Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • NCC: Set to Digitally Enable the Renewed Hope Agenda

    NCC: Set to Digitally Enable the Renewed Hope Agenda

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has asserted its role as being instrumental in advancing the development of the Nigerian telecom sector as well as assisting the realisation of the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. 

    In an official communication pushed out from its headquarters, Abuja, the NCC insists that it current agenda emphasizes supporting youth and women by leveraging the digital economy.

    It asserts that as the nation marks one year of the current administration, the NCC highlights its commitment to the Ministerial Blueprint, “Accelerating our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency,” spearheaded by Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. 

    This blueprint aims to support Nigeria’s economic growth through enhanced productivity and digital innovation.

    Key targets of the Strategic Agenda 2023-2027 include improving Quality of Service (QoS) by 50% by 2024, increasing broadband penetration to 70% by 2025, and achieving significant improvements in data download speeds and coverage. 

    The agenda also aims to reduce the unconnected population in rural areas from 61% to less than 20% by 2027.

    Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, the statement indicates, has identified three Strategic Focus Areas: Consumers, Industry and Licensees, and Government. 

    His approach prioritizes balancing the needs of these stakeholders while enhancing the Quality of Experience for consumers, addressing industry debt issues, advocating for telecom infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure, and reviewing regulatory instruments to align with current realities.

    Through these efforts, the NCC is poised to deliver on the promise of Renewed Hope, driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and fostering economic growth.

  • Tinuade Sanda Wins 2023 Vanguard Energy Icon of the Year Award

    Tinuade Sanda Wins 2023 Vanguard Energy Icon of the Year Award

    Dr. Tinuade Sanda, a notable leader in Nigeria’s energy sector and former Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, has received the esteemed Vanguard Energy Icon of the Year Award.

    The award ceremony took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The Vanguard Personality of the Year Award, now in its 12th year, honors individuals who have achieved significant professional success and made substantial contributions to society.

    In her acceptance speech, Dr. Sanda expressed her gratitude for the recognition, dedicating the award to her team, the workforce, and the Board of Directors of Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
    She highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges of the energy sector and reaffirmed her dedication to advancing Nigeria’s power industry.

    Vanguard Newspaper’s Editor, Mr. Eze Anaba, noted that the event is dedicated to celebrating exceptional achievers and the values they embody, such as integrity, innovation, and perseverance.

    Dr. Sanda’s award underscores her impactful leadership and commitment to improving Nigeria’s energy sector, setting high standards during her tenure and beyond.

  • Super Cop, Abba Kyari regains Freedom

    Super Cop, Abba Kyari regains Freedom

    Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been released from Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after spending 27 months in detention.

    Kyari was detained following his arrest on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel. He, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022.

    Two other suspects, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged. Unlike Kyari and the IRT members, who pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were convicted.

    Despite several attempts, Kyari’s bail applications were consistently denied until a recent ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja. On May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Kyari bail to allow him to perform the burial rites for his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5.

    As conditions for his bail, Kyari was required to deposit his passport with the court and report to the nearest NDLEA office during the bail period. The court has set a hearing for Kyari’s main bail application related to the drug trafficking charges for May 31, 2024.

    Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service of the Federal Capital Territory Command, confirmed that Kyari met his bail conditions and was released on Friday.

    Duza said, “DCP Kyari has perfected his bail conditions, and has since been released today.”

  • Reps Disown Regional Government Bill 

    Reps Disown Regional Government Bill 

    The House of Representatives has disowned a ‘draft bill’ trending online, purportedly for discussion, seeking a return to the regional system of government.

    Titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, the draft seeks among others, new extant laws to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”

    The document which has been trending on social media is said to have been drafted by one Dr Akin Fapohunda, who is neither a lawmaker in the Senate or the House of Representatives; an indication that the said draft legislation is a private bill.

    The preliminaries of the bill read in part, “Whereas Nigeria, its peoples and government have been governed under Decree 24 of 1999 that was handed down by the then military government without the express consent of the people despite the preamble of ‘We, the people.’

    “Whereas the said Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is not autochthonous as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian People;

    “Whereas the peoples of Nigeria now desire and effectively demand for a change to a constitution based on federal/regional system of government.

    “Whereas the federal and regional governments are to operate within the provisions of this Constitution, it is within the discretion of the ethnic blocs within the states that constitutes a given region to aggregate or disaggregate as provinces, divisions and districts, while being in control of their affairs without let or hindrance at whatever level of governance.”

    Dismissing the draft bill in a telephone conversation with Saturday PUNCH, the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, said, “The Committees on Rules and Business and Constitution Review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them.”

  • FG Reveals Those Exempted From Students Loan 

    FG Reveals Those Exempted From Students Loan 

    The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has revealed that Nigerian students studying abroad are ineligible for the newly introduced student loan scheme.

    The NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this information on Friday.

    The Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, aims to provide interest-free loans to indigent students attending Nigerian tertiary institutions.

    The move is in line with Tinubu’s campaign promise to enhance education funding. Dele Alake, a member of the former Presidential Strategy Team, noted the significance of this legislation in making education more accessible.

    Following a briefing from NELFUND led by Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the President instructed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to students pursuing skill-development programmes.

    Despite these delays, the scheme has seen significant interest, with 30,000 students successfully registering and over 60,000 individuals signing up on the NELFUND website.

    However, on May 22, 2024, a group of Nigerian students at Teesside University were expelled from their courses and ordered to leave the United Kingdom due to difficulties in paying their tuition fees on time, according to a BBC report.

    The students cited the devaluation of the naira as a significant barrier to meeting their financial obligations, which has led to a breach of their visa sponsorship requirements.

    Nevertheless, Sawyerr clarified that the loan scheme was exclusively for students studying within Nigeria.

    “Nigerians in Diaspora cannot benefit from the student loan. Nigerians schooling in the country are those we want to help. The law does not allow the FG to give loans to Nigerians studying abroad,” he stated.

    Criticising the exclusion of Nigerian students in foreign institutions from the recently introduced student loan scheme, the National Mobilisation Officer, Education Rights Campaign, Adaramoye Lenin, stated that this exclusion highlighted the inadequacy of the scheme in addressing the educational needs of Nigerian students.

    He argued that the government was using the loan scheme to avoid properly funding public education, instead shifting the financial burden onto students.

  • FG Reacts As Labour Begins Indefinite Nationwide Strike 

    FG Reacts As Labour Begins Indefinite Nationwide Strike 

    The Federal Government has appealed to Organised Labour to reconsider its decision to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, June 3, 2024.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress president, Joe Ajaero yesterday announced that the industrial action which would begin by Monday midnight is in protest against the government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

    Reacting to the development, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed in an interview with Punch stated that the interest of the masses should be the top priority of Organised Labour, saying strike was not the solution to the ongoing negotiation for a new minimum wage for workers.

    His words:

    “The government is pleading with Labour to reconsider its position. The FG has already made an offer of N60,000, and whatever the government does is in the interest of Nigerians.

    “We won’t like to do something that will throw the country into another problem.

    “Even as we do that, we are pleading with Labour. They are partners in this project called ‘Nigeria’ and we expect them to join hands with the FG as it strives to look for solutions that will take Nigeria to the desired prosperity.

    “Our message is that of an appeal and the need for Labour to see reason with the government. That was even the basis for setting up the tripartite committee that was made up of Organised Labour, the sub-nationals and the FG. This was because the government just didn’t want to make unilateral decisions. In any case, the position on the wage regime is not a one-sided thing.

    “We expect that they will see reason with the government. That is why we are calling on them to show understanding by not embarking on the strike because we don’t want that at this point. A strike is not the solution to our problem. We are continuing our negotiation with them. The minister and other stakeholders are still talking to them and we believe that we will find a common ground,” he stated.

  • National Assembly to Consider Bill Proposing Nigeria’s Return To Regional Government

    National Assembly to Consider Bill Proposing Nigeria’s Return To Regional Government

    In a landmark move, the National Assembly is speculated to be planning for a debate and, most likely, pass into into law before October 1, 2024, a bill proposing a return to regional government.

    Part of the draft bill circulating on social media, seen by SaharaReporters is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” 

    Although the identities of the sponsors of the bill were yet to be ascertained, the Bill, when passed, would be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.

    The sponsors of the Bill explained that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) is not “autochthonous” as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian people.

    According to the advocates, the constitution amendment would be subject to a “yes or no” vote in a referendum by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

    The sponsors of the Bill explained that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) is not “autochthonous” as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian people.

    According to the advocates, the constitutional amendment would be subject to a “yes or no” vote in a referendum by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Part of the draft Bill seen by SaharaReporters on Friday partly read: 

    “PART I – Preliminaries: WHEREAS Nigeria, its Peoples and Government have been governed under Decree 24 of 1999 that was handed down by the then Military Government without the express consent of the people despite the preamble of “We the people.” 

    “WHEREAS the said Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) is not autochthonous as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian People.

    “WHEREAS the Peoples of Nigeria now desire and effectively demand for a change to a Constitution based on Federal/Regional System of Government. 

    “WHEREAS the Federal and Regional governments are to operate within the provisions of this Constitution, it is within the discretion of the ethnic blocs within the States that constitutes a given region to aggregate or disaggregate as Provinces, Divisions and Districts, while being in control of their affairs without let or hindrance at whatever level of governance.

    “Whereas the 1999 Constitution as amended is a schedule of a military decree now deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly for which the National Assembly have the powers to amend and/or abrogate as expedient.

    Whereas the National Assembly where so necessary and expedient can invoke the doctrine of necessity to resolve any point of law for the good governance of the country Nigeria.”

    On PART 11 – Substitution Clause, the drafters proposed that the National Assembly shall invoke its inherent powers to expunge the schedule attached to decree 24 of 1999 often referred to as 1999 Constitution as amended from the decree, which “is now deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly to which the National Assembly have the powers to so do and replace same with a new governance model for Nigeria effective not later than October 1, 2024.”

    “This amendment is subject to a yes or no vote in a Referendum by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it proposed.

    On governance structure under PART III – Stipulations for Federal Administration, the sponsors proposed that: “(1) Nigeria shall be a Federation comprising of Regional Territories and a Federal Capital Territory and shall be a Republic to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

    “(2) The territorial jurisdiction of Nigeria shall comprise the territory of the Regional members of the Federation and its bound.

  • Nigeria Police unveil cybercrime reporting platform

    Nigeria Police unveil cybercrime reporting platform

    The Nigeria Police Force has unveiled a platform for reporting cybercrime.

    NPF says the platform is in its bid to reinforce its commitment to tackling digital threats.

    The new portal, managed by the NPF National Cybercrime Centre is now accessible with a new site replacing the old site.

    The Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

    The statement read, “The Nigeria Police Force is pleased to inform the general public of the launch of a new, more robust, and secure domain for reporting cybercrime-related offences as part of the continued commitment to combating cybercrime and enhancing the safety and security of our digital space.

    “The new reporting platform, managed by the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), can be accessed at: [https://nccc.npf.gov.ng/ereport/signin]. This upgraded domain replaces the previous site [https://incb.npf.gov.ng] which must be discarded.”

    The statement stated that the upgraded domain offers enhanced security to protect user information and is user-friendly for efficient reporting.

    Additionally, it featured improved tracking and response mechanisms for timely action on reported cases, and it urged the public to utilize this platform to aid in the fight against cybercrime in Nigeria.

    “The upgraded domain includes enhanced security measures to protect user information and ensure confidentiality and is user-friendly for easy and efficient reporting of cybercrime incidents.

    “It also includes improved tracking and response mechanisms to ensure timely and effective action on reported cases.

    “The Inspector General of Police urges all members of the public to utilize this new platform for reporting any cybercrime activities as vigilance and prompt reporting can significantly contribute to police efforts in tackling the menace of cybercrime in Nigeria, and even beyond,” it added.

    It would be recalled that implementing the Cybercrime Act 2015 has been met with different reactions from various quarters.

    The Act will provide a unified legal, regulatory, and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes in Nigeria.

  • Two-Storey Building Collapses In Lagos Island leaving many trapped

    Two-Storey Building Collapses In Lagos Island leaving many trapped

    The collapse of a two-storey building in the Isale Eko area of Lagos State on Thursday, has reportedly left many people trapped.

    The structure alleged to have been defective, gave way following a fire in parts of Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island.

    The Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the incident, said 14 other buildings were seriously impacted by the fire.

    The fresh occurrence follows that of April, when four buildings collapsed due to the intensity of the fire that engulfed part of Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island.

    He said emergency responders including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal and State Fire Services, the Nigeria Police and fire service of the Nigeria Ports Authority, were already at the scene of the event.

  • Ajayi Crowther varsity to conduct drug tests for students, staff

    Ajayi Crowther varsity to conduct drug tests for students, staff

    Ajayi Crowther University has decided to subject students, porters, and security personnel to mandatory drug tests, according to a report from the institution’s alumni executive.

    This is coming in the wake of the death of a student who was said to have been beaten to death by some of his colleagues.

    Recall a 200-level Mechanical Engineering student at the institution, Akpo Alex, had, last week, been beaten to death by some of his colleagues. The beating was said to have been occasioned by an alleged stealing of a phone belonging to one of them.

    “He also said that every one of the students, university porters, and securities would be subjected to drug tests, and if they are found culpable, they would be expelled and dismissed with immediate effect,” the school’s alumni executive report signed by its president, Hon Busoye Ogunlade, stated on Thursday, quoting the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo. 

    The report comes after the alumni executive visited the university management to get updates and offer suggestions in the aftermath of the student’s death.

    During the visit, the Ajayi Crowther University vice-chancellor informed the alumni that all individuals involved in the incident, including the suspected perpetrators, a porter, and two security personnel accused of rape, are currently in police custody awaiting legal proceedings.

    “The porter of the same hostel where the incident happened is still in police custody till date. Also, the two securities who were reported for rape are to appear in court today, May 30, 2024,” the report stated.

    In addition to the drug testing measures, the university has increased its security presence on campus, with civil defence officers working alongside existing security personnel.

    The report also mentioned that the parents of the deceased student visited the university and suggested ways to raise awareness among students about proper channels for reporting incidents instead of taking matters into their own hands.

    The alumni executive expressed its commitment to working closely with the university management to uphold the institution’s vision and ensure the safety of students.

    “We told the management that the Alumni as a body would keep working hands in hands with the university to ensure the vision of its establishment is well pursued to the core,” the report stated.

    Earlier, the VC noted that the school has learnt from this incident and has beefed up security and monitoring while encouraging students to report whatever is happening around them to the vice-chancellor and other management staff.