August 2021 – Page 55

Post Date : August 11, 2021

NIN registration to become compulsory for WASSCE candidates from next year, says WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has made it mandatory for candidates who want to sit for the exams in Nigeria from next year to have been enrolled for a National Identifification Number (NIN) with the National Identification Management Commission. The head of national office of WAEC Nigeria, Mr Patrick Areghan, made this disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos while addressing newsmen on the organisation’s preparedness towards the forcoming 2021 schools-based West African Senior School Certificate Examination scheduled to commence across Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria from August 16. He said WAEC Nigeria, as a law-abiding organisation working in public interests, had no option than to key into Nigerian government directive for every resident to enrol for NIM, which is a personalised number to every enrollee. ‌He said WAEC would have even started making the policy a mandatory requirement with this year’s exams but pleaded with the Federal Ministry of Education for one more year to enable potential candidates of its various exams who are yet to register with NIM to do so in the interval. He said WAEC believes that the policy is achieveable with candidates sitting for its exams just as it is with those sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME) being conducted by the Joint admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB). He said a total of 1,573,789 candidates, comprising 792,620 males and 781,169 females are expected to sit for the exam across 19,425 recognised secondary schools, comprising 8.052 public and 11,373 private schools nationwide. He said the exam body was well aware of the insecurity situation particularly in some states in the northern part of the country and the raging third wave of COVID-19 and had collaborated with relevant government agencies including security operatives amd schools as partners to help where neccesary and as applicable.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

Four die of cholera in Gombe

Gombe has recorded four deaths out of 48 positive cases of cholera. Commissioner for Health Dr. Abu Dahiru announced this to reporters on Tuesday. He said 77 cases were tested out of which 48 were positive and four could not survive. “We have six wards that are affected in Gombe Local Government: Bolari East, Bolari West, Heruwagana, Ajiya, Nasarawa, Jekadafari, Dawaki, Kumbiakumbia and Pantami. All these wards have presented various cases of diarrhea and vomiting and we term that as gastroenteritis. So we commence testing of those that reported to our facilities. “In Bolari East, we have fifteen cases and ten tested positive. In Bolari West, we have none cases and six tested positive. In Heruwagana, we have seven cases and all the seven tested positive for Cholera. “In Samaki ward, 17 out of 34 tested positive for Cholera. In Nasarawa ward, we had three cases and all the three tested positive with one mortality. “In Jekadafari we have one case but it was not positive. Kumbiakumbia, we have one case and it was positive and in Pantami, we have one case and it was also positive of cholera,” he said. The Commissioner said all 77 cases were recorded in Gombe local government with 48 positive adding the 77 have been treated and discharged with four deaths. He said a multi-sectoral incidence management response system has been activated to respond to the outbreak of the epidemic in Gombe.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

16-Year-Old Girl Set Colleague Ablaze In Kwara

An Ilorin Magistrate court on Tuesday remanded a sixteen-year-old girl, (name withheld), for allegedly setting her colleague, Fatimoh Jako ablaze over a minor misunderstanding that ensued between them. She was dragged before Magistrate F.O Olokoyo for alleged Criminal Trespass, Mischief by Fire and Culpable Homicide contrary to sections 327, 342 and 221 penal code law. sections 327, 342 and 221 penal code law. The incident occurred at Moshegada, Kaima local Government area of the state and was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ilorin for discreet investigation. The defendant and victim were apprentice at one Joseph Friday Patent Medicine Store before the former was transferred to another branch over their quarrel. She reportedly got the petrol she used to perpetrate the act from the store from where she was transferred to According to police report, she trespassed into the room of the deceased while she was asleep, poured the petrol on her, then ignite matches and burn her alive. In a bid to save her life, the victim was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for treatment but was later confirmed dead by doctors as a result of the burnt she suffered, the charge sheet added. The police said the defendant, during the course of the investigation, confessed to the crime claiming she set her colleague on fire because of a minor disagreement that necessitated them keeping malice. The prosecutor, Inspector Sekunda Olayide, informed the court that the matter was brought to court with a motion exparte. According to him, it’s a capital offence and the defendant cannot be admitted to bail. Magistrate F. O Olokoyo, who only took cognisance of the suit because of lack of jurisdiction to try it, adjourned the case till 30th August,2021, pending the outcome of advice from the Ministry of Justice. Olokoyo then ordered her remand in any juvenile facility or appropriate custody in Ilorin. Editor’s Note: This photo is for illustrative purpose

Post Date : August 11, 2021

World Bank lists Nigeria, nine others high-debt risk nations

The World Bank has stated that Nigeria is among a list of top 10 countries with high debt risk exposure. It stated this in the financial statement for International Development Association, which was among the World Bank FY21 audited financial statements released on Monday. The financial statement said, “IDA faces two types of credit risk: country credit risk and counterparty credit risk. “Country credit risk is the risk of loss due to a country not meeting its contractual obligations, and counterparty credit risk is the risk of loss attributable to a counterparty not honoring its contractual obligations. “IDA is exposed to commercial as well as noncommercial counterparty credit risk.” It stated, “As of June 30, 2021, the 10 countries with the highest exposures accounted for 66 per cent of IDA’s total exposure.” Nigeria was rated fifth on the list with $11.7bn IDA debt stock, while India led the list with $22bn IDA debt stock, followed by Bangladesh with $18.1bn IDA debt stock, Pakistan with $16.4bn IDA debt stock, and Vietnam with $14.1bn IDA debt stock. Other countries on the list in order of appearance included Ethiopia with $11.2bn IDA debt stock, Kenya with $10.2bn IDA debt stock, Tanzania with $8.3bn IDA debt stock, Ghana with $5.6bn IDA debt stock, and Uganda with $4.4bn IDA debt stock. It added that there was a Single Borrower Limit for IDA, which for FY22, had been set at $45bn (25 per cent of $180.9bn of equity as of June 30, 2021). It was further discovered that Nigeria’s undisbursed balance with the World Bank is about $8.656bn as at June 30, 2021. According to the financial statement for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Nigeria has a total of $589m undisbursed balance, consisting of $500m loans approved but not yet signed and $89m signed loan commitment. The financial statement for IDA disclosed that Nigeria had a total undisbursed balance of $8.07bn, consisting of $1.462bn loans approved but not yet signed and $6.61bn signed loan commitment. The financial statement for IBRD disclosed that although certain amount of loans has been agreed ‘the loans are not effective and disbursements do not start until the borrowers and/or guarantors take certain actions and furnish documents’. A total of $1bn loans were agreed between Nigeria and the World bank’s IBRD, of which Nigeria’s outstanding loan is $411m. For IDA, a total of $19.54bn loans were agreed upon, of which Nigeria’s outstanding loan is $11.47bn. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria owes the World Bank a total of $11.51bn, consisting of $11.10bn IDA loans and $410.23m IBRD loans as of March 31. Other financial statements released included the statements for International Finance Corporation and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. In a press statement titled ‘World Bank Group Releases FY21 Audited Financial Statements’, the bank disclosed that the World Bank Group commitments rose to $84.3bn in the fiscal year 2021, 15 per cent higher than FY20. The statement quoted the World Bank Group President, David Malpass, as saying, “The World Bank Group support to client countries surged to $157bn over the last 15 months to address increased poverty, inequality, and the impacts of COVID-19.” He added that the unprecedented level of commitments helped countries strengthen health systems, protect the poor and vulnerable, support jobs and businesses, promote economic growth, and lay the foundation for a green, resilient and inclusive recovery.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

FG Approves N4bn For Fuelling Police Vehicles

The Federal Government has approved N4billion for fueling of police operational vehicles across 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory. The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed this at the National Institute of Police Studies in Abuja on Tuesday. Dingyadi stressed that approving such a large sum of funds for fueling under the 2021 budget is the first time in the history of Nigeria Police. “The Ministry is deeply grateful to Mr. President and the National Assembly for approving funds for the supply of fuel to the 36 states Police Commands across the country and FCT to increase their efficiency. Over N4billion has been earmarked for this purpose,” he said. The minister also revealed that the Police Trust Fund has awarded contracts for the supply of more operational vehicles, Body Protection Vest & Helmet, Arms and Ammunitions, Drugs and Medical equipment, and other critical security hardware. He added that the Federal Executive Council recently approved the Automation of Police Specialized Services to promote Transparency and Accountability as well as serve as an additional source of funding to enhance police operations. When asked when the new salary structure for police officers which was promised by President Muhammadu Buhari would come out, he said President’s directive to the National Wages and Salaries Commission to produce a new enhanced salary structure would soon come out.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

EFCC grills Dickson over ‘abuse of office, corruption’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has quizzed Seriake Dickson, a former Bayelsa governor, over alleged corruption. A source at the commission told TheCable that Dickson was interrogated at the headquarters of the EFCC in the federal capital territory (FCT), on Tuesday. The interrogation is said to have lasted for more than five hours, but details on why he was invited are still sketchy. “Yes, he was invited for questioning for alleged corruption,” the source said. The senator representing Bayelsa west is also allegedly being questioned for “abuse of office”, and is said to have mismanaged about N1 trillion while he was governor of the state. In 2020, a leaked telephone conversation between Dickson and Furoebi Akene, a former commissioner of lands in Bayelsa, alleged that the former governor took loans on behalf of the state, but did not spend them on the purposes they were taken for. Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency is said to have received a number of petitions against Dickson, hence the invitation extended to him by the EFCC.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

Strike: FG, resident doctors fail to reach agreement — after meeting for six hours

The meeting between the house of representatives committee on health services, federal government and National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), ended without any agreement on Tuesday. The two-day public hearing, organised by the house committee on health services, started on Monday but ended in a deadlock on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Olorunnimbe Mamora, minister of state for health; Emmanuel Meribole, permanent secretary, office of the head of service; Ben Akabueze, director-general of the budget office of the federation; Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, president of NARD, among others. While addressing officials at the meeting on Tuesday, the NARD president cited experiences of doctors in hospitals across the country, especially as it related to payment of salaries. “We need to get something right, and getting something right is when we tell ourselves the truth. Why we are still on strike today is because of the ministry of health, mostly — my apologies to the minister of health. I will say it as it is,” he said. “We have been honoured that the speaker came to see us and invited us four times. This is the second time we are going on a strike in this year. Why are we having these bottlenecks? Because some people are not doing their jobs.” However, after about six hours of discussions, Tanko Sununu, chairman of the committee, asked the resident doctors to work with the ministry of health to come up with an agreement reached at the meeting. But Okhuaihesuyi insisted that the meeting has not resolved the issues raised by the resident doctors, adding that no agreement has been reached. THE STRIKE The doctors had embarked on a strike on April 1 to protest the failure of the government to fulfil an agreement signed with the union. NARD later suspended the strike on April 10, following the signing of a new agreement with the federal government, concerning issues raised in a 13-point demand. However, more than two months after the new agreement was signed, the resident doctors say the federal government has failed to meet most of their demands. The doctors commenced a fresh nationwide strike on August 2 and have vowed not call off the strike until the federal government meets all their demands.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

Navy kills six suspected IPOB members in Anambra

The Naval Outpost, Onitsha, Anambra State, has urged the public to disregard a report of alleged killing of two of its personnel during a gun duel with suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Awkuzu in the state. In a statement made available in Awka, yesterday, the Commanding Officer, Adekunle Okeniyi, disclosed that the Naval personnel killed six suspected IPOB members while others suffered serious injuries when troops repelled attack by the group. He, therefore, urged immediate halt to the spread of what he termed fake news. “The attention of the Naval Outpost, Onitsha, has been drawn to some false publications that on August 9, 2021, two naval personnel were killed at Awkuzu during a gun duel with suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra State. “The Naval Outpost, Onitsha, clearly refutes this fake news and wishes to state categorically that none of its personnel suffered any casualty during the gun duel. “Rather, the troops fought gallantly and were able to repel the attack, which resulted in the loss of six suspected IPOB members while others suffered serious injuries. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Naval Outpost, Onitsha, calls for an immediate halt to the circulation of this fake news and wishes to advise the public to disregard it,” the statement stated.

Post Date : August 11, 2021

New York governor Andrew Cuomo resigns over sexual harassment allegations

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he will be “stepping aside” from his office in a fortnight after a state investigation released last week accused him of having “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.” The indicting report from the state’s attorney-general Letitia James’s office had said it found the reported allegations from eleven women against Mr Cuomo credible. Since the report was released, Mr Cuomo, a Democrat, has been facing an impeachment investigation from the New York Assembly’s judiciary committee. President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and more than two-thirds of New York state senators called on him to resign. Mr Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying the impeachment investigation into him was “politically motivated,” but he was nonetheless stepping down because he would “never want to be unhelpful in any way.” Deputy Governor Kathy Hochul will replace Mr Cuomo, becoming the state’s first female governor, CNN reported. The embattled politician said Tuesday that he has “been too familiar with people” and apologized to the women he said he “truly offended,” CNN added. “I’m a New Yorker, born and bred. I’m a fighter and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated, I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful and I believe it demonizes behavior that is unsustainable for society,” he said. “New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York, and I love you. I would never want to be unhelpful in any way.” Mr Cuomo further apologized to three daughters with whom he said he watched some of the media coverage detailing the accusations against him. “I want them to know” that I never did “intentionally disrespect” a woman. “Your dad made mistakes, and he apologised.”

Post Date : August 10, 2021

Messi joins PSG

Lionel Messi has signed for Paris Saint-Germain, the French club have confirmed. The Argentine joined the Ligue 1 side as a free agent. The 34-year-old has signed a 2-year deal with the club, with an option of extending the contract for one more year. Messi will reportedly make about €40m per year at his new club. The Argentine legend spent 21 years at Barcelona, scoring 672 goals and providing 268 assists for the first team.