Due to the order issued by the Federal Government to link National Identity Number(NIN) with SIM card, many Nigerians are naïve about the number of SIM cards allowed per subscriber.
Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has given a fresh update for that provision.
Most of the network subscribers in Nigeria were not informed about the number of Sim cards allowed by the FG to be used. Likewise, it rise fears amid this exercise, expecting disconnection to be conducted for several lines.
The NCC in a statement has urged Nigerians not to be fear for the said mass disconnection. Informing Nigerians that there’s nothing like mass disconnection of their Sims.
The spokesperson of NCC, Ikechukwu Adinde in a statement said, many Nigerians have already linked their SIM with NIN. Therefore there shouldn’t be a mass disconnection.
According to him, A recent survey conducted shown that on average, there are now approximately 4 to 5 SIMs for every subscriber. “Each subscriber is eligible to link up to 7 SIM cards with a unique NIN”.
He added that; the ongoing exercise is for the good of Nigerians in the area of budget, policy planning, social intervention and many more.
“Finally I know many Nigerians will be delighted about this development. 7 SIM cards will be quite okay for one person.
“I urged you to share this vital information on various platforms to others, because other people will be glad to hear this as well.”
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE, in the early hours of yesterday, 7 January 2021, successfully staged a daring rescue operation at Mararaba Udege general area in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, rescuing 3 kidnapped persons and neutralizing one armed bandit in the ensuing firefight.
The operation according to the Coordinator Defence Media Operations followed actionable and credible intelligence.
”The kidnapped victims were subsequently reunited with their respective families.
”The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until all enemies of the Country are neutralised and normalcy is restored to all troubled zones.”
The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State and taken out their hideouts in Alagarno, including a compound housing some high-value BHT leaders.
According to the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, the compound, concealed under thick vegetation and located 2.3Km North East of KAFA, was being used by the terrorists to coordinate their nefarious activities.
”The destruction of the locations was achieved through multiple air strikes executed on 6 January 2021 as the ATF dispatched appropriate force packages of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and attack helicopters to engage the target areas in day and night raids.
”The BHTs were spotted under the dense vegetation of the locations and the NAF attack aircraft took turns in engaging the targets, neutralizing several of them.
”The Armed Forces of Nigeria will not relent until all enemies of the Nation are neutralised and normalcy is restored to all troubled zones.” He added.
As Nigerians wrestle to acquire the National Identification Number (NIN) from offices of the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) nationwide, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated some unscrupulous individuals are cashing in on the train to induce enrollees to sell their unique digits for a charge.
The agency’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, defined that the buyers had been additionally reselling.
Clarifying that it’s unlawful to promote NIN, Uwujaren warned the vendor dangers vicarious legal responsibility for any act of criminality linked to the quantity.
“In different phrases, they threat arrest and prosecution for any act of criminality linked to their NIN whether or not they’re straight accountable or not for the crime.
“The fee warns members of the general public in opposition to promoting their NIN and to report anybody in search of to purchase their NIN to the closest workplace of the EFCC or different legislation enforcement agencies,” he added.
The Federal Government has given N52 million as a grant to 2,600 weak rural ladies in Nasarawa State. Every one of the ladies will get N20,000 below the federal government’s particular money switch, as a part of the poverty alleviation programme.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Catastrophe Management and Social Improvement, Sadiya Farouk, disclosed this whereas flagging of the programme in Lafia on Wednesday.
Farouk, represented by the Minister of State for Science and Know-how, Abdullahi Mohammed, said that the disbursement was a part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s poverty discount agenda.
“The grant is predicted to extend entry to monetary capital required for financial actions and to uplift, the socio-financial standing of rural women within the state,” minister explained.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency Faisal Shuaib, says President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be among the first set of people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria on live television, an official has said.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha will also receive the vaccine on live telecast in a move the government hopes will help drive awareness.
Shuaib stated this on Thursday at the weekly press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
He said: “On Tuesday, I mentioned that we will like to see a situation where Mr President, the Vice President, the SGF, critical leaders come and take the vaccine in full glare of the public to demonstrate that this vaccine is safe.
“So, we have to make provisions for those. But even in developed countries, what we have seen is that apart from the prioritisation of health workers, you have to also identify critical leaders that you don’t want them to be wiped off by the virus.”
Shuaib said the experience had shown that vaccines are always better than health immunity.
He said for COVID-19, it would take approximately 10 years for one to be able to achieve health immunity and many people would have died if health immunity is to be relied upon.
The vaccines are expected in the country by the end of January.
A Kano High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining Governor Abdullahi Ganduje alongside four others from further deduction from the salaries of members of the state chapter of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The workers took to court after Mr Ganduje allegedly deducted their November and December salaries amounting to over N80 million.
An ex-parte motion filed before the court on Tuesday by their counsel F. I. Umar was equally supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit.
Justice Usman Na’abba also mandated the defendants and whoever acting on their behalf to comply with an earlier agreement dated December 19 that was entered between the two parties pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The case was adjourned to January 28 for further hearing.
Speaking on the matter, chairman of the union in Kano Muktar Lawal said the workers were shocked to notice deduction in their salaries for November and December 2020 which prompted them to seek legal action.
Meanwhile, the state government has reverted to the N18,000 minimum wage, saying it is unable to pay N30, 000 as minimum wage due to recession occasioned by COVID-19.
The Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has condemned Wednesday’s siege on the U.S. Congress, describing it as “despicable” and an “assault on democracy”.
In a statement signed by its Director, John Tom Lever, on Thursday, the group said President Donald Trump showed lack of respect for democratic ideals by instigating and urging his supporters to assault the Capitol.
According to Lever, the incident at the Congress affirms the retrogression of democracy in the U.S under Trump’s watch.
The GAW, therefore, noted that it is time for retrospection by the incoming administration led by President-elect, Joe Biden.
He said the new government must improve the country’s internal mechanism to guard against a repeat of the assault in its democracy as carried out by Trump and his supporters.
The Global Amnesty Watch, however, advised the incumbent to seek forgiveness from the American people for bringing democracy in the nation to disrepute.
It added that the actions of Trump remain despicable and must be condemned by all lovers of democracy all over the world.
Read the full statement below:
The Global Amnesty Watch views the events in the United States of America that culminated in the attack on the United States Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump as a most despicable desecration of democracy in the United States of America.
By all indication, President Donald Trump has proved a lack of respect for democratic ideals by instigating and urging his supporters to assault democracy in the United States of America in its over 200 year’s existence.
The Global Amnesty Watch is of the considered opinion that the attempt to subvert the will of the American people by President Donald Trump must be condemned in its entirety.
The Global Amnesty Watch, having followed the events in the United States of America wishes to state that the various actions of President Donald Trump do not reflect the attributes of a leader of the United States of America, which by all intent and purposes ought to serve as a role model in the preservation and entrenchment of democracy all over the world.
Thus, it is our considered opinion that under President Donald Trump, the United States of America has degenerated and therefore cannot continue to posture as an example of democracy in the world.
The unfortunate happenings since the conclusion of the presidential elections in the United States of America have brought out the defects in the model of democracy practised in the United States of America.
This indeed calls to question some of the United States of America’s stance in the preservation and entrenchment of democracy around the world and especially in the African continent.
This much the Global Amnesty Watch has highlighted in some of its reports on the interpretation of the ideals of democracy across the world by some advanced democracies such as the United States of America.
The Global Amnesty Watch uses this medium to reiterate that democracy around the world remains an experiment. Those at the forefront should do well to exhibit sincerity in the criticism of emerging democracies.
The attack on the United States Capitol is indeed blighting on democracy in the United States of America. The incoming administration of President-Elect Joe Biden must begin the process of ensuring that the ideals of democracy are reenacted, and charity must begin at home. Not until this is done, the United States of America should desist from setting standards for interpreting and practice of democracy in the world.
The Global Amnesty Watch further reiterates that democracy has been assaulted in the United States of America. Therefore there must be circumspection and retrospection in this regards by the institutions in the United States of America.
The authorities in the United States of America must improve its internal mechanism to guard against a repeat of the assault in its democracy as carried by President Donald Trump and his supporters.
The Global Amnesty Watch has indeed been vindicated by President Donald Trump’s actions, which has been a constant feature in our numerous reports indicating a retrogression of democracy in the United States of America under the watch of President Donald Trump.
It is hoped that lessons have been learnt with the events that culminated in the attack on the Capitol in the United States of America.
The Global Amnesty Watch states that President Donald Trump must seek forgiveness from the American people for bringing democracy in the United States of America to disrepute.
The actions of President Donald Trump remain despicable and must be condemned by all lovers of democracy all over the world.
…Scores of criminals killed, 16 criminals arrested, 12 kidnapped victims rescued in a week
The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it has in collaboration with other security agencies neutralised scores of terrorists and rescued over 12 kidnapped victims while 16 criminal and collaborators have been arrested since the beginning of the new year.
Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche disclosed this on Thursday, at the Defence Headquarters while briefing newsmen on the operational activities of the military in the various theatres operations in the six geo-political zones targeted at ending insurgency in the last one week.
General Eneche who spoke on the successes recorded by the troops within December 31, 2020, to January 6, this year disclosed that the gallant troops also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the criminal elements and well destroyed some illegal refineries in the South-South part of the country and recovered over 600,000 of stolen crude from criminals operating in the zone.
The DMO Coordinator further explained that the gallant troops within the period under review, have intensified operations on aggressive clearance patrols, rescue operations ambushes and aerial patrols that led to the rescue of abducted persons, killing of bandits and other criminals group and the recovery of arms and ammunition.
The full text of the briefing reads below:
GENERAL UPDATE ON ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA OPERATIONS FROM 31 DECEMBER 2020 TO 6 JANUARY 2021
The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have continued their major operations across the country with renewed vigor. I will be updating you on the operations in line with our weekly schedule. This briefing covers from 31 December 2020 to 6 January 2021.
NORTH-WEST ZONE
Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI and other subsidiary operations have sustained their operations in the North-West Zone of the country progressively. The gallant troops within the period carried out several operations including rescue operations as well as clearance, ambushes and aerial patrols. These operations led to the rescue of abducted persons, neutralization of criminal elements and recovery of arms and ammunition. Within the period in focus, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI while on routine patrol around Gidan Dan Nunu and Dutsi villages of Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State made contact with bandits. In the course of the encounter, the gallant troops rescued 7 kidnapped victims. Relatedly, on 31 December 2020, troops acting on credible intelligence rescued 2 women and a child kidnapped at Kimbisawa village of Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. Rescued victims were immediately reunited with their families.
In a related development, troops of Operation ACCORD rescued 3 kidnapped victims on New Year day following credible intelligence that armed bandits stormed Tungar Ruwa village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Rescued victims have been reunited with their families. Equally, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY arrested two suspected armed bandits on New Year day following a tip off at Maraban Maigora in Faskari Local Government Area. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects had connection with a notorious armed bandit leader in Madachi village of Sabuwa Local Government Area.
In the same vein, troops of Operation SAHEL SANITY on 2 January 2021, based on credible intelligence neutralized five armed bandits at Garin Garus. Items recovered include, 2 AK 47 rifles, 2 magazines and 18 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition. Troops have continued to dominate the North West theatre of operation with aggressive fighting and aerial patrols to deny the criminal elements freedom of action.
NORTH-EAST ZONE
Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have not relented in their efforts to decimate the BHT/ISWAP elements operating in the North East Zone of the Country. Between 31 December 2020 and 6 January 2021, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE sustained their ground and air operations by adopting continuous vigilance and offensive postures.
Within the period in focus, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE neutralized several ISWAP terrorist elements and destroyed their structures alongside some logistics items in air strikes conducted at Tumbun Gini general area of Borno State. This was achieved after series of aerial surveillance missions indicated that the structures and logistics items, camouflaged under dense vegetation was used as staging area for the criminals and their leaders to meet, from where they plan and launch attacks on troops and civilians. Similarly, on 1 January 2021, the Air Task Force destroyed new BHT’s settlement and neutralized some of their fighters at Mana Waji in Borno State. In another development on 2 January 2021, the Air Task Force took out some BHT criminal elements’ hideouts and eliminated some of their fighters during air strikes at Kote Kura and Bulama Isamari within the Timbuktu Triangle in Borno State. The air strikes were executed based on credible intelligence report indicating that the terrorists had established camps at the 2 settlements, where they stored their logistics items as well as plan and launch attacks on civilians and troops. Subsequently, series of air patrols and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions as well air cover for surface troops have been continuously conducted across the Zone.
NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE
In the North Central zone, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to intensify ongoing kinetic operations to decisively stamp out armed banditry and other criminalities. Notably, on 31 December 2020, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, in collaboration with personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), arrested 3 suspected gun runners Yahaya Aliyu, Maiwada Idris and Ishaq Mohammed at Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The suspects were handed over to the DSS for further investigation.
Similarly, on 2 January 2021, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, in collaboration with the DSS, arrested a suspected member of a notorious kidnap gang, one Suleiman Tanko. The suspect was picked up at a clinic at Ungwan Carpenter village in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State where he was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during a recent kidnap operation foiled by troops. Tanko’s arrest was followed by the arrest of another wanted kidnap kingpin, one Mallam Abdulmuminu Nuhu at Fobur village in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State on 3 January 2021.
Same day, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN apprehended 3 suspects, Messrs David Kure, Peter Adamu, and Bulus Duniya, in connection with the alleged murder of a Fulani herder at Matyeu village of Zonzon district in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Two other suspects, messrs Mathew Peter (the prime suspect) and Dakachi Yohanna Chawei, were arrested in connection with the murder, on 4 January 2021. All suspects are presently undergoing preliminary investigation.
SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have continued with the aggressive fight against economic sabotage in the zone progressively. Within the period under review, acting on credible intelligence, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA Patrol team located a wooden boat laden with about 200,000 litres of product suspected to be crude oil. Accordingly, the boats along with the product were handled appropriately.
Equally, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team discovered and immobilized an illegal refining site with 9 storage tanks and 4 ovens containing crude oil estimated to be about 150,000 litres at Olaipase Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. The patrol team proceeded further within the same community and located another illegal refinery site with 15 storage tanks and 8 ovens laden with substance suspected to be illegally refined AGO estimated to be about 250,000 litres.
The Military High Command encourages the troops and personnel of other security agencies to remain resolute and to sustain the tempo in all the Joint Operations Areas. The High Command also reassures the general public of its untiring dedication towards securing the country. Members of the general public are enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the military and other security agencies for prompt and effective action. Thank you.
Death has occurred of the former chief of air staff, Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok.
Eduok died Wednesday night at age 73.
A family source disclosed that the retired Air Force boss from Akwa Ibom State did not die from COVID-19 as widely speculated in the social media.
According to the source, Eduok died from kidney related illness which had kept him on the hospital bed for many months before he finally breathed his last Wednesday night (yesterday).
“I can tell you categorically that his death has nothing to do with Coronavirus. The man has been on the hospital bed for some time now. He was suffering from kidney related illness,” disclosed the source.
Our source further hinted that the death of the former Air Force chief was yet to be made known to the public.
“We (family) are waiting for the state government to officially inform the Nigerian Air Force first, it is after that his death will be officially announced by the state government,” said the source.
Recall that Eduok’s death comes on the heels of that of Wing Commander Idongesit Nkanga, another retired Air Force officer and former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State who reportedly died from COVID-19 related ailments.
Born on July 11, 1947, Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok was born at Ibesikpo Asutan local government in Akwa Ibom State.
After his education, he began working for VON for a short while as a studio manager. In 1968 Nsikak enrolled in the NAF as a probable pilot.
Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok obtained his first military exercise from the Nigerian Defence Academy before going for his principal flying training in 1970. In 1971 after completing his principal training he went through the Basic Flying training course and emerged the best overall student.
In that same year he was assigned Second Lieutenant. Between 1971 and 1986 he attended several flying courses which included Advanced and Tactical Flying training course, Aircraft Accident Investigation course, MiG-21 Conversion Course in the Soviet Union, Advanced Staff Course in United Kingdom.
In 1991, he attended USAF Air War College in Alabama where he graduated in 1992. Between 1975 and 1976, Nsikak Eduok was the first Operations Officer of the Makurdi Strike Group. He was Commanding Officer of NAF Station, Enugu and the first Commander of the 75th Fighter Squadron.
Nsikak Eduok also has a street “Nsikak Eduok Avenue” in Akwa Ibom named after him.
