₦airaland Forum

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Ondo State Police Command has launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate killing of a ward coordinator of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s campaign organization, Mr Alaba Abe.

DAILY POST earlier reported that Abe, popularly known as Excel, was gunned down on Saturday night by suspected assassins.


The deceased was among the governor’s campaign coordinators during last Saturday’s All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary in Ondo State.

Abe was also the Returning Officer for the party’s primary election at Ward 10 in the council area.

When contacted by DAILY POST, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami confirmed the incident, saying investigation has commenced.

She said, “Yes, it is true. The command has commenced an investigation to unravel all that happened.”

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/29/police-begin-investigation-as-gunmen-murder-aiyedatiwas-campaign-coordinator/

President Bola Tinubu will be one year in office by the next 30 days.

Expectedly, this will generate mixed reactions from both his supporters and his critics.

One key area many Nigerians expect the president to be different from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, is in the area of Human Resources Management.


Mr Tinubu currently has the largest federal executive council in recent history with his 50-member cabinet.

However, many of them have been quiet since their appointment.

As part of the activities ahead of Tinubu’s one year in office, DAILY POST reviews some of his policies vis a vis his promises and manifesto- the renewed hope agenda.

DAILY POST also looks at some of the ministers who have been very quiet since their appointment in August 2023.

The president campaigned on being a better manager of “people,” a rhetoric that was further explained by former Governor Babatunde Fashola, who made an analogy of “football coaches.”

He described Tinubu as the coach who gets involved in the game, while Buhari is the type that allows players the freedom to operate.

The set up of the Hadiza Bala-led committee to review the performance of the ministers gave some hope to Nigerians that the ministers won’t get a free pass unlike during Buhari’s administration where some ministers stayed for 8 years without any tangible legacy.

Here is the list of ministers who are seen to have been quiet since their appointment.

Sa’idu Akali (Transportation)

The Minister of Transportation, Akali has been remarkably quiet when compared to his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, the former Governor of Rivers State.

Mr Akali was initially penned down for the Ministry of Interior before the last-minute manoeuvre that landed him at the Ministry of Transportation.

Despite the unbundling of the ministry with the separation of Marine and Blue Economy, the Minister still holds a very critical sector of the economy, particularly the railway transportation sector.

While there are reports of ongoing railway projects, however, the inability of the minister to communicate with Nigerians is fueling the speculation that most of the ongoing railway projects embarked upon by the last administration have been abandoned.

For many Nigerians, the development of the country’s railway system is important, but since the departure of Amaechi, many Nigerians have been in the dark as to what is happening in the sector.

Lola Ade-John (Tourism)

When Ade-John appeared before the Senate in July, 2023, most of the senators asked questions that relate to the banking and financial sector because of her background as an IT specialist.

When the president announced the allocation of portfolios, it was shocking that the president posted her to the Ministry of Tourism.

One logical explanation comes to mind- the president sees financing as the major impediment to some of the major sectors, hence the choice of financial experts to critical sectors. Another example is the posting of Bayo Adelabu to the Ministry of Power.

Also, the president in his manifesto promised the establishment of a media city to rival the Dubai media city. However, it has been all quiet from the minister except for a few visits here and there.

Hannatu Musawa (Minister of Culture)

The Minister of Culture is also struggling to make her mark as the government heads into one year in office.

Except for the recent retreat organised by his ministry, there appears to be no clear-cut agenda of her ministry as it relates to Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.



Ibrahim Gaidam/Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim (Police Affairs)

The Minister of Police Affairs has been having a quiet time in the office since his appointment in August.

Despite the campaigns by the president to focus on internal security and reform of the police, nothing is coming forth from the minister.

When the minister appeared at the dialogue on state police and pledged the support of the administration to allowing states to form their police units, he was countered by the representative of the IGP, who vehemently opposed state police.


But one year into the administration, no serious reform has been done and Nigerians continue to face harassment, intimidation and extortion from policemen.

It’s not just Gaidam that has been quiet, the minister of state has been quiet too.

[b]Uche Nnaji (Innovation, Science and Technology)

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology is one minister that many Nigerians may not know exists.

Mr Nnaji was compensated by the president with the ministerial slot after losing the Enugu State governorship election in 2023.

He remains relatively unknown despite almost spending a year in office as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Joseph Utsev/Muhammed Goronyo (Water Resources)

The Minister of Water Resources, Joseph Utsev and his junior colleague, Muhammad Goronyo have been remarkably quiet since their appointment by the president.

Mr Utsev, an academic, had an impressive outing during the ministerial screening but there has been no clear-cut plan for the activities of the ministry.

The Minister of State, Goronyo is equally unknown by many Nigerians one year into the administration.

Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth)

In August 2023, when President Tinubu announced Abubakar Momoh as the Minister of Youths, the announcement was met with outrage and the president subsequently deployed Mr Momoh to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
[/b]
Subsequently, Jamila Bio Ibrahim was announced as the minister.

But like most others on this list, she has been quiet on her plans for the country.

Ekperikpe Ekpo (Gas)

President Tinubu campaigned heavily on the transition to gas resources as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy during his campaigns.

The president is the substantive Minister for Petroleum and Gas Resources but his Minister of State for Gas has been quiet since the appointment.

Gboyega Oyetola (Marine and Blue Economy)

When President Tinubu announced the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy as a district ministry, it generated curiosity among Nigerians as to what the ministry is about.

But since the appointment of the former governor of Osun State as the minister in charge of the ministry, it has been quiet except for pictures of the minister in suit meeting with investors.

The minister, who is believed to be related to the president, has a reputation for being a silent operator; however, Nigerians are curious as to what’s happening in his ministry.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/29/akali-ade-john-musawa-other-tinubus-ministers-missing-in-action/

The Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG, has urged the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to heed the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and submit himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the court of law.

According to the group, it has become necessary for Bello to clear himself of allegations of financial malfeasance while in office.

In a statement issued Sunday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the stand-off between the former governor and the EFCC as unnecessary, saying it is an affront on the sanctity of the law and the integrity of the President’s war against corruption.


The statement said: “We have carefully watched all the drama and subterfuge that continue to trail the invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Governor Yahaya Bello, a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the curious attempts to politicize the routine matter of the request by the graft fighting agency to ask former Governor Bello to meet with its investigators.


“For us, the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, asking the former Kogi governor to subject himself to EFCC’s scrutiny is a clear signal in this regard, not only on the position of law, but also on the stance of the President Bola Tinubu administration on anti- corruption.

“It should be clear by now to all Nigerians that strict accountability in governance occupies a cardinal place in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. To serve this purpose, his government has shown zero tolerance to cases of corruption since assuming office.

Read Also: Gain Admission Without JAMB with IJMB

“So the EFCC, by inviting the former governor Yahaya Bello, like it did with past and previous officials of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the immediate past Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, is in tandem with its policy and character to nurture a culture of probity and accountability in governance.”

The group added that as a staunch member of the APC, Bello has no reason to fear.

“We urge him to heed the advice of the Attorney General and make himself available to EFCC’s investigators as required by extant laws.

“We also advise members of the ruling party who have been up in arms against the anti- graft agency to be circumspect in their reaction to the issue,” the group added.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/28/alleged-corruption-follow-agfs-advice-submit-to-efcc-group-tells-yahaya-bello/

Candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have won all the chairmanship positions in Saturday’s local government election in Oyo State.

DAILY Daily Post reports that there are 33 local government areas in the state.

Our correspondent reported that the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, conducted the election on Saturday.

Read Also: How To Register For IJMB For the 2024/2025 academic session to gain admission into university of your choice without JAMB


OYSIEC on Sunday declared PDP candidates as winners of the election in all the 33 LGAs.

The results were announced at OYSIEC’s office in Ibadan, the state capital.

Details later.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/28/council-polls-pdp-sweeps-33-oyo-lgas/

The National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan has affirmed Justice Adepele Ojo as the Chief Judge of Osun State.

The decision was contained in a judgment delivered by Justice Peters in a suit numbered NICN/IB/62/2023, on Wednesday in Ibadan.

The court granted all the reliefs sought by the Osun Chief Judge against the Osun State Government and Osun State House of Assembly, including an order of perpetual injunction restraining both the executive and legislative arms of government from removing her as the number one judicial officer in the state.


Matters came to a head between the Osun State Government and Justice Ojo in 2023 when the Osun Assembly passed a motion suspending her as Chief Judge of the state.

An acting Chief Judge, Justice Olayinka Afolabi was appointed in her place but he refused to turn up the next day for swearing in.

Justice Ojo had dragged the state government and State Assembly to National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, and secured a restraining order barring Governor Ademola Adeleke from removing her as the substantial CJ of the state.

The court adjourned the matter till December 12, 2023, for hearing of the pending motion on notice.

Following barrage of criticisms from bodies like the Nigeria Bar Association and civil society organisations, the Osun State Government later denied that it sacked Justice Ojo.

The government spokesperson and Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement said that Adeleke “only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendation for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of the Federation for decision and action”.

Alimi also described Adeleke as “a man of due process and rule of law with a deep level of respect for the bar and the bench, the NJC and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Also, in November 2023, members of the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union, JUSUN, embarked on an indefinite protest against the Justice Ojo continued stay in office as the state Chief Judge.

The strike which was declared by the state chairman of JUSUN, Gbenga Eludire, was based on allegations that Justice Ojo mismanaged the affairs of the judiciary in the state.

Eludire had accused Ojo of “suspending workers without following due process, adding that the Chief Judge had put a stop to statutory training for workers to improve their productivity”.

The strike which paralysed judicial actives in the state was formally called off in March, 2024.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/26/osun-adeleke-assembly-lose-as-court-affirms-justice-ojo-as-chief-judge/

Good news, i hope the company survives the competition

Nigerian airline operator Air Peace will commence its Abuja-London route very soon.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Thursday.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, the minister said he has given the approval for Air Peace to add Abuja to its London route.


Read Also: Register your ward for IJMB A'level to gain admission into Nigerian Universities without JAMB

Air Peace recently commenced its Lagos-Gatwick flights, gathering commendation from many Nigerians.

Following the commencement of the Lagos-London route, other airlines crashed their prices, a situation that led to the owner of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, alleging an international conspiracy.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/25/air-peace-to-begin-abuja-london-flights/

The U.S. government is concerned that President Bola Tinubu is continuing the massive corruption trend of his predecessors, given his ministerial appointment of Abubakar Bagudu, a corruption-tainted associate of former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha.

There was no “significant” difference between Mr Tinubu’s nearly one-year performance and that of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, according to a report that outlined the American government’s assessment and scorecard of Nigeria’s human rights practices.

Despite many reports that Mr Bagudu was complicit in his deceased principal’s looting of hundreds of millions of dollars from the government treasury—the majority of which have been repatriated to Nigeria by several nations, including France, UK, and Switzerland—Mr Tinubu still forwarded Mr Bagudu’s name as a ministerial nominee to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Mr Tinubu turned a blind eye to Mr Bagudu’s widely reported transgressions, even entrusting him with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning last August.
Read Also: How to Apply for the Africa Fellowship Program by the World Bank Group 2024

No member of the Senate raised objections about the nomination of the former Kebbi governor despite his infamy with Mr Abacha as they unanimously okayed his appointment, to the shock of many Nigerians and allies of the West African nation, including the United States.

“In August, President Tinubu appointed former governor Abubakar Bagudu the Minister of Budget, despite Bagudu’s widely reported history of helping then-President Sani Abacha steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the government in the 1990s,” the U.S. government stated in its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria.

Mr Bagudu, unfettered by his ministerial position, continued to leech on government funds, initiating moves to block France from repatriating $150 million loot stolen by the late Abacha unless he got a 20 per cent cut.

Mr Bagudu claimed he had an interest in the stolen funds and would only back down if paid $30 million, a condition Mr Tinubu’s government was compelled to agree to since it was determined to recover the stolen funds.

The move to block the repatriation underscored Mr Bagudu’s brazenness and probable influence on the incumbent president, who still allows him to occupy the ministerial position.

That Mr Bagudu is allowed to function as a key member of Mr Tinubu’s administration despite his documented financial misdeeds has done little to inspire the U.S. confidence that Mr Tinubu will be any different from his predecessors.

People's Gazette: https://gazettengr.com/tinubu-continued-nigerias-massive-corruption-by-appointing-treasury-looter-atiku-bagudu-to-cabinet-u-s-govt

it's well

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday, said the Commission has discovered another worse scheme other than crypto trading platform, Binance and its system.

Olukoyede said EFCC has frozen about 300 accounts to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market.

The scheme popularly called the “P to P” peer- peer financial trading scheme has operated outside the official banking and financial corridors and there was a looming disaster that could further crashed the Naira value that has continued to gain.

“There are people in this country doing worse than Binance,” he said.

Read Also: Top 10 Scholarships To Apply For In 2024 For Both Undergraduate And Master Degree In UK
He added that over $15bn passed through one of the platforms in the last one year, outside the financial regulations.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/23/efcc-freezes-over-300-accounts-over-suspicious-fx-flows/

it's well with the very young ones in Nigeria

https://dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MixCollage-23-Apr-2024-11-38-AM-335.jpg

Some youths in Kogi State on Tuesday protested against plans by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, to arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello over alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

The youths, who gathered in their numbers, barricaded the popular Lokoja-Abuja road which caused gridlock on the highway.

They protested under the auspices of the Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy, and Africa Youths Coalition for Justice, accusing the anti-graft agency of witch-hunting and victimizing the former governor.

They were seen carrying banners with various inscriptions, such as ‘Nigeria is not a banana republic’, ‘President Tinubu, call EFCC to order’, ‘EFCC stop witch hunting’, ‘Yahaya Bello remains a responsible citizen’, ‘EFCC obey court order now’, and many more.

Read Also: Top 10 Scholarships To Apply For In 2024 For Both Undergraduate and Master Degree in US

The groups called for caution and adherence to the rule of law on Bello’s trial.

Addressing journalists in Lokoja, the Convener, Coalition of Civil Society for Democracy, Richard Otitoleke, said the groups are on ground in defence of the rule of law and democratic governance.

[b]“We are here this morning to express our opinion on the fracas between EFCC and the former Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Bello. It has been in the news for some days on the travail of the former governor. We want to say very clearly that the EFCC is an establishment of an Act of Parliament and the law of Nigeria.

“We are saying confidently again that its operations must be based on the established extant law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The rule of law is the hallmarks of Democratic society.

“We are saying there is a court order, an interim restraining order of the court of competent jurisdiction that stated clearly that the former governor of Kogi State should not be invited, arrested or prosecuted pending the determination of the issue concerning his human rights.

“It is not a big thing for EFCC to comply with it. Nigeria is not a banana republic. A disobedience to court order is worse than corruption itself, except if we want to drive this country into anarchy. I am not sure Mr President is interested in lawlessness. Mr President is not interested in witch-hunting,” he stated.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency examine the activities of EFCC to ensure that their operations are professional, in accordance to the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are not saying former Governor Bello is above the law. We are saying that the law must take it course. We are not saying the ex governor should submit himself when their is a subsisting court order. EFCC must comply with the rule of law,” he added.

Adding their voices, two members of the groups, Comrade Ajibade Olamilekan David and Comrade Oluwa Kayode, accused the EFCC of engaging in media trial against Bello.

“It is uncalled for EFCC to come against what the court has said. We are saying that we will not bow down to such illegality. We heard that they are busy saying the sitting Governor in Kogi State Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo whisked away his predecessor in Abuja. It is a lie.

“The governor only paid a solidarity visit to the former governor. We are saying the EFCC should obey the court order. We call on the President to call the EFCC to order so that the right thing can be done.

“We are saying no to victimization. We are saying no to threats. We are saying no to anyone that thinks he can suppress the people’s mandate. We are out to say no to EFCC because in the face of law, you can’t disobey court to enforce the law. It has never happened and it will not happen.

“In any attempt for anybody to go against that, we will not take it likely. EFCC is not above the law so they must respect the law of the land. Going against the law of the land is more satanic than corruption. That means, the nation is in jeopardy.

“The EFCC should stop the victimization of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. There is something they are not taking into cognizance. Yahaya Bello is a youth. He is a man that cut across the nation. He is a man that has worked tirelessly for this state for eight years.

“The Mlman is supposed to be resting but they are now victimizing him, using EFCC. We are seeing the hands of monkey in this matter.

“How can EFCC use the lawyer of an opposition party to be the lawyer that will try former governor Bello in court? It is uncalled for, unheard of and highly condemnable. We want EFCC to trade with caution.

“We will be going round each of the states across the federation to protest if EFCC fails to obey court order. This victimization must stop because an injury to one is an injury to all. So we are saying that, their satanic and evil victimization must stop. Yahaya Bello is not the person they will use to do their drama,” [/b]Kayode said.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/23/alleged-n80-2bn-fraud-kogi-youths-protest-efccs-move-to-arrest-yahaya-bello/

It's well about the current price of stuff

The rising price of malaria, antibiotics, anti-diabetes, hypertension drugs and other pharmaceutical products have heightened the fears of increased mortality and reduced life expectancy among Nigerians.

The danger becomes more ferocious as retail prices for commonly used drugs in Nigeria have risen by at least 300 per cent daily untamed.

Apart from food inflation, which stood at 40.01 per cent in March, the inflation rate in pharmaceuticals has witnessed an exponential surge in the last four months.

A recent Market Survey conducted by the DAILY POST in Abuja showed that the prices of antibiotics and malaria drugs such as Tavernic surged to N25,735 from N11,370 in January, Levofloxacin SGS sold for N1,200 from N550.

Also Terivid tablet 200mg (N10,320 from N4,460), Coartem 80/480( N6,500 from N1,750), Amatem soft gel (N3500 from N1,375), Lonart 80/480 (3500 from 1,700), Ventolin inhaler is sold at N9,000 as against N2,000, while Seretide inhaler goes for N31,950 as against N8,000, Augmentin 625mg from N14,200 to N25,000.

The fate of most Nigerians who battle to feed with N30,000 minimum wage now lies in the balance.

In an interview last month, Prof Cyril Usifoh, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, blamed the rising prices on the foreign exchange crisis, dependence on medicine imports and rising energy costs.

The Naira closed at N1,234.49 per dollar at the FMDQ market on Monday, and the recent 240 per hike in electricity tariff poses more danger.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, drug imports surged by 68 per cent in the third quarter of 2023.

The development comes amid the exit of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in August last year.

According to a Community Pharmacist, Blessing Adams, the increase in the prices of medicine would lead to many Nigerians dying of chronic diseases.

She said patients now go after alternatives like herbs due to the high cost of prescribed drugs.

“It is pathetic. A patient in my hospital died because of an inability to afford an inhaler.

“Also, a hypertensive patient died because he could no longer afford ARB, CCB and diuretics antihypertensive drugs,” she lamented.

A patient in the National Hospital, Abuja, Isaac Adebayo, lamented that his family is contemplating alternatives due to the high prices of drugs.

“We can no longer afford drugs due to high prices. As I speak to you, my family are looking at alternative treatment outside the hospital”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, reiterated in February that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is targeting an Executive Order as a short-term measure to reduce the surge in prices of pharmaceutical products; however, this has not come to light.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday, Dr Uche Ojinmah, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, said the surge in prices of drugs had led to a rise in death rate and a reduction in life expectancy in Nigeria.

He noted that the country was currently facing high prices of medications and a surge in fake drugs.

Ojinmah urged the government to declare an emergency in Nigeria’s health sector to avoid further collapse.

He added that the Nigerian government should look at tax waivers for the imports of medicines and pharmaceuticals and intervention in the local production of drugs.

Read Also: Your Child Not Yet 18 Yet to Gain Admission into university? Register him/her into A'level Program

“We are in a country where for a hypertensive patient, a drug that used to be sold for N2,000 to N4,000 a few years ago is now selling for N39,000 for a monthly dose, and the minimum wage is N30,000.

“Antibiotics are now within the range of N8,000 and above. The cheapest drug now is maybe Paracetamol, within N400 per pack.

“In this country, there will be dual disease burdens. Infection disease and lifestyle disease.

“In the Western world, they are mainly suffering from diseases of lifestyle such as diabetes, hypertension and others, but in Africa, it is a dual disease burden.

“Now patients can’t afford antihypertensive drugs, anti-diabetes drugs, not to mention those with kidney and renal failure. Dialysis is now way out of the reach of many people.

“Those who get infections- young people under five years old are more prone as their parents cannot afford antibiotics. It is not unexpected that the death rate will be high. If we are honest with our data, life expectancy will drop.

“Going to the hospital is one thing, diagnosis is another and getting treatment is another.

“In this discussion, we are not talking about the rise of fake drugs in Nigeria and others that are made with lower ingredients. Some of them are just chalk. All these put together, only God knows how Nigerians are surviving.

“What doctors are suffering now is that you battle with patients who cannot afford drugs due to high prices.

“You give patients a prescription, and they go and come back two to three days later to tell you that they can’t afford it, asking for a cheaper option.

“When a patient returns without taking the prescribed drugs two or three days later, what do you expect?

“Amid the high prices of drugs, some of them are fake. Some are produced with fewer ingredients. You can even verge on the quality of the drug despite the high cost.

“We should declare an emergency in the health sector. We need to set things right. No matter what we do, if we don’t control the cost of drugs, we will soon have a problem in our hands.

“I think the government should agree with local pharmaceutical industries to help them facilitate the production of generic types of these drugs. India did it. When anti-HIV drugs became a problem in India, the government gave funding to local manufacturers to produce them.

“Nigeria’s government can do the same, and local pharmaceutical companies do it.

“Remove taxation on medical and pharmaceutical equipment so they can be procured and produced generically.

“We can’t kill our people because of Patency. Our people should be able to produce locally what they can use locally to care for themselves. That is the fastest solution”, he told DAILY POST.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/23/drugs-price-hike-life-expectancy-reduction-imminent-in-nigeria-experts/

The federal government has directed that admission to tertiary institutions should not be given to candidates less than 18 years old.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, gave the directive on Monday during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.

He decried the activities of some parents pressuring their underage students to get admission into tertiary institutions.

The minister said the 18-year benchmark is in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system.

“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15 or 16 years old going in for the entrance examination.

“Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure of parents that is causing this.

“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about,” he said.

On skills acquisition for those who cannot gain admission into tertiary institutions, Mr Mamman said the ministry is taking skills to pupils from primary school.

“Overall, it is 20 per cent that can be admitted into the university, polytechnic, and colleges of education systems.

“So, where will the 80 per cent go? That is why the issue of skill acquisition is very important.

“Any student who is unable to proceed to tertiary institutions should be able to have a meaningful life after primary and secondary school education, and the only solution to this is skill acquisition,” he said.

Corroborating the minister’s position on the benchmark of 18 years for admission to a tertiary institution, the JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said 18 years is in line with 6-3-3-4 education.

The Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, who was on the monitoring team, applauded the conduct of the 2024 UTME, particularly the introduction of online examinations to check malpractices.

He said the computer-based test (CBT) had reduced examination malpractices to the barest minimum.

Mr Sununu commended the board for setting a simple but high standard for the examination.

(NAN)

People's Gazette: https://gazettengr.com/fg-sets-18-years-as-minimum-entry-age-into-tertiary-institutions

So many people have called us saying that they missed the 2024 JAMB exam for many reasons, some are due to location reasons, distances, and lack of proper accommodation, preparations and logistics reasons.

Some parents have called us due to security reasons and protests in some schools.

I am here to inform you what to do if you can’t write the CBT Exam by JAMB of the 2024 exam.

The first thing to do is to calm down and relax. Relax your mind because the year is still fresh and there are many opportunities and alternatives like IJMB, JUPEB, Cambridge A Level OR pray for JAMB to Reschedule Dates For ALL those missed their Exam

1.Register For IJMB.

Yes, the main thing to do if you missed the JAMB or couldn’t meet up with your choice of university JAMB cut off mark is to register for the IJMB program

So what’s is IJMB?

IJMB is the main alternative to JAMB. IJMB is an A’level program, meaning an Advanced Level program for those who have O’level (SSCE) and want to proceed further to university.

It means for everybody and anyone for any course in most universities in Nigeria. With IJMB which is a year program, you can study any course and start from 200L without having to write a JAMB exam.

You just need to make sure you register in a right place and centre so that you can have a peaceful minds for the whole one-year program.

How To proceed for IJMB registration after missing JAMB Exam?

So if you missed the JAMB exam, Register for IJMB now. The registration for IJMB is between #8,500 to #15,500 and if you register today, it’s currently #8500

The tuition for IJMB is between #228,000 to #350,000 with hostels and textbooks, If you register and choose the same locations as your centre, you might not need the accommodation, which will make your fees even lower.

Read more to take action at https://ijmb.com.ng/miss-jamb-exam/

As farming season sets in, communities in Benue State are unsettled owing to the escalation of attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that armed herdsmen militia have killed at least 28 persons, including six security operatives of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards, in a fresh attack on three communities in Gwer West Local Government Area, (LGA) of Benue State within the last one week.

The attacks came just one week after 17 victims of herdsmen attacks were given a mass burial at Mbaikyor Mbalom Gwer East LGA of the state.


Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Mr Henry Agba, who confirmed the incident, said several other persons were injured.

According to him, “The attack started on Saturday; six security operatives of the state, comprising Benue Security Community Volunteer Guards and Livestock Guards were killed.

“They (operatives) escorted a family of a deceased to a village called Mbabwande where they had gone to bury their loved one and they ambushed them and killed them.

“On Sunday at about 11 pm they attacked a community in Gyaluwa and 14 people were killed.

“Also on Monday, they attacked a community along Naka/Adoka road where the villagers have so far recovered six dead bodies. Many people were wounded and receiving treatment at some clinics within the LGA.”

In a similar tragic incident, bandits descended on about nine communities in Apa Local Government Area of the state, killing and setting houses on fire.

DAILY POST reports that while some locals gave the casualty figure as 25, the lawmaker representing the area in the state Assembly, Abu Umoru, said he had lost count of the casualties.

The lawmaker said, “About 95 percent of a section of my community is displaced and I can mention them.

“The entire Edikwu community has been displaced; the entire Opaha, where I come from, nobody in is that community; Odugbo, nobody is there; Akpete, Ikobi, Akpata, Idiaha, Ochumekwu, Adija nobody is in those communities.

”Every day they will be burning houses in Akpete. As I speak to you, for three consecutive days, they have been going to Akpete and burning houses after chasing them out of their ancestral homes.”

Before now, no fewer than 50 persons, including a family of seven, were feared dead, following the invasion of the Gbagir community in Ukum Local Government Area of the state by suspected armed Fulani militia, with another sixteen people killed during an attack on Wa-ndoo, a community in Mbalom, Gwer-East Local Government Area.


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A survivor, Tersoo Adagher, who lost four family members in the attack, said the attackers, suspected to be armed herders, invaded the community at about 7 pm while some of the residents were having supper.

“The herders invaded the community with guns and machetes. Then they began shooting indiscriminately.

“I took cover in the bushes. But by this morning (Friday), we have recovered 16 corpses, including that of a child,” Mr Adagher narrated.

DAILY POST also gathered that several persons were killed in a fresh attack on Ogboju community in Agatu Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the incident, a former deputy chairman of Agatu Local Government, John Ikwulono, said nine corpses were recovered after the attack.

“Suspected armed herdsmen came to Ogboju community in Agatu local government yesterday night to attack our people again. This attack claimed nine lives as at the last count of the recovered corpses,” he stated.

Similarly, two persons were killed while several others were declared missing from their farms after suspected armed herdsmen attacked the Onipi community of Adoka in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

A local, who pleaded anonymity, informed DAILY POST that “after killing the victims in the farms, the herdsmen also burnt down yam barns and a mini-truck conveying tubers of yam from the farms.

“It was an unprovoked attack because the people had no issues with them. Nobody can tell why they are doing this to our innocent farmers, who toil day and night to produce for their families and to sell for sustenance.

“So far, two persons have been confirmed dead while many others are missing but the search for them is ongoing and we hope that they will be found alive.”

In another tragic incident, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen also killed a farmer at Olakpoga community of Entekpa Council Ward in Adoka District of Otukpo LGA of the state.

Two others also sustained injuries, while one farmer was reported to have been kidnapped.

Findings by DAILY POST indicated that the deceased and others were among those who fled their homes recently as a result of constant attacks.

They were said to have returned to their farms in the community not long ago.

According to a local in the affected community, “All the victims are IDPs who went to fetch food on their farms and were attacked by the same armed herders who chased them away from home in the first place.”

Speaking to DAILY POST, the caretaker chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Alfred Omakwu, said the entire Entekpa Ward comprising seven villages has been deserted.

“As I’m talking to you, all the villages in Entekpa Ward, where I come from have been displaced. All the villagers from these areas are kept in an IDPs camp in Adoka centre,” he lamented.

He confirmed the recent killing of two people, adding that the armed herders again attacked another village, Upu, in the Entekpa Ward but were repelled by soldiers who engaged them in a gun battle from the afternoon until 7 pm.

[b]Omakwu said, “The IDPs are camped in St. Charles Primary School; most of them, as they are going to their farms to fetch farm produce, rented one room for their family to stay in Adoka central.

“They (victims) left Adoka where they were taking refuge and went to their farms at Umogidi when they were attacked, two of them were killed.

“There was another attack in Upu village; they (armed invaders) opened gunfire on the village, the soldiers were there, so they engaged them and chased them to the bush. They exchanged gunfire till 7 pm and they (armed invaders) ran away. There was no casualty.”

Speaking on efforts to arrest the situation, Omakwu said it had been resolved that different security operatives be deployed to all the affected communities.

He said, “The last security meeting I had with the security heads in the local government is that we agreed to deploy security personnel to patrol around the farms so as to protect the farmers while they do their farming activities and also shield them as they return home from the farms.

“Now the planting season has set in and our people must go to the farm because farming is our occupation. If they do not go to the farm, then hunger is imminent.”

Speaking to DAILY POST, a farmer, Amodu Igoche, lamented the situation facing them, especially as farming season sets in, calling on the authorities to intensify efforts to help them go back to their farms, which he said is their source of livelihood.

“We have never encountered a situation like this before. For more than two months now, we cannot access our farms because the armed herdsmen have taken over our farms.

“They shoot, kill and maim anybody they see. Any of our people that dares goes to the farm risks being macheted to death. They have macheted a lot of people that went to the farm to pick foodstuff,” he lamented.[/b]

Another farmer, Aboje Edache, who spoke to DAILY POST, said the armed herdsmen who have taken over the farms, either set their cattle to eat up their yam seedlings and other harvested farm produce or set fire on them without being challenged.

“As I speak with you now, all the yam seedlings people harvested and kept in the barns at the farm are either being eaten by their cattle or set ablaze. What kind of wickedness is this?” He queried in anger.

Dailypost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/20/benue-farming-communities-deserted-as-herdsmen-attacks-escalate/

An Abuja Federal High Court has discharged and acquitted a former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Mohammed Bello Adoke, of money laundering charges.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, upheld Adoke’s “no case” submission against the money laundering charges against him.

In 2017, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had dragged Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, to court for allegedly laundering about N300 million.

While the EFCC admitted before Ekwo that it was a mortgage that Adoke took from Unity Bank, it alleged before Justice Kutigi that the money was a bribe from the sale of the oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011.

On March 28, 2024, Kutigi pointed out the contradiction while dismissing the charges against Adoke and other defendants, chiding the EFCC for wasting the court’s time for four years.

But on Friday, Justice Ekwo said the EFCC did not provide any evidence to prove the essential elements of the offence against Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant.

Ekwo upheld the no-case submission while discharging and acquitting him of the charges.

The judge, however, ruled that Aliyu, the second defendant, has to open his defence because he has a case to answer.

DailyPost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/19/court-discharges-acquits-ex-agf-adoke-of-money-laundering/

It was a moment of tears as Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri visited the troubled Igbomotoru communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, of Bayelsa State, to sympathise with the people and assess the level of destruction in the area.

DAILY POST earlier reported that Igbomotoru 1 & 2 communities of the state were invaded by the military in search of the hoodlums responsible for the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was alleged that troops of the Nigerian Army in their desperate search reportedly invaded the community, razing houses, and allegedly killing innocent indigenes of the community.

The community has since the reprisal attack carried out by the Military been living in fear, hunger and torment, as every means of their livelihood was halted due to the heavy presence of the Military in and around the community.

Several sympathisers have questioned the rationale behind the attack on that particular community, when the incident happened in Delta State.

Igbomotoru community is the country home of one Endurance Amagbein, who was recently published by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, Abuja, on its wanted list, for his alleged connection to the killing of the soldiers and military officers.

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Apparently worried by the suffering of the people, Gov. Diri, on Tuesday, visited the community, and urged the people of Igbomotoru to return home, saying the Nigerian Army has assured the state government of their safety.

Diri visited the two communities with a high-powered delegation that included the Commander of the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade, Oluremi Obolo, to assess the situation in the area.

According to him, “soldiers have been deployed in the communities in search of the masterminds of the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama in Delta State.”

Addressing the paramount ruler, chiefs, elders and youths of both communities, Diri again condemned the killing of the soldiers and charged the people, particularly the youths, not to allow themselves to be used as agents of criminality and destabilisation.

He wondered why the impact of an incident that occurred in Delta should be felt in Igbomotoru.

He said, “I have come to meet with you the Igbomotoro Community; in every season there is a time for everything, the era of militancy is over and this is the era of intellectual engagement. This is what your government is set to do and your government has been doing.

“Ijaw people are very intelligent people, we can compete with anybody anywhere in the world, and we should not be seen as cannon folders and this is a warning to all those who are still cannon folders to have a rethink.

“Your government is establishing schools, particularly schools with skills acquisition, science and technical colleges even in empowering programmes and we want our youths to key into it and drop your guns.

“Youths cannot take over leadership of the community by force, that is what we have started seeing in our communities and this again will be a warning to all of our traditional rulers, they must stay at home to lead the people and any traditional ruler that is not found in his base, I will promptly remove that traditional ruler.

“And my advice to the military is that they must painstakingly investigate the killings in Okuama to ascertain those that are culpable so that innocent people will not be sacrificed.

“The truth is that Ijaw people want those behind the killings in Okuama to be properly investigated and unveiled to the Nigerian public. They should face the wrath of the law. That is my humble appeal to the Nigeria military and all the security agencies.

“Those who must have sponsored even the killers all should be brought to book. You cannot imagine soldiers who are actually expected to secure us as civilians being brutally murdered in broad daylight.

“What are we looking for, is it the oil? Has oil actually become a curse in Ijaw nation rather than a blessing to Ijaw land? Has oil become a curse to Bayelsa State rather than a blessing to the people of Bayelsa State.

“That is why very efficient uncorrupted investigations should be launched, who knows if oil is part of what has led to these killings. We hear it is land issues, until the investigations are revealed we will not know what really caused this brutal killing of our security men. Nobody has the power to take the life of another man.

“We cannot go back to the days of Isaac Adaka Boro, this is a different era. Thank you for your patience and I believe that this will not happen again, not only in Igbomotoro Community but in all of our communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and indeed in Ijaw land.

“The military has cooperated and they told me that you can go about your normal business, they will not hurt innocent people and I am sure that from when that incident happened until today, at least we are beginning to have total freedom in Igbomotoro Community.

“Please go about your normal business as we will continue to engage the federal government and the military high command so that this incident will be brought to a permanent rest.”

DailyPost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/19/soldier-killings-tears-as-gov-diri-visits-troubled-bayelsa-communities/

Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honorable Yusuf Liman, has warned Bello El-Rufai, against threatening and intimidating the House over the probe of his father’s 8-year tenure in office.

DAILYPOST recalls that the House of Assembly had on Tuesday set up a committee to investigate financial dealings, loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015-2023, during the administration of ex-governor El-Rufai.

However, the speaker alleged that Bello took to social media with two tweets, insinuating a call to “fight” and disrespecting all the members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.


He further expressed concern that Bello, a member representing Kaduna North in the House of Representatives, sent insulting and subtly threatening messages to him.

The speaker in a statement by his Media Aide, Malam Suraj Bamalli said the screenshots of those tweets and messages have been widely circulated, causing concern among the citizens of Kaduna State.

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“It is disheartening that a federal lawmaker, entrusted with representing the people, would resort to such behaviour, attempting to obstruct the lawful functions of the state Assembly,” [/b]he said.

[b]According to him, threats and intimidation from anyone, including federal lawmakers, would not deter the Assembly from its pursuit of justice and accountability, adding that the House remained resolute in its mandate to provide checks and balances and uphold the rule of law in Kaduna State.

He urged the people of the state to remain steadfast in their support for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

He said the members of the Assembly took an oath to uphold the integrity of their office and ensure due diligence in their duties, regardless of any attempts at intimidation or threats.

DailyPost: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/18/probe-panel-kaduna-speaker-warns-bello-el-rufai-against-threatening-lawmakers/

moderator what's going on?

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has reportedly laid siege to arrest the former governor of Kogi State in Abuja.

The video sighted a video by AIT shared on its X handle on Wednesday.

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Video:

Breaking: EFCC lays siege to arrest former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello in Abuja pic.twitter.com/FUpHSSXIC6

— Africa Independent Television (@AIT_Online) April 17, 2024

Twenty-nine suspected members of the Yoruba Nation were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ibadan Chief Magistrate Court for their involvement and roles in the aborted invasion of the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Saturday, April 13.

They were arraigned on a seven-count charge bothering on treasonable felony, unlawful society, illegal possession of firearm, going armed and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

According to the Investigative Police Officer, Bakare Rasaq, an Inspector with the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the offenses are contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

The case with charge number Mi/520c/2024 is between the Commissioner of Police and the 29 suspects.

Daily Post: https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/17/police-arraign-29-yoruba-nation-agitators-in-ibadan/

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