Corporate Affairs Commission Moves Against Money Laundering

Bank, Insurance, Electricity Workers Vow To Join NLC Warning Strike

The Socialist Party of Nigeria has called on the Lagos State Government to pay workers in the state fair wages and improve standards of living for the general populace.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria, Rufus Olusesan, it expressed concerned about the equitable distribution and utilisation of funds to benefit the ordinary people of Lagos who had been grappling with severe economic hardship.

“We call upon the government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, APC-led administration to prioritise the welfare of Lagos State workers and the general populace. The IGR must be channelled towards improving the lives of the people and addressing pressing concerns such as the deplorable state of roads across Lagos State.

“We express our dismay at the grossly inadequate provision of palliatives in Lagos State despite the growing poverty occasioned by the subsidy removal and devaluation of Naira,” the party said.

SPN noted that with democratic management and control of public finances and funding, involving the democratic participation of workers and the public, mismanagement and looting of public funds would be checkmated.

“This is to guarantee the provision of more basic amenities as well as improvement in the working and living standards of Lagosians. It could also ensure that public funds are transparently invested in job creation and employment opportunities for youths,” it added.

According to SPN, the revenue generated in the state must serve the interests of the people and not go to the pocket of the ruling corrupt politicians.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, recently disclosed that the Lagos State Government generated N400bn in the first half of this year.

He revealed that during the 2024 Budget Consultative Forum, expressing confidence in the state’s ability to meet its end-of-year target.

He disclosed that the Lagos State Government initially estimated an Internally Generated Revenue of N924.805bn to finance its N1.768tn 2023 budget, stressing the need to increase the IGR target for 2024 to provide more essential services to the people of Lagos.

He underscored the state’s strong credit rating and robust IGR as indicators of its potential to attract investments and funding, including through public-private partnerships.

“We have a good credit rating and a robust IGR which can help us attract the right set of investments and funding. We must be creative in our approach to funding, ensuring it is a well-balanced mix of IGR and various funding mechanisms. We are actively exploring PPPs and seeking attractive concessions at reasonable rates,” he stated.

Umahi Gifts N10M To 13-Year-Old Maths Genius

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September 26, 2023

Minister of works, Dave Umahi has gifted a 13-year-old boy, Greatness Ebisike, N10 million for his mathematical ingenuity.

A public affairs analyst and former commissioner for information and national orientation under Umahi’s administration in Ebonyi State, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji disclosed this in a statement he made available.

Orji said the event took place in Lagos during Umahi’s journey to an official event at Victoria Island.

The 13-year-old, who Orji said was an SS1 student and hailed from Abia State in the Southeast of Nigeria, was reported to have aced all mathematical questions thrown at him without the use of a calculator.

The statement reads in parts, It was a great and remarkable day for Greatness Ebisike, a highly skilled and mathematically talented chap, when he encountered the usual and rare benevolence of the Hon. Minister of Works, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Engr. David Nweze Umahi.”

The chap who is currently in his Senior Secondary School One in Lagos is 13 years old and hails from Abia State.

His sense of mathematical calculation and accuracy in result is simply amazing. He is quick in providing answers to algebraic questions, especially questions on multiplication and addition in Mathematics.

A team that accompanied the minister posed several algebraic questions and he rattled them with dispatch and gave them nothing but the answers.

When he was asked to give the sum of 70x70x70, he didn’t waste a moment in giving the answer as 343,000. You need to see the passion, the speed, the zeal and the energy with which he tackled every question be was asked.

The Minister of Works who also witnessed the rattling of the chap was enthused by his performance.

The Minister made a gift of N10 million instantly to the talented chap to assist in furthering his education.

He urged him to keep up the passion and get developed in the passion as that would make him a precious resource in the world market.

The minister encouraged Nigerians to develop the talent around them for the future of the country.

Hurricanes: How Names Are Chosen

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September 26, 2023

How Are Names Chosen? The names given to hurricanes are pretty much already set. There are six alphabetical lists of names for Atlantic hurricanes, maintained by the World Meteorological Organization, and they are rotated through every six years.

Therefore, the 2023 list that starts with Arlene and ends with Whitney will be used again in 2029.

A developing cyclone is given a name when it officially becomes a tropical storm, meaning it has sustained winds of at least 39 mph. Once maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, the tropical storm becomes a hurricane.

Storm names used to be chosen more randomly, not assigned in a pre-planned manner. For example, a storm that hit a boat named Antje and ruined its mast was called “Antje’s hurricane,” according to the WMO.

For hundreds of years, storms were named after saint days. Storms were also sometimes known by the name of a place they hit, like the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

Why Do Hurricanes Have Names?

Using names helps meteorologists — and the public — keep track of storms. Meteorologists started following an alphabetical system, with an “A” name being given to the first hurricane of the season, a “B” name to the second, and so on.

The National Hurricane Center originated the name lists in 1953. Only women’s names were used until 1979, when the lists began alternating women’s and men’s names. The six current lists have been in rotation since 1979, with some names occasionally being retired and replaced.

Pacific hurricane names follow the same system, but have their own designated lists.

Why Are Hurricane Names Retired?

The name lists can be altered if a storm is particularly deadly.

The decision to remove names is determined at a committee meeting, according to the National Hurricane Center. To avoid being inappropriate and to maintain sensitivity after a particularly bad storm, the name will be replaced.

However, some names have been removed without this reasoning. In 1966, the name Fern was changed to Frieda without reason, according to the center.

Sometimes multiple names a year are retired, if it is a particularly bad hurricane season.

What Names Are Retired?

The center has a list of hurricane names that have been retired over the years. Notable ones include: Katrina, the deadly storm that hit New Orleans in 2005, which was replaced with Katia, and Floyd, which hit in 1999, and was replaced with Franklin.

In 2017, Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were all bad enough to be replaced. In 2021, Ida was the only name replaced. When that list is used again in 2027, the name Imani will be used in Ida’s place.

Earlier this year, the name Ian was replaced with Idris, and Fiona with Farrah, after the deadly storms wreaked havoc in 2022.

According to World Meteorological Organization, 94 names have been retired since 1953.

What Names Are Being Used In 2023?

Here is the list of names for the 2023 hurricane season:

Arlene Lee

Bret Margot

Cindy Nigel

Don Ophelia

Emily Philippe

Franklin Rina

Gert Sean

Harold Tammy

Idalia Vince

Jose Whitney

Katia

JAMB Unveils Roadmap For Inclusive Quality Higher Education

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September 26, 2023

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled a five-year strategic roadmap for inclusive access to quality higher education in Nigeria – 2024-2028.

Available statistics indicate that there are over 27 million Nigerians living with one form of disability or the other, including visual, hearing, physical, intellectual, and communication impairment, with stakeholders expressing worry about scant attention being given to the education their education in the country.

In his opening remark at the First Conference of JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) in Abuja, Oloyede said the board was ready not only to facilitate access but also to ensure equity as special arrangements had been made for inclusivity of people living with disabilities to acquire tertiary education.

He also frowns at the circumstances where parents choose courses for their children living with disabilities who are seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

While reacting to the comment by the National President National Association of Visually Impaired, Stanley Onyebuchi, Oloyede warned that the Board would no longer condone such a practice, which in most cases leads to denial of candidates’ opportunities to pursue their dreams.

The Conference has the theme:” Towards Increasing Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria”.

JAMB said in the case of the student who wanted to study law, her stepfather said he could not allow her to go as far as Calabar to study law but asked that she be enrolled in Kaduna State University.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki, expressed the Commission’s readiness to introduce Courses and programmes that would deepen national capacity towards meeting the noble objectives of providing equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

According to him, available statistics indicate that there are over 27 million Nigerians living with one form of disability or the other. These types of disabilities include visual, hearing, physical, intellectual, and communication impairment.

The National Policy on Education provides for inclusive education for all Nigerians. The Policy clearly stipulates that “persons with disabilities should be educated in regular schools along with their non-disabled peers.

The theme of this Conference is, therefore, very apt as it is in consonance with the UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination in Education (CADE 1960) which defines education as “all types and levels of education, the standard and quality of education and the conditions under which it is given.

Meanwhile, the National President of the National Association of Visually Impaired, Stanley Onyebuchi, had said that some of their members faced some sort of rejection from tertiary institutions in the areas of their choice courses.

Onyebuchi said when PWDs sought admission to tertiary institutions, some of the institutions castigated them, saying they were not meant to be their institution.

He added that the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy had taken a toll on its members as many of them no longer continued their education.

Declaring the Conference open, the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, said the Federal government was paying attention to ensuring that every society member has equal access to education.

Mamman said that equal opportunity to higher education must begin with inclusivity while calling on tertiary institutions and their communities on inclusive access for PWDs.

He said everyone must work by focusing on an accessible learning environment where physically appropriate environment is needed and an inclusive curriculum for all students.

The Ministry, however, promised to continue in the delivery of President Bola Tinubu’s mandates by focusing on policies that promote inclusivity and unity.

Storm Agnes: Coasts, Headlands Could Experience Stronger Winds In Northern Ireland

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September 26, 2023

A period of severe wind due to reach Northern Ireland on Wednesday afternoon has officially been named Storm Agnes.

It is the first named storm of the season, which runs from 1 September until 31 August.

Agnes is expected to bring some damaging and disruptive winds to parts of the UK and Ireland on Wednesday.

Weather warnings have been issued by both the Met Office and Met Éireann for the storm, due to reach the south-west of Ireland on Wednesday morning.

A warning for Northern Ireland comes into place at 12:00 BST on Wednesday and lasts until 07:00 on Thursday.

The Met Office is warning of severe wind gusts of around 100km/h (60mph) for some inland areas.

The storm will also come with some heavy and persistent rain, which will lead to blustery conditions.

Large waves around the coast could also cause some flooding while throwing coastal debris onto roads and properties.

Court Acquits RSU Lecturer From Sexual Assault Charges

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September 26, 2023

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A Chief Magistrate Court In Port Harcourt has discharged and acquitted a lecturer of the Rivers University, Professor David Ogbonna, of charges of alleged unlawful and indecent sexual assault against a female student.

The court, which was presided over by Chief Magistrate Poromon Menenen, discharged and acquitted Professor Ogbonna alleged unlawful and indecent assault on a female student with sex on the University campus because the prosecution team failed to prove their case.

In his judgement, the Chief Magistrate held that the phone the female student claimed she used to record Professor Ogbonna’s discussion with her on the day of the alleged incident was never tendered as an exhibit during the trial.

It also stated that the disc the female student claimed she transferred the recording to was not also tendered during the trial.

The Magistrate stated that the underwear the female student claimed had a semen stain after she was allegedly unlawfully assaulted was not subjected to a forensic examination.

The prosecution team failed to call the Health Worker who conducted a medical examination on the female student to come and testify.

Magistrate Menenen said the prosecution team also failed to provide Chidinma to testify about who the female student claimed left her and the Professor in the lecturer’s office after both came to his office.

He maintained that there was no substantial evidence to prove the case of unlawful and indecent assault against Professor David Ogbonna and subsequently discharged and acquitted him

State prosecuting counsel, G.U. Amana, who represented the Rivers State Ministry of Justice in the matter, declined to speak to Journalists outside court after the judgement.

Emma Okah Esq, one of the defence counsels memeber of the accused, Professor David Ogbonna, in an interview with journalists outside the court, said the defence team knew the case would go the way it went because there was no evidence from day one.

Okah asserted that Professor Ogbonna has been innocent and will continue to be innocent from the beginning.

Recall that on June 28, 2022, the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), PortHarcourt, had arraigned Professor David Ogbonna of Rivers State University on one count charge of unlawful and indecent assault against a twenty-one-year female student of the institution.

The accused at the time pleaded not guilty to the charge.

NASA Confirms Return Of Asteroid Bennu Samples

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September 26, 2023

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Dusty samples from the “most dangerous known rock in the Solar System” have been brought to Earth.

The American space agency NASA landed the materials in a capsule that came down in the West Desert of Utah state.

The samples had been scooped up from the surface of asteroid Bennu in 2020 by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft.

NASA wants to learn more about the mountainous object, not least because it has an outside chance of hitting the planet in the next 300 years.

OAU Reduces Students School Fees, Opens Payment Portal

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September 26, 2023

The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State has announced readjusted the sundry charges payable by the students of the University.

This followed the meeting the University management had with the leadership of the Students Union on Monday, 25th September 2023.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju stated this in a statement in Osogbo, saying that the meeting, which lasted for several hours, was called by the University management, after several agitations by the students union for a reduction of the initial charges approved by the University.

He said that although the Students Union leaders were adamant that the charges be reduced by 50%, the University management made it clear that the new charges were the minimum the University required to run efficiently.

Accordingly, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, graciously announced that the charges initially announced have been reduced as follows:

He said for the students in Humanities, the initial sundry charges of ₦89, 200 for returning students have been reduced to ₦76,000 while for the new students in the Humanities, the initial fees of ₦151,200 have been reduced to ₦131,000.”

H added that for those in the Sciences and Technology, the initial charges of ₦101,200, for returning students is now ₦86,000 while the new students in the same Faculties will now pay ₦141,000 instead of the initial ₦163,200. ”

He said the returning students in the Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences will now pay ₦109,000, instead of ₦128,200. The new students in the same Faculties will now pay ₦164,000 instead of the initial charges of ₦190,000.

The statement added that the University management has agreed that the payment can be in two equal instalments.

Meanwhile, the University portal is now open to students for payment.

Northern Lights Make Lively Display In The U.K.

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September 26, 2023