Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Nigeria

  • Lagos Schools: Second Term to Run for 61 Days

    Lagos Schools: Second Term to Run for 61 Days

    The Lagos state government has scheduled the second term of the 2020/2021 academic session to run for 61 days for public and private schools in the state.

    Recall that the Lagos State Government earlier confirmed that all public and private schools below the tertiary level, will resume on Monday, January 18, 2021.

    The Honourable Commissioner for Education in the State, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, this will be the start of the second term for 2020/2021 academic session she also noted that this is in line with the Federal Government’s resolution after reaching a consensus with relevant stakeholders.

    A revised calendar for the 2020/2021 academic session released by the Office of the Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), on Sunday shows that the second term for all schools in the state is scheduled to run from January 18, 2021, to April 30.

    According to the revised calendar, the mid-term break has been scheduled for March 4 and 5 while two public holidays Good Friday on April 2 and Easter Monday on April 5, will be observed by the students.

    Also, resumption for the third term has been scheduled for May 4, while the term ends on August 6.

  • Notable Politicians in Ogun Express Sadness Over Death of Ex-Minister

    Notable Politicians in Ogun Express Sadness Over Death of Ex-Minister

    Notable politicians in Ogun State express sadness following the death of Nigerian ex-Minister of Commerce and grassroot politician, Jubril Martins-Kuye on Sunday.

    The immediate past Governor of the State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and governorship candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Adekunle Akinlade has sympathised with the family of the late former Minister, Sen Jubril Martins-Kuye.

    In separate statements, Senator Amosun and Hon. Akinlade described the late grassroot politician as having left large footprints in the sands of time.

    Describing Martins Kuye as a consummate politician, humanist bridgebuilder, Amosun said, “My family and entire stakeholders of the Ogun Central Senatorial District mourn the death, early today, of our leader and political mentor, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye.

    File Photo: Senator Ibikunle Amosun

    Amosun further expressed regret that the death of Martins-Kuye has further depleted the number of truly committed Nigerian patriots whose experience and dedication are needed at this critical time.

    However, Amosun said he takes solace in the fact that the octogenarian lived a life worthy of emulation.

    “Our sincere condolences to his wife, children and extended families; our people in Ago Iwoye; Ogun State stakeholders as a whole, and all loved ones left behind. We beseech Almighty Allah, swt, to forgive his sins and reward him with Aljanah Firdaus,” he said.

    In his statement made available by his media aide, Azeez Adelani, Hon. Akinlade, expressed a deep sense of shock and immense sadness over Martins Kuye’s death, saying he died at a time his wealth of experience is being sought after.

    According to Akinlade, Martins-Kuye was a grass root politician, scholar and community builder, whose immense devotion has contributed to the socio-political stability of his home town – Ago-Iwoye and Nigeria.

    He said: “While he will be dearly missed, I implore the Almighty God to accept his return, grant him eternal rest and give his family, friends and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

  • Ex-Minister of Commerce Dies

    Ex-Minister of Commerce Dies

    A former Nigerian Minister and Senator, Jubril Martins-Kuye has died on Sunday morning at his Ago-Iwoye residence in Ogun State.

    The death of the octogenarian grassroots politician who became a Senator during the third republic was made known by the Senator representing Ogun East, Lekan Mustapha

    Senator Mustapha described the death of the elder statesman as a big blow to Ogun and Nigeria, saying, “he was a mentor and a pathfinder.”

    Jubril Martins-Kuye was appointed the Nigerian Minister of Commerce and Industry on April 6, 2010.

    On August 16, 2020, he clocked 80 and was celebrated by many, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Youth Vows to Retaliate Attack on Kukah as Presidency Cautions Muslim Group

    Youth Vows to Retaliate Attack on Kukah as Presidency Cautions Muslim Group

    The Buhari-led Presidency has condemned Sokoto-based Muslim Solidarity Forum (MSF) for calling on the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Kukah, to tender unreserved apology to the Muslims, or quietly and quickly leave the state, over his controversial Christmas essay.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu on Wednesday, the Presidency took a stand saying the MSF’s comment “is wrong because it is not in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    While Professor Isa Maishanu of MSF had described the essay as “malicious comment” against Islam, Shehu affirmed that under Nigeria’s constitution, every citizen has the right to, among others, freedom of speech and expression, the right to own property and reside in any part of the country, and the right to move freely without any inhibition.

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    “The Sultanate has historically had good relations with followers of all faiths. That is why Fr. Kukah was received on his arrival in Sokoto with friendship and tolerance.

    “Under our laws, groups or factions must not give quit notices, neither should they unilaterally sanction any perceived breaches. Where they occur, it is the courts of law that should adjudicate,” he added, urging groups like MSF to share and uphold the country’s multi-religious principles.

    In reaction to Maishanu’s statement, asking Kukah to vacate the Seat of the Caliphate, the Youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has vowed to retaliate any form of attack on Kukah, over his recent message on Nigeria’s woes.

    National leader of the SOKAPU youth wing, John Isaac, pointed out that MSF was trying to incite the peace-loving people of Sokoto and some Northerners against the cleric over his Christmas essay, in which, “out of patriotism, he voiced out the obvious truth.’

    The SOKAPU statement entitled ‘Enough of the Bigotry and Senseless Attacks on Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, lamented: “Prof. Maishanu could descend so low, throwing caution to the wind and toeing the path of religious rascality and bigotry by deliberately attempting to paint the bishop’s message in religious colour and further inciting the general Muslim Ummah against the bishop.

    Kukah had written in his Christmas essay: “Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Muhammadu Buhari has done with his nepotism and got away with it.”

    Isaac said the demeaning call by “the so-called professor” for Kukah to apologise to the Muslim Ummah or quietly leave Sokoto was not just ridiculous and unacceptable, but an affront to the rights of all Nigerians to live freely in any part of the country.

    His words: “We believe that the reckless statement credited to the professor does not, in anyway, reflect the position of a responsible group such as MSF.

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    “While we call on the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest Maishanu to serve as deterrent to those already misled by his unguarded statements and prevent a religious war.”

    The youths and people of Southern Kaduna will not accept further attacks on the person and character of Bishop Kukah under any pretence, as neither Maishanu nor any person or group can mourn more than the bereaved, he added.

    “The bishop’s message was directed at the powers-that-be and cannot in any way be said to have been directed at Muslims and Islam, a religion well-known to profess peace.

    “The youths of Southern Kaduna, therefore, vow to retaliate any form of attack directed or aimed at putting the bishop in harm’s way by any group of ethnic loyalists, religious extremists and enthusiasts.”

  • Jihadists Kill Six Nigerian Soldiers in Borno State

    Jihadists Kill Six Nigerian Soldiers in Borno State

    Six Nigerian soldiers have died during an attack by jihadists who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into them during a clash in Borno state, Nigeria’s North East.

    Two military sources on Tuesday disclosed to AFP that the suicide bombing by a member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group occurred Monday as the soldiers were conducting a raid of the group’s stronghold in the village of Talala.

    They said scores of jihadists have been killed in the operation launched last week on ISWAP’s second largest camp.

    “Our men dominated the terrorists, killing dozens, and out of frustration they sent a suicide bomber who killed six soldiers,” one of the officers said.

    They said the troops overran the Talala camp despite the bombing.

    On Saturday 13 soldiers were killed in an ISWAP ambush near the town of Gujba in the neighbouring state of Yobe, according to military sources.

    ISWAP, which split from the mainstream Boko Haram in 2016, has become a dominant group, focusing on military targets and high-profile attacks, including against aid workers.

    The jihadist group has in recent times stepped up attacks on troops and frequently abduct travellers at bogus checkpoints along the highway linking the Borno capital Maiduguri and Damaturu, the capital of Yobe.

    No fewer than 36,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2009 with around two million displaced in the northeast, according to the UN.

    Ravaging neighbouring countries – Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the endless violence prompted a regional military coalition that would bring the deadly activities of the jihadist groups to an end.

  • Nigeria to Post 95 Ambassadors-Designate as President Buhari Gives Approval

    Nigeria to Post 95 Ambassadors-Designate as President Buhari Gives Approval

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the posting of Ambassador-Designates to Nigerian Missions abroad.

    A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the list includes 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday by its Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda.

    While Aduda did not state when the President gave the approval, he noted that those to be posted included 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.

    He said following the development, the government has already commenced the process of requesting Agrément from the prospective host countries.

    The permanent secretary revealed that the ministry would organise an induction course for the ambassadors-designate and their spouses.

    He explained that the event which would hold on a date to be announced soon was to prepare and facilitate the movement of the ambassadors-designate to their respective missions.

    In a letter dated May 6, 2020, about nine months after the President nominated 42 career ambassadors-designate to the Senate for confirmation, Buhari informed the lawmakers that his request was in accordance with section 171 (1),(2)(c), and subsection (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

    “I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed forty-two (42) names of nominees as Career Ambassadors-Designate,” he had said in the letter.

    The ambassadors-designate who were nominated included C.O Nwachukwu; A. Kafas, R. U. Brown, G. A. Odudigbo, O. C. Onowu, Y. S. Suleiman, E. S. Agbana, B. B. M. Okoyen, G. M. Okoko, A. M. Garba, M. l. Bashir, M. O. Abam, A. E. Allotey, G. E. Edokpa, and A. N. Madubuike.

    Others are Adamu Lamuwa, Innocent lwejuo, M. S. Abubakar, Y. A. Ahmed, S. D. Umar, A. Sule, G. Y. Hamza, N. Rimi, L S. Ahmed-Remawa, M. Manu, l. R. Ocheni, l. A. Yusuf, M. Abdulraheem, W. A. Adedeji, and A. U. Ogah.

    Also among the ambassadors-designate are A. A. Musa, N. A. Kolo, S. O. Olaniyan, A. R. Adejola, E. Awe, O. Aluko, I. A. Alatishe, V. A. Adeleke, M. S. Adamu, l. N. Charles, Z M. lfu, and B. B. Hamman.

    In another letter dated July 1, 2020, the President asked the Senate to confirm one career ambassador-designate and 39 non-career ambassadors- designate.

  • Amotekun Security Corp Kicks off in Ogun State

    Amotekun Security Corp Kicks off in Ogun State

    Amotekun, the alternative security architecture established by Governors in the South West of Nigeria as a result rising insecurity in the region has now gone operational in Ogun State.

    The Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu disclosed this while featuring on a live television programe in Abeokuta, adding that the commencement of the outfit in the State was expected to fortify the existing security architecture, towards addressing the challenges headlong.

    Alhaji Salisu maintained that the State Government would not fold its arms and allow criminals have free rein, saying ‘’the days of criminals are numbered with the appointment of former Commissioner of Police, David Ajibola Akinremi, as the Commandant of the security outfit.

    Speaking further, the Chief of Staff said Government had procured 100 Patrol vehicles, 200 motorcycles and communication gadgets, to enhance its operations, adding that Amotekun would have formations in all the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

    He said part of strategies of the State Government to curb criminality was to devise means, noting that over 20,000 youths have been employed through Ogun Jobs Portal, while disclosing that companies in the State were also mandated to source for qualified applicants on it for recruitment.

    The Chief of Staff added that many infrastructural projects inherited from past administrations would be completed by the end of Q1 2021, while the newly initiated projects would not be neglected, saying that the Owode-Ilaro, and Odo-Afa roads in Yewa axis; the Epe-Ijebu Ode, and Molusi College roads in Ijebu division; and the Sagamu Interchange-Siun-Abeokuta, and Lafenwa-Rounda roads are all receiving robust attention of government.

  • Nigeria’s Secret Service Warns Citizens on Plots to ‘Incite’ Religious Violence

    Nigeria’s Secret Service Warns Citizens on Plots to ‘Incite’ Religious Violence

    Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) has raised the alarm over plot by some Nigerians who have connived with external forces to incite religious violence in the country.

    DSS confirmed this on Monday in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, stating that those individuals target states like Sokoto; Kano; Kaduna; Plateau; Rivers, Oyo, Lagos, and the rest of the South East.

    The DSS spokesman disclosed that part of the plan is to cause inter-religious conflicts by using their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, key and vulnerable points.

    “The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to alert the public about plans by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country. Targeted states include Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, Lagos and those in the South East.

    “Part of the plans is to cause inter-religious conflicts as well as use their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, key and vulnerable points.

    “Consequently, Nigerians are advised to be wary of these antics and shun all divisive tendencies aimed at inciting or setting them against one another”, Afunanya said.

    He stated further that the service would collaborate with sister agencies to ensure that public order is maintained, noting that those hatching the plots are warned to desist from them in the interest of peace, security, and development of the country.

    Law abiding citizens and residents should report suspected breaches of peace around them to the nearest security agencies, Afunanya advised.

  • Nigerian Government signs Kano-Maradi $1.9bn Railway Line

    Nigerian Government signs Kano-Maradi $1.9bn Railway Line

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mota- Engil Group for the construction of $1.959billion dollars Kano-Maradi Standard Gauge Railway lines.

    In a statement by Eric Ojiekwe, Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the project was aimed at linking the whole country by rail.

    The MoU was signed by Amaechi on behalf of the Federal Government while the Managing Director, Mota- Engil, Antonio Gvoea signed on behalf of the contracting firm.

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    The Minister stated that the new railway corridor which is to be located in northern Nigeria will run through Kano, Jigawa and Katsina and through Niger Republic territory as far as Maradi.

    According to the Minister, other cities such as Danbatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina and Jibiya would also be affected by the rail line in Nigeria.

    Speaking on the impact of the transport project, Amaechi said the 283.750 kilometre rail line would help develop freight and passenger transport as it would be integrated with road transport adding that it would contribute greatly to the local economy as well as the nation’s social sector.

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    Nigeria Hasn’t Received $5.3bn Chinese Loan for Ibadan-Kano rail – Transport Minister

    The signing ceremony of the multi-billion dollar rail project, whose construction duration would last for 36 months, was witnessed by the Ministry’s Permanent, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the Director, Legal Services, Pius Oteh, the Managing Director, Mota-Engil Group, Antonio Gvoea and Head of Legal, Mota- Engil Group, Cameron Beverley.

    Also in attendance were Magajin Garin Kano, Muhammad Wada; Director, Mota-Engil Group, Kola Abdulkarim; Vice President, Mota-Engil Group, Mohammed Abdul-Razaq, among others.

    Others at the event include the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman among other diginitaries also witnessed the signing.

  • Nigeria Hasn’t Received $5.3bn Chinese Loan for Ibadan-Kano rail – Transport Minister

    Nigeria Hasn’t Received $5.3bn Chinese Loan for Ibadan-Kano rail – Transport Minister

    Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has revealed that the sum of $5.3 billion loan request by the Federal Government is yet to be approved by the Chinese Government.

    The Minister, who disclosed this during an interview on a television programme in Abuja on Saturday clarified that contrary to the claim that the government had gotten the loan, what was approved by the government was the approval for the contract.

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    Ameachi however noted that the construction of the Ibadan to Kano rail project will commence once the loan which was requested for a year ago is approved.

    He said: “We are waiting for the Chinese government and bank to approve the $5.3bn to construct the Ibadan-Kano. What was approved a year ago was the contract. The moment I announced that federal government has awarded a contract of $5.3bn to CCECC to construct Ibadan-Kano, they assumed the money has come in, but not so. Up till now, we have not gotten the money and it is a year after we applied for the loan. We have almost finished the project of Lagos-Ibadan. If we don’t get the loan now, we can’t commence.”

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    On the route the project will take, he said: “The Ibadan-Kano rail would link six areas which are Kaduna-Kano-Abuja-Minna-Ilorin-Osogbo and Ibadan which will make it easy for cargoes to be moved to Kano from Lagos. On the funding of the rail projects, Amaechi stated that his ministry has presidential approval to borrow money to fund projects.