“200 people maimed; houses burnt; families displaced”…this very line is not a scene that we are not conversant with in a nation where bloodletting has reached a climax. The major actors are of course either Fulani herdsmen or Boko Haram – and how shall we leave out the federal government and security agencies whose primary objective is to protect innocent and defenseless citizens that are victimized by these attacks?

The continual butcheries that have plagued the northern parts of the nation are nothing less than a national disaster as well as a disgrace to the agencies that have grossly failed in their responsibilities to put a stop to these killings. It is even disturbing to hear the presidential media aide, Femi Adesina compare the number of deaths from such killings [under the current administration] to the figure recorded under the previous government with some sense of pomp. When has the lives of men, women and children become a factor for gaining political advantage?

Cold reaction
There is no doubting the fact that hatred resides in the heart of the evil Fulani herdsmen who delight in dealing devastating blows to fellow human beings [like what we had in Plateau]; what is however more worrisome is the cold reaction that is being exhibited by the government of the Federation. The truth is that Nigerians are looking to the government to take more proactive security measures to smother the situation; more is needed than just lame promises that have not resulted into any real good overtime. The President, Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying: “We will not rest until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice” but if I may ask: “what has become of the leaders of the Miyetti Allah group that have, time and again, shown their terrorizing instincts? If an operation ‘Python dance’ or ‘Crocodile tears’ had been swiftly set up to quell crises in the south, why has there not been something similar in the north? Could it be that the resources coming out from the south are more valuable than the human lives being wasted in the north?

Arguments have ensued over the motive behind these violence – some persons believe they are some sort of religious or ethnic cleansing – but from a neutral view, one cannot blame the government for its incompetence in finding a lasting solution to this issue; this has been the reason why the ‘sons of hell’ keep tormenting the land.
It is apparent that there are loopholes in the security structure that is in place and it is quite pathetic that the Presidency has allowed the same set of service chiefs that have not been able to work out plans to prevent these carnages to continue in their respective offices. And can one disregard the near ‘northernization’ of the nation’s security architecture at this point? There is a high tendency that the imbalance observable in the security setup serves as a catalyst for the lethargic response from security agencies.

On the other hand, the government’s unwillingness to tackle this issue assertively has made some persons to raise alarm over the perceived complicit role the federal government might be playing in letting these killings fester. This kind of insinuation may continue except the federal government come up with something more convincing and effective to arrest the recurring spate of violence, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Accidents are definitely not exclusive to Nigeria but something we get to see from time to time, are the incidences whereby little life-saving details are frequently ignored. About a week ago, a truck carrying planks fell off the bridge at Ojuelegba and just a couple of days back, a horrific inferno involving a petrol tanker and several other vehicles claiming many lives occurred the Ojodu-Berger axis. These are just a few among numerous mishaps that happen on Nigerian roads.
If one decides to take a stock of the number of accidents that have occurred in June alone, there is a high probability that the list will not come up short in any way. However, the objective of writing this piece is to minute on the lurking dangers that abound on our roads. When you take a look at the road and the ensuing traffic, it is rare not to see one or more telling sign(s) that point to imminent danger. From the recklessness of commercial bus drivers down to the error of judgment that could be exhibited by other road users and the flouting of traffic laws – not to even mention the existence of ‘road-unworthy’ vehicles plying the road, you will probably identify one thing or another pointing to disaster. And it is quite unfortunate that law enforcement agencies do not seem to have cue on how map out strategies that would help to bring a far-reaching solution to the issue.
Though I am not oblivious of the fact that some persons might have attributable the two terrifying occurrences I cited earlier to fate but the truth remains that those accidents could have been prevented had the law been enforced in the first instance – and on a consistent basis. Putting the petrol tanker into perspective; an eyewitness account has it that the driver of tanker was trying to avoid an on-rushing commercial bus that had previously parked [and dropped off a passenger] at an unaccredited bus-stop before the tanker hit a barrier and spilled its content (petrol) which eventually caused the blast. The exercise of drivers parking illegally to pick up or drop off is now commonplace on our roads today. Those (drivers) that are caught are, most of the times, left to get off the hook after the hand of the traffic regulatory official have received some ‘manna of doom’ – this, in itself, is a catalyst for disaster.
The truck that fell off Ojuelegba Bridge must have been due to overloading but it is really perplexing that the vehicle was not stopped from discontinuing the journey at any point in time. And what about the prevalence of having trucks with loose containers running up the road without being apprehended? – There is so much mess on the road that has got to be cleared, and it is important that those in the appropriate quarters squarely stand up to their responsibilities to ensure the safety of lives on the road.
What has become of the regulation regarding heavy-duty vehicles moving at night or the directive for them to stay off the bridge? How well has been enforced? Your guess is as good as mine – these (regulations) have been colossally ineffective thus far since those saddled with the responsibility do not appear to be up to the task.

I have always felt that Group D of the 2018 World Cup is more of a tricky group than a tough one. But I, like most soccer pundits, would not have imagined that going into Match Day 3, Croatia will be in pole position in a group that two-time world cup winners, Argentina with one of the best players that ever played the game. The reality is however before us all and that (reality) sees Argentina struggling with Nigeria and Iceland for the remaining second-round qualifying slot that is up for grabs.

It is now a 3-horse race with just one prize at stake – a second round berth. Croatia, having shown more grit in their opening two games, deservedly leads the pack with a second round progress already in the bag. Iceland did show some promises in their first match against Argentina but were brought back to earth in the second game against Nigeria, and Argentina’s performance at this year’s FIFA football showpiece has been rather shambolic. After the tame outing that saw them lost by two unreplied goals to Croatia, the Super Eagles got themselves a lifeline by defeating Iceland thus setting the tone for intriguing [and nervy] final round encounters in the group stage.

Where this has left Nigeria, although with great optimism yet, is that point everyone get to do some math. So, flowing along that line in this article, we shall be looking at the different possibilities facing the Super Eagles as we strive to qualify for the next round.

While a loss to Argentina will outrightly bring an end to Nigeria’s participation in the tournament – this is certainly not something most soccer loving Nigerians will like to imagine – let’s see what could happen in the event of the outcomes:

Nigeria Wins
A win for Nigeria will ultimately see the team progressing to face either France or Denmark in the next round. But this feat will surely not come easy against an Argentine side that got its back against the wall. Every Nigerian football fan will however fancy his/her darling team going through, and it is only a matter of time before we see if the Super Eagles can draw some inspiration from their friendly match victory back in the June last year.

Nigeria Plays Out a Draw
Now, this is where the math really begins. A draw with Argentina would, to an extent, mean we would have to rely on the result elsewhere (that is, the match involving Iceland and Croatia). Playing out a goalless draw with Argentina – just to remind you; there has no game that ended scoreless in Russia 2018 – while Iceland loses to Croatia will still ensure Nigeria’s progress to the next round. On the other hand, a goalless result for Nigeria with Iceland beating Croatia by 2 or more goals will see the Super Eagles ousting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

There is definitely everything to play for, and as it stands, the Super Eagles’ destiny is n their own hand as Argentina has not looked any bit invincible thus far. Nonetheless, it is only the team that is able to take the initiative going forward that will carry the day and have the opportunity to compete for the higher stake in the days ahead as the tournament progresses.

So, will Musa, Mikel, Moses and the rest be able to compound the woes of Messi and Co.? This is surely a question only time would get to tell.

The performance/result thus far
Actions are currently ongoing across different centers in the Gold Coast city of Australia as the Commonwealth Games enter Day 7, and at this point in time, we will like to see how well the Nigerian contingent has performed thus far. The journey has been one of mixed fortunes as we have seen some disappointing runs as well as moments of glory with the team – Team Nigeria – presently occupying the 10th position on the medal table after amassing 4 gold medals and 4 silver medals.

The powerlifting event has been the most fertile ground for Nigeria as the country’s athletes have been able to claim a total of 6 medals- four gold medals and two silver medals from there. On the other hand, the D’Tigers are out of contention for a place on the podium as they have lost all their group matches thus crashing out of the basketball competition. And in the boxing event, the country’s hope of winning medals lies on the shoulders of the duo of Milicent Agboegbulem and Yetunde Odunuga as all the other boxers- 4 male boxers and 2 female boxers- have been eliminated. Milicent and Yetunde are already guaranteed a bronze medal in their respective category- 75kg and 60kg- even as they contest the semifinal bout. Milicent’s next fight is against home girl, Caitlin Parker while Yetunde slugs it out with England’s Paige Murney for a spot in the final. Athletics- particularly the track events- have not been so fruitful as our athletes keep missing out of the top three positions.

The low points recorded in those other sports cannot however take the shine off a couple of athletes who have thus far helped the nation to a ‘respectable position’ on the medal table. So, let’s take some moment to know [and celebrate] those who have ‘inked’ their names [as well as that of Nigeria] on the plaque of honour.

The Gold Medalists
Roland Ezuruike
Roland Ezuruike became the first Nigerian athlete to win a gold medal in this year’s edition of the games as he lifted 224.3kg in the men’s lightweight category of the powerlifting event. It is worth noting that this win ensured that he went a step better than what he achieved at Glasgow 2014.

Abdulazeez Ibrahim
In the men’s heavyweight division, Abdulazeez Ibrahim’s lift of 191kg was good enough to beat off Malaysia’s Yee Khie Jong’s 188kg and India’s Sachin Chaudhary’s 181kg returns.

Esther Oyema
On her way to standing shoulders above the rest [on the podium], impressive Esther Oyema was able to shatter the world record thus setting a new record of 141.6kg in the women’s lightweight category of the powerlifting event.

Ndidi Nwosu
Nigeria’s dominance in powerlifting was there for all to see as Ndidi Nwosu attained a lift of 110.4kg to claim the gold medal in the women’s heavyweight division.

The Silver Medalists
Paul Kehinde
Seasoned powerlifter, Paul Kehinde was unable to defend the title he won in Glasgow as he lost out to his compatriot, Roland Ezuruike- thus having to settle for a silver medal. He was able to achieve this with a lift of 219.9kg.

Lucy Ejike
Veteran powerlifter, Lucy Ejike could only make with a silver medal as her return of 134.1kg was not sufficient to upstage Esther Oyema’s record-smashing lift in the women’s lightweight category.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
In the shot put event, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi’s narrowly miss out of a gold medal finish as his throw of 21.14m came some distance short of New Zealand’s Tom Walsh’s throw of 21.41m. The throw was however enough to fetch him a silver medal.

Nigeria’s table tennis team
Nigeria got another silver medal in the men’s team table tennis event as the trio of Bode Abiodun, Segun Toriola and Olajide Omolade were defeated by the Indian team in the final.

One of the most delicate organs in the human body is the lung. An injury or disorder on the lungs can put one in great discomfort and even present a life-threatening condition in some instances. Being a critical part of the respiratory system, the lungs are responsible for the transport of oxygen to the bloodstream and also aid in getting carbon dioxide out of the body but infection or accumulation of particles within the cavity can affect the functioning. Owing to this, there is a need to pay heed to their well-being and also take care of them by carrying out (lungs) cleansing activities from time to time.

It is often erroneous concluded that smokers are the ones that ought to adherently undertake lungs cleansing exercises. However, by the reason of the particulate matter and/or harmful substances we get to inhale [from the atmosphere] on daily basis, it is expedient that everyone take the cleaning of the lungs to heart. So, let’s see some effective ways through which you can clean your lungs.

Aromatherapeutic treatment
Essential oils gotten from peppermint, eucalyptus and castor plants have tremendous expectorant capabilities. Peppermint oil which contains menthol and a good number of antioxidant can be directly applied on the chest or dropped into hot water in order to inhale the steam. Again, you can bathe with hot water that has been infused with eucalyptus oil- this helps to soothen the airways and keeps the lungs in healthy condition.

Consume gingery diet/drink
A rhizome of ginger contains two major active ingredients- gingerols and shogaols- which are highly effective in clearing up toxins from the human system. As a result, the intake of ginger tea or meals spiced with ginger can go along way in ridding the lungs of toxins and mucus. You can also eat the ginger raw.

Go herbal
Herbs like licorice, lobelia and oregano have been found to be very potent in treating respiratory disorders and maintaining a healthy pair of lungs. To clean the lungs; oregano can be added to your meal or make [and drink] a mixture of oregano oil in a cup of warm water. Licorice, on the other hand, can be mixed with honey- say 1 teaspoon of licorice powder in about half teaspoon of honey- and then take twice or thrice daily.

Lemon in warm water
Another effective way of cleaning the lungs is by drinking a preparation of lemon juice in warm water. Lemon is especially good for taking care of a number of respiratory disorders, and this is because it is a rich source of vitamin C. You can take a glass of the mixture [lemon juice + warm water] before eating in the morning. However, you may need to consider the other options [of lungs cleansing] if you have been experiencing ulcerative pains in the stomach.

Breathing exercise
Talk about saving the best for the last- for me; this is best lung cleansing activity I like to engage in. The breathing exercise is about taking deep breath and it is summarized as follow:
• Firstly, lie- face up- on the ground probably with a yoga mat already on the floor;
• Then place your palm(s) on the abdominal region, right at the bottom end of your rib cage;
• Now, start by slowly drawing in (inhaling) air counting from one to five;
• Hold your breath for about 2 – 3 seconds;
• Thereafter, slowly let out (exhale) the air counting from five to one.
The process can be repeated for as much times as you wish- provided you’ve got the time anyway. Aside aiding in the expulsion of toxins from the lungs, this (breathing) exercise also helps to increase lungs capacity thereby making you breathe more efficiently. And one more thing; the exercise is quite helpful in voice training.

Achieving a far-reaching result [in lungs cleansing] requires much more than just engaging in any of the aforementioned activities. The following tips are yet valuable:
• Clean up your environment regularly; ensuring that the area is free from dust to the barest minimum.
• Avoid regular/excessive intake of processed foods and dairy products.
• Quit smoking [if you’re one of those who indulge in the act], and try to stay away from smokes as much as you can.
• Eat vegetables/fruits that have rich supply of antioxidants. Examples of such include strawberry, oranges, spinach, cabbage, carrot, broccoli, etc.

My appetence has been spiked ever since I read about the calls [made by several prominent individuals and groups] for us to go back to the 1963 Constitution. To satisfy this appetence, I sought to know more [about this very constitution] hence the need to do some research, and some of my findings, I shall be sharing in this article.
But before I delve into the subject matter, it will not be out of context to briefly look at what a constitution really is. According to Aristotle, a constitution maybe defined as “an organization of offices in a state, by which the method of their distribution is fixed, the sovereign authority is determined, and the nature of the end to be pursued by the association and all its members is prescribed”. It then surmises that a constitution provides foundation and/or structure upon which the administration of a state ought to be set.
Now to the subject at hand; the running of the Nigerian state has been affected by many incidents, and among these, is the interference of the military at different points in time. This interference has caused a disruption in the democratic process, and as we have observed, it has also brought about some other alterations that has further driven us away from the founding constitution of the Nigerian republic. It is important to state here that the 1963 Constitution is the first constitution that really puts the Nigerian state- or nation states as one may find fitting- and its sovereignty into consideration as it, to an extent, reflects what the (Nigerian) republic was all about. Moreover, the constitution was put together by the Nigerian parliament thus ascertaining Nigeria broke away from the overarching influence of the British monarchical system.

What does it entail?
Time and space will not permit me to list out the entire provisions of the 1963 Constitution but I will like to look at a few highpoints.

Parliamentary system of government
The 1963 Constitution was prepared with a parliament system of government in view. Under this setting, the President was elected through voting by a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. In the Nigerian setting as at that time, the Senate consisted of 12 senators from each of the four regions along with those selected to represent the Federal territory (4) and the President (4)- making it a total of 56 senators- while the House of Representatives had 312 members.

Regional independence
Back then in 1963 [down to 1966], Nigeria was segregated into regions- Northern region, Eastern region, Western region and Mid-Western region. These regions enjoyed a commensurate degree of independence. Each of them had its own constitution, judiciary system and electoral commission as well as some other paraphernalia that set them apart.

Allocation by derivation
Under the provisions of the 1963 Constitution, revenue allocation was by derivation wherewith a region was entitled to a certain percentage of the funds generated from the exploration carried out within its border. On the flipside, each region was to contribute a quota [to the central government] in order to take care of the cost of administration of the Nigerian republic.

You can check out the full details of the 1963 Constitution here

The 1963 Constitution may have its flaws, and could even be viewed as being redundant when one considers the context of governance within the nation today. However, for the fact that every other constitution - 1979, 1993 and 1999 - that has been adopted in the nation only came about after the incursion of the military into the administrative setup, it becomes logical that we retrace our step back to the constitution that was in place in the year we became a republic- the pre-militarized era of leadership. The 1963 Constitution ought to be the baseline for any constitutional review that is to be accomplished. From another perspective; some persons are of the opinion that adopting the constitution could go a long way in helping us fight corruption, curb the emergence of authoritarian leadership [in democratic setting] and yet positively impact the nation’s economic standing.

The Commonwealth games may not raise so much buzz as the Olympics games but there is no denying the fact that there will be no shortage of actions as 6600 athletes compete in the 21st edition of the (Commonwealth) games in the Gold Coast city of Australia- just for the mention, a couple of events will be held in some other Australian cities like Brisbane, Belmont, Cairns and Townsville.

Nigeria will be participating in the competition for the fourteenth time, and with the games beginning on the 4th of April, 2018, we have deemed it fit to look at the different events that Nigerian athletes will be taking part in. By the way; of the 18 sports that will be contested at the 2018 Commonwealth games, Nigeria will play a part in 8 different sorts and will be represented by 90 different athletes [competing across various sporting events].

Athletics
Athletics has always been one of the surest avenue through which Nigeria has been raking in medals in previous editions, and considering the strong track and field contingent, the nation will be hoping that the rain of medals [in athletics] keeps pouring down at this year’s games. Nigeria has athletes that will be competing in track events such as the 100m- and 200m- sprints, 400m, 4 X 100m- and 4 X 400m- relay races, 110m- and 400m- hurdles and 20km walk. In the field event, Nigeria will be participating in the hammer throw, javelin throw, long jump, triple jump and high. The country has a total of 39 athletes- 19 men and 20 women- in the track and field events.

Basketball
Basketball makes a return at the Commonwealth games and Nigeria [having qualified as one of the top-ranked Commonwealth nations in the FIBA ranking] will not be missing from the party. The D’Tigers have been drawn in the same group with Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and will play their first game [against New Zealand] on the 6th of April. The team list consists of Ikechukwu Diogu, Abdul Yahaya, Azuoma Dike, Eli Dung, God’sgift Achiuwa, Uchenna Iroegbu, Prince Orizu, Musa Usman, Abdulwahab Yakub, Olalekan Olatunji, Yakubu Istifanus and Uchechi Ofoegbu.

Boxing
Nigeria will be duly represented by 8 boxers in 7 different categories. The Nigerian boxing team includes:
Men: Sikiru Ojo (56kg), Adeola Soyoye (60kg), Osita Umeh (69kg) and Lukmon Lawal (81kg).
Women: Ayisat Oriyomi (51kg), Yetunde Odunuga (60kg), Itunu Oriola (69kg) and Milicent Aboegbulem (75kg).
The boxing event starts on the 5th of April.

Gymnastics
Nigeria will be participating in rhythmic gymnastics for the first time at the Commonwealth games. Representing the nation in the women’s event is Jade Faulkner who has been cleared in time [by the International Federation of Gymnastics] to don Nigeria’s color at the games- Jade represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Tayo Oke Fakiyesi will be competing in the men’s artistic gymnastic event.

Powerlifting
Nigerian athletes will yet compete in powerlifting with a total of 6 athletes- 3 men and 3 women. Esther Onyema and Ndidi Nwosu will contest in the women’s heavyweight category while Lucy Ejike vies for a place on the podium in the lightweight category. On the part of men; Paul Kehinde and Abdulazeez Ibrahim compete in the heavyweight classification while Roland Ezuruike defends the nation’s interest in the lightweight category.

Table Tennis
Nigeria’s presence will also be felt in the table tennis event as our athletes compete in the singles, doubles and para sport events. Leading the country’s charge for medals are veteran table tennis players like Segun Toriola, Quadri Aruna and Bode Abiodun. Others are Temitope ogunsanya, Olajide Omotayo, Azeez Jamiu and Faith Obazuaye.

Weightlifting
In weightlifting, Nigeria has representatives in the men’s 62kg and 85kg categories- Favour Agboro and Michael Ayalewechi in respective order- and women’s 48kg and 53kg events- Monica Uweh and Fatima Yakubu.

Wrestling
The wrestling contingent has the second largest number of athletes [for individual sporting events] that the country will be presenting at this year’s Commonwealth games. The team consists of 6 men and women that will be competing in various categories. The wrestlers are listed thus:
Women: Miesinnei Genesis (50kg), Bose Samuel (53kg), Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), Blessing Oborududu (68kg) and Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg).
Men: Ebikewenimo Welson (57kg), Amas Daniel (68kg), Assizecourt Ebimienfaghe (74kg), Melvin Bibo (86kg), Soso Tamarau (97kg) and Sinivie Boltic (125kg).

It is quite obvious that a word like servant-master has been long lost in Nigeria politics – maybe Nigerian politicians can take a cue from former Uruguayan president, José Mujica – as what we see are moneybags who get all the more enriched from the treasury of a nation that is struggling to survive. It’s not that the laborer is not worthy of wages though but eyebrows are raised when he/she [while holding a public office] starts receiving extraneous wages that are not specifically tailored for any distinctive purpose.

Not long after the story of some Canadian doctors who were protesting about their overly increased salaries flooded the internet did Nigeria get an inkling into the exact remuneration package of senators – thanks to Senator Shehu Sanni. Senator Sanni has probably drawn the ire of his colleagues who would have loved to maintain the confidentiality of their remuneration but Nigerians are glad to know and also have a man of such integrity in the house. Looking into the case of the Canadian doctors; the protest was not just about their salaries; they also made the move in order to ask for a review of the welfare packages of the nurses and the need to ease off patients from paying exorbitant bills in hospitals – talk about fighting for others in a world ruled by selfish interest. On the other side of the divide – a rather contrasting scenario – are the Nigerian senators who are receiving mega pay in a country where N 18,000 minimum wage is even hard to dole out, not to talk about the huge debts owed.

The money that has brought the contention [after Senator Shehu Sanni’s revelation] is the N 13.5 million pay received by every senator on monthly basis, and the money is paid into their accounts along with N 750,000 monthly salary and allowances which means it is certain that every senator in the house receives N 14.25 million every month. By setting aside the N 13.5 million as running cost, it does appear that the money is meant for the purpose of holding the office together but since there is no specification as to what the money is precisely meant for, there is bound to be a propensity for lavish spending. Now I wonder how many of these senators will be able to give credible account of the money [i.e. summation of the running cost] they have received thus far even with whatever receipt they might have had to tender.

Again, how about the N 200 million fund meant for the development of the respective constituency each of these senators represents? Are we really seeing any far reaching development around our state of residence? And before we get carried away in the fray, it is good to remind ourselves that the national assembly does not necessarily have to be directly involved in the development of infrastructure within their constituency. According to the Nigerian constitution, the National Assembly is saddled with the responsibilities of passing bills, making laws, checking the conduct of government officials and institutions and overseeing the appointments of personnel into top executive [governmental] .

Brief Analysis
Back to the issue of the N 13.5 million; since every penny ought to count in Nigeria today, it will not be out of place to look into the [Nation’s purse] and see how much money is being gulped by our senators.

Basing the calculation solely of the 13.5 million; at the end of each term each senator would have taken home a cumulative amount of 648 million. This means over N 70 billion – N 70.632 billion naira to be precise – would have been allocated to the entire senate after four years. It is somewhat ‘unimaginable’ that a nation submerged in debt can afford to waste funds as such, and those that are benefiting from this, are the very ones that ought to be concerned about setting the nation on the plinth of greatness. Yes, the N 70.632 billion may be a ‘drop in the ocean ‘ when one considers Nigeria’s debt [which is now over N 20 trillion] but there is no doubting the fact that this amount can go a long way in reviving some of the industries that are now in fallen state.

Well, the senate’s remuneration package is all we know about at the moment, there are definitely other public offices that need to be brought under scrutiny. But then, now that we’ve known about the remuneration package of the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; how do we bail the cat and stop our senators [as well as other top public office holders] from milking our beloved Nation dry?

Long gone are the days when having a good JAMB score- say 280+- and ‘C’ grade in each of your five core subjects gets you into your preferred institution to study the course [of your dream] that set the tone for a glorious career. It has gotten all the more competitive as the grade [provided it falls between A to C] now carry significant weight. So, now is not the time for those who have tied down an outstanding JAMB score to rest on their oars as they sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination- you have got to do your uttermost best to make sure you score high grades in your WASSCE.

Notwithstanding, let us take some time out to see the points allotted for each grade and how the aggregate score is being calculated. Before, I go on, permit me to state that there are two different variations on how the points are given- we have got for institutions conducting Post-UTME and the ones that are not conducting the examination.

For institutions conducting Post-UTME

A1 => 4 points
B2 => 3.6 points
B3 => 3.4 points
C4 => 2.8 points
C5 => 2.4 points
C6 => 2.2 points

For institutions that are not conducting Post-UTME

A1 => 10 points
B2 => 9 points
B3 => 8 points
C4 => 7 points
C5 => 6 points
C6 => 5 points

In both cases; your personal JAMB score will be divided by 8.

CASE STUDY

Assuming a certain candidate scored 280 in his UTME, and was able to amass 1 A1,
3 B2’s and 1 C4 in his five core subjects in WASSCE.

The aggregate score will be calculated thus:

For the first scenario (institution conducting Post-UTME)

A1: 1 x 4 = 4
B2: 3 x 3.6 = 10.8
C4: 1 x 2.8 = 2.8

Total points: 4 + 10.8 + 2.8 = 17.6

Now, we divide the UTME by 8
i.e 280 ÷ 8 = 35

So, the aggregate score will 
be 17.6 + 35 + Post-UTME score.

For the second scenario (institutions not conducting Post-UTME)

A1: 1 x 10 = 10
B2: 3 x 9 = 27
C4: 1 x 7 = 7
Total points: 10 + 27 + 7 = 44

Therefore, the aggregate that will be considered for the admission will be JAMB score plus the grade point accumulated (i.e 35 + 44 = 79).

See How to Check your Jamb Result - 2020

See How to Check your Jamb Result with Registration Code - 2020

JAMB’s change of course/institution form has since been made available online for prospective students who are having one issue or another with their initial registration process.

The option yet avails candidates [whose score fall below the requirement of their choice institutions] the opportunity to choose another institution or course that would give them a realistic chance of gaining admission into tertiary institution this year. So, it is advisable that you effect the changes as soon as possible if you are in any way affected.

Check out the cut-off marks for several Nigerian tertiary institutions now

By the way, before you go ahead with the process; it is important to let you know that you will need to make a payment of N2500 to get this done. This amount can be made through the payment portal on the site- this means your account has got to be funded beforehand plus you must also have your ATM card readily available. You can also pay through ATM, Quickteller or make deposit at the bank.

Now, here is how to go about the process:

• Logon to JAMB’s portal here

• Enter your e-mail address and password and click on the ‘login’ tab

• You will be redirected to the landing page where you will then select ‘correction of data’ option from the side bar

• Now click on the ‘course/institution’ menu item that shows up next. Take note of the transaction ID that is generated at this point. Though it will be sent to your e-mail box but you can still write it down in your diary or save it on your mobile device as you will have a need for it later.

• Tap the ‘continue’ tab if you wish to make payment with your card. However, in case you are paying via any of the other means mentioned earlier. You can then follow the process through from the ‘My Payment’ menu item. After confirming your payment, you can go ahead and click on the ‘continue’ button.

• With payment completed, you will be required to enter your ‘Year of Exam’ and your ‘JAMB registration number’.

• Now, make the change [of either course or institution]. Be minded that changes can only be done based on the available options.

• You can then submit your application and await the approval [of your application] from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board.