News

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, strengthens its relationship with Google West Africa. 

The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, made this known on Friday, April 8, 2022, while playing host to the Google West African Director, Juliet Ehimuan, in Abuja.

“If we can come together to strengthen the collaboration, we will eliminate duplication of efforts and working in silos,” He said.

 Mr Inuwa emphasized the importance of a good relationship between the two organizations and the aim of governmental regulations. 

“Together, we can achieve greater results. Governmental regulations are not to stifle or be an obstacle to your business; rather, it is to enable and unlock more opportunities and protect your business and our citizens,” He stated

Mr Inuwa also commended the effort of Google in the capacity building of Nigerians with a plan to train about five million Nigerians.  

Ehimuan, in her remarks, thanked NITDA for being one of Google’s major partners in the public sector with precedence of a great working relationship.

She confirmed the fact that Google has invested in a lot of capacity building over the years.

“Our initial estimate is to contribute directly and indirectly to create about 1.6 million jobs over time and work around device financing in partnership with telcos to make sure that people have access either through infrastructure or device data to gauge the digital world”, she disclosed.

According to Ehimuan, they will be about 300 million more internet users in Africa in the next five years, which will translate to more jobs and an enormous contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

By Uzair Adam Imam 

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over the death of his two personal staff in a road accident.

A statement signed Friday by the presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, contained the commiseration. 

The President expressed gratitude to Almighty God for having the former president escape unhurt from the accident.

However, he also advised Jonathan not to be distracted from his frequent local and international travels. 

Reports disclosed how the former president’s convoy was involved in an accident in the vicinity of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The accident that took place Wednesday had claimed the lives of two orderlies.

By Farid Suleiman

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has revealed that from January to date, Nigeria has lost a total of N623BN worth of crude oil to the activities of oil vandals and operators of illegal refineries.

Reports indicate that the GMD  made the revelation when he appeared before the House of Representative committee on petroleum (upstream) that invited him to ascertain the cause of Nigeria’s low crude oil output.

Kyari said oil thieves steal an average of 250,000 barrels per day. This situation has limited Nigeria’s crude oil output to only 1.49 million barrels per day, against its OPEC quota of 1.753 million barrels per day.

“What is going on has nothing to do with the PIA. It is purely an act of thieves; acts of vandals which have rendered the industry unworkable and taken us to the level where today, our production is around 1.49 million barrels per day.”

“When you lose about 200,000 barrels per day, even at an average price of 65 dollars per barrel, we lost close to 1 billion dollars between January and March. 

“From January to date, we lost an average of 250,000 barrels per day, and at the current price of about 100 dollars to the barrel, even within this short period, we have lost close to 1.5 billion dollars.

“This situation deteriorated to the extent that by March 7, 2022, it came to zero, and so, we shut down the line and declared force majeure. Even on our most reliable pipeline, which is the Forcados pipeline, we still lose about 7000 barrels per day. Needless to say that this is all coming as a result of the acts of vandals and oil thieves,” he said.

However, the GMB assured the lawmakers that massive joint security operations among agencies were ongoing to address the situation.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has advised corps members to try and stop nighttime travel to minimize the risk of being involved in car accidents.

In their Places of Primary Assignment, PPA, corps members should avoid social vices such as drug misuse, human trafficking, cybercrime, and advanced fee fraud, he noted.

During the closing ceremony of the 2022 Batch “A” Stream 2 Corps Members at NYSC Orientation Camp, Ikot Itie Udung in Nsit Atai on Thursday, Ibrahim, who was represented by the Akwa Ibom Coordinator, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, issued the charge.

The DG advised corps members to spend the night at military barracks or any other officially protected site if their journey lasted longer than 6 pm.

He was quoted as saying, “to greatly minimize the risk of road traffic accidents, you are expected to always cut short your trips from 6 pm in the evening and pass the night at military barracks and other locations officially designated as safe.”

By Farid Suleiman

Bloomberg reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has penalized three banks over non-compliance with its cryptocurrency directive. The affected banks are Stanbic IBTC Bank, Access Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa.

In a circular dated January 5, 2021, the apex bank had issued a directive to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs) to identify and suspend all accounts of individuals and entities used for cryptocurrency transaction on their system.

“Further to earlier regulatory directives on the subject, the bank hereby wishes to remind regulated institutions that dealing in cryptocurrencies or facilitating payments for cryptocurrency exchanges is prohibited,” the circular reads.

“Accordingly, all DMBs, NBFIs and OFIs are directed to identify persons and/or entities transacting in or operating cryptocurrency exchanges within their systems and ensure that such accounts are closed immediately.”

The affected banks were fined a combined sum of ₦800million. Stanbic IBTC Bank, United Bank of Africa and Access Bank were fined 200million, 100million, and N500million, respectively.

By Abdullahi Abdullateef

The Lagos State Government, through the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has shut down Medville Global Health Centre located in Okota area of the state over its illegal operation and low numbers of personnel working in the hospital.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Head Public Affairs of HEFAMAA, Mr Muyideen Ayokunle Uthman on Tuesday, 5th April, 2022.

According to the statement, the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Abiola Idowu, says that the Medville Global Health Centre which is located at 1, Bashiru street, off Lateef Adegboyega street, Ago Palace Way, Okota is sealed for not complying with the set standards.

Reacting to the demise of one Mr Triplem C. Mchaty’s wife, she said the agency carried out preliminary investigations which revealed that the hospital was not registered with HEFAMAA, noting that this contravened the 2006 health sector reform law.

She stated, “It means the facility was operating illegally.” She added that the hospital had inadequate personnel.

Reiterating the allegation on social media, in a tweet, one Mr Triplem C. Mchaty @scantee stressed the sad moments on his Twitter account @scantee. The tweet reads thus:

“Good morning family, I am really heartbroken now. My wife died at MEADVILLE GLOBAL HEALTH CENTRE (HOSPITAL) NO. 1 Bashiru street,off Lateef Adegboyega Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota.

“We just got married 10 months ago, she took in, she was undergoing Antenatal in Onitsha, Anambra [state].”

However, Dr Idowu disclosed that the Chairman Dr Solanke Kayo Esq. has ordered the agency to carry out a full investigation to uncover the facts of her death.

Relating with the closure of the hospital, she maintained that the agency has taken the crucial decision in furtherance of public protection awaiting the final outcome of the ongoing investigations.

She finally urged all administrators of health facilities in the state to adhere strictly to the set standards and cooperate with the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari.

Shehu Sani picks the Governorship Form. However, he said he would not lie that a group paid for the nomination form.

Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial district in the 8th Assembly from 2015 to 2019, disclosed this on his confirmed Facebook account on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

“I picked my Governorship form. I suppose to lie that “a group” bought the form for me, but I can’t start with such lies. We need your support and prayers,” Sani posted

Mr Shehu Sani has long indicated an interest in contesting the 2023 Kaduna State gubernatorial election, and picking the nomination form did not come as a surprise to many.

Many people have commented on Shehu Sani’s post, wishing him well in the gubernatorial race.

“Victory all the way, Sir.” Stephanie Sewuese Shakaa, a Facebook user, commented.

Another Facebook user, Al-Ameen Jumare, said, “Best wishes, sir, our solidarity and support are priceless.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, warned on Tuesday that Nigeria is bleeding due to the recent wave of killings.

The All Progressives Congress’s National Leader asked everyone to join hands in the fight against banditry.

This comes as Governor Nasir el-Rufai stated that Nigeria is at a fork in the road and that the country must make a difficult decision by 2023 on who will lead the country out of its various problems.

Tinubu, who was in Kaduna for a condolence visit following the terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja on March 28, donated N50 million to help the state government repair and care for the victims.

“We are facing the current challenges seriously, and we have to do more. Nigeria bleeds on behalf of everybody.

“We need to fight terrorism with all our energy and whatever we have. It’s not shameful for people to be poor, but it’s unacceptable to accept poverty as a norm.

“It’s shameful to be callous, wicked and be a bully or terror to instil fear in humanity, and it’s not acceptable,” Mr Tinubu was quoted as saying.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has distributed food items, cloth and combined cash of five million seven hundred thousand to 285 cleaners, messengers and other lowest rank individuals working at the Borno State government house.

The Daily Reality gathered that each beneficiary received a bag of rice, sugar, cooking oil, textile and N20,000 as support for the Ramadan activities.

The development, which took place on Monday, has grabbed the attention of many people who commended the governor for the kind gesture, especially when people face hard times all over the country due to hikes in prices and insurgency.

The Governor showed appreciation to the workers for their services, saying they are critical to the operations of the Government House.

Zulum further swore to sustain welfare support to the workers.

He also promised to improve the condition of their services.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked Nigerians to hold the Ministry of Communication and Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) responsible for the lingering impasse between ASUU and the Federal Government.

ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Buchi Zone, Professor Lawan Abubakar, briefed reporters on Monday, March 4, 2022, in Jos, where he alleged NITDA is misleading Nigerians on the credibility and acceptability of UTAS which he said has passed the integrity test. 

“Ironically, NITDA, in conjunction with its parent Ministry (The Ministry of Communications where Pantami is minister), is seriously sabotaging the government at resolving the impasse. This is obviously capable of prolonging the current strike, thereby bringing untold hardship on Nigerian University students and the University System.” Prof. Abubakar stated

He further explained that NITDA, who scored UTAS high in the past, can not suddenly say UTAS failed integrity test. 

“After scoring UTAS this high, NITDA went further to contradict itself by making a fallacious statement that UTAS has failed integrity tests. The union wonders how a score of 97.4% will amount to failure.

“The Union still agreed to another Test by NITDA on March 8, 2022, in the presence of observers front the Federal Ministry of Education/National Universities Commission (NUC), Federal Ministry of Finance/OAGF, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

“This most recent test still scored UTAS 99.3% in all the Tests metrics. ASUU is Therefore surprised that NITDA, having scored UTAS this high on two different occasions, unpatriotically went to the press to deliberately mislead the public into believing that UTAS has failed Integrity tests again.” Prof Abubakar clearly explained.

Therefore, he called on Nigerians and the Federal Government to call the Ministry of Communications and NITDA to order to resolve the labour crisis.