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Army opens inquest into alleged extortion, murder of woman by personnel in Katsina 

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The Nigerian Army has opened investigation into the alleged involvement of its personnel in the extortion and murder of a woman in Katsina state.

Director of Army Public Relations Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima who disclosed this in a statement said:

”It was alleged that a woman was arrested in a commercial vehicle in possession with money estimated to be the sum of Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (#420,000) only, by members of local vigilante group on Wednesday 7 May 2021 at about 10:00PM, in Yankara village along Funtua-Gusau road and was handed over to the troops in order to interrogate the source of the money. Few days later the woman was said to be killed by the troops.

”The Nigerian Army therefore wishes to inform the general public that it has commenced investigation into the matter and assure the public that any one found wanting in connection with allegation will be mate to face the wrath of the law. The Army plead with the general public to remain calm as it is determined to get to the root of the matter.”

General Yerima reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army to the protection of lives and properties of the citizens in accordance with it’s constitutional responsibility and strict adherence to the rules of engagements in its operations.

”The Nigerian Army will not tolerate any act of misconduct and unprofessionalism from it’s personnel.” He added.

 

 

CBN says a total of N2.04 billion disbursed to 7,075 beneficiaries under the National Youth Investment Fund

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National Youth Investment Fund

The CBN disclosed this at a communique issued at the end of its two-day monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on Tuesday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says a total of N2.04 billion has been disbursed to 7,075 beneficiaries under the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).

A total of 4,411 beneficiaries were people and 2,646 were small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

In 2020, the national executive council (FEC) had approved a N75 billion childhood investment fund targeted at young people between ages 18-35 years as well as the ministry of youth and sports development, accountable for budgetary provisions and also for capital mobilisation.

Read also: CBN publishes new permit requirements for Payment System operators

The programme financially empowers Nigerian youth to generate at least 500,000 jobs between 2020 and 2023.

The CBN said under the ABP, N631.4 billion was granted to 3,107,949 smallholder farmers cultivating 3.8 million property hectares; N111.7 billion awarded to 29,026 beneficiaries under AGSMEIS; and N253.4 billion awarded to 548,345 beneficiaries under the TCF, which includes 470,969 families and 77,376 SMEs.

CBN explained these initiatives were utilized to inject money into employment generation and enhance growth in the market.

Anambra Elections 2021: Why I am in the race – Igwebuike Hygers

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…picks APC nomination form

Frontline contender for the 2021 Anambra gubernatorial race in the All Progressives Congress APC, Dr Igwebuike Ifeanyi Hygers has said the creation of an economically viable state where the enormous potentials of the state can be harnessed remains a possibility.

Dr Igwebuike was speaking to newsmen shortly after picking his nomination form at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

He acknowledged that successive administration since the days of Dr Chris Ngige have consistently done their bit in the development of the state but none has been able to set a policy framework for continuity.

“This is not my first time contesting this very election, I have been in the race a couple of times before but the reason behind my consistency is that, there is a particular thing that is missing and that is the foundation of the state.

”The state lacks foundation and there is no foundation. The state is a project and project without a foundation cannot stand. For instance, when Chris Ngige came in, he focused on road construction, Peter Obi also consolidated while Obiano too is doing same but there is no policy on roads, no policy on water, when there are policies, it provides a yardstick for the members of the House of Assembly in their oversight function to know whether things are being done with the set standards.” He added.

On the issue of the ban on open grazing, Dr Igwebuike noted that the era has since passed, hence the need for a reform. He assured that security of lives and properties will remain the focus of his administration by laying strategies to control the issues of farmers and herders clash.

CBN publishes new permit requirements for Payment System operators

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CBN publishes new permit

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday, May 24, 2021, published new permit requirements for Payment System operators in the nation.

This disclosure is included in a document saying the eligibility standards for each permit category in the country. The categories listed comprise the Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP), Payment Solutions Service Provider (PSSP), Payment Option Services (PSS), Super Agent License, Mobile Money Operator (MMO), Change and Processing License.

Read also: Building a robust health care infrastructure CBN disburses over N83.9 billion in loans to health professionals

The new license demands create provisions for capitalization of each supported class, documentation, application and license fee and the license validity.

Potential applicants into Nigeria’s flourishing financial services sector will need to grapple with fulfilling the stringent conditions included in these licensing requirements. By way of instance, possible FinTechs looking to take on big GSM companies as Mobile Money Operators will have to stump up N2 billion in funding requirements and escrow a refundable N2 billion with the Central Bank. For all those looking to take on Paystack, Flutterwave, and Interswitch, they will also have to escrow N2 billion together with the Central Bank

20 people have been killed by Cholera in Bauchi

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Cholera killed

According to him, the index case was a 37-year-old housewife, who was hospitalized at the Burra General Hospital on April 24, 2021, in Ningi Local Government Area.

He said upon her admission, it was discovered that there was an outbreak of a similar disorder in neighbouring areas like Sumaila and other councils areas of Kano State, which may have spread into Bauchi.

Read also: 57 reportedly killed as strange disease breaks out in Enugu

The girl was said to have complained of abdominal pain, watery diarrhoea and nausea which was successfully managed until she was later discharged alongside others.

He said further that eight local government areas in the country listed a total of 322 cases in a month, including that the case fatality rate has become 6.2 percent.

The commissioner said after intensive surveillance by the officials of the ministry throughout the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, instances were detected in Warji, Bauchi, Giade and Toro local government areas of the nation.

Disregard bill seeking to scrap NYSC, youth group tells NASS leadership

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Some well-meaning Nigerian youths have urged the National Assembly leadership to ignore the bill seeking to scrap the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), describing it as “obnoxious”.

The Concerned Nigerian Youth (CNY) said  discontinuing the scheme will jeopardise the chances of a greater and united Nigeria as the opportunities acculturation will be totally lost.

The group’s President, Obande Gideon Obande, made this known in a statement on Wednesday titled ‘Move By Green Chambers to Scrap NYSC Scheme; A Major Drift Away from National Unity’.

According to Obande, the NYSC was established to unite Nigerians after the Civil War.

He noted that the scheme has evolved since then and its now responsible for more than 40% inter ethnic marriages in the nation.

“The National Youth Service Corps scheme established on 22 May, 1973 with one primary purpose; “Uniting Nigerians across boards,” he said.

“This service to the nation as insignificant as it is painted to look today at the floor of the green chambers, is responsible for more than 40% inter ethnic marriages in our nation.

“The reorientation of young minds viz-a-viz the culture and tradition, religion of other Nigerians have had a better perception”.

Obande further noted that as tensed as the nation looks along the different lines of divide, the scheme seems to be the only surviving bridge connecting the North and south; a legacy that must be preserved.

Instead of outright scrapping, he further revealed that the expectation of young Nigerians points towards amendments to ensure that the scheme meets up with the current challenges we face as a nation in the area of security, unemployment and value reorientation.

He, therefore, warned that an attempt to scrap the NYSC will rather jeopardise the chances of a greater united Nigeria, one envisaged by our leaders past.

“In view of the aforementioned and many other reasons, as Concerned Nigerian Youth we align our position with other progressives calling for total disregard for this bill,” Obande added.

He, however, called on all members of the Nigerian Parliament with the interest of the Nigerian Youth at heart to rise up against this obnoxious bill.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan commiserated with the household of Brig.- Gen. Olatunji Luqman Olayinka, who died along with other people during last Friday’s military plane crash in Kaduna

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The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Adebola Ekanola, has commiserated with the household of Brig.- Gen. Olatunji Luqman Olayinka, who died along with other people during last Friday’s military plane crash in Kaduna.

Ekanola also commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians on that the passing of that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), overdue Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, along with additional gallant officers at the ill-fated military plane crash.

A statement by UI Spokesman, Olatunji Oladejo, said the late Brig.-Gen.

Oladejo lent the Acting VC as explaining the late Brig.-Gen. Olayinka, as a highly cerebral, diligent, disciplined and focused officer, who was interested in utilizing tactical studies to address security challenges in Nigeria.

Ekanola, who offered prayers and sympathies to the families of the bereaved, said the death of the fallen gallant officers proved to be a massive loss to Nigeria.

Read also: NAF sets up committee to conduct safety audit of operational, engineering units

“Brig.-Gen. Olayinka and others laid their lives for peace, security and unity of Nigeria.

“They’d be recalled for their gifts into making Nigeria better than they met it. Now, this despair has touched us all. We must talk about the pain together. This loss is at least as much ours. “It’s from dust which we come as well as the dust we will return. His death is a great loss to his loved ones, Nigerian Army, University of Ibadan and the country generally.

“On behalf of Council, Senate, Congregation, Management, Staff and Pupils of this UI, I condole the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Visitor to the University of Ibadan, loved ones and great people of Nigeria on this unfortunate episode.

“May God break their souls in calmness. Amen,” he explained.

The University of Ibadan Flag will match the National Flag of Nigeria to be flown in half-mast on the campus for three days starting from Monday till Wednesday.

This, he said, was to honour the departed souls.

Borno State Governor orders immediate usage of 18 heavy-duty street building machines of 1.4 billion naira

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Borno Governor Orders Deployment Of 1.4 Billion Naira Of Construction Machines

The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has ordered that the immediate usage of 18 heavy-duty street building machines since the nation required delivery of their gear value 1.4 billion naira.

They comprise four excavators, two pilling machines, eight forcing rollers and graders and 2 bulldozers, imported to raise the potential of resident engineers working together with the state authorities, in addition, to undertake a chain of infrastructural functions.

He led the immediate setup of these machines to accelerate ongoing building works in various areas throughout the state.

Read also: Reps query NHIS for spending N152m on face masks

The Governor charged the nation’s Ministry of Works, which is the custodian of these machineries, to ensure appropriate maintenance to ensure that they remain operational.

The Commissioner of Works, Mr Yerima Saleh, that obtained Governor Zulum, stated the recently acquired machines could significantly improve the capacity of engineers, both in the Ministry of Works and in the State Road Maintenance Agency, to provide continuing projects in time and without compromising quality, noting that the gear will be acceptable for high-tech infrastructure.

NYSC: CSO condemns bill seeking to scrap scheme as evil plot against Nigerian youths

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The bill to amend the 1999 constitution to discontinue the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is an evil plot against Nigerian youths and not in the interest of the nation, a civil society group has said.

Kicking against the move, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) said the purveyors of conflict and agents of destabilisation are at work to earnestly set the country up in flames.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Executive Secretary, Comrade Isaac Ikpa said the relevance of the scheme to contemporary Nigeria can’t be overemphasised.

Established on May 22, 1973, by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon under Decree No. 24 of 1973, the
the primary objective was to reconcile and reintegrate Nigerians after the civil war.

But the lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, had argued that the scheme has overstayed its usefulness.

In reaction, Comrade Ikpa said that the scheme has instead evolved over the years in fulfilling its mandate of bridging ethnic and religious divisions and fostering the spirit of Nigerian nationalism.

He noted that thousands of young Nigerian graduates still look forward to participating in the one-year mandatory service.

According to Ikpa, the scheme also provides most youths with the opportunity for self-reliance in preparation for life ahead through the allowances paid and the experiences they go through.

Describing the move as “anti-youth, anti-people and misplaced”, he added that it is targeted at removing the last institutional framework for national stability and cohesion to satisfy the criminal mindset of a few Nigerians hiding in the National Assembly as lawmakers.

He, therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to “see this attempt as an affront to our sensibilities by a select few that are hell-bent on destabilising the youthful population in Nigeria, which on its own is a recipe for conflict”.

The CSO urged all Nigerians to mobilise in their large number to stop the bill as quickly as possible, adding that if there is any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the exercise, it’s now.

It, however, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country at heart and halt further deliberations on the grossly ill-informed bill.

The CSO also urged the Federal Government to do all within its means to ensure that those against the interest of the country do not succeed in disorienting its youthful population.

Read the full statement below:

This is indeed a sad chapter in the book of our dear country in the sense that it has become evident that the purveyors of conflict and the agents of destabilization are at work to earnestly set the country up in flames by muting the idea of scrapping the National Youth Service Scheme.

The relevance of the NYSC in contemporary Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. That the NYSC has evolved over the years in fulfilling its mandate of bridging ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria and fostering the spirit of Nigerian nationalism is a statement of fact.

It is, therefore, worrisome that some vested interest would attempt to push for the scrapping of such as initiative that is well-grounded to address the various ethnic and religious agitations and tensions in the country.

It is, therefore, the considered view of the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency that the call for the scrapping of the NYSC is not only disjointed, it is also of poor taste and a puerile attempt at plunging the country into a crisis of unimaginable proportion.

It is also our considered view that the selfish proponents of the Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC failed to realize that hundreds of thousands of young Nigerian graduates look forward to participating in the one-year mandatory service.

They also failed to realize that the one year service year provides most youths with the opportunity for self-reliance in preparation for life ahead through the allowances paid to them and the experiences they go through in their service year.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is therefore alarmed that the Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC has reached second reading in the House of Representatives. This is indicative that patriotism in Nigeria has been thrown to the dogs.

It is also indicative that some people have sold their souls to the devil in return for a plate of porridge hence the inglorious attempt at seeking for the scrapping of such an initiative that is more needed and relevant in the country now in the critical point of our existence where there have been politically motivated calls for separation in various parts of the country.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency states unequivocal terms that the Bill is anti-youth, anti-people, misplaced and targeted at removing the last institutional framework for national stability and national cohesion to satisfy the criminal mindset of a few Nigerians hiding in the National Assembly as lawmakers.

As a result of the press conference calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to see this attempt as an affront to our sensibilities by a select few that are hell-bent on destabilizing the youthful population in Nigeria, which on its own is a recipe for conflict.

We strongly believe that the agents seeking to destabilize the country are behind the Bill and call on all Nigerians to mobilize in their large number to stop the Bill as quickly as possible because if there is any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the Scheme, it’s now.

It remains our stance that the contributions of the NYSC to the country’s socio-economic development remain outstanding. This is also because the NYSC has evolved over the years and well-positioned to give the youths an avenue to realize their potentials through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.

We also wish to repeat that the NYSC is set up deliberately to advance national cohesion and unity. And if there’s any crucial moment in history to reinforce the essence of the Scheme, it’s now. This much all well-meaning Nigerians and relevant stakeholders must come to terms with to see the folly in the call the scrapping of such a laudable initiative.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency states that scrapping the NYSC would be a fundamental blunder. As such, it must cease to be a topic of discussion. We are calling on the leadership of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country at heart at this critical point of our existence.

The leadership of the National Assembly must halt further deliberations on the grossly ill-informed Bill seeking for the scrapping of the NYSC. They must rise above political considerations as the peculiarities of time require the sincerity of heart and purpose.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is also calling on parents and guardians to join their voice in condemning this ignoble call in the national interest. We also call on other concerned stakeholders to lend their voices as well.

We are also calling on the federal government to do all within its means to ensure that those against the interest of the country do not succeed in disorienting the youthful population of Nigeria, as the country cannot stand any youth upheaval that might arise if the NYSC is scrapped.

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency supports the laudable initiatives in the NYSC, and our commitment to the sustenance of the NYSC remains unflinching.
Thank you all for your time and attention.

NAF sets up committee to conduct safety audit of operational, engineering units

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NAF aircraft lifting platforms for operations

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has constituted a Committee of serving and retired senior officers to conduct a safety audit of all Nigerian Air Force(NAF) operational and engineering units.

In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the Committee is to, among other terms of reference, analyse safety reports from operational and engineering units, conduct safety evaluation of NAF units and recommend measures to enhance safety of operations in the units.

The Committee is also to interact with unit operational and technical personnel for views, observations and contributions on safety measures. Chaired by Air Vice Marshal Abraham Adole, the Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, the Committee is to submit its report not later than 18 June 2021.

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