Comrade Chinonso Obasi, the immediate past President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has been appointed the Executive Director of African Students Education Support Initiative (ASESI).

Obasis Media Aide, Comrade Samson Ggbemiga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

ASESI is a Non-governmental and Non-profit organisation which mandate revolves on education, good governance, anticorruption, accountability and rule of law.

Its operational jurisdiction is within the 54 Countries of Africa.

According to Ggbemiga, ASESI is a child of necessity as issues and projects that will uplift Africa shall be addressed judiciously as Obasi resumes officially on Sept. 24 at the ASESI head office, Gudu Abuja.

Obasi was the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) 2017/2018.

His administration as the then leader of the Nigerian Students body was one that regained the lost voice of Nigerian students.

He carried out interventions for the betterment of Nigerian students and Nigerian students leaders, supported masses oriented demands-call for local Government Autonomy by NULGE.

Obasi had represented Nigerian students in the 2014 Nigerian national Conference where he fought patriotically for the removal of the BSC and HND dichotomy in tertiary institutions.

He had also represented Nigerian students in the first Nigerian Petroleum Summit in 2018 where he also made case for the students of Petroleum Training Institute(PTI) Effurun Delta State, Ggbemiga said.

Obasi was the 2009/2010 Student Union Government (SUG) President of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana Ebonyi State and was later the zonal coordinator of NANS zone B (South-South/South-East).

Heis a graduate of Mechanical Engineering (Production option) and also a graduate of Welding Engineering and offshore Technology of the prestigious Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, Delta State.

Obasi, who hails from Ebonyi State, was born on April 27, 1987. He is married and has two children.

Source: NAN

At least 44 people died and scores were missing after a Tanzanian ferry, MV Nyerere, capsized in Victoria, Africas largest lake, with a desperate search for survivors set to resume in Tanzania on Friday.

There were more than a hundred passengers on board the vessel when it sank Thursday afternoon near Ukara Island in the southeast of the vast lake, which also extends into Uganda and Kenya, a local official said.

It is feared that a significant number have lost their lives, said George Nyamaha, the head of Ukerewe district council of which the island is a part.

Regional governor John Mongella said late Thursday the toll had reached 44 while 37 others had been rescued, though some of the survivors were in a very bad condition.

He added that rescue operations had been suspended and would continue on Friday morning.

A statement from Tanzanias Electrical, Mechanical and Services Agency said it was unknown how many passengers were aboard the MV Nyerere.

The ferry was also carrying cargo, including sacks of maize and cement, when it overturned close to the dock.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, but overloading is frequently to blame for such incidents.

President John Magufulis spokesman Gerson Msigwa also said on state television TBC 1 that the death toll stood at more than 40.

With a surface area of 70,000 square kilometres (27,000 square miles), oval-shaped Lake Victoria is roughly the size of Ireland.

Capsizes are not uncommon in the massive lake, and the number of fatalities is often high due to a shortage of life jackets and the fact that many people in the region cannot swim.

Source: NAN

Vietnamese ceremonial President Tran Dai Quang has died in a military hospital at the age of 61, Vietnamnews.vn reported.

The newspaper quoting the National Commission of Health Services for Officials said Quang died at 10.05am at the 108 Military Hospital on Friday despite the efforts of both Vietnamese and foreign doctors.

Quang was born on October 12, 1956 in the northern rural province of Ninh Bnh.

A career policeman, he enrolled in the Peoples Police Academy at the age of 16 and served in the police force throughout his life. He became the Minister of Public Security in 2011 and was elected President of Vit Nam in 2016.

His official term was due to end in 2021.

Quang was also a professor in security science

Source: NAN

Presidency has said the political career of Sen. Bukola Saraki, has shown that he is a very dangerous person who can go any length to promote his personal interests.

The language of the campaign of the PDPs presidential aspirant is such that could not be used against a domestic help.

Is he just knowing that the President lacked vision?

Presidency said that Buhari was someone that the Saraki had worked with very closely for more than three years. Amazingly, he never said all that he is now saying against him.

Rather, his word for and on the President were always respectful and reassuring. Thats the man he called My Father, about him there is no cause for alarma President who is healthy, witty and himself. What then changed, all of a sudden?

Is he saying these blatantly false and crude things against the President because he is gunning for the same office?

Could it be that he is targeting President Buhari because the party he has just joined does not have any real issues to highlight?

Be that as it may, our appeal to our supporters is to ignore Saraki and any such politicians bent on lowering the quality of political discourse. Let them drown in their own waters.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, condemned Sarakis remarks in Abuja and enjoined all groups and supporters of President Buharis candidature in 2019 presidential election to always ignore the offensive speeches by the PDP aspirant.

He advised support groups to ignore the crude and extremely derogatory speeches by Saraki and other PDP presidential aspirants against President Buhari.

It urged supporters to always put their points in more decent language and display maturity instead of joining issue with Saraki and other PDPs aspirants.

Saraki, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is one of the PDP presidential aspirants.

The Presidency wishes to react to the crude speeches hitting the news from Senator Bukola Saraki who recently joined the Peoples Democratic Party with the sole ambition of running as the president of Nigeria.

In response to the condemnable and extremely derogatory speeches by the PDP aspirant, we urge all Buhari supporters to display restraint in language and conduct and to always put across their points of view in a decent language.

Source: NAN

The Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu says he will not succumb to blackmail and intimidation byGov. Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa state.

Adamu in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by his Legislative Aide, Alhaji Jibrin Abdulahi, was reacting to the constitution of a nine-man probe committee by his state governor.

Al-makura had on Thursday set up the committeeto investigate the circumstances that led to the abandonment of the N5.4 billion Farin-Ruwa Independent Power Plant project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Farin-Ruwa hydro-electricity power project was awarded in May 2004, by Abdullahi Adamu who at that time was governor of the state.

The lawmaker said that he welcomes the setting up of the committee by the governor to investigate certain activities carried out during his stewardship as Chief Executive of Nasarawa State.

He however stressed that if the probe were an avenue to blackmail or intimidate him into succumbing to the whims of the governor then it would not work.

I will not succumb to blackmail andintimidation over my political differences with that of the governor.

Everything we did while I was governor of Nasarawa State were done openly and transparently, and the records are there for public scrutiny.

The Farin Ruwa Projectwas never abandoned as insinuated but that since government is a continuum, I expected my successors to complete the project after his two terms in office, he said.

The statement further explained that it was in view of the viabilityof that project that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had now taken over the completion of the project.

This isnot only withthe intention of completing the proposed 20MW power component, but is also considering thepossibility of incorporating other components like irrigation and water supply, he said.

He noted that the Farin Ruwa dam project had reached over 60 percent completion stage by 2007 when he left Office as chief executive of the state.

This was duly acknowledged by Governor Al-Makura when the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources visited him in Lafia barely two months ago to announce the FederalGovernments decision to take over the project.

It is therefore pure mischief and an attempted blackmail for him (Governor Al-Makura) to turn round and say he is investigating the handling of that project under my watch, Adamu said.

On the lease agreement for management of Keffi Hotels, Adamu said a privatecompany with which he was associated with, Pan-Afric Resources Limited, entered into a lease agreement with the then Plateau State Military Administration of Col. Joshua Madaki (now late)in 1990-91, which was about five years before Nasarawa State was created.

I believe the great value addition that we have done to the hotel made successive governments in our state, including Umarus which is due to leave Office in a few months, to allow us tocontinue as concessionaires in the hotel.

I think the fact that Pan-Afric Resources has complied with the terms of the lease agreement and has turned the abandoned property to what it it is and it have now become a source of jealousy for Governor Al-Makura, who has now turned into a hotelier since becoming governor, Adamu said.

The senator described the setting up of the probe panel as a political misadventure and an exercise in futility that was clearly misguided.

It was hastily done to see if I would be forced into accepting the abuse of the democratic process enshrined in the Constitution of our party, the rulingAll Progressives Congress (APC), in the process of selecting a governorship aspirant of the partyfor the 2019 election.

That, I believe, shouldnt come from a person who is politically matureand wants to be reckoned with even after he leaves office, Adamu said.

The former governor said that as a law abiding citizen, he would continue to accord Al-Makura due respect as governor of his home state.

Adamu therefore urged Al-makura to ensure that the 2019 elections goes through the democratic tenets in line with thepartysConstitution.

Source: NAN

By Joshua Olomu

The film adaptation of Wole Soyinkas classic autobiographical novel, Ake: The Years of Childhood, is now available to viewers on Amazon.com.

Amazon is the worlds acclaimed largestinternet retailer of video and MP3downloads and streaming.

Mr Dapo Adeniyi, Executive Producer and Director of the film, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

According to Adeniyi, efforts to put the film, which has been screened in Lagos and some international film festivals, on Amazon is to make it accessible around the world because ofits international appeal.

Ake, as a novel, is read in secondary schools in California and manyother parts of the world, and that kind of material with stronginternational appeal and acceptance must be made accessible to everyone.

A distributor may not have the resources to market it to wherever it is needed in all parts of the world.

People have been calling from all over the place to ask how they can get Ake film, and now under this arrangement someone can buy it online or rent it, he explained.

Adeniyi described the Ake story as an epic that was very significant in Nigerias history and must be immortalised for reminiscence, especially for the younger generation.

He added that film adaptation would send the readers ofAke back to the book and we hope we will really succeed in doing that.

Shot at various locations in Abeokuta, Ibadan, Lagos and East Grinstead, UK, Ake is a scintillating film adaptation of one of the most captivating childhood reminiscences of all time.

It combines a beautiful child-view narrative technique with direct echoes from the war as heard or imagined down in Ake, Abeokuta.

NAN reports that Ake: The Years of Childhood, set in the years just before World War II, is a memoir by Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, that was first published in 1981.

It tells the story of Soyinkas boyhood before and during World War II in a Yoruba village in western Nigeria called Ak, where the author spent the first 12 years of his life.

The story ends with Egba womens riot of 1945, a major historic event in Nigeria.

The film adaptation, produced by Back Page Productions, has a cast of about 1,000 persons, which includes some veteran Nigerian artistes.

Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, featured as one of the outspoken Egba women in the famous Egba women riots of 1945.

Others are Yinka Davies, the musical icon, featured as Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, and Lanike Onimisi and Gbenga Ajiboye are Mr and Mrs Soyinka (Woles parents) respectively.

Source: NAN

Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit plans were declared dead by the British media on Friday after what they cast as a humiliation at the hands of European Union leaders at an informal summit in Salzburg.

After a dinner of Wiener schnitzel in Salzburg, EU leaders said they will push for a Brexit deal next month but warned May that if she will not give ground on trade and the Irish border by November they are ready to cope with Britain crashing out.

For the British media, the message was clear.

Your Brexits broken, the Daily Mirror newspaper said on its front page.

British newspapers led their front pages with a Reuters picture showing May, attired in a red jacket, standing apparently aloof and alone from a mass of suited male EU leaders.

May humiliated, The Guardian newspaper said.

Humiliation for May, said The Times on its front page.

Mays Salzburg hopes dashed as EU leaders reject Chequers deal, said the Financial Times. The BBC said: Embarrassing rebuff for PM in Salzburg.

The Sun went much further: EU Dirty Rats Euro mobsters ambush May, it said alongside a mocked up picture of French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President Donald Tusk cast as American gangsters with guns.

Macron bluntly said Mays Brexit proposals, known as Chequers after the country house where they were agreed by the British cabinet in July, were unacceptable.

Tusk was criticised for posting a picture of him offering May a choice of delicate cakes beside a message: Sorry, no cherries. That is a reference to what EU leaders cast as British attempts to cherry pick elements of EU membership.

Britain is due to leave the European Union on March 29, yet little is clear: there is, so far, no divorce deal, rivals to May are circling and some rebels have vowed to vote against a possible Brexit deal.

Both London and Brussels say they want a divorce deal, though there is limited time if the British and EU parliaments are to ratify a deal by March 29. Any deal must be approved by British lawmakers.

The Spectator used the headline: Chequers goes pop: Theresa Mays Salzburg catastrophe.

May will emerge as unique in the annals of history if she survives as PM much longer in the face of setbacks on this scale, British journalist Robert Peston wrote.

Mays former Brexit minister David Davis has said up to 40 lawmakers from the Conservative Party will vote against her Brexit plans.

Davis told Huffington Post there was a rock-solid core of party lawmakers who belonged to the European Research Group (ERG), a grouping which wants a sharper break with the EU and were willing to vote down her plans.

If a possible deal were rejected by the British parliament, Britain would face leaving the EU without an agreement, delaying Brexit or calling another referendum.

If all conventional roads lead to a hard no-deal Brexit, the notion of Parliament exerting control and forcing another referendum on us would begin to look not wholly fanciful, Peston wrote in the Spectator.

If it left without a deal, the country would move from seamless trade with the EU to customs arrangements set by the World Trade Organization for external states.

Many business chiefs and investors say a so called no-deal Brexit would weaken the West, panic financial markets and block the arteries of trade. Brexit supporters say such fears are exaggerated and Britain would thrive in the long term.

Source: NAN

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on the Chinese military for buying fighter jets and missile systems from Russia, in breach of a sweeping U.S. sanctions law punishing Moscow for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

Chinas Foreign Ministry has strongly urged the United States to withdraw the sanctions, according to spokesman Geng Shuang at a daily news briefing in Beijing.

The U.S. State Department said it would immediately impose sanctions on Chinas Equipment Development Department (EDD), the branch of the Chinese military responsible for weapons and equipment, and its director, Li Shangfu, for engaging in significant transactions with Rosoboronexport, Russias main arms exporter.

The sanctions are related to Chinas purchase of 10 SU-35 combat aircraft in 2017 and S-400 surface-to-air missile system-related equipment in 2018, the State Department said.

They block the Chinese agency, and Li, from applying for export licenses and participating in the U.S. financial system.

It also adds them to the Treasury Departments list of specially designated individuals with whom Americans are barred from doing business.

The administration also blacklisted an additional 33 people and entities associated with the Russian military and intelligence, adding them to a list under the 2017 law, known as the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA.

CAATSA also seeks to punish Russia for its aggression in Ukraine and involvement in Syrias civil war.

Doing significant business with anyone on that list can trigger sanctions like those imposed on China.

Some of those added to the list, which now contains 72 names, were indicted in connection with Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, the official said.

Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order intended to facilitate implementation of the sanctions.

A federal special counsel is leading a criminal investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election, and any possible cooperation with Trumps presidential campaign.

Trump has insisted there was no collusion with Russia. Moscow denies any effort to meddle in U.S. politics.

One U.S. administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said the sanctions imposed on the Chinese agency were aimed at Moscow, not Beijing or its military, despite an escalating trade war between the United States and China.

The ultimate target of these sanctions is Russia. CAATSA sanctions in this context are not intended to undermine the defense capabilities of any particular country, the official told reporters on a conference call.

They are instead aimed at imposing costs upon Russia in response to its malign activities, the official said.

In Moscow, Russian member of parliament Franz Klintsevich said the sanctions would not affect the S-400 and SU-35 contracts.

I am sure that these contracts will be executed in line with the schedule, Klintsevich was quoted as saying by Russias Interfax news agency. The possession of this military equipment is very important for China.

Security analysts in Asia said the move appeared to be largely symbolic and would serve only to push Moscow and Beijing closer together.

The imposition of U.S. sanctions will have zero impact on Russian arms sales to China, said Ian Storey, of Singapores ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute.

Both countries are opposed to what they see as U.S. bullying and this kind of actions will just push Beijing and Moscow even closer together, he said, adding that Moscow needed Chinese money and Beijing wanted advanced military technology.

Collin Koh, a security analyst at Singapores S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the sanctions would do little to counter the evolving research and development relationship between China and Russia.

Source: NAN

However, his consolation will be that Juventus was cruising to a crushing victory against the Spanish team, despite being reduced to 10 men. Score was 2-0 in 60th minute.

Ronaldo was shown a red card by German referee Felix Brych in the 29th minute at Estadio Mestalla after an altercation with Valencia defender Jeison Murillo.

The decision seemed harsh. Ronaldo was being tracked by Murillo in the penalty box and aimed a small kick at his opponent as they tussled.

Murillo instantly fell to the ground and, after consulting his assistant on the goalline, Brych sent Ronaldo off.

The striker dropped to the floor in disbelief and had tears in his eyes when he finally walked down the tunnel.

Ronaldo will now miss Juventus next game in Group H, which is at home to Young Boys on October 2.

The red card received by Ronaldo today was his 11th in his stellar career.

1. Saturday, May 15, 2004, Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 2

Ronaldo scored in Uniteds 2-0 win away to Aston Villa on the final day of the season, but was booked twice for diving and time wasting late on.

His first booking was eventually rescinded meaning he didnt have to serve a suspension.

2. Saturday, January 14, 2006, Manchester City 3 Manchester United 1

The Portuguese was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on former United favourite Andy Cole as the Red Devils went on to lose the Manchester derby 3-1.

3. Wednesday, August 15, 2007, Portsmouth 1 Manchester United 1

A straight red card and three-match ban was again dished out to Ronaldo for an apparent headbutt on Portsmouth midfielder Richard Hughes in a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park.

4. Sunday, November 30, 2008, Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1

Ronaldo saw red in a Manchester derby once more, this time for two bookable offences after a trip on Shaun Wright-Phillips and then an inexplicable handball.

5. December 5, 2009, Real Madrid 4 Almeria 2

A first red card in La Liga came in Ronaldos debut season for two petulant late bookings coming after he had missed a penalty and also scored Los Blancos fourth goal in a 4-2 win.

6. January 24, 2010, Real Madrid 2 Malaga 0

Just a month later Ronaldo doubled his count of red cards at the Bernabeu when he elbowed Malaga midfielder Patrick Mtiliga in the face as he tried to escape the Danes clutches. Earlier, the Portuguese had scored both Madrids goals in a 2-0 win.

7. May 17, 2013, Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2

On a disastrous night for Real as they lost a Madrid derby for the first time in 14 years, Ronaldo kicked out at Atletico captain Gabi in the final few minutes and was shown a straight red.

8. February 2, 2014, Athletic Bilbao 1 Real Madrid 1

Ronaldo was given a three-game ban after clashing with Athletic defender Carlos Gurpegi and then showing his disagreement with the referee when he was shown a straight red card as he left the field.

9. January 24, 2015, Cordoba 1 Real Madrid 2

Arguably his most violent discretion as he kicked out at Cordoba defender Edimar.

10. August 13, 2017, Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 3

Ronaldo packed plenty of action in a 24-minute appearance as a second-half substitute as he smashed into the top corner to give Madrid a 2-1 lead.

However, his decision to celebrate by removing his shirt to flex his muscles proved costly as he was booked and just two minutes later saw a second yellow card for diving in the referees eyes in an attempt to win a penalty.

Source: NAN

England champions Manchester City were beaten by Ligue 1 club Lyon 2-1, with goals recorded in the first half byMaxwell Cornet andNabilFekir.

With coach Pep Guardiola banished to the touchline, his assistant manager Mikel Arteta admitted the English champions were handed a wake-up call in the shock home defeat to start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola was serving a touchline ban for being sent-off in last seasons quarter-final exit to Liverpool.

And Guardiola could only watch on in horror as Lyon punished a sloppy first 45 minutes from the pre-tournament favourites through Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir.

Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back in an improved second-half performance, but couldnt prevent City slumping to their first defeat of the season.

When you are not at the races at the start of a game in the Champions League after, it doesnt matter how good you are, it is too late, said Arteta.

In contrast to their stunning domestic form, City have now lost their last four Champions League games.

And this was even more humiliating. Lyon are seventh on their domestic league.

Shakhtar Donetsk hosting Hoffenheim in the second match of the Group F, played 2-2 draw.

In Bern, Switzerland, Paul Pogba was the driving force with a brace as Manchester United recovered from a shaky start to record an ultimately convincing 3-0 win away to Young Boys in their opening Champions League game in Group H.

Skipper Pogbas superb opening goal cut down the Swiss champions in their prime, and he then doubled the English sides lead from a penalty just before the break.

The France star also set up the third goal for compatriot Anthony Martial in the second half, as Jose Mourinhos side safely negotiated this fixture on the synthetic surface at the Stade de Suisse.

Seemingly a club in crisis at the end of August following their 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, this was Uniteds third straight win since then, all away from home.

In Valencia, Juventus, despite losing striker Cristiano Ronaldo to a red card, prevailed 2-0, with the goals by Miralem Pjanic, coming off penalties awarded either side of the two halves.

In Group G, Real Madrid triumphed over Roma at the Santiago Bernabeu, with goals by Isco, Gareth Bale and Mariano Diaz, giving them emphatic victory.

In the other match of the group, Viktoria Plzen were held 2-2 at home by visiting CSKA Moscow.

Source: NAN

Bridget Ikyado

Mr Emmanuel Shior, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), said on Wednesday that the rampaging flood has submerged five communities in Agatu and other parts of Makurdi, the state capital.

Shior disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on the current flood situation in the state, adding that Rice Mill and other settlements on the banks of River Benue were also affected.

He said that the state government had taken proactive measures, including setting up a committee to sensitise the people of the state on the dangers ahead.

He said that the committee consists of officials drawn from SEMA, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Information and other stakeholders in the state.

Shior said that SEMA, in conjunction with NEMA and other stakeholders, had embarked on an awareness campaign in the media, churches and Mosques.

He said that the campaign was intended to encourage residents of flood prone areas to relocate to safer areas.

The BSEMA boss said that the latest check with a guage showed that the water level at the River Benue had risen to 11 metres, barely one meter to its maximum level.

According to him, the water has virtually reached the level that caused flooding in 2012, during which most parts of the state were submerged.

He advised residents to steer clear from the river because of the high level, saying that 12 metres was the highest level that could cause disaster in any state.

He said that centres in the state, including the International Market, had been prepared to accommodate displaced persons.

In his remark, Mr Lugard Slaku , the Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for North Central, said that 12 states, including Benue, had been listed as most threatened by flood in the country.

So we have come with a team trained by NEMA to collaborate with SEMA to assess the situation, check the available facilities and gaps and report back to the head office for additional resources, where needed. Slaku said.

Slaku said that while NEMA, SEMA and other stakeholders were working hard to ensure prompt response to distres calls, the people must cooperate with government to prevent avoidable disaster.

Source: NAN

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has again reassured Nigerians that the military is winning the fight against Boko Haram terrorism and will not rest on its oars until terrorism is wiped out of the country.

However, it expressed concerned about mischievous reports by section of the media aimed at discrediting the efforts of troops in the North East.

According to a statement issued by Brig.-Gen. John Agim, the Acting Director Defence Information DDI, the report is being spearheaded by a particular foreign news agency that the Armed Forces is losing the battle against insurgency. He did not name the agency.

Agim, however, said that the report was not true, adding that such malicious articles should be disregarded while the military would continue to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

The report was calculated to dampen the spirit of the troops at the theatres of operation and to demean the successes recorded so far in the war against terrorism.

It is more worrisome when such an ill-informed report is coming from a supposed credible news agency expected to be a partner in progress.

It agitates the mind whether the reporter is working in isolation or speaking the mind of its sponsors.

It is a well known fact that terrorism thrives on publicity and propaganda.

It is also known that some journalists work for Boko Haram and fraternize with terrorist commanders against the standing forces to whip up sentiment, he said.

Agim said that at the heat of Boko Haram insurgency, the armed forces with limited weapon chased Boko Haram out of Abuja and other cities into Sambisa Forest.

How much more now that the military is well equipped with determined troops to take on any terrorist group, be it Boko Haram or Islamic State In West Africa.

If this is still seen as struggling by the purveyors of the false report, then the word may have assumed a new meaning, he said.

The DDI said the truth remains that the military strategy of drawing out the enemy had been a great success as hundreds of terrorists had met their waterloo in their desperate attempts to recapture some cities in the North East.

He said the military would continue to do this until terrorists and terrorism were completely annihilated, adding that it was insensible to attempt to rewrite the script and make the military look like the losing side.

Agim urged Nigerians to be wary of uncomplimentary remarks about our nation and its armed forces by sympathisers of terrorist organisations.

Source: NAN

Nigerias ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the revised timetable for the conduct of its primaries ahead of February 2019 general elections.

The quoted the National Organising Secretary of the party, Mr Emma Ibediro, saying that the timetable had been approved by the National Working Committee.

Accordingly the 2018 primaries would be held as follows:

Presidential Primary September 25, 2018.

Governorship Primaries September 29, 2018.

Senate Primaries October 2, 2018.

House of Representatives Primaries October 3, 2018.

State House of Assembly Primaries October 4, 2018.

Presidential National Convention October 6, 2018.

Source: NAN

Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP governorship candidate in the Osun election on Saturday may not be qualified to run for the office and his attempt to make things up, has landed him in Police trouble.

The police asked him and four others to report today to their Special Investigation Panel at the Abuja headquarters for arraignment in court.

He and the other suspects will face a charge of examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, personation.

The police named the other suspects as
MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School , Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime).

Here is the police statement:

On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at OJO/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively. This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr Dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017.

Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.

Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didnt sit for the examination.

However, Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke andfour (4) others.

Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with Seven (7) Credit and One (1) Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (Schools copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album. Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.
The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court. Charges of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.

Consequently, Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) are hereby advised in their own interest to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.

Source: NAN

The African Development Bank Group on Thursday banned for 48 months, Geo Sciences International Sarl, a consulting firm based in Yaound, Cameroon for alleged fraudulent practices.

An investigation conducted by the Banks Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that GEO SCIENCES engaged in numerous fraudulent practices in bidding for a consulting contract under the Agro-Forestry Development Support Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While participating in a tender for the conduct of various technical, biophysical and mapping studies, the company misrepresented its experience in conducting such studies as well as the remuneration of the experts involved in these studies.

Further, GEO SCIENCES failed to properly disclose a potential conflict of interest.

The debarment renders the consultancy firm ineligible to participate in Bank-financed projects during the debarment period.

The debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Recognition of Debarment Decisions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group.

The Agro-Forestry Development Support Project was financed under the Congo Basin Forest Fund hosted by the AfDB.

The Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of AfDB Group is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in Bank Group-financed operations.

The investigation by the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of the African Development Bank was conducted by Mr. Mehdi KHOALI and Mr. Bouraoui JAOUADI.

African Development Bank staff and the general public can use secured hotlines to report sanctionable practices within the Bank or operations financed by the Bank Group. ()

Source: NAN

Simon Pesco Mallam, Chairman, Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, signed Nigerias Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 20182023 on 19 September 2018.

A CPF is the frame of reference for the medium-term planning of technical cooperation between a Member State and the IAEA and identifies priority areas where the transfer of nuclear technology and technical cooperation resources will be directed to support national development goals.

Nigeria has been an IAEA Member State since March 1968.

Its 20182023 CPF identifies 6 priority area of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Food and Agriculture Health and Nutrition, Water Resources and Environment,Energy and Industry and Research Reactors.

Source: NAN

By Olawale Akinremi

An Ibadan Customary Court sitting on Mapo Hill on Thursday struck out a case of infidelity brought against
a woman following her death.

The petitioner, Marian Folalu, a housewife, had asked the court to dissolve her 20-year-old marriage to her husband, Kayode, over the controversy surrounding her fifth pregnancy that she probably had it for another man.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that at the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Kayode informed the court that his wife died sometime in May during child bearing.

Consequently, Chief Ademola Odunade, the courts President, who sympathized with the respondent, however, struck out the case.

Odunade advised Kayode to approach the appeal division of the customary court for a redress if he so desired.

Marian had told the court that the controversial pregnancy, being the subject of litigation before the court, belonged to her concubine, Ololade.

Marian, who denied that her husband was responsible for the pregnancy, told the court that her concubine, who had been sleeping withher since January of 2018, was the rightful owner of the expected child.

Oloade, in his testimony, corroborated the petitioner s claim that he was responsible for the pregnancy.

But the respondent dismissed the claim and and insisted that the pregnancy was his.

The court had adjourned the case until Sept. 20 when Marian was expected to have given birth so that DNA test could be conductedto determine the paternity of the child.

Source: NAN

Trumphis attacks on OPEC Thursday morning amid oil prices that have climbed to their highest level in two months.

We protect the countries of the Middle East, they would not be safe for very long without us, and yet they continue to push for higher and higher oil prices! We will remember.

The OPEC monopoly must get prices down now! trump says

With the caveat that its quite possible to over-interpret Trumps tweets, todays action underscores the tricky oil politics facing the White House.

Trump is moving ahead with sanctions against Iran that are already curbing their exports ahead of formal reimposition in November.

But keeping Iranian barrels off the market tightens supply and puts upward pressure on prices, which creates political risks for Republicans, particularly before midterm elections.

OPECs output already reached a 9-month high in August, according to the International Energy Agency.

Iranian oil minister Bijan Zanganeh on Thursday said he would veto any OPEC deal that imperils Tehrans oil market share, complicating the organisations talks with Russia and other partners to institutionalise their supply management accord beyond this year.

The comments come just ahead of this weekends meeting of a committee monitoring the supply pact between OPEC, Russia and some other non-OPEC producers.

The session is aimed at putting meat on the bones of the broad agreement last June to raise output, Platts notes.

Read more at :

Source: NAN

By Chukwudi Ekezie

After Vote Buying, Nigerias new political headache, reached its climax during the conduct of Ekiti governorship election in July, Nigerians have been thinking of ways to deal with the phenomenon which threatens to destroy the countrys democracy.

The electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has since then held several stakeholders engagements to find a solution to the problem, which gets more sophisticated with every new election.

At the beginning, it was the bribing of prospective voters by politicians, who offer them gifts of food and clothing items as well as suspicious acts of philanthropy in form of empowerment programmes and infrastructure development projects during electioneering.

Later the practice was the secret bribing of election officials, party and security agents to change poll results in favour of losers.

However, recent experiences demonstrate the boldness of politicians who have turned election venues to open auction grounds, where the ballot goes to the highest bidder.

To avoid the shame of Ekiti during which voters received pay for voting after displaying pictures of thumb-printed ballot papers to party agents, INEC has resolved to re-administer polling units, starting with the Osun Governorship Election holding on Sept. 22.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said when he presented Certificate of Registration to 23 new political parties that the new polling unit structure would make it difficult for voters to display their ballot papers after marking them.

The commission is deeply worried about our elections, particularly the way they are becoming increasingly monetised.

Vote buying is a cancer to our elections and we must work together collectively to stamp it out.

Accordingly, and on the part of the commission starting with Osun Governorship Election coming up on Sept. 22, we will change the way our polling units are administered.
It will be done in such a way that there will be no room for voters to expose their marked ballot papers between voting cubicles and the ballot boxes.

We shall further re-strategise with the security agencies for a more robust response to the arrest and prosecution of vote buyers.

We will also engage with all well-meaning groups for more effective voter education and voter sensitisation, Yakubu said.

To strengthen its hold on the issue, INEC stated that voters would no longer be allowed to take smartphones into the voting cubicle to prevent them from taking pictures of thumb-printed ballot papers to present to party agents as evidence for payment after voting.

In the past, the commission said it was helpless over the handling of matters arising from the conduct of elections, especially the prosecution of electoral offenders. It said it lacked the capacity to prosecute such cases.

However, that responsibility has shifted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which has accepted to prosecute election fraud offenders.

The Acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu said the agency was working with INEC and the police to track politicians and others involved in vote buying.

Magu said EFCC was monitoring spending by politicians and political parties during elections and had put banks on notice regarding transactions by parties and politicians.

We are working with INEC to stop vote buying, we are seriously pursuing this.

We will monitor unusual cash withdrawals. We are going to work with other relevant agencies like the police on this.

Before now, it was inconceivable for law enforcement agencies to investigate the sources of election funding of political parties and their candidates.

This has led to gross financial abuse and the pervasion of the electoral process and consequently enthroned bad leadership which in turn led to corruption and bad governance, he said.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on its part approved a bill for a law to establish an Election Offences Commission. The agency, it is hoped, will take the burden of post-election crises management off the shoulders of INEC.

The steps so far taken, particularly the ban on the use of smartphones in polling cubicles, do not appeal to some groups. The leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describes the step as a plan by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the 2019 general elections.

We have all heard what the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said about the decision to ban the use of smartphones in the polling units. All over the world, a smartphone is the easiest way of communication.

What they have said clearly shows that the commission, in connivance with the All Progressives Congress, has perfected a rigging strategy for the next election.

In fact, INEC has sent Nigeria back to the primitive days.

The same plan to rig the 2019 election is responsible for the refusal of the president to sign the amended Electoral Act because the card reader must be used, PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus said.
Similarly, a group, Not Too Young To Perform, has rejected the ban on the use of smartphones at polling units and urged INEC to plan better.

For us, since the major incident of vote buying occurred during the Anambra governorship election in November last year, INEC has not done enough to nip the anti-people practice in the bud.

We hail the commission for recognising that vote buying is a big challenge that must be tackled, but the ban on use of cellphones and camera at polling units cannot be the best INEC can offer in its efforts to curb the menace. INEC should go back to the drawing board to find better ways to deal with it if it cant prosecute offenders.

While all stakeholders acknowledge the threat of vote buying to democracy, the issue remains contentious.

The approach adopted by INEC is traditional considering the state of technology at its disposal. The proposals by EFCC and FEC are laudable, but considering the weakness in law enforcement in the country, there are doubts that much can be achieved.

For example, while the law makes electoral fraud an offence, no one, including some persons alleged to have been involved in electoral violence, bribery, intimidation, forgery and manipulation of election results in the past, has been punished.

It has been difficult to apply the rule to all groups and persons in Nigeria, especially when influential persons are involved. Such persons and groups or those associated with them are often treated with deference.

In all societies when a problem arises in one sector the whole community, including scientists, get to work to resolve the issue.

The adoption of scientific approach to deal with issues is objective and less contentious.

Vote buying is a Nigerian problem. Maybe someday, a Nigerian scientist will develop a chip that can be installed on the panel used in constructing the voting cubicle to hinder all activities not related to the casting of vote in the enclosure. (NANFeatures)

Source: NAN

By Uchenna Eletuo

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lagos, said on Thursday that it had seized contraband valued at N81 million in the last one month.

Benjamin Binga, the new Comptroller of Customs, Western Marine Command, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Binga said the seizures in Idiroko, Yekeme and Badagry axis were made were made possible through intelligence gathering efforts of the officers.

He listed the seized items to included 800 bags of rice, 806 wraps of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and 15,000 kegs of petrol each containing 30 litres.

The comptroller, who took over the command on Aug. 6, reassured the public that there will be no hiding place for smugglers.

Barely four days after I assumed office there was massive seizure of wraps of cannabis along the Badagry creeks, signaling a purposeful start.

Within thirty days other seizures were made, showing that the officers actually read my lips when I declared zero tolerance on smuggling during the handover ceremony, Binga said.

The comptroller said that the seizures had been auctioned to the public and some security agencies.

Binga also warned economic saboteurs to stay clear the zone as the command was poised to stop their illegal dealings. (NAN)

Source: NAN