ANAMBRA State governor Chukwuma Soludo, says his administration has introduced a bill for a law to ban sand mining near erosion-prone areas.
He said poor environment management is one of Anambra’s significant challenges that must be tackled.
Soludo disclosed this at a town hall meeting on erosion control and management on Friday, June 2.
The meeting, held at Oko civic centre in Anambra, involved stakeholders drawn from five communities affected mainly by erosion
Soludo noted that pending the full adoption of the law, he will be signing an Executive Order prohibiting sand mining near erosion-prone areas.
At the meeting, Soludo asked communities to join the state government in preventive erosion measures.
According to him, poor attitude towards the environment on the part of residents was a major factor in ecological problems in the state.
He said most residents expect the government to do everything instead of contributing their quota.
“The environment is Anambra’s most serious existential threat. The fifth finger of my administration’s manifesto is based on the environment, towards green, clean, planned markets, communities, and cities to make our environment sustainable,” the governor said.
“As an individual, what have you done today and tomorrow to combat the erosion threat?” he said.
He said gully erosion which largely contributed to the flooding experienced in 2022, occurs in 146 Anambra communities.
According to him, the rate of erosion in the state is 81.5 per cent and should be reduced to at least 80 per cent.
“Active gully erosion is occurring in 146 Anambra communities which constitutes 81.5 per cent. The five communities assembled here today are at the epicentre of gully erosion. If we do enough of what we are meant to do, the erosion rate will be reduced to 80 per cent.”
The governor called for sensitisation of the residents, prohibiting sand mining and the creation of standard water channels, noting that there are active measures that can be adopted to achieve the reduction.
“An action plan on sand mining law, regulation, and enforcement, community sensitisation, revenue collection, a statewide awareness campaign, designing roads for proper water channelisation and building catchment pits, among other things, shall be established.
“We already have a draft environmental law that will help to punish offenders.
“Anambra is heavily impacted by two natural disasters: flooding and gully erosion, controlling flooding alone will consume over N900 billion, which is Anambra’s total budget for many years.
“There would be marching funds for the five communities that will provide designated places where the government can begin tree planting to combat erosion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Anambra was among the states that were heavily flooded in 2022. About 300 communities in six local government areas in the state were submerged in water.
While flooding is frequent in the state, the 2022 flooding is the highest since 2012.
IMMEDIATE past Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen has said she was not officially invited or quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as she visited the anti-graft agency of her own volition.
In a statement released on Saturday, June 3, the ex-Minister said her visit to the EFCC was aimed at clearing certain allegations against her, which she described as false.
“At about 9pm yesterday, news began circulating that I had been arrested by the EFCC. This fake news was carried by several media outlets who were either mischievous or misguided. I would like to state that I went to the EFCC on my own accord to address the very false allegation made against me recently,” Tallen noted.
It was reported that the ex-Women Affairs minister was arrested and questioned by the EFCC in Abuja over allegations of money laundering.
According to a report, a source within the EFCC said Tallen was being investigated for misappropriation and diversion of funds to the tune of N2 billion.
“The ex-minister arrived at our Abuja Zonal Command (not the headquarters), on invitation, at about 12.00 p.m., but she’s still being grilled by investigators of the Commission as at 8:30 p.m.
“She’s being investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds and corrupt enrichment to the tune of N2 billion, and part of the money was allegedly diverted from the African First Lady Peace Mission Project,” the source was quoted as saying.
In the statement, however, Tallen said though allegations of fraud against her had been in the open previously, she refused to address them earlier out of respect for former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Firstly, the decent and appropriate action, should this have been a genuine enquiry, would be to write to the Ministry for Women Affairs to enquire about any funds sent to the Ministry.
“To immediately jump to the open without any proper formal correspondence is highly unprofessional, portrays a lack of respect for the Ministry of Women Affairs and injurious to my person and character,” Tallen noted.
The ICIR contacted the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwajaren, over the issue, but he had not responded to messages at the time of filing this report.
This is the second time within a week that a former minister will visit the EFCC office and come out to deny reports that the development was connected to corruption allegations.
The ICIRreported on Friday, June 2, that a former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi, refuted reports that he is being investigated by the EFCC over an alleged N4 billion fraud.
Fayemi, The ICIR had reported, was questioned at the zonal command office of the EFCC in Kwara State, on Thursday, June 1.
His questioning reportedly followed an earlier invitation extended to him by the anti-graft agency last month to address allegations of money laundering amounting to N4 billion levelled against him.
However, Fayemi, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ahmad Sajoh, on Friday, June 2, said the alleged misappropriation of N4 billion was not raised during his discussions with EFCC officials on Thursday.
He claimed that the visit was solely in response to what he described as a frivolous petition from a group aiming to tarnish his reputation.According to him, he was allowed to leave a few hours after he arrived and answered questions at the Commission’s office.
“We wish to note, too, that contrary to the news that made the rounds about a purported N4b fraud case against Dr Fayemi, no such allegation was raised in his conversation with the EFCC.
“All he did was respond to a frivolous petition from a faceless group, the so-called Ekiti Patriotic Coalition, which we strongly believed is a front for some anti-Fayemi politicians, who are trying to soil the former governor’s good name and image,” the statement said.
As a part of the efforts to improve the productivity of teachers in public schools in Kano State, the State government, through Kano State Ministry of Education, disbursed over N150 million for repair and renovation of over 16 government secondary schools staff quarters in different local governments areas. However, most of these renovation jobs were not implemented, while others were shabbily executed by the contractors. In this investigation, our reporter, Lukman Abdulmalik, visited five schools in several council areas and reports.
On April 31, 2023, on a visit to Government Girls Arabic Secondary School (GGASS), Sumaila, some teachers were sighted coming out from dilapidated staff housing situated in an uncultivated part of the school.
The staff houses were in a very poor state, with hole–ridden walls, leaking roofs and ceilings and often shared with rodents and other animals, while bushes and trees overgrew other abandoned houses nearby.
Some teachers who spoke to the reporter decried the shortage of accommodation, noting that the few buildings which they manage to occupy are totally dilapidated and uninhabitable. Due to the lack of appropriate staff housing, most of the teachers in the school have sought transfer to schools in other local government areas, while some have left their job to pursue other businesses.
Front gate of GGASS Sumaila; Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik
Sunusi Aliyu, a Senior Master at the school told this reporter that for over 45 years of the school’s existence, no renovations took place until 2020. Even then, he disclosed, the 12 staff houses were shabbily painted without any repairs on the physical part of the buildings.
“Honestly, we are in a horrible condition, due to the buildings the staff are managing are inhabitable. We have recorded so many disasters due to rainfall because the buildings still use casting roofing that were built by the white men.
“Due to the cracks on the wall, you could see the outer part from most of the rooms.
“About 15 years ago a total of 22 staff quarters were destroyed due to wind and heavy rainfall. Seeing that we have no place to stay again, we packed out from the school and started staying in the town of Sumaila. Some teachers live in their family houses while others rented apartments.
“However, due to the distance of the teachers from the school premises, the state government painted 12 staff quarters without any repairs or appropriate renovation,” he said.
A shabby renovation of staff quarters at GGASS Sumaila. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
Aliyu said the staff quarters also have no electricity, portable water and other amenities that make a house habitable.
“Due to the limited houses we have, it has also affected the students, because some of the teachers that reside far away from the school find it hard to report to their duty post,” he added.
Aliyu added that “The lack of adequate accommodation has hampered teachers’ productivity, as most teachers are now too lazy to come to work due to the distance from their house to the school. The lack of housing has hinder our job performance, which led to high levels of stress among teachers due to heavy workload by covering other teachers syllabus who have left their duty post.
“It has also led to poor students’ academic performance and sometimes resulted in indiscipline among students, because there is poor supervision of students due to a shortage of teachers in the quarters.
Dilapidated staff quarters in GGASS Sumaila. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
“Poor housing also has led to poor management skills, poor teaching which has a profound effect on students by exposing them to poor teaching, in which they may also lose interest in learning and become disengaged.
“All these are caused due to the lack of adequate accommodation for teachers.”
Mallam Abdulkadir, Chief Security Officer of GGASS Sumaila, who also resides in the staff quarters, recounts the nightmare of living there.
“Our staff quarters have nothing to write home about because all the buildings are in disrepair. The renovation they did in 2020,was painting and changes of door, which are currently in bad state.
“They removed our heavy-duty doors and fixed bad iron doors for us, which in less than a year have started falling apart.
He also recounted a near tragic incident that could have led to the loss of his wife, arising from the poor state of the house they live in.
“In 2021, after the shabby renovation of the quarters, it rained heavily and my house was leaking due to bad roofing. Unfortunately, the wind was so strong that the roof fell on my wife while she was praying in her room.
According to information from the 2020 Open Contract Data Standard (OCDS), the Kano State Ministry of Education awarded the contract for the repair and renovation of Government Girls Arabic Secondary School Sumaila to B.M Petroleum & Transport at a sum of N22,929,752.82.
The contract was for the repair and renovation of the staff quarters, include fixing of the broken walls, tiling of floors, fixing of roofing, electrical wiring and painting.
However, this investigation shows that a substandard renovation job was executed as only 12 of the staff quarters were merely painted, without any repairs carried out.
During a visit to the site, this reporter observed the roofing was only partly done, the floors, plasters and walls are cracking badly while windows and doors installed were of poor quality.
One of the school teachers told this reporter that the poor condition of the staff quarters has a direct bearing on the high teacher turnover witnessed by the school and also affects the students’ learning, noting all the senior staff houses are completely dilapidated except the one which the school director lives in.
Who is the contractor?
Data from the Open Contract Data Standard of the Kano State Public Procurement Bureau website on the project for the renovation and repairs of GGASS, Sumaila gives that the contractor’s details as B.M Petroleum and Transport Co Ltd, “located at no. 10, Hotoro opposite NNPC, behind IPMAN office, Kano”.
Registration information obtained on B.M Petroleum and Transport Ltd obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and NG-Check.com showed that the major activity of the company, which was incorporated in 2013, is petroleum exploration and mining, but the status of the company reads “Inactive,” meaning that it had not been filing returns, among other infractions. The CAC describes an inactive firm as one that has not been filling its annual returns up-to-date.
Is B.M Petroleum and Transport Co Ltd. linked to Kano ex-commissioner, LG Chairman?
The registered address of B.M Petroleum and Transport Co Ltd in Kano could not be traced. A visit by this reporter, who spoke with residents around the location in Hotoro, confirmed that the address was invalid.
However, the CAC, the state agency that provides information on registered companies in Nigeria, indicates that one of the directors of B.M Petroleum and Transport Co Ltd is Muhammad Baffa, who is Kano State’s former commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovations between 2019 and 2020.
However, he was elected the chairman of Takai local government Aaea of Kano State in January 2021 and is still in office till date.
It was discovered that company in which Baffa is a director was awarded the contract when he was the Commissioner of Kano State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations, raising concerns of an obvious conflict of interest, among others.
Other names listed as directors include Abubakar Shehu, Akilu Baffa, who is said to be the biological son of the council chairman, and Yazid Muhammad.
When contacted over his alleged link to the company, Muhammad Baffa did not respond. From May 2 until the time of going to press, he was contacted five times via phone call, text messages and WhatsApp messages. He failed to pick his calls or respond to messages. For example, on 17th of May, a message was sent to him via WhatsApp requesting if B.M Petroleum and Transport Co Ltd., is linked to him, but Baffa read the message but failed to respond.
Speaking to this reporter about the renovation, Abubakar Shehu, a director at the contracting firm, said that the staff quarters were renovated according to the standard of the Kano State Ministry of Education.
Caption; Contract voucher of B.M Petroleum and Transport Co Ltd.
He attested that “we renovated GGASS Sumaila in 2020, and we didn’t only paint it, we also changed the doors and roofing of the houses.
“Before we were certified for the completion of the renovation, the Kano State Ministry of Education supervised the project from beginning to the end, the contracting company was the one in charge of fueling and feeding the supervisors from the State Ministry of Education.”
Sordid Tales of GGSS Yar Gaya
Boys Quarters (BQ) of GSS Yargaya
As in GGASS Sumaila, at the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Yar Gaya, in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, teachers also suffer lack of maintenance in their quarters. As part of integrating teachers with their students to improve the quality of education the OCDS 2020 contract captured the repair and renovation of the Yar Gaya school staff quarters.
The project was initiated by the Kano State Ministry of Education at a sum of N35,003,944.87 million and awarded to AD2 Intg. Tech Nig. Ltd an unregistered company as verified by CAC.
However, the project was not executed release as all the houses are in bad state while others have been completely damaged.
A visit by this reporter showed that the houses, which are less than 20, including the dilapidated ones, with Boys Quarters (BQ) that have become a haven for reptiles. Teachers of GGSS YarGaya are managing to stay in the premises to look into affairs of the students.
Caption; Pictures showing the non-execution of repairs and renovation of staff quarters in GGSS Yar Gaya. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
It was gathered that since the school was established more than 30 years ago, no single renovation has been carried out on it.
But GGSS YarGaya is not the only school shortchanged by the non existent AD2 Intg Tech Nig Ltd. The company also got repair and innovation jobs at GGSS Albasu, in Albasu LGA, and GGSS Kwa, the only Government Girls Secondary School in Bichi LGA.
This reporter discovered that there was no renovation at the staff houses in both schools, despite release of funds to AD2 Intg Tech Nig Ltd, according to the Kano OCDS contract award information document.
GSS Yargaya
Speaking to this reporter, Hafsat Aliyu Usman, SS2 student of GGSS YarGaya expressed her worries on how the non-execution of the teachers staff quarters affects student.
“I have been a student since JSS 3, throughout this years I have been suffering as a student most especially when the school was boarding before the Kano State Government made it a day school.
“The teachers are not enough to teach the students, as most of the time some have to take more than 4 subjects, while sometimes we spend the whole day without learning anything”.
She further recounted her misery during her boarding days in school.
“There was a time when I was sick, suffering from malaria and typhoid. The students in our hostel raised an alarm, but there was no teacher to come to my rescue, until the following day, because most of the teachers are no longer residing in the school premises due to poor houses.
“Not only bad houses, our hostels are also in poor conditions, as most of the buildings are dilapidated with rotten ceilings, bad floors and sometimes we share rooms with reptiles.”
Salisu Abdullahi, a teacher in the school, told this reporter that he hardly comes to school to teach due to the distance from his house to the school.
He lamented that “I barely come to school thrice in a week, I have been teaching for over 14 years, I have never witnessed any renovation in the school staff quarters.
“All the buildings have collapsed including the school director’s house, if not some staff uses their salary to repair the little they can.
“Personally, I can’t stay in quarters because my house is completely dilapidated, so it’s inhabitable. I rented an apartment outside the school which I paid N20,000 per annum.
“My distance from the school premises has reduced my productivity immensely, because I don’t teach my subject regularly and this has also affected the students”, he elaborated.
GGSS Kwa: Teachers lament using salaries to renovate houses
At GGSS Kwa, teachers lamented over the poor state of the staff housing. This reporter learnt that only four teachers are left in school, as over 15 have sought transfer to other schools due poor staff welfare, including accommodation.
Zubair Aliyu, who has taught in GGSS Kwa for over 15 years, said the school was established in 1978 and till date no innovation or upgrade has been carried out on the staff quarters.
GGSS Kwa. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
He added that “On various occasions I have led the school team to source for projects and intervention for the renovation of our houses from the state government, but after it’s been approved they will divert the project.
“However, the remaining four houses were renovated with our own salaries, due to the government saying we don’t pay rent, so we should take care of the houses by ourselves.
“All the roofings are casted one, which they have been in bad condition, for that we usually use cartons to replace some parts of the broken ceilings.
Non-execution of staff quarters renovation, led to dilapidation of staff houses in GGSS Kwa. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
Aliyu lamented that lack of teachers in the school has also contributed to the low student turnout due to the teachers being insufficient.
Zaituna Abubakar, SS1 student of GGSS Kwa lamented that the lack of sufficient teachers due to poor accommodation has affected their learning negatively as the teachers are not giving them more attention like before.
She revealed that “most times we just come to school without learning anything, almost all the teachers are no longer staying in the school as their houses are dilapidated.
“We hardly covered our syllabus for the term, so most students performed poorly in the exams. Sometimes a single teacher will handle more than five subjects, which is improper.
“Sometimes I would rather hawk Awara (Soya cake) than go to school.”
Contractor who handled projects could not be found
In an effort to locate AD2 Intg. Tech Nig Ltd., the company that won the renovation contract for the schools in Yar Gaya, Albasu and Kwa, at a sum of N35,003,944.87 million, this reporter reached out to a colleague who resides in Dutse to help locate the company in the given address, but it could not be found.
Furthermore, this reporter sent a mail message to the company’s email address as provided in the Kano OCDS contract award information, but the email bounced back showing “Address not found, your message wasn’t delivered to ad2@hotmail.com, because the address couldn’t be found, or is unable to receive mail.”
Caption; Email sent AD2 Intg Tech Nig Ltd
However, the award of contract to AD2 Intg. Tech Nig. Ltd., an unregistered company, contravenes section 16 (6) (d) (e) of the PPA titled ‘fundamental principles for procurements.’ This also contravenes sections 417 – 424 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, titled ‘Annual Returns.’
However, the Kano State Public Procurement Bureau reacted that “we don’t ask for contractors’ annual returns, our agency only requires contractor’s CAC number and Tax identification number for clearance, in order to secure contracts.”
A civil and criminal litigation lawyer, Isah Abdulazeez Umar, observed that awarding contracts to unregistered companies is illegal and a contravention of Section 57 (2) of the 2017 Public Procurement Act and could even attract money laundering cases against the perpetrators of the said practices.
The lawyer added that though the law does not specifically point out the offence of an agency like the SRRBDA for awarding contracts to a company that doesn’t exist, he explained that if a company doesn’t exit, it means that documents submitted by the bidders are fake, and therefore, against the public procurement law.
He said the agency’s offence could be traced to Section 58 (4c), which states, “The following shall also constitute offences under this act directly, indirectly, or attempting to influence in any manner, The procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contracts is against using fake documents.”
Furthermore, the act provides punishment for the agency in Section 58 (5) thus: “A person who by carrying out his duty as an officer of the bureau or any procuring entity contravenes any provision of this act, commits an offence liable on conviction to the cumulative punishment of a term of imprisonment of not less than five years without the option of fine.”
Kano State Ministry of Education Spent N29 Million on Non-existent Staff Quarters
But AD2 Intg. Tech Nig. Ltd.is not the only phantom company that got contracts from the Kano Ministry OF Educations. In 2020’s OCDS contract award information, a contract in the sum of N29,883,481.30 was awarded to CNL COULDRON NIG. LTD purportedly located at shop 6, Dan Marayah Maiduguri Road, Hotoro, Kano for renovation and repair works at GGSS Zakirai staff quarters in Gabasawa LGA.
A series of checks at the CAC on the company showed that it does not exist. What is more bizarre about the contract awarded to CNL Couldron Ltd is that it was for a non-existent job as there are no staff quarters in GGSS Zakirai.
GGSS Zakirai
A visit to the school by this reporter showed that it is a day and not boarding school, thus has no staff quarters to be repaired or innovated.
In an interview with the Senior Admin Officer who also doubles as Biology teacher at the school, Mahmud Sani Abba, he confirmed: “we have no staff quarters in GGSS Zakirai due to it being a day school.
Mahmud Sani Abba, Senior Admin Officer, GGSS Zakirai, During an interview with this reporter. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
“The lack of staff quarters has not reduced teacher’s performance, because all the teachers live within the town and Gabasawa LGA.”
A visit to the location address provided by the contractor on the OCDS award information document, showed that the company does not operate from the plaza. Residents of the area and shop owners in the plaza claimed not to know such a contractor.
This reporter also sent a mail provided by the contractor in the contract award information document, but the response was that “Address not found” “Your message wasn’t delivered to wangerian@gmail.com because the address couldn’t be found, or is unable to receive mail.”
Ministry keeps mum despite FOI
On May 3rd, 2023, in an effort to seek information and clarification from the Kano State Ministry of Education, this reporter sent a Freedom of information Act, FOIA, request on why the sum of N22,929,752.82 was awarded to B.M petroleum & transport, the company of a commissioner and current Takai LGA Chairman to repair and renovate staff quarters at GGSS Sumaila.
Another FOIA request was sent to the ministry on the release of N29,883,481.30 million to CNL COULDRON NIG. LTD to renovate and repair GGSS Zakirai staff quarters in Gabasawa LGA, which the school has no staff quarters.
The FOIA request sought to know why the repairs and renovation of GGSSS Yargaya, GGSS Albasu and GGSS Kwa was not executed after awarding N35,003,944.87 million to AD2 INTG. TECH NIG. LTD
Caption; Picture of acknowledged FOI by Kano State Ministry of Education on 3rd May 2023. Photo Credit: Lukman Abdulmalik.
The FOIA request was acknowledged by the ministry at the time it was delivered by this reporter. After a week a follow-up was made but the ministry is yet to provide feedback regarding the questions three weeks after as at the time of filing this report. The access to information law allows for seven days for requests to be attended to.
Implication for Kano State
Awarding contracts to unverified, inactive and unregistered companies negate Section 16 of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
Apart from violating procurement laws, the shoddy handling of projects by inactive or unregistered companies may undermine and wipe out gains recorded towards achieving Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations.
The Goal 4, is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. According to UNICEF, no fewer than 70 per cent of Nigerian children are suffering from learning poverty, due to lack of quality or sustainable development for the teachers.
The ambition to achieve SDG 4 by 2030 for Nigeria is a high one, and the World Bank has estimated that the country needs a 14 per cent allocation from its Gross Domestic Product to meet the target.
Therefore, awarding contracts to unknown companies may forfeit the little funding currently committed to achieving these goals.
Lack of staff houses Impede teachers’ productivity – Expert
Dr. Auwalu Halilu, the Kano State Coordinator, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, (CSACEFA), said lack of staff housing can impede teachers’ productivity.
‘Some of the benefits of this type of teachers accommodation include increase in social motivation, increased motivation to achieve learning outcomes through collaboration, helps gain knowledge from each other through practice and reinforcement, strategy where students change roles, improvement in academic achievement, improvement in cognitive gains, provides a more one-on-one relationship for learning, is an economically and educationally effective intervention for both students, and gives the teachers a way to accommodate a diverse classroom of learners with different reading levels in content areas.
“If implemented correctly, peer tutoring can be a successful inclusive accommodation (strategy) that engages students simultaneously with their teachers in school because students can access their teachers at any moment,” Halilu said.
This report first published on Daily Focus, is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR.
ALL roads leads to Wembley Stadium, today (Saturday) for the final of one of the most historic football tournaments in the world – the English FA Cup – between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The competition which is open to all clubs in all the 10 tiers of the English league system is the oldest national football competition in the world.
Ahead of the match between Manchester City and Manchester United, The ICIR takes a look at the prize money at stake for the winners of the competition.
The winner will receive two million Euros while the runners-up goes home with 1 million Euros.
Below is the FA’s Prize Fund at different stages of the competition.
In this 2022/2023 season, Manchester City has already been crowned champion of the English Premier League, (EPL).
Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola has said his team’s target to win the treble – the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
“We are playing a top team today; we know this and we are ready. Manchester United know how to win and we will have to fight for absolutely everything today. However, I trust my players and I can see it in their eyes: they want to win this trophy.
“To be here as Premier League champions is amazing for us. To win the title five times in six years is something very special. We try to be consistent and work hard every day, but I never imagined we could win five in six, especially in this country where the standard is so high. Every single week it is so tough and so demanding. The consistency my players have shown is extraordinary, and I’m incredibly proud of all of them. I am the luckiest manager in the world!
“And next week we have a Champions League final to look forward to. To be playing Inter in Istanbul in the final of Europe’s most beautiful competition is going to be amazing for this football club,” he said.
Also, Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag said he aims to get a second silverware for the club, adding that his boys will give every single bit of their energy to make sure they leave Wembley with the trophy.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for this group of players and staff to win our second piece of silverware and create a new moment of history for this great football club. If we stick to our game plan, follow our own rules and draw extra strength from our amazing supporters, then I have every confidence that we can achieve our aim today and take another big step forward in our journey together.”
Ten Hag added that the strong bond that has developed between the team and the fans is one of the most pleasing things about the season.
According to him, this connection will be more important than ever at Wembley, in the Emirates FA Cup Final with Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
“We know that we will have to be at our very best against an excellent opponent. We have already shown that we are capable of this because our Premier League win over City in January was one of our best performances so far this season. So, we know what is required, and we know the standards we have to reach.
“I can say with certainty that Pep will not be expecting an easy fixture this afternoon because we have shown repeatedly that we have the ability to cause problems for every team.”
IT is a weekend and you will want to relax. Here are some Nollywood and Hollywood movies you can watch to make it a perfect weekend.
SISTÁ
The life of a single mother becomes increasingly challenging when the father of her children re-enters their lives, capturing their undivided attention and overshadowing her presence.
Directed and written by Biodun Stephen, SISTÁ is a Nollywood drama that tells the story of a single mother. It stars great actors and actresses from Nigeria including Kehinde Bankole, Deyemi Okanlawon, Bisola Aiyeola, Adediwura Adesegha, among others. The movie which was released in August 2022 in Nigeria has a 9.2/10 on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) and lasts for 1 hour 34 minutes. It can be streamed on prime video.
PASSPORT
Passport. Source: Wikipedia
The film revolves around the intertwined lives of Oscar and Kopiko, two individuals seeking excitement but existing in different realms of loneliness. Oscar, en-route to the airport with his uncle, intends to return to the UK to visit his ailing mother.
Unfortunately, during the car ride, Oscar’s bag containing his travel passport is stolen by a group of street individuals named Mighty and Tobee. Desperate to retrieve his passport and make it in time for a crucial job interview in the United Kingdom, Oscar must seek the aid of Kopiko, a tomboy residing in the ghetto. Together, they must collaborate closely to ensure Oscar doesn’t miss his flight.
Meanwhile, Kopiko, a tomboy who grew up in the impoverished neighbourhood with her sister and sick mother, witnesses the lack of progress and development in her community. This fuels her aspiration to become the community’s chairperson, envisioning a brighter future. However, she faces fierce competition from Terminator, who also vies for the position.
The movie was released on September 2022 in Nigeria and runs for 120 minutes. It was directed by Dimeji Ajibola, written by Abodi Ogba and produced by Vincent Okonkwo.
Among the casts are, Mercy Johnson, Jim Iyke, Zubby Micheal and Jide Kosoko. The movie has 8.4/10 ratings on IMDB and can be streamed on Netflix.
THE TRADE
The Trade. Source: IMDb
Featuring stars like Blossom Chukwujekwu, Rita Dominic, Chiwetalu Agu, Mercy Aigbe, Denola Grey among others, “The Trade” is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged drama that delves into the dark underbelly of human trafficking.
The film follows the intertwined stories of three characters: Sarah, a young woman who falls prey to a human trafficking ring; Mark, an undercover agent determined to bring down the criminal network responsible for the trade; and Maria, a survivor who has managed to escape and seeks justice for herself and others.
The film was released in January, 2023. It was directed and written by Jide Osiberu and can be streamed on Prime Video as well.
Plane
Plane. Source: Wikipedia
In a heart-pounding turn of events, Pilot Brodie Torrance becomes a beacon of hope as he skillfully navigates his aircraft away from a deadly lightning strike.
However, the gripping tale truly unfolds when Torrance is compelled to make a daring landing on an island ravaged by war. Little does he know, surviving the turbulent descent was merely the start of an arduous journey.
As a group of treacherous rebels seizes control and holds the majority of passengers hostage, Torrance finds himself in a race against time.
With no one else to rely on, he must forge an unlikely alliance with Louis Gaspare, a convicted murderer being transported by the FBI. Together, they must summon every ounce of courage and resourcefulness to outwit their captors and secure the freedom of the innocent.
Plane is an electrifying action thriller movie released in 2023, directed by Jean-François Richet. The gripping screenplay was crafted by Charles Cumming and J. P. Davies.
The film boasts an exceptional cast including Gerard Butler, Mike Cotler, Yoson An, and Tony Goldwyn. The captivating storyline revolves around a skilled pilot (Butler) who forms an unlikely alliance with a prisoner (Colter) in a daring attempt to rescue their fellow passengers from a perilous land they were forced to make an emergency landing in.
SANCTUARY
Theatrical Release poster. Source: Wikipedia
After inheriting his father’s hotel chain, Hal finds himself in a difficult situation as he attempts to bring an end to his long and covert relationship with Rebecca, who happens to be a dominatrix.
As the night unfolds, a tense battle of wills ensues between them, each fighting to maintain control and gain the upper hand. Their struggle for power and dominance becomes the central focus, creating a fraught and intense atmosphere throughout the night.
Sanctuary is an intense American psychological thriller film that was released in 2022. The movie is directed by Zachary Wigon and features a screenplay written by Micah Bloomberg. Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott take on the lead roles, delivering captivating performances.
THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Emmanuel Meribole, will on Wednesday, June 7 appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to clear some grey areas in the Nigeria Air project.
Meribole’s invitation was conveyed in an letter signed by the committee clerk, Bassey Edem.
According to the invitation, the committee requested that the permanent secretary come with every document that pertains to the project, also known as a national carrier.
The committee is worried about the viral reports and videos making the rounds over the Nigeria Air project.
“As committee of the parliament saddled with responsibility of oversighting the aviation sector of the economy, we deem it necessary to be fully briefed about the project.
“Consequently, l am directed to invite you to an emergency session with the committee on Thursday, first of June 2023. You are to come with all individuals/agencies connected to the project,” the committee stated in the invitation.
Meribole, however, requested to be given till June 7 to enable him to assemble all the necessary documents and individuals connected with the project and appear before the committee.
The ICIR recalled that the immediate past minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, had on Friday, May 26, brought in an aircraft branded Nigeria Air.
A Boeing 737-800 with registration number ET-APL, mode S Q4005C, and serial number 40965/4075, the aircraft was displayed by the outgone minister as belonging to Nigeria Air.
According to Sirika, the aircraft is one out of 30 aeroplanes expected to form the fleet of national carriers in the next five years.
To the amusement of many Nigerians, the aircraft was suddenly returned to Ethiopia Airlines the day after the unveiling.
Information gathered from the live tracker, however, showed that the aircraft was about 10 years eight months old, with its first flight being June 22, 2012, as an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft.
Further checks revealed that the aircraft is in active service for Ethiopian Airlines and was back to regular flight service after Sirika made a “water splash” unveiling the aircraft.
Stakeholders in the industry had queried the aircraft’s specification, documentation, ownership, and technical agreement, besides the court case surrounding the project.
The ICIR also reported that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had sued Sirika over alleged shady deals, deliberate infractions of the Nigerian laws, and self-enrichment/corruption surrounding the Nigeria Air project.
Against this background, the House Committee on Aviation had invited the permanent secretary to appear before it with detailed documents.
According to detailed information on the invitation, the documents expected to be presented by the permanent secretary to the committee include full business case (FBC) as prepared by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), full disclosure of the ownership structure of Nigeria Air, including equity contributions by individuals, organisations and consortium outlining each contribution, names, addresses, phone numbers and their businesses’ registration certificates.
All private and public partnership (PPP) agreements reached and signed with Ethiopian Airlines on the project are also to be presented to the committee, the letter specified.
Meanwhile, the latest information on flight live tracker ‘flightrader24.com’ showed that the Boeing 737-800 flight had been back to regular service for Ethiopian Airlines on its Addis Ababa-Mogadishu route, which appears to be the same route it flew before being brought into Nigeria and presented as Nigeria Air’s aircraft.
David Hundeyin, via his tweeter handle, had drawn public attention to the flight tracker.
“The “Nigeria Air” Boeing 737-800 has had its hurried wrap job removed and is now back in regular service for @flyethiopian on its usual Addis Ababa- Mogadishu route – the same route it flew as recently as last week before being “commissioned” in Abuja by @hadisirika,” Hundeyin tweeted.
He is the 18th person to lead Ondo State since its creation in 1976 and the sixth elected governor of the state.
The ICIR also reports that he was the most vocal governor in Nigeria’s South against atrocities committed by non-state actors, including herders’ rampages that killed hundreds and insurgency and banditry that spiralled in many northern states during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
In January, his wife, Betty, attacked one of her husband’s female aides, Bunmi Ademosu, for allegedly interfering in the governor’s health management. She also said Ademosu was plotting to become the state deputy governor.
Betty’s recorded audio outburst against Ademosu leaked from a Whatsapp page having the governor’s appointees.
Part of the message says, “I have a message for Ademosu. I don’t have her number, and I don’t think she is worthy of me having her number. I want this woman to stay away from my husband. Stop sneaking in concoction.”
She alleged that Ademosu brought the concoction from “her fake pastors” to give her husband to drink.
“We rely on medical care, we rely on Western style of medical care, and Aketi will get well.”
“What has triggered this very message is her recent meetings to become the deputy governor of Ondo State. Look at you; what have you got upstairs to become the deputy governor of Ondo State? Peradventure, anything happens to Aketi, Lucky takes over; it’s a constitutional thing.
“But for you to be scheming, for you to be scheming. I warned Aketi from the beginning that this woman is evil, this woman is no good, and it’s happening. She has nothing good for you, and I warned you. This woman is bloody evil. But I’m warning her for the very last time to stay away from my husband.”
Betty stressed that Ademosu should know she was dealing with an Igbo woman (Betty is an Igbo, one of the three largest tribes in Nigeria).
She vowed to deal with Ademosu mercilessly and make her live the rest of her life in regret should anything happen to her husband.
Akeredolu proceeded on a two-week working vacation as part of his annual leave on April 3. He promised to resume work on April 26.
In a letter addressed to the state’s House of Assembly Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, the governor was to hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
However, the recent fears over Akeredolu’s health are raising concerns in the state as the true situation of things remain uncertain.
The Social Democratic Paty (SDP) in the state has reacted to the issue in a statement issued by its chairman, Stephen Adewale, in Akure, the state capital.
He said being a public officer, the governor’s health record should not be shrouded in secrecy.
“In the past 24 hours, the rumour of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s poor health has dominated the media and spread like wildfire in Ondo State.
“While it is no longer news that Governor Akeredolu is dealing with health issues, as this was made clear in the viral voice note that was released by Ondo State First Lady, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, in recent weeks, the governor’s rumoured battle with blood cancer, his bedridden condition, and his inability to sign documents have taken centre stage.
“While the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State had enthusiastically and eagerly anticipated that the Governor would refute such rumours by presenting himself to the public, the silence from the Governor’s camp and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is concerning and alarming. To us at Ondo SDP, therefore, their silence and failure to deny or confirm the information imply consent.”
The party said there were doubts over the governor’s capacity to continue to govern the state.
It added that the situation undermined the ability of the state government to fulfil its obligations and commitments.
The party called on the governor to make his medical records public to lessen tension in the state.
“We strongly believe that the good people of Ondo State have the right to know about the medical conditions of Arakunrin Akeredolu.
“In contrast to ordinary residents who have the right to keep their health state to themselves, high-level elected officials like Arakunrin, whose treatment is being paid for by the public, cannot hide behind personal rules.”
On April 18, 2022, The ICIRreported the governor dismissing rumours of his death.
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is to commence a nationwide strike on Wednesday, June 7, if the Federal Government fails to reverse the hike in the fuel pump price.
NLC President Joe Ajaero announced this in Abuja on Friday, June 2, after an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).
The NLC NEC at the meeting issued the Federal Government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) an ultimatum to reverse the new pump price by Wednesday, June 7, failing which the union will embark on the nationwide strike.
Ajaero said the decision was taken to force a reversal of the removal of fuel subsidy by the government.
According to him, the decision to embark on strike was prompted by the pains Nigerians are going through following the increase in the cost of petrol, otherwise known as premium motor spirit (PMS), after the Federal Government removed subsidy for the product.
“The NLC NEC directs all state councils and industrial unions to commence mobilisation from this moment,” Ajaero added while addressing journalists after the meeting.
In his inauguration speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu declared that the subsidy regime, which made the government pay a substantial part of the cost of a petrol litre, was gone.
Minutes after the declaration, most fuel stations in the country shut down, making motorists queue for several hours.
In many states, including Abuja, the fuel pump price rose by more than 200 per cent. For instance, petrol was sold in the nation’s capital for N195 per litre before the government removed the subsidy. It has since sold for N537 in the city after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced new pump prices for states. The prices differ by a few margins across the nation.
Transport fares have since attracted similar hikes across the country, as many citizens lament the policy and describe it as too harsh for a nation where poverty is rife.
The cost of food and other necessities have also jumped because of the policy.
Many workers trek long distances to get to work or return home, which could be dangerous to health and reduce productivity.
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, June 2, opposed moves by Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to tender election documents as evidence before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
The tribunal is hearing petitions filed against the election of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election.
Obi and the LP submitted the documents, which were the Certified True Copies (CTC) of results sheets used for the February 25 election, as exhibits to support their petition.
During the proceedings on Friday, June 2, INEC’s counsel, Kemi Pinhero, objected to the admission of the documents, arguing that some of the documents were unfamiliar and not part of the ones pleaded by the petitioners, as agreed upon during the pre-hearing session.
However, the five-man panel, led by Haruna Simon Tsammani, ruled that it was improper for INEC’s lawyer to interfere in the proceedings since all parties involved had agreed to offer explanations during the address stage of the proceedings.
Despite this objection, the court accepted supplementary evidence from parts of Rivers State and Niger State that had been presented on Thursday, June 1.
Additionally, exhibits from six other states, namely Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Edo, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom, tendered by Obi legal team were admitted.
A breakdown of the newly submitted exhibits revealed that forms EC8A were admitted in 21 local government areas of Adamawa, 8 in Bayelsa, 31 in Oyo, 18 in Edo, 20 in Lagos, and 31 in Akwa Ibom.
All the respondents in the case objected to the documents presented before the court.
Following the submissions made by all parties, the tribunal adjourned to Monday, June 5.
Obi’s petition
In their petition, Obi and the LP argued that when Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima, became the vice presidential candidate, he was still nominated as the APC candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial election.
They also challenged Tinubu’s eligibility, alleging that he was previously indicted and fined $460,000.00 by a United States District Court for an offence involving dishonesty and drug trafficking.
Obi, who came third according to results announced by INEC, claimed that the election was invalid due to corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He argued that INEC breached its regulations and guidelines by not prescribing and deploying technological devices for voter accreditation, verification, continuation, and authentication as required.
The petitioner sought a declaration from the court that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election and that all votes recorded for him were wasted.
He also requested the court to determine that he received a majority of lawful votes and satisfied constitutional requirements to be declared the winner.
In the alternative, he called for the cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh election in which Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC would not participate.
NIGERIAN table tennis stars, Aruna Quadri and Olufunke Oshonaike, have dropped in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings for May 2023.
According to the data published on the World Table Tennis (WTT) website, Quadri dropped from 12th position to 16th after he garnered only 395 points during the month under review.
However, the 2022 African champion maintains the top spot in Africa.
The 34-year-old recorded 350 points at the 2023 ITTF-Africa Cup, in Nairobi Kenya, and earned 45 points at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Durban, South Africa, where he finished in the round of 16.
In the women’s category, the first woman to represent Nigeria at the Olympic games in table tennis, Olufunke Oshonaike, also dropped two spots from 145th position to 147th in the rankings. Another Nigerian, Offiong Edem dropped to 148th.
Other Nigerians in the ranking include, Taiwo Mati, who moved up 16 places from 91st position to 75th in the men’s category.
Also, Olajide Omotayo moved eight points from 163 to 155, while Bode Abiodun moved 10 places from 167th to 157th.
Amadi Omeh moved exponentially in the ranking. He moved 207 places to rank 200 in the world.
Amadi won the WTTC 2024 Western Africa regional qualifications in Accra, Ghana, amassing 75 points.
In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello moved three steps up from 56th to 53rd.
In the world ranking, the Chinese trio of Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqpositionsin and Ma Long occupy the top three , respectively, while Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan and Sweden’s Liang Jingkun of China complete the top five.
Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Yun-Ju from China, and Germany’s Dang Qiu and Truls Moregard from Sweden complete the list of the 10 best players in the world for men.
In a related development, Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborududu who won a record-extending 13th African title at 68kg at the African Championship in Tunisia has been named the Wrestler of the Month for May by the World Wrestling.
