Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has received into the fold of the state People’s Democratic Party (PDP) a chieftain of the state branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dahiru Maishanu Yabo.

The defector, a former Commissioner for Information as well as Solid Minerals in the state, was received by the Governor, his Deputy, Manir Muhammmad Dan Iya, the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Muhammad Mainasara Ahmad (Mni), the state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bello Muhammad and other government officials at the Government House, Sokoto on Thursday. 

This was contained in a statement released by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Sokoto State Governor Muhammad Bello. 

Yabo explained that he dumped the APC because it lacks internal democracy and the party is wrought with favoritism and bootlicking. 

According to him, “the APC in Sokoto has formed a cabal of which you must be a member in order to have anything to do with the party or to be involved in the progress of the nation or the state.”

Yabo, in his words said now that he has switched allegiances, “by the grace of God, we’re going to support Team Tambuwal, the PDP governorship candidate in the state and all other candidates in the state under the PDP: and, even beyond, at the Presidency.

“We’re ready. We have the energy. We have the power and the resources to be part of the PDP nationwide,”. 

Yabo, who was a founding member of the APC and member of the defunct ‘Amaechi for President’ campaign team pledged to unveil his status and followership in his constituency within a fortnight.

He said apart from his army of supporters and grassroots appeal in Yabo and Shagari  local government areas of the state, as a former Commissioner, his reach cut across the state.

“I have been actively involved in the politics of the APC and also in governance,” he affirms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Association of Nigeria on Wednesday dissociated itself from ‘Bishops’ who attended the unveiling of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, saying they were desperados who went there for themselves.

The organisation said that although the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them”, that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.

Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Joseph Hayab, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.

“CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno state only to be refuted. Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama USA attending the Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.

“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation?

“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for.

“CAN appreciate that we are in a democracy, no need to do funny and dubious things just to prove a point because it will in the end bounce back. BAT team should simply do what is right and stop the drama.”

 

 

 

Workers under the aegis of the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN) on Wednesday picketed MTN Nigeria PLC plaza in Falomo, Lagos to drive home some demands.

They held placards with inscriptions such as “Workers Rights are Human Rights”; “Unionism is a Right and not a Privilege”, and chanted solidarity songs.

Some of the union’s grievances include MTN’s alleged resistance to workers’ right to freedom of association, freedom to organise and collective bargaining.

The union also accused MTN of paying exit packages to its management staff but refusing to do the same to the lower cadre.

PTECSSAN’s General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi, accused MTN management of not giving the union the opportunity to negotiate the working conditions of workers in the organisation.

He said that every effort made to reach the management by way of communication through correspondence by emails proved abortive.

“When you have a trade union, there must be a collective bargaining agreement, which is a pointer to the existence of the union in any organisation.

“But, MTN is running away from negotiating the CBA: the procedural agreement was signed and as a result of this, it escalated to the Ministry of Labour.

“A very good example which the management is running from is the exit benefits: how can workers be working for several years and you are not giving them terminal benefits

“We insisted as a responsible union that there must be an exit benefit. In the procedural agreement, it was agreed that no item should be exempted, but now to come to the table to start negotiating, MTN took off,” he said.

The secretary said that the picketing exercise would be a continuous one unless MTN negotiated and agreed on the collective bargaining agreement within the shortest possible time.

Abdullahi said: “Ultimately if they are still refusing like they have always been doing to sit down with us and negotiate, we can assure them that their network will have to be disrupted.”

Meanwhile, a source in MTN, who pleaded anonymity, said that the issues raised were still pending before the Ministry of Labour.

“Since February, MTN has filed a trade dispute with the Ministry of Labour, which statutorily is obligated to look into the dispute, which is still pending,” the source said.

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Dana Airlines' Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely, with effect from midnight of Wednesday, 20th July, 2022.

The suspension was made pursuant to Section 35(2), 3(b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), 2015.

The suspension order, handed down by the Director General, Musa Nuhu, has since been communicated to the management of Dana Airlines.

The decision is the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the Airline by the Authority, and the findings of an investigation conducted on the Airline's flight operations recently, which revealed that Dana Airlines is no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations.

NCAA acknowledges the negative effect this preemptive decision will have on the Airline's passengers and the travelling public and seeks their understanding, as the safety of flight operations takes priority over all other considerations.

Signed:

Musa Nuhu

Director General

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Bank of Nigeria’s plan to rein in inflation that’s a at five-and-a-half-year high may prove to be even more difficult after diesel prices tripled in June and show little signs of relenting, Bloomberg has reported.

Average diesel prices increased 203% from a year earlier in June to 733.8 naira ($1.74) a liter, according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.

That’s the highest level since at least June 2016, its data shows. Diesel prices have risen further to 780 naira a liter this month. 

The statistic office does a monthly survey of fuel prices that are deregulated and used to calculate inflation data. 

The high prices are likely to stoke inflation that the CBN’s monetary policy committee said Tuesday it is focused on quelling as it raised its benchmark interest by 100 basis points.

Governor Godwin Emefiele said high levels of price growth has “negative consequences, particularly on the purchasing power of the poor, as well as retarding growth.”

Diesel prices have surged since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Nigerian businesses and most of its population rely on the fuel because of a shortage of power.

Poor maintenance and insufficient investment in the transmission network have resulted in only about a third of the country’s installed capacity being dispatched by the grid daily -- a fraction of what’s needed in a nation of more than 200 million people.

 

 

 

 

Spurred by an unflinching desire to strengthen developmental journalism and uphold public accountability, the Platform Times (online) newspaper has launched a foundation, PLATFORM TIMES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION, with the goal of training, mentoring, and assisting new generation journalists in making positive impacts. 

This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Director of the organisation, Mr Sodiq Ojurongbe in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

According to the Statement Mr Ojurongbe went memory lane, explaining that, "PLATFORM TIMES hit the news stand in 2013 as a community newspaper, but later restructured and elevated its status to an online newspaper with national coverage. Its website, www.platformtimes.com.ng reaches over one million readers daily with news reports, analysis, features, and investigative reports". 

"Occasionally, it also produced hardcopy magazines which were distributed free of charge to various stakeholders such as ministries, Local government secretariats, state house of assembly, palaces, political party secretariats, eateries, hotels, banks, super markets, schools, religious centres, and other private enterprises across the country."he said.

Mr Ojurongbe disclosed that "Platform Times reporters had partnered with reputable organisations to expose corruption in government and hold public officers accountable. Some of the organisations that had offered our reporters such assistance include the African-China, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, the Nigeria Health Watch, and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, among others".

“We look forward to having more productive partnerships with them now that we have launched a foundation,” says the Acting Director, Sodiq Ojuroungbe .

In his word, Mr Ojurongbe said "the idea is to advance its vision of advocating community development, exposing social ills and corruption, and upholding public accountability, the management launches The PLATFORM TIMES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION (PTIJF)".

"The foundation will provide training for young journalists and breed a new crop of politically- aware, socially-conscious, and solution-seeking leaders bearing in mind that the young generation represents the future of journalism practice and democratic leadership".

"The PLATFORM TIMES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION will focus its scope of operation on the following areas: Fact-checking and investigative reporting, climate and gender reporting, solution journalism and Free press advocacy. Its operations will be based on credible data gathering, and human interests, in line with best global practices. It will uphold the principles of democracy, including public accountability, social justice, equality, and freedom of expression".

"In providing training opportunities for young and budding journalists, our target is to train not less than 2,000 journalists across the country in our first year of establishment. The training will cover Investigative and Data Journalism, Fact-Checking, Climate and Gender Reporting, and Solution Journalism".

"PLATFORM TIMES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM FOUNDATION will also serve as an avenue for mentorship and training on leadership, contemporary journalism practice and democratic principles by equipping young folks with adequate knowledge of the numerous opportunities in journalism. The foundation will help journalists in accessing financial support and also ensure the protection of journalists against injustice".

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Federal government has extradited a wire fraud suspect, Fatade Olamilekan, to the United States to face charges.

Spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Tuesday, that Olamilekan was flown to the U.S. last Thursday.

The suspect, who is on the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is accused of stealing over $3.5 million worth of equipment in various cities across the U.S.

He allegedly committed the offences through impersonation in various cities, states and academic institutions across the United States, according to the EFCC.

EFCC said it coordinated his extradition following a notice from the FBI in New York, through the US Legal Attaché.

Olamilekan was indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York for offences of wire fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property and identity theft.

The suspect was arrested on September 30, 2021, by the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation filed the extradition proceedings against him in November 2021 at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

On May 1, 2022, the judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, granted the request to extradite the suspect to the United States to answer the criminal charges against him.

Upon his arrival in the United States, the suspect is billed to appear before a United States District Court.

In April, EFCC announced the extradition of another wire fraud suspect, Adedunmola Gbadegesin, accused of money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

His extradition followed a February 11, 2022 decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos granting the request by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office for Mr Gbadegesin’s extradition to the U.S.

“His extradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a request from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, pursuant to a February 11, 2022 order by D.E Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/765/21, which granted a request to extradite the suspect to the United States to answer to criminal charges bordering on a romance scam, wire fraud and money laundering,” EFCC said in its statement on Wednesday.

 

 

 

Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) says Enoch Adeboye, its general overseer, will not endorse the presidential ambition of any candidate for the 2023 general election.

The RCCG was reacting to online reports that Adeboye met Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over the weekend. 

The reports also claimed the clergyman is not opposed to the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket and that he is in support of the presidential bid of the former Lagos governor.

But in a statement on Tuesday, RCCG described the report as false.

While asking Nigerians to disregard the report, RCCG said legal action will be taken against any news outlet that purveys such false news in the future.

“It has come to our notice that some news outlets are reporting that a meeting Between E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide and the former Governor of Lagos State Bola Tinubu was held a few days back at the Redemption camp where our esteemed father in the Lord was said to have supported the preferred candidature of the party the former governor as a member of,” the statement reads.

“This is to inform the general public that Adeboye is under the authority of God, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and as such will not speak on behalf of Christians on issues regarding policies.

“Adeboye and the RCCG have not and will not endorse any candidate for the 2023 General elections in Nigeria.”

In a tweet accompanying the statement, the RCCG also said no such meeting held between Adeboye and Tinubu on the latter’s presidential ambition.

 

 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has given Adamu Adamu, minister of education, two weeks to resolve issues of contention regarding the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The president gave the directive on Tuesday at a meeting with the minister and other stakeholders.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over the federal government’s failure to honour an agreement on issues bordering on funding of universities, as well as salaries and allowances of lecturers.

According to sources at the meeting on Tuesday, the minister is expected to report back to Buhari on the development in two weeks.

The president, who received briefing from relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on Tuesday, also reportedly directed that Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, must be present at all the meetings involving the federal government and the union.

The education minister is also expected to address issues raised by other unions such as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), is also expected to be involved in discussions with ASUU and other unions currently on strike.

Present at the meeting were Adamu; Ngige, Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance; Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy; Folashade Yemi-Esan, head of the civil service of the federation; Ekpo Nta, chair of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission; and Ben Akabueze, director-general, budget office

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would embark on a nationwide protest on July 26 and 27 over the ongoing strike.

Also, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has threatened to shut down airports over the ASUU strike.

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have attacked a convoy of 40 trucks of food meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and resettled communities in Borno and intercepted four of them, Daily Trust Saturday learnt exclusively. 

The attack, which occurred Thursday night around Layi village in Mobbar Local Government Area of the state, came barely 48 hours after terrorists launched a heavy attack on Kuje Medium Security Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) freeing at least 69 Boko Haram suspects and hundreds of others. The ISWAP on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack. 

Top security sources who were briefed about the Borno attack told Daily Trust Saturday that the food and nutritional products consignment was on its way to Damasak. 

It was part of the palliative by the World Food Program (WFP) for IDPs from Abadam and victims of the Boko Haram violence returning to their homes in Mobbar. 

“The attackers were in four gun trucks. After heavy attacks on the convoy, they succeeded in intercepting four of the vehicles and emptied nearly everything from the vehicles,” the source said. 

It was also gathered that the terrorists are now firming up their control of major roads and strategic areas in the southern and northern parts of Borno. 

Intelligence sources in the area have reported that ISWAP members in four trucks have been deployed to Kareto village in Mobbar Local Government Area.  

Terror group plans eid prayer in ‘captured’ communities, enclaves

As part of their expansionist activities, the terror groups are said to have concluded plans to conduct eid prayers in some of the areas under their control, today (Saturday).

Credible sources said like what obtained in the past years, Boko Haram members loyal to late Abubakar Shekau, and those loyal to ISWAP led by late Abu Musab Albarnawi, the son of late Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, have, among others,  cleared grounds around the shores of the Lake Chad and Sambisa forest and would observe the Eid-el-Kabir prayer there.

They, therefore, called on security agencies to checkmate the effrontery of the terrorists saying they use such festivities for massive recruitments of innocent people into their fold.

One of the sources said even though, Nigerian security forces have uprooted Boko Haram fighters from many villages and forested areas in Borno and neighbouring Yobe State, they are still lurking around in many communities.

“The terrorists are fully mobilised for celebrations at many Tunbus (islands) on the Lake Chad and their enclaves in Sambisa Forest,” he said.

Another source said the excesses of the terrorists  cast Nigeria in bad light at the international level.

“It is unthinkable the way they release videos of their atrocities. Such videos show that once the terrorists go out for their operations, they would do it with ease because nobody can stop them.

“The videos they released recently after the attack on Kuje prison is one bad example that showed our weak links. And unless something is done, they would also release videos of their eid prayers.

“They would release their propaganda videos slaughtering their sacrificial animals to the chagrin of those in authority…I am calling on our security forces to act by decimating them,” he said.

Another source said with the commencement of the rainy season, Nigerian troops are constrained by environmental factors which is affecting their performance. 

He said they cannot access many communities this time, paving way for the terrorists to replenish their supplies and logistics, as well as recruit vulnerable youths ahead of future fights.

He said the forces had missed a golden opportunity during the dry season when hundreds of terrorists came out of their enclaves and repented. 

“Why didn’t we finish the terrorists’ campaign in the North East this year? We had thousands surrendering, weakening the fighting spirits of the terrorists, but we could not clear the Tunbus, surroundings of Timbuktu Triangle and Sambisa Forest.

“Now we are bound to wait until the end of the raining season to kick start another operation. 

“Why haven’t we done enough to acquire all weather APC and  AFV and constantly revert to seasonal warfare?

“Does this mean, knowing that our North East flanks or neighbours are our most vulnerable porous security concern, yet, no efforts towards acquisition of these all important weapons?

“Must we wait till tomorrow when the Chadian or Cameroonian forces enter Maiduguri before we rush to the markets?

“Is the military waiting for Buhari’s handing over before clearing the terrorists or to use it as an election campaign strategy?”, he asked.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service has released the names and pictures of the inmates with terrorism-related cases that escaped from the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja.

The inmates escaped from the correctional centre following an attack on the facility by members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Tuesday.

The ISWAP claimed the responsibility for the attacked in a 30-second video on Wednesday.