A former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe wants Federal Government to ban banks from selling telecommunication airtime, which according to him creates jobs for Nigerians. Doyin in a tweet said that the sector is a N10billion/day in terms of volume. He stated that banks involvement in the retails segment is strangulating small individual traders. Through the use of mobile banking app and shortcodes, people can purchase airtime through their mobile phones. Okupe argued that the government has a responsibility to protect the weak in the society. “Government must stop Banks from selling of RECHARGE cards. This business is worth about N10B/day& can provide jobs for 5m youths nationwide and reduce unemployment. Banks should not be in the retail business where they strangulate small individual traders. The government must protect MSMEs. “Even under “Capitalism” The government still has the responsibility to protect the weak in the society against the strong and mighty. Secondly, the banking license does not cover Retail business. Any society that is not regulated is close to a jungle where might us right which is undesirable.”
BREAKING NEWS: Gas explosion rocks Ajao Estate, Lagos
BREAKING NEWS: A house-hold gas cylinder has exploded in the neighborhood of Ajao Estate in Lagos State on Tuesday, 28th of July reportedly taking the lives of some victims and injuring others, OYOGist.com reports. It is not yet clear how the explosion occured and if it was from some of the shops or from an household, however several user-generated video content show there were extensive damages. The incident occurred around 7 PM in the evening. In one of the videos reshared by OYOGist.com, a narrator (identity unknown) could be heard saying that several people have been killed in the explosion. The video showed a burnt vehicle in the area with several people crowding the area in what appears to be a mourning feat.
My life is in danger because I know the truth about Covid19, US-based doctor cries out
A US-based doctor who schooled in Nigeria, Dr. Stella Emmanuel, has alleged there is a conspiracy of a group of pharmaceutical practitioners on COVID-19. The radiologist, who said she has singlehandedly treated over 350 COVID-19, with no record of death, most of them elderly with underlying ailments, said she has been getting death threats and ran to the white House to expose the conspiracy. She claimed COVID-19 has a cure and there is no need to wear a mask or create social distance. Fearing for her life, she made a recorded speech to tell the world that there is nothing to fear. According to her: “I’m Dr Stella Emmanuel I’m a primary care physician in Houston Texas. “I actually went to medical school in West Africa, Nigeria, where I took care of malaria patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and stuff like that so I’m actually used to these medications “I’m here because I have personally treated over 350 patients with COVID, patients that have diabetes patients that have high blood pressure patients that have asthma or people at my oldest person is 92, 87-year-olds and the result has been the same. ” I put them on hydroxychloroquine, I put them on zinc, I put them on Zithromax and they are all well; for the past few months I’ve taken care of over 350 patients. “I have not lost one patient and on top of that I’ve put myself my staff and many doctors that I know on same drug for prevention. “We see 10 to 15 COVID-19 patients every day. We give them breathing treatments, we only wear surgical mask. “None of us has gotten sick, it works, so right now and I came here to Washington DC to say America nobody needs to die with this study that made me start using hydroxychloroquine.” She said even research has shown that hiccup is a sympton of COVID-19 and is treated also with hydroxychloroquine. “They definitely know that hydroxycholoquine is working. I’m upset, why I’m upset is that I see people that cannot breathe walk-in. ” I see diabetics sitting in my office knowing that this is a death sentence and they can breathe and I hold them and I tell them it’s going to be okay you’re going to leave and we treat them and they leave. “No one has died. So if some fake science, some persons sponsored by all these fake Pharma companies come out to say it doesn’t work, I can tell you categorically is fake science. “I want to know who is behind it because there is no way I can treat 350 patients and counting and nobody is dead. “So I came here to Washington DC to tell America nobody needs to get sick. This virus has a cure it is called hydroxychloroquine, zinc and zithromax. ” I don’t even want to talk about mask… hello you don’t need mask. I know they don’t want to open schools now, but you don’t need these people to be locked down. “There is prevention and there is a cure and let me tell you something all you fake doctors out there, that tell me this is a double-blinded study. “You want a double-blinded study when people are dying it’s unethical.” She said she has been threatened because of her stand, alleging “they have called me, they have threatened. I mean, I’ve gotten all kinds of threats. “I don’t care. You can report me to the Board. You can kill me you can do whatever but do not let Americans die anymore “I’m here to say, America, there is a cure for COVID, all this foolishness is not supposed to happen. “There is a cure for COVID. There is a cure for COVID. it’s called hydroxycholoqione, is called zinc, is called zitromax and it is time for the grassroots to wake up and say No, we’re not gonna take this any longer, we’re not gonna die. “So guys we don’t need to die there is a cure for COVID-19,” Emmanuel said.
Coronavirus Is A Scam In Nigeria—Senator Elisha Abbo
“I told you few months ago that COVID – 19 is largely politics and economic conduit pipe for money mongers. “Donald Trump also believed so. America has withdrawn her membership of the World Health Organization (WHO). The reasons are obvious. “Few months ago, Chief Raymond Dokpesi came out of the COVID – 19 quarantine/treatment center and publicly said that he was treated with chloroquine. “Few days later, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) threatened to sanction NIgerians that came out to reveal what they were treated with.” “Governments should not be merchants of death.” “Let us all stand up and demand accountability from our leaders and stop economic marauders from evil profiteering for the sake of humanity.”
[BREAKING News] Schools to re-open August 4th, FG says
Federal Government, on Monday, announced that secondary schools in the country are to reopen on 4th of August, 2020, though, for exit classes only. Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong, in a statement released in Abuja, explained that the decisions was reached at a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), Proprietors of private schools, and Chief Executives of examination bodies. He said that the stakeholders agreed that the students in exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, to enable them prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from the 17th of August, 2020. Goong explained: “Stakeholders at the meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations for safe reopening, as agreed.” He also disclosed that another meeting is to be convened on Tuesday between the Federal Ministry of Education and Chief Executives of examination bodies namely, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates, which will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously. For months now, Federal Government has been meeting with stakeholders in education sector regarding the safe reopening of schools across the country following the prolonged shutdown of the schools due to coronavirus pandemic.
Reps To Probe Minister, NEDC Boss Over ‘Disappearance’ Of N100bn
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Farouk and the Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC). Mr Mohammed Alkali over alleged misappropriation of N100 billion. This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) at the plenary on Thursday in Abuja alleging that the Minister has entered into an unholy deal with the managing director of the commission which has resulted in serious corrupt practices at the Commission. In his motion, Elumelu alleged that the NEDC which was set up to ameliorate the sufferings of the people is now enmeshed in serious corrupt practices by the management. “The corrupt practices include high handedness by the Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Alkali, over inflation of contracts, awards of non existent contracts, massive contract splitting and flagrant disregard for the procurement laws in the award of contracts. “The N100 billion so far disbursed to the commission by the Federal Government is said to have vanished under a year without any visible impact on the refugees nor any infrastructural development credited to the name of the commission in the whole of the Northeast. “There are allegations of how the managing director and his close associates diverted funds meant for the commission to purchasing of choice properties in highbrow neighborhoods of Abuja, Kaduna and maiduguri to the detriment of the suffering refugees and infrastructural development,”he said. He alleged that the deal illegally withdrew the sum of N5 billion from the account of the commission to purchase military vehicles without any recourse to the board. The lawmaker said that the act completely disregarded the Nigeria’s procurement laws and must be seriously frowned at. He alleged that the managing director single handedly procured Coronavirus materials and supplies to the tune of N5 billion without an approval from the board. The minority leader alleged that there is another massive corruption scheme on the verge of being implemented in the name of housing scheme in Maiduguri without the board’s knowledge. According to him, these consistent abuse of procurement laws if not checked may defeat the purpose for the establishment of the commission, hence the need for an urgent investigation. The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabimila mandated the Committees on Finance, Procurement and NEDC to exhaustively investigate these allegations and report back in 8 weeks. The Northeast Development Commission Bill was signed into law in October 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari. It replaced other initiatives, such as the Presidential Initiative on Northeast (PINE) and Victims Support Fund (VSF) and the Board of Management Inaugurated in may 2019. The commission was established with a mission of coordinating funds accruing from the federation account and donor agencies for the purposes of rehabilitating and resettling of victims of insurgency.
10 Hot Major News In Nigeria Today | PurpleWorld [PW]
Nigeria has now confirmed more than 40,000 COVID-19 cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Late on Sunday, the NCDC confirmed an additional 555 cases and two deaths, lifting total infections in the country to 40,532 and fatalities to 858 from Friday’s figures of 39,977 and 856, respectively. Data from the centre shows that Lagos had 156, followed by Kano, Ogun, and Plateau with 65, 57, and 54 cases. Others are Oyo – 53, Benue – 43, FCT – 30, Ondo – 18, Kaduna – 16, Akwa Ibom – 13, Gombe – 13, Rivers – 12, Ekiti – nine, Osun – eight, Cross River – three, Borno – two, Edo – two, and Bayelsa – one.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said he resigned from the PDP because of the alleged failure of governance in Bauchi State where he hails from. In his letter of resignation addressed to the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward chairman of the PDP, the former House of Representatives Speaker said Governor Bala Mohammed whom he helped into power, had not lived up to expectation.
A meeting between the federal and state governments to discuss modalities for resumption of schools will hold Monday. The meeting which will be presided by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, is to have all state commissioners of education in attendance.
The former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has apologized to the Enigies of the Benin Kingdom for the choice of Godwin Obaseki as successor. Oshiomhole has apologised to the kings for working tirelessly to make the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Obaseki, his successor in 2016.
Governor Nyesom Wike, chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national campaign council for Edo election, has taken charge in Benin, warning that nobody can rig the forthcoming election. Wike went ahead to declare that with Edo State sure to return, that the South-South was now completely PDP. Wike stated this during the flag-off of.
The Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai on Sunday evening said Nigeria is more peaceful now than it was in the last five years. The Army Chief, who stated this during his sit-out with wounded officers and soldiers at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, hinged his position on the dedication of men of the force in their quest to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
‘Take them to govt house or Aso Rock’ – Borno residents reject reintegration of ex-Boko Haram fighters Some residents in Borno state are kicking against the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members into the communities. The military had in 2016 launched Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative for the deradicalisation and rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members. The aim of the operation, the military had also said, is to reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members into society.
South-East Governors Forum says compulsory COVID-19 tests will be conducted on teachers before schools in the region reopen. Forum Chairman and Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi, who made the disclosure at a media briefing on Sunday, said there were fears for kindergarten and primary school pupils who do not understand what is social distancing.
Ibrahim Magu, the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared that he will no longer hide but was now ready to fight back at orchestrated attacks against his person. Magu said he will henceforth reply to all the allegations against him in public, in a statement made available to reporters by Wahab Shittu, Magu’s lawyer on Sunday.
The list containing names of Senators and House of Representatives members involved in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, contracts has surfaced. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio submitted the names to the National Assembly committees probing the activities of the commission last Thursday.
School resumption: FG, states meet Monday to discuss modalities
A meeting between the federal and state governments to discuss modalities for resumption of schools will hold next week Monday. The meeting which will be presided by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, is to have all state commissioners of education in attendance. An invitation to this effect was released Sunday night by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. Sony Echono. Top on the agenda of the expected meeting, according to the invitation dispatched, are the reconsideration of new examination timetables for the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, the National Examinations Council, NECO, the National Common Entrance Examinations and BECEC. The invitation to the meeting expected to take place through zoom, read: “Invitation to a webinar consultative meeting between the FME and Hon Commissioners of Education. The PS, Federal Ministry of Education,Arc Sonny Echono, cordially invites Honourable Commissioners of education of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to a consultative meeting on the way forward towards reopening our schools. “In particular, the agenda for a new schedule for WAEC, NECO, BECEC, the National Common entrance among other issues will be on the table. ” The meeting will hold on Monday next week at 11 am.”
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has linked some members of the National Assembly to some contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission, The PUNCH reports. Akpabio, however, did not state if the lawmakers were directly awarded the contracts or they nominated the projects under their Zonal Intervention Projects, also known as constituency projects. The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC, Mr Nicholas Mutu, who represents the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State, is among those linked by the minister with contracts. The minister listed Mutu’s name against 74 projects, including various emergency road projects in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers states. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on February 3, 2020, arraigned Mutu before Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged abuse of office and fraud involving about N320m. Akpabio also linked the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta-North), with 53 projects, which included emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2; ldumuogbe Road via Ojemaye; Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo; and the Police lshu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele Uku. Other lawmakers that Akpabio listed projects against are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South), six; James Manager (Delta-South), six; Samuel Anyanwu (Imo-West, 8th Senate), 19; and others simply identified as Ondo and Edo Reps. The minister, however, did not provide the cost of the projects listed against the lawmakers’ names, while the value of contracts given to non-lawmakers had costs of various projects attached to them. PUNCH also observed that contracts listed against the names of the lawmakers were not up to 60 per cent of the 266 on the list provided by Akpabio. Non-National Assembly members are also on the list. It was further observed that the minister copied the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN). The House had on Thursday resolved to sue Akpabio for alleged perjury and defamation of the parliament. Akpabio had on Monday, while appearing before the House Committee on the NDDC during an investigative hearing on the alleged illegal spending and mismanagement of funds, claimed that the commission awarded members of the National Assembly 60 percent of contracts.
601 repentant terrorists graduate, paid N20,000 each
The 601 repentant terrorists who are being reintegrated into their communities have been given N 20 ,000 stipends and some basic equipment to practise their respective vocations . The Borno State Commissioner for Information , Babakura Jatau , said this during a chat with Sunday PUNCH on Saturday . Jatau said the funds and the starter packs were given to the repentant terrorists by the North East Development Commission and the International Organisation for Migration. He denied reports that the state government was giving each of the beneficiaries N 100, 000 . The commissioner said only about 10 per cent of the 601 repentant terrorists were actually Boko Haram members while the rest were those who were abducted and became accomplices . The commissioner said, “ They are 601 of them and the question of government giving them N 100 ,000 each does not arise . What happened is that the North East Development Commission gave them starter packs . Some of them trained as barbers so they were given clippers and generators and then given N 20 ,000 cash and their shops will be paid for . “ What the government will do is that they will be brought to Borno State from Gombe and they will be housed in two orientation camps where there are facilities for training and for them to practise whatever they were taught in Gombe . The Defence Headquarters had on Saturday announced the reintegration of 601 ex -Boko Haram terrorists , including 14 foreign nationals from Cameroon , Chad and Niger into the society through their respective national and state authorities . The Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor , Major General Bamidele Shafa, disclosed this on Saturday at the DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi , Gombe State . However, a former Director of the Department of State Services , Mike Ejiofor, told Sunday PUNCH that the decision to re – integrate the repentant Boko Haram members was ill -timed . Ejiofor said Nigeria ’s ability to manage and utilise data was not sufficient . He stated, “ It is an unfortunate decision as far as I am concerned and it is not welcome at all . If you are taking their DNA , that is not enough because do we even have data ? It will increase crime rate and banditry in that area . The government should have thought this through and not reintegrate them into society just like that . It is not a welcome development .
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