Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Category: News

You can add some category description here.

  • Senate satisfied with PTAD’s measures to tackle Challenges

    Senate satisfied with PTAD’s measures to tackle Challenges

    Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service has expressed satisfaction with the measures initiated by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, to meet the challenges in the Nigerian pension sector.

    Chairman of the committee and Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial district, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau spoke yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen after a close door session at a one-week involving National Assembly Committees on Pensions, as well as Budget and Appropriation and PTAD holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

    Shekarau said the committee on Establishment and Public Service initiated the stakeholders meeting to rob mind with the agency in order to understand their challenges and what they are doing vis a vis their projected budget.

    His words, “We have a close door session retreat. And we encourage this stakeholders meeting because it makes our work a lot easier. In the next couple of months, October, November, traditionally, they (PTAD) will come to present their budget, and we will be able to understand where they are coming from.

    “And it is going to be very helpful to us to move forward. And one other thing we were discussing here is looking into what are their challenges?. I think in this new age of technology the new challenge of PTAD, is going digital. And we in the Legislature are trying to push and let the executive understand the burden in pension.

    ” PTAD had to initiate so many ways to overcome these challenges. So we are satisfied with the measures they are putting in place. I think on the whole the agencies handling pension matters are doing very well. I think we are getting it better now”

    . The former governor of Kano State who commended the agencies handling Pension matters for the improvement recorded in recent years, however, blamed long outstanding issues in pensions on instability in government, and government policies occasioned by military intervention of the democratic process.

    On what is being done to lesson the problems faced by Nigerian pensioners, Shekarau noted that the major problem that pensioners have been having in the country is poor documentation and assured that all the pension administrators are working towards addressing that.

    “So I think they are trying to see how they can perfect the records, because it is not just giving out monies like that, but developing the correct documentation because if you don’t have the correct documentation the problem will continue. Not all next of kin will be sincere enough to report when a pensioner dies, they want to keep receiving.

    “Also some fraudster’s in the various agencies who will not want to report dead pensioners, and keep receiving. And we are calling on government agencies to improve the documentation of their staff and enlighten retirees to be on what to do few months to their retirement. So these are part of the challenges that we are gradually trying to ease up for all pensioners and I think we are getting it better”, Shekarau noted.

    Corroborating Senator Shekarau’s position that efforts were in place to lessen suffering of pensioners, the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme said the agency was doing everything to make sure that all pensioners were well documented on the payroll , getting them all verified, as well as make sure they receive their pensions regularly and as at when due.

    “But most importantly we are about to come up with a verification solution called “I am alive solution’. Now this I am alive solution will enable Pensioners get themselves verified in the comfort of their homes, or with anybody who has a smart phone around them.

    ” So they will verify themselves and it will hit our data base in our office, that way they don’t have to come to Abuja, or go to any field for verification, so that is what we have in the pipeline now, and the pilot scheme is about to kick off in the next one or two months”, She said.

  • Kogi NUJ Commiserates With Bello’s Aide Over Father’s Death

    Kogi NUJ Commiserates With Bello’s Aide Over Father’s Death

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condole the Special Adviser on Public Relations to Kogi State Governor, Hon. Ahmed Bolori over the demise of his father, late Alhaji Umar Bolori.

    In a statement signed by the Chairman Adeiza Momohjimoh and Secretary Ademu Seidu of Kogi State Council of NUJ and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja described the death of the octogenarian father as shocking and painful coming at a time his wisdom and wise counsel is most needed.

    The Council urged the Special Adviser to take solace in the fact that his father lived a very successful and impactful life as exemplified in the qualities of children the late Umar Bolori left behind.

    “Kindly convey our deepest condolences to your immediate family , friends and good people of Borno State on this painful incident.”

    “It is our prayer that the Almighty Allah will grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”. the statement stressed.

  • Zamfara Lawmaker Killed After Welcoming Matawalle To APC

    Zamfara Lawmaker Killed After Welcoming Matawalle To APC

    Bandits have killed the member representing Shinkafi constituency in the Zamfara State House of Assembly Muhammad Ahmad. 

    Hon. Ahmad was killed on Tuesday night on his way to Kano after attending a rally to welcome Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and members of the State House of Assembly to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Director-General of Media and Publicity in the Zamfara State House of Assembly Mustapha Jafaru confirmed the incident to Channels Television. He noted that the late lawmaker will be buried on Wednesday morning in line with Islamic tradition.

    Until his death, Ahmad was the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Budget.

    Banditry and kidnappings have become commonplace in Zamfara State. In June, scores were killed by the marauders despite efforts by security agencies and repeated assurances from the government.

    High-profile personalities have also been accused of fueling criminality in the state.  The Emir of Dansadau, Hussaini Umar, and the District Head of Nasarawa Mailayi, Bello Wakkala were suspended for allegedly aiding banditry.

    Governor Bello Matawalle who critics claim is overwhelmed by the incessant assaults on the northwestern state, had in the wake of an attack on Kadawa village, Zurmi Local Government Area, admitted that banditry is getting worse by the day in Zamfara State.

    “In recent weeks, the act of banditry has reverted to the ugly dimensions it had prior to the coming of my administration,” the governor said during a special broadcast on Democracy Day, assuring the people that his government will maintain its efforts to eradicate every form of criminality.

    “The marauders kill without regard for any rules of sanity. Women, the elderly, and children are not spared. As a result, a large number of people have been displaced in nearly every town in the State.”

  • NYSC threatens sanctions as JAMB alleges fake mobilisation certificate

    NYSC threatens sanctions as JAMB alleges fake mobilisation certificate

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Tuesday raised concerns about tertiary institutions awarding fake certificates to persons who did not deserve them.

    The organisation also accused some of the institutions of conniving with some persons to destroy the education sector.

    The Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated these at the 2021 Batch B pre-mobilisation workshop organised by the National Youth Service Corps with the theme, ‘Sustainable Mobilisation Process: The role of stakeholders,’ and attended by representatives of tertiary institutions.

    At the event, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the management would apply sanctions on erring institutions and officials who attempted to compromise the mobilisation process.

    On his part, Oloyede, said, “There are many ways that corps members and their collaborators take towards corrupting the system. The more you stay long in this system, the more shocked you are likely to become.

    “Many institutions still engage in mobilising or awarding certificates to people who didn’t attend their institutions. You are in a position to know because you run the Interim Joint Matriculation Board and others. How many of these students are actually your students? Go on the streets of Nigeria, you will see IJMB coaching. These candidates are not supposed to be attending roadside coaching. They are supposed to be in your institution.


    “Even yesterday (Monday), I got some information that I became dumbfounded, almost losing hope that there is nothing we can do. One gentleman came to me. He said, ‘all this authentication that you are doing, you are just speaking English. People who are making cool money are making it and they are destroying the education system.’ I asked him to give me an example. And he told me that there is what they call Familiar Name, that all you need to do is to walk to a corrupt officer in any of our examination bodies and when you go there, you say a familiar name.

    “If your name is John Bello, they will tell them (exam officer) and they will look for a John Bello who has written their examination before and simply give a copy of the certificate to you and you will take it, and when you write to that examination body giving that photocopy, they will take it and say it is authentic. Whereas it is in the wrong man’s hand.

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, represented at the workshop by the Secretary, Development Secretariat, Dr Kelvin Ogbonna, pledged support for the NYSC in its efforts towards preventing unqualified graduates into the mobilisation process.

  • Nnamdi Kanu Was Not Arrested In UK – British Govt

    Nnamdi Kanu Was Not Arrested In UK – British Govt

    The British High Commission says Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was not arrested in the UK.

    The fugitive leader of the outlawed group was arrested on Sunday, according to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

    Malami had said Kanu was arrested through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services.

    However, he neither gave details of the operation nor stated where Kanu was arrested.

    Since the IPOB leader was known to have stayed in the UK after he fled Nigeria, many had concluded that he was arrested in Britain.

    Kanu is a dual citizen of Britain and Nigeria.

    But Dean Hurlock, a spokesperson of the British High Commission, confirmed that Kanu was not picked up in the UK.

    “We can confirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK for extradition purposes,” the online newspaper quoted him to have said.

    After Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave an order for Kanu to be remanded in custody until July 26, 2021, the IPOB leader told the court that he decided to go underground because his house was raided but he was able to escape.

    Kanu said if he had not escaped, he might have been killed like other members of the group.

    Nyako had granted Kanu bail on health grounds in 2017.

    The judge had barred the IPOB leader from granting press interview while on bail.

    The judge also gave a stern warning to the defendant not to participate in any rally or be found in a crowd of more than 10 persons.

    But Kanu flouted all the bail conditions and eventually fled abroad, from where he incited his followers.

  • Creek FM GM, applauds NUJ over “Tourism Information Centre” initiative

    Creek FM GM, applauds NUJ over “Tourism Information Centre” initiative

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    General Manager of Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) Creek fm, Yenagoa, Mr. Udosen Sunday has commended Bayelsa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the planned tourist information centre meant to draw public attention to the abundant tourism potentials of the state.

    Mr. Sunday who made the commendation when he received the leadership of the Travel Writers Corps of the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its pioneer chairman, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo in his office in Yenagoa, reiterated the urgent need to promote the rich heritage resources of the state, with a view to stimulate domestic tourism in the homogeneous Ijaw speaking state.

    The General manager also lauded the foresight of state council to inaugurate the travel writers’ corps, noting that the proposed visitors’ information centre at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre will guide tourists visiting the state, saying that the initiative speaks volumes of the state council chairman’s tourism promotion drive.

    He explained that visitors’ information centre has rapidly evolved over the past years to become more of an entry point of experiencing a destination, and to tell the story of the place or the brand it represents, informing that similar centres exist elsewhere, citing University of Lagos visitors’ information centre as a good example.

    Also speaking, Head of production, Hon. Sweiyi Donald Iganran, described the travel writers corps initiative as a step in the right direction, as it will add value to the tourism industry in the state through the publications on tourism sites across the state.

    Earlier, chairman of the Travel Writers’ Corps of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, had briefed the General manager of the function of the Travel Writers Corps, adding that the corps incorporates travel writers, bloggers, vloggers and photographers, including other media with a niche for sharing their experiences with an audience.

    He said the corps members travel to places and share their experiences with various audiences through their publications to inspire people take trips to experience such places.

    According to him, travel writing is has grown more popular over the years because of the large followership on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, attracting viewers with their appealing pictures and selfies at various tourism destinations.

    He said the state council of NUJ has also approved the setting up of a tourists’ information centre to provide basic information about tourist attractions, culture, history, hotels, food and the rich biodiversity of the state, including heritage sites, historic places, festivals and other unique events.

    It will be recalled that tourist information centre provides visitors with location information, attractions, hotels, tourist maps, and other items relevant to tourism, such as trail maps, camp sites, staff contact and restrooms, including in-depth educational materials and artifact displays about natural or cultural history of the area in question.

    The chairman was accompanied by the financial secretary of the state council of NUJ, Mike Tayese, Teks Benson (photographer) and Mr. Jide Dominic of Government House News magazine (Bayelsa Strides).

  • Bayelsa High Court sentences 39-yr-old kidnap suspect to death

    Bayelsa High Court sentences 39-yr-old kidnap suspect to death

    By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    Ogbia High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced to death by firing squad a 39-year- old man, Charles Nikson over his involvement in the November, 2020 botched abduction of one Mrs. Vivian Okoye, wife of a popular businessman and a Medical Practitioner in Bayelsa State.

    Mrs. Okoye, wife of Obinna Okoye also known as Blessed Obaino who owns the A-Z Electronics shops in various parts of the Bayelsa State capital and a medical Practioner identified as Alex Ogregade Ileimokumo from Igbedi community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council area, were rescued after a shootout with men of the “Operation Puff Adder”,

    Charles Nikson, who was the driver to the kidnap gang, was arraigned before the Ogbia High Court on two counts charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

    He was arraigned at the court with another suspect, David Ekegima.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Ajuwa, while delivering her ruling on the matter, found the said Charles Nikson guilty of the two charges.

    According to her, “On the charge of conspiracy, there is no specific term for the charge. And I hereby sentence you to 10years imprisonment.”

    Justice Ajuwa also pointed out that the law says anybody convicted of kidnapping either die by hanging or firing squad. She therefore declared him sentenced to death by firing squad.

    It would be recalled that there was heavy a shoot out sometime in November, 2020 between operatives of the Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command and a Seven-man kidnap gang along the Iminringi areas of Ogbia Local Government Council of the State, leading to the rescue of Mrs. Okoye,the wife of a popular businessman and a Medical Practitioner.

    Mrs. Okoye, the wife of Obinna Okoye also known as Blessed Obaino who owns the A-Z Electronics shops in various parts of the Bayelsa state capital and a medical Practioner identified as Alex Ogregade Ileimokumo from Igbedi community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council area, were rescued after the shootout.

    DAYBREAK NEWS gathered that the abduction of the victims, occured at about 7.30pm along the Imiringi residence of the businessman and carried out by armed men numbering Seven.

    The kidnappers, according to the victims, arrived in a white hilux vehicle with registration number GBB 30 FS and were dressed in Military and Police camouflarge, ‘ they drove away with their victims towards the Onuebum waterside in Ogbia area where a getaway boat were stationed.’

    One of the victim’s family member said ‘ the kidnappers were asking for Blessed Obaino but they decided to kidnap the wife after they could not get him. The neighbour was driving into the house before he was abducted.’

    ‘They gained entrance into the compound following the entry of one of Obaino’s boys. They must have been waiting before he walked into the ambush.’

    ‘ Series of Save-our-Soul messages were sent out to the emergency lines of the State Commissioner of Police and the Operation Puff Adder led by DSP Chris Nwaogbo.The swift response by a gallant team of the security outfit led to the shootout along Iminringi road.’

    ‘One policeman was injured with bullet grazing his shoulder, while the kidnappers abandoned their vehicle and the victims. They ran into the Ogbia bush. The bullet ridden hilux of the kidnappers have been recovered.’

  • PAP organises workshop for ex-agitators on formation of cooperatives

    PAP organises workshop for ex-agitators on formation of cooperatives

    By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has commenced a process of constituting ex-agitators into cooperative societies to enable them own, manage their businesses and live above the N65,000 stipends.

    Over 60 delegates of ex-agitators selected for the pilot survey of the programme attended a workshop on modalities to own and run cooperatives organised by PAP in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday.

    The Interim Administrator, PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), who declared the workshop open said his office had commenced a process of making ex-agitators self-reliant, entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

    He said the essence of the event tagged, one day sensitisation seminar for the cooperative society, was to expose amnesty beneficiaries to the numerous resources and opportunities in their environment and help them create solutions that would make them financially independent.

    He said: “We are starting a process of making our ex-agitators self-relient, entrepreneurs and by extension employers of labour. We want to open their minds to see the numerous resources that are available in their environment and how adding value will make them become financially self relient”.

    Describing them as the apostles of the initiative, he asked them to toe the path of one their leaders, Bibopre Ajube, who rejected the stipend and chose to run businesses, which had arguably made him one of the richest of the ex-agitators.

    He said instead of being obsessed with monthly stipends, beneficiaries should think about providing solutions on three areas of food security, maritime security and maritime transport.

    He recalled that the entire Niger Delta area was once referred to as the Oil Rivers Protectorate because of its endowment in oil palm and palm kernel.

    He told the ex-agitators that palm trees had not stopped growing in the region, appealing to them to think of creating value with such natural resources to create wealth.

    Addressing them, he said: “When you form partnership, you become stronger. There is a spirit behind coming together. Stop making excuses to remain  where you are. We want to see you robb your minds together. Develop business ideas. If you start in six months you will be shocked. Your lives will change.

    “If what you get is more than what you spend, don’t bother. You must learn the language of money to be rich. The rich invest while the poor don’t. No matter how much you get, you must take something out. You must know basic things. If you choose to be rich, you will be rich. Change perception about you. Define yourselves through your actions”.

    The facilitator of the workshop and Team Lead/CEO, Grand Renaissance International Ltd, Obinnaya Uruakpa, engaged the ex-agitators in pep talks and taught them sources of making and managing money.

    He also taught them marketing strategies and key qualities of successful business owners such as integrity, profit maximisation and consistency in creating and delivering value.

  • PAP boss mulls free health checks for ex-agitators

    PAP boss mulls free health checks for ex-agitators

    Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    The Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) has said the scheme is planning to begin free medical evaluation of ex-agiators to determine the impact of drug abuse on their lives.

    Dikio, who spoke at the Bayelsa State Stakeholders Mega Sensitisation Campaign on Drug Abuse Prevention, in Yenagoa, observed that some of the ex-agitators had taken deliberate steps to rehabilitate themselves from drug abuse.

    But he said persons, who were yet to undergo rehabilitation would partake in the free health checks to be offered by PAP.

    Dikio urged the youths to reevaluate persons they looked up to as their role models adding that it was not glamorous for anyone to be arrested and put behind bars.

    The amnesty boss said youths must count the cost of their actions explaining that intake of hard drugs would surely have negative consequences on their lives.

    He said it was wrong for anybody to believe that getting high on drugs was necessary to deal with daily challenges.

    He said clearheadness was all that was required for people to chart a good course for their lives and thanked the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for convening the stakeholders’ meeting.

    He said: “I have 30,000 registered ex-agitators. It is a small sampling of our population. We are thinking of doing health evaluation of what drug had done against them. Some have rehabilitate themselves but others have not.

    “Who do u see as your role model? Life behind the bars is not glamorous. Think again and count the cost. Some people in the military say you need to be high to face your enemies. It is not true. You need to be clearheaded to face your enemy.

    “You need to be clearheaded to chart a good course for your life. I thank the governor for convening this programme.

  • Ukraine Beat Sweden To Set Up Quarter-Final Tie With England

    Ukraine Beat Sweden To Set Up Quarter-Final Tie With England

    Artem Dovbyk scored in the 121st minute as Ukraine beat 10-man Sweden 2-1 after extra time on Tuesday to book a quarter-final tie with England at Euro 2020.

    Oleksandr Zinchenko put Ukraine ahead on 27 minutes in Glasgow but Emil Forsberg equalised for Sweden before half-time with his fourth goal of the tournament.

    Marcus Danielson was sent off for Sweden in extra time before Dovbyk headed in a Zinchenko cross in stoppage time to send Ukraine through to face England in Rome on July 3.

    AFP