News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja           FEC  meeting  The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N580.5 million for the procurement of four armoured vehicles to fight dangerous and illicit drugs by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the council’s meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja yesterday.  According to him, “Today, a memo was presented by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, that is the Federal Ministry of Justice, which was relating to a parastatal under the supervision of the office of the Attorney General; the NDLEA." “The purpose of the memo was to seek approval of the council for the award of contract for the supply of four customised armoured security vehicles of 14 seater model for the NDLEA." “The contract sum is N580, 500, 000 only inclusive of 7.5 perce

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja        Aregbesola  The federal government has declared Monday, October 3, 2022 as public holiday in commemoration of Nigeria's 62nd Independence anniversary celebration.  Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore yesterday.  While congratulating Nigerians on this year’s celebration, he assured of government’s commitment in tackling all the challenges facing the nation, with a view to putting smiles on their faces.  The statement reads, "The world is going through dire economic and security challenges which have also affected our nation. However, I am assuring us all that the government will not abandon the people, but will continue to confront all these challenges with all the might at our disposal until respite comes our way." “Our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as our unbounded human capital and the richness of our land, mak

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  President Muhammadu Buhari and ASUU president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke  Federal government has directed vice-chancellors to reopen universities and resume academic activities across the country. This was contained in a letter by the Director of Finance and Accounts, National Universities Commission (NUC), Sam Onazi on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Abubakar Rasheed. It was addressed to all vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities. “Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; restore the daily activities and routines of the various university campuses,” the letter reads.  The National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja had last week ordered the lecturers to call off the strike, saying that industrial action is detrimental to public university students, who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions. But ASUU subsequently filed an appeal challenging the verd

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja        President Muhammadu Buhari  Out of over 1000 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, there is an indication that about 800 shutdown their offices and suspended operations and programmes due to shrunk reserves during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The affected CSOs include Faith-based Organisations, Community-based Organisations, Non-governmental Organisations, Social Enterprise Organisations, Unions/Coalition/Umbrella Organisations and among others.  This was further exacerbated given their over-dependence on donor agencies and weak technological infrastructure, a situation that defaced the non-profit intervention organisations.  It formed the crux of a 48-page report titled, "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria", conducted by The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) Accra, Ghana, with support from Wilde Ganzen Foundation.  While WACSI was set up by the Open So

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos over the weekend, trained media monitors to enhance their capacity and skills for inclusive coverage of the polls.  The two-day training was organised by IPC in partnership with the Institute for Media and Society (IMS), through Component 4 of the European Union– Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) Phase 2 project.  One of the overall goals of the component is to “Support the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria with the media (broadcast, print and online) by helping to facilitate the key rudiments of credible elections through engagement and professionalism in coverage and reportage of the electoral processes.” The core objective of the project is targeted at exposing the media, including new and social media to provide fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive coverage of the election. Other benefits of the training include accessing the level of compli

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Director, Overseeing the office of Permanent Secretary, EPO, Dr Famous Eseduwo (Middle); Director of Projects, Sappers Engineering Ltd, Brigadier General Aderemi Gbadebo (2nd Left); Deputy Director of Information, EPO, Mrs Eno Olotu (Right) and others at a courtesy visit in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY EPO.  Sappers Engineering Nigeria Limited (SENL), a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE) has volunteered to partner with the federal government on the implementation of ecological projects across the country.  The Director of Projects, SENL, Brig. General Aderemi Gbedebo stated this in Abuja yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Ecological Project Office (EPO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).  He informed that SENL has the requisite expertise, human resources, equipment and capacity to embark on any intervention projects towards sustainable national development. Gbedebo explained that the company was regist

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari addressing world leaders at UNGA 77 in New York President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged the support of Nigeria in creating a lasting solution to the political and economic issues confronting countries in the Sahel region.  He stated this on Wednesday in New York, United States at a bilateral meeting with the former President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou on the sidelines of the 77th edition of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77).  Countries in the Sahel comprise of Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan and Eritrea.  Buhari said that the essence of collaboration between the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Green Great Wall was to combat desertification that is  spreading across some African states. This, he believed would assist in finding practical solutions to the displacement of over 30 million persons whose means of livel

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to call off the ongoing seven-month strike. Delivering a ruling on the interlocutory injunction filed by the federal government, Justice Polycarp Hamman restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit. Justice Hamman, who is a vacation judge ordered that the case filed should be returned to the president of the Industrial Court for reassignment to another judge. The judge further held that the industrial action is detrimental to public university students, who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions. He said that the Trade Dispute Act (TDA) mandates workers not to embark on strike once an issue has been referred to the industrial court. Justice Hamman also upheld t

A procession carrying the 96-year-old monarch’s coffin from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral service began just after 10.30 a.m. (5.30 a.m. EST). The longest serving British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II was on Monday laid to rest at Windor Castle  She died peacefully on Thursday, September 8 at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, according to a statement by the Royal Family. To bid the Monarch farewell, thousands of people crowded the streets of London as she made her final journey to and from Westminster Abbey – where the Queen was married and crowned — for the morning service. Queen Elizabeth’s coffin was laid at the front of Westminster Abbey as her funeral service got underway Monday morning Prince William and Prince Harry were solemn as they followed their grandmother’s coffin to Westminster Abbey on Monday for her funeral service. The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top, borne o

            President Muhammadu Buhari and ASUU president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has fixed Wednesday, September 21 to rule on the application for an interlocutory injunction filed by the federal government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Justice Peter Hamman fixed the date on Monday after the lead counsel to the federal government, Mr James Igwe, argued his application seeking an order of the court to restrain ASUU from continuing with the ongoing nationwide strike. The government had approached the court to challenge the ongoing industrial action by the university lecturers. But the court, at the previous sitting last Friday, adjourned the suit until Monday (September 19) to hear the interlocutory injunction of the government. Igwe had asked the court to give the suit an accelerated hearing due to the urgency of the matter and to enable students to return to school. He stated that since the matter was alr

        Geng and Ummakulsum  A Chinese nationale has stabbed his 23-year-old lover identified as Ummakulsum Sani Buhari, to death at Kabuga Quatres, Dorayi Babba in Kumbotso local government area of Kano State. The incident occured on Friday night when Quangrong Geng ,47, forcefully gained access into the deceased home and stabbed her several times for betraying him.  Daily Trust reported that the deceased, popularly known as ‘Ummita’ attended the Kano School of Nursing and Midwifery. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kano, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa explained that Geng committed the crime after scaling the fence of the deceased residence to gain access where he stabbed her severally until she died.  Geng alleged that he was deceived by Ummu, who was his girlfriend. He said that the deceased promised to marry him but betrayed him, despite spending so much money on her.  The suspect added that he was irked by her deception and decided to retaliate

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will from Monday cripple activities at the local and international airports across the country over prolonged strike action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). ASUU had commenced a nationwide strike since February 14, 2022 over the adoption of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) of the government as the payment system for university staff members. Other issues raised by ASUU were non-payment of salaries and allowances of some staff, poor funding of universities and the inability of government to pay earned academic allowance to lecturers.  The NANS action, which is expected to last till an indefinite period was due to the successes recorded during its road protest, leading to several blockages on the highways. Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the Chairman of NANS National Task Force on ‘End ASUU Strike Now,’ Comrade Ojo Raymond Olumide stated that the shutdown of

National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has fixed September 19 for a hearing on federal government’s prayer asking the court to order the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its seven-month strike. The matter which was first mentioned on Monday, 12 September, was adjourned until Friday for further mention before Justice Polycarp Hamman court.  When the matter came up, Counsel to the federal government, Mr J.U.K Igwe SAN informed the court that going by its directive on Monday, that the claimant should file its process latest by Tuesday, that they had filed two processes. He added that the first one was a motion on notice dated and filed Monday for an interlocutory injunction. Igwe stated that the claimant also filed an affidavit of facts on the same date in support of the referral sent by the Minister of Labour and Employment. He averred that some questions were raised with a full complement of a written address. Igwe also submitted that the defendan

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja                Onwudili The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) has announced the appointment of Mr Andrew Onwudili as the Acting AuGF. Until his appointment, Onwudili was a director in the OAuGF, and a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants (ANAN).  He replaced the immediate past AuGF, Adolphus Aghughu who retired from public service on September 7, 2022. A statement by the Head, Press Unit of the OAuGF, Ema Oqua, described the AuGF as a thoroughbred and result-oriented public servant with over 30 years professional experience in audit. It reads, "Onwudili joined the federal civil service as a senior auditor and progressed in his career to become the Director of Audit, Extra-Ministerial Audit Department in the OAuGF before his appointment." “He attended many courses and in-service trainings locally and abroad, which broadened his professional horizon and refined his competence." “He is a member of professi

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja         Ndiomu President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Major General Barry Ndiomu (Retd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.  He replaced the immediate past Amnesty boss, Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Thursday.  It reads, "President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retd) as Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme." “The appointee hails from Odoni in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of 29th Regular Combatant Course." Ndiomu was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in 1983. He held several command and staff appointments in the course of his successful military career and retired in December 2017. Until his appointment, the new administrator is also a

With the escalating insecurity that is almost sinking the unity of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari graciously donated vehicles to Niger Republic. In this report, CHIKA OKEKE examines the intricacies surrounding the gesture and why it's another diplomatic blunder.                Sample of luxury cars for Niger Republic  On 3rd August, 2022, the media was awash with the news on how the federal government secretly approved the purchase of vehicles for Niger Republic.  The shocking news popped up despite prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike by lecturers over poor funding of universities and the inability of government to pay earned academic allowance to lecturers, amounting to N1.1 trillion. This action compelled undergraduates to stay off the tertiary institutions till date, thereby loosing almost two full academic sessions.  In addition, Nigeria's deepening security challenges led to the emergence of Boko haram insurgents in the Northeast,

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Journalists protesting the disappearance of a former House of Representatives correspondent with Vanguard newspaper, Mr Tordue Henry Salem before his corpse was uncovered by the police in Abuja.  Exprts in the media sector have canvassed the need for prompt investigations into the killings, attacks, and ill-treatment of journalists across the country, with a view to unravel and punish the perpetrators of such crimes.  To this end, they emphasised that establishing a National Response Mechanism (NRM) to address the issue of Safety of Journalists (SOJ) in Nigeria should align with global best practices. These were contained in a communique issued at the end of a one-day stakeholders roundtable on 'National Response Mechanism on Safety of Journalists (NRM–SOJ)", organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with Media Rights Agenda (MRA) in Abuja recently.  It was funded by Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, the MacArthur Foun

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  L-R: US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard; US Special Envoy on Climate Change, Sen. John Kerry; Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari shortly after a meeting at NNPC Tower, Abuja, yesterday.  The federal government has concluded plans to join forces with the United States government in addressing the challenges instigated by climate change in the country as well as reduction of global carbon emissions.  This is even as the partnership would dovetail into raising funds to tackle climate change and the needed technology to achieve Nigeria's energy transition target.  Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva stated this when he received a delegation from US government led by the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change, Sen. John Kerry in Abuja yesterday.  He said that Nigeria needed funding and sound tec

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige and ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke  National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has adjourned the suit filed by the federal government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to September 16th, 2022, over the seven-month industrial action embarked by the union.  The federal government had on Sunday disclosed that it referred the prolonged ASUU strike to the NICN for adjudication given the failed odialogue between the union and the Federal Ministry of Education.  A press statement signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, stated that the suit, dated September 8, 2022 was addressed to the Registrar of NICN and signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.  But when the case was mentioned before Justice Polycarp Hamman of the NICN on Monday, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has demanded the expose of the payment details of the 52 broadcast stations and platforms operating in Nigeria, as well as the actual license fees owed by each of the stations.  National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had on 19th August revoked the licences of the 52 radio and television stations due to their inability to offset the licensing fees amounting to N2.66 billion. In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja Monday, MRA's Communications Officer, Mr. Idowu Adewale said that the organisation requested the expose using the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 The FoI request was addressed to the Director-General of NBC, Mallam Balarabe Ilehah. MRA sought the status of payment details of each of the stations from the date it was licensed to the date of the FoI request, adding that NBC should disclose the amount owed by the stations and the period covered by the amount.  The organisation also enjoined NBC to prov

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Aviation workers will commence a nationwide protest on Monday, September 12, 2022, a move that will ground activities at all the airports across the country.  This is coming on the heels of the provision in the new Civil Aviation Act (CAA), which gives the minister of aviation the power to proscribe the unions. The workers, under the auspices of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) are expected to participate in the protest.  It was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday and signed by Ochema Aba (NUATE), Francis Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Abdul Razaq Saidu (ANAP), Sikiru Waheed (AUPCTRE), and Umoh Ofonime (NAAPE), who ar

        Obindo  The President, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Prof. Taiwo Obindo has disclosed that over 60 million Nigerians are suffering from mental illnesses. Obindo, who is also the Chairman, Faculty of Psychiatry, West African College of Physicians, Nigeria Chapter said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. “Mental healthcare is in a sorry state given that we have more than 60 million Nigerians suffering from various mental illnesses and the fact is that only about 10 per cent of them were able to access appropriate care." “We are left with more than 90 per cent who are unable to access care and this group is called the treatment gap for mental illnesses,” Obindo said. He said that the gap was as a result of various factors like the knowledge gap in which people lacked appropriate information about the causes and treatment for mental illnesses. Obindo stated that some factors hindering the management of men

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared sit-at-home in all the five states in the South-East on Tuesday, September 13, describing it as a day of civil action.  In addition, there would be total lockdown in the affected States ahead of the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu's court appearance and the visit of the President, Major General Muhammad Buhari to Owerri, Imo State on the same day.  The group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful in a statement on Saturday, said that IPOB is implementing an existing order to lockdown Biafraland any day its leader will appear in court at Abuja. It reads, “The global family and movement of the IPOB wishes to announce to the general public, especially Biafrans that Tuesday September 13, has been declared a day of civil action in the form of sit-at-home in Biafraland." “The Tuesday’s civil action is very important for two reasons: First, our leader’s Appeal court hearing that was sup

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Ecological Project Office (EPO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has advocated the enactment of National Policy on Flooding, Erosion, Earthquakes and Earth Tremors, meant to address Nigeria's numerous environmental disasters. This formed part of the deliberations when the management of EPO hosted staff of the Geological Unit of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja yesterday. Acting Permanent Secretary of EPO, Dr Famous Eseduwo stated that EPO, being a special intervention office is deprived of budgetary allocation but intervenes in ecological issues with the federal government's one percent share of ecological fund.  He said that EPO alongside four other related agencies such as NEMA, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), North East Development Commission and, Nigeria Agriculture and Land Development Agency (NALDA) utilises the federal government's one percent share.  Eseduw

Prince Charles has ascended the throne of British monarchy as Queen Elizabeth II dies.  Queen Elizabeth, the United Kingdom"s longest serving monarch died on Thursday at the age of 96. A statement by the Royal Family revealed that the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral Castle.  It reads, "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow." The Washington Post reports that Prince Charles immediately ascended the throne upon his mother’s death, and chose to be called Charles III.  He's expected to deliver his first remarks soon, just as his formal coronation will come at a later date. Crowd had gathered at the Buckingham Palace residence in London on Thursday as concern was growing over the Queen’s health. But AFP stated that about 100 people braved torrential rain to stand at the palace gates, as senior royals rushed to Balmoral in Scotland, where the

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja                    Mamu Department of State Services (DSS) has provided the rationale behind the arrest of terrorists' negotiator, Alhaji Tukur Mamu.  The terrorists’ negotiator was arrested and detained on Tuesday at Cairo International Airport, Egypt alongside his family members, enroute Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.  Mamu, who is also the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper negotiated the release of Abuja-Kaduna bound train passengers that were kidnapped by terrorists.  Terrorists had on March 28th bombed the Abuja-Kaduna train, killed nine passengers and abducted about 70 others during the attack. The All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima had visited the publisher and Sheikh Gumi in Kaduna State, few days before the arrest.  But the DSS in a statement by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said that Mamu was arrested on what he described as a 'person of interest'.  He stated that DSS arrested an