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Category: News

  • NAPTIP, ICMPD target 100 victims in Kano

    The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has organised a free medical outreach for 100 victims of human trafficking in Kano.

    The one-day medical outreach, organised in collaboration with International Centre for Migration on Policy Development (ICMPD), was under the framework of “Strengthening Niger-Nigeria Cooperation on Countering Trafficking in Human Beings.”

    The project was funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

    Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, said that the outreach had become necessary in order to address issues of trauma and sexual exploitation on victims of human trafficking (VoTs).

    Waziri-Azi, represented by the Director, Counselling and Rehabilitation, NAPTIP, Mrs Angela Agbayekhai, said the victims always had medical issues which might not even known.

    “The programme will enable them get medical attention and drugs so that they can fit properly into the society.

    “We hope to extend the outreach to some other states,” she said.

    The director-general commended ICMPD for supporting the project and advised parents and guardians not to allow their children and wards to leave Nigeria to seek for greener pasture.

    “There is no place like Nigeria; it is not greener out there at all,” Waziri-Azi said.

    Also speaking, the Head of Region, ICMPD, Dr Mojisola Sodeinde, said that the project was aimed at ensuring that victims of trafficking have access to medical needs while undergoing rehabilitation at the shelter for proper health care services.

    “Victims of human trafficking (VoTs) are exposed to various health risks and abuses, such as sexually transmitted infection, HIV/AIDS, pelvic inflammatory disease, skin infection, psychosocial health problems, drug abuse and insomnia, among others,’’ the ICMPD chief said.

    Sodeinde, represented by the Programme Assistant, ICMPD, Mr. Adeniyi Bakre, said that the outreach was also targeted at creating awareness on the ills and dangers of trafficking in persons (TIP) and other transitional-organised crimes.

    Earlier, the Public Relations Officer, of the Nigeria Medical Association of Women Doctors, Dr Hajara Maizare-Ibrahim, said that to support and advise the victims on their health problems.

    Maizare-Ibrahim, who is also a member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kano branch, said “Since health is wealth, we don’t need to be seriously ill before we seek medical advice.

    “It is good to identify health issues early and seek medical advice.”

    The victims were given welcome packs, which included bags, perfumes, slippers, towels, soap and cream, among others.

    Mrs. Hafsat Muhammad, who spoke on behalf of the victims, commended NAPTIP and ICMPD for their kind gestures.

    “I am married and a nurse by profession. I travelled to United Arab Emirates (Dubai) to work as a nurse because I was in need of money to cater for my family.

    “After arriving Dubai, I was told I had to work as a housemaid, which I rejected and as a result, they refused to give me accommodation. The experience was so traumatic but I thank God that I came back safely.”

    Muhammad called on the government and kind-hearted individuals to assist women with empowerment to enable them to become self-reliant. 

  • Nasarawa Assembly approves 20 Special Advisers for Gov Sule

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has approved the request of Governor Abdullahi Sule for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi said this after an emergency sitting of the House on Thursday in Lafia.

    Abdullahi said that the approval was to enable Sule to appoint advisers that would assist in implementing his policies and programmes for the people.

    “His Excellency has sent a request for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers that will assist him in the consolidation of his policies and programmes.

    “After an extensive deliberation on His Excellency’s request, the request is hereby granted by the Honourable House,” he said.

    Abdullahi assured of the readiness of the house to partner with the Executive in order to ensure speedy development across the state.

    Mr. Jacob Kudu (APC- Nasarawa Eggon East) and other lawmakers supported the approval.

    The lawmakers said that the appointment of the Special Advisers would ensure the speedy development of the state.

    The Speaker announced that Governor Abdullahi Sule had approved the total renovation of the Assembly Complex.

    He said that the action was in line with the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the lawmakers and other staff for effective service delivery.

    He said that the Ministry of Works would soon commence work at the complex.

    “We are proceeding on recess today, June 8, to resume on July 10, to enable the Ministry of Works to renovate the House, as approved by His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule,” he said.

    Mr Mohammed Omadefu (APC- Keana), the Majority Leader of the House moved for the House to proceed on recess, while Mr. Musa Ibrahim (NNPP- Doma South), the Minority Leader seconded

  • Court orders EFCC to enlighten fraudster about demerits of fraud

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja on Thursday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to educate a man, Ndubisi Success, who is convicted for internet fraud, about the merits and demerits of fraud.

    Success was docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for creating an Instagram account for the purpose of inducing unsuspecting people to deliver money to him.

    He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, convicted him and ordered him to report to the Legal Department of EFCC for one week from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

    Shafa said the convict should be educated under the supervision of the Director of, EFCC legal department on the merits and demerits of internet fraud and its effect on youths.

    “I have carefully listened to the plea of allocutus made by the convict and the defence counsel.

    “The rate of fraud in the society is so alarming. Cybercrime is a dangerous offence in our society, which must be tackled” he said.

    Earlier, the convict had pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, promising not to indulge in such act again.

    “I am very sorry, I promise not to engage in such act again. Please have mercy on me,” he said.

    The Defence Counsel, Mr Chibuike Chima, in support of the allocutus by the convict, told the court that Success, who had no previous conviction record was remorseful.

    “Success, is a young man who regrets the consequences of his act and has come to realise that there is no excuse for anyone to engage in crime under whatever guise.

    “The convict is a young university drop out who could not complete his education as a result of paucity of fund.

    “The convict is a first time offender; he has not been convicted for any other crime of whatever kind in Nigeria or elsewhere. We urge my Lord to tamper justice with mercy.

    “We assure this court that going forward the convict will be of good behaviour,” he said.

    The EFCC Counsel, Chidike Obasi-oko, told the court that Success, sometime in 2022 within the jurisdiction of the Court, made an attempt to commit the offence of cheating.

    Obasi-oko said that the convict created an Instagram account for the purpose of inducing people to deliver money or any goods to him.

    He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 95 of the Penal Code Act Law of the Federation (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Act.

    He pleaded with the court that the Redmi cell phone being the instrument used for the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government. 

  • Gov Alia sacks Ortom’s last-minute appointees, demotes Perm Secs

    Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has nullified recent appointments into the State Civil Service which were made by the immediate-past governor, Samuel Ortom.

    The governor also demoted some permanent secretaries appointed by the immediate past administration, saying they should revert to their previous positions.

    “All appointments into the state civil service made by the outgone administration from May 2022 to date are hereby nullified with immediate effect,” the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The governor also ordered all those who had retired but had yet to vacate their offices or duty posts, either because of extension or contract appointment, to proceed on retirement forthwith.

    “All civil servants due for retirement but are yet to tender their letters of retirement or notice of retirement should do so forthwith and proceed on retirement immediately.

    “All civil servants and or persons appointed Permanent Secretaries from the month of January 2023 to date should revert to their previous positions forthwith.

    “All the postings and transfers made in the state civil service from October 2022, to date are hereby nullified. The affected staff should revert to their former ranks, stations, or offices with immediate effect.”

  • Arrest Prof Ajewole’s killers, ASUU tells Tinubu, IGP

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI) Chapter, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, to assist the Oyo State Police Command with all logistics needed to unravel and arrest the killers of Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole.

    This is contained in a release signed by the Chairman, UI Chapter of ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole in Ibadan on Thursday.

    Ajewole, until he was gruesomely gunned down by yet-to-be-identified assailants in the evening of Monday, 5 June 2023, was a lecturer in the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry Development.

    The union also implored President Bola Tinubu to take passionate interest and ensure the security system unmasks the faces behind the murder of the professor.

    “The heart of every ASUU-UI member is bleeding so profusely as if pierced by swords.

    “Our bones shook so tremendously as if our marrows were naked in the tundra region.

    “We condemn in totality the gruesome murder of our comrade, Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole and charge the security operatives to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act, with a view to unraveling the motive behind the incident, as well as bringing the perpetrators to book,” UI ASUU Chairman said.

    According to Akinwole, the only tribute which the death of Ajewole deserves is that his killers are brought to justice and that Nigerians’ lives should matter to the Tinubu presidency

    He noted that “Prof. Ajewole’s gruesome murder again reminded us of how valueless human lives had become in our clime“.

    The ASUU chief maintained that “death lurks in all imaginable and unimaginable corners of this country and comes cheaply.

    “The Nigerian populace is constantly assailed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination, hunger, unemployment, and many more insidious exterminators of our individual and collective dreams.

    “The situation of the Nigerian academics is even doubly precarious; they are prophets without any honour at home,“ he said.

    Akinwole said that despite the immense contributions to national growth and development and recognition in the international circle, Nigerian academia is scorned and shabbily treated at home.

    “It is, therefore, disheartening that academics who cultivate, preserve, and disseminate knowledge for the advancement and development of the society will become victims of societal malady to such an extent as to be targeted for elimination.

    “The union wishes to use this teary occasion of Prof. Ajewole’s sudden death to call on the Nigerian state to resolutely tackle the problem of insecurity in the country, apprehend the killers of Prof. Ajewole and punish them most appropriately,“ the ASUU boss said.

  • Nigeria Air: HURIWA calls for Sirika’s arrest over alleged fraud

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest of the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over what it described as the “fraudulent” Nigeria Air.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday.

    HURIWA, a human rights advocacy group, said that the hurried unveiling of Nigeria Air by Sirika on May 26, the last official day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, was suspicious.

    The group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to swing into action and probe the former minister now that the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation had separately declared that the project was a fraud.

    “The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, told legislators on Tuesday that the aircraft paraded as Nigeria Air plane belonged to Ethiopian Airlines and not Nigeria, whereas Sirika paraded the aircraft as being owned by Nigeria.

    “This is a fraud of the highest order and the lawmakers have labeled it so, including the suspension of all activities regarding the sham called national carrier.

    “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must swing into action now that both the upper and lower chambers have declared the project as a fraud. The anti-graft agency must swiftly arrest, investigate and prosecute the ex-minister if found culpable.

    “There are a lot of questions that Sirika must be made to answer, including the whereabouts of the N85 billion splurged on the project.

    “In fact, aside that the so-called national carrier has not secured a single aircraft for its operations, it has also failed to secure Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) “, he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had in July 2018 unveiled the much-awaited new national carrier during the Farnborough Air Show in London.

    In eight years, the Buhari administration with Sirika as the arrowhead spent over N85 billion on Nigeria Air, as shown in data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Compilation of Budgetary Allocations between 2016 and 2023.

    At separate meetings with the Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee, Sen. Biodun Olujimi and the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, both agreed that the launch of Nigeria Air was a fraud.

    Olumide admitted that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.

    He said the aircraft returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling.

  • Messi heading for Inter Miami in MLS after PSG exit

    Lionel Messi has announced he is to join Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami.

    The 35-year-old Argentina forward and World Cup winner had been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, to join a league that already features Cristiano Ronaldo and now Karim Benzema.

    However, with Messi’s two-year contract at Paris St-Germain (PSG) coming to an end this month, the World Cup winner confirmed he was set to head to the U.S.

    “I made the decision that I am going to go to Miami,” Messi said.

    “I still haven’t closed it 100 percent. I’m missing some things, but we decided to continue on the path.”

    MLS franchise Miami are co-owned by former England captain David Beckham.

    The Florida side recently sacked Beckham’s former Manchester United and England team-mate Phil Neville as coach.

    They are currently bottom of the 15-team Eastern Conference, but remain a fiercely ambitious club.

    Messi had also been linked with a move back to his former club FC Barcelona.

    But he confirmed that when that was not set to go through, he opted for a fresh challenge in the U.S.

    “If the FC Barcelona thing didn’t work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more in my family,” he said.

    “I really wanted, I was very excited to be able to return (to FC Barcelona), but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again —– waiting to see what was going to happen.

    “I heard that they had to sell players or lower players’ salaries and the truth is that I didn’t want to go through that, nor take charge of obtaining something that had to do with all that.”

    PSG announced last week that Messi would be leaving and he had reportedly been offered a deal worth 400 million euros (343.5 million pounds) per year to move to Saudi Arabia.

    Messi revealed that while his heart may have been pushing him towards a return to the Nou Camp, it was a move which he was not totally in tune with.

    He felt it could have left him open to more issues down the line, having had to “walk the bullfight” at the end of his previous stay.

    “I also wanted to look for something else and a bit of peace of mind,” Messi said.

    “I had offers from other European clubs, but I didn’t even evaluate them because my idea was to go to FC Barcelona.

    “If the FC Barcelona thing didn’t come out, analysing it, then (I was) leaving European football and much more (doing so) after winning the World Cup, which was what I needed to close my career on this side.

    “Going to live in the U.S. in a different way and enjoying day-to-day much more, but with the same responsibility of wanting to win and always doing things well, but (now) with more peace of mind.”

    Messi had talked with FC Barcelona manager and close friend Xavi over a potential return, but said he “spoke very little, once or twice at most” with president Joan Laporta.

    “We were very excited, because when something came out we would discuss if he really wanted me to come back, if it was good for the team and for him, and we kept in communication,” Messi said.

    “We never even got to talk about the contract. A proposal was passed over, but never a formal, written, signed proposal, because there was still nothing and we did not know if it was going to be possible or not.

    “There was the intention, but we couldn’t advance anything, we didn’t even talk about money formally.

    “If it had been a matter of money I would have gone to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere. It seemed like a lot of money to me and the truth is that my decision was for the other side and not for money.”

    FC Barcelona issued a statement which claimed that the club had “presented” a proposal for Messi’s return which had been desired by both parties.

    The club added that they were later informed of the player’s decision to instead head to Miami.

    “President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subjected to in recent years,” the club statement read.

    “Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barca fans to honour a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barca.”

    On its part, MLS welcomed Messi’s decision.

    “We are pleased that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami and MLS this summer,” a statement from the organisation read.

    “Although work remains to finalise a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest football players of all time to our league.”

    In spite of not making a return to FC Barcelona as a player, Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, intends to eventually settle back in the city with his family.

    “Obviously I will like to be close to the club (in the future). What’s more, I’m going to live in FC Barcelona,” he said. “It is one of the things that we have very clear with my wife, my children.

    “Hopefully, I don’t know when, but one day I can contribute something to the club and help because it is a club that I love as I always said.

    “I appreciate the love I had from people during my career and I will like to be here again, yes.”

  • Speaker Crisis: Police seal-off Nasarawa Assembly Complex

    The police has sealed off the Nasarawa House of Assembly Complex, to avert a breakdown of law and order following the emergence of two speakers for the seventh assembly.


    DSP Ramhan Nansel, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said in a statement in Lafia.
    Nansel said that the action was due to a directive by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Maiyaki Mohammed-Baba.


    He said that the commissioner gave the directive after consultation with other security agencies in the state.
    The members-elect on Tuesday, June 6 held two parallel proceedings resulting in the emergence of two different speakers for the assembly.


    An unusually heavy security presence was noticed at the complex on Thursday morning.

  • Subsidy Removal: Governors back Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received the endorsement of his decisions to end fuel subsidy payments in the country and other early policy initiatives of the administration.

    The president received the support when he hosted members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, at the State House in Abuja.

    The governors expressed happiness with the president’s subsidy removal decision, all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.

    They congratulated Tinubu for tackling the fuel subsidy debacle, promising to work with him to ameliorate the short-term impact of the decision.

    Tinubu had earlier called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment is unacceptable.

    The president advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.

    “We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary, it is from the society.

    “Our position is to eliminate poverty, set aside partisan politics; we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,’’ he said.

    Tinubu stated that the country should be seen as one big family.

    “We are a family occupying one house, and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering on results,’’ he stressed.

    The president said that good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.

    “Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us.

    “We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,’’ he charged the governors.

    Tinubu assured them that he would maintain an open-door policy and was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions and create bottom-up frameworks that would improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

    “After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

    Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

    He also drew attention to the security problems in some states, urging the governors to put in all efforts to tackle insecurity.

    The president said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that would improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanize the economy, and put resources in place. We must think and perform.

    “After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,’’ he noted.

    Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and penury.

    AbdulRazaq promised the president that the governors would support the Federal Government in meeting the targets of human development.

    He thanked the president for the invitation to deliberate on the challenges of poverty and security, promising that the governors will support the federal government in meeting the targets of human development. 

  • Subsidy: Bolts drivers threaten 3-day nationwide strike

    Bolts drivers in Calabar have announced a three-day nationwide withdrawal of their services to demand an upward adjustment in both their bonus and fare.

    The drivers, operating under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria, announced the planned protest at a news briefing on Wednesday in Calabar.

    Mr Mike Neji, the Treasurer of the group and Chairman of the task force, set up to enforce the downtool, described the alleged treatment being metted to the union members by the management of the App-Based company as “unfair”.

    Neji said that the demand for an increase in the fare and their bonus was necessitated by the recent increase in the pump price of petrol and consequential rise in the price of spare parts.

    He described the terms and conditions given to bolt drivers in Calabar as the “most unfavourable in the country.

    “Calabar remained the most adversely affected locations as it concerns terms and conditions of driving and earnings compared to other places where the company is operating.

    “Due to the increase in the price of fuel, we can no longer meet up, we want the management to increase the fare to at least N1,000 as baseline.

    “They should also reduce the commission they collect from us drivers.

    “Currently, they are collecting about 35 per cent when you add other components of the charges they deduct.

    “We are being charged for a lot of things at a time the prices of fuel, engine oil and car maintenance generally have gone up.

    “In spite of the situation, the management is only adding N1000 or thereabout to the fare, which is not in any way commensurate with the reality on ground,” Nneji said.

    He said that the group might be compelled to look for an alternative, if the company did not meet its demand.