News & Announcements

Dele Momodu, a spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Presidential Campaign Council, claimed that supporters of Labour Party nominee Peter Obi for president are now understanding the value of (political) structure.

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, would split votes with rivals in the LP and Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in their strongholds, according to Momodu, who also predicted that wherever Obi places first in the polls, Atiku will place second.

“The Obidients are beginning to see the importance of structure. Structure is not something out of this world, it is a needed requirement. How many governors have you got, which is what Tinubu is banking on that ‘my governors will help me’. How many senators or senatorial candidates does Atiku have? How many people for House Representatives, how many for House of Assembly? They haven’t got much of that.

“You are also going to need agents nationwide, thousands of them. That will form part of structures,” Momodu said on Arise TV Morning Show on Monday.

He expressed his concern over the Obi camp’s ability to compete with the PDP, which has existed for a long time and has established infrastructure.

“If you say ‘we don’t pay ‘shi shi’, you can see how people are moving away in droves in some of these smaller parties because the structures are not there. The structures also include the funding of each of those structures.

“We shall see in the next one week what will happen. The polls will not help Obi. If they like, let one million say Obi is going to win,” Momodu added.

In response to the meningitis outbreak in the state, Jigawa State hosted an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the agency’s director general.

Adetifa reported that at the meeting at the Emergency Operation Center, the response was assessed, problems were recognized, and outbreak solutions were proposed.

On Saturday, the NCDC director revealed this in a string of tweets posted under the name @IfedayoTiffy.

Given the continuing meningitis outbreak in the neighboring Zinder State of the Niger Republic, the breakout of the infection in the nation indicated the possibility of a worldwide spread.

According to the NCDC DG, he met with the Jigawa State Government, the Rapid Response Team, and other collaborators to devise strategies for slowing the disease’s spread across the nation.

He said on Twitter, “We had a meningitis EOC meeting, reviewed the response, identified challenges and came up with solutions.

“This outbreak in Jigawa is a reminder that cross-border surveillance work and plans are never quite done. There is also an outbreak in the bordering Zinder State, Niger Republic. Pathogens don’t recognise borders and go wherever people go. Vaccination is key for prevention.”

Adetifa added that as part of applying the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on Nigeria, the NCDC had identified and started the creation of zonal reference laboratories across the six geopolitical zones, which were at varying levels of completion.

Uche Aigbe, the presiding pastor of House on the Rock in Abuja, stirred up trouble on Sunday by bringing a gun to church.

According to reports, the event occurred during the second service, which often draws a sizable congregation from across the Federal Capital Territory.

The pastor had boldly walked the pulpit while carrying a gun and many members of his congregation wondered about the reason for his actions.

Aigbe did not flinch as he approached the podium; he was conscious of the tension his behavior had produced.

However, the pastor teased as he attempted to open his Bible, “Some folks are searching for my trouble. And I arrived here ready.

But other Nigerians objected to it and contacted the police spokesman on Twitter, claiming it was unlawful for him to possess a weapon.

The Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges are off-limits to articulated truck drivers, according to the Lagos State Government.

In addition, the government instructed the Traffic Management Agency to detain truck drivers who crossed the routes.

The instruction was given in a letter to the general manager of LASTMA from Sola Giwa, the governor’s special adviser on transportation.

LASTMA posted the letter on its Twitter account, with the subject line “Ban on use of Dorman Long and Ojuelegba bridges by articulated truck drivers.” The letter was dated February 6, 2023.

The letter read, “Sequel to the frequent road accidents along Dorman Long and Ojuelegba Bridges as a result of the activities of articulated vehicles resulting to loss of lives and property in the State and in a bid to prevent further casualties, it is imperative for the State Government to restrict the articulated vehicles from the Dorma Long and Ojuelegba Bridges their movement to the State Logistics routes (Oshodi-Apapa Expressway) and under the bridge to link Ikorodu Road then connect Agege Motor Road.

“Sadly, on Sunday, 29th, January 2023 another tragedy which involved road accident occurred on the Ojuelegba bridge involving a container-laden truck which fell of the bridge and crushed a commercial bus on the ground which claimed Nine (9) lives and several others injured. Specifically, the State Government has observed that the rising curve of the bridge is not designed to allow passage of long, spacious and heavy vehicles.

“In view of the foregoing, you are directed to apprehend articulated trucks that pass through Dorman Long and Ojuelegbe bridges in accordance with pronouncement of the State Government, in a bid to reduce the spate of avoidable accidents occasioned by heavy duty and articulated trucks accessing the bridges in order to ensure safety, and security of lives and property across the state.”

A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been invited by the Department of State Services due to claims of a coup plot ahead of the election in February.

In a statement on Monday, Fani-Kayode, a former minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, confirmed the invitation.

He continued by saying he would accept the invitation.

According to reports, rumors circulated last week that top military officials had meetings with politicians, including PDP presidential contender Atiku Abubakar, in an effort to thwart the February 25 general election. Fani-Kayode made this allegation in a tweet.

He further said that the gathering might be part of a plan to incite a coup and install an undemocratic government.

But on Saturday, February 12, 2023, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, the acting director of defense information, urged Nigerians to overlook Fani-tweets Kayode’s and emphasized the armed forces’ fidelity to the constitution in a statement.

Gusau also expressed shock that those who had been exposed to politics had degraded themselves by associating with agents of instability.

He said: “It needs to be stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional military that is loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against our democracy. Besides, the military remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in the alleged shenanigans.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy.”

In retaliation, Atiku requested the DSS and other security agencies to call Fani-Kayode to explain his allegations of a coup d’état by top army generals and himself in a statement by his Special Assistant for Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu.

He wrote, “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have bothered responding to Fani-Kayode who has over the years built a reputation of being an inveterate liar so much so that he was even publicly blacklisted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists after his disgraceful outburst at a journalist.

“However, allegations and insinuations of a coup should not be taken lightly given the fact that it is treason, an offence that carries the death penalty.

“While commending the Nigerian military for effectively rubbishing Fani-Kayode’s barefaced lie, we call on security agencies to invite him to shed more light on the allegations.”

Meanwhile, the former minister thanked the army in a tweet for clearing up the rumored meeting between army officials and Atiku after the Defence Headquarters’ statement through Gusau.

He wrote, “Happy that the newspaper report I referred to has proved to be FALSE. As I said, “if true”, it would have been troubling. I commend the Military for their commitment to democracy.

“The fact that they can respond so quickly when we raise concerns is encouraging and proves that they are not only responsive and responsible but that we are also on the same page when it comes to civic duties, the rule of law, civilian rule, an open society and democracy.”

He also asserted that he had simply raised “questions about few rogue officers who, according to media accounts, supposedly met with Atiku.” He further denied accusing the military of plotting to sabotage the election and spark a coup attempt.

He added, “Thankfully, those reports have been debunked and proved to be unfounded. There is no gain saying that I have implicit confidence in the military and its High Command as an institution and I trust in their commitment to democracy which has been confirmed and proved over the last 24 years since the return of civilian rule in 1999. I would encourage them to continue to be watchful and alert and to continue their good work by supporting, protecting, and sustaining our democracy.”

Fani-Kayode attempted to retract the statement, but Atiku’s spokesperson, Shuaib, rejected it and called it belated.

Frederick, a 47-year-old Nigerian, lost his life after confronting a Lagos school bus driver who was accused of defiling his 7-year-old daughter.

It was reported that he died on the school premises during a scuffle with the driver, identified as Jacob.

Frederick went to visit with the school administration with his wife and daughter to explain how the seven-year-old was allegedly being sexually molested by Jacob and to demand immediate action.

After hearing from the parents and the student about her experience at the hands of the driver, the school’s owner reportedly questioned the driver, who denied the claim.

Angered by the statement, the pupil’s mother said her husband slapped the driver, adding that the situation degenerated into a scuffle between the driver and her husband.

The mother of the student claimed that the driver struck her husband in the chest, causing him to pass out and be taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

She said, “On Wednesday, February 1, my daughter told me that her school bus driver had been taking her to his house around Ajuwon, on the pretext that he needed to drop something at home and that she should follow him.

“When they entered the house, the driver would ask my daughter to sit on his lap; to raise her school uniform and to kiss his mouth. I told my husband what our daughter said on Monday, February 6 and he immediately called the school to complain and said he was also reporting the allegation to the police.

“He was told to come to the school first so we went there on Tuesday, February 7 and we met the school owner, the driver and some of the teachers. The school owner after listening to us, confronted the driver, saying he returned late with the school bus the previous week and when asked, he said he went to something at home.”

The resentful mother claimed that Fatokin denied sexually abusing her daughter, and she added that the incident had also been reported to the Iju Police Station for further inquiry.

“The driver couldn’t say anything other than me? Me? Me? My visibly angry husband went to the driver, shouted at him and questioned why he molested his daughter.

“My husband angrily slapped the driver and they started fighting during which he pushed my husband on his chest. He (her husband) fell and efforts to revive him were abortive. We rushed him to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead,’’ she added.

It was discovered that Fatokin fled the scene after committing the crime.

When reached on Sunday, a school official who would only go by the name Akin said the incident had been reported to the authorities and that an inquiry was ongoing.

When asked for comment on Sunday, SP Benjamin Hundeyin of the state police responded, “No arrest has been made; the driver remains on the run. He is on the run after being charged with sexually assaulting the girl. We are pursuing him.

Over 1.16 million admission seekers have registered to sit the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry examinations, according to information released on Saturday by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

This was said on Saturday during a monitoring trip of a few computer-based test centers in Abuja by the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

During the tour, Oloyede stopped by the CBT facilities at the Total Child International School in Dutse, the JAMB Abuja zonal headquarters, Life Camp, the Global Distance Learning Institute, and Sascon International College, all in Abuja.

Additionally, he warned centers from using applicants as bargaining chips by stating that the board would not extend the registration deadline for the 2023 UTME.

The registration for the 2023 UTME commenced on January 14, 2023, and is set to end on Tuesday February 14.

Oloyede further said, “Registration is going on well except for some of these schools. UTME is not a school-based examination, it’s individual candidates and you can see what that school, Stella Maris is doing, collecting N30,000 from candidates in the name of JAMB and then end up mixing up the telephone numbers of the candidates.

“That is a way of extorting the parents and we will take adequate steps to make sure that we stop that. One of the reasons is that we will tell every CBT centre to stop doing bulk purchases of PIN and bulk registration.

“So, if a centre sells more than one PIN to a source or collects money for more than one PIN from a source then we will sanction such a centre.”

A website platform for online training of election officials has been launched by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The electoral authority stated in a series of tweets late Saturday that the INEC e-school application is intended to improve the efficiency of its officials’ pre-election training.

The electoral body noted that the website is user-friendly and added that the app blends virtual and in-person approaches by incorporating text-based, audio, and video content to enable officials better grasp its procedures.

According to INEC, the software was created with assistance from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and is available on Google Play.

INEC tweeted, “The Electoral Institute (TEI) of INEC with support from @IFESNigeria has developed an e-learning website and App called INEC E-SCHOOL. The goal of the platform is to enhance the overall effectiveness of electoral training. 

“The system is built to provide a cutting-edge experience of electoral training using face-to-face, and virtual approaches by integrating text-based, audio, and videos.

“The website is a user-friendly platform with courses for SPO, APO/PO and CO deliberately intended to enhance the capacity of poll workers, INEC staff, and the public.”

Tanko Jimeta, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 5, which includes the states of Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa, has passed away.

After a brief illness, he passed away on Sunday morning at the Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State.

This was said in a brief WhatsApp message sent on Sunday by SP Ahmed Wakil, the police public relations officer for the Bauchi State Command.

He said, “Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. With a heavy heart but total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, I wish to announce the death of  A.I.G  Lawan Tanko Jimeta

“He died at the Teaching Hospital, Benin Edo State, this morning after a brief Illness.

“To Allah, we belong and to him, we shall return, a real departure of a Godly man.

“May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and reward him with aljannatul fiddausi.

“May he give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, amin.”

AIG Jimeta reportedly holds a master’s degree in peace and conflict studies from the National Open University as well as a degree in English language from the University of Maiduguri.

On January 13, 2022, he began serving as AIG Zone 5.

In the Nigerian Police Force, he held a variety of positions, including those of Edo State Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Commissioner for Police, Personal Assistant to the AIG of Police, Department of Training and Development, FHQ Annex, Lagos State, and Chief of Training, Directorate on Peace-keeping, FHQ, Abuja. He was also the Suleja Area Command’s Area Commander.

Whitney Adeniran, 12, allegedly passed away while participating in inter-house sports at Chrisland International School, Opebi branch, according to her father Michael Adeniran, who has gone to social media to express his grief.

Adeniran claimed his daughter passed away on Thursday at the Agege Stadium, which the school utilized for its athletic events, in posts that circulated on social media on Saturday night.

He said that the girl was in perfect health when the school bus picked her up for the occasion.

Adeniran noted that although his wife was at the stadium, the school did not immediately tell her to the incident and that neither he nor his wife had received an explanation from the school.

He has since urged the police and the Lagos State Government to investigate the incident and bring his child’s murderer to justice.

Adeniran stated via the post, “To the biggest shock of my life by 1 pm in the afternoon, I got a call from my wife that she was informed that our daughter slumped at the inter-house sport and she was rushed to the clinic.

“My wife was at the venue even before the event started. She was never informed or called until they have conveyed our child out of the venue before they informed her. On arrival of my wife at the health center where they took my daughter. my daughter was lying dead with her lips black and her tongue black.

“My wife called me urgently, I left my office to the place and found my 12year old daughter lying dead on the ground. I asked questions about what happened to my daughter and the school authority could not get me any information as to what happened to my child in their care.

“I gave Chrisland school a healthy vibrant young girl what Chrisland returned to me is a dead child. My entire family is in deep sorrow but the school Authority claimed they know nothing about my daughter’s death and all they know is that my daughter slumped and died.”

Adeniran added that the school did not send an ambulance or paramedics to the event, with the exception of a nurse he called a “quack,” who later admitted that the child had passed away at the stadium.

He added that, “My question is what happened to my daughter at Agege stadium? As a father, I demand answers from Chrisland International High School. I am in deep pain and sorrow right now. If you are a father you will understand my pain. My daughter is highly loved by us. We cherished her existence and we can never allow an institution to gloss over the death of our daughter.

“Since we started asking this question. The school has been asking us to back down from the autopsy and I know they know their way into the system. I am calling on the pathology department of @lasuth to please be honest with their result. Lagos State government, Nigerian Government, please intervene.”

On social media, many Nigerians have demanded justice for the murdered youngster and urged the authorities to step in.