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US Lawmakers Block Sale Of Attack Helicopters To Nigeria Over Poor Human Rights Record

US lawmakers have blocked the sale of some attack helicopters to Nigeria over purported poor human rights record of the Buhari administration. The deal worth $875million was for the sale of 12 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and accompanying defence systems for the Nigerian Military, it was learnt, are being blocked by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMN0-ERyu0A/YQZPHYrMtDI/AAAAAAAABYU/VHt8685GjkYFjk74JePztKCYitfXY5cpQCNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210801_082747_082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="720" height="198" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMN0-ERyu0A/YQZPHYrMtDI/AAAAAAAABYU/VHt8685GjkYFjk74JePztKCYitfXY5cpQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210801_082747_082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The Foreign Policy website reports that the details of the proposed sale were first sent by the U.S. State Department to Congress in January before the inauguration of President Joe Biden.In addition to the helicopters, the proposed sale included 28 helicopter engines produced by GE Aviation, 14 military-grade aircraft navigation systems made by Honeywell, and 2,000 advanced precision kill weapon systems—laser-guided rocket munitions, according to information sent by the State Department to Congress and reviewed by Foreign Policy.The report said the US policy makers are torn between balancing national security with human rights objectives.They reportedly expressed huge discomfort with the human rights records of the Buhari’s government.Instances cited include the recent ban on the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, the alleged crackdown on #EndSARS protesters in October last year, among others with the US lawmakers calling for cautions in engaging with Nigeria.Chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, was quoted as calling for a “fundamental rethink of the framework of our overall engagement” with Nigeria during a Senate hearing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June.Both Menendez and Sen. Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have placed a hold on the proposed arms sale, according to multiple U.S. officials and congressional aides familiar with the matter, who spoke to Foreign Policy on condition of anonymity, the website reported.Observers also cite instances of abuse by the military as responsible for the current impasse on the sale of helicopters.“There is a culture of impunity that exists around abuses by the military,” said Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, Anietie Ewang who was quoted by the Foreign Policy.He added, “I’m sure it’s a difficult situation. There are so many conflicts springing up across the country now. The authorities, I presume, are trying to do the best they can to save lives and properties. But this must be done in accordance with human rights standards. You can’t throw one out just to be able to achieve the other.”

US Lawmakers Block Sale Of Attack Helicopters To Nigeria Over Poor Human Rights Record

US lawmakers have blocked the sale of some attack helicopters to Nigeria over purported poor human rights record of the Buhari administratio...

20 Year's Old Kano Youth Set Self Ablaze Over Inability To Pay NECO Fees

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3gXKJDsDEY/YOaIqrDPgEI/AAAAAAAABXk/r1i9UiMWyLk11aC5qlbQkumMe2wBabe6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210708_060830_366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3gXKJDsDEY/YOaIqrDPgEI/AAAAAAAABXk/r1i9UiMWyLk11aC5qlbQkumMe2wBabe6gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210708_060830_366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> A 20-year-old man in Kano State has set himself ablaze after all his efforts to raise the money to pay for his Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO), failed.The incident happened last week Tuesday in Garo town of Kabo Local Government Area of the State.According to reports, the youth, who was identified as Danladi Shu’aib, had written the exams three times but failed.However, he could not raise money to register for the exam this year.late Shu’aib had on various occasions threatened to commit suicide if he failed to write the exam.He also explained that Shu’aib was later taken to the hospital after setting himself ablaze, but died two days later.A neighbour of the deceased, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Danladi used to go and work in one mechanic garage, so after getting his pay for the day, he used them to buy fuel, and later entered one room in their house, poured it on his body and set himself ablaze.“However, when the fire heat penetrated his body, he started crying for help. People were able to put it off and rushed him to the hospital.“But, two days after, he died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the inferno,” the source added.Reports also said late Shu’aib was able to raise half of the amount earlier but gave up when he couldn’t get the remaining half to complete it.

20 Year's Old Kano Youth Set Self Ablaze Over Inability To Pay NECO Fees

A 20-year-old man in Kano State has set himself ablaze after all his efforts to raise the money to pay for his Secondary School Leaving Cert...

BREAKING: FG arrests IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FejDtbrqFug/YNtG3U4BguI/AAAAAAAABXA/D7qHIy6VBXke6cOTq0XzB2EctM0Vc5JzACNcBGAsYHQ/s768/Nnamdi-Kanu-768x506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="768" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FejDtbrqFug/YNtG3U4BguI/AAAAAAAABXA/D7qHIy6VBXke6cOTq0XzB2EctM0Vc5JzACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Nnamdi-Kanu-768x506.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Federal Government has arrested the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nReKXTxCNoc/YNtPCJp8ATI/AAAAAAAABXI/r5p0TR6SZQIoHvTsqpZcx3P-pGqcUpgpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1008/namdi%252Cglobalnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nReKXTxCNoc/YNtPCJp8ATI/AAAAAAAABXI/r5p0TR6SZQIoHvTsqpZcx3P-pGqcUpgpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/namdi%252Cglobalnet.jpg" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami(SAN), who made the disclosure to journalists on Tuesday, revealed that Kanu was arrested and brought back to Nigeria on Sunday.</div>

BREAKING: FG arrests IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

The Federal Government has arrested the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. The Attorney-General of the...

FG suspended Twitter Operations in Nigeria

<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEY9SjvzNYU/YLqhmAfDupI/AAAAAAAABWI/rAULauaANRcPCrvm_GXJPvcTh9QNdFlYgCNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210604_225132_246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEY9SjvzNYU/YLqhmAfDupI/AAAAAAAABWI/rAULauaANRcPCrvm_GXJPvcTh9QNdFlYgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210604_225132_246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was announced on Friday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">He cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.</div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Source: politicsnigeria</div>

FG suspended Twitter Operations in Nigeria

This was announced on Friday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA. “The Federal ...

How Shekau, ISWAP Commanders Were ‘Killed After Botched Power Deal’

A column of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters using gun trucks invaded Shekau-led group stronghold in the Sambisa forest on Wednesday...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HiMDRk8m3Gg/YKoIEQLsnqI/AAAAAAAABU0/Trme2K-rqII_eC3UcegTXIdqs6NOU3r0wCNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210523_084432_020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HiMDRk8m3Gg/YKoIEQLsnqI/AAAAAAAABU0/Trme2K-rqII_eC3UcegTXIdqs6NOU3r0wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210523_084432_020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, was killed during a face-off with fighters of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), according to reports.Citing an intelligence report, Daily Trust had reported how the Boko Haram leader lost his life after a fierce gun battle with ISWAP fighters.The platform said ISWAP fighters in gun trucks had invaded Sambisa forest, a stronghold of the late Shekau’s group, on Wednesday, and Shekau was forced to surrender after his men were overpowered.They had reportedly asked the Boko Haram leader to relinquish power but he was said to have opted to take his life rather than doing so.“After his bodyguards were subdued, Shekau surrendered and engaged in hours-long meeting with the ISWAP fighters. During the parley, he was asked to voluntarily relinquish power and order his fighters in other areas to declare bai’a (allegiance) to ISWAP’s authority. They had expected Shekau to issue a statement.“Sources within the insurgency, however, said that Shekau who secretly had a suicide vest on eventually blew himself up alongside everyone present during the negotiations. The identities of the people within ISWAP’s leadership who lost their lives to the explosion remain unclear at this time,” HumanAngle said in its report.Shekau’s reign After the death of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009, Shekau emerged the spiritual leader of Boko Haram. Several times in the past, Shekau was rumoured to have been killed and fatally wounded during military operations.But he subsequently debunked the claims by releasing videos and audios.Deep disagreement among Boko Haram leaders had led to confrontation with Shekau.Citing Shekau’s rigidity, Abu Musab, a son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, and a top lieutenant, Mamman Nur, broke away from him.The break-way faction graduated to ISWAP and moved to Alagano and Lake Chad Basin, where they reigned.Silence from the militaryEven though the military authorities are yet to comment on the news about Shekau’s death, Daily Trust learnt that ISWAP’s claim is being verified.Both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the army authorities are said to be verifying the claim.

How Shekau, ISWAP Commanders Were ‘Killed After Botched Power Deal’

A column of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters using gun trucks invaded Shekau-led group stronghold in the Sambisa fore...

A Rocket Launched by China May Land in Abuja

A rocket launched by China is set to crash back to earth this weekend.Experts say they are not sure where or when the rocket launched in April 2021 will land.The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has been listed as one of the cities where the rocket by berth.A report by NBC news indicates that a piece of a rocket launched by China in April 2021 is expected to re-enter the earth's atmosphere late Saturday, May 8, or early Sunday, May 9 according to experts and officials. According to the report, the 98-foot-long 5B rocket is tumbling through space in an uncontrolled orbit at 18,000 miles per hour after blasting off last month carrying part of the country's new space station. And while it's common for pieces of rockets to fall back to earth, this particular section has drawn concern because its lack of control means experts aren't sure where it will come down. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ZboeH9tC8/YJa1jBqjh8I/AAAAAAAABUU/c07J8OXSkmE2OXOEgvYxZN0owBozviPHACNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210508_165749_127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ZboeH9tC8/YJa1jBqjh8I/AAAAAAAABUU/c07J8OXSkmE2OXOEgvYxZN0owBozviPHACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210508_165749_127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A photo of the rocket when it was blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the Hainan Province of China.</div>Scientists say the risk of it killing anyone after it re-enters the planet's atmosphere is small but not impossible. Also, there is a tiny chance the debris could hit New York, Los Angeles, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The experts, however, noted that it will more likely land in an ocean or the wilderness. Recall that Nigeria's Defence Space Administration (DSA), a while ago, revealed that the country will adopt the use of space science technology in fighting insurgency, the biggest challenge of the West African giant at the moment. The DSA noted that in contemporary times, science is required to effectively engage in warfare, adding that the Nigerian military will employ the use of space science technology to impact national security. Meanwhile, Mad Mike Hughes, a scientist known for amateur crewed rocketry, died while attempting to launch his homemade rocket in Barstow, California last year. Mad Mike crashlanded his rocket few seconds after takeoff in the presence of Science Channel production crew that was on-site documenting the launch.

A Rocket Launched by China May Land in Abuja

A rocket launched by China is set to crash back to earth this weekend. Experts say they are not sure where or when the rocket launched in Ap...

Bill Gates Divorces his Wife Melinda

Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, has announced separation from his wife, Melinda. The couple are parting ways after 27 years of marriage. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqKgPiXDVeA/YJDi1ye3RZI/AAAAAAAABTs/M4AXOvjvPPckSzFTEufauzwpwLlaVUq7ACNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210504_065910_380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqKgPiXDVeA/YJDi1ye3RZI/AAAAAAAABTs/M4AXOvjvPPckSzFTEufauzwpwLlaVUq7ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210504_065910_380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> In a statement, Bill and Melinda said they no longer believe they can grow together as a couple.“After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage.”“Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives.“We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives.“We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life,” the statement read.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lUyWxNhu8s/YJDiOcrmJ7I/AAAAAAAABTk/Cm_xIOcxdsALL06iYpHCjYEDATSBjzj_gCNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210504_065217_158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lUyWxNhu8s/YJDiOcrmJ7I/AAAAAAAABTk/Cm_xIOcxdsALL06iYpHCjYEDATSBjzj_gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210504_065217_158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The two, who met in the late 1980s, got married in 1994. They have three children – Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe.They jointly run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which was founded in 2000.Gates, the fourth richest man in the world has a net worth of $130 billion.Financial details of their parting ways are not yet clear, according to CNBC.Gates owns 1.37% of Microsoft’s outstanding shares, which are worth more than $26 billion, according to FactSet.

Bill Gates Divorces his Wife Melinda

Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, has announced separation from his wife, Melinda. The couple are parting ways after 27 years of marriage. ...

First bank directors are sacked by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mXCnL0Ys1A/YIzZyEm4ijI/AAAAAAAABS8/qMgQN5Xm-IowmWAzskvDs2UJ8wxjVqxWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s288/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mXCnL0Ys1A/YIzZyEm4ijI/AAAAAAAABS8/qMgQN5Xm-IowmWAzskvDs2UJ8wxjVqxWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/images.jpg" /></a></div> Emefiele, while addressing journalists, said the decision was taken to protect the financial system, following the crisis that greeted the purported changes at FBN.The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sacked all the directors of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Limited and First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc.The sacking was announced by the CBN Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at a press briefing on Thursday over the purported removal of the bank’s Managing Director, Mr Adesola Adeduntan and appointment of Mr. Gbenga Shobo by the board on Wednesday.Emefiele, while addressing journalists, said the decision was taken to protect the financial system, following the crisis that greeted the purported changes at FBN.Adeduntan, who was earlier sacked by the board, was however, reinstated by the apex bank.Sahara Reporters had reported how the CBN in a query, dated April 28 and obtained by Sahara Reporters noted that the Board of Directors of First Bank of Nigeria Limited revealed that it had appointed Gbenga Shobo as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer “without due consultation with the regulatory authorities, especially given the systemic importance” of the bank.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSOXs6kN2IY/YIzaCBAutpI/AAAAAAAABTE/AAGLu3W28LYBdHrlr7pU1BR7e47mzVQtQCNcBGAsYHQ/s318/download-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSOXs6kN2IY/YIzaCBAutpI/AAAAAAAABTE/AAGLu3W28LYBdHrlr7pU1BR7e47mzVQtQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/download-3.jpg" /></a></div> The appointment of a new CEO, Shobo, to replace the former CEO, Dr Sola Adeduntan, had been disclosed by the bank in a statement made by the bank’s Chairman, Ibukun Awosika.The query letter from the Central Bank to First Bank, signed by CBN Director of Banking Supervision, Haruna Mustafa, revealed that the appointment of Shobo was done without the approval of thereportersk.

First bank directors are sacked by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Emefiele, while addressing journalists, said the decision was taken to protect the financial system, following the crisis that greeted the p...

Buba Galadima tackles presidency for defending Pantami

Release Nyame, Dariye from jail’ — Buba Galadima tackles presidency for defending Pantami<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFs8tUUIZdg/YITmLpB8QLI/AAAAAAAABSY/Zc6FJv7mHz0ip6ICJ6sdaNCmQxHZTp0DgCNcBGAsYHQ/s290/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFs8tUUIZdg/YITmLpB8QLI/AAAAAAAABSY/Zc6FJv7mHz0ip6ICJ6sdaNCmQxHZTp0DgCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/download-2.jpg" /></a></div> Engr. Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned the presidency’s defence of Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, over the latter’s past comments on supporting terror groups.The presidency had said on Thursday that it stands by Pantami, who had in the past expressed views in support of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda.The presidency based its position on the fact that Pantami has “publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong”.Speaking on Friday when he featured on ARISE TV’s ‘The Morning Show’, Galadinma said the presidency’s reaction shows that if anyone who commits a crime and expresses remorse is pardonable, then Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, ex-governors of Plateau and Taraba states, respectively, should be released from prison.Dariye and Nyame are both in jail for criminal misappropriation of public funds and abuse of office.“This issue is not a question of religion, because I don’t believe Isa Pantami is a representative of Islam. It is an issue that negates the laws of our country. We can’t pick and choose. If anybody commits any offence, irrespective of his position, tribe, or religion, the law must take its course. This is a moral burden on the shoulders of this government,” Galadima said. “We shouldn’t choose and pick because if anybody who commits an offence apologises and should be let free, then let the federal government release Jolly Nyame, Dariye of Plateau state; they have been jailed and they had remorse in court. Or those that are being interrogated for theft should be left off the hook if they apologise.”Galadima added that since Pantami has admitted that he committed a crime, he should face the consequences. “Pantami has already admitted his crime, so there is no need to investigate anything. He has already admitted and apologised. Whether the apology is good enough to exonerate him, that I wouldn’t know. It is opportunism by these clergymen all over, on both sides, that they play to the gallery because they want to draw attention,” he said.“Now, he did that in a certain period and now he is reaping the fruits because he has been recognised and given an appointment. Now that his past was bad, it is important that he faces his own music.”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhL0PNu8XTQ/YITnwB58uJI/AAAAAAAABSg/9l3RKNAMgx4i_edzaeHdnqUN__tegeClQCNcBGAsYHQ/s680/Buba-globalnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="680" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhL0PNu8XTQ/YITnwB58uJI/AAAAAAAABSg/9l3RKNAMgx4i_edzaeHdnqUN__tegeClQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Buba-globalnet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>

Buba Galadima tackles presidency for defending Pantami

Release Nyame, Dariye from jail’ — Buba Galadima tackles presidency for defending Pantami Engr. Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Mu...

Chadian Military Picks Idriss Deby’s Son As His Replacement

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0h95aZc17s/YH7NtXuVg-I/AAAAAAAABRs/JjFtdNidHskb2-riDT3WQJY1R-xVuSt4ACNcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_20210420_133350_897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="720" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X0h95aZc17s/YH7NtXuVg-I/AAAAAAAABRs/JjFtdNidHskb2-riDT3WQJY1R-xVuSt4ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210420_133350_897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chadian Military Picks Idriss Deby’s Son As His Replacement</div>The Chadian Army has announced Idris Deby 37-year-old son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, a four-star general, as the new leader of the country. Deby...The Chadian Army has announced Idris Deby 37-year-old son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, a four-star general, as the new leader of the country.Deby died on the battlefield after three decades in power, the army announced on state television on Tuesday.The shocking announcement came after the 68-year-old was proclaimed the winner of a presidential election that had given him a sixth term in office.The army said Deby had been commanding his army at the weekend as it battled against rebels who had launched a major incursion into the north of the country on election day.Deby “has just breathed his last breath defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield,” army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on state television.Deby, 68, had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades but was a key ally in the West’s anti-jihadist campaign in the troubled Sahel region.On Monday, the army had claimed a “great victory” in its battle against the rebels from neighbouring Libya, saying it had killed 300 fighters, with the loss of five soldiers in its own ranks during eight days of combat.Deby would have been one of the longest-serving leaders in the world, after provisional results showed him winning the April 11 election.He was a herder’s son from the Zaghawa ethnic group who took the classic path to power through the army, and relished the military culture.His latest election victory — with almost 80 percent of the vote — had never been in doubt, with a divided opposition, boycott calls, and a campaign in which demonstrations were banned or dispersed.Deby had campaigned on a promise of bringing peace and security to the region, but his pledges were undermined by the rebel incursion.The government had sought Monday to assure concerned residents that the offensive was over.There had been panic in some areas of N’Djamena on Monday after tanks were deployed along the city’s main roads, an AFP journalist reported.The tanks were later withdrawn apart from a perimeter around the president’s office, which is under heavy security during normal times.“The establishment of a security deployment in certain areas of the capital seems to have been misunderstood,” government spokesman Cherif Mahamat Zene had said on Twitter on Monday. “There is no particular threat to fear.”However, the US embassy in N’Djamena had on Saturday ordered non-essential personnel to leave the country, warning of possible violence in the capital. Britain also urged its nationals to leave.France’s embassy said in an advisory to its nationals in Chad that the deployment was a precaution and there was no specific threat to the capital.The rebel raid in the provinces of Tibesti and Kanem was carried out by the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), based in Libya.The group has a non-aggression pact with Khalifa Haftar, a military strongman who controls much of Libya’s east.FACT, a group mainly made up of the Saharan Goran people, said in a statement Sunday that it had “liberated” the Kanem region. Such claims in remote desert combat zones are difficult to verify.The Tibesti mountains near the Libyan frontier frequently see fighting between rebels and the army, as well as in the northeast bordering Sudan. French air strikes were needed to stop an incursion there in February 2019.In February 2008, a rebel assault reached the gates of the presidential palace before being pushed back with French backing. (AFP)

Chadian Military Picks Idriss Deby’s Son As His Replacement

Chadian Military Picks Idriss Deby’s Son As His Replacement The Chadian Army has announced Idris Deby 37-year-old son, Mahamat Idriss Deby I...

Chad's President Idriss Déby is Dead

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkukyfgakFs/YH6-WI_ly9I/AAAAAAAABRc/finNaE4de0kKiVXKuJuEt0eEHAKldvIIgCNcBGAsYHQ/s800/_118123705_deby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkukyfgakFs/YH6-WI_ly9I/AAAAAAAABRc/finNaE4de0kKiVXKuJuEt0eEHAKldvIIgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/_118123705_deby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>  Idriss Deby had been in power for 30 years<div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">Chad's President Idriss Déby has died suddenly in clashes with rebels in the north of the country at the weekend, the army has said on state TV.</div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">On Monday, provisional results from the election on 11 April projected he would win a sixth term in office, with 80% of the vote.</div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">The government and parliament have been dissolved. A military council will govern for the next 18 months.</div></div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">Mr Déby was one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">He first came to power in an armed uprising in 1990.</div></div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">He had gone to the front line at the weekend to visit troops battling rebels based across the border in Libya.</div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">The rebels, from a group calling itself Fact (the Front for Change and Concord in Chad), attacked a border post on election day. They were advancing on the capital, N'Djamena.</div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">The clashes with the army began on Saturday. An army general told Reuters news agency that 300 insurgents were killed and 150 captured. Five government soldiers were killed and 36 were injured, he said. The figures could not immediately be verified.</div><div class="bbc-19j92fr e57qer20" dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; grid-column: 1 / span 6; grid-template-columns: repeat(6, 1fr); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.5rem; width: initial;"><p class="bbc-bm53ic e1cc2ql70" dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #3f3f42; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.375rem; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5rem; text-align: justify;">Mr Déby was a long-time ally of France and other Western powers. However, there has been growing unhappiness over his government's management of Chad's oil resources.</div>

Chad's President Idriss Déby is Dead

Idriss Deby had been in power for 30 years Chad's President Idriss Déby has died suddenly in clashes with rebels in the north of the...

MTN announced an alternative channels for customers to buy airtime

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dcp5JekIjdA/YGmImlchx3I/AAAAAAAABQg/Om86pzDU8lEEMmEUTFrfwDmuwIsAjeamwCNcBGAsYHQ/s275/mtn%2Bglobalnet.com.ng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dcp5JekIjdA/YGmImlchx3I/AAAAAAAABQg/Om86pzDU8lEEMmEUTFrfwDmuwIsAjeamwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/mtn%2Bglobalnet.com.ng.jpg" /></a></div> MTN announced alternative channels for customers to buy airtimeThe telecommunications firm, MTN, has announced alternative channels for customers to buy airtime for their phones, after commercial banks disallowed MTN subscribers to use their channels.Banks removed the telecom firm from their platforms on Friday, following a feud over the sharing of fees by both sides.The disagreement began after MTN reduced the percentage it remits to the banks for each amount of airtime from 4.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.Sources within the company defended the move, citing applicable charges elsewhere, while banks said MTN was already paying lower than other telcos.The Nigerian government said it intervened in a late Friday and that talks to resolve the row “reached an advanced stage” for the suspended service to be restored.“On the fallout between @MTNNG and some banks on USSD services today, I engaged with both regulators, the Governor of @cenbank and EVC @NgComCommission. We have reached an advanced stage of resolving the issues, for the services to be restored to our citizens. Many thanks,” the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, announced on Twitter.The situation unchanged, however, 24 hours later as customers were still unable to use the banks’ USSD systems to recharge.AlternativeOn Friday, MTN through its spokesperson, Funso Aina, advised subscribers to use alternative channels to access its services electronically.Below is the list and links to access the various alternative platforms, as circulated by the firm.1. MTN On Demand is on *904# and also via https://mtnondemand.flutterwave.com;2. Barter By Flutter Wave is an app that can be downloaded here: http://tosto.re/getbarter;3. Jumia Pay (app);4. OPay (app);5. MTN Xtratime airtime loans (*606#);6. Carbon (app);7. Kuda (app);8. BillsnPay (web https://www.billsnpay.com/. They also have an app);9. myMTN Web http://mymtn.com.ng;10. Momo agent *223#The Apps can be downloaded from the Playstore and the Appstore.

MTN announced an alternative channels for customers to buy airtime

MTN announced alternative channels for customers to buy airtime The telecommunications firm, MTN, has announced alternative channels for cus...

Central Bank (CBN) free Nigerians to use bitcoin (Cryptocurrencies)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ8fAs9LReU/YFYvVgsrZPI/AAAAAAAABQA/ujz9L1qmwlEFGJYNqNyvVJW0q9WNQXjuACNcBGAsYHQ/s255/cbn.globalnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ8fAs9LReU/YFYvVgsrZPI/AAAAAAAABQA/ujz9L1qmwlEFGJYNqNyvVJW0q9WNQXjuACNcBGAsYHQ/s0/cbn.globalnet.jpg" /></a></div> The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said there was no time the bank banned the activities of Cryptocurrencies in the country.The Governor of the bank, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this in Abuja at the 30th seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors organised by the bank.Emefiele, who was represented by Adamu Lamtek, Deputy Governor, Corporates Services, said what the bank did was to protect the banking sector from the activities of Cryptocurrencies and not a ban on its activities.The CBN did not place restrictions from use of Cryptocurrencies and we are not discouraging people from trading in it. What we have just done was to prohibit transactions on Cryptocurrencies in the banking sector.

Central Bank (CBN) free Nigerians to use bitcoin (Cryptocurrencies)

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said there was no time the bank banned the activities of Cryptocurrencies in the country. The Governor of ...

NDLEA Boss Wants Drug Certificate to be included As Requirement For Marriage

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv1MajYiVoA/YFQ4mne0JZI/AAAAAAAABPc/N0KFtzB9CK0Xf6rYvxu2YkgfyCq7msdYQCNcBGAsYHQ/s259/NDLEA.globalnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv1MajYiVoA/YFQ4mne0JZI/AAAAAAAABPc/N0KFtzB9CK0Xf6rYvxu2YkgfyCq7msdYQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/NDLEA.globalnet.jpg" /></a></div>Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Retired Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa, has suggested that parents should from now include drug certificate as part of the criteria to give their daughters and sons hands in marriage.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“This will be the beginning in reducing drug usage and its prevailing economic effects on the nation,’’ he said.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marwa said this on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti at a colloquium tagged: “Walk Away from Drugs’’, a programme organised by Ekiti Ministry of Justice.While lamenting the prevalence of drug abuse in the country, he said NDLEA had seized illicit drugs worth more than N60 billion in the last two months.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuSNh3JBADA/YFQ43KiApXI/AAAAAAAABPk/-1COWS5EItMmxI5bp9IsqENGY_a5yECsACNcBGAsYHQ/s251/ndlea.globalnet.com.ng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IuSNh3JBADA/YFQ43KiApXI/AAAAAAAABPk/-1COWS5EItMmxI5bp9IsqENGY_a5yECsACNcBGAsYHQ/s0/ndlea.globalnet.com.ng.jpg" /></a></div> He described the menace of drug abuse in the country as “worrisome’’.“In Nigeria today, there is no challenge that is more worrisome than drug abuse.“For instance, insurgency, kidnapping and banditry are seen as peculiar to certain parts of the country, but drug abuse has no boundary or respect for ethnicity or religion.“The menace is so worrisome that within the last two months, more than N60 billion worth of illicit drugs have been seized and perpetrators arrested and prosecuted.“If access to drugs is prevented, criminality can be reduced by 50 per cent,’’ Marwa said.He called for concerted efforts by stakeholders to campaign against the use of illicit drugs.Declaring open the event, Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, restated the commitment of his administration to reducing drug abuse.Fayemi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, urged participants to take the deliberation seriously and to evolve implementable plans to rid the society of the menace.In his address of welcome, Ekiti State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapounda, said that the programme was organised because of alarming cases of drug-induced criminality in the society.“In most cases prosecuted by the ministry, investigations showed crime perpetrators were under the influence of drugs,’’ he said. (NAN)

NDLEA Boss Wants Drug Certificate to be included As Requirement For Marriage

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Retired Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa, has suggested that parents should from now inclu...

Drama As Ado Ekiti Federal Polytechnic Rector Invests Staff Salary’s On Bitcoin Worth N1BN

<div style="text-align: justify;">Drama As Ado Ekiti Federal Polytechnic Rector Invests Staff Salary’s On Bitcoin Worth N1BN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4nvL8fxO7H0/YEB_p3SA38I/AAAAAAAABOI/omh9X91mfBoubqkK_hCpN8nNb0ufKrNdACNcBGAsYHQ/s304/globalnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="304" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4nvL8fxO7H0/YEB_p3SA38I/AAAAAAAABOI/omh9X91mfBoubqkK_hCpN8nNb0ufKrNdACNcBGAsYHQ/s0/globalnet.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rector of Federal polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti is currently on the run after investing about N1 Billion meant to pay salaries of lecturers into Bitcoin.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lecturers have reportedly began strike action by closing down the gate of the school in protest of N1 Billion salaries arrears owed by the rector.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3wuwVMdVS0/YECAV-VTjiI/AAAAAAAABOQ/yimJo24XYiI-nWq8XZEY2lY05UVnkAObgCNcBGAsYHQ/s747/IMG_20210304_073011_026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="488" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3wuwVMdVS0/YECAV-VTjiI/AAAAAAAABOQ/yimJo24XYiI-nWq8XZEY2lY05UVnkAObgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20210304_073011_026.JPG" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Students have also shown displeasure over the rector’s action, as the federal government is being called upon to intervene.</div>

Drama As Ado Ekiti Federal Polytechnic Rector Invests Staff Salary’s On Bitcoin Worth N1BN

Drama As Ado Ekiti Federal Polytechnic Rector Invests Staff Salary’s On Bitcoin Worth N1BN The rector of Federal polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti is c...

Organ Trafficking: United Nations Alert

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IP_g65DBhD8/YDkB_B6VdOI/AAAAAAAABNs/bmUFB9Y8y7MuwYXdMt1e0n0aDVeDlW-vACNcBGAsYHQ/s275/un%2Bglobalnet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IP_g65DBhD8/YDkB_B6VdOI/AAAAAAAABNs/bmUFB9Y8y7MuwYXdMt1e0n0aDVeDlW-vACNcBGAsYHQ/s0/un%2Bglobalnet.png" /></a></div> UNITED NATIONS ALERTThe black market for parts of the human body is booming in the Middle East. A kidney now costs 262,000 dollars (131 million CFA francs); the heart costs 119,000 dollars (60 million CFA francs) and the liver costs 157,000 dollars (79 million CFA francs). Beware of fake foreign agencies promising to make you work abroad. They process your papers, pay your plane ticket and just take you abroad pretending they want to find you a job, but instead, they kill their victims, recover all the precious parts of their bodies. Many people have been offered jobs in the Middle East and so far their families have been unable to locate them.Click on <a href="https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/intro/emerging-crimes/organ-trafficking.html" target="_blank">For more information</a>SHARE TO SAVE LIVES

Organ Trafficking: United Nations Alert

UNITED NATIONS ALERT The black market for parts of the human body is booming in the Middle East. A kidney now costs 262,000 dollars (131 m...

Six Feared Dead As Military Jet Crashes In Abuja

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-en6lyiF9O4I/YDJwb9OjfLI/AAAAAAAABNQ/0HierP4V8WomkfbWBXaQvi7iELMMF7rlACNcBGAsYHQ/s600/militry%2Bglobalnet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-en6lyiF9O4I/YDJwb9OjfLI/AAAAAAAABNQ/0HierP4V8WomkfbWBXaQvi7iELMMF7rlACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/militry%2Bglobalnet.png" width="320" /></a></div>February 21,
2021 in News, News Update<o:p></o:p>BREAKING:
Six Feared Dead As Military Jet Crashes In Abuja<o:p></o:p>Six persons onboard a military
aircraft have been feared killed after the plane crash landed in Abuja.

The six people comprised two crew
members and four passengers.

The aircraft, a NAF201 B350, was
said to be Minna, Niger State bound when it developed engine problem around
10:39am.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p><o:p>Read Also: </o:p><a href="https://www.globalnet.com.ng/2021/02/breaking-military-plane-crashes-in-abuja.html" target="_blank">BREAKING: Military Plane Crashes in Abuja</a>

It was said to have crash landed
at the final approach path of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway
22 around 10:48am and immediately gutted fire.<o:p></o:p>

Confirming the crash, Aviation
Minister, Hadi Sirika, tweeted: “A military aircraft King Air 350 has just
crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure enroute Minna.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>‘’It appears to be fatal. We
should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military,
while we pray for the departed soul/souls if any.”

<o:p> </o:p>At the time of this report, the
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was yet to comment on the accident.

Six Feared Dead As Military Jet Crashes In Abuja

February 21, 2021 in News, News Update BREAKING: Six Feared Dead As Military Jet Crashes In Abuja Six persons onboard a military aircraft ...

BREAKING: Military Plane Crashes in Abuja

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojb5XQxRHkQ/YDJuYCx1dOI/AAAAAAAABNA/gy2ZzAkGXQcmoo_fcHthPjzoSZ6-yuwPQCNcBGAsYHQ/s600/militry%2Bglobalnet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojb5XQxRHkQ/YDJuYCx1dOI/AAAAAAAABNA/gy2ZzAkGXQcmoo_fcHthPjzoSZ6-yuwPQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/militry%2Bglobalnet.png" width="320" /></a></div>February 21,
2021 in News, News Update<o:p></o:p>BREAKING: Military Plane Crashes in Abuja

The crash took place a few minutes ago.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, confirmed
the incident in his official twitter handle<o:p></o:p>

He tweeted: “A military aircraft King Air 350
has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure
enroute Minna. It appears to be fatal<o:p></o:p>

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0ezj7otpQs/YDJvbes0aJI/AAAAAAAABNI/cMsdgg8OD-YmaSW_elIwnNWkkt8cjNRZACNcBGAsYHQ/s480/mltry%2Bglobalnet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0ezj7otpQs/YDJvbes0aJI/AAAAAAAABNI/cMsdgg8OD-YmaSW_elIwnNWkkt8cjNRZACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/mltry%2Bglobalnet.png" width="320" /></a></div> “We should remain calm & wait for the
outcome of investigation by the military, while we pray for the departed
soul/souls if any.”<o:p></o:p>

BREAKING: Military Plane Crashes in Abuja

February 21, 2021 in News, News Update BREAKING: Military Plane Crashes in Abuja The crash took place a few minutes ago. Minister of A...

Concern In Gombe State Over Scarcity Of Husbands For Single Women

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Nrct3yIII/YDJj5HQ3mOI/AAAAAAAABMc/XxFsaOQwZMYmTvzHQ22JOI0JWAE5JewSACNcBGAsYHQ/s500/single-woman-globalnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="500" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C6Nrct3yIII/YDJj5HQ3mOI/AAAAAAAABMc/XxFsaOQwZMYmTvzHQ22JOI0JWAE5JewSACNcBGAsYHQ/w200-h148/single-woman-globalnet.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> BY SOLA
SHITTU, GOMBE<o:p></o:p>

In September 2013, hundreds of single women
led by Suwaiba Isa stormed the streets of Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State,
protesting scarcity of husbands for more than 8,000 of them. A similar protest
earlier planned by Hajiya Altine Abdullahi for widows and unmarried Kano women
in August 2009 was averted by Kano State Government which quickly arranged mass
wedding for 1,000 women in the state.<o:p></o:p>

It had looked as if the trend was restricted
to the Northwest part of the country and the Muslim population until a pastor
in one of the churches in Gombe State raised concern over their unmarried
ladies’ choice of men from outside the region, especially the Southwest part of
the country who came to take their women away.<o:p></o:p>

Reports say that 60 per cent of the non-indigene
population in Gombe State is made of people from the Southwest part of the
country, who the Oba of Yoruba in Gombe, Abdulrahim Alao Yusuf, said have been
living in the area for more than 150 years.<o:p></o:p>

At 35, Godiya Adamu is yet to find a husband;
a situation she blamed on her inability to find a man who is serious about
marriage.<o:p></o:p>

“What would I do? I can’t force myself on men
if they do not come,” she said, revealing that she had been in about five
relationships without meaningful results before she eventually gave up. “As far
as I am concerned, life continues with or without a husband,” she said.<o:p></o:p>

On her part, Abigail, a mother of two, said
she deliberately chose to be a single mother so that she might have peace of
mind. “I live in my own house in this Gombe with my children. I am their mother
and their father,” she said.<o:p></o:p>

Abigail said she chose to be single because
she could not play the second fiddle in a marriage.<o:p></o:p>

She said: “I have friends who prefer that the
man should not make their existence known to the wife at home and they are
comfortable with it.<o:p></o:p>

“What I want to say is that one should go for
whatever will make one happy. There is nothing new again under the sun.<o:p></o:p>

Esther, a 45-year-old single lady, said the
new trend now is for ladies to go out of their state and culture to marry. “I
was in a wedding where a pastor here in the North complained bitterly that
Yoruba men are taking their girls away. He said when they marry them, they
don’t stay in Gombe but take them to their part of the country.<o:p></o:p>

“So I said why will this not be so because
some of the young men that you see out there are into drug addiction, and who
wants to marry a drug addict?<o:p></o:p>

“The truth is many of them are not serious.
It is not only men that are looking for decent and serious ladies, ladies too
are also seeking decent men to marry, and that to me is scarce right now in
this generation.”

For Amina, a Fulani woman, her problem was
that she had education. She said she had discovered that many men in the North
are reluctant to marry educated women. “Probably because they felt it might not
be easy for them to have control over such a woman. So to me, the option is of
course to remain single and be both the mother and father to my children.”<o:p></o:p>

Rev. Adamu Dauda of ECWA Gospel Church Gombe
said when he noticed that the situation was becoming alarming, he called for a
meeting with all the youths in the church.<o:p></o:p>

He said: “I lead a congregation of over 1,500
members out of which we have over 800 youths. During the meeting, we discovered
that out of the 800 youths, 487 were not married, so I began to take the
initiative to talk to them one on one.<o:p></o:p>“The shocking discovery is that some of the
ladies told me that nobody had proposed to them. Then I asked, did you not see
anyone that you liked? Some said yes, but they could not go to the man because
it is against African culture. That is the area we are now looking into.

“If a lady likes a man, why not go to the man
herself? If that will give you better results, why not? Because I can tell you
for sure that the church is already getting overwhelmed.”<o:p></o:p>

Rev. Dauda also blamed the situation on the
inability of many young men to use their hands to make ends meet because they
are thinking of white collar jobs and other privileges that will come through
the government.<o:p></o:p>

He said: “You would believe me that the
economy of our country is in serious problem. Many people are struggling.
People would tell you that they have spent two or three days without cooking in
their homes. In other words, they are looking for what to eat.<o:p></o:p>

“They would come to the church and plead, and
because we are one family, the church encourages giving and supporting one
another.<o:p></o:p>

“Today, most of our children, especially the
boys, graduated and have nothing to do. When you ask them, they would say they
are looking for government jobs. Many of them have failed to use their hands to
make ends meet. They are thinking of white collar jobs and other privileges
that will come through government but these are not forthcoming.<o:p></o:p>

“Since they have no job, they have no means
of taking care of wives. Many of them you can see walking on the streets with
their files instead of taking vocational jobs where they can earn money and
make themselves employers of labour.”<o:p></o:p>

He said another reason for the delay in
marriage for many men and women is modernization, which he said has led to
trial marriage, which he said is directly opposite to African culture.

He said: “In those days, because you could
not touch a woman before you married her, it encouraged a man to desire to
marry. But what is happening today is not good for the ears at all.<o:p></o:p>

“If they could try marriage before they get married
then what would prompt them to want to marry again? Because what they are
looking for in marriage, they can get it outside marriage.”<o:p></o:p>

He also blamed some of the women for living
care-free life. “Some of the women do not have self control, and if you do not
have self control, somebody will come and get what he wants to get from you and
find his way out. Then another person will come and it goes on like that in a
vicious circle. At the end of the day you find out that nobody wants to marry
you.<o:p></o:p>

“Hardly will such a lady find a man to marry
her, because even if a man is not decent and not faithful, he is looking for a
faithful woman to marry. Once a man hears so much about you concerning
indecency and other things, they will go away and not want to stay with such a
woman.<o:p></o:p>

“Another factor is on the side of the
parents. Most parents do not want their daughter to marry until she attains a
certain level of education. In those days, after secondary school, a girl can
get married and then both husband and wife can go and struggle together and
they will be whatever they want to be together. But today, the parents will say
she will not marry until she obtains first degree.<o:p></o:p>

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vmfj284e8Cc/YDJkuZr9fOI/AAAAAAAABMk/8xA2sW7wTAQ-_KaBVjclkkRu8D-BA_9HgCNcBGAsYHQ/s526/Capture-globalnet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="526" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vmfj284e8Cc/YDJkuZr9fOI/AAAAAAAABMk/8xA2sW7wTAQ-_KaBVjclkkRu8D-BA_9HgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Capture-globalnet.png" width="320" /></a></div> “Another thing is that some parents also do
select for their children, saying they should wait for a well-established family
with the hope that marriage with their daughter will get them out of poverty,
and the lady will keep on waiting. Parents’ intervention in issues of marriage
is causing a lot of problems.”<o:p></o:p>

The Chief Imam of Government House Mosque in
Gombe, Sheik Dr. Zakariya Hajiya, blamed the scarcity of husbands for women in
the state on poverty. According to him, the huge expenses of marriage for men
with regard to the bride, her family, mosques and churches have become a huge
burden on them. He said the biting economic situation occasioned by the
COVID-19 pandemic and the security challenges in the Northeast region have
further worsened the situation.<o:p></o:p>

He said: “The expenses on those things like
dowry, clothes, necklaces, kitchen appliances, bed, television, refrigerator
and other household appliances, which a would-be husband would provide for both
the bride, her family and faith houses, are so huge for him.<o:p></o:p>

“Another problem is the death of many men due
to insurgency which have turned many women into widows and with children to
cater for. The situation is further compounded by the huge number of widows of
soldiers and policemen who died in the fight against insurgency in the
Northeast.<o:p></o:p>

“These women are also part of the society.
Most of the time, men are victims of insurgency attacks, banditry, kidnapping
and the rest. In fact, recently, men have become vulnerable and endangered
species in our society as a result of these crises in different parts of the
country.<o:p></o:p>

“So, scarcity of husband, which leads to
delay in marriages for women, is not limited to the Northeast; it is all over.
And it is also not limited to women in Islam; it also affects Christians too.”<o:p></o:p>

Another factor raised by Zakariya is the fact
that most women of nowadays do not want to play the second fiddle or allow
their husbands to marry another woman after them.<o:p></o:p>

“This is another big problem, especially for
polygamists. Some women even killed their husbands for marrying or trying to
marry another woman. Yes, it is as bad as that, but it is a deviation from the
teachings of Islam.<o:p></o:p>

“Islam allows a man to marry as many as four
wives. But these days, once you marry a woman, they hardly agreed for another
woman to be married after them. Except you have a very strong hold on a woman,
it could be very frustrating to put two or more of them under the same roof.<o:p></o:p>

“Some, apart from trying to kill their
husbands, even take him to court for divorce. It is as bad as that.”<o:p></o:p>

He said the society is facing a huge problem
in this regard now because the scarcity of husband is forcing many women into
fornication, adultery and even prostitution in order to survive.<o:p></o:p>

“Some of these women are even the ones
approaching men now because they are looking for means of survival.”<o:p></o:p>

He explained further that most women who
prevent their husbands from marrying another woman have forgotten that they
also have female children.<o:p></o:p>

“Some of them even have as many as four, five
or more daughters at home. If you marry one off and that one did not allow her
husband to marry another woman, who will marry her sisters?” he asked.<o:p></o:p>

This, according to him, is what many women
who are against polygamy do not understand.<o:p></o:p>

He said: “I am a teacher, and I know that
girls in schools outnumber boys. It also means that the population of girls is
more than boys.”<o:p></o:p>

But the Statistician General of the Gombe
State Bureau of Statistics, Hammed Gidado, would not agree with Sheik Zakariya.
Gidado said there is no empirical statistics on ground to support the notion
that there are more women than men and that is why there is scarcity of
husbands or delayed marriage for women.<o:p></o:p>

To him, available statistics showed that male
children still outnumber fema le children, according to latest population
statistics.<o:p></o:p>

He said: “There is no empirical statistics on
ground to support the notion that there are more single ladies than single men
in Gombe State for now. However this could be true on assumption.<o:p></o:p>

“There are five factors which could be
responsible for this. First is the spiritual cost of marriage. If you are doing
it according to Islamic marriage, it will not go through without cost. The same
also applies to church wedding. The pastor and the Mallam will get something.<o:p></o:p>

“Secondly, the parents will do K’aya hauri or
lepe in Hausa, and this will involve buying clothes, boxes, jewellery, etc. The
minimum you have to spend on this is nothing less than N200,000. Those are on
the side of the person getting married.<o:p></o:p>

“But the cost is even more on the side of the
parents who have to buy bed, refrigerator, television, carpet, furniture,
cooking utensils and other domestic tools to use at home. So the expenses are
even more on the side of the parents.<o:p></o:p>

“These are extreme costs which can run into
not less than N600,000 or more than a million naira.<o:p></o:p>

“Another is the cost of reception for invited
guests at the wedding. You have to provide food for people. If you are popular,
you will expect not less than 100 guests. The cost of what they will eat and
drink is more than the dowry.<o:p></o:p>

“In Islamic law, dowry is now pegged at a
minimum of N25,000. If you put all these costs together, you will discover that
it is one of the things deterring people from getting married.<o:p></o:p>

“Another aspect that is neither cultural or
religious is the issue of courtship or trial marriage, where a would-be husband
and wife will live together and do everything that is expected in marriage. By
the time they eventually get married in a matter of three to six months, they
go for divorce.<o:p></o:p>

“Another thing is the issue of death among
men. When a husband dies, the wife becomes a widow and the number of single
women increases. However, these are assumptions; there are no empirical
statistics to back it up.”<o:p></o:p>

Gidado however said the upsurge in single
women occurs more in the urban areas than rural areas and it is not restricted
to Gombe State. He added that in rural areas, a lady could marry up to three or
four times.<o:p></o:p>

“But if it is in urban areas, like Ibadan or
Lagos, or Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Abuja, who will marry her? In those
urban areas, a lady could live up to 50 years without having a husband.
Whenever it comes to the issue of marriage, what will be going on in the mind
of the man is where would I get money? Especially now that everyone is looking
for white kola job and government cannot provide job for everybody.<o:p></o:p>

“Even when you get the job, the minimum wage
is N30,000. Can you manage a home on N30,000 per month? There are also
contemporary issues which are not religious, cultural or traditional.”<o:p></o:p>

Gidado concluded that “this issue, sadly,
appears to have no solution. Because even when government intervened and
carried out mass weddings, many of the women ended up marrying another woman’s
husband and the marriage may not last more than six months.”<o:p></o:p>

He said the worrisome aspect is the rate of
divorce which is borne out of contemporary issues and is now a common
phenomenon all over the country.<o:p></o:p>

“In the South-south and Southeast, ladies now
stay away completely from marriage for life. If it is children, they can get
their own children and remain single parents. This however is not according to
our culture and religion in the North.”<o:p></o:p>

Concern In Gombe State Over Scarcity Of Husbands For Single Women

BY SOLA SHITTU, GOMBE In September 2013, hundreds of single women led by Suwaiba Isa stormed the streets of Gusau, the capital of Zamfar...

Republic Of Benin Is Not Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria - Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtGQEfl0qSM/YDGB7tTbBZI/AAAAAAAABMA/CJA6EE47k3Q-_S8LRtgXZyj2ncN5VPXMACNcBGAsYHQ/s275/download-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtGQEfl0qSM/YDGB7tTbBZI/AAAAAAAABMA/CJA6EE47k3Q-_S8LRtgXZyj2ncN5VPXMACNcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/download-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> PRESS RELEASE</div> No: MFA/PR/2021/ REPUBLIC OF BENIN IS NOT ASPIRING TO BE PART OF NIGERIAThe attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37 State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a Press Interview after a very fruitful meeting between Ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein ".. the President of Benin Republic said he would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria".The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information. <div style="text-align: center;">Signed</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ferdinand Nwonye</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spokesperson</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja</div>Saturday, 20 February, 2021

Republic Of Benin Is Not Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria - Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

PRESS RELEASE No: MFA/PR/2021/ REPUBLIC OF BENIN IS NOT ASPIRING TO BE PART OF NIGERIA The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has...

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