THE Adamawa State Police Command has arrested five Cameroonians suspected to be involved in the attempt to kidnap one Emmanuel Ebel, a resident of Jambutu, in Yola-North Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje made this known in a statement on Saturday, January 29.
According to him, the crime was foiled following reliable information received from a good samaritan that led to the arrest of the suspects.
“The Command’s operatives attached to State Intelligence Bureau in sustained effort foiled an organised crime to kidnap one Emmanuel Ebel a resident of Jambutu, Yola North Local Government Area.
“The Command upon receiving the information designed a security ring around the target and luckily engaged the suspected kidnappers,” the statement said.
The suspects, according to the statement, are; Chubrandom Safinga, 30; Ibrahim Tala, 32; Ngosso Ndjombe, 28; Mmai Rostand, 32; and Nossu Ngambewo Ricky 27.
“The illegal immigrants from the neighboring Cameroon Republic were arrested 20 minutes before implementing their organised crime.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Sikiru Akande, while commending OC SIB and his men for gallantry performance and professional conduct displayed leading to their arrest, also directs them to sustain the tempo as a strategy for crime prevention.”
The statement said the police commissioner urged residents to always inform the police of the whereabouts of criminals and their accomplices.
The Command further assured the government and people of Adamawa State of its continuous efforts in protecting lives and property of the citizens.
Other contractors banned by the Bank are Bamidele Obiniyi, Frank John Friday Nnaji, Isaiah Salihu Kantigi, Abuharaira Labaran, and Amin Moussalli.
Sanctioning contractors that breach the procurement guidelines of the World Bank is a usual occurrence the global bank does to promote transparency in contract awards and prevent procurement fraud among corporate entities it transacts business with.
The financial institution sanctions individuals or entities that go against its procurement policies by debarring them, sometimes, they are ‘cross debarred’.
The blacklisted Nigerian firms. Source: World Bank. January 23, 2023.
An organisation or contractor is considered ‘crossly debarred‘ in this context when a member of the group of Development Financial Institutions (DFI) finds a contractor guilty of procurement fraud or related offences, and other members of the DFI decide to effect the same sanction on the firm.
It is called mutual enforcement. And this exists among the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank Group, and the World Bank Group.
Gitto’s case was of ‘cross debarment’ from the AfDB, and the sanction took effect on December 28, 2022.
The AfDB accused Gitto Costruzioni of ‘fraudulent and obstructive practices’ during the bid tendering for the contract award of the Bank’s Transport Sector Support Programme (Phase II).
The World Bank, due to the agreement among the DFIs, decided to enforce the same sanction on the firm.
It is worth noting that Gitto Costruzioni has executed notable projects in Nigeria, which included the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja; Akwa Ibom International Airport, Akwa Ibom state, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yenagoa in Bayelsa state.
The apex bank has delisted it for the next four years for procurement-related offences.
The decision took effect following an investigation conducted by the Bank’s Integrity and Anti-corruption Office. The unit is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in the AfDB’s financed projects.
The firm’s ineligibility period is expected to end on September 9, 2026. Gitto is located at Plot 737, Mabushi District, in Abuja.
The contracts for which it was sanctioned included the rehabilitation of the Yaounde-Bafoussam-Babadjou road, the improvement of the Great Zambi-Kribi Road, and the improvement of the Maroua-Bogo-Pouss road.
The World Bank stated, “The rehabilitation of the Yaounde-Bafoussam-Babadjou Road, Improvement of the Great Zambi-Kribi Road is aimed to respond to the urgent need for further economic development in the poorest regions of Cameroon and the Far North and East regions.”
Contractors barred for nine years
By the sanction, the affected firms and individuals have been prohibited from participating in World Bank-financed contracts until October 3, 2031.
For instance, Nnaji, one of the affected contractors, was blacklisted on October 2, 2022, and is ineligible to participate in World-Bank-financed projects until October 3, 2031.
He was blacklisted with Chez Aviv Nigeria Limited the same day, and the sanction extends to the same period – October 3, 2031. This implies both were banned for nine years and guilty of fraudulent and corrupt practices.
“The period of ineligibility for Chez Aviv Nigeria Limited (“Chez Aviv”) extends to any legal entity that it directly or indirectly controls. The minimum period of ineligibility is the nine-year period indicated,” a note released by the Bank on debarred firms and individuals stated.
The note continued, “Provided, however, that after this minimum period of ineligibility of nine years, Chez Aviv may be released from ineligibility only if it has demonstrated to the World Bank Group’s Integrity Compliance Officer that it has complied with the following conditions:
“(a) Chez Aviv has taken appropriate remedial measures to address the sanctionable practices for which Chez Aviv has been sanctioned; and (b) Chez Aviv has adopted and implemented, in a manner satisfactory to the Bank, integrity compliance measures as may be imposed by the Bank Group’s Integrity Compliance Officer pursuant to subparagraph 9.03(b) of Section III.A of the Sanctions Procedures (e.g., an integrity compliance program or elements thereof) to address the sanctionable practices.”
The Lagos-based firm, with registration number 401253, was registered on February 20, 2001. The directors are Igwe Anthony, Friday Nnaji and Steve Nnaji.
Procurement fraud – a usual occurrence among local firms
The alleged non-existent office building of Lutoyilex Construct Limited at Suite 295, Soar Plaza, Gwarimpa, Abuja. Photo Credit: Olugbenga Adanikin, The ICIR. Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Reports have shown that breaching procurement guidelines has been a major corrupt practice perpetrated during public procurements. It is not peculiar to the private sector but also to government spending.
It is a usual occurrence during every budgetary provision and contract award in the country.
According to the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, about 30 per cent of the nation’s resources are lost due to the manipulation of its procurement process.
The ICIR also documents a series of suspicious contracts, some of which flouted the country’s Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.
Regardless, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had to set up the federal contractors’ database as part of measures to reduce the fraudulent trend in government spending.
It would also enable interested public members to easily establish a firm’s eligibility to secure contract awards from government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
It showcases the level of compliance with the Pension Commission (PenCom) obligation, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF), tax payment at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
As a result, any firm that fails to comply with the above requirements is mostly considered ineligible to be awarded contracts; otherwise, such would have breached the procurement law.
Meanwhile, both Softech IT Solutions & Services Limited and Kantigi were sanctioned for four and five years. The sanctions for both entities took effect on March 29, 2022.
Sanctioned for improper payment to project officials
Also, AIM Consultants Limited and Moussalli were banned same day – February 22, 2022. They had just a two-year ban. The sanction will expire on December 21, 2024.
Meanwhile, Moussalli works as the managing director of Aims Consultants which is located in Lagos.
Based on a release with reference number 2022/46/INT made public, AIMs Consultants ‘made improper payments‘ of about N12.95 million to project officials under the directive of Moussalli.
“AIM Consultants made improper payments totalling Nigerian naira 12,954,400 (approx. US$45,500) to project officials. The payments were through AIM Consultants’ Resident Engineers in both states.
“Soon after receiving payments from the project, AIM Consultants transferred money to the personal accounts of the two Resident Engineers for onward transmission to various project officials. Engineer Moussalli authorized all the payments. This constitutes a corrupt practice under the World Bank’s Consultant Guidelines.”
Contractors on cross-debarment
There are four other contractors in the category of cross-debarment. They are Lutoyilex Construct Limited, Obiniyi, Abuharaira and ALG Concept Limited. The ineligibility period of the four affected entities was tagged “Ongoing” without a specific period to when the sanction would end.
Lutoyilex and Obiniyi are located Suite 295, Soar Plaza, Gwarimpa, Abuja, and were suspended on May 17, 2022, while ALG Concept Limited and Abuharaira were both suspended on the same day – March 7, 2022.
Untraceable Softech IT Solutions and Services Limited, at the claimed address at Banex Plaza. Photo Credit: Olugbenga Adanikin, The ICIR. Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Faces behind blacklisted firms
The ICIR attempted to identify the owners of the suspended companies and the contractors. This was done through field visits and deploying the Open Source Intelligence Tools (OSINT). It showed Gitto, a company largely owned by the Italians, has six Directors.
They include Civil Engineering Company of Srl, Ebuara Agnes (Mrs), Nicola Busacca, Gitto Domenico, Salvatore Gitto, and Akpana and Co. Nigeria Limited.
The Civil Engineering Company holds a 95 per cent stake in the ownership of Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited. And the key principal of the Italian firm is Gianfranco Zinfollino.
Akpana and Co. Ltd., another shareholder, is also owned by eight directors.
One of them – Agnes Ebuara – had earlier appeared among owners of Gitto. She was listed as Ebuara Agnes (Mrs). This implies she owns shares in both companies.
Other directors are Agabi Achu, Agabi Kanu, Agabi Echaka. These names are also reflected as Achu Agabi, Kanu Agabi, and Echeka Agabi.
Chez Aviv Nigeria Limited is owned by three directors – Igwe Anthony, Friday Nnaji and Steve Nnaji.
Lutoyilex, an Abuja-based firm, is owned by Queen Bethel Obiniyi, Kelvin Olasunkanmi Obiniyi, Zion Feyikunmi Obiniyi, Oluwatoyin Alexzirah Obiniyi and Bamidele Johnson Abayomi Obiniyi. With registration number 1046648, its core area of strength is general merchandise and trading.
ALG Global Concept Nigeria Limited, a local construction firm, is owned by Abuharaira Gero Labaran. It was registered on April 20, 2016, with registration number 1330049. Abahuraira Gero Labaran and Fulaira Adam are shareholders of the firm. Fulaira Adam is also a Director, while Mohammed Sherif is the company’s secretary.
The Managing Director, AIMS Consultants, Amin-Mousalli. Photo Credit: PoliticalEconomistE
Aims Consultants Limited was established on November 20, 1979, with registration number 30821. It was rated as an active company by the CAC. This implies it complied with the Commission’s guidelines for submitting relevant documents, such as its annual report.
It has 11 directors. They include Saada Elias Moussalli, Lanre Fisher, Yahaya Umar, Amine I. Moussalli, Tatiana Moussalli-Nouri and Evita Moussalli Arc.
Others are Peter Fisher, Oyebanji Dominic, Adebayo Idowu Adebola, Umeadi Lawrence, Architect Paul Uzor and Idowu Adebayo.
Still, no feedback was provided as of the time of filing this report when this reporter reached out via the firm’s website.
On Thursday, January 19, The ICIR visited Gitto to seek a reaction to the ban by the World Bank. But the security officials disclosed that the corporate communication manager had left the company and the special assistant who could have responded was on leave. The visit was rescheduled to Monday, January 23.
When The ICIR made a further effort on Monday, the reporter was asked to visit on Wednesday, January 25.
Following a visit to the office on Wednesday, the security officials advised the reporter to submit an official request letter.
On-spot visit to the corporate offices of Lutoyilex and Softech IT Solutions and Services Limited was unsuccessful. The offices could not be located at the claimed address, and the security officials were unaware of the firm or the chief executives.
Bamidele Obiniyi of Lutoyilex was eventually contacted via a third party. He initially watered down the World Bank listing, saying it was not a current issue. He claimed his lawyer had intervened in the matter. But in another twist, he exonerated himself, saying one of his boys used the firm to seek a contract at the bank.
“We have responded already, and it has expired,” Obiniyi said. The ICIR requested a copy of the response, but he responded, ‘No.’ “It was not a blacklist but a suspension,” he added.
Non-existent office of Chez Aviv Nigeria Limited in Lagos. Photo Credit: Temitayo Odunlami, The ICIR
“One of the staff used the company, not me. And after an investigation, they suspended the company because it is registered in my name. But, they have lifted it…”
At the corporate headquarters of Aims Consultants Limited, owners of Wazobia FM, Cool FM, and Nigeria Info, The ICIR attempted to speak with the Corporate Affairs Manager, but the Client Service Officer at the reception said he was in a meeting and he would not be available for the day.
The ICIR waited for about an hour. Then, the official advised the reporter to write a note to the corporate affairs manager stating the purpose of the visit, and he would return with a call to The ICIR. That was done.
However, as of the time of filing this report, he was yet to return a phone call to The ICIR. Efforts to get his name was unsuccessful.
Other corporate entities could not be contacted at the time of the report due to an inactive website.
THE decision of an Ikeja Special Offences Court presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada to sentence a 32-year-old vulcaniser, Chidozie Onyinchiz, to death by hanging on Tuesday, January 17 for robbing a nurse of N57,000 has generated reactions from Nigerians.
Justice Dada held that the prosecution had proved the three-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of an unlawful society against Onyinchiz.
Dada said the convict’s attempt to wriggle out of the charges was futile.
“The defendant had stated that the complainant pointed at him as one of the boys armed with a pair of scissors and forcefully snatched her bag containing N57,000 at Akesan Bus Stop.
“In his confessional statement, Onyinchiz stated that he met Ediri Endurance in a public bus, and Endurance took him to his father’s house after the bus developed a fault.
“He also stated that they ended up sleeping in an uncompleted building because Endurance’s father did not open the door for them to spend the night in his house.
“The statement corroborated the submission of the victim that she was accosted at about 4.30 a.m. by two boys holding an iron rod and a pair of scissors on the day of the incident.
“She said the two boys were the ones who robbed her.
“The totality of the evidence before the Court is compelling, and I find the defendant guilty of the charges preferred against him.
“He is hereby sentenced to death by hanging and may God have mercy on his soul,” Justice Dada said.
The state prosecutor, Afolake Onayinka, had earlier told the Court that the convict committed the offences with an accomplice still at large.
Onayinka submitted that the offences contravened the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The judgement has, however, generated many comments among Nigerians, with many wondering why some politicians allegedly steal billions and yet are given lighter punishments while some supposedly “small” offences get the death sentence.
Twitter users react
A Twitter user @DanielRegha tweeted, “A man (Chidozie Onyinchiz) was reportedly sentenced to death by Justice Dada for robbing a nurse of N57k; The man deserves to be punished, but the death sentence is extreme. Many found guilty of worse were sent to prison, so why is he being killed? Section 390 states otherwise.”
Another Twitter user, @MrJamal001, said, “If he used any form of weapon (Knife, broken bottle, gun etc.), it amounts to armed robbery and the term under the Law is a mandatory death sentence. It’s immaterial the value of what was stolen. The Court’s hands are tied in circumstances like this one.”
@owendino01, in his own comment on the matter, said, “This judgment, in my opinion, is politically motivated; a Yoruba Judge sentenced an Igbo Nigerian to death for theft speaks volumes. I believe he can appeal the judgment; hence he will probably do time in jail! There’s always double standard in our judicial system!”
Also reacting, @chaeyyilaw said: “Armed Robbery is Death Sentence; as long as the convict is armed (gun, table knife, scissors) while committing the crime, he will be charged for Armed Robbery. The Law doesn’t care about your emotions; the Law is the Law.”
In his reaction another Twitter user, @realDan32, said, “Our justice system in this country is biased, a vulcaniser can be sentenced for 57,000 but Uzo Kala was discharged and set free after looting billions. God dey oooo.”
Legal opinion
Giving a legal opinion on the matter in a chat with The ICIR, a lawyer Abiola Kolawole, said that once it has to do with armed robbery, the penalty is the death sentence.
“This can’t be the fact of the case. It is either the method of getting the item was armed robbery or someone was killed in the process of the stealing.
“The fact of the case is always important; context is important. If you look at what I pointed out earlier, I said robbery is different from stealing.
“Yes, the offence of armed robbery is death. Now, that’s the difference with stealing. Now Let me play the devil’s advocate here.
“Do yahoo boys who defraud people of millions get sentenced to death? No, taking advantage of a society is different from armed robbery.”
Kolawole stressed that the law is strict with armed robbery because weapons are involved.
Also commenting on the verdict, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, God’sglory O. Ifezue pointed out that while it would appear harsh to the average Nigerian, it is what the law provides for.
She pointed to the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act which provides in Section 1(2) that the penalty for armed robbery is death, whereas the penalty for robbery simpliciter is a term of imprisonment not less than 21 years (section 1(1) of the same Act).
“And you’re probably wondering, what is the difference between the two? Well, the two offences are not considered the same under the law. It is considered robbery simpliciter when a person robs another without any weapon.
“However, should any arms or offensive or harmful weapon enter the equation, it automatically changes the offence to armed robbery.
“To make it clear, any robbery with any of the firearms or offensive weapons mentioned next is armed robbery under the law and attracts the death penalty – “any canon, gun, rifle, carbine, machine-gun, cap-gun, flint-lock gun, revolver, pistol, explosive or ammunition or other firearms, whether whole or in detached pieces,” Ifezue stated.
She added that the reason for this law was because of the high rise in cases of robbery involving arms and offensive weapons, especially after the civil war. Thus, the law was passed to nip that mischief in the bud and deter would-be offenders.
However, some Nigerians are wondering why petty criminals such as the vulcanizer who was sentenced to death for stealing N57,000 do not benefit from plea bargain, like prominent people, including former governors who were convicted for stealing billions.
What is a Plea Bargain?
This is an agreement between the prosecutor and a defendant who pleads guilty to a lesser charge or to one of the multiple charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence or a dismissal of the other charges. In other words, it is an agreement in a criminal trial in which a prosecutor and a defendant arrange to settle the case against the defendant on terms accepted by the prosecutor, which terms are premised in the interest of justice public, interest, and public policy.
Politicians that benefitted from Plea Bargain
In 2008, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) entered into a “plea bargain” agreement with the former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.
Igbinedion was charged with stealing up to N4.4 billion, but in the ruling given by a judge at the Federal High Court in Enugu, he was fined only a paltry N3.5 million, with no option of jail time for the crime.
Tafa Balogun, a former Inspector-General of Police, also benefited from plea bargain.
CSO/Human Right intervention
According to a Human Rights/Youth Activist, Rinu Oduala, the death sentence imposed on the man who stole N57,000 should prompt Nigerians to look into the selectiveness of the country’s justice system.
“Recently, Governor Dariye and Senator Nyame were pardoned after a landmark ruling sentenced them to prison for stealing billions.
“This is a reflection of our society, in which the powerful are let off the hook while the poor are lynched.
“Our politicians’ theft has never resulted in the death penalty. If we are sentencing petty thieves to death, the obvious question is what about our politicians?” she asked.
In his submission on the issue, the Director General of the Centre For Credible Leadership And Citizens Awareness, Gabriel Nwanbu, said issues like this are unbecoming of the judiciary system we have in Nigeria.
“The kind of money they steal is enough to build an entire country, but they are kind of plaguing the treasury of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and sadly there is this clause we have in our criminal justice system that they call plea bargain.
“The plea bargain gives them room to keep perpetrating criminalities. It gives them the courage to keep stealing; it makes them to be somewhat kind of immune.
“Moreover, the kind of money people in government steal is so much that it is becoming worrisome because the country is now going handicapped to finance the budget of the country,” Nwambu said.
He said a mechanic or vulcaniser who stole N57,000 should have the same punishment as somebody who stole over a hundred billion naira.
“The idea is that there should be consequences for a crime, there should be consequences for offences. If we are looking for an egalitarian society, it should be a society where everybody should be equal before the law. We should be able to ensure that there is a rule of Law in Nigeria.”
What the Law says
The following can attract the death penalty in Nigeria: armed robbery, murder, rape, terrorism-related offences, treason and kidnapping.
Under Section 297(2) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015, any person found guilty of armed robbery is convicted and sentenced to death.
The same Law provides death as punishment to any person convicted of murder (Section 223 of the Law).
However, by Section 308 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law Ch. A3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015, the Governor, upon advice from the Advisory Council of Prerogative of Mercy, may commute death sentence to life imprisonment, any specific period or decide to pardon or grant a reprieve.
Section 402. of the Criminal Code Act states that: “(1) Any person who commits the offence of robbery shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 21 years.(2) If ‐ (a) any offender mentioned in subsection (1) of this section is armed with any firearms or any offensive weapon or any obnoxious or chemical materials or is in company with any person so armed; or (b) at or immediately before or immediately after the time of the robbery, the said offender wounds any person, the offender shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to death.”
THE Benue State government and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are trading blames over the killing of residents by herdsmen.
Earlier, The Voice Newspaper, owned by the state government had reported how gunmen attacked Abagana, killing an entire family of six and two other Internally Displaced Persons (IDP).
Abagena is a community located close to the IDP Camp in Makurdi, the state capital.
Reacting on January 24, the state chairman of the APC, Austin Agada, described attacks by the armed herdsmen as “a prevailing atmosphere of politically induced insecurity that calls for the urgent attention of all Benue patriots”.
Agada accused Governor Samuel Ortom of using the Community Volunteer Guards to rustle cattle in Gwer-West, Makurdi and Guma, the areas most affected by herdsmen attacks in the state.
He noted that cattle rustling has come “with attendant consequences of spontaneous Fulani militia killing of one person in Mbapa Ward of Gwer-West LGA, eight persons in Makurdi on the January 19, 2023 and eight persons in Guma LGA on the January 20, 2023, all within the Ihyarev dominated communities”.
Chairman. APC Benue chapter Austin Agada
Agada also said “available information indicates that on Wednesday 18 January, 2023, over 600 herds of cattle were rustled in Sengev Ward of Gwer-West LGA and kept at the Local Government Guest House at Naka, the objective was to trigger reprisal attacks against Gwer-West people by the herders. We roundly condemn this development and urge Governor Ortom to desist from spilling more blood”.
However, while restating his administration’s commitment to end open grazing in the state, Ortom on January 25 accused the APC in the state of colluding with herdsmen to terrorise Benue communities.
“The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the Livestock Guards which the APC and their herder allies desperately want to see scrapped have come to stay. Anyone who wants to rear cattle in Benue State must do so within the confines of ranches and be prepared to face the long arm of the law in the event of any breaches”, he said in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase.
The statement added: “The APC in Benue State has left no one in doubt that they are working closely with those who invade communities of the state and attack innocent people. This is not the first time that leaders of the party have come out to take sides with killer herders.
“The APC in Benue State has often accused Benue people of attacking and killing themselves. Not too long ago, the sacked governorship candidate (Hyacinth Alia) of the party re-echoed the accusation which the party’s leader (Sen.George Akume) first made four years ago absolving herdsmen of any responsibility in the series of attacks on Benue people.”
Meanwhile, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) report, Benue topped the states in Nigeria with most violent herder-farmer attacks.
The report which covered 2005 to 2021, put the number of killings in Benue at 2, 539 from 303 attacks.
THE Edo State government says 13 deaths have been recorded from 115 cases of Lassa fever in the state.
Speaking to Journalist on Saturday, January 28 in Benin, the state Commissioner for Health, Akoria Obehi disclosed that eight more cases of Lassa fever have been recorded, increasing the number of confirmed cases in the state to 115.
Obehi said the state also recorded one more death from the disease, raising the fatality figure to 13.
The commissioner reiterated that the government is working to curtail the disease across all communities in the state.
“We have confirmed eight new cases of Lassa fever in Edo State, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 115.”
According to her, 40 persons, including 26 adults and 14 children, are presently receiving treatment at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.
The commissioner noted that although the state is adequately prepared and equipped to handle reported cases of Lassa fever, there is a necessity for residents to take precautionary measures to complement the government’s efforts by complying with all laid down protocols against the spread of the disease.
She further urged residents experiencing symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting and high fever to report to the nearest health care centre for diagnosis and treatment.
In the same vein, she advised residents who have been in contact with confirmed Lassa fever patients or suspect any symptoms to reach out to the disease surveillance or notification officers within their local government areas.
According to the statement, the move followed a meeting of INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
“Arising from reports from the various States and discussions with Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Commission has decided to further extend PVC collection in all its Local Government Offices nationwide by an additional one week. The ongoing collection of PVCs nationwide will therefore continue and end on 5th February 2023.
“This is the second time the Commission is extending PVC collection nationwide, and this will be the last extension of the exercise. The collection period has further been extended by an additional two hours and will start at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. daily, including Saturdays and Sundays,” the statement said.
The Commission urged Nigerians who are yet to pick their PVCs to do so.
“The Commission once again salutes the patience and doggedness of citizens,” the statement added.
The Commission said it would continue to take action on all reported cases of shady behaviour during the PVC collection exercise.
It added that it would ensure that no Nigerian was adversely affected and that everyone with a valid registration had the opportunity to pick up their PVCs.
INEC had earlier extended the deadline for the collection of PVCs from January 22 to January 29.
OVER 165 million Nigerians, representing 84 per cent of the country’s population, currently need treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), according to Nigeria’s NTDs Economic Impact Study.
The study which was commissioned by the END Fund and conducted by Deloitte Nigeria, said the Nigerian economy stands to reap $18.9 billion from its citizens and increased productivity if elimination of NTDs is achieved by 2030.
NTDs are diseases that occur mostly in tropical climate and are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and toxins.
According to Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI), an international, not-for-profit research and development organisation, NTDs “disproportionately affect people who are already vulnerable – whether through poverty, marginalisation, geographic location or living conditions”.
It added that such diseases cause significant suffering, disability, and death.
Oyetola Oduyemi
Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the 2023 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day Town Hall Meeting, on Friday, January 27, the END Fund Senior Director of Public Affairs for Africa, Oyetola Oduyemi said the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 brought setbacks to the fight against NTDs in Nigeria.
She blamed the country’s population growth and inability to sustain treatments during the early stage of COVID-19 for the increased number of 165 million against 2020 which was about 120 million.
“It was just a free for all and as a result, there was a significant increase in the number of people and that is why at present over 165 million Nigerians in need of treatment for one or more of these diseases”, she said.
Also speaking, National Coordinator of NTDs Elimination Programme, Nse Akpan said there is need to enlighten the populace about the scourge of NTDs.
“People were not given much attention to these diseases because they were believing that most times based on their traditional practices, it is not treatable because they believe it was caused by witchcraft”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Abuja Liason Officer of The Carter Centre, Sarah Pantuvo called on Federal Government to commit resources to the fight against NTDs.
Pantuvo said, “Nigeria doesn’t really have to depend on donor funders. The federal government also has to do a lot towards it. You can’t leave your programme for other people to implement for you as much as they tell.
“You also have to have a commitment of resources through counterpart funding to execute development projects in the country.”
According to him, the suspect lured his five-year-old and seven-year-old victims to an uncompleted building in the Akepe area of Osogbo, where he raped them.
“Investigation showed that the suspect is highly notorious and a serial rapist.
“Upon interrogation, he confessed to committing the crime and he has been transferred to the police for investigation and prosecution.
“I thank residents of the area of the incident who did well by informing us about what happened. I appreciate them for their support,’’ Adewinmbi said.
The Amotekun commander reiterated the corps’s commitment to fighting crimes in Osun and assured cooperation with other security agencies to rid the state of criminals.
Adewinmbi noted that it was wrong to politicise criminality and assured Osun residents of protection in collaboration with other security agencies.
PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for the use of old naira notes.
Old N200, N500 and N1000 naira notes will cease to be recognized as legal tender by January 31, the deadline set by the CBN.
The former Vice President called for the extension of the deadline in a short video clip posted on his Twitter account on Saturday, January 28.
In the video seen by The ICIR, Atiku noted that the deadline of the naira redesign policy has made life difficult for many Nigerians.
While applauding the monetary conversion policy as a worldwide practice, Atiku stressed that the deadline was not well considered and should be slightly adjusted.
“The ongoing policy of the CBN to redesign the naira notes has generated wide reactions across the country and beyond,” he said
“This exercise is a worldwide practice and nothing new with it especially as the January 31st deadline draws closer.
“A great number of Nigerians out of good conscience have expressed apprehension about how the policy and the deadline will make life difficult for them.
“I’m also aware of the challenges farmers and artisans in remote areas go through in moving cash to the commercial banks for exchange.
“The deadline is going to cause heavy discomfort for Nigerians. It will be magnanimous for the Federal Government and the regulatory body to ease the burden of the people while we can continue to sensitise the public on the imperative of mobile banking policy.
“It is important for the CBN to consider an extension for the public to swap their old notes thereby reducing the financial consequences on these vulnerable citizens, I believe that such painful experience is not the intention behind the initiative.”
Despite appeals by the National Assembly to the CBN to extend the January 31 deadline for the acceptance of the old naira notes, the apex bank has remained defiant, insisting there is no going back.
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) and a host of other stakeholders have also expressed concerns and made appeals for CBN to extend the period for the currency swap as well as review of the cashless policy.
KANO State governor Abdullahi Ganduje has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to postpone his official visit to the state.
Ganduje made the request because of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy, according to a statement released on Saturday, January 28, by his Chief press Secretary Abba Anwar.
The statement said Ganduje disclosed the development to academics, lawmakers, political figures and members of the business community at the Kano State Government House on Friday, January 27.
The decision to seek the postponement of the visit was taken to avoid any unanticipated circumstances, the statement explained.
“As we are waiting for this important visit, we find ourselves in this situation, which puts citizens into untold hardship. For security purposes, we wrote to the Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Kano be postponed.
“We got an acknowledgement copy of the letter. People are really suffering because of this policy,” the governor said.
The statement added that two serving senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Barau Jibrin and Kabiru Gaya, twenty members of the House of Representatives and thirty legislators from the State House of Assembly were among the groups that supported the decision.
“There are no banks in most of our rural communities. How these people get new naira notes is of great concern. Just look at what is happening in our urban areas; people go and spend hours upon hours in banks without any assurances of getting the new notes,” Ganduje lamented.
The governor claimed that it was difficult to conduct business even with the point of sale (POS), adding that many people have closed their shops over the uncertain situation.
“This problem affects all of us. Therefore our voice must be heard in all nooks and crannies. We are a commercial hub. As such, our position must be loud and clear,” Ganduje said.
The governor also called for an extension of the deadline for returning old naira notes.
