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US Votes $55 Million For Nigeria To Address Escalating Global Food Crisis

The United States has announced a vote of $55 million for Nigerians aimed at protecting the country and other most vulnerable nations from an escalating global food crisis.

A statement today, July 27, by the US Embassy in Nigeria said that money is the fulfillment of President Joe Biden’s recent pledge at the G-7 Leader’s Summit in Germany.

The statement said that the fund would be administered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under its agriculture, nutrition, and humanitarian assistance programmes and that it has been laid before the Congressional for approval.

It said that the funds will help to immediately address the economic, food, and nutrition needs of vulnerable communities in Nigeria that are most adversely impacted by higher food, fuel, and fertilizer prices.

According to the statement, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard has reaffirmed the commitment of the United States and the American people to improving the economic well-being and food security of all Nigerians.

“The United States is committed to mitigating the adverse effect of the current global food crisis on the people of Nigeria.

“We strongly support Nigeria’s economic prosperity and well-being, and our decades-long partnership with the Nigerian government, the private sector, and NGO community to address the country’s most urgent development and humanitarian needs.

“We empathize with the hardships and suffering of Nigerian citizens that have been exacerbated as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its negative impact on food security, and we fully expect President Biden’s initiative will significantly soften the blow of these war-related international price shocks.”

The statement said that with this funding initiative, U.S. total investment internationally in combating the global food security crisis since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will reach over $5.6 billion.

According to the statement, the United States will use every tool available to address the humanitarian and long-term impacts of Russia’s war and other such shocks on global food security and nutrition.

Insecurity: Opposition Senators Move To Impeach Buhari; Minister Says It’s Not Necessary

As Senators, mainly of the minority block from the Peeoples Democratic Party (PDP) moved to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over the worsening insecurity in the country, the country’s minister of informstion, Lai Mohammed has described the move as unnecessary because the President is as concerned about the security situation as they.

The Senate minority, today, July 27, gave President Buhari six weeks to curb insecurity or face a formal notice of impeachment from them, even as the country’s information minister, Lai Mohammed described the move as unnecessary.

The minister, who reacted to the Senate move at a news briefing shortly after the Senate made its stand known said that the federal government s working round the clock, 24 hours, to ensure that the security situation is brought under control.

According to him, there is no need for such an ultimatum, as the government is doing all it can to address the security challenges in the country, saying: “I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.

“So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility,” he said.

The minister also described the reported threat by terrorists to kidnap the president as laughable and mere propaganda.

“As to those who have issued threats to Mr President, I think it’s more of propaganda than anything. It’s laughable,” he said.

Lai Mohammed said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting today, approved a memo by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, for a standard operation procedure on maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum seekers in Cameroon.

“You all know that due to the insurgency in Cameroon, Nigeria has witnessed an influx of Cameroonian asylum seekers and there are basic standard procedures for you to be granted status as an asylum seeker.

“This is what the council considered and approved today. And basically is that anybody from Cameroon who is seeking asylum in Nigeria must first convinced the authorities that he or she has actually renounced armed struggle, before you can even be considered as an asylum seeker.

“Also they are cases of some of them who have come even when they claim to have surrendered their arms, go back at times, to join the separatist movement in Cameroon.

“So, the procedure was explained and approved today that will evaluate the basic criteria to grant asylum.

“So, all we have done today is to establish the standard procedure to ensure that those who claim to be asylum seekers are actually not insurgents themselves that have come to destabilise Nigeria or people who will come and be launching attacks against their own country from the comfort of Nigeria.”

The minority members of the Senate had staged a walk out of plenary in the heat generated by the impeachment move, as the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan refused to allow a motion by Minority Leader, Philip Aduda to be discussed.

The Senators, who briefed newsmen after walking out of the Senate Chamber, insisted that they had during their closed-door session, which lasted for two hours, agreed that they would deliberate on rising insecurity and give Buhari an ultimatum to either address insecurity or be impeached.

They expressed anger that Lawan refused to abide by their resolution to debate the issue of insecurity after reverting to plenary from the closed door session.

The lawmakers were chanting “All we are saying, Buhari must go!”

Apart from Aduda, other Senators who walked out of the Senate Chambers and participated in the briefing include Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA); George Sekibo (PDP); Mohammed Bulkachuwa (APC – Bauchi North); Betty Apiafi (PDP); Christopher Ekpenyong (PDP); Nicholas Tofowomo, Francis Alimikhena (PDP), Adamu Aliero (PDP), Ahmad Babba-Kaita (PDP); Ibrahim Shekarau (NNPP); Matthew Urhoghide (PDP) and Istifanus Gyang (PDP).

Others are Francis Onyewuchi (PDP) Chukwuka Utazi (PDP), Biodun Olujimi (PDP); Akon Eyankeyi (PDP); Obinna Ogba (PDP); Ayo Akinyelure (PDP); Danjuma La’ah (PDP); Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP), Emmanuel Okar-jev (PDP); Uche Ekwunife (PDP), Clifford Ordia (PDP), etc.

Aduda (FCT), had complained about the worsening security situation during plenary.

Rising under a point of order, which he did not cite, Aduda requested the chamber to give a six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issue of insecurity or face impeachment.

“Mr. President, you may wish to recall that during the closed session, we discussed the issues as they relate to security in the country and all the issues around it.

“And we had also discussed that we are going to come back to plenary to discuss the efforts that have been made so far on the issue of security in the country, after which we give an ultimatum to the President that he resolves this issue, otherwise we give an impeachment notice.”

The Senate President, while ruling on Aduda’s point of order, faulted the minority leader for failing to put forward his request in accordance with the upper chamber’s rules which regulates its proceedings.

Lawan in his ruling said: “Minority Leader, when you’re going to come under a point of order, first, you’re supposed to cite the order.

“Secondly, you’re supposed to discuss with me what you’re going to raise on the floor. You didn’t.

“Thirdly, we have already passed that stage. So, at this moment, I really don’t know what the point of order is, as such it falls flat on its face.”

Following the comment by the Senate President, opposition Senators led by Aduda staged a walk out of the chambers during plenary.”

CAN Gets New President: He Is Kano-Born, Indigene Of Rivers Rev. Daniel Okoh


The Most Rev. Daniel Chukwudumebi Okoh has been elected the new president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN).

The announcement is contained in a statement by the CAN General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Daramola.
Okoh is the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church, also called Nation Builders (Odozi-Obodo).
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Kano-born and an indigene of Rivers State, Most Rev. Daniel Okoh is a de-tribalized Nigerian who has built friendship across religious and ethnic lines, not only in Nigeria but around the globe. He organises and participates in conversations and programmes that would bring about peaceful co-existence among the peoples of the world and sustainable development.
Rev. Okon is coming in at a time there’s so much religious disharmony and tension especially between Christians and Muslims.
It is expected that the new leadership of CAN, with his wide experiences in interfaith dialogues will take measures to reduce existing religious tensions, especially between Christians and Muslims in the country.
Okoh was born on November 12, 1963 in Kano to Christian parents. He is a native of Ndoni in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.
He is married to Ngozi and they are blessed with four children. Archbishop Daniel Okoh is a product of the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha.
In 1988, he graduated from the University of Port-Harcourt in Second Class Upper Division in Political Science and Education.
Thereafter, he attended Christ Holy Church Seminary, Onitsha and was awarded a diploma in Theology. Since then he has undertaken many courses and participated in seminars that are relevant to his ministry work both in Nigeria and abroad.
As the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church International – an African Independent Church – he leads his denomination in ecumenical relations with other denominations in the body of Christ and engages with people of other religions in dialogue for peaceful co-existence and sustainable development.
For more than 20 years, Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, has been actively involved in ecumenical relations and interfaith dialogue in and outside Nigeria through the following positions : International Chairman of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC); National President of OAIC (Nigeria Region) (2005 – 2014); National Vice-President of Christian Association of Nigeria (2007 – 2013), former member, Board of Directors of Inter-Faith HIV/AIDS Coalition of Nigeria; Member, Governing Council of Good News Theological College and Seminary Accra, Ghana; Member, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC);and Member ofthe Board of African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace.
He is also a board member of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (Nigeria). Between 2000 and 2003 he was the only African representative in the Steering Committee of the International Forum on Multicultural Ministry which was initiated and sponsored by the Mission and Evangelism Team of the World Council of Churches.
In the area of Politics and Governance, Archbishop Daniel Okoh was one of the six delegates that represented Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the National Political Reform Conference of 2005 organised by Federal Government of Nigeria. From 2009 – 2011 Most Rev. Daniel Okoh served on the board of National Orientation Agency (NOA) as an Institutional representative of Christian Association of Nigeria.
CAN is made up of five blocs: Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN)/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), (TEKAN and ECWA Fellowship).

source: By PRNigeria

JAMB Fixes August 6 For UTME Mop-Up

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed August 6 for its 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up exercise.

JAMB announced this in its weekly bulletin released on Monday by Fabian Benjamin, its spokesperson.

Mop-up exercise is usually held for candidates who could not participate in the UTME during the period of the exercise for some verified reasons.

According to JAMB, the initiative was informed by its commitment to give equal opportunity to all candidates who crave tertiary education.

“JAMB, after every UTME exercise review various reports from officials in the field and video footages of the examination,” it read.

“The reviews are done by team of experts, with a view to detecting activities subversive of the examination process.

“It’s after all the reports have been collated and considered that the management would take critical decisions as to the necessity or otherwise of a mop-up examination for affected candidates.

“So, after a thorough analysis of the conduct of the 2022 UTME in 10 centres spread across five states of the federation where examination malpractice was established to had taken place, it became necessary to cancel the results of all the candidates who sat the examination in the affected 10 centres.”

JAMB said all candidates who sat for their UTME in the affected centres have been rescheduled for the mop-up exercise.

This, it said, was to avoid punishing “innocent candidates” indicted by such centres.

“It should be noted that candidates who, for whatever reasons, were absent at those centres are not eligible for the mop-up examination,” it added.

“Other categories of candidates rescheduled for the mop-up UTME are; 142 candidates who could not take the UTME due to finger-print peculiarities; 28 candidates who could not take the UTME due to technical problems in some centres; and 1,799 candidates with BVM failure who were recaptured at the centres.”

Source:  TheCable.

Democracy, Good Governance Must Take Roots In Africa, Buhari Insists, In Liberia

President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that democracy and good governance must take roots on the African continent to sustain peace, stability and development, even as he asked leaders to redouble their efforts to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy.

“I would like to use the opportunity of this event to address an important issue affecting three countries in the ECOWAS region; Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

“All the three nations have National Elections in 2023. In Nigeria, we are working towards a free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable outcome of elections and their results. It is important and necessary for all our countries to key into these resolves as they are indispensable to peace and stability in our countries and sub-region.

“The deepening of democracy and good governance are essential antidotes to check-mate unconstitutional change of governments as we sadly witnessed within the last three years in three countries within our sub-region. We must strengthen our efforts to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy in our sub-region and Africa,” he said.

President Buhari, who spoke today, July 26 in Monrovia, Liberia, in a goodwill message to the Government and people of Liberia as he joined other world leaders on the occasion of the 175th Independence Anniversary of the West African nation, called on leaders in West Africa to do all within their powers to ensure that elections are conducted in their countries in an atmosphere of trust, freedom and transparency.

According to him, this is the only way the sub-region can be insulated from the scourge of unconstitutional take overs that reared its head in three countries recently.

The President recalled Nigeria’s leading roles that pulled the country back from its fratricidal insurrection in the 90s, adding that his presence at the celebrations underscores his strong belief in cementing existing bilateral ties:

“Nigeria’s contributions to the survival and safety of Liberia are well known. The dark period of your country’s civil war from 1989 to 1997, was a period that Nigeria invested hugely for peace in Liberia and indeed stability in the rest of the ECOWAS sub-region. May those dark days never re-surface in our countries and sub-region.”

The Nigerian leader commended his Liberian counterpart, Dr. George Manneh Weah, for his demonstration of love for the country and the pursuance of peace, unity and progress, as evidenced by people-oriented projects executed with the sole purpose of taking the country to greater heights within the limited resources available.

He advised the Liberian leader to do more, he assuring him of Nigeria’s continued support in this regard.

“Your Excellency’s policy of development launched in 2018 as well as the recently launched youth empowerment program, targeted at comprehensively addressing the problems of youth restiveness in Liberia and equally aimed at rescuing the disadvantaged youths (ZOGOS in local parlance) from drug addictions and other forms of social vices and transforming them into useful members of the Liberian society, are clearly very appropriate policies to lift up the most vulnerable.

“Permit me to assure you and all Liberians that Nigeria, as a good partner and a dependable ally, would continue to support you in these efforts, within the limit of our resources. This brings to the fore, the need for strengthening and broadening the levels of collaboration and cooperation between our two countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, within the ECOWAS, AU and the UN, in order to adequately tackle the common national, sub-regional and global challenges.”

The President of Liberia, Dr. George Weah, thanked President Buhari and other West African leaders for attending the anniversary celebration, saying that without the support of President Buhari in particular, “we would not have had peace.”

2023: I Will Remain In PDP, But Won’t Work For Atiku, Aggrieved Gov. Wike Vows

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike has said that he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but ruled out the possibility of supporting and working for the success of the Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

A close associate of the governor told newsmen today, July 28 that he would not join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) despite advances from leaders of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Governor Wike has been silent on the forthcoming presidential election following his grievances with the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku.

This is coming after Governor Wike had threatened to reveal to Nigerians all that have transpired in the PDP since the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the party.

Wike said: “On Atiku, I will speak soon, and Nigerians will know the actual truth of all that has transpired in the PDP in recent times.”

The Rivers State Governor, who spoke at an interview Arise TV, claimed that the committee set up to nominate a vice presidential candidate for the party did not pick Wike as his running mate.

Atiku, however, said the committee led by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom only suggested three names to him and he decided to pick who he can work with.

The former Vice President picked the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Source: Daily Independent.

CBN Moves To Freeze 157 Accounts Of Companies For Alleged Diversion Of Power Sector Funds

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has moved to freeze 157 accounts of companies that are Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) for allegedly diverting funds meant for the procurement of prepaid meters.

The apex bank, in a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on July 20, requested commercial banks to restrict the account of 10 companies that received power sector intervention funds under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) for 180 days, pending the outcome of its investigation.

The companies listed by the CBN as being involved in the diversion include Mojec Meter Asset Management Company Limited, Integrated Power Nigeria Limited, Holley Metering Limited, Protogy Global Services Limited and Turbo Energy Limited.

Others are G Unit Engineering Limited, Koby Global Engineering Services Limited, FLT Energy Systems Limited, Smart Meters Asset Provider Company Limited and Cresthill Engineering Limited.

The CBN in the suit said, “The Central Bank of Nigeria reviewed the activities of twelve (12) including the defendants herein Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) alleged to have diverted the Central Bank of Nigeria’s power sector intervention funds under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

  • “The review was aimed at ascertaining the flow of the funds made available to the MAPs, covering the period between January 1, 2020, to March 15, 2022. The preliminary review revealed that the defendants diverted a substantial portion of the funds for other uses through related entities and individuals/companies connected to the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
  • The diversion of the power sector intervention funds under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) provided by the applicant’s banks, has further occasioned grave instability in the power sector and sustained the estimated billing regime which the federal government is making frantic efforts to make a thing of the past.
  • “The diversion of the said funds through the bank accounts of the defendants has continually undermined the applicant’s bank intervention system of supporting various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
  • The diversion of the said funds and sustained instability in the power sector is capable of causing significant economic and financial loss to investors, as well as the entire systems and the Nigerian economy in general, if not curtailed.”
  • Recall that on April 3, 2018, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced the MAP regulation to new investors to fast-track the rollout of meters through the engagement of third-party investors.
  • Despite the initial challenges with the initiative occasioned by a late start over lack of cooperation by DisCos as regards engaging licensed firms, the meter asset firms were issued permits to commence the rollout of new meters by May 1, 2019.
  • The federal government as part of efforts to boost the new policy, it provided a grant of N37 billion for the supply of the meters.
  • In October 2020, the federal government flagged off the National Mass Metering Programme to close the metering gap in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) by December 2021 and ensure that consumers are billed appropriately for the electricity they consume by installing meters free of charge in households and business premises.
  • In June, the NERC said it will begin the second phase of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) in August 2022.

Source: TheCable,

Embarrassed Military Investigates Ambush, Killing Of Officers In Abuja By Terrorists

Chief of Army Staff, Farouq yahaya

Thoroughly embarrassed military hierarchy has embarked on the investigation of the ambush and killing of three soldiers of the Guards Brigade in Bwari, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja by suspected terrorists yesterday, July 25.

A reliable source confirmed that the Military is investigating how the movement of the troops that went to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari Campus to plan security strategies after a distress call from the institution was known to the terorists.

“The Defence Headquarters is very disturbed about the development and is investigating how the terrorists were abreast of the movement of the troops. It is certain that their movement was compromised but we need to know how.

“However the situation is under control and the DHQ is activating strong strategies to protect the FCT from further attacks. Nigerians should also avail the Military of credible and timely information that will aid ongoing operations.”

It was learnt that the terrorists had planned to attack the over 800 Law School students that will be called to Bar on Wednesday

Consequent upon ambush of the soldiers and elevated security alert, the management of the School had to changed the venue of the event from the School to the Body of Benchers Secretariat in Jabi.

One of the students to be called to Bar, who didn’t want to be mentioned, said the management of the school had instructed the graduands that the ceremony must be low key.

“The venue for the event has been changed, it will no longer hold at the Law School at Bwari, we have been told that the it will now hold at the Body of Benchers Secretariat in Maitama and we should not invite family members, they said it is going to be low key event.”

Meanwhile, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Abakpa, has confirmed that the troops recorded three casualties in the encounter.

Captain Abakpa however denied that any soldier was missing in action or abducted by the terrorists, sayingAccording to him: “no soldier was abducted; we only had three casualties and they were evacuated.”

Source: The Nation.

Reps Moves To Block CBN Governor From Partisan Politics, Introduces Bill

The House of Representatives has introduced a Bill barring the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from participating in partisan politics.

The Bill went through second reading today, July 26.

Sponsor of the Bill, Sada Soli, at plenary in Abuja, said that the bill would add more conditions to the disqualification and appointment of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Director of the CBN.

“We need to address that. Today, the credibility of CBN in the custody of sensitive election material is being questioned. It is not against any individual, but to save the integrity of CBN”, he said.

According to Sada Soli, the bill would add more stringent conditions for the appointment or cessation of appointments of the CBN Governor, Deputy Governor, as well as Directors of the Bank.

He said that the bill sought to amend the CBN Act 2007, and that the amendment was not prejudiced against anybody, but that the Act was tested and was found weak.

He added that the Act needed to be amended to strengthen the Apex Bank and restore its credibility from the shock it had suffered in the cause of interpreting the law.

The bill scaled second reading after a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the plenary.

Minister Sirika Doesn’t See Immediate End To Aviation Crises Soon, Says It’s Global

Minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said that there is no immediate solution to the multitude of crises bedeviling the Aviation sector in the country.

The Minister, who spoke today, July 26 at an emergency meeting with the Airline Operators Association of Nigeria (AON) in Abuja, said that the variables impacting the crises in the aviation sector are beyond the industry’s control.

Sirika, who made it clear that crises have a global dimension, remarked: “energy crises are real and they are global.

“Today, there is aviation fuel problem all over the world;  from America to New Zealand. It is aggravating in Nigeria because we don’t produce the product. It’s aggravated also because the foreign exchange is scarce in Nigeria because the source of earning the foreign exchange also has dwindled.”

He recalled that Federal Government had in the past, sourced 10,000 metric tonnes of Aviation Fuel for the airlines and that the government is wiling to do more.

“As we speak, the government is in the process of finding a permanent solution to this issue. Some of the solutions include importation of the product at appropriate price, accelerating the refurbishment of our refineries and also wait for the coming on stream of Dangote Refinery to boost supply of the product.”

The minister confessed that such solutions cannot be soon, saying: “so, when you ask how soon, I wouldn’t know when Dangote will come on stream, I wouldn’t know how soon the refineries will be filled. I wouldn’t know when imports would become sufficient. But the government is working towards all these to happen.”

He said that he will meet with relevant stakeholders, including the CBN so that the airlines can access dollars at the official market rate rather than the black market rate.

This was even as the President of the Association, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, said that the aviation fuel crises began from N180 per litre and now it’s at N1000 per litre.

He said that the Forex crises is a huge burden on the Industry.

“The rate at which the dollar is escalating now is very alarming. Everyday, a difference between 10-15 Naira is added at the pararrel market. Last week Monday, it was N610 but today, it is N670 to one dollar.”

He appealed to the Minister to intervene, even as the Association’s Vice President, Allen Oyeama, said expressed satisfaction with the government intervention in the Industry.

“We, the airline operators are satisfied with the approach which the government is bringing to the table.”

He acknowledged that the President has approved 10,000MT of fuel to alleviate the sufferings of the members of the Association, adding that another 5,000 has come in.

“We are about to start accessing that. We are pleased with the approach for the long run.

“It is not easy to give a timeline to issues like this because the challenge is global. Even the American airlines are threatened too. It’s not only Nigeria; which is why we are grateful to the government.”

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