The government made the declaration on Sunday in apparent reaction to the threat by terrorists in a video that they would kidnap the president, Muhammadu Buhari, and other top government functionaries.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the government said however that the country’s security and defense forces were not clueless or helpless.

According to him, they had their plans and ways of doing things which they would not display in the media.

He explained that the dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists who issued the threat were manifold.

He assured that the security forces were not relenting.

Said he: “They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.”

He added: “The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.”

The statement reads in full:

Terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world.

The country’s security and defense forces are not clueless or helpless. They have their plans and ways of doing things which they will not display in the media.

The dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists are manifold: punitive action like the popular call for carpet bombing of the known locations may assuage the desire of an angry public for revenge, but what about the hostages? They have committed no offense. All they did was to board a train.

It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.

Terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors- the military, the civilian population and the communication service providers. This is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world.

To help the nation against ongoing situation, the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes.

The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.

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The funding was provided under Afreximbank’s Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility, PATIMFA.

Afreximbank’s US$150 million financial support will be accessible to FirstBank customers that are involved in the manufacturing and importation of products and equipment required to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as initiatives to rehabilitate hospitals and strengthen diagnostic and testing capacity.

The loan will also be used for the financing of trade debt payments falling due to avert payment defaults in trade debt obligations.

In addition, proceeds of the facility will help beneficiary businesses manage the impacts of the Ukraine crisis.

Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, commented: “This new disbursement under PATIMFA is a further proof of the relevance of the programme in helping African economies to recover from the crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since April 2020, when PATIMFA was launched, we are more than proud to have disbursed more than US$7 billion to help Afreximbank member countries manage the adverse impact of the financial, economic and health shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through First Bank, one of our trade finance intermediaries, this $150 million facility will help build the resilience of many businesses to the adverse impacts of the pandemic, while helping them overcome the consequences of the current Ukraine crisis.”

Also expressing his delight in the partnership, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, FirstBank’s CEO, said: “We commend Afreximbank for this impactful financial response. It will immensely contribute to empowering many businesses adversely impacted by the economic shocks caused by Covid-19. The selection of FirstBank as a partner in this initiative is a testament to their confidence in our capacity and proven track record over the years.

“As a Bank that has been woven into the fabric of our society for over 128 years, we remain committed to the success of businesses in our host communities and ensuring they are given the needed boost to sustain their operations and further drive economic growth in the nation,” he concluded.

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The explosions were the latest in a string of bombings over the past month.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The al Qaeda-linked Somali insurgent group al Shabaab has carried out deadly attacks in Uganda.

Last month, another group, the Islamic State-aligned Allied Democratic Forces, ADF, claimed its first attack in Uganda.

The explosions – one very close to parliament and one near the central police station – sent bloodied office workers scrambling for cover over shards of broken glass as a plume of white smoke rose above the downtown area.

“A booming sound like that from a big gun went off.

“The ground shook, my ears nearly went deaf,” Peter Olupot, a 28-year-old bank guard who was near the attack, told Reuters.

“I saw a vehicle on fire and everyone was running and panicking.

“I saw a boda boda (motorcycle) man – his head was smashed and covered in blood,” he added.

A Reuters witness saw burned cars behind a police cordon at the scene and a reporter with local television station NTV Uganda said he saw two bodies in the street.

Mulaago Hospital was treating 24 blast victims, four of whom were in critical condition, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesperson for the health ministry, said on Twitter.

A Ugandan military spokesperson, Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso, told Reuters that there had been “multiple” blasts and “multiple” casualties but declined to give further details.

Irene Nakasiita, spokesperson at the Uganda Red Cross, said they would release information about the blasts later.

Uganda’s police did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Ugandan soldiers are fighting al Shabaab in Somalia as part of an UN-backed African Union peacekeeping force.

Al Shabaab’s bombings in Uganda include a 2010 attack that killed 70 people watching the World Cup.

Last month, the ADF made its first claim of responsibility for a blast in Uganda with a bomb – packed with shrapnel – that killed a waitress at a restaurant.

Also last month, Ugandan police said a suicide bomber had blown up a bus, killing himself and injuring others. His affiliation was unclear.

The ADF was originally established by Ugandan Muslims but now have their main bases in the forested mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which borders Uganda.

Both the ADF and al Shabaab frequently use explosive devices and have been accused of killing thousands of civilians.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The incident occurred on October 10 and the victims were  rescued.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammed Barde, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Adamawa Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, on Thursday in Yola.

He said that the command was ready to deal with any kidnapping, arm robbery and other criminal activities in the state.

Barde called for continued support of the committee by providing useful information to the police to ensure peace and security across the 21 local government areas of the state.

He assured them that such information would be treated with confidentiality.

The commissioner advised the PCRC to remain united in the discharge of their duties and discouraged them from having different factions.

In his address, Mr Olu Adegoke, state chairman of PCRC, assured Barde of maximum support and cooperation towards tackling security challenges in the state.

“We are here to welcome you to Adamawa and give you our support and cooperation; we have been doing that and we will continue to do it,” he said.

He said that the committee was united and would do everything possible for the success of the police in the state.

Source: NAN

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Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Head, Protocol and Public Affairs of JAMB, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

The board had earlier delisted 24 CBT centres across the country over poor performance at the commencement of the 2021 UTME.

This figure brings the total number of delisted centres across the country to 30.

Benjamin said candidates who were unable to register during the allowable time for registration despite the extension were graciously directed to visit designated centres to be registered.

He said the categories of candidates that had been scheduled for the 2021 UTME were directed to print their examination notification slip for their schedule for the examination from June 21.

He, however, directed the candidates to print their notification slip from the JAMB’s website www.jamv.gov.ng.

He further said that 464,834 candidates across the country wrote the UTME on June 21, the second day of the examination.

The additional centres delisted include: Dayspring Christian College, Opete town near Otokutu between Ughelli South lga and Udu local government, Delta and Fountain of Knowledge International Academy CBT, Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Also, Twelve Apostles College, Ndiaboishiagu Sharon, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and Lead British International School, 1 Aliyu Mustdafa Street, off Wole Soyinka Street, Gwarimpa, Abuja, FCT, were delisted.

Others are Zaria Academy, Km 10, Zaria-Funtua Road, Shika, Zaria in Kaduna State and Muhammed Kamaldeen CBT centre proposed Muhammed Kamaldeen University along FGC, Ogidi, Ilorin in Kwara.

Source: NAN

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“At no time did the commission issue a statement regarding the registration of IMEI by subscribers and it has no plans to do so,” NCC said in a statement on Friday.

It said the reports in question emanated from a section of the Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari and which had been uploaded on the commission’s website.

It said it was necessary to state that the commission was in the process of deploying a Device Management System, DMS.

The DMS, it explained, would essentially protect subscribers against phone theft and would identify and enable the elimination of fake devices from the networks.

The system, it added, would capture IMEI automatically without any requirement for subscribers to submit same.

“The general public is advised to disregard the said publications, which have created the erroneous impression that telephone subscribers will be required to register their IMEI with their networks,” NCC stated.

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Kadiri’s impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the house ad-hoc committee on the petition calling for his removal from office for gross misconduct.

Mr Abayomi Fasuwa (APC -Ijebu-North East) moved for the adoption of the report  and was seconded by Kemi Oduwole (APC-Ijebu Ode) and supported by 19 other lawmakers at plenary presided over by Speaker Olakunle Oluomo in Abeokuta.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Mr Yusuf Sherif (APC-Ado Odo Ota 1), said the committee gave all parties involved, opportunities to make their presentations with relevant evidence to establish their facts.

“On the involvement of a lawyer, Kadiri failed to exploit all internal mechanisms of getting information sought before calling a lawyer.

“To this end, the committee considered that: as the Vice-Chairman of Fund Management committee, he has direct access to all the information.

“As the vice chairman of the principal officers’ body, he never reported the matter for discussion; as the vice-chairman of the house, executive meetings held every plenary day, he never raised the issue for discussion.

“On the petition submitted by Adebiyi Odugbesan & Co. after listening to both parties, the committee observed that the matter is neither here nor there,” he said.

He added: “The committee is of the opinion that Kadiri, as an honourable member and deputy speaker of the house, should have exhibited some caution.

“However, since the matter is still pending and awaiting further investigation by the police, the committee will not make pronouncement on the issue.”

Thereafter, Fasuwa submitted a report endorsed by 19 lawmakers conveying their unanimous confirmation in support of the recommendation of the committee’s report which found Kadiri guilty of acts of gross misconduct and was therefore impeached as deputy speaker of the house.

In a swift reaction, Kadiri said that his impeachment was grossly unconstitutional and illegal.

He said in a statement that he had initiated consultation with his lawyers to fashion out the best possible way to address the infraction.

Source: NAN

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The figures were released on Saturday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on its Twitter handle.

The figure is little lower than the one recorded on Friday.

Lagos maintains its lead on the table with 461 new cases.

The tweets giving additional details read:

“1598 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-461

FCT-206

Plateau-197

Rivers-168

Kaduna-116

Anambra-53

Ogun-49

Ebonyi-47

Edo-42

Sokoto-32

Imo-31

Katsina-31

Oyo-30

Akwa Ibom-27

Delta-16

Kano-16

Abia-15

Niger-15

Ondo-11

Bayelsa-10

Borno-9

Kebbi-8

Ekiti-7

Jigawa-1.”

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The figures were released on Monday in a statement issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on its Twitter handle.

Lagos is leading on the table with 88 new cases.

The tweets read:

“288 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-88

Kwara-33

Osun-27

FCT-25

Enugu-25

Abia-20

Kaduna-17

Plateau-13

Rivers-13

Delta-10

Gombe-8

Ogun-4

Oyo-3

Katsina-1

Bauchi-1

“44,129 confirmed

20,663 discharged

896 deaths.”

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The President, Speech Pathologists and Audiologists Association in Nigeria, SPAAN, Prof. Julius Ademokoya, raised the alarm.

This is just as he called on government in the country to draw up programme to take care of the affected Nigerians.

He added that the government was not doing enough to assist millions of people with hearing and speech problems.

Ademokoya who made the assertion while addressing journalists in Ibadan, to commemorate the International month of Hearing and Speech with the theme,  Promoting better hearing and speech in Nigeria,  organised by the Speech Pathologists and Audiologists Association in Nigeria, in collaboration with Smile Train, said presently Nigeria had 300 certified speech therapists to manage the problem .

He said the number of pathologists and audiologists was not enough in Nigeria compared to what was obtainable in other countries.

He called on Nigerian government to initiate programmes and make legislation that would protect the interest of people with the problems in the country.

Ademokoya who was by flanked the vice president of the association,  Oyedunni Arulogun, and other members said, “Government is not doing enough to attend and take care for  people with hearing and speech problems. The government is not giving them support. When you look at the care given to them, it is quite discouraging.

“That is why we need to initiate programmes that will take care of people with hearing and speech problems. So you look at it, the care is not enough as expected. This is why we need to initiate and encourage government to put in place, better legislation. When someone has speech or hearing problem, that person may not be able to perform as expected. That person will become a burden to the society, to the community.

“You and I know that in advance and developed countries, they have better programmes that take care of people in this category. That is why we said that government needs to put better legislation to address this. When someone has speech or hearing problem, they have low productivity and they will not be able to perform effectively. These are the people you see on the roads as beggars.

“Government must incorporate hearing screenings just like the way it is done in developed countries. If government is doing this, many children that have hearing problem must have overcome the challenges very early. That is a measure we advice government to do.

“Government must establish centre where people who have hearing problem can test and detect if they have hearing problem. If we make available the centres where people can go and test and detect if they have hearing problem, then the problems of people with hearing problem will be solved early. Nigeria needs more of audiologists. We need to encourage people to study audiology.”

While speaking on the remote causes of the problems, a consultant at the University College Hospital, UCH, Dr. Adeola Olusanya, who represented Smile Train, blamed malnutrition, poor feeding during pregnancy, misuse of drugs, noise, accident and genetic problem for hearing and speech impairment.

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