File photo used to illustrate story.

A captain of the Nigerian Army and two soldiers have been killed by terrorists in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, credible sources close to military high command confirmed on Monday.
The captain and the two soldiers were attached to the 7 Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Daily Trust reports.

SaharaReporters had on Monday reported that the troops of the Elite Guards Brigade foiled an attack by terrorists on the Nigerian Law School in Bwari.
A military signal obtained by SaharaReporters had revealed that the gunmen on Sunday ambushed the soldiers who were on routine patrol of the area.
The troops were said to have successfully repelled the terrorists.
“At about 241620A Jul 22, own tps of 7 Gds Bn on routine ptl along Rd Kubwa – Bwari were ambushed by suspected terr. 3 x sldrs were injured during the attk. The sldrs have been evacuated to 7 Gds Bn MRS for med attn,” the signal read.
“Details on the extent of their injuries still under cfm. The ambushed attk happening within the gen area of Bwari shows that the terrs are actually within the loc and possibly to carry out their plans of attacking the law schl in Bwari as earlier reported.”
The attack comes after the management of the Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja, asked parents to evacuate their wards from the school over the fear of invasion by the terrorists.
The school management asked the parents to evacuate their wards following an attack in a nearby village “that shares a fence” with the school.
“Following the threat letter from the terrorists, the leadership of the Nigerian Law School drew the attention of the military authorities at the 7 Guards Brigade.
“The late army captain (names withheld) and the soldiers were dispatched to the school for preliminary investigation. They had a discussion with authorities at the school and agreed on what to do to safeguard students, teachers and school facilities. Sadly on their way back, the terrorists ambushed them and that was how the captain and two soldiers were killed,” a source told Daily Trust.
The source said other persons in the party escaped the attackers by whiskers.
Another source said following the threat, there was a plan to dispatch a joint task force to beef up security around the law school and Bwari at large.
He said besides the law school, other facilities in Bwari, especially those belonging to the government are now under threat and the people were now living in fear.
“This is the height of onslaught on the Federal Capital Territory, the seat of power,” he said.
“But the truth is that the threats have been there for long, nobody in the security circle in Nigeria will tell you that he or she is not aware of the threat on Abuja and the FCT at large.
“The terrorists have established cells in many communities around the FCT. That is why abductions have become a daily occurrence around Kuje, Gwagalada and the remaining area councils in the last one year or thereabouts.
“The target of the terrorists is to embarrass the government. They are in control of many communities in all the contiguous states to the FCT and they are finally here,” he said.

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

Terrorists, locally dubbed bandits, have again struck the New Millennium City Settlement, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, kidnapping scores of residents.

SaharaReporters learnt on Tuesday morning that the attackers invaded the area on Monday night and carried out their operation for hours.

Only three weeks ago, the terrorists attacked Sabon Gero community in the New Millennium City Settlement, killing a joint task force commander and a resident.

They also abducted 16 other members of the community, including a medical doctor, in what seemed to be a serial assault on the settlement.

A source said the late JTF commander opened fire on sighting the bandits “not knowing that the bandits had closed in on his team.”

“The bandits opened fire and hit the commander in his legs and he fell. They then shot him in the head, shattering his skull. A resident, who was hit by bullets, died on his way to a hospital,” the source had added.

In the fresh attack on Monday, SaharaReporters learnt that scores of residents were also kidnapped from the New Millennium City Settlement.

The Nigerian police and the military authorities have yet to comment on the latest assault.

SaharaReporters last weekend reported that terrorists in a viral video threatened to abduct and kill President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

They boasted that they would destroy Nigeria. 

“Just like the Chibok girls that were sold off, we will equally sell these ones as slaves. If you don’t adhere to our demands, we will kill the ones we need to kill and sell the remaining. By God’s grace, El-Rufai, Buhari, we will bring you here,” one of the terrorists had boasted.

Insecurity Breaking News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

Terrorists have released more hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers abducted on March 28, 2022. 
SaharaReporters learnt the victims were released early Tuesday morning, but the number of those released could not be ascertained at the moment. 

One of those released was identified as Mrs Ojo. 
"Mrs Ojo was rescued today, thank God, but the country remains a mess," a relation told SaharaReporters on Tuesday morning. 
"Some Kaduna train victims reportedly rescued early today."
The terrorists also released three victims, two males and a female, on Monday.
The victims were released by the terrorists at a location inside the forest along the Kaduna–Abuja highway, bringing the total number of victims that had regained their freedom to 22.
As of Monday night, about 40 people were believed to still be in the custody of the terrorists.
On March 28, the terrorists blew up the rail track, killing some and abducting scores of Kaduna-bound passengers, a situation that called for serious concern about the safety of the nation’s train.
Due to the attack, the Nigeria Railway Corporation temporarily suspended activities, with President Muhammadu Buhari directing security agencies to rescue the victims.
SaharaReporters on Sunday reported that the terrorists, via a viral video, were seen flogging their hostages and also threatened to abduct President Buhari and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The presidency reacted to the threat hours after, accusing the insurgents of using propaganda to compel the government to yield to their demands.
In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, claimed that the security forces were not helpless in stemming the tide of insecurity confronting the country.
In his usual rhetoric, Shehu had said, “The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.” 

Breaking News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

The International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has signed a $280million loan deal with the Access Bank to boost small businesses in Nigeria.
The deal was signed on Monday by DFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Scott Nathan and Access Bank Managing Director, Roosevelt Ogbonna, during Nathan’s visit to West Africa.

Confirming the deal in a statement signed by the U.S. Consulate General in Nigeria, the US commission said, “The loan will help address the financing gap for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and advance financial inclusion in Nigeria, including through the bank’s commitment to supporting women-owned and -led businesses.”
The DFC boss said that “DFC’s investment in Access Bank demonstrates U.S. support for private sector-led development in Nigeria and throughout West Africa,” adding that “The $280 million loan from DFC will boost financial inclusion in Nigeria and empower women, bolstering the country’s economic growth.”
Also speaking, the U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, said, “We welcome the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO Scott Nathan to Nigeria,” saying that “We look forward to discussing with the public and private sectors how DFC funding can be leveraged to unleash the full economic potential of Nigeria through support to the country's small and medium-sized businesses, financial sector, and climate change-focused enterprises.”
On his part, the Access Bank MD noted that “Access Bank is extremely pleased to announce this strategic partnership with DFC to support the multitude of businesses across Nigeria who stand to benefit from greater access to finance, especially in an environment that is in need of stronger economic diversification.
“We look forward to utilizing the partnership with DFC in driving further economic expansion and inclusion in Nigeria, with a strong focus on non-oil sectors and women businesses.”
Similarly, the Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Bank, Rizwan Shaikh, Citi EMEA, said, “We are delighted to have collaborated with Access Bank and DFC on this significant transaction, which will significantly boost SME corporate activity in Nigeria.
“This is yet another milestone stride for Citi as it executes a focused local-economy development strategy based on solid partnerships with key clients and development agencies.”
According to the deal, DFC financing for Access Bank will provide needed liquidity given the global economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan is expected to support at least 4,000 new SME loans in Nigeria.
In addition, the loan proceeds will be on-lent across more than a dozen sectors in the Nigerian economy, with specific focus on women-owned SMEs, and on loans with longer tenors, which will provide more flexibility to borrowers.

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday, said he entered the “match” of the 2023 general elections and his only aim is to win and not to work for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Obi while speaking on Channels TV on Monday evening, noted that he had all what it took to defeat Atiku.

The former Anambra State governor, Obi was running mate to Atiku in the 2019 general elections and despite his acclaimed eloquence, the duo lost to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the buildup to the 2023 elections, Obi had “divorced” Atiku and opted to run on the platform of the Labour Party as its presidential candidate.

Atiku, however, said last Friday in an Arise TV interview that Obi could not perform any miracle to win the presidential election in 2023.

However, when Obi was asked on Channels TV about the possibility of him working with Atiku if the chance arose, he said he was in the contest to win, adding that he had all it took to win.

Obi said, “Nobody goes into a match thinking of what will happen. Everyone is going into it to win. I’m going into this contest to be the next President of Nigeria… I think I have all it takes to win.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

 

The President of the African Development Bank (ADF), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has made a case for Nigerians in diaspora to vote in the 2023 general elections to decide the leadership of the country.
Adesina, who was Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the appeal in his speech at the celebration of Nigeria's diaspora day, delivered virtually.

While eulogising Nigerians in diaspora and their contributions to the development of the country, the AfDB president disclosed that in 2021, Nigerians in diaspora remitted $20billion to the country which represented four times more than the foreign direct investments in the same 2021 and half of the nation's crude oil export.
He said, "Today Nigerians in diaspora send home over $20 billion a year as remittances. Now to put this in perspective, you are going to think of the following - Nigeria's foreign direct investment in 2021 was $4.8 billion according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD). That means remittances by Nigerians in diaspora are four times the total foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
"Nigeria export revenue from crude oil average is about $40 billion annually. Now that means that remittances by Nigerians in the diaspora are half of the crude oil exports of Nigeria, is like the new oil for Nigeria.
"Without any doubt, Nigerians in diaspora are Nigeria's second largest source of revenue after crude oil. Nigeria should therefore provide policies that support Nigerians in diaspora regardless of where we live or work; home is home.
"Nigeria will achieve greatness if the diasporans will play a great part in our country's greatness. That is why it is important for Nigerians in the diaspora to be allowed to participate in the political processes of Nigeria.
"It is time that Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote other nations do this. America allows its diaspora citizens to vote. Several African countries now allow their diasporan citizens to vote. Nigeria should do the same.”
"Then Nigerians at home and Nigerians outside the country, we can share in the shaping the future of their homeland Nigeria. May Nigeria thrives and prosper in peace unity and shared prosperity," he added.
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

President Muhammadu Buhari, known for frivolous foreign trips, will on Tuesday depart Abuja for Monrovia, Liberia to, among other things, deliver a lecture
Buhari, according to a statement on Monday, will also address issues bordering on West Africa’s security, free and fair elections and respect for rule of law. 

He will also join other African leaders as Liberia marks a Special Independence anniversary, commemorating 175 years of self-rule; making it the oldest independent post-colonial African State.
The Presidency disclosed these in the statement by Garba Shehu.
Shehu noted that Buhari’s visit to Liberia, Tuesday, July 26, “signifies the importance attached to the security and wellbeing of Liberia and the rest of West Africa.”
The statement read in part, “On this day, Liberia marks a Special Independence anniversary, commemorating 175 years of self-rule, with the country being the oldest independent post-colonial African State.
“President Buhari is the Special Guest of Honour at the celebration and will deliver an address. The trip to Liberia comes at a time when political instability and the return of coups-d’état have upended two to three decades of democratic order in the sub-region.
“Liberia, Sierra-Leone along with Nigeria are going into elections in 2023 and President Buhari is expected to emphasise to them the importance of free, fair and credible elections.”
“In his address, the President is expected to stress the importance of the respect for rule of law rule throughout the sub-region. Without rule of Law and constitutional rule, there cannot be security, peace and development.” 
Further justifying the President’s trip, Shehu said “Peace and security of Liberia (and Sierra-Leone) is important to Nigeria given the enormous investments in men, material and resources expended by this country to secure the two states.
“Without the leadership of Nigeria in the context of ECOWAS to secure these two, there would not have been a Liberia on the map in its present configuration today.
“Bilaterally, Nigeria and Liberia may bring to the table issues of cross-border terrorism, bolstering defence and trade ties. The warmth of the relationship and personal chemistry between President Buhari and George Weah of Liberia is no less significant and will play a key role in the events of tomorrow.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM Jalingo, Ayodele Oloye

The Nigeria Police Force has detained the Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM Jalingo, Ayodele Oloye, at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Abuja.

It was gathered Oloye was detained because of a petition by the lawmaker representing the Taraba South Senatorial District, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

Bwacha had earlier submitted a petition to the police to investigate the journalist in Taraba State over alleged cyber-stalling, defamation of character, and frustration of ambition among others.

Daily Post reports that Ayodele had, prior to his detention, raised an alert in a text message forwarded to media colleagues on Monday morning.

He said, “I’m Ayodele Samuel, Publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper and CEO of Rock FM Jalingo, the first private FM radio station in Taraba State.

“I’m honouring a police invitation at the FCID, Abuja over a petition (I don’t know who the petitioners are or the content of the petition) but as a law-abiding citizen, I have honoured the invitation with a lawyer provided by the Media Rights Agenda, MRA.

“I feel it’s necessary to inform you and seek your support in case things go south.”

Journalism MEDIA News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

A group of people living with disabilities, under the platform of the National Association of People Living with Disabilities, Benue State Chapter, on Monday, stormed the Benue State Government's House to protest the lack of employment opportunities and nonpayment of bursary allowances to their members.

The members of the association were seen gathering in large numbers in front of the state government house.

SaharaReporters gathered that the protesters were at the Government House since 10am and defied the rain to demand to see Governor Samuel Ortom for failing to address their needs for over seven years now.

"We are demanding to see the governor because none of the letters we wrote to him was approved. It is high time we took this move because he is not only representing the able persons, he also represents the disabled," the group’s spokesperson told SaharaReporters.

He continued, "Among us, we have graduates, we have undergraduates. No job has been given to people with disabilities in Benue and we are finding it hard to cater to our families.

"If you can recall in 2018, 5% of jobs in Benue State were given to our members. But since then, nothing has happened again. Maybe he is not aware. So we decided to come to this gate to relate our challenges to him.

"The other one is disability commission; we want it to be domesticated in Benue. If he doesn't do it, we don't have the power to do it for ourselves. The students amongst us have not received bursary (scholarships) awarded to others since seven years back," he added.

News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

 

A pastor in the United States of America, Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead, his wife and members of his church were robbed of jewelry that was worth $400,000 during a live-streamed church service on Sunday.
CNN reports that three thieves were caught on tape barging into Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry on Remsen Ave. near Avenue D in Canarsie about 11:15am on Sunday.

When the armed marauders appeared, the stunned Whitehead, who was wearing a clerical collar, burgundy vestments with gold trim and a long gold necklace, stopped his sermon and crouched down, saying, “Yo, all right, all right, all right” as he lay on the floor, video obtained by the Daily News shows.
According to the video, only his legs and feet can be seen on the recording as he lay on the stage as the men bent over him and rifled his pockets.
The armed men, who can be seen in the video dressed in black and carrying handguns, removed the expensive bling from Whitehead and his wife, police and the bishop said.
Another man seen on the video sitting with what appears to be a prayer book watches impassively as the crime goes down.
The robbers took off in a white Mercedes-Benz and are still being sought, police said.
After they were gone, the pastor gets up, his collar askew, and walks out of frame in the video.
Later, he took to social media to put the crime in context.
“I was born without jewelry, jewelry don’t make me,” Whitehead said after the attack in a live video to his 1.3 million Instagram followers.
He said on the broadcast that the congregation is “traumatised” after the incident.
“I ain’t never scared, and I’m not up here being boastful or talking bad about nobody, but you have these women and children crying still,” he said. That’s not gangster. That’s a layup, like, ‘Oh, I robbed a church.’ You don’t get no points for that.”
Whitehead said the robbery would not affect his preaching in the future.
“We’re pushing, we’re still doing what we need to do,” Whitehead said. “I’m not a person from the suburbs; I’m from Brooklyn, I’m from the city. I understand the streets. This bishop, I’m not scared.”
 

Christianity CRIME News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

File photo used to illustrate story

The National Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria has faulted the federal government’s plan to ban operation of commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada riding across the country.
Speaking on a programme on Monday on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), the President of the association, Usman Gwoza, said that if the Federal Government goes ahead to enforce the nationwide ban on commercial motorcycles, it will render millions of riders jobless and poor.

According to Gwoza, the high unemployment rate in the country made many go into the business.
Gwoza further noted that many members of the National Assembly channelled a large portion of their constituency projects to empowering their constituents with motorcycles, thereby increasing the number of okada riders in the country.
He maintained that if gifting constituents with motorcycles amounted to empowerment, seizing these same motorcycles would be a form of disempowerment.
Gwoza further argued that banning Okada because of the activities of a few bandits would amount to throwing away the baby with the bath water.
According to the association’s president, the poverty rate is at an all-time high and Okada has become the saving grace for not just millions of riders but their families and dependents.
“We have over 14 million riders. And we are all Nigerians. Those operating are over 20 million but those registered with us are over 14 million people. If you ban people from what they rely on for daily bread, are you increasing crime or reducing it?” he questioned.
Speaking further, he said that “Okada has become the main tool of employment by lawmakers. Now this disempowerment will worsen crime. If you ban 14 million people, what alternative are you making for them? None.”
He added that rather than ban Okada’s, the Association would rather work in parallel with the government and the security agencies to secure the lives of Nigerians.

Jobs News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Terrorists have released three victims, two males and a female, of 62 hostages who are the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, abducted since March 28 on Monday.
The victims were released by the terrorists at a location inside the forest along the Kaduna–Abuja highway.  From there, they were picked up by their relatives, Channels TV reports.

This brought the total number of victims that had regained their freedom to 22, which means about 40 people are still in the custody of the terrorists.
Recall that terrorists had on March 28 blown up the rail track, killing some and abducting scores of passengers, a situation that called for serious concern about the safety of the nation’s train.
Due to the attack, the Nigeria Railway Corporation temporarily suspended activities, with President Muhammadu Buhari directing security agencies to rescue the victims.
SaharaReporters had reported on Sunday that the terrorists, via a viral video were seen flogging their hostages and also threatened to abduct President Buhari and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The presidency reacted to the threat hours after, accusing the insurgents of using propaganda to compel the government to yield to their demands.
In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, claimed that the security forces were not helpless in stemming the tide of insecurity confronting the country.
In his usual rhetoric, Shehu had said, “The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.”

Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

An Ondo State High Court sitting in Idanre, on Monday, granted an order restraining the state government, “its agents or whoever” from a forceful eviction of Idanre Forest Reserve Farmers pending the hearing and determination of motion notice before the court.
Justice S. Olorundahunsi gave the order, sequel to a motion ex parte of over 10,000 farmers in the Ofosu Axis of Idanre Forest Reserve (OA5), who are the applicants in Suit No: HID/14/2022, filed before the court through their lawyer, Tope Temokun, seeking the court protection of their investments.

The farmers told the court that they had farmed in the said land for over 20 years, cultivating permanent crops like cocoa and others.
They noted that they had been at loggerheads with the Ondo State government for some time now over the sale of their farmland of cocoa plantations to "SAO GROUPS," a private consortium owned by Ayo Sotinri, after they paid rent for the use of the land for over four years now and thereby enjoy a right to lawful occupation of the land.
They told the court that on Sunday, July 17, the government drove bulldozers into the farmlands preparatory to grading, uprooting and destroying their permanent crops, their life investment of decades, to forcefully eject them from the land and that there had been peaceful protest.
They said the action of the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led government is already generating unrest in Idanre and its environs.
Through their Counsel, the applicant's prayed the court for the following orders;
"An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Defendants/ Respondents, their privies, servants and/or agents from forcefully ejecting or evicting the claimants/ applicants from the land subject-matter of this suit, their farmlands at Idanre Forest Reserve (OA5), Ofosu Onisere Axis, Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State or from taking over or grading the claimants/ applicants’ farmlands, subject-matter of this suit, occupied by the Claimants/ Applicants as cocoa farmers, containing their grown cocoa plantations, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction."
Those sued as Respondents; are Capital Management Limited, Ondo State Government, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ondo State, Ministry of Agriculture Ondo State, Honourable Commissioner For Ministry of Agriculture Ondo State, Mr. Akin Olotu (Chairman Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre & Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ondo State on Agriculture And Agric-Business), State Board Of Internal Revenue, Mr. Tolu Adegbie (Executive Chairman Ondo State Internal Revenue Service), Ondo State Security Network Agency(operating under the code-name “Amotekun Corps").
Justice Olorundahunsi after listening to the applicant's argument and supporting affidavit, granted the prayer of the farmers restraining defendants.
Those restrained by the order included, “the Ondo State government and its agencies, including its security network, Amotekun, from forcefully ejecting or evicting the claimants/applicants from the land subject-matter of this suit, their farmlands at Idanre Forest Reserve (OA5), Ofosu Onisere Axis, Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State or from taking over or grading the claimants/ applicants’ farmlands, subject matter of this suit, occupied by the Claimants/Applicants as cocoa farmers, containing their grown cocoa plantations, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction."
The court adjourned the case to August 3, 2022.

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday called on members and civil society groups in Lagos State to come out massively on Tuesday morning to begin the two-day protest in solidarity with striking universities’ lecturers.
Mrs Funmi Sessi, state chairman of NLC, gave the directive at a stakeholders’ meeting at the union’s secretariat in Yaba, Lagos state.

She added that the exercise was ready to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the nationwide action.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been at loggerheads with the Federal Government since February 14 over the latter’s failure to honour some past agreements, among others.
The disagreement has kept students of public universities at home for the past five months.
Some other unions in the university system are also on strike due to disagreements with the Federal Government for different reasons.
The NLC therefore directed all sectors including the health, electricity and aviation to shut down operations and join the solidarity protest in support of the striking workers.
“We will be converging as early as 6:30am at Ikeja and take off by 7am to deliver a letter to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Alausa.
“The protest is to support ASUU in the ongoing strike, so we call on all affiliate members to come out en masse,” she said.
Sessi called on Lagos State-owned tertiary institutions to also join in the protests.
“We are going to mobilise our members and be fully on the street,” she said.
Sessi said that electricity workers would be part of the protest, but advised nurses to attend to only emergency cases.
She assured that the union had adopted measures to ensure that the protest was not hijacked.
ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Lagos State, Dr Adelaja Odukoya, said the protest was for liberation of the nation’s tertiary education.
He said lecturers were being paid slave salaries and government was not concerned about quality of education in the country.

ACTIVISM News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that the deadline for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise remains July 31, stating that double registration will be declared invalid.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, made this known at a news conference on the commission’s state of preparedness for the 2023 general elections, on CVR, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCS) validity and collection in Abuja.

He said that all CVR activities except the collection of already printed PVCs would be suspended on Sunday July 31, adding that the commission increased the closing hours to 5pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.
According to him, this was done to accommodate the rush in the last hour of the programme.
He said, “The number of people who registered and whose registration has been invalidated is becoming alarming; a lot of people have registered in one or two registration centres.
“They will get nothing by doing so whatever their intentions were, because at the end of the day, they will be declared as people without PVC at all.
“Any double or triple registration is null and void, we will go through our machines after these exercise and clean our register so that we can come up with the list of people who genuinely are going to in 2023.
“So let me appeal to people that they should always tell our staff at registration centres exactly what they want to do, whether they have never registered before, they have lost their cards ,or it is defaced, or they want transfer from one place to another.”
He urged Nigerians to visit registration centres close to their locations, adding that there was no need for people in the suburbs to come all the way to INEC’s office in Area 10.
He said that the commission on Monday July 25, began special registration for persons with Disabilities at the designated CVR centres to ensure inclusivity and explain that both PWDs and other Nigerians could use the under listed centres.
“The CVR centres remain: City Centre -Diplomatic Park, Area 1, Gwarinpa GSS Life Camp, Wuse GSS Zone 3, Kabusa Primary School and Lugbe Primary School.
“Others are  Giwa – Gwagwa Primary School,  GUI -Gosa Primary School, Karshi- Karshi Development Centre,  Orozo – Orozo Primary School.
“The rest are:  Nyanya – G.S.S Nyanya, Kubwa-L.E.A Primary School Kubwa, Dutse-Aljaji – L.E.A Primary School Dutse, L.E.A Primary School, Dawaki L.E.A and Primary School, Mpape,” he said.
Bello said that the commission had made an arrangement with a Civil Society Orgainsations (CSOs) to make PVC collection easier for citizens at the end of the CVR exercise, using SMS to reach them at their nearest locations.
He added that those who participated in the CVR would get their PVCs by October.
The REC said that the commission had investigated the claim by residents that its staff were charging them money before registering them.
He said that the commission found out that the claim was false because the people involved were not staff of the commission, but those who claimed to be volunteering and the issue had been addressed.
He said that INEC was working to ensure that anything that would mitigate the 2023 elections is taken care of.
Bello said that the 2023 general elections would be much better than previous elections conducted so far in the country.
 

Elections News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Some men and officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been lamenting how the anti-narcotics agency, through its harmonisation and promotion exercise, has allegedly denied them promotion for about 20 years.

They said some of their colleagues recruited even five to eight years later have been promoted up to two times or more.

Some sources within the agency told SaharaReporters that following the persistent cries of the aggrieved officers, the current leadership of the agency upon assumption of the office promised to clear the backlog of promotion arrears and correct the distortion of seniority ranks to instil discipline among the workforce in the agency.
 
To fulfil its promise, the management of the NDLEA on February 3, 2021, inaugurated a 7-man harmonisation expertise committee headed by Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd) who also serves as Special Adviser to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) of the agency.
 
The committee was mandated to correct all issues with delayed promotion, and stagnation and produce a proper, accurate and credible seniority roll of all personnel of the agency.

But sources within the agency said that upon the release of its report, there were more complaints and outrage among officers and men of the agency as the Committee reportedly failed to do justice to the assignment given to it in accordance with the terms of reference in the circular upon its inauguration.

“It was discovered that the Committee members had gone on to carry out a lopsided harmonisation that further placed the most recently recruited officers with political connections ahead of their seniors who had been stagnated for more than a decade before they were employed in the agency.

“Some members of the committee themselves also secured proper placements for themselves as well as their alliance but failed to do the same for less fortunate other old officers within the system. This further deepened the bad blood in the agency as officers continued to feel disillusioned,” one of the sources said.

Following more complaints and widespread condemnation of the harmonisation committee’s report by the long-serving officers who said they have only enjoyed single promotion whereas their juniors who were employed less than a decade ago enjoyed proper placement with two promotions, the CCEO, Brig-Gen. Buba Marina, through a circular with ref NDLEA/CCEO/45/VOL.VII, dated July 6, 2021, inaugurated a Review

Committee headed by the SA, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho and five others to X-ray the alleged lopsided harmonisation.
 
Also on the committee were the Chairman of the Harmonisation Committee, Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd) and Head of Statistics and Records, Saidu Daniel, as observers.
 
The circular mandated the review committee to look into allegations arising from the harmonisation exercise including “junior officers who by reason of harmonisation have unjustifiably become senior to their superiors; officers who failed promotion examinations thrice but passed and were promoted at the fourth attempt in 2019 and whose next promotion should have been 2022 but promoted to higher ranks.
 
“Inappropriate appointment of effective dates of promotion thereby conferring undue advantage; officers who were inadvertently omitted or overlooked, in the promotion exercise; officers who should have reached their promotable bar but without additional qualification have been promoted to higher ranks and any other act of omission or commission in the conduct of the exercise causing dissension among officers and me.”
 
The review committee was mandated to make recommendations as considered appropriate and submit its report within four weeks from the date of inauguration.
 
The committee chairman then called on all the aggrieved officers to submit their petitions or complaints to be addressed but one year after its inauguration, the outcome of the review exercise is yet to see the light of day.
 
One of the sources said, “These have consequently raised a lot of confusion and concerns in the minds of officers who have spent most of their service years in committed service and sacrifice to our dear nation, Nigeria.
 
“It is pertinent to print out that NDLEA is no stranger to harmonisation expertise as the officers of the agency have once enjoyed harmonisation since the inception of the elitist organisation. The first one was done in the year 2001 by the then Chairman/Chief Executive, a retired SSS Director, Alhaji Lafiaji, of which officers were properly placed on the rank commensurate with their years in service depending on their qualifications at points of entry. It was a widely acclaimed successful exercise as it was done strictly in adherence with civil service rule.”
 
SaharaReporters was informed that the current frustration among the ageing workforce was further heightened when rumours filtered through about an alleged compilation of names for promotion exercise which was alleged to have been for the highest bidders.
 
Some of the sources said they investigated the veracity of the claim and found that a circular for notification of the promotion exercise was published along with a list of names of candidates considered eligible.
 
Some of the shortlisted officers allegedly paid a certain amount of money to some of the administrative staff who had shortlisted the candidates.
 
“This new development was greeted with widespread condemnation as the pending report of the Harmonisation review committee had not been published and issues concerning distorted seniority list were still pending,” a source said.
 
The sources told SaharaReporters that some candidates shortlisted for the 2022 promotion had recently enjoyed promotion already whereas others who had submitted memoranda to the review committee for consideration for proper placement were yet to be attended to.
 
“No wonder the alleged fraudulent promotion exercise was suspended within 48 hours in a circular titled Re: List of Eligible Officers for 2022 Promotion Examinations CSA to CSN with reference number NDLEA/CON/SUB1/VOL.III/146.
 
“It is sad to note that while the CCEO, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa seems poised to correct all inherited abnormalities in the once moribund agency, forces among its management who are fast approaching retirement are determined to frustrate all efforts made by the Chairmen so as to protect their interest.”
 
The sources further alleged that some of the administrative staff in charge of posting as well as training and promotion “have recruited cronies of drug barons, politicians, as well as their family members and, are determined to position them in the helm of affairs of the agency well ahead of their own retirement.

NDLEA Scandal by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

 
“These ones now enjoy special treatment upon their recruitment, training and deployment as they are posted to sensitive beats such as international airports, seaports as well as other specialised outposts and special formations without consideration for expertise or experience which such assignments require.”
 
The sources expressed worries that with the current situation of things in NDLEA including “mismanagement of funds, distortion of seniority list, corruption and widespread nepotism being witnessed, the agency may have been positioned by strong forces within its workforce to take Nigeria back to its dark days far worse than it was before the inception.”

 

When SaharaReporters called the Spokesperson for the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, he said 75 percent of the agency's workforce had been promoted. 

He said, "It is an issue that has been taken care of in the past. The agency last year promoted over 75 percent of its workforce. There is no way you can promote 100 percent, and these are the same people that have been stagnated for years and they have channels of making their grievances known if they think there are grievances.

"A panel was set up to look at that." 
On the report of the harmonisation review committee which is said to have not been submitted after one year, he said, "The information is wrong. The panel has submitted its report and the report is under consideration." 

When asked if the aggrieved officers are aware that the committee has submitted its review report, he said, "But they were aware that they needed to channel their grievances to a panel, why wouldn't they be aware? I'm not aware that there is anybody stagnated."

However, one of the sources insisted that nothing has changed. 

"As I speak with you, there is no new development. There is no memo to the effect that the Harmonisation Review Committee has submitted its report, nor has there been any circular informing the aggrieved officers of their due promotion or consideration of their complaints," the source said. 


"In fact, rather than act on the complaints of the aggrieved officers, the agency has started victimising some of them. Some of them have been invited to headquarters for disciplinary processes while some who were supposed to be redeployed to another place primary assignment have been reversed. They are only using propaganda to confuse the general public while some of the affected officers are almost dying."
 

Scandal Exclusive News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dauda Biu, as the Acting Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, following the retirement of Boboye Oyeyemi.

This was announced by Oyeyemi when he handed over to Biu at the FRSC headquarters on Monday in Abuja.

The announcement was contained in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, CPEO, Assistant Corps Marshal, ACM, Bisi Kazeem on Monday in Abuja.

Oyeyemi said that Biu’s appointment took effect from July 24 and wished him a successful tenure as he assumed office.

The FRSC Board Chairman, Bukhari Bello, congratulated Bello on his appointment and urged him to sustain the tempo as well as ensure that he justified his appointment.

He said that the former Corps Marshal laid a good foundation for the corps and urged the acting corps marshal to continue where he stopped.

Meanwhile, Biu, on his part, thanked the management of the FRSC and the presidency for the appointment and pledged to justify the appointment.

Before his appointment, Biu was the Deputy Corps Marshal, Finance and Accounts at the FRSC headquarters.

He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, MBA, from Ahmadu Bello University and was the Assistant Corps Marshal, ACM, Finance and Accounts in 2014 before becoming the DCM in 2016.

News AddThis :  Disable advertisements : 

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government over the increasing insecurity situation saying the recent terrorists’ threat to kidnap the president shows there's no government in the country.

Ortom stated this while reacting to a video trending on social media where bandits were flogging Kaduna-bound train attack victims and their threat to kidnap the president and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Briefing journalists on Monday with regards to the trending event around the country at the Government House, Ortom said Buhari government had left Nigerians digging their graves.

“Things are getting worse in Nigeria," he said.

"You know I said this before I travelled out that very soon, with the manner bandits are operating without proactive steps from the federal government, they will soon enter the Aso Rock.

“You have seen happenings in the country; the Kuje prison break and the threat to kidnap the president, God forbid, but this is what I saw long time ago."

The governor alleged that the criminals that wreaking havoc in Afghanistan were Fulani who had been brought to terrorise Nigerians like they ruined Afghans.

“Those people in Afghanistan, who are bandits and Fulani, are the ones (wreaking havoc). They are being sponsored. I feel pains that this is happening in my generation. There is no government in Nigeria today. Those who are surrounding the president are criminals.

“Mr president, if you are listening to me, I want to say that you are not doing well, you have violated the oath of office you took, Nigerians are in pains, they are suffering, the socio-economic lives of the people have gone down the abyss.

“You have left us digging out graves, we need a true change, not the change from top to bottom you promised us in 2015.”

The governor who explained the reasons he visited United Kingdom and United States of America during his two-week vacation said it was to correct all the wrong narratives of federal government.

“I decided to visit the United Kingdom and United States of America to correct the wrong narratives that the crisis in Benue State was caused by climate change and they were suprised to learn that the attacks were beyond what they had been fed with.

“Even during the raining season, the Fulani herders come to our communities killed, maimed, raped our women even our men. These Fulanis come from Niger, Senegal, Mauritania and other places. They only used that as shield their main reason for attacks was occupation of our lands.”

Insecurity Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as "Shi'ites" on Monday in Abuja staged a peaceful protest to demand for the release of the international passports of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat.

The group, which gathered along the Aguyi Ironsi Way in Maitama, accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the couple.

IMN said one year after a Kaduna High Court discharged and acquitted the El-Zakzakys of terrorism charges, the authorities had refused to release the travel documents to them to enable them have access to medical attention overseas.

The protesters vowed to sustain the protest and hold those in positions of power responsible, if anything untoward should happen to them.

There was no record of any attack from the security agents as the protest was later terminated shortly after the protesters had passed their message to the Nigerian government.

IMN had on Saturday marked 'Qudus Day' a day set aside by the movement in Nigeria in support of the Palestinian struggle.

The moment was also used to honour to the Shi’ites’ fallen ‘heroes’ and ‘martyrs’ killed by security operatives in Zaria in 2015 by the Nigerian military with the portrait photographs of the victims on display which included the three children of the leader of the movement, El-Zakzaky.

The sect said they would never give up on the struggle in demanding for justice for the victims and exercising their right to practise their religion.

ACTIVISM Islam News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Two Nigerian men were killed and a woman is in serious condition following a shooting at a nightclub in the city of Vaughan, Ontario, north of Toronto in Canada.
According to CBC, the York Regional police said the incident happened around 3:30am on Saturday.

The police located three victims suffering from gunshot wounds when they arrived at the scene.
In a news release, officers said that a 25-year-old man and a 22-year-old man identified as Tosin Amos Arowoshegbe and Eze were both pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.
A 20-year-old woman was also transported to hospital with serious injuries.
The shooting took place at ATL Lounge; its owners posted a message of condolences on Instagram in which they revealed the two victims were employed as security guards at the lounge.
"With heavy hearts today we are deeply saddened by the senseless shooting that took place outside of ATL Lounge last night taking the lives of our security guards Eze and Tosin," the message reads.
"Our prayers are with their friends and families during this extremely difficult time. Our prayers are also with the young lady that is in the hospital fighting to overcome her injuries; our deepest condolences."
According to police, the suspect, or suspects, fled the scene before they arrived. No descriptions have been released.

Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :