7.7 C
Munich
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Home Blog Page 3

Army begins recruitment for direct short service course

0

The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of online application for the 2024 Direct Short Service Commission Course.

This announcement, made on Friday, was shared via a statement on the Army’s official Facebook page.

The statement noted that the application period will end on February 23, emphasising that eligible applicants should access the recruitment portal.

According to the post, the application is accessible to both civilians and serving military personnel.

However, it specified that consideration for the Direct Short Service Commission Course would only be given to serving military personnel who have been sponsored to civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The post read, “This is to inform the general public that the online application for Direct Short Service Commission Course 28/2024 has commenced. All applications must be submitted online not later than February 23, 2024. Visit recruitment.army.mil.ng. Application Is Free

“The DSSC is open to both civilians and serving military personnel. Only serving military personnel sponsored to civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces shall be considered.”

AFCON: Super Eagles pip hosts Elephants 1-0 in epic group tie

0

Africa Cup of Nations – Group A
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen against Serge Aurier during the game. CREDIT: The Standard.

William Troost-Ekong’s second-half penalty gave Nigeria a 1-0 win over Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, turning up the heat on the host country whose hopes of reaching the last 16 remain in the balance.

Captain Troost-Ekong, of Greek club PAOK, converted from the spot 10 minutes into the second half at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, after a foul on Victor Osimhen was picked up following a VAR check.

The Super Eagles then held on in front of a frenzied crowd to claim their first win in Group A after beginning their AFCON bid with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea.

Those sides are locked on four points at the top of the section, with Ivory Coast behind them on three points and Guinea-Bissau already eliminated after losing both games so far.

The fact that the four best third-placed sides in the six groups will all advance to the last 16 leaves margin for error, but Ivory Coast must now beat Equatorial Guinea in their last match on Monday to guarantee progress.

Meanwhile Nigeria must simply avoid defeat against Guinea-Bissau -– beaten 4-2 by Equatorial Guinea earlier – to ensure a top-two finish.

The match was watched by 49,517 fans, a far higher crowd than that for the hosts’ opening game, when the number of empty seats at the 60,000-capacity venue was a source of controversy.

Despite the favourable atmosphere, the Elephants are the first host nation to lose a match in the group phase of an AFCON since 2012, when Equatorial Guinea -– co-hosts that year with Gabon –- went down 1-0 to Zambia.

The last host nation to go out in the first round was Gabon, eliminated with three draws in 2017.

Nigeria were without injured Alhassan Yusuf in midfield and started with a three-man central defence as Fulham’s Calvin Bassey came in.

African footballer of the year Osimhen led the attack and blazed a fine chance over the bar early on, as three-time champions Nigeria failed to muster a shot on target in the first half.

Ivory Coast saw Stanley Nwabili deny Kouame moments after that, and the Nigeria goalkeeper also kept out a powerful long-range strike by Seko Fofana.

There was a disappointing lack of quality in the final third from both teams, and the game ultimately hinged on the penalty call early in the second half.

Osimhen stayed down in the area after being caught by Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande, and a spot-kick was given by the Algerian referee after he studied the pitch side monitor.

Defender Troost-Ekong – just as he did in the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off against Ghana –- stepped up to take the penalty, beating Yahia Fofana with a powerful strike down the middle.

Nigeria then held on through nine added minutes to win the first meeting of the sides at the AFCON since a quarter-final in 2013, the year they last lifted the trophy.

Disquiet Over Umahi’s Moves To Change Names Of Companies Awarded Contracts

0

An Abuja based civil society organisation- Collective Action Against Corruption-has raised the alarm over plot by the ministry of works to shortchange some contractors awarded road construction jobs by replacing the names of their companies with different ones without plausible reasons.

It was gathered that the ministry had awarded contracts each for some road construction to some indigenous company after the ministerial tenders’ board had duly certified the contracts and all the necessary processes including payment of remita and certification by the BPP but the ministry is planning to change the name of the companies.

The CSO said information at its disposal showed that the ministry had concluded plans to change name of the companies awarded the multi-billion-naira contracts in different parts of the country to preferred companies some of which have ties with some vested interests. They insisted the action runs contrary to the provision of the procurement act and urged the ministry to read the act.
“Documents at our disposal showed that after letters of award had been issued with all the processes required by law completed, with a no objection certification from the Bureau of Public Procurement, the ministry is set to change the names of companies already awarded the contracts”
The CSO described the move as unfair, unfortunate and runs contrary to the clamour for a level playing field in conduct of government business even as it questions the rationale for the action and wondered why the previous companies were not told right from the bidding process if indeed, they lack the requisite skills to deliver the job.
While urging the ministry to urgently reverse the planned name change, the CSO harped on the need for transparency in the conduct of government activities.
It appealed to the president to urgently intervene and halt what it described as sheer deliberate attempt to contravene rules and procedure in the conduct of government activities assuring that should the ministry proceed with the change; it would be compelled to seek legal redress.

When contacted the newly posted Permanent Secretary said he was not aware and referred reporter to seek clarification from the minister even though findings showed that that the permanent secretary was the signatory to letter for change of companies to the BPP. The minister could not be reached as at press time

BREAKING: Emefiele can now travel out of Abuja- Court

0

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted the request of a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to travel out of Abuja.
The court, however, said Emefiele must remain in the country.

In his bail terms, he was restricted to the FCT.
Emefiele, through his lawyer, Mathew Bukka, had requested for a variation of the terms.

Details later…

Cross River State community records Lassa Fever outbreak

0

BY UKET OKA, Calabar

An outbreak of Lassa Fever has been reported in Ejah Community of Osupong Ward 1, Obubra local government area of Cross River State.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk, made this known Wednesday in a statement entitled, “notification of Lassa Outbreak in Obubra Cross River State,” made available to journalists in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Dr. Ayuk said the reported case was identified following the result of an investigation conducted on a deceased case of the community at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

“Investigation has been concluded today, and details of the deceased case – a resident of Obubra got from Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebony State, has been confirmed positive for Lassa.
“We have consequently activated the CRS Emergency Operation Center,” the Health Commissioner stated.
He also said the State Rapid Response Team would be going to Obubra tomorrow (Thursday) to join the Local Government Area Team to ensure: contact Tracing and line listing, decontamination of affected premises, awareness creation and risk communication.
Dr. Ayuk further hinted that the team would ensure the mobilization of Lassa fever commodities, consumables and personal protective equipment to General Hospital Obubra and other locations.

AFCON: SWAN President lands in Cote D’Ivoire, hails Nigerian Sports Minister, parleys Journalists

0

The National President of the Sports writer’s Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) Comrade Isaiah Benjamin, have arrived Cote D’Ivoire for the ongoing 2024 African cup of Nations.

The SWAN Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, in a press statement on Thursday said Isaiah departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard Cote D’Ivoire airline on Thursday, alongside other dignitaries and arrived same day.

The SWAN President according to the statement will meet with all Nigerian Sports Journalists covering AFCON in a bid to interface and find ways of ameliorating the challenges of his colleagues away from their country.

The statement also applauded the efforts of the Minister of sports, the Nigerian Football Federation, (NFF) and other sports leaders for their unwavering commitment and support, proffering solution to the enormous challenges of the national team, while expressing optimism that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will surmount all challenges ahead of them to qualify from the group stage.

Nigeria Super Eagles who in their AFCON campaign opener on Sunday last week draw Equatorial Guinea, 1:1 is expected to take host, the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire in their second leg duel inside Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe by 6pm, Nigeria time.

“Mr. Isaiah who touched down Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan shortly after noon had departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja earlier same day, aboard Cotevoir airline.

“As a leadership, we are committed to ensuring that Sports Writers carry out their professional and constitutional duties without hitches.

“On our part as sporting media, we will continue to give the team maximum support by ensuring fair report of their matches and other activities partnering their participation at the 2023 AFCON,” he said.” The president said.

FCT Kidnapping: We’ll make Abuja hot for you, Wike roars

0

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, yesterday commenced confidence-building visits to area councils in the territory, declaring that security agencies would, henceforth, make it hot for bandits.

His visit came against the backdrop of incessant kidnap and killing of victims by bandits in the area.

Wike, who visited Bwari town, the headquarters of Bwari Area Council, held a town hall meeting with the residents, traditional rulers, security, defence and intelligence personnel in the area and other stakeholders.
The minister is expected to also visit other councils in the coming days.

At the event, Wike declared that enough was enough and that informants working for the bandits would not be able to sleep among decent residents.

He said: “Security is one of the key priorities of Mr. President’s administration. Yesterday (Tuesday), Mr President summoned a high-level security meeting, which includes all the service chiefs, minister of defence, and my humble self, because of recent attacks, particularly in Bwari.

”So, currently, it is one of the key priorities Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda will want to face squarely.
“It is no longer going to be business as usual. My coming here today is to show you that we are serious. To all those bandits, enough is enough. We will do everything in our power to make sure this does not happen again.

“Everything has to be done to protect lives and property. Without protection of lives and property, we have no business in government. My coming here today is to assure you that we are very serious.

”That is why just this morning (yesterday), Mr. President has given me approval to provide everything required to the security agencies. And just like what Etsu-Bwari and Sarkin-Bwari said, it is not by merely talking, we are serious.

“Security agencies will not have any reason to say they are not equipped; we will provide everything required. I know how big Bwari is, I know you have boundaries with three states – Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa.
”I know because these bandits were chased away from the Northeast, so they are making their way here, we will make it hot for them.”

Wike also sought the assistance of the people, especially with regards to providing information to security agencies.
“Without information, there is nothing we can do and that is where you come in. Traditional and community leaders, you have a great role to play. You need to assist security agencies with information.

“In the next few days, you will see action from the security agencies. There could be informants, even here within this meeting hall. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care. I am the minister of FCT. You won’t sleep again. Informants, you won’t sleep again.

“This message is not just for Bwari but to all the area councils. From time to time, we will come here and interface with you. We won’t sit down in the city,” Wike said.

He advised the public against resorting to crowdfunding in a bid to raise funds for ransom, saying it helped terrorists to launch more attacks.

He stated further: “We have to stop this idea of going to radio to say we are going to raise money. When you do that, these bandits are happy that people are concerned and raising money. I know you are concerned that your loved ones are with kidnappers but we must do everything to discourage them.”

Earlier in his remarks, chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, recalled that in the week leading to last Christmas, kidnappers violently attacked the peaceful agrarian community of Tokulo, seriously injuring several residents and abducting some of the villagers.

“This was followed by another attack on the border community of Kuduru where two people were killed and the kidnappers also abducted some residents.

“Before the end of December 2023, kidnappers also invaded Zuma village, a suburb of Bwari town, killing two persons and abducting some others.

“Sadly again, within the first few days of the new year, kidnappers attacked Dutse-Sagwari, a community along Dutse -Bwari expressway. Several people were also abducted during this attack.

”This sad incident was closely followed by another attack on Padan-Gwari Village, where kidnappers abducted some villagers, too. And most recently, kidnappers launched another ferocious attack on Kawu Village, during which they injured several people and kidnapped some.”

Northern elders tackle CBN over mass transfer staff to Lagos

0

The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has cautioned the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, against relocating some key departments from Abuja to Lagos State, stressing that such movement would lead to brain drain.

NEF said such a movement would lead to a temporary disruption in CBN’s operations that could negatively impact the bank’s performance and efficiency.

The Director of Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said the relocation would lead to an increased cost, reduced coordination, regional economic disparities, impaired economic development in northern Nigeria, among others.

A statement by Suleiman reads partly: “It would require significant financial investment as the CBN would need to allocate funds for setting up new offices, purchasing or leasing properties, relocating employees, and other infrastructural requirements.

“This would strain the CBN’s budget and divert resources away from other essential functions and initiatives.

“Moving key departments to Lagos may lead to a loss of skilled employees who are unable or unwilling to relocate. This brain drain could negatively impact the CBN’s performance and efficiency.

“Relocation would lead to a temporary disruption in the CBN’s operations.

“Employees would need time to adjust to their new surroundings, potentially causing delays in decision-making and implementation.”

Police probes Umuahia studio invasion by officers

0

Abia State Police Command has commenced investigation into the trending video of police officers who invaded a live studio of an Umuahia-based online Radio/TV station, ABN while carrying out an arrest.

The Director of the media outfit, Mr Ifeanyi Okali had on Wednesday, narrated how the policemen stormed his station located at Azikiwe road in Umuahia to arrest a guest on live program, “Youths Rendezvous”, Mr Donald Udensi.

Okali, who shared videos of the ugly incident, also alleged that some equipment like microphone, laptop computer and camera were destroyed inside the ABN studio while the policemen were arresting his guest.

The outcry by Okali generated outrage among media practitioners in Abia

But responding to the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Maureen Chinaka said the scene in the viral video was being investigated by the Abia State Police Command.

She assured that the right action would be taken after investigation and called for calm among the public.

“We are currently investigating the situation in the video. Be rest assured that this situation will be properly handled and the right action will be taken. We urge the public to remain calm”, Chinaka said.

IDPs resettle selves, cry out to Taraba Government for protection

0

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, the home town of the Executive Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, have decided to resette themselves in some of their displaced homes after five years of neglect and are calling on the State Government and Security Agencies to come to their aid to enable them go about their normal businesses

The IDPs in their numbers, including pregnant women and children settled at Tor-Iorshagher, along Wukari-Rafinkada Road and Wukari-Tsukundi Road with virtually no food items and mattresses for healthy shelter

It was gathered that they decided to return to their places because, local authorities in the area have already started distributing their lands as they kept waiting for the State Government to resettle them but to no avail after three years of cease fire in the fight between Jukun and Tiv communities which lasted for about five years now

Mr Aondonengen Torkuma, one of the IDPs, a father of six children who look almost hopeless, told our reporter that thousands of their brothers were wondering in pains since the crisis began in 2019.

He stated that thousands of their villages located between Wukari to Jootar, Wukari to Rafinkada, Wukari to Ibi and Wukari to Tsukundi are gradually becoming deserts as herdsmen grace freely on the graves of their ancestors which they abandoned as a result of the crisis that lasted for five years now

“We waited patiently for the fomer governor of the state Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku, to resettle the IDPs when he called for cease fire, but later on, we discovered that there was no honesty in his call for peace. His kinsmen were rather sharing the lands and graves of our ancestral fathers and some were Selling them out. We learnt that he allegedly claimed to have bought some of the homes using his power as the Governor of the State.

“But we are hopeful that, the present Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, been a pastor and a dedicated Christian, who has the peace and development of the state at heart, will never tour the same path with Darius Ishaku

“We want to appeal to the Governor to give us security cover to enable us continue with our normal activities since there is no more fight between we and our Jukun brothers, his kinsmen”. He added

Also, Mr Swase Ternenge, who said his wife was pregnant and life had become difficult for him in a strange land, told our reporters that he decided to go back to his ancestral home to continue with his farming activities because he is tired of staying in IDP camp without anybody attending to him.

“If the Government of Taraba State decides to kill all of us then, let it be recorded that we, the IDPs, in his Local Government are helplessly killed as a result of trying to resettle ourselves after cease fire.

“It’s over five years now that we left our homes to take refuge in strange lands. We have explore all the necessary peace moves and now we have cease fire for over two years now. So we see no reason while we will keep waiting for the Government to resettle us. Though the Local Authorities here keep referring us from one person to another for over two years, we feel the governor has it all.

“They told us that the governor had asked them not to allow us come back to our places but we know these are fabricated lies. We want to call on the governor to stand up to prove them wrong by defending us to sleep with two eyes close in our ancestral homes”. He lamented

Recall that since 1st April, 2019 till date, the Tiv people who fled most part of Southern Taraba, especially Wukari Local Government Area following the communal clash between the Jukun and the Tiv, have not been resettled and any attempt to return back to their ancestral homes is either resisted by security agencies or local authorities in the area.

With the present move for peaceful co-existence in the state, Championed by the Executive Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, the people are hopeful that there would be no more trouble, especially that the hotspot of the issues, centers in the governor’s home town