WAEC Cancellation Puts Nigeria At More Risk – Atiku Abubakar

As a parent and investor in the education sector, I wish to register the fact that the Nigerian government’s policy of unilaterally cancelling the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, held annually by the West African Examinations Council, is not in Nigeria’s best interest.
At a time of the global COVID19 pandemic, it is understandable that an abundance of caution be put in place to save lives. However, caution, without consultation, and thoughtful action, may be counter productive.
1.5 million Nigerian youths write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination annually. To abruptly cancel this examination is to set back our nation’s youth, and place them behind their contemporaries in other West African nations. This is perilous, because Foreign Direct Investments and other economic indicators, are tied to the educational indexes of nations.
Already, Nigeria lags behind other African nations in crucial indices, like school enrolment, pass rates, and out of school children. This action, will further create chaos in the public education system and exacerbate an already bad situation.
Rather than cancellation, there are better ways to protect the health of Nigerians and prevent the pandemic from escalating. We could mobilise all available public and private infrastructures including primary schools, stadia, and cinemas, for the examinations. In the alternative, the Federal Government can prevail on WAEC to have a staggered examinations with a different set of questions for each shift. Doing so will allow WAEC Nigeria implement social distancing and achieve the goal of carrying out the examinations. A win-win scenario.
I urge this administration to take into account that the lives they are trying to save will be further put at risk, because if this policy is not reversed, tens of thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, will breach social distancing rules to cross over to neighbouring West African nations to write their WASSCE, rather than miss a year.

Nigeria Immigration Service Stopped 58 Doctors From Traveling To UK

The Nigeria Immigration Service has stopped 58 doctors, who attempted travelling to the United Kingdom on an aircraft with registration number ENT 550.
Sunday James, NIS Public Relations Officer, in a statement on Friday said 56 of the doctors had no visa for entry into the United Kingdom.
“The 58 medical doctors were refused departure in line with Section 31 subsection 2a and b, on powers conferred on the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service by the Immigration Act 2015, to prohibit departure of any person under the conditions stated in the Act.
“The chartered flight approved for landing in Nigeria was to carry 42 medical doctors for a training program but they were 58 with only two having visa for entry into UK, a situation that calls for refusal of departure.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service as the agency saddled with control of entry and departure from Nigeria of persons will not allow individuals or groups of well-educated Nigerians who should know the procedures for travelling out of their country and the requirements, which include having a valid visa for entry into a destination country to leave.
“This is to avoid refusal of entry and repatriation back to Nigeria amidst COVID-19 pandemic and spreading of same as well as flouting the Federal Government’s directive on restriction of international flights unless for essential reason as approved by government.
“There is no official communication to the Service from the Ministry of Health in Nigeria or any known medical body notifying the NIS of the travel of this number of medical doctors. The aircraft has departed for London without the medical doctors.
“The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, is taking this opportunity to advise Nigerians to always adhere to travel protocols and ensure they have valid passports with valid visa to the country they intended travelling to before going to any airport, seaport or land border control to avoid refusal to depart.”

Source: SaharaReporters

House Of Reps Reject FG’s Cancellation Of 2020 WASSCE

The House of Representatives has disagreed with the Federal Government on the alleged cancellation of 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations due to be conducted soon.
Speaking through its Committee on Basic Education and Services, the House expressed surprise over a statement credited to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu that Nigerian students would not be participating in the examination for fear of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a press statement signed by the Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere on Friday in Abuja, the lawmakers stated that the Education Minister did not inform the country if the decision was in agreement with other West African leaders or in consultation with the examination bodies, the state governments and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Ihonvbere said: “The Minister also did not also inform the public if the decision was the outcome of a meeting with all State Governments that are in charge of all but the Unity Secondary Schools that are owned by the Federal government.
“This sudden policy reversal is not good for the country. It is bound to create further confusion in the education sector, create disappointment and suspicion among parents, frustrate the students, and show to our development partners and Nigerians that the distortions and disarticulations in the sector are only getting worse.
“The reversal also shows that our policymakers may just be adopting a laid-back approach to the need to confront the novel coronavirus rather than taking proactive and creative steps to manage and contain it.
“House Committee disagrees with the Honourable Minister and believes that reconsideration is urgently needed to save our educational system on the following grounds that Nigeria is not the only country expected to write the examination in the midst of Covid 19, that Nigeria should insist that the examination be based exclusively on the already covered syllabus of schools.
“The Federal Ministry should not chicken out of its responsibilities but take charge, provide policy direction, engage the states and other stakeholders; that WAEC should quadruple its invigilators and use all classrooms and event centres to conduct the examination and comply with covid protocols.
“The Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as the Ministries of Environment and Health, should immediately work out an agenda to fumigate all classrooms, provide handwashing buckets with soap and water, and facemasks to all students; that the original plan of opening hostels for boarding to facilitate so-called revision classes should be cancelled immediately and the students should come from home, write the paper and disperse immediately and Mr President should direct all his Ministers to return to their states, work with the Governors and ensure the smooth implementation of the policy and conduct of the examination.
“We are parents just like him. No Nigerian parent would want to delay, distort, even terminate the progress of their child. We are convinced that if our policy of no boarding house, the reconceptualising scope of exams, use of all classrooms and halls in the schools, quadrupling the number of invigilators, provision of facemasks, sanitizers and handwashing facilities are followed, the WASSCE can be conducted with ease and with no repercussions. Let us collectively save and advance our educational system and build a future we can be all proud of”.

Credit: ObjectMedia

The ‘Magularized’ EFCC Has In Its Possession Both Fresh And Dried Skeletons Yet To Be Exhumed __ Written by Seyi Oyetunbi

We have lost a nation to “pen rubbers” occupying our public offices. David Cameron, ex Prime Minister of the UK rightly said, “if the amount of money stolen in Nigeria was stolen in the UK, the country would cease to exist.” We have by default established a safe haven for criminals who wouldn’t see anything wrong in selling Nigeria for some dollars.

The embattled Ag. Chairman of EFCC is yet another testimony to the fact that this administration is a complete failure in all spheres you may turn to for consolation. The intensity of allegations against Mr. Magu would make one doubt the meaning of the acronym EFCC to mean something contrary to its practices. PDP established the agency, yet APC is too lazy to run it efficiently. At this moment, he who thinks we have a government is sleeping under a burning roof. What we have is a government that systematically creates problem for every problem. And I will unequivocally put it forward to you that if it takes a year to investigate Magu, he would still have so much in hidden because he knows they never created any system to mitigate or manage corruption in the public space. If they choose to dig deep, it would be more apparent than it is,  that Buhari’s government has only lifted Nigeria from the past administration, over to the next level of ballistic corruption.

A corruption taken too far is one where the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a ring leader in the practice of looting and relooting. For five years, we have kept fried meats under the watch of a brutish reckless cat.
EFCC under the chairmanship of the troubled Magu was not more than a tool to intimidate and victimize opposition. For whatever reason, Magu will not be prosecuted. They only need him out of the way as he’s done banking with them. Don’t expect the new acting chairman to be any better.

The Buhari-led-administration that prides itself with a ludicrous integrity obviously will go down the dungeon of history to be one of the incompetent administrations ever, as far as governance in Nigeria is concerned. A video clip of Ganduje pocketing kick-back in dollar went public, we were told to figure out the technology used in the coverage. Again, on the Eve of presidential elections, two bullion vans hauled money into the residence of Bola Tinubu, we were told it isn’t our business. Like that was not enough for us to brood over for the rest of this failed administration, the public was still exposed to a video where the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly confirmed that money is for spending; after he was enmeshed in several displeasing corruption allegations. I almost forgot to add that Orji Uzor Kanu still legislates in our hallowed chamber. Only a ‘Magularized’ EFCC and a ‘Buharized’ administration can claim to be fighting corruption under this nefarious climate. 

The EFCC we have is created to fight everything except corruption. As long as Nigeria Police Force constitutionally retains the sole mandate to produce its chairman, the commission will not disengage itself from corruption. So far the commission has had four chairmen, I think  it’s only Nuhu Ribadu that left with somewhat unblemished record. And the kind of corruption in Nigeria can not be successfully fought without the inclusion of technology. Corruption in this part of the world is a mental illness; people steal with joy and pride and somehow find people to justify the act.

We pay criminals handsomely to subjugate, steal, mismanage, gag, oppress and we still take their fight. I doubt if we can point at any government institution working for Nigerians. 

Seyi Oyetunbi 

I Want To Graduate Early as Said By Nigerian Students __ Written by Gift Precious M.

At a time like this, how I so much wished my fellow students could tell Corona virus they want to graduate early. Infact, as soon as possible as this has been the reason or excuse of some of Nigerian Students for not participating in activities meant to challenge oppressive and anti-student policies in the university.

While few still took it upon themselves to challenge this not minding the circumstances around, not because they do not want to graduate early too but wants a saner society. Among these students is (not was) George Iwilade Afrika whom 21years ago was made alive forever and one of those who made Obafemi Awolowo University cultism-free (this among others).

A very big thanks to Afrika, Eviano Ekelemo, and 3 others for giving us an OAU where we are free to move about anytime. If only we’ve not choosen to mind our business and graduate early, we would have had the society you crave for.

Indeed, “the labour of our Heroes past shall never be in vain”…

I’m very sure if there’s a life beyond or after life, you’ll not be in a good terms with the oppressors.

Only a Nitwit would say Afrika is gone, as your legacy lives on and we have lots of Afrika.

Of the truth, if we fight, we may win, but if we don’t, we’ll never win.

Afrikaliveson

OAU5arenotforgotten

We’ll continue to demand for justice.

Viva Afrika

___ Gift Precious Martins

Nigeria No Longer Have Coronavirus But Corona-noise – Bishop Oyedepo

Nigeria No Longer Have Coronavirus But Corona-noise to loot money —Bishop David Oyedepo
”You know why Corona Virus is lingering on?
“It is Corona noise, it is not Corona virus.
“People are milking the system. I tell you the truth. You know I’m a prophet.
“I don’t have any natural spy in my life.
“You are cooking it in your room, I know.
“Praise God! But judgement is around the corner.”
“There is no upsurge in Tanzania up till now and they never locked down once.
“This upsurge is a game & nothing else, the Bishop boldly declared that anyone should Tell any devil I (Bishop Oyedepo) said it’s a game.
“All churches are operating, all schools are operating in Tanzania. He asked if Tanzania is another world, or in space?
“The future of our children is being sold off, while Market places are open, the most vulnerable place on the earth,(Particularly, markets in Africa and Nigeria where you will be sneezing on one another nose)…and decent schools are shut down, all In the name of Corona virus
”This is economic virus.Not only leaders have brain to think. That’s where we have a problem.Thinkers are shut down because of what they will eat.”

Credit: PressExpress

Breaking :Another Lagos State Lawmaker Tunde Braimoh Dies

The lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly,
Tunde Braimoh , is dead.
His death is coming exactly two weeks after his counterpart in the upper legislative chamber, Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo died
Until his death he was the chairman house committee on information, security and strategy in the Lagos state house of Assembly.

Tunde Braimoh had also served in the Parliament as the chairman house committee on Judiciary, petitions and Lasiec, he was also a one time chairman of Kosofe local
government area, now ikosi isheri local council.
He is a third term legislator in the State House of Assembly
He is survived by wife and children.

Source: DailynewsCover

Russia begins last testing stage of covid-19 vaccine

Russian Defence Ministry, on Friday, stated that the country has begun the final clinical stage of testing a possible COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine, which is being developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology alongside the Defence Ministry, kicked off on 18 June.
Participants of the experiments showed an immune response to the coronavirus vaccine, according to the statement.
According to reports, the coronavirus vaccine developed by the institute jointly with the defence ministry will give people protection against the virus for over two years, the director of the national research centre, Alexander Gintsburg, said in late June.
He explained that the vaccine is given twice with the same gene injected using different carriers, which allows to not just get protective immunity, but to acquire it for a longer period.
Coronavirus was first registered in Chian’s Wuhan. As of today, more than 12.2 million people have been infected with COVID-19 globally, of whom over 550,000 have died.

Nigerians Government Plans To Rearrest Sowore

The national leadership of the African Action Congress has accused the Nigerian Government of planning to rearrest Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement.
According to the AAC, the government planned using the Department of State Services to rearrest Sowore, who is the National Chairman of the party, and other activists on Friday and put them away before August 5, which is the first anniversary of the now famous #RevolutionNow protest.
“We have be informed about a plan to rearrest our National Chairman, @YeleSowore, and urge all Nigerians and @aacparty members nationwide and globally to be on alert as we will not tolerate another lawless and repressive act from @MBuhari regime.”
Sowore was arrested in the early hours of August 3, 2019 by operatives of the Department of State Services for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations on August 5 to demand a better country from the administration of President Buhari.
Omoyele Sowore in court.
He was kept in unlawful detention from that period until December 5, 2019 when he was finally released on bail despite two court orders earlier sanctioning his freedom.
In a twist of event, DSS operatives invaded the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2019 to rearrest him without any court order.
He remained in unlawful detention until 18 days later when he was released by the secret police for the second time.
At the resumption of his trial in a case brought against him by the Nigerian Government, the prosecution failed to prove accusations against him and even went ahead to dropping seven of the charges earlier preferred against him.
Groups and high-raking individuals from around the world have described the charges against Sowore as baseless and a waste of time.
The journalist remains confined to Abuja as one of his bail conditions forbids him from leaving the city or speaking with journalists until the end of his trial.
The Nigerian Government has continued to adopt various strategies to keep the activist out of circulation including a plot to now rearrest him for no reason.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Afenifere Faults School  Closure, Asks FG to Reopen Schools

The Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political Organisation, Afenifere on Thursday condemned the Federal Government for ordering the continued closure of schools across the Country
Recall that the Education Minister Adamu Adamu had directed that school across the country should remain closed because of the ravaging effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa asked President Muhammadu Buhari “to sack both the minister of Education and his Minister of State for planning to ground education for a year.
Arogbofa said ” Adamu Adamu should be sacked, he can not bring our school system back to the stone age. They had about six months to plan for these children, The last six months all these children have been preparing for the WASCE, what did the Federal Government do?
“I think the two ministers in the ministry should go, why would one minister say the pupils should resume writing their paper in August and the other minister would come and reverse the order and that the school would be closed down for the whole year.
“It is a reality that the COVID-19 is in the country but they should have envisaged what will happen and make necessary arrangements against it for the pupils. Why should education be closed down for a whole year?
According to him” It means the two of them (Adamu and the Minister of State for Education) don’t know what they are doing, so they should go.

Credit: Vanguard