The police in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have confirmed the arrest of 11 suspected kidnappers in the last one month. The confirmation followed a trending video of daylight one-chance robbery, widely shared on various social media platforms, showing a scene where a man desperately held the door of a moving car. The disturbing video, showing a victim of a one-chance robbery attempting to jump down from a fast-moving vehicle, had sent fears to residents. Reacting, spokesperson for the command, Josephine Adeh, said the force was aware of the news making the rounds about abducted and kidnapped persons in FCT communities. She, however, said data on reported killings and abduction in the city making the rounds, was misleading and false, just as insecurity in the seat of power remained unabated. According to her, 11 suspected kidnappers have been arrested in the last one month. “The Command can confirm that there were reported cases of abduction/kidnapping within the FCT, which heralded swift response from the police, who successfully rescued and reunited some of the abductees with their family members. “Equally, the Command has arrested 11 kidnappers in the last one month, while investigation is ongoing. Some of the arrested kidnappers are assisting police to effect the arrests of fleeing members. “The Command wishes to state that the figures in the news making the rounds are inaccurate and misleading, as it may incite panic in the public. “The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Haruna Garba, wishes to reiterate the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and ensuring residents sleep with their eyes closed. “He equally advises those circulating misleading information to create the impression that there is a sense of insecurity in FCT to desist, saying they are not helping the issue. “As a Nigerian, you have an obligation to partner with the police and other security agencies to make the city safer, instead of creating trepidation in the minds of the people. The FCT remains the safest place in the country. “The CP urges members of the public to promptly report distress calls and complaints through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.Additionally, the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB).” Recall that residents of the FCT, Abuja, had been highly unsettled following widespread insecurity around the city centre and some outskirts, characterised by frequent and indiscriminate robbing and abduction of motorists and commuters. The ugly situation is stalling nightlife in the bubbling city. Some residents lamented that the FCT has become highly under-policed, with little or no visible policing operations going on. Most times, a motorist can drive through the stretch of Ahmadu Bello Way, one of the longest roads in the city, without sighting a police patrol team. The agencies that are usually on rapid patrol are the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers, who are not armed.

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has denied reports that contracts for the rehabilitation of pipelines across the country were awarded to a “northern oil cabal”. NNPC, on Sunday, said the selection was not conducted solely by the firm, as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) were involved. “To re-emphasise our commitment to transparency, NNPC subjected the selection process to a competitive tender guided by Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) standards, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission expertise, and the active involvement of a Transaction Advisor,” a statement signed by the management said. “We also had representations from NEITI and the Ministry of Justice in the project development team and the evaluation exercise”. NNPC said the report is fallacious and designed to bring the name of the firm into disrepute. The national oil firm said the process was transparent. “NNPC Limited is deeply committed to adhering to the highest standards of transparency and global best practices in all our activities, and this includes our contracting process. These contracts, which were advertised, were awarded based on rigorous evaluation criteria and in line with industry norms,” the statement reads. ‘ABOUT 17 OIL FIRMS AWARDED PIPELINE CONTRACTS ‘   According to the NNPC, 17 oil firms were awarded the pipeline rehabilitation contracts. The company said the list of the awardees that form a consortium shows that lot one was awarded to Oilserve Ltd, Chu Kong Steel Pipe Group Company Ltd, and Saudi Crown Oilserve. Lot two, NNPC said, went to MacReady Oil and Gas Services, COBRA Instalicios S.A, Control Y Montajes Industriales & International De Pipelines, Iron Products Industries Ltd, Batelitwin Global Services Ltd, Bauen Empresa Constructora SAU, Sanderton Energy Ltd, and The Spanish National Association of Manufacturers. Also, lot three was allocated to AA Rano, Zakhem Construction Nigeria, Bablinks Resources Ltd, VAE Controls S.R.O, while lot four was awarded to MRS Oil and Gas, CPPE Nigeria Ltd, according to the statement.   NNPC RETAINS OWNERSHIP While the contract agreement is based on building, operating and transferring, NNPC said the agreement does not entail the transfer of control of the assets to the companies. “Our objective is to enhance the integrity and functionality of the pipelines to facilitate the efficient transportation of crude oil to refineries and the distribution of its products across the country,” the oil firm said. NNPC said it retains ownership of the pipelines, however, the selected partners will finance the rehabilitation.

  Two persons have been confirmed dead in a clash between farmers and herders at Kwanga community, Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The Chairman of Ngaski Local Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Buhari Warah, said the killing of a farmer on his farm by people suspected to be herders led to a reprisal attack at a Fulani settlement where a young boy was also killed by an angry mob. VDO.AI PlayUnmute Fullscreen He said the fight was ignited by the destruction of farm produce by cattle as herders led them through the farms in the area and it resulted in a clash in which two people were killed. The council chairman said security personnel had been deployed to curtail the spate of killings caused by the violence. He said no arrest was made as the farmers and herders had left the area before the arrival of security agents. When contacted, the police command Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar said he is yet to be briefed on the incident. He promised to get back to our correspondent.

  Ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has expressed deep concern at the wave of insecurity in the three states. Consequently, the commission has again appealed to political parties and their candidates to avoid actions and utterances capable of heating up the polity.   “The commission is concerned about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of Political Parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections. “In our engagement with political parties, the commission has constantly called on parties to rein in their supporters from actions capable of jeopardizing the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria. ”INEC earnestly appeal to all political parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity. ”The commission will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful conduct of elections in the three states,” INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement yesterday. He also noted that the commission had notified all political parties of the opening of its online portal for the upload of the list of polling units and collation centre agents, which commenced on Thursday, August 24, 2023. He said the commission, thereafter, engaged party representatives on the methodology for a seamless process. Olumekun lamented that despite this notice and subsequent reminders, political parties were yet to substantially comply by submitting the list of their agents. “For Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, only 55% of the expected total of 189,180 polling unit agents have been uploaded to the designated INEC portal. ”Specifically, 29,278 out of the expected 40,372 (72.5%) for Bayelsa State; 51,681 out of 85,644 (60.3%) for Imo, and 23,720 out of 63,144 (37.6%) for Kogi State have been uploaded.   “Similarly, only 25.1% of the expected 15,804 Collation Agents in the three States have been uploaded: 1,246 (26.0%) out of 4,806 for Bayelsa; 1,638 (27.3%) out of 5,994 for Imo, and 1,095 (21.9%) out of 5,004 for Kogi State. “The commission hereby wishes to further remind political parties that the portal will automatically shut down at 12:00 midnight on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. ”There shall be no extension. Consequently, all parties sponsoring candidates for the elections that are yet to upload the list of their agents should do so before the deadline for the exercise. “The online accreditation of Journalists commenced on August 24, 2023, and will close on October 22, 2023. So far, 45 media organisations have applied for accreditation. ”The commission also wishes to use this medium to encourage all interested media organisations to take advantage of the remaining window to apply on imap.inecnigeria.org before the deadline on October 22, 2023. ”For emphasis, late applications will not be entertained and there is no provision for manual accreditation anymore,” he added.

  Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho, has regained his freedom from the Beninese authorities. The embattled agitator said on Sunday he was now legally free to leave Cotonou, capital of the Benin Republic, to Nigeria and other countries. “I am now free to return to Nigeria and visit any country in the world. I have fulfilled all the legal conditions attached to my bail a few years back and I am coming home to Nigeria, my country of origin, any moment from now. “I can confirm to you that I am now free to come back to Nigeria. There is no legal encumbrance again. Even though I have been living in Cotonou for some time, I can confirm to you categorically that I have now secured the liberty to leave Cotonou for Nigeria,” Adeyemo told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday. He regained freedom after two years of trial by the Beninese government. The PUNCH reports that Adeyemo stirred the hornet’s nest when he declared the Yoruba Nation’s sovereignty in March 2021. He started a campaign to chase killer herdsmen and kidnappers out of the South-West states and went on to call on Yoruba in Hausa/Fulani or Igbo territories to return home. He, however, fled Nigeria in July 2021 following a nocturnal invasion of his Ibadan residence by the operatives of the Department of State Services. The attack led to at least one death, while some of his belongings were vandalised. The DSS claimed that seven AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, and 5,000 rounds of ammunition, charms and other weapons were recovered from his apartment during the invasion. The judgment was later set aside by the Court of Appeal in August 2022. He was later arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic while attempting to flee to Germany. Attempts by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to repatriate him to Nigeria were unsuccessful.

  The Federal Government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after attaining their compulsory retirement age or years. The government, however, said the appointed contract staff would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if they desire and deserve it. A circular obtained by our correspondent, dated October 5, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Health, directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions. The office of the OHCSF had in a circular dated August 30, 2023, rejected the upward review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively. The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the FMoH. The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively. “After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age. Some state government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain.” It also said it was dissatisfied with health workers’ attitude to work, noting that in spite of efforts by the government to encourage health workers, the exodus of health workers had not abated. “Council, however, approved that clinical health workers who have attained the compulsory retirement age/years may be given contract appointment on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved. “Government should engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Medical Association to extract some level of commitment from medical doctors. “To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalise an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom,” it added. Consequently, the FMoH in its circular urged all executives of agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive from the OHCSF. The circular signed by the Deputy of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline, Daloba Paul Edward for the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, was referenced C.4007/T.2/37.

  The Chief Executive Officers and top management staff of banks may also be probed during the ongoing investigation of the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to findings by The PUNCH. It was learnt that some bank CEOs would be invited in an effort to ascertain any discrepancies around the management of intervention funds by deposit money banks. The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria may be asked to withdraw its audited annual financial reports, which were recently released. This came after a team investigating the apex bank discovered discrepancies and irregularities in the financial accounts. In August, the CBN released its financial accounts for the years 2016 to 2022 amid an ongoing probe of the financial services sector regulator by a Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu had on July 28 appointed a former Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Jim Obazee, as Special Investigator to probe the activities of the apex bank under its suspended governor, Godwin Emefiele. Aside from the CBN, the special investigator is also investigating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, FRC, and other Government Business Entities. The President, in the letter which he personally signed, said the move was in continuation of the government’s anti-corruption fight. The letter, dated July 28, 2023, read, “In accordance with the fundamental objectives set forth in Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this administration is, today, continuing the fight against corruption by appointing you as a Special Investigator, to investigate the CBN and Related Entities. This appointment shall be with immediate effect and you are to report directly to my office. “The full terms of your engagement as Special Investigator shall be communicated to you in due course but require that you immediately take steps to ensure the strengthening and probity of key Government Business Entities, further block leakages in CBN and related GBEs and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments (whether private or public). “You are to investigate the CBN and related entities using a suitably experienced, competent and capable team and work with relevant security and anti-corruption agencies to deliver on this assignment. I shall expect a weekly briefing on the progress being made.” The President also attached a copy of his directive suspending Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the CBN on June 9, 2023. According to findings by The PUNCH, the CBN Special Investigator is working with a team of accountants, auditors, and forensic accountants to carry out the investigation. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, recently said the Federal Government will soon unveil the audit report of the probe of the CBN. The SGF said that the probe report of the CBN when made public, would reveal how poor governance brought the country to the present predicament. According to him, the report will enable Nigerians to know what really went wrong and how the country got to its present situation. He said, “Most of these problems confronting us are due to bad governance. The present government has confronted and is confronting these challenges. When President Bola Tinubu came on board, he took a very sound decision at the CBN. That singular act led to a massive improvement in the capital market, as experts have told us, it is something that has never happened in the past 15 years. “We have a new team at the CBN and a special investigator has been in the CBN for some time now and his result will soon be released and Nigerians will know what really went wrong and what brought us to where we are today.” Also, findings by The PUNCH revealed that Obazee had submitted an interim report to the President’s office. Multiple officials said the preliminary report was submitted for necessary action by the President. “The CBN Special Investigator submitted a preliminary report to the President’s Office over a week ago. The investigation still continues but the preliminary report is meant to give the President an idea of what has been discovered so far,” a top official privy to the development told The PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter. It was learnt that the interim report would enable the president to make some key decisions that would help the country move forward. Officials said the interim report led to the change of leadership at the CBN. The president and his team are said to be currently reviewing the report with a view to taking an appropriate decision on it soon. N1.27tn intervention funds According to a top official, who spoke with The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, some top bank officials will be invited as the investigations proceed over undisbursed intervention funds. Findings by The PUNCH showed that N1.27tn intervention funds sit in the accounts of five banks. This was based on an analysis of the half-year financial statements of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Zenith Bank. The intervention funds cover lending facilities provided by the CBN through local banks, and the facilities include Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme, Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, Healthcare Sector Intervention Facility, and Paddy Aggregation Scheme. They also include Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, Real Sector Support Facility, 100 for 100 Policy on Production and Productivity, Export Facilitation Initiative, and the Creative Industry Financing Initiative. Findings by The PUNCH showed that there was at least N530.07bn worth of intervention funds in Access Bank. This included about N3.56bn under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, N1.57bn to facilitate the rapid rollout of agent networks across Nigeria supporting the expansion of a shared Agent Network, N58.84bn under the salary bailout fund, N99.04bn outstanding balance on the excess crude account loans, N9.34bn for the Real Sector Support Facility, N1.14bn for the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme. It also

  Monday 09 October 2023 CBN investigator probes banks over N1.27tn intervention funds Tinubu’s certificate: Atiku’s aide faults Presidency, APC tackles ex-VP Japa: FG okays contract jobs for retired doctors Sunday Igboho regains freedom in Benin after two years Clashes erupt at Liberian president’s re-election parade 1,000 killed as Israeli-Hamas conflict rages, US deploys munitions INEC laments insecurity ahead of Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa polls FG To Launch Conditional Cash Transfer To 15m Households October 17th – Betta Edu Tinubu Flags Off Kogi Gov. Campaign, Targets 500,000 Jobs From Ajaokuta Steel Death Toll From ‘Unprecedented’ Afghan Quakes Doubles To 2,000 Akpabio, Other Ex-Govs Sued Over Salaries, Pensions Israel-Palestine War: Nigeria Calls For Ceasefire, Peaceful Resolution Flood Ravages Taraba Community As Residents Cry For Help FG To Restart TradeMoni Scheme November, Earmarks N50,000 Per Beneficiary 10 Nepalis Killed In Hamas Assault On Israel – Embassy Sanwo-Olu orders demolition of Bombata, Jankara markets Tinubu clean, white as snow; noise about CSU certificate forgery useless – Keyamo Israeli-Hamas War: US moves nuclear aircraft carrier close to crisis zone Tinubu snubs Niger coup leaders’ overtures for direct talks CBN reduces cash mop by 82% to N150bn Israel-Palestine Conflict: How Attacks On Al-Aqsa Mosque, Others Triggered Crisis 2 Killed As Herders, Farmers Clash In Kebbi NDLEA arrests 67-year-old man for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine in Abuja War in Middle East may spiral, push monthly petrol subsidy to N644.8b Nigerians still burdened by huge housing deficit 63 years after Naira dip pushes loan book value of eight banks to N30 trillion Police arrest 11 kidnappers in Abuja Abia guber tribunal judgement: APC rejects verdict, heads to Supreme Court Fed Govt targets 5 million jobs in 5 years for youths Stop intimidating journalists, HURIWA tells NBC Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu says the Federal Government will launch the conditional cash transfer policy for 15 million households on October 17th, 2023. She spoke when she was featured on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics months after the Federal Government stopped the payment of subsidies on petroleum. “With the approval from the President which we hope to get this week, on the 17th of October, we will be officially launching the conditional cash transfer to 15m households in Nigeria,” the minister said. According to her, the ministry is working with stakeholders across the country to get a credible register of beneficiaries. “As we speak, we are having a verification exercise. Every state can bear us witness that we have put boots on the ground – persons who are working with the state cash transfer office as well as the governors who are the heads of the steering committee and then several other persons,” she said. “All of this is to be sure those who are on the national social register truly are Nigerians who fall [spend] within the under $1.95 a day [range] and they deserve to have it,” the minister added. While admitting that some persons on the register may have died or moved up the economic ladder, Mrs. Betta said the verification exercise is to clean up the register. “So, two things. First, as we speak, we are on the field cleaning up that data and doing a complete verification and we are juxtaposing both the BVN, NIM and the rest of it to identify these people and be sure we are dealing with authentic persons,” the 36-year-old said. “And then, of course, there is biometrics to it and you have a capturing of the head of the household as well as a picture of the household so it can be located. On each of these households, they are numbered so people can go there and verify against the register.”