The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Anambra man develops App to fight Internet fraud

    Worried by rising cases of fraudulent transaction on the internet, a former medical student, Mr Chinonso Okoye from Anambra State has designed an internet application known as ‘The Middle’.

    Okoye, a software developer, said his decision to build the application was informed by series of complaints by those making purchases on the internet without their goods being delivered.

    Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Awka, Okoye said he was once a medical student of University of Calabar, Cross River State before abandoning the programme to pursue a career in the Information Communication Technology (ICT).

    He described online shops as the easiest means of defrauding people on the internet, regretting that the trend had now posed a challenge to genuine online store operators.

    He said, “This is mostly very rampant on Instagram (a social media platform), where fraudulent people now open online shops to advertise goods, and once they get buyers who make financial transfers to them, they close the account and open another.

    Read Also: Two jailed for internet fraud in Ibadan

    ‘With an App like – The Middle, you can successfully transfer money to an online shop owner, and he will be unable to withdraw the money until you have clicked the certify button, after your goods have been delivered to you.

    “I built this app to curb cases of fraud, both on the side of the seller, and on the side of the buyer who may get the goods and refuse to certify the payment.

    “In cases like this, the app simply pays the online shop owner after waiting for three days for the buyer to certify the transaction.”

    Okoye cited several ugly experiences he has had with shop owners on Instagram, expressing optimism that the app would go a long way to reducing such cases.

    He continued, “I was surfing the internet just yesterday, and I say an online shop that advertised very beautiful male underwear at cheap prices, I decided to check who the owner was, and found out it was a girl who had complained to me that she was defrauded of N80,000 by an online shop owner.

    “I put a call across to her and asked when she started the business; do you know what she said? She told me she wanted to use it to retaliate what was done to her, and they are many of them like that, but with The Middle, you will never be scammed.”

  • AbdulRazaq reinstates salary of Kwara ‘sunset workers’

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reinstated the payment of salary to workers employed in the twilight of the last administration.

    “The Governor has directed that the workers be paid their May and June salary. As a statesman and father to all, His Excellency believes the government should not punish these workers for decisions they didn’t take,” Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The workers are popularly known as ‘sunset workers’, with most governors often disengaging them for fear that they had been engaged to wrong foot the new administration. Former Governor Bukola Saraki sacked all the workers his predecessors had engaged in 2003.

    “This Governor dares to be different. He has shown good will and magnanimity to all. It is expected that the affected workers will do their part by serving the state diligently,” according to the statement.

    Read Also: AbdulRazaq approves N232m for nutrition, primary health care

    AbdulRazaq has also approved the sums of N100m gratuity to demonstrate his commitment to the welfare of retirees, the statement added.

    The last administration had in the twilight of its reign recruited hundreds of workers into the civil service, including teachers and ministry workers.

    The recruitment triggered allegations that the beneficiaries were mainly members of the People’s Democratic Party in the state and that the due process was not followed in engaging them.

    “The Governor’s action is another practical demonstration of his pledge to never victimise anyone for their perceived affiliations. He has therefore resolved to restore their salary,” Ajakaye said.

    AbdulRazaq, meanwhile, continued his tour of government facilities in the state on Wednesday, with visits to some markets in the Ilorin metropolis where he pledged to give them basic amenities like water, access roads and solar-powered electricity.

  • Breaking: Buhari, Edo Royal fathers meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed door with Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The delegation was led by the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II

    The meeting started around 3:04pm in the Council Chamber.

    It was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

    Details shortly…

  • BBNaija 4: Isilomoh seeks alliance with fellow housemate, Ella

    Isilomoh Braimoh a housemate in the ongoing BBNaija season 4 reality show proposed a strategic alliance with fellow housemate, Ella.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Isilomoh told Ella that they needed to stick together and not nominate each other during the course of the show.

    She said this while comforting Ella who took time to share her life struggles before the show, especially her relationship with her parents.

    Ella and Isilomo were in the Head of House room when she started talking about her musical journey.

    Read Also: BBNaija season 4 begins with 21 housemates

    She also talked about how her father didn’t support her and wanted her to get married young. She also said that her mother was her rock and support system.

    It became emotional when she started talking about her mom and tears started flowing while she found a shoulder to cry on in Isilomo.

    During the conversation, Isilomo comforted Ella when she cried about how much she missed her mother these past few days.

    NAN reports that as the conversation was ongoing, Isilomo saw made her alliance strategy known to Ella.

    She said, “We need each other to get to the finish line so I would like you not to nominate me sometime”.

    Ella pointed out that housemates were not allowed to form alliances and did not give Isilomo a concrete answer.

    NAN reports that as the show enters the third day, Isilomo and Ella are among housemates that have formed pairings as the 21 participants continue to battle for prizes worth 60 million Naira.

  • Breaking: Fed Govt releases admission list into unity schools

    The Federal Government has released admission list of successful candidates into the Federal Colleges for the 2019/2020 academic year.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono disclosed this in a statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The permanent secretary said that provisional admission into JSS1 into the unity schools were on the notice boards in the colleges and their websites.

    He also said the admission list was available online at: http://www.neco.gov.ng  or at the ministry’s website on: www.education.gov.ng.

    Echono said that students who have been offered provisional admission have two weeks after the release of the results to accept the offer, noting that they will be replaced by other candidates if they fail to do so.
    Details shortly…

  • Adeyeye is Senate Media Committee chairman

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday named the senator representing Ekiti South, Adedayo Adeyeye, the Chairman of Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs.

    Lawan said the committee would function and interface until a standing committee is constituted.

    Other members of the committee are: Senators Aishatu Dahiru, Uba Sani, Abba Moro, Ifeanyi Ubah and Betty Okagua-Apiafi.

    Read Also: Just in: Adeyeye is Senate spokesman

    Before he defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adeyeye was the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    With the constitution of the Selection Committee, it is expected that chairmen and members of the standing committees of the Upper Chamber would soon announced.

     

  • Reps condemn alleged assault of sales girl by Sen. Abbo

    The House of Representatives has condemned the alleged assault on a sales girl by a member of the Senate, Sen. Elisha Abbo (PDP-Adamawa).

    This followed a matter of Privilege by Rep. Beni Lar (APC-Plateau) at the plenary on Wednesday.

    In a CCTV video trending on the social media, the embattled senator was seen slapping the lady in a sex toy shop in Abuja.

    Lar said that it was heartbreaking to see a lady being beaten up in that manner and a lawmaker should not be seen indulging in such an act.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Senate wades into alleged assault of lady by Senator Abbo

    According to her, even if she is your wife, you are not supposed to beat a lady like that in public or elsewhere and I call on the house to condemn the act in its entirety.

    In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said that every right thinking Nigerian should condemn such act.

    “We condemn it in its entirety and I believe the Senate will deal with the matter but if not, we shall step in,” he said. (NAN)

  • Ohanaeze rejects Ruga settlements in Igboland

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo has rejected the proposed Federal government Ruga settlement and warned it to steer clear of Igboland in that regard.

    The apex Igbo organisation also urged South East governors to stick to their earlier rejection of the scheme.

    It further warned traditional rulers, town union presidents, communities and individuals in the South East to be wary of lures, overtures and mouthwatering offers intended to induce them part with their land in the guise of industrial ventures.

    In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday by President General of the organisation, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the organisation declared: “The attempt by the Federal Government to foist RUGA settlements on the country has met stiff resistance from some states.

    “Consequently, the protagonists of the scheme are now said to be trying to use clandestine moves to surreptitiously bring it into dissenting states through the back door.”

    Read Also: Breaking: FG suspends Ruga settlements project

    The body added: “The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, was quoted to have said because of misconceptions and opposition to the scheme, the Federal Government would no longer announce the states that enter into agreement for its establishment in their states, thereby suggesting that some states are secretly entering into an understanding with the Federal Government to establish the RUGA scheme in them.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide once more restates its objection to the RUGA scheme in Igboland and urges the South East State Governments to stick to their earlier decision to reject the scheme.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo also warns traditional rulers, town union presidents, communities and individuals in the South East to be wary of lures, overtures and mouthwatering offers intended to induce them to part with their land ostensibly for industrial ventures but disguised approaches to obtain land for RUGA settlements.

    “Ohanaeze further warns that Ndigbo will not forgive any government, community or individual that falls into this trap and will collectively resist any such move.”

  • NASS most porous parliament in the world, says Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the Nigeria’s National Assembly (NASS) “as the most porous parliament in the world.”

    Gbajabiamila made the remark at the Wednesday’s plenary while responding to a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Rep. Dederi Isa (APC-Nano) in Abuja.

    He stressed that the dignity of the National Assembly and its surroundings cannot be compromised.

    The speaker said it is worrisome the way and manner people gain access into the complex unchecked.

    He, however, assured that efforts are ongoing to checkmate the ugly trend as a Committee on Internal Security of the House would be constituted to address the issue.

    ”The issue of the porousness of the chamber is a nagging issue. This is the most porous parliament I have ever seen in the world.

    ”So we are making effort to ensure the internal security here and that is why we are having a new Committee on Internal Security of the House in place to address the issue.

    ”The dignity of this place starts from the gate, not just the chamber,” he said.

    Earlier, Isa, who represents Karaye/Rogo Federal Constituency, had raised a motion, expressing displeasure over difficulties being faced by lawmakers in gaining access into the assembly complex through the gate.

    Citing a section in the House Standing Rules which says ”a member of the legislature shall not be obstructed or hindered from gaining access into the legislative house,” he said it is time such act is nipped in the bud.

    ”Similarly, when you are going out, you face the same challenge. This should be addressed,” he said.

    The lawmaker, though acknowledged that the speaker is doing his best to strike a balance among members, complained that his attention is often on some members when motions were being taken.

    ”Mr Speaker, we know you are doing your best to be fair to all but sometimes, your attention focuses more on the central side than our side.

    ”Yesterday, several members and I raised our hands to make contributions but you did not look our side. I want this to be addressed and as members, we should be treated equally,” he said.

    Responding, Gbajabiamila assured lawmakers that under his watch, the leadership of the lower chamber would always uphold the principle of fairness and equity as its watchword in dealing with members.

    ”I have always assured that in this House, equity and fairness is our watchword.

    ”According to the rules here, we move from one aisle to the next aisle to maintain an order while taking contributions. We don’t pick anyhow and once we passed an aisle, the chance that we are not going to come back is high,” he explained.

    (NAN)

  • Just in: Osinbajo, governors meet in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met behind closed doors with some state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting, according to sources, may not be unconnected with the controversy trailing establishment of Ruga settlements across the country.

    Those at the meeting included governors of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Plateau, Simon Lalong, Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa state, Martins Nasir.

    The Presidency through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu had recently said that the Ruga settlements across the 36 states of the federation was aimed at bringing lasting solutions to the farmers/herders clashes and also to create jobs.

    Read Also: Buhari commissions state-of-the-art Yemi Osinbajo Primary School

    While it was alleged that the office of the Vice President was directly supervising the Ruga project, Osinbajo, through his spokesman, Laolu Akande denied having any knowledge of the project.

    Debunking the insinuation that the Vice President is the brain behind the ruga settlements, Akande said, “The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 is a programme to be implemented in seven pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara (as decided by NEC in January), being States in the frontlines of the Farmer-Herder crises. Afterwards, six other States have indicated readiness to also implement the plan. They are Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, and Edo states.

    “The plan has six pillars through which it aims to transform the livestock production system in Nigeria along market oriented value chain while ensuring an atmosphere of peace and justice.

    “The six key pillars include: economic investment, conflict resolution, justice and peace, humanitarian relief and early recovery, human capital development and cross-cutting issues such as gender, youth, research and information and strategic communication.”

    The National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by State governors under the National Economic Council, NEC, is chaired by the Vice President.

    NEC had on January 17, 2019, approved the plan based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee of the Council chaired by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.