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The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu is concerned with the recent hike in the price of drugs and the recent scarcity of essential medicine in the country.
Speaking with reporters after the official commissioning of a new clinical complex at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Metta, Lagos, the minister revealed that the president was having sleepless nights over the current situation detailing that the high cost of drugs and the exit of some multinational pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria were key issues the president was working tirelessly to address.
Recall that multinational British pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation, GlaxoSmithKline made the announcement that it was leaving Nigeria in August of 2023.
In the aftermath of GSK’s exit, prices of medicine produced by the company went up as their products became scarce.
Naija News reports that the minister stressed that the president was determined to build sustainable, durable and comprehensive healthcare systems for Nigerians.
He said, “Mr. President is having sleepless nights on this drug scarcity. He has discussed with us what we need to do. What President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants for this country is sustainable, durable, comprehensive health care. He just doesn’t want us to scratch the surface.
“He (Tinubu) is very real and very truthful to Nigerians. He wants to fix the healthcare system, and he is working to deploy his time and resources of the country into our healthcare system. I know things are hard, but Nigerians should bear with us. Things will be turned to get better in the not-too-distant future.”
“It is a multifaceted solution that we have to provide to this problem. Number one, we have the problem of counterfeiting as well. We are working with NAFDAC and Customs to reduce the importation of counterfeit drugs into our country. We are also working with some of the local pharmaceutical companies to increase production.
“And some of the companies that are planning to leave, we are talking to them to bear with us not to leave. We are also working on various forms of integrations where we can encourage local manufacturing in our country.”
The Surulere Federal Constituency I bye-election notice has been officially published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State.
The INEC Public Affairs Officer in Lagos State, Adenike Oriowo, who confirmed the development to journalists on Friday, said the notice had been displayed at the commission’s headquarters in Sabo-Yaba for public viewing since Thursday.
According to her, the notice had also been posted at the INEC Surulere Local Government Area Office, adding that the electoral commission had already commenced the implementation of activities and the timetable for the upcoming elections.
Oriowo emphasized that INEC’s preparations were in full swing to ensure strict compliance with the relevant laws and guidelines governing the poll.
She assured that the commission was committed to delivering a credible bye-election in the constituency.
It could be recalled that INEC had announced the schedule for re-run and by-elections in nine states, including Surulere Federal Constituency in Lagos State, to take place on Feb. 3, 2024.
As per the poll timetable, the party primary elections, along with the resolution of any disputes arising from them, will be held between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9.
The public campaigns conducted by political parties will begin on Jan. 18 and conclude on Feb. 1, Naija News understands.
The vacancy in the Surulere seat occurred due to the resignation of the former occupant, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was appointed as the Chief of Staff by President Bola Tinubu after his victory.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State on Friday called on the people of the state not to allow their ethnic, political, and religious differences divide them.
He also stressed that as a people, their strength lies in their unity.
Mutfwang spoke during the presentation of staff of office to the new Ngolong Ngas, at the Pankshin township stadium, Pankshin LGA of the state.
“I charge all Plateau people not to allow our ethnic, political, and religious differences to divide us.
“Like I have often remarked; our strength is in our unity and there is no force no matter how formidable a united people cannot overcome,” he stressed.
Earlier, the governor said, “It is my privilege to address you on this long-awaited occasion of the coronation and presentation of the staff of office to the new Ngolong Ngas, His Royal Highness Nde Jika Golit, on First Class status.
“This occasion is unique and very dear to my administration, as we all know the traditional institution is vital to the preservation of our cultural heritage and the promotion of our co-existence as a people who share a common identity.
“We value the continuous maintenance of the norms, traditions, and practices that serve the greater interest of the people.
“You are all aware that almost a decade ago, God the creator in His divine way called home the late Ngolong Ngas, Nde Joshua Dimlong of blessed memory, to eternal glory to join his ancestors.
“This loss created a vacuum and by the special grace of God, a successor who will take over from where he stopped emerged in a peaceful process.
“Today, by the grace of God, he will be crowned and presented with the staff of office to continue the good works of his predecessor.
“I therefore wish to congratulate the Ngolong Ngas, Nde Jika Golit, on his ascension to the throne of his ancestors. His selection by the kingmakers, through a peaceful and rancour-free atmosphere, is worthy of emulation by other ethnic groups in the state.
“Let me say at this point that it has become very expedient for us to hold this remarkable occasion at this crucial period of our collective existence.
“As you are aware that a week of mourning was declared in honor of our beloved people who were gruesomely murdered during the cruel Christmas Eve attacks and the days that followed, in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas.
“Therefore, this occasion is low key and won’t involve the usual processions, glamour and celebrations, as it should be the case, in observance of the week of mourning. May their souls rest in peace and may the Lord comfort us, most especially those directly affected.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it will complete test runs at the Port Harcourt refinery this month.
Femi Soneye, NNPC’s spokesperson, in an interview with Reuters on Thursday, said testing will be concluded soon.
“Testing will conclude shortly, ensuring the refinery’s efficient operation. That phase will be completed this month,” he said.
The Port Harcourt refinery, which was shut in 2019, is among the state-owned refineries that have remained moribund for years.
The federal government, in March 2021, approved the sum of $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the plant.
In December 2023, the NNPC said it completed the mechanical phase of the turnaround maintenance at the Port Harcourt refinery.
Speaking on the timeframe of operations, Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said production would commence after phase one of the rehabilitation of the refinery is completed.
“This is just to announce to Nigerians that in fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream phase 1 of the PH refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase 2 in 2024, we heartily announce the mechanical completion and flare up of the refinery on the 20th of December 2023,” he had said.
Lokpobiri, in August 2023, had said the Warri refinery would also come on stream by the end of the first quarter (Q1) of this year, promising that Kaduna refinery will also come on board towards the end of 2024.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the launch of the Nigerian naira (cNGN) stablecoin.
The cNGN, which will be launched on February 27, 2024, is powered by the Africa Stablecoin Consortium (ASC), a consortium of Nigerian financial institutions, fintechs, and blockchain experts.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies specifically designed to maintain a constant value. They are often pegged or tied to another currency, commodity or financial instrument.
In a statement on its website on Thursday, the ASC said the cNGN stablecoin has met the regulatory standards and requirements as established by the CBN, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The ASC said it is committed to enhancing secure and compliant financial interactions, revolutionising the way people transact and engage with their money securely and seamlessly.
“This ushers in a new era of financial fluidity, bridging the Nigerian Naira with the global market through blockchain technology,” the statement reads.
“Backed 1:1 by Naira reserves held in designated commercial banks, the cNGN Stablecoin transforms the Naira into a dynamic tool for worldwide remittances, commerce, trade, and investment.
“More than just a currency, cNGN shortens settlement times, enabling payments that traverse the globe swiftly, mirroring the speed of a text message and at a fraction of the cost.
“This breakthrough paves the way for instantaneous financial transactions, seamlessly connecting Nigeria’s vibrant economy with international markets and offering unprecedented efficiency in both domestic and global financial interactions.”
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE NAIRA STABLECOIN
According to the ASC, people can pay for anything, anywhere, and at any time. With a seamless tap, users can shop the world and pay in naira without the traditional challenges of currency conversion and hefty international transaction fees.
The consortium also said “supporting your loved ones back home becomes as simple as a quick tap on your phone” with the new innovation.
“No more standing in lines. With cNGN, funds land directly in their wallets within seconds, ready to fuel their dreams and brighten their days. No more distance, no more delays, just the magic of compliant virtual assets bridging the gap between hearts,” the ASC added.
“Cut out the red tape and sky-high fees of traditional international trade. With cNGN you can send and receive payments across the globe instantly enabling you to transact with national & international partners in any stablecoin currency, fueling economic growth and global success.
“Get paid, anywhere, instantly. Ditch the limitations of location and outdated payment systems. With cNGN, you can freelance for the world, right from your desk in Nigeria. Your talent knows no borders, so why should your income? Skip the bank queues and paperwork.”
The unveiling of the cNGN is coming over two years after digital currency transactions were banned by the apex bank.
In February 2021, CBN directed deposit money banks (DMBs), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs) to close accounts of persons or entities involved in cryptocurrency transactions within their systems.
The regulator further warned local financial institutions against dealing in crypto assets or facilitating payments for crypto exchanges, citing money laundering (ML), terrorism financing (TF), cybercrime, and the volatility of cryptocurrencies as reasons for the ban.
However, the apex bank on December 22, 2023, issued fresh operational guidelines on virtual assets service providers (VASPs) to all banks and OFIs — signalling a shift from its initial position which restricts crypto transactions.
VASPs are entities that conduct exchanges between virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) and fiat currencies and transfers of virtual assets.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dropped its charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy against a former attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
This is in response to the no-case submission filed by Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant in the charges all related to the OPL 245 transaction of 2011.
The anti-graft agency said it does not have evidence to support its charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy against Adoke.
The EFCC also informed the FCT high court that it would not oppose Adoke’s application, alongside that of the other defendants in the case which include Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie (Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd company secretary), Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), over some of the charges.
However, the EFCC said that Gbinigie has a case to answer over the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director of Malabu Oil & Gas.
Recall that that the EFCC had charged Adoke before the FCT high court, Abuja, alleging that he received a bribe of N300 million from Abubakar over the OPL 245 resolution.
[ThisNigeria]
There is mounting pressure on Peter Obi to dump his presidential ambition and run as vice presidential candidate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2027.
Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections; where he was placed third in the result announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Obi is being lured to contest in a joint-ticket with Atiku on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 presidential election.
According to a notable member of the PDP, Uche Rochas, who is in the vanguard of mobilising for Atiku towards 2027, “There is time and process for everything. He should know that and should stop running faster than himself.”
Rochas had declared:
Arc Uche Rochas
@U_Rochas
“This is the only way that I can forgive Peter Obi my brother. I hope this message gets to him.
“There is time and process for everything. He should know that and should stop running faster than himself.”
Some stakeholders in the polity perceive Atiku/Obi joint ticket as a coming tsunami.
Meanwhile, some others are raising the question of what will become the place of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was vice presidential candidate to Atiku in 2023.
Uche Rochas had steered the the political storm when he declared his support for Atiku to contest for the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former vice president has the right to do so.
[NationalDaily]
Protesting women on Friday afternoon burned down the house of the District Head of Bokkos town in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, Michal Monday Adanchi.
According to a source from the area, the incident occurred around 12:30am.
The source said the women burned the house following the arrest of some members of the community for their alleged involvement in the recent killings in the area, adding that the traditional ruler’s residence and his administrative office were burned down.
“The incident began at the police station where they expressed their anger over the arrest of some members of the community. After leaving the police station, they proceeded to the house of the traditional ruler, protesting that he was a sellout. A few minutes after reaching the house, they set it ablaze,” the source said.
Our correspondent learnt that soldiers had arrived the area and dispersed the protesting women.
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, said he would call the DPO of the area and got back to our correspondent.
The state police command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of eight persons in connection with the recent attacks in Bokkos and Barikin Ladi LGAs.
Daily Trust reports that about 23 villages were attacked on the Eve of Christmas, where more than 150 people were killed and hundreds of houses razed.
Editor’s note: The picture is used for illustration, and not the traditional ruler’s burnt house.
[DailyPost]
President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the creativity and sheer artistic talents driving Nigeria’s entertainment industry, following the success just recorded by ace Nigerian artist, Funke Akindele, with her movie, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’.
The movie, produced and co-directed by Akindele, was released in cinemas in Nigeria in mid-December last year, and after two weeks, it was reported to have grossed over N1 billion, becoming the highest-earning Nigerian movie ever.
In a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu celebrated the ingenuity, creativity, and immense artistic talents of Nigeria’s thriving entertainment industry.
According to the statement, the President congratulated Akindele on her record-setting film and commended the ace thespian for her contributions to the growth of the industry.
He extolled the excellence of the Nigerian creative industry, acknowledging its pivotal place as a medium, not only for artistic expression but also a source of enormous soft power and viable export.
Tinubu said: “The creative industry is one of the high-employment sectors, providing jobs for our able and talented youths. It is an industry that is crucial to my administration. I salute Nigerians for their enduring support and patronage of home-grown creative efforts. We will provide the conducive environment for the industry to thrive further.”
[TheNation]
Suspected arsonists have invaded the residence of a 75-year-old elder sister of the Attah Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, and set her ablaze, killing her in the process.
The woman identified as Meimunat Opaluwa Sani was set ablaze alongside her granddaughter, Hajarat, in the early hours of Thursday, at her Oketekwe residence in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State.
A family source said, “A group of people came to the house with petrol while our grandmother was sleeping alongside her daughter and granddaughter. They poured the petrol on the house and set it on fire.
“The five-year-old granddaughter, Mama, died immediately after suffering severe burns, while Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa Sani, along with her own daughter, was rushed to an undisclosed hospital. Mallama later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, while her daughter was still battling for her life.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu, in a condolence message issued on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Lizzy Okonji, said “The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the paramount ruler of Igala kingdom, Mathew Opaluwa, over the death of his sister, Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa-Sani and her granddaughter.”
He described the deaths of the late Opaluwa-Sani and her five-year-old granddaughter as tragic and sacrilegious.
The minister called on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring to book the perpetrators of the crime.
“It is with a heavy heart that I condole with our father, HRM, Mathew Opaluwa, and the royal family over the deaths of his sister and her granddaughter, whose lives were taken in the most painful manner.
“I also commiserate with the entire people of Igala Kingdom at this time because this is a loss to every one of us.
“I call on security agencies to investigate the alleged arson and bring the perpetuators of this act to book so that it would serve as a deterrent to others. Such acts of sacrilege must be discouraged in our land.
“I pray that Almighty Allah grant the souls of the late Mallama Meimunat Opaluwa, and her granddaughter, Onechojo Aljanah Firdaus. I also pray Almighty Allah grants the family the heart to bear the loss,” Audu stated.
However, the Kogi State Police Command is yet to react to the incident as the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, has not responded to a message sent to him and has not picked up repeated calls to his mobile phone.
Our correspondent also called the state Security Adviser, Jerry Omadara, who promised to get back but has not done so as of the time of filing this report.
[Punch]
More...
President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the Yuletide free train service till January 7.
The extension, the Federal Government said, would enable more Nigerians to return to their stations and enjoy the benefit.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by Transportation Minister Said Ahmed Alkali announced the extension.
The Federal Government had announced a free train service on all serviced routes and 50 per cent rebate on road transportation from December 21, 2023 till yesterday on specific routes to reduce the burden of high cost of public transportation during the just-concluded Christmas and New Year holidays.
The statement said: “While over 163,000 Nigerians benefited from successful first leg of the Yuletide initiative, President Tinubu, in further demonstration of his care for the welfare of Nigerians, directed that the free train service should be made available for extra three days to allow more Nigerians to take the advantage.
“The public is advised to note that this extension applies to all three routes currently being serviced by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as follows: 1. Lagos – Ibadan; 2. Warri – Itakpe; and 3. Abuja – Kaduna
“It is hoped that Nigerians who are interested in travelling by rail will take full advantage of this unique opportunity aimed at enhancing people’s welfare.”
[TheNation]
•How EFCC ordered 52 firms to submit forex allocation forms from 2014 to 2023
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday stormed the headquarters of Dangote Industries Limited in Ikoyi, Lagos, in furtherance of the ongoing investigation into the alleged abuse of the foreign exchange allocations by the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
The anti-graft commission is probing the alleged preferential allocations of forex to the Dangote Group owned by billionaire Aliko Dangote and 51 other companies under the Emefiele-led CBN.
Two senior officials of the EFCC confirmed the presence of the anti-graft operatives at the Dangote but declined to speak on the reason for their presence.
One of the officials said, “I can confirm that our men are there, but I can’t comment on the reason for their presence there.”
Sources said the anti-graft commission had earlier written to the 52 companies directing them to provide documents supporting the allocation and utilisation of foreign exchange sold to them at official rates in the last 10 years.
The EFCC had asked the firms to submit Form A and Form M which detailed the forex allocations to them between 2014 and June 2023.
But while some companies complied with the directive, several others were said to have asked for time to get the proper documents.
Until June 2023, Nigeria operated multiple exchange rates which economists said contributed to the distortions in forex allocation, market volatility, and fluctuations.
The policy was blamed for the inflationary pressures on the naira and the thriving black market activities which were said to have undermined the effectiveness of the CBN monetary policies.
The surprise operation at the Dangote headquarters which was carried out by the EFCC detectives during working hours shocked the staff and jolted the visitors to the building.
The PUNCH reports that the search commenced at about 3pm and lasted for several hours.
During the raid, the operatives ransacked offices and carted away several financial documents related to forex allocations to the group from 2014 to June 2023, when Emefiele was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu.
The PUNCH could not immediately confirm if any of the company officials were arrested by the commission.
This newspaper had reported that the Special Investigator on the CBN and Related Entities, Jim Obazee, uncovered how Emefiele allegedly lodged public funds in foreign currencies in no fewer than 593 bank accounts in the United States, United Kingdom, and China without the approval of the apex bank’s board of directors and the CBN Investment Committee.
CBN probe
Obazee found that the ex-CBN governor allegedly lodged £543, 482,213 in fixed deposits in UK banks without authorisation, adding that he allegedly manipulated the naira exchange rate and committed fraud in the e-Naira project.
The investigator in a report submitted to the President on December 20, 2023, recommended that Emefiele, who is being prosecuted for alleged N1.2bn procurement fraud, should face fresh charges over the handling of the CBN naira redesign policy and alleged illegal issuance of currency under section 19 of the CBN Act.
He also recommended that the ex-CBN governor should be prosecuted alongside Tunde Sabiu, a former aide and nephew to former President Muhammadu Buhari, and 12 top directors of the CBN.
Emefiele denied the indictments, describing the content of Obazee’s investigation report as “false, misleading, and calculated to disparage my person, injure my character, and serve the selfish interest of the private investigator.”
A top EFCC official revealed that the EFCC was probing the preferential foreign exchange allocations allegedly made by Emefiele in defiance of extant financial rules and regulations and the CBN Act.
The official claimed, “The EFCC is investigating the Dangote Group over the preferential foreign exchange allocations made by the former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele in defiance of extant financial rules and regulations and in disregard to the CBN Act.
“There are about 51 other big companies under probe over the development too, and the commission discovered that the allocations were not approved by the former President Muhammadu Buhari, so it was more of a means for the former CBN governor and his cronies to launder money through forex and Bureau De Change operators.”
When contacted the spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, declined comment on the raid on the Dangote headquarters.
Dangote Industries’ spokesperson, Sunday Esan, did not respond to phone calls or WhatsApp messages sent to him.
Two other officials in the communications department of the company, Anthony Chiejina and Francis Browne, have yet to respond to calls and messages sent to them as of the time of filing this report.
Firm honours invitation
But a Dangote official claimed the firm had honoured the EFCC’s request and wondered why the commission chose to embarrass them.
He noted, “We don’t know why they (EFCC officials) came to our office again; we had earlier been invited to the office of the EFCC. As such, the Dangote officials took along all the documents and submitted them. We don’t know why they eventually decided to visit out office again.
“The question we are asking is what did they come to take from our office when we had honoured their invitation? They left with empty hands because all the documents they wanted from us had been taken to them. The same EFCC that came to our office is the one giving information to the media that they are investigating us.’’
Before the latest development, Dangote Industries had in November 2023 refuted allegations that it was involved in forex malpractices and money laundering involving a staggering $3.4bn allegedly facilitated by Emefiele.
The conglomerate, a mainstay in Nigeria’s industrial landscape and a significant player in the African economy, denied the claims that the money was funnelled to its non-Nigerian subsidiaries, prompting illicit financial flows and round-tripping.
It said a rival business group sponsored the allegation
In its rebuttal, Dangote Industries referred to past approvals granted by the CBN between 2010 to 2018, allowing it to purchase forex totalling $3.755bn for funding of its projects across Africa, of which only 47.70 per cent was utilised.
The company underscored that forex for its investment undertakings was sourced from the interbank market, with all transactions supported by Letters of Credit in line with international standards.
Commenting on the probe, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Musa Rafsanjani, said the search of the anti-graft agency at the headquarters of Dangote could be part of an assessment on the previous administration, adding that the EFCC should be allowed to do its job.
“I think for me, let the EFCC do its work. We all know that there are several problems that have to do with our financial institutions. Some people used their connections to probably circumvent the process
“I do not think there should be any problem. This might be a routine check to see how the former regime has conducted itself, whether it has followed the due process or it has not followed the due process.’’
The EFCC operation was happening as South African billionaire Johann Rupert surpassed Aliko Dangote to become Africa’s wealthiest person, as reported by Forbes Real-Time Billionaires.
Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, a platform tracking daily changes in net worth among high-net-worth individuals globally, revealed that Dangote slid to the second position after experiencing a reduction in wealth from $13.5bn in 2023 to $9.7bn as of January 4, 2024, marking a $3.8bn loss.
[Punch]
The National Association of Nigerian Students President for Benin Republic, Ugochukwu Favour, has called for the arrest of the reporter, Umar Audu, who went undercover to expose corruption in the issuance of certificates in the country.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday on the Channels TV programme Sunrise Daily, Favour slammed the reporter for having his passport stamped and obtaining certificates without being physically present.
“Your passport was stamped while you were not available there. Now, and that aside, this guy served in 2019. And he still served again in 2023,” he said.
Favour claimed the reporter was implicating the government and questioning the credibility of agencies like the Immigration and National Youth Service Corps by going undercover.
“He has to be arrested. This guy needs to be arrested because, I know, he’s a reporter who is trying to clear out some things but on that note, you are trying to implicate some persons now because, in a sense, you’re trying to implicate the government, the NYSC and the immigration,” he said.
When asked by the interviewer if the reporter’s efforts exposed loopholes that should be addressed, the NANS president said, “I’m not doubting that but then since this is out already, I want to urge the government to look into it and take the necessary steps as fast as possible,” he responded.
•15,000 Nigerian students in Benin Republic in limbo —NANS
The National Youth Service Corps Scheme, NYSC, has explained how the undercover reporter who had earlier been mobilised for the compulsory one-year programme in 2019 was able to be mobilised for the same programme in 2023.
Speaking on a Channels Television programme yesterday, the Director of Public Affairs, NYSC, Mr Eddy Megwa, said the reporter changed his email address and phone number to be drafted again into the scheme.
“It is not that we don’t have checks and balances in place to detect possible breaches of the system. When the undercover reporter first put in his data, the system rejected him because he had served in the scheme before.
”He later changed his email address and his phone number which made the system to accept him. And he was initially posted to Osun State
“He did that because he was out for a particular purpose. We are looking at the situation and ensure that it does not happen again.
”We don’t have a database of graduates to serve in the scheme. We only rely on the lists sent to us by the senator of the various universities, stating the number of graduates to expect from them,” he said.
Though Megwa said the use of the National Identification Number, NIN, was incorporated into the scheme three years ago, he was unable to explain why the differences in the reporter’s biodata in NIN and what he put in for his second mobilisation were not enough to raise a flag for the scheme to detect him.
Asked what step the scheme takes to ascertain whether people with foreign certificates are qualified to take part in the scheme, Megwa said: “It is not our duty to assess their certificates, but we have resorted to inviting foreign students and giving them test to know their abilities.
” In the course of doing that, we have made startling discoveries. Ask some of them to write a simple essay, you will be surprised at what you get. I have some of such materials that I can show you.
”NYSC is an elite scheme, not for illiterates and the means of communication is English Language. In 2006, the then DG of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Yusuf Momoh went to an orientation camp and asked a supposed corps member the title of his final project, the answer he gave was incredulous and further investigation revealed that his name was smuggled into the list of graduates from a particular university.”
Megwa added that the scheme was collaborating with the federal Ministry of education, Foreign Affairs Ministry and other agencies to track people going for foreign studies and when they come back with their certificates.
Meanwhile, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in the Republic of Benin, Okechukwu Favour, has appealed to the federal government to rethink the blanket ban on certificates and degrees from higher institutions in that country.
Favour, who also appeared on the television show, said the fate of over 15,000 Nigerian students in Benin Republic was hanging in the balance.
“We have over 15,000 Nigerians studying in that country alone. The ban will affect legitimate students who are at various levels of their studies.
”We are not saying the government should not punish anybody who has engaged in criminal acts, but it is not in all the universities that such a thing is happening.
“Also, it is not all the students that are involved in such terrible acts. While one agrees that the undercover reporter has helped to expose some misdeeds, he also breached certain conventions in the process. Our appeal is that let the guilty ones be punished, spare the innocent, ” he stated.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government has slammed a ban on graduates from some foreign universities, following the revelation by a reporter that he was able to get a degree from a university in Benin Republic within six weeks and was even mobilised for the NYSC one-year programme.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, said a committee had been set up to appraise the whole system of accrediting foreign universities and assessing their certificates.
[Vanguard]