Nigeria, Ghana disagree on single currency for ECOWAS

Nigeria and Ghana have taken different positions on the introduction of a single currency for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Both countries failed to agree on the initiative at the just-concluded meeting of the Presidential Task Force on the ECOWAS single currency programme, which held in Accra

Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghanaian president, argued that member states should ensure that the single currency be introduced by 2020.

He stated that ECOWAS was blessed with abundant human and material resources, hence having a common currency would speed up stronger commercial ties with accompanying benefits.

“We remain determined to have a single currency which will help remove trade and monetary barriers, reduce transaction cost, boost economic activity and raise the living standard of our people. It is a goal, we must achieve,” he said.

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria who represented Nigeria at the meeting, cautioned against a hasty move to introduce a single currency for West Africa.

According to him, ECOWAS heads of government have not properly analysed a comprehensive picture of the state of preparedness of individual countries for monetary integration by 2020.

These comments mirror the views expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the 4th meeting of the presidential task force on the ECOWAS currency, which held in Niger in 2017.

At that meeting, Buhari said Nigeria would not endorse the quick implementation of the currency policy because of diverse and uncertain macroeconomic fundamentals of many countries.

“In previous meetings, we had specifically raised observations on the state of preparedness of the member states, the credibility of the union if anchored on watered down criteria, and the continuing disparities between macroeconomic conditions in ECOWAS countries, amongst others. And I would like to reiterate these concerns,’’ Buhari said.

FEARS MISPLACED

Speaking with TheCable in Abuja, Julius Bino, an economist and public analyst, described the fears expressed by Nigeria as legitimate but unnecessary, stressing that a common currency would expand market opportunities for Nigerian goods and products.

“Having a single currency would be of immense benefit to Nigeria. It would give our business men and prospective investors the chance to navigate the West African sub-region without the usual bureaucratic bottlenecks we experience,” he argued.

“Imagine what a company like Innoson motors will gain. Remember the recent sales of Innoson cars in Mali. Our manufacturing sector would be favourably placed. The benefits are countless.

He suggested an agreement would address whatever differences existed.

“Nigeria has been the champion of African integration at all levels. West Africa is our natural forte. The fears expressed are very legitimate, but the benefits of joining the single currency market is bigger. Conventional analysis shows multilateral engagement is the best.” - Cable Nigeria

Governors who can’t pay workers should resign – TUC

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria ( TUC ) on Saturday advised state governors who could not address workers’ problems to resign.

The TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, said in Lagos that workers could no longer vouch for state governments that non-payment of salaries was as a result of lack of funds.

He said that the non-payment could be due to corruption.

Kaigama made the TUC’s views known while addressing journalists after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

He said that it was only the Lagos State Government that had been regularly paying workers’ salaries and allowances.

“All the other states have one issue or the other in terms of salaries or benefits of their workers.

“ You will discover that it is 13 months’ arrears of gratuities or pensions that have not been paid.

“In some cases, it is the contributory pension deductions that have not been remitted or promotions arrears and death benefits not been paid,” he said.

He advocated a return to regional government, saying that state governments were failing in their responsibilities.

“The trust we have in state government has eroded.

“If it is for the purposes of payment of salaries and infrastructure development such as provision of health facilities, roads, rail transportation and others, we are better off with regional government,’’ Kaigama said,’’ he said.

The union leader noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved bailout funds and budget support funding to enable states to settle workers’ salaries, to no avail.

Kaigama said that accountability in Nigeria was weak, and called for the strengthening of anti-graft agencies.

On national minimum wage, Kaigama said that state governments should be determined to pay the wage when approved.

He also called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the power sector due to its deteriorating condition.

”No nation can develop without power,” he said.

The labour leader urged the government to arrest and prosecute killers of innocent Nigerians in the guise of herdsmen and militia in different parts of the country.

Femi Kuti’s 10th studio album is a ‘message of hope’

Femi Kuti has released his 10th studio album ‘One People One World’, which he says is a “message of hope” to the younger generation.

Kuti and his band, Positive Force, recorded a chunk of the album in Lagos.

The Afrobeat icon said the album’s optimistic outlook and positive lyrics are his attempts at instigating social change.

The album track ‘One People One World’ and ‘Na Their Way Be That’ were two singles earlier released to pave way for the record.

Chocolate City Group, his management company, says Kuti will kick off a series of live performances of the album on Sunday at the New Afrika Shrine, Lagos.

Kuti is also expected to embark on a ‘One People One World’ tour. - Cable Nigeria

I’m good in bed, drive women crazy – Mr. Ibu brags

Nollywood comic actor and film producer, John Okafor, has boasted about his sex life, saying he drives women crazy in bed.

The actor popularly known as Mr. Ibu in a chat with Saturday Sun, boasted that he’s good in bed despite his stature.

In his words: “Persistence and true spirit of sportsmanship have kept me on. Aside that, I’m also sweet in bed, I am good and very proud of myself. Try me and you will be amazed. I deliver very well. I can drive women crazy.

“People keep asking the secret of my good looks, but the fact remains that I don’t take alcohol or sugary drinks.

“I don’t smoke. I also don’t take carbohydrates. I live on vegetables and smoothies. All these keep me going and looking very healthy,” he said. - Daily Post

Cup 'history' vital to Arsenal - Arsene Wenger

 Wenger believes Arsenal's "history" in cup finals can stand his side in good stead ahead of their Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday, but concedes Pep Guardiola's side are the favourites. 

The French manager will hope to avoid a repeat of the defeat to Birmingham City in the 2011 final and secure a maiden League Cup success in his 21st year in charge.

Arsenal, whose FA Cup title last season included a semi-final victory over Manchester City, have reached a cup final in each of their last four seasons and Wenger is hopeful his side can be the team to cause a surprise against Premier League leaders City at Wembley, live on Sky Sports Football.

"When you come through such a long way, you go to the final, you don't want to lose it," Wenger said at the pre-match press conference.

"You want to win it. At the end of the day, you have to be cool. Because Manchester City is dominating the league in the head of everybody and so maybe we are more underdogs than in the FA Cup semi-final (last season).

"We are maybe underdogs but we have to believe in our quality. The history, the fact we have done it before, shows why not do it again."

Wenger has often used the competition as a way of offering valuable game time to some of the fringe members of his squad but is confident in his side's experience ahead of the first major showpiece final of the campaign.

When asked about how previous experiences might help his side's chances, he said: "What it means is that you have enough belief to think you can do it.

"That on the day you managed to turn up with the right spirit and right mentality, the right belief.

"The final, everyone says you have to be motivated, but it as well to find the right balance between focus, motivation and relaxed enough to play your game.

"That will be the target again: to have a belief but as well to find that right balance." - Sky Sports

China announces plan for hypersonic jet able to reach New York from Beijing in two hours

A team of Chinese researchers has claimed to have designed a hypersonic jet that could travel at 6,000km/h, five times faster than the speed of sound.

The team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said the plane would be able to transport passengers and cargo from Beijing to New York in two hours – the journey currently takes an average of 13 and a half hours.

Cui Kai, who headed up the research, published a paper on the new design in this month’s Physics, Mechanics and Astronomy journal, in which he said: “It will take only a couple of hours to travel from Beijing to New York at hypersonic speed”.

The team said they had tested a scaled-down model of the jet in a wind tunnel, and that it reached speeds of 8,600km/h with low drag and high lift. To compare, Concorde’s top speed was 2,179km/h.

The design, dubbed the I Plane, features two layers of wings to reduce turbulence and drag while creating more lift.

Talk of hypersonic travel has been ramping up of late. “It’s certainly within the realm of possibility,” Dr Kevin Bowcutt, senior technical fellow and chief scientist of hypersonics for Boeing Research and Technology, told NBC last month. “I think we have the technology now where we could actually do it.”

Boeing has dipped its toe in the water with its X-51A WaveRider, and it is now reportedly working with Lockheed Martin to develop a jet-powered hypersonic aircraft – although both are keeping schtum about the design.

Supersonic commercial planes – those that travel faster than 1,236km/h, the speed of sound – are likely to be the precursor to hypersonic jets. Boom Supersonic, for example, plans to produce passenger aircraft that can travel at MACH 2.2, or 2,335km/h, that will enter service in 2023.

These jets could carry 50 passengers, flying from New York to London in three hours and 15 minutes. But it won’t come cheap; fares are expected to cost $2,500 one way. - The Independent

UK driving licences 'may no longer be recognised by the EU after Brexit'

British motorists might be stopped from driving in Europe after Brexit because UK licences will no longer be recognised, it has been claimed.

If ministers fail to strike a deal with the EU on transport holidaymakers might find themselves unable to hire a car on the Continent.

During a presentation yesterday the European Commission suggested the mutual recognition of driving licences could be withdrawn as a “consequence of the UK becoming a third country in the road transport sector”.

It said if the UK left the internal market “all current EU law-based rights, obligations and benefits" would cease.

This would mean the “end of mutual recognition of driving licences, vehicle registration documents and certificates of professional competence for drivers”, the Commission stated.

A Department for Transport spokesman said the government was 'confident' it will come to a deal and 'contingency' plans are in place if they do not.

One plan includes signing up to the United Nations Vienna convention on road traffic.

This would allow drivers to apply for an International Driving Permit, which enables non-EU citizens to legally drive in continental Europe.

A DfT spokesman said: “Our aim is to reach an agreement with the EU for mutual licence recognition after Brexit.

Such a deal is in the interests of both sides and we remain confident of reaching such an agreement.

“However, it is only sensible that we put contingency measures in place for all

scenarios.

"Ratifying the Vienna Convention will guarantee that UK driving licences will be acceptable throughout the EU when held with the relevant supporting International Driving Permit.” - UK Mirror

NCC: Incompetent investors won’t take over 9mobile

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has promised to ensure that 9mobile is taken over by investors with the requisite technical capability and pedigree to manage the organisation.

Tony Ojobo, spokesman of the NCC, said this in a statement issued on Friday.
The statement said the regulatory agency has vowed to avoid past mistakes that led to the near-collapse of Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile network operator.

NCC said it would strictly rely on the Nigerian communications act 2003, to ensure all statutory and regulatory processes are duly complied with in the emergence of new owners for the company.
“The board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reassured Stakeholders of its commitment to ensure that the nation’s fourth largest Mobile Network Operator, EMTS/9Mobile, is duly taken over by investors with the requisite technical capability and pedigree to manage the organisation,” he said in a statement.

“Rising from its board meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, February 22, 2018, the board affirmed its determination to avoid the recurrence of any missteps that may have led to the current situation.
“The board therefore assured all Stakeholders that the Commission will apply all necessary diligence to see the ongoing sale process through to its logical conclusion in a manner that protects the overall national interest and the seamless operation of the national telecommunications network.”

Boye Olusanya, the chief executive officer (CEO) of 9mobile, has confirmed that the telecommunications company will be sold to Teleology Holdings.
In a memo seen by TheCable, Olusanya told members of staff that Teleology Holdings emerged the best bidder in the sale process, while Smile Telecoms Holdings is considered as reserved bidder if Teleology reneges on its bid for the multimillion-dollar company.

He said its lenders, presumably Barclays Africa, will now engage Teleology to finalise negotiations on the sale of the company.

TheCable had earlier reported that Teleology, as promoted by Adrian Wood, former CEO of MTN Nigeria, is the preferred bidder for 9mobile, while Smile, a telco operating in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa, is the reserve bidder.

While Teleology put in a bid of $500 million, Smile quoted $300 million, while Globacom, Nigeria’s second largest operator, and Helios Investment Partners LLP, an investment company, did not make any financial offer for 9mobile. - Cable Nigeria

Face of corruption !!! EFCC Re-Arraigns Justice Ajumogobia On Charges of Unlawful Enrichment

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a serving judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Godwin Obla, for allegedly involving themselves in unlawful enrichment and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They were re-arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja the amendment to the charges preferred against them by the Commission.

They were first docked in November 2016 on a 30-count charge to which they pleaded not guilty.

But they were re-arraigned on a 31-count charge of unlawful enrichment and conspiracy on Friday.

In the fresh charges, EFCC accused Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

On the other hand, the anti-graft agency accused Obla of offering N5m as gratification to the judge so as to allegedly help him pervert the course of justice.

The offenses were said to be contrary to sections 64(1), 82(a) and 69(1) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges.

Immediately after their plea was taken, the 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Lawal, an investigator of the anti-graft agency, continued his testimony before the court.

Mr. Lawal, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, pointed out three deposits – N4m, N3m and 5m – made into the account of Nigel and Colive Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly belonging to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

The deposits, he said, were made on July 11, 2014, by an officer of Nigeria Customs Service identified as Omali Musa. - Sahara reporters

Indian state offers free breast implants to poor

Poor women in a Southern Indian State have been offered free breast surgeries, for both aesthetic or medical reasons.

The Tamil Nadu state government launched the new scheme on Monday at a state-run clinic in its capital Chennai, with priority given to the poorest women there.

Authorities have promised to soon expand the free service to other districts of the state.

According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, about 33,000 breast augmentation surgeries were carried out in India in 2016.

At private hospitals, a procedure costs 2,300 to 3,800 U.S. dollars, which is almost a year’s wage for most Indians.

C. Vijayabaskar, the state’s health minister, said the scheme aims to stop people opting for dangerous methods of breast reconstruction or taking out huge loans for it.

“If a poor woman desires to look beautiful, we will support her financially,” he told AFP.

According to the clinic, some of its patients seek breast reduction to alleviate shoulder and back pain, while some want to augment or shrink their breasts for aesthetic reasons.

Tamil Nadu is known for its populist schemes, which have previously included free food canteens and providing wedding jewelry and venues to the poor.

However, the new scheme has been criticised for not being an ideal public health programme.

“It is sad that we are now focusing on beauty instead of life-saving surgeries,” said Dr. S. Elango, a former public health official of the state. - The Nation

Big six energy companies routinely overcharging customers

The UK’s big six energy companies have been accused of dirty tricks after analysis for the Guardian revealed that they are routinely charging customers almost exactly the same amount after switching them off controversial default tariffs.

In the face of Theresa May’s plans to impose a price cap on standard variable tariffs (SVTs), which more than half of energy customers are on despite their steep prices, companies such as British Gas, E.ON and SSE have pledged to phase out such tariffs and shift billpayers onto better value fixed deals.

The chief of energy regulator Ofgem has welcomed such moves as a sign of progress in the energy market.

But data compiled for the Guardian shows that in the case of market leader British Gas, the most expensive fixed deal – that many customers are being moved on to – is identical to its SVT, at £1,099.84.

It is understood that when customers contact their supplier to change their tariff, most are moved to the most expensive fix that the company offers. Each company’s cheapest fixed deals are often only available through comparison sites.

E.ON charged £1093.35 for both its SVT and most costly fix, while the gap for ScottishPower was just £8.49 and npower’s was £37, the figures obtained by challenger supplier Octopus show. SSE was slightly better, with a £54.73 gap, and EDF’s gap was £82.83.

The data suggests the companies are engaged in what is largely a rebadging process rather than a genuine effort to cut customers’ bills by switching them to more competitive products.

John Penrose, the Tory MP who pressured Theresa May to confirm a cap last October, said: “The big six need to do more than just a cosmetic exercise. No one should be fooled if they’re just moving customers from one rip-off tariff to another, with a different label on the tin.

“The only way we’ll put a stop to these dirty tricks is with an energy price cap, so I’m delighted the government is about to bring one in.”

British Gas on Thursday cited the price cap as one reason it is shedding 4,000 jobs, although its consumer energy arm’s profits only dropped 1% despite losing 750,000 customers to more competitively priced rivals.

More than half of British Gas customers are on SVTs, with similar shares for E.ON, EDF and npower. SSE has the highest proportion, and ScottishPower the lowest.

The data compiled by Octopus on big six pricing tactics is a snapshot taken of tariffs offered on 18 February in the London region. It excludes fixed tariffs with extras, such as boiler cover.

While the gap is small or non-existent in most cases between the SVT and the most expensive fixed tariff, the big six do offer cheaper fixes to lure in new customers.

Although the figures are taken on a single day, an examination of the companies’ tariff over a 90-day period ending on 18 February showed the pricing behaviour is not an anomaly.

Greg Jackson, founder and chief executive of Octopus, calling the pricing cynical and said: “Time and time again we see the big six ducking and diving to find new ways of covertly ripping off their loyal customers. This latest is a cynical move as now even the experts – press, regulators and politicians – won’t be able to hold them to account, and it shows why the energy price cap is so vital.”

British Gas declined to comment but SSE said: “We work hard to keep prices down and our fixed deals give customers the security of knowing their prices are locked in for a set period of time.”

E.ON said it was still working out the detail of ending SVTs but: “Our new model of offering customers a one-year tariff as the default option … [will] be cheaper than their current standard variable product.”

Npower said its tariff was cheaper and “also protects customers from any price increase for the next three years”. It added: “It is also worth noting that our cheapest generally available tariff is now £92 less than our SVT product.”

EDF said: “We don’t agree that moving customers on to a deal which is almost identical to their existing standard tariff is in their best interests and we don’t do it.”

Asked what percentage of customers were moved off an SVT on to the company’s most expensive fix, none of the big six responded. - UK Guardian

PL news : Klopp 'really proud' of Firmino after Holgate case dropped

 Jurgen Klopp spoke in awe of Roberto Firmino's ability to perform under the pressure of having an investigation into allegedly abusive comments hanging over him.

The Football Association (FA) confirmed on Wednesday that Firmino would not face a charge over his clash with Everton defender Mason Holgate in a January FA Cup tie between Liverpool and their rivals at Anfield.

An FA investigation found insufficient evidence to punish Firmino, but added "the allegation was made in absolute good faith by Holgate".

Firmino scored five goals in the seven games he played in the 47 days between the tempestuous derby and the FA publishing its decision, consistency Klopp believes he himself would not have been capable of.

"He knew he didn't say it. We knew he didn't say it. But we couldn't say it in public," said Klopp.

"I was never in doubt about it, but I only thought that if I am in a situation like that, which goes on for 47 days, and somebody thinks I said something, then it would be difficult for me to deal with it to be honest. That is why I said I am really proud of Roberto with how he dealt with it. Now it is done – all good.

"There were a few times we asked internally was there anything we could say or that we know already? And it was no. Nothing. It felt long and I was happy when I heard finally.

"We all take it really seriously, that's not only a saying. Obviously in this world racism is something we really need to think about and be careful about, but if there is nothing we need to sort it as well. All good now, let's carry on.

"I don't think that every day it was in his mind because we were all sure that nothing can happen, actually. That is the situation.

"He is a pure footballer, he wants to play and work. For one session in Marbella I took him out and said, 'thank you' because he doesn't rest so I have to do it. He is a footballer and he feels best when he is on the pitch, hopefully it stays like this." - Goal

PL news : Pep succeeds where Wenger has failed

“All the success we had in the past, and what happens in the future, it depends on the players. They are the artists. We are there just to help.”

“I define myself as an optimist. My constant battle in this business is to get out there what is beautiful in man.”

The first is a quote from Pep Guardiola. The second from Arsene Wenger.

The two men, broadly, share the same football philosophy - for their players to express themselves and bring joy to those watching - but their differing approaches mean only one of them has consistently managed to marry style and substance in the past decade.

Wenger did such a good job of revolutionising English football that his approach became the norm that Guardiola is now trying to shake-up; it’s just that, somewhere along the line, the Frenchman stopped moving with the times.

The factors that have led to Arsenal’s decline are well known, from their relocation to the Emirates just as Roman Abramovich arrived at Chelsea to Wenger’s nigh-on refusal to match his rivals’ spending in the transfer market.

Guardiola has no qualms putting City’s money to good use, but for all the money City have spent, credit is surely due for how quickly and ruthlessly the Catalan identified the Blues’ weaknesses and found suitable replacements – how many Arsenal fans would turn their nose up at that kind of overhaul?

And while Guardiola has indeed benefited from City’s vast resources, it cannot be denied that he has moulded the players at his disposal into a special team, much more than simply a collection of expensive individuals. 

That is not something Wenger has managed to do for some time and while Guardiola's coaching and attention to detail has allowed his 'artists' to flourish, Wenger's quest for beauty has too often come at the expense of results.

It is their work on the training ground that sets the two apart, and what could prove key in the build-up to Sunday's Carabao Cup final.

After 18 months under Guardiola, City now know exactly what to do. Craig Bellamy, the club’s former striker and a close friend of captain Vincent Kompany, shed light on the Catalan’s approach recently.

“I don’t want to give too much away but I speak to Vinny quite a lot,” Bellamy said on Sky Sports’ 'The Debate Live'. “Vinny says, “He [Pep] has taken a while to get us where he wanted us,” and I asked what does he do now [in training], and Vinny said, “honestly, it’s just there, we know what we’re doing. It’s been programmed into us, he’s got us into his way, and now training is just recovery and that kind of stuff because we’re programmed into what he wants.”

Xavi provides a specific example: “Guardiola focused on the details. He controlled everything. I had never trained for a defensive throw-in. He would tell you where you had to be even for that.”

In January, the Catalan sent out his players to face Watford with no extra instructions. His work on the training ground has ensured there are certain times when focusing on your own strengths, rather than the opponents', is perfectly safe.

Wenger is no stranger to letting his team go out and get on with it, either. The Frenchman gave no team talk ahead of the Champions League clash at Bayern Munich last season, something which surprised his players even though they know better than anybody that the manager almost exclusively plays to their strengths at the expense of researching the oppositon.

Yet if you do that, the players need to know what they are supposed to be doing. Inside 11 minutes Arjen Robben cut inside onto his left foot and crashed the opening goal into the far corner. You know the one.

You could write that off as one convenient example if Arsenal's preparations hadn't been called into question so often in the last decade. In 2014 it emerged that a number of Arsenal players had urged Wenger to work more on the opposition. The complaint came after the Gunners conceded six goals at City and Chelsea, five at Liverpool and three at Everton to drop out of the title race.

What has changed? If anything, things have got worse; in 24 league away games since the start of 2017 Arsenal have lost 12 and won only 7.

For years now they have too often been completely eviscerated in the biggest games, their players looking like strangers. It has got to the stage, certainly this season, that the Londoners only seem capable of beating lesser teams at the Emirates. 

That will be the fear as they prepare to take on City at Wembley on Sunday. Guardiola has a plan, his players know how to follow it and, at his previous clubs, he has always come out on top when it matters against Wenger. 

Yet despite Arsenal's failure to challenge for the title or compete in the Champions League, they have found a way to win at Wembley. Or at least win at Wembley in cup games -  they beat both City and Chelsea on their way to winning the FA Cup last year, their third cup win in four years, but looked familiarly clueless against Spurs two weeks ago.

You never quite know what you're going to get from Arsenal, and on Sunday we'll see if another one-off Wembley rally can get the better of Guardiola's best-laid plans. - Goal

Failed nation : Fate of missing schoolgirls uncertain

A Cloud of uncertainty was hanging yesterday on the fate of the girls reportedly abducted at the Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

Parents demanded their return and the true situation of things from Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

A big search for the missing girls, whose number is also unclear, has been launched.

Gaidam met with the parents and the Dapchi community over  Monday’s  invasion of the town and the school by Boko Haram.

It is believed that some of the girls might have been abducted by the insurgents.

The mood at the meeting with the parents, who gathered at the palace of the emir, turned sour when the governor announced that the missing girls had not been rescued, contrary to a statement the state government issued on Wednesday  night.

Many of them left the palace in anger, tears and sorrow.

Some of the residents of Dapchi threw missiles at some of the vehicles in the governor’s convoy.

One of the parents described the governor’s message as “hopeless”.

“The message of the governor was clearly hopeless and full of lies. How can he tell us that he is not sure whether our children are missing or not, one of the parents said.

It was unclear how many of the girls were receiving treatment either in  hospitals or had fled to neighbouring villages.

Report rated the affected girls as “unaccounted for” since none of the factions of Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for their abduction.

It was learnt that more teams had been deployed in the state to comb access routes to Sambisa Forest, Niger Republic and Chad for the girls.

A source, who pleaded not to be named said: “The military, the security agencies and the police are still searching for the missing girls. We have not been able to rescue them. The number of missing girls is fluid because of the nature of the raid. But out of 926 girls, 815 have returned. We are talking of between 94 and 111 girls unaccounted for.

“In view of the terrain of the area, it is difficult to assume that the unaccounted girls had been abducted.

“In view of a similar incident in Chibok in 2014, certainly we are looking at the likelihood of a Boko Haram invasion. Since they have broken into two factions, we are unsure whether it is the camp loyal to Abubakar Shekau or Abu Mus’ab Albarnawi.

“We are collaborating with member-states of the Multi-nation Joint Task Force (MNJTF) access routes to Sambisa Forest in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger Republic and Chad.

“So far, you can depend on official statement by either the Federal Government or Yobe State Government.”

The presidential delegation led by Defence Minister Manir Dan Ali is  in Yobe.

Minister of  Information Lai Mohamed, a member of the team,  met with Gaidam at Dapchi.

He told reporters at the school premises that Boko Haram was looking for oxygen to breathe having been pushed out of Sambisa and other fringes.

On the number of girls missing, the minister said: “What we know as at today (Thursday) is that some of the girls are still unaccounted for. That is because some of them are still trickling back to the school,” the minister told journalists without giving the number of girls rescued or seen.

“What we know for a fact now is we cannot account for some students but since two days ago students have been reporting back to school. We also have it on record that some of them have phone from their hiding place, some from Damaturu, some from other locations. But, as things develop we will let you know.

But, we cannot categorically say ‘X’  number of students has been abducted but we can say not all students have returned,”  the minister said..

He said the responses from the military and state government was commendable. “Since this thing happened, I’ve been in touch with the governor, the theatre commander and the GOC (General Officer Commanding).

“I think we should take it in context, to me, the most authoritative position is the one given by both the governor, theater commander and the GOC. What we know is that some students cannot be accounted for. That is because some of them are still returning”, he added.

The state government apologised for the statement issued on Wednesday night on the rescue of some of the abducted girls.

Abdullahi Bego, the spokesman of the governor said: “The public may recall that we issued a statement last night in which we announced that some of the girls at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi who went missing after Boko Haram terrorists had stormed their school last Monday were rescued by officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are currently executing the war against the Boko Haram Insurgents.

”We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.

”We have now established that the information we relied on to make the statement was not credible. The Yobe State Government apologises for that.

“His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was in Dapchi today where he met with community leaders and the principal and staff of the Girls’ College. The governor also addressed the parents of some of the schoolgirls that are still unaccounted for where he told them to pray and exercise patience as the government and security agencies at all levels continue the work to address the unfortunate situation.

“His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also directed Education Ministry officials and the school administration to work closely with the security agencies to establish the actual number of the girls that are still unaccounted for and to contact parents and the community for possible information that could be useful in the investigation.

”His Excellency Governor Gaidam shares deeply and personally in the grief about the unfortunate event at the Girls’ College and, under his leadership, the Yobe State Government will continue to do everything necessary in partnership with security agencies and the Federal Government to address the situation.” - The Nation