News

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
The 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for visually impaired candidates from Kebbi and Sokoto States was hosted by the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) on Thursday.
 
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan Umar, inspected the venues of the examination and praised the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for ensuring that this cause to support persons with special needs in Nigeria is promoted.
 
The candidates and other individuals with special needs were urged by the vice chancellor to make the university their first choice, adding that the university had been working hard to meet the needs of the disabled students who were enrolled there so that they would have easy access to places and other learning facilities.
 
He was quoted as saying, “Being blind, deaf or albino is not a license for failure. There are several instances where people with special needs excel far more than normal person. This indicates that once given the opportunity to excel, they could do the country proud in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as Humanities and Education.”
 

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
The Federal Government of Nigeria said in Abuja that it had spent $1.2 million to send 40 buses in Sudan to pick up at least 2,400 stranded Nigerians.
 
Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs, revealed this to the State House reporters shortly after this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting, which was held in the Aso Rock Villa’s Council Chambers in Abuja.
 
According to Onyeama, the exorbitant expense of the evacuation was necessary to cover security for the eleven-hour trip from Aswan to Cairo and the eight-hour journey from Luxol to Cairo, Egypt.
 
Despite their agreement to end hostilities at midnight on Monday, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces reportedly resumed fighting on Wednesday.
 
The evacuation attempt that was scheduled for Tuesday was unsuccessful because of logistical issues.
 

• News Desk

The fourteen (14) year old daughter of an Igbo Muslim, Mallam Tahir Akpan, has been reportedly defiled. The suspect, Emeka Emmanuel, 29, has been remanded in Kirikiri Correction Centre.

But an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has raised the alarm concerning attempts being made by certain people to sweep the matter under the carpet. MURIC has insisted on justice for the family of the defiled Muslim girl.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads :

“A fourteen (14) year old Muslim girl has been allegedly defiled by one Emeka Emmanuel, 29 of No. 2, Sam Onwudinjo Street, Igbo Elerin, Lagos State. The victim is the daughter of an Igbo Muslim, Mallam Tahir Akpan.  

“Although the suspect has been remanded in Kirikiri Correction Centre by the Family Magistrate Court, Agbo Malu, Ajegunle since 13^th April, 2023, we are raising the alarm today because of attempts being made by certain people to sweep the matter under the carpet.

“According to the victim’s father, Mallam Tahir Akpan, from Ini Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, a highly placed individual in Igbo Elerin, Lagos State, has threatened to deal with him for refusing to soft-pedal on the matter. The father also alleged that the culprit’s lawyer also threatened to write a petition against him alleging child abuse.

“MURIC rejects this attempt to arm-twist Mr Tahir Akpan. He is a well-educated, highly enlightened, disciplined and fearless man. The threat to deal with him and to charge him for child abuse is sheer blackmail. How can a sexual abuse complainant be turned into an accused? What kind of justice is that?

“We suspect foul play. We warn that officials involved in this case should not allow themselves to be used in circumventing the law. Any attempt to turn the case upside down will be resisted with every legitimate means available. We want those involved to know that Akpan is not alone. MURIC and all conscious and freedom-loving Nigerians are with him.

“MURIC demands justice for the Akpan family on this case of sexual assault on their underaged daughter. Also, in view of threats issued against the victim’s father, Mr. Tahir Akpan, we warn that nothing should happen to him or any member of his family.

“MURIC is in possession of the medical report which confirms a case of penetration and defilement against the culprit. We therefore warn all those who are making attempts to interfere with the course of justice in this case to steer clear. The Akpan family is fully aware of their Allah-given and fundamental human rights and any attempt to encroach on any aspect of their rights will be rebuffed with the full force of the law.

“Finally, we commend the police in Iba for playing their role professionally and fearlessly. By taking the case to court, the police have proved that they have no skeleton in their cupboard.

“However, it is not over until it is over. There is one more thing the police need to do. We demand full protection for the family, and the onus falls on the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Iba Police Station, Iba, to ensure this for Mr Tahir Akpan and all members of his family. MURIC will continue to monitor the situation until justice prevails.”

#JusticeForAkpanFamily

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

India is soon to overtake China as the world’s most populated country, according to the United Nations Population Division.

John Wilmoth, the director of the UN Population Division, stated this at a press conference held on Monday at the UN’s New York headquarters.

Wilmoth asserted that the fertility rates in the two countries were the primary cause of this trend, stating that China and India together made up more than one-third of the world’s eight billion people.

Wilmoth was quoted as saying, “By the end of April, India’s population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people, with projections indicating further growth for several decades more.

“That’s slightly higher than China’s global record of 1.4 billion in 2022.

“China’s population reached its peak size in 2022 and has begun to decline.

“Projections indicate that the size of the Chinese population could drop below one billion before the end of the century.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Malam Adam Imam, the father of The Daily Reality reporter in Kano State, Uzair Adam Imam, has died.

Late Adam died on Sunday at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano State, after a protracted illness. 

Announcing the demise of the deceased on Facebook, Malam Aisar Fagge, co-founder and editor of The Daily Reality, wrote: 

 “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihirrajiun! Yanzu na ke samun rasuwar mahaifin su Uzair Adam Imam bayan fama da jinya da ya sha ta watanni. Mal. Uzair was one of our outstanding students as well as the staff of The Daily Reality. May Allah rest the soul of his father and give them the fortitude to bear this monumental loss, ameen.” 

He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, informed Nigerians in Sudan on Saturday that the federal government was working to bring them home.
 
This is contained in a statement released by Manzo Ezekiel, the head of NEMA’s press unit, in Abuja. 
 
He said that NEMA was very worried about the situation, was keeping an eye on it, and was working on all available possibilities to return the trapped Nigerians to their loved ones’ homes in a safe and respectable manner.
 
The statement reads, “The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is drawn to the widespread public concern on the situation in Sudan especially in regards to the ongoing conflict and the safety as well as well-being of stranded Nigerian citizens including hundreds of students in various universities of the country.
 
“It has become necessary to inform the public that NEMA is in constant communication with all relevant partners including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and security agencies while seeking for an appropriate window of opportunity to evacuate all stranded Nigerians back home in a safe and dignified manner.
 
“The current emergency situation in Sudan is very complex with fighting between waring factions going on and all airports and land boarders closed. NEMA is working assiduously with all its partners and is constantly compiling updated information on the situation.
 
“A committee has been set up comprising of professional emergency responders, search and rescue experts to constantly evaluate the situation and seek for the safest way to evacuate the Nigerian citizens even if it is through a country neighbouring Sudan.”
 
Recall that there is ongoing violence involving the Sudanese Army and its paramilitary, which was recently characterised by heavy gunfire and explosions in the capital Khartoum.
 
 

By Uzair Adam Imam

Over 7,000 quack teachers were reported to have been remedied by the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. 

Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, the TRCN Chief Executive, made this disclosure to newsmen on Thursday at a workshop organised by the council.

At the workshop themed, “Strengthening Teachers Education: Challenges and Opportunities in Basic Sub-Sector in Nigeria”, Ajiboye lamented about the learning crisis in the country.

Ajiboye stated that the learning crisis in the country had always been attributed to poor teaching and the lack of qualified teachers.

However, he stated that the effort made by the council was to upscale the dignity of the teaching profession in the eyes of the public.

He stated, “The challenge with Nigerian education is largely attributed to poor teaching in which experienced, dedicated, committed and professional teachers were difficult to find in schools.

“The council, in order to upscale the dignity, rewards and recognition of the teaching profession, had developed a career path policy for the teaching profession,” he stated.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

South Korea announced Friday that it would send a military aircraft and soldiers to evacuate South Korean citizens stuck in Sudan, where fighting has claimed hundreds of lives since it started last week.

Similar actions are being taken by Japan, which on Friday dispatched a military jet to attempt to retrieve its citizens from the country affected by the violence.

Violence between soldiers loyal to Sudan’s army head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), broke out on Saturday, killing more than 300 people.

Despite calls from world powers for end-of-Ramadan peace, there were numerous gunshots and explosions Friday in Khartoum, the capital, and other parts of the country.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Shawwal crescent of the Hijra year 1444 has been seen as confirmed by authorities.

This was stated in a short statement through the verified Facebook page of the Haramain Sharifain.

The statement reads, “The Crescent for the month of Shawwal 1444 was SEEN today in Tumair and Sudair subsequently tomorrow i.e Friday, 21st April 2023 is the day of Eid Al Fitr.”

The sighting of the crescent indicates the end of the Ramadan fast.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government of Nigeria has described the recently concluded 2023 general elections as the most authentic ever held in Nigeria since independence.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this yesterday while fielding questions from journalists after the FEC meeting.

He stated that despite efforts by the opposition parties to delegitimize the election, it was the most transparent, freest and authentic ever held in Nigeria.

Muhammed disclosed this as one of the reasons President Muhammadu Buhari refused to interfere with the Adamawa State poll debacle.

He added that the issue was strictly the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission to sort out the matter

According to the Minister, it is not in Buhari’s character to micromanage the government’s institutions.

Mohammed said: “I don’t think that this government has ever intervened in the way the Independent National Electoral Commission conducts its elections.

“So, there’s no need for us to intervene. It was an entirely INEC matter, and INEC handled it.

“The chairman of INEC is in charge of all employees in INEC, and he’s handling it. So, what do you want the government to do?”