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  • Corruption In PDP Made Me Rejoin APC, Former House Of Reps Speaker, Dogara, Says

    Corruption In PDP Made Me Rejoin APC, Former House Of Reps Speaker, Dogara, Says

    Dogara said he resigned from the PDP because of the alleged failure of governance in Bauchi State where he hails from.

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has explained the reason why he left the opposition Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    Dogara said he resigned from the PDP because of the alleged failure of governance in Bauchi State where he hails from.

    In his letter of resignation addressed to the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward chairman of the PDP, the former House of Representatives Speaker said Governor Bala Mohammed whom he helped into power, had not lived up to expectation.

    His letter reads, “I write to intimate you of my decision to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party. This became necessary because the same reasons why we fought hard in 2019 to effect changes in the governance of our dear state are festering now.

    “I intend to bring these issues to the front burner once again as the fight to install a decent and egalitarian government in our dear state continues.

    “I cannot raise these issues and many more questions without a charge of disloyalty levelled against me if I were to remain a member of the PDP. I cannot also fail to raise these questions now having raised similar ones during the administrations of governors Isa Yuguda and Mohammed A. Abubakar. If I abdicate this responsibility on the altar of partisan loyalty, I will be the most irresponsible and unprincipled politician in Bauchi State.

    “Thus, by this letter, I have resigned my membership of the PDP to enable me keep faith with my principle of fighting for good governance in our dear state.”

  • NLC rejects six percent tenancy, lease duty agreement

    NLC rejects six percent tenancy, lease duty agreement

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to reverse the six percent tenancy and lease stamp duty agreement in the country.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    Wabba said that the Congress noted with dismay the new policy by the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) stipulating a six per cent stamp duty fee for every tenancy and lease agreement in Nigeria.

    He said the Congress condemned the agreement as the new policy came at a time when the socio-economic pressure arising from COVID-19 dislocations was affecting many of Nigerians.

    According to him, the NLC rejects this new stamp duty policy on rents and leases as it will worsen the situation faced by Nigerian workers most of whom, unfortunately, are tenants.

    “It is also alarming that we are having hike in taxes and user access fees when other countries are offering palliatives to their citizens.

    “We call on the Federal Government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service to rescind this harsh fiscal measure as it is boldly insensitive to the material condition of Nigerians which has been compounded by the COVID-19.

    “Nobody would want to be a tenant if they had alternative. This means that tenants which this new policy targets are some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

    “It would be illogical, insensitive and inhuman to churn out laws that make our poor go to bed at night with tears in their eyes,” he said.

    Wabba noted that the principle of public taxation especially progressive taxation all over the world was that the rich subsidizes for the poor and that every tax policy that would be enforceable must create a safety net for the poor.

    “Accommodation is a fundamental right guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution. It is unimaginable that tenants who are in the most vulnerable group would be expected to pay 6 per cent tax for accommodation when sales tax is 1.5 per cent.

    “This is indeed a great injustice against the Nigerian poor. Government must take deliberate steps to avoid institutionalizing the widespread belief that it is a crime to be poor in Nigeria.

    “We understand that the government needs money to run the business of governance especially at this time of economic challenges all over the world.

    “But the answer is not in further exploiting the already exploited. There is no doubt that there are other painless ways of mobilizing funds to deal with the exigency of the times,” he said.

    He therefore said that one of such ways of mobilising funds was to reduce official graft and corruption.

    Wabba said that it does not make sense to ask Nigerians to make sacrifices when they are daily regaled of putrid stories of how public officials are accused of swallowing money in billions and making a comic of ‘fainting’ afterwards.

    “Second, there are thousands of unoccupied houses in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory and indeed many cities in Nigeria belonging to very affluent members of the society.

    “As we have always demanded and canvassed, Government should tax such property in order to relieve Nigeria’s daunting housing deficits and to generate the needed funds to run government business.

    “While we expect the reversal of the 6 per cent tenancy and lease stamp duty policy, we remind government that its highest responsibility is to ensure the security and welfare of every Nigerian,” he said.

    (NAN)

    Have you read these posts?

    [the_grid name=”Maren”]

  • Insurers must adopt technology to reposition industry – SystemSpecs

    Insurers must adopt technology to reposition industry – SystemSpecs

    Nigeria’s insurance industry must rethink its strategic operations and maximise its potentials by fully harnessing technology to increase the adoption of its offerings and achieve its mandate of protecting individuals and businesses across multiple industries from potential losses of different kinds.

    Deremi Atanda, an Executive Director at SystemSpecs, a leading financial and human capital technology company in Africa, made this disclosure as he shared insights recently on the optimisation of fintech for insurance penetration in Nigeria. This was at the mid-year virtual workshop of the Lagos Area Committee of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB-LAC) on Thursday.

    Atanda noted that insurance penetration in Nigeria remains unimpressive and that compliance is still largely driven by regulations as insurance is not perceived as an essential aspect of living. This, according to him, raises important questions about the place of insurance when compared with other financial services.

    “We must review the adoption of technology for insurance purposes with the aim of repositioning to better meet the needs of customers in the exact manner in which they would want to be served,” Atanda said.

    He added that, in examining its positioning, practitioners must reconsider if the nomenclature, ‘insurance’, and what it currently represents truly speak to how their target audience would want to consume their offerings.

    The insurance industry in Nigeria must also consciously deepen technology awareness, enablement and advancement in its operations. “In this era, technology is a platform and should be second nature to stakeholders to enable meet them meet the real demands of today,” Atanda added.

    “Insurers must explore the possibility of an aggregated product market place; harness big data to track spending patterns and for key partnerships; must make informed product innovations; and adopt technology for effective premium collection.

    “Similarly, process automation is a potential gamechanger in insurance today. Therefore, the insurance industry must implement end-to-end online policy subscription and payment while also maximising artificial intelligence, cloud hosting and blockchain technology.”

    Noting that SystemSpecs, the developers of Remita, HumanManager and Paylink, is ready to help transform the financial technology experiences of the sector, Atanda reemphasised the place of fintech as a veritable tool to unlock the huge and largely untapped potentials of insurance in Nigeria and that brokers have to be at the forefront of the transformation.

    Have you read these posts?

    [the_grid name=”Maren”]

  • BREAKING: Kwara Governor loses dad

    BREAKING: Kwara Governor loses dad

    Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

    The first lawyer from the Northern part of the country and father of Kwara State Governor, Alh. Abdulganiyu Folorunsho  Abdulrasaq is dead.

    Popularly known as AGF, he died in the early hours of Saturday in Lagos.

    He passed away less than four months to his 93rd birthday.

    Apart from being Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, he was the first Commissioner of Finance for Kwara State after the state was created  in 1967.

    He was President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from 2000 – 2003 and Vice-President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from 1983 – 2000.

    He is survived by his wife Raliat; Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq; Dr. Alimi Abdulrasaq, a former Executive Director of NNPC; Isiaka Abdulrasaq;  Sen. Khairat Gwadabe and a former First Lady of Kwara  State, Hajiya Aishat Lawal.

    Arrangements are being made to fly his corpse to Ilorin for burial later today.

    A statement by Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq reads: “With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, the AbdulRazaqs of Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State hereby announce the passing of their patriarch and statesman Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq SAN (OFR) at the age of 93 in  Abuja. He was born in 1927.

    ” The Mutawali of Ilorin and Tafida of Zazzau(Zaria), who was Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, died peacefully at about 2am on Saturday July 25th, 2020(the 4th day of Dhul-Hijjah 1441 AH.)

    “The first lawyer from the Northern Region is survived by his 90-year-old wife Alhaja Raliat AbdulRazaq, illustrious children (including incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq), and grandchildren.

    ” Arrangement for his interment will be announced by the family shortly.”

    [the_grid name=”Maren”]

  • Army’s ‘Operation Positive Identification’ illegal, says court

    Army’s ‘Operation Positive Identification’ illegal, says court

    Oladimeji Ramon

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared as illegal the ‘Operation Positive Identification’ introduced late last year by the Nigerian Army in response rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and farmer/herders’ clashes across the country.

    The military operation requires that all citizens must carry a means of identification, such as the national identity card, voter card, driving licence, to be able to move in the country.

    But human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), had approached the court in November last year to challenge the legality of the military operation.

    The court, in a judgment on Friday by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, declared that the military had no constitutional power to embark on such operation.

    Justice Aikawa upheld Falana’s contention that ‘Operation Positive Identification’ was an infringement on citizens’ fundamental rights to liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by the constitution.

    He dismissed the  defendant’s preliminary objection, challenging Falana’s locu standi to file the suit.

    At Falana’s instance on November 5, 2019, the judge had granted an interim injunction halting the military operation, pending the determination of the suit.

  • To Hell with That!

    To Hell with That!

    A couple in Britain have won the right to name their child Lucifer, a name banned in many countries.

    There seems to be some people who value their “rights” more than the norms of society and the reality that their child will suffer for their choice.

    There are literally thousands of names that would be a better choice including Dennis, although that is attributed to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

    Parents shouldn’t put their child through hell just to make a point.

    Dennis Fitzgerald,

    Melbourne, Australia

  • BREAKING: Nigeria records 591 new cases of COVID-19 as its total rises to 39,539; deaths now 845

    BREAKING: Nigeria records 591 new cases of COVID-19 as its total rises to 39,539; deaths now 845

    Nigeria on Friday night recorded 591 fresh COVID-19 cases.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which confirmed this on its Twitter handle, said the fresh cases were recorded in 16 states of the federation and Abuja.

    It added that 12 people died from complications resulting from the virus on Friday.

    Consequently, the number of COVID-19 fatalities increased from 833 to 845.

    Also, the total number of confirmed cases increased to 39,539.

    Meanwhile, 16,559 patients have been discharged from various isolation facilities across the country as at Friday night.

    The breakdown of the figure on a state-by-state basis revealed the following: Oyo (191), Lagos (168), FCT (61), Ondo (29), Osun (26), Ebonyi (24), Edo (23), Ogun (14) and, Rivers (13).

    Others are – Akwa Ibom (12), Kaduna (10), Katsina (6), Borno (4), Ekiti (3), Delta (3), Imo (3) and Niger (1).

    The NCDC said: “39,539 cases of #COVID-19 in Nigeria.

    “Discharged: 16,559 AND Deaths: 845.”

    Comment:

    https://twitter.com/Elmustarpharr/status/1286795320937058305?s=20

     

  • BREAKING: Ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara dumps PDP, returns to APC

    BREAKING: Ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara dumps PDP, returns to APC

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and returned to his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Mr Dogara had in 2018 dumped the APC for the PDP after having political confrontation for about two years with the former governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar.

  • We Spend N1m Daily On Each COVID-19 Patient With Severe Illness —Lagos Government

    We Spend N1m Daily On Each COVID-19 Patient With Severe Illness —Lagos Government

    According to him, the government spends averagely about N100,000 daily to treat a mild patient while it costs about N500,000 to N1,000,000 to treat a patient with a serious case

    Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said that the government spends up to N1m daily on each COVID-19 patient in critical condition.

    Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Abayomi said the state may experience the peak of Coronavirus by August.

    According to him, the government spends averagely about N100,000 daily to treat a mild patient while it costs about N500,000 to N1,000,000 to treat a patient with a serious case.

    He said, “To treat mild to moderate case patients in our isolation centre is somewhere in the region of N100,000 per day.

    “That gives you an idea of the amount of money the government is spending on COVID-19 isolation facilities and COVID-19 care.

    “If you require high care or intensive care, that amount can go up to anything from N500,000 to even a million naira per day, depending on the complications of the case.

    “Do you need ventilation, dialysis, intravenous antibiotics; every case is different, so it is difficult to calculate exactly how much a patient in high care or intensive care would cost.”

    According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Lagos currently has 13,806 confirmed cases of the deadly virus.

  • NDDC contracts: Atiku’s aide shows video proving Akpabio lied

    NDDC contracts: Atiku’s aide shows video proving Akpabio lied

    Mr Paul Ibe, the senior special adviser to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, lied when he denied saying that the National Assembly received 60 percent of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, contracts.

    While answering questions at the ongoing probe of the NDDC by the House of Representatives committee, Akpabio had linked contracts awarded by the Commission to members of the National Assembly, saying that the majority of the contracts awarded were handled by the lawmakers.

    According to Akpabio: “Most of the contracts at NDDC are handled by members of the National Assembly.

    “Most of the contracts in NDDC are given out to the members of the National Assembly. If you don’t know, please ask the two chairmen.”

    But in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives during plenary by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday, Akpabio denied accusing members of the National Assembly of collecting 60 percent of the contracts awarded by the NDDC.

    NEWS:  COVID-19: 102 healthcare workers test positive in Nasarawa

    Reacting to the development, Ibe wrote on Twitter, “Akpabio has done a 360° somersault by denying that no 9th NASS member received any contract from @NDDCOnline.”

    He shared a video proving the former lawmaker actual made the comments, adding, “This video confirms he’s lying. He’s obliged to name lawmakers from previous NASS who received 60% of the NDDC contracts as claimed on live television.”

    Video…

     

  • Mother allegedly kidnaps daughter, demands N2 million ransom

    Mother allegedly kidnaps daughter, demands N2 million ransom

    The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a housewife, Fatima Bishir, 22, for allegedly arranging the kidnap of her five-year-old daughter to implicate her husband’s ex-wife.

    She was said to have sent an SMS to her husband demanding N2 million ransom in Mashi local government area of the state before the daughter would be released.

    The police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, made the disclosure on Thursday in Katsina during a press briefing.

    “On July 5, 2020, at 0800 hours, the suspect falsely reported at Mashi Police Division that her little daughter was missing and strongly suspected the ex-wife of her husband,” he said.

    Isah added that the suspect further claimed that the said ex-wife once threatened her that she would avenge the death of her daughter who died under her care.

    He revealed that the suspect took pants and canvas shoes of the daughter to the house of the ex-wife to implicate her, where the police recovered them.

    “After thorough investigation, the suspect confessed to being the writer of the text message sent to her husband, Bishir Isyaku, 40, threatening him to either pay N2 million ransom or risk his daughter being killed by the kidnappers,” he said.

    He further revealed that the suspect confessed to have taken away the daughter from their residence in Mashi to Kano, where she hid her with the help of her housemaid, Faiza.

    According to him, luck ran out of the suspect when she took the girl away from Kano to Dutsi trying to abandon her near the house of the ex-wife’s mother.

    He said an investigation was ongoing and the suspects would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

  • Buhari Leaves For Peace Mission To Mali Thursday

    Buhari Leaves For Peace Mission To Mali Thursday

    resident Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja Thursday for Bamako, the Republic of Mali on a one-day visit, following the briefing by the ECOWAS Special Envoy to the country, former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday.

    It will be the first time he will embark on a trip outside the country since the outbreak of coronavirus.

    A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) in Abuja noted that the President and some ECOWAS leaders led by the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional organisation, President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic, agreed to meet in Mali to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in the country.

    It informed that host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire are expected to participate in the Bamako meeting.

    Recall that former President Jonathan was at the State House in the company of President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on Tuesday to brief President Buhari on the unfolding situation in Mali, necessitating the visit of ECOWAS leaders to consolidate on the agreements reached by various parties.

    “We will ask the President of Niger, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS to brief us as a group, and we will then know the way forward,” the statement quoted President Buhari as saying.

    He thanked Dr Jonathan for his comprehensive brief on the situation in Mali, “which you had been abreast with since when you were the sitting Nigerian President.”

    The former President had filled in President Buhari on his activities as Special Envoy to restore amity to Mali, rocked by protests against President Keita, who has spent two out of the five years the second term in office.

    A resistance group, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved, and the President resign before peace can return to the country.

    A crisis had erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of President Keita.

    Riots on July 10 had led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.

  • Resign if you can’t protect Edo people, Agbomerhe tells Obaseki

    Resign if you can’t protect Edo people, Agbomerhe tells Obaseki

    Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

    A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Chief Blessing Agbomhere, has challenged the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to resign if he cannot guarantee the protection of lives and businesses of people of the state.

    Chief Agbomhere who spoke against the backdrop of recent outcry of Edo businessman, Captain Hosa Okunbo, that Governor Obaseki orchestrated attacks on him aimed at tarnishing his person.

    Agbomhere told newsmen in Benin City that many political leaders and businessmen in parts of the state have allegedly suffered in the hands of Governor Obaseki since his assumption of office in 2016.

    He described it as irresponsible for the governor to destroy businesses owned by Edo people when he swore an oath to protect their lives and properties.

    Reacting to Agbomerhe’s challenge,  the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Efe Stewart, said the allegation is not true and ridiculous, adding that it smacks of the handiwork of mischief makers who are acting out the scripts  of their paymaster.

    He said Obaseki has been busy in his office and is occupied with programmes and policIes designed to better the lot of people of the state.

    “You know that is completely not true; that story is falsehood. When a man fails to live up to his expectations at home, he will automatically humble himself before his wife. That is what has happened in the politics of Edo state.

    “The governor is busy working, taking care of people of the state and he has been there delivering dividends of democracy to the electorate who voted him into office and the welfare of the people is his concern in Edo state. How come, that story is untrue; well, that is the handiwork of mischief makers who are hatching the script of their paymasters. The people you are talking about are jobless”, Efe said.

    According Agbomhere, those that have either been sent to prison, publicly humiliated or have their property destroyed were countless in the state.

    “I find it a betrayal that Governor Obaseki finds pleasure in destroying Edo people’s properties and businesses at his pleasure. How can a man who swore to build Edo economy be the one destroying businesses and chasing out those that are bringing in various investments to the state.

    “What is disheartening is that those suffering in the hands of Obaseki were people that helped him to power”, adding that persons such as, Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo and Adams Shaba were out in prison for many months.

    “Obaseki has allegedly betrayed all who helped him to power. He destroyed multi million naira hotel owned by Tony Kabaka. If he meant well for Edo people, and wanted to seize Kabaka’s Three Star Hotel to demonstrate his allodial power as governor, he would have seized the building and use it as isolation center.

    “I was attacked at the Benin Airport on the state government orders; Alhaji Suleiman Egele of Jattu was declared wanted by Obaseki’s government for two years. Kola Edokpayi was arraigned and imprisoned on trump-up charges. Obaseki personally supervised attack on Senator Matthew Urhoghide, he stopped Dr. Pius Odubu from getting NDDC job, he wrote a petition against former State Chairman of Edo PDP and now PDP Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih and asked police to arraign him, and Chief Francis Inegbeneki went submarine to save himself from Obaseki’s capricious tendencies, amongst several others that were harassed” Agbomerhe said.

    Besides, he said “Chief Joshua Ogene in Okpilla was arrested on trump up charges and many others declared wanted.

    “He went after his benefactor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and now it is Captain Hosa Okunbor, who is a well-respected businessman in Nigeria who sponsored his election in 2016.

    “Obaseki’s threat to burn down Hosa’s farm that has employed hundreds of Edo people and feeding thousands of Nigerians and also the attempts to revoke the C of O of Captain Hosa’s properties in parts of Edo State are being done mala fide against the developmental interest of Edo people.

    “These acts are have been committed and are still being committed by a man that never contributed anything to the development of the state before he became governor.

    “I am calling on Godwin Obaseki to immediately resign for the abuse of the office of the governor of Edo State and for betraying the oath of office of the Governor of the State to protect the lives and property of Edo people. Obaseki is no longer fit to be Edo Governor”, he said.

  • DSS Official Slaps Airport Security In Abuja Who Tried To Search Passenger

    DSS Official Slaps Airport Security In Abuja Who Tried To Search Passenger

    The incident reportedly happened on Wednesday July 17, 2020 at about 3:25pm at the international terminal of the airport.
    he Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria has revealed how leader of the Department of State Services at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Safiyanu Abba, deliberately obstructed security process and slapped an officer of Aviation Security.

    FAAN in a tweet on Wednesday accused Abba of breaching the security procedure by obstructing the thorough searching of a visitor, who was said to have walked through the metal detector, forcing the alarm to go off.

    The incident reportedly happened on Wednesday July 17, 2020 at about 3:25pm at the international terminal of the airport.

    FAAN in a post on Twitter said, “We note with dismay that Mr Safiyanu Abba, Head of DSS at NAIA deliberately obstructed airport security process and slapped an Aviation Security Officer who was performing his duty by calling on Mr Safiyanu Abba to desist from doing so.

    “This happened on the 17th July at about 15:25 hours. He breached security procedure by obstructing further searching of a visitor who had just walked through the metal detector and activated the alarm.

    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
    @FAAN_Official
    ·
    4h
    BREACH OF SECURITY PROCEDURE AND ASSAULT ON AVSEC OFFICER BY HEAD OF DSS AT THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL OF NAIA ABUJA

    We note with dismay that Mr Safiyanu Abba, the Head of DSS at NAIA deliberately obstructed airport Security process, and slapped an Aviation Security Officer..
    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
    @FAAN_Official
    ·
    4h
    2. who was performing his duty by calling on Mr Safiyanu Abba to desist from doing so.This happened on the 17th July at about 15:25 hours. He breached security procedure by obstructing further searching of a visitor who had just walked through the metal detector and activated the

  • Nigeria gunmen abduct 4 Chinese workers, kill policeman

    Nigeria gunmen abduct 4 Chinese workers, kill policeman

    Gunmen have kidnapped four Chinese workers from a quarry site in southern Nigeria and shot dead their police guard, police said Wednesday.

    Abductions for ransom are common in southern Nigeria where foreigners and prominent citizens are regularly targeted.

    “I can confirm to you that four Chinese workers were abducted last night by unknown gunmen,” Cross River state police spokeswoman Irene Ugbo told AFP.

    She added that a police sergeant guarding the foreigners was shot dead by the attackers and that officers were searching for the kidnappers.

    The police could not immediately say the motive for the abduction.

    Local community leader Dominic Akpan said there were six attackers armed with Kalashnikov rifles.

    “They shot into the air while one aimed at the police, killed him and collected his gun before going for the Chinese (workers),” he told AFP.

    Victims of kidnappings are often released unhurt after ransom payments.

    Police rarely confirm such payments.

  • Senate confirms 40 Ambassadors

    Senate confirms 40 Ambassadors

    The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Suleiman Sani as a Career Ambassador. The lawmakers also confirmed 39 other Non-Career Ambassadors.

    The confirmation comes exactly three weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate, seeking confirmation of their appointments “in accordance to Section 171(2)(1c) and Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution.”

    He later replaced two of the nominees on July 8.

    The confirmation was sequel to the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened the nominees.

    Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Muhammad Bulkachuwa, said the screening was done physically for those of them in Nigeria, and virtually for those outside the country.

    He said the criteria used for the screening include police report, clearance from the State Security Service, additional information from the National Intelligence Agency, tax clearance, Nigeria’s foreign policy, appearance and general knowledge.

    Forty-one nominees, he said,appeared before the panel and all 41 of them exhibited high knowledge of diplomacy. He added that the nomination is a mixture of gender, youth and consideration for the elderly.

    However, the screening for the nominee from Niger, Peter Gana, and the Yobe State nominee, Yusuf Mohammed, was suspended.

    Mr Bulkachuwa said the screening of Mr Gana was suspended “pending resolution of matters surrounding his nomination.”
    He did not explain what the matter was.

    The screening for Mr Mohammed was suspended due to “a mix up” as did not appear before the panel. He said a new date will be fixed for the nominee to appear before the committee.

    He therefore, recommended that the Senate confirms 39 non-career ambassadors and one career ambassador. While confirmation for the other two nominees will be done after screening on a later date.

    The lawmakers, in the Committee of the Whole, considered the committee’s report and confirmed the nominees.

    READ ALSO: Footballer assaulted after rejecting woman’s sexual advances in Dubai
    After the confirmation, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, admonished nominees to interact with lawmakers from their state “in the interest of everyone.”

    The confirmed nominees are:
    Suleiman Sani – Career ambassador, FCT
    Umar Sulieman, Adamawa
    Kevin Peter, Adamawa
    John Usanga, Akwa Ibom
    Elejah Onyeagba, Anambra
    Abubakar Ibrahim, Bauchi
    Philip Ikurusi, Bayelsa
    Tarzoor Terhemen, Benue
    Paul Adikwu, Benue
    Al-Bishir Al-Hussain, Borno
    Monique Ekpong, Cross River
    Oma Djebah, Delta
    Ominyi Eze, Ebonyi
    Yamah Musa, Edo
    C. O Ugwu, Enugu
    Hajara Salim, Gombe
    Obiezu Chinyerem, Imo
    Ali Magashi, Jigawa
    M. A Markarfi, Kaduna
    Hamisu Takalmawa, Kano
    Jazuli Gadalanci, Kano
    Sadiya Nuhu, Kano
    Yahaya Lawal, Katsina
    Dare Sunday Awoniyi, Kogi
    Ibrahim Laaro, Kwara
    Abioye Bello, Kwara
    Zara Umar, Kwara
    Ademola Seriki, Lagos
    Henry Omaku, Nasarawa
    Sarafa Isola, Ogun
    Nimi Akinkube, Ondo
    Adejare Bello, Osun
    Adeshina Alege, Oyo
    Debo Adeshina, Oyo
    Folakemi Akinyele, Oyo
    Shehu Yibaikwal, Plateau
    Maureen Tamuno, Rivers
    Faruk Yabo, Sokoto
    Adamu Hassan, Taraba
    Abubakar Moriki, Zamfara

  • PDP: NDDC boss collapsed under weight of corruption

    PDP: NDDC boss collapsed under weight of corruption

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said the dramatic collapse of the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Daniel Pondei while being grilled by the House of Representatives further underscored the weight of corruption that has bedeviled the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
    In a statement on Monday by the spokesman of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it was obvious the embattled NDDC boss collapsed under the weight and shame of overwhelming collective guilt brought on him by exposure of massive corruption being perpetrated by NDDC officials.
    The statement said: “It is revealing that Pondei could go no further in the face of scathing revelations of direct pillaging of resources meant for the development and welfare of the Niger Delta people, in an unbridled corruption racket, in which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, also stands accused.
    “It is rather curious that Prof. Pondei slumped after lawmakers demanded that he offers explanations on the contentious payment of billions of naira, alleged unbudgeted sums, to certain companies by the NDDC.
    “This is particularly as Nigerians recall that the embattled NDDC boss had, last week, stalled proceedings by challenging the legislators and walking out on the House of Representatives investigative panel.”
    The PDP restated its call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately suspend the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio as well as disband the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the ongoing probe to yield any credible results.
    The party urged President Buhari to note that the people of the Niger Delta region, who are being deprived of their welfare, are following the development with keen interest

  • Breaking: Ismaila Isa Funtua is Dead

    Breaking: Ismaila Isa Funtua is Dead

    Founding Managing Director of Democrat Newspaper and former President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua, is dead. He died of cardiac arrest Monday night.

    He was life patron of Newspaper’s Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Chairman of Bulet Construcion company.

    He will be buried according to Islamic rites Tuesday.

    Details later…

  • nigeria: govt, states, lgas shared n3.815 trillion in 180 days

    nigeria: govt, states, lgas shared n3.815 trillion in 180 days

    The Federal, States and Local Governments have shared about N3.815trn from revenue accruals to the Federation Account from January to June this year
    Statistical data published by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on the disbursements to the three tiers of government in the period under review showed that they shared N647.35bn in January, N581.57bn in February, N780.93bn in March, N606.20bn in April, N547.31bn in May and N651.18bn in June.
    A breakdown of the N651.18bn shared in June 2020, based on the communiqué released by the FAAC at the end of its last Friday meeting, showed that although the total revenue for the month was N696.184bn, the committee shared N651.184bn to the three tiers of government and relevant agencies.
    The FAAC monthly meeting for July 2020 was held through virtual conferencing on Friday chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
    The communique issued at the end of the meeting indicated that the gross statutory revenue available in June 2020 was N524.526bn; the gross revenue from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N128.826bn and the revenue from the Exchange Gain was N42.832bn.

    It reflected that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at 16th July, 2020 was $72.407m.
    The communiqué indicated that from the total revenue, the Federal Government received N266.131 billion, the State Governments received N185.774 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N138.974 billion.
    The Oil Producing States received N28.496 billion as 13% derivation revenue, N76.809 billion was given to revenue / Relevant Agencies as follows, Cost of collection N24.047bn, transfer to NEDC, N3.865bn, PTF N3.897bn, and Transfer to Excess non-oil account N45bn.
    The Federal Government received N227.584bn from the gross statutory revenue, the State Governments received N115.434 billion and the Local Government Councils received N88.995 billion. The sum of N24.722bn was given to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.

  • JAMB announces date for commencement of admissions for 2020/2021 session

    JAMB announces date for commencement of admissions for 2020/2021 session

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved August 21 for tertiary institutions to commence first and second choice admission for the 2020/2021 session.
    This was contained in the 2020 admission guidelines signed by JAMB’s Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, on Sunday
    The board warned institutions not to bypass the Central Admission Processing System CAPS), through which admissions must be conducted.
    “The 1st and 2nd Choices Admission-Exercise be conducted for all institutions from 21st August 2020 to a later date that would be determined by the Federal Ministry of Education and communicated to all the institutions.
    “All applications for admissions to First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich, etc, must be processed ONLY through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),” the statement read in part.