The Southeast Governors says the forum will engage with the youth to address their peculiar concerns within the zone.
The Chairman Southeast Governors forum and the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi made this known in a communique after a closed door meeting held at the Government house, Enugu.
According to Governor Umahi, the southeast Governors sympathises with the families and victims of the post EndSARS protests noting that the governors ensure the security of lives and properties.
Various stakeholders in the region both the National Assembly and Federal Executive Council members and other religious and traditional leaders were present during the meeting.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks with Amaju Melvin Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), during the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City, Mexico, May 13, 2016. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally received a $1 million palliative it was promised by the world football governing body, FIFA.
The receipt of the long awaited palliative fund was disclosed Wednesday on Twitter by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, who revealed further that the Nigerian federation received another $600, 000 from the football body for the construction of two mini stadia in the country.
Pinnick said the federation got the fund on Monday and has also reconfirmed what it is meant for from FIFA.
“As a further break down, the $1 million for palliatives is composed of $500,000 for men’s football and $500,000 for the women’s game. FIFA has also promised to send the Federation an additional $500,000 sometime in January 2021, also as part of COVID-19 palliative efforts.
“FIFA also sent $600,000 to the federation for the FIFA Forward 2.0 projects in Birnin-Kebbi and Ugborodo. At $300,000 each, it will enable the mini-stadia in both centers to start at a very good pace, as we earmark completion by the end of March 2021”, he stated.
The NFF will also receive the sum of $300,000 on or before Sunday, November 1, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.
According to Pinnick, “With the $200,000 we have already ring-fenced from our sponsors’ funds for the purpose, the coast will then be clear for us to start the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries, as captured in our approved template, from next week.
“Even though we are bolstered by the guidelines from FIFA strictly outlying the purposes of these funds, as well as the approval of the NFF executive board, we will also interface with our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, on each and every line item, to ensure the disbursements conform to global best practices.”
The NFF had in August outlined the formula for the distribution of its palliatives to men and women football, as well as all its affiliates, including the Supporters Club and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
File photo of an accident scene involving a truck and a motorbike.
A truck has crushed a middle-aged woman at Onihale area, near Owode-Ijako, Ogun State on Thursday, the state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has said.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Owode-Ijako Unit Commander of TRACE, Mrs Temitope Oseni, who spoke on behalf of the Corps Commander, Seni Ogunyemi, confirmed that the incident happened at about 8.23 am.
Narrating the ugly incident, Oseni recounted how a FAW truck, marked BHN 1353, inbound Onihale area had lost control due to brake failure and rammed into a motorcyclist and a woman who was about to alight in front of her father’s hotel.
Two boxer motorcycles and four persons were involved in the accident, with a man sustaining injury, Oseni said.
The TRACE unit commander said that the corpse of the deceased had been released to the family for burial, while the injured was taken to Famous Hospital at Iyana-Ilogbo, Ogun, for treatment.
Oseni also commiserated with the family of the victim and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
To ensure free flow of traffic on the road, the truck and two motorcycles involved in the accident had been removed.
It is however advised that to avert loss of life, truck drivers and owners are to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition before putting them on the road.
Nigerian Army has berated Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his team for not saying the truth about the invasion of Lekki Toll Gate by soldiers on October 20 to disperse #EndSARS protesters.
The Army, in a statement by its Acting Deputy Director, Public Relations, Headquarters 81 Division, Osoba Olaniyi, said the decision to call in the military was taken by the Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government after a 24-hour curfew was imposed.
“From the onset of the #EndSARS protest, there was no time personnel of 81 Division of the Nigerian Army Lagos were involved. However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government (LASG) after a 24-hour curfew was imposed.
“This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away.
“The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy.
“The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for Internal Security operations and all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security Operations,” the statement explained.
On the allegation of massacre at Lekki Toll Gate, the statement said: “The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilians’ protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza.
“This allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country. At no time did soldiers of the Nigerian Army open fire on any civilian.”
The Army reiterated that in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, it did not shoot at any civilian as there are glaring and convincing evidence to attest to this fact.
“This allegation is the hand work of mischief makers who will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army.
“The general public is hereby enjoined to discountenance this allegation as there is no iota of truth therein,” the statement said.
File Photo: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (File Photo)
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has approved the re-opening of schools for all classes in public and private schools across the state beginning from Monday (November 2), while boarding house students in public schools are to resume on Sunday (November 1).
Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed on Thursday through Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, said this has been an unprecedented year with the recent happenings that have regrettably led to frequent closure of schools with attendant learning disruptions faced by all children.
“We pray and hope that there will be no more disruptions in the academic calendar. However, Lagos State Government will always regard the safety of pupils/students, parents and all staff as a matter of priority.
“We recommend that when schools resume on Monday, teaching and learning should continue unhindered till the end of the term,” Adefisayo said.
The Sanwo-Olu administration, therefore, advised pupils/students to take their studies more serious in a bid to recover the lost period and thereby excel.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to reduce the rate of unemployment in Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu has approved Internship Programme for 4,000 unemployed graduates in line with his T.H.E.M.E.S agenda for the youth development programme in the state.
Speaking recently on the programme with newsmen, Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Yetunde Arobieke, said the Graduate Internship Placement Programme (GIPP) is designed to give candidates the opportunity to develop employability and work-ready skills that are needed in securing gainful employment.
She added that the Internship programme would be addressing the third and fourth pillars of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, which are: Education and Technology and Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, while the beneficiaries would be paid a monthly stipend of N40,000 for the six months duration of the internship.
Arobieke explained that at the end of the internship period, interns would have gained valuable applied work experience, built up their professional skills and would have been exposed to possible entrepreneurial opportunities to strengthen their professional skills and interpersonal relationship.
The commissioner implored interested candidates to apply through the dedicated link for the programme: gipplasg.lagosstate.gov.ng, noting that interested applicants must possess NYSC Certificates or letters of exemption, and must be registered residents of the state with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
While pointing out that over 50 off-takers have shown interest in having the Interns work in their organisations, Arobieke maintained that the selection process would be transparent after successful candidates would have taken an online test and be trained on employability skills for two weeks and evaluated.
She added that the candidates would subsequently be placed on six months paid internship with private organisations and selected public agencies in line with their qualifications.
The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N2.9 billion for the printing of materials for the upcoming Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), common entrance and basic education exams.
The approval was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, during a briefing with State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
The Minister revealed that that the production of the materials will be contracted to eight printing companies.
Also approved by the FEC was a N900 million fund for the rehabilitation of roads in Gwagwalada township and N719 million for the upgrade of roads in Kwali Area Council.
A collage photo of the Red Chamber of the Nigerian Senate and Minister of Power, Maman Saleh.
Senate Committee on Power has accused the Minister of Power, Maman Saleh, of official misconduct for siting about 20 rural electrification projects in his Lau Council Area of Taraba State.
The accusation was made on Wednesday when the Minister’s activities was queried by members of the committee.
The committee stated that the minister acted against his oath of office to be fair to all.
It was also discovered that the projects, which were captured in the 2021 budget of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) were uncovered during the minister’s budget defense of the agency, which is under the supervision of the Minister.
A member of the committee and representative of Taraba Central Senatorial District, Yusuf Yusuf, had drawn the committee’s attention to the concentration of 20 projects in various amounts of between N20m to N50m in Lau Council Area as captured in the budget proposal.
Yusuf, however, indicated that he was not challenging the minister, but was only trying to set the records straight.
Chairman of the Committee, Gabriel Suswam, who corroborated Yusuf’s submission, said he was happy that a senator from Taraba pointed out the anomaly.
Other senators expressed disappointment that Saleh allowed his personal interest to affect his official conduct and decisions, which they perceived as a grievous matter.
Explaining the implications of the minister’s action, representative of Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, said public officials were supposed to show fairness in carrying out their assignments, no matter the pressure.
The senators also expressed disappointment over what they described as REA management’s disregard for establishing regional headquarters and head offices across the country.
Consequently, the Senate directed the agency to revert to the geo-political zones arrangement in locating REA’s regional headquarters.
Suswam, who represents Benue North East Senatorial District, expressed shock when Managing Director of REA, Ahmad Salijo, highlighted the location of some projects to the senators.
While querying projects under the title- Provision and Installation Of Solar Mini-Grids In Six Geo-political Zones, the Senate discovered that the project title had reflected twice in the document submitted to the Senate.
The Senate went further to demand that the locations of the said projects were cited.
In his explanation Salijo listed Dutse (North West) Bauchi (North East) Lokoja (North Central), Calabar (South-South), Oshogbo (South West) and Enugu (South East) as locations of the projects, but that trouble started when Suswam insisted on naming the specific projects, adding that the particular projects were for power back up for REA’s regional offices.
Senator Suswam however, noted that out of the ovations stated as regional offices, Enugu was the only area where the REA complied with the national definition in establishing regional headquarters.
He affirmed that the agency flouted the directive on regional headquarters and offices in other areas.
“To whimsically site projects in one’s locality because you have directors from those places is wrong”, Senator Suswam emphasised, adding that abuse of power by public officers was unacceptable.
File Photo: DAVOS/SWITZERLAND, 30JAN10 - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was Managing Director, World Bank, Washington DC; Global Agenda Council on Corruption, is captured during the session 'Zero Option for Corruption' in the Congress Centre of the Annual Meeting 2010 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 30, 2010.
Copyright by World Economic Forum
swiss-image.ch/Photo by Remy Steinegger
Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Nigeria’s nominee for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is set to emerge winner of the competitive race to the highly coveted head of the international body.
Reuters on Wednesday reported that a key group of WTO ambassadors proposed Okonjo-Iweala to lead the trade organisation on Wednesday,
The official announcement is expected to be made later today by WTO.
Okonjo-Iweala served as Finance Minister twice, that was during the tenures of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
She has experience working at international governance bodies as a former managing director of the World Bank and as a chairman at the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Once officially announced, Okonjo-Iweala will be the first African and first female director-general of the international body in its 25-year history.
Ogun State, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, has announced the reopening of all hotels and other establishments providing accommodation for tourists such as guest houses, motels, including restaurants, eateries, fast food, lounges and bars. Also to reopen for business are entertainment centres- cinemas, viewing centres, marquees and event centres.
In a statement announcing the development by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the Governor was said to be pleased with the drop of COVID-19 infections.
According to Somorin, while businesses can now fully reopen after a long period of lockdown restrictions occasioned by the dreaded virus, the hospitality establishments are to scrupulously adhere to a set of guidelines in order to keep up with the protocols aimed at further flattening the curve of COVID-19.
“Government is aware of the excruciating implications of COVID-19 lockdown but we have emplaced measures and improved on testing to stem the tide. Empirical field research indicates that we have managed to stem community spread and treatment of the virus very well. We are convinced that opening of schools and entertainment centres would not harm our people. We would continue to monitor the development,” Somorin quoted Governor Abiodun.
While reinstating the need to rebuild the economy, the State government maintained that it was irrevocably committed to the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” Agenda and as such would do everything possible to ensure that the people have increased prosperity that would place the State on a sound footing towards continued development.
The statement said that government would not hesitate to do selective lockdown should there be any flagrant disobedience to the set COVID-19 protocols.
These conditions set for the reopening of the entertainment centres are:
i. Observance of temperature checks at all entry points.
ii. Compulsory use of face masks within the premises/facilities.
iii. Maintenance of two-metre social distancing by marking the floor to guide their customers on physical distancing.
iv. Owners of business premises are required to offer only 50% of their space capacity to guests.
v. Maintenance of physical distancing with a maximum of four persons per table, while Buffet services are not allowed.
vi. Prior to holding any event, licence and safety clearance must be obtained from the Government.
vii. the operation of all cinemas must not exceed 10pm.
The statement added that all centres are to provide noise-proof equipment in the various facilities to ensure that they do not disturb the serenity of the neighbourhoods where they operate.
While calling on owners of these facilities to cooperate with the State Government, Governor Abiodun warned that facilities that defy these guidelines would be sanctioned.
“Let me say that our Task Force is already on the ground and is moving about to ensure compliance.
“And, if perchance we discover that any of our centres is not complying or adhering to the laid down protocols, we will not hesitate to close down the centre,” he warned.
Violation of these conditions, the statement concluded, would attract severe sanctions including, but not limited to fine and closure of premises.
Nigeria's National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd).
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) has accused the #EndSARS protesters of using the social media to spread subversive contents that escalated the tension and looting that followed the protest by Nigerian youths, which is widely adjudged peaceful.
The NSA disclosed this when he spoke at the Multi-Stakeholders workshop for the Validation of the Draft National Cybersecurity Strategy 2020, in Abuja.
He said: “We are witnesses to the use of social media to disseminate subversive content to incite violence and heightened tension, causing unrest and sparking widespread looting and destruction across the country.”
The national security chief also revealed that the Federal Government plans to unveil the National Cyber security Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2020 to check digital threats and enhance national security and economic growth for the over 200 million population.
In his keynote address, the NSA said the government has been proactive to develop policies that will check threats from the use of cyberspace.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Aliyu Ganda Mohammed, the retired General recalled that his Office inaugurated a multi stakeholders committee on September 10, 2020 to review the NCPS 2014.
He noted that the review is aimed at strengthening the existing cyber policy, which is meant to be reviewed every five years, as stipulated.
Monguno further stated that: “There is no gainsaying that cyberspace has become an engine for the enhancement of Nigeria national security, economic transformation and national development.”
While he admitted that the sophistication of cyberspace comes with inherent challenges, the NSA said: “The threats posed by cyber terrorists, and the use of the internet has brought social media circulation of hate speech and seditious messages. It is almost impossible to overstate the challenges.”
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami who was represented by the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Abdullahi, said never before has cybersecurity become more critical than it is today and that it was due to convergence between offline and online lives.
“Anybody that uses any device that connects to the internet needs to understand and protect himself and have to join the cyber security campaign.”
He said the agencies under the ministry are leveraging on this to protect people. “We can collaborate to do it together,” he urged the participants.
Also speaking at the Multi-Stakeholders workshop, the Chairman of the NCPS 2014 Review Committee, Mr Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, warned that a non-regulated cyberspace, as exemplified in recent times with fake news in the social media, could result in civic unrest.
“The current draft document is a result of multi stakeholder efforts with due cognizant of a whole of society approach while leveraging technology for the well-being of Nigeria and for Nigerians.
“I assure our commitment and resolve to delivering an implementable policy for Nigeria”, Ajijola stated.
Senate Committee, ICT and Cybercrime Chairman, Hassan Ibrahim Hadejia, who also spoke at the event expressed excitement that Nigeria is taking the issue of cybercrime very seriously.
“In ICT, if you are reactive, you are finished, you always have to make sure that you are one step ahead”, he said.
in order to effect change in the sector, he proposed that both government agencies and the private sector collaborate.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
