obi4eze:
■ Nigerians are amongst the most docile/selfish people in Africa.

BudgIT Nigeria has revealed that lawmakers reportedly inserted N80 million into the 2024 budget of the National Space Research Development Agency for ‘Pregnancy Sensitization’.

BudgIT disclosed this in a new viral video released on its official X handle on Thursday.

This is why the Civic group accused the Nigerian National Assembly members of looting through insertions for personal gain.

“N80 million to a Space Agency for pregnancy sensitization?
“This is National Assembly members looting through budget insertions! They are inserting projects for personal gain. “We can’t let this continue”, BudgIT stated.
The group urged Nigerians to be vigilant as the 2025 Budget will soon be released.

“Nigerians, shine your eyes and hold your lawmakers accountable”.

Recall that the House of Representatives increased the 2024 Budget of 28.7 trillion to N35.055 trillion in addition to the N6.2 trillion supplementary budget.

obi4eze:
But the main culprits are in power walking about scot-free

misransome:
Senator bamidele you're always standing against the people, you're the one who need warning most.

JASONjnr:
If Kaduna is overrun by terrorism, FCT will suffer same issue as most prominent Northerners stay in Kaduna and own houses there. And the access Abuja easily from Kaduna.

yinkus6750:
Despite the huge mount and awareness on the botched 2023 census,didn't expect a serious government to have delayed in carrying out the program by now. Government ought to know the importance of this exercise. Rayger, they fail to prioritize the issues facing the country.

Gracial55:
That's necessary

By Tope Omogbolagun


The Senate has warned the public against what it described as “vicious attempts” to tarnish its image and that of its leadership.

The Senate’s position was contained in a statement on Friday by the Senate Leader’s Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.

The statement titled “Senate frowns at false claims against Bamidele, mulls stiffer action,” expressed concern over what it described as recent efforts to undermine public trust in the National Assembly.

The Senate, while reacting to a petition against its leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said it would no longer treat cases of cheap blackmail against it or any member of the Red Chamber with levity.

The statement noted that the latest incident involves a petition addressed to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN).

The petition said to have been signed by Convener of the Public Procurement Transparency Group, David Udoh, accused Bamidele of pressuring the Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mr. Abba Aliyu, into awarding contracts to companies linked to the Senator, in violation of the Public Procurement Act of 2007.

In dismissing the allegation as baseless and unsupported by any credible evidence, the statement also quoted the REA as having issued a statement refuting the claims, asserting that its management had never been pressured to compromise the integrity of its procurement process.

The statement from Bamidele’s office further highlighted the proliferation of “cheap blackmail” by faceless groups and individuals using social media to disseminate falsehoods.

According to the Senate Leader’s media team, “preliminary investigations revealed that the Public Procurement Transparency Group is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and that its Convener, David Udoh, is untraceable, with a non-functional phone contact. Additionally, it was confirmed that no petition had been submitted to the ICPC by the group.”

In a warning to those behind the campaigns of misinformation, the statement noted that Nigeria operates under a federal system governed by the Constitution, Acts of the National Assembly, and judicial precedents.

The Senate Leader’s office declared its intention to pursue legal action against those found guilty of blackmailing the Senate or its leadership.

“We have endured enough all sorts of cheap blackmail by faceless groups and individuals using some bloggers and social media to feed the unsuspecting public with falsehoods and fallacies capable of causing further damage not just to the image of the National Assembly, but also to the public perception of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially among comity of nations,” the statement read.

The Senate added that it will no longer treat issues of blackmail with levity.

“Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and Federal Capital Territory governed by the Constitution, Acts of National Assembly and judicial precedents.

“Henceforth, we shall no more treat cases of cheap blackmail against the Senate, its leadership and the National Assembly lightly.

“But we shall treat such infractions within the confine of extant laws, and whoever found guilty in the process shall face the full wrath of the laws,” it concluded.

https://punchng.com/its-enough-senate-vows-to-move-against-blackmailers/

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted applications filed by the police to remand 124 arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in separate rulings on ex-parte motions moved by Ibrahim Mohammed, counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, granted the interim order to remand the suspects until the conclusion of the investigation.

Justice Nwite equally ordered that the suspects, who are minors in the applications, be remanded in Borstal Home of the correctional center pending the conclusion of the investigation.

In the first motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1154/2024, moved by Mohammed on August 14, but with a certified true copy (CTC) of the order obtained by NAN, the judge directed that the suspects be remanded for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation and legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The I-G, in the motion dated Aug. 8 but filed Aug. 9, sued 75 protesters with ages ranging between 14 and 34 years.

They include Abubakar Ibrahim (18), Abubakar Adam (19), Suleiman Ali (16), Mubarak Mas’ud (23), Umar Musa (19), Aminu Hussaini (20), Umar Kabir (23), Ibrahim Musa (24), Abba Usman (30), Umar Inusa (18), Tasi’u Lawan (17), Ibrahim Rabi’u (16), and Jamilu Haruna (16).

The suspects also include Muktar Yahaya (17). Abdulbasit Abdulsalam (34), Salisu Adamu (16), Bilal Auwalu (15), Abdul’aziz Adam (15), Sadiq Sunusi (15), Muhd Musa (14), Usman Amiru (14), Abdulganiyu Musa (15), Muhd Yahaya (19), and Sunusi Nura (14), among others.

They were alleged to have committed acts of terrorism, treason, and treasonable felonies, including arson and terrorism.

The police said the offense was contrary to Sections 2(1) and (3), 24 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022; Sections 41 and 42 of the Criminal Code Act; Sections 410, 411, and 412 of the Penal Code Act; and Section 4 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and other enabling statutes.

Miss Elizabeth Ogochukwu, a Litigation Secretary of Legal and Prosecution Section, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, deposed to the affidavit in support of the motion.

She said the I-G’s office, through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), received a damningly credible intelligence report of a planned violent uprising against the government of the states and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ogochukwu averred that “the planned violent insurrection was believed to have been orchestrated by terrorist groups both within and outside Nigeria to unleash terror against the sovereign states of Nigeria, scheduled to start from the 1st day of August, 2015.”

She said, “Despite serious security measures intensified by the various law enforcement agencies, the planned protest took place as scheduled and seriously intimidated the populace and seriously destabilized or destroyed the fundamental, political, constitutional, economic, or social structures of some parts of Nigeria.

“That the violent protest causes death and bodily harm to citizens of the country and led to arson and wanton destructions of government or public and private facilities, transport systems, and infrastructural facilities in Nigeria.

“That the suspects were arrested in the actual act of rampage and reasonably suspected to be complicit in the crime, which calls for district investigations.

*That the suspects/defendants herein were found to have been carrying Russian flags, banners, placards, and slogans agitating for sovereign invasion of Nigerian territory to destabilise or overthrow the sovereign state of Nigeria by the Russian government.”

Ogochukwu said the suspects were arrested in Abuja and various states in possession of many Russian flags and other incriminating exhibits, while others are still at large.

She said investigations into the matter had commenced, and the defendants made voluntary statements, mostly admitting the crime, which reasonably suspected them to be members of proscribed terrorist groups.

She said the investigators had to travel to various states to discover and apprehend the sponsors of this heinous crime for effective prosecution, and the same would not be completed within the time frame contemplated by the constitution, which necessitated the application.

She said that “time is required to complete investigation thoroughly and obtain legal advice from the office” of the AGF as most of the prime suspects are still at large.

Ogochukwu averred that the suspects admitted the commission of the offence.

According to her, the suspects/defendants are now in detention in police cells, which are congested and pose serious health challenges to the inmates, and possibility of attack or escape will be ruled out.

Also, in the second ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1223/2024, moved by Mohammed on Thursday, Justice Nwite ordered another set of 49 defendants to be remanded for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation. “That an order of this Honourable Court is hereby made committing the defendants to a correctional centre pursuant to Section 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015,” he said in the CTC of the order sighted on Saturday in Abuja.

The judge, who directed that the underage defendants be remanded in Borstal Home of the correctional centre, adjourned the case until Oct. 23 for mention. The motion, dated Aug. 20, was filed on Aug. 21.

Giving four grounds why the application should be granted, the lawyer said that the defendants engaged in the offence of terrorism financing in order to overthrow a democratically elected government.

Mohammed alleged that the defendants were supporting some disgruntled elements that were flying the flag of another country in Nigeria.

He alleged that the defendants conspired with some foreign nationals to take over the sovereign nation, which is a treasonable felony.

A detective attached to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, Gregory Woje, in the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion, deposed that preliminary investigation revealed that some suspects arrested were being recruited by some financiers to cause mayhem and destroy life and property.

“That preliminary investigation further revealed that the financiers were sending money to recruit the indigents and other vulnerable individuals to carry banners and overthrow a democratically elected government.

“That preliminary investigation further reveals that some foreign nationals were the heads in the unscrupulous act of treasonable felony and promoting terrorism financing in Nigeria,” he averred.

Woje said the acts of the accused persons are akin to the offenses of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felonies, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying.

He said it is the function of the police to stop the act by appending the offenders as offenses to one, which is an offense to all.

Some of the defendants include Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo, Michael Adaramuye, Musiu Sadiq, Buhari Lawal, Love Angel Innocent, Suleiman Yakubu, Yunusa Aliyu, Ahmad Nasir, Muhammed Sani, Iliyasu Anas, Abdullahi Sani, and Gaddafi Muhammed.

They also include Jibrin Abdulhakim, Mahmud Umar, Kabiru Rabiu, Aminu Muhammed, Sagir Hassan, Lukman Abubakar, and Ahmed Isah.

Others are Abdullahi Abdulwahab, Hassan Muhammad, Abdullahi Salisu, Sabo Murtala, Fahad Ibrahim, Umar Yakubu, Zakari Yakubu, and Ahmed Haruna, among others.

BecomeALandLord:
↪Are you saying he will decamp? This politicians can't be trusted ooh

The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has returned to class over four million out-of-school children in one year.

The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman stated this in a media briefing tagged ‘Transformative Journey’ to mark his one year in office.

He said the development resulted from measures taken to address the learning crisis he met last year upon assumption of office.

Professor Mamman targeted the basic education sector using the DOTS Policy which includes Data Repository, Out-of-school education, Teacher training and development, Skills acquisition, and development programs.

He said five agencies under the ministry were responsible for the feat, stressing that the ministry has also projected to take 3 to 4 million out-of-school children annually from the street to the class in the next three years.

“Over Four million (4,028,000) young children have been brought to basic school and Arabic literacy program including 200,500 learners with disabilities through 5 agencies of the federal ministry of education.
“In the last two weeks, over 20,000 school children have been registered in Abuja and similar exercise is ongoing across the country. Those who are above school age will be taught skills so that they can continue with their life.
“We are targeting 3 to 4 million out-of-school children to be brought back to the class every year for the next three years,” he said.

Mamman said the ministry has also increased school enrolment of learners from 30 million to 55 million within the one year in focus.
According to him, more than 85,662 teaching and non-teaching staff at all levels in various academic and non-academic institutions have been trained in the last year. He also said over 40,000 facilities have been provided by UBEC for basic and senior secondary education as there can be no good learning without a good environment.

In the Tertiary education sector, the Minister said over 6,500 facilities have been provided including a laboratory, faculty building to auditorium among others, through TETFUND especially. The Minister said over 759, 000 scholarships have been awarded to students in the last year.

“Some of these scholarships are internal while some are external and have taken the burden off the beneficiaries and their parents. Similarly, under the student loan scheme, NELFUND has disbursed 3 billion naira,” he said.

He said the ministry has processed the payments of allowances to Nigerian Scholars under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), with some foreign countries, urging beneficiaries and parents to exercise restraint as the CBN and the Ministry of Finance are on the verge of paying the money. He added that the ministry under his watch implemented the Transnational Education (TNE) system that gives opportunities to Nigerian Scholars to get world-class education with less finances, as doors have been opened for foreign countries to come and invest in Nigeria.

The ministry has also employed the use of Artificial intelligence and other forms of technology for teaching, just as emphasis has been placed on technical Education from primary school levels to Tertiary Institutions to enhance hands-on skills for the labor market after graduation.

“Before now, many had no skills resulting in unemployment but now technical Colleges, Polytechnic, and colleges of education (technical) are being strengthened.
“From September/October this year, schools will begin to teach skills from Primary schools so that when students graduate at any level of education, they will be ready for the labor market,” he said.

He said the ministry under him, re-invented and enhanced the Safe School standards, especially the establishment of a rapid response team for security, provision of CCTV for security in schools, raising of fences in schools, and sensitizing communities on security measures.

Others he said include the review of the school curriculum including that for crafts and artisans, early grade learners as well as streamlining of policies on distance learning.

He said in a short while, Nigeria’s education system will be completely transformed with the kind of policy design and implementation, especially with the level of support from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Yusuf said the whole programme being implemented aims to improve infrared access to education and welfare.

He commended the staff of the ministry for their unwavering support.

The United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) has lamented that nutrition supplements meant for malnourished children in some communities in Sokoto State are being stolen and sold in the market.

UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, Mr Micheal Juma, expressed concerns over the theft of the items during the quarterly policymakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto.

Juma, who was represented by Mr Abraham Mahama, noted that the nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centers in different communities aimed at enhancing the lives of malnourished children.

He lamented that some bad elements in the system connived with traders and engaged in selling the supplements to unintended persons He stressed that the supplements were openly sold in markets while on investigation at the designated stores, UNICEF discovered that personnel stocked cartons of supplements with stones and other objects to cover their nefarious acts.

Juma urged community members and stakeholders in the healthcare sector to intensify vigilance against the diversion of prepared nutrition supplements in the state. Juma also urged the Sokoto government to join other states in appointing the state’s Statistician General that would fast-track data collection, prudence, preservation, and dissemination in line with modern trends. He highlighted that most of the key indicators in the state portrayed very poor indices such as; antenatal care, immunization, mortality rates, healthcare-seeking behaviors, and social behavioral change.

According to him, indices on healthcare Infrastructures, power, and water supply, competent healthcare workers, and clients not trusting service providers along with others were not encouraging in the state.

In his presentation, the UNICEF Social Protection Specialist, Mr Isa Ibrahim, dwelled on the state’s 2024 Budget performances, areas that need alignment such as the nutrition sector which recorded zero allocation along with some areas recording high concentration of capital expenditure which has less impact to the citizens. Ibrahim also anchored Juma’s call on the appointment of a substantive Statistician-General in the state to harness data prudence and accessibility using standard systems, stressing that the absence of a Statictian General is a vacuum and gap which is needed to be abridged. He explained that the objectives of the quarterly meeting comprised; sensitizing stakeholders on activities, advocating increased inclusion of children on policies, prioritizing joint partnerships, advocate optimum data usage and budget performance.

Earlier, the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Gobir, assured the government maximum support to all donor agencies activities describing the presentations as an awakening call to government officials to amend anomalies.

Alhaji Balarabe Kadadi, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said UNICEF and other donor interventions were critical toward addressing the state’s challenges. Kadadi noted that collaborations remained key to improve service efficiency and ensured value for money on budget formulation and implementation.

The meeting was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government to discuss activities, successes, challenges and offer solutions to lingering challenges.

Stephench:
✓ But these white people no rate us for Africa at all. How dem go give certain countries IQ of less than 70? 70 IQ score is considered a retard. Which means those countries are retarded on average.
No country has an IQ of below 80. Most countries in the world should have IQ average of 80 - 100 on average. Any country having above or below that is not reasonable

Tegabadguy:
really

Tegabadguy:
i think that guy is right

Racoon:
Meaning the occupants of the famed giant of Africa got no sense. Perhaps they are referring to all the mummified zombies of this useless government.

HeatSeeker:
↪ Here is the video: The lawyer that wrote this rebuttal

Chinjo2:
This is the link to the interview on Channels TV.

SmartPolician:
This is the most interesting thing I have watched on a Nigerian TV station in decades!

Akwamkpuruamu:
↪Na north dey draw Nigeria back. The population of Alma jiri is more than enough to take Nigeria IQ and literacy on the average to be low

obonujoker:
↪AFRICA'S SMARTEST PEOPLE, 2024 By Average IQ:
32 🇳🇬Nigeria: 67.76

nwirinedu:
↪Isnt he doing well for the state, atleast the roads for a start.