Day: March 29, 2023

The Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says findings from the ongoing investigation into multiple accounts of ex-agitaors linked to one BVN will determine the fate of protesting beneficiaries.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Freston Akpor, Media Aide to the PAP Interim Administrator.

Akpor disclosed that names of all those involved in the alleged BVN fraud had been forwarded to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for investigation.

He said that the Amnesty Office also blamed bank officials for colluding with the ex-agitaors to aid the “financial crime”.

“So, investigation is ongoing, I must tell you there is nothing the PAP can do now over this matter until the investigation is concluded and then the ONSA will take a decision on what to do.

“This is a financial crime which is why the ONSA is investigating the matter.

“The policy is one name, one BVN. But in a situation where you have more than 30 names linked to one BVN, it becomes an issue.

“We discovered that 513 names were linked to 1370 accounts. And these are the people who have cases to answer.

“As it stands, those who are protesting are the people who fall within those who have multiple accounts linked to their BVN,” Akpor explained.

On the purported “gentleman agreement” with leaders of the ex-agitators to receive monies in bulk to pay the boys, Akpor said

“it is these same boys, that also complained that when the money is collected by this so-called leaders, the money doesn’t trickle down to them”.

A handful of ex-agitators on Tuesday gathered at the premises of the National Assembly to express anger over the stoppage of their monthly N65,000 stipends.

The PAP office had explained that the stoppage of payment was necessitated by the issues surrounding BVNs of ex-agitators. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Commander, Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Air Marshal Elson Moyo, has expressed his country’s desire to explore technical assistance from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Moyo made the request when he visited the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, at NAF headquarters in Abuja.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Zimbabwe air chief requested for technical support in the areas of research and development, unmanned aerial vehicle technology as well as operation and maintenance of F7 and Mi-35 aircraft.

Moyo said the identified areas for collaboration were of common and peculiar aviation interests to Zimbabwe and Nigeria, whose air forces operate some similar aircraft.

He said NAF, within a short time, had recorded remarkable feats in its transformation effort to develop indigenous capacity.

This, according to him, provides a motivation for the AFZ to look inward as part of efforts to address the technical challenges arising from sanctions imposed on his country, which have limited the ability of AFZ to acquire basic aircraft parts and other technical aids necessary for operational efficiency.

Moyo also commended the NAF for its support to AFZ in the past, acknowledging the high quality training given to the first batch of Zimbabwean pilots trained in the 1980s by the NAF.

This, according to him, informs the decision by AFZ to seek improved synergy and collaboration with the NAF, with respect to capacity development.

In his remarks, the Nigerian air chief, Amao, said the NAF was ready to forge mutually benefitting partnership with the AFZ.

Amao said NAF was currently in partnership with many countries in Africa and beyond, adding that it was willing to partner with others who would seek collaboration with the Service.

According to him, improved synergy among African countries is the solution to many of the challenges, including security, facing the continent.

Amao added that collaboration in the areas of training, technical assistance and technology transfer would boost the capacity of African countries to be self-reliant and independent in driving progress and development on the continent.

The Zimbabwean air chief is on a week-long visit to Nigeria, during which he will be visiting some NAF units, including the North East. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice, on Tuesday disclosed that the eighth edition of Nigerian Idol would begin April 23 and run till July 16.

Tejumola during a media briefing in Lagos said the live performances for the show would also run from May 28.

She said the winner of this year’s edition of the show would walk away with N35 million cash prize with overall grand prize worth N100 million, including gift items, which would be disclosed later.

“This time, we are having our judges back, Obi Asika, Simi and D’Banj would be retained as judges as well as Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa as the host of the show.

“We decided to retain them because they succeeded in doing a great job during the 7th edition, bringing their unique personalities to the show and it emerged the best so far.

“The 8th Nigerian Idol will air on Africa Magic Showcase, Urban and Family. It will also air on an extra channel- channel 199, every Sunday at 7.00.p.m.

“This edition promises to unveil another set of great talents among Nigerian youths,” she said.

Tejumola disclosed that there was a 10 per cent increase in the number of entries received for the eighth edition of the show.

She acknowledged the headline sponsors of the show- Techno and Bigi; the tactical sponsors- Waw, Close-up, Tom-Tom and many others.

She appreciated the sponsors for their quest to contribute their quota to the growth of the entertainment industry.

“Nigerian Idol over the years has provided our audience with premium entertainment, the contestants with healthy competitions in their performances that drive to the emergence of the winner.

“Nigerian Idol will continue to offer talented artistes platform to show the continent what they can do and the opportunity to rise to fame through hard work and dedication.

“It is the right space to gain access to mentorship through the judges and couches who will expose the intricacies of the industry to the young talents.

“We invite all to join us in this journey of self discovery,” she said.

Speaking on his company’s involvement, Biola Aransiola, Assistant Brand Manager, Bigi, said “We are happy to be here, it is a big platform to help talents grow in Nigeria.

“We want to be that partner that holds them hand-on-hand to achieve greatness.”

Also, Mr Thompson Ani, Techno Marketing Manager, said “We are here bigger and better, we like giving back to the communiy, we are coming as headline sponsor this time because we want people to see the hidden talent in individual Nigerians.

“We are coming bigger this year. So, expect something big.” NAN) (nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has sought the support of relevant stakeholders for victims of explosions and violent attacks across the country.

Mr James Lalu, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), said this in a statement by Mbanefor Michaels, his spokesman, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Lalu was speaking when he received a delegation from the Humanitarian Mine Action Committee (HMAC) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

He said that the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provided a framework for the implementation of Victims’ Assistance in regards to survivors.

According to him, Article 11 and 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities captured the Rights of Persons with Disabilities resulting from Mines and explosive.

He urged the HMAC and GICHD to generate accurate and comprehensive data of victims of mine action with a view to addressing their plights.

“Medical care, rehabilitations, psycho-social and economic support is needed to support these victims.

“I therefore, urge the Mine Action Committee to engage in data collection of victims across board in order to ascertain the degree of interventions needed,’’ he said.

Mr Valon Kumnova of the GICHD charged the committees to be resilient and committed to assisting the victims of war as well as persons with disabilities.

He called on stakeholders to develop and ensure strategies, technical survey, gender diversity, information management, form treaties as well as an operational management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote their dignity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Dayo Isreal, APC National Youth Leader, has called on the party`s leadership to prioritise communication and grassroots engagements to strengthen democracy in the country.

He said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a conversational round table with the theme; Electorate and Elections: The Parties, The People and The Possibilities in celebration of Mr Ismaeel Ahmed.

Ahmed, a former National Youth Leader of the APC, was marking his 43rd birthday anniversary.

Isreal noted that waiting until election period before communicating and engaging those at the grassroots was not in the interest of the party and the promotion of democracy.

He said the greatest take away from the just concluded general elections was that Nigerian electorate had become more conscious of their political power to choose who governs them.

“We must continue to communicate and engage the people, I believe that by the grace of Almighty, the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will do exceptional much more than can be imagined,” he said.

Isreal advised political leaders to always ask what the people wanted before embarking on developmental projects, saying this would engender the buy-in of the constituents.

He stressed the need for youths in the party to have a united front to speak and negotiate for better deal for Nigerians.

Also speaking at the event, Dr Nkem Okeke, a former Deputy Governor of Anambra, said that the introduction of BVAS by INEC changed the narrative in the just concluded elections.

He said that if America, in spite of its electronic voting and transmission of election results, still had issues with its elections, Nigeria’s election could only get better with time.

He added that those occupying elective offices must always do the right thing so they would be judged positively by history.

Ahmed, in his remark, stressed the need for youths in the party to set an agenda and work in unity to achieve their political targets.

He called for the institutionalisation of power in the country, adding that party supremacy must be given priority in the scheme of things.

He said though the just concluded elections were free, fair and credible, there was need for improvement as is the case in every election in the world.

Ahmed said he had been discussing contemporary issues affecting the society, constituencies, and the country generally with young people.

He said the just concluded elections were a great improvement on previous elections in the country.

“INEC has done well because as a party in government, we lost election where we had never lost before: Lagos, Yobe and some other states which had never happened before.

“A government in power had never lost election in Katsina for example, especially when the incumbent president is from that state.

“We lost election in the Villa, we lost completely and was almost absent in the South-East and we didn’t have a major inroad in the South-south,” he said.

Ahmed added that even the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Osun, which was supposed to be one of Tinubu’s strongholds.

He said the genuineness and transparency of the 2023 general elections could not be faulted, adding that it should be made a reference point in the country’s political history.

Ahmed said while the opposition parties had the right to go to court to challenge a few flaws noticed at the elections to test the veracity of their claims, they were not doing themselves and the country any good.

“We should rather look forward to how to strengthen and amend the new Electoral Act to ensure that some of the lapses noticed in the elections were addressed before the next election,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: News Agency of Nigeria