Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 22nd December 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 22/12/20
Read also
E2%80%99s INVESTIGATION: Poor Pay, Shaky Structure, Zero Transparency Sound Death Knell For Nigeria’s Premier Football League
Like a bedridden comatose patient whose condition has failed to improve despite a series of interventions from attending physicians, so is the story of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). Its fate is uncertain; the present state is abject while its future looks bleak.
Insiders who are privy to the workings of the League Management Committee, LMC, claim that there is little transparency in the management of the NPFL and that clubs are habitually shortchanged “while the leadership keep lining their pockets and smiling to the bank”.
In a bid to unravel the actual state of things at the LMC and NPFL, KOLAPO OLAPOJU undertook this investgaton and these are his findings.
DIKKO’S DEALINGS
Shehu Dikko, chairman of the LMC, was among the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, leadership investigated in 2019 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the dissolved Special Presidential Investigation Panel, SPIP, over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds.
Mediterrenean Sports Ltd, a company which Dikko once served as director, plays the role of marketing agent for the NFF. The company receives 20% commission on sponsorship contracts with the NFF. As the second vice president of NFF and chairman of marketing, sponsorship and broadcast and TV rights sub-committee, Dikko finds himself in a convenient position of influence. His prior relationship with Mediterrenean also constitutes a conflict of interest with duty, and a violation of the section 5 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991.
This conflict of interest was one of the impetus for the setting up of a committee by the ministry of youth and sports to look into the activities of the NFF. Around the time the committee was mandated to carry out its investigation in 2018, documents obtained show that the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, verified and approved the resolution for removal of Dikko as a director at Mediterrenean Sports.
But curiously, the date for the resolution of removal was dated March 13, 2014, which means the CAC did not approve until four years later.
Although Mediterrenean Sports acts as a marketing agent to the NFF, there is no record of the company being appointed to undertake the task. There is also no evidence that the executive committee of the NFF ratified the appointment of Mediterranean Sports as NFF marketing agent.
Several documents obtained show that Pinnick authorized Financial Derivatives to make multiple payments to Mediterrenean Sports. But in April 2018, Pinnick wrote a letter of appreciation to Isima Ekere, former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, over the promise to release funds to support the Super Eagles World Cup campaign. Deviating from the usual norm of presenting the account number of Financial Derivatives for payment, Pinnick instead provided the Ecobank details of Mediterranean Sports.
All efforts to contact representatives or officials of Mediterrenean Sports Ltd proved abortive. During a visit to the registered address of the company, it was discovered that there is no ‘Plot 1467’, rather a ‘No 42’ Hon. Justice Mamman Nasir Crescent Asokoro Abuja. Also, the building houses Mediterrenean Hotel and the workers said they have never heard of a Mediterrenean Sports Ltd.
In a petition addressed to FIFA, Harrison Jalla also alleged that Dikko failed to honour the contract between NFF and LMC, which states that the latter must remit 5% of its net earnings to the former. Rather than make the payment, he was said to have presented an account of expenditure on how the money was spent.
Dikko was also alleged to have failed to give accounts of sales of tickets, advertisements, broadcast and television rights for friendly matches played by the Super Eagles.
SUPERSPORT-LMC CONTRACT
In 2013, the league signed a five-year deal with Supersport to show two NPFL matches every weekend. The five year deal, which was to kickstart at the commencement of the 2015 season, amounted to a reported $8.5 million annually.
That deal was supposed to be the start of the new dawn of the league, with the television package expected to increase visibility and attractiveness. According to an insider, “the deal was more like a corporate social responsibility on the part of Supersport”, owing to the fact that it was not favourable to them financially.
“The only way Supersport could have made money was through advertisement placement and sponsorship, but since that is not prevalent in the Nigerian league, Supersport could not recoup its television rights investment in the league,” the source said.
To produce one match at the time, it cost Supersport a conservative N5 million per match day to cater to logistics and crew finances. This continued for years until 2017 when the naira’s fortunes took a downturn. Consequently, Supersport resolved to renegotiate the terms of the contract, so as to pay in naira. Failing to reach a compromise, the deal suffered a premature death.
See Also
Sports
Investigation: How ‘Pinnick Era’ Of Funds Misuse, Poor Accountability Is Killing Football In Nigeria
0 Comments
2 Days Ago
To legally pull out of the deal, Supersport cited breach of contract on the part of LMC “because there were actually several breaches”. Supersports was said to have pulled out of the deal following allegations of funds mismanagement, embezzlement and lack of accountability. That was how Supersport stopped showing the league.
Despite receiving millions of dollars annually from Supersports between 2015 and 2017, the LMC was unable to adequately develop and standardize the NPFL so as to make it attractive to fans and brands.
WHY NPFL IS UNATTRACTIVE
When compared to the South African league, the NPFL is perceived as below-par in many aspects. Issues such as player remuneration challenges, fan attitude, playing environment, organization, poor coaching and refereeing contribute to the failure of the league to live up to its potential. “All these things make it hard for fans to forge a connection with the local teams and get sponsorship,” according to the chairman of a north-west top tier club.
Poor remuneration
Although some football players are paid monthly allowances as much as N800,000, the payment does not come as promptly as expected. Most clubs tend to owe players for long periods of time. In 2011, Kaduna United players were not paid for 9 months despite having a record-breaking goalscorer like Jude Aneke in their team at the time.
Delayed remuneration is not the only problem, allegations of referees getting bribed to fix matches are also rampant. Some referees are even believed to collect money from both sides.
Although referees are paid per game by the NFF, an insider at the LMC alleged that there are situations whereby home teams pay referees and offer them other forms of gifts – which will undoubtedly influence officiating.
In the NPFL, there is a popular notion that it would take a miracle for a home team to lose a game, as a result of the aforementioned inducement.
Bayelsa United Football Club Head Coach Tiebowei Diprieye believes that the “home team must win” syndrome is crippling the league.
He said: “We would like a situation where teams can go away with the mindset that they can win games. We should be able to get rid of this notion that to win an away match in Nigeria is difficult.”
In the last full season of the NPFL (2018/19) which had 264 games, there were only 28 away victories – which represents a 10.6% away victory ratio. The away win ratio of the English Premier League last season was 31%. Since the EPL was founded in the 1992/1993 season, the lowest away win ratio has been 24% which was obtainable in two back to back seasons; 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.
NPFL 2018/2019 away win ratio
Administrative problems
The administration of the league by the LMC leaves a lot to be desired as it seems to take its cue from the NFF. Whenever there is a crisis at the NFF, the LMC would by effect become unstable, case in point is the leadership tussle between Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick in 2018 which led to the suspension of the NPFL after 24 games.
During that season, there was no champion and no relegation. A player who chose to remain anonymous described it as a “wasted season”.
A recent addition at Akwa United, Harrison Ibukun believes that the stakeholders at the LMC know what to do to improve the league yet there is no significant improvement.
Kano Pillars forward player, Nyima Nwagua, highlighted key areas where improvement would be welcome. “The areas I think we should look into is the calendar and sponsorship side,” he said. Nwagua’s concern regarding the League calendar is not unfounded. Rescheduling of NPFL games is a norm. The reasons for these vary, and they all have one thing in common – poor planning. An example of poor planning was when continental engagements of Lobi stars and Rangers international led to the rescheduling of several games during the 2018/19 season.
“A situation where the league is stable, and nothing interrupts the season when it is on would go a long way to improve the league,” Nwagua added.
Flying Eagles striker, Jesse Akila believes that improving the welfare of the players would improve the league. He noted that “players should travel to match venues with proper means. For instance, a flight for any trip that is longer than a six-hour drive”.
Poor facilities & insecurity
Several stadiums across the country are in terrible condition and as a result, it scares fans away. In March 2020, Chineme Martins, a 22-year-old Nasarawa United defender, slumped and died in a football match against FC Abuja. He could have been saved but the ambulance at the stadium was non-functional and there was no working defibrillator.
Commenting on the sorry state of stadium infrastructure, Bayelsa United coach Diprieye noted that “If you do not have good infrastructure, good management, good welfare, It will be very difficult for us to move forward”.
Apart from the infrastructure challenge, no one is safe when watching a live match in the NPFL. In most games, there exists the threat of insecurity. Fans of home teams, more often than not, come to stadiums bearing arms – machetes, stones and sticks. When things don’t go their way, they storm the pitch, beat up referees, coaches and their opponents.
While serving as coach of Enyimba several years ago, Kadiri Ikhana’s legs were severely damaged after he was beaten up by home fans during a game in Kaduna.
Situations such as this make it difficult for away teams to be at their best and for referees to be as fair as possible with their decisions.
According to an official of a south-west club who craved anonymity, home clubs sometimes instigate fan violence to scare referees and away teams. In the event of violence, they are fined between N500, 000 to N5 million and this is easily payable by most club owners – which are state governments.
To make matters worse, there is a lot of laxity regarding implementation of penalties on fan violence by the LMC and critics opine that they need to be stiffer.
“Presently, the penalties include fines, exile from your home stadium for an entire season, which is not an effective deterrent because most of the fans lack the necessary emotional connection to the clubs so as to discourage them from perpetrating violence when their clubs are no longer playing in town,” an LMC employee said.
Why state governments own most football clubs
Even though FIFA’s rules frown upon government interference in footballing activities, a blind eye is turned to the fact that most clubs in the country are under the control of state governments. The funding of such clubs by state governments is viewed as “interventions”. But even if FIFA decides to kick against it, can it be helped? In every practical sense, most likely not.
The administration of a football club in Nigeria is so expensive and so unprofitable, hence a lot of private individuals do not venture into it. There are only a handful of private clubs in the country. 98% of the clubs in Nigeria are owned by the government, save for MFM FC and IfeanyiUbah FC.
From a business point of view, there are no returns. Averagely, an NPFL club will spend N100-N300 million in a 10-month season, so It doesn’t make business sense for a private individual to own a club, seeing as there is no viability in the investment. In the past, the private club owners were mostly politicians or corporate entities.
“We are a private club, spending from our pocket. The league is not marketable. No club makes money in Nigeria,” says an official of IfeanyiUbah. “We are always hoping that it gets better.”.
The issue of government interference is also cause for concern, according to insiders. LMC sometimes asks some clubs whose stadiums are in terrible shape to play from another state, but they often refuse. Eventually, they will complain to their state governments, which will in turn talk to the LMC or NFF and “force their hands” to reverse the directive. “There is a lot of politics in the league which also affects the credibility”.
State-owned football clubs in the NPFL
Wikki Tourists – Bauchi state government
Rivers United – Rivers state government
Enugu Rangers – Enugu state government
Niger Tornadoes – Niger state government
Lobi Stars – Benue state government
Katsina United – Katsina state government
Kwara United – Kwara state government
Sunshine Stars – Ondo state government
Enyimba – Abia state government
Remo Stars – Ogun state government
Bendel Insurance – Edo state government
Yobe Desert Stars – Yobe state government
Abia Warriors – Abia state government
Plateau United – Plateau state government
Kano Pillars – Kano state government
Heartland – Imo state government
Akwa United – Akwa Ibom state government
El Kanemi Warriors – Borno state government
Delta Force F.C. – Delta state government
Gombe United – Gombe state government
FIRST NEXT, THEN REDSTRIKE
A common concern about the league voiced by all the players interviewed is the absence of games on international television, local television, or any screen for that matter. Plateau United and former Flying Eagles striker, Jesse Akila, says the league will improve if the games are televised because “referees/officiating will be under more scrutiny”.
Two years after the collapse of the Supersport deal, the LMC in 2019 entered into a commercial rights agreement with Next Digital Broadcasting.
The deal, said to be worth $225 million, was criticised as being unviable, because games were expected to be broadcast via Over The Top (OTT) transmission (ie; streaming service) to the public while they would also be made available to TV channels willing to pay.
An LMC official who spoke anonymously disclosed that “the deal was not exactly viable, seeing as it is a data-intensive arrangement. Even the one on TV was hardly watched, so how will poor Nigerians use their hard-earned data to watch the league”.
According to the outline of the partnership obtained from parties privy to the agreement, the OTT arrangement was supposed to be carried out in partnership with 9mobile.
The agreement with Next Digital Broadcasting included the production of NPFL matches for distribution, sale of NPFL content produced, commercialization of NPFL rights to generate enough revenue.
But less than a year into the five-year deal that commenced in November 2019, the rights were sold to Redstrike Media Nigeria.
Although the LMC has been tight-lipped about the reason for changing partners, documents obtained from insiders revealed that RedStrike submitted a formal interest for the acquisition of the entire shareholding in Next Digital Broadcasting LTD.
“We are therefore writing to advise that a Redstrike-led Consortium of investors/financiers is interested in developing all the Commercial opportunities currently held by Next TV including but not limited to the NPFL commercial rights,” said the letter addressed to Prince Malik Ado Ibrahim of Next Digital by Howard Thomas, CEO of Redstrike.
The letter, dated April 2020, came three months after Next Digital had already issued the payment of $300,000 to the LMC as signature fee and negotiation guarantee. Insiders say this and other payments cannot be accounted for by the LMC management.
Asides from the fact that details of the Redstrike deal are shrouded in secrecy, a possible complication is the fact that Next Digital had collaborated with the LMC to form a JVC known as NPFL-NEXT Marketing Media Company. The company was incorporated in March 2020 and Next Digital Broadcasting has 51% controlling shares in it.
Following the announcement of RedStrike as the new owner of the NPFL’s commercial rights , it was reported that Next Digital was suing the NPFL for a breach of contract and seeking N7 billion in damages. But within a week of the report, the LMC and Next Digital released a joint statement saying that they had “resolved amicably” all “contentious matters” between them.
When asked via email about the nature of the “contentious matters” and other related issues, Next Digital failed to respond.
DELAYED COVID-19 FUNDS
Ahead of the post-COVID resumption of the NPFL, many clubs find themselves in dire financial straits, given the effects of the pandemic on the purse of private owners and government.
The league, rescheduled to resume on December 13, failed to start and insiders attribute the delay to a number of reasons, including paucity of funds and also the fact that the LMC and club owners were supposed to ratify the resumption date at an AGM which is yet to take place.
Another stumbling block in the path of the NPFL’s resumption is a new LMC directive which mandates clubs to have in place insurance for players, acceptable facilities at stadiums, and sufficient funds that guarantees they have the ability to pay players.
Meanwhile, sources say several club administrators would rather push back the resumption date, with many still scrambling to upgrade their stadia to meet acceptable licensing standards.
The delay in the disbursement of the FIFA COVID-19 fund by the NFF also didn’t help matters. In August, the NFF announced that the palliative will be shared among the clubs in the league to help them prepare for the 2020/21 season. NFF president Amaju Pinnick had said the NFF received $1 million and it would be shared across the various clubs and governing bodies of the various leagues. Based on the breakdown made available by the NFF boss, the NPFL is to get $500,000 while the Women Football League (NWFL) will also get $500,000.
Two months later in October, Pinnick confirmed on Twitter that the funds had been received and that disbursement would start in a week.
According to an insider in the NFF, FIFA released half of the COVID-19 palliative to all association members in July, with the rest to be disbursed in January 2021.
“It is surprising and suspicious that the disbursement started towards the end of November. No one can explain why there was a four months delay,” the insider said.
While the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, and the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, PFAN, recently announced receipt of their portion of the funds, several clubs in the NPFL insist that they are yet to get paid.
But Demola Olajire, NFF spokesperson, maintains that the funds have been disbursed.
“The payments were made from the same CBN platform. Anyone who has not received will eventually receive,” he said.
As of Friday morning, the chairmen of 10 clubs confirmed that they had received 50% of the money – well over five months after NFF was credited by FIFA.
Sports
News
Reports
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
KOLAPO OLAPOJU, ICIR
Disable advertisements
:
Nigerian Government Releases New COVID-19 Guidelines, Restricts Guests At Weddings, Others To 50
The Nigerian government has approved new measures to curtail further spread of COVID-19 across the country.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
Part of the measures, according to Mustapha, is the restriction of guests at weddings, conferences, and sporting activities, among others, to 50.
The government also ordered the closure of all bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.
Mustapha said, “The PTF has surveyed developments and actions taken by governments around the world, assessed our domestic environment and has accordingly submitted its recommendations to Mr President on immediate measures to be taken.“Accordingly, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has authorised the PTF to engage with the states and the FCT to assume full ownership of this stage of the response by deploying legal structures and resources, including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions.“In line with the authorisation, the PTF wishes to issue the following advisories to sub-national entities for implementation over the next five weeks because these activities are considered super spreader events:a. Close All bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres, and recreational venues.b. Close all restaurants except those providing services to hotel residents; takeaways, home deliveries and drive-ins shall remain closed.c. Restrict all informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, end of year events shall be restricted to not more than 50 persons.d. Limit all gatherings linked to religious events to less than 50% capacity of the facility of use during which physical distancing; mandatory use of face masks shall be strictly enforced.e. Where more than 50 persons are attending any such events, the gathering should be held outdoors only.f. Public transportation systems are to carry passengers not more than 50% of their capacity in compliance with social distancing rules.g.Enforce compliance with NPI protocols, especially the advisory on wearing of face masks in public spaces.”The SGF added that to reduce overcrowding in public spaces, markets, shopping centres, offices and schools, states are advised to implement the following:a. Encourage virtual meetings in government offices. The leadership of such offices are to ensure that all offices are well-ventilated offices and encourage staff to work from home where possible.b. All government staff on GL.12 and below are to stay at home for the next five weeks; Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives are to be held accountable for enforcing NPI rules in their domains with frequent spot checks.c. The PTF on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Education expects that schools would have vacated from the 18th December 2020 and remain closed till at least the 18th of January, 2021 to enable the measures introduced to take effect.d. All persons above the age of 60yrs and with comorbidities are to be encouraged to stay at home and avoid crowds.e. All non-essential travels – both domestic and international trips during the holiday season are seriously discouraged.
PUBLIC HEALTH
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Olu Of Warri Has Died Of COVID-19
Olu of Warri, Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko, has died of COVID-19.
The monarch died on Monday morning, barely a week after his fifth coronation anniversary. He was said to have met with the late Major General John Irefin, who died earlier this month from COVID-19 complications.
oluofwarri.org
Though none of the palace chiefs was willing to confirm or deny it, there was palpable apprehension in the palace vicinity on Monday while some people were also in a sombre mood.
A source confirmed the news to SaharaReporters, saying the monarch died on Monday morning from the coronavirus. Another source said many palace workers besieged the adjoining shops selling strong alcoholic drinks to buy from them as they believed it would cure them of COVID-19 should they have contracted it from the monarch.
“Olu of Warri is dead but the palace chiefs are trying to keep the information hidden from the public till they are sure the time is right,” the source added.
The late monarch, who was born on March 19, 1955, ascended the throne on December 12, 2015.
PUBLIC HEALTH
News
OBITUARY
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Kano Hisbah Board Arrests 43 For Selling Alcohol, Prostitution
The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 43 people for prostitution and illegal sale of alcoholic substances at Kwanar Gafan vegetable market in Garun Malam Local Government Area of the state.Dr Harun Ibn-Syna, the Commander General of Hisbah, who paraded the suspects on Monday in Sharada quarters, confirmed the arrest.
“Out of the 43, 34 are females while the remaining nine are males, aged between 15 and 18.“The investigation conducted on the suspects also revealed that eight were found selling hard drugs while one person was caught with 80 cartons of different bottles of beer,’’ NAN quoted Ibn-Syna as saying.He said 14 of them are HIV positive, adding that 10 knew their status while four do not know.He noted that three rolls of male and female condoms were also recovered at the market.Ibn-Syna said that the arrest was jointly coordinated by the Hisbah board and the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency.Earlier, the Director-General of the board, Dr Aliyu Kibiya, disclosed that most of the suspects are from Kano, while some of them are from neighbouring states such as Adamawa, Anambra, Cross River, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Niger, Gombe, and Taraba.
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
We Wrote Exam Questions On Blackboards To Protest Unpaid Grants For Oyo Schools- NUT
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, on Monday said examination questions for pupils were written on blackboards because the state government had yet to give primary schools across the state running grants.
The union said primary schools had not received grants for two consecutive terms. It added that secondary schools had not received grants for the just concluded first term and that they were paid half of the grants due to them for the previous term.
File photo used to illustrate story.
SKB
This development, the union said necessitated the writing of examination questions on the board for pupils during their first term examination.
The union, which spoke through the National Editor of its internal journal, Comrade Seye Obadina, on a radio programme in Ibadan, the state capital, urged the state government to execute its free education policy.
Reacting to the rumour that examination questions were written on the board for pupils, the NUT scribe said, “It is true. The primary schools have yet to be paid for the second term of last session and for the just concluded first term. You will recall that the third term was cancelled because of coronavirus.
“As for the secondary schools, they were paid half for the last term and have yet to be paid for the just concluded term. The debt incurred by the heads of schools for last term has yet to be settled. The teachers had to write the questions on the board in protest.
“I need to make some clarifications. It is the responsibility of the local government to pay primary schools. Maybe the challenges confronting the local government are causing the delay in the payment.
“I must tell you this government is doing its best. I am a national officer of NUT, I can tell you that if you compare Oyo State with other states, (you will realise that) Governor Seyi Makinde is really trying. We are trying to see the governor because once we have an audience with him, we know this problem will be resolved.”
When asked if the NUT has held any meeting with the state government officials on the matter, he said, “We have met with the commissioner for education, the head of service and SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board) chairman.”
Amidst the surge in coronavirus cases across the world, Obadina said it was not advisable to close schools in the state as necessary measures were already in place to check the spread of the virus.
Education
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
UK Police Declare 25-year-old Nigerian Wanted
Oluwamayowa Akinola
The Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom is appealing for the public’s help in tracing 12 most wanted violent offenders, including a 25-year-old Nigerian man, Oluwamayowa Akinola.
According to the police on its website, Akinola is wanted for grievous bodily harm after he failed to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in relation to the serious assault which took place in June 2019 at Brunel University, in Hillingdon.
Oluwamayowa Akinola
It said images of the Nigerian and 11 others have been released in the hope that the public would inform the authorities of their whereabouts.
The police said the suspects were classed as ‘high harm’ as they are either wanted in connection with violent offences or known to have a violent background.
Oluwamayowa Akinola is wanted in relation to a serious assault at #BrunelUniversity in June 2019.Do you have information on where he might be?Please contact us by calling 101, or tweet @MetCC.You can contact @CrimestoppersUK 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) December 20, 2020
Superintendent Claire Smart of the Violent Crime Taskforce said, “With Christmas less than a few days away, we are increasing our efforts to arrest these individuals and apprehend them for their crimes. Since July, we have arrested more than 850 high harm offenders and that number is steadily increasing.
“Our message is clear – we will not stop looking for you until you are arrested. Do the right thing and hand yourself in at your nearest police station to prevent Christmas being ruined for your family and friends. You won’t be able to evade justice forever.
“We are always carrying out arrest enquiries and bringing offenders to justice so that we can keep everyone safe, but we also need the help of the public. If you know where any of these offenders could be, or happen to see them while you are out and about then I urge you to pass any information to us as soon as possible.
“These offenders have caused harm and destruction and it is our priority to arrest them to prevent them from causing further damage.”
CRIME
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Second Wave Of COVID-19: FCTA Closes Millennium Park Abuja, Shut NIMC Centres Instead, Nigerians React
Millennium Park, Abuja
Nigerians have called on the Nigerian government to close all National Identity Management Commission centres to curtail the second wave of the dreaded COVID-19.
The calls were made on Monday when the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad, announced the closure of Millennium Park in Abuja.
Millennium Park, Abuja
PT
Ahmad, on his official Twitter handle, announced that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had closed the Millennium Park as part of the government’s efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
But the announcement faced public criticism as people also demanded the closure of NIMC offices which could easily spread COVID-19.
The government had given December 30 as the deadline for mobile phone users to synchronise their SIMs with their National Identification Numbers or have their mobile phone lines blocked.
“The Federal Government isn’t serious because they claimed to be preventing the spread of COVID by shutting down clubs, parks, etc. but made the registration of National ID mandatory. The crowd alone for those gathering can spread COVID in a blink. This makes zero sense (sic),” Daniel Rhega @DanielRhega tweeted.
Atagana Great @GreatAtagana said, “You can now clearly confirm that your boss and his directives are not only two-faced but useless and insensitive. So, this government cares about curtailing COVID, yet NIMC centres are open and crowded. What a confused government with confused politics.”
“The crowd in NIN registration is far larger than the one anticipated at the Millennium Park. Think! Think!” Aldavisons @alexisobi4 commented on Twitter.
Zubaida Abdullahi @Xubaida asked on Twitter, “The same government that is making hundreds of people queue in front of NIMC?”
“Shutdown NIN centres nationwide! Clueless government!” Daniel @danbosket26 said.
“But you want Nigerians to queue for one rubbish NIN registration?” Chukwu Ka @ Chukwu_ka queried. “How does this government think?”
See Also
News
Large Crowd Gathers At NIMC Office In Lagos For NIN Registration Amid COVID-19 Second Wave
0 Comments
12 Hours Ago
PUBLIC HEALTH
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%99s-too-many-judicial-panels-lack-tangible-results-%E2%80%93-experts Nigerian Government’s Too Many Judicial Panels Lack Tangible Results – Experts
Political and legal experts have expressed worry over the Federal Government’s several investigative panels without tangible results brought back to the public.
The experts said the panels which are supposed to bring public office holders to account should be more transparent to the Nigerian public.
“Over the years, the government has set up probe panels which only made the news, gathered the reactions and agitations of Nigerians for a short while and fizzled out.
It is not surprising though that those who are heads of these panels end up being charged with corruption themselves at the end of the day.
President Muhammadu Buhari set up a panel to look into the allegations against former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, but till now, no concrete decision has been taken by the government concerning it.
In July 2020, panels were also set up by the Senate and House of Representatives to probe allegations of massive misappropriation of funds in the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Some people on social media thought the matter would not just end with the removal of Pondei and other key officials, but would go on to expose the corruption in the system, and punishing culpable ministers and top political office holders.
This trend, analysts observe, not only portends danger to the country’s quest to rid corruption but it also stifles its socio-economic development.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, a political analyst, Ambrose Igbokwe, said panels set up to probe corruption are actually made up of corrupt individuals who end up in corruption allegations and the cycle continues.
He said, “It is a joke. Let’s ask the people who were probing the pensions, Abdul Rasheed Maina and others ended up being involved in corruption too so those panels are there to take their own part of the cake not to actually investigate for correctional or amendment purposes.”
Igbokwe believes that the people at the helm of power see electioneering, politics and governance as a business, hence the failure of the investigate panels except some fundamentals are addressed.
“We don’t even know how much revenue the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation gets; it is when they get the revenue, they remove the operational cost and whatever illegal cost. If institutions like the NNPC and other institutions that make money on behalf of the country spend it and give balance to the treasury, then we are finished,” he added.
The Head of department, Political Science, University of Nigeria, Professor Jonah Onuoha, told SaharaReporters that most of the investigative panels are used by the government as diversionary tactics.
He said, “They’re used to diverting people’s attention from the main issue. So, people would think something is being done and at the end of the day nothing happens. It has been a recurring feature since 1999. When something happens, a panel is set up, people think something will happen but nothing happens at the end of the day.”
The professor added that such acts must be condemned, while urging Nigerians to be proactive and ask questions rather than sit with what they’re being fed with.
“Nigerians are not asking questions. As soon as their attention is diverted, that’s all.”
He suggested that once such panels are set up, Nigerians should insist that the panels should submit the report and ensure the reports are being implemented.
“As soon as they set up the panel, nobody goes there anymore, even when they submit a report, nobody previews it, nothing is just happening and it is terrible. Nigerians should hold the government accountable because the government takes the citizens for granted,” he said.
On his part, a lawyer, Charlie Ugwu, said the issue of setting up “failed” panels has been a recurring issue that had made the Nigerian people to lose interest in the government.
He said, “Many times issues come up, you hear that a panel has been set up to do some things but that is just the end. For the NDDC issue, remember that the Speaker of the House of Representatives threatened to sue Akpabio and indeed they had given instructions to the clerk to get a lawyer to sue Akpabio.
“Also, Farouk Lawan was chairman of the former committee on education, remember when he, a member of the committee that investigated subsidy, when he went to take some money from Otedola and there was an operation on him, he was caught with raw cash. That matter has not gone anywhere. It is unfortunate and that is what erodes the interest of the public in our government and governance.”
He added that the oversight functions of the National Assembly had been used as a means of extorting money from both the National assembly and those under probe.
The lawyer said it is a pity that Nigerians are in this kind of situation, where laws are not obeyed and rules are not respected.
He said that the Nigerian people are powerless and that the leaders take advantage of this.
“Nigerians know that after the falling down of Pondei, the Speaker came and said that the man would not be interrogated again and that was the last, all he needed to do was just faint and that’s all. He fainted into freedom.”
Suggesting the way forward, Ugwu said that the issue is likely to continue except there is a change in the recruitment system.
“The way we recruit leaders in the country is what produces people in the National Assembly who behave the way they do. The good people are not interested in politics because they say politics is a dirty business; we leave it to charlatans and we now see thugs as lawmakers.”
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Alleged Molestation Of Student: Deeper Life School Suspends Principal, Begins Investigation
The management of the Deeper Life High School said it has begun investigation into the alleged molestation of a Junior Secondary School 1 student of its Akwa Ibom Campus, Don Davis.
Davis’ matter has been generating reactions on social media after the student’s mother went on Facebook live and spoke the issue.
FR
But in a statement on Monday, the school management said the principal of the campus, where the atrocities were allegedly committed, Ndidi Solomon, had been suspended.
In the statement titled, “Molestation of a JSS1 student of Deeper Life High School, Akwa Ibom”, it reassured the general public that anyone found culpable in the matter would be punished accordingly.
It also stated that the overall outcome of the investigations would be made known to the public.
The statement reads, “The attention of the management of Deeper Life High School has been drawn to a viral post on the molestation of a JSS 1 student at our campus in Akwa Ibom State.
“We will like to categorically restate that Deeper Life High School is built on the core values of godliness and excellence and will not tolerate any immoral act or molestation of any student. We believe parents/guardians enrol their wards in our schools all over the country because of the strong perception that ours offer a sure-footed platform for moral armament and academic excellence.
“We want to assure the general public that investigations into the case have commenced and no culprit, whether staff member or student, will be spared if found culpable at the end of the exercise. As an interim measure and to underscore the seriousness we attach to higher superintending values, the school principal has been suspended summarily even as further investigations continue.
“We firmly assure the discerning public that the overall outcome of the investigations will be made known and appropriate disciplinary actions will be meted out to all culprits in this unfortunate act that admittedly threatens to cast unnecessary aspersions on a unique institution that has been a shining example to all over the years.”
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%94-fredrick-nwabufo IPOB Security Outfit Could Become A Militia — Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo, journalist and columnist, says the Eastern Security Network (ESN) set up by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) could become a militia.
During a BBC Igbo programme on Monday, some of those featured also said the formation of the security outfit is illegal as IPOB has no constitutional backing.
Fredrick Nwabufo
TheCable had reported how IPOB — which had been proscribed by south-east governors — launched the outfit to protect the south-east and south-south regions from “criminal activity”.
See Also
Politics
Nnamdi Kanu Launches Eastern Security Network, Says Not Different From Amotekun, Miyetti Allah
0 Comments
1 Week Ago
While some have welcomed the development, it was kicked against by other stakeholders including the South-East Governors Forum.
David Umahi, Ebonyi state governor and chairman of the forum, said the leaders have no hand in the move which he described as “very laughable and should be totally ignored”.
During a BBC Igbo interview session on Facebook, Nwabufo likened the group to a militia whose operation could go out of hand.
“The security network can go out of control; it could become a militia,” Nwabufo said.
“Some may argue that it will be used to protect the south-east from attacks by various groups, including herdsmen, but it has the potential of being used to wage war against our people.
“So, it is not something to be endorsed. This is exactly how Boko Haram started gradually.”
His views aligned with that of Ozioma Izuora, a lawyer, who said while the security of lives is important, any measure in that regard must follow due process.
“Considering the laws of Nigeria, it is illegal because IPOB is a mere group with no constitutional backing,” she said.
“Usually, in the creation of such outfits, there is often a backing for it in the constitution. If not, who is going to check their powers? If they err tomorrow, how can you prosecute them and under which law can you do so? Whatever is good must be done well.”
Charles Oputa, Nigerian singer and activist better known as Charly Boy, however, disagreed that the formation of the security outfit is a wrong move.
He said it is high time such an outfit was formed to help secure residents in the south-east and south-south.
“Igbo sons and daughters, we must not sleep. We cannot afford to sleep because we are surrounded by the enemy. So, the security outfit is a commendable move,” Oputa said.
See Also
Politics
Nnamdi Kanu’s Security Outfit Laughable, It Should Be Ignored—South-East Governors
0 Comments
14 Hours Ago
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
Read also
You can also check
