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Edo govt demolishes illegal structures on right of way

Mustapha USMAN
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Edo govt demolishes illegal structures on right of way

THE Edo State government has embarked on the demolition of illegal structures in various locations in the Benin City metropolis.

The development, according to the Director of Physical Planning and Development Control of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Henry Enabulele, was part of the  efforts to ensure a properly planned and sanitised environment in the state

Enabulele explained that the demolition exercise became imperative as defaulters failed to heed various warnings and notices issued to them.

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The demolished structures included a fence built on an existing road by the Miracle Church of God Vision Faith Ministry at Osula Close; Uteh Ne Urekpoki Quarters, Upper Mission Extension; stores built on right of way at BDPA opposite the University of Benin; and a building under development on the right of way at Gospel Star Street, Ovbiogie Quarters.

“The exercise carried out today is about infractions that we have been complaining about in the Benin metropolis. People built on the right of way with impunity. Our going out today is to clear the areas that these infractions were noticed.

“We have told them severally, written to them and advised them to stop building on the right of way. This present government is not going to tolerate it,” he said.

According to him, the infraction at Ovbiogie was at the centre of the road, vowing that the department would make the owners pay for the removal cost.

“The infraction at Ovbiogie was on the centre of the road. We have discussed with the community and they said they were not the ones that sold that land and we have advised the man to remove the structure from the centre of the road, which he refused to adhere to.”

“We are going to make them pay for the cost of removing these infractions,” he said.

Enabulele called on builders and developers to verify before purchasing lands to avoid infractions.

“We have EdoGIS at your service, and you can write to us at the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development to guide you. Please, don’t buy if you are not very sure that the land is not encumbered,” he advised.

He also advised the general public to stop wasting money on illegal developments, stressing that the state government would not tolerate any illegal building activity.

Kaduna deputy speaker, lawmaker leave APC for LP

Beloved JOHN
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Kaduna deputy speaker, lawmaker leave APC for LP

THE deputy speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Isaac Auta Zankai, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party (LP). 

Zankai, representing the Kauru state constituency, switched camps alongside a member of the House representing Zaria state constituency, Suleiman Dabo.

The National Secretary of the LP, Farouk Ibrahim, announced this on Thursday, January 12 at the party’s unveiling of its 450-member Kaduna State Governorship Campaign Council (GCC) and manifesto in Kaduna.

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According to him, the warm reception the party received from top political personnel in the state was a sign it would emerge victorious in the coming election.

Ibrahim, who is the GCC chairman, claimed that members of the state assembly were supporters of the party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, and running mate Yussuf Datti Baba-Ahmed in next month’s presidential election.

“Sincerely speaking, today is one of the happiest moments in my life. I have gone around to campaign for our presidential candidate Peter Obi and I have received great receptions.

“I am particularly impressed by the calibre of personalities that grace this inauguration. In the entire Northern states, we don’t have any personality that dumps APC and joins the Labour Party except in Kaduna State with the Deputy Speaker and another member from Zaria constituency of the state,” he said.

 

INEC extends PVC collection deadline by one week

Mustapha USMAN
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INEC extends PVC collection deadline by one week

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) to Sunday, January 29, 2023. 

The Commission had earlier fixed January 22 as the deadline after it was moved to wards for easy collection.

However, after the Commission’s top officials met on Thursday night, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed that the deadline had been pushed back by eight days.

Okoye said, “The Commission is determined to ensure that registered voters have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the forthcoming election. For this reason, the timeframe for the collection of PVCs is extended by eight days.

“Instead of ending on Sunday 22nd January 2023, the collection of PVCs will continue until Sunday 29th January 2023. At the moment, the period of collection is 9.00am-3.00pm daily (including Saturdays and Sundays).”

According to him, collection at the registration area (ward) level was extended by one week, from Monday 16 to Sunday, January 22, adding that collection at the local government level would resume on Monday 23 and end on Sunday, January 29.

He disclosed there had been reports that INEC officials were extorting Nigerians at PVC collection centres, adding that the Commission would be launching an investigation into the allegation and those found culpable would face disciplinary action and/or prosecution.

“The Commission is disturbed by allegations of discriminatory issuance of PVCs in some locations. This is against the law. All bonafide registrants are entitled to their PVCs and to use them to vote on Election Day in any part of the country where they are registered.

“Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have been directed to ensure that no such practices occur nationwide and should take immediate disciplinary action against violators,” he said.

Okoye, commending the perseverance and patience of the people over PVC collection, stressed that the Commission had printed a large numbers of PVCs.

“For the record, the Commission has printed 13,868,441 PVCs for all new valid registrants, as well as for applicants for transfer or replacement of cards. Nevertheless, issuing officers should compile any complaints about non-availability of cards and forward them to their immediate supervisors for the attention of RECs who shall compile and forward them for necessary action,” he said.

 

EFCC records 26 successful bids on forfeited property in Abuja

Bankole ABE
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EFCC records 26 successful bids on forfeited property in Abuja

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully recorded 26 bids on day three of the sale of forfeited real estate in Abuja.

According to the EFCC, on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, winners emerged for property comprising apartments and plots of land in Abuja.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren.

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Uwujaren said at the session that a total of 39 property pieces in Lot 5, located in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory were offered for sale through a competitive bidding process.

He said, “At the end of the exercise, a total of 26 bids were successful, while 13 properties were not taken, either for non-compliance with the guidelines, or the highest bid falling short of the reserve price, or due to a tie as was the case in respect of the property listed as number 33 in the Lot.”

Such items will be re-opened to fresh bids on Monday, January 16, 2023.

“Other properties affected by this fresh bid offer are listed as numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 15, 18, 29, 30, 31 and 34 in Lot 5,” the statement said.

The EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, witnessed the exercise and expressed excitement at the well-organized and coordinated event, thanking the bidders for their cooperation.

“The process we are adopting is what is practised across the world. We had Valuers who valued the properties, and we already know the worth of each property and we expect to sell to the highest bidder who exceeds our reserve price because we need to raise money for the Federal Government to execute and complete some of the major infrastructure projects across the country.

“We got feedback from people who are asking why we are not doing it online so that more people can participate. We have tried all of that and it is now left for us to use discretion to work with methods that will help the process to be more transparent for every Nigerian to see,” Bawa said.

Again, gunmen attack Anambra, kill four vigilantes

Bankole ABE
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Again, gunmen attack Anambra, kill four vigilantes

GUNMEN have attacked and killed four operatives of the Anambra Vigilante Services, in Anambra State, and also set five buildings ablaze.

The incident took place on Thursday January 12 at the Ihiala local government area of the state.

The attackers were said to have invaded the secretariat early in the morning, killing three vigilantes guarding the complex.

The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Ikenga Tochukwu, has confirmed the development in a statement.

Tochukwu said the attackers set several buildings in the secretariat on fire.

According to him, security operatives, who responded to a distress call at about 2.55pm and engaged the attackers in a firefight, killed one of them.

“The attackers had already murdered three vigilante operatives on duty, beheaded one, and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs,” the PPRO stated.

Tochukwu said security operatives recovered weapons from the attackers, including two locally made IED launchers, seven undenoted IEDs, 40 pieces of live cartridges, 15 live 7.62mm AK47 ammunition, knives, and charms.

He added that the dead bodies of the victims had been recovered, and joint operations were still ongoing.

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The incident came barely a few days after gunmen killed four persons on Nzomiwu Street, Eziani community, in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, January 11.

It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the community and started shooting into the air, killing three males and a female, who was said to be pregnant.

The gunmen immediately fled the scene after killing the victims.

Okupe released after DSS arrest

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Okupe released after DSS arrest

THE immediate past Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) which arrested him this morning at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Okupe disclosed this this afternoon shortly after the DSS released him.

“I was arrested & detained @ the MM int airport, Lagos this morning 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals yrs of my passport being withheld by the FHC Abuja.I hv just left the efcc office where snr officers in lagos& Abuja apologised to me for the error. OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?,” he tweeted.

Reacting to the arrest, one of Okupe’s lawyers, Tolu Babaleye, claimed that the DSS asked Okupe to provide court processes as evidence he paid the fine option the Federal High Court, Abuja, imposed on him after conviction for money laundering.

“The reason, according to the source, is that he was asked to produce evidence that the Federal High Court Abuja has freed him from the case in which he was convicted and paid a fine to the knowledge of the whole world and was allowed to go home.

 “When will this harassment stop? Who is after Dr Okupe? As of today, the man has no case to answer. I hereby demand that the DSS should release my client immediately as this is a violation of his freedom of movement, right to liberty and dignity as a human person. This is unfair as the man’s health is fast failing,” he wrote.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujare, explained that the DSS acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016 before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard,” Uwujare said.

 

Buhari condemns ambush, killing of security personnel in Kaduna

Mustapha USMAN
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Buhari condemns ambush, killing of security personnel in Kaduna

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his grief over the death of personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were ambushed and killed by bandits in Kaduna State while on official duty.

Buhari, in a statement issued on Thursday January 12 by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, also confirmed that, at least, seven officials of the NSCDC were killed during the ambush.

The President described the loss of the NSCDC personnel as a tragic event and saluted the courage of the men who gave their lives to the nation.

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Shehu quoted the president as saying, “The NSCDC personnel who braved all challenges to guard our nation and its people had made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

“My thoughts are with the bereaved families and their compatriots in the service. May Almighty God grant them and the entire service the fortitude to bear the loss.”

The ICIR gathered that six local security personnel (vigilantes) were also killed alongside the NSCDC officers by bandits on Monday, January 9 at the Manini area along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Highway.

The attack was said to have happened around 3pm when the NSCDC personnel and vigilantes went to a local mining site in the area.

Also condemning the incident, the NSCDC Director of Public Relations Olusola Odumosu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the personnel, attached to the Kaduna State Ministry of Mines, were on official duty at the Kuriga mining site when they were attacked.

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“In honour of the slain personnel, the CG has directed that the Corps’ flag be hoisted at half-mast and that a national prayer involving both Christians and Muslims be organized at the Corps National headquarters, Abuja, to pray for God’s protection for all officers and men of the Corps in the new year, and avert a recurrence of such awful incident,” the statement added.

Rest of world seeks entries to its photography contest

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Rest of world seeks entries to its photography contest

REST of World is accepting entries for its inaugural photo contest.

The theme for the Rest of World Photography Contest is ‘How is technology impacting your world?’

The organiser says submitted images must showcase technology’s impact on people and communities. Photographers may enter a single image taken within the last three years.

The first, second, and third-place winners will be awarded US$1,000, US$500, and US$250 respectively.

Photographers in the non-Western world can submit photos to contests and compete for cash prizes.

The deadline for the submission of entry is January 31, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

Did DSTV add new channel due to Ronaldo’s move to Saudi league?

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Did DSTV add new channel due to Ronaldo’s move to Saudi league?

A claim is circulating online that the Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) owned by MultiChoice has set up a new channel to broadcast the Saudi Arabian League.

The claim is linked to the recent signing of a top Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo by a Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr FC.

A fake Al-Nassr FC Facebook account on January 3, 2023, posted the claim with a caption thus:

“Al Nassr FC. DSTV Has Added A Saudi League Channel *240*.Ronaldo Effect(sic).”

The post has garnered more than 3,000 likes and over 1,500 shares on Facebook as of January 7, 2023.

A Twitter user, @AsiimweMiles, had also tweeted the claim earlier on January 1, 2023, with another caption that read:

“DSTV has already added Saudi Arabian league on channel 240. This effect has been impacted on by a player who joined the league this season and thats non other than the GOAT. Ronaldo was given five private cars, stadium, restaurant and a Palace in Riyadh with complete security(sic).”

The tweet has garnered over 20 retweets and over 100 likes as of Saturday, January, 7 2023.

Similarly, another Twitter user, @DocOmeiza tweeted the claim on January 3, 2023 with a caption thus:

“Just In: DSTV Has Added A Saudi League Channel  (Channel 240). Ronaldo Effect.My G.O.A.T(sic).”

The tweet has garnered over 40 retweets and 100 likes as of Saturday, 7th of January, 2023.

THE CLAIM

That DSTV added a new channel to broadcast the Saudi Arabian League due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer.

The screenshot of one of the posts
The screenshot of one of the posts

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

It will be recalled that Ronaldo had in December signed for Al-Nassr after his contract with Manchester United was terminated earlier in November 2022.

The 37-year-old was officially unveiled as an Al Nassr player on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

The Portuguese national football team captain signed a contract with the Saudi Arabian side that would see him remain at the club until 2025.

However, findings revealed that Channel 240, “Liyu Amharic HD” purported to have been added on DSTV is a horse racing Channel that has been in existence on the cable service provider’s packages prior to Ronaldo’s transfer to Al-Nassr football club.

The TV channel was added on Wednesday, of January 19 2022, on the DSTV.

According to the information obtained from the DSTV website , Racing 240 “is a 24- hour horse racing channel operating under the auspices of 4RacingTV and is available in South Africa to all DStv Premium, Compact Plus , Compact, Family and Access customers on DStv.”

For further confirmation, The FactCheckHub reached out to the Nigerian branch of DSTV on Twitter, and the company debunked the rumour.

THE VERDICT 

The claim that DSTV added Channel 240 to broadcast Saudi Arabian League due to Ronaldo’s transfer is false; findings reveal that the horse racing channel has been in existence before Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr FC.

INEC removes underage voters, records 93.5m voter registration

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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0
INEC removes underage voters, records 93.5m voter registration

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has captured a total of 93,469,008 eligible voters in its voters register following the final clean-up of double registration and underage voters.

The figure followed the review of 54,264 objections raised by Nigerians following the initial display of the voter register on its website in November 2022.

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a meeting with members of political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu insisted that the 2023 elections would hold as planned as they do not contemplate any adjustment to the election timetable.

He declared, “The 2023 General Election will hold as scheduled. Any report to the contrary is not the official position of the Commission.”

He said the security agencies had repeatedly assured the commission of adequate protection of personnel, materials and processes.

On the demography of the eligible voters, the commission said the total number of eligible voters rose by 9,464,924, or 11.3 per cent, from the 84,004,084 recorded in the 2019 general elections to 93,469,008 eligible voters in 2023.

“Of this cumulative figure, 49,054,162 (52.5 per cent) are male, while 44,414,846 (47.5 per cent) are female,” he said. 

On age group distribution, 37,060,399 youths between the age of 18 and 34 constitute the largest population(39.65 per cent), while 33,413,591 (35.75 per cent) are middle-aged persons between the ages of 35 and 49.

In addition, 17,700,270 (18.9 per cent) are elderly voters between the ages of 50 and 69, while 5,294,748 (5.66 per cent) are senior citizens aged 70 and above. 

In terms of occupational distribution, students make up the largest category at 26,027,481, or 27.8 per cent, of all registered voters, followed by farmers/fishermen who constitute 14,742,554 or 15.8 per cent of the total population, while 13,006,939 or 13.9 per cent are housewives.

“The data on disability was not collected for previous registration. However, the cumulative figure of 85,362 persons from the recent CVR indicates that there are 21,150 (24.5 per cent) persons with albinism; 13,387 (15.7 per cent) with physical impediment and 8,103 (9.5% per cent) are blind.

Lagos recorded the highest number of voters with 7, 060,195, followed by Kano State with 5,921,370, and Kaduna with 4,335,208 registered voters.

Ekiti State has the least registered voters with 987,647, followed by Bayelsa with 1,056,862, and Yobe with 1,485,146 registered voters.

The INEC chairman reiterated the commitment of the commission to transparent, credible and inclusive 2023 elections.

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