The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission, SEDC into law.
TVN reports that President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday signed into law bills creating two new regional development commissions in Nigeria.
The bills include the North West Development Commission, NWDC, sponsored by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and the South East Development Commission, SEDC, sponsored by Ben Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Reacting, Ohanaeze in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, described the bill as “a quantum leap, a hope renewal and a significant part of a new beginning”.
The statement noted that the President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Engr. Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was highly elated by the development.
Ohanaeze said the SEDC, which will cover Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States would go a long way to “assuage the feelings of the Igbos with respect to the 3R sophistry by General Yakubu Gowon in January 1970”.
“Ohanaeze seizes this opportunity to commend the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu and the co-sponsors of the all-important Bill.
“During a courtesy call to the National Assembly by the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the exceptional quality of Kalu did not go unnoticed.
“His suave, assertive, sagacious and visionary dispositions were very inspiring and a veritable source of hope. More importantly, he commands the respect and confidence of most members of the House of Representatives.
“It needs a mention that the SEDC which has remained in the pipeline for decades has come on stream through Kalu and his team.
“The Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) is expected to manage funds allocated from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructural deficits suffered by the region due to age-long neglect.
“The SEDC will tackle ecological problems and related environmental challenges that have devastated the Southeast for decades”, the statement added.
Ohanaeze hails Tinubu, Kalu over assent to South East Development Commission bill
Ohanaeze hails Tinubu, Kalu over assent to South East Development Commission bill
33 Nigerian students bag $2.92m scholarships from US varsities
No fewer than 33 Nigerian students have received full scholarships totaling $2.92m to attend American universities and colleges for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The scholarships were received through the Opportunity Funds Programme of the United States Consulate General in Lagos.
The programme is designed to increase access to US higher institutions for highly qualified international students who have limited resources to cover the upfront costs of attending a university in the United States.
“The 33 departing students — 10 undergraduate and 23 graduate students — will be studying a variety of subjects including biomedical engineering; computer science; mechanical engineering; earth and planetary sciences; organic and medicinal chemistry; civil, construction, and environmental engineering; among others.
“Following a competitive selection process, the successful students received financial aid that covered expenses involved in the college application process such as standardized tests, application fees, U.S. visa and SEVIS fees as well as air travel to the United States. EducationUSA advisers worked closely with the students through regularly scheduled meetings, seminars, and bootcamps, to assist them throughout the application process,” the Consulate announced in a statement on Wednesday.
Speaking at a reception in Lagos in honour of the US-bound students, Consul General Will Stevens urged them to take advantage of the opportunities American universities have to offer and become actively involved in the many organizations and clubs that will enrich their experience as international students.
“This Fall, you will join the over 17,000 Nigerian students studying in the United States. You have successfully navigated the daunting U.S. college and university admissions process and we are so excited for your future. You have excelled in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that you will continue that path of academic excellence,” Stevens told the departing students.
One of the 2023 Opportunity Fund Programme scholars, Chigozie Odo, received full funding for a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of South Carolina.
His doctoral research will focus on immuno-therapy to contribute to lasting solutions to the treatment of cancer.
Odo, who lost his father and sole breadwinner for his family during his second year at university, expressed appreciation to the US government for covering the upfront costs of applying to U.S. universities through the Opportunity Funds Program.
“My dream of studying in the United States which seemed impossible is now a reality,” he added
Canada football coach sent home for spying on New Zealand
An assistant coach and an analyst with the Canadian women’s football team were on Wednesday sent home from the Olympics
Head coach Bev Priestman also announced she will take no part in the opening game of Canada’s gold medal defence, against New Zealand.
The decisions come after a staff member was detained by French authorities for flying a drone over a New Zealand training session this week in Saint-Etienne.
The Canadian Olympic Committee said it had since learned of a second incident involving New Zealand, which formally lodged a complaint with the IOC integrity unit and demanded answers from Canada.
“The COC is in contact with the IOC and in contact with FIFA. Canada Soccer has been transparent and cooperative throughout the process.
“The COC will continue to review this matter and may take further action if necessary,” the COC said.
It named the staff members sent home as Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, and Jasmine Mander, an assistant coach to whom Lombardi reported.
Priestman said she did not think it would be appropriate to be on the bench for the clash against New Zealand on Thursday.
“On behalf of our entire team, I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada.
“This does not represent the values that our team stands for.
“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our programme. Accordingly, to emphasise our team’s commitment to integrity, I have decided to voluntarily withdraw from coaching the match on Thursday,” she said.
AFP
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Troops arrest 10 suspected kidnappers in Taraba
Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigeria Army on Monday arrested 10 suspected kidnappers in multiple operations in Taraba State.
The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Capt. Oni Olubodunde, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Jalingo.
He said the operations conducted in collaboration with other security agencies followed a tip-off from a credible source.
He added that the operations took place at Galeri and Kwondo Villages of Ardo-Kola and Bali local government areas of the state.
The spokesman listed the items recovered from the suspects to include an AK 47 rifle and 33 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
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Police arrest four suspects laundering ransom money for kidnappers in Delta
Men of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspects who use their bank accounts to receive and launder ransom payments for kidnappers.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on X.com on Wednesday, the suspects would take a 15 per cent cut of the ransom money and withdraw the remaining 85 per cent via Point of Sale machines, handing over the cash to the kidnappers.
The suspects also confessed to using the proceeds to fund their plans to build a cryptocurrency website, allegedly for internet fraud purposes.
Sharing a video of the suspects, Edafe wrote, “The suspects were receiving kidnapping ransom money with their accounts, taking 15 per cent and withdrawing the balance 85 per cent via PoS nd giving to the kidnappers in cash.
“They also stated that they were using the proceeds to build a crypto website for Internet fraud. Pls listen to their modus.”
Click the link below to watch video:
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Police arrest 90 suspects in Lagos midnight raid
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad have arrested 90 male suspects during a raid on suspected criminals in the late hours of Tuesday.
The operation, which was done in collaboration with Area A Command, targeted notorious hotspots in Obalende, Adeniji, and Lagos Island areas of the state.
The RRS disclosed this in a statement on Facebook on Wednesday.
The statement read, “Last night, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, in collaboration with Area A Command acting on intelligence, raided 90 suspects in Obalende, Adeniji, and Lagos Island.
“The exercise, which started around mid-night, witnessed the teams combing notorious spots in Obalende, Adeniji, and Lagos Island. The exercise was aimed at reducing criminal activities in the areas.”
It added that all the suspects have been handed over to the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit for further investigation and prosecution.
The statement further read that the RRS Commander, CSP Shola Jejeloye, has ordered an expansion of the squad’s operations to cover Lekki, Jakande Roundabout, and V.G.C.
“The extension is to complement the agency’s vehicular patrol of the Lekki-Epe Expressway and to curb the activities of miscreants harassing motorists in traffic on the highway,” it added.
According Online reported in April how RRS operatives arrested 43 suspects across black spots in Oshodi and its environs during an overnight operation.
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INEC’s absence didn’t invalidate Abure’s reelection — LP
The leadership of Labour Party on Wednesday said the absence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the March 27 national convention does not invalidate the election that returned its National Chairman, Julius Abure, and members of the National Working Committee to office.
This was disclosed by the National Legal Adviser of LP, Kehinde Edun, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
Edun’s statement comes three days after INEC announced that none of its officials attended or monitored proceedings at the disputed convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State.
In the past four months, Abure has been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Labour Congress over the legitimacy of his re-election.
The party’s internal rift remains unresolved as the NLC and its stakeholders continue to distance themselves from the current NWC.
The situation escalated further when INEC responded to a request by a lawyer for a Certified True Copy of its report on the convention and the party’s constitution.
In the letter referenced INEC/DEPM/LP/CTC/885/1 dated July 18 and signed by Acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu, the commission declared that it couldn’t report on the convention because it did not monitor it.
The letter, which was sighted by The According, partly read, “The commission has received your request for the Certified True Copy of the monitored report of the Labour Party convention at Nnewi, Anambra State, held on the 27th of March 2024, and the Labour Party constitution.
“The Certified True Copy of the Labour Party Constitution has been forwarded to your firm earlier.
“Regrettably, the commission did not monitor the Labour Party Convention of 27th March 2024 and cannot therefore report on the convention.”
The position of the electoral umpire has since led to a chain reaction, with the NLC insisting that it has been vindicated.
But addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, Edun said the INEC letter was wrongly interpreted.
According to the national legal adviser, the presence or absence of INEC officials does not any affect the legitimacy of the national convention.
He said, “On the deliberate misinterpretation of INEC’s reply to an application by Messr Steve Adehi, SAN & Co, this letter is very clear and unambiguous and shouldn’t have been the subject of any argument. However not finding anything to hold against us, they went to import what is not contained in the letter into it. The applicant (an agent of the NLC) requested for the CTC of INEC to monitor the report of the Labour party convention 2024 and the constitution. Even though the applicant and his principal were dishonest, mischievous, dubious, and manipulative, INEC’s response was accurate and unpretentious.
“How on earth could there be an INEC monitored report when we have made it clear that INEC did not attend, a position also confirmed by INEC and is in the public domain. The NLC and its cronies including the applicant knew INEC didn’t attend. Why then ask for the INEC report and what is their business with it?
“In paragraph 3 of the INEC’s response, the commission expressed regret that it did not monitor the convention and could therefore not have an INEC-monitored report. Now, did the non-attendance of INEC invalidate the convention? The answer is capital no and INEC never said so. The law did not make it mandatory for INEC to attend any party’s convention. INEC knew they were at liberty to come or not. What the law requires is proper notice. Take note that the law did not say the failure of INEC to attend shall render the convention invalid. What then is the essence of the dishonest, dubious, and misconceived hue and cry by the NLC?”
Continuing, the party counsel warned that it can’t be intimidated or cowed by any external aggressor and wouldn’t fold it hands to watch the party being hijacked.
NDLEA arrests most wanted leader of drug cartel in Lagos, Temo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the head of the drug cartel in the Mushin area of Lagos, Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh aka Temo.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the suspect who has been on the agency’s wanted list for more than two years was arrested at his enclave after an initial resistance from his horde of hoodlums on Monday.
The spokesman added that NDLEA operatives had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo but he has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfights.
Babafemi said: “Some of the recent seizures of his shipments include 14, 524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana in two trucks and a J5 bus intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of Sunday, January 28, 2024, two truck-loads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg intercepted at Eleko beach, Lekki, Lagos on May 4, 2023 and 252kg of Loud seized from his enclave in Mushin on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
“Indeed, in the last two encounters, his men engaged NDLEA operatives in gunfights.
“The drug kingpin was very notorious for always being on the move to evade arrest but with persistence and determination of the agency aided by modern tools and intelligence, the concerted effort to get him paid off at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024 when NDLEA’s surveillance teams on his trail tracked and pinned him down at Igbarere Street, Mushin.
“A reinforcement of about 50 operatives was immediately mobilized to the area while he was attempting to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 marked 01G-300G. His attempt to escape by mobilizing hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives however failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered to the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents who also succeeded in recovering the Mercedes Benz SUV the suspect was found in.”
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Forum seeks collaboration to combat malnutrition, food insecurity
The Forum of Chairpersons of Committees on Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria has expressed its readiness to join hands with stakeholders to find solutions to malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.
The group, in a statement on Wednesday, said it would work towards fostering a unified legislative approach to nutrition and food security challenges through effective laws, policies and programs that will be enacted and implemented at both national and state levels.
The group made the commitment at the official inauguration of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security and the inauguration of its leadership in Abuja recently, where Tolulope Ige emerged as the National Coordinator/Chairman of the forum.
The forum stressed the need to establish with stakeholders, policymakers, and representatives from various sectors to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.
In his acceptance speech, the new chairman of the forum and lawmaker in Ekiti State, Ige, stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, pledging to work diligently to fulfil the objectives of the forum and the National Legislative Network.
The lawmaker noted that malnutrition and food insecurity have remained a constant threat to socio-economic development in Nigeria, and becoming an existential threat.
He said, “The National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security aims to foster a unified legislative approach to nutrition and food security challenges, ensuring that effective laws, policies and programs are enacted and implemented at both national and state levels.
“The network will collaborate with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, international bodies, and other relevant stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise”
Expressing appreciation to the members for the confidence reposed in him, Ige promised to join hands with them to stamp out malnutrition and ensure food security in the country.
According to the statement, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, underscored the critical role of legislative bodies in formulating laws that promote nutritional well-being and food security.
He commended the formation of the network and the forum’s leadership, urging them to work tirelessly towards achieving zero hunger by 2030.
Other executive members of the forum include Maina Garbu (North-East) – Vice Chairman, Mr Jude Umennajiego (South-East) – Vice Chairman, Ahmed Ibrahim (North-West) – Vice Chairman, Adesanya Oluseun (South-West) – Vice Chairman, Umukoro Perkins (South-South) – Vice Chairman and Naalong Daniel (North-Central) – Vice Chairman.
Others are Dr Sulaiman Fana, Secretary, Sale Jibir, Treasurer, Moses Essien, Public Relations Officer, and Onyebuchi Ogbadu, Financial Secretary.
Nigerians shower parents of quadruplets with over N10m after diaper lament
The outpouring of donations for one Sodiq Olayode, whose wife, Abiodun, recently gave birth to quadruplets, has surpassed N10 million.
This development comes after a colleague, James, identified as #jamysax on X.com, shared Olayode’s struggle with the need for diapers for the quadruplets, who used 105 diapers in six days.
His post gained the attention of netizens on X.com, which spurred the donations made to Olayode’s bank account that James provided on Wednesday.
Providing hourly updates, James wrote on X.com, “Hello, tueh tueh. As of 16:05, they have received 10,342,204 million.
“Also, someone is about to pay for three months delivery of diapers.”
He added that some individuals also offered to gift them baby items, among others.
“Also, someone volunteered to pay their wages with 50k monthly for a year and also pay for a house help (50k) monthly for a year. That’s 100k per month for a year,” James stated.
According Online earlier reported that James disclosed on Tuesday how Olayode and his wife welcomed a set of quadruplets instead of a single child they initially expected.
Speaking in an interview with Feelrightnewstv on Facebook, Sodiq revealed that they were already blessed with a daughter before welcoming the quadruplets, two boys and two girls.
He added that the quadruplets were born at eight months because the pregnancy was becoming “life-threatening.”
Recall in January how a mother, Deborah Olaki (also known on X as Mummy Zee), became a millionaire in less than 48 hours after a post on X.com stating how she wakes up as early as 4.50 am to prepare her husband’s lunch.