Category: News

CBN Tops in International Polls on Transparency, Accountability

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been rated top on transparency, accountability and due process in her operations according to a 2020 poll conducted by the Mahatma Ghandi Peace Foundation in collaboration with The Winston Churchill Centre For Investigative Journalism.

About 453 federal government departments, agencies and parastatals were part of the poll, a joint press statement signed by the country director of Mahatma Ghandi Peace Foundation Nigeria, Bishop Abel Kings and and Richard Oduma of the Winston Churchill Centre For Investigative Journalism has said.

The organisations extolled the due process mechanism put in place by the management of the Central Bank of Nigeria stating that as foreign organisations, their focus was to promote and instill probity and accountability virtues in government agencies hence the polls.

“Our trademark is to discourage corruption and ensure due process mechanisms at all strata of public life particularly in developing economies such as Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria as a critical stakeholder in the Nigeria economic project is a prime agency to focus on if we are to achieve our development goals for the nation”, the statement noted.

It further stated that they were satisfied with the nation’s apex bank thorough internal mechanisms put in place to minimize fraud and abuse of internal processes.

” The polls were conducted in about 453 federal government agencies, following independent audit on promotions, award of contracts, recruitments, and general policy direction templates of various organisations including the CBN.

“Among the many organizations covered include, the Nigeria Army, the Department of State Security, National Information Technology Development Agency, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, NIPPS, NAFDAC and the NUC among others.

“The Central Bank has however led the polls based on systematic reviews from the two coordinating international organisations having scored high on all indices and templates for the polls.

“This presentation is imminent especially at this auspicious time for the nation as the country prepares to resume the economy from the intermittent breaks occasioned by the Covid 19 global health emergency. This great feat by the management of the Central Bank Of Nigeria will sure reinforce confidence of investors both at the local and international levels in Nigeria and her economy.

“We are pleased and satisfied if the nations apex bank is leading in due process and accountability reforms, it then means Nigeria is on the right trajectory to economic stability. The statement averred.

The two groups also called on other agencies of government to focus on instilling the values of transparency and due process as championed by the CBN. Every Nigerian has a responsibility to ask questions in the affairs of this country, and only transparency can guarantee those obligations.

“This poll is a product of long weeks of painstaking independent audit and investigations of the nations most critical agencies hence the need for this Press enlightenment. Gentleman of the press, you also have a duty to amplify the positive dimensions of the polls so as to bolster confidence in the Nigeria economic system and her recovery.

“At times such as the country is faced with many challenges, we need to be circumspect in guiding against public misinformation and smear campaign against critical agencies as much as possible particularly from the point of information backed with data and verifiable statistics. This is what our organizations seeks to achieve. The statement further read.

“As independent international organisations with a rich history and great reputation for excellence, the Central Banks performance rating has reinforced our trust in the pursuit of our developmental objectives and principles as unbiased empires in the development agenda.

“By this great feat, the management of the CBN is expected to focus on the challenge of maintaining the tempo so as to surpass current heights as far as due process and transparency reforms are concerned without losing focus amidst distractions.

“The two international groups further announced the nomination of the CBN management for the “Winston Churchill Memorial Award on Transparency” as a mark of honor and symbol for the ideals of the two organizations represent.

“This polls has confirmed that with the current management in place at the Central Bank of Nigeria, the nations economy is sure to achieve the projected heights.

” We urge individuals of influence, opinion leaders, civil society groups to support and insist on transparency rather than seek avenues to drag authorities in the mud without seeking necessary clarifications, the statement concluded.

June 16, 2020
Unilorin mourns pioneer VC, Akinkugbe

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem, has described the death of the institution’s pioneer vice-chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, as a great loss to the nation’s academic community.

In a condolence message issued on his behalf on Tuesday by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, the vice-chancellor said the late emeritus professor of Medicine died on Monday at the age of 86 years in Ibadan.

The vice-chancellor said the deceased, who superintended over the University of Ilorin between 1977 and 1978, laid a solid foundation for the institution on which other vice-chancellors after him built.

“The late Prof. Akinkugbe was an administrator that envisioned what others could not see many years ago,” he said.

He pointed out that “the late pioneer Vice-Chancellor of our University was one of the most accomplished administrators that Nigeria has ever produced.”

“Definitely, the pre-eminent status of our university today could be rightly traced to the great foundational works done by the late Prof. Akinkugbe,” the vice chancellor said.

He said that the late Akinkugbe left a great mark in the nation’s university system where he spent most of his career life.

Abdulkareem also described Akinkugbe as a medical colossus, a consummate academic, a consistent advocate of better healthcare delivery system in the country, a mentor par excellence and a role model of no mean stature.

He said that the alluring status the university had attained was a clear manifestation of his successes.

Abdulkareem added that the tireless and selfless pioneering efforts of the deceased ,which included securing a very serene environment and comfortably large expanse of land for the limitless growth of the university, was a clear testimony to his foresight.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to members of the Akinkugbe family, saying that the death of a patriarch of the deceased’s status could be devastating.

The vice-chancellor, however, urged them to take solace in the fact that the erudite scholar lived a fulfilled life of service to God and humanity.

He prayed God to grant Akinkugbe’s soul peaceful repose as well as grant the family he left behind and the nation’s academic community the fortitude to bear the great loss.

June 16, 2020
Teenager dies after giving birth to triplets in Adamawa

A 19-year-old teenager, Lilian Benedict of Bwaranji ward, Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa, died on Sunday after giving birth to triplets.
Mrs Josephine Geoffrey, Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Yola Specialists Hospital, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Tuesday in Yola.
Geoffrey said that the teenager died as a result of Post Partum Haemorhrage.
“She died as a result of bleeding after delivery and all the three babies are in good health condition.
“Poverty and lack of early antenatal attendance also contributed to her death.
“We therefore, advise parents whose young daughters are pregnant to, as a matter of urgency, attend early antenatal to avoid unnecessary complications during child birth, ” Geoffrey said.
The assistant director, called on government, Non Governmental Organisations and public spirited individuals to assist the babies by providing food and drugs, to ensure their survival.
Madam Kolostiki Benedict, mother of the deceased, said Lilian lost her farther when she was eight years old, and
pleaded with Adamawa government to assist her to nurse the babies.
Taliba Kanakuru, 26, the deceased’s boyfriend, expressed shock over her death and said they had concluded arrangements to get married after she delivered.

June 16, 2020
BREAKING: Obaseki finally dumps APC

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has formally announced his decision to resign his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Obaseki, who was disqualified from contesting the party’s governorship primary election slated for June 22, announced the decision to State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

The embattled governor said he would pursue his ambition for second term in office on another platform.

He had on Monday said he would only disclose his next line of action after meeting the President.

Obaseki has been having a running battle with his predecessor and the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

Details later…

June 16, 2020
Chinese President to preside over China-Africa summit against COVID-19 on Wednesday

Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 in Beijing on Wednesday, and deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Tuesday.

The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

It will be held via video link.

Leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African subregional organisations; and the chairperson of the AU Commission will attend the summit upon invitation.

The secretary-general of the UN and the director-general of the World Health Organisation will attend the meeting as special guests.

June 16, 2020
COVID-19: Group donates improved sorghum seeds to 20,000 female farmers in Kano, Katsina

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Adefunke Desh Nigeria Ltd., in partnership with 2-Scale Programme
on Tuesday started the distribution of improved white sorghum seed to female farmers in Nasarawan-Kuki, Bebeji Local Government Area
of Kano State.

The Programme Manager of 2-Scale Programme, Mr Olisa Maxwell, said the distribution was aimed at supporting over 20,000 female farmers with improved
white sorghum seed to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maxwell, who said that sorghum was one of the vital grains needed for good nutrition for women and children, noted that the crop was an arable commodity and could
attract a lot of foreign exchange for the country.

He added that the improved white sorghum seeds was produced by Premier Seed company, mainly for female farmers in the two clusters.

According to him, the two clusters are Kuki Cluster in Bebeji Local Government of Kano State and Funtua Cluster in Katsina State, noting that
“the company targets 1,000 hectares of farm land in the clusters.

“The company is planning to bring Lapo Microfinance Bank to support the farmers with soft loans to enable them to purchase fertilizers.”

Mr Adeshola Michael, the Managing Director of Adefunke Desh Nigeria Ltd., said that the company decided to support female farmers in the area
to cushion the COVID-19 devastating effect on the farmers’ livelihood.

He said: “the company is one of the leading agro-allied companies based in Zaria, Kaduna State, and part of our corporate social responsibilities
is to ensure that the farming season still goes on, hence our partnership with 2-Scale Programme.”

The managing director, who restated the company’s commitment to sustain the gesture enjoined farmers to follow the right agronomist practice while using the seed for best yield.

The District Head of Bebeji, Alhaji Tijjani Kuki, commended the company for the gesture, adding that the efforts would boost food security and reduce poverty in the area.

Represented by Alhaji Magaji Tijjani, the district head said that the gesture was in tandem with the aspirations of the state and Federal Government and
urged the beneficiaries to use the seeds judiciously.

A beneficiary, Mrs Alice John, a resident of Nasarawan Kuki, said there were many female sorghum farmers in the area, adding that some women
cultivate more than five hectares of sorghum.

She said that prior to the intervention by Adefunke Desh Nigeria Ltd. and 2-Scale programme, a hectare of sorghum produced about four to five bags of sorghum.

She explained that the two companies had trained women farmers on how to increase their yield, “and we have now learnt new ways of sorghum culvivation
and can get about 15 bags of sorghum from one hectare of land.”

She commended the companies for the improved seed donation, saying it was timely because they had not finished planting.

June 16, 2020
BREAKING: FG lists conditions for reopening schools, varsities

The Federal Government has given conditions for the reopening of schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, announced the conditions in Abuja on Tuesday.

He spoke at the 2020 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

Nwajiuba said, “All Institutions must have (1) Hand-washing facilities, (2) Body temperature checks (3) Body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc. (4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and (5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene (6) Ensure Social and Physical Distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces.”

In a copy of the minister’s speech obtained by our correspondent, he commended the higher institutions for responding promptly with different innovations, including the manufacturing of some of the facilities that were required to attend to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The minister, however, warned them against reopening schools without the Federal Government’s authorisation.

“While we Iook forward to easing the Iockdown which win ultimately lead to re-opening of our campuses, I urge all the Heads of Institutions not to wait till the announcement on reopening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control,” he added.

June 16, 2020
NGO urges maritime agencies to enforce law against sexual violence

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Women in Maritime Journalism (WIMAJ), has urged organisations in the maritime industry to prioritise enforcement of law and policies that would protect women against sexual violence.

The Chairperson of WIMAJ, Mrs Ezinne Azunna, in Lagos on Tuesday condemned in strong terms the incessant cases of rape and violence against women in Nigeria.

According to her, the recent national discussions on putting an end to rape and sexual violence against women, must take into cognisance occurrences of sexual harassment and abuse at the workplace.

She called on organisations to ensure that people found culpable are punished according to the law.

“There are reports pointing to experiences of sexual harassment and abuse of females who work in the industry, especially seafarers who many times have to stay on board vessels working for months.

“Organisations and victims must shun the culture of silence, inaction and cover-ups if such ugly incidents will be stopped.

“Irrespective of the gender, no human being should be sexually exploited,” she said in a statement.

Azunna said there was an urgent need to ensure that individuals found guilty of rape were given stiffer punishments, regardless of their positions in the society.

Azunna urged agencies in the maritime sector to come up with bold policies on sexual abuse as silence often encouraged predators.

She noted that seafarers had been victims of rape perpetrated by pirates who hijacked vessels and held crews hostage,.

The WIMAJ boss advised government to expedite action for the implementation of the Deep Blue Project embarked upon by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

She pointed out that it was expected that the project would effectively tackle sea piracy and ensure the safety of lives at sea.

Azunna lamented at situations where rape victims who suffered severe psychological trauma were stigmatised while the perpetrators walked freely in the society unpunished.

She pledged support for victims who would speak out.

“Rape and sexual violence are criminal offences and should not be swept under the carpet and victims must be encouraged to speak out.

“Agencies must show that the industry is not weak in this regard and will fully implement policies and laws that protect workers.

“The Nigeria Police must also be ready to carry out thorough unbiased investigation to rid the society of this evil,” Azunna said.

June 16, 2020
Buhari tells ECOWAS: “COVID-19 yet to reach its peak”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, charged the ECOWAS Commission to come up with an economic recovery plan to help member-states to recover from the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19.

Buhari also lamented that COVID-19 had yet to reach its peak in West Africa and warned against laxity in the fight against the pandemic.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, indicated that the President spoke during a virtual meeting with the President of the commission, Jean Kassi-Brou.

Shehu said Buhari, in his capacity as the ECOWAS COVID-19 champion, agreed to provide logistic support to enable the sub-region to receive and distribute procured and donated medical equipment using Abuja as the hub for the distribution.

READ ALSO: Journalist remanded for criticism of Lai Mohammed

He called on member-states to continually sensitise their citizens on preventive measures.

The President expressed appreciation on behalf of ECOWAS member-states for the “swift interventions made to the West African Health Organisation and the Africa Centre for Disease Control by the Jack Ma Foundation,” while also commending the support so far received from “development partners such as the European Union, African Development Bank, France and Germany for their financial contributions in the procurement of medical supplies.”

He urged member-states to work closely in order to overcome the pandemic in the sub-region.

In his report to Buhari, the President of ECOWAS Commission called for additional strategies to assist the sub-region in fighting the health and economic impact of COVID-19.

According to Kassi-Brou, these include, the need for advocacy at continental and global levels particularly with the G20, World Bank, United Nations and the African Development Bank among others, for support to negate the health and economic damage to the ECOWAS sub-region; and mass awareness campaign to achieve behavioural change among the citizens of the community with effective customs, security and health protocols put in place throughout the sub-region.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission used the occasion to condole with the government and people of Nigeria on the latest Boko Haram attack on Gubio Local Government in Borno State during which scores of people were killed.

June 12, 2020
Journalist remanded for criticism of Lai Mohammed

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand of a journalist, Rotimi Jolayemi, also known as Oba Akewi, who was arrested for his Yoruba poetic song critical of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

Justice Anwuli Chikere ordered Jolayemi’s remand after he was arraigned on six counts including alleged spreading of an audio file said to have caused annoyance, ill will, hatred, and insults towards the minister.

The judge ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department headquarters, in Abuja, pending the hearing of his bail application.

The arraignment took place after the prosecuting counsel, Joseph Offor, announced an amendment to the charges marked FHC/ABJ/CB/104/2020 on Thursday.

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As part of the amendment, the prosecution sought to add to its list of witnesses.

Jolayemi’s lawyer, Soji Toki, did not oppose the request for amendment.

Jolayemi, who complained of ill health, pleaded not guilty to amended charges of six counts

June 12, 2020