Just In: FG Suspends Planned Fuel Subsidy Removal

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April 27, 2023

The National Economic Council, on Thursday in Abuja, said it has agreed that petrol subsidy should “not be removed” as earlier planned for June 2023.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after the valedictory Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Ahmed said the Council agreed on the need for continued discussions on the issue adding that the FG, together with states and representatives of the incoming administration, require more preparatory work.

She said, “Council agreed that the timing of the removal of fuel subsidy should not be now. But that we should continue with all of the preparatory works that need to be done and that this preparatory has to be done in consultation with the states and other key stakeholders including representatives of the incoming administration.

“Council agreed that the fuel subsidy must be removed earlier rather than later because it is not sustainable. We cannot afford it anymore. But we have to do it in such a way that the impact of the subsidy is as much as possible, mitigated on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“So, this will require looking at alternatives to the fuel subsidy that needs to be planned for and subsequently put in place. But also what needs to be done to support the people that will be most affected as a result of the removal.”

Ahmed added that the FG will be working together with representatives of the states between now and June 2023.

NNPC To Deduct N672bn As Subsidy Hits N1.35tn In Four Months

“We have a plan that we will start working on, putting the building blocks towards the eventual removal of the first subsidy.

“And if I may remind this forum that the budget for 2023 has a provision for fuel subsidy only up to June 2023 and also the Petroleum Industry Act has a provision that requires that all petroleum products must be deregulated 18 months after the effective date of the PMS removal and that that period is also up to June 2020,” the minister explained.

Abolish Colonial Legacy of HND/BSc Dichotomy – NAPS

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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April 27, 2023

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The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill seeking the removal of the dichotomy between HNHNDD and BSc holders in the country before leaving office on May 29th.

The students threatened to shut down all polytechnics, colleges of technology, and allied institutions that award HNDs across Nigeria if Buhari doesn’t assent to the bill in the next 14 days.

The NAPS Deputy Senate President, Adeniji Temitope, in a statement, said Nigerian polytechnic students and alumni have been suffering challenges as a result of the dichotomy.

The student body alleged that although Buhari had been signing numerous measures, the HND/BSc dichotomy bill had not been included.

Temitope said that Polytechnic students and graduates are one of the major groups that supported and sustained the regime of the president,

She urged THE President to pass the bill to stop the HND/BSc dichotomy and make it one of his major achievements.

This is coming two weeks after the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) also urged President to assent to the bill.

The National President of NATE, Dominic Udoatan, during a briefing in Abuja, said passing the bill into law will not cause any damage.

He said efforts to abolish the HND and BSc dichotomy in Nigeria have always been thwarted by enemies of technological advancement in Nigeria, who want the country to go down at all costs.

He added that these self-centered persons with ill motives stay at a corner and constantly devise means of frustrating polytechnic education, technological breakthrough/development, and the technologists in our dear country.

While expressing the frustration felt by HND holders, the president said they see no need for the dichotomy, so it should be removed because there is no work progression.

According to NATE, the present situation has made many parents unwilling to allow their children to seek admission into polytechnics because of the stigma of inferiority that polytechnic graduates are second-class citizens.

Sandwich Program: LASU Partners Two Private CoEs

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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April 27, 2023

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Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo has signed a technical affiliation agreement with two private colleges of education, Topmost College of Education, Lagos and Royal College of Education, Ifo, Ogun State, to run certain sandwich degree programs in their respective colleges.

The vice chancellor of LASU, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who signed the MoU on behalf of LASU said the university is committed to providing quality education to students and also engaging in society-driven research and community services.

She said the collaboration would increase access for more Nigerians who are qualified and desirous of university education in the country.

She said the arrangement is in line with Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that focuses on inclusive, equitable education and lifelong learning for all.

Explaining the terms of the agreement in a statement by the university’s spokesman, Jeariogbe Olaniyi, the deputy registrar of the Legal Unit of LASU, Olajumoke Boyejo, said the two partnering colleges could run sandwich degree programs on agreed education courses in their schools and also make use of the university expertise.

She emphasized that those courses must be only the ones jointly agreed on and accredited by the university senate in conjunction with its faculty of education.

She noted that the MoU would last only five years and be renewable based on performance.

DELSU Gets NUC’s Approval For New Programs

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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April 27, 2023

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The National Union Commission (NUC) has approved new courses for Delta University (DELSU), Abraka.

The Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga disclosed this at a press briefing in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.

The press conference was part of the programs lined up for the 15th Convocation ceremony of the University slated for Saturday, April 29.

Addressing newsmen, Egwunyenga said that the new Degree awarding programs were: Entrepreneurship Studies, Office and Information Management, Biotechnology, Public Administration and Medical Laboratory Science.

He said that over the years, DELSU had recorded a remarkable feat in the areas of infrastructure, teaching, and research among others.

He said his goal as Vice Chancellor was to ensure that DELSU was ranked among the 10 top Universities in the country adding that he was working toward realizing the target.

He added that in line with the drive to reposition the University to be among the best in the World, the graduating students would have the electronic version of their Transcript on Saturday.

The vice chancellor said that the University was currently awaiting the report of NUC’s Resource Verification Exercise for the commencement of the Agriculture Business Management Program and the Doctor of Pharmacy Program.

Group Unveils $10,000 Grant For Teachers

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 27, 2023

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The Muhammad Sanusi II Sustainable Development Goals Initiative has announced a $10,000 grant for teachers across sub-Saharan Africa.

This was as it called on teachers across sub-Saharan Africa with innovative educational projects to apply for the 2023 MSII SDG Challenge.

The challenge is open to practicing teachers based anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa for exclusive access to mentoring, training and relevant networking opportunities.

A statement by the organization on Thursday stated that the programme is aimed at enabling teachers to develop scalable education projects and assist in developing innovative community projects focusing on quality education and gender equality.

Nigerian Teachers Calls For Trainings To Improve Sector

The statement read, “Application for Cohort 3 of the MSII SDG Challenge is now open to teachers who believe that education is the key to innovation and are passionate enough to develop solutions that improve the African education system for the better.”

The statement noted that teachers selected to participate in the MSII SDG Challenge will receive an initial grant of $2,000 for their projects, go through a comprehensive incubation programme and will be further considered for a follow-up grant of up to $10,000 and an accelerator opportunity.

In addition, all accepted teachers will acquire access to the 1 million teachers’ platform, a unique platform with access to high-quality teaching resources to boost their project and teaching outcomes.

It added, “Interested participants can apply for Cohort 3 of the MSII SDG Challenge by visiting www.msiisdg.org. The deadline for submission of applications is May 20, 2023.”

Raheem Launches University Scholarship Fund

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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April 27, 2023

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England and Chelsea star, Raheem Sterling has launched a scholarship fund aimed at closing the gap in the number of black British students who go to university.

The footballer’s foundation will financially support 14 students to attend either Manchester or King’s College London universities hoping it would improve social mobility.

The first four scholarships will be available for students commencing degree programs in 2023/24.

It comes as King’s College London research showed in 2021/22, less than 5% of all UK students starting undergraduate degrees at Russell Group universities were black.

Sterling said he hopes this initiative will be a real game changer over the next few years and his delighted to be working with two of the finest universities in the world.

He wished the recipients of the funding all the very best and looks forward to meeting them on campus in Manchester and London later this year.

Sudan: More Nigerians To Be Evacuated Today – NIDCOM

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 27, 2023

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The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, says more Nigerian students are to be evacuated from Sudan, thursday.

She said this during a television interview on Thursday. According to her, the students will arrive in Cairo, Egypt later in the evening.

“13 buses of about 60 people have already left. We are hoping that they would get into as one later this evening, but we are monitoring them. It is not a very pleasant situation, mission officials are waiting to receive them,” the NIDCOM boss said.

According to her, the government is vigilant to monitor the safe arrival of the students down to the country.

However, she lamented that there are many undocumented Nigerians seeking evacuation from the North African country.

“There is a little challenge. Three thousand five hundred students, yes. Nigerians there are now coming without any documentation,” Dabiri-Erewa added. “They now say they want to come back.”

But she admitted that there were little challenges with the logistics and the rising number of persons who have applied to be ferried to safety.

Sudan Crisis: Nigeria Begins First Evacuation of Nationals

Some of the transporters insist that they want to collect their cash before they even load the next set of buses.

“The mission is now being bombarded with people that never registered, that never showed presence, saying that they want to come.

“Everything is being done by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to ensure that is done. Perhaps, when we get all our data right, Sudan Republic is one of the areas where we have our largest diaspora population.”

She also noted that the continuation of the students’ education would not be a problem, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved funds for the purpose and the welfare of those affected.

Dabiri-Erewa equally rued the situation in Sudan, calling for peace among the warring factions.

“The 72 hour is lapsing, there is a lot of tension, a lot of desperation. There is been a lot of talks with the AU and two warring factions and there is nothing better than peace in all these situations,” she said.

“What the mission had to do was to ensure that only students come first because that was what we agreed.”

Her comments come hours after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, gave an update about the evacuation, noting that no Nigerian life has been lost.

Pele: Portuguese Dictionary Adopts Name As Adjective

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Emenike Agu

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April 27, 2023

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“Pele,” arguably the best footballer in history, is now also an adjective.

On Wednesday, the word “Pele” was added to the more than 167,000 words in the Michaelis Portuguese dictionary printed in Brazil.

For the world’s Portuguese speakers, “pele” can now be used to denote something or someone extraordinary — the sense in which it is already employed informally in Brazil.

“The expression already used to refer to someone who is the best at what they do has been eternalized on the pages of the dictionary!” The Pele Foundation said on social Media.

Under the new entry, the word is defined as “exceptional, incomparable, and unique” — qualities associated with “The King” of football who died in December at the age of 82.

The online version of the Michaelis also provides useful examples: “He is the Pele of basketball… She is the Pele of Brazilian drama.”

For now, the word has been included only in the Michaelis online version, though it will be added to printed dictionaries in future.

It is the result of a campaign by the Pele Foundation, the sports channel sportv and the Sao Paulo football club Santos where Pele played for much of his career.

Pele scored a world record 1,281 goals during his more than two decades playing with Santos (1956-74), the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos (1975-77).

Sudan: More Nigerians To Leave In Coming Days

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faith Jegede

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April 27, 2023

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The Nigerian government has promised to continue evacuating its nationals, from Sudan, a country currently in crisis, by road to Egypt.

Manzo Ezekiel, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (Nema) said evacuations have begun with Seven buses heading to Egypt from Khartoum.

In all, some 40 buses have been hired to transport the stranded Nigerians, according to Ezekiel, who said 3,500 Nigerians were to be transported initially to Aswan, in neighbouring Egypt.

the director of special missions of the Nema, Onimode Bandele said the organization thinks there are more than 5,000 Nigerians (in Sudan) but for now we are talking about 3,500, including students, who will be transported in buses to Aswan in Egypt,”

According to him, the trip “will take some time because Khartoum is about 1,200 kilometres from Aswan.

Upon arrival in Aswan, the evacuated Nigerians will be flown to Abuja, the Nigerian capital by local airline Air Peace who volunteered to fly the Nigerians for free.

The 12 days of intense fighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo and the regular army of Abdel Fattah al-Burhane have thrown the country into chaos and sent foreigners scrambling to return home.

These two generals, who staged the coup in October 2021, are now engaged in a merciless war for power, which has resulted in several hundred deaths and a massive exodus.

Western powers have sent Special Forces and military aircraft to repatriate their nationals and diplomatic personnel.

Many other countries began evacuations by road and sea shortly after the 72-hour U.S.-brokered cease-fire went into effect Tuesday.

Since fighting between paramilitaries and the regular army began on April 15, more than 459 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded, according to the UN.

Oil Probe: Malami Appears Before Reps Committee

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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April 27, 2023

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The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Thursday appeared before the House of Reps ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in unremitted oil revenue.

The revenue is from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export from 2014 till date.

The chairman of the committee, Mark Gbillah on Thursday, April 20 2023, announced that Malami will face the lawmakers on April 27.

Gbillah said the committee obtained reports that Malami received funds from outside the country through the whistle-blower policy but did not remit it to the federation account.

Buhari silent as Malami, Sylva, others return to work

The lawmaker also said the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, approved payments to whistleblowers which were not in accordance with the policy.

But appearing before the lawmakers, the Minister of Justice said that disclosing the details of the whistle-blowers as requested by the committee violates confidentiality.

With regard to details of accounts into which recoveries were paid, Malami stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) maintained these accounts, not the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. Malami argued that his office is not a signatory, nor does it manage the accounts.

According to him, over $650 million have so far been recovered from different sources including late Head of State, General Sani Abacha; former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamiesiegha, and former Delta State Governor, James Ibori