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The Federal Government has announced date for the 2020 West African Examination Examination .
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba , stated this at a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Abuja .
He said the examination will hold from August 4 th to September 5 th 2020 .
Details later
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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria , South West, has threatened to stop loading petroleum products in all depots in the region in protest against the recent increase in the price of petrol .
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency had on July 1 announced a new price band of N140 . 80 to N 143 . 80 per litre of petrol , up from N121 . 50 to N 123 . 50 .
The Zonal Chairman , IPMAN , Southwest , Dele Tajudeen , said that the price hike came as a surprise to the association , adding that the PPPRA did not engage marketers before taking the decision .
In a statement sent to news correspondent , he said , “ I wish to state that the recent pronouncement of PPPRA/ NNPC of increase in ex -depot /pump price of PMS is not acceptable to IPMAN South West. The decision , without consideration of corresponding increase of our profit margin , is unfair and inhuman .
“ The increase translates to almost a million naira on every 45 , 000 litres while our profit margin was reduced , leaving us worst than before . As a responsible association , we demand the NNPC to revert to the earlier ex -depot price of N130 . 72 sent to us or we boycott supply of petroleum products .
According to Tajudeen, the ex – depot petrol price of N111 . 78 per litre was increased to N130 . 72 on Tuesday last week and then to N133 . 72 on Wednesday .
“ This is not a threat but the government should be sensitive to the plight of marketers . We restate our commitment to the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products in the best in interest of the masses and Nigeria as a nation, but the government must be fair to marketers , ” he added.
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The Federal Government will meet with states on Tuesday to discuss the modalities for the safe reopening of primary and secondary schools , according to report .
Schools across the country have remained shut since March in the wake of the COVID- 19 outbreak in the country that has resulted in the infection of over 25 , 000 .
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , had earlier announced the resumption of schools , saying it was meant to allow pupils in graduating classes to resume preparation for examinations .
However , the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of Teachers argued that the move was not only badly thought out, but could also expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly infection.
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The West African Examination Council has advised Nigerians to disregard the purposed timetable for the 2020 /2021 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination timetable circulating online.
The Head of Public Affairs , WAEC, Nigeria , Mr Demianus Ojijeogu , told newsmen that the timetable circulating online was not from the examination body .
He said , “The timetable in circulation did not emanate from WAEC, Nigeria . Please , disregard . ”
The body had initially scheduled to hold the exam between April 6 and June 5 but postponed it because of the COVID- 19 pandemic .
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Over three million applicants have enrolled for about 400,000 job spaces in the third batch of the Federal Government’s N-Power programme.
It was gathered that the applicants applied for the programme through the online portal of the N-Power scheme which was opened for applications on June 26, 2020.
N-Power is one of the National Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said that it would absorb 400,000 applicants as Batch C beneficiaries.
The humanitarian ministry’s Deputy Director, Information, Rhoda Iliya, said, “Enrolment of beneficiaries for N-power Batch C commenced on June 26, 2020 and has received over three million applications since the portal opened.
“The application process will be concluded as soon as possible to provide additional Nigerian youths access to the programme.”
The humanitarian minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, noted that as the ministry had commenced the transition of Batch A and B N-Power beneficiaries, it would conclude activities of the independent monitors enrolled with those two batches by July 31, 2020.
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The Lagos State Government has said worship centres would remain closed in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this on Friday during a televised briefing at Alausa Ikeja.
He said the worship centres are to “remain shut until further notice”.
Sanwo-Olu also reiterated that “all restrictions applying to mass gatherings will remain in force”.
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He added, “Places of worship will remain closed in Lagos State, until further notice.
“All social and events centers, and social clubs, will also remain closed, for now.
“All bars, day and night clubs, cinemas, games arcades, beaches, and beach fronts, gyms and spas continue to remain closed.
“Eateries and restaurants are to continue to open as normal for takeout only. In-dining is still prohibited.”
The Governor directed civil servants from Grade Level 1 to 12 to continue working from home and improve themselves through dedicated online Learning Management Systems portals.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that the government would now be strict in enforcing the use of face mask in public places.
He said, “At this phase in the evolution of the pandemic in our society, taking personal responsibility is now more important than ever, not only for self-protection, but also for protecting other people, including your loved ones.
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The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 6,618 senior Police Officers.
An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olushola Oyebade, currently at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos, Plateau State, was promoted to the next rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police to represent the South-West geopolitical zone in the police management team.
The promotions were one of the highpoints of the 8th plenary meeting of the commission which spanned a period of three weeks and ended on Wednesday.
It was presided over by the Commission’s Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police.
According to a statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, four Commissioners of Police including one specialist, were promoted to the rank of AIG.
They are Aisha Abubakar, CP, Veterinary Department, Asuquo Amba, former CP in charge of Bayelsa State Command, and currently CP, Ekiti State Command, Nekereuwem Akpan, and former CP, Cross Rivers State Command, Olafihan Adeoye, who is currently in charge of the Anti-Terrorism squad.
The commission also approved the promotion of three Deputy Commissioners of Police to the next rank of commissioners of police.
The statement read, “Eight Superintendents of Police including Omoruyi Godwin, Clifford Okwor and Uchendu Ngozi of Anambra State Command were promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police.
“Six hundred and seven Deputy Superintendents of Police were also elevated to the rank of Superintendent of Police.”
The commission also promoted 206 ASPs to DSPs and 5,786 Inspectors to ASP II.
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The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 6,618 senior Police Officers.
An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olushola Oyebade, currently at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos, Plateau State, was promoted to the next rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police to represent the South-West geopolitical zone in the police management team.
The promotions were one of the highpoints of the 8th plenary meeting of the commission which spanned a period of three weeks and ended on Wednesday.
It was presided over by the Commission’s Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police.
According to a statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, four Commissioners of Police including one specialist, were promoted to the rank of AIG.
They are Aisha Abubakar, CP, Veterinary Department, Asuquo Amba, former CP in charge of Bayelsa State Command, and currently CP, Ekiti State Command, Nekereuwem Akpan, and former CP, Cross Rivers State Command, Olafihan Adeoye, who is currently in charge of the Anti-Terrorism squad.
The commission also approved the promotion of three Deputy Commissioners of Police to the next rank of commissioners of police.
The statement read, “Eight Superintendents of Police including Omoruyi Godwin, Clifford Okwor and Uchendu Ngozi of Anambra State Command were promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police.
“Six hundred and seven Deputy Superintendents of Police were also elevated to the rank of Superintendent of Police.”
The commission also promoted 206 ASPs to DSPs and 5,786 Inspectors to ASP II.
Punch
The Lagos State Government has reopened schools for students in “transitional classes”.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known in a televised press briefing on Saturday.
He said that “0nly students in transitional classes (Basic Six, JSS 3 and SS3) are permitted to resume from Monday, 3rd of August, 2020. It applies only to day schooling.”
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THE Military High Command disclosed in Abuja that after five years of fighting against insurgency and armed banditry, it has not been able to arrest or locate the sponsors or financiers of Boko Haram or armed bandits.
Repeatedly, Nigerians have asked where Boko Haram terrorist group or bandits were getting very sophisticated and expensive weaponry like latest models of General Purpose Machine Guns, AK 47 rifles, Anti-Aircraft Guns and several Gun Trucks with which they terrorise the North East and attack communities.
Major General John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, in reply to the question said: “We as the ones fighting in the several battlefronts have been neutralising the terrorists and bandits, destroying the logistics and communications facilities and arresting the terrorist’s collaborators. But we have not seen the sponsors.
“We do see those rustling cattle and selling them. This issue about their sponsors or financiers is beyond the military. At the military level, we don’t know their sponsors. If we know, they will be tracked. The National Intelligence Agency, NIA and the Department of State Security, DSS, will trace them.
“What I will say is that however long it takes, they (sponsors and financiers) will be tracked and arrested”.
On why it is difficult to wipe out the terrorists and other criminal elements from Sambisa Forest after so many years, especially with the air bombardment by the Air Task Force and the artillery bombardment by ground troops, Gen Enenche said though several terrorists enclaves, command centres and ammunition stores have been destroyed with scores killed, you cannot just wipe out Sambisa Forest because people leave there, there are communities inside.
“Yes, the factor of Boko Haram and ISWAP criminals mingling with the people is there. There are collaborators. But a good number of our own people (Nigerians) are there. That is why Sambisa is difficult to wipe out. It becomes genocide and there are consequences.
“Again, anytime the security agencies carry out a major operation in Sambisa forest, neutralising the terrorists, destroying their hideouts, the people run away to escape collateral damage but after some time, they go back to the communities, saying that is their home, where they were born, the home of their fathers.”
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