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ICIR announces successful candidates for Promoting Democratic Governance Project

Itoro ETUKUDO
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ICIR announces successful candidates for Promoting Democratic Governance Project

The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has announced the successful candidates for its “Promoting Democratic Governance in Nigeria Project”.

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of the media to promote transparency, accountability and good governance in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest and is supported by the United States (U.S) Embassy in Abuja under their “Public Diplomacy Small Grants Programme”.

Additionally, the project is set to allow Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to advocate with journalists in order to enable them to share information, data, and intelligence, which can be the basis for accountability and transparency reporting that both parties will work on in Northwest Nigeria. 

File: Journalist
File: Journalist

The project also aims to boost capabilities and offer financial backing to chosen journalists collaborating. The focus will be on producing investigative and data-driven articles addressing transparency and accountability concerns in the North West region of Nigeria.

The centre plans to enhance its ongoing efforts for open contracting and procurement by empowering journalists and CSOs. This empowerment involves strengthening their abilities in real-time investigative reporting to ensure accountability and transparency, thereby keeping the government responsible.

A total of 20 journalists have been selected across the Northwest states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and Zamfara from print, electronic and digital media. The list of successful candidates and their respective organisations are as follows:

S/NNAMEORGANISATION
1.Musa RabiuHotPen Media
2. Idris Kamal IbrahimWikkiTimes
3.Abdulwaheed SofiullahiFreelancer
4.A’isha Ahmad Isma’ilAllnewsNG
5.Mohammed Bawa AbduljalilNigerian Television Authority (NTA) Birnin kebbi
6.Ahmad ShereefdeenThe News Digest Press
7.Abdulrasheed HammadFreelancer
8. Bello Bahara HafsatPremier Radio
9. Adamu IbrahimNew Nigerian Newspaper 
10.Sardauna FrancisThisDay Newspapers
11.Annagu FrancisThe Nigerian Voice
12.Muhammad Abubakar TahirBlueprint Manhaja Newspaper
13. Suleiman Shafa’atuRMTimes Newspaper
14.Aminu AlhussainiVision FM Sokoto 92.5
15.Ekwenugo Nonye JulietLeadership Newspaper 
16.Bello Abdulrazak KauraRadio Nigeria (Pride FM Gusau)
17. Saidu KhadijatThe Nation Newspaper (Vintage Press Limited)
18.Andrew Sabatu MachikaKebbi Broadcasting Corporation
19.Usman Salihu Danjuma ZulaihaKano Focus Newspaper
20.Adamu Mustapha YauriNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Table showing names of successful candidates

Note: The list was updated to remove Shehu Muhammed Shehu and Adamu Sadiq while adding Andrew Sabatu Machika and Sardauna Francis.

Wagner boss Prigozhin presumed dead after Russia plane crash

Mustapha USMAN
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Wagner boss Prigozhin presumed dead after Russia plane crash

THE head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been reported ‘dead’ after a plane crash in north of Moscow on Tuesday, August 22. 

While it remains uncertain whether Prigozhin definitively boarded the flight, his name was listed as one of the passengers on the plane.

According to Russia’s Ministry for Emergency Situations there were 10 people on board, including three crew members. Preliminary information confirmed all those on board died.

The plane, which crashed 60 miles north of Moscow, was flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Al Jazeera reported that reports in the Russian media, though unverified so far, suggested that air defence systems could have taken down the aircraft.

“Prigozhin was among those on board or was at least listed as among those people on board.

“Some journalists report they’re in touch with his press secretary, who is refusing to confirm that. A second jet was also in the air that’s turned around and gone back to St Petersburg,” Al Jazeera reported.

Russia state-media RIA news confirmed that the Country’s Federal Air Transport Agency has launched an investigation into the crash, which happened in the Tver region of Russia.

The ICIR reports that the Wagner Group Chief, Priogozhin, led a surprise rebellion against the Russian leadership in June. 

The Wagner Group briefly claimed control over military facilities in parts of Russian cities, prompting armed troops to march toward Moscow, but the fight was called off after an agreement between Putin and Prigozhin.

He accused the Russian military leadership of being corrupt and incompetent, complaining of inadequate munitions and supplies for his fighters serving on the front lines of Putin’s war in Ukraine for months. 

He also claimed that the Russian army deliberately attacked his forces.

In 2014, Prigozhin founded the mercenary firm the Wagner Group, though he repeatedly denied running the group until last year. 

His group had reportedly been involved in many war, including 

Moscow in the annexation of Crimea and the Russian-Ukraine war.

The ICIR also reports that the Wagner group has emerged as a staunch advocate of the military coup in Niger Republic.

Prigozhin publicly supported the coup in Niger through a social media message and suggested that his Wagner Group mercenaries would be available to work for the military leaders if needed.

He defended the Niger coup, attributing it to the historical legacies of colonialism and accusing Western countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and others of sponsoring terrorism in the West African nation, stating that these events had been unfolding for years.

Wike promises rapid completion of Abuja metro rail systems

Ijeoma OPARA
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Wike promises rapid completion of Abuja metro rail systems

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has promised that required funding would be provided to ensure the rapid completion of the Abuja metro rail systems.

He disclosed this while taking a tour of the rail transport systems in Abuja with the FCT minister of state Mariya Mahmood and staff of the FCTA on Wednesday, August 23, 2023,

Wike also described rehabilitation of the rail transport system as a short-term goal of his administration.

“Transport is one of those things that we can do in order to reduce the level of traffic within the city, and we know that we have this metro station here, and it’s not working. Why is it not working? Can we fix it within the short term so that people will say yes, this is now working.

“So, our position is that whatever it is, the company that it has been awarded, we will sit down to say for how long do you think you can complete this and then ask ourselves, do we have the resources to make sure that we don’t come back to explain to members of the public, this is why it was not finished,” he said.

Commissioned by former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, the Abuja Rail Mass Transit was aimed at relieving transportation challenges for residents of the city.

The rail systems were estimated to cost about $824, with 60 per cent of the sum to be sourced from the Exim Bank of China.

Work, however, stopped on the Abuja Rail Mass Transit for nearly three years, leaving residents to struggle with the scarcely insufficient number of commercial vehicles in the FCT.

This is despite the creation of the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company, which mostly filed due to a lack of proper planning, The ICIR reported in December 2021.

FCTA debunks reports on planned demolition of 6,000 buildings

Ijeoma OPARA
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FCTA debunks reports on planned demolition of 6,000 buildings

THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has debunked reports alleging a planned demolition of 6000 buildings in 30 areas of the city.

The director of press, office of the FCT Minister Anthony Ogunleye, confirmed this to The ICIR on Wednesday, August 23.

“It is not true. I am issuing a statement to that effect now,” he said.

The director of FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, also told The ICIR that he was not aware of any plans by the administration to carry out demolition exercises in 30 areas.

“I am not aware of that,” the director said.

According to reports by some outlets on Wednesday, the FCTA approved the demolition of about 6,000 buildings in 30 slums, including Apo Mechanic village, Byanzhin, Dawaki, Dei Dei, Durumi, Dutse, Garki village, Gishiri, Gwagwalada.

According to the reports, the newly inaugurated FCT Minister Nyesom Wike gave approval for the demolition.

During his inaugural briefing on Monday, August 21, Wike had threatened to demolish illegally built houses and revoke ownership of some pieces of land within the FCT.

He also warned against random siting of markets across the city, stating that the administration would no longer tolerate it.

“All those people who are distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad. Too bad. If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down. Be you minister of anywhere, be an ambassador; if you know you have developed where you are not supposed to develop, your house must go down. Those who have taken over the green areas to build, sorry,” Wike said on Monday.

However, there was no approval given for the demolition of specific areas or number of buildings in the speech.

Demolition is not an uncommon occurrence within the FCT, and several residents have lost homes and businesses due to the construction of houses on illegally acquired land.

Nigerian athletes must have the best to be the best – Sports minister

Dotun OMISAKIN
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Nigerian athletes must have the best to be the best – Sports minister

THE minister of sports development, John Owan Enoh, has harped on the importance of functional sporting facilities and infrastructures in improving the performances of athletes.

He said his leadership will improve the lot of sportspersons as athletes need to have the best to be able to compete favourably.

The ICIR Tuesday published a story which highlighted infrastructures deficit and lack of grassroots development as part of the areas begging for help in the sporting industry.

At an inspection tour of the Moshood Abiola national stadium, Abuja, on Wednesday, to assess the state of facilities in the edifice, the minister emphasised the need to address infrastructural deficits in stadia in Nigeria in a bid to meet global standards.

“Facilities and infrastructures are a key component of sports, as they are variables that drive both elite performance and grassroots development,

“It is, therefore very important that we get it right. We must maintain the current infrastructures that we have and look towards making them better to match what we have across the world,” he said.

The minister, accompanied by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Ismaila Abubakar, were led by the Director of Facilities and Stadium Management at the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Alanamu Abolore to the main bowl of the stadium, the velodrome, facility building, athletes’ hostel, Federation and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), power technical building, as well as other facilities in the edifice.

The minister stated that the national stadium has the capacity to become one of the best multi-purpose stadium complexes in Africa.

“Amidst the so much that I have seen here, the positives and the negatives, this stadium is a very definitive national monument. There is about nothing that you will find elsewhere that you cannot find here,” he said.

“However, from 2003 till date, the facility has gone through a lot. The ministry under my leadership will do all that it can to get every part of the stadium functional, including the athletes’ hostel, because athletes must have the best to be the best,” he said.

The minister promised to visit other facilities across the country to assess their state and take definitive actions on their development.

2023 floods: States receive N12.9 billion as ecological funds in four months

Kehinde OGUNYALE
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2023 floods: States receive N12.9 billion as ecological funds in four months

FOLLOWING several predictions that Nigeria might experience another flooding this year, The ICIR findings have shown a total of N12.94 billion have been shared among the 36 states as ecological funds from January 2023 to April 2023.

The ecological fund is disbursed to fund ecological projects that will mitigate ecological-related problems such as flooding. This is one per cent allocation from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements shared within all levels of government monthly.

Since the last flooding in 2022, which displaced over 1.4 million people from their homes, there have been growing concerns about the utilsation of ecological funds disbursed by the federal government to states monthly. 

Between 2021 and 2022, N64 billion was disbursed to 36 states as ecological funds, but the federal government said that floods decimated 82,053 houses, while 332,327 hectares of land were completely damaged. The ICIR also reported that about N700 billion in agricultural investments were lost. 

While the 2022 flood incidence was exacerbated by continuous rainfall and the releases of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon country, the federal government disclosed that 32 states, 178 local government areas (LGAs) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of heavy flooding in 2023.

In June, The ICIR reported how flooding submerged several houses in the Trademore estate located in Abuja; a development that caused the Federal Capital Development Authority to mark several houses along the waterways for demolition.

Also, The ICIR has captured in several flood series reports the preparations and mitigation plans of some states towards the 2023 prediction, one which could be achieved through the proper utilisation of the ecological funds.

What the data says

The data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the total gross statuary allocation on the ecology fund to the 36 states in January and February was N4.6 billion and N2.57 billion, respectively. 

Also, the allocation for March 2023 was N2.44 billion and April 2023 was N3.33 billion.

For the four months, Kano, Lagos and Kaduna received the highest allocation with N541.2 million, N475.1 million and N447.1 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Bayelsa (N301.0 million), Kwara (303.7 million) and Ekiti (N305.1 million) had the lowest allocations.

The data showed that the net share allocation to the FCT in the four months was N109.93 million. 

While there are no clear indications as to how these funds have been spent, The ICIR reported that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said at least 33,983 persons have been affected by flooding in 2023. 

The agency also said over 660,000 households would be targeted for livelihood support. 

NDLEA declares drug dealer wanted for crushing operative to evade arrest

Bankole ABE
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NDLEA declares drug dealer wanted for crushing operative to evade arrest

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug dealer, Sowunmi Ayodeji Kayode, wanted for crushing an operative with his vehicle to evade arrest.

According to the NDLEA, Kayode escaped after driving his car to crush an NDLEA officer when operatives were on a search of his house.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday, August 23, by NDLEA Spokesperson Femi Babafemi.

The anti-narcotics agency said operatives had on Friday, August 18, stormed the residence of the wanted drug dealer located at 2/3 Adetola Ayeni close, Lekki, Lagos, for a search and possible arrest following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit drugs in his house.

The statement said that although Kayode was not in the house when operatives got into his compound, he returned while a search of his apartment was ongoing.

“In a dramatic twist, as soon as he drove into the premises and sighted NDLEA officers, he engaged his car in reverse gear, knocked down one of the officers, and pulled down his gate before plunging the vehicle into the fence of the opposite compound.

“The force of his car speed also pulled down the concrete wall of his neighbour’s compound, and from there, he dived out of the vehicle to escape,” the statement reads.

The agency said that a thorough search of his apartment led to the recovery of 10.5 kilograms of Loud.

At the same time, the operative who was knocked down suffered multiple injuries and a compound fracture on his two legs and is currently in the hospital for treatment.

NDLEA added that following the unpleasant development, the Chairman of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, has directed the deployment of appropriate operational assets of the Agency to smoke out the wanted suspect from his hiding.

Marwa also approved adequate medical care for the injured officer.

UniCal replaces Ndifon, sets up panel to investigate allegations

Ijeoma OPARA
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UniCal replaces Ndifon, sets up panel to investigate allegations

THE University of Calabar (UNICAL) has approved the appointment of Rose Ugbe as Acting Dean of the law Faculty.

President of UNICAL Law Students Association (LWASA) Benedict Otu confirmed this to The ICIR on Wednesday, August 23.

“Yes, the appointment was made yesterday,” he said.

The appointment comes after the suspension of former Dean Cyril Ndifon over allegations of sexual harassment and highhandedness, among others.

The institution has also set up a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by some female students of the faculty.

The panel, to be headed by a professor of philosophy, Dorothy Oluwagbemi-Jacob, is expected to carry out thorough investigations into at least six issues ranging from sexual harassment to results manipulation by the suspended Dean and make appropriate recommendations to the management.

“Speaking at the inauguration, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Florence Obi, said that the Institution has no vested interest in the case and would pursue justice. She further informed that external bodies having indicated interest to participate in the proceedings of the Panel have been granted observer status.

“External bodies granted observer status to have a representative each on the Panel include; Public Complaints Commission, Nigeria Police Gender Unit (D12), Federation of Women Lawyers, University of Calabar Alumni (National), ‘Malabor’ High Court and the Nigeria Bar Association,” the university disclosed via its official Twitter handle on Tuesday, August 22.

Chairman of the panel Oluwagbemi-Jacob, gave the assurance that decisions reached by the panel would result from thorough and fair investigations and facts.

Ndifon was suspended by the university on August 17 after female Law students staged a protest, alleging that he had subjected them to sexual harassment and assault.

He reacted to the allegations, describing them as lies and the handiwork of his enemies following his emergence as Dean of Faculty.

However, Ndifon had been suspended for similar reasons in 2015 after a final-year student accused him of raping her in his office.

Call for fellowship applications for AIJC2023

Joshua Ovorumu
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Call for fellowship applications for AIJC2023

THE African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) has announced a limited fellowship opportunity for its three-day event scheduled from November 20 to 22nd in Johannesburg.


The conference is intended for a broad audience, with sessions being given in both English and French.

The Fellowship will cover flights to Johannesburg, airport transfers, accommodation in single rooms, transport to and from the conference, meals and conference fees.

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Journalists aspiring for the fellowship should have a proven track record in investigative journalism and a minimum of three years in the field.

Participants will be required to create material from their conference experiences.

Aspiring candidates should apply on or before August 31, 2023. Interested fellows can apply here

 

FAAC allocation to tiers of government increased by N59bn in July

Ehime ALEX
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FAAC allocation to tiers of government increased by N59bn in July

THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it shared N966.110 billion among the three tiers of government in July out of a total gross revenue of N1.746 trillion.

The July allocation shows an increase of N59.06 billion compared to N907.05 billion shared in June.

Details of the allocation were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the FAAC meeting on Tuesday, August 22, chaired by the new minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun.

It stated that the federal government received N374.485 billion, the states N310.670 billion, and the local government councils (LGCs) received N229.409 billion.

In addition, oil-producing states received N51.545 billion as derivation, which represents 13 per cent of mineral revenue.

The amount shared includes gross statutory revenue, value-added tax (VAT), electronic money transfer levy (EMTL), and exchange difference.

According to FAAC, the gross revenue available from the VAT was N298.789 billion, an increase from the N293.411 billion distributed in the preceding month.

From that amount, N11.681 billion was allocated for collection costs, and N15.161 billion was given for savings, transfers and refunds.

The remaining sum of N271.947 billion was distributed, of which the federal government received N40.792 billion, states received N135.974 billion, and LGCs got N95.181 billion.

The gross statutory revenue of N1.150 trillion received for the month was lower than N1.152 trillion received in June, FAAC disclosed.

A sum of N50.203 billion was allocated for costs of collection and a total sum of N702.801 billion for savings, transfers and refunds. At the same time, the remaining balance of N397.419 billion was distributed to the tiers of government.

The federal government got N190.489 billion; states, N96.619 billion; and LGCs, N74.489 billion, while N35.822 billion is 13 per cent oil derivation.

Details of the disbursement also showed FAAC shared N13.375 billion sum from EMTL to the federal government, N1.926 billion; states, N6.420 billion; LGCs, N4.494 billion, while N0.535 billion for collection costs.

Further, it shared the sum of N283.904 billion from exchange difference with the federal government receiving N141.278 billion; states, N71.658 billion; and LGCs, N55.245 billion, while N15.723 billion for 13 per cent derivation of mineral revenue.

According to the committee, revenues from company income tax (CIT), petroleum profit tax (PPT) and oil and gas royalties significantly declined, but revenues from import and excise duties and EMTL increased considerably while VAT increased marginally.

It said the total revenue distributable for July was drawn from statutory revenue of N397.419 billion; VAT, N271.947 billion; EMTL, N12.840 billion; and exchange difference, N283.904 billion, which brought the total distributable amount to N966.110 billion.

The committee, however, hinted that the balance in the excess crude account (ECA) as of August 22 is $473,754.57.

The government needs to mobilise resources to deliver on its mandate to increase employment and reduce poverty, Edun said, adding that there should be discipline in the money supply to control inflation in the nation’s economy.

Nigeria’s inflation throttled to 24.08 per cent in July, and it could worsen to 28 per cent by year end, according to a recent analysis by JP Morgan.

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