Author: Vreporters

Nigerians have expressed outrage over Federal Government’s directive to telecommunication operators to block all Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards not registered with the National Identity Numbers (NIN) after two weeks.

The directive issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), an agency under the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, stated that after December 30, any unregistered SIM would be blocked.

Daily Sun investigations reveal that the Federal Government would rake in about N3,380 billion from the over 169 million mobile connections as N20 will be charged for each Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message to get a NIN from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) data base.

Apparently to ease subscribers’ pain, the Federal Government has licensed 173 centres and 30 state government institutions to conduct enrolment across Nigeria.

This was disclosed on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) website, yesterday.

However, House of Representatives has urged NCC to extend the deadline for GSM subscribers by 10 weeks.

This followed the adoption of a motion by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, on the need for NCC to give GSM subscribers reasonable time to make available their NIN to their respective service providers.

“As laudable as the idea behind the policy may seem, the timing is very wrong because Nigerians have not been properly sensitised, as only a few educated persons who bother to read the dailies might have heard about this instructions.

“Therefore, trying to enforce this policy in a period where most Nigerians are gearing up for Christmas festivities may lead to stampede in the process of rushing to get registered which could lead to unnecessary death and injuries.

“If the NCC is allowed to carry out this directives, it will bring about untold hardship as millions of subscribers will be disconnected this yuletide period which could spell disaster in an already volatile nation like ours.”

Besides, Elumelu, while calling for intervention of the House contended that “if the NCC is not urgently called to halt itsr plans, there may be unnecessary panic which may lead to exploitation of vulnerable Nigerian thereby causing more pains in an already pathetic situation hence the need to urgently wade into this impending crisis.”

The lawmakers also pointed out the health hazards involved, saying despite warnings that there may be a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is giving a directive at short notice that would mean gathering of crowds of people at registration centres.

Daily Sun

Federal, states and local governments have shared N601,110 billion as federal subvention for November.

The figure was released Wednesday night by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), after its December meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters, Abuja.

The meeting was chaired by Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed.

According to FAAC, the total distributable revenue of N601.110 billion comprised statutory revenue of N436.457 billion; Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N156.786 billion and augmentation of N7.867 billion from the forex equalisation revenue.

The gross statutory revenue of N436.457 billion available for the month of November 2020 was higher than the N378.148 billion received in the previous month by N58.309 billion.

The gross revenue of N156.786 billion available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was also higher than the N126.463 billion available in the previous month by N30.323 billion.

From the total distributable revenue of N601.110 billion; the Federal Government received N215.600 billion, the State Governments received N171.167 billion and the Local Government Councils received N126.789 billion.

The relevant States received N31.392 billion as 13% mineral revenue, while cost of collection, transfers and refunds had an allocation of N56.162 billion.

The Federal Government received N190.122 billion from the gross statutory revenue of N436.457 billion; the State Governments received N96.433 billion and the Local Government Councils received N74.345 billion. N30.370 billion was given to the relevant States as 13% mineral revenue and N45.187 billion was the total for cost of collection, transfers and refunds.

The Federal Government received N21.872 billion from the Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N156.786 billion. The State Governments received N72.906 billion; the Local Government Councils received N51.034 billion, while cost of collection, transfers and refunds had allocation of N10.975 billion.

From the N7.867 billion augmentation from the Forex Equalisation revenue, the Federal Government received N3.606 billion, the State Governments received N1.829 billion, the Local Government Councils received N1.410 billion and the relevant States received N1.022 billion as 13% mineral revenue.

According to FAAC, in November, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Import Duty, Excise Duty, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Oil and Gas Royalty decreased substantially; while Companies Income Tax (CIT) recorded a sharp drop.

The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at 16th December, 2020 was $72.411 million.

Nicholas Makolomi whose video showing SARS operatives allegedly shooting a boy in Ugheli, Delta State which led to the #EndSARS protests across the country, has been re-arrested by the police. 

Makolomi’s consel, Ekenemolise Osifo who confirmed the development stressed that it goes against the Federal High Court’s ruling. 

Describing his client’s re-arrest as a violation of his human rights, the lawyer alleged that he (Makolomi) was taken to an undisclosed location and not allowed access to his medication being a chronic ulcer and asthmatic patient.

“Prince Nicholas Makolomi actually recorded an injustice being perpetuated and like what every right thinking Nigerian citizen would do, uploaded it to bring the attention of the public to police brutality.

“Considering the present insecurities and lawlessness in the country, the baseless and unjustified act by the police to cover their inefficiency is an unnecessary distraction and mediocre instead of facing the actual issue and truth is totally disgraceful and unwarranted.

“What aggravated the police to the re-arrest him was the fact that Makolomi brought the attention of the police to another act of unlawful extortion conducted by one SP Sunday Nwaja who requested for N500,000 to grant him soft landing.

“To cover up for their lack of discipline to investigate the extortion issue, the police cunningly withdrew the pending matter from the court and re-arrested him.

“We want his unconditional release and the stoppage of further harassment of Prince Nicholas Makolomi . The police should respect and decision of the Federal High Court ruling in Asaba on November 24, 2020, which declared his earlier arrest and detention illegal.”

Also commenting on the incident, Edo police spokesperson DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said; 

“That’s what I heard, but I’m not aware, as I speak to you now, I’m in Enugu for PPRO workshop.”

Human rights lawyer Joe Nwokedi has filed a N50 billion lawsuit against the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force over their roles in the #EndSARS protests.

Other respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Armed Forces, Chief of Army Staff, Lagos State Government, Attorney General of Lagos State, Imo State Government, Attorney General of Imo State, Rivers State Government, Attorney General of Rivers State, Plateau State Government, Central Bank governor, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Attorney General of Plateau State, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, National Assembly, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

Nwokedi, in the suit filed at Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos State, seeks ‘an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, representatives from further harassing, banning, threatening, molesting or infringing on the rights of Nigerians to a peaceful protest.’

He also asks the court to award the sum as exemplary, aggravated and general damages against the respondents and judicial pronouncement over the activities of some the state actors and their agencies.

According to him, ‘the cost is also for their alleged violation of the rights of Nigerians, gagging of free speech, unlawful freezing of accounts, malicious arrests, detentions and prosecutions, molestations, inclusive of mental torture and emotional trauma suffered by himself and other citizens of Nigeria as a result of the action of the Respondents, her privies, representatives, agents and servants.’

Daily Sun

Seventy-six students bagged first class degrees in different fields as the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, Lagos on Wednesday held its 24th convocation ceremony for the 2018/19 academic session.

A total of 6,197 students bagged first degrees in various fields, while 1,089 got masters degrees and 47 got doctorate degrees.

Of the lot that bagged first degrees, Oladimeji Idris Shotunde, who got a degree in Business Adminstration emerged the best graduating student, while Olusola Aanu Olabanjo, who got a masters degree in Computer Science emerged the best in that level.

Shotunde and Olabanjo broke the university’s records as they got CGPA of 4.95 and CGPA 5.0 respectively.

A total of 253 also bagged diplomas in various fields, postgraduate diplomas 916, and academic masters 825.

Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, said it was gratifying that he was leaving LASU better than he met it.

“Aside the challenges that came with COVlD-19, our institution has not witnessed downtime in academic activities as a result of any local crisis since January, 2016. The result is that we have had unbroken annual convocation ceremonies from then till date.

“This is particularly thrilling for me because convocation ceremonies cap all activities for the year and it provides an avenue for us as an institution to enumerate and showcase our achievements in the year as well as unleash fresh minds to the world, for them to chart a course and start their own life of contributing their quota to national development.

“This year’s Convocation ceremony is quite remarkable because our best graduating students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels set a new university record. Oladimeji ldris SHOTUNDE of the Department of Business Administration graduated as the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.95 while Olusola Aanu OLABANJO with a CGPA of 5.0 graduated as the best MSc. student.

l commend your efforts in acheiving this great feat. You have demonstrated to the world that truly our students are of world class standard and can stand toe to toe with their colleagues from anywhere in the world. You are indeed our pride,” he said.

The wife Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, who came to honour Shotunde, an indigene of Ogun State, described education as the main legacy that one can leave for one’s children and the coming generations.

She frowned at the incessant disruptions to academic activities as a result of faceoff between lecturers and the government.

She called for concerted efforts to repositioning education in the country.

Vanguard

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state has given reasons why he dethroned former CBN governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano.

Recall that Emir Sanusi’s removal was confirmed on March 9, 2020, by Kano State Secretary to the Government Usman Alhaji, who alleged that he disrespected the lawful instructions from the office of the Governor and lawful authorities. The Kano monarch was also accused of persistently refusing to attend official meetings and programmes organized by the government without any lawful justification.

While speaking at the presentation of a book on former President Goodluck Johnathan, authored by a journalist, Bonaventure Philips Melah, today December 15, Governor Ganduje said Sanusi wasn’t the best man for the throne at the time he was appointed in June 2014. According to him, Sanusi was appointed to spite former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Recall that in April 2014, former President Jonathan terminated the appointment of Sanusi as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after he, Sanusi, alleged that $49 billion was stolen by some persons under the Jonathan administration. Ganduje at the book presentation said Sanusi should have taken a more civil approach in handling the matter by meeting the former President in private to discuss it and not making such an accusation in public.

“Jonathan took a bold step in sacking Sanusi as CBN Governor, which created bad blood in certain circles. When Sanusi said $49 billion was lost in Jonathan’s government, I said in my mind that No, you could have discussed with him (Jonathan) privately.

You could have given him this clue and then he would know how to investigate even before those who had stolen the money would find a way of hiding the money.

That statement, I said in my mind was not honourable. That statement created bad blood”.

Barely two months after his sack, Sanusi was appointed the Emir of Kano which according to Ganduje, he wasn’t deserving of as he wasn’t the best man for the throne.

He says he has no regret dethroning Sanusi.

“Sanusi was appointed Emir of Kano not because he was the best man for the throne but to retaliate what Jonathan did to him.

“That was in order to prove that what Jonathan did to him was wrong and that the people of Kano wanted their son as Emir and therefore they decided to appoint him as Emir.

“But when he was appointed, there were a lot of demonstration with people burning tyres here and there. But because of government backing, he was sustained on the stool.

“When I became governor, (that’s why you will laugh), I said yes, the Jonathan medicine is an important medicine.

“That medicine, even though I am not a medical doctor, but that medicine would serve the same purpose, for the same disease and for the same patient.

“So I took my Jonathan medicine and decided to save the system, to save the institution and I applied it effectively. So Jonathan and I are on the same page. Actually, I have no regrets.”he said.

Special Adviser to the Katsina state Governor has said that more students from the boarding school in Kankara that were earlier missing have appeared from the bush.

BBC Hausa service report on Tuesday, revealed that over 500 students of the school were abducted by gunmen.

The Special Adviser, however, said they have no knowledge of the purported claim by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau that his group abducted the students.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa, Alhaji Abdulaziz Maituraka ,SA to the Governor of Katsina, said some of the students were coming back on their own.

According to him.” security agents are there working thoroughly, by now other students might’ve been found. ”

” As I’m talking now, more students are coming out from the bushes. The solders are rescuing them.”

“We would not like to have conflicting figures… but if we are a little patience, the soldiers would soon give us the actual figure .They will give us the actual information of those who have appeared .”

“Now we’ve information of over 17 ….we are hoping that by now, efforts have been intensified to rescue more.”

” if I give a figure now, it is bound to change later because there are still these children in the custody of those people .”

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, they are going to rescue all the children .”

On the claim purportedly by Boko Haram leader that they were the abductors of the Kankara students, he said just as people saw, they too saw the claim on social media .

“We saw on social media that Boko Haram was laying claim on the abduction. But whatever it is, our prayer is for Almighty Allah to bring back those children .”

On the earlier story that negotiation was going on between the gunmen and the government on ways to rescue the students, whether they are bandits or Boko Haram, he said it was wrong for people to insinuate and advised people not to be telling the public what the security agents have not said.

“Security agents are in the bushes… if there is any progress or any development, what we need from the public is prayer,” he said.

Meanwhile, parents of the missing children have continued to besiege the school so as to hear from the authorities about their missing children.

The BBC Hausa also reported that security was beefed up in Kankara town as military and police vehicles were spotted in strategic locations.

A mother told the BBC Hausa that prior to the abduction, they were called in the night that her son was asthmatic. However, before they could get to the school, they learned the children were taken away.

“We only met his belongings. He was abducted. We are deeply worried. Some of his siblings have become ill due to the trauma of missing him,” said the affected mother.

A father who travelled from Zaria in Kaduna state to Kankara, told the BBC Hausa that he has never been so disturbed in his entire life .

” I’ve lost my parents, I knew that was destined to happen. But this is so disturbing .The minister of defence had explained effort put in place to rescue these children. We wish them well, may Almighty help them.” he said .

The BBC Hausa reported that when the gunmen invaded the school and were shooting sporadically, about 20 students escaped.

“When they heard that they were being followed, they put off their bush lamps and ran for their lives..”

One of the students, Osama, who escaped from captivity on Saturday and was on drip in his family home, told the BBC Hausa that when they scaled the fence and ran, the bandits were asking them to return back.

“We thought they were policemen, they drove us inside the bush. I am a sickler, I couldn’t endure the long trek..so I found a tree and sat down .When they went further, I stood up,” he said.

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has accused Nigerians of being responsible for the sudden rise in cases of new COVID-19 infections and deaths as being recorded daily by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

NMA observed that Nigerians have totally failed in adhering to the COVID-19 prevention advisories which was designed to interrupt the transmission, reduce ill health and deaths from the dreaded disease.

NMA President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, who addressed journalists in Abuja, on the outcome of their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Awka, Anambra state, observed that most Nigerians have, deliberately or otherwise, flaunt the COVID-19 prevention protocols because some of them doubt the existence and efficacy of the disease.

Ujah challenged NCDC officials to restrategise to sustain the momentum as regards public enlightenment on the dangers of COVID-19.He said: “Evidently, we have not learned any lesson from the pandemic. We have totally failed in keeping the COVID-19 prevention rules. Most Nigerians don’t comply to the protocols. Some don’t even believe that there is anything like COVID-19 at all, hence their decision to flaunt the prevention protocols.

“The NCDC should do more than what they have done by engaging in more sensitisation in languages that would be easily understood by all.”He, thus, appealed to Nigerians to take the COVID-19 prevention advisories very seriously in order to interrupt the transmission, reduce ill health and deaths from the dreaded disease.

“The strict adherence to the NCDC protocols, particularly the use of face mask, regular hand washing and use of sanitizers as well physical distancing should be strongly advocated.

He pleaded with the President and other privileged Nigerians to quit embarking on foreign medical trips on issues that could be handled in the country, and invest in health care delivery system for the benefit of all.

“Privileged Nigerians should demonstrate open confidence in the nation’s health care delivery system and as well as patriotism by patronising local medical services,” he said.

The NMA President intensified the call for the establishment of the National Health Bank in order to fast-track the infrastructure, procurement of the state-of-the- equipments that would help to provide world-class health care for Nigerians in order to reverse medical tourism.