July 14, 2021 – Precise Post

Saraki Condemns Suspension of Hon Agboola by Kwara House of Assembly

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…. Says it undermines the independence of the legislature as an arm of government By Chris Udochukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – Former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has condemned the suspension of Hon. Jimoh Agboola by the Kwara State House of Assembly. Saraki who gave the condemnation via his Facebook page, disclosed that Agboola was suspended by the simple reason that he criticised the executive on a radio programme. He reminded that Hon. Agboola, is a member of the opposition party and as such, his job is to assess, critique, and proffer alternatives to government policies. The former head of the federal legislature, who said he finds it very disturbing that a legislator in his home State would be suspended for exercising his right as opposition party, stressed that the action by the Kwara State House of Assembly does not only constitute a threat to our democracy, but also undermines the independence of the legislature as an arm of government. It is unprecedented, not only in our state but across the country, he said. He therefore called on …

News

Insecurity: Nigeria to deploy robots, artificial intelligence to fight criminals – Senate

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…urges security agencies to collaborate with Communications Ministry on abetting crime By Ogechi Okorie Abuja (Precise Post) – The Senate on Wednesday said that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has established a centre for artificial intelligence and robotics to deploy the use of robots and artificial intelligence in combating crime and criminality in Nigeria. The revelation came to the fore when the upper chamber considered a report on ‘the spate of growing insecurity in Nigeria’ by the Joint Committee on Legislative Compliance and Communications during plenary. The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo (APC, Osun West), in his presentation, further revealed that the SIM registration exercise by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, which makes the provision of the National Identity Number compulsory, has drastically reduced the use of phones by kidnappers for the purpose of negotiations. According to him, the earlier successes of the SIM registration were compromised by the numerous agents recruited by the communications companies that register SIM card owners across the 774 local government areas of Nigeria. He, however, explained …

News

Senate kicks, faults NNPC over non-remittance of N3.87trn from crude oil sales

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…wants N865.44bn illegal revenue deductions stopped …directs NPA to refund $37.67m, N67.5bn, N1.07bn, $2.3m, €196,257 to treasury …mandates EFCC, ICPC to go after govt. officials responsible for diverted funds By Ogechi Okorie Abuja – The Senate has faulted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for under remitting the sum of N3,878,955,039,855.73 trillion revenue from domestic crude oil sales to the Federation Account for the period of January to December, 2015. Accordingly, the upper chamber called on the Corporation to desist from further deduction at source as this contravenes Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It also mandated the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) or any other approving authority to, as a matter of urgency, approve agreed percentage which should be allocated to NNPC monthly as operational cost to ensure that their operations are not adversely affected. These formed part of the 59 recommendations adopted by the Senate and contained in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the Annual report of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the Accounts of the Federation for the years ended 31st December, 2015. The Senate …

News

70th Birthday: Buhari, Aisha Congratulate Alakija

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By Chris Udochukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha have felicitated with Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, on the occasion of her 70th birthday on July 15, 2021 Buhari who described her as a distinguished business leader and philanthropist, extolled her for dedicating her resources to humanitarian causes. The congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu made available via Femi Adesina’s Facebook page. The statement reads in full: President Muhammadu Buhari and the First Lady Aisha Buhari rejoice with Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, distinguished business leader and philanthropist on her 70th birthday on July 15, 2021, extolling her for dedicating her resources to humanitarian causes. The President and the First Lady thank Mrs Alakija for being an ardent supporter of many social, economic, religious and health causes, contributing generously to the fight against COVID-19 in the country through her donations. President Buhari and his wife believe that the joyous occasion provides an opportunity for family, friends, associates and well-wishers to reflect on the …

Opinion

The Coming of Kano-Kaduna Modern Railway and It’s Social and Economic Significance

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By Garba Shehu,Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity.Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday lay the foundation stone of the Kano-Abuja sector of the Lagos-Kano railway modernization project. The Lagos-Kano rail project is part of the 25-year vision approved by the Federal Government for the rail transportation in 2002. The contract for it was signed on 30th October, 2002 and assigned to a Chinese Company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC.On October 22,2009 CCECC and the Federal Ministry of Transportation signed a supplementary agreement for the implementation of the Abuja-Kaduna segment, which was completed, commissioned and put to use by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. On 28th August 2012, the government signed another supplementary agreement for Lagos-Ibadan, the second segment of the corridor for the construction of double track railway of 156.8 kilometers. In addition to this, the CCECC and the government of Nigeria agreed on December 26, 2016 for the extension of this rail line to Apapa port, adding a distance of 8.57 kilometers.Given the seriousness attached to the provision of super critical infrastructure projects the Buhari …

News

EFCC Launches App for Online Reporting of Economic Crimes

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By Chris Udochukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – The Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, launched an App, Eagle Eye, designed to ease the process of reporting economic and financial crimes in Nigeria. Speaking during the launch, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, described the App, being the first of its kind by any law enforcement agency in Nigeria, as a product of ingenuity by a staff of the Commission, being an application that was conceived, designed and developed by the EFCC. The Commission disclosed this via it’s Facebook page. According to the EFCC chairman, the initiative is a clear demonstration of his pledge on assumption of office, to run an agency that is technology-driven. “The Eagle Eye represents a new experience in information sharing and crime reporting between the public and the EFCC”, he said. Apart from complementing the existing channels for reporting economic crimes, the unique advantage of this application, the EFCC Chairman further explained, is that it eliminates direct person-to-person interface in the reporting process and guarantees anonymity which is an …

World News

Photo News: Palestinian Envoy to Nigeria, Ahmed Elkachack meets with ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji

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By Our Reporter Abuja (Precise Post) – Palestinian Envoy to Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Elkachack on Wednesday held a meeting with the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Prof Bolaji Owasanoye. According to the message released by Mr Elkachack on his Facebook page, the meeting was to put final touches on the signing of treaty between the State of Palestine and Federal Republic of Nigeria. لقائي مع البروفسور بولاجي اواسانوي ، رئيس هيئة مكافحة الفساد الخاصة في نيجيريا ( ICPC ) لوضع اللمسات الأخيرة لتوقيع الاتفاقية بين دولة فلسطين وجمهورية نيجيريا .

Sports

EkoFootBall/FCAAN Football U-15 Tournament Begins July 17

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By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu Abuja (Precise Post) – The Ekofootbal/FCAAN Football tournament has been scheduled to hold at the Agege Stadium, Lagos from Saturday July 17 to Tuesday, July 19, 2021. The tournament which an initiative of the Seyi Akinwunmi-led Lagos Football Association, is a programme under the U-15 Ekofootball Future Stars. Following the decision of the Lagos FA follow up on the various developmental programmes of the FA, the Technical Committee headed by Mr. Dotun Coker, recommended an inclusive Mini Tournament based on the sponsorship purse and discussions with sponsors. The eight participating teams include; Team Ikeja, Team Badagry, Team Ikeja, Team Lagos, Team Epe and FCBescola.Others are Ekofootball Future Stars and Ekofootball Future Stars 2. According to the Vice Chairman of the Lagos FA, Otunba Tade Azeez, the tournament venue will be staged at the Agege Stadium. And it will be played by two groups of four teams each of 30 minutes duration each half and 10 minutes rest.This will be in three match days starting from Saturday July 17 to Monday, July 19, 2021. The tournament in …

News

Delta variant: Buhari removes mask in public, flouts COVID-19 regulations

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Just a few days after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed a case of Delta COVID-19 variant in Nigeria, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday evening removed his protective mask in public, thereby flouting the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection Regulations (2021) he signed in January. The President had on Tuesday evening attended a dinner with members of the National Assembly, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Photos of the event posted by the Personal Assistant to President on Broadcast Media, Buhari Sallau, showed that the President arrived at the event with his mask on but later removed it inside the conference hall. Also, photos of the event showed the President (without a mask on) interacting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who all had their masks tightly fitted. L-R: Osinbajo, Gbajabiamila, Lawan and BuhariTuesday evening was not the first time the President removed his mask in public; he had removed his mask in January 2021 at a public event in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State. …

News

Katsina police announce road closure for Buhari’s Thursday visit

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The Katsina Police Command on Wednesday announced scheduled closure of some highways in the state as parts of security measures for the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s (retd) visit. The affected highways are Dutsinma-Kankara and Dutsinma-Tsaskiya. Also to be closed are adjoining roads to them. The closure will be from 1PM to 6PM. on Thursday. The command also announced restrictions on the movements of commuters, cyclists and herders during the period. The President is expected in the state on Thursday to inaugurate the Zobe regional water supply project and Tsaskiya road. The affected roads are within the communities where the two projects to be commissioned are located . A statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, in Katsina on Wednesday, read, “The Katsina State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, will arrive Katsina on 15th July, 2021 for the commissioning of Zobe Regional Water Supply Project and newly built Tsaskiya road, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. “In view of the above, the Command wishes to announce the temporary closure of …

News

Police Arrest more suspects over Super TV CEO, Ataga’s Murder

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Abuja – The Lagos State Police Command has arrested more suspects in connection to the murder of the Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga. This was confirmed by the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu during a briefing and parade of suspects at the Command headquarters in Ikeja. Odumosu, who had yet to give details on the number of suspects arrested and their connection to the murder, said the case was progressing and the police would never compromise on it. According to him, a 300-level student of Mass Communication, Chidinma Ojukwu, was still a suspect with her rights guaranteed by the constitution. He, however, dismissed insinuations that the police were attempting to give her a soft landing. Source

News

[BREAKING] COVID-19: UNILAG shuts student hostels indefinitely

July 14, 2021July 14, 2021 - by Precise Post - Leave a Comment

The management of the University of Lagos has shut down the student hostels over reported cases of coronavirus on the campus. A member of the university’s senate confirmed this to The PUNCH, saying, “After getting the report, which I don’t like to discuss with you, we decided that the hostels should be shut down.” On whether COVID-19 Delta variant was discovered on the university campus, the source said, “No further comment.” Details later… Source

News

Supreme Court restrains AGF, RMAFC, others over Rivers/ Imo boundary dispute

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The Supreme Court has restrained Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Imo State Attorney General and others from taking any further steps in relation to the boundary dispute between Rivers and Imo State that touches on the ownership of the Akri and Mgbede oil wells. The apex court, in a chambers sitting on Wednesday, granted the order contained in an ex-parte motion filed by Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the Attorney General of Rivers State. The court specifically made an interim order restraining the first and second defendants (AGF and Imo AG) and their agents, including the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from giving effect to the letter from the office of the Chairman of RMAFC, with Reference Number RMC/O&G/47/1/264 dated July 1, 2021 directing a departure from the current 50/50 sharing formula applied to Rivers and Imo state in respect of revenue accrued, accruing or derived from the Akri and Mgbede Oil Wells/Fields, subject matter of this suit and in its place, directing deductions to be made …

News

See Why UNILAG Senate directed students to vacate hostels immediately

July 14, 2021July 15, 2021 - by Editor - Leave a Comment

By Our Reporter Abuja – The Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has ordered all students out of hostels and halls of residence. It also approved commencement of virtual lectures from July 26, 2021. The decisions were taken following fears over third wave of COVID-19 in Lagos, especially recently detected cases in the institution. Details shortly….

News

EFCC’s Plea To Play Video Against Ex-NNPC GMD Turned Down By Court

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Agency Reporter Abuja – A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, rejected the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to play video evidence in the ongoing trial of Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling, dismissed the application on the grounds that Yakubu was not the maker of the exhibits and as such, he could not be cross-examined based on those documents. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Mohammed had, on June 30, fixed today for ruling on the anti-corruption agency’s application. The agency’s lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, had sought an order of the court to play video documents which were tendered while taking the evidence of the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) on Oct. 17, 2018, and admitted in evidence by the court in cross-examining Yakubu, who was in the witness box as the first defence witness (DW1). The court had marked the documents tendered as Exhibits “M,” “N” and “N1.” While Exhibits “M” and “N” were compact discs, Exhibit “N1” was a memory …

News

Electoral Act: I received 900 messages in one day over alleged manipulation, Lawan laments

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The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that some mischief makers and rabble-rousers were blackmailing the National Assembly leadership over the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill. Lawan stated this at plenary when the Chairman of the Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kabiru Gaya, submitted his panel’s report. The Senate President lamented that his telephone numbers and that of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, were even published in the process. He regretted that he received over 900 text messages in one day. Lawan said, “On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, there are various accusations, insinuations that the leadership of the Senate, sometimes, the leadership of the National Assembly had tampered with the report of the committee on INEC of both chambers. “Some of those accusing the leadership of the National Assembly and misinformed innocent, some are simply mischievous and rabble-rousers. “This is the first time the report is laid here and this is the report of the committee. “This is the decision of the committee on INEC and therefore, whatever would be discussed or considered about …