Nigerian Eye

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As the 2019 BBNaija ‘Pepper Dem’ edition comes to a close this Sunday, fans of the five finalists (Mercy, Frodd, Mike, Seyi and Omatshola ), have resorted to campaigning on social media for their favourite housemate. 
 
Even celebrities are not left out, as they have pitched tents with their favorite. 
 
The show which initially began with  21  excited housemates, saw the inclusion of five more housemates four weeks after and now, 20 evictions and 1 disqualification, left with Frodd, Omashola, Mike, Mercy and Seyi who all stand equal chances of winning the grand prize. 
 
Many Nigerians will agree that this edition appears the spiciest and most controversial since the advent of the Big Brother Naija, no thanks to the controversial disqualification of Tacha. 
 
After 13 weeks of intense drama, intrigues and fun, whoever emerges the winner will be opened up to new windows of endless opportunities that comes with the platform given the exposure. 
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Let’s take a look at the profiles of the five fortunate finalists. 
 
Mercy 
 
26-year-old Mercy Eke is a video vixen and businesswoman based in Lagos. She loves cooking, swimming, travelling and dancing. No matter the setbacks, Mercy always picks herself up and does her best. “I’m grateful for each and every day. Being alive today is already the highest point of my life”. When she’s not dancing, singing or rapping, Mercy makes time to enjoy her favourite food: white rice and pepper soup. If she had a million dollars in her account, would Sugar still be in the BB Naija game? “Yes, I would. I want the fame. The popularity is very important for my business”. 
 
Omashola 
 
Model and entrepreneur Omashola is originally from Delta State, but now calls Lagos home. He loves playing basketball, cooking and “being in the water, even though I can’t swim”. Putting his life’s motto “If you want it, go get it – don’t just sit down” into action this year, Omashola got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. But the worst happened; she turned him down! Now single and focused on building his brand, Omashalo comes into the Big Brother Naija house ready to make his dreams come true. 
 
Mike 
 
Mike Edwards is a husband, CEO and athlete who does not know how to quit. The highest point in his life was the day he got married to the love of his life. Mike owns the first black-owned cigar line in the United Kingdom and he’s also a professional athlete. The lowest point in his life was when he was banned from representing Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He’d still come to the Big Brother Naija house even if he had a million dollars because he never backs down from a challenge. 
 
Frodd 
 
Chemeka Frodd Okoye is a soft-spoken Investment Adviser and Sales Executive from Anambra State. The 28-year-old believes family is everything and that’s why he lists paying for his mother’s surgery bill as one of the proudest moments of his life. He says nothing can make him quit Big Brother and even if he had a million dollars, he would still participate in the game because “the experience can never be bought.” 
 
Seyi 
 
Oluwaseyi “Seyi” Awolowo has had many highs and lows in his three decades of existence. The bubbly entrepreneur once tried to commit suicide but has since risen above that dark period of his teenage years and has turned his life around. He is committed to his journey of self-acceptance, his girlfriend and his beliefs. He demonstrates the latter with a “Jesus’’ tattoo across his arm. Seeing his own face on a billboard for the first time is one of the highest moments of his life so far.

Latest-News BBNaija Final: Who walks away with N60m prize money?

As the 2019 BBNaija ‘Pepper Dem’ edition comes to a close this Sunday, fans of the five finalists (Mercy, Frodd, Mike, Seyi and Omatshola ...

Tiwa Savage finally opens up on relationship with Wizkid

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The relationship between Tiwa Savage and Wizkid has been one of the most talked about issues in the Nigerian music industry. 
 
The talented duos have done songs together and have such undeniable chemistry that raises eyebrows. 
 
In a recent interview with veteran broadcaster, Olisa Adibua on Beat FM, the 39-year-old ‘All Over’ crooner, Tiwa Savage stated that although she is very much single, there is a certain “friends with benefits” kind of friendship between them. 
 
When she was pressed to reveal if the friendship was such that they were having casual s3x with no emotions attached, Tiwa Savage stated that their friendship was beneficial in a way that they do shows and music together. 
<a name='more' id="more"></a> 
 
“We are friends, very good friends. There are few benefits; we do shows together, we do music together, we make money together,” she said. 
 
In 2016, Tiwa Savage released her first collaboration with Wizkid titled, ‘Bad’. The single was of course followed by a colourful video that has now amassed over 16 million views on YouTube.

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Buhari govt under fire over plans to reintroduce toll gates scrapped by Obasanjo

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Latest-News Buhari govt under fire over plans to reintroduce toll gates scrapped by Obasanjo

I turn down offers to promote s3x enhancement products- Chilly B

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Chinyere Amadi, aka Chilly B is a budding actress, social media influencer and entertainer. The curvy entertainer has revealed that she rejects offers to promote s3xual enhancement products. 
 
Speaking in a chat with newsmen, she said:” A lot of s3xual enhancement sellers offer me good money just to help push their products, but I always turn them down because I believe their products promote lies. Also, I think their products are quite diabolical because they promise to help women get money from men. Meanwhile, one of such men may be my future husband. There’s no way I would be involved in promoting such”. 
 
Chilly B who also loves to rap said she will definitely quit social media for a while in order to focus on her music. 
 
“I will definitely leave soon to focus on my music career. It’s not pride but I can never work for anyone, even if they offer me N10m per month. I have a degree, so I could have chosen to seek a corporate job if I wanted to”. 
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The actress said being curvy has been an added advantage to her career. 
 
“Being curvy has been a blessing to my career and my general life. Though sad people always want to drop negative comments, I know deep down they wish they have my kind of body”.

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10 detailed, stress-free guidelines to obtain drivers’ licence in Nigeria

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled detailed, but stress-free ways to obtain drivers’ licence at its offices across the country. 
 
The process was made known to the public as part of its efforts to educate motorists and road users on how to get the vital item used first to show authorisation to drive a vehicle in the country and also as a means of identification. 
 
In a post on its Facebook page on Friday, the road agency said the first step in obtaining the drivers’ licence is to obtain and complete Form MVA 11 from Motor Licencing Authority (MLA). 
 
The next step is to attend driving test with the appropriate authority for desired category of driver’s licence 11 Form and if successful, a certificate would be issued indicating the class of licence qualified for. 
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Thereafter, applicant will pay the prescribed fee to the Motor Licencing Authority (MLA), which then sends the form to FRSC (IPC) for processing. 
 
The driver applicant then proceeds to FRSC Information Processing Centre (IPC) for physical capture of photograph, finger print and signature and the processed licence is sent to MLA for distribution to successful applicants. 
 
According to the FRSC, an experienced driver may in addition obtain trade test certificate Issues (3), (2) and (1) from the ministry of labour and productivity. 
 
It said the minimum age for driving is 18 years, while the terminal age for driving is 70 years. 
 
Concluding, the agency noted that changing category of drivers’ licence requires a new test. 
 
Below is the step-by-step process. 
 
 
<ul>
<li>Obtain and complete Form MVA 11 from Motor Licencing Authority (MLA).</li>
<li>Attend driving test with the appropriate authority for desired category of driver’s licence 11 Form</li>
<li>If successful, a certificate would be issued indicating the class of licence qualified for</li>
<li>Pay the prescribed fee to the Motor Licencing Authority (MLA).</li>
<li>MLA sends the Form to FRSC (IPC) for processing</li>
<li>Driver applicant proceeds to FRSC Information Processing Centre (IPC) for physical capture of photograph, finger print and signature.</li>
<li>Processed licence is sent to MLA for distribution to successful applicants</li>
<li>An experienced driver may in addition obtain trade test certificate Issues (3), (2) and (1) from the ministry of labour and productivity.</li>
<li>The minimum age for driving is 18 years</li>
<li>The terminal age for driving is 70 years</li>
</ul>
 
 
Note: Changing category of drivers’ licence requires a new test

Latest-News 10 detailed, stress-free guidelines to obtain drivers’ licence in Nigeria

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has unveiled detailed, but stress-free ways to obtain drivers’ licence at its offices across the coun...

Xenophobia: You are safe now, Buhari assures Nigerians in South Africa

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reassured Nigerians living in South Africa that measures had been taken to prevent a reoccurrence of xenophobic attacks against them. 
 
Apart from reported deaths, many Nigerians have lost properties and their means of livelihood to recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 
 
Buhari, during a town hall meeting with Nigerians in South Africa, noted that the South African authorities have expressed their apologies and resolved to take necessary steps to end the ugly trend. 
 
He said: “The recent acts of xenophobic attacks on our compatriots and other Africans in South Africa are shocking to me, Nigerians and indeed Africa. It was an embarrassment to the continent. 
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“Let me again use this medium to console the families of all those who lost their lives over the years in such tragic incidents. May their souls rest in peace. 
 
“I also commiserate with all those who were injured. May God heal their wounds. My sympathies are also with those who have lost properties. 
 
“As a government, we are quite disturbed by this very unfortunate event and have taken actions and measures to address the issue and prevent its reoccurrence with the South African government. 
 
“I had earlier directed the evacuation of Nigerians who do not feel safe to remain here. 
 
“Over five hundred have returned home and are being reintegrated into their communities. 
 
“At this juncture, I wish to express my profound gratitude to Chief Allen Onyeama the Chairman of Airpeace Airlines, who showed compassion and patriotism by immediately offering to evacuate our Nigerian brothers and sisters who had been affected by these xenophobic attacks. 
 
“During my visit here, we have discussed these attacks on foreigners and Nigerians. The authorities have expressed their apologies over the incidents and have resolved to take necessary steps  to end this ugly trend in the interest of our relationship.” 
 
According to him, the two countries have just inaugurated the Nigeria/South Africa Bi-National Commission at the level of Heads of State “with a firm determination to further bring our two countries together in a mutually beneficial partnership. 
 
“Let us, therefore, give peace a chance and pray we have seen the last of this ugly violence.” 
 
Buhari also called on all Nigerians to be law abiding and respect constituted authorities while they live in South Africa. 
 
“May I also enjoin the few that sometimes gives us a bad name to desist from such misdemeanours and be our good ambassadors,” he said 
 
He told the gathering that he always has his three messages for all Nigerians in diaspora. 
 
He said: “First you are our Ambassadors and the face of our country to the world wherever you are. The world is, therefore, watching you and would make judgments on Nigeria based on your comportment and actions. 
 
“Second, in whatever legitimate engagement you find yourself, you must strive to excel and be the best. 
 
“Third, while you are out in the Diaspora, do not forget home. You represent some of the best human asset that Nigeria has. With your education and exposure to the world, you are at the cutting edge of technology. I, therefore, urge you to use your resources, skills and talents to help the development of Nigeria.” 
 
Buhari said that his administration established a dedicated agency, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, to guide them in actualising their willing contributions to the development of Nigeria.

Latest-News Xenophobia: You are safe now, Buhari assures Nigerians in South Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reassured Nigerians living in South Africa that measures had been taken to prevent a reoccurrence of ...

Court orders EFCC to produce 106 boxes containing stolen money

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A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Friday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to produce the 106 boxes containing the N900m allegedly stolen by two workers of Zenith Bank PLC. 
 
NAN reports that the EFCC charged Bolade Ajuwan and Samuel Ogbiede alongside six Central Bank of Nigeria officials. 
 
Specifically, the apex bank employees were alleged to have compromised the CBN’s briquette exercise by stealing huge mutilated higher denomination currencies meant to be exchanged for new notes. 
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The other bank workers allegedly acted as accomplices to the crime and also helped themselves to a sizeable part of the money. 
 
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty. 
 
Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court gave the order after an EFCC witness, Saliu Kadir, testified alongside two CBN officials; Kolawole Babalola and Muniru Olaniran. 
 
The EFCC said the 106 boxes contained interleaves and lower denominations such as N100, N50, N20 and even ordinary papers. 
 
The judge adjourned the case till December 2 and December 3, 2019 for continuation of trial.

Latest-News Court orders EFCC to produce 106 boxes containing stolen money

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"Play for Super Eagles, don't make the same mistake I made" - John Fashanu begs Tammy Abraham

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Tammy Abraham’s decision to snub Nigeria for England has not gone down well with former England international and Wimbledon FC star, John Fashanu, who believes the 20-year-old made the wrong footballing decision. 
 
The Chelsea academy graduate became a subject of tussle between the English FA and the Nigeria Football Federation after posting scintillating performances for the Blues in the ongoing league campaign. 
 
But England manager, Gareth Southgate, moved ahead of Nigeria by including Abraham in his squad to face Bulgaria and Czech Republic for the Euro 2020 qualifier much to the disappointment of many Nigerians who had hoped that the in-form striker will commit his future to Nigeria. 
 
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And Fashanu, who also featured for the Three Lions has told the Chelsea striker to have a rethink so as to prevent history from repeating itself- citing his own case as an example. 
 
“I’ve now been living in Nigeria for 14 years and I know that I made the wrong choice not playing for Nigeria. 
 
“For him right now, everything looks like England is fantastic and wonderful. But it is only like I did, as he gets older he will realise that Nigeria is his motherland and as we have our problems in Nigeria, England also has its problems. 
 
“What I want to tell Tammy Abraham is to make the right choice and play for his motherland which is Nigeria. He will have more time and make more appearances playing for Nigeria but the truth is he will make more money playing for England. 
 
“It is now up to him (Tammy) to decide if he wants to play for Nigeria more than 50 times or if he wants to make $1m. 
 
“But as a patriotic Nigeria I would have loved him to play for Nigeria. Don’t make the same mistakes that we elders made then. 
 
“As an elder in the game, I can only offer advice. My advice to Tammy is to forget about money because money will come and go. 
 
“Come back to your motherland and play for the country which I didn’t do. That’s my advice because now I know where I went wrong. I made a lot of money but I only played for England twice. I could have still made money with the Nigeria national team and made more appearances and helped the country to win many trophies and do wonderful things. 
 
“Now I look back and see some of the mistakes I made and I don’t want him and other young Nigerians to make the same mistakes that I made.” 
 
The Wimbledon legend though admitted that the final decision lies with the 21-year-old player. 
 
“At the end of the day we must understand that his choice is his own choice. 
 
Though, we can influence his choices but he is a young man and a wonderful player who is in the best year of his life and he knows what it’s like.

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Man disguises as prostitute, defrauds several men in Lagos

03:18 Unknown 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27MlbMZ2zrNU1p6vv22RC2-IkHaGMLdjwXh5rRT6vcfdAFicZQEoIFXp5kCS8uN-_0Dg2KOZrhEx6cSsLi0Qaw4PcdZcqcSlOaA-EMtXONajfjepqce2Hh7nQzn4Imgns-BLkLuPHvkOX/s400/disguised-Monday.jpg" width="400" /></div>
 
 
Luck has run out on a 29-year-old man, Victor Monday, one year after he started disguising as a prostitute to defraud men. 
 
Monday was arrested by a police team from the Mushin Police Station around 12am on Ogunmokun Street while he was in female costume waiting for “a client” by the roadside. 
 
 
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He was initially apprehended for staying late outside without giving any genuine reason. 
 
City Round learnt that it was not immediately known to the policemen that Monday, who adopted the name Joy to perpetrate the crime, is not a female. 
 
He wore a wig, makeup and put on padded breasts. He was said to have been kept in the female cell until much later in the morning when a policeman on an inspection around the cell spotted him. 
 
The cop reportedly noticed he had few strands of beards which aroused his suspicion. His real appearance was unravalled by the officer who searched through his body. 
 
A police source told our correspondent that Monday blamed the act on joblessness, adding that the suspect targeted men in nightclubs within the state. 
 
“His mode of operation was to go to clubs at night and look for men he would spend the night with while disguising like a woman. He would dance around to attract men to himself. Whoever is interested in spending the night with him would approach him. 
 
“He would collect some money from his unsuspecting victim as part payment for his service and have fun on his bill. While they were drinking and wining, he would tell the man that he wanted to urinate and use that opportunity to run away. He said he made between N7,000 and N10,000 per night,” the source said. 
 
In his statement, the suspect, who hails from Rivers State, said he was a stylist before he went into the crime in 2018. He said he was once arrested by the police for the same offence but his church members assisted in securing his bail. 
 
He said, “I came to Lagos last year and was squatting around. When it was night, I would look for a hidden place to dress like a woman and go to any club to dance as a woman. Men who have feelings for me would give me money, but I don’t follow them to hotels. I managed to run away. 
 
“At times, I made N8,000 per day. I was going to a nightclub on September 15 when police arrested me. I told them my name is Joy, but later one of them discovered that I am a man. I do this because I don’t have a job.” 
 
A police prosecutor, Inspector Koti Aondohemba, consequently brought the suspect before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court on four counts bordering on impersonation and fraud. 
 
The offences, according to the police, contravene sections 168(d), 314 and 380 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. 
 
The charges read in part, “That you, Victor Monday, on September 15, 2019, at 12.10am, on Ogunmokun Street, Akala area, Mushin, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did indecently act by presenting yourself as a woman in order to obtain money from members of the public, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 380 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.” 
 
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. 
 
The presiding magistrate, Mrs M. O. Tanimola, granted him bail in the sum of N80, 000 with one surety in the like sum. The case was adjourned till October 16, 2019 for mention.

Latest-News Man disguises as prostitute, defrauds several men in Lagos

Luck has run out on a 29-year-old man, Victor Monday, one year after he started disguising as a prostitute to defraud men. Monday was a...

Public school students score higher than private school students in WAEC exams

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Nigerian parents will need to do a rethink quickly if it is really worthwhile spending millions of naira to send their children to private secondary schools, as startling statistics has shown that students attending public schools are outperforming them in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. 
 
Figures published by the National Bureau of Statistics this week capturing results by students in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between 2016 and 2018 showed generally a wide gap in the performance of public school students against their pampered mates in private schools. 
 
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Only Jigawa bucked the trend in 2018, when 15 percent of private school students enrolled that year scored 5 credits and above, as against the 9.42 per cent scored by public school students. 
 
But the percentage variance is insignificant as the state registered only 20 students from private schools that year for the examination, as against 22,424 students who registered from public schools. Out of the 20 in private schools, three succeeded in getting five credits, including English and Maths. In the public schools, the success level was much higher, 2113 students out of the 22,424 got five credits and more. 
 
In 2016, the public school students, despite their higher number, performed far better than the tiny number of candidates from private schools.Out of the 207 candidates from private schools, only 21 got 5 credits and above, while 4128 candidates from public schools succeeded. There were no records for private students in 2017. 
 
In other states and the Federal Capital Territory, the statistics clearly showed that parents need urgent evaluation of their preference for private schools over public schools. The WASSCE results negated the preference. 
 
In the FCT, out of the 2917 students enrolled for the 2016 WASSCE, 6.1 percent got five credits and above. In contrast, out of 20,141 public school students, 49.4% got five credits plus. In 2017, just 3.8% of WASSCE candidates from private schools got five credits and above, while 61.83 percent of the 21,514 registered by public schools passed.Last year, out of 2424 candidates enrolled by private schools, just 6.11 percent got five credits and above, while 52.11 percent of the 23,622 from public schools hit the same level of success. 
 
Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous state brings out starkly the performance disparity between students in public and and private schools. 
 
In 2016, 78,905 students from private schools registered for WASSCE, while 145,186 registered from public schools. But in the results for the year, 44.3 percent of the private students got five credits and above. However 63 percent of students from public schools hit the same success level. In 2017, performance of private school students hit a big slump, dropping to 26.4 percent of the 58,883 registered, while 65.5 percent of the 154,430 public school students scored five credits and above. Enrolment of candidates for WASSCE shrank further in 2018, with 48,651 sitting for the exam. Although 44.43 percent got the five credits plus, the performance fell short compared with public school students. of the 162,066 who sat for the examination, 60.7 percent got five credits and above. 
 
Niger state also showed a similar trend. The percentages of the average 1200 students registered for the three years were 23.3 per cent in 2016, 10.8 in 2017 and 12.36 in 2018. In contrast 33.9 percent of more than 50,000 students of public schools got five credits plus in 2016, 37.54 in 2017 and 25.13 in 2018. 
 
Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun public school students also performed better than students of private schools. Osun, where students in government schools were given a tablet of knowledge.In 2016, out of 36,685 students presented for WASSCE by government, 45.5 % got five credits and above. Only 18.5 % of the 2,753 students registered by private schools hit the same level of attainment. In 2017, performance in private schools dropped to 13.9% out of 2,426 candidates who wrote WASSCE. Public school candidates still maintained a pass ratio of 43.5% This however fell to 4.85% in 2018, while private schools recorded 13.46 per cent. 
 
In Ogun state, the success rates of private and public school students were close for the three years.In 2016, Ogun registered 26,756 candidates from private schools and 84,886 in public school. While 48.4 % of private school candidates passed with five credits plus that year, 52.2 % of students from public schools made the cut. A similar picture emerged in the following years with 40% success by private schools in 2017 to 54.14% public and 40.29 for private in 2018 to 51.69 public. 
 
Of all the states, Rivers and Abia returned the highest levels of successes for students of public schools. Rivers returned 75% in 2016, 82.3 % in 2017 and 77.82% in 2018. Private schools got 43.6% in 2016, 18.2% in 2018 and 29.55% in 2018, out of an average of 8,000 students for each of the three years. 
 
Abia also reported 71.1% in 2016, 76.53% in 2017 and 82.2% in 2018. The private schools with low population of about 600 candidates got 10.3% in 2016, 32% in 2017 and 51.42% in 2018. 
 
Anambra also returned over 71% success in five credits plus for public school students in 2016 and 2017, while private candidates wallowed in miserable scores. But last year, performance of public school candidates dipped to 51.4 per cent. 
 
In 2018, 1.57million candidates from public schools sat for WASSCE conducted by the West African Examinations Council. 
 
In 2017, 1.56m candidates did the exam. 822,941 of the candidates were male while the remaining 748,595 were female. 849,069 of the candidates had 5 credits and above including English Language, 1.06m had 5 credits and above including Mathematics while 756,726 of the candidates had 5 credits and above including Mathematics & English Language. 
 
The percentage of candidates with 5 credits and above including Mathematics & English Language is put at 48.15%. 
 
Similarly, a total of 109,798 candidates sat for WAEC in private schools in 2018 as against 133,258 candidates in 2017. 54,417 of the candidates were male while the remaining 55,561 were female. 47,122 of the candidates had 5 credits and above including English Language, 47,434 had 5 credits and above including Mathematics while 37,184 of the candidates had 5 credits and above including Mathematics & English Language. The percentage of candidates with 5 credits and above including Mathematics & English Language is put at 33.81%. 
 
Lagos state has the highest number of candidates in public schools while the state also has the highest number of candidates in private schools who sat for the examination.

Latest-News Public school students score higher than private school students in WAEC exams

Nigerian parents will need to do a rethink quickly if it is really worthwhile spending millions of naira to send their children to privat...

Sowore’s legal team meets over ‘stringent’ bail conditions

03:18 Unknown 0

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare. 
 
Counsel for the Sahara Reporters publisher, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), described the conditions attached to the bail granted his client and Bakare as “stringent”. 
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Falana said the defence team would meet before Monday to decide on actions to take over the bail conditions as granted by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. 
 
Alternatively, one of our correspondents also gathered that the team may approach Justice Ojukwu to review the conditions. 
 
Falana said, ‘‘We will meet this weekend on the issue of bail conditions. No decision had been taken on whether to appeal or approach the judge on the matter.” 
 
Justice Ojukwu’s ruling on Friday granted Sowore bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties in like sum. 
 
The two sureties must have landed property in Abuja worth N100m each and must be resident in the city. 
 
The judge also ordered that the two sureties must deposit in the court’s registry the original of their Abuja property’s document of title. 
 
Aside from these, Justice Ojukwu ordered that one of Sowore’s sureties must deposit the sum of N50m in the court’s bank account as security. 
 
She also ordered that they must produce evidence of tax clearance for 2016, 2017 and 2018. 
 
She ordered the activist to deposit his passport with the registry of the court as she also barred him from travelling outside Abuja pending the period of the trial. 
 
She also barred him from addressing any gathering throughout the period of his trial. 
 
Justice Ojukwu granted Bakare bail in the sum of N50m with one surety, who must be resident and have property worth that sum in Abuja. 
 
The surety is also required to deposit the property’s document of title with the court’s registry, while Bakare would have to deposit his passport. 
 
His surety would also be required to depose to an affidavit of means and submit evidence of tax clearance for 2016, 2017, 2018. 
 
She also barred Bakare from addressing any gathering pending the conclusion of their trial. 
 
The judge also ordered that he should not move out of Osogbo, Osun State, where he is resident, apart from when attending trial in Abuja until the conclusion of trial. 
 
Justice Ijeoma after delivering the ruling granting bail to the defendants ordered that they should be remanded in prison. 
 
But Falana pleaded with the judge to order that they should be in the custody of the Department of the State Services pending when they would meet their bail conditions. 
 
The prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), reluctantly conceded to Falana’s request. 
 
The judge then ordered that the defendants should be in the DSS custody. 
 
But during deliberation between the prosecution and the defence on the choice of the next hearing date, Liman asked for an adjournment till a date in October. 
 
But Falana said, “Do you know when I will be able to meet the stringent bail conditions? It is safer to adjourn trial till November.” 
 
While the deliberation between Falana and Liman was on, Justice Ojukwu ordered that the person who described the bail conditions in a hushed tone as “punitive” should be identified. 
 
It turned out to be a lawyer in Falana’s law firm. 
 
Both Falana and the lawyer apologised, saying the comment was not meant to disparage the judge. 
 
The judge then adjourned till November 6, 7 and 8 for trial. 
 
She warned that the court would take “the necessary step” if the bail conditions were violated. 
 
The judge also said the warning was applicable to the prosecution. 
 
As the court was about to adjourn, Falana called on the judge to implore the prosecution to make available for the defence the details of all documents and witnesses to be brought by the prosecution. 
 
“We will also subpoena some of their people, including the President,” Falana said. 
 
Falana had insisted that the use of the word, “revolution” was not a criminal offence in Nigeria, referring to when President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2011, called for a revolution like the one that took place in Egypt. 
 
He said, “In the entire gamut of the submission of the complainant, the allegation is that the first defendant (Sowore) was going to overthrow the government of Nigeria through protests. 
 
“He was not even accused of training people to overthrow government in Ghana like Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was charged with treasonable felony. In this case, no training and, no contact with any soldier were alleged. 
 
“We have shown that leaders of the ruling party (the All Progressives Congress) have been calling for a revolution. 
 
“In 2011, Mr President called for a revolution like the violent Egyptian revolution. 
 
“We submit with profound respect that the use of the word ‘revolution’ has not been criminalised in Nigeria. 
 
“When President Buhari called for revolution, he was never arrested or prosecuted.” 
 
On September 24, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who earlier on August 8, granted the DSS permission to hold the activist for 45 days which elapsed on September 21, ordered that Sowore should be released on the condition that he deposited his passport with the court’s registry. 
 
But despite Sowore meeting the bail condition on September 25, the DSS refused to release him.

Latest-News Sowore’s legal team meets over ‘stringent’ bail conditions

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant,...

Common mistakes you make while charging your phone

02:58 Unknown 0

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Many phone users tend to complain that their device’s batteries discharge quickly. They also typically blame the product manufacturer for this issue; however, the manufacturer isn’t always at fault. Here are some five mistakes that users typically make when charging their phones. 
 Waiting for the Battery to reach low levels before charging 
 
Avoid waiting for your battery to reach a critically low level before charging. The effect of this on your phone battery is not immediate, but over time it begins to manifest and it eventually stresses out your phone battery (yes, batteries get stressed too) and shortens the battery life. Think of your battery as a human body, you really don’t need to wait until you’re about to die before you rest and eat to recharge yourself. 
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 Keeping your phone case on while charging 
 
Your phone typically emits heat when charging. To avoid exposing your device to ambient temperatures, it’s advisable to remove the phone case while charging your phone so that the heat emitted from your phone while charging can escape. This way you can prevent your device from becoming hotter and potentially overheating when charging. Charging your battery at uncomfortable temperatures can permanently damage battery capacity. 
 
Charging your phone in the wrong places 
You should mind where you charge your phone, because not doing so can negatively affect your battery capacity. Phones have a temperature range they can function normally and charging your phone in a hot area can raise the temperature and stress the battery out. Also, charging your phone in especially low temperature areas, like in front of an air conditioner, can also cause problems for your battery that will eventually affect its optimum performance. 
 
Charging your phone overnight 
 
The least you’ll sleep throughout the night is most likely going to be between 5 to 8 hours, your smartphone battery typically only needs 2 to 3 hours to fully charge. Charging your phone overnight, constantly stresses your phone battery each night. Sooner than later, your phone is likely to have battery problems. In addition, the temperature rises when the battery is overcharged, so apart from shortening battery life, it can also threaten user’s safety in the event it quickly heats up and explodes. It’s better to charge your phone before you sleep and switch it off while sleeping to preserve the battery till the next day. 
 
Plugging whatever charger fits 
 
This especially applies to smartphones. Most smartphones use a micro USB for its chargers and for this reasons most people tend to switch and swap chargers since it fits into and works on their phones. However, this is not appropriate and in the long run it can negatively affect your phone battery. The fact that most smartphones have the same micro USB doesn’t mean all chargers and phones are compatible. Some chargers function differently and that difference can be detrimental to your device if care is not taken.

Latest-News Common mistakes you make while charging your phone

Many phone users tend to complain that their device’s batteries discharge quickly. They also typically blame the product manufacturer for...

Akpabio orders suspension of recruitment exercise at the NDDC

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The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has ordered an immediate suspension of recruitment into the employment of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). 
 
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Minister, Mr Anietie Ekong in Abuja on Friday night. 
 
According to the statement, the new directive also requested the management of the Commission to compile and furnish the Minister with a detailed report on any employment exercise being undertaken within three days. 
 
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It explained that the Minister’s decision was necessitated to guarantee due process as such action by the Commission ought to be evaluated by the Ministry in consultation with the committees of the National Assembly on the NDDC. 
 
“The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has directed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), suspends forthwith any employment exercise into the Commission. 
 
“The Minister also directed the suspension of handing over of appointment letters, documentation and all other processes connected to employment into the Commission. 
“Senator Akpabio gave this directive in a letter issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack to the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Akwagaga Enyia. 
 
“According to the Ministerial directive, the Commission’s pay roll should not accommodate any new employees and should revert to the status quo as at August 31, 2019, while he should be furnished within three days with a detailed report of any employment exercise being undertaken by the Commission. 
 
“The letter said the suspension exercise is to subsist until a due process evaluation of the purported exercise is carried out by the Ministry in consultation with the two NDDC Committees of the National Assembly and sought prompt action of the Acting Managing Director on the matter”, the statement said.

Latest-News Akpabio orders suspension of recruitment exercise at the NDDC

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has ordered an immediate suspension of recruitment into the employment of ...

Boko Haram members attack Chibok again as parents mark 2,000 days of girls’ abduction

02:13 Unknown 0

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Armed men suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents were on Friday reported to have launched an attack in Mifa, a village in the Chibok Local Government Area of Bornu State. 
 
An undisclosed number of houses were said to have been razed during the attack by the insurgents, who arrived at about 8pm. 
 
The online medium quoted a resident to have said, “They are burning houses as I speak to you; many of them arrived with motorcycles and started attacking the village. They have burnt so many houses, especially because it is dark and due to the terrain of the place. 
 
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“We don’t know of any casualty yet. The troops just arrived, although the insurgents are still inside the villages.” 
 
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comments on the Chibok incident as his line rang out. A text message also sent to his line had yet to be replied to as of press time. 
 
Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls will today (Saturday) mark the 2,000 days of the abduction of 276 Chibok School girls in April 2014. 
 
Out of this figure, 57 of the girls escaped from captivity, four were found dead, 21 released, 82 were released while 19 parents were said to have died. 
 
A statement by the leadership of the BBOG Lagos Family on Saturday night, also said that 112 Chibok girls were still in the hands of the terrorists while “four infants are with our girls.” 
 
The statement was signed by Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Adwoa Edun, Aisha Oyebode, Ayo Obe, Bbabasola Olalere, Habiba Balogun, Monday, Ojon, Ngozi Iwere, Yemi Ademolekun, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti and F.T. Adebayo. 
 
The statement added that 113 Dapchi School girls were abducted in February 2018, and that five of them had died from trauma during the abduction. 
 
While it said that 107 of them had been released, it also added that one of the girls was still in the hands of the terrorists. 
 
Also, the statement said that three aid workers were abducted in March 2018; two ICRC aid workers were executed, while one UNICEF aid worker was still in the hands of terrorists. 
 
The statement said, “On Saturday, October 5, 2019, it will be 2,000 days, five and half years, since 276 school girls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria in the early hours of April 14, 2014 by terrorists.’’ 
 
It regretted that kidnapping had become “as prevalent as petty theft” and called for justice for the survivors and those killed.

Latest-News Boko Haram members attack Chibok again as parents mark 2,000 days of girls’ abduction

Armed men suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents were on Friday reported to have launched an attack in Mifa, a village in the Chibok Local ...

Three months later, police allegedly abandon investigation into killing of Fasoranti’s daughter

02:13 Unknown 0

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Almost three months after the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri, the daughter of the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenirefe, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the family of the deceased has said the police have abandoned investigation into the incident. 
 
The eldest child of Fasoranti, Olufunmilayo, said this while speaking with newsmen on Friday. 
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She said there was no indication that the police were doing any investigation on the matter, saying the family was not happy with the development. 
 
She said, “We don’t know what the police are doing on the matter, I don’t think they are investigating the matter. 
 
She said, “We heard that they were conducting an investigation but we didn’t see anything, they have not invited anybody. Even some of the people that were in the vehicle with my sister on that day were not invited by the police. The people inside the second vehicle, nobody invited them for interrogation. 
 
“The driver that drove my sister, who initially ran away and came back, has not been invited. We that we are home here, they have not come or invited us for interrogation. So, I don’t know the kind of investigation the police are conducting on the matter. It’s almost three months now but nothing has happened.” 
 
Meanwhile, the Afenifere has accused the police of making a serious attempt to cover-up the facts about the killing of Olakunri. 
 
The Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, who said this in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos, noted that the killing of Olakunri was similar to other high profile murder cases recorded in the country. 
 
He vowed that the group would not allow the killing of the 58-year-old woman to be covered up. 
 
Odumakin said, “Nothing has changed in the way the police are going about the investigation into the killing. Nothing new has happened since we issued a statement on their lackadaisical approach. They have not responded to the statement to say we are lying or not. 
 
“They have not reported to the family whether they have found out anything. The 94-year-old father of the deceased is in serious agony and there is nobody to tell him why his daughter was killed. 
 
“The car was parked in Pa Fasoranti’s house, we made a noise and the police came to take it away for forensic analysis. They have released the car but the forensic report on the car is nowhere up till now.” 
 
However, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, Mr Femi Joseph, when contacted said the command did not relent in its efforts to fish out the perpetrators. 
 
He also declined comment on the number of suspects arrested so far on the matter as he insisted that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Undie Adie, would soon address the media on it. 
 
He said, “We have not stopped the investigation, very soon the state Commissioner of Police will address the world on the matter. It is then you will know that the police are working seriously on the matter.”

Latest-News Three months later, police allegedly abandon investigation into killing of Fasoranti’s daughter

Almost three months after the killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri, the daughter of the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afe...

PayPal abandons Facebook-backed Libra cryptocurrency group

01:53 Unknown 0

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Pioneering digital payments firm PayPal on Friday said it will no longer be part of an alliance intended to oversee the Facebook-backed Libra cryptocurrency, which has come under attack by regulators. 
 
“PayPal has made the decision to forgo further participation in the Libra Association at this time,” the California-based company told AFP. 
 
“We remain supportive of Libra’s aspirations and look forward to continued dialogue on ways to work together in the future.” 
 
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International outcry is mounting over Libra — with central banks, governments and regulators railing against Facebook’s upstart cryptocurrency and questions over how it would be regulated. 
 
The social media giant unveiled plans in June for Libra — which will roll out in 2020 — to be backed by a basket of currency assets to avoid the wild swings of Bitcoin and other virtual units. 
 
The nonprofit Libra Association, based in Geneva, will oversee the blockchain-based coin, maintaining a real-world asset reserve to keep its value stable. 
 
Facebook envisioned Libra as a new global cryptocurrency, pledging to deliver a stable virtual money that lives on smartphones and could bring over a billion “unbanked” people into the financial system. 
 
Hundreds of billions of dollars are transferred annually between migrants to friends and family in their home countries, and PayPal is a player in that sector. 
 
Mastercard, Visa and other financial partners enlisted to oversee Facebook-backed cryptocurrency Libra are reported to be having second thoughts as regulators unleash ire on the project and dig for information from members of the association. 
 
Visa chief executive Alfred Kelly in an interview in August with CNBC said the company had signed a non-binding letter of intent with the association but was “not a member of anything.” 
 
Kelly went on to say Visa would not join the association if it isn’t satisfied when it comes to complying with regulations. 
 
The head of the Libra Association said last week that the project’s leaders aimed to “reassure” regulators worried about the virtual money. 
 
Besides Facebook, Visa and MasterCard, backers of Libra include ride-hailing apps Lyft and Uber. 
 
In leaked comments from a meeting of Facebook employees in July, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said he remained optimistic for Libra despite harsh comments from public officials in several countries. 
 
“The public things, I think, tend to be a little more dramatic,” he said. 
 
“But a bigger part of it is private engagement with regulators around the world, and those, I think, often, are more substantive and less dramatic… That’s where a lot of the discussions and details get hashed out on things. 
 
AFP.

Latest-News PayPal abandons Facebook-backed Libra cryptocurrency group

Pioneering digital payments firm PayPal on Friday said it will no longer be part of an alliance intended to oversee the Facebook-backed Li...

S3x not the best way to test commitment - Dayo Amusa

10:38 Unknown 0

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Outspoken actress and singer, Dayo Amusa has urged ladies not to use s3x as a way to test their commitment to a guy in a relationship. 
 
In a lengthy message posted on Instagram on Thursday, the 36-year-old said that young women should not mistake gifts and money from men as acts of love as they could be means of getting s3x from them. 
 
“S3x is not an act of commitment. Men still leave the women they sleep with on bed and start thinking of the next woman to sleep with. The satisfaction that comes from s3x dies in minutes. It is in the nature of lions to go miles to hunt. The same with men,” she said. 
 
“A man who can afford the expenses of flying from the UK to Nigeria for s3x would do it as if he would never turn to another woman for s3x. 
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“Students are now living together like husbands and wives, and our society calls it love. What kind of people do these students become when they leave school? 
 
“Today, a 16-year-old girl is already into s3x. She wants to wear everything on trend. She is already a prostitute in the sense that any man that comes her way for relationship must show some signs of money and she would respond to him. 
 
“The funny thing is this, almost all those girls that have become s3x symbols end up in a deep mess. How many of them today is changing the world they are into???” 
 
In a chat with newsmen, the actress condemned young ladies who date several men in their quest to be with a perfect man. 
 
“Also, I do not think that having numerous boyfriends gives you the privilege of having a perfect guy as it could even cause confusion at some point,” she said.

Latest-News S3x not the best way to test commitment - Dayo Amusa

Outspoken actress and singer, Dayo Amusa has urged ladies not to use s3x as a way to test their commitment to a guy in a relationship. I...

BBNaija (S4): ‘I know how you feel’ – Bisola tells housemates

10:28 Unknown 0

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Bisola Aiyeola, runner up BBNaija season two ‘See Gobe’ has encouraged ‘Pepper Dem’housemates to stay focused as the season draws to a close. 
 
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bisola, who is ONE ambassador, paid a visit to the house on Thursday. 
 
She was accompanied by fellow ambassador, singer Aituaje Iruobe aka Waje and Sarah Amaka, country director for ONE, Nigeria. 
 
After a rousing welcome from the five ‘Pepper Dem’ finalists, Bisola shared her experience while in the house, adding that she could relate to the feelings of the housemates. 
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She said, “I know how you feel because I have been there. The hours will drag and you can’t just wait to be done. You guys have had a good run. Well done.” 
 
The Pepper Dem Gang was tasked with creating awareness for standard health care in Nigeria. 
 
To aid the preparation for the task, Country Director, Amaka explained the importance of citizens participation in solving societal problems and urged them to think outside the box. 
 
Also, Waje encouraged the housemates to put in their best and focus on the task at hand, urging them to provide practical solutions to the tasks. 
 
NAN reports that with one week to the end of the show, only five housemates – Mercy, Mike, Frodd, Seyi and Omashola are competing for the Grand prize worth N60 million.

Latest-News BBNaija (S4): ‘I know how you feel’ – Bisola tells housemates

Bisola Aiyeola, runner up BBNaija season two ‘See Gobe’ has encouraged ‘Pepper Dem’housemates to stay focused as the season draws to a clo...

BBNaija: Mercy exposes breast on national Tv as finals draw near (VIDEO)

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Latest-News BBNaija: Mercy exposes breast on national Tv as finals draw near (VIDEO)

I am never under pressure to satisfy fans- Harrysong

10:18 Unknown 0

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Unknown to many, fame and success comes with a myriad of pressures. From wanting to be in the good books of your fans to struggling to remain relevant, these superstars are not spared from the pangs of being in the spotlight. 
 
In a chat with newsmen, Reggae Blues singer Harrysong said he is never under pressure to satisfy his fans. 
 
“I have never been under pressure. I know that there is poverty on the grassroots. I try as much as possible in way to encourage them. If one can have the basic amenities like food, water life will be easy. It is my duty to always look after them as much as their eyes are always on me”. 
 
Asked about the changes he would love to see in Nigeria, he said: “The system of leaderships is getting worse. Buhari should calm down on his tribalistic way of ruling and learn to live with love and peace”. 
 
Speaking further, the percussionist shared the inspiration behind his Kingmaker Youth Empowerment Concert. 
 
The Kingmaker Youth Empowerment Concert is my pet project for giving back to the society. Every state we visit, we empower at least ten to twenty youths in music, comedy and small scale businesses. It’s been amazing, this is the third one we are doing.  Each of this place we visit, they have their challenges, youth restiveness, kidnapping, armed robbery. Talented youths venture into cultism because they are not engaged. When we get into these places, we try as much as possible to empower and engage the youths. The aim is to help the society in my own little way”.

Latest-News I am never under pressure to satisfy fans- Harrysong

Unknown to many, fame and success comes with a myriad of pressures. From wanting to be in the good books of your fans to struggling to rem...

Sports Minister relocates office, moves to MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja

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Latest-News Sports Minister relocates office, moves to MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja

My second term is non-negotiable -Obaseki

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Latest-News My second term is non-negotiable -Obaseki

‘Our farmers should make money from their sweat’ — Oshiomhole backs closure of borders

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Latest-News ‘Our farmers should make money from their sweat’ — Oshiomhole backs closure of borders

Nigeria At 59: Are Our Leaders Mad? – Magnus Onyibe

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There is a popular aphorism that goes thus: ‘a fool at 40 is a fool forever’With Nigeria remaining in socioeconomic doldrums at age 59, which is only one year shy of 20 years of exceeding the proverbial 40 years threshold for being a fool, does it mean that Africa’s most populous country is now certainly a fool forever? 
 
By way of comparison, China also celebrated seventy years as a communist country on the same day-October first that Nigeria marked its 59th anniversary of independence from Britain. 
 
That means China is only 11 years older than Nigeria in terms of nationhood and independence. 
But the East Asian country has grown from being an autarky (like North Korea trading with nobody) some 30 years ago until it joined WTO in 2001 and became a production factory to the world. 
 
Subsequently, China assumed the position of the world’s second largest economy status with an estimated $12 trillion gdp, and it is now on track to becoming the largest economy by global ranking, in less than two decades, when it would have overtaken the USA’s economy which is currently the world’s largest. 
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By contrast, Nigeria has degenerated from being a peer to countries like Singapore, Malaysia,Taiwan and south Korea of which it was at par at independence in 1960, to banana republic levels , in terms of socio-economic standards of living and security of lives and properties of citizens. 
 
In my considered opinion, the unfortunate and depressing descent of Nigerians into a vortex of misery, courtesy of reoccurring visionless leadership of our country is a much bigger malaise than the anti-corruption rhetorics of govts from the colonialists to military and democratically elected civilians that have not yielded any modicum of positive dividends since independence some 59 years ago. 
 
There is a common saying that it is only a mad man that does one thing consistently the same way and expect a different outcome. One thing that is clear to all is that successive Nigerian govts have been fighting graft in the same manner since independence. 
So are Nigerian leaders mad? 
 
If they are not, why have they been flying the same anti corruption kite all these years? 
Could it boil down to the fact that nobody in Aso Rock villa seat of power has bothered to conduct a simple research into corruption antecedents in Nigeria to realize how the scourge has defeated all the previous leaders who attempted to tame the monster as evidenced by the fact that rather than be eliminated or reduced, corruption has become more entrenched, malignant and hydra headed like a virus that’s being treated with the wrong antibiotics and as such, became resistant and cancerous? 
 
In the event that any reader thinks that the rhetorical title of this article is rather brash and uncomplimentary , come with me as l go down the memory lane into the annals of Nigerian history to see if at the end of the historical excursion you may not take away the same impression that our leaders may be afflicted by some mental malady which is responsible for their fighting corruption in the same manner continuously and expecting a different result. 
 
For instance, the justification that the likes of major Chukwuma kaduna Nzeogwu and co-coup plotters had for toppling the first democratically elected govt in Nigeria in 1966 was that corruption had become so embedded and endemic in govt and public sector that 10% of public contracts value was being demanded and paid to public officials. 
 
Today, it’s not just 10%, but the entire funds for a project can be totally embezzled if the alleged diversion of $2.1b for arms procurements leveled against Ahmed Dasuki, former national security adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is anything to go by. 
 
Similarly, several public officials assigned to recover stolen public funds have also been known to re-loot the loot as reflected by the case of Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of Pensions Reform Task Team that allegedly looted billions of naira recovered from pension funds thieves, absconded and later weaved his way back into the civil service until he was recently arrested and re arraigned. 
 
After the counter coup of 1967 where it was alleged that the plotters of the 1966 putsch were ‘corrupt’ and ‘fraudulent’ in terms of ethnic bias by assassinating only top military officers from a particular section of the country, and officers of a religious faith while preserving the lives of those from the ethnic stock and faith of the coup leaders, the brigadier Murtala Muhammed led coup of 1975 was also mainly driven by the crusade against govt corruption. 
The fiery army general is famous for the mantra: “This govt can not condone Indiscipline” which is a military euphemism for corruption. 
 
That interregnum was followed by the coup led by general Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 1983 which like the 1966 and 1975 coups was on a mission to dislodge the democratically elected govt of Shehu Shagari in the bid to clean the proverbial Augean stable by getting rid of corrupt politicians in the country. 
 
The lbrahim Babangida led palace coup of 1985 that unseated Buhari’s 18 months spell in office was also launched to cleanse our country of corruption. This time the corruption was not so much of bribery, but of the hue of fraud and double standards as reflected by the scandal of 53 suit cases allegedly belonging to the emir of Gwandu which was illegally allowed into the country during change of Nigerian currency. That’s in addition to the case of an underage child of a member the ruling military council going on the Muslim Religious pilgrimage to Mecca’s which was against the law, amongst many infractions. 
 
The fearsome army General Sanni Abacha, who took over the reins of govt in 1993 after Babangida stepped aside , did not have anti corruption agenda, rather successive govts have recovered billions of dollars stolen and stashed abroad by the late dictator . Similarly, general Abdulsalam Abubakar’s short tenure as interim military head of state 1998 to 1999 had no anti corruption ideological inclination because it had no time for such luxury. 
 
But the democratically elected govt of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 was geared towards continuing with the anti corruption play book of the past leaders. 
 
The assertion above is underscored by the fact that the Nuhu Ribadu led Economic and Financial Crimes Commisson, EFCC was basically primed to lead the charge against corruption both in the public and private sectors in the same old style in the checkered history of Nigeria. 
 
Skepticism about the altruistic value of the govt’s persistent war on corruption was triggered at that point as cynics were convinced that the fight against graft under the EFCC was not only partisan, but weaponized by then president Obasanjo to rein in his opponents across the aisle and also compel fellow party members to tow his line. 
 
Thereafter Umaru Yar’adua, of blessed memory struggled with the battle against corruption until his sudden passage in 2010 after which Goodluck Jonathan assumed the leadership of our country. 
Jonathan struggled to migrate the fight against corruption from the rudimentary level of naming, shaming and jailing which had been the modus operandi of successive govts, to a preventive system via technology without success, until President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Aso Rock villa as a democratically elected president in 2015, and reinvigorated the battle against corruption by reverting to status quo ante. 
 
If at age 59, the war against corruption, (a cankerworm that’s believed to be the bane of Nigeria and the bogey of its socioeconomic development) started by the British colonialists in the late 1950s has remained a reoccurring decimal in the agenda of successive govts nearly 60 years after, Nigeria has certainly lost the battle. 
 
So let’s declare a national war on poverty which is the demon that the vast majority of Nigeria’s poor don’t want to be associated with. 
 
For too long Nigeria’s political leaders have been fighting war on corruption without success. 
Records reveal that ranging from the pre independence period, Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President General of Nigeria , Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first prime minister of Nigeria and Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of western Nigeria were all investigated and indicted at various times by the British colonialists for corruption. 
 
The scenario above is clear evidence that the war on corruption which was started by the colonialists in the late 1950s has not been won by govt,rather the corruption monster that has been bedeviling our country has been having the upper hand as evidenced by the fact that the various successive regimes in Nigeria have made the need to fight against corruption their raison dete. 
 
Before l’m accused of being a corruption apologist allow me acquaint you with the anti corruption record of China, the world’s second largest economy. 
 
Since 2012 when the current Chinese premier Xi Jinping assumed power and average of 50 top officials are tried and jailed annually. In some cases the death penalty was applied. 
 
And there are nearly one million public office holders under investigation in the city of Beijing alone, according to Minxin Pei , a professor of govt at Claremont McKenna college in the USA. 
Even high ranking military chief, Guo Boxiong recently committed suicide while being investigated for bribery. Thats in addition to a Communist party General Secretary and politburo member, Sun Zhengcai who was also tried and jailed according to a report by a Drake university, USA don, David Skidmore. 
 
If the purpose of the heavy crackdown on graft like the one recently carried out by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Bin Salman, MBS is ostensibly to send the message that nobody is above the law or untouchable, corruption in China has not abated. 
 
Mark Jennings, a Forbes magazine contributor reported that although the Chinese leader is portrayed as having zero tolerance “However, China ranks 77th on Berlin-based nonprofit Transparency International’s 180-country “Corruption Perceptions” scale. 
 
The widely cited index assigned it a low-ish to mid-range score of 41 last year, barely changed from 39 in 2012 when Xi took office and in every intervening year” 
Similarly, Moody’s Investors Service has found that China also falls in the middle of the pack for graft that impairs a country’s “ability and willingness” to repay debt, says the service’s Singapore-based associate managing director Marie Diron. 
 
The record of anti corruption and its false positive outlook is not different in Nigeria. 
We are all witnesses to our country’s slide in the corruption index from about 121 in 1996 to 144 out of 175 least corrupt countries according to Transparency International rating? As if to compliment the abysmal corruption rating, our country has taken over from India as the poverty headquarters of the world, according to survey by World Poverty Clock. 
 
All these woes have befallen Nigerians despite the rigorous fight against graft put up by president Buhari including unwittingly endorsing the branding of Nigerians as ‘ fantastically corrupt’ by ex UK prime minister, David Cameron. 
 
By simple logic, if the fight against corruption that has been waged by colonialists pre Independence and subsequently by our political leaders, post independence for at least 60 years had been successful it won’t a remain permanent feature and battle cry of leaders till the present time and our country like its former peers like Singapore would be first, not third world. Isn’t it amazing and absurd that both Obasanjo and Buhari fought corruption as military heads of state and still returned after 30 years as democratically elected presidents to fight the same scourge? 
 
A rather odious but curiously pragmatic slogan promoted by the Nigerian police force, NPF some time ago was : ‘lf you don’t trust the police, try the thug’ 
Following the underpinning logic of the rather nihilistic slogan, since Nigeria has failed abysmally in fighting corruption for so long , why don’t we launch a national war against poverty frontally? 
 
After all, corruption is only one of the many contributors to poverty as there are a slew of other factors that engender it. 
 
So why don’t our leaders take on the poverty demon directly? 
One of the measures or policies for mitigating poverty is a robust social safety net. 
Presently Nigeria does not seem to have a robust social safety net that could serve as a buffer or cushion for the poor against poverty. 
 
Under lbrahim Babangida’s regime, a social safety initiative, Better Life For Rural Women was promoted by his wife, mrs Mariam Babangida of blessed memory. 
 
The women empowerment program had a profound effect on a critical mass of Nigerians from the grassroots to the top echelon. 
 
More so because it was women focused and being the gender that is basically responsible for the home front, it was adjudged a resounding success. 
 
Before that program, there was the Jerome Udorji led upwards review of salaries of civil servants tagged ‘Udorji Award’ in 1974 under Yakubu Gowan’s regime which rather than solve the challenge of poverty, exacerbated it as it spiked inflation in the economy. 
 
There was also Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF promulgated under the watch of the military dictator Sanni Abacha and meant to ameliorate the pains from the increase in petroleum pump price. That exercise led by then General Buhari was blighted by large scale corruption. 
 
The current N500 billion special intervention funds set aside by the present govt in power for social investment as encapsulated in the tradermoni, school children feeding, N.Power youths empowerment initiative, statutory transfer of N5,000 to indigent Nigerians schemes, have proven to be less efficacious basically because the motive and implementation have been adjudged not to be altruistic. 
 
As a matter of fact, the current anti poverty schemes have been dogged by criticisms including a scathing dissing by, First Lady Aisha Buhari who lamented that trafermoni did not get to her people in Adamawa state, a complaint and grudge also echoed and nursed by a plethora of Nigerians from other states. 
 
Critics, especially from the opposition party also alleged that tradermoni, under the purview of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office has been nothing but a vote buying scheme by the ruling party. 
 
The allegation underscores the belief that the social safety measures which president Buhari copiously mentioned in his Independence Day broadcast as being one of the fulcrum of his administration, has been as unedifying and forlorn as the long futile fight against corruption waged by successive govts going back to the colonial days which is in excess of 60 years. 
 
My candid advise on what should be a practical alternative to the unproductive war on corruption in order to pull a critical mass of Nigerians out of the misery of poverty trap as the Chinese has done, is simple: Let’s declare a national war on poverty in the way that Nigeria’s peer countries at independence in 1960 such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia amongst others did. 
 
We can start by understudying the blue print of some of these Asian tiger countries. 
A good candidate that lends itself to such emulation is Singapore. 
 
The secret of success of that south East Asian country has been well documented in the critically acclaimed book by it’s former President who is regarded as the ‘father’of the country, Lee kuan Yew, titled “From Third To First World: The Story of Japan:1965-2000”. 
In that book , Nigeria was referenced, sadly not for good, but for the notoriety of our leaders for corruption. 
 
Nevertheless, it has nuggets of wisdom for Nigerian leaders to imbibe and emulate. Another country that made a successful leap forward from poverty to prosperity in a relatively short span that Nigeria should copy its Standard Operating Procedure, SOP is China. 
 
It is a former Chinese premier, Deng Xiaoping that’s credited with being the architect of Chinese rapid development that famously said that it is through the window that you open for development to come into a country that corruption can also slip in. 
 
Put succinctly , a good leader must learn to deal with both progress and corruption pari-pasu. 
In spite of its largely criticized and generally unsuccessful anti graft crusade, China has simultaneously pursued its development agenda and as such it has been able to lift over 200m from poverty into prosperity. 
 
It’s difficult to believe that today China is the second largest economy. But in 1994, inflation in China was 24% and nearly 60% of the population lived on $1.90 a day which basically is the current situation in Nigeria. 
 
China, the east Asian nation and the world’s most populous country achieved the economic leap forward feat through its now highly acclaimed development paradigm known as the Four Modernizations which were first set out by Deng Xiaoping whose mission was to strengthen the fields of agriculture,industry, defense and science & technology. 
 
The Four Modernizations were adopted in 1977, replacing the cultural revolution driven by chairman Mao Zedong whose warped communist policy got the country trapped in poverty for ages. 
Remarkably, Nigeria has adopted and is currently implementing aggressive developments in agriculture which is the no 1 amongst the Four Modernizations policy that accelerated the accelerated the socioeconomic growth of China. 
 
By controlling tariffs, migration, demography, exchange rate, as well as interest rates, even though those policies are not compliant with global best practice, the Chinese leaders, particularly Deng Xiaoping and now Xi Jinping liberated a vast majority of Chinese people estimated to be 1.3b from being peasant farmers to industrialists and great scientists. 
 
Nigeria, home to the largest no of black people in the world ( 200m), can also achieve a similar feat if we all put our hands on the plough and place national interest ahead of ethnicity, religion and any other pre modal sentiments which have shackled our country and is responsible for the nation’s arrested development. 
 
With high quality input from the respect crop of economists drawn from the academia and the private sector recently inaugurated as members of the Presidential Advisory Council, PAC by president Buhari, l’m optimistic that Nigeria is at the cusp of an economic voyage of discovery. 
 
Magnus onyibe, a development strategist, alumnus of fletcher school of law and diplomacy, Tufts university, Massachusetts USA and former commissioner in delta state cabinet, sent this piece from lagos.

Latest-News Nigeria At 59: Are Our Leaders Mad? – Magnus Onyibe

There is a popular aphorism that goes thus: ‘a fool at 40 is a fool forever’With Nigeria remaining in socioeconomic doldrums at age 59, wh...

FG renovates FGGC Langtang — after report on pimping of schoolgirls

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Latest-News FG renovates FGGC Langtang — after report on pimping of schoolgirls

FG may sack workers to meet new minimum wage demand – Ngige

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Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, on Thursday, said that the demand of labour over the implementation of the new minimum wage would cost the Federal Government N580 billion annually. 
 
Ngige said that such adjustment, in line with labour’s demand, was not sustainable as the government would have to lay off some workers to be able to meet their demands. 
 
The minister said government cannot afford that kind of money now, adding that the focus of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is on workers on grade level 1 step 1 and level 6 step 1 where the impact of the wage would be felt by workers. 
 
The Minister disclosed these on Thursday in Abuja when the leadership of United Labour Congress (ULC) led by its President, Mr Joe Ajeiro, paid him a courtesy at the ministry. 
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While urging workers to show more understanding to the plight of the federal government, Ngige said the current economic realities, may make the new wage bill not feasible. 
 
He said that the government was avoiding a situation where it would have to lay off workers, adding that this would add to the burden of the citizenry. 
 
Ngige appealed to the labour to accept the consequential adjustment from levels 7 to 17, adding that the federal government had only three months left to implement the new minimum wage. 
 
He said the government would not tell the labour leaders what it could not pay, stating that no worker deserved to be owed salary. 
 
The minister said: “There is no problem with disagreement in the labour system, when can sometimes disagree to later agree, on the national minimum wage, it will translate to an additional N580billion if government agrees to the consequential adjustment labour is proposing. 
 
“Government cannot afford that kind of money now, besides the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is more interested in the lowest cadre of workers which are those on grade level 1 step 1 and level 6 step 1, these are the ones who the N30,000 will have greater impact on. 
 
“Government has done their own homework and brought out what they can use to defend this consequential adjustment. Grade 1 to 6 does not have any problem, but 7 to 14 band and 15 to 17 band this is where we have the problem. 
 
“Once you finish a minimum wage and go into consequential adjustment you are trying to reach a collective bargaining agreement and once you are trying to reach and once you are the principle of ability to pay comes in. 
 
“So if you push government to go and accede to an increment which its resources cannot accommodate, you are indirectly asking them to retrench workers so that the few that are remaining will get this big big money. 
 
“We don’t want that, from 2015 the president has made it clear that he is not out to inflict pains on Nigerians and that he does not want to create unemployment but even at that our increase in population is galloping and our resources is not consequentialy increasing to meet up that is why we have a lot of unemployed youths on the street today. 
 
“We need to arrive at an agreement as soon as possible so that we can use the 2019 budget allocation to deframe this consequential adjustment because it will be bad if we are unable to do it and we finish this financial year by December because the budget circle is going to return to January/December 2020 so we have three months only before this recurrent funds as well are swept back into government treasury, that is the law.” 
 
He regretted the inability of the joint negotiating team of both the government and labour to agree on the consequential adjustments, insisting that the new wage may become bloated by workers on grade levels 7-14 and 15-17. 
 
Already organised labour has started mobilising their members to embark on strike on the 16th of this month. 
 
Ajaero, in his remarks, appealed to the minister for prompt payment of the new minimum wage, stressing that the private sector must also be compelled to pay the N30, 000 wage. 
 
He said that there was need to review obsolete laws that were not in tune with present reality, adding that a situation where some private sectors paid their employees N10,000 and N15,000 was unacceptable.

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Xenophobia: Buhari, Ramaphosa sign 32 bilateral agreements, MoU

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Weeks after xenophobic attacks in South Africa stirred tension between Africa’s leading economies, President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, met yesterday to explore solutions. 
 
They agreed to set up “early warning mechanisms” to detect hostility between South Africans and Nigerians to avoid recurrence of violence. 
 
Buhari travelled to South Africa following diplomatic tension between Pretoria and Abuja, a situation that forced the evacuation of about 600 Nigerians. 
 
While the President expressed his condemnation for the violence against Nigerians, Ramaphosa said Nigerians living in South Africa should respect the law. 
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He vowed to ensure there is no recurrence. 
 
Ramaphosa said: “We have expressed our deep regret at the events of the past few weeks that manifested themselves through attacks that were directed at foreign nationals and our condemnation of all forms of intolerance and acts of violence remains very, very firm.” 
 
Nigeria recalled its high commissioner and evacuated some of its citizens last month after a spate of attacks left at least 12 people dead, sparking protests in Nigeria that targeted South African companies, including MTN and Shoprite, which were forced to temporarily close shop. 
 
Buhari condemned “the very few incidents of retaliatory attacks”, saying: “We took strong and decisive measures to stop the attacks and prevent any recurrences.” 
 
He deplored “in the strongest terms, attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa, the looting of their shops and businesses and burning of their properties”. 
 
The President added: “We call for the strengthening and implementation of all the necessary measures to prevent the re-occurrence of such action which threatens to undermine, not only our strong bilateral relations but also, what we stand for in the context of our vision for a strong and prosperous Africa we want.” 
 
Buhari agreed to set up a committee to address the issue of compensation to the victims, though South Africa was yet to formally agree to Nigeria’s reparation request, it was learnt. 
 
The issue was not mentioned in the joint communique issued at the end of the meeting, but a source who was part of the delegation but prefers not to be named said it was agreed that a committee on compensation is set up. 
 
In the communique, both leaders condemned the violent incidents and the destruction of property. They reiterated their call for heightened law enforcement. 
 
The two presidents endorsed the establishment of an Early Warning Mechanism and directed the two Foreign Ministers to give practical expression to it. 
 
They endorsed the reestablishment of the Republic of South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria Consular Forum to meet twice a year. 
 
Buhari arrived in South Africa on Wednesday on Ramaphosa’s invitation. 
 
He attended the inaugural elevated Bi-National Commission (BNC) session, which he co-chaired, as part of continuing bilateral engagements aimed at deepening cooperation. 
 
The communique says Ramaphosa alluded to the fact that the unfortunate incidents were not consistent with the values and principles underpinning South Africa’s constitutional democracy. 
 
He dispelled the notion that incidents of violence affecting foreign nationals were targeted at Nigerian nationals, as other foreign nationals and indeed South Africans were also affected. 
 
Ramaphosa assured his counterpart that the South African government was fully in control of the situation and that several interventions and engagements with the diplomatic community were underway. 
 
Speaking at the ninth BNC at the Union Building, the seat of the presidency in the capital of Pretoria, Buhari urged the South African government to open up its economy for more Nigerian businesses and to protect them. 
 
Buhari said: “We are pleased to inform you that our government has made doing business in Nigeria easier through the Ease of Doing Business Initiative to open up more opportunities for investors in Nigeria. 
 
“We call on the Government of South Africa to also take steps to ease the doing of business in the country, and open up its market space for Nigerian businessmen and women.” 
 
According to Buhari, Nigeria would continue to value its relationship with South Africa. 
 
No fewer than 32 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit. 
 
Buhari said: “We, in Nigeria, value the warm fraternal relations binding our two countries and cherish our Special relationship. We consider South Africa an ally and a strategic partner.” 
 
He called for increased collaboration against arms and drug/human trafficking and money laundering. 
 
Ramaphosa said the attacks were regrettable, assuring that his government would do more to safeguard lives and property. 
 
He said: “We will always be grateful to Nigeria for the support we received during the dark days of apartheid. We shall never forget the role you played to ensure that our people get the freedom we are enjoying today.” 
 
Ramaphosa said the 32 bilateral agreements and MoUs cover trade and industry, science and technology, defence, agriculture and energy. 
 
He said South Africa would create a more enabling environment for Nigerian businesses to thrive, acknowledging that more South African companies operate in Nigeria, while Nigerians were mostly in small and medium scale sectors in his country. 
 
He promised to deepen the reforms in his country to open the space for more Nigerian business to “address the imbalance”. 
 
Ramaphosa said: “The rule of law must be obeyed by all citizens. Nigerians in South Africa must obey the rule of law, while South Africans in Nigeria must obey the rule of law.” 
 
Nigeria is South Africa’s largest trading partner on the continent, with trade flows estimated at $4.48billion in 2018. 
 
According to data from the Stellenbosch-based Trade Law Centre, only nine per cent of Nigeria’s total trade is intra-African, and almost half of that is with South Africa. 
 
Nigeria is said to account for 64 per cent of South Africa’s total trade with the West African sub-Region.

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Police arrest Nigerian comedian for spreading fake news

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The Police on Thursday said they arrested a comedian, Augustine Valentine, popularly known as `MC Fine’, over alleged spread of fake news. 
 
Mr Biodun Makanjuola, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the force in Bwari, FCT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that Valentine posted a false report on facebook alleging the apprehension of a female kidnapper. 
 
“After investigation, we found the report to be fake,” he said. 
 
The middle-aged woman, simply identified as Zulai, was attacked on Wednesday, around Zenith Bank area in Bwari, over the suspicion that she attempted to kidnap a two-year-old male child. 
 
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The Police, who were quick to intervene, arrested the woman and, during investigation, found out that she was physically and psychologically unstable. 
 
The DPO told NAN that while the investigation was going on, Valentine posted a misleading information on the incident, on the social media platform. 
 
“When she was brought here, I asked my people to first take her to the General Hospital for medicals. They came back with a medical report indicating that she was suffering from depression. 
 
“The report also referred her to Karu Psychiatric Hospital for proper evaluation. Right now, we are preparing to take her there. 
 
“We were still on the matter when I started receiving calls about a post on Facebook claiming that the woman was a kidnapper. The report claimed that her phone had message conversations on how many children to be kidnapped. 
 
“I made efforts and finally discovered who posted the story, brought him here for questioning, and he confessed he only added some of the details to add glamour to the story.” 
 
The DPO, while expressing displeasure over the incident, cautioned against spreading unverified news, pointing out that such actions could cause negative impact on people involved and result into security breach in the affected community. 
 
“We are working with the affected families to douse the tension. This town can be volatile, so we are not taking anything for granted,” he said. 
 
Speaking with NAN, Valentine, who regretted his action, admitted that he was not at the scene of the incident when it occurred on Wednesday. 
 
According to him, the pictures and the alleged story were sent to him via Whatsapp, a social media platform, by an unknown number. 
 
He had earlier raised a fake alarm, through his Facebook account, that a woman was caught in Bwari attempting to steal a child who was playing with his mates around the Bwari market. 
 
Valentine, on Facebook, claimed that “the crowd gathered, checked her phone which revealed how many children she was asked to provide by her accomplices”. 
 
Mr Dikko Samuel, Mai Angwuan Bwari, who is also the grand father of the child Zulai was accused of attempting to kidnap, told NAN that his wife called his attention to the incident when he was on his farm. 
 
According to him, his wife, who was cooking corn by the roadside, turned and saw the suspected kidnapper holding the child and walking away. 
 
“That was when she raised an alarm and people gathered and started attacking the woman. They were about to lynch her when we intervened and told the angry crowd that she was insane. 
 
“I was also made to understand that she loves children and that they always followed her around because she gave them sweets and biscuits.” 
 
When NAN visited the house of the suspected kidnapper, the son of the owner of the property on which she lived, who also pleaded anonymity, said that she had lived in the house for more than a decade. 
 
According to him, Zulai had been unstable for a long time but was harmless and had never showed any sign of violence or criminal behaviour. 
 
He also said that she sometime had a lot of children in her company, buy sweets and other food items for them when they surrounded her, with no parent complaining of a missing child. 
 
Malama Aisha Aliyu, Assistant Secretary, Muslim Women Inda’wa in Bwari, who also spoke with NAN, said that Zulai was a member of the Muslim group. 
 
Aliyu said that she had known Zulai for the past 15 years in Bwari town, and expressed happiness that the situation was well handled by the Police who intervened and saved Zulai from the mob.