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Imo: Gunmen Abduct Traditional Ruler, Owner of Udekings Limited

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The Source
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By Charles Igbo

After months of break from the abduction of Traditional Rulers in Imo, the sacrilege has resumed.

Gunmen, on Friday, abducted the Traditional Ruler of Isiala Umudi  Autonomous Community in the Nkwerre Local Government Area, His Royal Highness Eze Jewel Ndenkwo.

Eze Ndenkwo who is also a renowned business man owns a chain of businesses, including one of the biggest and well stock Electronic shops/ Exotic Furniture Companies in Owerri, Imo State.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Udekings NIgeria Ltd located at the very busy Tetlow road in Owerri Municipal. Branch are, also, located in Lagos.

His Highness was abducted in front of his company’s office, Tetlow road, in the capital city of the State.

Eye witnesses say he was abducted at about 7.00pm when he was all set to go home after the business of the day. The Gunmen fired a number of shots to scare people, all of whom ran away for their lives. In the confusion, nobody was able to know how many his abductors were or how he was forced into a vehicle.

A couple of months ago, Gunmen were in the habit of abducting Imo Traditional Rulers. They have l killed, at least, four of them. Two were killed wben Gunmen stormed the venue where the Traditional Rulers were holding a meeting at the Headquarters of the.Njaba Local Government Area.

At the time of filing this story, the abductors have not made any contact with family. The fate of the Traditional Ruler is unknown.

The Imo State Police Command was yet to make a Statement.

Ogun State Passes LG Autonomy Bill; NULGE Lauds Governor Abiodun

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has applauded the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and the Ogun State House of Assembly for the passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill.

The move by the State Government means that Ogun State is the first among other South West States to pass the LG Autonomy Bill in the country.

Ambali Olatunji, NULGE President, said it was a new dawn for Local Government development in State following the bold step taken by the Governor and the House, saying that it shows the commitment of the Governor Abiodun administration towards the actualization and independent of the Local Government.

Ambali, speaking to Journalists following the visit of the NULGE Officials to governor Abiodun in Abeokuta, the State Capital, declared that the Union is happy with the Governor.

He said that the present administration in the State is the first State in the Southwest to pass the Local Government Autonomy Bill.

The NULGE President said that the Governor during the meeting, promised to look at the issue of strengthening the Local Governments in the State with assurance to look at issues bordering on internally generated revenue of the councils.

“If the Governor had not consented, the House of Assembly wouldn’t have passed the Local Government Autonomy Bill. In fact, in the Southwest, Ogun State happens to be the first that passed the bill.

“We wish the Governor success, and we at the NULGE have directed that any state that passes Local Government Autonomy Bill should be supported by Local Government workers, we mean that.

“We have come to, also, reassure the governor that we are on the same page, we love him and we pray that God will continue to sustain him so that very soon, he will be the best in the country.

“On the issue of the internally generated revenue, the governor directed that a committee be set up with the view of releasing some to Local Governments to ensure that they become more functional”, Ambali stated.

While declaring that local government workers in the state would definitely support the second term ambition of Governor Abiodun, the NULGE president said “with God and with our support, we know that God will give him victory”.

He further commended Governor Abiodun for his promise to ensure that all the twenty local governments in the state are provided with graders and bulldozers, adding that the move would ensure that more rural roads are graded across the state.

“The governor assured us that when the rain subsides, his administration will be rolling out one grader and one bulldozer to every local government and there will be massive road grading and development across the state,” he said.

Ambali who also noted that the meeting was a further attestation to the genuine commitment, respect and relationship of the Governor Abiodun-led administration with workers and labour unions in the state, commended the governor for sustaining the payment of gross salary to workers in the state.

”The meeting is historic, it is fantastic, it has further demonstrated the genuine commitment of Governor Abiodun-led administration’s respect for workers, cherished relationship with labour unions and the zeal to further scale up infrastructural development at the local government level.

“On the issue of gross payment of salary, the governor vowed that he is going to sustain the practice of paying gross salary. This had led to several industrial actions with the past administration, but the governor has approved it, he has commenced it and he will continue to do that,” he said.

Ambali while acknowledging the decision of the governor to continue to do his best with matters that has to do with workers promotion exercises, also commended Abiodun for what he has done in respect of infrastructure across the state despite dwindling finance.

He further appreciated the governor for not sacking any worker in the local government service, lauded his decision to recruit essential workers in the local government service.

NFF: Gov Akeredolu Drums Support For Ondo Indigene

By
Ayodele Oni
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Otunba Dele Ajayi

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has described Otunba Dele Ajayi as the right candidate for the position of the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Governor Akeredolu said Otunba Dele Ajayi, who is from the state, is competent, experienced and very passionate about football development in the country.

 A statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, quoted Akeredolu as saying “Dele Ajayi has the pre-requisite experience to emerge as the first Vice President of the NFF.

“As the current Chairman of Ondo State Football Association, he has inspired youths and players in football development.

“As a former Executive Member of NFF, he understands the workings of the football federation.

“He had served as a Chairman, NFF Committee on Finance and Audit. He’s rich in experience and very passionate about football.

“Under his coordination, we have witnessed  grassroots football development through Statewide league.

“We are confident of his commitment to the development of football in the country and success of our national team.”

The Governor enjoined stakeholders to join hands and support Ajayi for the position of the NFF first Vice President, adding that he is the best candidate for the job.

No Scheduled Fee For Nigerian Law School For Now – DG Reacts To Hike In Fee

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

A list which has gone viral containing total fees of about N1.2 million payable by students admitted into the Nigerian Law School for 2022/2023 session is fake after all.

According to the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma SAN the reports of an alleged increase in the fees payable by students of the school for the 2022/2023 session does not emanate from management of the school.

A viral picture making rounds since Friday shows a 400% increase in the fees of the institution from around N292,000 to N1,210,000.

The figure which was represented on a slip with the law school logo has since elicited reactions on the basis for the astronomical increase in the law school fees.

The DG, roundly denounced the viral schedule of fees describing it as the handiwork of criminally minded students who intend to extort their parents.

“These are students who want to cheat their parents. They went to do a letterhead paper to siphon money from their parents.

 “From N292,000 to N1.3million? It’s not even possible. They do this every year. This are bunch of people who want to extort their parents.

 “This cannot be possible. How can we increase from N296,000  to N1.3 million, not even 500 or 600,000? This is not possible. This is a 400% increase, how can that even be possible? This is not us.”

The DG attributed this to students who wanted to defraud their parents, and according to the DG they do this every year. “These are bunch of criminals. They do this every year.

“Some in the past have made the fees 3 million, 4 million to defraud their parents, and parents are eager to pay up just to send them away from home.

 “We don’t share on social media. If you want to get out infomation, you will find it on our website.”

According to him, the school is only just receiving applications for the 2022/2023 session and cannot make any publication on scheduled fees at this stage.

2023 Presidency: Chris Okotie Reveals Why Obi Will Lose

By
James Orji
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Chris Okotie

Pastor Chris Okotie of the Household of God church, has disclosed that only the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC have the structures to win the presidential election in the country.

The man of God may be referencing Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP those closely watching the current state of politics in the country have said.

The Independently National Electoral Commission, INEC recently released the timetable for next year’s general election, with at least three major political parties positioning themselves to clinch power.

Apart from the PDP and APC the LP has recently become popular among Nigerians as a result of its presidential candidate Obi, a former Governor of Anambra state.

Obi had dumped the PDP for LP earlier in the year, citing insincerity on the part of his former party to conduct a fair and free presidential primary.

The belief among not a few Nigerians is that the LP with Obi as its candidate could pull a major surprise, particularly considering his popularity among young voters.

The INEC had during its recently concluded voters registration exercise noted that many young Nigerians registered as new voters during the process.

No fewer than eight million young Nigerians registered during the exercise, and are now prepared to vote for candidates of their choice, the electoral umpire said.

In spite of the popularity of Obi among many Nigerians, Okotie, a former presidential candidate of the FRESH party, who recently called for the institution of an Interim government headed by him, said only PDP and APC stand the chance of winning the presidential election in 2023.

Okotie told the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC that the country is not structured for small political parties to win the presidential election.

Even with a popular candidate like Obi contesting, the LP would not able to defeat the two frontline political parties, the controversial clergyman said.

He said PDP and APC have become too powerful to be defeated at the polls having ruled the country for 23 years.

According to Okotie, “Only the PDP and the APC have the national spread and network required to win the Presidency. No small party has such capacity.

“Until the political system is restructured to shift the emphasis away from parties to the people, the dominant parties would continue to hold sway.

“If I join any of these parties, I would become part of the problem. Most of the big men go to these parties because all they want is power for personal aggrandizement. I don’t want anyone to take from me the land that God gave to me.”

Anambra: Anglican Church Loses Priest To Polygamy; Says God Has Opened His Eyes That It Is Not A Sin

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The Source
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Rev Ogbuchukwu Lotanna

By Charles Igbo

The Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria, has experienced the unbelievable.

In Anambra State, the Church has lost one of its ordained Priests to polygamy.

Rev. Ogbuchukwu Lotanna has quit Priesthood to pursue his new vision of promoting polygamy.

The Reverend, who is also a Lawyer, said he got a Divine Mandate to promote polygamy. And because his new Call will not allow him to remain as a Priest of the Anglican Communion,  he quit.

He said contrary to beliefs long held by the Church, the Bible does not condemn polygamy. What it condems, he claims, is adultery and divorce of any kind. The aim of his new mandate is to encourage men to take more than one wife at a time. The advantage, according to him, is two-fold.  It will stop men from lusting after women not their wives, and it will reduce the number of unmarried girls.

According to the Priest, for decades on end, the Church has hidden the fact that the Bible upholds polygamy.

His congregation and colleagues are said to be in deep shock. One congregant was quoted as saying “Pastor has deceived us. He has been living a double-life. We were ignorant of this side of him.”

The Anglican Church condemns polygamy and denies those involved in it from partaking in the Holy Communion. The Roman Catholic Church, too, does not support it. Nor do some  other Churches. He has, therefore, started a new Ministry to be called Gideonites  and the place of worship, Gideonites Temple

It is not known if  Reverend Ogbuchukwu already has more than one wife, or planning on having more than one wife, but he is quoted as saying: “It is obvious that the Church, especially, the Anglican Church, has been teaching against the concept of polygamy, but the Lord has opened my eyes to the reality that polygamy is not a sin.”

Reverend Ogbuchukwu is a new Priest. He was ordained on December 22, 2019. He is of the Nnewi Diocese. There is no reaction, yet, from the Leadership of the Church – either from the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese or the Metropolitan.

Kwara PDP Doubts Authenticity Of Government – Hired Audit Firm

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Kwara state has challenged the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) to clarify the status of an audit firm purportedly hired to handle state government accounts.

PDP, in a statement at the weekend insists that findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC) show that the audit firm is moribound.

The statement, signed by the Publicity Secretary, Tunji Moronfoye described the transaction as “another unfortunate shady transaction perpetuated by the Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC) regime, led by Mal. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

“According to the results of our legal query undertaken at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it was discovered that the audit firm purportedly “hired” by the incompetent and mediocre regime, SSAC Advisory and Proffessional limited, is an inactive or dormant firm.

“This is according to a CAC signed report. Simply put; the company has not been making returns, declaring its income or paying any taxes.

“This is the same firm that the Mal. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq regime, purportedly hired to carry out a “forensic audit” for Kwara state.

“Following the evidence, we hereby put it to the Mal. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led APC party regime, that there was no forensic audit carried out between the years 2011-2019 as claimed by the regime.

“Also, only a mentally incapacitated person with no sense of awareness will fall for the obviously made up phantom report brandished as a report of forensic audit by an inactive or dormant consultancy firm, in this case, SSAC Advisory and Proffessional limited.

“We at the PDP challenge the Kwara APC  regime to publish online and offline the contract papers and charges paid for the services of this inactive/dormant consultancy firm.

“It is pertinent to remind Kwarans that an external auditor doesn’t have the legal authority to audit state accounts.

“Such powers rest with the Kwara State Auditor General who is empowered by law to carry out audits.

“Having fired, albeit unceremoniously, the state’s Auditor General for daring to challenge the regime over the missing sum of six Billion Naira (N6B) which was niether receipted nor retired, one can see why the illegality prone regime of Mal. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq decided to tread this path.

“We will also like to remind Kwarans about the 35 transformer contract scam at the Kwara State Ministry of Energy where a contractor made away with the sum of one hundred and thirty eight million Naira (N138M) for over 15 months without obtaining a Bank Guarantee.

“We may also need to be reminded that the contractor was paid before signing the contract papers, but perhaps Kwarans already know that the emperor is naked, and they look forward to letting him know come 2023 that we are not a conquered people and our state is not a personal estate to be plundered at will.”

NIMASA, NIS Sign MOU On Seafarers, Maritime Security 

By
James Orji
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Bashir Jamoh

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and SafetyAgency, NIMASA and the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS have agreed to deepen existing interagency collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU on Seafarers’ Travel document amongst others. This agreement was reached when the Comptroller General of the NIS, Mr. Isah Idris Jere led senior officials of the Service on a working visit to the Management of NIMASA.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamohnot ed that the role of the Nigerian Immigration Service in enhancing security in the maritime domain is crucial, adding that seamless issuance of travel documents to seafarers is a key component in the nation’s quest to grow the maritime industry.

According to Dr. Jamoh, “Security on land is key to achieving a safe and secure maritime domain. NIMASA appreciates the need to work closely with the Immigration Service to improve security in the maritime domain. We need the Service to play a major role in issues of crew nationality, seafarers travel document and managing issues of stowaways, amongst others.

The DG and the Immigration Comptroller General thus agreed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to provide a framework for the working relationship.

The NIMASA DG also commended the contribution of the NIS in the implementation of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, stating “The passing into law of the SPOMO Act, and subsequent prosecutions recorded under that law has involved working closely with the NIS. With that being said, NIMASA will continue to offer our helping hand to the Nigeria Immigration Service even as we anticipate further collaboration”.

On his part, the NIS Comptroller General identified issuance of temporary work permits to international vessel crews as well as preventing stowaways, as areas of frequent collaboration between both organs of Government while also commending NIMASA’s automation of dockworkers registration nationwide.

According to him, “Our visit to NIMASA is a signal that the Nigeria Immigration Service seeks continued collaboration and deepened synergy as we collectively work to address the issues facing us in our coastal lines and in maintaining the integrity of our territorial waters”.

“We welcome the Agency’s automation of dockworkers registration and issuance of biometric identity cards as a great step in the task of securing the nation’s ports.

Unregistered Medical Laboratories To Be Shutdown By FG

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Joseph Ekumankama

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Government will, henceforth,  shutdown unregistered Medical Laboratories.

This is as the management and staff of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria vowed not to relent  in the discharge of their statutory duties.

Announcing the determination of the Federal Government to shut down unregistered Medical Laboratories was the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, who gave this charge when members of the Council led by the Registrar, Dr. Tosan Erhabor, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

In a statement made available by the Ministry of Health on Saturday signed by the Director of Press, Ahmed Chindaya, the Minister noted that policies would be formulated to ensure smooth running of the Council.

The statement partly reads:

“The Minister, who was appreciative of the visit, assured the team of the support and backing of the ministry in accomplishing the mandate and responsibilities of the Council.

“He said if need be, policies would be formulated to help carry out their functions, smoothly geared towards achieving the mandate of Mr. President in the health sector.

“Do not relent on your good work, push more, do more, do not relax, spend more time working in order to give your best. Be rest assured that where you need us to come in, to support you, we will.

“In response to issues and request raised by the Council, the Minister said that he believed that imbibed in the “Act”, that governs the Council were powers enabling them to regulate laboratories in hospitals across the country, hence nothing should restrain or constrain them from doing that.

“Moving forward, all hospitals under the Federal Ministry of Health will be the first set of hospitals to implement the full provisions of the law, which will be followed by laboratories in the state hospitals. With this, the minister said, medical laboratories not registered with the MLSCN will be shut down.”

“On validation of In Vitro Diagnostics before use in Nigeria, the minister informed that since there was a mandate backed by law, the MLSCN had the support of the Ministry of Health to fully monitor, implement and enforce everything that had to do with the regulation of laboratory products. In regards to non-registration by government agencies, that would be resolved by the Ministry.

“On the issue of External Quality Assurances, henceforth, all laboratories must follow due process and ensure that they are registered with the MLSCN or risk being shut down as well.

“Ekumankama went further to admonish them to apply caution in the course of carrying out their mandate ensuring that they work under the purview of the law. Earlier, the Registrar, MLSCN, Dr. Tosan Erhabor, while congratulating the Minister on his appointment, informed him that the MLSCN which is a Federal State Agency of the Federal Ministry of Health, was mandated to regulate Medical Laboratory Science profession in Nigeria. He went further to highlight some of its functions which include: Regulation of Medical Laboratory Science Practice through setting of standards.”

LAWMA Urges Lagosians To Embrace Recycling Initiative By Using PAKAM App

By
The Source
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LAWMA Recycle

By Akinwale Kasali

In a bid to tackle plastic pollution and create a cleaner environment for Lagosians at large, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, is celebrating its Third Year Anniversary of the Lagos Recycle Initiative.

The Recycling Initiative was introduced for waste sorting at source for recycling purposes, to tackle the challenge of plastic pollution, as well as create jobs for teeming residents.

In an event organised by Food & Beverage Recycling Alliance and Lagos Recyclers Association, in conjunction with LAWMA, held at the Agency’s  Olusosun Resource Centre, Ojota, with various sectoral stakeholders in attendance, saw the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, showering encomiums on  the  Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for midwifing and supporting the recycling initiative, and also the stakeholders partnering the Authority, to tackle plastic pollution in the State.

Ofumboni noted that with the initiative, plastic materials have become valuable commodities, for economic gains through recycling, adding that the Authority was working with a private firm to establish a bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Lagos very soon.

He called on residents to start waste segregation at the point of generation, to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfills, stressing that owning a waste bin would become mandatory for all tenements, from 1st October 2022.

According to him, “Start separating your waste from source, there is value in doing that. We are encouraging sorting of waste from source in all households. From the 1st of October this year, every household must own a waste bin. We will start placing abatement notices on houses and will start the full enforcement in January next year”.

Earlier in his welcome address, the executive director, Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, said the event marked the beginning of another milestone in the history of waste recycling in Lagos State, stressing the agency’s commitment to ensuring a positive impact on the environment through recycling.

He urged participants to embrace the recycling culture, adding that the value chain was huge and extensive, creating business opportunities for pickers, collectors, aggregators, off-takers, as well as recyclers.

In her remarks, the executive secretary of  Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Agharese Onaghise, restated the group’s commitment to collaborative partnership to achieve plastic-pollution free Lagos State.

The CEO of PAKAM Technology,  Adeleye Odebunmi, in his presentation, unveiled the PAKAM app 2.0, an all-inclusive waste management software application that connects residents to recyclers, for prompt exchange and redemption of their recyclable items, in real-time.

He highlighted the features of the revamped app, encouraging households to key into the opportunities presented by the seamless technology, to make money and tackle waste management challenges in the state.

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