Nigeria News Plus

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CHURCH, MOSQUES MONITORESD

2011-08-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

Due to the recent killing, the State Security Service has started monitoring preaching in mosques and churches,as part of measures to prevent religious crisis in the state.

The Kogi State Director of SSS, Mr. Mike Fubara, told newsmen in Lokoja on Wednesday the organisation had also been monitoring open air preaching and other religious events in different parts of the state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Fubara said it was now mandatory for intending preachers from within and outside the state to undergo screening and get clearance from the SSS before preaching. He said that hotels in the state were now under intense surveillance to prevent unscrupulous elements from using them as hideouts to perpetrate criminal activities.

The SSS boss said that banks and corporate organisations operating in the state had been invited to meetings and given specific instructions to beef up security in and around their premises. He said that similar meetings had also been held with the leadership of transport unions, adding that operation of commercial motorcycles would come under new regulations as soon as Ramadan fast was over. Fubara said that the cordial working relationship among the security agencies in the state had helped in preventing the spill over of Boko Haram activities into the state.

As the state gears up for the governorship election later this year, the security chief appealed to journalists to refrain from heating up the polity and urged them to be fair in their reportage of political events. He also urged residents to provide useful information to security agencies.

BOMB DISCOVERED IN BAUCHI STATE

2011-08-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

The discovery of a bomb led to a stampede in an area in Bauchi, but authorities were able to defuse it before it exploded, police said Wednesday.
Residents discovered the bomb planted on a street near an open-air pub causing people to flee in panic, Bauchi state police commissioner Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba said.
Bauchi has been hit by a string of attacks blamed on an Islamist sect known as Boko Haram.
“It was a time-bomb device made from an air-conditioning compressor,” Aduba said, adding that it could have caused a powerful explosion.
“We still do not know who was behind the bomb and for what motive because no arrest has been made.”
A bomb blast targeting a police patrol team in the city injured five policemen on Sunday night, according to Aduba. A Red Cross official had earlier said four policemen were injured.
Unknown gunmen also ambushed a joint military-police patrol team Saturday night, injuring a policeman and a bystander before fleeing, said the police commissioner.
The ambush was launched in an area reputed to have been a hideout for Boko Haram members, but the police commissioner said it was too early to say who was behind the attacks.
Most attacks blamed on Boko Haram have occurred in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, but the sect has also been active in Bauchi.
It claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a beer garden in a military barracks in the city on the day of President Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration in May which killed 13 people and injured 30 others.
The sect was behind a prison attack in the city in September last year, freeing more than 700 inmates, including around 100 of its members.

CREATION OF NEW STATE.

2011-08-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, has promised the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Dr. Samuel Odulana Odugade that she would work diligently in the Federal Executive Cabinet to ensure the creation of Ibadan State which she said, had been long overdue.

The Minister made the promise in Ibadan at the weekend while on a ‘Thank You’ visit to the monarch in his palace in Monatan area of Ibadan.

While thanking the Olubadan and the people of Ibadan for their support, the minister disclosed that the actualisation of Ibadan State is the number-one priority on her agenda, assuring: “If only one state is created at the end of the day, it will be Ibadan State.”.

Describing the royal father as the pride of Ibadan land, she added: “I’m grateful to God for this opportunity to serve the people of Ibadan and Oyo State as a whole. I’m also proud to come from Ibadan. Ibadan as we all know is a home to all and sundry. It is a popular city in Africa and the political centre of South West. I’m in Abuja because of the support given to me by the people of Oyo state. Oyo state is the heart of Yoruba land, and I promise here that the creation of Ibadan State will become a reality because it is our agenda. If at the end of the day, only one state is created, it is going to be Ibadan State”

The monarch expressed his delight over the minister’s promise on the creation of Ibadan state, even as he expressed optimism that the dream of having Ibadan State would become a reality. He noted that President Goodluck Jonathan had also promised same during his presidential campaign tour to the ancient city early this year.

He commended the minister for finding time to come home, adding that the gesture really showed that she valued the support given to her by the people of Ibadan. The monarch, however, advised her not to fail on all the promises she made to the people.

I WILL LEAVE OFFICE BY 2015 PRESIDENT JONATHAN SAID

2011-07-29T04:01:00.000-07:00

IN Abuja, yesterday Mr. President, Goodluck Jonathan said he had no intention to stay in the Presidential Villa beyond May 29, 2015.

Jonathan point blank, said insinuations that his single term proposal was to further his grip on power were misplaced. He told Nigerians flying the kite to desist from it.
At the 56th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, the President disclosed that consultations were still going on though no number of years had been reached.
Earlier yesterday, Jonathan through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said he was pressing on with his plan for the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution for a single term for the President and governors of the 36 states of the federation with effect from 2015.
He said the bill to actualise the new initiative would be presented to the National Assembly before the end of August.
Jonathan, who also responded to the opposition’s strident criticism of his proposal on the issue, accused them of trying to deny him the right of freedom of speech and thought on how best to drive governance towards better service delivery in Nigeria.
Jonathan pointed out that there was no way he could embark on such exercise without consulting critical stakeholders such as the state governors and the lawmakers.
‘’There is a brief comment I want to make about this so-called single tenure, I wouldn’t have to love to but probably it is becoming so topical in the papers. In fact, today, most of the papers carried the story and once things happen that way, people take it in different directions. Since we are meeting here as a NEC of the party, it is only proper to clarify some issues so that it will not be misunderstood.
“Indeed, I asked some a few people whether a single tenure is a better option than a double tenure. Before I take any decision I ask people but that is not the end of the consultation. It is a major change. So, before I can send such a bill to the National Assembly, I will consult the governors because any constitutional amendment involves the states and if they are not on the same page with you, there is no way such amendment can easily sail through. So, I have not even discussed it with the governors. Though as individuals, probably, I have mentioned it to one or two along the discussion, if it crosses that area. Even the leadership of the party and the National Assembly, I might have mentioned to one or two persons, but not a formal group consultation. So, I have not done that level of consultation.
“Why should the story come up? Of course, because I asked one or two persons about this and I felt it was a good idea. So, the issue leaked out to the press and instead of talking about the issue of whether it is a single tenure or we continue with the two tenure, people are now rather pinning it to extension, elongation of tenure. And people were holding meeting. When we got to know that they were holding meeting, we said no, no., clarify this; Nobody should hold meeting about elongation of tenure. It has nothing to do with elongation of tenure. The tenure of Jonathan Goodluck ends in 2015. That is the provision of the constitution. So, it has nothing to do with that,’’ he said.
Jonathan recalled that the idea of tinkering with the tenure of Presidency came up during the adminsitration of the late President Umaru Musa YarÁdua when he raised an inter-party committee on the matter and the panel, which he chaired bought the idea of a single tenure.
‘’But the clarification that came out also rather compounded the situation, and how did this thing come about? Some of you will remember that in 2008/2009, when we came on board and at the end of the elections, the feeling that that the elections were poorly done was so dramatised that both within and outside the country, people felt that the elections were not properly conducted. I used to feel personally insulted whenever I travelled out to hold meetings, it came to create issues as if it was a stolen mandate. I used to tell people around me that I would make sure that no Nigerian President or Vice President gets insulted. So, if I have opportunity to oversee elections, the elections must be credible so that people will accept us anywhere,”
Jonathan noted that because of these challenges, the late President set up the Justice Uwais Committee to look into the electoral reforms and others. “He (Yar’Adua) also called the parties to come together and form a team so that all the parties could submit a common position. He also asked as the vice president then to chair the inter-party committee to submit a common memorandum to the Justice Uwais committee. I chaired that and we invited all the political parties. All the parties that formed government participated but only the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) did not attend and we spent almost three weeks or a month. The report is there.”
Jonathan said one of the things the panel discussed and accepted was a single term option to reduce some acrimonies. “One is not saying that that I am the ultimate but if you look at the evolution of the political system, the two-tenure is the ultimate, considering that some countries having single tenure, after some time, go for the double tenure. So, it is like evolutionary process. But the feeling is that because of a lot of agitations and so on, probably, in another period, we can go to that, probably to make it more effective for people to concentrate and so on. There were a number of reasons given, I will not bore your ears. But that was how this issue of single term came up. So, it not my idea, that was conceptualised after winning election. No. It has been there. All the memos that were submitted by the parties contain that. And indeed, I started asking certain people some questions and so, the information leaked out to the press and they are trying to make issue about it. But I assure the party that that major constitutional amendment can not go the National Assembly except Mr. President consults the leadership of the party. And the leadership of the National Assembly and consult with the governors. It has nothing to do with the four-year presidency that Nigerians have given to us. We just want to clarify that and I think I need to mention that it is not my idea of the committee that I chaired. Those of us, who were in the committee, we debated the matter for almost one day. We believe it is the best option, still for it to go for constitutional amendment, consultation has to be done widely,’’ he declared.
The President appealed to PDP faithful not to be worried by the misunderstanding over the matter, stressing that he did not mention six years as reported.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS- BOKO HARAM CRISIS WILL END SOON

2011-07-28T05:13:00.000-07:00

According to the Federal Government, they will soon work out a plan that would bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency, the Minister of Defence, Dr Haliru Mohammed Bello, has said.

Bello, speaking in Kaduna, on Wednesday, said although insecurity was not peculiar to Nigeria, the Federal Government had its security plan for the country and would take suggestions from people to bring an end to the crisis.

He said the Boko Haram issue was being handled by the government seriously and would soon bring it to an end.

“The government is worried about Nigeria and Nigerians who have become victims of the various incidents of the Boko Haram attacks.

“Nigeria is not the only country facing security challenges, the government is doing everything possible to ensure internal and external security of the country.

“I assure you we are handling the issue of Boko Haram in Maiduguri and very soon, it will be a thing of the past. We have our methods of operations. Even before the Boko Haram, the military and the police have their operational modus operandi, they have their operational orders.

“We have a security plan for this country. We will take suggestions from people, If it requires modifying our plans, we will modify it,” he said.

Meanwhile, as the rumour of Boko Haram’s invasion of Jos, Plateau State, spread on Wednesday, the commandant of the Special Task Force (STF), Brigadier-General Hassan Umoru, has enjoined the people of the state to disregard the speculation, saying that “it is just a figment of people’s imagination.”

According to a press statement signed by the media officer of the STF, Captain Charles Ekeocha, the commandant implored the people of the state to go about their businesses and shun any act that might create unnecessary panicking.

“The Special Task Force (Operation SAFE HAVEN), Jos, wishes to use this medium to debunk the rumour going around town about the presence of Boko Haram in Jos.

“People are advised to go about ther normal activities as the STF and other security agencies are here to ensure that the normalcy we are enjoying continues without any disruption,” the statement read.

It, however, asked the people to report any suspicious movement to the force and other security agencies for prompt action.

COMMISSIONER DISQUALIFIED OVER CERTIFICATES AND RECITING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM - ABAKALIKI

2011-07-28T05:06:00.000-07:00

IN Ebonyi State House of Assembly, yesterday, dropped a commissioner-nominee, Mr. Jonah Egba, for failing to recite the National Anthem and Pledge at a screening in the House.

The House, however, screened 27 other nominees.
Egba, a former Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Housing, was also disqualified for inability to provide the original certificates of his Post-graduate Diploma and Master’s.
The former commissioner, who was asked to recite the National Anthem and Pledge,
Consequently, the Majority Leader, Sam Nwali, (Ikwo East Constituency), moved a motion that the nominee be dismissed and confirmation withheld until he was able to furnish the House with the originals of his certificates and recite the anthem.
Attempts by Mrs. Mabel Aleke, (Ohaukwu South), to arm-twist the House to reconsider the motion did not sail through. When Princess Lilian Igwe (Ivo Constituency), seconded the motion, the matter was unanimously laid to rest.

GOVERNOR MUST PAY THE MINIMUM WAGE - NLC

2011-07-28T04:58:00.000-07:00

The organized Labour and Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa over the contentious new national minimum wage, implementation. General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Owei Lakemfa had taken a swipe at the Federal Government (FG) and the state governors over the perceived less than transparent manner they have been handling the issue of implementation.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) scribe, who spoke on the occasion of the 2nd triennial Delegate Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), had reiterated the position of Labour that any governor who could not pay the new wage to the state workers should quit as he had no business being in the office.

He also made allusion to the comment by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam that even if the Labour should go on strike for one year, some of the governors would not be able to pay.
When it was the turn of the Kaduna Deputy Governor, Mukhtar Rammallan Yero, who represented the governor, to speak, he took exception to what he called threats by the Labour, saying Labour had been threatening the governors in the wake of the disagreements over the new wage.
Though amid shouts of ‘No’ by the delegates and other Labour leaders, Alhaji Yero said no governors would be moved by the threats and neither would any of them quit office because of inability to pay the new wage.

He explained that he was once a member of SSANU and had the experience of Labour activism and the thinking of unionists concerning issues like wage rise and now being a part of policy formulator, he had seen the difference that Labour threats could not move mountains.
According to him, if the Labours should find themselves in government they would also have the same opinion as the governors.
With shouts of ‘No’ intermittently from the audience, the deputy governor tried to cite an instance with the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who was a former NLC president, as one of the governors having running battles with his workers over the new wage, but the unionists insisted, he would pay.

“Has he paid? What we are saying is you need to be on the other side to understand what I am saying just like the vice chancellor said earlier, strike will not solve the problem and neither threat too, so we have to understand ourselves because give or take, the governors will pay eventually.
“No governor will leave his seat because he cannot pay the new wage. Labour should reconsider the use of threat that any governor who cannot pay should go. Governors need to be encouraged and not discourage,” he stated.

Earlier, Owei had given an analysis of the position of Labour over the new wage and the claim of subsidy, which the governors were pressurising the Federal Government to remove so that the state would have more money to pay the new wage.
The NLC scribe dismissed the claim, saying Nigerian government was exporting crude oil only to import refined products because it was ‘crude in thinking’, pointing out that many countries smaller than Nigeria run up to 30 refineries for adequate supply of petroleum to their citizen while Nigeria, which prides itself as giants of Africa could not run one refinery successfully.

Later in an interview, he described the position of Governor Suswam as irresponsible, wondering why a state government whose industry was civil service would say it was not concerned if the state civil service was shut down.
“Such governor who is not ready to pay the new wage cannot govern peacefully, because this is a matter of law, the governor as the chief security officer of their states cannot afford to be lawless, otherwise who will be expected to be law abiding?” Owei argued.
He disclosed that Labour would continue its meeting with government today and insisted that the deadline remains the end of this month as all categories of worker must have their August salaries reflect the new pay across board.

In his speech earlier, Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Abdulahi Mustapha, urged Labour to exercise caution in its agitation and that strike which was usually the last option was the most destructive when care was not taken.
Outgoing president of SSANU, Promise Adewusi, who is also the deputy president of the NLC, sided with his NLC colleague when he lamented that the government was pushing Labour to the wall with its attitude.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN AMERICA

2011-07-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

IN the United State Republicans and Democrats remain in deadlock over raising the country's debt ceiling while the White House says a compromise is "essential and possible".

Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, urged legislators to reach an agreement on Wednesday and highlighted partisans' "need to come together now" to settle on an increased debt limit.
"We believe that there is a place to find compromise," Carney said.
"And while at midnight on August 2, we don't all turn into pumpkins, we do as a country lose our borrowing authority for the first time in our history, and that would be a very bad thing."
"What's lacking isn't time ... what is required now is political will, and there's time, if people are willing to find it and use it, there is time to take action," he said.
He added that the White House has been "intensely engaged in negotiations, in conversations, in proposals and counter-proposals" with Congress at a variety of different levels.
"We still firmly believe that a compromise is essential and possible," he said.
Dangerously split
The US treasury department says the government will no longer be able to borrow money on August 2, and there is no way to guarantee the government will be able to pay all of its bills without a debt limit increase.
Carney's comments came as the Democratic-led senate and Republican-led House of Representatives remained dangerously split on Wednesday over rival plans that both tied spending cuts to an increase of the $14.3tn debt limit, but appeared unable to bridge the partisan gap before an August 2 deadline.
John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress who serves as House speaker, is taking a second look at his deficit reduction proposal after seeing some rejection from his party. A non-partisan analysis found it would save less than what he had claimed.
Harry Reid, the senate majority leader, is also tweaking his separate plan after a budget analysis found it would cut $2.2tn from deficits, about $500bn less than claimed.
Separately on Wednesday, Deven Sharma, president of Standard & Poor, told US legislators that he did not believe the US would default on its debt, but warned that the country needs a "credible" plan to slash its deficit to avoid a possible downgrade.
"Changing the rating doesn't mean that they will default ... if you change a rating that means the risk levels have gone up," he said.
Possible downgrade
Sharma said the credit rating agency's July 14 threat of a downgrade of the US triple-A rating over its long-term deficit still stands.
"There has to be a credible plan to reduce the debt burden as well as the deficit levels," he said.
But he said that an earlier $4tn long-term deficit reduction plan, backed by the White House and some in Congress, would probably have been adequate to avoid a downgrade of the country's vaunted triple-A status.
According to Standard & Poor's analysis, "that would bring the threshold within the range of what a AAA-rated sovereign debt would require," Sharma said.
The current plans at the centre of the fight offer cuts of under the $3tn threshold over 10 years.
Pressed on whether there is flexibility to be able to pay the government's bills after the August 2 deadline, Carney said: "That deadline is hard and fast."
Carney was also asked whether a downgrade of the US credit rating was a more imminent risk than a default. "A downgrade is a bad thing. A default is a catastrophic thing," he said.

DON'T TRUST MR PRESIDENT - GOODLUCK JONATHAN

2011-07-28T04:40:00.000-07:00

Mr. President, plans to send a bill to the National Assembly for a single six (6) year term for President and governors was yesterday criticized by opposition parties.
In unison, they argued that the plan is deceptive, fraudulent and an attempt at tenure elongation by Mr. President

Mr. President had said that he will not benefit from the proposed constitution amendment whose implementation would begin in 2015

The country currently operates a four-year tenure that could extend to a second term. Elected officers have often turned the aspiration for a second term to a do-or-die affair which brings with it sad memories. The papers were awash with President Jonathan’s proposal yesterday.

Reacting to the proposed tenure, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) condemned the plan, which it termed ‘reckless move’ by the President ‘not only to divert the attention of Nigerians from the looting going on in the land under his watch or railroad Nigerians into forum shopping; but to elongate his tenure through the back door’.

In a statement issued in Enugu yesterday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the CNPP said: “We cannot remember when President Jonathan canvassed tenure elongation during his presidential campaign and cannot locate how the extension of tenure will improve the welfare or security of Nigerians who today are groaning under the yoke of functioning anarchy, which is sliding dangerously into a failed state.

“It is highly regrettable and a pity that President Jonathan, rather than submitting an executive bill to alter the Constitution from unitary system of government to true federalism; a centre which is too heavy, indolent and corrupt; is submitting a bill on tenure elongation aimed at self-glorification.
“If President Jonathan is truly committed to free and fair elections he could have submitted an executive bill which will incorporate the core recommendations of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report in the Constitution; rather a tepid attempt to extend his tenure”, it said. The statement noted that the bill to elongate the tenure of the Office of the President and Governors from all indication “is not only in bad faith, inconsequential, diversionary; but has exposed the perfidy of the Jonathan regime.
“Finally, CNPP is of the candid view that seven to 10 years tenure cannot prevent ‘food-is-ready’ politicians from do-or-die political culture, rigging the elections and foisting surrogates on the electorate; unless the Constitution is amended to allow for the core recommendations of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

Also reacting, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) described the plan as fraudulent, deceptive and a misadventure.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Ibadan, yesterday, the party said the plan also ‘confirms the fears that this President enjoys power for the sake of it, instead of using it to the benefit of Nigerians’. It said the single tenure project is fraudulent because President Jonathan never for once promised Nigerians, during his campaign, that it would be his priority project once elected into office, adding that the issue was also not known to be in the manifesto of his party, the PDP.

The ACN said the project “is also self-serving because, despite the deceptive proviso that President Jonathan will not benefit from it, there is nothing in the Constitution that bars him from seeking another term in 2015 and, in any case, he has not told anyone that he will not run again after his current tenure. “This is nothing but tenure elongation by subterfuge and it is worse than the Third Term misadventure of his godfather. All it takes for the proviso, inserted to hoodwink gullible people, to be knocked off is for anyone to seek a declarative court ruling that he (President Jonathan) is indeed qualified to seek another term. After all, he did not go that far to disown his party’s zoning principle, which he signed on to”,’ the party said.

The ACN is worried that the ill-conceived project could prove to be a divisive issue, further threatening the country’s fragile unity, which took some beating by the President’s volte-face on zoning in the PDP.
”Much as most Nigerians are shocked by President Jonathan’s plan, we are sure it did not come to them as a total surprise, because it is in line with his style since assuming office. After the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and his (President Jonathan’s) ascension to office, he cannot be remembered for anything beyond stoking the fire of zoning or no zoning, which burned brightly until he was elected President.

“Now, three months after he promised Nigerians heaven and earth in his inauguration speech, but delivered nothing, while Nigerians are daily being subjected to hellish living, all he has come up with is a bill to amend the Constitution so the President and state governors can serve only one term. How is this issue more important than taking measures to grow our moribund economy; or to ensure that millions of our jobless youths are gainfully employed?

“How does this check the widespread insecurity of lives and property in the land, especially in areas under the stranglehold of Boko Haram? How are the so-called merits of the plan, which its promoters said include checking the acrimony that accompanies re-election campaign, more important than making kerosene, diesel and aviation fuel abundantly available to slash the rising costs? How does this project turn around the appalling state of our infrastructure? And how does it check the spiralling exchange rate of the Naira to the major currencies, with its bandwagon effects?

“We therefore, urge all Nigerians to reject this evil project instead of playing the game of President Jonathan and his cohorts, who simply want to use the ensuing debate to divert attention from the worsening standard of living of Nigerians and the bad governance to which they have been subjected by to most elected officials in the over 12 years of democratic rule,’’ it said.
The All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), however, urged the President and the National Assembly to put the interest of the nation above every other consideration.

Reacting to the proposed executive bill on single term, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, the party said Nigerians would resist any attempt by anybody to manipulate the process for his own gain.
“Our great party has taken notice of the reported intention of Mr. President to forward a bill to the National Assembly proposing the amendment of the Constitution to limit the tenure of Office of the President and Governors to a single term of six years. We have also taken cognizance of the effective date of the year 2015 for the amendment, if passed and assented to, to become effective.
“The experience of the recent past in similar efforts in this regard should remind all true patriots that Nigerians will resist any attempt to manipulate the constitutional amendment process to further any hidden agenda.

“We call on all our members in the National Assembly to remain vigilant. We assure all Nigerians that our great party is carefully studying developments in this regard. In due course, our National Chairman will speak on this issue as events unfold”, the statement, signed by Emma Eneukwu, National Publicity Secretary of the party said.

ESUT POST UME FORM AND DATE IS OUT

2011-07-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is to notify all those who put ESUT as their institution in the last concluding JAMB that ESUT screening form is out... it is sold for 3000 call 08032503651 for more information assistance. The date for the examination is 25th August 2011

UDUAGHAN VERSUS OGBORU IN ANOTHER COURT BATTLE TODAY

2011-07-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

IN ASABA, Delta State- just barely 48 hours after the Delta State Governorship Re-run Petition Tribunal, held in Asabe dismissed the petition by Chief Great Ogboru, the governorship candidate of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, challenging Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s victory at the re-run poll, the two men will return to the tribunal, today.

They are billed to appear for a pre-hearing session of Ogboru’s petition against the April 26, governorship election.
The tribunal had on July 14, dismissed a motion by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, counsel to Uduaghan, which prayed it to dismiss Ogboru’s petition on the grounds that he had abandoned the said petition.
The tribunal held that Ogboru did not abandon his petition and had, in fact, complied with statutory steps in respect of issuance of pre-hearing session notices to the parties involved in the case.
The tribunal also granted Ogboru’s application for the issuance of pre-hearing session notices and pre-information to the parties.
Governor Uduaghan, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, on his victory at the re-run tribunal, said he will remain focused on his job despite the challenges.
His Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Ebifa Ijomah, in a statement, described Uduaghan’s victory as a well-deserved.
He thanked the youths for their “committed support and peaceful conduct throughout the duration of the matter in the tribunal,” adding, “with the issue now firmly behind us, the state can now move forward.”

MEDICAL STUDENT ARRESTED FOR ROBBERY

2011-07-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

Medical student of Madonna University, Anambra State, Kolade Olajide, and three other students have been arrested by the men of the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly killing a policeman during a robbery operation at Moferere area of Ado-Ekiti.

The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, said at a press conference where the suspects were paraded in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, that the deceased, Mr. Olusegun Olufowobi, was shot by the gang around 8:40pm on July 20.
The other suspects are, Blessing Ohworisi, a male student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti; Ojo Ogundare, a tyre repairer and Miss Sunkanmi Faleye, Ohoworisi’s girlfriend, who is the gang leader.
Faleye, who is a pre-degree student of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo in Ondo State, claimed she was not aware that her boyfriend was a criminal. She added that one of the gang members called her on the telephone and told her that her boyfriend had been shot by a robber.
Faleye, who cried throughout the period of the parade, added that she went to OAUTH to take care of her boyfriend unknown to her he had been involved in robbery.
The CP said, “The policeman was murdered in his apartment at Moferere area of Ado-Ekiti. He engaged the attackers in a gun battle with his service pistol, although he died but he shot and injured one of the hoodlums who is now receiving treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife in Osun State.”

The medical student, confessed to journalists that he and Ojo went with Ohoworisi aka Master Orchestral, to the residence of the deceased for the operation.
The suspect, who claimed to be a former Student of Obafemi Awolowo University, where he met Ohoworisi, said the policeman was not the target. He added that they were returning from a failed operation when they saw shinning lights at the policeman’s residence.

He said the gang leader went in because he thought the person using a generator in the neighbourhood must be a richman.

Olajide explained that he and Ogundare, who accompanied Ohoworisi, heard a gunshot from outside the building where they had waited. He added that the policeman rushed for his pistol with which he shot the leader of the gang.

The policeman was later rushed to hospital where he died, having lost so much blood while the injured gang leader was taken away by his members.

Olajide said they deceived the policemen at different checkpoints and managed to take the injured gang leader to OAUTH where he and others were arrested.

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT "TWO TERM FOR PRESIDENCY AND GOVERNORS IS A WASTE"

2011-07-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, confirmed a single term proposal for the offices of president of the Federal Republic and state governors, just as he explained why he is sending a bill to the National Assembly to that effect.

President Jonathan, who explained that his position was not for selfish reason but patriotic zeal to make governance more meaningful to the citizenry, stated that the greater good of Nigeria was greater than the ambition of any individual.
“The proposed amendment bill is necessary to consolidate our democracy and allow elected executives to concentrate on governance and service delivery for their full terms, instead of running governments with re-election as their primary focus,” he said.
A presidency statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja on Tuesday, while explaining the reasons behind the proposed amendment, was, however, silent on the number of years the envisaged tenure for the president and governors will be.
According to the statement, President Jonathan was taking this step out of patriotic zeal, as he did not believe the present constitutionally guaranteed two terms for president and governors were helpful to the nation’s democracy.
The statement said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is to send a Constitution Amendment Bill to the National Assembly that will provide a single tenure for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the governors of the 36 states of the federation.
“In the envisaged bill, the tenure of members of the National and State Assemblies will also be a little more than four years, although lawmakers will still be eligible for re-election as their constituencies may determine.
“President Jonathan’s commitment to a single term for the president and governors is borne out of a patriotic zeal, after a painstaking study and belief that the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for presidents and governors are not helping the focus of governance and institutionalisation of democracy at this stage of our development.
“A longer term for lawmakers would also help to stabilise the polity,” it said.
Abati further said that President Jonathan was concerned about the acrimony which the issue of re-election, every four years, generates, both at the federal and state levels, adding; “the nation is still smarting from the unrest, the desperation for power and the overheating of the polity that have attended each general election, the fall-out of all this is the unending inter and intra-party squabbles which have affected the growth of party democracy in the country, and have further undermined the country’s developmental aspirations.
“In addition, the cost of conducting party primaries and the general election have become too high for the economy to accommodate every four years. The proposed amendment bill is necessary to consolidate our democracy and allow elected executives to concentrate on governance and service delivery for their full term, instead of running governments with re-election as their primary focus,” the statement declared.
Presidency explained that, “This clarification has become necessary in the light of certain reports in a section of the media that the proposed bill is meant to elongate President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.
“Nothing can be more untrue. The energy that has been devoted to speculations on the content of the likely bill is akin to an attempt to force the abortion of a non-existent pregnancy.
“The details of the bill will be clear in terms of its provisions, when it is forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
“The president makes it clear that his push for a single tenure for the office of the president and that of the governors is not borne out of any personal interest. The proposed amendment will not have anything to do with him as a person; what he owes Nigerians is good governance, and he is singularly committed to this.
“Besides, it is trite law that the envisaged amendment cannot have a retroactive effect. This means that whatever single term tenure that is enacted into law by the National Assembly will take effect from 2015,” it said.
The statement quoted the president as saying that “the greater good of Nigeria is greater than the ambition of any one individual,” adding that “the envisaged bill is part of the Jonathan-led admini-stration’s transformation agenda, aimed at sanitising the nation’s politics.”
It said “the president believes that this single move, when actualised, will change the face of our politics and accelerate the overall development of our nation.”
In ruling Jonathan out of the benefits of the tenure elongation, the presidency said “if the proposed amendment is accepted by the National Assembly, the president assures that he will not, in any way, be a beneficiary.”

GUN MANUFACTURER ARRESTED BY TASK FORCE

2011-07-22T01:56:00.000-07:00

The Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau, on Jos crises, Operation Safe Haven, yesterday arrested a suspected gun manufacturer at a military check point in Bokkos Local Government.

Parading the suspect at the STF headquarters in Jos, STF spokesperson Captain Charles Ekeocha said: “The particulars of the suspects show that he is a native of Pankshin Local Government, and his name is Paul Tongleng.

“Tongleng was arrested at 7.30am yesterday during a routine stop-and-search operation with iron implements, which he used in producing rifles.

“Soldiers asked the suspect to come down from the vehicle he was traveling in and in the process, Tongleng dropped a bag in the vehicle. When the soldier checked what he dropped, it was found to be empty cases of 7.62 calibre ammunition and some metals, designed like weapons, and some pipes designed as barrels for pistols.”

Preliminary investigation, according to Ekeocha, showed that the suspect confessed to have supplied some people with the rifles.

Ekeocha urged the residents to give information on any suspicious activity in their areas.

He said Tongleng would be handed over to the police for further investigation.

OGBORU LOST OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN - DELTA STATE

2011-07-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

In Delta State, the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State yesterday invalidated the nomination of Chief Great Ovadje Ogboru as the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the January 6, 2011 governorship rerun election.
In suit No. FHC/ASB/CS/104/2011, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Peter Nwaoboshi and the leadership of the party had challenged the eligibility of Ogboru for the election.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ibrahim Buba held that Chief Ogboru’s nomination did not comply with statutory requirements of the 2006 Electoral Act, which stipulates that 50 party members should endorse the governorship candidate.
According to Justice Buba, those who nominated Chief Ogboru were not registered members of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

With yesterday’s judgment, Chief Ogboru was not qualified to have contested in the April 14, 2007 governorship election in Delta State, which was annulled by the Appeal Court in Benin and ordered a re-run, which was held on January 6, 2011.

Meanwhile, the Justice Uzoamaka Ogwuike-led Delta State Governorship Election Re-run Tribunal would today (Thursday) hear written submissions by counsel to the petitioners, Chief Great Ogboru and the DPP and the respondents, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the PDP.

CPC PETITIONED PDP ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

2011-07-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), placed an appeal before the Supreme Court, challenging the ruling of the presidential election petition tribunal, which dismissed its objection to the petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) against the election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The appellant, which fielded Jonathan as its president candidate, was asking the apex court to set aside the ruling of the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel on July 14, which refused to dismiss the CPC’s petition as it demanded.
The appellant wanted the apex court to hold that the lower court was wrong to have ruled that the petition, which was filed on a Sunday, was competent and proper in law.
It was also requesting that the second, sixth to 42nd respondents (Professor Attahiru Jega and state electoral commissioners) be struck off the petition.
The tribunal had refused the two requests.
In its ground of appeal, the appellant claimed that the lower court erred in law, “when they held that the petition, which was filed on a Sunday, was competent, adding that “Sunday is a Public Holiday and a dies non juridicus (a day on which a judicial act cannot be performed).”
It said “pursuant to Order 46 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009, the Chief Judge is only permitted to give directions as to sitting on a Sunday and not filing on a Sunday.”
It added that “the provisions of Order 46 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 leave no room for the discretion of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court or the President of the Court of Appeal to direct the filing of a court process on a Sunday.”
It said paragraph 26 (2) of the first schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) did not, in any way, envisage the opening of the registry on a Sunday or a public holiday, adding that there was no known law which permitted filing of originating processes on a Sunday.
PDP argued further that “the Justice of the Lower Court erred in law and misplaced the concept of burden of proof. Going by Section 137(1) and (2) of the Evidence Act, the burden of proof that there was a directive to file the petition on Sunday was/is on the petitioner.The burden of proof lies on he who would fail if no evidence was given on either side.”
Further buttressing its submission, the appellant said “by law, the courts are only permitted to sit on a Sunday or public holiday. The law does not permit courts to issue any directive allowing for the filing of an originating process on a Sunday or public holiday.”
Reliefs sought included an order of the court setting aside the ruling of the lower court, allowing the appeal and dismissing and/or striking out the petition for being incompetent.

ASUU STRIKE THREATENS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

2011-07-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Thursday, warned that nothing would stop the union on embarking on strike, if the Federal Government failed to honour its part of the agreement reached in 2009.

According to chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr Ademola Aremu, while addressing newsmen noted that the education sector would suffer should the Federal Government fail to fulfil its part of the deal.
While calling on members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers and other well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to fully honour the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement before the education system was thrown into avoidable crisis, he remarked that it was unfortunate that government was still playing hide and seek over the implementation of the 2009 agreement in spite of the fact that the agreement was reached after over two years of negotiation.
According to him government is still implementing ”Table Two of the FG/ASUU agreement'' which ought not to have lasted for more than three months after signing the agreement.
“We do not want to heat up the polity but let it be known that nothing may stop the strike if the Federal Government fails to honour its part of the agreement. The agreement is due for review next July while the old one is yet to the fully implemented.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on our royal fathers, the National Assembly and all well meaning Nigerians to prevail on government to fully honour the agreement,” he said.

NATO PRESS PRESURE ON GADHAFI

2011-07-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

The United Nation Community (NATO) mission in Libya is on track, with pressure on leader Moammar Gadhafi mounting and the rebel forces growing stronger, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday.

"We need to see this through, and we are in complete agreement that we will," she said, speaking alongside Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiminez in Madrid.
Clinton also dismissed a threat by Gadhafi to take the war to Europe, made in an audio message broadcast Friday.
"Instead of issuing threats, Gadhafi should put the well-being and the interests of his own people first and he should step down from power and help facilitate a democratic transition that will meet the aspirations of the Libyan people," she said.
Jiminez said Spain and the international community would respond to Gadhafi's threat by remaining united in their efforts in Libya.
"We are working together to protect the Libyan people from the threats and violence that Gadhafi is employing against them," she said. "We will stay until we achieve our goals."
NATO began bombing military targets in Libya after the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution in March authorizing force by whatever means necessary, with the exception of a ground invasion, to protect civilians.
Gadhafi has so far resisted international pressure to step down.
"You are mistaken, you are involved in a battle that you don't know what you are going to face, so withdraw, and run away," he told a pro-government gathering in Tripoli, according to an audio message aired by state TV.
Gadhafi said he " is able in one day to move the battle to the Mediterranean, and able to move the battle to Europe."
He vowed vengeance for the NATO bombings, saying the Libyan military could be "like locusts, like bees" in Europe. Homes and offices could be potential targets, he said.
A State Department spokesman said the United States would take Gadhafi's remarks seriously, but added that the Libyan leader was "given to overblown rhetoric."
Clinton, who is on the last day of a four-day trip to Europe that has also taken in Hungary and Lithuania, held talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Madrid and also met with Spain's King Juan Carlos.
She hailed Spain for its contribution to enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya and an arms embargo on the country, describing Spain as "a valued partner and a trusted friend."

Spain has deployed four F-18 fighter jets and a refueling plane to help enforce a no-fly zone, and a frigate, a submarine and a surveillance plane to help impose an arms embargo against the Gadhafi regime.

FORMER LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR FACES FINAL TRIALS

2011-07-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

The former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu is finally set to take off as the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he has been charged, will be inaugurated next Tuesday.
the appointment of the Tribunal board by President Goodluck Jonathan was exclusively reported by the Nigerian Tribune last week.

A statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the spokesperson of the National Judicial Council(NJC), Soji Oye, confirmed the exclusive report.

Oye’s statement disclosed that “ President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of the Chairman and two members for the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

They are: Barrister Danladi Yakubu Umar as Chairman and Justice Robert I.E. Odu (Rtd) and Barrister Atedze Aguadza as members.

According to the statement, the appointment took effect from June 24, 2011.

“The Chairman and Members of the tribunal will be sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu on Tuesday, July 2011 at the Supreme Court of Nigeria at 10:00a.m,” the statement concluded.

The Code of Conduct Bureau had slammed a criminal charge of operation and maintenance of 16 foreign accounts while in office against Tinubu.

LAST WARNING TO BOKO HARAM SAY MR PRESIDENT

2011-07-02T06:12:00.000-07:00

THE Federal Government led by Mr President yesterday sent a strong warning to the Boko Haram sect, which has claimed responsibility for the spate of bomb blasts and killings in some northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

President Goodluck Jonathan, who described the activities of the group as no longer acceptable, said the patience of the Federal Government had been tasked and it would rise up to the challenge by checking the excesses of the sect.
Jonathan, who told the group that “enough is enough,” spoke at the graduation of Senior Course 33 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna State.
Represented at the event by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, the President said he would no long fold his arms and watch a few criminals killing law-abiding Nigerians and destroying their property for no justifiable reasons.
He cautioned against any attachment of sentiments to the resolve of the government, saying: “This is not the time to add sentiment in our thinking, but to see the reality before us and address the same with action.
“In view of this, the Federal Government will use all available resources to put a stop to this spate of insecurity in the land,” Jonathan stated.
The President, therefore, charged members of the armed forces and other security agencies to work together, especially in information gathering, because “no security agency can excel without the cooperation of the others.”
On the event, Jonathan said the high number of international students in the college had enhanced the idea of African brotherliness, integration and regional cooperation, which are necessary for the common security in the continent.
He asserted that African problems could only be solved by Africans, stressing that Nigeria remains committed to international peace and security and would continue to work with other governments to promote stability and development in the region.
Jonathan stated that the AFCSC had again proved its capability of meeting the national, regional and international levels of manpower needs in command and staff training at both single and joint service levels.
“Today’s ceremony is the testimony of the handwork of the Commandant, the Directive Staff and the determination to contribute towards the continuous transformation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“As you go back to the field, most of you will be deployed to crisis-prone areas, either for international security or peace support operations outside the country.
“You must be mindful of your actions and realise that we are in a common global environment and however re-assured that senior course, which you have just completed, have been appropriately structured to prepare you for command and staff responsibilities in full-scale war, as well as in military operations.”
In his address, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Tijjani Muazu, said the course was designed to equip the officers with the skills to function as Grade 1 staff officers and prepare them for higher responsibility.
Meanwhile, pan-Igbo body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has criticised the threat of the leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to go on a strike if Prof. Bart Nnaji is made the Minister of Power.
The group said Nnaji’s commitment to the implementation of the power sector reform, as contained in the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and the Road Map for Power Sector, made him one of the most suitable Nigerian for the office.
In a statement yesterday, the group said it considered the threat as misguided and in bad faith, adding that it is “brazenly unpatriotic,” especially as Nnaji had previously worked in the last dispensation as the Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power.
Another prominent group, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has decried the delay in submitting the name of the state’s nominee for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to the Senate for confirmation.
The newly elected President of the union, Dr. Ephraim Goje, told journalists in Kaduna that the state deserves at least two ministers in the cabinet and wondered why no nomination had been made from Kaduna.

NEW SECURITY MEASURE IN EDO STATE

2011-07-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole says a timely integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the nation’s security network is key to curbing the current general insecurity.
He said it was against this background that his administration had embarked on the deployment of ICT in every part of the state towards improving the security of lives and property.

Nigeria, he said, is currently faced with the security challenge with the re-occurrence of bomb blasts in a section of the country.

According to him, the effect of such integration will also be a boost in the revenue base after the challenge usually associated with every new system.

“Across all spheres of governance, from security, revenue generation and fiscal governance to education and general administration, ICT accelerates the pace and enhances the quality of service delivery,” Oshiomhole stated.

Mr. John Mayaki, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media Matters, quoted the governor in an email as saying at the opening of the National Information TechnologyPublic-Private Forum held in Benin City that the role of ICT in guaranteeing security could not be ignored.

Oshiomhole, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Simon Imuekheme, noted that though the state’s geographic information system was in its early stages of implementation, the inherent gains of the current investment in the system would surpass any immediate challenge.

“The early benefits in streamlining our land information system eases the validation of our citizens, properties and boost our land use revenues. We have computerised our major MDAs, where antiquated typewriters were previously the major equipment in use. The 18 local government areas have been integrated into our ICT infrastructure hub. The benefits have justified our investments in ICT infrastructure, he said

MINISTERS SWEARING IN

2011-07-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

After a month since his swearing in of Mr President, Goodluck Jonathan will today by 11a.m. at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, swear in the first batch of ministers confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday.
The remaining ministers are to be screened on Tuesday.
The 14 confirmed ministers and accredited family members are to be seated at 10 am. before the swearing in and assignment of portfolios.

Those that have been confirmed are former ministers of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, Mines and Steel, Mr. Mohammed Musa Sada, Information and Communication, Labaran Maku, Transport, Yusuf Sulaiman, former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, new appointees, Hajia Zainab Maina and Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi.

Others are former ministers of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Education, Prof. Ruqqayattu Rufai, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed and former FCT minister of state, Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd).

Presidency sources had attributed the delay in the submission of the list of ministerial nominees to the high-level consultations on the restructuring of the functions of top personnel of the presidency and complete overhaul of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), in line with the policy direction of the government.
President Jonathan, the source had hinted, insisted that “there must be clear-cut duties for appointees before they (ministers) are appointed in order to avoid duplication of functions”.

JAMB RESULT OUT

2011-06-25T05:13:00.000-07:00

It was noted that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Friday released the results of last Saturday’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME).

Out of the 1,493,000 candidates that sat for the examination, a total of 2,892 candidates scored 300 and above, while 842,941 candidates scored below 200 marks.

The Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, stated that 28,069 cases of incomplete results were recorded.

This, he explained, was due to a number of factors including candidates’ failure to fill in their subjects properly; multiple shading; or no shading at all.

Ojerinde noted that the figure was a remarkable reduction compared to the 2010 exam, but noted that it was still high. He said, “Our target is to totally eliminate this phenomenon by drumming it to out examiners to do checks on candidates during the examinations.”

Other figures showed that a total of 7,504 results were withheld and are still under investigation by the examination body. About 15,160 cases of various forms of examination malpractices were also recorded.

The statistics showed that candidates from Imo State topped list of applicants with 113,543, representing 7.60 per cent, followed by Delta with a total of 93,971 candidates representing 6.29 per cent.

In contrast, the Federal Capital Territory recorded the lowest number with 3,093 candidates, representing 0.21 per cent, while Zamfara had 5,253 candidates, representing 0.35 per cent of the total applicants.

As for the highest number of applicants, the University of Lagos received 99,195 applicants, but can only admit 9,507 candidates. The Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, had 89,760 and 88, 177 applicants respectively.

Ojerinde noted that while the UTME was created out of the need to expand access, candidates continued to have higher preference for universities ahead of other tertiary institutions.

“Unfortunately, the universities still contend with the constraints of carrying capacities,” Ojerinde said.

On the controversial biometric method of screening introduced by the board this year, Ojerinde explained that JAMB recorded more successes than failures in the project.

He said about 99,000 candidates were successfully thumb-printed while the rest (about 500,000), were screened through the traditional method of using the e-slip.

Ojerinde said, “To us in JAMB, it has recorded more successes than drawbacks. For instance, the system in many centres ensured candidates were orderly and peaceful.

“We will want to place on record that we commend their patience in this regard, just as we are determined to rise above the few hiccups that were experienced this time around.

“In addition, a majority of the candidates came early and the impersonators were fenced off as a result of the knowledge and utilisation of the biometrics”. He promised improvements in subsequent examinations.”