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  1. PRESS RELEASE: NDE COMMENCES PARTIAL PAYMENTS OF SPW (774,000 JOBS) STIPENDS (1) After the release of some of the funds by the Ministry of Finance for the payment of SPW stipends, I directed a rigorous scrutiny of the accounts of the participants before payments 2. (2) We discovered instances of accounts not matching BVNs, multiple accounts bearing a single BVN, non-existent BVNs, etc. (3.) Because of our determination to eliminate fraud, I further directed the NDE to write to the banks to clean up these anomalies b4 commencing payments 3. (4). So far, only ACCESS Bank has responded with accounts verified for payments and the NDE has today commenced payments of those accounts with ACCESS Bank 5. We await the responses of ZENITH, UBA, FCMB, FIDELITY, HERITAGE & Yobe Micro-Finance Banks to clean up the anomalies 4. (6) Our determination to ensure those selected for this programme get paid to assist them in these tough times is also matched by our determination to ensure that...

  The wedding ceremony between one Solomon Uto and Charity Akuji failed to hold yesterday after his other babymama stopped it at NKST IFAN. According to Orkwande, the groom Mr. Solomon Uto 16-years back got both Mnena and Charity pregnant in same year. The two women gave birth just months apart 16years ago with Mnena bearing him a son in October while Charity a daughter in November. Lo and behold, Solomon who has refused paying school fees of his son but paying that of his daughter decided to wed Charity based on the fact that they are from the same Konshisha LGA thereby dumping Mnena in the process. Things got out of hand when Mnena heard her baby daddy was about to wed so she consulted the NKST Church, explained issues to them where a letter was sent from NKST High level to Ifan to cancel the wedding immediately. Mr Solomon,then went ahead to convince the elders of IFAN church somehow, and the wedding was allowed to hold. However, some streets squad invaded the church venue and ...

The Dean of Students, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo state was on Sunday found dead in his office after he reportedly went to the office and did not return. He said, “He left home on Saturday afternoon that he was going to the office to attend to some official matter. He normally goes to the office when he has so much in his hands to do. “At about 9 pm when he was not yet back home, the wife started calling his line but there was no response and the call was not returned. She tried until late, still no response. “Early on Sunday morning, she raised the alarm and told people around that the husband went to the office on Saturday but did not return. ”They went to the office, they saw his vehicle at the car park but when they got to his office they saw him dead in his office.” The source said although no foul play was suspected, an autopsy will be carried out to ascertain the cause of the death. “The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary.” When contacted, the Public Relations Officer...

  Oshigbudu in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State was on fire following a tanker explosion. Some newsmen gathered that a full loaded tanker carrying fuel, fell at the Oshigbudu-Obagaji junction and spilled its content, which went up flames, putting the Oshigbudu community in a terrible situation at the moment. Several persons have been roasted. Vice chairman of the LGA, John Ikwulono, who confirmed the sad incident, said “Those who have contacts of fire service should please reach out to them to save this unfortunate situation. “Although, when contacted for assistance, the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Hon George Alli disclosed that, the fire service vehicle which could be of help, got broken down for some time now, making the situation a helpless one,” he added. Some newsmen also observed that many houses and vehicles have been consumed by the ragging inferno while citizens watch helplessly. More details later and more photos below.

  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu says his administration will support the Digital Switch Over (DSO) being embarked by the country, saying it would enhance job creation and content development. Governor Sanwo-Olu who acknowledged that the DSO would be of immense benefit to residents said Lagos State would be providing publicity support for the rollout. Speaking on Saturday when the Ministerial Taskforce of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Digital Switch Over led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the DSO will provide job opportunities for youths and many businesses, especially those in the entertainment and tourism industry. He said the DSO will also provide opportunity for government to use the content to inform and engage the citizens as well as bring governance closer to the people. Governor Sanwo-Olu who advised the Ministerial Taskforce on ...

  *Police Arrested Two Suspected Cultist, Recover Firearms In Enugu* by Amb.Engr.Momoh.B.C Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have seized two male criminal suspects for the illegal possession of guns and involvement in cultism. Two pistols with bullets of various calibers and one vehicle were reclaimed from the suspects. In a breakdown of the operational breakthrough by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, " On 08/04/2021 at about 0300hrs, operatives of the Command connected to Anti- Cultism Squad, apprehended one Chijioke Ijomanta (a. k. a CJ) aged 34 and Benjamin Mela aged 30, both residing at Isiagu Ugwuaji Community in Enugu South L. G. A. and claimed members of Vikings Confraternity cult group. Their detentions, which are due to forecasts obtained in an ongoing inquiry, led to the retrieval of one Pump Action gun. " Similarly, on 04/04/2021 at about 0730hrs, the same Police Operatives of the Command, searched a house at Nwakanwa Street in Ind...

  The Honourable Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, CON, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government in prescribing a viable and formidable pathway to facilitate sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. The Minister stated this at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Strategic Retreat with the theme: “collaborating, Planning and Re-strategizing for a Better Niger Delta region”, held recently in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He said that the essence of the NDDC retreat is to explore effective ways that will foster the development of the communities where oil and gas are extracted, managed and recalibrated, effecting an active NDDC budgeting systems and process at all levels. In his words, “for the Commission to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate as captured in Section 7 of the NDDC Acts (as amended), we must look for ways at achieving an all inclusive budget in order to address overbearing external influences”. He...

  The Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has stated that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will exploit the possibility of tapping into the abundant skills and competences that abound within Nigerians in the diaspora. He made this known when he played host to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa. The CAS assured the Commission of NAF’s interest in seeking partnership with Nigerians in the diaspora especially those with expertise in the fields of human capacity development, technological advancement as well as areas that are relevant to defence and security. The CAS also expressed support for the proposed Diaspora Defence and Security Conference soon to be held in the Country, just as he stated that the Conference would serve as the most appropriate avenue for the NAF and other government agencies to synergize and exploit the enormous resource base of Nigerians plying their trades overse...

      The Management of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) has reacted to a wicked and false rumour which trended on the social media stating that the State Government and a private developer planned to demolish the BCOS Staff Quarters on Sunday, the 18th of April. In a Press Statement issued by the Executive Chairman of the Corporation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the BCOS Management said there was no iota of truth in the story. The Statement explained that the Management had consistently and extensively engaged residents of the sprawling and expansive Staff Quarters which has been rechristened, Engineer Lere Adigun Estate on the development plans for the Estate. The Management reiterated that the interests of the residents will be protected and accorded topmost priority in any development plan or scheme. The statement emphasised that there is absolutely no truth in the story that the Quarters is to be demolished and residents forcefully ejected. It also advised...