Abia Govt Announces Resumption Date For Primary, Secondary Schools

Abia Government on Thursday announced that primary and secondary schools in the state are to resume on September 28 to complete the third term of the 2019/2020 academic session.


The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, made this known in a statement he issued in Umuahia on the outcome of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.
Okiyi-Kalu stated that the schools were expected to conduct a one-week revision classes to prepare the pupils and students for the promotion examination.


According to him, the state government directed that the examination should hold from October 5 to October 16.
He further stated that the examination would be used to assess the children, in addition to their first and second term work as well as the radio/television classroom programme.
He stated that teachers would be given one week to prepare the third term results, while the first term of 2020/21 session would commence on October 26 and end on December 23.

Okiyi-Kalu also stated that the Ministry of Education would publish other guidelines, including the COVID-19 protocols and approved fees to be charged by private schools.
He stated that the resumption dates for tertiary institutions would be announced by the schools’ authorities based on the time-table and protocols submitted to the state government.


The commissioner also stated that the EXCO directed the state Internal Revenue Agency and other relevant agencies to ensure that they met government’s internally generated revenue target for 2020.
He stated that the EXCO also approved the establishment of road maintenance committees in the 17 local government councils to achieve the “zero pothole” policy of the state government.
Okiyi-Kalu further stated that the EXCO approved the constitution of a committee to oversee the transition of Abia State Road Maintenance Agency to a limited liability company.

He stated that the measure would enable the agency to bid for road maintenance and construction jobs and also become more efficient and independent of government funding.
He also stated that approval had been given to a new construction company for the Ohafia Golf Course project with a mandate to complete its first phase on December 24.


He stated that the Ministry of Works had been directed to prioritise the rehabilitation of Ngwa-Emelogu-Opobo-Azumini Road in Aba, with emphasis on Good Morning Market Bridge.
Okiyi-Kalu stated That the EXCO also approved the contract for the construction of Omuma Road, off Ama Ogbonna, Aba, with Rigid Pavement (Cement) Technology (RPT).


Others included the reconstruction of Awoja-Akoli-Ngodo-Imennyi Road, reconstruction of Akalanna Street, off Okigwe Road, Aba, reconstruction/rehabilitation of Ofeme Empire Road, rehabilitation of Mbawsi Road (from King Jerry Mortuary to Railway Crossing).
The rest were the reconstruction of Milverton Avenue-Chisco Lane-Ojike Lane, Aba, with drains, asphalt overlay of Okigwe Road, Aba and construction of Ahunnanya Street in Obingwa with RPT.


He stated that EXCO also approved the procurement of mobile laboratory and medical theater to cover all the local government areas as part of the fight against COVID-19.
Okiyi-Kalu stated that approval was also given for the procurement of COVID-19 intervention materials for Abia State University Teaching Hospital and College of Health Sciences and Management, Aba.
Okiyi added that EXCO also approved the partial commencement of non-contact sports in the state.


He stated that the EXCO charged the state Independent Electoral Commission to ensure that the upcoming local council poll would be free, fair and credible. (NAN)

#orientdailynews

House Of Reps Installs Technology In Chamber To Aid Proceedings

Speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the house has installed technology in the chamber to aid proceedings in the house.

Gbajabiamila, who led journalists on inspection of the newly installed electronic system on Friday in Abuja said “it is a promise kept’’.

He said that the move became necessary because what it had before now in the chamber was obsolete for any legislative house.


“This is one of the things we promised we will do in the 9th assembly and we are happy that this can be found in any advanced democracy,’’ he said.

The speaker said that one of his promises was to adopt e-voting, adding that whatever that was needed during proceeding had been provided by the system.

“With this system, we can do a lot of magic, I can even shutdown your camera, especially those zooming on members eating groundnut during proceeding,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said that the system provided capacity for members to research on the floor on any information or references they so desired, adding that e-attendance was also included to know the number of members present.

“We have e-attendance, so rather than signing manually on papers, you can do that through the system, your bio data is captured and mark attendance using your thumb,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said that foreigners who came to the chamber to witness proceedings without the knowledge of English language could also switch to the language of their choice.


“The system has the capacity to translate to whatever language the foreigner speaks so that such individual can follow discussion,” he said.

Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the spokesperson of the house said before now, members would have to carry hard copies of the nation’s constitution, house rule and legislative agenda.

Kalu said members carrying hard copies of the house code of conduct and list of members “has stopped with the newly installed system, it is no longer obtainable as that era has gone.’’

He said that members would be trained on how to use the system, adding that “the system is user-friendly’’.

“We are going to have a session on resumption where every member will be trained by the technologists,” he said.

The system will be used for e-voting, provide order paper, documents and house rule among others. (NAN)

#orientdailynews

2 Herders In Court Over Destruction Of N4.6m Farm.

Two herders on Friday appeared in an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, over alleged destruction and malicious damage to a maize and cassava farm.

The police charged Muhammodu Sheu, and Idrisa Aliu, 45, with four counts of conspiracy, unlawful entering, malicious damage and neglect.

The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Ade Adebusuyi, told the court that Sheu and Aliu allegedly conspired with others at large, to commit the act of malicious damage.


Adebusuyi said that Sheu and Aliu, allowed their cows to enter a farm and maliciously damaged 10 acres of maize and cassava farm, worth N3,6 million , property of Alhaji Abimbola Dauda of Agbedegun village, Ido Local Government area, Ibadan.



The defendants, he said, committed the offence on Sept. 9, at about 2 a.m. at Agbedegun, village, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The offence, he said, contravened the provision of sections 81, 344, 451, 516 and 516A of the Criminal Code of Oyo State 2000.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Olaide Hamzat admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Hamzat adjourned the matter untill Nov.11 for definite hearing. (NAN)

#orientdailynews

Era Of Picking Up House-Helps From Ebonyi Over – Umahi

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that the era of picking up house helps from Abakaliki and other parts of the state was over with the state government declaring war on the inhuman act.

Umahi made the declaration on Friday in Abakaliki while inaugurating the state taskforce on human trafficking, courtesy the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the International Organisation for Migration.

Umahi, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, said that the war against human trafficking was not physical but against “forces of darkness of those known and unknown’’


“The era of coming to Abakaliki and indeed, Ebonyi to pick up househelps is over and we are saying it with all dexterity in us.

“The present administration has stopped all sorts of inhuman treatment on our people and if anybody must come to take someone for any reason, the person must disclose fully what the person is going to do for him or her.

“This does not mean that people should not assist others but we are careful not to give out our people for inhuman activities in the name of househelp again,” he said.

The governor said that unscrupulous househelp racketeers have negated the true essence of offering assistance to others and converted such helps to inhuman treatment and personal gains.

“We take our minds to our primitive era when one of the sources of livelihood for some rural families was giving out innocent sons and daughters to serve as househelps.

“The kind gestures ordinarily should have been humanitarian services but were, however, negatively channelled with some of these innocent children converted to sex toys and objects of trade among others,” he said.

He noted that since assuming office in 2015, the state government fought such ugly trend by empowering the state’s citizens found on the streets of such as Aba, Lagos and Onitsha among others.

“Those in Lagos were given N140 million to engage in trade and others meaningful activities, while those in Onitsha received over 400 tricycles among such gestures to citizens in other major cities.

“The state government will continue to support NAPTIP and other sister agencies while providing the enabling environment for the taskforce to succeed in its duties,” he said.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, said that human trafficking represented a clear danger to human and national security as governments at all levels must show enough political will to stem the tide.

“The state taskforces on human trafficking should ensure adequate sensitisation to the grassroots and among the vulnerable groups, while providing services and support to rescue and return victims.

“This requires strong political will and budgetary provisions on the part of state government in addition to the commitment of the traditional institutions, religious and community leaders,” she said.

She disclosed that 292 Ebonyi indigenes were rescued by NAPTIP from 2004 to July 2020, consisting of 205 females and 87 males.

The International Organisation for Migration gave a goodwill message at the occasion as the taskforce consists of representatives of the state government, civil society organisations and security agencies among others. (NAN)

#orientdailynews

FG Orders Deportation Of 10 Egyptians, 7 Sri-Lankans

The Federal Government has approved the deportation of 10 Egyptians and seven Sri-Lankans with immediate effect.

Mr Sunday James, Public Relations Officer, Nigeira Immigration Service (NIS), disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

James said that the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbeshola, had signed the deportation order in pursuant to section 45, subsection 2, section 46, subsection 1 and Section 47, subsection 1 of the Nigeria Immigration Act 2015.


He said that the 10 Egyptians had violated the conditions for their entry and the Minister had ordered their deportation with immediate effect.

“Seven Sri-Lankans that were jailed for petroleum product related offences after serving their jail terms were ordered by the court to be deported to their country as well.



“The minister also signed the deportation order of one Ali Mahamat Taher to France and one Kasinathan Ramasamy to India who were found to be involved in activities violating the conditions of their entry into Nigeria.

“Taher was found to be engaged in activities capable of undermining the security of a friendly neighbouring country to Nigeria in Maiduguri, Borno state.

“While Ramasamy was found working as a shop attendant in Kano,” he said.

NAN reports that the Comptroller General, NIS, Mr Muhammad Babandede, had directed that all migrants in Nigeria should comply with the laws guiding their residence and entry following the resumption of international flight.

“The public are hereby advised to note that all special exemptions granted to migrants due to COVID-19 has elapsed,”he had said. (NAN)

#orientdailynews

Experts Insist Amendment Of Land Use Act

Environmental experts and other stakeholders have called for the immediate amendment to the Land Use Act of 1978, saying the Act has been abused by privileged person in government with unilateral acquisition of people’s and communal lands without considering the welfare of those who depend on it for livelihood and without any form of compensation.

In a one-day validation workshop, organized by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and the Community Forest Watch, with the theme ‘Legislative Backing and Land Use Act Reform,’ participants also decried exclusion of women in land governance in Cross River and therefore called for proper reform in line with current realities and international best practices.


In a presentation, titled, “Review of Land Use Act 19978 and Propose Model Laws to Promote Community and Women Right, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Barr Nurudeen Ogbara, said “there should be parameters on why lands should be acquired by the government and due compensation spelt out.

“Under the existing law, you cannot use the acquired land for anything other than public interest but some governors acquire people’s land and convert the same to personal use or give it to political cronies.”

He disclosed that the Model Land Use Bill (MLU already before the Cross River state House of Assembly seeks to protect, sustain and secure livelihood as well as gender consciousness, noting that “the Bill says land associated with livelihood can no longer be acquired by government for public purpose.



“Lands upon which the people depend on for their livelihood should not be acquired by the government except it is absolutely impossible to get an alternative land. Also, livelihood has been made a human right issue and so provisions should be made for all authorities to take into cognizance this critical need.”

The Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Ojo, who was represented by a lecturer in the University of Calabar, (UniCal) Dr. Ralph Offiong, said the Land Use Act as implemented has robbed communities, mostly women, of their means of livelihood and that the practice of gender inequality in Land governance has increased poverty and breed deprivations, and therefore seeks immediate steps to amend it.

On his part, the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Rt Hon Charles Ekpe, who is also the Bill Sponsor, said the draft of the Model Land Use Bill (MLU at the Assembly had passed through the first reading and that it would soon pass through the second after which the House would call for public hearing.

He believed that the Bill would address some lingering issues in land governance in the state, and that the House would take all issues raised into consideration, adding that steps were being taken to address the cry of women marginalization, exclusion and other ills associated with land governance in Cross River State.

“The Law is for everybody and communities and stakeholders should give accurate information to help in passing the bill which is for our overall benefit. The bill will help address some lingering issues in land governance in the state. This is very important at this stage and we are not rushing the bill so as to come up with what will be of utmost benefit to the State,” he stated.

In her presentation, titled ‘Strategies for Women Involvement in Land Reform’ Dr Rebecca Enuoh of the University of Calabar, said gender inequality was correlated with intense poverty and exclusion of women and insecure land rights for women threaten progress. She charged women to come together to speak in one voice over the matter.

Also speaking, member representing Yala1 State constituency, Mrs. Regina Ayongo disclosed that she had proposed a bill on gender inequality which was yet to be passed by the House and that she believed the issue of women marginalization in land governance would soon become the thing of the past.

#orientdailynews

Trafficking:’292 Ebonyians Rescued’-NAPTIP

The National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) Friday decried high number of Nigerians dying as rate of trafficking in the country.

This is even as the agency said over 292 Ebonyi children were rescued from trafficking last year.


Barr, Julie Okah-Donli, director general of the agency, made this known in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital during the inauguration of the state task force on human trafficking.

NAPTIP said that in 2018 alone over 20,000 Nigerians were victims of trafficking in Mali. Adding that hundreds of the country’s citizens die in the sahara desert and mediterranean sea.

Julie explained that the challenges of human trafficking and irregular migration have become a great concern especially with the large number of Nigerians trapped in sexual and labour exploitation in various African and European countries.

She said, “Last year reports emerged about the existence of human farms in some parts of Libya where black african migrants are allegedly kept in cages like animals and their organs like eyes, kidneys and lungs are harvested to service medical sectors of Europe.

“In December 2018, NAPTIP undetook a fact finding mission to Mali. The report of the mission painted a very fory picture of more than 20,000 young Nigerian girls who are victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation in bush camps around Mali’s mine fields”.

“In the first week of March 2019, I personally followed up with a visit to Mali and saw girls as young as 14 years held in sexual slavery in very horrendous conditions”, she said.

The DG noted that from 2004 to July 2020 a total of 292 indigenes of Ebonyi state were subjected to child abuse child labour, sexual exploitation and sale of babies. have been rescued from Izzi , Ezza, Ikwo, Afikpo North and South, Onicha, Ohaozara, Ishielu, Abakaliki, Ivo, and Ishielu LGAs.

She further revealed that the International Organization of Migration(IOM) has returned 11 indigenes of the state (9 females and 2 males) from various parts of the world where they were taken to.



“It is also a crime to employ a child under 18 years to do any work that is exploitative, injurious or hazardous to the development of the child. The above crimes attract between 6 months to 7 years imprisonment”, she said.

She called for the development of new initiatives to ensure adequate rehabilitation of returnee victims of trafficking and irregular migration in other to mitigate the phenomenon of re-traficking.

“Bigger and adequately equipped shelters, vocational training facilities and scholarships must be in place of we are going to provide appropriate rehabilitation for these victims.

She also called for empowerment programs for rural women who are mothers of pure trial victims of trafficking.

The State Governor, David Umahi represented by the Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe commended the agency for its efforts towards eradicating trafficking in the country.

“Here domestically it may be difficult for us to assertively say that trafficking of persons exist in the state, but we will cast our mind to the era where we were quite primitive, and one of the sources of the rural families was in given out their innocent sons and daughters to serve as house help to those who needed house helps”.

“Fortunately this kind of gesture that would have been a humanitarian activity turned out to be of personal gains and inhumanity in Nigeria. Some of these children were turned to sexual toys, objets of trade and many more”, he said..

He noted that the era of coming to Ebonyi to pick house help is over.

“Any one who must come to take anybody must disclose what the person is going to do for him/her”

“While we are not saying that people should not assist our sons and daughters we are mindful and careful not to give them out to go and do inhuman service inform of house help again. The era of coming to Abakaliki, to Ebonyi state to take house help is over”, he added.

The anti trafficking task force team is headed by the state Commissioner for justice Barr Cletus Ofoke.

#orientdailynews

Abdulfatai Buhari: Why I Will Support Tinubu’s Presidential Bid

Oyo North lawmaker, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, says he will support All Progressives Congress stalwart, Bola Tinubu, to be the next president of Nigeria the moment he declares his interest in the nation’s top job.

Buhari said this during an interview with journalist, Edmund Obilo, on Thursday.

When asked if Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State was working against Tinubu’s interest, Buhari said that was not true.

He responded, “No. I am Tinubu. I am not Fayemi and I will not be in a meeting where somebody would be working against Tinubu. I am supporting Tinubu.”

Responding to a question on whether Tinubu was running for president, Buhari said, “If he wants to be President, I will support him. I will campaign for him.”

As regards the crisis rocking the APC in Oyo State, the lawmaker said the disagreement was caused by the loss of the governorship seat to the Peoples Democratic Party.

He, however, said a former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, is the leader of the party in the state.

When asked if the death of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi had affected the progress of the APC in Oyo State, the lawmaker responded, “Of course. Ajimobi meant different things to many people.”

#nairaland

NLC Insists On Monday Protest Despite Court Order

The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday insisted that it will go on with its planned mass action scheduled for Monday, September 28.

In a communique by its General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC asked its members across the nation to come out in large numbers to protest the increase in fuel and electricity prices.

The order was given despite a fresh court order obtained by the Federal Government, barring the NLC and the Trade Union Congress from embarking on their planned strike scheduled to commence on Monday.

In the statement by Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC asked all National Leadership of affiliates in Abuja to mobile at least 2000 of their members to Unity Fountain, Abuja for the mass rally which takes off at 7am.

Also, affiliates are expected to mobilise the same number of members to the NLC Sub-Secretariat, 29, Olajuwon Street, Yaba, Lagos, which is the take-off point for the Lagos action at 7am also.

The NLC Secretary also noted that all Presidents and General Secretaries are expected to lead and identify with their members at the take-off point.

Reverse fuel, electricity price, or?
Earlier in September, Organised Labour threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government refuses to reverse the recent increases in fuel and electricity tariff.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba while making the announcement in Abuja said the NLC’s central working committee (CWC) has resolved to issue a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse the increase.

He said workers and Nigerians are disappointed that the government decided to increase both the price of fuel and electricity tariff at a time “other countries across the world are giving palliatives to their citizens to cushion the effect of COVID-19.”

“NLC central committee will also mobilise its members, civic society allies, and other social partners to resist this policy because it has driven many into poverty,” Wabba added.

Ahead of the threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to resort to industrial action, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held an emergency meeting of all the governors.

#nairaland

Jackie Appiah is allegedly pregnant for the Liberian President – Reports

The new-look of Jackie Appiah on social media has raised eyebrows. People have started their personal assessment on her and have come to the conclusion that the actress is pregnant.

It has become the talk of the town following photos she took at Adonko Next Level Virtual Launch that came off September 21st at Holiday Inn, Accra.

Check out the Jackie Appiah’s new photos that suggests she’s pregnant;

Though we can’t just conclude of her pregnancy because pictures can decieve, social media ‘doctors’ very good at their job says she’s expecting a baby soon.

If this is anything to jump onto, who is the man who got her pregnant? – a question everybody is asking.

A new report by a blogger, Aba The Great suggests that the beautiful and classy actress is allegedly pregnant for George Oppong Weah, the incumbent Liberian President.

George Manneh Oppong Weah is a Liberian politician and former professional footballer currently serving as the 25th President of Liberia, in office since 2018.

We don’t know how true this is but it’s an allegation by an investigative journalist who might have proof.

It may be that her allegation might be as a result of a photo of the Jackie Appiah in a pose which she shared on her Instagram page some time ago to congratulate George Weah for winning as President of Liberia in 2018.

Meanwhile Jackie Appiah has not reacted to this.

Aba The Great captioning the post she shared on Instagram wrote; “Liberian first lady Jackie Appiah is soo pregnant”. Check the post below;

In other news, the award-winning actress shook social media after she flaunted her expensive Maserati car last Monday at the Adonko Next Level Virtual program.

Jackie acquired the car in 2018 where she took to social media to share a photo of herself with the car with a caption that reads: “IN ALL THINGS, BE GRATEFUL. WORK HARD AND PLAY HARD. ?MASARATI” SHE CAPTIONED HER SLAYING SHOT.”

#nairaland