Nigerians calling for an end to police brutality in the country have blocked the toll gate at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.

This development, which has led to heavy traffic on all roads leading to the airport, comes as protests continue across the country.

The protesters are demanding the unconditional release of all detained protesters, punishment for erring officers as well as compensation for families of victims of police brutality in the country.

Despite the disbandment of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force , # EndSARS protesters on Monday morning hit the Lekki Toll Gate section of the Lekki – Epe Expressway , Lagos State , to resume demonstrations .

The development led to early morning gridlock as commuters and motorists on their way to work were on standstill. PurpleWorld had earlier reported that after days of protests against the brutality and extrajudicial killings by SARS operatives, the Inspector -General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , on Sunday afternoon , announced the disbandment of the police unit .

Adamu said a new policing arrangement to replace the now -defunct police unit would be announced “ in due course ” , adding that all officers of the disbanded SARS have been redeployed with “ immediate effect ” .

But the protesters on Monday want the police authorities to carry out psychological evaluation and re -training of all disbanded SARS officers before they are redeployed .
They demand the release of all arrested protesters , justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families .

They also want increased salaries for police officers as well as the establishment of an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct within 10 days .

Credit: Punch

Nigerian musician, David Adeleke widely known as Davido, has joined protesters in Abuja to demand justice for victims of brutality by personnel of the freshly disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Davido had tweeted on Saturday that he would be joining the demonstration to demand the scrapping of the notorious unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

The arrival of the artiste sparked jubilation among protesters while many rebuked him for joining the agitation late.

There is currently tension in the area leading to the Force headquarters as the musician and others march towards the police facility.

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had earlier on Sunday announced the disbandment of SARS after days of public outrage across the country.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Despite the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, policemen have opened fire on
protesters in front of the Nigeria Police Force headquarters to demand justice for victims of extrajudicial killings by the unit .

The crowd was attacked while marching towards the police facility.

Details soon…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Governor Rotimi Akeredolu winner of the Ondo State governorship election.

The election was held in all the 18 local government areas of the state on Saturday.
Akeredolu, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, polled a total of 292,830 votes.

The governor beat his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 195,791 votes.

Mr Agboola Ajayi, deputy governor of the state and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, came third with 69,127 votes.

The results was announced at the conclusion of counting on Sunday afternoon.

Abel Olayinka, Chief Returning Officer of INEC for the governorship election, announced the results on Sunday afternoon.

Akeredolu is returning for a second term in office.

Credit: SaharaReporters

The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , has announced the dissolved the Federal Special Anti -Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force .

He said the operatives will be redeployed to other police formations and commands .

Adamu announced this in a live broadcast on Sunday .

The announcement came after days of online and offline protests against the brutality and extra – judicial killings by SARS operatives nationwide .

At the briefing , the IGP said , “The Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force otherwise known as SARS is hereby dissolved in all the 36 states police command and the Federal Capital Territory. ”

The protesters had converged to demand an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) which is notorious for human rights violations.
Adebayo Raphael, co-convener of the Centre for Liberty, narrated how the police onslaught on citizens happened on Sunday.

”Fellow Nigerians, we have just been tear-gassed. I can’t see well now. My glasses are damaged. Someone got shot on the back of the head,” he said.

”They used teargas. They shot at us directly, and they used their water cannons.”

On Saturday, the police also unleashed violence on protesters who converged on the force headquarters in Abuja to demand an end to SARS.
The police authorities insist that the unit will not be disbanded but only reformed.

Credit: The cable

About 15 Nigerian youth were on Saturday arrested in Ogun State after men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad unleashed violence on peaceful #EndSARS protesters.

It was gathered that those arrested were presently being detained at the state police headquarters in Eleweeran, Abeokuta, and are been denied access to lawyers.

Demonstrators At The #EndSARS Protest In Abeokuta On Saturday
SaharaReporters learnt that they will be arraigned on Monday in court by the police for murder.

Among those arrested are Akinbayo Damilola, Adeniyi Marcus, Akinola Ibrahim, Adele Sodiq, Ifedayo Orimolade, Aikomo Oluwatobi, Damilola Odolowu and Oladepo Olateju.

Others include Olayinka Dayo, Omogbolahan Oladayo, Adelaja Emmanuel and Olatoye Olalekan.
About five vehicles abandoned by the protesters when they were attacked by SARS officials were seized.

Also different types of phones especially iPhones were also taken away by the policemen.


One of the protesters, who spoke with SaharaReporters, accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of fabricating lies to deny the protesters their rights.

“They are at the state police headquarters now and the police wants to charge them for murder. A Toyota 2005 Camrybig, and a Lexus car were part of the cars the protesters abandoned and were taken away by the policemen.

“Earlier in a tweet, the governor of Ogun State termed the peaceful protest as violent and assured that he won’t tolerate peaceful agitations.
“Shortly after that, a blog loyal to the Ogun State Government said the peaceful protesters ambushed the deputy governor. However, it was all fabricated lies to deny the protesters their rights.”

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim conveys his deepest appreciation to all the PCMs who have been at home in the past six months, waiting to be mobilised to the NYSC Orientation Camps nationwide for commencement of Service.

It is very important to state that nobody anticipated the sad disruption of the operations of the Scheme, and other national programmes arising from COVID-19 – a global challenge threatening over two hundred countries.

The long period of waiting, no doubt has been quite challenging and frustrating as it seemingly constitutes a big drawback to all your planned actions for the year.

However, as NYSC Management salutes your courage and tenacity, in spite of the challenges posed by the global pandemic, an English maxim says: it is better to be late than the late. Discretion is the better part of valour.

Note that the action taken by the Federal Government by shutting down the operations of so many institutions, cutting across the various spheres of our economy was to primarily safeguard the lives of citizens which is the core responsibility of Governments the world over.

There is no gainsaying the fact that we all need to be alive to contribute our own quota to national unity, integration and development which the National Youth Service Corps has continued to champion in forty- seven years.

The long period of waiting has been very discouraging as expected, but graciously, you all have your lives intact which is what matters the most.
Happily, we are on the verge of reopening the camps, working hard in harmony with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on safe Orientation Camp resumption.

We can say delightfully that we are approaching the end of the tunnel, and in no distant time will resume full operations while strictly observing safety protocols.

Meanwhile, as we jointly await the cheering news, let us continue to be diligent in prioritising our well-being by adhering strictly to COVID-19 safety protocols such as: frequent washing of hands with soap under running water, use of face mask, two metre-social distancing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
Always stay tuned to the NYSC traditional and new media platforms for authentic information.
Together, we shall triumph.

God bless you.
Management

Credit: NYSC official handle

President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Zahra, and Vice President Osinbajo’s daughter, Kiki have joined the ongoing # EndSARS protest against police brutality in the country.

Photo credit: ObjecTv media

Super Eagles players have called on the federal government to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) , a unit of the Nigeria Police.

Recall that the Super Eagles had on Friday lost 1-0 to Algeria in an international friendly in Austria.
SARS have become notorious for extra-judicial killings, extortion and kidnapping.

Youths across the country have taken to streets for the past four days in a solidarity protest to call for the scrapping of FSARS.
Reacting in a post on his Twitter page on Saturday, Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, revealed that Nigeria footballers overseas are scared to visit the country because of activities of SARS.

According to the UK-based player, many Nigerian youths are being killed by those expected to protect them.
“#EndSARS for the safety of Nigerians… we are scared to visit home because the people who are meant to protect us are killing us. Looking good with dreads is not a crime,” he tweeted.

EndSARS for the safety of Nigerians… we are scared to visit home because the people who are meant to protect us are killing us. Looking good with dreads is not a crime,” he wrote.

Other Super Eagles players to call for the scrapping of the infamous police unit include Leon Balogun, Shehu Abdulahi, Alex Iwobi and John Ogu.
“The reasons for the #EndSARSProtests have just come to my attention via very disturbing images and tweets. It is never good when those charged with protecting the citizens are now terrorising, extorting, or even killing the same citizens. I support #EndSarsProtests #EndSars,” Leon Balogun wrote.

Ogu also wrote, “I pray our first checkpoint will never be our last bus-stop. Enough is enough.”
“The voice of the people must be heard, @NigeriaGov must #EndSARS and protect the lives of our Youth from #PoliceBrutality. My brother @BashirAhmaad, kindly pass our message to the President @MBuhari,” Abdulahi added.
Iwobi wrote: “Protect Lives , Not Take Them Away #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality”

The United Kingdom has reacted to the ongoing #ENDSARS protest across states in Nigeria.

The UK urged the Nigerian Government to create accountability within the police.

The protest, which has entered the third day, has drawn both local and international attention to the extrajudicial activities by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.
The aggrieved youth are demanding the immediate disbandment of the dreadful unit that has become notorious for unlawful activities including indiscriminate arrests, extortion and killings of youths incessantly.

Reacting to the protest, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, acknowledged the desire of the people calling for the scrapping of SARS.

She urged President Muhammadu Buhari to build more accountability in the police.

Significant protests over #SARS demonstrating Nigerian people’s desire for police reform. Peaceful protests are powerful. Police Act recently passed by
@MBuhari provides good foundation to build more accountable community police force. @UKinNigeria @PoliceNG
— Catriona Laing (@CatrionaLaing1)
October 9, 2020

Minutes later, a tweet surfaced on the internet revealing that the President of Nigeria has met with the Police DG, so as to resolve the issue. Also stressing that Nigerians should remain calm while the police carry out their duty.

The Nigerian Government is yet to address citizens after protests erupted in cities around the country since Wednesday over police brutality and other rights violations.

The protesters, who took to streets in Lagos, Abuja, Osun, Benin and other parts of the country, are demanding the complete disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the police notorious for harassing and extorting citizens.

The police in a bid to quell the protest on Friday opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in Abuja, Delta and parts of Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to address the grievances of the protesters more than 72 hours after the agitations began.

The protesters have vowed to remain on the streets until their demands were met.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Some protesters led by comedian, Mr Maccaroni, have decided to shift the #EndSARS protest to Tuesday after talks with the Lagos State Government.

The protesters had gathered outside the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa on Friday to ask the Nigeria Police Force to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Units over rights violations.

Some protest leaders, however, met with government representatives in a plot to quell the demonstration.
Shortly after, the protest leaders emerged with the deputy governor of Lagos, Obafemi Hamzat, to address the crowd.

The crowd, however, booed Hamzat, who was suggesting police reform.
Mr Macaroni, Sydney Talker among other celebrities later announced to the crowd that the protest will be suspended until Tuesday when government promised to give a feedback on their agitations.

Some protesters from the #RevolutionNow group, however, disagreed, vowing to continue to occupy the Assembly complex.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Lagos high court summons Ex-Governor Bola Tinubu to appear within 42 days over Alpha Beta fraud, as claimant Dapo Apara, ex CEO of Alpha Beta vows to pursue case up to Supreme Court.

Details later

Nigerian youth protesting extrajudicial activities by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police have raised the alarm by the Lagos State Police Command to kill them.

The protesters, who are embarking on a three-day demonstration, stormed the Lagos State Assembly on Thursday afternoon.

The protest, which started on Wednesday, saw protesters spend the night at the Lagos State Police Command.
The protesters, however, raised the alarm that the police were harassing and planning to kill them before daybreak.

One of the organisers of the protest in a tweet said the police towed their cars and were trying to dislodge them.
“I was wrong! The police led by CP Odumosu just towed away our cars and are trying to dislodge us! Start tweeting! If we die tonight, we died for a worthless nation!

“The police are here. They want to kill us,” @SavvyRinu tweeted.
The Police are here.
They want to kill us!
Start tweeting! #EndSarsProtests https://t.co/C29FbW5Lh0
— Rinu #EndSARS🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu)
October 8, 2020

The protest was to push for the disbandment of SARS, a dreaded unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
Hip-hop musicians, Runtown, Falz and Jaywon also led a protest in Lagos while activists stormed the Force Headquarters, Abuja, to demand the immediate scrapping of SARS.
https://t.co/8KbL1h3AuE
— Rinu #EndSARS🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu)
October 8, 2020

Credit: SaharaReporters

The Lagos state Commissioner Of Police has ordered Police Officers to dismantle the tent of protesters and are currently moving out the chairs.

However, the protesters remain undeterred, saying they want to see the Governor and put an end to SARS before they leave.

EndSarsProtests

Credit: ObjecTv media

Credit: THINKERS

Nigerians are too docile and something is really destroying our Ọmọlúwàbí fabrics. We are waiting for a Messiah to come to our aid while our politicians have put us in a perpetual prison of poverty (of infrastructures and basic amenities).
How is it that most people live on less than $2 per day and the lawmakers made devilish laws to pay themselves more than $37,720 a month, yet our people are handing them over to Middle Eastern and Israeli gods?

What happen to protesting aginst this kind of evil laws? Why is it that our people who are supposed to be the decision makers in a democracy cannot stop these greedy, evil lawmakers from enriching themselves.

The other day, Dino Melaye was so bold and disrespectful, displaying his ill-gotten wealth on social media and many Nigerians are clapping for him. Recently, the evil lawmakers allocated huge sums of money to themselves for the purchase of imported 4X4 bullet proof vehicles, yet Nigerians are on an endurance mission. Someone rightly put it this way: “it is true that when you push a Ram to the wall, the Ram will turn back to face you in order to save its own life, whereas, when you push Nigerians to the wall, Nigerians will break the wall in order to have means of moving back the more”. What really is our problem in that country?

When you have someone who insists on the right thing being done, other people around will start labelling him and telling him that his/her own stance is too rigid, instead of joining such fellow to put an end to the injustice.

We always go with the stupid phrase: “God will do it”. Which god? No god is gonna do anything, anywhere. It is you and I that must do it. Stop the stupidity of these imported religion and use your brains. Say NO to the evil polithievians Nigeria is cursed with, and let us take our future into our own hands.
Nigeria: $480,000 (£361,610)
Senator Shehu Sani reported in 2018 that Nigeria’s extremely well-paid members of government earned as much as $480,000 (£361,610). Their monthly salary is only $2,000 (£1,512), but along with their monthly guaranteed expense allowance of $35,720 (£27,000) their salary becomes one of the best in the world. This is despite the fact that many people in Nigeria live on less than $2 (£1.51) per day.

USA: $174,000 (£131,109)
President Trump famously donates his $400,000 (£307k) salary, giving it to groups such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Department of Homeland Security. However, Congress members are paid less than the president, receiving $174,000 (£131,109) a year. Since 2010, members of Congress have annually voted against a pay increase, meaning that their salaries have remained the same since 2009.

Germany: $133,279 (£100,439)
German politicians earn $133,279 (£100,439) a year, making them some of the highest paid members of parliament in Europe. The wage is designed to attract people from all walks of life, including those who have previously been on a higher salary.

Canada: $130,710 (£100,335)
A member of the House of Commons in Canada gets a base salary of CA$175,600 (US$130,710/
£100,335). Pay rises have been criticised by the public, who have said politicians’ salaries are too far above the average yearly Canadian salary, estimated at CA$63,963 (US$47,622/£36,557) by the OECD.
UK: $102,364 (£77,379)
The basic salary for a member of the UK’s parliament is $102,364 (£77,379). However politicians’ salaries are expected to rise by a further $2,620 (£2,000) a year from April 2019.
China: $22,000 (£16,662)
Members of the Chinese government, including President Xi Jinping, were given a 62% pay rise in 2015, bringing their yearly earnings to $22,000 (£16,662) across the board.

Celebrities and influencers alike on Thursday continued their second day of protests in their clamour to end the pernicious activities of operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

Led by popular musicians Douglas Agu a.k.a Runtown and Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz, son of human rights activist, Femi Falana, the protesters stormed the streets of Lagos Island.

Other celebrities include television favourite, Tomike Alayande; ex-Big Brother Nigerian housemates, Prince Enwerem and Elozonam Ogbolu (the Cliffhanger), and so many others.

Rejecting the touted reforms by the government and the police, the protesters posited that it had become a recurring decimal to promise reforms and not follow through.

Calling for a total obliteration of the police squad, the protesters converged on the grounds of Lekki Toll Gate before they first moved to Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters in Onikan.

They afterwards marched to protest at Lagos State Government House but met the absence of the governor.
Not deterred, the team leads – Falz and Runtown -vowed to return next week Tuesday if no considerable changes had been made.

Also on the mainland, the protesters led by some popular influencers continued their second day of protests from Ikeja Under Bridge.

Influencers like @SavvyRinu(Convener Operation Santize), @DannyWalta, @UnclePamilerin @TemiOanu, @Dehkunle with other protesters marched from Ikeja Under Bridge to Awolowo Road before rendezvousing at the State House of Assembly.

Also lending its voice to the clamour to end SARS, Amnesty International on their Twitter handle wrote, “SARS – a police unit created to protect Nigerians has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity while fomenting a toxic climate of fear and corruption.

“Our research on SARS uncovered a pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released.
“ Amnesty International has received reports and collected testimonies that some police officers in SARS regularly demand bribes, steal and extort money from criminal suspects and their families.

“ Because of the corruption in Nigerian police all Nigerian government’s previous attempts at stamping out torture have proven completely ineffective and clearly impossible.

“Apart from demanding bribes, SARS officers are accused of stealing or confiscating property from relatives of detained suspects.

“Families of detained suspects told Amnesty International that SARS officers stole their cars or withdrew all the money from their bank accounts. #EndSARSProtests.”

Stay glued as PurpleWorld is on ground to keep you updated as activities unfold.

Credit: ThisDay

The protesters were demanding dismantling of the Special Ant-Robbery Response Squad (SARS) unit of the police for alleged brutality and extortion.
The protest, which kicked-off on Wednesday in Ikeja, was extended to Lekki toll gate opposite Oriental Hotel.

The Nation gathered police detectives dispersed the protesters with some of them allegedly assaulted.
Musicians Falz and Runtown have vowed not to back down on the protest.

Details shortly…

Borrow ideas from China, not money, Peter Obi tells Buhari

Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that borrowing progressive business ideas from China will be more beneficial to Nigeria than taking public loans to pump into the economy.

Obi, who made this remark at the 60th Founder’s Day Lecture of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said China had gone through different stages of national development to arrive at their present level.

He said it would, therefore, pay Nigeria better to copy China’s economic development template rather than running to them for loans.

Obi argued that China that could only boast of a GDP per capita of $960 in year 2000, had grown to a GDP per capita of $10,275 in 2019, with a High Human Development Index of 0.798 in 2019 as against 0.594 in year 2000.

Obi said the huge economic development seen in China is as a result of huge investment in MSME sector, which drastically reduced unemployment and increased government revenue.

In his words: “MSMEs in China which constitute about 95% of Chinese firms, account for 60% of China’s GDP and contributes more than 65% of the import and export business in China.

“They also contributed about 50% of the overall tax revenue of government. MSMEs constitute about 95% of all enterprises in China.

“China’s GDP is today about $14 trillion, which means that 60% translates to about $8.4 trillion— about 21 times the GDP of Nigeria.

“MSMEs account for over 60% of industrial output and provide over 60% of the overall employment and 80% of urban employment in China.

“Talking about the growth of the MSMEs, 10 years down the line, 60% of these MSMEs have shown to become large corporate when compared with Nigeria that 96% are still at the micro stage.

“China has about 840 million people employed (which is 60% of the population), and MSMEs provide 60% of these, which is 500 million people.

“In urban employment, the contribution of MSMEs is even greater; 80% of urban employment is attributed to MSME; of about 500 million people employed in urban areas, MSMEs employ 400 million.

“China had planned to create 50 million jobs from 2015-2020, which is 10 million annually, and is religiously following the plan year-on-year.

“In fact, China has consistently surpassed its annual target. China has an unemployment rate of only 3.7%.”
The event was attended by notable Nigerians, including the principal members of the university.

Obi was accompanied by Professor Stella Okunna, Engr. Patrick Obi, Mr. Ndubisi Menakaya, Mr. Paulinus Aniagbaso, among others.

Credit: PressExpress

For the first time since his arrest 162 days ago , Mubarak Bala has been able to meet with a member of the Mubarak legal team.

While this represents a significant and welcome step forward in Bala’s case, Humanists International continues to call on the authorities to guarantee Bala’s fundamental rights: Bala must have unimpeded access to his lawyers; he should be charged with a crime or released; if charged, he should be transferred to a neutral territory in order to ensure his right to a fair trial.

Human rights advocate, Mubarak Bala is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria.

On 28 April, Bala was arrested from his home in Kaduna state by officers from Kano State Police Command after he was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a Facebook post.

In contravention of his human rights, Bala was kept in isolation, without charge, and without access to his lawyers for five months.

Coordinator of Bala’s legal defence, James Ibor stated:
“My legal colleague met with Mubarak recently. Mubarak expressed his fears to him and stated how inmates have threatened to kill him if he does not make peace with God. He is now constantly in fear for his own life and that of his wife and child.”
Andrew Copson, President of Humanists International stated:
“Following last week’s scare, this news that Mubarak has finally been able to meet with his lawyer is very welcome. Even if the local authorities’ arguments that Bala was being kept in isolation for his own protection were true, his true safety and wellbeing could surely only have been ensured by exempting his legal counsel from such a ban. We hope that this is the first step of many in the road to clearing Mubarak’s name and ensuring his safe release.”
The next hearing of Bala’s fundamental rights case before the High Court in Abuja is set to take place on 15 October.

Humanists International believes that Mubarak Bala is being targeted for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and religion or belief, and calls for the case against him to be dropped, for Bala to be granted unimpeded access to his legal advisers; he should be charged with a crime or released; if charged, he should be transferred to a neutral territory in order to ensure his right to a fair trial.

Credit: Humanist International

The Ondo high court in Akure has sentenced the Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Prophet Babatunde Alfa and five others to life imprisonment over the disappearance of a one-year-old boy, Gold kolawole in the church in 2019.

Justice Olusegun Odusola in his judgement convicted the defendants having found them guilty of the two-count charge of kidnapping and aiding and abetting to kidnap based on the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution.

Justice Odusola also accused the police of complicity in the entire episode. The Prophet and the other defendants had been on trial for months after Gold disappeared mysteriously from the church’s children’s department during a Sunday service on November 10, 2019.

Prophet Alfa who is the founder of the church, located at Oshinle quarters area of Akure, was accused by the parents of the missing child over the mysterious disappearance of their son, who has not been seen till date.

Credit: PressExpress

The trial of I.G celebrity, Hushpuppi, has been moved to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is contained in the chambers orders of Judge Otis Wright. His trial will now resume by 9:00 a.m. on May 4, 2021.

The 37-year-old is facing four-count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

Credit: Instablog9ja

Patrick Nkuriza 19, has been appointed a Minister of New Technologies and Development of by Paul Kagame,President of Rwanda
As the saying goes; ′′ Value does not wait for the number of years to come “.

This saying fits perfectly with the fate of Patrick Nkuriza, a 19-year-old Rwandan, the youngest Minister of his country’s Cabinet.

Indeed, this little genius experienced a dramatic rise to the point of getting the baccalaureate at 14 and obtaining a PhD in digital communication engineer afterwards.

Patrick is a real gifted person who has developed several applications that allows his country to perform activities in a lot of economic areas.

So it is commendable that he is appointed a minister in his specialty but a minister like no other, who lives with his parents and goes to work accompanied by his father in his escorted car.

Credit: InfoEast

Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola widely known as Naira Marley, has said that the agitation to end police brutality in the country was fuelled by armed robbers and that there was no need to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit of the police.

SARS is notorious for arbitrary killings and other rights violations of innocent civilians in a bid to extort them.

Naira Marley made the comments in an Instagram Live session monitored by PurpleWorld on Tuesday morning.
He added that concerns around COVID-19 also led to the cancellation of the protest earlier billed for Tuesday morning.

He said, “We need to reform SARS. Let’s be reasonable, are you an armed robber? Why will you say they should end SARS. If you end SARS, it means they should end EFCC and other agencies. All we have to do is get them off the road.

“Nobody threatened me, I know my rights. What stopped me was thinking of the safety of everybody and I saw that the police issued a statement.”

Credit: SaharaReporters

Members of the National Youth Service Corps in Sokoto State picketed the state’s secretariat in protest of the non-payment of monthly allowances.

The corps members bemoaned the non-payment of the N5,000 monthly allowances, saying the payment had been halted without any justifiable reason.

They also lamented that their efforts to secure an audience with the government has been repelled by staff in Government House.
They stated that since the beginning of their service in November 2019, they received the state allowance just once.

In a letter submitted to the government, they called for the payment of their monthly allowances.

“The law provides among other entitlements of the corps members a monthly upkeep allowance of N5000 only and the security of all corps members deployed to Sokoto State.
“Accordingly, you may wish to be informed that since the beginning of our service here in Sokoto State on the 5th November, 2019, batch Cl and C2 were only paid the monthly allowance for the month of June while the other months have been left unpaid.

“As the law provides, the upkeep allowance is not in the category of privileges that can be truncated without any justifiable reason. Hence, the need to kindly request you to direct the settlement of the total backlog of the upkeep allowance as provided by the law,” the letter reads.
The corps members also appealed to the governor to act fast on their request.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Naira Marley has cancelled his #ENDSARS protest scheduled to hold today.

The musician announced the cancellation via his Twitter handle.
“We won’t be protesting anymore because there’s a lot of changes being made right now.

“As a Marlian we will give them a week to see the changes and if there’s no changes we will start a mass protest. #togetherwecan,” he tweeted.
We won’t be protesting anymore because there’s a lot of changes being made right now. As a Marlian we will give them a week to see the changes and if there are no changes we will start a mass protest. #togetherwecan
— nairamarley (@officialnairam1) October 6, 2020

Credit: SaharaReporters

The Federal Government has said that it will henceforth pay stipends to Bachelor of Education students and grant them automatic employment, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has said.

Adamu, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the commemoration of the World Teachers Day on Monday, said teachers have the power to shape and reshape the lives of young people and help learners to enhance their potentials.

The 2020 theme of the World Teachers’ Day is Teachers: leading in crisis, reimagining the future.
According to the President, “Only great teachers can produce excellent people and students that will make the future of our country great. A positive or negative influence of a teacher on any child will have an effect on that child. Therefore the federal government is ensuring quality education to access.”
The President said teachers’ education and continued professional development should be given priority adding that the administration made the approvals in order to attract investment in the teaching profession.

He said, “My administrative has resolved that quality education of teachers in terms of engagement of continued professional development has to be given priority.

“There will be Special Salary Scale for Teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools, including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance”.
Other promises include building low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas, sponsorship to at least one refresher training per annum to benchmark best practices for improved teaching and learning and expansion of the annual Presidential Teachers and Schools Awards to cover more categories and for the outstanding.

He said he approved the reintroduction of bursary award to education students in Universities and Colleges of Education with the assurance of automatic employment upon graduation.
“The payment of stipends to Bachelor of Education students as well as granting them automatic employment after graduation is now a government policy,” he said.
The Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) will fund teaching practice in Universities and Colleges of Education, he explained.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Education, Chukuemeka Nwajuiba, identified the teaching profession as the greatest profession in the world which must be accorded adequate recognition and respect.
“In those days, very comfortable and important figures in the society would send their children to a teacher’s house for grooming. That was the teacher then,” he said.

According to him, teachers’ children and those that lived with them became “the crème de la crème of the society. The society sadly has tilted towards ephemeral appearances that negate the standard of teachers as role models.
”We think this should stop. Teachers deserve recognition and respect. The first step is to have qualified teachers in practice.”
He said the education ministry through the Teachers Registration Council (TRCN) is making concerted efforts to withdraw unqualified teachers from the classroom nationwide.

Credit: FrankTalk

Trump recovers from Covid-19, to be discharged immediately
“I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M.

Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!’

He wrote on his official Facebook page

The Founder and Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministry (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleiman has made another controversial prediction concerning the challenges that has been trying to take a better hold of the country lately.

The influential man of God made this revelation in one of his sermon few days ago. According to him, he said this was what God told him that will happen.
In his predictions, he gave warnings concerning many issues the country is currently facing, in areas like:

1. Nigeria break-up.
2. Killing of Christians in the North East part of the country.
3. 2023 leadership tussle.
4. What any new leader after the current one will do to avoid crisis during his or her time.
5. Boko Haram Menace.
   In his words, he sounded it loud and clear he said “ the Lord told me that Nigeria will not break up, despite the permutations from presidency and other predictions by some others, that Nigeria will break. But the Lord said to me that Nigeria will not break”.
   More also, he added that the Lord told him something striking concerning the remedy to the situation on the ground, “Again the Lord told me something very striking, and it’s a parable, he said ‘when number 2 becomes number 1’, then I asked for more clarity, he repeated the same without further clarification ”.
   Furthermore, the cleric pointed out that God will surely avenge the blood of the innocent Christians that was killed in the North East part of the country. He said, “God told me that the blood of Christians that was killed in the North East are crying until him for vengeance”.
   On the issue of leadership, especially those who are at the corridors of power, building loyalty and preparing for 2023. In his words, the cleric said “the Lord told me that many of these people you see planning for leadership in 2023, will not leave to see it”.
   Also, to avoid further crisis in the country when any new government will come into power, the cleric advised that, the new government should focus on seeking God face and putting him first in everything, and should also seek to end violence against Christians.
   On the issue of Boko Haram , the cleric said the Lord told him that he will expose the key sponsors of Boko Haram and everyone will be surprise. Credit: PressExpress

Lauretta Onochie, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, has said that the protest by Nigerians against police brutality and extra-judicial killings by security operatives in the country was a “coordinated attack by cybercriminals”.
Onochie made the comments in a tweet on Sunday.
Lauretta Onochie
Nigerians had taken to Twitter to voice their outrage about the wanton invasion of privacy, harassment and killings by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other tactical squads.
In response, Onochie said, “I have no doubt that there are some staff of SARS who are unprofessional in their dealings with d public, same way we have unprofessionalism in the army, police, customs, civil service, public service, traders, lawyers, doctors, journalists, teachers, pastors, etc.
“But what is going on now is a coordinated attack by cyber criminals joined by unsuspecting innocent citizens.
“This is not the first time. We must stand by our national institutions while working to improve their effectiveness. Thats what patriotism is about. No sentiments.”

Credit: SaharaReporters

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said it is yet to get approval for the reopening of orientation camps across the country.
It was reacting to a news release being circulated on the social media, which states that; “arising from a purported meeting, Orientation Course shall resume 27th October 2020, with Batch “A” Stream 2, adding further that the batch has been subdivided into Batches “A” and “B”.
But in a statement issued by the NYSC spokesperson, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi in Abuja on Saturday, the Scheme described the news as fake.
The NYSC said it has been working with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in order to ensure the reopening of NYSC Orientation Camps nationwide, which the PTF had earlier tied to the resumption of educational institutions in the country.
“It is imperative to state that the Scheme has ensured that all the COVID-19 safety protocols incidental to safe hosting of Orientation programmes are in place in all its 37 Orientation Camps.
“Note also that some precautionary safety measures already adopted by the Scheme had earned it the commendation of the PTF,” the statement partly read.
It expressed hope that the Federal Government(FG) through the PTF will soon give approval for the full resumption of camping.
“Management hereby conveys that the news release is fake. Prospective Corps Members and the public are therefore enjoined to kindly disregard the news in its entirety.
“While the NYSC sincerely appreciates the patience so far shown by the PCMs who have waited for over six months to be called-up for participation in the Scheme, it equally empathises with them over the unanticipated disruption of their programmes, resulting from COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.

Credit: Tribune

Popular singers, Naira Marley and Runtown have both taken to their social media accounts to announce that they would lead protests against the incessant police brutality in the country.
Tesumole singer, Naira Marley, stated that he would stage his peaceful protest on Tuesday. He further told his 1.9 million followers via his twitter account that some police officers would join the protest.
Naira Marley urged his fans to ensure that the protest remained peaceful and there should not be any form of violence.
“So on Tuesday, we got some SARS coming out with us. The ones that claim to only come out for big operations and not the dirty works on the road they are coming out to show support and to answer some questions, we also got some police officers and soldiers joining the protest.
“Don’t forget guys just in case you see any SARS or any forces there on Tuesday don’t start any fight. We are allowed to ask questions? But remember no fight, no vandalism. Peaceful protest. Thanks,” the singer tweeted.
Singer, Runtown, announced to his 1.3 million followers that he will lead a peaceful protest on Thursday against police brutality. The singer told his followers that it would be a peaceful protest.
“This has gone long enough and now we must take action! I’ll be leading a protest to #ENDSARS on Thursday, October 8th 2020. They MUST listen to us, they MUST make/effect real and visible changes! Empty promises won’t work this time!!!
“Let’s all come out to peacefully reach out to our “Elected” leaders beyond social media!!! Venue/Take Off Point: Lekki Phase 1, Toll Gate. 10 am,” Runtown tweeted.

ENDSARS: Runtown Fixes Protest For Thursday, October 8

Nigerian Singer, Runtown has fixed a date and time for a peaceful protest against the indiscriminate attack of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad & the Nigerian Police Force on innocent Nigerian youths.
The Singer revealed the information via his Instagram page on the planned protest. He wrote;
“This has gone wrong long enough and now we must take action! I’ll be leading a protest to

ENDSARS on Thursday, October 8th, 2020.

They must listen to us, they MUST make/effect REAL and VISIBLE changes! Empty promises won’t work this time!!!
Let’s all come out to peacefully reach out to our “Elected” leaders beyond social media!!!
Venue/Take Off Point: Lekki Phase 1, Toll Gate. The Singer added.
Earlier today fellow singer Naira Marley announced that he was planning to set up a peaceful protest against the inhuman activities of SARS across the country.

IGP BANS FSARS, OTHER POLICE TACTICAL SQUADS FROM ROUTINE PATROLS

• As Police Arrest 2 FSARS Operatives, 1 Civilian Accomplice in Lagos State
  The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect. In addition, no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti. They must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear. The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guise to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.
  Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices. They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.
  The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country. He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads. He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road. They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.
  The IGP has equally warned, that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR). He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction.
  Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens. The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.
  The IGP reaffirms his commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure. He enjoins the citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their belief, confidence and trust in the Police.
• Credit: PressExpress

Senator Smart Adeyemi to introduce bill on Mosaic law, says no one will steal if hands are cut off.
Smart Adeyemi, senator representing Kogi west, has announced his intention to sponsor bills for the enactment of the Mosaic law which will help curb corruption.
The senator said the law will discourage people from stealing. According to him, if the hands of public officers in the country are cut off, they will not steal.
Adeyemi made his intention known on Saturday, October 3, at a retreat for the senate press corps in Lokoja, Kogi state, The Cable reports.
Senator Adeyemi wants to sponsor bills at the Senate for the enactment of the Mosaic law.
The lawmaker said once two or three people are made scapegoats, others will learn, and stealing will be a thing of the past. He stated:
“What am I talking about? Let us confront corruption. Very soon I’m coming back to the chamber to bring bills on ICPC and EFCC. I want us to introduce Mosaic law, what you call Sharia law. By the time you cut the hands of 10, 20 people in this country, nobody will want to steal again.
“By the time you say two, three people should face serious punishment; if you say that is too harsh let us have mechanised agriculture of about 200, 250 acres, once you are involved in corruption, you will spend your life farming for us.”
Adeyemi said he wants Nigeria to be great, a country that will make his children happier than he is.
The current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to curbing corruption, which has eaten deep into the country.

Credit: PressExpress

Popular Nigerian Singer, Ayo ‘Wizkid‘ Balogun has told President Buhari to focus more on affairs bothering his country, Nigeria.
This is coming after President Buhari Twitter account sent a message to Donald Trump, wishing the US President quick recovery after it was announced that he’d contracted COVID-19.
”I wish US President, Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, quick and full recovery from Covid-19”, the official account tweeted.
A lot of Nigerians deemed it irrelevant and Wizkid has now voiced the same sentiment.
Wizkid in his reply wrote ;
Donald trump is not your business!
Old man! Police/Sarz still killing
Nigerian youth on a daily! Do something!
Nothing concern u for America!
Face your country !!

Credit: PressExpress

To make students strictly adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, the management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has threatened to rusticate students caught violating safety guidelines on campus.
The tertiary institutions through its COVID-19 technical committee listed fines and punishment for students and staff, who violate the health safety guidelines while in the school premises.
The institution also put in place a ‘no face mask, no entry’ policy.
In the notice, the institution stated that “as part of preparation for the resumption of school activities and prevention of further spreading of the virus in our campus, the technical committee on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 Kwara State Polytechnic enjoins staff to observe the enabling health safety instructions of no face mas, no entry before entry at gate, offices, lecture rooms and other duty posts.”
Sanctions put in place for students,.who raise false alarm, failure to wear a face mask, non-observance of social distancing, handshake, hugging, kissing and stigmatisation of victims include rustication for one semester.
Students of the institution could also be rusticated for one session if they engaged in any act of insubordination.
For staff, failure to wear a face mask, non-observance to social distancing, handshaking, kissing and/or hugging could attract a fine of N1,000, a warning letter or public display of names of violators.
Also, stigmatisation of suspected victims and raising false alarm could attract forfeiture of one month salary and/or warning letter.
The Kwara State Government had announced the resumption of tertiary institutions from October 12, 2020.
The government urged school authorities to ensure that all safety protocols are adhered to, including physical distancing, use of face masks, and constant washing of hands with soap and water, in order to flatten the curve of transmission of the virus.

Credit: SaharaReporters

Agoola Ajayi, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, has said that the Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu gets a security vote of N750million naira and an imprest of about N150 million monthly.

Ajayi, who is the governorship candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) also claimed he (Ajayi) earns N12 million naira and not the N13 million as claimed by Governor Akeredolu.

He was reacting to an earlier comment by Akeredolu claiming he (Ajayi) gets the highest running grant of N13m monthly.

But the Deputy Governor in a statement signed by his media aide, Allen Sowore, expressed surprise that Akeredolu could announce to the world the sum of N13m as what Ajayi gets as if it was a gift.

He said what he receives until the Governor stopped releasing same was 12million naira per month.

According to him, this includes the imprest of Deputy Governor’s office, allowances of staff, fuelling of vehicles, care of his residence and welfare of his aides.

“Huge as the amount may appear, it amounts to not so much when the heads and number of individuals it caters for are considered,” he added.

“The governor gets a security vote of N750million naira every month. He, Akeredolu, also gets an imprest of about N150 million”

The Deputy Governor further alleged that Akeredolu’s wife and son also collect millions of naira as imprest on monthly basis.

Credit: Dailytimes

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as partly responsible for Nigeria’s weak infrastructural base, saying that instead of paying off Nigeria’s external debts, the ex-Nigerian leader should have invested in capital projects across the country.
According to Fashola, previous governments which he said had access to a lot of money, under-invested in the country’s infrastructure, saying if he had the $12 billion, like the Olusegun Obasanjo government in 2005, he would have built rails and more roads.
The former Lagos State governor, who has been minister under the present administration since its inception in 2015, spoke during an interview on Channels Television.
In 2005/2006, the Paris Club wrote off $18 billion or 60 per cent of the $30 billion Nigeria owed the cartel, after months of negotiations, a development touted as one of the biggest achievements of the Obasanjo administration.
Fashola said that rather than deploy the funds prudently, the Obasanjo government decided to pay the country’s creditors to the detriment of the country, insisting that today, Nigeria has gone back to borrowing because the governments in the past ignored investment in infrastructure.
He said rather, the Obasanjo government decided to pay the country’s creditors to the detriment of the country, insisting that today, Nigeria has gone back to borrowing because the governments in the past ignored investment in infrastructure.
Although he did not mention names, Fashola specifically said that in 2005 (when Obasanjo was president), Nigeria had the opportunity to revamp its roads and rails, but rather was pursuing debt cancellation as state policy.
“At one time in this country, in 2005, we had $12 billion. At that time, these roads were bad. At that time there was no rail. But what did we do as a matter of state policy, it was just to pay creditors to our own detriment.
“I can only imagine if I had the opportunity then with $12 billion in my hand, we would have built rails and roads. What this government is dealing with, which I am responsible for the road side, is the infrastructure that will be enduring.
“Without the rails, we will not have roads that last. Trucks and heavy cargo is not meant for our roads. The jurisdictions we want to be like, don’t transport cargo, containers on their roads. That’s why I am so optimistic about tomorrow that if we advance this significantly, there will be a better tomorrow.
“We lost the opportunity to invest $12 billion and then we went back to borrow and the problems haven’t gone away and they will have to be dealt with,” he maintained.
While defending the current administration’s tendency for borrowing, Fashola argued that the assertion that Buhari was mortgaging the future of the nation’s children was untenable, saying that the government was only ‘positioning’ for tomorrow’s children.
“Every generation that’s responsible enough like us must position for tomorrow’s children. We should not leave this for them to come and do because it will be more expensive.
“That said, I think the way to go is to say that at the appropriate time, a tolling policy will be developed because for you to toll you must ordinarily develop alternatives. Government must also understand that not all of its infrastructure is of a commercial kind,” he stated.
The minister stressed that the Buhari government would continue to do its best to ensure that the country’s infrastructure is developed and brought at par with modern transportation systems like what obtains in other parts of the world.

Credit: PressExpress

“So much about Nigerians, but the Nigerian elites.”
“We do have identities. But the construction of opposing identities is a political process. It’s basically the Nigerian elite competing among itself for a share of the national cake.
“I don’t think that the people, who say they are fighting for the Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba, are really interested. When they get there at the end of the day, it’s about them and their families.
“There is nobody out there that is really representing the North or the South or the East. I mean, they claim to be, but look out there. In the history of Nigeria, there has never been a government that does not have people from all over the country; so, the first thing to recognise is that we must get away from this sense that holding political office is what makes you a representative of the people.”
“While drawing a difference between the public and private sectors, Sanusi said there was a need to build strong institutions that would put politicians in check.
“We should have federal character, but why do we have a minister that can deliver but another that cannot deliver? Why is a federal character always pursued at the expense of merit and competence?
“So, until we get out of this almost juvenile obsession with where is this person from, what religion does he practice and actually begin to ask those who want to be President, ministers and governors – what are your credentials? What do you bring to the table? What do you have to offer the people.”

Credit: PressExpress

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that it is still on strike, despite the order by the federal government that all schools should be reopened.
Recall that Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu on Friday ordered that all schools be reopened as the coronavirus cases in the country reduces.
Reacting to the directive, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, stated that the union’s ongoing strike would continue.
“We started out industrial action before the outbreak of Coronavirus disease in the country. All the issues we raised are yet to be addressed. The government is free to open their schools, just like our members are also entitled to their dues.”
“As we speak, our members are being owed between three to six months of salaries. The government’s so-called fund saving platform, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, is a colossal failure. Apart from that, the government is yet to take any step to revitalise education sector among others.”
The ASUU chairman added that though the union had been invited to a meeting by the government, it would wait and see what happens.
Ogunyemi added that if the government did not reach an agreement with the union before the reopening date, ASUU members would not resume work.

Credit: PressExpress

The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered the reopening of all schools in the country.
This is after about six months of shutting down in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja.
The minister further advised all schools to adhere to the guidelines for the reopening of schools.
The minister said all unity schools should open by October 12, “while states and private schools will determine their own modalities of reopening.
“We have consulted widely with all stakeholders in the education sector. Our eyes and ears are opened to the international media. I’m glad to report that there has not been any single case of COVID-19 in all Unity Schools. No single fatality among the students,” he said.
“We have come to the conclusion that we have to review our decisions. After consultation with PTF, we have resolved that our Unity Schools be opened on October 12, 2020.”

Credit: PressExpress

A former Deputy Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Dennis Amakiri have reacted to the attack on security intelligence by citizens.

This is as Nigerians have continued to blame the crisis in the northeast region on alleged lapses in the nation’s security architecture and intelligence gathering techniques.

Amakiri said there was nothing wrong with the issue of intelligence gathering in the region but the attitude of the Borno State Governor has resulted in the attack.

He said Zulum has constantly been given security intelligence of the situation in his domain.

“The Governor of Borno State was given the intelligence that this road is not safe, he felt he could go,” he said. “And being the Chief Executive, he ventured out. He was attacked twice. I hope he will not go again because at least they continue telling him, managing him to make sure that he keeps himself safe.”

Yaba Magistrate Court, Lagos, has released on bail 30 protesters arrested in Lagos on Thursday.
The protesters were part of those that took to the streets under the aegis of the #RevolutionNow to express their anger against bad governance, economic hardship and recent increase in petrol price and electricity tariff.
To effect their release, the protesters were asked to provide a surety and sum of N50,000 as part of their bail bonds, according to Stanley Imhanruor (Esq), legal representative of the arrested protesters, who spoke with SaharaReporters.
He said, “The magistrate granted the 30 of them bail and asked them to pay the sum of N50,000, N10,000 to be paid to the registrar of the court, and also a civil servant who has a tax clearance.”
Some of the protesters arrested were picked by the police at bus stations while some were dragged down from buses transporting them home.

Credit: SaharaReporters

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.) , says it makes no sense for Nigeria to sell petroleum products at prices lower than those sold in neighbouring countries .
He made this known on Thursday morning while delivering a speech on the occasion of Nigeria’ s 60 th Independence Anniversary at Aso Villa , Abuja .
Buhari said, “ Fellow Nigerians , in addition to public health challenges of working to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, we have suffered a significant drop in our foreign exchange earnings and internal revenues due to 40 per cent drop in oil prices and steep drop in economic activities , leading to a 60 per cent drop in government revenue .
“ Our government is grappling with the dual challenge of saving lives and livelihoods in face of drastically reduced resources .
“ In this regard , sustaining the level of petroleum prices is no longer possible . The government , since coming into office has recognized the economic argument for adjusting the price of petroleum . But the social argument about the knock- on effect of any adjustment weighed heavily with the government . ”
Continuing , the President added , “ Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted . We sell now at N 161 per litre . A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point.
“ Chad , which is an oil -producing country , charges N 362 per litre . Niger , also an oil – producing country , sells oil at N 346 per litre . Ghana, another oil -producing country , petroleum pump price is N 326 per litre . Further afield, Egypt charges N 211 per litre . Saudi Arabia charges N 168 per litre .
“ It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia . ”

Credit: PressExpress

The serving overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, says Nigeria is a nation where “the blind leads the seeing”.
Bakare was speaking at The Platform, an annual conference organised by Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos, on Thursday.
According to Bakare, there was a need to ensure that the right people are in positions of leadership in order to put the country on the right track
“If you compare our performance with the nations that began this journey with us — nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea — they’ve left us behind. We are still in the woods and are yet to come out,” he said.
“We thank God we are still a nation and we trust God that as we dialogue this afternoon and others bring their ideas to the table, those that are leading us will begin to put the best of us in strategic positions to move our nation forward.
“No nation anywhere can survive or embark on predictable progress when mediocres are in charge.
“I’m not sure and I’m not limiting the Almighty and I hope this will not be seen as blasphemy; I’m not sure the Bible contemplates Nigerian leadership, because the Bible says when the blind leads the blind, they all end up in a ditch. But we’re in a nation where the blind leads the seeing.”
When asked what could be done to address the challenges bedevilling the country, he explained that there was a need for a change of orientation.
“I think we put the cart before the horse and whenever you put the cart before the horse, there is motion backwards. We need to put the horse before the cart. We need urgent national redemption and until that takes place, we are just wasting our time,” he said.
Bakare also berated President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to deliver on his campaign promises.
“The present government led by President Muhammadu Buhari announced three critical things as their focus or agenda as they were coming into power: security, diversified economy and fight against corruption,” he said.
“If you look at the security archictecture, you will know something is wrong when our soldiers from the battle line are releasing videos of ‘we’re tired.’
“When he took the mantle of leadership and he relocated as it were, he took the power base of the military to the war front and we all had a sigh of relief that something was going to happen, but today, there’s so much bloodletting and bloodshed. I’m not sure we have really won the battle against terrorism in our country
On why he has not led a protest against the recent fuel subsidy removal as he did during the previous administration under Goodluck Jonathan, he said the protest at the time was for the “voiceless”.
“I’m not an activist. I did not campaign against subsidy removal during Jonathan’s time; I campaigned against oppression of the poor. We give voice to the voiceless,” Bakare said.

Credit: PressExpress

The People of Oduduwa from Southwest Nigeria and the Indigenous people of BIAFRA (IPOB) are marching in Protest against the forceful union of the fraudulent Nigeria.
Each region carrying their Flags as they match the Ancient City of Ibadan while Security operatives watch in shock
01:10:20
Happened Live today in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The # RevolutionNow trend will now extend into further days, with courtroom as the next theater, as Lagos State Police Command has said that it will charge 30 people arrested for protesting peacefully in Lagos today, to court on Friday.
The protesters demanding better governance in Nigeria were violently attacked by police at Maryland area of Lagos and dispersed after which some were arrested and bundled into trucks. A journalist was also smashed on his head by the violent policemen.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, in a statement claimed that the arrested individuals, who wore RevolutionNow outfits, were arrested for conduct “likely” to breach the peace.
He described their protest as “unlawful gathering”; “conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace” and “violation of COVID-19 protocols”, among other framed offenses.
“The arrested individuals, who put on crested vests of # RevolutionNow with placards, will be charged to court tomorrow, Friday, 2nd October 2020”, the police commissioner through his PRO added.

Credit: ObjectMedia

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said ‘force of arms alone’ cannot dissuade agitators of Biafra and Odudua Republics from continuing with their demand to exit Nigeria.
According to Atiku, until the Nigerian leadership lives up to the country’s motor of ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress’, and untill every citizen feels carried along, calls for separation would continue to arise.
The former vice president stated this in his message to Nigerians on the country’s 60th anniversary.
“We cannot defeat separatist groups by force of arms alone; we can only defeat separatism by making all Nigerians feel like they belong. And this is only possible when we live up to the words of our national motto: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress,” he said.
Atiku also cautioned the federal government against incessant borrowing, which he claims threatens the country’s economic independence.
“As a nation, we asserted our independence in our infancy by lending to other nations. We must be careful not to lose the hard-won independence of our heroes’ past. By learning to live within our means, we can put a stop to the needless borrowings that threaten our economic independence.
He added that, “Our nation is in dire need of healing. We must foster unity and douse the tense atmosphere which is breeding feelings of alienation. We must promote freedom of speech and freedom after the speech.
“As such, in the spirit of our 60th Independence Anniversary, I call on the Federal and state governments, to release all political prisoners and detainees, and discontinue the prosecution of such individuals. If Nelson Mandela could reconcile with those who imprisoned him for twenty-seven years, we can reconcile with those who have disagreed with us.”
Atiku further on those, “who have taken up arms against Nigeria to have a rethink. Whatever differences they may have with the rest of Nigeria, whether religious, ethnic or political, terror, violence and separatism are not the way. Let us learn from history. In Ireland, Israel, and the Balkans, such groups have seen the wisdom in giving up armed struggle for participation in the political process.
“There is much wisdom in the saying that to jaw jaw is better than to war war. We must accept the reality that we are all brothers and sisters sired by our fatherland,” he said.

Credit: PressExpress