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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Boko Haram: Who is afraid of Super Camp Strategy?

    I was jolted out of my seat when I read the story published by Reuters titled ‘Islamic State fills the void in Nigeria as soldiers retreat to ‘super camps”. I imagined how such a piece laced with outright mischief, and illogical conclusions would have passed editorial integrity and certified fit for publication.

     

    As a start, the whole concept of the Super Camp Strategy launched by the Nigerian Army was deliberately presented to picture a situation where troops would leave communities they hitherto protected to form clusters somewhere in a bid to avoid or minimize casualties. While this misrepresentation of fact can be stated to be uncharitable, it further reinforces the conspiracy theory that stated that Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters are receiving support from external sources, as well as the deplorable role most international NGOs are playing in the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria.

     

    I say this because the Reuters story quoted sources from the international NGOs in operation in North-East Nigeria and they based their judgment on what was availed them, which in my opinion is the height of unprofessionalism and unbecoming of a news medium such as Reuters.

     

    It is more challenging to come to terms with the fact it was stated that the army’s withdrawal into large bases has coincided with a string of insurgent raids on newly unprotected towns and has left the militants free to set up checkpoints on roads as they roam more freely across the countryside. The first question is, were they referring to any part of North-East Nigeria or a neighbouring country? Because I am at a loss, just like the generality of Nigerians as to why anyone or organization would want to adopt a strategy such as the one advanced by Reuters in areas that it has complete control over. It is tantamount to leaving the comfort of one’s bedroom and taking solace elsewhere.

     

    This is quite worrisome and somewhat an insult to our sensibilities as a people in Nigeria when foreign media organizations come in and scoop half-truths from their accomplices masquerading under various humanitarian nomenclatures in an attempt to unsettle the efforts of the Nigerian Military in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria mainly when successes are recorded and Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters retreating to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

     

    This in my considered opinion is the height of mischief, and unsuspecting members of the general public must disregard it because, since the introduction of the Super Camp Strategy by the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria, Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters have suffered heavy casualties as rightly reported by reputable news mediums in Nigeria.

     

    The Super Camp Strategy is not a situation where troops would withdraw to “super camps” that can be more easily defended against insurgents as stated by Reuters. Instead, the Super Camp Strategy is one that is designed to create military presence everywhere in villages and localities of the troubled areas of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.

     

    I recall in a parley with members of the Borno Elders Forum, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, stated that the Super Camp Strategy will ensure fast mobilizing, quick reaction and more extended reach at tactical level, combined with the striking power of the Air Taskforce to see that the days of Boko Haram moving freely and passing in between static defence location is over.” Also, true to his words, the introduction of the Super Camp Strategy has seen to the presence of troops in places such as remote communities, unlike in times past where soldiers were stationed in military bases.

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    If the Super Camp Strategy is not a brilliant one, I don’t know what else to call it. And my guess is that those that do not want an end to the Insurgency in North-East Nigeria are those behind the Reuters story, and it is such a shame that Reuters with all its years of journalism would condescend so low to tow this dishonourable path.

     

    This is on the heels that activities of international NGOs operating in North-East Nigeria have been suspect. For them, the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria should not come to an end so they can continue to justify their stay in Nigeria as well as funding for their operations. This is aside from the fact that it has been speculated in some quarters that most of these NGOs are involved in espionage activities for the sponsors of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

     

    In all of these, one thing comes to my mind, and it is the fact that with the introduction of the Super Camp Strategy, the end of Boko Haram/ISWAP is in sight, and this fact is not going down well with a group of actors and as such all must be done to discredit in its entirety. But again, would this new offensive against the operations of the Nigerian Military work? Would the Military hierarchy succumb to the Reuters blackmail?

     

    Your guess is as good as mine. I believe that all must be done by the military hierarchy to sustain the tempo in its operations in North-East Nigeria, with regards to the Super Camp Strategy. And less I forget to mention that the Super Camp Strategy involves two critical components, which is taking the fight to the enemies in their domains and a routine introduction of counter-insurgency strategies that always takes the Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters unawares as against what was obtainable in the past.

     

    At this point, the likes of Reuters and its accomplices should adopt another strategy in their attempt to mislead members of the unsuspecting general public. The attempt at discrediting the Super Camp Strategy is feeble in its delivery. And those afraid of the end of Boko Haram/ISWAP should do the needful, which is to pack their belongings and leave Nigeria, instead of the futile attempt at distorting facts.

     

    Murphy is a security expert based in Calabar.

  • AbdulRazaq hails Buhari’s victory at Tribunal

    Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his well-deserved victory at the presidential election tribunal.

    “Given the unprecedented margin of victory that Mr. President recorded in our state, Kwara, and the very glaring acceptability of his candidature across the country, I have always known that any legal challenge to his victory was just an academic exercise because the people have spoken clearly.

    “Without prejudice to the right of the opposition to seek redress as they did, the judgment of the presidential election tribunal only affirmed the position of the people of Nigeria who appreciate the discipline, integrity, patriotism, and commitment of Mr. President to a better Nigeria,” the governor’s spokesperson Rafiu Ajakaye has said.

    He said the judgment was a victory for the ordinary Nigerians who stood for many hours on the queue to cast their ballot in the election.

    AbdulRazaq also commended the erudition of the President’s legal team who the Governor said remained focus “even in the face of every-day propaganda by the opposition.”

    He called on Nigerians across party lines to rally round the President to deliver more dividends of democracy.

  • Lawan congratulates Buhari, APC over victory

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the president’s victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

    The tribunal on Wednesday dismissed the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in its entirety.

    Lawan in a statement on Wednesday by his Spokesperson, Ola Awoniyi said that the judgment had put a judicial seal on the mandate freely given to the president by Nigerians in the Feb.23 presidential election.

    Lawan urged the president to accept the affirmation of his election as a reminder of the confidence of Nigerians in his capacity to continue to lead the country to greatness.

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory: SANs hail Tribunal’s verdict

    The senate president said Nigerian people had great expectations from the “Next Level Agenda” of the president and further pledged full cooperation of the National Assembly in the pursuit of the best interest of the Nigerian people.

    Lawan also commended the petitioners for using the judicial window prescribed by the constitution in seeking redress for their grievances and urged them to join hands with the government and the Nigerian people in the important task of nation-building.

  • Akpabio was robbed of victory – Justice Hafizu

    A member of the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Justice Sheriff Hafizu has said Senator Godswill Akpabio was robbed of his victory in February 23 National Assembly election.

    According to him, there was preponderance of evidence to prove that Akpabio, now Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, defeated his opponent, Chris Ekpenyong in the election for Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district.

    Justice Hafizu in a split judgement on September 11, 2019 held that it was his view that Senator Akpabio overwhelmingly won the election and ought to have been returned as the duly elected Senator for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

    Engr Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was declared winner of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    Senator Akpabio had challenged Ekpenyong’s declaration at the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom citing unlawful cancellation of his collated votes by INEC to give his opponent an edge in the election.

    Delivering judgement on the petition Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice W. O. Akanbi with the concurrence of Justice Ebetu dismissed the petition and upheld the declaration of Engr Ekpenyong as the winner of the February 23 National Assembly elections into Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

    However, in his dissenting judgement, Justice Hafizu held that the contention of the Respondents that Senator Akpabio ought to have called unit polling agents to prove his case was wrong since Akpabio had not challenged the results of the units and therefore there was nothing to prove.

    According to Justice Hafizu, the case of Senator Akpabio centred on cancellation of duly collated votes at INEC office which went beyond the units. He cited the case of Dr William who had admitted during trial that Senator Akpabio’s votes were altered in INEC office in Uyo on the instructions of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini and said such alterations were unlawful.

    He said he found merit in the Petitioner’s case that his collated votes which showed that he won the election was surreptitiously and unilaterally cancelled by an INEC official so as to hand over victory to Engr Ekpenyong.

    Justice Hafizu also held that from evidence adduced during the trial it was obvious that the Returning Officer had cancelled the votes of Obot Akara Local Government Area due to an established case of over-voting and said it was wrong for the same cancelled result to be revalidated in INEC office in Uyo.

    The Minority Judge held that the Witnesses paraded by the Respondents were unreliable as they gave contradictory evidence during trial. He cited cases of witnesses who had alleged that they were abducted by APC thugs and forced to thumbprint for the party only for card reader reports to put a lie to such claim, a contention that the majority judgement glossed over.

    According to Justice Hafizu, INEC was wrong to have cancelled the 61,329 votes garnered by APC in Essien Udim Local Government Area against PDP score of 9,050 votes. He said the unlawful cancellation of the votes was a clear case of robbery since it did not follow the due process of INEC guidelines.

    The majority judgement also glossed over evidence that were given in the case including certified true copies of results released by INEC which were tendered by the Petitioners. It also remained mute on the Police reports that the elections were free, fair and credible.

    Accordingly, Justice Hafizu voided the declaration of Engr Ekpenyong as the winner of the election and declared his return invalid. He also declared Senator Akpabio as the winner of the election having garnered majority of the lawful votes and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to present a certificate of return to Senator Akpabio as the duly elected Senator of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

    Attendees and lawyers at the Tribunal openly applauded the judgement of Justice Hafizu, describing it as sound and bound to stand the test of time and devoid of any pecuniary consideration but justice delivery. Supporters of Senator Akpabio jubilated and congratulated themselves on the minority judgement.

    Counsel to Senator Akpabio, Mr Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN praised Justice Hafizu for his courage in giving the dissenting judge represented the position of the law.

    It would be recalled that a lawyer and human right activist, Barrister Leo Ekpenyong had raised an alarm penultimate week in a widely published article: “Judgement for sale” alleged that two members of the National Assembly elections petition tribunal in Akwa Ibom State had been compromised predicting that there would be a split in the judgement the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District matter.

  • JUST IN: A’Ibom Northwest: Akpabio loses to Ekpenyong

    The Akwa Ibom National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal Wednesday night dismissed the petition by Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress(APC) challenging the election of Senator Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to represent Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District .

    However, Ekpenyong’s declaration by the tribunal as winner of February 23 election did not come without some drama and confusion by supporters of Senator Akpabio, now minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

    One of the judges in the three man panel had upheld the petition of Senator Akpabio and announced the nullification of the victory of Dr Chris Ekpenyong as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West(Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District.

    Contrary to the judgement of the other two judges, Justice S. H Tahir whose ruling was delivered by 11.45 PM, said the petitioners Senator Akpabio and the APC, had no need to present polling unit agents to prove their victory since they were not challenging what transpired at the units.

    Tahir also said that the power of cancelling illegal votes was not in the hands of the returning officer, but in the hands of polling unit officers.

    He, therefore, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to retrieve the certificate of return from Ekpenyong and surrender it to Akpabio as the elected Senator of the district.

    But in the majority ruling read by the chairman of the panel, Justice W. O. Akanbi, the tribunal maintained that the petitioners failed to bring any witness from the polling units and thus could not prove substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

    “Every reasonable person should support free, fair and credible election. The Returning Officer cannot be blamed for reporting what he saw to INEC ”

    Relying on the case between ANDREW v. INEC, the court ruled that the burden of proof for proving substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act to ground a nullification of the election is on the petitioner and held that the Petitioner’s evidence was too weak in all ramifications to prove non-compliance, not to mention substantial non-compliance, which is the only ground for nullification of the elections.

    The court in the end, in a majority Judgement of two justices dismissed the petition and upheld the declaration of Senator Christopher Ekpenyong as the winner of the February 23, 2019 elections.

    “The Petition is hereby dismissed because they have not been able to prove noncompliance at all”, the tribunal declared.

    Reacting to the victory, Senator Chris Ekpenyong through his Counsel Samuel Ikpo Esq, said “The judgement has buried the Petition that was long dead and dead for eternity “.

    But Senator Akpabio’s Counsel Adekunle Oyesanya said he was disappointed that the majority decision did not favour him, and maintained that after studying the judgement with his clients, he will appeal the decision.

    Read Also: Akpabio disowns bribe allegation

    Few buses of uniformed APC supporters who adorned adjoining streets around Wellington Bassey Way after being restricted by heavy security agents from accessing the tribunal venue started beating drums to celebrate when they could not apparently understand the import of the judgement.

    But their celebration was short lived when PDP youths led by the chairman of the State Youth Caucus and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, Aniefiok Iwa Udofia led over 800 youths and a victory March from Wellington Bassey Way through Dominic Utuk Avenue, to the residence of the victorious Senator Chris Ekpenyong, where the celebration lasted until the early hours of Thursday morning.

  • ‘I’m still in PDP’ – Timi Alaibe

    A Former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Timi Alaibe has dismissed reports that he defected to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) following his failure to clinch the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Alaibe said he remains a loyal member of PDP despite being bombarded by requests and offers from other parties.

    A statement by his campaign organisation, signed by the Administrative Secretary, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, said no decision had been taken on his next move.

    The statement, titled “Hope is on the way”, reads: “The Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation notes that since the declaration of results of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Bayelsa State, our supporters have been left without clear and precise information as to the next step to be taken by our Principal, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, in search of justice in a deliberate adulteration of due process in the conduct of the primary election.

    “We thank our supporters and the people of Bayelsa State for their unprecedented support, evidenced by dead silence in the state on September 4, peaceful conduct and patience since the unacceptable election result was announced last week.

    “We apologise for the vacuum created by our silence which has given rise to various speculations planted in the media by those who masterminded the injustice to confuse the people. Be assured that this evil act against the wish of the people, carried out by a handful of selfish people who decided to play god by imposing their personal decisions on us, will not go unchallenged. At the end, Bayelsa people – who are in the majority — will have their way.

    “As it is traditional in matters of this kind, we needed to consult our supporters, particularly the stakeholders — including our vibrant youth and women — before taking any step or embarking on any decision in search of redress or alternatives. We are almost at the end of the necessary consultations.

    “However, let it be stated that Chief Alaibe has not joined any political party as bandied in the media. He is still a loyal member of the PDP despite being bombarded by requests and offers of opportunity by other political parties. That decision has not been taken. Any speculation to the contrary remains what it is —mere speculation.

    “Conscious of the deadlines provided in the Electoral Act and the PDP Constitution regarding any action deemed necessary in matters of this nature, we have decided that whatever needs to be done must be done fast.

    “We appeal to our supporters to remain calm as it would be made known within the next 48 hours, a necessary action that will ensure that Bayelsa people have the governor they deserve, in the person of Chief Alaibe.”

  • Nigeria has 81 percent study permit refusal rate in Canada

    If Canada is the destination for foreign education, the chance of a Nigerian getting a study permit from the authorities is an abysmal 29 percent, according to a report published by Polestar Students Immigration News.

    According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) statistics on the top 25 countries that apply for Canadian study permit and their rejection rates between January and May 2019, Nigeria is the country with the third highest rejection rate – a position it shares with Pakistan.

    The only other countries with higher rejection rates are Algeria (86 per cent) and Cameroun (82 per cent).

    The report stated that Nigeria, one of the top-source countries of foreign students to Canada, has more than 12,000 applications for study permit to Canada yearly.

    Read Also: UK offers two-year visa to international students

    There are eight African countries on the list – with three out of every four African likely to be denied study permit.

    Morocco had the lowest rejection rate among the African countries (51 per cent), followed by Ghana (62 per cent) compared to the lowest rejection rate of four per cent from Japan and Republic of Korea.

    However, the report noted that Japan and Korean students were more likely to apply for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programmes, which have lower refusal rates.

    Canada has developed a strategy to get more students from 11 countries. Only Morocco and Senegal made the list in Africa.

    According to the report, the main reason for rejection include suspicion that the applicant would defect; insufficient funds for study and living expenses; poor academic plan, security threat, incomplete, inaccurate or fraudulent application.

  • Why I handed over treasury to women – Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said placing women in strategic positions of his administration, like the Financial sector, is to ensure effective management of limited resources available and promote a stronger sense of inclusiveness.

    The President said he preferred women to oversee the economic and financial hub of the country, such as the Ministry of Finance, as they can readily deploy their experience in aligning resources with the needs of the country.

    He explained that the nation has many women technocrats with local and international experiences in economy and finance.

    President Buhari spoke in Abuja when he hosted a delegation of National, Zonal, State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) women leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the party’s National Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Umaru Baiwa, at the State House.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, the President said: “I am happy that I can defend myself very effectively on this issue. The APC party leader is my witness. Since the coming into power of this administration, I have handed over the treasury to women.

    “Even at household level, you hand over the money to women to manage. It can be taken to the level of managing the country’s treasury as well. I have consistently given it to women. It is strategic.

    “I am conscious of the leadership roles of women in the society and by my action I have justified my belief.”

    President Buhari reiterated that his administration would ensure inclusiveness for women and youths, especially in the second term, by providing more access to facilities that would enable spread of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and encourage more interest in agriculture.

    According to him, the traditional and subsistence style of farming should be replaced with commercialised and business-oriented techniques.

    “We have to move away from the traditional ways of farming that were practised in the pre-colonial and colonial era,” he added.

    Read Also: Buhari, TUC executives meet in Aso Rock

    The President said he instructed the ministers to work with traditional institutions to encourage interest in farming with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) readily providing loans at low interest rates and longer periods of repayment.

    “On unemployment, I know there is no able bodied person that went back to the farm in the last three years that regretted the action,” President Buhari added.

    Mrs Baiwa congratulated the President for his victory at the polls and the tribunal, hailing the administration for its efforts at managing the affairs of the country and providing the impetus for the vigorous campaigns.

    The national women leader said Nigerian women were particularly pleased and willing to vote for the President because the government deliberately formulated some policies to favour and empower women, like the social intervention TraderMoni.

    She said the APC had many resourceful and loyal women who would contribute to the success of the administration.

    “Our prayer is that God will give you the tenacity to overcome all obstacles,” she said.

     

  • Financial innovation vital for achieving dynamic economy, says SEC

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday said financial innovation vital for the conception and delivery of a dynamic industrial society.

    Its Acting Director-General, Ms. Mary Uduk, who spoke  at  the opening ceremony of a two-day international capital market conference in Lagos, also stressed the need to continuously embrace innovation in market operations and regulation.

    The forum was organised by SEC in collaboration with the University of Lagos.

    She said the implementation of the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan is already contributing to the growth and development of the nation’s capital market, and by extension, the economy.

    “As we move into the future, we need to continuously embrace innovation in the way we carry out our market operations and regulation. Financial innovation is germane for the conception and delivery of a dynamic industrial society. Market participants and regulators have to continually familiarise themselves with the rapid ever-changing economic, regulatory and business environment.

    “Beyond the conventional capital market products of equities and bonds as well as manual regulatory processes, the players and regulators in the Nigerian capital market are introducing new and innovative processes and products,” Uduk said.

    She described the theme of the Conference: Leveraging the Capital Market for Economic Growth and Development as apt and timely, given the pressing needs to grow the nation’s economy and achieve sustainable development.

    “There is no doubt that the capital market can serve as a key catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, as it offers a credible platform for obtaining long- term financing. As we all know, long-term and affordable funds are required for businesses to thrive and in turn contribute to employment, growth and development.

    “Beyond capital market’s contribution to economic growth, we aim at the larger goal of economic development. Added to increased production, the latter entails advancement in the quality of life and living standards of citizens in areas such as improvements in literacy, health and life expectancy, better savings/investment culture, financial inclusion, as well as improved wealth distribution, housing and environment.”

    The SEC boss stated further that Capital markets across the world have products and mechanisms to stimulate economic growth and development.

    She said although many of such products are available in the country, there are aspects that are still untapped, thereby limiting the realisation of the nation’s potentials.

    “One major initiative to tap this potential was the development of a ten-year Capital Market Master Plan (CMMP), launched by the Commission in 2014. The Plan has over 100 initiatives to spring–board the Nigerian capital market as one of the world’s deepest and most liquid, as well as the largest in Africa by 2025.

    “It is also aimed at ensuring that the market contributes much more to the socio-economic development of the nation, particularly in facilitating capital-raising for sustainable development and transformation of key sectors,” she said.

    She said the successes recorded from these initiatives notwithstanding,  SEC recognises that much more still needed to be done for the capital market to contribute its desired quota and take its rightful place in issues and discussions of the nation’s economic growth and development.

    Uduk said some of the SEC’s processes that were previously manual and inefficient are being automated. For instance, with the dematerialisation process completed, investors no longer needed to not worry about the loss or damage to their physical share certificates as they are now electronically stored.

    Furthermore, she said the current e-Dividend system enables shareholders’ dividend to be paid directly into their bank accounts without the stress of dealing with physical dividend warrants. Also, the Direct Cash Settlement protects investors from funds mismanagement by ensuring that the proceeds of their shares sales are credited directly into their own account as against.

    Uduk said while the current initiatives and efforts are to improve the past towards a better future, there is need to be more innovative to face the dynamic future, both as regulator and operators adding, “future belongs to those that are currently adopting relevant technologies and other improvements for efficiency.”

    In his remarks, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the state government is interested in the growth and development of the capital market.

    Represented by Director, Special Duties Office, Dr. Shamsudeen Allison, the governor said the event is strategic in promoting business and development in Lagos.

    Also speaking, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Unilag, Prof Oluwole Familoni said the conference is a good fora to discuss and proffer solutions to some of the problems being faced by the investing public and also an avenue for Nigerians to learn more about the Capital Market.

    Familoni expressed the hope that at the end of the conference, the Capital Market will be bette positioned for the development of the economy.

  • Too many varsities ‘will weaken’ TETFund

    Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on Wednesday said it observed that many tertiary institutions were being established just to meet the requirements for its interventions and access its funds.

    The agency said this may weaken the import of its interventions, if it continued.

    TETFund said it was hoping that there would be policies to minimise the establishment of such institutions.

    Its Executive Secretary, Prof Sulaiman Bogoro, spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of a Technical Advisory Committee on Impact Assessment to review the agency’s projects done by the agency.

    The event was attended by delegates of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), led by its National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi.

    Read Also: Lack of infrastructure: Institutions laud TETfund, call for more intervention

    Bogoro said the committee would review the projects, interventions and expenditures done in universities across the country between 1999 and 2019.

    The TETFund chief said the committee has two and a half months to work.

    He said it would identify the weaknesses, strengths, progress and challenges of the agency’s interventions in universities as well as make recommendations.

    The impact assessment committee is expected to submit its report by November 29 to TETFund.

    Bogoro said: “We want the committee to identify those areas where we need improvement. We hope that your recommendations in the end will ensure that we increase in the ranking of Nigerian universities, globally.

    “There is a challenge that we have observed and it is that there is a tendency of more tertiary institutions being established just to meet the TETFund’s requirements for funding.

    “We are hoping that some policies will emerge that will try to minimise the emergence of institutions so that the impact of the interventions will not weaken.

    “The terms of reference of the committee are: to carry out the impact assessment of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) interventions from 1999 to 2010 and of TETFund from 2010 to 2019.

    “The committee is to collate and analyse the strategic plan document, the annual interventions and the internal working budgets. It is to propose the future direction of the fund within the statutory mandate as encapsulated in the TETFund Establishment Act 2011.”