The Plateau State Correctional Service Jos is under heavy attack by suspected bandits.
The Nation reports the bandits are shooting heavily, sending residents into panic.
Read Also: ‘How bandits killed our husbands, made us widows’
The Jos correctional is located very close to the Police Headquarters axis.
Detail shortly…
Gunmen suspected to be sea pirates on Sunday launched a multiple ambush on some workers with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Okoroma and Ogbokiri-Akassa communities of Nembe and Brass local government areas of Bayelsa State.
The sea pirates reportedly shot dead two Agip workers and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The driver of their boat, an indigene of Okoroma community, was also feared killed as he has been declared missing by the locals.
In the ambush that occurred at Ogbokiri-Akassa in Brass LGA, six oil workers, who were carrying out maintenance job close to their platform, were reportedly abducted and whisked away.
The Agip oil workers and their security personnel were attacked while working close to a manifold in Bayelsa.
Spokesman for the NSCDC, Bayelsa Command, Ogbere Solomon, confirmed the incident.
He said only one personnel of the command died in the ambush while two others who were missing had been found and were receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Solomon said: “Yes, our officers were ambushed and attacked by some sea pirates while on their lawful duty of providing protection to some Agip oil workers close to Obama manifold in Okoroma community of Nembe LGA.
“One personnel was killed while the other two that were missing have been found and are responding to treatment.”
The Youth President of the Okoroma Clan, Comrade Tarinyu Joseph, also confirmed the incident.
He said the indigenes of the community had mobilised and recovered the corpses of those killed and had taken those injured to the hospital.
He also confirmed that the boat driver, who he identified as his brother, was still missing.
While some indigenes of the Okoroma community blamed the oil company for being insensitive to issues of security of the lives of the oil workers, they claimed the company had refused to hire gunboats to protect oil workers while on official assignment along the waterways and creeks of the State.
Some community members blamed the rise in sea pirates’ attacks and ambush on the refusal of the indigenous security surveillance contractor’s refusal to pay the youths working with his company.
They also claimed that the unnamed contractor had allegedly refused to pay the NSCDC personnel attached to the company for the last eight months.
It was gathered that the unidentified gunmen had vowed to continue terrorising the waterways and creeks of Bayelsa until outstanding payments due them were paid by relevant security companies working with the oil major.
Already, indigenes of Nembe and Brass communities have started raising awareness and warning fellow indigenes of the danger of travelling home amid the rising insecurity.
An indigene of Okoroma, who spoke in confidence, warned: “I will advise that Nembe to Twon or Nembe to Okpoama is becoming preferable or they better follow the local boats from Nembe.”
The Federal government has directed civil servants from Grade Level 12 and below to resume work effective Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
The Nation reports federal civil service workers from Grade Level 12 and below had been working from home following a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country.
In the now-viral circular seen by The Nation, the directive, signed by the Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, noted that beginning December 1, all Federal Government workers are requested “to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours.”
“It will be recalled that as part of the measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Officers on GL 12 and below were directed to work from home. Following the advice of the PSC on COVID-19, this category of officers are expected to resume duties on Wednesday, 1st December 2021,” the circular reads in part
Recall that the chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had earlier announced that beginning December 1, 2021 all Federal Government employees will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative PCR result to gain access to their offices.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new COVID-19 variant called the B.1.1.529 named Omicron, which was first reported in South Africa.
Noting that the new variant has been associated with recent increased infections in South Africa, the global body added that the variant is also associated with an increased risk of reinfection compared to other Variants of Concern (VoC). It therefore urged countries to ramp up efforts in surveillance, diagnosis, sequencing, and public health and social measures.
“This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VoCs. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa. Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant.
“Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage,” it stated.
Furthermore, WHO has also urged the Federal Government to continue to sustain and scale up COVID-19 interventions, even as many countries in the regions of the Americas, Europe, and South-East Asia, continue to experience a fourth wave of the pandemic, with increasing cases.
It noted that while Europe continues to drive the upsurge of cases globally, Africa and specifically Nigeria, continues to report low cases of the disease.
The WHO Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Lead, Dr Geoffrey Namara, made this known in Nasarawa, during the 5th Annual Conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), with theme: “Improving confidence in COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria beyond 2022, the role of the media.”
He noted that COVID-19 vaccination coverage is still low compared to the government’s target to vaccinate 70 per cent of the population by next year. He therefore urged the media to use their platforms to encourage Nigerians to get vaccinated.
“Europe is driving the upsurge of COVID-19 cases globally. As countries continue to experience a surge in cases, Nigeria is experiencing low numbers. Nigeria should therefore sustain whatever it is doing because the cases are reducing.
“In terms of COVID-19 VACCINATION coverage, 6.11 million Nigerians have received the first dose. 3.41 million eligible Nigerians have received a second dose. Of the vaccines received, 2.04 million were AstraZeneca, 1.15 million were Moderna. We need to put in efforts to scale up COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO), has postponed a major conference that was to be held next week in Geneva after governments around the world imposed travel restrictions due to a new and particularly transmissible variant of COVID-19.
The EU Trade Ministers’ Consultations on the Ministerial Conference of the WTO has been postponed indefinitely, the WTO said on Friday night, after countries, including Switzerland, suspended passenger flights from seven southern African countries to contain the potentially more dangerous coronavirus strain.
Trade ministers had planned to negotiate on several pressing issues including relaxing vaccine patents, eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies and WTO reforms, as of Tuesday.
The conference was set to run until Dec. 3.
The delay is the second time the meeting has been postponed because of the pandemic, as it was originally scheduled for June 2020.
“It is better to err on the side of caution,’’ said WTO Director-General. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The conference was planned as a hybrid event, with attendees able to come to Geneva, or join online.
Many still wanted to attend in person and would have been disadvantaged by the new restrictions, Okonjo-Iweala said.
Concerns over COVID-19 variant trigger more travel curbs on southern Africa
Australia and several other countries joined nations imposing restrictions on travel from Southern Africa on Saturday after the discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus (COVID-19) variant sparked global concern and triggered a market sell-off.
The omicron variant – believed to be more contagious than previous variants of the disease – was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong.
It could take weeks for scientists to fully understand the variant’s mutations and whether existing vaccines and treatments are effective against it.
Omicron is the fifth variant of concern designated by the World Health Organisation.
Although epidemiologists say travel curbs may be too late to stop Omicron from circulating globally, a string of countries including the United States, Brazil, Canada, and European Union nations announced travel bans or restrictions from southern Africa on Friday.
On Saturday, Australia said it would ban non-citizens who have been in nine southern African countries from entering and will require supervised 14-day quarantines for Australian citizens and their dependents returning from there.
Japan said it would extend its tightened border controls to three more African countries after imposing curbs on travel from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Lesotho on Friday.
Sri Lanka, Thailand and Oman also announced travel curbs on southern African nations.
In Britain, the main opposition Labor Party called on Saturday for a faster booster vaccination program, saying the gap between the second dose of a vaccination and the booster jab should be cut from six to five months.
“This new variant is a wake-up call,” said Labor’s junior health spokesman Alex Norris.
“The pandemic is not over. We need to urgently bolster our defenses to keep the virus at bay,” Norris added.
South Africa said on Saturday it was being punished for its advanced ability to detect new Coronavirus (COVID-19) variants early.
South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said this in a statement.
The allegation is coming as travel bans and restrictions imposed because of the new Omicron variant threaten to harm tourism and other sectors of the country’s economy.
South Africa has some of the world’s top epidemiologists and scientists, who have managed to detect emerging coronavirus variants and their mutations early on in their life cycle.
The Omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong.
“This latest round of travel bans is akin to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants quicker,” the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said.
“Excellent science should be applauded and not punished,” the ministry said.
Many nations rushed on Friday and Saturday to announce travel curbs to South Africa and other countries in the region.
The foreign ministry noted that while the new variant was also detected in other countries, the global reaction to those countries have been “starkly different” to cases in southern Africa.
The new variant was first announced on Wednesday by a team of scientists in South Africa who said they had detected a variant that could possibly evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible.
The foreign ministry noted that while the new variant was also detected in other countries, the global reaction to those countries have been “starkly different” to cases in southern Africa.
The new variant was first announced on Wednesday by a team of scientists in South Africa who said they had detected a variant that could possibly evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible.
On Friday the World Health Organisation named it Omicron and designated it as a “variant of concern” – its most serious level – saying preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of re-infection. read more
“Our immediate concern is the damage that these restrictions are causing to families, the travel and tourism industries and business,” South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said in the statement.
The government was engaging with countries that have imposed travel bans to persuade them to reconsider, it added.
On Friday, the World Health Organisation cautioned countries against hastily imposing travel restrictions linked to the variant, saying they should take a “risk-based and scientific approach.”
Britain on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, both linked to travel from southern Africa, and expanded travel restrictions on the region.
“After overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that two cases of Covid-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 (Omicron) have been identified in the UK,” a government statement said.
“The two cases are linked and there is a link to travel to southern Africa,” it said.
One case was detected in the central English city of Nottingham, and the other in Chelmsford east of London, officials said.
“We have moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is ongoing,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.
He added that the government was placing another four African countries on its travel “red list” — Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola — effective from 4:00 am today (Sunday).
Nigerians should brace up for tough economic challenges next year as a fallout of the impeding removal of fuel subsidy , experts have warned.
Such challenges will include a sharp rise in the cost of living, accommodation rents, transportation,food,services and loss of jobs.
A Faculty Member at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Austin Nweze , says the subsidy removal will expose Nigerians to a lot of suffering.
“The policy they are making will make Nigerians suffer a lot. The coming year will be tough, Nigerians need to bear that in mind,” Nweze who also heads Centre for Applied Economics, Pan African University, Lagos said.
He added: “food inflation will be up to 1,000 per cent. If you add increase in transportation, electricity and many others, what that tells you is times would be really hard for Nigerians.”
He objected to the idea of fuel subsidy removal, saying: “I have always said that fuel subsidy is fueled by corruption. The people benefitting from the status quo will fight back.
“What led to the Federal Government subsidising fuel? Does the circumstance that made that possible still exist? If yes, how can it be solved? How long will it take to resolve this issue?”
He argued that until these issues are addressed, removing fuel subsidy is not a good idea.
Continuing, he said: “If the issue is refinery, are there refineries now in place? If the government truly wants to deal with the fuel situation, it should find a way to democratise the industry. Even those accused of illegal oil bunkering should be encouraged in such a way that they can produce.
“What is responsible for the huge cost of subsidy is the logistics involved in the transportation of fuel to other parts of the country.
“What adds to the cost of fuel is that all imports land in Lagos which is not supposed to be. I remember some years ago, we did a survey of the cost of subsidy and discovered that the government spends about N7billiion on a weekly basis just to transport fuel from Lagos to other parts of the country, especially the northern parts.
”I’m very sure that fuel will be selling for N500 for a litre because the cost of logistics across the state would increase in terms of transportation because some greedy mercantilists will take advantage of the situation. The government is not dealing with the real issue at stake.”
A consultant to the Economic Community of West African States Common Investment Market, Prof. Jonathan Aremu, said what government ought to do is to subsidise production of fuel rather than its consumption.
“While admitting that it is the fundamental responsibility of the government to cater for the welfare of the citizenry, it should be seen to be doing so without it putting more hardship on the people which the subsidy removal will lead to,” Aremu said.
He wondered whether government ”is aware of how the economy will be managed as a result of this policy?”
The professor of international economic relations at Covenant University,Otta ,Ogun State, said: “Price of everything will jump up.Many people still rely on generators and depend on fuel to do a lot of things. So, how would such people cope under the circumstance?
“I think there is need to look at other alternatives because the problem will be much. It is not that subsidy removal is bad on its own but doing so now with all the suffering Nigerians are daily confronting would make it even difficult for the people to adjust.
“The exchange rate is not quite what it should be right now. There are a lot of other things we should be subsidising but the government chose to focus only on fuel which in itself is bad. “ If we don’t have alternatives then subsidy removal is not welcomed.”
Professor Uche Uwaleke of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said the planned removal of fuel subsidy will trigger a rise in the price of goods and services and worsen poverty in the country.
He told The Nation that the subsidy removal, in the short run, “will result in higher costs of goods and services and worsening of poverty.”
High inflation rates, according to him, will “erode the value of the naira which may lead to preference for hard currencies such as the dollar with the attendant pressure on the exchange rate.”
He said: “Given the current stance of labour unions, fuel subsidy removal is likely to trigger demand for higher wages.”
He agreed that although fuel subsidies have “become a drain on government’s dwindling revenue,” only the rich have been profiting from the system which has become an avenue for massive corruption.”
He asked government to “be ready to come up with compensation schemes to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on the Nigerian masses.”.
On the planned cash transfer of N5,000 monthly to 40 million poor Nigerians to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal, Prof. Uwaleke noted that it ”does not appear to be an effective way of dealing with the challenge.”
Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Iafsanjani, dismissed the plan as anti-people.
His words: “It is one of the most anti-people policies of the government.
“The government has been wasting taxpayers’ money in the name of repairing refineries.
“The government, way back in 2015, promised that all the four refineries would be put into maximum use. Today as I speak to you, none of the refineries is working and they keep on spending public money.
“Just recently, about how many billions were taken in the name of repairing the Port Harcourt refinery. This is a refinery that the government is considering selling. If they are selling it, why are they wasting so much money repairing it? They use public tax payers’ money to repair it and sell it to themselves. This is the allegation that people are making now.
“I think this policy is not meant to help the poor people.
“ Look at the contradiction. Because the election is approaching, you say you are going to be paying N5, 000 which is not backed by any budgetary allocation and it is illegal to use public money without appropriation.
“ If you are spending N5, 000 on an average Nigerian, the total money you said you are going to give to 40 million Nigerians, when you calculate you will see that the government is actually going to spend more money as opposed to the current subsidy that they are doing.
“ The calculation has been done and a lot of people are wondering if there are people who are serious in government. How can you spend more than N1trillion in 2021 on subsidy and you want to spend over N2 trillion in 2022 in the name of providing N5, 000 to 40 million Nigerians which one is bigger?”
He added: “The people in government are not thinking. This is what we have been telling the Buhari administration that he needs to have a competent economic management team in place because when you calculate this money, if you are going to be paying N5, 000 to 40 million Nigerians every month, you are going to be spending N200 billion. If you multiply this by 12 it will give you N2.4 trillion. The current spending on subsidies is just N1.8 trillion. Which means there is no sincerity in the N5,000 they are going to pay.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched an initiative to break the supply chain through which methamphetamine (crystal meth/ice) is currently circulating indiscriminately in the Southeast and destroying lives of youths, The Nation gathered yesterday.
Many communities across the five states in the zone are already taking measures of their own to tame the scourge of mkpuru mmiri, as the illicit drug in called in local parlance.
Some of the efforts are the deployment of hunters in forests to apprehend traffickers and consumers and introduction of a reward system for information on how to track down meth merchants.
The Anambra State government has also vowed to step into the matter immediately.
Spokesman for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, told The Nation by phone yesterday that “processes are ongoing to shut down the pipeline of this substance.”
He added: “But that’s not to say the agency has not been taking action on the matter.
“Remember that 18 of meth laboratories were shut down by the agency, but with the resurgence of its use, the Chairman of NDLEA, has directed the relevant department to take action that will be made public in the new year.
“Definitely, something is being done about the situation.”
Anambra State Information Commissioner C. Don Adinuba, told The Nation that government was working on its own strategy to handle the problem.
Offenders, according to him, would not go unpunished.
The President-General, Umudioka Improvement Union, UIU, Chike Odoji, said the community remained committed to the prohibition of illegal drugs in the area .
He said the community was ready to join hands with the relevant agencies of government to get defaulters arrested.
The Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,(Southeast zone), and an Ichie in Nanka Community Palace, Damian Okeke -Ogene, said Anambra youth had taken it upon themselves to fight the war against mkpuru mmiri.
“The good thing about what the youths are doing is that they are working in tandem with security operatives, NDLEA, traditional rulers and town union presidents. ”
A community leader in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, Sir Chris Chikwelu, confirmed that the community has a reward system in place for people with useful information that could lead to the arrest of consumers and traffickers in the area.
“We know they take those drugs in the bushes and uncompleted buildings. The community has also engaged farmers and hunters as spies to monitor events where ever they see them and alert the community.”
Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Assistant on Awka community, Obi Ochije, said the seven quarters in Awka had formed youth groups to fish out mkpuru mmiri dealers and consumers in the community
Ochije said the drug has brought agony to many otherwise happy homes and families.
A victim told The Nation in Awka that one of his friends introduced him to meth in February.
The victim, who spoke incoherently, said meth “makes me feel high.”
Lawmakers, vigilance groups and presidents of communities in Imo have also declared war on the sale and consumption of mkpuru mmiri’ in the state.
Some communities have set up anti-drug enforcement units to identify offenders and punish them, usually by flogging.
Some youths have also formed rescue teams that go after consumers of the hard drug in their areas.
In Ekwe community, Isu Local Government Area of the state, some youths caught taking the drug are usually tied to pillars and flogged publicly.
A local security leader in Osuobodo, Jude Owuama said:”It is a taboo to sell the drug in Osuobodo. Some of the youths don’t even take food before consuming the drug.
“The drug gradually affects the mental state of its consumers and set them on the path of self- destruction.
“Everybody in our communities should join the crusade to say no to drug.”
President Generals of Ochie Clan in Owerri West Local Government Area said it would be a disservice to the entire state if they to keep quiet and watch the youths destroy themselves.
Speaking at a meeting on the issue, PG Emeabiam community, Chief Ndubuisi Okata Iheaka who is also the Chairman of all the PGs in Owerri West, said illegal drug was of no use to anyone.
The State House of Assembly called for action against peddlers of drugs and urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to reconstitute the state committee against hard drugs to work against the consumption of hard drugs.
The House called for the committee to work in synergy with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and state ministry of health to discourage the practice.
The members made the resolution following a motion by the member representing Ideato North, Mr Arthur Egwim (APC).
The motion called for immediate action to stop the consumption of meth in the state.
Speaker Kennedy Ibeh directed the Clerk of the House , Mrs Chinelo Emeghara, to convene a meeting with the NDLEA commandant, the commissioner for health and the police commissioner for the purpose of finding a solution to the menace.
Anambra State Coordinator, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Yetunde Baderinwa, expressed sadness over the ugly development.
She said the corps members themselves have also been carrying out aggressive sensitisation at their various communities on the consequences of consuming the drug.
“Corps members have been seriously enlightening youths in their host communities on why they should shun and desist from anything related to drugs so they don’t ruin their lives,” she said.
A community leader in Agulu, Mr. Anthony Okafor, said the community has been carrying out campaigns against the consumption of the drug, which he said has yielded fruits.
A former President General, Nawgu Development Union, Chief Emmanuel Ilozue, said his community has been taking advantage of the social media and peaceful protests to carry out their own sensitisation.
He said, “I saw youths protesting with placards, maybe that’s their own way of sensitising the public, that they don’t want any youth in the community to be involved in the sale and consumption of the mkpuru miri.
“On our platforms too, it’s been a topic of discussion. Every branch of the union has been mandated to ensure members in those states are involved. I doubt if we’ve witnessed any incident. We’re just sensitising the youths to forestall occurrence.”
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that for Nigeria to achieve greatness, Nigerians must join the anti-corruption war, which he says the government alone cannot win.
He urged Nigerians to entrench a culture of discipline, hard work, honesty, and inspiring leadership.
The president described education as the bedrock of national development while stressing that its importance could not be over-emphasised.
He reiterated that no country had all the resources to provide jobs for every graduate, adding that Nigerian youths should be prepared and determined to contribute their quota, by engaging in creative and innovative ventures.
Buhari, who was represented by a top official of the Federal Ministry of Education, Hajia Rikayat Gambo-Iliyasu, spoke at the remodelled Akin-Deko Auditorium of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, at the higher institution’s combined (46th and 47th) convocation.
The convocation involved the presentation of prizes, award of post-graduate diplomas, conferment of higher degrees of Masters and Doctorate, conferment of honourary Doctoral degrees on five distinguished personalities and Professor Emeritus on an outstanding former Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin.
The honourary Doctoral degree awardees were an ex-Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, rtd. (Doctor of Letters); former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (Doctor of Science); a reproductive health expert, Dr. Natalia Kanen (Doctor of Science); a legal luminary, Mr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro, SAN (Doctor of Law); and a software engineer, Dr. Thomas Ilube (Doctor of Science).
Buhari said: “Universities over the years have expanded the horizon of our youths through research and technological breakthroughs to attain relevant skills and be more entrepreneurial in outlook. We must commend them for putting up the onerous task of redirecting our students on the path of moral rectitude, love for the nation, and respect for constituted authorities.
“The Federal Government has not relented in finding lasting solutions to the myriad of challenges facing our universities and the nation’s education sector. The Federal Government is aware of the deficit in funding and infrastructure. Concerted efforts are being made to improve the current condition.
“It is also imperative that universities should come to terms with the present realities, including the challenge of inadequate funding. While the government will continue to ensure the full implementation of the budgetary provision to the education sub-sector, universities must also evolve other ways of augmenting what they receive as allocations and grants.
“At a time like this, when the Federal Government is grappling with socioeconomic and political challenges, it is important that I reiterate its commitment to finding home-grown solutions that will outlive even my administration. We have so far diversified the economy, with focus on agriculture, through the provision of grants and start-up loans for interested individuals, especially our teeming youths.”
The President also urged university administrators, in the discharge of their duties, to be transparent, accountable, and fair in the management of human and material resources, while stressing that expectedly, the education sub-sector should be at the vanguard in the campaign to reorder the nation’s values.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in his remarks, stated that with his administration’s 30-year development plan, the state would be transformed into Nigeria’s education hub.
Obaseki, who was accompanied by his wife, Betsy, assured that his administration would continue to support public and private tertiary institutions in Edo state, in order to ensure human capital development and to move the Southsouth state and Nigeria forward.
The newly-installed tenth substantive Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. James Ortese Lorzua Ayatse, the Tor Tiv, in his address, stated that President Buhari was committed to the establishment of worthy and enduring legacies for Nigeria.
The Benue State Government (BSG) has asked anti-graft agencies to investigate the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, over financial impropriety amounting to more than N4,556,899,632.9 billion when he served as governor.
The financial fraud which according to the BSG ranges from misappropriation of public funds, approvals above limit, abuse of office and public trust also includes sale of 33,440,818 units of shares at the Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, also valued at billions of naira without recourse to due process.
A letter of complaint to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and the Inspector General of Police, written and signed by counsels to the Benue State Government, Okeoga Darlington, Esq, and made available to newsmen by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Michael Gusa, was generated from an audit report spanning 1999 – 2007 when Senator George Akume served as governor.The letter said Akume unilaterally approved the sum of N117 million which is above his approval limit without recourse to the State Executive Council meeting.
The reckless financial expenditures was said to be for consultancy and feasibility study for Mbatiav Cement which turned out to be a white elephant project that never saw the light of the day.
Further findings according to the petition also alleged financial indiscipline, abuse of fiscal policies and misappropriation for various contracts amounting to N3,125,882,409.25 billion.
The former governor was also accused of misappropriation of ecological funds amounting to N300,002,000 million which was spent on projects different from ecological projects.
During the audit report, it was also discovered that under the watch of the former governor, a loan of N150 million was taken from defunct Afri-Bank in December 2000 for purchase of shares in companies but the money was transferred to All Securities Limited for which no receipts were found for the transaction.
It was also discovered during the audit that the former Governor Akume claimed to have executed ‘many projects’ that were never located which the petition deemed to be an aberration of due process, abuse of fiscal policies and criminal violation of relevant laws.
Regrettably, many of such projects, valued at N1,074,017,023.65 billion were not accounted for as there was no evidence of their execution anywhere.
At press time , the media office of the minister was yet to respond to a text message sent to his phone.
Nigerians may soon begin to pay as low as 20 per cent of the entire cost for cancer treatment, as the Federal Government has partnered with a pharmaceutical company – Roche Products Nigeria Limited, to reduce catastrophic costs.
The partnership will ensure that the cost of cancer management for Nigerians subscribed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is substantially reduced.
The Nation learned that Nigerians may now pay as low as 20 per cent for cancer management and treatment because apart from the NHIS making part payment of the bill for oncology drugs, Roche has agreed to take a large share of the cost.
According to a statement by the Head of Media Relations of the NHIS, Emmanuel Ononokpono, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cancer Care Reimbursement initiative.
It further stated that the partnership will be piloted in designated centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
It stated: “Broadly, the document outlines key areas of partnership between the two organisations along three main themes aimed at significantly improving patients’ access to innovative cancer medicines. Critically, the arrangement allows both parties to partner on an innovative cost-sharing mechanism, by way of sharing a proportion of the cost of the medicines. Expectedly, this will ensure the affordability of the drugs for patients at the treatment centres.
“In addition, the partnership enables both healthcare institutions to engage in capability-building initiatives that are designed to support the health insurance ecosystem.
“Ultimately, the health insurance regulator and Swiss drugs giant will work assiduously to accelerate the drive towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
“Speaking at the event, General Manager, Roche Products Ltd., Nigeria, Dr Ladi Hammeed described the partnership as a significant and commendable milestone for cancer care in Nigeria, expressing the optimism that cancer patients will no longer have to deal with the catastrophic consequences of the diagnosis of the disease.
He noted that funding for early treatment, comprehensive care inclusive of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy improves treatment outcomes and ultimately the survival of the diagnosed patients.
“Speaking at the occasion the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NHIS Prof Mohammed Sambo stated that the Scheme puts an invaluable premium on strategic stakeholders in the execution of its mandate to bring affordable and quality healthcare to all Nigerians, adding that the implementation of its ten-year strategic plan was on course.
The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the General Manager, Legal Services, Blessing Nienge, noted that the ongoing reforms in the Scheme have as its central objective the making healthcare affordable, adding that the initiative to ensure that drugs were available and affordable was receiving favourable attention.”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said yesterday, that its support for the Federal Government over the planned removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), stems from the realization that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 16 makes no provision for subsidy.
Besides, IPMAN President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that his association has consistently “advised the government to remove petrol subsidy because it is not in the interest of development of the downstream sector.”
But the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened, yesterday, to shut down the country should the Federal Government go ahead with the planned fuel subsidy removal.
The students’ body also rejected the government’s plan to pay N5,000 transport allowance to 40 million Nigerians to cushion the effect of soaring fuel prices.
Okoronkwo, in the NAN interview, said: “We welcome the decision of the government to stop subsidising petrol by 2022 and we are hoping it will attract more investments to the sector, especially with the passage of PIA.”
He added: “What we want is that a level playing field be provided for everyone in the sector to encourage competition once the subsidy is removed.”
Also speaking on the issue, the immediate-past President, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Tunji Oyebanji, said continued subsidising of petrol was not sustainable in light of current economic realities.
He said the 2022 deadline was realistic and its impact might be mitigated with the coming on stream of the 650,000BPD Dangote Refinery, Bua Group Refinery, Waltersmith Refinery and other modular refineries.
Oyebanji, who is the Managing Director of 11 Plc, however, faulted the plan to replace the subsidy with cash transfer to Nigerians due to lack of a reliable data base in the country.
“In my personal opinion, I am of the view that such funds should be channeled to areas like education and mass transportation that would be accessible to ordinary Nigerians,” Mr Oyebanji said.
An oil and gas expert, Wilson Opuwei, said the conversation about fuel subsidy in Nigeria “should have been a thing of the past because it was an obvious wastage of the nation’s resources”.
Mr Opuwei, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dateline Energy Services Ltd., maintained that the elite were the major beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy regime.
He said: “We should let market forces determine the price of petrol and other products, not the government dolling out subsidies with funds that we don’t even have.”
Declaring its position on the issue yesterday, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened to shut down the country should the Federal Government go ahead with the planned fuel subsidy removal.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the union would mobilise its 41 million members across the country to protest what he branded a “strange proposal.”
The present economic realities in the country, Asefon said, made it wrong for the government to contemplate something as critical as deregulating the petroleum sector “without thinking it through, without consultation and without a robust debate.”
He described the move as a plan by the government to get money at all costs to squander and finance the ostentatious lifestyles of public officers and senior civil servants, adding that any attempt to aggravate the economic woes of Nigerians would not only be unconscionable but reckless.
“Nigerians are really suffering. We are in dire socioeconomic straits. We are weeping in our hearts and souls. We are dying in silence. We feel the agony and anguish because we are practically involved,” he said.
Continuing, he said:It will amount to testing the patience of Nigerians. And we wish to warn against it. The country is very stretched and tensed. In case the government is not aware, we are passing them this intelligence free of charge now. Again we advise: let the government not stretch it further.
“The consequences will be dire. The people are already flamed. Mendacity will beget mendacity
NANS is happy that the organised labour and civil society groups have all rejected the proposal.
”We shall ensure that the entire country is shut down and paralysed should the Federal Government proceed with its insensitive plan of deregulation, or even any further increase in the pump price of fuel. We have had enough.
”We know that neo-liberal and imperial economists will soon emerge to confuse themselves with some well- rehearsed stale analyses and commentaries.”
“It is therefore very strange that the Federal Government could contemplate the removal of fuel subsidy now. The four refineries are not functioning, and if they are functioning at all, it is at a near zero level. There is a zero consultation with stakeholders to even consider issues around deregulation and why it should or should not be. The survival of Nigerian workers and their wards is yet to be discussed, yet a date that may take lives out of them has been fixed.
”Furthermore, inflation is already passing a skyrocketing level. So we may need to find a word to describe the kind of inflation that will be experienced if the pump price of PMS goes above 200 percent. In fact, we are very convinced that the Federal Government is acting impulsively on a matter as sensitive as this. And our conviction is based on many things that cannot just add up. Beyond the issues already raised, let us consider the following economic confusions:
”In the 2022 Appropriation Bill, the FG already provided for fuel subsidies. One then wonders why it will provide for what it plans to eliminate.
”Upon which data did the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning determine that only 40 million Nigerians are vulnerable? And what is the definition of vulnerability in our socioeconomic context?
“Where does she intend to generate the money which will be paid to those 40 million Nigerians since there is no provision for it in the 2022 Appropriation Bill?
”Is it not a very strange economics to rob the poor to pay the poor even lower? In which economic sense or theory does 5000 the inflationary effect of 200 percent increment on the central economic item of a country?”
Asefon urged the government to rescind the plan till adequate arrangements like refining at home and utilising the nation’s petrochemical by-products are made.
”After that, there will be a robust discussion by all stakeholders to deal with associated socioeconomic issues and discuss the details of the new regime. It is only on this condition that there can be a corresponding social equilibrium, economic prosperity, job and wealth creation for Nigerians.”
Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister , Zainab Ahmed, had announced that the government would remove fuel subsidy and replace it with a monthly N5,000 transport grant to about 40 million poor Nigerians.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said yesterday that the Federal Government is now poised to crush gunmen terrorizing the country following a court order declaring bandits as terrorists.
Malami said the court order has strengthened government’s hands to come down heavily on terrorists in conformity with international standards on the rules of engagement with such elements.
But Islamic scholar,Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, dismissed the development as political.
The court decision, he said yesterday, would change nothing, the same way government’s previous declaration of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has not stopped the separatist organisation from its activities.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had declared bandits anywhere in the country as terrorists.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Federal Government, said groups, such as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda are nothing other than terrorists.
Reacting to the court’s verdict, Malami said government would now deal ruthlessly with all terrorists groups and their sponsors with a view to bringing a lasting solution to the nation’s security challenges.
“The development is a pointer to the commitment of the Federal Government to adhere to the international standards in respecting the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism, separatists organisations, insurgency and banditry in the country,” he said in a statement through his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu.
Malami said his office “in collaboration with relevant government agencies, including security operatives, are working assiduously to do the needful to take full advantage of this declaration.”
Government will gazette, publish and publicise the proscription order in due course, he added.
The court decision was well received by the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria which said the action of the Federal Government going to court on the matter was better than never.
The group, in a statement in Kaduna by its president, Isah Abubakar,and the Director General of Medi and Publicity,Mock Kure, said it welcomes “full military operation in Northwestern and North Central parts of the country as it is happening in the Northeast against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements which has drastically reduced their activities.”
It asked the security agencies to ” arrest and prosecute anybody seen giving the terrorists moral support be it materially, morally or otherwise no matter how highly or lowly placed.”
It pledged its support for the authorities in their quest to “stamp out terrorism in the North and Nigeria at large.”
But Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,was far from impressed yesterday by the development.
He branded it a decision taken for mere political expediency, and one that will change nothing.
“I think the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country,” he said in a statement issued through his media consultant, Malam Tukur Mamu.
“It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they were being fought and treated as terrorists,” he said.
Continuing, Gumi said: “So, it’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on ground.
“If you can remember IPOB was also declared a terrorist organisation, the declaration was even backed by the order of the court but as you can see even the international community did not recognize FG’s declaration of IPOB. So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.”
“They have not been banned from travelling to other countries while their citizenship remains intact, it has not been denounced. So what type of declaration is that?
“I sincerely hope that Nigerians will not take the herdsmen as terrorists but should regard the criminality of the few among them against innocent people as acts of terrorism just as we see IPOB and their attacks on security agencies and other northern citizens as acts of terrorism. Very few herdsmen are bandits if you go through their population.
“I hope this declaration will not give the license to people to be profiling herdsmen in general as terrorists and taking laws into their hands against them. It will cause more mayhem.
“The declaration will not change anything; it will not change the dynamics. Already the military is engaging them. It didn’t stop them from kidnapping and killing. The declaration will not end their aggression against the society.
“The Fulani banditry is a socio-economic problem. We have seen it, we interacted widely with them. We told the the way out. It can only be won through engagement, dialogue and justice. That is why today there is relative peace in the Niger Delta because government has accepted the painful reality of rehabilitating and empowering them.
“There has to be equitable distribution of wealth in Nigeria and justice for everyone. People don’t want to accept it: before the issue of banditry that now affects all of us, the Fulanis had suffered so much.
“They have lost their legitimate means of livelihood, I mean their cows through cattle rustling and extortion by security agencies. That has to be addressed as a means of genuine reconciliation and integration. They should have sense of belonging.”
Gumi, it was, who went into the dens of the terrorists in Niger and Zamfara states to dialogue with them in the aftermath of the kidnapping of students in the two states.
The Nation learnt yesterday that the Federal Government decided to approach the court for the order following a directive by President Muhammed Buhari upon receiving a legal opinion from AGF Malami on the issue.
Malami had, in an October 29, 2021 letter to the President, advised him to move against the various bandit groups in the country, particularly the likes of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda because their activities were threatening national security and existence.
“Sir, the activities of these groups and individuals no doubt constitute a breakdown of public order and safely, a threat to national security and a threat to the corporate existence of the country,” he had said in the letter.
“The activities of these groups and individuals, as confirmed by security report, include unwholesome acts of banditry which include kidnappings, mass abductions, cattle rustling, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties.
“Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda and other similar banditry groups have in recent times engaged in the mass abduction of school children and other citizens across the North-west and North central states of the country.
“These groups have engaged in attacks and wanton destruction of lives and properties in communities, kidnappings for ransom, kidnappings for marriage, mass abductions, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks on commuters, and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties.
“All the above-mentioned activities of Yan Bindiga, Yon Ta’adda and other similar banditry groups constitute acts of terrorism, threat to national security and the corporate existence of the country.
“It has therefore become imperative for the President, Commander-in-Chief to declare Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda and other similar banditry groups as proscribed organisations in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(1) (a} (b) (c) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act of 2011 (as amended).
“A fundamental condition for the success of an application to the Federal High Court by my office to declare an organisation proscribed is the exhibition before the court of a presidential approval to that effect.”
Buhari gave his approval on November 3, 2021 following which Malami directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, to lodge an application before the Federal High Court, Abuja to that effect.
The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 was filed on November 9, 2021 by the Assistant Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation and Head, Complex Case Group (CCP), Federal Ministry of Justice, Aminu Alilu.
Alilu argued the ex-parte application on Thursday with Justice Taiwo Taiwo agreeing with the applicant that the reliefs sought were necessary in view of the nefarious activities of bandits and their effects on the nation’s life, particularly on the people and its economy.
He consequently issued an order declaring the activities of the “Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group and other similar groups” in any part of the country, especially in the North West and North Central geo-political zones as “acts of terrorism and illegality”.
He proscribed the existence of the Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group as well as other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central geo-political zones, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called.”
Justice Taiwo restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group under any other name or platform however called or described.”
The judge also proscribed all other groups in the country, irrespective of their names, but whose activities and objectives are similar to those of Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group.
Such objectives and activities, Justice Taiwo noted, “include but not limited to banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”
Justice Taiwo then ordered the Federal Government to publish the prosecution order in the Official Gazette and two national dailies.
The Federal Government had stated, in affidavit filed along with its application, that security reports by security agencies had confirmed that the bandit groups were responsible for the increasing cases of killing, abduction rape, kidnapping and related acts of criminality in the North East, North Central geo-political zones and other parts of the country.
It attributed to the groups, the growing cases of “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria, particularly in the North West and North Central States in Nigeria are being carried out by Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda Groups and other groups associated with or engaged in the same or similar activities as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda Groups in Nigeria.”
The Federal Government added that Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other similar groups have also been involved in killings of the personnel of the Nigerian military, police and other security agencies across the North-West and North Central geo-political zones of the country.
The government noted that the activities of the groups have resulted in the disruption of commercial, educational and farming activities in the North-West and North Central region in Nigeria.
It added’ “the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other similar groups constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety and is a threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria.”