President Tinubu, PDP former candidate said it’s unprecedented that the president and his vice will leave the country at the same time, accusing them of abandoning the country at a time when she’s facing “daunting challenges”.

“I have been inundated by reports of the absence of the president and vice president from the country.

“It is unprecedented that the two leaders will be absent from the country at the same time, especially now that the nation is faced with daunting challenges.

“The question that readily comes to mind is: who is in charge of government at this point, or is it right to assume that we are on autopilot?” Atiku said on his X handle on Monday.

The magazine reported that Vice President Shetima was to travel to the United States to represent President Tinubu, but later forced to abandon the trip after the Presidential aircraft developed a fault.

VP Shettima Aborts US Trip As Presidential Jet Develops Fault Mid-air

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

Nigeria was saved a huge embarrassment or worse, when a jet, in the Presidential Fleet, with Vice President Kashim Shettima on board, successfully made an air return.

VP Shettima was on his way to Dallas, Texas, United States of America, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the high profile 2024 US-Africa Business Summit. Shettima was seen at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when he was seen off by a number of Government officials. He, thereafter, boarded the aircraft and departed.

However, shock registered on the faces of onlookers when the aircraft made an air-return over what was said to be a “technical fault.”

For precautionary measures, the Vice President cancelled  the trip. President Tinubu will now be represented at the Summit by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who arrived Dallas earlier to attend the Summit with the VP and other representatives of the Nigerian Government.

A statement signed by the Media Aide to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha  confirmed that Tuggar would represent President Tinubu at the Summit.

Nkwocha said the cancellation of the VP’s trip followed “a technical fault with his aircraft, forcing him to make a detour on the advice of Presidential Air Fleet.

On the Summit which the VP  would now miss, Nkwocha explained: “The high-profile Summit taking place at the  Kay Baily Hutchison Convention Centre, will bring together political and budiness leaders from across Africa, the United States and other regions. It features high level dialogues, networking sessions and plenaries.”

Until the VP’s aborted trip, not a few Nigerians had wondered how both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima would be out of the Country at the same time

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