The 2020 / 2021 post- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination screening will commence in Nigeria’ s higher institutions on September 7 .
The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Vice -Chancellors , Rectors , and Provosts of tertiary institutions .
Registrar of JAMB , Prof Is – haq Oloyede , who made the announcement, said the screening would now hold between September 7 and November 18 .
Earlier , the board had issued a guideline for all tertiary institutions to begin their admission with effect from August 20 .
Oloyede said the adjustment in the date would allow students taking the 2020 O ’ level examinations to be able to participate in the screening.
He said , “ Presently as you are aware, WAEC starts the Senior School Certificate Examination on August 17 , it will go on till September 7 .
“ Similarly, on September 21 or thereabout , NABTEB will commence its examination that will go on till on the 15 of October , and immediately after that , NECO starts on the 5 th and will hold till 18 of November .
“ Rather than making candidates run , particularly, when they will have to write their school certificate exam in different towns and rush to university elsewhere for post – UTME , like somebody rushing from Sokoto to Ibadan for post- UTME , we believe as a custodian of the highest sector of the education system , we should avoid that .
“ For those (institutions) who want to take post- UTME , that cannot be earlier than the 7 th of September and it will be held twice – September 7 to October 4 , and then it will be held for the second time on the 18 November to mop up those who are taking their school certificate examination. ”
The Nigeria Football Federation would decide on what to do with COVID- 19 palliatives released by FIFA and CAF at its Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, according to reports .
NFF President , Amaju Pinnick, confirmed this to our correspondent via a message .
“ The decision will be taken after our executive committee meeting on Saturday, ” Pinnick said in reply to our correspondent ’ s enquiry .
According to reports, FIFA approved $ 1 m as universal solidarity grant to all member associations , while an additional $ 500 , 000 was specifically assigned for women ’ s football.
“ This relief plan is a great example of football’ s solidarity and commitment in such unprecedented times , ” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said .
CAF also released $ 300 , 000 as grant, to mitigate challenges as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic .
“ Normal eligibility , requirements , to access the funds has been waived due to the exigencies occasioned by the coronavirus , ” CAF said in a statement .
As more marketers raised the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit ( petrol ) , the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have voiced their opposition to the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector when the country is still relying on imports for refined products .
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency had yet to issue its guiding retail petrol price for the month of August , leaving operators confused.
Following the sharp drop in crude oil prices which led to the reduction in the pump price of petrol in March , the PPPRA had said it would advise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and oil marketing companies on the monthly guiding retail price at which the product shall be sold across the country.
In July , the agency announced a new price band of N140 . 80 to N 143. 80 per litre, up from N121 . 50 to N 123. 50 per litre in June .
Although it released the ex – depot price for the commodity on Tuesday , the PPPRA had since remained silent as regards the guiding retail price for the month .
It increased the ex – depot price by N6 to N138 . 62 /litre for the month , a development that prompted marketers to hike the pump price of the product to between N148 and N150 / litre.
The Chairman , Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria , and Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, 11 Plc , Tunji Oyebanji , told one of news correspondents that some members of the association had increased petrol price to N148 – N 148 . 80 per litre.
He said marketers had interpreted PPPRA’ s silence to mean that they should go ahead to fix the price themselves .
“ There is a need for some clarity. If we are to fix the price of the product , we should be told so . There is a lot of confusion and people are not clear as to the direction . All we have is silence , ” he added .
When contacted to get the PPPRA’ s comment on the development, its spokesperson , Kimchi Apollo , again did not answer phone calls .
Apollo had told one of news correspondents on Monday that the agency had yet to complete its work on a new pump price for petrol .
The General Secretary , NUPENG, Mr Afolabi Olawale , said any form of deregulation based on the importation of petroleum products would not help Nigerians .
He said , “ Our position is that we don ’ t support any form of deregulation that is based on importation. We support deregulation that is based on local refining of products .
“ If we are refining in the country, a lot of costs will be taken away and Nigerians will be able to benefit . But as long as we are not refining , Nigerians will keep experiencing an increase in fuel prices if crude oil price continues to rise .
“ Nigerians are suffering ; the country is in a dire situation, considering the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic . Things are hard , and we add a higher cost of transportation to it; it is going to be a very terrible period for Nigerians . ”
The National Public Relations Officer , PENGASSAN , said the Federal Government should ensure that the nation’ s refineries “ are fully commercialised using the Nigeria LNG model . ”
The Chairman , IPMAN in Rivers State , Dr Obele Ngechu, stated this in Port Harcourt while reacting to the new ex – depot price of petrol .
He said , “ For 17 years now , Kaduna refinery is not working . Two years now , Warri refinery is not working . For three years now, the new Port Harcourt refinery is not working ; and for 22 years , the first Nigerian refinery is not working .
“ Information reaching us now is that the monthly allocation of crude oil for local refining for these four refineries are still being giving to them till tomorrow and they are selling it in dollars . ”
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has approved the extension of the current phase of the national response to COVID- 19 by another four weeks .
The implication is that all the guidelines put in place to curtail further spread of the virus under the second phase of the eased lockdown which started on June 1 will remain in force with slight modifications to address the economic , socio- political and health concerns as contained in the latest report by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 .
The Chairman of the task force , who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , disclosed this at the briefing of the task force in Abuja .
Within the next four weeks , Mustapha said state governments and authorities of the Federal Capital Territory would be mandated to enforce non – pharmaceutical measures and intensify measures such as contract tracing .
The SGF said , “ After due consideration of the recommendations , Mr President approved the following : maintaining the current phase of the national response to COVID- 19 for another four weeks in line with the modifications reflected in the report .
“ He approved the partnering states and local governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to the COVID- 19 response ; and mandating state authorities and the FCT to enforce non – pharmaceutical guidelines, primarily the use of face masks in public appearance and places .
“ The President approved that state governments should be encouraged to collaborate with local government authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing , grass – roots mobilisation and risk communication ; and strengthening of collaboration with other mandate groups at federal /state levels to harmonise the country ’ s COVID- 19 response , on the short, medium and long – term basis. ”
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enforce the use of face masks in public places across the country.
The Chairman, Presidential Task force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha, made this known at the daily briefing in Abuja.
Mustapha, while reviewing the activities of the committee, said the president also approved that the current phase of the National Response to COVID-19 should be maintained for another four weeks, but with some modifications.
“President Buhari also asked the PTF to partner with states and local governments to improve community sensitisation and engagement to step up response to the COVID-19 response.
“He also encouraged state governments to collaborate with local government authorities to intensify necessary measures such as contact tracing, grassroots mobilisation and risk communication.
“He also ordered that collaboration with other mandate groups at federal/state levels to harmonise the country’s COVID-19 response be strenghtened on the short, medium and long-term basis,” he said.
“I wish to remind all Nigerians that this fight is for every one; everyone must take responsibility.
“Disbelief and skepticism will further complicate our situation; we should not stigmatise anyone infected. Our communities should own the response and educate our citizens,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters has said that the reported activities of the Islamic State and Al – Qaeda terrorist groups in West Africa is not new .
It stated that the Nigerian security forces were conscious of their operations and had been working to contain them.
The Coordinator , Defence Media Operations , Maj. Gen. John Enenche , said this at a briefing in Abuja while reacting to the warning by the Commander , United States Special Operations Command Africa , Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson , on Tuesday .
He noted , “ Our attention is drawn to the fact that terrorists from other zones are coming here ; I think it would be good for us to be keeping records of events as they unfold .
“ For me , this is not the first time they are raising such an alarm ; the alarm is as old as maybe five or 10 years and the armed forces and the country are conscious of it.
“ When the conflict in Libya was officially declared ended , which did not end, what happened ? It was we , our NIA (National Intelligence Agency ) , state service , and all that raised the information that these people are moving.
“ Have we not captured foreigners among the people that have been terrorising us in this country?
“ So , it is just like a call to keep doing what you are doing, so the general public should know that the security agencies are on top of that one . ”
Bauchi State Governor , Bala Mohammed , has appointed Balaraba Ibrahim as the Special Assistant on Women Affairs (Unmarried ) .
This is according to a letter dated August 4 , 2020 , with reference number GO / SS /POL /S /83 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mohammed Baba.
The letter , which was obtained by
Sahara Reporters , read in part, “ I am pleased to convey the approval of his Excellency Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON , the Governor of Bauchi State , for your appointment as Special Assistant, Women Affairs ( Unmarried) .
“ The appointment is based on your knowledge , experience and personal qualities of hard work, honesty and absolute loyalty . I would expect you to utilise all these qualities in facing the challenges of your office to facilitate the attainment of our collective goal and the expectation of our electorate .
“ The terms and conditions of your appointment as enunciated in the regular government policies as applicable. ”
Ibrahim is the Chairperson , Association of Divorcees in Bauchi State .
The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has asked aviation authorities and airline operators to begin the process for the restart of international flights .
With the reopening of domestic airports for local flights in July after about four months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic , travellers had been in high hopes for the resumption of international flights .
The PTF National Coordinator , Sani Aliyu , during a briefing in Abuja , said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority , the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria , and other agencies, as well as airlines , should commence the process for the resumption of international flights .
According to Aliyu , passengers would arrive three hours before flights when the country ’ s airspace finally reopens for international operations .
He said , “ Specific to air transportation , as you are aware, domestic flights have already resumed , the railway sector has also restarted. For international travel , we have made recommendations to the aviation industry to commence the process for reopening international airports provided all existing international and local Covid – 19 protocol are in place.
“ We have modified the protocol for passenger arrivals at the airports. Domestic passengers arriving at the airports are advised to arrive one hour before their flights and three hours before international flights – when this restarts . ”
The national coordinator stressed that though the government would like to restart international flights to balance health concerns and economic recovery, the government also would like to do so in a safe manner.
“ There may be additional infrastructure for some of the airports. What we want to do and we ’ ve made it very clear at the PTF is that we want to resume as soon as possible but in a safe manner and do not put at risk all that we ’ ve done to control this pandemic. Hopefully in weeks but not months, ” he added.
Also , the Minister of Aviation , Hadi Sirika , at the briefing , said the government was conscious of its decision and would like to reopen as soon as possible while working with other ministries, departments, and agencies of government .
The minister , who also lamented that thousands of jobs have been lost as a result of the pandemic , however , said international flights would resume in a safe manner but said no date has yet been fixed.
Some men has vandalised the Edo State House of Assembly and removed its roof.
According to a video shared by Channels Television , the men were seen removing the iconic legislative mace on top of the building .
The video also showed trucks offloading gravels at the entrance of the Assembly Complex while the suspected vandals trooped into the building .
This is coming barely 24 hours after the Deputy Speaker , Yekini Idiaye , was impeached by the state lawmakers .
The Speaker of the House, Frank Okiye, in an address aired via social media shortly after the impeachment of Idiaye , called on the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , to call members of his party to order.
The speaker said , “We have it on good authority, the dubious plans by the governor of Imo State , Senator Hope Uzodinma , and the stakeholders of APC in Edo State to import a fake maze to take over the Edo State House of Assembly working in cohort with the former deputy speaker who recently declared his support for the governorship candidate of APC to congregate in a separate location to illegally and violently take over the Edo State House of Assembly as brought to our notice .
“ And so , we call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidency to urgently call this governor and others working with him to execute this illegal plan to desist and allow the laws of the state to guide them.
“ The state polity is already heated up by the political tension from the various electioneering campaign . Their planned action is likened to lightening a match in an already tensed political environment which conflagration is capable of causing crisis in the state and may scale beyond imagination.
“ We call on Edo State people, whose mandate and interest the state legislature holds and protect, to rise against this attack and plot to subvert their will and subjugate them using external forces .
“ We urge lovers of democracy across the world and institutions that uphold democracy and value , as well as pro -democracy groups to denounce this planned illegality that seems to distract a duly constituted authority.
“ We recognize the constitutional rights of the three members of the Assembly to support the candidate of their choice but that should not distract them from coming to work to carry out the job for which they were elected and become an agent of mutiny against their own primary constituencies .
“ We are as always committed to protecting the democratic rights of our people as the legislature remains the sacred institution in the democratisation process signed by my honourable self on behalf of the Edo State House of Assembly . ”
With about six weeks to the September 19 governorship election in Edo, the political atmosphere gets turbo – charged day after day .
Governor Godwin Obaseki , who is seeking reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party , will face Ize- Iyamu of the APC, and other political contenders .
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