AS Nigeria commemorates National Diaspora Day celebrations and National Diaspora Merit Award 2024, a Nigerian-Canadian and Deputy Minister, Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Alberta, Canada, Dr Akolisa Ufodike, weekend disclosed how Nigerians have promoted economic and political change in the north American country.
Ufodike, whose observations were contained in the paper he delivered at a two-day event, entitled, ”Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, pointed out that there were issues that prompted people to Japa’in order to capture their dreams and aspirations as they sought opportunities abroad.
He said: “As someone with Nigerian heritage, I feel a profound connection to this topic. The term Japa has become a part of our national lexicon, capturing the dreams and aspirations of many Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
“On a personal note, I remember the stories of friends and family who have embarked on such quests. Their journeys are filled with both challenges and triumphs, embodying the resilience and determination that define our people.
“I would like to acknowledge the enduring, positive impact of the Nigerian community’s efforts to promote and support cross-cultural sharing, not only in my province of Alberta in Canada but around the world.
“Our diaspora community has enriched the social, economic, and cultural fabric of societies worldwide.
“From pioneering advancements in technology and medicine, to excelling in business, sports, and the arts, Nigerians have consistently demonstrated resilience, ingenuity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence – wherever they live around the world.
“Our stories of success serve as beacons of inspiration, showcasing the boundless potential that lies within each and every one of us. I see this day-to-day, even as I live and work on the other side of the globe.
“Alberta is home to thousands of Canadians of Nigerian descent, who are vital contributors to the province of Alberta. As a proud Nigerian-Canadian, I appreciate the positive example that our community sets.”
He disclosed that the government of Alberta remained committed to making sure everyone felt they belonged where one’s culture, language, and religion are valued and respected.
“The government of Alberta is committed to ensuring that Alberta continues to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all.
“Our goal is a province where everyone feels they belong and where one’s culture, language, and religion are valued and respected.
“Alberta’s government also recognizes the need to promote inclusion and highlight the importance of diversity.
“Albertans of Nigerian heritage have and continue to help drive our province’s future as respected leaders in their communities.
“In recognition of this, the government of Alberta has declared the month of October as Nigerian Heritage Month in perpetuity,” he added.
“We can leverage the skills and experiences of Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to international development. Strengthening ties between Nigeria and Canada can foster mutual growth and development as we explore opportunities for mutual benefit.
“As we look to the future, let us continue to support and uplift one another, fostering a sense of unity and pride in our shared identity.
“Together, we can build bridges between nations and create lasting impacts that resonate for generations to come,” he added.
[Vanguard]
The Labour Party says Kenneth Okonkwo’s attack on Peter Obi, its 2023 presidential candidate, was “unfortunate and attention-seeking”.
On Sunday, Okonkwo, a chieftain of the LP, said he no longer has confidence in the ability of Obi to build a party that can win elections.
He said Obi has “proved that even if the people vote for him, he does not have what it takes to secure the mandate”.
The LP chieftain said the recent happenings in the party have “inspired” him to make “a determination to chart a new course for my political journey”.
In June, Okonkwo described the opposition party as “a secret society led by a group of clowns,” adding that he could not rule out leaving the party.
Okonkwo also said his comments have “nothing to do with any desire to join the APC or the PDP,” adding that he will always join Nigerians in the aspirations for a better country.
However, Obiora Ifoh, the national publicity secretary of the LP, in a statement, said Okonkwo’s resignation from the party did not come as a surprise.
Ifoh said the party viewed Okonkwo’s criticism of Obi as unfortunate and attention-seeking.
“Kenneth Okonkwo’s resignation from the Labour Party didn’t come to us as a surprise. We also think that his attack on the party’s leader, Peter Obi, is rather unfortunate,” the statement reads.
“However, we will continue not to dignify him with any response, as we understand that his attention-craving attitude knows no bounds.
“Recently, a former director-general of the party’s presidential campaign organisation resigned and rejoined the APC.
“Only last week, an ex-deputy director-general of the presidential campaign organisation also resigned and rejoined the APC.
“Today, it is the turn of Mr. Okonkwo, a former member of APC, who smuggled himself into the presidential campaign, and his destination is already known to us.
“Needless to say that Nigeria is not in want of political jesters and jobbers whose stomach are their gods. The Labour Party is not perturbed by his decision to move on, and in fact, we wish him well in his future endeavours, whether in acting, law practice, politics, or otherwise.
“We also wish to note here that the party is aware of a few other persons who are planted as moles, who are presently instigating crises within the party, and who have unsuccessfully attempted to hijack the party for the use of their paymasters.
“We urge them to act fast and do the needful before they are exposed and fumigated out of the party.”
The LP spokesperson said the party remains committed to supporting Obi as its 2027 presidential candidate.
“Coordinated attacks from some quarters will not in any way diminish the trust Nigerians, particularly the obedients and youths in Nigeria, have in him,” Ifoh said.
“We know that with him, a new Nigeria will be possible. Nigerians spoke loudly in 2023, and they will speak even louder come 2027.”
In the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Okonkwo left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for LP.
He was later appointed as one of the spokespersons of the LP presidential campaign council.
[TheCable]
Actor Damola Olatunji has highlighted the prevalence of fake love and unhealthy competition in the movie industry.
In a revealing interview on Biola Bayo’s show, “Talk to B,” he disclosed that most attacks on celebrities come from within the industry, with colleagues using anonymous accounts to troll and undermine each other.
Olatunji expressed concerns about the lack of genuine love and support among actors, who often pretend to care for one another while secretly fueling negativity.
He advised aspiring actors to develop a “shock absorber” to navigate the industry’s harsh realities.
He said: “If you are coming into the space of the entertainment industry, you need to have what is called a shock absorber.
“In an industry where there is no true love, where we don’t truly love each other, fine, we do parties, we do all these things, we gather together to celebrate, and we smile and laugh at each other, but deep down, we don’t love each other.
“The pages that will troll you are faceless; I think they are from the industry. Why do we have this unhealthy competition? Why do you think if I bring this person down, I will rise? So, I took my time to do the analysis, and I can see that, okay, most of these attacks come from within, come from the industry”.
The actor emphasised his commitment to focusing on his own journey, refusing to engage in competition or bring others down to elevate himself.
“One thing I don’t do is I don’t compete with anybody. I try as much as possible to run my race at my own pace”, he added.
[TheNation]
•DSS ex-Director Ejiofor speaks on the differences between the 2012 (peaceful), 2020 (violent) and looming 2024 protest
Looming protest, if it goes ahead between Thursday,August 1 and Saturday, August 10, will be the third major nationwide protest in more than one decade. There were 2012 and 2020 protests, and now 2024 uncertain protest. The 2012 protest, tagged Occupy Nigeria, began on Monday, January 2 of that year in response to then-fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday, January 1. Protest took place across the country, including in the cities of Kano, Surulere, Ojota (part of metropolitan Lagos ), Abuja, Minna, and at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
The protest was characterised by civil disobedience, civil resistance, strike actions, demonstrations and online activism. The use of social media services such as Twitter and Facebook was a prominent feature of the protest. President Bola Tinubu was said to have taken part in the protest at that time. The 2020 protest was a decentralised social movement against police brutality in Nigeria that mainly occurred in 2020.
The movement’s slogan called for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police known for its long record of abuse against citizens. The protest originated from a Twitter campaign in 2017, using the hashtag #EndSARS to demand the unit’s disbandment by the Federal Government. The movement experienced resurgence in October 2020 following further revelations of the unit’s abuses, leading to mass demonstrations across major cities in Nigeria, and widespread outrage on social media platforms. The hashtag #EndSARS accumulated over 28 million tweets on Twitter alone. Notably, the movement was predominantly led by young Nigerians and expanded to include demands for good governance and accountability amid hardship in the country.
The protest took a violent turn following alleged attacks on protesters by security forces and suspected thugs launching attacks on people and properties. At Lekki toll gate, Lagos, one of the sites where security forces allegedly attacked peaceful protesters, it was reported that armed men of the Nigerian Army arrived and opened fire, thereby resulting in a disputed number of deaths. A clip of the shooting videoed by a Nigerian youth, DJ Switch, trended on the Internet purportedly showing how live round of bullets were being shot at innocent protesters who crouched on the ground, holding hands together and singing the national anthem. There were also reports that at least 50 other people were injured.
However, Lagos State government reported that the shooting resulted in about 25 injured and only two dead. There is heightened fear that the looming protest may go the way of the 2020 protest that turned violent. Mike Ejiofor, a retired Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), speaks on the 2012 and 2020 protests as well as the looming nationwide protest. Ejiofor spoke on a television programme. Excerpts:
Different
The protest of 2012 was different from the 2020 protest. And the organizers of each of the protests were different. President Tinubu even admitted that he has been protesting. The 2020 protest was majorly organized by youths. And if you recall, at the beginning of that protest, they were peaceful until it was hijacked by other interest groups. And this may not have come from government. (But) some people see this government as the best government whatsoever because of their personal interest and not because of national interest. So anything that can jolt the smooth running of the government, they will also try to protect the interest of government.
That is why we are afraid that this protest might be hijacked. Some people might say this APC government is not doing well, but others will say it is the best government we ever had. So we have conflicting interests. That is why it is necessary for now, because of enormous security
challenges, we should not compound the situation by engaging in protest. On the other side, the DSS has said they have identified the sponsors and sources of funding. I am not in service, I am out of service. They have their intelligence. They have all it takes because they brief the president. Possibly that is why the president has been consulting.
Circumstances
The circumstances of the two protests are the same. But again if you look at 2012, the protest didn’t turn violent because of the body language of the sitting president then. He allowed everything to go, and the situation was not as bad as what we have now. Now it can be exploited because people are hungrier now, people are desperate and may want to use anything to ventilate their anger. And that is why the government is saying that people can protest but it should not go violent.
If you look at the 2020 protest, it was mainly organized by the youths and that is why it turned violent and the demands why quite different from the 2012’s and that is also why it turned violent. The 2020 protest was particularly against police brutality.
You recall how it started from Delta State. And as people were talking about #EndSARS, there was maximum force used to suppress the riot after it degenerated from protest.
But in 2012, people gathered, they were there carrying out their protest peacefully, nobody worried them. If it is going to be like that now, I don’t think government will stop anyone from protesting but the fear is very high that this protest will be hijacked. The fears are there.
[Vanguard]
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said Nigeria would have been a failed if God did not bring President Bola Tinubu at this “crucial time”.
He said this while appealing to the youths to shelve the planed protest and support infrastructure development.
Umahi, who unveiled the Federal Government’s initiative, “Operation Free Our Roads”, in Abuja at the weekend, said the president would transform the country if given more time.
The minister, while unveiling the initiative, said it was aimed at ensuring that all roads under construction were motorable and completed in due time.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our youths to give Mr President Bola Tinubu more time. It would have been a failed state if God did not divinely bring the President at a very critical time like this. A lot of people did not know what challenges we had before he came on board,” he said.
Umahi urged Nigerians to be patriotic and assist the government by doing everything possible to reset the country to make it a place where no man would be oppressed.
According to him, the looming protest may be hijacked by hoodlums.
“Yes, there may be hardship, but the dawn is the darkest part of the night; we see a lot of hope and positive indices. So, let us give him more time and support him and increase our productivity, our country will be great again,” he said
Umahi said the “operation free our roads’’ initiative was part of government’s effort to put citizens first by fixing the the roads, especially in the rainy season.
“The contractors will use stone base to put and fill all the potholes in failed portions or where we have potholes, they will all be filled, both carriageways.
“Then, they will continue to maintain one carriageway for vehicles to follow while they consistently walk on one carriageway.
“We are going to put our eyes here. All controllers and all directors must be vigilant.”
Umahi also urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to contribute and take the operation seriously.
“This operation free our roads is not just for Ministry of Works, it is also for FERMA. We are going to put our eyes on all the directors and engineers of FERMA, we must take this thing very seriously.
“So, we will use contingency to ensure that all out roads are freed. Where there is no contingency, they must notify the permanent secretary and the director of highways immediately. We do not want our people to suffer during this rainy season,’’ he said
(NAN)
There’s no protest in Lagos, don’t let your children get killed - Tinubu’s daughter to traders
AFOLABI
Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu, has asked traders in Lagos state to deter their children from joining the planned nationwide protest.
Tinubu-Ojo, who is the Iyaloja-general of Lagos, urged the women to ensure that their children stay at home, adding that the state government has made significant progress in enriching the lives of the people.
Citing the #EndSARS protest, Tinubu-Ojo said people are yet to recover from the losses incurred during the protest in 2020.
“Let’s tell ourselves, family, and children that there is nothing like protest in Lagos. It is a gimmick to destroy the country,” she said on Saturday at Dosunmu market.
“Look at what they did during the last protest (#EndSARS), look at how they burnt government properties. Can you see that they are fighting against us?
“Don’t allow any political party to give money to some persons to fight. Don’t allow our children to get killed during the process.
“Look at the ShopRite at Adeniran Ogunsanya, Sangotedo, Lekki. Those businesses that were destroyed… have the owners recovered from their losses?
“I’m begging you in the name of God, let’s talk to ourselves and our children that there is nothing like protest in Lagos state because the government of Lagos state is making us proud.
“They (Lagos government) are making us happy. They gave us a sense of belonging.”
The president’s daughter said the federal government should be allowed to spend three years in office before being criticised.
“The federal government recently assumed office. Before you say a government is not doing well, let it spend three years in office,” she said.
“Let everyone tell their children at home to remain calm.”
The proposed youth-led nationwide protest is slated to commence on August 1.
The federal and state governments, including President Bola Tinubu, have appealed to the youths to shelve the protest.
Religious and traditional institutions have equally called for the cancellation of the planned demonstration.
Media
Officers who enlisted into the Armed Forces after university education face a looming mass exodus following the proposed Revised Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service HTACOs 2024 awaiting presidential approval.
The document, according to aggrieved officers, if approved by the president, will frustrate them out of service with long stays on ranks.
The document sighted by LEADERSHIP indicates that the military authorities are contemplating a policy change that would increase the duration required for promotion for Direct Short Service (DSS) officers who join as professionals while leaving the promotion timeline unchanged for regular service officers commissioned through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
While junior regular service officers spend five years on a rank, short service officers spend seven years before being promoted.
Chapter 17 of the proposed Revised HTACOS states that; “Substantive promotions up to the rank of Maj/Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr shall be by time among other conditions. These time requirements include; (a) Cadet to Lt/SLt/Fg Offr. Commission to these ranks shall be automatic after five years from the date of commencement of cadet training except on disciplinary grounds (Period of 2Lt/Mid/Plt Offr inclusive).
(b) Lt/SLt/Fg Offr to Capt/Lt(NN)/Flt Lt. Promotion to these ranks shall be after 5 years for RCC and 7 years for SSCC, DRC, DSSC and EC/SD/BC in the rank of Lt/SLt/Fg Offr.
© Capt/Lt(NN)/Flt Lt to Maj/Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr. Promotion to these ranks shall be after 5 years for RCC and 6 years for SSCC, DRC, DSSC and EC/SD/BC in the rank of Capt/Lt(NN)/Flt Lt.
(d) Additional Requirements. In addition to Sub-Paragraphs (b) and (c) above, a candidate should:
(1) Have satisfactory PER/Confidential Report for 3 consecutive years.
(2) Be recommended by his Unit Commanding Officer/ Commander.
(3) Be successful in the prescribed promotion examinations (to a maximum of 3 attempts and have been awarded pjsc/pjlsc or equivalent for Sub-Paragraph c only).
(4) Have satisfied other conditions as may be prescribed by Service Council/Board.
Meanwhile, for senior officers, the regular officers five years while the short service, executive officers are to spend six years on the rank before being considered for promotion.
The chapter also stated that promotion of senior officers (17.05) “All promotions above the rank of Maj/Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr shall be by selection, 3 good PERs/Course Report preceding the time of presentation, and success in a Promotion Board. In addition, the following conditions shall apply:
(a) Promotion to Lt Col/Cdr/Wg Cdr. For an officer to be promoted to Lt Col/Cdr/Wg Cdr, he must fulfill the following conditions:
(1) Awarded psc/pslsc or equivalent.
(2) Deployable to Staff/Comd appointments.
(3) Have stayed a minimum of 5 years for RCC and 6 years for SSCC, DRC and EC/SD/BC in the rank of Maj/ Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr.
(4) Other conditions not mentioned here but covered by individual Service guidelines.
(b) Promotion to Col/Capt (NN)/Gp Capt. For an officer to be promoted to Col/Capt (NN)/Gp Capt, he must fulfill the following conditions:
(1) Awarded psc or equivalent.
(2) Eminently deployable.
(3) Have stayed a minimum of 5 years for RCC and 6 years for SSCC and DRC in the rank of Lt Col/Cdr/Wg Cdr.
(4) Fulfill other conditions that may be introduced by the individual Services from time to time”
While this policy may seem to address certain administrative concerns, it poses significant disadvantages that could undermine the effectiveness, morale, and unity of the armed forces says some of the aggrieved officers.
They said the discriminatory promotion timelines can lead to feelings of resentment and division within the ranks.
“DSS officers, already essential due to their specialized skills, may feel undervalued and unfairly treated, leading to decreased morale and motivation. This internal division can undermine unit cohesion, which is critical for operational effectiveness,” they said.
The military as a profession relies on the expertise of professionals in fields such as medicine, engineering, and logistics.
“Extending the time for promotion for DSS officers could deter highly skilled professionals from joining the armed forces, opting instead for civilian careers where their expertise is more readily recognized and rewarded,” they added.
They said slower promotion rates for DSS officers can lead to a bottleneck in leadership positions within specialised units, adding that this delay can impede the timely development of experienced leaders, which is essential for maintaining operational readiness and responding to emerging challenges effectively.
“A promotion policy that discriminates based on commissioning source rather than performance and competence undermines the principles of meritocracy. Promotions should be based on demonstrated abilities, leadership qualities, and performance rather than the method of entry into the armed forces,” they said.
They cautioned that implementing a discriminatory policy may open the armed forces to legal challenges and ethical scrutiny.
“It could be perceived as violating principles of equality and fairness, which are cornerstone values in both national and international contexts,” they added.
It is instructive to note that in the United States military, promotion policies are standardized and focus on merit, performance, and time-in-grade, regardless of the commissioning source.
Officers, whether they come from the United States Military Academy (USMA), Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), or Officer Candidate School (OCS), are evaluated on the same criteria. This approach ensures that promotions are fair and based on the individual’s contributions and leadership potential.
Likewise, the British Army also follows a merit-based promotion system. Officers from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), Direct Entry, and Late Entry are all subject to the same promotion criteria.
The system is designed to ensure that promotions are awarded based on leadership qualities, experience, and the ability to perform at higher levels of responsibility, thereby maintaining fairness and equity within the ranks.
Therefore, the proposed policy to increase the time spent on each rank exclusively for DSS officers in the Nigerian armed forces is fraught with significant disadvantages.
According to the affected officers “It risks eroding morale, deterring skilled professionals, creating operational inefficiencies, undermining meritocracy, and raising legal and ethical concerns. Adopting international best practices from countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where promotion is based on merit and performance rather than the commissioning source, would ensure a fairer and more effective promotion system. It is crucial for the Nigerian armed forces to consider these factors to maintain a professional, motivated, and cohesive military force”.
At the time of filing this report,the Acting Director Defence Information Brigadier General Tukur Gusau did not respond to enquiries on the development.
The Director of Information, Ministry of Defence, Mr Henshaw Ogubike, did not respond to enquiries on the issue when contacted.
[Leadership]
The unfortunate loss of several members of the National Assembly has marked the last one year.
The 10th Assembly has recorded the death of five members since its inauguration in June 2023.
While the House of Representatives lost four members, the Senate recorded the death of one member.
There are 469 members of the National Assembly, comprising 109 senators and 360 House of Representatives members.
National Assembly members who had died in the last one year are Ekene Adams, Olaide Akinyemi, Isa Dogonyaro, Abdulkadir Danbuga and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died.
Their deaths have left a significant void in the legislative body and impacted the lives of their constituents.
Abdulkadir Danbuga
On October 11, 2023, a member, representing Isa/Sabon Birni Federal constituency of Sokoto State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Abdulkadir Jelani Danbuga, passed on following a brief illness. Danbuga is survived by two wives, many children and grandchildren.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, said the lawmaker’s demise created a void in his immediate family and robbed the people of his constituency of quality and uncompromising representation in the House of Representatives.
“I offer my condolences to his family, constituents, and the people and government of Sokoto State. I also condole with the presiding officers of the House of Representatives and the entire membership over the devastating loss of an eminent colleague,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
Isa Dogonyaro
Isa Dogonyaro, also a member of the House of Representatives, died on May 10, 2024, in Abuja after undisclosed illness.
Dogonyaro represented Garki/Babura Federal constituency of Jigawa State on the platform of the APC.
He was declared the lawful APC candidate for the House of Representatives in the 2023 general election after a court sacked Aminu Kanta who was declared the winner of the primary election in the constituency.
Until his death, Dogonyaro was the deputy chairperson of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control.
Ekene Adams
A member of the House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, on the platform of the Labour Party, Ekene Adams died on July 16, 2024, at 39 after battling ill health.
Until his demise, Adams was the House Committee on Sports chairman.
Before he was elected a federal lawmaker, Adams worked in the Sports sector. He was at different times the general manager of Kada City Football Club in Kaduna State and Remo Stars in Ogun State.
His demise was announced in a statement by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, who described him as “a dedicated public servant, passionate sports administrator, and kind philanthropist”.
Also, the National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure while mourning the death of Adams said the news of his death came to him as a rude shock.
Musiliudeen Akinremi
Still in July, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, Musiliudeen Akinremi, who was representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State, died in Abuja.
Akinremi, popularly called Jagaban, died at 51.
He served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Science Research Institutions.
Akinremi, a member of the APC, was elected in 2019 and won his re-election in 2023.
The lawmaker also reportedly died after battling a brief illness.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah
The National Assembly was on Saturday thrown into mourning with the death of the lawmaker representing Anambra South, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Ubah, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil, was said to have died in London, the United Kingdom.
He would have been 53 on September 3.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed Ubah’s death to our correspondent on Saturday.
He was the founder of a Nigerian daily newspaper, The Authority. He also founded the Ifeanyi Ubah FC, a football club in the Nigeria Premier League, following its purchase as Gabros International Football Club. He also founded a foundation named after him; Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation.
In 2014, Ubah contested the 2014 Anambra governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party but lost the race.
On February 24, 2019, Ubah was declared the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial elections on the platform of the Young Progressive Party but defected to APC.
Ubah was married to Uchenna Ubah, a Business Administration graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, with whom he had five children
The Federal Government has tightened security across all the nations borders ahead of the planned nationwide protests scheduled for August 1.
Kemi Nandap, Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) said this in a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Kenneth Udo, on Saturday in Abuja.
Nandap directed all Zonal Heads, State Command Comptrollers and Divisional Immigration Officers (DIOS) of the Service across the country to be extra vigilant.
She said officers and men of the service should intensify surveillance in view of the planned protest by some groups.
She also said that the directive was to ensure that foreign elements do not come into the country to participate in the protests.
“In keeping with the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s gateways placed on the shoulders of the Service, officers especially Heads of Border Commands, are tasked to rise to the occasion.
“This is by ensuring that no foreign element can take advantage of the protest to distabilise the country,” she said.
The NIS CG directed temporary suspension of all leave applications and charges officers to exercise utmost professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.
This, she said should enduring and after the protest, saying, “Nigeria is the only country we have as our own.”
Nandap assured all Nigerians of the Service’s preparedness to safeguard the nation’s borders towards enhancing national Security.
(NAN)
In hours, Nigeria’s biggest reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, will premiere its ninth season.
The twistful nature of the reality show makes it almost unpredictable.
However, the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Big Brother Naija reality show holds some expectations.
Here are what viewers should expect at Big Brother Naija Season 9 premiere:
Ebuka’s Return
Media personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, is expected to return as the host of the show for the eight consecutive seasons.
Ebuka has hosted every season of the show excerpt season 1 which he participated in.
Over the years, the ace TV host has added flavour to the show not just with his classic blend of upper echelon and street-friendly anchoring style but with his rich fashion sense.
He has been behind most of the twists and suspense during the live show.
Dual Introduction
Big Brother Naija recently added an exciting new dynamic to the show, announcing that contestants must enter the house in pairs.
This means that unlike previous seasons, viewers will see the housemates introduced in pairs this season.
Return Of Live Audiences
Recent Big Brother Naija open ceremonies were witnessed by live audiences except the 2020 ‘Lockdown’ season which was restricted due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
It’s expected that live audiences will be present at the ninth season’s premiere later tonight.
Over the years, live audiences have added sparkle and grace to the reality show.
Live Music Performances
Like previous seasons, the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Big Brother Naija reality show is expected to be graced by electrifying musical performances.
Although the organisers are yet to confirm any artiste for the launch event, performances from top Afrobeats’ musicians are expected to be among the surprise packages of the night.
Fave Lock-In Returns
Not only the housemates will be competing for prizes this season, the fans can grab cash prizes, too.
Viewers can participate by predicting the pairs they think will win the Immunity Challenge. Lucky fans can win N1 million weekly.
Reveal Of ‘Hidden’ Theme
Unlike previous seasons, the theme of Big Brother Naija Season 9 is yet to be unveiled hours to the premiere.
It’s expected that the theme will be officially revealed during the launch event.
“Everyone curious about the theme should watch out for the premiere on Sunday, July 28. The show holds lots of fun, vibes, emotion, drama, dynamics and intriguing twists,” said Dr. Busola Tejumola, the Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice.
The Big Brother Naija Season 9 premiere will air across all Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv at 7 PM WAT.
Subsequently, viewers can follow the housemates competing in pairs for the N100 million grand prize on DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 49 for 71 days.
[DailyPost]
More...
- •Says, thousands of terrorists, bandits’ cases pending in courts
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa has expressed concern that efforts being made by the military to end insecurity especially in the Northern part of the country has been frustrated by the judicial system, poor border management amongst other socio-economic challenges.
General Musa noted that the security situation in the north is complex and characterised by multiple challenges mitigating against efforts of the nation’s military’s readiness and effectiveness to bring insecurity to an endurable end in the country.
The Defence Chief spoke on Friday night in Zaria as the Guest Lecturer at a one-day dialogue organised by the Institute for Development Research and Training (IDR&T), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The CDS spoke on the topic ‘Assessing the Present Security Situation in Northern Nigeria’.
He said the military in conduct of its operations had engaged itself in the kinetic and non-kinetic aspects in a bid to positively resolve its operations, disclosing that traditional use of force had been complemented with the non-traditional approaches such as civil-military relations and civil-military cooperation.
According to him, “Despite the successes achieved so far, several challenges still affect the Armed Forces’ efforts towards curbing the various security threats in the Northern part of Nigeria.
“These challenges include complexities of border management as well as the erroneous perception of security as a task only for uniformed personnel and a lack of patriotism. Others are low human capacity index and perception of lack of justice.
“Slow Judicial process and a perception of lack of justice, fairness and equity amongst citizens within the country is also a major challenge. Although essentially contested, it is a multifaceted issue which has grown over time with delays in cases leading to frustration, disappointment and challenges in addressing systematic issues. For instance, the armed forces have thousands of apprehended terrorists and bandits whose cases are still not yet concluded in the courts.
“Other issues such as seeming favoritism and inaccessibility to justice, particularly for the poor are also perceived to have affected the dispensation of justice in the society. These issues breed apprehension and dissatisfaction which in turn could cause unnecessary tensions.
“Therefore, it is essential to restore efficient processes to resolve disputes that may arise from the perception of injustice especially across the teeming youth population of the north.
“This will largely assuage the citizenry to provide a feeling of belonging to the society. The perceptions of lack of justice, fairness and equity in the allocation of national resources have also been advanced as the reasons for some threats to our collective security in several instances.
“Equally, complaints of oppression and unjust treatment by individuals and groups will need to be revisited so as to give them closure. Furthermore, specific reforms to allow for special courts to address only cases on terrorism, kidnapping, treason and other similar cases to aid speedy trial could be considered and set up.
“Such courts could also allow the military to prosecute those cases it is involved in only in such special courts. To this end, a sustained effort from government, civil society and citizens will be required.
“Nigeria has 364 approved international border points and 1,497 other illegal migration points into the Country. Further to this, Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS Protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services within the West African sub-region.
“The obligation to abide by the ECOWAS Protocol on free movement coupled with the nature of our border management, further instigates the challenges to our nation’s security. This has manifested in increased insurgency, terrorism and religious extremism, as well as the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, human and drug trafficking amongst others.
“The underlying causes of these complexities could be attributed to the inadequacies in the implementation of frameworks for our border management systems as well as structures to adapt to systemic changes. Equally, the impact of these complexities on Nigeria’s national security particularly in the Northern parts of the country has brought to the fore the need to improve our border control measures and overall architecture to provide a more effective system that would improve the check of illegal entry through our borders.
“Thus, we need to continue our collaboration with political leaders and relevant stakeholders in the implementation of essential protocols and action plans towards strengthening our border management systems for improved national security.”
[TheNation]
Lorenzo Colombo scored two first-half goals and Marco Nasti netted the game-winner to give AC Milan a 3-2 victory over English Premier League champion Manchester City on Saturday at New York.
Nasti lifted Milan ahead to stay in the 78th minute, the 20-year-old Italian striker taking a centering pass from Belgian right wing Alexis Saelemaekers and firing an inside right foot blast into the goal.
Several European sides are playing pre-season tune-ups in US venues ahead of next month’s start of their league campaigns.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 19th minute, but Italian forward Colombo answered for AC Milan in the 30th and 34th minutes to lift the Italian side ahead 2-1 at half-time at Yankee Stadium.
City equalized in the 55th minute when Manchester hometown winger Micah Hamilton crossed the ball from the left side into the box.
English striker James McAtee headed the ball into the net, setting the stage for Nasti’s decider.
At Los Angeles, Gabriel Martinelli scored for Arsenal in the 81st minute to give the Gunners a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in a friendly at SoFi Stadium.
Danish 21-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring in the 10th minute for United.
Marcus Rashford lofted a clearing pass down the left wing and Hojlund took the ball and battled Arsenal defender Ayden Heaven into the box, where he got a step ahead and blasted a goal between the legs of Gunners goalkeeper Karl Hein.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus netted the equalizer in the 26th minute, the Brazilian tapping in a centering pass from point-blank range as the Red Devils appealed in vain for an offside call.
Martinelli, who helped Brazil to Tokyo Olympic gold, came in from the left side and flicked in a right-footed shot inside the near post to give Arsenal the winning margin.
– Celtic rip Chelsea –
Earlier, Japan’s Kyogo Furuhashi and Denmark’s Matt O’Riley scored first-half goals to power Celtic over Chelsea 4-1.
Luis Palma and Michael Johnston added second-half goals for the Glasgow side, while Christopher Nkunku averted a shutout for the Londoners with an 89th-minute penalty kick.
Celtic, who beat Man City 4-3 on Tuesday, dominated the match at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Celtic seized the lead in the 19th minute on O’Riley’s left-footed blast from the right side of the box inside the far post.
An unguarded Furuhashi tapped in a left-footed shot in the 33rd minute from point-blank range off a centering pass from O’Riley to give the Scottish side a 2-0 advantage at half-time.
Honduran striker Palma boosted the lead in the 76th minute and Johnston netted the Hoops’ final goal in the 79th.
AFP
Amid heavy gridlock, motorists and commuters in Lagos lamented over the sudden scarcity of fuel, popularly called petrol.
This has resulted in transport fares increase by commercial bus drivers — danfos and koropes — within the city.
Consequently, fuel queues have resurfaced with most filling stations shut, as motorists struggle with the skyrocketing fuel prices. It has gone as high as N850 in some filling stations.
This is coming barely six days to the commencement of the planned nationwide protest over economic challenges.
By last Friday, yesterday, fuel queues had started to get longer within the metropolis, with few fuel stations dispensing.
N950 per litre
On Saturday, besides Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPCL Limited Ltd.-branded fuel stations selling at N650 per litre, other independent marketers are selling between N850 to N950.
It was discovered that many filling stations which seemed to have run out of stocks, were seen under lock and key.
Others shut their gates against motorists and other users of petroleum products who were hoping to get some.
With those stations selling the product to buyers, there were long queues as panic buying continued. This resulted in gridlock along the roads where filling stations were dispensing.
Men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authorities, LASTMA, deployed seemed overwhelmed as they could not effectively contain the high influx of motorists searching for the product.
… enter black marketers
As a result, black marketers have taken advantage of the situation. They were selling the product to desperate motorists at exorbitant rates of up to ₦1,000 to ₦1,400 per litre.
Black market dealers were seen hawking the product at Egbeda, Ikotun, LASU-Iba Road, Ikeja, Agege, among others.
A danfo driver, simply identified Mr.Jude Akpan, who spoke to Vanguard, lamented that he spends twice the usual amount on fuel to fill his vehicle for one trip.
“So he has passed the cost on to passengers.
“I bought N850 per litre from a filling station this morning after several hours in the long queue.
“I bought 20 litres for N17,000, which can hardly take me two trips from Ikotun to Oshodi.”
Investigation showed that Ikotun to Egbeda, which used to be N200, is now N500, while Iyana-Ipaja is N700, depending on the bargaining power of passengers.
Also, vehicle owners and other fuel users lamented the scarcity. They said it could worsen in the coming weeks if authorities did not address the cause of the shortage.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) has handed Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Nigeria’s boxer, a provisional suspension for testing positive for a banned substance ahead of her opening fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a statement in the early hours of Sunday, ITA said Ogunsemilore tested positive for furosemide in an out-of-competition doping test collected on Thursday.
Furosemide belongs to a group of medicines called loop diuretics (also known as water pills). The substance is given to help treat fluid retention (edema) and swelling that is caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, or other medical conditions.
Furosemide is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on its prohibited list. The drug is categorised as a diuretic and a masking agent, which can prevent the detection of other performance-enhancing substances.
“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules,” the statement reads.
“This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division. The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.”
Ogunsemilore was due to face Taiwan’s Wu Shih Yi in a round-of-16 bout on Tuesday.
The development reduced the Nigerian boxing contingent to one after Dolapo Omole pulled out of the Games due to injuries.
[TheCable]