₦airaland Forum

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Aayah

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Boko Haram militants were yesterday reported to have killed an aid worker with an international aid group, Action Against Hunger (AAH). The killing was discovered through a video purportedly released by a faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) on social media. The aid worker was one of the six humanitarian volunteers working for the aid group who were kidnapped in Borno State in July. It would be recalled that the Action Against Hunger (AAH) was banned from operating in Borno State by the military last week.

Six staff of the group, while traveling to deliver humanitarian assistance to IDP-returnees at Damasak town in July, were abducted by a Boko Haram faction, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Meanwhile, the group has condemned the killing, saying, “Action Against Hunger condemns in the strongest terms this assassination and urgently calls for the release of the hostages’’. The group in a statement obtained from their website, yesterday reminded the insurgents that they were in the North-east only to help the most vulnerable.

According to the international NGO, the deceased was among six humanitarian field workers that comprise an employee of AAH, two drivers and three health personnel of the Ministry of Health. “Action Against Hunger is extremely concerned and is fully mobilised to ensure that the remaining hostages can be quickly and safely reunited with their families.

“Action Against Hunger also requests that the public and journalists respect the dignity of the victim and privacy of the families by not sharing images or videos that may circulate on the internet,” the statement added, saying, “Action Against Hunger does not have more comments at this stage.” The United Nations also called on authorities in Nigeria to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. “I am appalled and deeply saddened by the news of the horrific execution of an aid worker this morning. My heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues,” said a statement by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon.

“The United Nations also calls for the immediate release of all aid workers who are still in captivity,” the statement said, quoting Mr. Kallon as saying, “I am also extremely concerned about the increasingly dangerous and restrictive operating environment for implementing humanitarian assistance in crisis-affected areas, where humanitarian aid workers continue to face challenges as they strive to deliver urgent, life-saving assistance. “I renew the call for all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of aid workers and to respect international humanitarian law according to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality.

“The humanitarian community in Nigeria is working in line with the 2019-2021 Humanitarian Response Strategy, jointly agreed with the Government of Nigeria, to provide life-saving assistance to 6.2 million of the most vulnerable people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states,” the statement added. Our correspondent had in July this year reviewed a short video clip that went viral on social media, showing a woman alongside five men appealing to their employer – AAH and other relevant authorities to help rescue them from their abductors.

It was then confirmed by another volunteer working for AAH at an IDP camp in Maiduguri, that the six persons showed in the purported Boko Haram video were real volunteers working for the Borno-based aid group.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/b-haram-kills-abducted-aid-worker-in-borno.html

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, yesterday identified poor leadership and corruption as major causes of Nigeria’s underdevelopment. He said this on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, during the 2019 Public Service Lecture and Creativity, Innovative Writers Book Exhibition, as part activities marking the 2019 Nigeria Civil Service Week Celebration.

According to him, the nation’s leadership gaps are responsible for the poor socio-economic conditions of Nigerian society which is responsible for the increasing urge of Nigerians to want to migrate to foreign countries.

He said previous intervention programmes by various governments were usuccessful due to corruption, mismanagement and poor governance. Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan urged public servants to avail themselves to the opportunities that the service would provide so as to deepen and expand their knowledge as well as improve their capacities.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/poor-leadership-responsible-for-nigerias-underdevelopment-nuc-boss.html

hmm

Good

Toh

Everyone need public attention even politicians

Politics of money, bitterness and hatred

fear don catch presido

old story

Okay

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, says the country has continued to witness progressive return of peace to the North East through the efforts of the armed forces. Batagarawa stated this while inaugurating the National Planning Committee for the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said that the country had been contending with diverse internal security challenges while grappling with the unconventional warfare waged against it by the Boko Haram terrorist group in the North East. According to her, the country has been able to sustain her peace support efforts at the Sub-regional, regional and global levels. “The situation has tasked the capabilities of our Armed Forces with attendant losses of our gallant officers, men and women in the line of duty.

“It is heartwarming to state that in recent times we have witnessed a progressive return of peace particularly to the North eastern part of the country ravaged by insurgency. “Civil institutions that were destroyed are being rebuilt while the return of normalcy to most of the affected areas has paved the way for the return of sizable Internally Displaced Persons to normal life.

“The Armed Forces have continued to contend with the challenge of repelling pockets of sporadic incursions by insurgents who had since been degraded by superior fire power. “Our gallant officers, men and women should be commended for the efforts in the northeast, other parts of the country and the world at large,” she said. Batagarawa explained that the membership of the National Planning Committee had been very carefully selected to ensure enhanced success on the planning and implementation of the activities marking the 2020 AFRDC.

She gave the assurance that government would do all within its power to honour the memory of the departed heroes. She said that government placed high premium on the efforts of the gallant officers, men and women of the military. The permanent secretary added that government would also take steps to cushion the effects of the loss of the departed on those they left behind. She said that the committee was expected to come up with suggestions on ways of improving the lots of the families of the departed heroes and heroines.

“The event is celebrated in Nigeria on January 15 annually to honour the fallen heroes who laid down their lives in service of humanity during the First and Second World Wars, Nigerian Civil War, Peace Support and Internal Security Operations. “The occasion involves a series of activities commencing with the Press Briefing by the Honourable Minister of Defence and culminating in the Wreath Laying Ceremony by Mr President and other dignitaries at the National Cenotaph.

“The 36 state governors will also lay wreath simultaneously in their respective states,” she added. Responding, the Chairperson of the committee, Mrs Olufunmilayo Mustapha, Director, Joint Services, said that the committee would give its best to ensure a memorable 2020 AFRDC. Mustapha said that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes and veterans for national peace and security were worth remembering, adding that it behoves on the society to recognise them by such events.

“To this end, all segments of the society will be mobilised by the NPC to participate in the activities marking the 2020 AFRDC. “More importantly, the public and corporate Nigeria will be encouraged to reach out to soothe the families of our fallen heroes/heroines, who bear the brunt of the sacrifices their bread winners made for peace and security in Nigeria,” she said. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-witnessing-progressive-return-of-peace-to-north-east-fg.html

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has called on all prospective candidates for its 2020 UTME to acquire the National Identification Number(NIN). The board’s Spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin said on Tuesday that the aim was to ensure the biometric and other necessary details of a candidate were captured, to check examination malpractice.

Benjamin said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the call was necessary now that registration for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) had begun. “The JAMB will, during the 2020 registration exercise, use the National Identity Number (NIN) generated after successful registration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). “This includes the capturing of biometric and other necessary details for the registration of all prospective candidates. “Candidates are enjoined to register as the board will no longer be responsible for the capturing of candidates’ biometrics ahead of the examination, as all information required will be uploaded from the data captured by the NIMC.

“Henceforth, the NIN will be compulsory for the UTME registration,” Benjamin said. According to Benjamin, the board has made adequate arrangement with the NIMC for prospective candidates to be registered at the examination centres or with its licensed agents. He said that for such candidates who had registered and had acquired the NIN before attaining the age of 16, they would be required to update their NIN registration status before registering for the UTME.

“In case a candidate lost or misplaced his NIN, the candidate can retrieve it by either going to the NIMC office; its licensed agent or dial *346# (USSD code on the SIM card number earlier used to register for the NIN). “Candidate’s name as stated on the NIMC data base will be the same as the one on JAMB’s data registration form,” he said. (NAN)

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2020-utme-jamb-asks-candidates-to-get-nin.html

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happy birthday

Poor vision....

Let them go flog boko boy nah

Sai baba

NGOs are revealing secrets

Confusion in Nigeria

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, prepare to challenge the dismissal of their petition before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, there have been speculations on the list of justices who may sit on the appeal. The Supreme Court presently has 17 justices, out of which seven must preside over the appeal. The seven most senior justices in that order are: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad and Justices Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Mary Odili, Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Olukayode Ariwoola, Musa Datijo Muhammad and Kumai Bayang Akaahs. However, President Muhammadu Buhari earlier this year directed the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appoint additional six justices.

Some other justices of the apex court include: Justices Amina Augie, Amiru Sanusi, Adamu Galinje, Inyang Okoro, Cletus Nweze, and Uwani Abba-Aji among others. The Supreme Court, as the nation’s highest adjudicatory body, is built on the foundation of seniority, order and decorum. As such, election petitions, especially the presidential election petitions, are areas where experience and courage are most required on the judicial bench. The PDP and Atiku have been working on their appeal challenging the decision of the five-member tribunal presided by Justice Mohammed Garba.

The panel ruled that PDP and Atiku failed to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, allegations of corruption and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against Buhari and the APC. Lawyers to PDP and Atiku including Levy Uzoukwu (SAN) and Mike Ozekhome (SAN) had preparatory to filing the appeal claimed the judgment was full of errors and inventions of submissions not made by the parties. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said several things were wrong with the judgement of the tribunal such as: poor evaluation of evidence, non-evaluation of evidence, misplacement of exactly what the case of the petitioners is, and the fact of provisions of the Electoral Act being misinterpreted and misapplied.

“At the Supreme Court there will be seven very, very good heads that will hear the appeal from here. There is no question about that; we will appeal the judgment,” he said. But one of the lawyers to Buhari, Sam Ologunorisa (SAN), said the appeal by the PDP and Atiku was expected but added that it would help to enrich the country’s law. “As lawyers, our opinions on issues of law and evaluation of facts arising therefrom are bound to differ.

The presidential election petition and the issues so distilled will generate this type of reaction as the stakes are high,” he said. “In all, our legal jurisprudence is bound to be richer and I hope the political class will learn one or two lessons and initiate appropriate reforms to deepen our democracy,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/judges-who-may-hear-atikus-appeal-at-s-court.html