₦airaland Forum

The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West, Senator Godswill Akpabio has again offered insight to why he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party into the All Progressives Congress.

Senator Akpabio has said on several platforms that he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party because of lack of reward system to members who have kept faith with the party. Akpabio has also stated that he defected to join President Muhammadu Buhari in fight against corruption.

Nevertheless, the Senator recently gave another reason to why he defected into the ruling party at Imo State. During a reconciliatory meeting with APC members in Imo State as organized by the National Working Committee of the APC, Senator Godswill Akpabio noted that what really made him leave the PDP to the APC was the transformation that is taking place in the APC. Read more

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that the sales of forms for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will begin in January 2019. In a Twitter post on Tuesday, it warned the general public to disregard any information going round in some social media stating otherwise. There were several reports late November that the UTME forms would be sold in December, with no specific date given. JAMB now says it dropped the idea following Federal Government’s reduction in the registration fee which takes effect from January 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday Nov. 29, approved the reduction of the UTME registration fee from N5,000 to N3,500.

The Head, Media and Information of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, while speaking to News Agency of Nigeria, said candidates would have just six weeks to complete their registration once it opens in January. Read more

Luka Modric from Croatia has been announced as the winner of 2018 Ballon d’Or, ending the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid midfielder bagged football’s most prestigious individual honor, beating off competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd), Antoine Griezmann(3rd), Kylian Mbappe (4th) and Lionel Messi (5th).

The winner of the Kopa award, which goes to the best under 21 player, was Paris Saint-Germain and France international Kylian Mbappe. While Lyon and Norway’s Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or award. Read more

The Chief of Army Staff, General TY Buratai, Saturday organized dinner for troops of Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion (AFSF Bn) and Army Headquarters Strike Group in Maiduguri where he urged them to be wary of Boko Haram terrorists and their sympathizers’ recent antics in the employment of propaganda particularly the spread of fake news. He stressed that the troops should be mindful of what they see and read on the social media as most of the stories are either doctored or fake. Believing these stories he added, would demoralize their fighting spirit, thus undermining national security.

In a message released by Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman, COAS said Boko Haram terrorists have no claim to any territory in Nigeria, imploring the troops to put to good use the tactics acquired during their special forces training in order to flush out the remnants of the terrorists.

There have been growing concern among Nigerians over the recent surge in activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP, especially the coordinated attacks using drones and other sophisticated weapons on military formations. Reports say the attacks may not be unconnected to the dearth of intelligence gathering as United States of America is reluctant in sharing classified information to Nigeria. In addition, alleged lack of synergy among Service Chiefs has also been pointed by Experts as possible cause of resurgence in Boko Haram activities.

However, Buratai emphasised during the dinner that, adequate attention will be given to In-theatre training and intelligence gathering and capabilities of personnel would be enhanced in order to completely rout terrorists. Lieutenant General Buratai also urged them to maintain the peace in the country, support other security agencies and defend the democratic system as every commander is already aware of what is expected of them especially, in the upcoming general elections of 2019. Read more

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun its 2019 North West Presidential campaign Rally at the Shehu Kangiwa Stadium, Sokoto.The campaign rally had in attendance prominent politicians from the country including former President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ahmed Makarfi, Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu, of Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Niger states respectively were also present at the event. Former vice-president Namadi Sambo, Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal and his Taraba counterpart, Darius Ishaku were also among the dignitaries.

In an event moderated by the Senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye, key personalities made several speeches encouraging the crowd to vote for PDP in the coming elections.The Senate President, Saraki remarked that Nigerians, particularly those in the Northeast, are crying of hunger and insecurity and are yearning for a president in the person of Atiku.

The national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus while addressing the cheering crowd, said the current APC administration led by Muhammadu Buhari have failed. He said the presence of the massive crowd was a verdict given to the ruling party that Nigerians no longer need them in power.

Meanwhile, the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan had said on Sunday that the North West zone have completely lost confidence in President Buhari and are now rallying with the PDP’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Read more

The Nigerian Body of Benchers and Council of Legal Education yesterday called to bar a total of 4, 779 candidates that were successful at the August/September 2018 Bar Final Examinations.

Out of the Law graduates, 161 made First Class, comprising 113 female and 48 male candidates. Also, 694 out of a total number of 5,846 students that sat for the Bar Final Exams, made Second Class Upper, 1, 275 of them got Second Class Lower, while 2, 649 got the Pass grade.

Director General, Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday at the call to bar ceremony in the International Conference Center, ICC, Abuja. He added that 11 candidates from the Previous Bar Final Examination were also called into the Bar.

The SAN said: “The general performance, which was unprecedented, justified the huge investment and sacrifice made by all concerned.

Professor Chiroma said the screening committee of the Body of Benchers carefully scrutinized the record of each of the intending lawyers and found them worthy to be presented for call and admission to the Nigerian Bar.

“The 161 First Class Candidates cut across 15 Federal Universities, 14 State Universities and 5 Private Universities. 21 of them had First Class in their Universities, 134 had Second Class Upper while 6 had Second Class Lower in their Universities.

The Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, remarked that it was the first time in the history of the country that 161 students of the Nigerian Law School graduated with First Class degree.

Read more on https://reportsng.com/category/news/

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday visit troops fighting the dreaded Boko Haram sect in the northeast.

Buhari will also dispatch the defence minister to Chad following a jump in attacks.

The presidential visit comes after months of deadly raids by the IS-affiliated jihadists on military bases which have left scores of troops dead or missing in the volatile region.

In a posting on Twitter on Monday, presidential spokesman Bashir Ahmad said Buhari would attend an army conference in Maiduguri as well as address troops to boost their morale.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his planned official visit to Benin, Edo State today, to visit Maiduguri, Borno State on Wednesday,” he wrote.

Also this week, Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali will hold talks with his Chadian counterpart General Daoud Yaya over “strengthening the operations” of the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region.

There have been numerous attempts to overrun army bases by Boko Haram since July. Many of the attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram.

More than 27,000 people have died since the start of insurgency in the northeast in 2009 and 1.8 million are still homeless.

Read more on https://reportsng.com/category/news/

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ordered for the immediate arrest and prosecution of a retired Sergeant-at-arms identified as Godwin Ukpong, together with the five sacked lawmakers Nse Ntuen, Idongesit Ituen, Gabriel Toby, Victor Udofia, and Otobong Ndem for breaking into and desecrating the chambers of the Assembly.

This was one of the seven prayers of a motion which was moved by the House Leader, Udo Kierian Akpan, and seconded by the Deputy Leader, Ime Okon which also banned the former members from coming near the premises of the State Assembly.

The lawmakers also resolved that the new police commissioner, Musa Kimo be replaced immediately for complicity in the illegal invasion of the chambers.

They passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke for his leadership qualities and for standing by the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Standing Orders of the House, asking the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to protect the institution of the House of Assembly while warning them to desist from aiding the criminal activities of the sacked lawmakers.

The resolutions follow a matter of urgent public importance raised during Tuesday’s Plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges, Aniekan Uko who raised concerns over the alleged breaking into the chambers earlier in the day by unauthorized Persons.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has directed the Clerk to issue a notice of the order and paste the names of the former members on all notice boards within the Complex while Security Agents have been asked to comply with the order of the House.

Read more https://reportsng.com/akha-issues-arrest-warrant-on-five-sacked-lawmakers/

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ordered for the immediate arrest and prosecution of a retired Sergeant-at-arms identified as Godwin Ukpong, together with the five sacked lawmakers Nse Ntuen, Idongesit Ituen, Gabriel Toby, Victor Udofia, and Otobong Ndem for breaking into and desecrating the chambers of the Assembly.

This was one of the seven prayers of a motion which was moved by the House Leader, Udo Kierian Akpan, and seconded by the Deputy Leader, Ime Okon which also banned the former members from coming near the premises of the State Assembly.

The lawmakers also resolved that the new police commissioner, Musa Kimo be replaced immediately for complicity in the illegal invasion of the chambers.

They passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke for his leadership qualities and for standing by the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Standing Orders of the House, asking the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to protect the institution of the House of Assembly while warning them to desist from aiding the criminal activities of the sacked lawmakers.

The resolutions follow a matter of urgent public importance raised during Tuesday’s Plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges, Aniekan Uko who raised concerns over the alleged breaking into the chambers earlier in the day by unauthorized Persons.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has directed the Clerk to issue a notice of the order and paste the names of the former members on all notice boards within the Complex while Security Agents have been asked to comply with the order of the House.

Read more https://reportsng.com/akha-issues-arrest-warrant-on-five-sacked-lawmakers/

In spite of the heavy police presence mounting roadblocks around the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly complex and environs, preparatory to today’s sitting of lawmakers, the sacked five lawmakers: Idongesit Ituen, Nse Ntuen, Gabriel Tobi, Victor Udofia and Otobong Ndem have taken over the assembly chamber.

Led by Mr Idongesit Ituen and Victor Udofia, the five lawmakers moved into the assembly complex moments ago with suspected thugs who sent away Assembly staff, collecting some of their phone and gadgets, including that of the press secretary to the Speaker, Mr Kufre Okon.

Read more https://reportsng.com/5-sacked-lawmakers-take-over-akwa-ibom-assembly/

In a bid to end the over three weeks old strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Federal government met with the Union Leaders yesterday, November 26.

However, the meeting which was held at the Ministry of Education headquarters, ended in deadlock as both parties failed to reach a common ground. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and the Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono led the Federal Government delegation, while the ASUU National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi led the Union.

ASUU embarked on nationwide strike on November 4, and is demanding among other things the implementation of the 2019 agreement – revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, salary shortfalls and pension matters.

The Union first met with the FG on November 15, however the meeting failed to resolve the issues in contention. Meanwhile, students in the public universities have continued to suffer unnecessary delay as a result of the strike action.

Read more, https://reportsng.com/fg-ASUU-meeting-deadlock/