Buhari receives Liberia’s highest national honour

President Muhammadu Buhari has been conferred with “The Grand Cordon of the Knighthood of Venerable Order of the Pioneers”, Republic of Liberia’s highest national honour.

The president is the Special Guest of Honour at the country’s 172nd Independence Anniversary.

“The award is presented by the government for outstanding and distinguished service in international affairs, government, religion, art, science and commerce.

“It is also for singular acts of philanthropy and deeds of heroism and valour,” the president’s media aide Garba Shehu stated.

Buhari was accompanied by Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe.

Others on the president’s entourage were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Mustapha Sulaiman and other top government officials.

Visa Ban: Frank urges US to include election riggers’ family members

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has urged the United States to include the wives and children of people involved in election misconduct to its visa ban.

Frank, in a statement on Friday, was responding to the announcement by the United States that it would place a visa ban on some Nigerian politicians involved in the rigging of the 2019 general elections.

According to him, some military personnel brazenly took on an active role in the manipulation of the 2019 electoral process to achieve “predetermined objectives.”

He said such officers should therefore not be left unpunished.

Frank also appealed to the United Kingdom, the European Union and other advanced democratic nations that had made similar promises before the elections to imitate the American government.

He added that the US could also make public the names and political parties of those affected as a deterrent in future elections.

The former APC spokesman urged the US, UK, and EU to keep their eyes on the judges handling cases in the election petitions tribunal and the Supreme Court, particularly the presidential election, to ensure that those found wanting were sanctioned with the visa ban.

He also called on the judiciary to take note of the US visa ban on Nigerian politicians and act accordingly in the ongoing election petitions cases.

Frank said, “I must commend the US for living up to expectation, as promised before the 2019 general elections. The visa ban on yet to be named persons has clearly shown that the outcome of the last presidential election was manipulated.

“More importantly, the international community should show more interest in the ongoing election tribunal cases in Nigeria, most especially the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal and the Supreme Court.

“The US government should not hesitate to sanction judges who dare compromise the wishes of the people as freely expressed during the 2019 general elections. It is also important that the military officers, who took part in rigging the said election, should not go free.

“They should be banned also to sound a note of warning to other military officers.”

He challenged politicians of the ruling party, in particular, to apply for US visas.

Timpre Sylva: Niger Delta King Applauds Buhari

 

 

His Royal Majesty ,  King  Dr Godwill Ogirinya , The Amasara 1 , the king of nine States of Niger Delta Youths , has applauded president Mohammodu Buhari for the appointment of their son , Timpre Sylva as one of the  ministers who will pilot the affairs of the country for the next four year .

The Royal Majesty , who is the king of Youths in the Niger Delta states , made this known  in an interview with journalists at his  palace in Elebele , Ogbia kingdom  , Bayelsa State yesterday  .

He said the president has done very well because the list as released by media , contained  only the competent hands which Timi Timpre Sylva is among . 

According to him , " Nigerians should expect rapid transformation in our economy now because this administration led by president Mohammadu Buhari will fix all the loopholes in our economy   by putting the right person in the right ministry  .

" That is why some of those who worked with him in the last four years were dropped . So Nigerians should have confidence in this present government as they will leave no stone unturned ." he said .

It will be recalled that , the economy is still finding its rapid recovery path. In 2018, the country posted a 1.93% GDP growth rate compared to 0.82% recorded in 2017, representing an increase of 1.09% points. Investors are also keenly waiting for policy directions of the government in Africa's largest economy.

He called on the Federal Government to pick the right person in Oil and Gas sector which is the bane  of our economy while  he  urged Nigerians to throw their support behind this government  to achieve its economic transformation  agenda.

He therefore plea with the federal government to please remember the youths in the nine states of Niger Delta  because an idle hand is the devil workshop .

JAC Motors Excites With Abeokuta Marathon Race, $5000

R-L: Mr. Femi Osobajo, Senior Marketing Manager, Bet9ja, CEO Nilayo Sports Management Ltd., Mr. Bukola Olopade, Reps. Elizade Autoland, Mr. Demola Philips

The organizer of the 2019 JAC Motors Abeokuta 10KM Race, Nilayo Sports Management Limited has assured participants at the Abeokuta marathon race of a better competition than Okpekpe race.

The Chairman, Nilayo Sports Management, Mr. Bukola Olopade gave the assurance on Thursday at a press conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State chapter to herald the commencement of the maiden edition of JAC Motors Abeokuta 10KM race.

Olopade noted that, about over 3,000 participants have already signified interest to participate in the race endorsed by World Athletics Governing body, IAAF.

He explained that, the 10 kilometre road race starting from Iyana-Oloke in Onikolobo, Abeokuta will pass through some iconic areas and ending at the palace of Alake of Egbaland in Ake will also feature participants from about 18 countries.

The former Ogun sports commissioner added that, it was the first time in the world, the International Association Athletics Federation, IAAF would licensed a race before it was held, adding that races are always licensed after it must have been held.

He maintained that, no age limit for participants, as interested athlete with the age bracket of 15 and above can participate, saying the race will kick off at 6am on November 3rd.

The organizer therefore announced that, the eventual winner will go home with $5000USD, first runner up will get $3000USD while the second runner up will get $1000USD.

Additional cash of N2million for first Nigerian athlete who cross the line within the bracket time, while the first athlete with special needs will get N500, 000 only.

"We decided to come to Abeokuta because of the interest of all Egba monarchs in sports who prevailed on us to replicate what we have achieved in Lagos to change the lifestyle and project the tourism of the state.

"IAAF felt the best 10km stretch in Nigeria is Abeokuta township roads and that is we are here being the first of its kind. We can recreate a sensational race better than Okpekpe race in Edo.

"The marathon will go through some iconic towns in Abeokuta like Onikolobo, Panseke, Omida, Isale -Igbein, Sapon, Ake, Itoko and Saje. Our target for the foreign runners is 30 but we have received over 100 entries from almost 18 countries.

"The purpose of the race is not about wellness of the athletes, but for government to see sports as economic contributor to the internally generated revenue of the state. It will also propel the government to construct more roads, hospitals and bring development and capacity building of the citizens."

Meanwhile, about three sky camera and 21 referees will cover the race across the designated routes.

Only herders with travel documents should cross borders –Fayemi

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said only persons with valid travel documents should cross borders with their livestock, adding that people from outside the country must respect state legislations that regulate grazing.

Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, noted that despite the adoption of the 1978 Economic Community of West African States’ protocol on free movement, the Nigerian Immigration Service needs to ensure that only persons with valid travel documents cross the borders with livestock.

The NGF chairman stated this in Abuja on Thursday, while delivering a paper at the National Institute for Security Studies Executive Management Course.

The paper was titled, ‘Farmers-herders conflicts in Nigeria: Implications for national security.’

Fayemi called for the enactment of appropriate legislative frameworks and strategies that would help to regulate incessant cases of farmers-herders conflicts and the attendant loss of lives and property in the country.

He noted that the fatalities recorded from the farmers-herders clashes outnumbered those of the insurgency in the North-East, adding that Nigeria had been losing about $14bn yearly to the farmers-herders clashes.

The governor said, “As policymakers, we must be humble enough to admit that the narative around the farmers-herders crisis, in terms of being mindful of sensitivities and the use of polarising terminologies and concepts, leaves room for improvement.

“From the evolution of the discourse on major issues such as the anti-grazing laws which have been passed into law in Ekiti, Benue and Taraba states, to colonies, the Ruga settlement phenomenon, the ranching options, we have not done enough to properly manage the various narratives or interpretations that emerged from this problem.

“The Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs must be more proactive in monitoring the country’s borders.

“Transhumance across our national borders is an inevitable occurrence and has been in place even prior to the adoption of the 1978 ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods. Despite this, immigration authorities need to ensure that only persons with valid travel documents can cross borders with livestock.

“Where state legislations are in place to regulate grazing, those from outside Nigeria must respect the laws and conduct themselves in accordance with the relevant legislation.”

The governor, while speaking on the National Livestock Transformation Plan, said the project “implementation process still has a long way to go, and is not entirely perfect.”

BREAKING: Imo North: Benjamin Uwajumogu sworn in as senator

Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu was on Friday sworn in as senator representing Imo North Senatorial District.

His opponent in the February 23 election, Hon. Patrick Ndubueze, said the election was inconclusive.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Thursday issued Certificate of Return to Uwajumogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Imo North Senatorial District election.

Details shortly…

NEMA receives 171 Nigerians from Libya

The National Emergency Management Agency on Friday received another batch of 171 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

Alhaji Idris Muhammed, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Public Information Officer, said the returnees arrived the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport about 1.10 a.m. on Friday.

He said that they arrived aboard an Al Buraq Airline aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG and flight number UZ 196/25.

According to him, the returnees were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration and the European Union, under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme.

Muhammed said the figure comprised 61 female adults, one female child and five female infants, as well as 98 adult males, one male child and five male infants.

He advised Nigerian youths to be wary of overseas love advances from strangers, noting that this was now one of the tactics being used by human traffickers, to lure them outside the country.

The coordinator said the traffickers were now contacting ladies via social media apps, especially Facebook and WhatsApp, and making fake marriage proposals to them, to deceive them into travelling outside Nigeria.

He cited a particular case when a lady sought advice about a man who simply called himself Ali, who claimed to be living in Sudan.

“Upon critical observation, the code number of the caller indicated that it belongs to Libyan code, and the man that makes video calls was an Arab; but he was not making statements for the lady to hear him.

“It was understood that the man cannot communicate in English, but someone behind the scene was responsible for the chatting with the lady,” Muhammed said.

He urged them to put behind their experiences in the volatile North African country and take advantage of the opportunities being put in place by the Federal Government, IOM and other development partners, to forge a better future for themselves.

Muhammed advised young Nigerians planning to leave the country to make use of the Migrant Resource Centres, jointly set up by the government and the IOM, to know more about their destination countries.

NAN reports that NEMA said as, at March 15, 12,574 Nigerians have so far returned from Libya under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme, which began on April 2017.

NAN reports that NEMA said over 4,900 of the returnees have also been trained on various skill acquisition and empowerment training by IOM through special funding facilitated by the EU.

(NAN)

Former Chelsea star, Fabregas banned for six months

Former Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has been banned from driving after he was caught hitting 68mph in a 40mph zone in London, Sky Sports reports.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder was banned for six months.

The court heard that Fabregas told the police “I wasn’t going that fast”.

The 32-year-old, who now plays for Monaco, did not attend a short sentencing hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court in London on Thursday, which proceeded in his absence.

Fabregas, whose address was listed by the court as Belgravia, central London, pleaded guilty to a charge of speeding on July 11.

Prosecutor Luke Bowyer told the court that on December 4 last year police spotted the World Cup winner travelling in a grey Land Rover on a section of the A3 at the Tibbet’s slip road near Wandsworth in south-west London.

Fabregas was clocked with a ProLaser 4 speed detection device which registered him travelling at 68mph in the 40mph limit area, the court was told.

Bowyer said that when the footballer was stopped by police, he told them: “I wasn’t going that fast”.

He said Fabregas already had six points on his licence before the incident.

Representing Fabregas, Natalie Bird said the midfielder was unable to attend court because of “work commitments in Monaco”.

Fabregas joined the Ligue 1 club from Premier League side Chelsea in January this year.

Bird said Fabregas “would like to offer his sincere apology and remorse” for the offence, which was the result of a “momentary lapse of concentration”.

Sentencing, district judge Andrew Sweet said he took into account Fabregas’ guilty plea.

He told the court that he was “familiar” with the stretch of the A3 in question, saying it could get “extremely busy”.

Fabregas’ offence added a further six points to his licence, leading the judge to disqualify him from driving for a period of six months as a “totter”.

He also ordered Fabregas to pay a £750 fine, £135 in costs and a £75 victim surcharge.

NYSC: 22 corps members charged with re-mobilization in Kano

The Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State, Alhaji Ladan Baba, says no fewer than 22 from the 2018 Batch B Stream ll corps members that served in the state, are to be mobilised again.

Baba made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano.

He said the corps members were either found guilty of absconding from their places of primary assignment (PPA) for at least three consecutive months or beyond aside other serious offences.

“A total of 1,718, of the 2018 Batch B, Stream 2 corps members passed out from Kano today in a low key winding up passing out organised in the four zonal offices in Wudil, Bichi, Kura and at the NYSC Secretariat in the city,” he said.

According to him, 18 out of the batch were to serve extension of service for between three weeks to four months, while few of them have been shortlisted for honours award and commendation.

Baba commended the outgoing corps members for their contributions to the development of the state, especially in the area of education, health, agriculture, rural infrastructure and the recently-concluded general elections.

He advised the corps members to continue to practice the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training they participated in during their service year.

He also called on parents to dedicate some percentage of the tuition fees earlier given to their wards to establish genuine businesses relevant for self reliance.

WAEC releases 2019 May/June examination results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said it would release the 2019 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result on Friday.

This was made known in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the board, Demianus Ojijeogu, and released on the council’s official Twitter page on Thursday, @waecnigeria.

”This is to inform candidates and the general public that the results of the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2019 in Nigeria will be released by the Council within the next 24hours,” the official said.

The council also said candidates who are not indebted to the council will be able to access and check their results online, using the results checker pin on their smart identity cards used during the conduct of the examination.

However, some of the candidates who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES in the early hours of Friday confirmed that the 2019 May/June results have been released.

”I just checked my result now and I passed Mathematics and English language,” one of the candidates said.

The candidates pleaded that their names should not be mentioned until their parents give approval but they showed the reporter a screenshot of their results.

Over 1.6 million candidates in SS3 sat for the May/June 2019 WASSCE in Nigeria.

The released results will end months of anxiety by candidates who require it for the 2019/2020 admission exercise in tertiary institutions.

How to check 2019 May/June result

1) Candidates should visit WAEC 2019 result checking portal at https://www.waecdirect.org.

2) Candidates should enter the WAEC Examination Number in the required column.

3) Select your Examination Year i.e. 2019.

4) Select your Examination Type which is SCHOOL CANDIDATE RESULT.

5) Enter the Card Serial Number.

6) Enter the Card PIN.

7) Candidates should click “Submit” button to get your 2018 WAEC Result.

The West African Examinations Council was established by law in 1952 to determine the examinations required in the public interest in the English-speaking West African Countries.

The council conducts examinations and awards certificates of comparable standard to those of similar examining authorities, world-wide.

Fayemi makes seven-year-old Ekiti ‘governor’ for a day

The Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, symbolically stepped down for a seven-year-old boy, Daniel Olutope, from St. Michael’s African Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, to become the governor for a day.

According to the Ekiti State Government official website, fate brought Mr Fayemi and the boy together on May 7, when the governor had lunch with pupils of St. Michael’s African Primary School, Ado-Ekiti.

During the visit, Daniel chatted so intelligently that the governor asked if he could be his friend and possibly visit him at home. Daniel agreed and promised that his mother will bring him on a visit.

However, Oluwatoyin Adaramodu, Daniel’s mum, did not believe her son when he got home and told his mum that his new friend, Mr Fayemi, invited him to visit.

A few months after the meeting, Mr Fayemi instructed his aides to re-visit Daniel’s school and bring him to his office.

Daniel was accompanied by his mother, Mrs Olutope, and his teacher, Dupe Adeosun, to the governor’s office in Ado Ekiti for what turned into an opportunity for young Daniel to briefly act as governor.

“Do you remember me, the man who lives on top of the hill?”Mr Fayemi asked Daniel on arrival to which his young friend responded, “yes”. The governor then led Daniel to his desk and lifted him into his chair, pulled him to his desk and shook his hand “Your Excellency, Sir”, Mr Fayemi fondly addressed him.

He asked if Daniel would love to a governor when he grows up and Daniel agreed. The governor, therefore, encouraged him to work hard at his studies so his dream can come true.

Daniel’s mother, Mrs Olutope, said the visit was surreal to her and she was elated to see her son sitting on the governor’s chair, a sign that her child could be governor in future. She prayed for the governor’s success and thanked him for his kindness to her son.

Daniel’s teacher, Mrs Adeosun, commended the governor for inviting her alongside the boy; stating that such gesture would not only encourage other teachers but also raise hope in pupils that they too could become great in future.

Mr Fayemi has since been making necessary interventions to ensure that public schools have adequate funding, competitive physical structures, and functional teaching equipment, as well as the right nutrition programme that supports the education of the young ones.

NANS shuts down MTN, DSTV offices in Benue

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Thursday shut down MTN and DSTV main offices in Benue in protest of continued killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MTN and DSTV are both South African companies operating in Nigeria.

NANS Deputy Zonal Coordinator, Zone C, Abah Owoicho who led the protest to shut down the offices also presented a strong worded letter of protest to the organisations.

The letter was titled: “Position of NANS on Xenophobic Attack on Nigerians in South Africa’’.

Owiocho said the letter was a condemnation of the years of barbaric killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

“Since Nigerians living in South Africa cannot enjoy the same peace and support that South African businesses are enjoying here, it is only reasonable to shut down those businesses and their interests until further notice,’’ he said.

The student leader also frowned at the recent killing of a Nigerian student, Dennis Obiaju, describing it as “barbaric’’.

“It has become necessary for NANS to rise to the occasion and speak against the killings that have continued with no visible attempt by the South African Government to curb the menace.

“Our pain is deeply rooted in the peace and patronages your organisations and other South African businesses enjoy in our country while the safety of our citizens and their businesses cannot be guaranteed in South Africa,’’ he said.

Owoicho said that it was disheartening that South Africans could suddenly forget the big brother role Nigeria played which led to the dismantling of apartheid regime in their country.

“We also remembered the apartheid struggle, Nigeria was very instrumental to the ending of the policy but today they are paying us with evil.

“It is very painful to see that Nigeria that supported South Africa to gain independence is not being respected today.

“We can no longer stand and watch while our citizens are being massacred.

“We believe that the international community is also watching these developments,’’ he said.

Ms Vera Ube, MTN Connect Manager in Makurdi, received the protest letter on behalf of MTN.

She told the students that the management and staff of MTN were not in support of the killings as it had condemned such anti-development actions any time they occurred.

Ube, however, said she would forward the letter to the appropriate quarters for consideration.

“It is unfortunate that our people are being killed in South Africa, the management of MTN is not happy and we are not in support of the killings in South Africa.’’

(NAN)

3,000 widows protest forceful ejection from Anambra market

Over 3,000 widows trading in Ogbaru Market, in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra state, on Thursday, protested alleged forceful ejection from their present location at “Afia Coke” in Onitsha, the commercial city of the state.

The protesters, under the aegis of Chukeujekwu Agricultural Products Nig. Ltd., aka Many Widows, petitioned the wife of the state governor, Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, to save them from being ejected.

In a communiqué issued after their weekly prayer meeting at the market site, the group alleged that one Ngozi Ezeonu built some market stalls at Sarkamori area, a swampy axis of the River Niger, and colluded with some government agents to forcefully relocate them to the area.

The communiqué titled, “Appeal to Save us from Unlawful Harassment/Intimidation,” addressed to Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, and copied to the Commissioner of Women Affairs, as well as Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, and made available to newsmen in Onitsha, was signed by the duo of Mrs. Gloria Alaebonam (Chairperson) and Mrs Rose Igbo (Secretary).

The communiqué read in part, “We are crying for an urgent attention to our plights in the hands of people, who want to eject us from our market.

“Her Excellency, Nice Micro Finance Bank, Nise, and one Ngozi Ezeonu, constructed a market at an isolated area where hoodlums and MASSOB members have their base. This market is sited close to the dreaded Sarkamori drainage, close to the River Niger; and those that built it are colluding with some government officials to relocate us there.

“In 2016 when they were made to move to that particular site, majority of us were raped and some lost huge amount of money; while some accidentally drowned in the Sarkamori; a development that forced us to move back to our former base at Afia Coke, while some of us relocated to Asaba, Delta state, to settle for business.”

Describing those who set up the new market as selfish, the widows were optimistic that urgent intervention by Obiano’s wife would save them from being deprived of their means of livelihood.

Reacting, press secretary to the wife of the state governor, Mr. Emeka Ozumba, admitted he was aware that some women earlier protested at the government house.

He said, “The wife of the governor is not the right person to petition in matters of that nature, since there are authorities constituted by the state government to look after markets in the state.”

Efforts to get the reaction of Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko, was unsuccessful as calls and text messages put across to them were not replied as at press time.

Also, Ngozi Ezeonu and his cohorts accused of building the new market could not be reached for their comments.

Arsenal sign Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos on loan

Arsenal announced the season-long loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on Thursday.

The 22-year-old Spain international, who made 23 La Liga appearances in the 2018/19 campaign, helped Spain’s Under-21s to European glory last month.

“We’re excited to see Dani join us,” Emery said. “He is a talented player with big technical ability, creativity and precision.”

Ceballos reportedly had other options, including offers from rival Premier League clubs, but he said the lure of playing for Emery made up his mind.

“The coach was the turning point in terms of me joining this massive club,” Ceballos told Arsenal’s official website.

“He’s a Spanish coach and he knows me from my time at other clubs. I’m really happy to be able to help Arsenal achieve our objectives.”

Ceballos is Arsenal’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of 18-year-old forward Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano in Brazil.

(AFP)

Ministerial screening: My year of admission is 1977 not 1971, says Niyi Adebayo

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo, on Thursday made a correction to his curriculum vitae, saying he was admitted in 1977, not 1971. 

He attended the University of Lagos where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree. 

Adebayo, who was given an opportunity to make clarifications on his CV during his screening as a ministerial nominee at the Senate, stated that the error was as a result of “the printer’s devil.”

He said, “My CV is before all of you but I want to point out a slight correction. It’s as a result of the printer’s devil. My year of admission is 1977 and not 1971. I have been a lawyer since 1982 and my area of practice has been commercial practice. 

“I have been opportune (sic) to represent various companies both Nigerian and international in almost every area of commercial practice. In 1996, upon the creation of Ekiti State, I decided to throw my heart into the political ring. 

“My first port of call politically was in the United Nigeria Congress Party. Upon the conscription of that party, I joined the Alliance for Democracy and to the grace of God, I was opportune (sic) to be elected the first civilian governor of Ekiti State in the year 1999.”