No COVID-19 Vaccine Results: 70 Nigerian Christians Can’t Make It To Jordan For Pilgrimage

September 3, 2021

File photo of Nigerians pilgrimage in Jordan | Photo credit: PM News

Over 70 Nigerian Christians could not make it to Jordan for the 2021 pilgrimage due to late release of COVID-19 vaccine test results.

This is coming shortly after the National Primary Health Care Development Agency warned that Holy cities such as Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem have made it mandatory for pilgrims to provide proof of vaccination before they can be granted access for pilgrimage.

The Executive Director, Faisal Shuaib had said early in the week that many countries have made vaccination a requirement to gain access to their countries as the COVID-19 vaccines have become available worldwide.

“I would like to remind all Nigerians that evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 is now mandatory for all pilgrims to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem.

“I therefore urge adherents of both religions who are planning to perform pilgrimage next year or in the future, to get vaccinated now to avoid any delays.”

But, the Delta State Government today, September 3, decried the decision of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission to centralise COVID-19 tests for intending pilgrims in the state, as 77 pilgrims from the state were not airlifted.

The State government, through the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said that the centralised COVID-19 test as directed by the NCPC had caused untold hardship to the intending pilgrims.

“Because of in the haphazard release of the test results, 77 of them were not airlifted to Jordan.

“It was disappointing for the intending pilgrims especially as the State had accredited centres to carry out the COVID-19 test in the state.”

According to him, a total of 315 Deltans were supposed to have been airlifted to Jordan from the Port Harcourt International Airport.

He said 223 eventually travelled as 15 reportedly tested positive for the virus and 77 could not travel due to late release of their results.

Katsina Gov, Masari, Didn’t Pass Vote Of No Confidence On IGP – Spokesman

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

Alhaji Abdu Labaran, Director-General of Media to Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said that his boss never said anything to imply a vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba.

In a statement in Katsina today, September 3, Abdu Labaran stressed that there was no place where the governor made any statement reflecting vote of no confidence during the visit of the police boss on him.

“I believe most of you were around during the IGP’s visit, you can bear witness that there was no such statement by the governor.

“In our investigation, we have come to understand that the Correspondent of the medium in the State did not send such a story to them.

“To our greatest surprise, the medium on Friday published the story with a leading headline that “Masari passes vote of no confidence on the IGP.

“In fact, the governor, during the visit, even sympathized with the police.

“As you are all aware, the IGP was here in Katsina, and during the visit, had visited the governor. There was no time or place when Gov. Masari said something like what was reported.

“Therefore, I wish to tell you that the medium had lied, it was a blatant lie they published, and we are highly disappointed,” he said.

According to Abdy Labaran, the state government is still waiting for response from the medium before knowing what action to take.

This was even as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, Gambo Isah, described the publication as mischievous and an attempt to put the image of the Police into disrepute.

“The Command urges members of the public to discountenance the fake news, as the Force would not be distracted by such acts.”

Local Hunters Kill 47 Bandits In Shiroro, Niger State, Others Flee

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

File photo of Nigeria’s Local Vigilante | Credit: The Conversation

Courageous local hunters have been confirmed to have killed no fewer than 47 armed bandits that have hitherto been terrorising the people in Shiroro communities in Niger State.

Information had it that the hunters, in a sting-like operation, raided a ‘riverside’ community in Magami between Shiroro and Rafi Local government areas on Wednesday and killed the bandits.

A source said that the community, which is closed to a river, has been used as hideouts by Niger bandits, who also established their camps in the axis.

A police intelligence officer, who asked not to be mentioned, confirmed that several bandits also fled with gunshot wounds, aside those killed.

“I can tell you for a fact that the bandits met their waterloo. At least 47 of them were eliminated by the hunters who participated in the operation,” he said.

It could not be immediately confirmed if the hunters are part of the recently inaugurated Niger Special Vigilante Corps (NSVC) which was formulated by the police and the state government to streamline the activities of all local security outfits into one special corps.

During the inauguration of the corps in June 2021, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of the state said the activities of banditry would not intimidate the people or the government as they would not allow bandits to change the style of living of the people.

“Bandits want to force us to change our way of life in Niger State but we won’t allow them.

“They stopped our children from going to school, they stopped us from travelling on our roads, they stopped farmers from going to the farm and now they are trying to stop from anything, but we will not be intimidated. We will not allow that to happen; we will continue to live our normal lives.”

Source: PRNigeria.

EFCC Confirms Lekki In Lagos As Hotbed Of Cybercrimes, Arrests 402 Suspects

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has confirmed Lekki, a fast-developing middle-class area of Lagos metropolis as the new hotbed of Internet-related crimes.

A statement today, September 3 by the spokesman of the anti-crime agency, Wilson Uwujaren quoted data for the second quarter of 2021, as indicating that between April and June 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests in Lekki, while the Advance Fee Fraud section arrested 243 suspects.

According to the statement, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.

It said that out of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.

It added that Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively, saying that Badore had 8 suspects as the neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.

The statement said that the suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs.

“Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty Four percent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by “Middle Man Scam” and “Picking” which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.

“The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.

“Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.

“The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.

“A total of $12, 512.49USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period.“

Buhari To Boss Mustapha: You’re A Remarkably Competent Public Servant

Editorial staff

September 3, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari and SGF Boss Mustapha – NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as a remarkably competent public servant who enjoys the confidence and support of his colleagues.

In a statement today, September 3, on the occasion of Mustapha’s 65th birthday, the President further described him as a dedicated public servant under whom the nation’s COVID19 management drew wide commendation.

According to the President: “since his appointment as SGF, my respect and admiration for Mustapha have grown ever stronger and deeper because of the passion and energy with which he does his job.

“Mr. Mustapha is a remarkably competent person who enjoys the confidence and support of his colleagues. I commend him for playing a big part in the nation’s unparalleled success in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.”

President Buhari called on other public servants to borrow a leaf from Boss Mustapha who does his job with passion and amazing talent for details.

COVID19: Nigerian Govt Plans Compulsory Vaccination For Public Servants

Editorial staff

September 2, 2021

Nigerian Federal Government has announced plans to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for public service employees.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who spoke today, September 2 in Abuja during a conference organised by the Forum of Health Commissioners in Nigeria said that the move was aimed at avoiding government personnel being rejected from attending functions in other countries.

“I can tell you that by the time the western world vaccinates its people, you can’t get into any of the Western countries without vaccination.

“It has started happening in the European Union dispensation now. They have created some waivers for people that have been vaccinated. It is better we begin to prepare people at home.

“One of the reasons we want to do that with federal civil servants is because they will be traveling to perform roles on behalf of the Federal Government.”

He explained that although the process will be gradual, the government will make sure that vaccines are made available and accessible to all before implementing the protocol.

According to him, the United Nations General Assembly will be starting very soon which will require the attendance of some government officials.

“Assuming the American Government says that you can’t come into the US unless you are vaccinated, and we have not provided vaccinations for our people, how will they go and prepare grounds for the meetings that will be attended by the President and other top government officials?

“It is a sequential thing and we are taking one step at a time. We realized we do not have sufficient vaccine, so we will not be able to impose those kinds of mandates on an automatic basis; it has to take some time and we will make sure that the vaccines are available and are deployed to the appropriate places and people will have the opportunity of getting the vaccines before we now impose the mandatory nature of whether you have vaccines or not before you can access government facilities.”

Boss Mustapha, commenting on the ongoing doctors strike, appealed to them to embrace dialogue and be patient, even as the government works to fulfill their demands.

“I will continue to appeal to the doctors that in the midst of a pandemic, any form of strike is unnecessary because already people are dealing with something that is beyond your control.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a thing that is beyond anybody’s control, and it is not even in the hands of the government. Therefore, we can resolve these issues and we can make every effort to ensure that these strikes are totally avoidable.”

In her remark, the Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners in Nigeria, Betta Edu, stressed on the need stakeholders to promote the call for revolution in the health sector.

The Conference, according to her seeks to provide a platform for all the commissioners of health in the country to develop policies to improve the universal health coverage.

Presidency Describes Amnesty International As American Lobbyist Working For IPOB, Local Politicians

Editorial staff

September 1, 2021

Nigeria’s Presidency has written off Amnesty International over its recent comments on the government, saying that it had turned itself into an American Lobbyist and working to legitimize proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and local politicians who are using it as cover to carry out nefarious activities.

In a statement today, September 1, Senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that the amnesty had again, decided to side with terrorists, before the liberty of those they injure, displace and murder.

The Presidential spokesman further accused the Amnesty International of deploying its language of universal human rights only to defend and even outrightly promote those that violently oppose the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Parroting the line of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, a proscribed terror organisation, they work to legitimise its cause to Western audiences. This puts them in bad company.

“Controversial American lobbyists are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to do the same, laundering IPOB’s reputation in Washington DC.

“IPOB murder Nigerian citizens. They kill police officers and military personnel and set government property on fire. “Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

“Were this group in a western country, you would not expect to hear Amnesty’s full-throated defence of their actions. Instead, there would be silence or mealy-mouthed justification of western governments’ action to check the spread of “terrorism.”

Garba Shehu said that despite Amnesty’s self-proclaimed mandate to impartially transcend borders, “unfortunately in Nigeria, they play only domestic politics. “The international NGO is being used as cover for the organisation’s local leaders to pursue their self-interests. “Regrettably, this is not uncommon in Africa. There is nothing wrong with an activist stance; there are claims of neutrality, when all facts point to the opposite.”

The Presidency argued that Amnesty International has no legal right to exist in Nigeria, saying that it must open a formal investigation into the personnel that occupy their Nigerian offices.

“They should reject the outrageously tendentious misinformation they receive and bring some semblance of due diligence to the sources they base their claims on. Currently, we see none.

“The Nigerian government will fight terrorism with all the means at its disposal. We will ignore Amnesty’s rantings. Especially when it comes from an organisation that does not hold itself to the same standards it demands of others.”

Kogi, Other, Join Oil Producing States Soon

Editorial staff

September 1, 2021

Yahaya Bello | Photo Credit: Premium Times

Kogi and Anambra States may soon join the league of Oil Producing States in Nigeria as their oil wells have been recognised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The development is sequel to a letter from RMAFC to a request of Governor Willie Obiano for due share of revenue accruing to the nation from oil and gas production activities in Anambra state.
According to the letter, the two states would benefit from the 13 percent derivation fund once the proceeds from the oil wells are contributed to the Federation Account.
In the approval letter signed by RMAFC’s secretary, M.B. Shehu, and addressed to Governor Obiano, the Commission approved the attribution of eleven oil wells wholly to Anambra state.
The Commission also approved attribution of Anambra River One, Two, and Three oil wells, to be shared on fifty- fifty percent basis between Anambra and Kogi states, pending the final delineation of boundaries of the two states.
The eleven oil wells wholly attributed to Anambra state, are Nzam-One oil well, Alo- One oil well, and Ogbu- One oil well.
Others are Ameshi One, Two, Three and Four oil wells, as well as Enyie One, Two, Three, and Four oil wells.
Meanwhile, the Commission insisted that for the states to benefit from the 13% derivation Fund, the proceeds from the operations of the oil wells should be contributed to the Federation Account.
It was gathered that the oil wells in Anambra and Kogi States are not producing at the moment.
Source: PRNigeria

FCT Minister Announces Partnership With Surveyors On Land Administration In Abuja

Editorial staff

September 1, 2021

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has announced a partnership between Surveyors, under the auspices of Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS) and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Receiving in audience today, September 1, members of the Institute in his office, the Minister acknowledged the professional services Surveyors have been rendering for the development of Nigeria, particularly in the areas of security and agriculture.

“I want to commend you in the appreciation that survey data is now critical in managing national security, as well as keying in and providing the bedrock and foundation for the agricultural policy of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I am very much aware that your professional colleagues were able to survey farmlands, thereby making them eligible to get a lot of the empowerment and palliative measures that the Federal Government has towards improving agriculture, especially under agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria and other subsidiary agencies. All these are being done using your professional input and that is very commendable.”

The Minister expressed satisfaction with members of NIS in the FCTA and advised them to continue their programmes towards enhancing their professional competence, especially the young surveyors.

“For the younger ones coming in into the system, I hope the council has a robust training mechanism and system for them to be able to do it, particularly looking to advances in technology.”

Earlier, President of the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors, Surveyor David Kayode Oluwamotemi, said that the visit was to seek partnership with the FCTA to enhance land administration and revenue drive in the FCT.

BREAKING: Buhari Sacks Ministers Of Agric, Power

Greenbarge Reporters

September 1, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved two ministers of their appointments. They are the Ministers of Agriculture, Mohammed Sabo Nanono and his Power counterpart, Engineer Saleh Mamman.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, announced this today, September 1.

He said that the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abubakar has been redeployed to the Ministry of Agriculture while the Minister of State for Works, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu is to take over as Minister of Power.

He said the exercise will continue to fill vacancies as prescribed in the constitution.

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