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openDemocracy seeks Africa editor

Blessing OTOIBHI
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openDemocracy seeks Africa editor

OPENDemocracy is hiring an Africa editor to lead an award-winning investigative journalism team that tracks organized opposition to women’s and LGBTIQ rights.

The editor will oversee Africa reporters and fellows, as well as the company’s network of freelancers and partners, and collaborate with other regional editors in Europe, Eurasia and Latin America on global coverage.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of doing impactful investigations, working collaboratively across borders and supporting junior colleagues.

Applicants must have at least three years’ experience as an English-language editor.

Depending on experience, the salary ranges from GBP48,000 to GBP58,000.

Investigative journalists and editors in Africa can apply for this full-time position.

The deadline for the submission of applications is April 23, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

FCT Police arrest 40 suspects over criminal activities

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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FCT Police arrest 40 suspects over criminal activities

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested over 40 suspected members of a criminal syndicate in Gishiri village.

The suspects were arrested during raids on marked black spots in the area.

A statement released on Monday, April 10, by the Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh disclosed that the suspects had inflicted hardship, panic and apprehension on residents through their criminal activities.

She noted that the suspects were apprehended after three undisclosed sources complained to the police.

“The complaint alleged some ex-convicts namely Awalu, Balo, and Baba Ali, to have masterminded and inflicted hardship, panic, and apprehension on residents through their criminal acts including but not limited to the following as quoted in one of the complaints.”

According to the statement, the suspects were involved in various criminal activities including consumption and peddling of illicit drugs, intimidation, attack, assault on innocent citizens and dispossessing them of their valuables.

“Possession and usage of dangerous weapons both day and night, with reference to the incident of 30th March 2023 where over ten (10) people were stabbed and brutalised with cutlasses and many vehicles destroyed; they have no regard for elders and leaders of the community; creating a bad image for the community; they have no respect to custom and tradition; they attack and obstruct Policemen or vigilante from arresting any suspect when the need arises,” the statement added.

The Police noted that it applied force on some of the suspects to restore order and peace.

“They were repulsive and violent all through the process of arrest and at the point of statement taking at the Division. The cut-to-suit narrative in the video in circulation was a scene of police officers trying to apply minimum force in restoring order to the distorted peace the arrest of the suspect brought to the Station.”

The statement noted that the suspects are being investigated and would be prosecuted.

The police also assured residents of Gishiri of its commitment to restoring peace and stability in the area.

CAN threatens to boycott Peak Milk

Sinafi OMANGA
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CAN threatens to boycott Peak Milk

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has threatened to boycott Peak Milk and other products by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc over an advertisement it described as “disrespectful to the Christian Faith”.

CAN slammed FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc for using a crucifixion imagery of Jesus Christ on Good Friday “as a metaphor to promote their product” in a statement by its General Secretary, Joseph Daramola.

The company shared the commercial message on Peak Milk’s Twitter handle with a caption “All for good”.

 

The association said it is considering sanctions against the company for stooping “so low to exploit the religious sentiments of its customers for profit”.

The sanctions being considered include “a boycott of their products by our members and all well-meaning Nigerians who share our concerns”.

“We call on the company to issue an unreserved apology to the Christian community and withdraw the offensive advert immediately.

“We find this advert to be insensitive, offensive, and totally unacceptable. Good Friday is a solemn day for Christians all over the world, a day we commemorate the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the cross for our sins. It is not a day to be used for crass commercial purposes,” CAN said.

The statement recalled a similar incident in the past when Sterling Bank Plc. used a crucifixion imagery to promote its product.

“We condemned it then, and we condemn it now. We, therefore, urge all companies and organizations to be mindful of the religious and cultural sensitivities of their customers when promoting their products. We will not tolerate any attempt to trivialize or disrespect our faith. Be warned!”, the statement added

ICIR trains North-Central, South-East journalists on data, investigative journalism

Esther ILESANMI
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ICIR trains North-Central, South-East journalists on data, investigative journalism

THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR) has concluded a three-day training program for a select group of journalists on the Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP).

The program was designed to build journalists’ capacity and enhance their skills in investigative reporting, data journalism, fact-checking, multimedia reporting, the Freedom of Information Act, security for reporting in hostile or unsafe environments, and tracking procurement fraud, among others.

The training took place at Ibeto Hotel, Apo, Gudu District, Abuja, and had journalists from the North-Central and South-East zones in Nigeria.

OCRP Participants; Journalists from the North-Central and South-East zones in Nigeria
OCRP Participants; Journalists from the North-Central and South-East zones in Nigeria

Beloved John, an Open Contract Reporting Fellowship participant, stated that she applied for the program to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to report on procurement abnormalities in public sectors across Nigeria.

The ICIR Open Contract Reporting Project is supported by the International Budget Partnership and was organized by the Centre to equip journalists with the tools and techniques to uncover wrongdoing in government and ensure that public officials are held accountable.

Dayo Aiyetan, the Executive Director of The ICIR, highlighted the importance of the training in his opening address and stressed its significance for journalists, stating that it provides them with the necessary skills to uncover wrongdoing in government and ensure public officials are held accountable.

Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director, The ICIR
Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director, The ICIR

The training enhanced journalists’ investigative and data journalism skills and built their capacity to cover procurement fraud and irregularities in the public sector across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

ICIR trains journalists, CSOs on investigative, solutions journalism

ICIR trains journalists on Health Reporting

ICIR trains North-East, North-West journalists on Data Reporting

ICIR trains teachers, students on fact check tools

 

Health workers recruitment: UK places Nigeria on red list

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Health workers recruitment: UK places Nigeria on red list

TROUBLES are most likely ahead for Nigerian health professionals seeking to migrate and work in the United Kingdom (UK), as the UK government has placed Nigeria and 53 other countries on the red list of nations from which it will not recruit health workers without the permission of their countries.

The countries in the red list include 41 from Africa, Oceania 6, Asia 5, and America, 2.

In its recently revised ‘Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England,’ the UK said it recognised a projected global shortage of 10 million health workers to achieve universal health coverage in low and lower-middle-income countries by 2030 and would continue to support quality health for its people and the rest of the world.

The UK’s decision followed March 14 alert by the World Health Organization (WHO) urging nations with more human resources for health to avoid hiring from those with few workers.

The updated WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023 identifies 55 countries as vulnerable to the availability of health workers required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal target for universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.

“The impact of COVID-19 and widespread disruptions to health services has resulted in a rapid acceleration in the international recruitment of health workers. For countries losing health personnel to international migration, this could negatively impact health systems and hinder their progress towards achieving UHC and health security.

“Of the 55 countries, 37 are in the WHO African region, eight in the Western Pacific region, six in the Eastern Mediterranean region, three in the South-East Asia region and one is in the Americas. Eight countries have been newly added to the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023 since its original publication in 2020,” the agency said.

The countries included in the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023 have a UHC service coverage index below 55 and health workforce density below the global median: 49 medical doctors, nursing and midwifery personnel per 10 000 people. These countries require priority support for health workforce development and health system strengthening, along with additional safeguards that limit active international recruitment.

The UK recruits doctors, medical laboratory scientists, dentists, healthcare scientists, nurses, midwives, care workers, allied health professionals and other health workers from Nigeria and other countries.

On April 7, The ICIR reported how doctors in Nigeria vowed to resist the passage of a bill currently at the House of Representatives seeking to stop them from migrating to work abroad. The report contains publications on the hundreds of doctors that have left the country in recent years.

The ICIR reports that all categories of health professionals in Nigeria migrate, and the rate has snowballed since the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020.

It thus remains what becomes the fate of those in line to leave the country for the UK, widely regarded as one of the greener pastures. 

Health professionals are most likely to face stiff resistance from the Nigerian government because the government has always frowned at the migration, widening brain drain in the nation’s health sector.

The ICIR reports that the UK’s code of practice for the international recruitment of health workers has four objectives, namely.

  • To set out principles and best practice benchmarks to be adhered to by all employers – public and independent contracting bodies, recruiting organisations, agencies and collaborations – when recruiting international health and social care personnel. 
  • To prevent active recruitment to the UK from countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023.
  • To set out the UK government’s approach to supporting international health and social care systems and workforce, and efforts to achieve UHC and the UN sustainable development goals, and
  • To provide reassurance to international personnel that employment with the NHS (National Health Service), local authorities, and other health and social care organisations will offer high standards of induction and support while they work in the UK.

Why we returned female beggar to Anambra – Delta State govt

Mustapha USMAN
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Why we returned female beggar to Anambra – Delta State govt

THE Delta State Government has explained why it returned a 32-year-old beggar, Ogochukwu Nwabude, to her hometown in Anambra State.

Nwabude, who begged for alms with her baby in Asaba, Delta State capital, was allegedly deported to Anambra for constituting a nuisance, according to an aide to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare Ify Obinabo.

Obinabo, in a statement on Friday, April 7, said the beggar was “repatriated” from Delta.

Reacting to the issue, the Delta State Government said the woman was not deported as claimed by the Anambra State official.

A statement released on Sunday, April 9, by the Delta State governor’s spokesperson Olisa Ifeajika, explained the circumstances surrounding the woman’s return to Anambra.

The statement noted that the woman was begging for alms at Inter Bau Roundabout in Asaba, the state capital for two weeks.

Ifeajika said a check was conducted on the woman by officials of the state ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

“After observing her for a period, it was revealed that she was stable and of sound mind but needed financial help.

“And moved by her need and as with standard procedure in handling such matters, the ministry gave her some assistance, especially as she was with a baby,” she added.

According to Ifeajika, the ministry, consequently, returned her to its counterpart Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Anambra State for necessary support.

He further explained that the development was a routine activity on similar cases, which often transpired among states in the country and Federal Capital Territory.

“The insinuations in some quarters that the woman was deported by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State Government are, therefore, uncharitable.

“The Delta State Government acted in good faith and within the ambit of regulations, which Anambra State Government acknowledged with gratitude,” Ifeajika added.

Meanwhile The ICIR gathered that Delta State Government had in the past frowned at child begging and labour in the state.

In February 2022, the government arrested 28 beggars, consisting of six women and 22 children for allegedly violating the law that bans street begging in the state.

According to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare, Oghenwkevwe Agas, Delta has a law that regulates child labour and trafficking and the law will take its cause.

According to her, six women disguised as blind persons to use the children to beg for alms, adding that 22 children were used as beggars instead of allowing them to go to school.

Nigeria in multidimensional poverty

In November 2022, The ICIR reported that about 133 million people in Nigeria are living in different categories of poverty. The figure translates to 63 per cent of the country’s population.

The Federal Government disclosed this in its latest “multi-dimensional” poverty report, noting that 65 per cent (86 million people) of the poor live in the North.

Delta, Anambra and other southern states contribute to the remaining 35 per cent (nearly 47 million) living in poverty.

The poverty levels across states vary significantly, with the incidence of multi-dimensional poverty ranging from a low of 27 per cent in Ondo to a high of 91 per cent in Sokoto.

The report further noted that multidimensional poverty is higher in rural areas, where 72 per cent of people are poor, compared to 42 per cent of people in urban areas.

FG prohibits loan apps from intruding on customers’ privacy

Bankole ABE
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FG prohibits loan apps from intruding on customers’ privacy

THE Federal Government, in conjunction with Google, has prohibited loan apps from accessing contacts and images of their customers.

In a chat with The ICIR on Monday, April 10, the sokesperson of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Ondaje Ijagwu, said the Federal Government is putting measure in place to enforce the latest policy by Google.

He said the action was consistent with the Nigerian authorities’ move to curtail the invasion of customers’ privacy by loan app firms.

According to Ijagwu, the FCCPC had recently taken significant decisions aimed at tackling the violation of customers’ privacy by loan apps. Notably, the Commission recently registered 170 loan apps out of over 200 operating in the country.

“Yes, it is in conjunction with Google. It was after we finished registering some loan apps.

“Google came up with a policy, but before then, we have been trying to curb the excesses of loan apps, so after releasing the list of registered apps last week and the Google policy came into existence by May 31, loan apps will no longer be able to access contacts and images of their customers,” Ijagwu added.

Also speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, April 5, the chairman of FCCPC, Tunde Irukera, said the Commission’s recent registration drive will protect Nigerians’ privacy.

He said the Commission want to restrain what kind of information loan apps have from people’s phones and what they can do with that information.

“With respect to making contact with people on the contact list, and their loan recovery practices; the kind of language and the times they call, what kind of things they say,” Irukera stated.

This is coming after Google introduced a policy that mandates loan app operators to register with the FCCPC and respect the privacy of their customers.

In order to curb the use of shaming strategy and other unwholesome practices by loan apps, Google wants to restrict apps that offer loans to individuals from accessing private user information such as images, videos and contacts.

Google had established a policy to remove illegal loan apps from the Play Store in Nigeria, effective January 31, 2023.

The updated Google policy guidelines outline the requirements for lending apps in Nigeria, Kenya, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

According to the policy, all lending apps must obtain a licence from Google in order to function in the Play Store. Google announced this in an official post.

“Policy preview (effective May 31, 2023): This article previews changes included in our April 2023 policy updates.

“We are updating our personal loans policy to state that apps aiming to provide or facilitate personal loans may not access user contacts or photos.

“We are introducing additional requirements for personal loan apps targeting users in Pakistan. Personal loan apps in Pakistan must submit country-specific licensing documentation to prove their ability to provide or facilitate personal loans,” the post read.

This new policy comes after the firm announced updates to its Developer Programme Policy, mandating digital money lenders in Nigeria, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kenya to conform to regulatory rules or be taken down by January 31.

According to the firm, only digital money lenders that have adhered to and completed the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022 (as may be amended from time to time) by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and obtained a verifiable approval letter from the FCCPC will be allowed on Play Store in Nigeria.

Online loan fintech companies sometimes send WhatsApp and text messages to every contact on their customer’s phones, claiming they are debtors and fraudsters.

Sometimes they use threatening messages like, “Pay our money, or we shall report you to all your contacts”,” Last warning: Pay up, or we lock you up,” ‘You have nowhere to run to; we are monitoring you,” Etc.

The FCCPC recently announced that it had authorised 173 applications for digital lending nationwide. 54 of these received provisional permits, while 119 received complete approvals. This action was required as a result of loan apps bullying Nigerians by sending offensive texts to their connections.

The “Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending 2022” aims to regulate the digital lending industry and create registration and approval requirements for businesses wishing to operate loan appsLoa.

Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to patronise loan apps despite their unconventional ways of recovering their money.

These loan apps act as platforms where you can get quick loans with no collateral other than providing a bank verification number (BVN) and a request to allow pictures and contacts on a potential customer’s phone.

Previous investigations by The ICIR show how illicit lending applications disobey Nigeria’s internet laws, humiliate borrowers for not repaying loans on time, and trap customers in debt.

Abducted former Nasarawa deputy governor regains freedom

Bankole ABE
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Abducted former Nasarawa deputy governor regains freedom

A FORMER deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Onje Gye-Wado, who was abducted by unknown gunmen, has been freed.

The Nasarawa State Police Command announced the development on Monday, April 10.

The ICIR reported that yet-to-be-identified gunmen abducted Gye-Wado on Friday, April 7.

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Gye-Wado, a professor, was whisked away when the gunmen broke into his residence in Gwagi village of Nasarawa State.

Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed Gye-Wado’s release in a chat with The ICIR on Monday.

Nansel said the former deputy governor was released Sunday evening.

“Yes, he was released last night at about 2100hrs due to sustained pressure from the search and rescue team,” he said.

Gye-wado served one term as deputy governor of Nasarawa State during Abdullahi Adamu’s administration.

In January, the Nasarawa State Police command rescued two pupils abducted from the Local Education Authority (LEA) primary school, Alwaza, in Doma Local Government Area (LGA).

The pupils were abducted along with four others by gunmen riding on motorcycles.

15 burnt to death in Enugu auto-crash

Ijeoma OPARA
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15 burnt to death in Enugu auto-crash

AT least 15 people were burnt to death in an auto-crash that occurred along the Port-Harcourt-Enugu highway in Enugu state on Saturday April 8.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Bisi Kazeem confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday April 9.

Kazeem said the victims were burnt beyond recognition in the accident, which occurred at about 8.20 p.m. on Saturday. The vehicles involved in the crash include a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Mercedes truck.

“The victims have been given mass burial. All obstructions have been cleared. Enugu State Fire Service already extinguished the fire in the bus. The fatal crash is blamable on several factors including fatigue, which must have made one of the drivers to sleep on the wheels,’’ he stated.

Kazeem said the FRSC Marshal Dauda Biu advised motorists to avoid travelling during the night to reduce cases of road accidents.

“Travelers should plan their journeys for the day time because when crashes occur away from FRSC rescue points, it is difficult to access help from other motorists at night,” Kazeem stated.

On March 9, another 18-seater bus had been involved in an accident which claimed 10 lives along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu State.

The ICIR also reported that at least 21 people were burnt to death in an auto crash at Udubo, Gamawa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State on March 23.

Popular Instagram cloth vendor found dead in Ibadan hotel

Vincent Ufuoma
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Popular Instagram cloth vendor found dead in Ibadan hotel

ADESHINA Olayinka, a well-known cloth vendor on Instagram popularly known as Khadi, has been found dead in a hotel room in the Akobo area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Khadi sells designer clothes and bags on Instagram, and is also a social media influencer.

Oyo Affairs, a local news outlet, reported that Khadi informed a friend that she had a meeting with an unnamed man at the Wetland Hotel in Akobo on the evening of Wednesday, April 5.

READ ALSO:

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The man she was with left early the following morning. The hotel receptionist called the room and Khadi confirmed her safety before the man was allowed to leave.

Hours later, the hotel receptionist discovered that Khadi had not checked out.

The staff checked her room and found her dead. The hotel reported the incident to the Police.

The Police has commenced investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding her demise.

The management of Wetland Hotel expressed their condolences to Khadi’s family and friends and promised to cooperate with the authorities in investigations into her death.

“Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our guests and staff are our top priority.

“We have taken all necessary measures to ensure that our facilities and services continue to meet the highest standards of hygiene and safety.

“As the investigation is ongoing, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased, and we offer our support to all those affected by this tragic event,” the hotel’s management said in a statement released on Sunday, April 9.

Efforts by The ICIR to get the reaction of the Oyo State Police Command were not successful as of the time of filing this report.

Spokesperson of the Command, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached on the phone and a text message sent to him has not been replied.

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