Nelly's SmartBriefs

The Rivers State Government's 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N200billion, has passed it's first reading on the floor of the state House of Assembly. This is sequel to the submission of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill by the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the Assembly for consideration and enactment. The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, who read the letter, on Friday, June 30, on the floor of the House, said the 9th Assembly had considered and approved the Port Harcourt Link Road as an important project in the 2023 Appropriation Bill, which was signed into law by the immediate past Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike. He noted that at the Tuesday meeting of the new State Executive Council, it was observed that the funding for the project was not captured in the 2023 budget. Amaewhule added that it was on the strength of this observation that the present government decided to make official request for the appropriation of funds b

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) prepared by the National Universities Commission (NUC). A statement by the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Friday, June 30, also described the curriculum as a threat to quality university education, and an erosion of powers of the university Senate in Nigerian universities. According to ASUU, it was inexplicable that NUC pre-packaged 70percent CCMAS contents were being imposed on the Nigerian university system. It also observed that the university Senates, who are statutorily responsible for academic programme development, were left to work on only 30percent. The ASUU stressed the growing concerns about the numerous shortcomings and gross inadequacies of the CCMAS documents. “ASUU is not unaware that setmoneyting academic standards and assuring quality in the NUS is within the remit of the NUC. “Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Stand

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of eight commissioners of police to state commands in the country. In a statement by its spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the commission also commended the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for adhering to its latest policy on gender sensitivity in his recommendation. The commission, however, expects that the Inspector General, in his subsequent proposals, would include more officers from the North-East and South-East geopolitical zones that have yet to record the benchmark of 15percent as decided at its last plenary meeting. The newly appointed state commissioners of police include, Godwin Aghaulor, now CP Borno State Command; Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, CP Oyo State Command; and Samuel Titus Musa, CP Kebbi State Command. Also appointed were Aderemi Olufemi Adeoye, CP Anambra State Command; Stephen Olarewaju, CP Imo State Command; and Alamatu Abiodun Mustapha, CP Ogun State Command. Meanwhile, the

The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, has said that he left the Nigeria Armed Forces bigger, stronger, and more capable to deliver on its constitutional mandate. Irabor said this in his valedictory speech during the pulling out parade organised in his honour in Abuja on Friday, June 30, 2023. The former CDS stated that he felt honoured to be pulled out after 37 years of unblemished service to the nation and having served as the CDS in the past 29 months. According to him, ensuring national security in a large and diverse country like Nigeria is not an easy task. Irabor said: “In 2021, the security situation of the nation was admittedly in a state of dynamic crux. “Efforts made by the Federal Government of Nigeria using the armed forces in collaboration with the police, other security agencies, and critical stakeholders were in different stages of gestation. “We were encouraged to pursue these measures in addition to other initiatives to reinvigorate the na

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has released its first-ever annual Climate Strategy Progress Review for the 2022-2030 programme of action. USAID disclosed this in a Press Release issued by its Office of Press Relations, in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, and made available to Nelly's SmartBriefs.  The release indicated that, "Today, USAID released its first annual progress review on the agency’s 2022-2030 Climate Strategy.  "In the first year under the Strategy, USAID has increased its climate investments, launched new initiatives, and is working to tackle the climate crisis in more countries than ever. "The Strategy, which Administrator Samantha Power launched in April 2022, guides USAID’s whole-of-Agency approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, help partner countries build resilience to climate change through implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), and improve our op

The United States Government has slammed new set of sanctions against four illicit gold companies funding the notorious killing machine embedded in the operations of Wagner Private Military Company (Forces) across Africa, Middle East and elsewhere around the world. Wagner Group was founded by Russian oligarch, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who until a few days ago, was regarded as President Vladimir Putin's chef, and close associate. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) decision was contained in a Press Release issued by the US State Department in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 27, and made available to Nelly's SmartBriefs.  The four companies include, two Central African Republic-based companies - Midas Ressources SARLU (Midas), and Diamville SAU (Diamville); Dubai-based Industrial Resources General Trading (Industrial Resources); and Russia-based Limited Liability Company DM (OOO DM).  The new sanctions also targeted Russian national, Andrey Nikola

The United States Government has warned American businesses and investors against  putting their resources in the Gold Sector across Sub-Saharan Africa. The warning was contained in a unique business risk advisory issued by the Office of the Spokesperson for the US State Department in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The business risk advisory read in full: "Today, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the United States Agency for International Development issued a unique business risk advisory focused on the gold sector across sub-Saharan Africa.   "The advisory highlights the opportunities and specific risks raised by the gold trade across sub-Saharan Africa and encourages industry participants to adopt and apply strengthened due diligence practices to ensure that malign actors, such as the Wagner Group, are unable to exploit an

 

Akujobi Amadi There is confusion over alleged missing properties belonging to the Rivers State Ministry of Health's Syringe Factory located at Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state. The missing properties were said to have been recovered by the operatives of Nigeran police attached to Zone 16 Headquarters in Bayelsa State from suspected criminals, and handed over to personnel of Anti-Cultism Unit stationed at Emohua section of East-West Road for safe keeping. It was gathered that operatives of police attached to Zone 16, Bayelsa State, who shared  apartment in the same building with the Anti-Cultism Unit at Emohua section of the East-West Road, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the syringe company on March 22, 2023, and arrested four of the hoodums who were caught with vandalised electric cables, transformer parts, pipes, generating sets. They had loaded the items in trucks before they were intercepted and arrested. The suspects were later handed over to t

By Editor Soldiers of Operation Hadarin Daji deployed to Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have rescued 20 kidnap victims while on their routine patrol in the general area. The victims comprised two females, including a housewife who was abducted a week after her wedding, three children and 15 males, who were kidnapped from different parts of Zamfara and Sokoto states. During preliminary investigation, the victims revealed that they have spent 21 to 53 days, respectively in the hands of their captors while other victims revealed that they were released from the camp of a notorious bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji due to pressure from the air bombardment and operations of ground troops. The victims said there are over 20 bandits’ camps in the forest they were kept. They told journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital that they were fed two times a day with food cooked by the bandits’ wives. One of the victims, Rabi Kabiru, who is a 29-year-old newly wedded bride narrated

By Editor The internal wrangling within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State seems to be over as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu appeared at a public function with two of his predecessors in a spectacle rare as hen’s teeth. Sanwo-Olu, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babatunde Fashola met at a reception organised in honour of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, June 29, at the Lagos House in the Marina area of the state. Sanwo-Olu’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, shared the refreshing sight in a tweet, stressing that this is the first time the trio will meet in over four years. Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Ambode is the only former governor of the state who was in office for a single term.  Tinubu was governor between 1999 and 2007 before he handed over to Fashola who was in office from 2007 to 2015 and later Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing between 2015 and 2023. Ambode took over in 2015 but lost his re-election at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the 20

By Editor Zambian police have arrested former President Edgar Lungu’s son, Dalitso Lungu, and daughter-in-law, Matilda, on charges of money laundering and possessing property believed to be proceeds of crime worth more than $5million. The police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, in a statement on Tuesday, also disclosed that Dalitso and his wife were arrested in their capacity as directors of Saloid Traders Limited. Hamoonga said they were accused of owning 69 motor vehicles and other properties believed to have been proceeds of crime in the country. The police spokesman said: “Police have arrested and charged Dalitso, aged 36, and Matilda Likando Milinga, aged 36, for the offence of possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act of 2010. “Dalitso Lungu has also been arrested and charged for the offence of money laundering. The duo has since been released from police custody and will appear in court soon.” The arr

By Our Reporter Veteran Yoruba actress, Sidikat Odunkanwi, popularly known as Iyabo Oko, has been confirmed dead at the age of 62. It was gathered that Iyabo Oko died on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Confirming the actress’ death, her daughter, Bisi Aisha, in a post on her Instagram page on Thursday wrote: “May ur soul Rest in Peace Mummy”. The veteran actress, who has been away from the movie scene for years, has been battling ill health before her death. Iyabo Oko was declared alive by Aisha in January 2022, saying the 62-year-old actress woke up after three hours she was announced dead. She disclosed that the famous actress moved her hand after three hours she was announced dead. “Wonderful being, she moved her hand after been confirmed dead 3hrs ago. God we will forever praise ur Holy name,” the actress’ daughter had said. Iyabo Oko was born November 15, 1960, in Iwo, Osun State. In 1973, she started her acting career as a teenager under Eda Onileola Theatre Troupe before she later got

By Editor Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged clerics to caution herdsmen against harassing residents of communities, killing farmers, and damaging crops in the state. The governor gave this charge when he received at Government House in Port Harcourt, the leadership of the Muslim Community, who paid a visit in the spirit of the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha on Thursday, June 29. The charge was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Boniface Onyedi. Fubara explained that the purpose of his administration is to remain firm in protecting the lives and property of everyone, which has made it possible for them to celebrate in a peaceful atmosphere and therefore, must not truncate the course of creating a better Rivers State for all residents. The governor pointed out that his administration cannot be protecting their businesses while some errant members of their fold are destroying the businesses and livelihoods of o