News

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The office of the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom has been shut following suspected cases of coronavirus infection at the building.

In a statement released on Thursday by the Commission, the office would be closed for ten working days.

“The Head of Immigration Section and two other officials went for a meeting at the Home Office.

“At the entrance, Coronavirus test was administered on them, and one of them tested positive to COVID-19. The affected officer immediately isolated while the other officials, who tested negative, will also isolate for the next 10 days.”

The Commission further indicated that all officials of the Mission would be compulsorily tested for COVID-19.

In the statement, it added, “In line with COVID-19 regulation and the need to adhere to the rules and regulation of the host country, the Mission will close down for the next 10 days, in order to observe the mandatory isolation of those who were in contact with the affected officials.”

The Federal Government of Nigeria increases the price of Drivers License and Number Plates on the vehicle owners in Nigeria.

A statement from the Joint Tax Board obtained by TDR states that a drivers license of three years duration would now be obtained at the rate of N10,000 as against its previous price of N6,000. This excludes bank charges. Drivers license for five years is now N15,000 from its former price of N10,000 while motorcycle/tricycle driving license (with three years validity) goes for N5,000 from N3,000 while the one for five years will now be N8,000 from N5,000.

Private and commercial number plates would now go for N18,750 as against the old rate of N12,500. Fancy number plate, which was N80,000, is now N200,000; motorcycle number plate is N5,000 from N3,000 while articulated number plates (three plates) attract N30,000 from N20,000. For these rates, the minimum increase is 50 per cent.

Out of series number plate has also been revised to N50,000 from N40,000 while government fancy number plate is N20,000 against the former N15,000 rate. The decision for the increment was taken at the 147th meeting of the JTB, which was held in Kaduna on March 25.

A letter by the JTB titled ‘Implementation of the revised rates for vehicles number plates and driver’s licence in Nigeria’, dated July 30, 2021, and signed by the board secretary, Obomeghfe Nana-Aisha, has directed various federal and state agencies to commence the implementation of the rates.

The letter reads:

“You may wish to recall that at the 147th meeting of the Joint Tax Board held in Kaduna, Kaduna State on March 25, 2021, the board approved revised rates for the sale of vehicle number plates and driving licence in line with the recommendations of Appraisal and Technical Committee of the JTB.

In the light of the foregoing, we wish to inform you that the Chairman, JTB, has approved Thursday, August 1, 2021, as the commencement date for the implementation of the new rates.”

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

The Kaduna State Government says it will conduct another competency test for all public primary school teachers across the 23 Local Government Areas in the state.

The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Permanent Member, Human Resource Management, Christy Alademerin, announced this through a memo to the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) in the state.

It will be recalled that the state government had in September 2017 conducted a similar test for the over 30,000 primary school teachers in the state, following which 21,780 who failed to obtain 70% pass mark were sacked and replaced with newly recruited 25,000 teachers.

The date for the competency test has not been slated, but LGEA’s were urged to sensitise teachers in their local governments about the forthcoming exercise.

Wife of late President Shehu Shagari, Hajiya Hadiza Shagari is dead. A statement signed by Rtd. Capt. Muhammad Bala Shagari, Sarkin Mafaran Shagari, said that she died earlier today in an Abuja Isolation Centre to Covid 19 complication. Her funeral procession will hold today after Asr prayer, according to the laid Islamic injunctions.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Barely thirty hours after The Daily Reality online newspaper published an article on the need to include Kannywood filmmakers in the Netflix Naija written by one of its editors, Muhsin Ibrahim, the streaming service has finally considered the adjuration made in the said article.

Muhsin Ibrahim, a PhD student at the University of Cologne, Germany and a teacher at the same institution, wrote an article titled “Dear Netflix Naija, there are films and filmmakers in northern Nigeria.” It was a reminder to the streaming service that Nigeria is of different cultures and religions. Therefore, according to him, it should not be treated in such a way that only films from a section of the country would be included in the streaming giant.

“Nigeria’s diversity cuts across many things, chiefly cultures, ethnicities, religions and regions. […] Due to these complexities, the country is a house to two significant film industries—Kannywood and Nollywood—with many smaller ones operating under these brands,” Ibrahim wrote.

Making his plea on behalf of the Kannywood filmmakers, the PhD candidate added, “I am not an agent of division, not at all. I am, instead, an advocate of fairness and inclusion of all, regardless of their culture, ethnicity, region, religion, among other diversities. Therefore, northern Nigerian filmmakers and their films should equally be aboard the ship Netflix captains in Nigeria.”

What were Kannywood filmmakers’ reactions?

A few hours after this newspaper published the article, Falalu A. Dorayi, a famous Kannywood member, took the entire article’s screenshots to his Instagram account, with the caption“A very good write up! Thank you very much for speaking on our behalf. @muhsin2008 Ibrahim”. The screenshots generated about 2.3k likes and over a hundred comments.

Also, Ali Nuhu, another prominent member of the Kannywood film industry, posted screenshots of the whole article with the same caption, under which several other members of the industry commented, including this:

@rahamasadau: “Hmmm, I wish I can [sic] add to this article…🤔👀”.

Acceptance of the Adjuration by Netflix Naija

Confirming the acceptance of the adjuration made in the article, Mr Ibrahim wrote on Facebook, “Sequel to the publication of my article on The Daily Reality last Saturday, Netflix Naija contacted a Kannywood director whose work they ignored for nearly a year. Thus, we shall soon watch a Kannywood production on Netflix. Nothing is more delightful to a budding writer.

“My informant, a Kannywood heavyweight, expressed his happiness, adding that “see the impact of writing”! He doesn’t know that I am probably happier. The Daily Reality is here to make a difference.

“May Allah help us, bring back peace to our region and country at large, amin.”

Kannywood, a predominantly Hausa-Muslim, Kano-based film industry, produces movies mainly in the Hausa language. The cinema has been facing tough challenges that revolve around its members’ handling of religion, culture and the likes.

Niger State Government has confirmed the kidnap of the Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Sani Idris.

The Commissioner was said to have been kidnaped by bandits at about one o’clock in the early hours of today from his home at Baban Tunga village in Tafa local government of the State.

Security agencies are however already on the trail of the bandits to hoping to apprehend them.

Mary Noel-Berje
Chief Press Secretary
to the Governor of Niger State.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports have indicated that about 605 repentant Boko Haram members have laid down their arms and surrendered to the Nigerian military in recent weeks.

According to PRNigeria, a top intelligence officer in the know of the issue said that the exercise for the repentant terrorists and their families conforms with the “international laws and best practices, relating to enemies willing to surrender.”

The senior officer said that some of the repentant terrorists were afraid they could be eliminated if they “surrendered but were persuaded by their spouses and parents.”

“Surprisingly, their parents and wives gave them encouragement that they would stand by them if they surrender to troops.

“The intelligence efforts are invisible but manifesting in current outcomes. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Faruk Yahaya, encourages a mixed technique of kinetic and non-kinetic operations that are humane in nature as he instructed that while we accept those willing to surrender, we should not spare the stubborn one by sending them to where they belong.

“The sustained and well-coordinated military operation has exerted pressure on the terrorists who have deserted their various hideouts and camps, while their members who felt being misled are surrendering with their families to the Nigerian troops.

“During profiling, some of the Commanders who surrendered to troops admitted that their various enclaves are bedevilled by hunger, disease, and the perpetual fear of military offensives.

“The media are key to shaping the troops’ resolve to continue their aggressive posture, while the citizens maintain their confidence on the military efforts on Counter-Terrorism,” the officer said.

The Boko Haram insurgency has led to the killing of thousands of people and the displacement of many in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Reports have indicated that no fewer than five people have been killed in the recent violent attacks launched on some Zangon Kataf communities of Kaduna State.

This was stated in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Internal Affairs. He said that among those killed is a 10-year old by unidentified persons.

Confirming the unfortunate incidents, Mr Aruwan said, “The boy (identified as the son of one Alhaji Dare Mato) was attacked while herding cattle. The corpse of the young herder was recovered and buried.

“An attack was also reported in Kurmin Masara along Bakin Kogi in Atyap Chiefdom.

“One resident, Philip Magu, was killed during the attack before the assailants were repelled by a combined team of Operation Safe Haven and Police Special Tactical Squad.

“Furthermore, gunmen attacked the Jankasa general area around the Zangon Kataf/Kaura LGA boundaries. Troops also repelled the assailants, but one resident (identified simply as Haruna) was shot dead in his farm by the fleeing miscreants.

“The troops also repelled an attack in Ungwan Rana in Zonzon District, after a fierce exchange of fire with bandits. One resident, Bitrus Kauna, sustained serious gunshot wounds during the attack and eventually died in hospital.

“Finally, one Samson Sunday was killed by unidentified persons on his farm in Ungwan Gaiya.

Mr Aruwan added, “Following the disturbing cycle of violence, the Kaduna State Government has appealed to all residents to embrace recourse to the law, and break the brutal cycle of killing and reprisal, to adequately support Government’s peace-building efforts in the area.”

Kaduna State is a northwestern state known for ethno-religious violence, kidnappings and killings by suspected gunmen.

By Muhammad Adamu

Brazil have the Olympic men’s soccer gold medal after a 2-1 victory over Spain in extra time. Brazil’s medal comes on the same pitch that it won the 2002 World Cup.

Brazil are now the second nation after Argentina to have won back-to-back Olympic gold medals after building on their 2016 success at these Tokyo Games.

Mikel Oyarzabal cancelled out Matheus Cunha’s opener after Richarlison missed a penalty, but Malcom ensured Brazil took home the gold medal with his goal in the 108th minute.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

In what has been widely tagged as “the end of an era,” Argentina forward Lionel Messi will leave FC Barcelona after a near two-decade stay at the club due to “financial and structural obstacles.”

This was confirmed by the La Liga giant in a statement.

The statement said, “Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).

“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.”

The club also expressed their gratefulness to the 4-time Ballon d’Or winner and wished him well in his future professional career.

“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life,” Barça said in the statement.

At the age of 13, Messi joined Barcelona’s youth set-up and he is now the club’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances.

Recall that he had in 2020 made an attempt to vacate Camp Nou after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, but an agreement was later reached, which led to his continued stay at the club.

Messi’s Trophies at Barcelona

Champions Leagues – 4

La Liga titles – 10

Spanish Cups – 7

European Super Cups – 3

Spanish Super Cups – 8

Club World Cups – 3