₦airaland Forum

As part of new measures to curb cheating in its examinations, the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) says any candidate with biometric issues must now report at its office in Abuja to resolve the issues and write the examinations.

According to the board, such a candidate will write the examination in any of the board’s accredited centres in Abuja.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, the spokesperson of the board, Fabian Benjamin, said the board decided to introduce the measures after it discovered that many candidates use the biometric issue as an excuse to cheat.

“Candidates with biometric challenges can only register at JAMB headquarters in Abuja,” Mr Benjamin said.

“No other CBT centre is allowed to register such candidates.

“They will also sit for their examination at JAMB headquarters in Abuja. We noticed that some candidate(s) will just go to these centres and say they can’t register, then, they begin to ask for a reschedule or a special day,” he said.

This year, sale or registration for all candidates (UTME /DE) including for those outside Nigeria, will run from January 10 to February 21.

Also, the 2019 computer-based test examination will begin on Saturday, March 16 and end on March 23.

Mr Benjamin said a new measure is also in place for candidates to lodge their complaint to the board’s headquarters directly.

“For ALL complaints on JAMB processes, candidates can create a support ticket at (support.jamb.gov.ng) with his/her email address registered on the Board’s site. The candidate then provides his/her name, phone number and the nature of issues, select a complain area on a dropdown and then summarised the nature of the complaint. He/she may also attach supporting documents (if available), then send,” he said.

Dioconate Ordination

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The political tension in Akwa Ibom seem to have died down today as the political bigwigs met and exchanged warm pleasantries in church. It was the climax of the annual Uyo Catholic Diocesan Prayers and Fasting Assembly which ended today

In Nigeria, a 32-year-old father of three is hospitalized after local firework popularly called "knockout" blasted his palm

New Year's Eve celebrations being in central Vladivostok, in the far east of Russia

A make-up artist decorates hair ahead of New Year celebrations in Ahmedabad, India

Fireworks are launched by revellers at a beach in Gangneung, South Korea

The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is lit up with pyrotechnics

A reveller wears glasses that spell out "2019" during a New Year's Eve party in Quezon City in the Philippines

Buddhists light candles to mark the Year of the Pig in the Chinese Zodiac at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea

Crowds catch the spectacle on their smart phones as fireworks are projected from Taiwan's famous Taipei 101 skyscraper

Flashes of red pierce the night skies alongside the Petronas Towers (twin skyscrapers) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A New Year's Eve ceremony is held in Beijing, China

Hong Kong's iconic skyline is lit up as revellers celebrate the arrival of 2019 in China

Crowds enjoy an impressive pyrotechnic display over the Marina Bay in Singapore

The fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia lasted for 12 minutes

A wave of celebrations are illuminating the skies above cities around the world, dazzling millions of people as spectacular firework displays and light shows welcome the arrival of the New Year.

Akpabio spotted

The Arrival

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, led a delegation comprising members of his cabinet and other dignitaries to receive Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on his arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport during the President 's visit to the state for the commencement of All Progressive Congress, APC, campaign for 2019 elections

Beautiful Stadium

Massive Turnout

More Photos from APC Presidential Rally in Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State government has rejected plan by the Nigeria Police to establish an anti-terrorism unit in the state. The government made its stance known through a statement by the Commissioner for Information which read thus

GOVERNMENT OF AKWA IBOM STATE
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & STRATEGY

PRESS STATEMENT

AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT REJECTS POLICE ANTI-TERRORISM UNIT

It has come to the notice of Akwa Ibom State Government that the State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has concluded plans to set up an Anti-Terrorism Unit in the state. Clearly, judging from all indices that precede the creation of such sensitive anti-crime unit, creating an Anti-Terrorism Unit in Akwa Ibom at this time is suspect. The question is, of what use is an Anti-Terrorism Unit in one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria?

We are concerned that the setting up of the Anti-Terrorism Unit is part of the ground work and ploy of the opposition party in the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to illegally intimidate, harass and arrest government functionaries and the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

As the 2019 general elections approach and political tempo assumes a crescendo pitch, a functional Anti-Terrorism Unit in the state, will certainly arrest and detain whosoever it wills, on trumped up charges of acts of terrorism. To buttress the sinister motive of the Anti-Terrorism Unit, sources say a former Chief Security Officer to former Governor Godswill Akpabio, has been redeployed to Akwa Ibom, with tactical instructions on how to successfully execute the unholy agenda of the APC leadership in the state.

While acknowledging that the Force retains the right to create units as it deems necessary, Akwa Ibom State government frowns at attempts by the Police hierarchy to portray Akwa Ibom as a terrorist enclave in Nigeria, by its planned establishment of an Anti-Terrorism Unit. It is the consensus of Nigerians that such sensitive section as the Anti-Terrorism Unit be activated and logistically mobilized to effectively function in parts of Nigeria where insurgency is rife, especially in the North-Eastern region, where lives of innocent Nigerians are lost on a daily basis.

The activities of members of the Anti-Terrorism Unit will undoubtedly cause unwarranted tension among the peace-loving citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom State. This is absolutely unnecessary at this point in time especially if you take into account, the comments of the GoC 6 Division of the Nigerian Army; who during a visit to the state publicly described Akwa Ibom state as the most peaceful in the Niger Delta region. It is also on record that not too long ago, the Emir of Kano led a team of investors seeking investment opportunities to the state. The business interest of the revered Traditional Ruler in our state further underscores the importance of the peace, safety and security the current administration has engendered. Indeed, this has been a catalyst for the fast-paced development the state has witnessed since the inception of the Udom Emmanuel’s administration.

Only recently the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, HE Peter Obi remarked that The Economist has listed Uyo as one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. It is also imperative to add that; today, the most common remark on the lips of every Akwa Ibomite about the security situation in the state is " I can now sleep with my two eyes closed". How can such a state need an Anti-Terrorism Unit? The plan is therefore suspect.

On this score, Akwa Ibom State Government requests that the State Police Command puts on hold, the plans to set up an Anti-Terrorism Unit in Akwa Ibom, as the present administration will continue its collaboration with all security agencies in the state, including the Nigeria Police, to ensure the safety of lives and property at all times.

Charles Udoh
Commissioner
Ministry of Information & Strategy

December 27, 2018

The Akwa Ibom State government has rescinded its decision to turn down the ruling APC request to use the State International Stadium also known as Nest of Champions for President Buhari's reelection campaign.
The Press Statement by the State Government to that effect reads thus

"Following a decision by Julius Berger Plc to recall their staff from their scheduled holiday, the Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the use of the Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo for the flag off of the President's electioneering campaign on December 28, 2018.

However, all other terms of use will remain effective.

Organisers of the rally are expected to meet with the stadium management to finalise this approval".

Signed
Sir Monday Uko
Hon. Commissioner
Youth and Sports

December 24, 2018

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it would not be selling registration forms for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) until January 2019.

The spokesperson of the board, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this Tuesday night.

He said the board had dropped the idea of starting the sale of the forms in December following the federal government’s reduction in the registration fee, with effect from January 2019.

According to Mr Benjamin, candidates have just six weeks to complete their registration once it opens in January.

“The attention of the board has been drawn to information going round in some social media that JAMB has already begun the sale of forms for UTME but we are not commencing sale of the forms until January 2019, and the window period will be for six weeks,” he said.

He urged prospective candidates to note this period in order not to fall prey to fraudsters.

Mr Benjamin said the board would make adequate publicity toward the sale of the UTME forms.

According to him, the board would comply with the directive on reduction of the registration cost.

The federal government, on November 28, approved the reduction of the fee from N5, 000 to N3, 500, ahead of the 2019 UTME, at the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC).

FEC also reduced the cost of registration for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination charged by the National Examination Council (NECO) from N11,350 to N9,850 and that of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) from N5,500 to N4,000.

Meanwhile, the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, said the reduction would take effect from January 2019.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) is a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The board conducts entrance examinations for prospective undergraduates into Nigerian higher institutions.

Boutique

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Senator Godswill Akpabio has fulfilled the promise he made to a boy, Elijah Aniefiok Edem during the solemn assembly by the All Progressives Congress on Sunday.

Master Edem from Mbiabong Ikot Essien had last Sunday on sighting Senator Akpabio, out of sheer excitement removed the T-shirt he wore, threw it on the floor and asked the Senator to march on it.

The story of Boy Edem is unique. Although both parents are alive, they are separated. They have both remarried. He lives with his grandmother, Mrs Ema Ani Edem who takes care of him. He is a presently in JS 3 at Secondary School, Etoi. He sells pure water to support the grandmother.

On this fateful day, the Boy had abandoned his pure water business when he learnt Senator Akpabio would attend the solemn assembly at Nsima Ekere’s campaign ground along Four Lanes.

He defied the security cordon around the Senator and removed his shirt, threw it on the floor for the Senator to walk on. Moved by the commitment of the Boy Senator Akpabio promised to give the Boy five hundred thousand Naira to replace the T-shirt.

On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, Senator Akpabio through his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong presented the five hundred thousand Naira cash to Boy Elijah and the grandmother.

Mr. Ekong later took Elijah to a boutique and literally changed his wardrobe by buying shirts, trousers and shoes for the boy. He later took the Boy and the grandmother to a bank and opened an account in the Boy’s name to be operated by the grandmother and deposited the five hundred thousand Naira for him.

The elated grandmother said the gesture by Senator Akpabio was God’s visitation to her family. She explained that she had taken care of Elijah from birth and asked him to sell pure water to support her. She works as a nanny.

She said on the fateful day when aides of Senator Akpabio brought her grandson home bare bodied she thought the Boy must have committed s serious offence

The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly saga has taken another dramatic dimension

Staff of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly were this morning greeted by this owl inside the hallowed chambers of the house.

It is unclear how the bird flew in there

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