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Ministers Advocate Teaching Of Mathematics, Sciences In Indigenous Languages

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Ministers Advocate Teaching Of Mathematics, Sciences In Indigenous Languages

 

The federal ministries of science and technology as well as Education are unanimous in their convictions that teaching mathematics and other science subjects in indigenous languages at primary and secondary school levels will help the students to better understand and appreciate the subjects.

Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, and his Education counterpart, Adamu Adamu, made this known on Wednesday at the inauguration of an inter-ministerial committee on teaching of mathematics and science subjects in local languages in Abuja.

Onu expressed optimism that the inter-ministerial committee would come up with strategies that will enable the usage of local languages as effective tools for teaching mathematics and science subjects.

He said the project will help Nigerian students to understand mathematics and science subjects better as well as promote the growth of science and technology for national development.

The minister noted that government was worried over the low interest in mathematics and science subjects by students.

Onu said the deployment of local languages in the teaching of science subjects has proven successful in countries like India and China who have since become global giants in science and technology.

“For us to build the country of our dreams, for us to make Nigeria a truly great nation, a nation that is able to feed and house its citizens, a nation with a stable currency, we must embrace science and technology,” the minister said.

“Nigeria will remain a dependent nation if the citizens did not embrace science and technology, because no nation can become great without science and technology.

“If Nigeria is to be great then, Nigerians must embrace science and technology. The socio-economic challenges we are facing in the country is as a result of inadequate application of science and technology,” he said.

In his speech, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who was represented by a top director in the Education ministry, Useni Adamu, agreed that using local languages to teach science and mathematics would help in better understanding of the subjects.

Adamu said the project will hopefully lead to a major breakthrough in the area of science and technology.

Presidential Aide Berates Fayose For Saying Buhari Should Resign

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Presidential Aide Berates Fayose For Saying Buhari Should Resign

The Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, has lashed out on the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over his recent comments asking President Muhammadu Buhari to resign.

Ojudu, who himself is from Ekiti State, said Fayose’s many ranting against the president portray the state in bad light.

“We need an active president going by our numerous challenges. ‎How long will Nigerians wait for an incapacitated president‎?” Fayose was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

“We cannot wait again for somebody to hold us to ransom. ‎I don’t have any bad blood against Buhari. Osinbajo has no powers without the president. He owes us the duty to tell us the state ‎of his health.”

Reacting to the development, Ojudu described the governor’s comments as disrespectful of a man old enough to be his father.

He advised Fayose to devote more time to ensuring that citizens of Ekiti State enjoy good governance than going about disparaging the President.

“He (Fayose) has been quarrelling with everybody. Even in Ekiti, he is demolishing filling stations belonging to the opposition,” Ojudu said.

“He has always been insulting the president and disparaging a man old enough to be his father.

“He is portraying Ekiti in a bad light. We are not like that. Is he the only governor, why is it that he is the only one making so much noise?”

“Right now, fuel is not being sold in Ekiti because he is busy demolishing filling stations under one guise or the other.

“People are buying fuel from neighbouring states. People are suffering; they are tired of his ways.

“Go and tell him to concentrate on governance and to stop insulting the president.”

President Buhari is currently in London for medical treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Fake Whistle Blower Info Led To Raid On Ekweremadu’s House

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Fake Whistle Blower Info Led To Raid On Ekweremadu’s House

An Abuja Upper Area Court has remanded one Ahmed Echodo in Keffi Prison, Nasarawa State, for allegedly providing false information to the police leading to the raid on the official Guest House of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Maitama, Abuja.

Presiding Judge, Umar Kagarko, gave the remand order after the defendant pleaded not guilty to allegations of criminal conspiracy and giving false information to mislead police.

The police were said to have executed a search warrant on Ekweremadu’s official guest house on Friday, May 26 based on the alleged false information given by Echodo.

A steward in Ekweremadu’s guest house, Oliver Ogenyi, was said to have been arrested during the police operation and reportedly taken to the Inspector General of Police Special Squad Office in Guzape District, Abuja, before he was later released.

The Police said the accused person Echodo conspired with one Maiwa Adamu to commit the alleged offences contrary to section 97(1) and 140 of the Penal Code Law.

The charges read: “That on May 26, 2017, at about 0900hrs, you Ahmed Echodo, ‘m, aged 50 years of No. 44, Living Truth Street, Masaaka, Nasarawa State and one Maiwada Adamu (now at large) did conspire with yourselves by informing the office of IGP, STS at Guzape Area of the FCT, Abuja, that House No. 10 Games Street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja occupied by Oliver Ogenyi is being maintained and used for criminal activities including keeping of arms and ammunition.

“Unfortunately, after the police carried out diligence execution of the search warrant, no incriminating items were found therein.

“You, by such action, misled the police and hereby committed the above offences.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences on Tuesday.

When asked by the judge whether he understood the charges against him, he demanded that the police be made to state whether the alleged false information he gave was in written or oral form.

Echodo said, “They (police) have not shown me how the information was passed to them by me. Was it oral or written? When they went to the house with Wada (who was said to be at large), I was not there.”

Having pleaded not guilty, the prosecuting police officer asked for an adjournment for trial, but the defence lawyer, Peters Ugwuoke, made an oral bail application, urging the court to grant bail to his client pending trial.

Ugwuoke said his client would not jump bail and would never interfere with investigation or trial, adding that the defendant was ready to provide reasonable persons to stand as sureties for him.

The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case until June 5 for ruling on the bail application.

Senate Stays Plans To Concession PH Refinery

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Senate Stays Plans To Concession PH Refinery

The senate has resolved that plans by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to concession the Port Harcourt refinery to AGIP or Oando should be suspended, while an ad-hoc committee will be set up to look into the concession arrangement.

The decision of the lawmakers followed a motion sponsored by Jigawa State legislator, Sabo Mohammed, during Tuesday’s proceedings on the floor of the Senate.

Mohammed said: “The federal government recently entered into an agreement with Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), a subsidiary of ENI, an Italian oilgiant to construct a $15 billion refinery in the Niger Delta region, a deal which also includes investment by Agip in a power plant with the Italian company assisting Nigeria in the repairs of the Port Harcourt refinery.

“The minister of state for petroleum resources stated that the agreement was part of a broader federal government plan to increase capacity for local production and consumption of petroleum products with the aim of ending fuel importation in Nigeria by 2019.

“While the resolve by the federal government to increase local refining capacity is laudable and should be applauded by all Nigerians, the observance of corporate governance principles and the country’s extant laws must be followed to the letter.”

The lawmaker, however, added that another oil company, Oando, has also claimed it has approval by the federal government to be part of the deal in partnership with AGIP.

“This development would have been wonderful because it would mean an end to importation of refined products by the year 2020, but many questions are begging for answers, such as is it Agip/ENI or Oando Plc that is taking over Port Harcourt Refinery?” Mohammed asked.

“Was there the observance of the privatisation law as regards due diligence, selection from preferred bidders before ceding of the Port Harcourt Refinery to Agip/Oando?”

Mohammed also noted that the three refineries in the country, namely the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries are currently functioning at less than 50 percent capacity despite the promises by the Minister of Petroleum resources, lbe Kachukwu that they would be producing at 90 percent capacity by the end of 2015.

Senate President Bukola Saraki then put the motion to a voice vote and majority of the lawmakers voted that the concession process be put on hold.

How Lagos Demolitions Crush Children’s Hopes

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How Lagos Demolitions Crush Children’s Hopes

A documentary by the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection, CEE-HOPE, sponsored by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, has revealed how children suffered untold hardship and deprivation in the aftermath of massive demolition of houses and shops by the Lagos State Government.

Demolitions in Lagos waterfront communities inhabited by the poor had led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people, including children.

The documentary opened with the sad tale of a woman at Badia East who went into forced labour when her home was demolished in 2013. She later gave birth to triplets in a hospital but lost the babies few weeks after.

The untimely death of her babies and the trauma caused by the demolition of her home affected her mental stability and she’s today a ghost of her former self.

“Today, she still lives among the debris of Badia East, four years after. She still gropes aimlessly at the site of the demolition…. a mentally sick woman, a childless destitute…hopeless,” says the documentary.

The documentary points out that the policy of “Operation Clean Lagos” by the state government to build a mega city has killed and displaced children whose only crime were being born by poor parents.

“About 100 Lagos waterfront communities are being targeted for demolition and with no plans of compensation, relocation or relief whatsoever for the people affected or those to be affected, as guaranteed by local and international laws.

“Children in these communities have unspoken stories of terror inflicted by a government which should protect them, their dreams and help them realise their future.”

Watch the documentary below.

 

The latest in this wanton demolition was on April 9, 2017, when Otodo-Gbame, a fishing community, was levelled with about 32,000 people being displaced.

The documentary reveals that during a violent eviction in the middle of the night in November 2016 by policemen, not less than 12 persons, including children were reportedly drowned in the lagoon when they attempted to escape the mid-night violence.

The documentary describes the effect of the demolition thus: “children, future leaders, dying, being crushed socially, economically, psychologically and educationally under the sledge hammer of the recurrent demolition exercises in Lagos State under detached and elitist politicians and government officials.”

Unfortunately the children affected by the demolitions are denied education as they are thrown to the streets without measures by the state government to protect them.

The documentary urges Lagos Government to stop shattering the dreams of children born in poor homes as the dehumanising effect of forceful eviction will affect their adult lives.

AGF, NDLEA Drop Plans To Extradite Nigerian Lawmaker

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AGF, NDLEA Drop Plans To Extradite Nigerian Lawmaker

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, have agreed to drop plans to extradite Ogun State lawmaker, Buruji Kashamu, to the United States of America on allegations of importation of illegal drugs.

This was made known by Kashamu’s counsel, Akin Olujimi, SAN, on Tuesday during the hearing of a suit filed by the lawmaker against the AGF and the NDLEA.

Kashamu had filed contempt charges against the two parties saying that they were planning to abduct and send him to the United States, contrary to the ruling of the court.

But on the resumption of hearing on Tuesday, Olujimi told Justice Gabriel Kolawale that the parties have agreed to stay the extradition plans pending the determination of the appeal which they filed at the appellate court.

Olujimi, therefore, applied for leave to withdraw the suit against the AGF and NDLEA in view of the assurances given that all parties will now face the various cases pending at the Court of Appeal.

Counsels to the AGF and the NDLEA, Tanko Ashang and Mike Kassa respectively, did not object to the withdrawal of the case.

In his ruling, Justice Kolawale granted the leave sought for the withdrawal of the suit to allow the parties pursue their cases at the appellate court.

“In the light of the application to withdraw this suit and to move to Court of Appeal to pursue all pending appeals in respect of the extradition matter, leave is hereby granted for withdrawal of this suit,” the presiding judge ruled.

Earlier in January this year, a United States Appeals court upheld a ruling that Kashamu should face a drug trafficking trial after Chicago prosecutors accused the Nigerian lawmaker of heading a heroin trafficking ring in the 1990s.

But Kashamu in a statement said it was a case of mistaken identity insisting the prosecutors are mistaking him for his dead brother.

He described the ruling of the US Appeal Court as vexatious and malicious, pointing out that he had faced two extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom at the instance of the United States and the British court and it was found to be a case of mistaken identity after four years of trial.

DSS Hands Over Chibok Girls To FG 

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DSS Hands Over Chibok Girls To FG 

By Yekeen Nurudeen

The rehabilitation of the 82 rescued Chibok girls is set to commence soon following the handover of the girls to the Ministry of Women Affairs by the Department of State Service, DSS.

The minister of women affairs, Aisha Alhassan, said a facility has been put in place for the girls’ accommodation.

The girls were handed over to the Minister on Tuesday by the Department of State Services, DSS at the Women Development Centre, Abuja, where a facility has been prepared for them.

On their release almost a month ago, the girls have been kept in the DSS medical facility where they were said to have undergone medical tests.

The Minister said the facility at the Women Center has been upgraded to accommodate the 82 girls noting that they would be well taken care of there.

Alhassan said the 21 Chibok girls earlier rescued were also kept at the facility.

Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan with one of the newly released Chibok Girls
Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan with one of the newly released Chibok Girls

“Their sisters have been here since they were released and as you can see,they are well taken care of. Everything has been put in place to make  sure theyare comfortable,” she said.

Speaking on why the girls have not gone back to Chibok village, the Minister said none of them was held against their will or that of their parents’, stressing that anyone who indicates interest to return to Chibok would be allowed to do so.

She however said none of the girls have expressed willingness to go back home.

”Anyone that indicates interest to leave will be allowed to go, but none of them have said they want to leave,” she said.

The girls who were dressed in Ankara textile materials and looking radiant, sang in their local language immediately they settled into the hall.

One of them was however on crutches while another was also wearing a POP on one of her arms.

The minister took journalists round the facility which comprises of classrooms, a sick bay, a chapel and hostels.

When they were released early this month, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole said the girls would undergo various medical investigations and psycho-social tests.

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Gunmen Kill Policeman At Police Station In Bayelsa

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Gunmen Kill Policeman At Police Station In Bayelsa

 

The Bayelsa State police command has confirmed that one of its personnel was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Sunday while standing guard in front of a police station in Sagbama, Bayelsa State.

Police Public Relations Officer of Bayelsa State, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident on Monday, adding that the police had launched a manhunt for the killers.

The police spokesman added that the motive of the murderers remain unknown as they did not take the rifle of the slain sergeant.

“The policeman was killed on Sunday at about 8:30 pm in front of the Sagabma Police Station by two unknown gunmen on an unregistered motorcycle,” Butswat said.

“We are working to establish the motive behind the dastardly act because they didn’t stop. We recovered the rifle of the dead policeman.

“They shot at the policemen and zoomed off but we have swung into action and some people have volunteered useful information.”

Eye witnesses who talked to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said the incident threw the entire policemen at the station into confusion as they all scampered for safety.

It was gathered that the attackers shot at a group of policemen in front of the station with a pump action rifle, hitting the sergeant who was killed on the spot.

Those who spoke to journalists criticized the poor response of the other policemen at the station at the time wondering why they did go after the gunmen.

Coroner Inquest Confirms Drug Overdose Killed Ex-Gov Adeleke

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Coroner Inquest Confirms Drug Overdose Killed Ex-Gov Adeleke

The coroner inquest which was set up to determine the cause of the sudden death of Osun State lawmaker, Isiaka Adeleke, has blamed the death on drug overdose administered on the deceased lawmaker by an unqualified nurse.

Delivering the verdict of the inquest, the coroner, Olusegun Ayilara, said the late lawmaker was not poisoned as is being rumoured in the state, adding that the result of an autopsy carried out on the body of Adeleke showed no trace of poison.

Ayilara said that on the day Adeleke died, some drug was intravenously administered on him by one Alfred Aderibigbe, a nurse, who according to the coroner had treated the deceased for several years without a doctor’s prescription.

The coroner also said that the consultant anatomic pathologist at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, teaching hospital, also confirmed that the deceased died due to drug overdose coupled with abnormally high level of alcohol.

Ayilara in his recommendations noted that the qualification of Aderibigbe, the nurse that administered the drugs on late Adeleke, should be further investigated by the police.

He also advised the State’s directorate of public prosecution to look further into the case file of Aderibigbe to know the appropriate charge, if any, to press against him.

Adeleke, a former Osun State Governor in 1992 died on April 23 after attending a burial ceremony of the mother of a ranking member of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.

Rauf Aregbesola, current Osun State Governor set up the coroner inquest to determine the actual cause of the lawmaker’s death following rumours that he may have been poisoned at the burial ceremony.

However, Adeleke’s immediate family rejected the setting up of the panel saying it was just a ploy by the State government to cover up what they described as the murder of their brother.

It should be noted that Isiaka Adeleke, before his death, was seen by some as the clear favourite to succeed governor Aregbesola in the state’s governorship election that comes up in 2018.

Canada Launches Famine Relief Fund For Nigeria, Somalia, Others

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Canada Launches Famine Relief Fund For Nigeria, Somalia, Others

By Yekeen Nurudeen

As parts of its commitment to help countries with acute food crisis address the problem, the Canadian Government has launched a Famine Relief Fund that will immediately assist countries such as Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen who are currently facing humanitarian crisis.

The Canadian Government had   on March 17, 2017, announced $119.25 million in humanitarian funding to respond to food crises in these four countries and has remained one of the earliest major donors to provide funds for the four affected countries.

Canadian Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau, who launched the Fund, announced that for every eligible donation made by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities between March 17 and June 30, 2017, the Government of Canada would contribute an equivalent amount to the Famine Relief Fund.

She lamented that more than 20 million people in northeast Nigeria,Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are at risk of starvation as a result of severe drought and conflict noting that South Sudan is experiencing famine, and unless immediate action is taken, others could slide into a similar situation.

“This is an unprecedented situation. The Government of Canada is responding to this crisis and will also help Canadians mobilize their own response to a global appeal through the creation of the Famine Relief Fund.

Hunger is having a real impact on young children in particular as some 1.4 million are now at risk of dying of acute malnutrition and disease.Millions across the four affected countries and the neighbouring regions are in need of basic necessities such as urgent food assistance, water, sanitation services, health care, and shelter”, Bibeau said.

The Fund, according to her, will support Canadian and international organizations currently working hard at providing assistance to those in need in the affected countries and neighbouring regions.

“Over 20 million men, women and children are at risk of starvation if we do not act now. Canadians have always demonstrated great compassion when it comes to humanitarian crises. I encourage all Canadians to donate to the registered Canadian charities of their choice. Together, we can make a difference and bring relief to people who need urgent help,” the Minister said.

It would be recalled that the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, had on February 22, 2017 called on the international community to take decisive action to avert further catastrophe in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

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