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The country's constitutional court says Col Assimi Goïta should now "lead the transition process".

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Volcanic activity has raised fears of a rare eruption at Lake Kivu in the country's east.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of eight suspected internet fraudsters, one of whom was allegedly involved in money laundering. 

A statement by the EFCC's Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Friday listed the suspects as Tobiloba Aramide Ogundiyan, Samson Alabi Afolabi, Adebayo Dolapo Olumide, Daniel Boluwatife Akinwunmi, Moses Segun, Kelechi Thankgod Felix, Adeleke Godwin Tofunmi and Adewale Dayo Victor. 

The statement said they were arrested on May 18, 2021, at River View Estate, Lekki, Lagos following credible intelligence received by the commission on some individuals allegedly involved in computer-related fraud. 

Upon their arrest, items such as mobile devices, laptops, exotic cars and expensive jewellery were recovered from them, the statement added. 

The statement read, "In the course of investigation, it was revealed that one of the suspects, Ogundiyan was also involved in money laundering. The suspect who acquired his ill-gotten wealth from internet fraud, layered the proceeds into bitcoin account and then integrated it by purchasing a Range Rover Vela P380 2018 model worth N44,000,000 ($97,626 USD in bitcoin) sometime in March 2021.

"The suspects have volunteered useful statements to the commission and will be charged to court soon."

CRIME News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of eight suspected internet fraudsters, one of whom was allegedly involved in money laundering. 

A statement by the EFCC's Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Friday listed the suspects as Tobiloba Aramide Ogundiyan, Samson Alabi Afolabi, Adebayo Dolapo Olumide, Daniel Boluwatife Akinwunmi, Moses Segun, Kelechi Thankgod Felix, Adeleke Godwin Tofunmi and Adewale Dayo Victor. 

The statement said they were arrested on May 18, 2021, at River View Estate, Lekki, Lagos following credible intelligence received by the commission on some individuals allegedly involved in computer-related fraud. 

Upon their arrest, items such as mobile devices, laptops, exotic cars and expensive jewellery were recovered from them, the statement added. 

The statement read, "In the course of investigation, it was revealed that one of the suspects, Ogundiyan was also involved in money laundering. The suspect who acquired his ill-gotten wealth from internet fraud, layered the proceeds into bitcoin account and then integrated it by purchasing a Range Rover Vela P380 2018 model worth N44,000,000 ($97,626 USD in bitcoin) sometime in March 2021.

"The suspects have volunteered useful statements to the commission and will be charged to court soon."

CRIME News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says excessive leakages of revenues and monumental corruption are responsible for slow growth in Lagos state.

Speaking in an interview with Yoruba Tooto TV, George accused Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of taking N9 billion monthly from the Lagos state internally generated revenue account.

Bola Tinubu

“Do you know how much is Lagos state internally generated revenue monthly? N60 billion minimum, and someone (Tinubu) is sitting somewhere, taking 15 percent of it, that’s N9 billion every month,” he said.

The former deputy national chairman of the PDP said the country’s electoral system is fraudulent.

He said, “The way we vote in this country is a scam. That’s why I do say we need to be more prayerful and do good. It’s not who people voted for that are declared as winner.

“How won’t issue of bullion van won’t be related to election? We are just deceiving ourselves. There is problem in this country, how can we move forward with this? 

“You can’t even force people now, they are angry, if you meet people now, they will tell you politicians are bad people, they should get away. Things are hard in this country.”

George added that the late Funsho Williams should have become the Lagos state governor.

“He is a good man, a very responsible one. He is like a brother to me, my junior then in school. He would have been a better governor of Lagos state,” he said.

Williams, who was a governorahip aspirant in the state, was murdered in July 2006.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says excessive leakages of revenues and monumental corruption are responsible for slow growth in Lagos state.

Speaking in an interview with Yoruba Tooto TV, George accused Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of taking N9 billion monthly from the Lagos state internally generated revenue account.

Bola Tinubu

“Do you know how much is Lagos state internally generated revenue monthly? N60 billion minimum, and someone (Tinubu) is sitting somewhere, taking 15 percent of it, that’s N9 billion every month,” he said.

The former deputy national chairman of the PDP said the country’s electoral system is fraudulent.

He said, “The way we vote in this country is a scam. That’s why I do say we need to be more prayerful and do good. It’s not who people voted for that are declared as winner.

“How won’t issue of bullion van won’t be related to election? We are just deceiving ourselves. There is problem in this country, how can we move forward with this? 

“You can’t even force people now, they are angry, if you meet people now, they will tell you politicians are bad people, they should get away. Things are hard in this country.”

George added that the late Funsho Williams should have become the Lagos state governor.

“He is a good man, a very responsible one. He is like a brother to me, my junior then in school. He would have been a better governor of Lagos state,” he said.

Williams, who was a governorahip aspirant in the state, was murdered in July 2006.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2IhcEux

Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says excessive leakages of revenues and monumental corruption are responsible for slow growth in Lagos state.

Speaking in an interview with Yoruba Tooto TV, George accused Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of taking N9 billion monthly from the Lagos state internally generated revenue account.

Bola Tinubu

“Do you know how much is Lagos state internally generated revenue monthly? N60 billion minimum, and someone (Tinubu) is sitting somewhere, taking 15 percent of it, that’s N9 billion every month,” he said.

The former deputy national chairman of the PDP said the country’s electoral system is fraudulent.

He said, “The way we vote in this country is a scam. That’s why I do say we need to be more prayerful and do good. It’s not who people voted for that are declared as winner.

“How won’t issue of bullion van won’t be related to election? We are just deceiving ourselves. There is problem in this country, how can we move forward with this? 

“You can’t even force people now, they are angry, if you meet people now, they will tell you politicians are bad people, they should get away. Things are hard in this country.”

George added that the late Funsho Williams should have become the Lagos state governor.

“He is a good man, a very responsible one. He is like a brother to me, my junior then in school. He would have been a better governor of Lagos state,” he said.

Williams, who was a governorahip aspirant in the state, was murdered in July 2006.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2IhcEux

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a coalition of civil society organisations have decried the ongoing and increasing violent killings nationwide. 

They said over 4, 500 citizens were killed in 2020 alone and that a worse episode is still being unveiled in 2021. 

The NLC and civil societies organisations in a petition jointly signed and sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, demanded that the government of Lagos and the Federal Government must take decisive actions to end the extrajudicial and violent killings across the country. 

The civil societies are: Centre for Children's Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-Hope), Center for Dignity, Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Centre for Social Change and Citizenship Education,(CENSOCHANGE), Community, Women Initiatives (CWI), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Education Rights Campaign
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Grassroots Democratic Initiatives (GDI), Global Rights Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HoMEF), and the Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development, Joint, Action Front (JAF). 

Others were; Journalist Initiative for Sustainable Development Justice, Development & Peace Commission (JDPC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Peace and Development Project (PEDEP). 
The petition was addressed to the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. 

The petition reads, "The National Day of Mourning (NDoM) is a citizens-led initiative that is mourning victims of violent killings across Nigeria and is at the fore of demands for accountability for the security and welfare of all Nigerian citizens. 

"The conveners of the NDoM seek the following, to stir the conscience of the political class into developing the political will to protect our commonwealth through accountable governance. 

"Hold President Buhari’s government and governments in the 36 states and Abuja responsible for the worsening insecurity crisis and remind them that security of lives and property is one of their most sacred duty under the Nigerian constitution. 

"Demand an end to all anti-people and anti-poor policies like privatisation, removal of subsidy and increase in fuel price and electricity tariff, privatisation of water and other basic services, 'downsizing' and mass sacking, underfunding of education and healthcare all of which constitute trigger factors for insecurity, crime, violence and crisis;

"Express solidarity with grieving communities across the country as we acknowledge and accord dignity to every single Nigerian life that has been lost, or disrupted, due to violent crises.

"Rekindle our sense of nationhood by reminding ourselves that we are in this together and that the office of the citizen is the most powerful office that can be occupied in this country." 

The NLC and the civil societies stated that in 2020, Nigeria lost 4, 556 persons to killings as against at least 3, 188 in 2019. 

"Our prayers are that there should be an emergency session at the Lagos State House of Assembly on the state of security in the country as it affects the South-West and particularly Lagos.

"Two, hold a joint session with federal representatives from Lagos to come up with a unified position on the state of security in Nigeria. Commence citizens’ engagement including townhall meetings on specific security challenges in your respective constituencies with a view to arriving at workable and inclusive solutions. 

"Three, convey the feelings and frustrations of Nigerians to Mr. President being the chief security officer of the nation, with a view to coming up with a holistic solution to the problem.

"Also, end all anti-poor policies and suspend any plans to introduce new anti-people policies like fuel price hike and electricity tariff hike that could worsen the plight of Nigerians majority of whom are already wallowing in poverty and hopelessness. 

"We urge the Lagos State government to take urgent but people-friendly and rights-sensitive measures to ensure that our people are safe, and the threats posed by the vested interest of enemies of the people are adequately addressed."

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and a coalition of civil society organisations have decried the ongoing and increasing violent killings nationwide. 

They said over 4, 500 citizens were killed in 2020 alone and that a worse episode is still being unveiled in 2021. 

The NLC and civil societies organisations in a petition jointly signed and sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, demanded that the government of Lagos and the Federal Government must take decisive actions to end the extrajudicial and violent killings across the country. 

The civil societies are: Centre for Children's Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-Hope), Center for Dignity, Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Centre for Social Change and Citizenship Education,(CENSOCHANGE), Community, Women Initiatives (CWI), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Education Rights Campaign
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Grassroots Democratic Initiatives (GDI), Global Rights Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HoMEF), and the Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development, Joint, Action Front (JAF). 

Others were; Journalist Initiative for Sustainable Development Justice, Development & Peace Commission (JDPC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Peace and Development Project (PEDEP). 
The petition was addressed to the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. 

The petition reads, "The National Day of Mourning (NDoM) is a citizens-led initiative that is mourning victims of violent killings across Nigeria and is at the fore of demands for accountability for the security and welfare of all Nigerian citizens. 

"The conveners of the NDoM seek the following, to stir the conscience of the political class into developing the political will to protect our commonwealth through accountable governance. 

"Hold President Buhari’s government and governments in the 36 states and Abuja responsible for the worsening insecurity crisis and remind them that security of lives and property is one of their most sacred duty under the Nigerian constitution. 

"Demand an end to all anti-people and anti-poor policies like privatisation, removal of subsidy and increase in fuel price and electricity tariff, privatisation of water and other basic services, 'downsizing' and mass sacking, underfunding of education and healthcare all of which constitute trigger factors for insecurity, crime, violence and crisis;

"Express solidarity with grieving communities across the country as we acknowledge and accord dignity to every single Nigerian life that has been lost, or disrupted, due to violent crises.

"Rekindle our sense of nationhood by reminding ourselves that we are in this together and that the office of the citizen is the most powerful office that can be occupied in this country." 

The NLC and the civil societies stated that in 2020, Nigeria lost 4, 556 persons to killings as against at least 3, 188 in 2019. 

"Our prayers are that there should be an emergency session at the Lagos State House of Assembly on the state of security in the country as it affects the South-West and particularly Lagos.

"Two, hold a joint session with federal representatives from Lagos to come up with a unified position on the state of security in Nigeria. Commence citizens’ engagement including townhall meetings on specific security challenges in your respective constituencies with a view to arriving at workable and inclusive solutions. 

"Three, convey the feelings and frustrations of Nigerians to Mr. President being the chief security officer of the nation, with a view to coming up with a holistic solution to the problem.

"Also, end all anti-poor policies and suspend any plans to introduce new anti-people policies like fuel price hike and electricity tariff hike that could worsen the plight of Nigerians majority of whom are already wallowing in poverty and hopelessness. 

"We urge the Lagos State government to take urgent but people-friendly and rights-sensitive measures to ensure that our people are safe, and the threats posed by the vested interest of enemies of the people are adequately addressed."

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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A young man has alleged that some fintech companies known for giving quick loans operate in an unprofessional manner. 

The companies, he said, were established to help Nigerians access loans easily considering the procedures involved in getting loans at commercial banks.

The young man, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Friday, stated that the companies promise to give quick loans but attach seemingly high interest rates.

He said despite the high-interest rate, the customers are hardly given time to pay back the loans and once the repayment period elapses, libellous messages are sent to the family and friends of the loanee.

He listed the companies to include: 9Credit, Kashkash, Gocash, Imoney, Lcredit, Xcredits and Fastmo.

He said, ”There are unlawful Fintech companies in Nigeria who operate with a devilish modus operandi.

”Their manner of operating is literally devilish and unprofessional in all ramifications. Though the loans are easy to get, they attach extremely high-interest rate to their loan service as high as 40%-60% within a very short period, which I believe is against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy.

”But despite these loans, Nigerians obtain loans from them because of the ease but immediately you download their app on your phone, they scan your contact list, access your pictures and people look at it as a harmless acceptance.

“For any reason, if you default, they send out defamatory text messages to people on the contact list that you're a criminal, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is looking for you without caring about the nature of the relationship that customer has with the person even if those people are one's employers, family, friends and enemies. Some people have lost their jobs due to this.

“Sometimes they get bank details of their customers, especially the Bank Verification Number and immediately the loan period is over, these companies deduct the money from the bank account of the customers even if the customer has budgeted the money for other things. Most times, they deduct more than the percentage required simply because they have access to one's BVN and when customers lay complaints, nothing happens.

”I am a victim as well, they send defamatory messages and their customer care officers call customers fools. They also go as far as sending text messages to other people on the contact list with a false claim that you submitted the person's number as a guarantor which will make the person call and ask why you did that.

”My bosses called me and said if not that they knew me, I would have lost my job. My mother has High Blood Pressure, they called her and said she gave birth to a fool and all, I had to find a way to calm her down. 

”This is Nigeria and things might not go as planned so if you have promised to pay on a particular day, a day after that, they will start sending those messages causing people confusion and depression. This thing is affecting a lot of people because people are taking loans and ending up in such a mess.

”Also, they deceive customers so much. If one takes a loan and the repayment period is near, a day to the repayment date, they will send a text message that if the payment is made before the time, one will be able to access a greater amount like N100, 000 or more but that is a lie.

“These people send messages as late as 11 pm, 2 am when someone is supposed to be sleeping. I have a friend that obtained a loan of N5,000 from them and he paid it back. But when he had yet to complete the payment, with N800 left, they still sent those defamatory messages.

“I just feel this should be out so that Nigerians will be aware and not take loans from these companies.

”Some of the companies give out loans with a high interest rate as high as 30% and request that you pay back within 7 days. If the customer is unable to pay back, the defamatory messages start.

“From investigations, I discovered that these companies are owned by the Chinese and this money they get repatriated to their country and this isn't good for Nigeria. 

“These companies should be investigated as they are causing serious harm to Nigerian homes.

“Even the staff members who place these calls are not safe. People might come after them though some of them hide their numbers but some call with their other lines, especially if the customer tries to make friends with them.

“The owners of these companies will go back to their countries but the employees will remain here, they are not safe.”

Business News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3yNmrhl

A young man has alleged that some fintech companies known for giving quick loans operate in an unprofessional manner. 

The companies, he said, were established to help Nigerians access loans easily considering the procedures involved in getting loans at commercial banks.

The young man, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Friday, stated that the companies promise to give quick loans but attach seemingly high interest rates.

He said despite the high-interest rate, the customers are hardly given time to pay back the loans and once the repayment period elapses, libellous messages are sent to the family and friends of the loanee.

He listed the companies to include: 9Credit, Kashkash, Gocash, Imoney, Lcredit, Xcredits and Fastmo.

He said, ”There are unlawful Fintech companies in Nigeria who operate with a devilish modus operandi.

”Their manner of operating is literally devilish and unprofessional in all ramifications. Though the loans are easy to get, they attach extremely high-interest rate to their loan service as high as 40%-60% within a very short period, which I believe is against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy.

”But despite these loans, Nigerians obtain loans from them because of the ease but immediately you download their app on your phone, they scan your contact list, access your pictures and people look at it as a harmless acceptance.

“For any reason, if you default, they send out defamatory text messages to people on the contact list that you're a criminal, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is looking for you without caring about the nature of the relationship that customer has with the person even if those people are one's employers, family, friends and enemies. Some people have lost their jobs due to this.

“Sometimes they get bank details of their customers, especially the Bank Verification Number and immediately the loan period is over, these companies deduct the money from the bank account of the customers even if the customer has budgeted the money for other things. Most times, they deduct more than the percentage required simply because they have access to one's BVN and when customers lay complaints, nothing happens.

”I am a victim as well, they send defamatory messages and their customer care officers call customers fools. They also go as far as sending text messages to other people on the contact list with a false claim that you submitted the person's number as a guarantor which will make the person call and ask why you did that.

”My bosses called me and said if not that they knew me, I would have lost my job. My mother has High Blood Pressure, they called her and said she gave birth to a fool and all, I had to find a way to calm her down. 

”This is Nigeria and things might not go as planned so if you have promised to pay on a particular day, a day after that, they will start sending those messages causing people confusion and depression. This thing is affecting a lot of people because people are taking loans and ending up in such a mess.

”Also, they deceive customers so much. If one takes a loan and the repayment period is near, a day to the repayment date, they will send a text message that if the payment is made before the time, one will be able to access a greater amount like N100, 000 or more but that is a lie.

“These people send messages as late as 11 pm, 2 am when someone is supposed to be sleeping. I have a friend that obtained a loan of N5,000 from them and he paid it back. But when he had yet to complete the payment, with N800 left, they still sent those defamatory messages.

“I just feel this should be out so that Nigerians will be aware and not take loans from these companies.

”Some of the companies give out loans with a high interest rate as high as 30% and request that you pay back within 7 days. If the customer is unable to pay back, the defamatory messages start.

“From investigations, I discovered that these companies are owned by the Chinese and this money they get repatriated to their country and this isn't good for Nigeria. 

“These companies should be investigated as they are causing serious harm to Nigerian homes.

“Even the staff members who place these calls are not safe. People might come after them though some of them hide their numbers but some call with their other lines, especially if the customer tries to make friends with them.

“The owners of these companies will go back to their countries but the employees will remain here, they are not safe.”

Business News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Some students under the umbrella of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have threatened to storm Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with the aim of interrupting domestic and international flights starting from Monday, if their demands are not met by Federal Government.

NAPS tasked Government to reach an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic Staff (ASUP) to end the lingering strike, while demanding the immediate reopening of polytechnics. 

It was gathered that the Federal Ministry of Education's entrance was barricaded by the aggrieved students displaying placards with various inscriptions as they called on the government to listen to their lecturers, the Nation reports.

President of NAPS, Mr Sunday Asuku, urged ASUP and the Federal Government to reach a compromise or risk nationwide protest by the students.

“We are here to demand immediate reopening of our tertiary institutions. ASUP has been on strike for two months now and nothing has been done about it.

“Government is not saying anything about this and we want them to reopen the schools now or else we are not leaving.

“We have written to them but they have declined. The Federal Government workers are being paid their salaries and allowances likewise our lecturers, so who is going to pay the students for time wastage.”

The President noted that the association has met with the leadership of ASUP who promised to shift ground if the government meets their demands.

“ASUP demanded 15 items from the Federal Government but was only able to get two which to us is not commendable.

“As a student body, we are interested in the government paying the lecturers their minimum wage which is accrued to two years.

“Other MDAs have received theirs since November 2019, why holding our lecturers to ransom? If you can give them this, then we have the right to hold them accountable for not teaching.

“We want the government to call ASUP back to a round table and give them what belongs to them, else by Monday, we will grind the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.”
 
However, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba who received the protesters with other officials noted that everything that had to do with ASUP had been settled by the government.

The Minister stressed that the responsibility lies with the union to be fair on the students by calling off the strike.

 “Everyone of us is pained by what is going on in the polytechnic sector of our education. Many of us spoke with ASUP at the time of their warning strike that we are not running an ad hoc government.

“Nothing ends today, even if I die today, Nigeria will continue and there is nothing that will stop Nigeria.

“When ASUP wanted to start this strike, we wrote them and said everything that ASUP requested for has been agreed upon, we do not have one area of disagreement.

“On May 23, we communicated to ASUP and we have given them a catalog of everything that they said we should do that we have complied with.”

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) recently insisted that there was no going back on its strike action that started on Tuesday, April 6.

ASUP President, Anderson Ezeibe, accused the Federal Government of insensitivity, noting that the government has failed to reach out to members of the union with a view to resolving the controversial issues despite receiving the union’s notice of strike.

Education News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Some students under the umbrella of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have threatened to storm Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with the aim of interrupting domestic and international flights starting from Monday, if their demands are not met by Federal Government.

NAPS tasked Government to reach an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic Staff (ASUP) to end the lingering strike, while demanding the immediate reopening of polytechnics. 

It was gathered that the Federal Ministry of Education's entrance was barricaded by the aggrieved students displaying placards with various inscriptions as they called on the government to listen to their lecturers, the Nation reports.

President of NAPS, Mr Sunday Asuku, urged ASUP and the Federal Government to reach a compromise or risk nationwide protest by the students.

“We are here to demand immediate reopening of our tertiary institutions. ASUP has been on strike for two months now and nothing has been done about it.

“Government is not saying anything about this and we want them to reopen the schools now or else we are not leaving.

“We have written to them but they have declined. The Federal Government workers are being paid their salaries and allowances likewise our lecturers, so who is going to pay the students for time wastage.”

The President noted that the association has met with the leadership of ASUP who promised to shift ground if the government meets their demands.

“ASUP demanded 15 items from the Federal Government but was only able to get two which to us is not commendable.

“As a student body, we are interested in the government paying the lecturers their minimum wage which is accrued to two years.

“Other MDAs have received theirs since November 2019, why holding our lecturers to ransom? If you can give them this, then we have the right to hold them accountable for not teaching.

“We want the government to call ASUP back to a round table and give them what belongs to them, else by Monday, we will grind the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.”
 
However, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba who received the protesters with other officials noted that everything that had to do with ASUP had been settled by the government.

The Minister stressed that the responsibility lies with the union to be fair on the students by calling off the strike.

 “Everyone of us is pained by what is going on in the polytechnic sector of our education. Many of us spoke with ASUP at the time of their warning strike that we are not running an ad hoc government.

“Nothing ends today, even if I die today, Nigeria will continue and there is nothing that will stop Nigeria.

“When ASUP wanted to start this strike, we wrote them and said everything that ASUP requested for has been agreed upon, we do not have one area of disagreement.

“On May 23, we communicated to ASUP and we have given them a catalog of everything that they said we should do that we have complied with.”

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) recently insisted that there was no going back on its strike action that started on Tuesday, April 6.

ASUP President, Anderson Ezeibe, accused the Federal Government of insensitivity, noting that the government has failed to reach out to members of the union with a view to resolving the controversial issues despite receiving the union’s notice of strike.

Education News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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An emerging technology allows carers to remotely monitor a vulnerable relative's energy usage.

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested and paraded Okorie Chukwuma, a member of vigilante group in Abia State who allegedly killed his boss, Eyinaya Ogbonna.

 

It was learnt that the deceased was a US-based Nigerian, who came to build a gas station in the State, PM News reports.

File photo used to illustrate story.

Thd late Eyinaya Ogbonna employed him through the Abia State Vigilante Service and he was working for him, and suddenly the suspect developed animosity for the US-based business man. The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police command, SP Nnamdi Omoni said, while parading the suspect.

 

“On one fateful day, the deceased went to the gas station and was shot and killed by the suspect in company with his vigilante colleagues who conspired and used their pump action gun to shoot the deceased and steal his white Venza car with registration ABJ 276 BF."

 

Chukwuma, during an interview with journalists said he was arrested when he came to sell the Venza car of his boss in Port Harcourt after killing his boss.

 

Meanwhile, the Rivers and Abia state police commands noted that the white Venza car, some other belongings and the pump action gun used in killing the deceased were recovered.

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Local hunters in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and Department State Services (DSS) have rescued 14 victims kidnapped at Gauraka area of Niger State during a joint operation at the Byhazin-Bwari axis.

The joint operation, led by the FCT command’s anti-kidnapping squad combed the forests, engaged in a fierce gun duel with kidnappers, dislodged them and arrested two suspects while others escaped.

FCT command spokesperson, ASP Yusuf Mariam in statement issued on Thursday said exhibits recovered from the kidnappers’ den were two AK-47 magazines and cooking utensils.

She said, “The victims who appeared frail after several days in captivity are currently receiving medical attention at the police medical facility.

“The command implores residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883 and to report the conduct of police officers, call the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) Line: 09022222352,” she said.

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Local hunters in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and Department State Services (DSS) have rescued 14 victims kidnapped at Gauraka area of Niger State during a joint operation at the Byhazin-Bwari axis.

The joint operation, led by the FCT command’s anti-kidnapping squad combed the forests, engaged in a fierce gun duel with kidnappers, dislodged them and arrested two suspects while others escaped.

FCT command spokesperson, ASP Yusuf Mariam in statement issued on Thursday said exhibits recovered from the kidnappers’ den were two AK-47 magazines and cooking utensils.

She said, “The victims who appeared frail after several days in captivity are currently receiving medical attention at the police medical facility.

“The command implores residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883 and to report the conduct of police officers, call the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) Line: 09022222352,” she said.

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on Thursday warned against the any move by any group to introduce Sharia law to the South-West zone of the country through the ongoing constitutional review being carried out by the Senate.

The Christian body warned the Senate not to succumb to any agitation from any quarters capable of plunging the country into a major religious crisis.

The President of the PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who stated this in an interview with reporters in Ibadan, Oyo State, said rather, the nation's lawmakers should direct their efforts towards solving the mounting problems bedevilling the country, especially as they concern the security of lives and property of the populace.

"The problems confronting our nation are enormous than wanting to create more. Sharia law is alien to our culture of religious existence in the South-West. As such, nobody should through any subterfuge, bring it in so as to cause crisis," the body said. 

According to the body, the introduction of such a law in the South-West would pitch Christians against their Muslims counterparts.

"We want to strongly warn the Senate and those behind this plan to unsettle the peace being enjoyed in this country, to desist before it's too late. Don't instigate religious crisis in the South-West; this could further threaten the fragile peace of the country," it further said. 

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on Thursday warned against the any move by any group to introduce Sharia law to the South-West zone of the country through the ongoing constitutional review being carried out by the Senate.

The Christian body warned the Senate not to succumb to any agitation from any quarters capable of plunging the country into a major religious crisis.

The President of the PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who stated this in an interview with reporters in Ibadan, Oyo State, said rather, the nation's lawmakers should direct their efforts towards solving the mounting problems bedevilling the country, especially as they concern the security of lives and property of the populace.

"The problems confronting our nation are enormous than wanting to create more. Sharia law is alien to our culture of religious existence in the South-West. As such, nobody should through any subterfuge, bring it in so as to cause crisis," the body said. 

According to the body, the introduction of such a law in the South-West would pitch Christians against their Muslims counterparts.

"We want to strongly warn the Senate and those behind this plan to unsettle the peace being enjoyed in this country, to desist before it's too late. Don't instigate religious crisis in the South-West; this could further threaten the fragile peace of the country," it further said. 

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The National Youth Service Corps Scheme has been in the news following reports that the House of Representatives is considering a bill to repeal the NYSC Act.  The scheme, established by decree 24, was introduced on May 22, 1973 by Nigeria’s military leader, Yakubu Gowon, to foster reconciliation, reconstruction, and rebuilding of Nigeria after the civil war. 

Initially Nigerian university graduates below the age of thirty years were co-opted into the mandatory scheme, but later it was opened-up for polytechnic graduates. These graduates are posted to different parts of the country other than their states of origin where they serve their fatherland for one year. The youths are exposed to the modes of living of the people in these different parts of the country with a view to removing prejudices, eliminating ignorance and confirming at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups.

Despite its aim of fostering unity, some Nigerians think the scheme has not done too well in this regard with many of them believing that Nigeria was more united in 1973 than it is today. They argue that Nigerians could migrate to any part of the country and get employment without discrimination some years back, but can’t no longer do the same again despite the fact that the scheme has been on for more than 48 years. So, it is generally believed that the scheme has outlived its usefulness. Notwithstanding these public concerns, the NYSC scheme wasn’t really on the front burner of our national discourse until a move to repeal the act by the House of Reps was revealed on Monday.   

Olabisi Deji-Folutile

The bill, introduced by Awaji-Inimbek Abiante (PDP, Rivers), is seeking to repeal section 315(5a) of the 1999 constitution and the National Youth Service Corps Act. The lawmaker listed different grounds why he felt the NYSC Act should be repealed. 

According to him, the incessant killing of innocent corps members in some parts of the country due to banditry, religious extremism and ethnic violence and kidnapping of innocent corps members across the country has reduced the relevance of the scheme. He also argues that public and private agencies are no longer interested in recruiting these youths; hence corps members are no longer being well remunerated and are discarded with impunity at the end of their service year.  Not only that, he says due to the  insecurity across the country, the NYSC management now posts corps members to their geopolitical zones, thus defeating the objective of  developing common ties among the Nigerian youths and promoting national unity and integration.

I doubt if anyone can fault any of the grounds on which this lawmaker is proposing the repeal of the NYSC Act. Although, I would be the last person to insinuate that the NYSC scheme has no relevance.  I once shared in one of my columns how I spent a night in the house of a man from the northern part of Nigeria when I was stranded during my trip to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, for my NYSC posting. Despite being a southerner in the house of a northerner, I felt perfectly at home, because of the way my host treated me. We all sat on the floor and ate from the same tray. As I write this, I do not know the name of this man and I’m not sure he still remembers mine. But that feeling of oneness that we shared as Nigerians has remained forever engrained in me.  Besides, I got to know many wonderful Nigerians from other parts of the country in the orientation camp, and if I must add, I also met my husband in the NYSC camp.  So, I, like many other Nigerian youths, have benefitted from the NYSC scheme one way or the other. 

Some of us had funs and still have good memories of our service year till date. There were hardly records of deaths of corps members then. Admittedly, some could have lost their lives, but the figure was certainly not as much as it is in recent years.  Service year used to be a time graduates looked forward to. Unfortunately, now, the reverse is the case. These days, we hear news of corps members dying anyhow. If they don’t die in the orientation camp, they die in their primary places of assignments or in accidents. Aside the problem of insecurity across the nation, there are problems with our road networks which many have rightly described as death traps.  In my time, I went on the trip to Abuja by road. The roads were relatively good then. But how many highways in Nigeria are truly good now?  Countless numbers of corps members have been killed on Nigerian roads. A former Director General of the scheme, Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure once said 95 per cent of deaths recorded by serving corps members are due to road accidents.  When they don’t die in accidents, they are either kidnapped or attacked by robbers. Armed robbers once attacked 17 corps members, killing one along Abuja-Kaduna road. 

What is more? Nigeria is now a killing field where lives are snuffed out of people anyhow. There is hardly any day we don’t hear news of killings, kidnappings, banditry, accidents and all kinds of bizarre stuffs.  All manners of people are kidnapped- the rich and the poor. As a matter of fact, in today’s Nigeria, kidnappers have gone beyond lurking around the forests or highways, to stealing people from their homes. Now, there is no security either at home or outside of it. It’s indeed a perilous time for the country.  People are constantly being warned of the danger of staying late outside their immediate environment for fear of being kidnapped. Nigerian criminals have gone beyond stealing property to stealing people because the latter has proved to be more profitable. It is as if it is even safer to be a kidnapper or bandit in Nigeria than being an armed robber. After all, kidnappers and bandits are allowed to negotiate with their victims. Our senior government officials meet with them and we have prominent Nigerians negotiating on their behalf too.  The authorities are afraid of them.  Just this week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was still begging them to drop their guns and borrow money from the Federal Government. The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, while lamenting that the economy cannot grow in the face of insecurity, appealed to criminals who he described as “our brothers, who decide that they want to live in bushes and forests,” to “please, begin to retreat, drop their arms and come and embrace the anchor borrowers’ programme.” 

 In a situation like this, asking innocent youth to travel to totally unfamiliar terrains all in the name of NYSC scheme is like sending them to a slaughter house. Many parents would rather the scheme be scrapped to free them of the apprehension they have to contend with anytime their children have to go for the service year.   But, in spite of my personal misgivings about the scheme, I believe it is still the responsibility of the National Assembly to take a decision on either to repeal, modify or leave it as it is. That is why I found the emphatic stand expressed by the Youths and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, that the NYSC scheme will not be scrapped, rather quite strange.  

Reacting to reports on the bill to scrap the NYSC scheme which interestingly  has  reached the second reading in the House of Representatives, Dare posted on his official Twitter handle that the scheme would not be scrapped. He said this is because the NYSC scheme remains one of the greatest tools for National development for our youth. “The commitment of the government to sustaining the NYSC scheme remains. Dynamic Reforms and Initiatives towards current realities are ongoing. Nigeria will stand with her youth,” he had tweeted.

Such statements in my view suggest that the minister has not only predicted the outcome of the lawmakers’ debate, but concluded that their efforts are an exercise in futility.  In a democracy, lawmakers are the representatives of the populace. They are elected to make laws and review same based on what they think their constituents want. They should at least be allowed to do their work.  

Thankfully, the bill has only scaled the second reading.  The bill, being a constitution alteration bill,  still has to go through the committee stage, the committee of the whole, third reading, concurrence with Senate and  will have to be passed  by two-third of the  36 state Houses of  Assembly.  It is after this long process that the   President would now assent to it for it to become law.  So, it still has a long way to go-so many hurdles to scale.  Considering this long process, the possibility of it surviving the  current ninth assembly is almost nil, the more reason why our youth and development minister should have either kept quiet or advised government to raise a lobby group to relate with the National Assembly if government really considers the bill to be a serious issue.

Some Nigerians already believe that our National Assembly is a rubber stamp and that the leadership of the assembly are an extension of the executive arm of government.  The statement from Dare seems to justify this position.  I think it is out of place for a youth minister to make a categorical statement on what is still being debated by Nigerian representatives at the House of Reps. He could  have advanced  reasons why the scheme should be allowed to continue like the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Shuaibu Ibrahim, did. To the DG, the NYSC scheme is still integral to the country’s unity. He believes the scheme has been a valuable tool for the country’s socio-economic development; that the NYSC is not a waste of time; security is everybody’s business and, that parents should sensitise their children not to endanger their safety. Since every country has its challenges, he says Nigeria should turn its challenges to opportunities. Perhaps, the DG and other people in government may have to tell the rest of us how we can convert the current insecurity in the country to opportunities, but he has at least made his point. That is acceptable. 

Nigerian politicians should know their limits. It is high time they stopped arrogating unnecessary power and importance to themselves. This unnecessary arrogance is partly why a lawmaker could boldly call a constituent a thug in a public place. I know that Nigeria has often been described as a banana republic; we can start changing the narrative by learning to say the right words even we still have problems doing what we say!

 

Olabisi Deji-Folutile (Ph.D) is the editor-in-chief, franktalknow.com and member, Nigerian Guild of Editors. Email: bisideji@yahoo.co.uk

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