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FG Cancels Training Contract For Ex-Niger Delta Militants

The Federal Government has revoked the training contract awarded to Express Concern International (ECN) to train former Niger Delta militants.

The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col.Milland Dikio (retd), made this known in a statement on Sunday signed by his spokesman, Neotabase Egbe.

Dikio stated the federal government decided to revoke the training contract for former Niger Delta agitators over breach of the agreement.

He said the termination followed an allegation by a group, Concerned Indigenes of Oil Mineral Producing States Forum (CIOMPSF), that the company diverted funds it received from the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Dikio asserted that contracts are not awarded to just anybody who submits a proposal, but to serious contractors, who have the capacity to deliver their contractual obligations.

He said the amnesty office had also activated its internal mechanism to retrieve the money it paid to the firm through a performance bond provided by the company.

Dikio said each job awarded was secured by a performance bond provided by the benefitting firm that enabled the amnesty office to recover its money in an event of default by a contractor.

He said, “The attention of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has been drawn to reports that a contractor, Express Concerns International Limited, has diverted money paid to them to train 90 ex-agitators in the agriculture value chain.

“Indeed, the PAP had contracted Express Concerns International Limited to train its beneficiaries. But the contract was terminated via a letter dated June 14th, 2022 because the contractor breached the terms of the agreement.

“Contracts are not awarded to just anybody who submits a proposal, but to serious contractors, who have the capacity to deliver their contractual obligations.

“However, each job awarded by PAP has an insurance bond that ensures the scheme recovers its money in the event of default by contractors. Consequently, the PAP wrote to the guaranteeing firm/insurance company for the recovery of the mobilization fee paid to the company.

“While the management of the PAP acknowledges the interests shown by various stakeholders in the affairs of PAP, let it be known that deliberate measures were put in place to reform contractual processes and block all loopholes that could be capitalized upon to dupe the programme.

“We want to further assure all stakeholders that PAP’s contracts are designed for the benefits of the programme’s beneficiaries and not for the enrichment of any contractor.”

Arsenal Sign Man City’s Jesus For £45m

Arsenal have signed Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus for £45m, the club confirmed on Monday.

The Brazilian will wear the No. 9 shirt which was worn by Alexandre Lacazette who return to Lyon.

Jesus is now Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window after Marquinhos (Marcos Aoás Corrêa), Matt Turner and Fabio Vieira.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s coach had worked with Jesus when he was assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at City from 2016 to 2019.

City are hoping to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Arteta said, “The club has done a tremendous job to recruit a player of this stature. I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here.

“This is a position that’s been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted, so I’m really happy.”

Jesus said in an interview with Arsenal that, “I am so happy to be here to help. I come to help, to learn as well, and to try to do my best.

“We (Arterta) spoke a couple of times about the club, the players, the project and the future. I believe 100 per cent in Mikel. I had a very good time with him before, he’s a very good guy and a very good coach as well.

“He helped me a lot [at Manchester City]. We would always stick together after the training sessions and do some finishing or something. He’s a very intelligent guy and was an amazing player, so if he knows something he can teach me or the young players.”

Suspected EEDC Vandal Electrocuted In Anambra

A yet-to-be-identified vandal was electrocuted in the early hours of Sunday for allegedly vandalising Umuezerimpi 500KVA Distribution Substation.

The property belongs to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), located at Umuatuegwu Okija, Anambra State, THE WHISTLER gathered.

Mr. Emeka Ezeh, head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Enugu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Ezeh said the deceased was not operating alone, as other members of his gang took to their heels immediately after he was electrocuted, leaving behind his lifeless body and their tools at the scene of the incident.

Ezeh said the report was lodged at the Okija Police Division.

“The tools used by the electrocuted vandal and his fleeing colleagues were also recovered and his corpse deposited at the Okija General Hospital Mortuary,” he said.

He said, “Just imagine how this young man has cut his life short over nothing.

“It is hoped that this will serve as a deterrent to others engaging in this dastardly act.”

Eze called on members of the public to be vigilant in protecting EEDC facilities in their domains.

He said, “Let’s all join hands and ensure these very few people in our society that are bent on making life miserable for all of us are stopped.”

Fraud: Buhari Govt Replaces Acting Accountant General Of The Federation

The federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced Mr. Chukwuyere N. Anamekwe as the acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).

It was gathered that Anamekwe was replaced about two weeks ago over allegations of corruption and investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (INEC) hanging around his neck.

It was further gathered according to reports monitored on The Nation that he was replaced with a former TSA (Treasury Single Account) Director, Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis.

It will be recalled that Anamekwe was appointed in an acting capacity after Ahmed Idris was suspended after his embroilment in an N80 billion fraud case leading to his subsequent arrest by the EFCC on allegations of money laundering through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

His replacement, Anamekwe who was appointed in May 2022, however, is also reportedly under EFCC investigation for fraud and also some other reports have that his unauthorized revelation that the government was borrowing to pay salaries landed him in more trouble.

A source privy to government operations on the matter has now disclosed that a search for a substantive Accountant General has commenced in earnest.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan has issued a circular to that effect.

The circular reads: “Commencement of the process of appointment of a substantive Accountant-General of the Federation”, the HoCSF directed permanent secretaries to forward details of eligible directors on Grade 17 to her on or before 4:00 pm on Wednesday July 6, 2022.

It added that those eligible to apply must have attained the Substantive Director (Grade 17) on or before January 1, 2020 and are not retiring from the service earlier than December 31, 2024.

Such persons must also be free of disciplinary proceedings.

There are “Those who have attained the position of Substantive Director (Grade 17) on or before January 1, 2020 and are not retiring from the service earlier than December 31, 2024 are eligible to participate in the selection process while officers undergoing disciplinary proceedings are excluded,” it added.

APC Govs Kick As Tinubu Backs Shettima As Running Mate

The decision of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pick for Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, has not gone down well with governors elected on the party’s platform.
Indications have emerged disclosing that APC governors want one of their colleagues to be picked as a running mate to Tinubu as compensation for their support during the party’s presidential primary, where they moved to stop the imposition of Senate President Ahmad Lawan by the National Chairman of the APC, Adamu Abdullahi.

While pushing for the running mate ticket to go to the North-East, particularly from Borno State, APC governors are against any one of Katsina getting it if it eventually goes to the North-West. This is because the state had produced late President Umaru Yar’Adua and incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

A source told Vanguard that stakeholders want the North-East, especially Borno State, to produce the vice president in 2023.

The source said: “The APC governors are pushing that the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, should pick his vice presidential candidate from among them because of the role they played to stop the action of the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who had already settled for the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, as the presidential candidate of the ruling party.

“There are strong feelings that though the governors want one of them, Tinubu wants Senator Kassim Shettima as his vice-presidential candidate.”

With Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano out of the race despite their support for Tinubu, governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and his predecessor, Kashim Shettima are the individuals presently being considered.

While the governors prefer a sitting governor in the person of Babagana Zulum of Borno State, a source said Tinubu has zeroed his search on Shettima.

The source revealed that the former Lagos State Governor wants the former Borno Governor because he is a formidable force and well-accepted in the North-East.

He also wants to split the votes from the zone with the former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

It was, however, gathered that former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, from Bauchi, North-East zone, or Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, North-Central, who are Christians, are also in the mix should a Muslim-Muslim ticket fail to materialize.

Gov Ortom’s Convoy Involved In Accident

The convoy of the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday was involved in a road accident in Abuja.

The development was confirmed in a statement released by the media aide to the Governor, Terver Akase.

According to Akase, no life was lost in the incident that happened in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He further stated that the convoy was involved in the accident while accompanying Ortom to the airport.

Akase said a golf car collided with one of the security vehicles near Karu Flyover in Nyanya.

The statement released by Akase read, “We have received numerous calls from concerned Nigerians regarding the accident which occurred today near Karu Flyover in Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory.

“The Governor’s convoy was on the way from Abuja to Makurdi after accompanying him to the airport for his trip to the United Kingdom when a golf car collided with one of the security vehicles.

“We thank God that no life was lost in the incident.

“Governor Ortom who has already arrived safely in the UK deeply appreciates all the calls and concerns from Benue people and other Nigerians.”

Child, Others Rescued As 11 Burnt To Death On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Eleven persons were burnt beyond recognition in an accident that occured at Ogere end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the Ogere Remo-North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps ,Ogun State Sector, Florence Okpe, who confirmed the incident on Sunday said the accident happened late Saturday night.

Okpe said three vehicles were involved in the crash which led to huge loss of lives on the busy road.

Okpe stated that two Mazda buses and one unknown vehicle had collided and caught fire near the Isara bridge and they went up in flames.

The FRSC spokesperson said, “A total of 18 persons were involved but only seven were rescued while 11 unidentified people were burnt beyond recognition.

“A total of seven persons were rescued with injuries, comprising five male adults, one female adult and one male child.”

“The injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere for medical attention. One of the victims was rejected, but finally taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan.

“The fire service in Sagamu was contacted and the impact of the crash is obstructing the Ibadan-Lagos bound of the expressway.

“Traffic has been diverted to the Lagos-Ibadan route and the crashed vehicles are still burning.

“Motorists are advised to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations and also cooperate with traffic managers managing the situation.”

Drama as Fulani Herdsmen Converts Kwara Complex Stadium into Castle Pasture

Herdsmen have converted the Kwara State Complex Stadium Ilorin, into a fertile land for cattle pasture as weeds overtake a section of the facility.

This weekend, cattle were sighted grazing on grasses in parts of the complex.

Fresh and dried cow dung could also be seen on the asphalt within the complex.

The security officials manning the gate blamed the sports ministry for the deterioration in the condition of the stadium – and ‘for giving the herdsmen unhindered access’ to the 26,000-capacity sporting arena.

One of the security men described the presence of the herdsmen and their cattle at the stadium as “an embarrassment”, but noted that the security unit was helpless to stop them.

The Kwara State Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Ilorin, Kwara. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Kwara United F.C. and ABS F.C.

PDP Slams Lagos Govt Over Planned BRT Fare Hike

Nigeria’s main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has rebuked the state government for increasing the fare for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) across various routes in the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s led government had recently approved a flat rate increase for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Standard routes to cushion the effect of the harsh operating environment, safeguard private partnership investment, and forestall the demise of formalized bus operations in the state.

A bus ride from Ikorodu – TBS will now cost N600 from N500, while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600. Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350, and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.

The increase, according to the government, will be effective from Wednesday, 13 July 2022, stating that the increase is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.

The Governor further added that it would be providing support for the Bus Operating Companies in view of the continuous increase in fuel prices. This ensures that the increment to the passenger is kept at a minimum.

Reacting, PDP, in a statement released on Sunday through its State Publicity Secretary, Mr . Hakeem Amode, said the increase would add to the plight of the masses.

PDP said the incumbent government was not being considerate with the livelihood of the citizens who have suffered enough hardship already.

Amode stressed that the APC administration blaming the hike on the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830 and the unavailability of spare parts for the increase was not justifiable.

He said: “Sanwo-Olu-led APC administration has completely abdicated its responsibility to the people of the state and turned a blind eye to their predicament.

“The few ‘luxuries’ that the people benefit from the state are being taken away.

“Now is not the time for any form of increment, as the people of the state have suffered enough under this unsympathetic government.”

Amode urged the state government to immediately shelve the proposed increment on BRT fare so as not to worsen the citizens’ situation in the face of dilapidated infrastructure, insecurity, hunger, and a rise in crime, among other challenges being experienced by the people of the state.

Certificate Saga: How Atiku changed name from Siddiq Abubakar, Credentials in doubt

The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar is mired in a fresh Certificate controversy following a discovery that his WAEC certificate bears a different name.

Atiku’s WAEC certificate bears the name ‘Siddiq Abubakar’.

According to documents displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Atiku did not provide information on his primary education. The 1965 West Africa School Certificate (WASC) result presented by him identified the student as ‘Siddiq Abubakar’.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Atiku holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom. From the documents seen, Atiku earned a Master’s degree in 2021 with GCE O’level results.

Attached to the documents was a sworn affidavit as Deputy Preventive Superintendent attached to Customs Preventive Station, Apapa Wharf, Lagos, where he declared to be addressed as Atiku Abubakar.

Reacting, a public affairs analyst said it was baffling and shocking that Atiku earned a Master’s degree in 2021 with GCE 0 level results.

“I would like to know how Atiku with zero academic or creative publications and with zero college level courses suddenly earned a Master’s degree? And the year 2021 is suspect. He quickly scammed Nigeria with a degree he obtained in 2021 because of the presidential election.

“Before someone without a Bachelor degree could earn a Master’s degree, he must have distinguished himself academically or in his field of endeavours by showing publications or unique writing samples.

“For example, a playwright called Nilo Cruz (Cuban-American playwright) was accepted into Brown University MFA in playwriting program in the early 1990s without a bachelor’s degree. But he earned Associate degree from Community College and distinguished himself as a talented playwright with numerous plays.

“And he was recommended into Brown MFA In playwriting program by another scholar/ playwright who had taught Nilo Cruz before.”.