Osinbajo jets out to London for a brief meeting with President Buhari and is expected back in Abuja immediately

acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo this evening departed the country to London for a brief meeting with Pres. Buhari who's recuperating in the UK and is expected back in Abuja immediately.

Laolu Akande, the Senior Assistant on Media and Publicity to the acting president, disclosed the information on Twitter.

Nigerian senate passes bill on compulsory treatment and care of Gunshot victims

Today, the Nigerian Senate passed the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill. The Bill, which was sent to the Senate for Concurrence, seeks to establish a law that ensures that victims of gunshot wounds receive necessary treatment from medical workers and assistance from security agencies.  

Speaking on the passage of the Bill, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stated that not every victim of a gunshot wound is a criminal, hence, it is important that a legal framework be put into place to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.  

“By the passage of this Bill, the Senate has moved to ensure that every hospital in Nigeria, both public and private, must accept to treat victims of gunshot wounds without any clearance from the police. What we have done is to ensure that everyone is entitled to medical treatment, irrespective of the cause of the shooting. We should reserve judgment for the criminal justice system, and leave healthcare for the medical professionals.” 

The Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill also ensures that every person including security agents shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.  Additionally, the Bill mandates that no person with gunshot wounds shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria whether or not initial monetary deposit is paid.  

This brings the total number of Bills passed by the 8th Senate since June 9th​,​ 2015, to 108 Bills

'Kidnappers should be publicly executed to serve as deterrent to others' - Governor Umahi

With the case of Evans, the notorious kidnap kingpin still ongoing, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has suggested that 'Death Penalty' serves as the capital punishment for any arrested kidnapper in Nigeria. According to him, they should be publicly executed in other to serve as a deterrent to others.

Speaking in Abakaliki during an anti-corruption summit organized by the state government, Umahi said if such punishment is being implemented, it will help reduce the high rate of kidnapping in Nigeria.

Umahi said: 

“What these people do is worse than death, imagine kidnapping someone, blindfolding and chaining the person in one place for six months or more than that, it is worse than death and people who indulge in such deserve to be publicly executed to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Also speaking at the summit themed: ‘Institutionalization of Good Governance for Sustainable Development’, the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Ekpo Nta said good governance can never be achieved in a corrupt environment. 

According to him,

 “Corruption thrives where all these processes are prevalent and corrupt persons seize these opportunities. ICPC relies heavily on promoting anti-corruption through robust prevention strategies.

“The United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNAC strongly recommends that most of our strategies be channelled into prevention processes. This is the practice adopted by countries that have successfully reduced corrupt processes.”

MELAYE’S RECALL: THERE IS NO RESTRAINING ORDER – INEC

•Senator’s supporters seek divine intervention

Barring a last-minute change of mind, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin today the recall of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

But supporters of the embattled senator have been pleading with some Christian clerics to intervene in the matter.

A team headed by INEC National Commissioner might oversee the process, which may also involve its Operation Department.

A top INEC official, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is no restraining order from any court. We will go ahead with the first leg. But if along the line, INEC is stopped from going ahead with the exercise, we will stop it.

“Pasting the verification notice is just the first leg of the process, which cannot hurt Melaye in any way.

“Even the process does not amount to removing the senator. By virtue of Section 110, a lawmaker is only opportune to gauge the mood of his or her constituents on his or her performance.

“If a lawmaker is doing well, he or she should feel free to face the electorate. The process is not a setback at all for any lawmaker.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “A team to be coordinated by the National Commissioner for Northcentral will oversee the process. Definitely, the Operation Department will be involved.

“INEC will, however, seek legal opinion immediately it is served the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“We have subsisting court judgments, including those of the Court of Appeal, indicating that no court can stop a recall, which is like an election.”

Melaye’s counsel Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) flew into Abuja yesterday.

Some supporters of the embattled senator have been begging some Christian clerics to assist by whipping up religious sentiments, another source said.

The INEC timetable shows that Melaye’s recall will run from July 10th to August 19th.

The notice, dated July 3, 2017, reads: “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Independent National Electoral Commission (“the Commission”) by Sections 69 and 110 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 116 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and of all the powers enabling it in that behalf, the Commission hereby issues this timetable schedule of activities for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State.”

The details of the timetable are as follows:

Notice of Verification(July 10, 2017). To be posted at the constituency (INEC LGA office, Lokoja).
Last day for submission of application by interested observers (31st July 2017). INEC headquarters.
Last day for submission of names of verification agents for the member sought to be recalled and the petitioners (August 10, 2017). By a letter addressed and submitted to the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) indicating the Polling Unit verification agents arranged by LGAs as well as collation agents and where they will serve.
Stakeholders meeting (August 15, 2017). INEC State Office.
Conduct of Verification (August 19, 2017). To be held in the Polling Units in the constituency.
“The commission shall issue the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of referendum subject to the outcome of the verification exercise.”

BUHARI’S RETURN: HYENAS, JACKALS WILL BE SENT OUT OF THE KINGDOM –AISHA

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on Monday gave an indication that God has answered the prayers of Nigerians that have been praying for the recovery of her ailing husband, President Muhammadu Buhari.
She also hinted that “the hyenas” and “the jackals” will soon be ejected from the kingdom.
Mrs. Buhari, who is currently in the British capital with her husband, gave the indications on her Facebook page while responding to an earlier post made by the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani.
Sani had earlier posted a message in which he was making veiled reference to alleged power play playing out in the government circle in Buhari’s absence.
The federal lawmaker had claimed that while “weaker animals” were praying for the return of “Lion King,” those he called “the hyenas” and the “the jackals” are scheming, based on the assumption that the “Lion King” will never return.
The senator wrote, “Prayer for the absent Lion King has waned. Until he’s back, then they will fall over each other to be on the front row of the palace temple.
“Now, the hyenas and the jackals are scheming and talking to each other in whispers; still doubting whether the Lion King will be back or not.
“Now, the Lion king is asleep and no other dare to confirm if he will wake up or not.
“It is the wish of the hyenas that the Lion King never wakes or come back, so that they can be kings.
“It is the prayers of the weaker animals that the Lion King comes back to save the kingdom from the hyenas, the wolves and other predators.”
But Buhari’s wife said the prayers of the “weaker animals” had been answered, and that “the hyenas” and “the jackals” would soon be evicted from “the kingdom.”
She wrote, “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom.
“We strongly believe in the prayers and support of the weaker animals.
“Long live the weaker animals, long live Nigeria.”

Pope expands criteria for sainthood

Pope Francis on Tuesday expanded the criteria for becoming a saint to include “the free offering of one’s life” in an apostolic letter published by the Vatican.

An example of such self-sacrifice could be caring for patients with highly infectious diseases.

Previously, people could be named saints in two ways: if they had been martyred for their Christian faith, or had led a particularly holy life and had miracles credited to them.

Vatican media, however, explained that the new category of sainthood has five stipulations.

In addition to the free and voluntary offering of one’s life, and heroic acceptance of a certain and “soon-to-come death, there must be a close relation “between the offering of one’s life and the premature death of the one who offers it.”

The saintly candidate must have chosen to lead a good Christian life until their death and must have had “the reputation for holiness” before and after dying.

Finally, there must be evidence of a posthumous miracle that could be directly linked to the candidate.

Report says the new category of self-sacrifice does not have to include persecution by non-Christians.

WE ARE WORKING ON HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS TO PERMANENTLY ADDRESS FLOODING IN LAGOS -AMBODE

• To Re-engineer Drainage Systems, Enforce Physical Planning Laws
• Says Govt Will Step Up Campaign Against Dumping Of Refuse Into Canals
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday said the flooding caused by torrential rainfalls in the Statewithin the last few days would soon be a thing of the past, as the State Government was working towards embarking on holistic solutions to address the situation once and for all.

Speaking at a sensitization workshop on water management and environmental control held at Ikeja which is a prelude to a Water Technology and Environmental Control (WATEC) exhibition holding in Israel later in the year, the Governor said aside the fact that the issue of flooding was not peculiar to the State or Nigeria as it was a global phenomenon, but that urgent steps are being taken to tackle the challenge in a holistic manner and protect the State from future re-occurrence.

The Governor, who empathized with people who lost properties to the flood, said that it was painful to see most prime estates flooded with water, roads taken over by floods, while many homesteads literally became pools.

Describing the workshop as apt coming at a time the State witnessed flooding in some parts, Governor Ambode said in as much as the development was a trying period for him given the fact that so much had been expended in providing infrastructure for the people, but that major strategies would be implemented with the view to bequeathing the State with enduring solution to water management and environmental control.

“However, if we have learnt anything in the on-going flooding of some parts of the State, it is that there is an immediate, even urgent need for us to embark upon a review and reengineering of our canals and drainage systems.

“This must be pursued hand-in-hand with a clear and crystal re-envisioning of our water management system. So, in effect, what we should immediately pursue is a holistic solution to what is certain to be a recurring problem. It must be a sincere collaboration between government and the citizenry,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor said despite the fact that the State had been denied ecological funds by the previous federal government for political reasons, several reforms were being implemented in line with the capacity of the State Government to protect the shoreline and carry out de-flooding, which according to him, are equally expensive to implement.

“The issue is when you are talking about reforms, it comes with pains but it is only the vision that drives it through and that is what we are doing,” he said.

Speaking on the import of the workshop, Governor Ambode said the State Government was partnering with Israel which is one of the first countries to successfully overcome its limitations in water resources to develop water technology and environmental control, adding that the intention would be to explore a wide array of technological advancements and possibilities to ensure best solutions.

He said as a first step, the State Government would participate at the WATEC exhibition and take full advantage of state of the art technology in Israel, with the view to applying same solution in the State.

While alluding to the fact that the incidence of flooding was not circumscribed to Nigeria or Third World countries as United Kingdom and even Japan recently witnessed heavily flooding, the Governor said no matter how well a society may be prepared, natural occurrences could not be totally ruled out, and such was why Lagos State and indeed the country fully subscribes to the tenets of Climate Change Solutions by the United Nations.

“While all the aforementioned examples enjoin us to put our experience and pains into perspective, they also impress on us as a State and a government that we must learn from all these examples in order to better prepare for the future.

“To that extent, we will reinvigorate our campaign against the dumping of refuse by citizens into canals. We will be stronger in enforcing our physical planning laws especially those building illegally on canals and blocking the free flow of water across the State,” Governor Ambode vowed.

Speaking on the new waste management strategy being adopted by the State Government encapsulated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), Governor Ambode said available statistics show that the State generate 13, 000 tonnes of waste per day which is the highest in the world, and that the new approach was aimed at revolutionizing waste management with particular emphasis on reusing waste for other critical purposes and growing the economy, as against the present practice of dumping.

Besides, the Governor said as government would be implementing new strategies to find a lasting solution to the problem of water shortages and flooding, it was also important for residents to play their part by bearing new attitudes towards civic obligations at all times, without which the efforts of government would be in futility.

Also, the State’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Ade Adesanya said the torrential rainfalls witnessed in the State in the past few days accumulated a total of 477mm of water, which was equivalent to the rainfalls experienced in other climes for six months, and that the successful management of the situation was commendable, while expressing the determination of the government to mitigate the impact of such in future.

On his part, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Guy Feldman said his country was delighted to partner with the Lagos State Government to bring about lasting solutions to water management and environmental control.

ALAAFIN: WE NEED RESTRUCTURE BECAUSE BULK OF NIGERIA’S OIL MONEY GOES TO NORTH

The bulk of Nigeria’s oil money goes to northern part of the country with successive military regimes unduly favouring a section of the country at the expense of other geopolitical zones in the land, hence the need for the nation to restructure if there must be equity, justice and fair play.
With the above position, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Monday joined the agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria.
Alaafin spoke at the launch of a biography and postscript titled: ‘Samuel Ladoke Akintola in the Eyes of History,’ written by Femi Kehinde.
At the event, Alaafin traced the historic feud between the late Akintola and the late Obafemi Awolowo, noting that the first federal government’s interference in state affairs happened during the dispute between the two Yoruba politicians, which led to the crisis witnessed in the South-west and ultimately in the death of Akintola.
According to Alaafin, the North was favoured in terms of revenue allocation because while more states and council areas were created in the region, other regions were yet to enjoy similar opportunity despite being federating units.
He said: “The first time that the federal government would interfere in state affairs began when the government at the centre interfered in the feud between Akintola and Awolowo. The government, in support of Akintola, declared a state of emergency in the old Western Region, snowballing into serious crisis.
“The army came and took side during a coup that led to the death of Akintola. Aguiyi Ironsi that took over, abolished the regional system through Decree 34 of 1960. He also scrapped the term federal republic and replaced it with republic of Nigeria.
“The northerners felt that with the new system, the Emirs would no longer be able to operate within a republic like before. Their belief was that Ironsi came from a culture that opposed their belief. This led to a counter coup of July 29, 1960. I am trying to tell you why we have to restructure Nigeria.
“Gowon that came later, returned the term Federal Republic of Nigeria but not the region. Lagos is about 20 million people going by the first census conducted and Kano was next. Within the next 10 years, Kano was split into about 44 council areas but Lagos remains with 20 council areas.
“Jigawa was created from Kano and given 19 council areas. This means that the bulk of what Nigeria realises from oil goes to the North. If we are in a region, the government of that region can create council areas but because we depend on a monolithic manner of financing the states, we are in problem. Have they been able to publish the people who own the oil blocks in Nigeria?”
Alaafin said the bulk of the owners of the oil blocks come from a certain area of the country, expressing his displeasure that government had displayed insensitivity and unrealistic approach to the yearnings of the oil producing area.
“They cannot fish or practice agriculture so they have to agitate. The Oyo State Government cannot pay teachers and civil servants because what is coming to its coffers from the federal government is minimal. Our revenue has been taken over by the federal government. What the federal government collects in Value Added Tax in an area in Oyo State in one month is more than what it collects in Adamawa State in three months. Yet, the federal government takes all away,” the monarch said.
Present at the event were former Governors of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo and Adebayo Alao-Akala. Among others were Justice Ladiran Akintola and the late Bola Ige’s daughter, Funso Adegbola. Dele Momodu delivered the lecture while the book was reviewed by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Festus Adedayo.

BUHARI HAS BECOME BAD BUSINESS FOR THE ‘CABAL THAT IMPOSED’ HIM ON US - FAYOSE

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, President Muhammadu Buhari has become a “bad business for the cabal that imposed him” on the country.
In a statement on Monday, the governor known to be very critical of the current administration, alleged that the presidency is confused about whether to bring Buhari back to the country or to leave him in London.
Buhari has been in the UK where he is receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
He had earlier returned to the country on March 10 after spending 49 days in the UK. He returned to the UK indefinitely after 57 days in Nigeria.
His long absence has fuelled speculation about his health.
Fayose said he warned Nigerians that Buhari was a “black-market packaged by the APC cabal that was only interested in seizing power”.
The governor asked the federal executive council to invoke section 144 of the constitution and to declare the president incapable of performing his duties.
“For a president who has spent 113 days abroad taking care of his health out of the 191 days in 2017, it is time for section 144 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be invoked,” he said in a statement signed by Lere Olayinka, his spokesman.
“President Buhari left Nigeria for London on May 7, 2017, and today is July 10, 2017, 64 clears days since Nigerians saw their president or heard anything from him. Even the president’s handlers are keeping Nigerians in the dark.
“Even though the number of days that a president can spend outside the country is not specified in the 1999 constitution (as amended), the makers of the laws of Nigeria envisaged this kind of situation and made provisions for how to resolve it in section 144.
“It has, therefore, become pertinent that the federal executive council (FEC) must invoke section 144 of the 1999 constitution by passing a resolution declaring that President Buhari is incapable of discharging the functions of his office.”
Fayose added that he was not wishing Buhari dead, but that he wanted Nigeria freed “from the hands of those who are presently holding the country to ransom”.

PDP DIDN’T WIN IN OSUN BY-ELECTION – APC

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said the by-election held last Saturday in Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State was contested between APC and APC and won by the APC.
Mr. Ademola Adeleke of the PDP won the by-election, defeating the APC contestant and candidate of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Mr. Mudashiru Hussain.
The Acting Chairman of the APC in Ondo State Mr. Ade Adetimehin stated this at the secretariat of the party in Akure, the state capital while receiving some former members of the Peoples Democratic Party who defected to the APC on Monday
Adetimehin said the two contestants for the election were members of the APC but the aggrieved one who defected to the PDP won the election
He said, ” The last Saturday Senatorial by-election in Osun West Senatorial District was between the APC and APC.
“The victory recorded in the election was not for the PDP but for the aggrieved members of the APC in the state.
He said internal wrangling within the party was the reason a faction of the APC-led by Aregbesola lost the election to another faction of the party whose candidate for the election was Adeleke.
The acting chairman emphasised the need to promote stability in the party in order to ensure continuity of the APC government in the state. He declared that the APC had come to stay in the state, stressing that the party will continue to reign in the state like Lagos state.

ETISALAT PULLS OUT OF NIGERIA, ORDERS NEW COMPANY TO CHANGE NAME

In confirmation of its withdrawal from Nigeria, the Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat Group announced Monday that it had terminated its management agreement with its Nigerian arm and gave Etisalat Nigeria three weeks to phase out the brand in the country.
The decision of the Abu Dhabi-owned network operator, which once held a 45 per cent stake in Etisalat Nigeria and 25 per cent of its preference shares, arose after its $1.2 billion loan talks with 13 Nigerian banks collapsed.
Chief Executive of Etisalat International Hatem Dowidar said Monday that there was no need for the brand in Nigeria after the collapse of the loan talks. However, he was silent on the loan repayment to the Nigerian lenders.
Nigerian regulators had intervened last week to save Etisalat Nigeria from collapse after talks with its lenders to renegotiate a $1.2 billion loan had failed.
However, Etisalat Nigeria, in a statement issued three weeks ago, had claimed that it had repaid 42 per cent of the loan, leaving an outstanding $574 million.
“As at today, we can categorically state that the outstanding loan sum to the consortium (of banks) stands at $227m and N113bn, a total of about $574m if the naira portion is converted to U.S. Dollars. This, in essence, means almost half of the original loan of $1.2bn, has been repaid.
“Etisalat continued to service the loan up until February 2017, when discussions with the banks regarding the repayment restructuring commenced,” Ibrahim Dikko, vice-president, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs of Etisalat Nigeria had said.
However, Etisalat Group announced Monday that it was pulling out, as all UAE shareholders of the company had exited and left the board and management of the Nigerian brand, reported Reuters.
Dowidar said discussions were ongoing with Etisalat Nigeria to provide technical support, adding that it could use the brand for another three weeks before phasing it out.
Nothing was said about how this will affect the network and its integrity as million of Nigerians are subscribed to the network.
In June, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had assured the public that the network’s integrity would not be compromised amid the loan disagreements.
Accordingly, the NCC in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had mediated by holding several meetings with the banks, Etisalat and other stakeholders to find a solution.
Following the intervention, Etisalat announced an interim board of directors to be chaired by Dr. Joseph Nnanna, a deputy governor of the CBN.
Reacting to Etisalat Group’s statement Monday, a source close to Etisalat Nigeria said the ultimatum was not unusual since its management had known that they would have to change the brand identity, following the withdrawal of the Abu-Dhabi-based parent company from its Nigerian subsidiary.
According to the source, the Nigerian investors in Etisalat Nigeria, represented by Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS) hold just a 15 per cent stake in the business, so it was only right for a change in brand identity.
Although he said no date had been fixed to announce the new brand, he said that it would be made public before the expiration of the three weeks given by Etisalat Group.
However, EMTS, trading as Etisalat Nigeria, said in a statement Monday night that it was aware of news reports regarding Etisalat Group’s withdrawal of the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria by EMTS.
According to a statement signed by Dikko, EMTS has a valid and subsisting agreement with the Etisalat Group, which entitles EMTS to use the Etisalat brand, notwithstanding the recent changes within the company.
“Indeed, discussions are ongoing between EMTS and Etisalat Group pertaining to the continued use of the brand, and EMTS will issue a formal statement once discussions are concluded.
“The final outcome on the use of the brand in no way affects the operations of the business as our full range of services remain available to our customers,” he said.
He added that EMTS launched in Nigeria in 2008 with ‘0809ja’ to affirm the “Nigerianness of our origin and sphere of influence. In our nine years of operation, we have remained a prime driver and avid supporter of the Nigerian spirit of excellence, and we will continue to stay true to our ‘Naijacentric identity’.”
“This notion is strongly reflected in our core messages and depicted in major projects and initiatives which we have been known to support. All these initiatives have their foundation embedded in supporting key aspects of the Nigerian fabric: building Nigerian businesses and empowering Nigerians with a focus on the youth.
“Nigeria remains the soul of EMTS’ business and we have made the brand alluring to our teeming subscribers who see a piece of the spirit and character of Nigeria in everything we do.
“EMTS is here to stay and we wish to assure our esteemed customers that our core values of youthfulness, customer-centricity and innovation will remain the pillars on which we operate. We thank our esteemed customers for their abiding faith in us,” he said.

OYEGUN KICKS, SAYS BUHARI’S APPOINTMENTS LOPSIDED

According to Oyegun, “I think you have asked the most difficult question and I am not too sure from which angle to answer it but first I must be very honest and frank; the reward system and appointment hasn’t been as pleasant to the party as it ought to be, part of them haven’t been well thought out as it ought to be.

“We have cases which wouldn’t have happened where individuals who are currently in court with our elected officials, one case of a governor, which is right now at the Supreme Court, have been given appointments.

“We have cases at least one or two known current appointees of the PDP have been given; we have cases where in a particular state from the same local government I think going to the same ward three people have been given appointment and these things and many more and the more important one is that we have a lot of cases where faces not known to the party during the most difficult part of the struggle of this party have gotten appointment, so it has caused a lot of disquiet within the party.

“I have been abused, I have been called names, I have received text messages of all nastiness, I have got petitions in writing and there is a general sense in what is going on in the practise of the party all over the country.

“We have brought this to the attention of government and we hope and pray that what remains will be devoted to rewarding those who really, actually, the faces I saw, the faces my state chairmen saw working, taking risks during the long period of the campaign.

“I think more than that, I should say that one has to be brutally honest sometimes in matters like this.”

JAMB commences sales of 2017 Direct Entry forms – Official

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Tuesday said it has commenced sales of the 2017 Direct Entry application form.

This is contained in a statement signed by JAMB’s Head of Public Relations, Mr Fabian Benjamin, and issued to newsmen in Bwari in the FCT.

The statement said that the form was designed for candidates that have A-level results and wished to gain direct admission to Degree programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

It explained that the process of registration for the Direct Entry was spelt out in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to the statement, the board equally has commenced the sale of UTME application for Nigerians abroad and foreign candidates who desired to attend tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“We urge all candidates wishing to register through direct entry to obtain the pins at Interswitch, Remita or any of the commercial banks approved earlier for the vending of UTME pins.

“The process is as it was with the UTME where you create a profile and obtain the pins and proceed for biometric capturing at the CBT centres for Direct Entry candidates.

“Candidates for the Direct Entry are expected to possess `Advanced Level, Diploma or its equivalent, while foreign candidates must possess proof of residency abroad.

“For foreign candidates, you must have stayed in the foreign country for at least a minimum of six months and you must have had your secondary education there.”

It noted that the board had not commenced the change of course and institutions, but that it would soon begin.

It explained that when it starts such changes would be carried out in all approved Computer Based Centres (CBT) centres nationwide.

“Candidates need not necessarily come to the Board’s centres for the change; it can be done in any of the CBT centres.

“This is to avoid overcrowding of our offices for services that can be obtained at the utmost comfort by the candidates.”

The statement further said that delay in the change process was due to the Board’s preparation to ensure that the system was carried out without encumbrances.

It advised candidates who are desirous of change of course or institution would be allowed to do so since the platform would be open until close of admission.

It also urged candidates not panic because the change process would not be closed as speculated by people that want to use the opportunity their desperation to defraud them.

However, it warned candidates not to patronise fraudulent individuals or organisations, but visit approved CBT centres and always cross check any information they are not too clear about, to avoid fraud.

“Do not fall victim of fraudsters who claim they can inflate your scores; they do not have the ability, the Board will prosecute such fraudsters and the candidate who patronise them,” it said.

Source: NAN

Kachikwu courts Dangote in building transit parks

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, made an appeal to business mogul, Aliko Dangote, for the building Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) across the country.

He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during National Summit on Establishment, Management and Operation of Truck Transit Parks in Nigeria.

The two-day summit was organised by Federal Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

Represented by Mr John Eboigbe, Director of Finance and Administration in the ministry, Kachikwu said the call came ahead of the Dangote Refinery, expected to begin production between 2019 and 2020.

He said “when the refinery begins production, it would increase the number of trailers and tankers delivering products across the country, hence the need for proactive measures to minimise hazards on the roads.

“We call on Alhaji Aliko Dangote, National Association of Road Transport organisations and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to embark on private construction of truck parks and service base for their trucks and for commercialisation.

He added that “the need for Dangote to champion this call is underscored by the fact that there is a 650-million-barrel per day refinery that will come onstream by 2019-2020.

“You can imagine what the situation will look like if parks are not constructed for trucks before then.

“When TTPs are constructed, Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) will be persuaded to construct MEGA stations in the parks.”

The minister added that NNPC would also provide technical and safety standards for oil tankers and trucks at the parks in line with international standard.

Kachikwu said that establishing a service base would also be of immense benefit to
Petroleum Equalisation Management Fund, charged with the automation of tracking system of petroleum products on transit.

Rep. Ovie Omo-Agege, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, pledged the support of the National Assembly in establishing the TTPs.

He said that the parks, when constructed, would go a long way in addressing
problems caused by heavy duty trailers and trucks on highways and in transforming the transport sector.

He said “the National Assembly remains prepared to provide every legislative support required to achieve the dream of the Buhari-Osinbajo administration for the transformation of the Nigerian transport landscape.

“The strides of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi in this regard has been bold and indeed commendable.

“It will interest you to know that on our part in the National Assembly, besides, the Nigerian Railway Authority Bill 2016 currently at advanced stage, Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, has equally sponsored Nigerian Institute of Logistics and Transport Bill 2016.

“When passed into law, it would contribute to developing requisite manpower in mass transit sector of the transportation landscape.

“It is my hope therefore that at the end of this summit, we will have achieved greater
synergy between government and operators.”

In her remark, Mrs Antonia Ekpa, Director of Road Transport and Mass Transit, Federal Ministry of Transportation, said the establishment of TTPs across the country was in line with global practice.

She disclosed that the Protocols of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) made it imperative for member countries to provide such facilities to make trade and transit within the sub-region easy, affordable and safe.

Ekpa said the TTPs, when established, would reduce accidents and gridlock on  highways.

She added that the parks, also referred to as “Rest Stop’’ and “Truck Terminal’’, would provide guest houses where drivers could rest on transit, conveniences, filling stations and restaurants.

The Federal Government planned to establish TTPs in  Lokoja in Kogi, Obollo-Affor in Enugu State, Ogere in Ogun, Jeba in Kwara and Port Novo Creeek in Lagos State.

(Source: NAN)