07/07/23

SHINA J.O

The Nigerian senate has condemned the hurried concessioning of four Airports in Nigeria by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari few weeks to the end of his administration

The resolution of the Upper Chambers follows a motion sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu (NNPP Kano South)

In his presentation, Senator Kawu noted that the concessioning of Malam Aminu Kano Airport was done few weeks to the expiration of Buhari’s administration and due process was not followed.

He added that the concession by the Buhari led administration raises a fundamental question of injustice on why an elephant project with huge public investment would take place just at the end of the administration.

Kawu added that the federal ministry of Aviation does not own or run any airport in Nigeria and as such lacks power to concession the Airport rather the power to do that is domiciled with Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Some of the Airports concessioned are Malam Aminu Kano Airport, Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Muritala Mohammed International Airport and Portharcourt Airport.

The senate in its resolution called on its Committee on Aviation, when constituted, to probe all airport concessions embarked upon by the last administration and make necessary recommendations to the Senate.

It also urged the Federal Government to, review the entire airport concession exercises and give a level playing field to all stakeholders.

06/07/23

Credit: NAN

In Move To Counter rising cases of Fake Certificates and Results, Nigerian Government Through The National Examination Council, NECO has unveiled an e-verify Platform.

The Platform is coming at a time when the Technology-PSact Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB, struggles with its integrity over alleged falsification of UTME Score by a 19-year old, Nmesoma Ejikeme.

Speaking During the Unveiling of the NECO e-verify Platform in Abuja Thursday, Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi said with the new initiative ,Nigeria is on the path to ensure more authenticity of Schools Results anywhere around the world.

The Permanent Secretary Of The Ministry of Education, Daniel Adejo, The NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi and the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Professor Julius ihonvbere also applauded the e- Platform.

The initiative will not only provide data protection for all results in Examinations conducted by NECO and help strengthen Country’s international image assist organisations and foreign institutions easier means of confirming and authenticating schools results.

06/07/23

GABRIEL O.D

The Controversy over the Jamb Result of the 19 year Old Candidate, Mmesoma Ejikeme is getting Clearer as she has accepted the new result 249 Published by JAMB.

The Candidate has also reacted to the three-year ban instituted against her by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, describing it as “unfair”

Contrary to speculations that she is 16 years old, the 19-year-old had claimed her “results Notification” slip for the UTME showing a score of 362 out of 400 was printed from the JAMB results Portal, but the board argues she is parading a forged result on a template it discontinued in 2021 and that her official score is 249.

Mmesoma, who appeared with her father Romanus Ejikeme on one of Nigeria’s Televesion stations believes she should not be blamed.

She said further that If JAMB checks its Support System, they would see that she sent a text message, which did not get a reply.

On the claim that she used an Airtel line, Mmesoma agreed but added it was “not through the USSD code”, explaining further that she agrees with the 249 score showed by JAMB feedback.

JAMB spokesman Fabian Benjamin however revealed its records indicated the candidate had sent a series of messages to the board’s automated telecoms system, including the results showing an aggregate of 362.

A statement by JAMB on Tuesday had pronounced a three-year ban on the candidate and withdrawal of her result; the 249 score.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has expressed Concerns as to why JAMB rushed to publish that the candidate’s result was forged while the matter was still being investigated

A statement by information commission, Paul Nwosu says even though the state Government would not want to take sides, it has constituted an 8-man panel of inquiry on the matter.

The 19-year-old Anambra student has been in the news following allegations of forging her UTME score by JAMB which has attracted response from thousands of Nigerians that believe that Mmesoma was about to be deprived of her achievement.

05/07/23

BENEDICTA TD

A Team of Military personnel from three Battalion Nigerian Army ,Effurun, and Policemen attached to Ekpan division near Warri, have harvested an arms cache from criminal hideouts in Warri South and Uvwie local Government Areas of the State.

The weapons were recovered by the security operatives during a sting operation at some uncompleted buildings suspected to be hideouts for criminals at Agadaga avenue off Jakpa road in Ekpan.

According to the police command, the raid on their hideouts became necessary, following worsening security situation in those areas.

Although no arrests were made during the raid, but the command in a statement issued and signed by the commissioner of police, CP Wale Abass, said a frantic effort is ongoing to arrest the criminal syndicate.

One AK-47 rifle with five magazines loaded with one hundred and sixty one rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one assault rifle with two magazines loaded with fifty nine rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, two English pump action guns, one hundred and ten rounds of live cartridges, one double barrel gun, one single barrel gun, one toy gun, cutlasses and a bunch of charms wrapped in a cap were retrieved from the uncompleted buildings.

04/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB says after considering the weighty infraction committed by Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, and in line with it’s established Procedures, has withdrawn her 2023 UTME result and also barred her from sitting for UTME for the next three years.

In a statement this Tuesday, JAMB Spokesman Fabian Benjamin restates its earlier position that the UTME result being paraded by Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma is patently fake.

The statement says consequently, the JAMB would like to reassure Nigerians that its system was neither tampered with nor compromised as the candidate simply falsified a copy of a result slip of a candidate named “Asimiyu Mariam Omobolanle”, who sat the UTME in 2021 and scored 138.

04/07/23

ELIZA D.D

The Killing of a Sixty Year Old Woman by Unknown Gunmen has caused tension and fear Among Residents living in Tamigbe a rural Community in Delta State

According to local sources, the deceased Woman simply identified as Ebikabore Oyas, abducted last week Wednesday morning, was reportedly shot in the head by her Abductors after a Ransom of one Million Naira was paid by her family members.

Her lifeless Body was recovered along Foutorugbene Road close to her home Town in Tamigbe, where it was dumped by the Suspected Gunmen, late Sunday night.