1 in 3 Nigerians illiterate, says education minister

Adamu Adamu, minister of education, says Nigeria has about 60 million illiterate youth and adult.

Adamu said this on Wednesday at the 2018 international literacy day celebration held in Kano state.

Nigeria currently has an estimated population of 180 million citizens.

The minister who was represented by Prinzo James, deputy director of basic and secondary education, ministry of education, said out of this figure, females accounted for nearly 60 percent of the population, with 11 million children out of school.

He said the increasing low level of literacy skills by millions of learners who completed some formal school education made the situation more complicated.

He also said the present state of affairs called for urgent attention as the country strives to ensure the attainment of SDGs by 2030.

“With these unwholesome statistics in our hands, it becomes evident that concerted efforts are required in order to accelerate the processes for combating illiteracy among children, youths and adults,” he said.

“Therefore, every effort aimed at bringing together multiple stakeholders should be committed to advancing literacy and lifelong learning, and will receive the support of the ministry of education.

“I would like to assure you that preparations are underway by the federal government to launch a national mass literacy campaign with a view to addressing the high rate of youth and adult illiteracy in the country.”

- TheCable

FSARS arrests Lagos agent with N5.2m stolen good

A concerned trader at Ebute Ero Market, Idumota, Lagos Island, Lagos (named withheld) has invited the operatives of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad, FSARS, Lagos to the market to arrest a transport agent who brought 12 bags containing clothes valued about N5.2m to him to buy for N100,000.

Trouble started for the suspect, Gabriel Onyeka from Abia State, Southeast, Nigeria when he was entrusted with the goods by one Alhaji Dabuzu at New Park in Kano State to deliver to his customer in Aba, Abia State as a transport agent.

Instead of delivering the goods to the customer in Abia State as agreed with the owner, the suspect allegedly diverted the goods to Ebute Ero Market at Idumota, Lagos to sell.

Nemesis, however, caught up with the suspect when the trader he approached to buy the goods for N500,000 offered to pay the sum of N100,000 for the goods.

In a desperate bid to dispose the goods at all cost, the suspect allegedly told the trader to pay the N100,000 for the goods and the trader suspecting the goods to be stolen, sent a tip off to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP in charge of FSARS on Lagos Island, Mr Ibrahim Kaoje about the development.

Following the report, Kaoje dispatched a team led by CSP Oluseye Odunbaku to Ebute Ero Market to arrest the suspect and recover the suspected stolen goods.

The Police team stormed the Market to arrest the suspect and recover the goods and took the suspect with the items to the Station.

During investigation, according to the Police, the suspect allegedly confessed to the alleged crime that he allegedly diverted the goods to sell to enable him raise money to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirate.

A Police source said that the suspect would be charge to court after investigation of the matter.

- PM News

Shehu Sani reacts as Buhari withdraws assent to Electoral Amendment Bill

Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna district has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Electoral Bill.

Buhari had for the third time withheld his assent to the bill.

This was disclosed by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

Addressing State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Enang refused to state Buhari’s reasons for his action.

Enang disclosed that the bill was returned to the National Assembly.
Reacting, Sani condemned Buhari’s decision, warning the president not to be a par taker of those not in support of credible election.

The Kaduna lawmaker on His Twitter page wrote: “Opposition to the Electoral amendment Bill is a disservice to democracy.
“The President should not be in league with those allergic to credible elections.

“How can the ruling elites now fear and discard the chariot that delivered them to power, one they showered so much praises?”

- Daily Post

Secondary student hacked to death during juju contest in Ekiti

A 16-year old secondary school student in Ekiti State, Favour Mathew, died Thursday evening after being hacked by another student, Kehinde Timilehin within the school premises.

Favour, a Senior Secondary 2 of Ado Grammar School before his untimely death, was said to have been in juju contest with the suspect on who actually has superior power during which he was hacked in the chest and later died at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti.

Several sources confirmed to journalists at the school on Friday that Favour, who was of Ebira extraction in Kogi State, brought the weapons but was killed after the axe and knife wrapped with white and red scarf could not pierce the suspect who overpowered him and stabbed him in self defence.

The school has now been taken over by police with the main gate under lock over fears of alleged reprisal attack, which emanated from threat issued by the deceased’s family that they would invade the school in protest on Friday.

A police Hilux van with over ten policemen were stationed at the gate with few teachers allowed entry into the school, while students who reported as early as 7am were turned back.

However, before the crisis degenerated to the level of stabbing each other, the two were said to have had altercation over the ownership of a football earlier in the day.

Narrating how the incident happened, the School Principal, Mr Ebenezer Falayi and his Vice, Mr. Olurotimi Olaoluwa, explained that the incident occurred around 2.15pm at a far section of the institution after dismissal time.

Falayi said the students had held its closure assembly and had dispersed, before noise emanated from that troubled section where the boy was hacked, after which teachers were mobilized to the place to whisk the victim to EKSUTH.

“This incident really saddened us because it could have been avoided. What I gathered from students who were at the spot of the gory incident was that the duo were arguing over who had superior power and the deceased had earlier gone home to bring all those weapons which could not pierce the suspect when used on him.

“I was told that the suspect later overpowered him and collected those weapons and stabbed the victim in the chest. Our teachers, including myself, my Vice and Registrar alongside other teachers who were resident on campus here rushed him to EKSUTH. We even took the suspect along.

“The victim was put on life support, but that could not help the situation. He died in the hospital. I had to quickly call the DPO of Odo Ado Police Station who reinforced his men and contacted police station at Oke Ila to prevent the suspect from being killed by highly enraged deceased’s family members.

“The hospital insisted on doing the autopsy before releasing the corpse but the family resisted it. They later released the corpse to the family when it nearly caused trouble in the hospital.

“The police also took the suspect to custody. But I had to beg for security beef up around the school when there was threat that 30 students will be killed in reprisal attack today (Friday),” Falayi stated.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu , confirmed the incident, saying the matter would be investigated.

He said “the suspect was immediately taken to the Criminal investigation Department (CID) at the Police Command shortly after the deceased was confirmed dead”, he revealed.

- Daily Post

Seun Kuti nominated for 2019 Grammy Awards

Seun Kuti, Nigerian Afrobeats musician, has been nominated for the 2019 Grammy Awards.

The performer was nominated in the best world music album category for ‘Black Times’.

Kuti was nominated alongside his Egypt 80 band.

He will compete with Fatoumata Diawara, Bombino, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Yiddish Glory for the award.

“I really hope to get nominated and I hope we will also win. This album is my best work. Just like my shows, I make sure that my last album has to be my best album,” he said in a recent interview.

The ‘Black Times’ album was released in March and it earned him his first ever entry on the Billboard music charts.

The descendant of the Kuti music dynasty will take the stage during the upcoming Afrobeat Festival alongside his Egypt 80 band.

In a November tweet, Bizzle Osikoya, musical promoter, said Adekunle Gold, Burna Boy and Yemi Alade were also being considered for a Grammy nomination.

They were also being considered for the best world album category.

Kendrick Lamar and Drake, hip hop artistes, earned the most recognition bagging eight and seven nominations each.

Boi-1da and Brandi Carlile earned six nominations apiece while Cardi B, Childish Gambino, H.E.R., Lady Gaga, Maren Morris, Soundwave and Mike Bozzi each bagged five nods.

The Grammy Awards will take place on February 10, 2019, at Staples Center, Los Angeles.

- TheCable

Why Buhari rejected electoral amendment bill

President Muhammadu Buhari says he rejected the electoral amendment bill because it could affect the 2019 elections.

The president said this in a letter sent to the national assembly.

In the letter obtained by TheCable, the president said signing the bill into law could “create uncertainty and confusion” during the forthcoming elections.

“Pursuant to section 58 (4) of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the House of Representatives, my decision on 6th December 201 to decline Presidential Accent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill , 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly,” he wrote.

“I am declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general election which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process.

“Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process.”

Buhari appealed to the lawmakers to revise some clauses in the bill, expressing optimism that it would take effect after the elections.

“This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the national assembly to specifically state in the Bill, that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Election,” he said.

“It is also important for the following drafting amendments to be made to the Bill: section 5 of the Bill, amending section 18 of the Principal Act should indicate the subsection to which the substitution of the figure “30” for the figure “60” is to be affected.

“Section 11 of the Bill, amending Section 36 should indicate the subsection in which the proviso is to be introduced.

“Section 24 of the Bill which amends Section 85 (1) should be redrafted in full as the introduction of the “electing” to the sentence may be interpreted to mean that political parties may give 21 days notice of the intention to merge, as opposed to the 90 days provided in Section 84 (2) of the Electoral Act which provides the provision for merge of political parties.

“The definition of the term “Ward Collection officer” should be revised to reflect a more descriptive definition than the capitalized and undefined term “Registration Area Collation Officer.”

This is the fourth time that the president would reject the bill. In March, Buhari withheld assent to the bill saying the proposed law would usurp the constitutional powers of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decide on election matters.

In September, Buhari turned down the bill for the second time, asking the national assembly to revise some clauses.

The national assembly had passed the bill on July 24 and transmitted to the president on August 3.

Among the controversies on the bill are the reordering of the sequence of the 2019 elections, placing the presidential poll last, instead of the governorship and state assemblies, and also exclusion of the use of card readers during elections.

- TheCable

2019: Prelate cautions against exchanging votes for rice

The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Samuel Uche, has advised Nigerians not to re-elect governors who are owing workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities of retirees.

Uche gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia on Friday when he came on a pastoral visit to Abia.

He said such governors did not deserve to be re-elected in 2019.

“It is painful that some governors in Nigeria cannot pay their workers’ salaries as well as pensions and gratuities of the retirees.

“Such governors should endeavour to pay workers their salaries. They should also pay pensions and gratuities.

“If they fail to do so, they should not smell the Government House in 2019,” he said.

On the 2019 elections, the Clergyman admonished the electorate against selling their votes.

“People should not collect rice and sell their votes. Rather, they should elect credible people who will care for their well being.

“We should vote for the future of our children. We should not allow ourselves to be influenced by money,” he said.

The cleric also charged security agencies to be fair and nonpartisan while discharging their duties during the polls.

- PM News

Family planning can improve national planning – Minister

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Friday in Abuja said Family Planning (FP) could serve as a positive force to improve national planning and development.

Ehanire said this at the closing ceremony of the 5th Nigeria Family Planning Conference, with a theme ‘Investment, Innovation, Inclusiveness’.

The minister said the conference became imperative in order to convene FP planning stakeholders to discuss and share experiences.

He said it also provided the stakeholders the opportunity to share ideas and innovation, and also serve as a platform in identifying new issues.

“The Federal Government adopted the option of investing in FP, which has been proven to be an investment that is cost effective as well as life-saving choice.

“Family planning also contributed to the building of the country’s economic potential and positive step towards building a healthy and happy family.

“The conference was a platform to identify urgent issues towards innovations in planning and childbirth spacing towards changing the narratives of the nation’s poor contraceptives,’’ Ehanire said.

The minister said the primary objective of the conference was on the need for the nation to reap the demographic dividend.

“He said the present administration had adopted to invest in FP which had proven to be the smartest choice that would help in building a healthier and happy family,’’ said Ehanire.

He said that every responsible country would make provision for its citizens, noting that the conference provided guidance to appropriate investment and innovations such as financing FP services, among others.

Ehanire also noted that the conference focused on three critical groups; the faith-based groups, women and youths.

“It did not only help articulate their needs but what each group could do to advance the frontiers of FP strategy.

“Our discussions focused on providing guidance innovation with some of the private sectors.

“Financing FP services in the context of health insurance and innovative financing; Nigeria investment case in maternal mortality, adolescent health and nutrition, and annual population lecture series.

“The role of the private sector in expanding FP services in Nigeria; proven innovation in expanding access of FP services and expanding the services and new learning.

“We must galvanise the ideas and learning from the event to reposition, promote and strengthen FP in the country and also provide right investment towards ensuring quality services,’’ Ehanire said.

He commended the AAFP, stakeholders and donor agencies, UNFPA, UNSAID, Bill and Melinda Gates for their continued support and investment in FP.

He, therefore, assured that the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to collaborate with stakeholders for effective services.

- PM News

Horror as prophetess chokes own sister to death in demon exorcism session

In a spine-chilling incident that shook the village, a self-styled faith healer choked her nine-year-old sister to death by placing fingers into her mouth and rigorously shaking her head, purportedly to exorcise her of demons during a church service.

Judith Mupelefuraha Mulumba of Tongogra Refugee Camp in Chipinge, Zimbabwe is said to have choked to death Kubota Mupelefuraha Mulumba, who happened to be her sister.

She claimed that her sister was possessed with evil spirits.

iharare.com reports that on the fateful day, Judith was said to have stashed fingers into the girl’s mouth and rigorously shook her head in the name of praying and exorcising demons.

Judith’s actions resulted in Kubota’s death after succumbing to cervical neck dislocation and asphyxiation.

She was arrested and later appeared before Mutare High Court judge, justice Hlekani Mwayera facing murder charges.

Judith was, however, freed on a special verdict of not guilty because of insanity.

“At the time of commission of the offence the accused was a mental patient whose mental disorder manifested by being talkative, excessively reading the bible in manner out of character and also being physically aggressive,” said justice Mweyera in her judgment.

- PM News