UNICEF Wades Into Poor Education System In Benue IDP Centre; To Provide Schools For 3,000 Kids

November 20, 2021

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has waded into the poor education system in a Benue State Internationally Displaced People’s (IDP) centre, as there is virtually no school to take care of the out-of-school children in them.

The UN children education body said that it is therefore working towards providing a befitting learning centre for such children, numbering over 3,000.

UNICEF Chief Field Officer, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, who spoke today, November 20 in Ukpam while fielding questions from newsmen after a monitoring visit of the two IDP camps at Daudu and Ukpam, in Guma LGA of the state, regretted the absence of a school structure to accommodate the children at the camp.

He added that children are being taught under trees, which, according to him, is not good for learning.

He made it clear that without education and the provision of basic learning materials, the future of the children would be bleak.

He assured that UNICEF would collaborate with the Benue State Government and other stakeholders in the education sector to ensure the construction of a structure for the children.

He said that there are gaps in the provision of all basic services at the camps, but that those that are of prime concern to them is education, health and sanitation.

The UNICEF chief also inaugurated four units of VIP toilets comprising 20 rooms, which it built for the Ukpam camp.

He said that the health of the IDPs is of utmost importance to the organisation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while at the Daudu 1 solar powered water project, Conteh told the committee members to take ownership of the project and protect it against vandals.

He advised them to ensure minor repairs of the facility while the Benue State Water and Sanitation Agency, which collaborated with them to provide the facility should intervene in major repairs.

UNICEF Consultant, Mr Toyin Adisa, told the visiting UNICEF chief that the water scheme also served the IDP camp at Daudu.

Mr Orkaa Cyprian, a resident of Mbayongo community, where the project is situated commended UNICEF for the provision of the water scheme adding that their search for potable water had ended.

Source: NAN.

EFCC Accuses Kogi Govt Of Telling Lies About N19.3 Billion Hidden In Sterling Bank

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the Yahaya Bello government in Kogi of telling lies about N19.3 billion bailout fund hidden in an account at Sterling Bank.

In a statement today, November 19, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said that the Central Bank of Nigeria has already acknowledged the receipt of of N19.3 billion recovered by the agency from the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc.

“This effectively puts to rest the campaign of misinformation and unconscionable denials by the Kogi State Government that no fund was recovered from its bail out account,”Uwujaren said.

The apex bank, in a letter referenced, DFD/DIR/CON/EXT/01/099 and dated 9th November, 2021 informed the Executive Chairman, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa that it has received the money.

The letter reads in part: “We refer to your letter dated November 5, 2021 with Ref. No: CR:3000/EFCC/LS/CMU/REC-STE/VOL.4/047 on the above subject and wish to confirm the details of the receipt of the amount as stated below: Bank: Sterling Bank Plc; Amount: N19, 333, 333,333.36; Date of receipt: 04 November, 2021”

Uwujaren’s statement is reproduced here:

The return of the money to the apex bank is in compliance with the October 15, 2021 Order of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos directing the unfreezing of the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account to enable Sterling Bank to remit the balance in the account to the Central Ban of Nigeria. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke gave the Order pursuant to an application filed by the EFCC.

The Commission had told the court that the management of Sterling Bank Plc, where the account was domiciled had acknowledged the existence of the said account with the staggering sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 in its books.

The Commission further brought to the attention of the court that “The sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 is still standing in the credit of the account frozen”, adding that “the management of Sterling Bank PIc, has, pursuant to a letter dated 15 September, 2021, signed by its Managing Director, indicated intention to return the total sum of N19, 333,333,333.36 back to the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The EFCC prayed The court that it “is expedient for the instant suit to be discontinued and the account unfrozen to enable the management of Sterling Bank PIc effect the transfer/ return of the sum of the sum of N19, 333, 333, 333.36 back to the coffer of the Central Bank of Nigeria , where the said bailout funds was disbursed.”

The transfer has put paid to any further controversy regarding source and ownership of the funds and most importantly, aborted the funds dissipation.

On August 31, 2021, Justice Tijani Garba Ringim, a vacation Judge, had ordered the freezing of the account, following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC.

The EFCC, in a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex-parte application, had stated that it received a credible and direct intelligence, which led to the tracing of the funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities in account No. 0073572696 domiciled in Sterling Bank, Plc with the name Kogi State Salary Bailout Account.

After listening to the EFCC application, Justice Ringim on August 31, 2021, ordered the freezing of the account and directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper by the EFCC.

I Was Told My Brother Was Going To Die In An Hour – Aliko Dangote

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said that he and family members were told that his younger brother, Alhaji Sani Dangote was going to die in an hour.

“The most painful thing is when you are told that your brother will be passing on in about an hour.

“And you stand by watching as the machine is going down until it stopped working. It was very tormenting.”

Dangote spoke today, November 19 when the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid him a condolence visit in Kano.

Aliko Dangote said bitterly: ” having a brother like him; once you lose him it is really very painful. He died in front of myself, our mother and all his children.”

“We have always known that when there is life there is death. We, as Muslims, don’t know who is next and it can be today, tomorrow or even now.

“That is why it is good to be good, so that when you get there you can bid for whatever you were asked to do on earth.

“Your excellency, you are our host because you are the governor of all of us and we really thank you for taking almost the whole week struggling with the crowds, its not easy.

“I thank you all for all your prayers and your support.

“This will actually help us to reduce the pain that we are going through.”

Sani Dangote, who was the Vice President of Dangote Group died recently and was buried in Kano on Thursday.

If Only Money Can Buy Life, Tinubu Wonders Aloud, Over Sani Dangote’s Death

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has wondered aloud on the limit to which money can be put to use.

During a condolence visit to Aliko Dangote and family today, November 19 in Kano, over the death of his younger brother, Sani Dangote, Asiwaju said that money cannot buy life and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

Tinubu, who said that he and his team are also mourning Alhaji Sani Dangote, asked his immediate family to take heart and continue to pray for the repose of his soul.

“Sani is not yours alone. He was a Lagosian and a great Nigerian and a friend and a brother to all of us here.

“I am not a preacher, but I know what it means to suddenly lose a close relation, especially a brother.

“What we have come to do is to join in prayers for you and the people of Kano state, for Nigeria and the entire family as a whole.

“May God give you the strength to bear the loss. It is a loss to all of us.

“May God grant you longer life, keep you in good health, keep the family in good health, give you peace of mind and the ability to accept the decree of God Almighty.

“He is the giver and the taker and He can do anything at any given time he chooses.

“With your faith and your strong capacity, we believe you will come out of it and continue to do good in his name, in your name, in the family’s name and the entire people of the country.”

Source: Vanguard.

For Removing Nigeria From Religious Violation Watchlist, Biden Has Reset US-Nigeria Relations, By Garba Shehu

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

The removal of Nigeria from the religious violators watchlist by the Biden-led US administration in the run-up to the visit of Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, is a triumph of diplomacy and sagacity over hate-driven foreign policy, itself founded on false propaganda.

President Muhammadu Buhari is truly satisfied with the decision by the United States to remove Nigeria from that unwanted list of countries. Blinken said the decision of the Joe Biden Government on this was “based on facts.”

In expressing the country’s appreciation for this, the President noted that there is freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

Since Nigeria was included in December 2020, in the aftermath of the Donald Trump’s election loss, it has taken only 11 months for this decision to be reversed under the Biden administration.

This sad and uncalled for ban came on the heels of 12 months of lies by some extremist groups and the banned terrorist group the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB’s well-funded international media campaign.

Nigeria should never have been on the list. It was included after paid right-wing American lobbyists were funded millions of dollars by IPOB to spread falsehoods and misinformation about Nigeria. Those who willingly took money from terrorists spread falsehoods against a democratically elected government. They took advantage of well-meaning, God-fearing Americans to whom they spread their lies.

Their aim was to drive a wedge, for political advantage, between the two great religions and by doing so, make true their fake claims that Muslims and Christians cannot live side-by-side in love and peace. They did not care if their maliciousness was the cause of religious tension. In fact, it is possible they sought to encourage it to prove their point. Yet, despite all the funds at their disposal, they only convinced for a brief time those who had been voted out of office by US citizens to add Nigeria to the list.

It is a fallacy to suggest Nigeria lacks religious freedom. A visit to any city will see a surfeit of posters for religious groups, for Muslims and Christians alike. Nigerians wear our faith on our sleeves.

Nigeria is one of the most religious nations in the world – near equally balanced between Muslims and Christians. It is well-known the President counts amongst his personal friends many global Christian leaders, though he himself is Muslim; our Vice President is an Evangelical pastor; our cabinet is equally balanced between Christians and Muslims.

This is not to say there are no tensions. The President and all who serve in his administration know there are. And they are being addressed: for instance, the present administration is the only government since independence to introduce a plan to address farmer-herder clashes. Today that plan is working. Many states are taking the lead in its implementation because they, not the Federal Government control land.

What we said at the time of the listing remains true that the government under President Muhammadu Buhari is run in accordance with our constitution. The losses of life and threats to the lives of our civilian populations from communal and inter-communal violence, banditry and terrorism are of great concern to the administration. It is, therefore, incorrect for anyone to assume the position that the government is doing nothing to address these intertwined threats.

This administration has successfully dispossessed terrorists in the Northeast of all land and territory that they held; forcing them into hiding out amongst remote forests and across boarders and they are being fought in those locations.

To address the cases of violence against the civilian population in the face of the harsh odds imposed by the COVID economy, this administration just recently recruited 10,000 new constables. All arms of the Military and paramilitary agencies have been authorised to recruit additional men. The procurement of military hardware has been intensified.

With this egregious listing removed, US-Nigeria relations are now reset, and we can jointly seek resolution to other critical matters – including the fight against terrorists across the Sahel region. This task was complicated by the now reversed decision. To that end, the present administration looks forward to working with the Biden administration on matters, bilateral and multilateral that are important to our friendly states.

President Buhari is satisfied with the decision by the United States to remove Nigeria from a list of countries deemed to lack religious freedom, placed there by a previous US administration no longer in office.

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.

Nnamdi Kanu: Chief Mbazulike Storms Aso Rock With Others, Begs Buhari To Quench Fire Burning In East

Editorial staff

November 19, 2021

A 93-year old Mbazulike Amaechi, the only surviving First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently standing trial, to him and that everything will be well thereafter.

Chief Mbazulike, who led a group under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo on a visit to President Buhari today, November 19 at the Presidential villa, Abuja, said: “Mr. President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.”

The nonagenarian described the situation in the Southeast as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling, and there is fear everywhere.

He pleaded for a political, rather than military solution, requesting that if Kanu is released to him as the only First Republic Minister still alive, “he would no longer say the things he had been saying.”

He assured Buhari that he could control Nnamdi Kanu: “not because I have anything to do with them (IPOB), but I am highly respected in Igbo land today.”

Chief Amaechi recalled that twice he had interfaced with Nnamdi Kanu in the past, and the latter rescinded orders earlier given on civil disobedience.

He expressed great concerns about the happening in the Southeast, saying: ” I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa.”

This was even as President Buhari considered the request for the release of Kanu having ran contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.

“You have made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. “The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary.

“God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”

The President stressed his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary, recalling that when Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail, got arrested and brought back to the country: “I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”

The President seized the opportunity to condole with Chief Amaechi, who recently buried his wife, praying that her soul would rest in peace.

Other people in the visiting delegation were; Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of Anambra State, Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Chief Barrister Goddy Uwazurike, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, and Mr Tagbo Mbazulike Amaechi.

America Too Has Its Own Police Brutality, Secretary Of State Tells Buhari

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

The American Secretary of States, Mr. Antony Blinken, has made it clear that his country too has its own fair shear of police brutal similar to what allegedly happened in Lekky, Lagos State in the wake of EndSARS protests last year.

Mr. Blinken said that America and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but that a common denominator is security, hoping for better partnerships, “so that the bad guys won’t get the good guys.”

The US Secretary of State spoke today, November 18, when he was received in audience by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja.

Mr. Blinken described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action,” but hoped that necessary reforms would be made.

He appreciated the contributions of President Buhari to protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mr. Blinken, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian President earlier in the year said jocularly that it was now good to see him “mask to mask, hoping that we will soon see face to face.”

This was even as President Buhari said that the Federal Government will allow the system to exhaust itself, and will, therefore, wait for pronouncements from state governments which set up panels to probe police brutality in the country.

“So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels,” the President added. “We at the Federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states.”

On the recent removal of Nigeria from watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, which Blinken said was “based on facts,” President Buhari expressed the country’s appreciation, noting that there was freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

The President equally appreciated the United States of America for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism in the country, and for the training given to Nigerian military.

“It’s helping us to stabilize the situation in the Northeast, and we’ve made a lot of progress since 2015,” he said. “We are doing a lot on security, and the people involved appreciate our efforts.”

15 Million Nigerians Into Hard Drugs, Agency Boss, Marwa Confirms, Says It’s Shame

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, has confirmed that 15 million Nigerians are into hard drugs.

In an interactive session in Jos with the Plateau State Local Government Chairmen, Marwa said that one in seven Nigerians indulge in drug abuse.

He described the trend as “shameful,” even as he vowed that the agency is determined to curb the menace.

The chairman said that the surge in drug abuse had destroyed many youths and communities, hence the rationale for the interactive session.

“As I speak to you, 15 million Nigerians use illicit drugs; one out of seven Nigerians take hard substances. There is no community in Nigeria that is exempted from drug abuse and this is why we keep having security challenges here and there.

“Drug propels a lot of negative actions particularly among young people; it is destroying our youths and even the communities. So, we have come to interact with local government chairmen, so that together we can find a lasting solution to this menace.

”We want the chairmen to work with and support us to kick this hydra-headed monster called drug abuse out of our society.”

Marwa appealed to the council chairmen to replicate the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) committee recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, in their various domains and communities.

The Chairman of Jos North local government, Shehu Usman, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked General Marwa for organising the interactive session.

He said that such a move would go further to create awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and other vices.

He promised that the chairmen would collaborate and support the NDLEA to curb all forms of drug abuse in society.

Source: NAN.

Nigeria Sacks Super Eagles Chief Coach, Rohor

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

Nigerian football body, Nigeria Footballer Federation (NFF) has sacked the head coach of the country’s senior National team, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.

The decision to sack the Franco-German gaffer was taken after a company associated with the senior National team of Nigeria, agreed to pay the termination clause in the contract of the coach.

The NFF has communicated the decision to the former Niger and Burkina Faso coach, and has started the search for a new coach who will pilot the affairs of the team for the 2022 World Cup Play offs, and also the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year.

Nigeria will face either Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Mali or DR Congo for a place at Qatar 2022.

Excited Abuja Teachers Call-Off 5-Day Warning Strike As Authorities Promise To Pay Their Arrears In December

Editorial staff

November 18, 2021

Leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has called on members to return to duty immediately from the five-day warning strike which began today, November 18.

The Union called off the strike against the background of the assurance by the Minister of the Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello that their promotion Arrears, which is one of the issues in contention, would be paid to them in December.

At a meeting today, November 18, with the leadership of the aggrieved teachers, the Minister said that the Permanent Secretary in the ministry had assured that after the payment of the arrears for 2016 had been effected, the ones for 2017 have been scheduled for payment between November and December of 2021.

This was even as the FCT Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday; State Director of the DSS, Ado Muazu and the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr. Peter Maigari gave assurance that necessary measures have been taken to improve the security situation in schools.

The teachers embarked on a 5-day warning strike to press home demands for enhanced security in schools and payment of arrears of promotion benefits for teachers.

Meanwhile, after the meeting, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi said that the Union appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and assurances from the FCT Minister that all efforts will be made to protect the lives and properties of teachers and students within the Territory

He expressed the appreciation of the union to the Minister for the pronouncement on the payment of promotion arrears of 2017 and 2018 before the end of the year.

The NUT chairman said: “from this meeting and from all the resolutions, we will go back (to work) without waste of time.”

He appealed to the Minister to intervene in the payment of arrears of LEA teachers under the administration of the Area Councils.

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