Sadiya Umar Farouk

By Yakubu Uba

The North East Development Commission (NEDC), says it plans to construct 10,000 houses for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno.

Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, NEDC Managing Director disclosed this at the official ground breaking ceremony of the President Muhammadu Buhari Special Intervention Project in Ngom, Mafa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Friday.

Alkali said that the project would help address housing needs of the IDPs in the state.

He observed that about six per cent of houses in the state had been destroyed due to Boko Haram insurgency, adding that the total value of property destruction by the insurgents was about 9.6 billion dollars.

Alkali said that the Federal Government has approved a national housing programme where the state would get another 8,800 houses.

He, however, observed that the houses would not be enough for the state and urged the government to look into the possibility of increasing states slot to 20,000.

I am making a passionate appeal to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to see that the state gets additional 20,000 houses alongside the ones we are having today.

The housing project will be executed as quickly as possible to facilitate the return of those displaced, Alkali said.

Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said the special project was a pointer to President Muhammadu Buharis commitment towards rebuilding of the North East.

Farouq said that 100 houses would be built in Ngon, while the rest 900 would be spread to across nine other LGAs in the state.

Gov. Babagana Zulum, lauded Buhari for the project which he said would help in facilitating the return of many IDPs back to their ancestral home.

Zulum, who noted that the state has over 1.5 million IDPs, said his administration was committed to ensuring that all IDP camps in Maiduguri Metropolis and Jere LGA were closed on or before May 2021.

While expressing the gratitude of the people of the state to federal government, Zulum urged NEDC to do more in area of infrastructure, particularly roads, schools, and water supply distribution network.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NEDC in Maiduguri had inaugurated a 30-bed capacity Isolation Centre in one of the IDPs camp in Maiduguri.

It also donated 120 operational vehicles to the Nigerian Army and paramilitary organisations in the North East.

Similarly, ambulances and medical equipment were presented to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri among others.

Source: NAN News

Dubai's police force say they have arrested Nigerian Instagram celebrity Raymond Igbalodely, known as Hushpuppi, on allegations of fraud amounting to $435m (£346m).

In an operation police called "Fox Hunt 2", 12 other people were arrested in six simultaneous raids in Dubai.

Nearly two million people from different parts of the world were said to have fallen victims to the plot.

The social media star was based in Dubai and claimed he was successful businessman.

Watch the video below to learn how he and his gang swindled and scammed close to 2 million people to the tune of 1.6 Billion Dirhams.

Documentary on how Hushpuppy scammed about 2 million victims of 160 Billion naira – 02:21
— Showbiz Nigeria

The local authorities published video on Twitter, documenting the four-month investigation that led to the arrests.

.@DubaiPoliceHQ takedown "Hushpuppi", "Woodberry", ten international cybercriminals in a special operation dubbed "Fox Hunt 2". pic.twitter.com/E8oOFHZftG

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 25, 2020

Video Source: showbiz.com.ng

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

Nigeria has recorded 649 new cases of COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total number of infections in the country, as at June 24, to 22,020.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) made this known on Wednesday through its official Twitter handle.

NCDC said that the 649 new confirmed cases were from 23 states, with nine deaths as at June 24.

The health agency said that no new state reported a case in the last 24 hours.

The NCDC said that Lagos still remained the epicentre of COVID-19, recording the highest number of 250 new cases, followed by Oyo state with 100 new infections.

Others were: Plateau-40; Delta-40; Abia-28; Kaduna-27; Ogun-22; Edo-20; Akwa Ibom-18; Kwara-17; FCT-17; Enugu-14; Niger-13; Adamawa-13; Bayelsa-7; Osun-6; Bauchi-6; Anambra-4; Gombe-3; Sokoto-2; while Imo and Kano have one each.

The NCDC said that till date, 22,020 cases had been confirmed with 13, 867 active cases; 7,613 cases treated and discharged; 120,108 samples collected and 542 deaths recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it takes two to 14 days for people who are infected with COVID-19 to develop symptoms.

The NCDC said that most infected persons have little or no symptoms, but could spread the disease to others.

It stated that COVID-19 spreads very fast, urging Nigerians to take all the necessary precautions to prevent it.

Source: NAN News

Mr and Miss Nigeria International (2019/2020) King and Queen

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

A total of 120 contestants are jostling for the 2020 Mr and Miss Nigeria International (MMNI) competution, the BLC organisers said on Thursday.

Also; contestants from 10 countries compete for Mr and Miss International Africa (MMIA).

The organisers, Brendance and Crusader Ltd (BCL), gave the figures in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Bredan Nsikak, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCL, told NAN that the registration for the competitions, extended from May 31, ended on Thursday (June 25).

Nsikak said that the 120 contestants would participate in the audition for the MMNI contest tagged: Rebirth Edition 2020.

He noted that 2020 MMNI audition had more entries than the last edition which recorded 110 entries and produced Denis Idara and Peter Abah as the 2019/2020 MMNI.

The registration for the two pegeants, which had been on and was extended, has ended today, and 120 contestants met the requirement for the MMNI audition restricted to Nigerians, and we have confirmed them.

We will be having contestants from 10 African countries for the MMIA pegeant which the current MMNI King and Queen will be representing our country, he said.

The CEO attributed the increase in the number of contestants for MMNI to the COVID-19-induced restrictions which, he said, made more people to have time for the contest.

He added that no fewer than 25 aspiring contestants were disqualified due to age falsification, as the age limit was pegged at minimum of 18 years and maximum of 28 years.

According to him, the audition to begin on July 1, would be virtual since social distancing is still bein observed across the country.

More contestants turned out this year, most likely because of the lockdown as they have more time; we screened out the overage and underage.

Coronavirus is spreading; this is the reason we are going virtual for the audition starting next week, although there might be direct audition, he said.

According to him, the grand finale is billed for October at the Muson Center, Lagos State, after auditions in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Imo and Benue which would hold in batches.

He gave the participating countries for the MMIA to include Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Cameroun and host, Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger

By Rita Iliya
Niger government had approved the reduction of tax payment as part of measures to cushion the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger disclosed this during a press briefing in Minna on Thursday.

Bello, who was represented by Alhaji Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the tax reduction takes effect from June 24 to March 21, 2021.

He said the filling date of annual tax returns by all businesses and individuals have been extended to Sept. 30, while the filling of monthly PAYE returns by businesses has been granted 10 days extension beginning from the 10th to 20th of every month.

He also stated that the penalties and interests on late fillings, payments, and remittances as well as default on Tax liabilities have been reviewed downward to 5 percent for penalties and 10 per cent for interest charges.

He further said that government has granted 50 per cent reduction on all the rates as contained in the Harmonized Agricultural Produce and Livestock Fees Collection Regulation Act 2019.

Payments in four installments have been granted to all Tax payers in the Small Medium Enterprises SMEs and the Informal sector.

He assured that all the agencies responsible for collection of Tax have been notified on the development, hence anyone shortchanged should forward their complaints to the office of the SSG.

He, however, urged the public to continue to adhere strictly to all COVID-19 protocols by the state taskforce on COVID-19.

Source: NAN News

Sen. Akon Eyakenyi

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Akon Eyakenyi (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) on Thursday sought the collaboration of stakeholders in the education sector to tackle the issues surrounding Almajiri system of education in the country.

Eyakenyi who represents Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial District made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The lawmaker who decried the manner in which the Almajiri children were being conveyed in trucks from one state to the other as a means to guard against the spread of COVID-19, described the system as a socio-religious problem.

He added that the problem needed to be tackled by stakeholders and state governments.

The way forward is for the state governments to be involved; for the stakeholders and parents to be involved.

Because I cannot see why someone will bring forth children and not be able to take care of them. You must be able to have children that you must be able to take care of.

You have two or you have three children; your income should be able to handle the number of children produced.

You want to have more than you can swallow and then the next thing is to send them out to go and start begging to earn a living.

Where are you taking them to, who are those you are sending them to go and beg from. You should be in a position to take care of your own children, she said.

On the limited number of Almajiri schools across the country, Eyakenyi said that given the COVID-19 pandemic, what was expected was for the management of schools to come up with measures that would help stop the spread of the disease.

The structures we have cannot accommodate the existing number of children during the COVID-19 period.

We cannot send the children all back to school at the same time. There is a strategy the ministry alongside the stakeholders are trying to put up to ensure they are taken care of when they get back to school.

If Churches and Mosques can go back and they say, do distance spacing, what stops the schools from doing so.

They can go in two sets, what it takes is determination. If we decide to do it, we have to start something.

We cannot fold our hands and say because of COVID-19 let the children not go back to school, the education system will totally collapse.

This is third term almost running out. We are about entering the long vacation. And by September the school session is supposed to resume. If the children lose a whole session, how do we make up, she said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

FrieslandCampina WAMCO

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, producers of Peak and Three Crowns Milk, has announced a turnover of N161.83 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2019.

The turnover represented an increase of 8.5 per cent when compared with N149.16 billion over 2018.

Mr Ben Langat, Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, made this known on Thursday at the 47th Annual General Meeting of the company held virtually.

Langat said that the company posted a profit before tax of N18.75 billion against N16.31 billion posted in 2018, representing a 15 per cent increase.

The shareholders unanimously approved a total dividend payout of N9.49 per 50k share, having paid an interim dividend of N2.68 per 50k share in November 2019; with a final dividend pay out of N6.81 per share.

In the year under review, the business environment remained challenging.

In spite of the headwinds, FrieslandCampina WAMCO played a leading role in Nigerias backward integration initiative led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the dairy sector, Langat said.

He noted that the company activated its Dairy Development Programme (DDP) in Bobi Grazing Reserve, modeling 10 years success of the programme on a 10,000-hectare grazing reserve in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger.

Langat said the company inaugurated a state-of-the-art factory for the production of Yoghurt and introduced the new Peak Yoghurt Drink in three distinct flavours (Plain Sweetened, Strawberry and Orange) into the market, in line with its business plan.

Speaking on the companys business outlook for 2020, Langat said that the Board of Directors and management of FrieslandCampina WAMCO remained positive and confident about the future of the company, in spite of the disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

Langat said that the company would remain focussed on its purpose of providing better nutrition and advocating healthy living.

He said that FrieslandCampina WAMCO would continue to actively engage consumers and pursue its backward integration for business sustainability. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Abiola Ajimobim, EX-governor of Oyo state

By Martha Agas

The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has expressed sadness on the death of former Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

Ajimobi died on Thursday at the age of 70 years.

In a condolence message in Jos, the NGF Chairman, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, said that Ajomobis death was painful.

Lalong described the deceased as a man of integrity, who served Oyo people and Nigeria with excellence.

He said that Ajimobis leadership qualities and significant roles in the formation of the All Progressives Congress endeared him to many.

He said that the attributes led to his appointment as the partys Deputy National Chairman, South.

The late Ajimobis contributions to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during his career made a significant impact on its growth and development, the NGF chairman said.

Lalong condoled with Ajimobis wife, children and entire family, urging them to take solace in his legacies and accept his death as the will of God.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ex-Governor of Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with government and people of Oyo State over the passing of former governor, Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, whose contributions to the development of the state, and nation, will always be remembered.

In a condolence message released by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Thursday, the President commiserated with the family of the former governor, who served the country as a Senator, 2003, before winning the governorship election in 2011.

The president noted that the deceased remained steadfast and consistent in his progressive views, and working assiduously for the creation of the All Progressives Congress.

According to him, Ajimobi, aged 70, left the world at a crucial moment when the party and the country needed his counsels to heal and grow, noting that his absence would be sorely felt by all associates, particularly in the APC.

The President prayed that the almighty God would comfort the family of the former governor, and grant him a peaceful rest.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Electricity

By Constance Imasuen

The Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) say they are losing over N30 billion in monthly revenue due to cases of energy theft, meter bypass, vandalism and unpaid electricity bills by consumers.

The DisCos disclosed this in a statement by Mr Sunday Oduntan, Executive Secretary, Reserach and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Oduntan, over 40 per cent of electricity consumers do not pay their electricity bills while they indulge in illegal connection of electricity.

He said DisCo operators, who were present at the recent public hearing in Abuja by the Senate Committee on Power, attributed the challenges to form the major part of the DisCos Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC