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Category: News

  • Birthday Registration: NYSC, NPC, UNICEF partner to document 12m children

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have partnered to register 12 million children in Nigeria.

    A joint statement by the three organisations on Wednesday in Abuja, said that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and support digitalised birth registration process in 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “This partnership aims to provide a robust framework within which the parties can implement a comprehensive and efficient digitalised birth registration process across Nigeria.

    “By leveraging their existing resources and facilities, the NYSC, NPC and UNICEF intend to benefit at least 12 million under-five eligible children who will be registered as primary beneficiaries.

    “Additionally, families, parents, caregivers, communities, households, state and local government areas (LGAs), and ward level administrators will be indirect beneficiaries of this collaboration.”

    The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said that the deployment of 850 corps members as coordinators and supervisors, spread across 22 states and the FCT will ensure effective monitoring and supervision of the birth registration process.

    “Together, we will strive to achieve comprehensive data collection and availability, supporting increased birth registration coverage in our respective LGAs,” said Ahmed.

    He also said that the scheme was honoured to join hands with the NPC and UNICEF in the vital initiative.

    Chairman of NPC, Mr Nasir Kwarra, said that the NPC, as a key partner, would play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the partnership.

    “We are committed to supporting the recruitment of ad hoc birth registrars at the ward levels and ensuring the availability of registration materials to coordinators and supervisors.

    “By distributing protocols, checklists, Frequently Asked Questions and informational materials, we aim to engage local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders and communities to promote the importance of birth registration.

    “Together, we will generate and analyse digitalised birth registration data at the LGAs and wards, ultimately increasing birth registration coverage,” he added.

    The UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristian Munduate, said that as a leading organisation in child welfare and development, it would bring its expertise to the table to support the digitalised birth registration services in focus states.

    She was quoted as saying that the UNICEF’s “primary focus will be on providing technical assistance and evidence-based interventions.

    “By integrating birth registration into routine health service delivery, conducting the digitalised birth registration process, and increasing awareness through state and community-level campaigns.

    “We aim to ensure that every child has access to and benefits from the essential health and birth registration interventions they deserve.”

    The statement said that through the partnership, the three organisations would be committed to promoting the importance of birth registration within the NYSC programmes and stimulating increased demand for birth registration services in health facilities and at the community level.

    The collaboration is also expected to foster constructive engagement with local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders, leveraging their support to enhance the digitalised birth registration process.

    Between 2018 and 2022, UNICEF facilitated birth registration for 7.4 million children under the age of five and by 2027, it expects to increase the number to 83 million.

  • Fuel marketers declare support for subsidy removal

    *Pledge 100 mass transit buses

    The Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) on Wednesday in Abuja pledged its support for Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

    The association’s chairperson, Dame Winifred Akpani, made the disclosure at the end of a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

    She said the association would also support government’s palliative measures by providing between 50 and 100 mass transit buses.

    Akpani said the buses would be locally-manufactured and would use Compressed Natural Gas as fuel.

    “We pledge our support for President Tinubu in the bold decision of removing petrol subsidy. It is an idea that was long overdue.

    “Removal of subsidy is not about making fuel costly and taking it out of the reach of Nigerians. It is about getting it right on the real issue of petroleum product subsidy.

    “Who are those enjoying the subsidy? The subsidy ends up being enjoyed by those it was not meant for.

    “We also spoke to the president about substitutes to petrol as well as creating an environment conducive for investments to thrive in the oil sector,’’ she said.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who led the DAPPMAN delegation, described the subsidy removal as a bold step that portended positive growth for the economy

    He said fuel subsidy withdrawal was a clear indication of Tinubu’s readiness to address the challenges of the oil and gas sector.

    “Subsidy has become a N4 trillion per annum issue and its removal will release more funds for economic development.

    “Subsidy removal will unleash the potential of Nigeria because it will open up a lot of resources for the development of other sectors of the economy.

    “The National Economic Council will soon begin sitting to propose interventions on the subsidy removal.

    “The interventions will definitely be long-lasting solution to the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians,’’ Abiodun said.

  • Senate moves valedictory session to June 10

    Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday,  announced that the Senate has rescheduled its valedictory session from Thursday, June 8 to  Saturday, June 10.

    Lawan had announced on Tuesday at plenary  that the senate would hold its valedictory session on Thursday.

    The senate president, however, told members of the senate Press Corps that the shift in the date was due to a scheduled meeting of President Bola Tinubu with the lawmakers of the incoming 10th National Assembly on Thursday.

    “By the grace of God, we will still hold plenary tomorrow (Thursday) and then our valedictory session will be on Saturday.

    “It is because tomorrow, the  President will be meeting with the senators-elect and members-elect at 2p.m.

    “We believe that a session as significant, important,   historical and memorable as valedictory session of the senate requires a whole day. Not one, two, three hours. And therefore,  we pushed it to Saturday,” Lawan said.

    The Ninth senate would officially end its four-year tenure on  June 11.

    Lawan also hinted that the 10th senate would be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13.

  • Man docked for stealing speaker from Mosque

    Man docked for stealing speaker from Mosque

    3[]li=- A 20-year-old man, Halifa Sani, was on Wednesday docked in a Kano Sharia Court in Kano for allegedly stealing a speaker and cable from a Mosque worth N70,000.

    Sani, who lives in Gadon Kaya, Kano is charged with theft.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Abdullahi Wada, told the court that the case was reported on June 2, at the Gwale police station by Malam Nura Muhammed, who is also the complainant.

    Wada said the defendant stole the speaker, property of Usman Ibn-Affan mosque worth N50,000 and a cable worth N20,000.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Judge, Malam Umar Lawal-Abubakar, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10,000 with one surety who should be a blood relation.

    Lawal-Abubakar adjourned the matter until June 22, for mention.

  • NITDA debunks dubious President Tinubu’s N50,000 grant scheme

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has dismissed a viral grant scheme being circulated on social media as ‘President Bola Tinubu’s N50,000 Cash Grant’ to Nigerians.

    This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA.

    Umar, who cautioned Nigerians about the scheme, said that the website associated with the grant was a phishing website designed to mislead unsuspecting citizens.

    According to her, NITDA-Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (NITDA-CERRT) hereby wish to advise the public to avoid clicking on unknown links.

    “The website ‘https://thryt.com/50k-CashGrants, is a phishing website that tends to lure users into divulging their personal information, such as full names, phone number, home address, email address and bank account details, such as name of bank and account number.

    “Avoid clicking on this website and other similar websites, which can lead to divulging personal information in order not to fall prey to cyber criminals.”

    She explained that government would always communicate such information via the appropriate agency supervising such programmes, should there be any.

    Umar advised the public to contact the agency’s CERRT on email via cerrt@nitda.gov. ng, phone number- +234 817 877 4580, web address- www.cerrt.ng.

  • NEMA receives 108 more stranded Nigerians from Libya

    No fewer than 108 Nigerians who have been stranded in Tripoli, Libya, have been received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    This is contained in a statement by the agency on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, NEMA who officially received the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, said that the returnees comprise 52 males 46 females, four male children, two female children, and five infants.

    Ahmed who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Office Coordinator, said that the returnees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Cargo Wing, Ikeja, late Tuesday evening.

    He said that they came in on board an Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG.

    The D-G said the government was committed to improving the economy and making it beneficial to everyone.

    He assured that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration would focus on youth empowerment, with a view to incorporating their energy and technological skills into developing the country.

    “The President would evolve a policy that will see youths and women actively participating in the implementation.

    “The youths will be the driving force of all decisions in the present administration because of the importance that the leadership of this nation has placed on tapping the potentials which abound in the largest segment of the population,” Ahmed said.

    The International Organisation for Migration, with the support of international partners, has been assisting Nigerians stranded in Libya to return home since 2017.

  • Pope Francis to undergo urgent hernia operation

    Pope Francis to undergo urgent hernia operation

    Pope Francis, 86, must undergo an urgent operation on Wednesday afternoon to repair a hernia in his abdominal area and will be hospitalised for “several days,” the Holy See announced.

    The operation will be performed under general anaesthetic in a procedure which involves an incision in the abdominal cavity.

    Reports from a 2021 surgery for a bowel condition said he did not tolerate general anaesthetic well.

    Francis’ medical team decided in the past few days that the pontiff needed the operation.

    He had already arrived at the hospital by midday (1000 GMT).

    The Vatican statement said Francis had been experiencing recurring pain.

    The pope spent several hours at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for what the Vatican said was a check-up.

    His procedure, known as laparocele in medical terminology, will be performed there.

    In 2021, the pontiff, who is from Argentina, was operated on under general anaesthetic for a bowel condition called diverticulitis.

    Part of his colon was removed and he spent 10 days in hospital.

  • Nigeria Air project tarnishing our image, Reps tell Tinubu

    *Asks President to stop further action on the project

    The House of Representatives has said that the Nigeria Air project is highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy, and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community.

    They further urged President Bola Tinubu to constitute a high-level Presidential committee to undertake a holistic review of the processes of the Nigeria Air project.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nnolim Nnaji, said this in Abuja after careful evaluation of the issues of Nigeria Air.

    He said the committee was totally dissatisfied with the actions of the former Minister of Aviation, in going ahead to flag-off the operations of Nigeria Air in spite of a standing court injunction against such.

    He said this was also without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline.

    He said a careful review of the process indicated the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy, and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community.

    ”We want to put on record, that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof.

    “While the committee and indeed the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria, as a nation.”

    He however said that such a process should be transparent and all-embracing, adding that the committee would not accept any attempt by any individual or group to hide under the project and siphon the commonwealths of the country.

    The committee, therefore, directs the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flight operations and every other action with respect to Nigeria Air.

    The committee also advised the Federal Ministry of Aviation with its agency, the NCAA to designate some Nigerian Indigenous Airlines as Flight Carriers, to take advantage of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA).

    The agreement was said to have been entered by Nigeria, pending when a viable National Carrier comes on board.

    “In conclusion, looking at the total amount required to fully start the airline which is put at 250,000,000 dollars.

    “The Nigerian government and its citizenry can raise these funds without necessarily subjecting itself to the ridicule we have been exposed to by this recent episode,” he said. 

  • Guber Polls: INEC releases final candidates’ list for Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi.
    Those listed for Bayelsa poll included Gov. Diri Duoye (PDP), Chief Sylva Timipre (APC), Mr. Eradiri Udengmobofa (LP), Mr. Osuluku Binalatefa (SDP) and Mrs. Ogege Mercy (APP).
    The candidates for Kogi were Mr. Leke Abejide (ADC), Mr. Dino Melaye (PDP), Malam Ahmed Ododo (APC), and Mrs. Suleiman Fati (ZLP).
    Those listed for the Imo poll included Gov. Hope Uzodinmma (APC), Mr. Ayanwu Samuel (PDP), Mr. Odunzeh Ben (NNPP), and Mr. Achony Nneji (LP).
    Mr. Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Information and Voter Education Committee said in a statement in Abuja that the list was approved by the commission at its regular meeting on Tuesday.
    Okoye said that the decision was in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    He said that the section required the publication of the list not later than 150 days before Election Day which is Friday, June 9, following the period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.

    “The final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

    “Same will be published in our State and Local Government offices in the affected States on Thursday, June 8 ahead of the statutory deadline of June 9,” Okoye said.

    The list showed that all 18 political parties fielded candidates for the Kogi poll, while 17 parties fielded candidates for Imo and 16 parties in Bayelsa.

    The list also showed that two political parties fielded female candidates for the Bayelsa poll, while only one party fielded a female candidate for the Kogi poll.

    Okoye reminded political parties and their candidates that in line with the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, campaign in public would officially commence on Wednesday, June 14 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on Nov. 9 i.e. 24 hours prior to election day.
    “We urge parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election.

    “Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension, ahead of the election,” Okoye said.

  • NLC rejects National Industrial Court ruling against workers

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) of favouring the Federal Government against the interest of the masses and workers in the country.

    Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this in a communique jointly signed with Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the Congress at the end of an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    It said that the NEC meeting was called to discuss the outcome of the dialogue between the NLC and the Federal Government on the petroleum product price hike.

    NLC had on June 3 ordered a nationwide strike that was supposed to commence on June 7 over the hike in fuel price.

    It would also be recalled that the federal government had procured a Court injunction restraining Congress from proceeding with the proposed nationwide strike.

    The NLC said NEC in session resolved that there was need to show government that it was important to comply with laid down laws and court rulings.

    “Especially as it concerns obedience to the rulings of the Courts and their brazen disregard to the 2023 Appropriation Act.

    “To therefore support and accept the decision of the leadership of Congress to suspend the proposed strike action in compliance with the flawed rulings of the NIC.

    “Also to allow negotiations to flow freely and enable final agreement during or after the 19th June, 2023, negotiation round with the federal government.

    “To however register in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the NIC for its continuous weaponisation of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of government.

    “That is against the interests of Nigerian workers in defiance of the position of the Supreme Court on the use of this instrument,” it said.

    Congress further stated that all Affiliates and State Councils of Congress are hereby directed to suspend further action and mobilisation until the outcome of the final negotiations.

    The communiqué commended all Affiliates and State Councils on their robust mobilisation towards a successful nationwide strike and to also remain vigilant in case there is a need to continue.