The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, has introduced a digital platform designed to improve access to government circulars for civil servants across the country.

At the unveiling event in Abuja on Wednesday, Walson-Jack highlighted the significance of circulars as critical instruments for effective governance and administration within the civil service.

“Circulars provide direction, clarify policies, and ensure that decisions are communicated consistently across the Service. However, a recurring challenge has been the accessibility and retention of these critical documents, especially as time passes and administrations change. This has, at times, hindered institutional memory and disrupted seamless service delivery,” she explained.

The new portal, she emphasized, aims to address these challenges by promoting transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in the civil service.

“This online compendium of Civil and Public Service Circulars will significantly enhance the civil service’s efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness, directly supporting our goals of a more responsive Service.

“The compendium will improve access and reduce administrative bottlenecks, advancing the overarching goals of efficiency, accountability, and improved service delivery,” Walson-Jack stated.

She further underscored the initiative as a reflection of the government’s dedication to modernising public service operations.

“This compendium is more than a technological upgrade; it is a declaration of our determination to adapt, innovate, and lead. It reflects our belief that a modern Civil Service is not just about what we do but how we do it. It demonstrates our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in governance,” Walson-Jack added.

The Federal Government through the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on residents of Benue State to stop the consumption of rats to avert outbreak of Lassa fever.

The State Coordinator of the NOA, Bitrus Audu, has called for heightened awareness to prevent a potential Lassa fever outbreak in Benue State.

Audu issued the warning during a press conference as part of the agency’s nationwide campaign against the deadly disease.

Highlighting the need for urgent sensitization, Audu noted that rats are a popular delicacy in Benue, particularly with the hunting season approaching.

“This is the time of year when many people consume more rats, so education is critical. We are urging them to avoid eating rats altogether. However, if they cannot stop, they should at least identify and avoid the specific species that carry the virus,” he said.

Audu explained that the primary carrier of the Lassa virus is the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis), a common rodent species in Sub-Saharan Africa.

While the multimammate rat hosts the virus, it does not fall ill from the infection.

He also highlighted research findings showing that the African wood mouse and the Guinea multimammate mouse can also serve as reservoir hosts for the virus. These rodents are more prevalent in rural areas, increasing the risk of human infection in such regions.

The campaign seeks to educate the public on the risks associated with consuming rats and the importance of preventive measures to curb the spread of Lassa fever.

A bill seeking to amend the Constitution and provide opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora to vote has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Sodeeq Abdullahi, aims to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to include provisions for diaspora voting, potentially enfranchising millions of Nigerians living abroad.

During Wednesday’s plenary, the lawmakers debated the importance of expanding voting rights to include Nigerians residing outside the country. Speaker Tajudeen described the initiative as a vital step toward inclusive democracy.

The bill, which previously passed its second reading in July, was referred to the Committee on Electoral Matters for detailed legislative review. Following further debate on Tuesday, it has now been forwarded to the Constitution Amendment Committee for additional scrutiny.

In other news, the Senate is expected to approve President Bola Tinubu’s $2.2 billion (approximately N1.77 trillion) external loan request today (Wednesday).

The loan, part of the external borrowing plan, is aimed at financing the N28.7 trillion 2024 budget, specifically to address the ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit.

President Tinubu’s request was conveyed in separate letters read during Tuesday’s plenary sessions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The president justified the loan as necessary for partially financing the deficit while implementing key government programs.

In response to the letter, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to review the request and submit its report within 24 hours.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has disclosed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Head of the Osun State Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Moses Lohor, and members of his team for attempted murder.

The development was confirmed by Samuel Ojo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, through a statement issued by Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, after a closed-door meeting with the governor and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba.

The incident in question involved the alleged shooting of Wakeel Nurudeen Iyanda Alowonle, Chairman of the Osun State Transport Management System, on Monday night by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad led by Lohor.

The police claimed that Alowonle was shot while allegedly attempting to evade arrest after a pistol and ammunition were reportedly found in his car. However, the Osun State government described the shooting as a suspected case of murder.

Kolapo Alimi, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, condemned the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

Governor Adeleke has vowed to ensure justice is served, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to protecting citizens from abuse of power.

The statement on Wednesday said, “Moses Lohor had shot Alowonle in the abdomen at the police station after his arrest over a domestic brawl with a neighbour. The park chairman is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.”

Ojo narrated that the police authorities viewed Moses’ conduct as unprofessional, illegal, unauthorised, and against the operational code.

He also noted that Moses and his men had been moved to Abuja this morning.

The statement added, “We can confirm that the police authorities at the highest level have acted decisively on this matter. A clear punitive directive was issued by the IG. Mr Governor has directed we follow up to ensure that justice is served.”

Hafizu Inuwa, chairman of the investigation committee on the tanker explosion in Majia, Jigawa state, has submitted a report to Umar Namadi, governor of the state.

In October, a tanker laden with petrol exploded at Majiya town, along the Kano-Hadejia expressway in Taura LGA on October 14, 2024

Initially, Namadi informed President Bola Tinubu that 181 people died and 210 families were affected in the explosion.

The governor subsequently constituted a committee headed by Inuwa, a deputy inspector-general of police, to find out the remote cause of the explosion and advise the government.

The report indicated that 209 persons were confirmed dead in the fire incident.

Inuwa said the findings revealed that damaged pumps, potholes, night driving and excessive speed were some of the causes of the explosion

He said the committee engaged with key stakeholders, visited health facilities, and consulted with affected communities.

“I am saddened to inform His Excellency that the incident led to the total loss of two hundred and nine (209) lives. 38 are on admission and 61 discharged. One hundred and sixty-seven (167) families were affected. It was further discovered that the inferno resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira,” he said.

“The findings revealed that several factors contributed to the fire, including damaged speed bumps and potholes near the scene, night driving, and excessive speed. It was noted that the fire likely ignited due to friction between metallic containers and hard surfaces as victims attempted to scoop spilled fuel.”

On his part, the governor commended the efforts of the committee for their “timely” report and assured them that the government would review the document for “quick implementation”.

On November 13, another petrol tanker exploded along the Jigawa-Kano border in Dutse LGA of the state.

Aliyu M. A, public relations officer of the state’s fire service, said the fire was contained and brought under control.

Nollywood actress, Abimbola Craig, has asserted that ‘marriage is a scam’.

The movie star made this known in an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, on the ‘WithChude’ podcast.

The actress critiqued traditional marital roles where women are often burdened with home management and catering to their partners, referring to the title “Mrs” as the acronym for “Master’s in Residential Servicing”.

Abimbola Craig stated that her decision to remain single is not because she opposes marriage but because she values a partner with self-awareness and purpose.

She said, “All marriage is a scam. When I was small, my mum always told me marriage is an institution. She said when they call you ‘Mrs,’ it stands for ‘Master’s in Residential Servicing’.

“I am not married, not because I do not want to be married, but if you are a man who does not know who he is, you cannot be with me.”

Abimbola Craig is popularly known for her role as ‘Tiwalade’ in the hit web series ‘Skinny Girl in Transit’.

She has also made her mark as a producer, co-producing the 2019 box office hit ‘Sugar Rush’ alongside Nigerian filmmaker, Jade Osiberu.

A Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA test) analysis has revealed that Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior, hails from Cameroon.

The test result recently presented to the player uncovered his ancestral ties to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

Naija News understands that the DNA test was conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com.

The findings were revealed on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, during a ceremony held at Fonte Nova, where Vinicius was awarded a certificate that attests to his heritage.

According to Foot Boom, Vinicius received this certificate in the presence of his father, Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira, and the CBF president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, shortly before Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.

This initiative is part of the CBF’s ‘Roots of Gold’ campaign, which aims to honour the history and pride of the Afro-Brazilian community, especially within the realm of football.

Speaking at the event, Rodrigues emphasized the broader significance of the initiative, stating, “To celebrate Vini Jr. is to celebrate the success of all Brazilians. By knowing his origins, we reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive society, recognising the fundamental role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and our success in global football.”

Moment Vinicius Junior was presented a certificate that confirmed his root after DNA Test

The founder and president of AfricanAncestry.com, Gina Paige, highlighted the importance of reconnecting individuals of African descent with their roots.

“Vini Jr. carries within him the desire to honour his heritage. However, like many individuals of African descent, his ancestral story has been erased by racism and the legacy of slavery. Through a DNA test, we discovered that Vini Jr.’s ancestors belong to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

“We believe that Vini’s reconnection with his African roots is a powerful ‘act of resistance,’ in line with his advocacy for social justice both on and off the football pitch,” Page stated.

Remarking on the development, the player’s father said: “It’s important for us to know where we come from. Many Brazilians don’t know their ancestry or heritage. I’m happy we are from Cameroon too.”

Vinícius celebrated his recently discovered heritage by wearing a distinctive jersey adorned with the flags of Brazil and Cameroon during the match, which concluded with a score of 1-1.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cautioned members of the public against fake Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) messages, purporting to show that foreign currency funds have been transferred to them by foreign entities.

SWIFT is a network that banks use to communicate with each other securely, mainly to give instructions for transferring funds between accounts.

In a press release signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, the apex bank said that in recent times there has been an increase in cases of fake SWIFT messages being presented as evidence that funds have been remitted to a beneficiary’s bank account within the country whereas no such transaction actually took place.

The regulator, which advised members of the public to be careful with unauthentic SWIFT messages, said it will not hesitate to report any bank customer, “making unsubstantiated and illegitimate claims to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.”

The press statement reads: “Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been inundated with claims by private entities, individuals, law firms and government agencies that foreign currency funds allegedly transferred to them by foreign entities have yet to be credited to their accounts with Nigerian banks. In some instances, the claimants alleged that the funds were withheld by either the beneficiary bank in Nigeria or the CBN and requested the assistance of the Bank towards releasing the funds to them. The requests are usually supported with fake documents such as SWIFT MT103, SWIFT Ack copy, etc.

“It has become imperative to state that the SWIFT ack copy and SWIFT MT103 that these claimants usually attach as evidence of remittance to beneficiary banks in Nigeria are not reliable.

“The SWIFT messages are always not traceable on the SWIFT platform, and the funds have not been received to enable their application to the beneficiary’s account.

“In a situation where a fund transfer beneficiary’s receiving bank claims non-receipt of funds remitted by the foreign entity (sending customer), instead of escalating such issue to CBN or Law Enforcement Agencies, the standard practice is for the sending customer to contact the sending bank to send a tracer to trace where the fund is hanging and recall it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state emphatically that the CBN neither provides correspondent banking services for Nigerian banks in foreign payments nor maintains accounts for private business entities.

“Consequently, the petitioners’ claim that the alleged expected inflows for onward credit into the accounts of private business entities are trapped in the CBN is not only spurious but deceitful.

“The general public is therefore advised to be careful with such unauthentic SWIFT messages and documents containing spurious claims of non-application of substantial foreign currency funds allegedly transferred into the beneficiary’s account.

“The CBN will not hesitate to report any bank customer making unsubstantiated and illegitimate claims to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution. Please be guided accordingly.”

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, has asked the upper legislative chamber to support Uchenna, the wife of the late lawmaker, Ifeanyi Ubah, to succeed him.

Ndume spoke during a valedictory session held on Tuesday in the senate to honour the late Anambra south senator.

The lawmaker died in July at the age of 52.

Ndume told his colleagues that Ubah’s wife should succeed him in the senate to preserve his “legacy and aspirations”.

 

“This has happened before. When Chuba Okadigbo, a great politician, passed away, his wife, Margery, joined the senate and carried on his legacy,” he said.

“Similarly, our first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, served in this chamber, largely supported by the goodwill of Lagosians and the legacy of her husband, who was a former governor. In fact, she told me that her dream was to be a pastor.

Ndume said Abdulaziz Yar’Adua sustained the political legacy of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua by joining the senate.

“Senator (Iyabo) Obasanjo, if you remember, is the daughter of general Obasanjo. Sitting in front of me is Dafinone, his father was a great senator.

“What I want to appeal to you, Mr. President, is that we keep the spirit and aspirations of Ifeanyi alive.

“His wife, fortunately, is around 50 years old and has been a wonderful support system to him.

“Finally, Mr. President, my appeal to you and distinguished colleagues, his wife, fortunately, is 50 years or so. A wonderful wife.

“Let us support the family to have a spirit representative of Ifeanyi here in the chamber when the election of Anambra of the senatorial district that he represents comes up.

“This will ensure continuity and honour for the Anambra south senatorial district.”

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SENATE

Senate membership is neither automatic nor transferable from one individual to another.

According to section 65 of the 1999 Constitution, a person can only become a member of the senate through election.

The person shall be qualified for election if he or she has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent, is a member of a political party, and is sponsored by that party.