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ECOWAS lifts all sanctions on Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali

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The Economic Community Of West African States, ECOWAS has lifted its sanctions on Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali.

This was the outcome of the meeting of ECOWAS members in Abuja on Saturday.

Recall that the West African bloc had in a swift response to the military coup in Niger, enforced a no-flight zone over the country.

ECOWAS to the decision taken on July 30 2023 following the increasing tension stirred by the military actors who took over in the West African country.

The Nigerian government also cut off power supply to military-ruled country to persuade the juntas to restore democracy in the country.

Also, suspension of financial transactions between ECOWAS and Niger.

However, at the meeting in Abuja on Saturday, all sanctions were lifted.

In Janaury Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso  announced that they were withdrawing from ECOWAS due to what they called illegal and inhumane sanctions imposed on them following the coups in their countries.

Recall Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by members of the Presidential Guard on July 26, and that evening, the military juntas announced that it had seized power.

 

 

EPL: Four matches to expect shock results this weekend

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This weekend will be the Matchday 26 of the current English Premier League campaign.

There will be interesting fixtures across the United Kingdom at both ends of the table.

Only Chelsea and Liverpool won’t be playing, as they face each other in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

So, what four matches could we see shock results on Saturday?

1. Man Utd vs Fulham: There was bad news for United, after the club revealed that Rasmus Hojlund will miss the next three weeks with a muscle injury. The Danish striker has found form from the turn of the year and his two goals is why Ten Hag’s men beat Luton 2-1 the last weekend. His absence leaves the out-of-sorts Marcus Rashford to lead the line. For Fulham, this will be music to their ears.

2. Bournemouth vs Man City: Pep Guardiola’s men have not been at their best in recent fixtures. They could have easily lost to Chelsea in the 1-1 draw and it took an Ajer’s slip for Haaland to grab the winner in the 1-0 win against Brentford. Bournemouth are not only in good form, they have a reborn Dominic Solanke upfront and will be playing at home. Expect anything.

3. Arsenal vs Newcastle: The Gunners are easily the in-form team in the Premier League in 2024. Mikel Arteta’s men have scored 21 times this new year, as their attack has finally clicked. But they came undone against FC Porto in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday. Newcastle will deploy similar tactics like the Portuguese side and could leave the Emirates with a result.

4. Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest: There was time this season that Unai Emery’s men looked like they would genuinely challenge the top three for the title. But they have fallen off in recent weeks and could even lose out on Champions League places. Forest have been boosted by the return to form of Taiwo Awoniyi and some players that went to the AFCON and will go to Villa Park confident.

 

 

NIN: Make sure everyone is enrolled- NIMC DG Coker-Odusote charges FEPs 

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NIMC and DG

Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has charged the Commission’s Front End Enrolment Partners (FEPs) to ensure that no one is left out of the National Identity Number (NIN) registration process.

The NIMC Chief Executive delivered the charge on Friday while addressing attendees at the Commission’s Management Retreat.

She also tasked them with complying with the terms of the Nigerian Data Protection Act.
She further advised enrollment agents and commission personnel to be professional when providing services to members of the public.

“Our mission at NIMC is clear: to equip each Nigerian and legal resident with a unique and secure National Identification Number (NIN). This number is the key to accessing critical services, social benefits, and economic prospects.
However, in order to accomplish this, we must ensure the integrity of our enrollment process.

“As FEPs, your involvement is crucial. You are the link between our citizens and the NIMC enrollment ecosystem. As you communicate with candidates, treat their information with care, accuracy, and thoroughness. Let us work together to protect our database from errors, fraud, and other threats to its integrity.

“While we welcome the expansion of our National Identity Database to over 104 million captured NINs, we cannot rest on our laurels. Millions more are waiting to be enrolled. They include students, farmers, businesspeople, and the elderly. They are the heartbeat of our country.

“Let us reach out to all parts of Nigeria, from booming cities to isolated villages. Allow us to collaborate with schools, hospitals, and community leaders. Let us ensure that no one is left behind, including the vulnerable, people with disabilities, those living in remote locations, and so on. Let us make the NIN enrollment process accessible, fast, and inclusive.”

Continuing, Coker-Odusote entrusted the FEPs with professional behaviour and excellent communication, citing these as vital to success.

“When an applicant enters an enrollment centre, they put their trust in us. They are certain that their personal information will be kept confidential, that their NIN will be secure, and that it will open opportunities for them. We must honour that confidence.”

In her presentation on NIMC Ecosystem Enrollment, the Commission’s Director of Business Development and Commercial Services, Mrs. Carolyn Folami, told the FEPs that the revalidation effort was intended to sanitise the system while correcting identified gaps.She utilised the opportunity to announce the start of payment of the remaining arrears owing to the FEPs, assuring them of the commission’s commitment to settling the outstanding balance as soon as possible.

“So far, 96 FEPs have been revalidated. It is still under progress, and as more are revalidated, they will be onboarded. This month (February), we began paying the FEPs’ outstanding arrears in accordance with the DG/CEO’s earlier promise. We have now paid well over 15 companies and are attempting to clear the arrears. We’ve done some housekeeping. Currently, we are only working with Android smartphones”.

In other news, Front End Enrollment Partners (FEPs) of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have praised the government led by Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote for paying the outstanding arrears owed to them.

The FEPs addressed on Friday at the National Identity Management Commission’s Management Retreat, taking turns thanking the Commission’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for the payment.

Speaking on the ongoing revalidation effort, the FEPs welcomed it as a step in the right direction, stating that it was intended to sanitise the system. One of the FEPs, Tunde Ogunmola, Partner, Jibyes Consulting, hailed Friday’s discussion with the Commission’s Director General as timely and powerful.

“We have been looking forward to our meeting with the DG/CEO of NIMC. It’s an opportunity to interact while increasing enrollment.” We need more of this type of interaction to improve performance.”

“The ongoing revalidation is an essential step to sanitise the system, as many things were not working properly prior to this point. I can certainly certify that payment has begun. Jibyes Consulting has received payment from the NIMC, and we are pleased.”

Chinaka Obi-Ezenwugo of Miandkay Enterprise emphasised that “revalidation helps NIMC separate the chaff from the wheat. It was an extremely clear process. I can also confirm that we’ve been paid. It’s a huge relief.”

The 5-day retreat, with the theme “NIMC’s 5-point Agenda on Strategy Development and Implementation,” was part of the process of obtaining stakeholder buy-in to the current administration’s initiatives while also seeking long-term answers to the Commission’s difficulties.

The retreat’s highlights included paper presentations, interactive meetings with the NIMC DG/CEO, breakout sessions, presentations on implementation updates, and team bonding exercises.

 

Monday Okpebholo wins APC Edo guber ticket

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Senator Monday Okpebholo has won the Edo State All Progressives Congress, Gubernatorial primary election.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River who was the Chairman of Edo APC poll, made the declaration after collating the results from the 18 local government areas.
Okpebholo scored 12,433 votes to defeat  Dennis Idahosa, who scored 6,541 votes.
The collation and declaration were at Lushville Hotel and Suites, Gapiona Avenue, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.
Nigerian Newwsphere recall that Dennis Idahosa had been declared winner of primary conducted by Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma.
However, the Party’s National Working Committee declared the election inconclusive and replaced Uzodinma with Otu.

Telecoms, financial other service sectors grew Nigeria’s GDP by 3.46% in Q4 2023- NBS

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The telecommunications, information, financial and other service sectors grew Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by 3.46 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed in its latest “Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report Q4 2023”, released Thursday in Abuja.

The NBS said this growth rate is lower than the 3.52 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022 and higher than the third quarter of 2023 growth of 2.54 per cent.

The report said the performance was driven mainly by the service sector, which recorded a growth of 3.98 per cent and contributed 56.55 per cent to the aggregate GDP.

Accordingly, the non-oil sector grew by 3.07 per cent in real terms during the reference quarter (Q4 2023).

“This sector was driven in the fourth quarter of 2023 mainly by financial and insurance (financial institutions); information and communication (telecommunication); agriculture (crop production); trade; construction; manufacturing (food, beverage, and tobacco) and real estate, accounting for positive GDP growth.

“On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the oil sector recorded a growth rate of -3.81 per cent in Q4 2023. On an annual basis, the oil sector growth stood at -2.22 per cent in 2023 compared to -19.22 per cent in 2022”, the report said.

Meanwhile, NBS noted that in real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 95.30 per cent to the nation’s GDP in the fourth quarter of 2023, lower than the share recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022, which was 95.66 per cent and higher than the third quarter of 2023 recorded as 94.52 per cent.

It added that the non-oil contributed 95.30 per cent while the Non-oil sector contributed 4.70 per cent to the country’s Q4 2023 GDP.

Tinubu appoints new management team for NCC, Galaxy Backbone, NIGCOMSAT[FULL LIST]

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Tinubu

Tinubu appoints new management team for NCC, Galaxy Backbone, NIGCOMSAT[FULL LIST]

President Bola Tinubu has approved the new management team for the Nigerian Communications Commission, Galaxy Backbone Limited and the Nigerian Communications Satellite(NIGCOMSAT) Limited under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. 

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential Spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. 

Full List: 

NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (NCC)

Abraham Oshadami — Executive Commissioner, Technical Services; 

Rimini Makama — Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management and

Opeyemi Dele-Ajayi is the president/CEO of Digital Bridge Institute.  

NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE (NIGCOMSAT) LIMITED 

Abiodun Attah — Executive Director, Technical Services;

Aisha Abdullahi — Executive Director, Finance & Administration and

Jaiyeola Awokoya — Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development 

GALAXY BACKBONE (BB) LIMITED 

Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju — Managing Director/CEO 

Mohammed Sani Ibrahim — Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services 

(3) Olusegun Olulade — Executive Director, Customer Centricity & Marketing 

(4) Olumbe Akinkugbe — Executive Director, Digital Exploration & Technical Services 

With the reconstitution of the management teams in these agencies, President Tinubu anticipates that these seasoned professionals will deliver excellent service to elevate the impact of the digital economy sector on the nation’s socio-economic development.

ICPC blames corruption for Nigeria’s economic hardship

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Secretary to the Commission Mr Clifford Okwudiri OPARAODU Esq DSSRS on behalf of the Chiarman Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu SAN presenting some of the Commission ‘s publications to Mr Dapo Olorunyomi tha CEO of Center for Journalism and Innovative Development during a familiarization visit today at the Headquarters in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Adamu Aliyu, has ascribed the current economic challenges faced by the nation to corruption.

The ICPC Chairman said this during a courtesy visit by members of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to the Commission’s Headquarters on Thursday.

Dr. Aliyu who was represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, said that Nigeria was facing the realities of corruption, which had drastically affected the development of the economy.

He therefore encouraged Nigerians to be patient while ensuring that they contribute their quota to the ongoing reform of the nation.

Speaking on the enlightenment mandate of the Commission, the Chairman said it was important for Nigerians to adhere to policies to curb the challenges being faced in the execution of constituency and executive projects.

He stressed the importance of placing significance on enlightening the public on and against corruption by institutions like the CJID and individuals, saying that one of the core mandates of the Commission is public enlightenment.

Furthermore, he advised the CJID to take advantage of the Freedom of Information Act to get information from government agencies, adding that when agencies refuse to disclose the information they requested, CJID could sue them in court.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the team and CEO of CJID, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, stated that the visit was aimed at strengthening the already existing relationship between the organisation and the ICPC, as well as to identify areas to assist the Commission in the tracking of constituency and executive projects.

Mr. Olorunyomi emphasised the need for a lot more direct engagement with citizens as Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs) could not win the fight against corruption alone and that it was important to enlighten citizens more about CEPTI as the organisation could also aid the tracking exercise if armed with adequate knowledge.

He said the Centre had faced some challenges in receiving data from some MDAs and expressed the hope that ICPC would be able to assist in that regard.

The CJID boss said that CJID was willing to bring an interface of media engagement to the Commission’s work and in addition, lend and share global database resources that would help the Commission’s investigation activities.

The visit ended with the exchange of publications and group photographs.

Asue Ighodalo wins Edo PDP Guber ticket

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Asue Ighodalo has emerged as the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party Edo state Gubernatorial Primary.

The lawyer and former chairman of Sterling Bank Plc and Nigerian Breweries was declared the winner of the primaries after polling 577 votes ahead of seven other contestants.

Ighodalo becomes the PDP governorship flag-bearer at the upcoming 21 September Edo state governorship election.

Earlier, Newssphere recalls that the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philiphttps://nigeriannewssphere.com/breaking-shaibu-wins-edo-pdp-factional-gov-primaries/ Shaibu, was declared the winner of the PDP factional primary.

 

 

Shaibu wins Edo PDP factional gov primaries

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The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has emerged as the winner of a factional Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election in Edo State.

He won the parallel primary election with over 301 votes.

Meanwhile, the Governor Godwin Obaseki faction of the party is yet to commence its own election.

Details shortly…

 

 

 

EFCC, NCC partner to tackle internet fraud

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The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has sought partnership with the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC in tackling the menace of internet fraud across the country.

 

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, made this call in Abuja on Wednesday, when the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the Commission.

 

Olukoyede pointed out that fraudsters are employing the internet as a gateway to perpetrate their criminalities and charged the NCC to be firmer in its regulatory works.

 

“When enforces of the law and regulators collaborate, it will not be business as usual. There is a need for collaboration because crimes are technology-driven”, he said.

 

 

He said the collaboration of the two Commissions signalled greater readiness to confront the menace of internet fraud and assured fraudsters that criminality would not be business as usual for them.

 

Olukoyede stressed that the challenges facing the country are surmountable and called for more commitment towards a corruption-free nation.

 

 

He enjoined the NCC and internet service providers to monitor the use of the internet more closely to checkmate the activities of fraudsters.

 

According to him, where stakeholders support and collaborate with the EFCC, the Commission would do its job perfectly.

 

Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Maida said he was at the Commission to congratulate the Chairman of the EFCC on his appointment, reiterating the fact that the “NCC is a longtime partner in the fight against internet fraud.

 

The visit is one of those official engagements meant to deepen the conversation and engagement between us”.

 

He recalled that the EFCC facilitated the forensic training of some of the staff of the NCC maintaining that the inter-relationship between the two Commissions was vital in combating internet fraud.

 

“Internet crimes are sophisticated and the NCC as a critical partner is always ready to work with the EFCC in any area it could to contribute to the attainment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, he said.