GOV. WIKE CANCELS APPROVAL FOR ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike

Rivers state governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Friday cancelled operational approval given to all private schools in the state and directed them to seek fresh approval. Governor Wike stated that the application  for operational approval  must be done by all schools within the next two weeks.

The governor spoke at a meeting with all private school proprietors in Rivers state at the Government House, Port Harcourt today. “All the schools must apply for operational approval within the next two weeks. “We will set up committees that will  recommend  the approval of schools. 

All the schools  in the state must be up to the  required standard.” The governor said his second term is committed  to improving  the right standards in the education sector for the good of  Rivers people. “The governor’s office  will review all the approval of schools.  All the existing  approvals by the Ministry of Education have been cancelled. 

For this process,  there will be no room for bribery and corruption,” he said. On the issue of revenue paid by schools,  the Rivers State Governor said that all levies  must be paid  through  approved  designated bank  accounts. He said that anyone who  demands for cash payment should be reported to security agencies via designated phone lines.

He said the Office of  the Secretary to the Rivers State Government will publish  the telephone lines  that school  proprietors should contact in case they are pressured  to pay illegal levies.

SEN. AMOSUN HITS BACK AS CRITICISM MOUNTS; SAYS GEJ APPROVED, ABIODUN SUPPLIED WEAPONS, AMMUNITION

    Gov Biodun,  Amosun,    GEJ respectively 

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the immediate past governor of Ogun state, has stated that his government legitimately purchased the 13 units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 1000 units of AK 47 rifles, two million rounds of ammunition,1000 units of bullet proof vests and 500 bullet proof helmets and other security communication gadgets.

Amosun made the disclosure in a statement released by his spokesperson, Rotimi Durojaiye, on Thursday, June 27, Daily Trust reports.

Correspondence gathered that the former governor said his administration had received approval from the Office of the National Security Adviser to former president Goodluck Jonathan.

He recalled that in 2012, his administration had committed “substantial funds” for the procurement of hard and software to combat the myriad of security challenges being faced by the state.

Amosun pointed out that in April 2012, the security gadgets were publicly handed over to the then IGP, Mohammed Abubakar.

He said it was the remainder of gadgets that had been handed over to the commissioner of police on May 28, but clarified that “Not a single AK 47 rifle was handed over at the event.”

Amosun added that Governor Dapo Abiodun, his successor and present governor of Ogun state, was the main supplier of some of the security assets, including the Armoured Personnel Carriers which he reportedly handed over to the police at the expiration of his tenure.

However, Abiodun, reacting through his chief press secretary, Abiodun Kunle Somorin, wondered why his name would be mentioned by his predecessor in what he referred to as an “arms scandal”.

He said: “I read of Armoured Personnel Carriers – vehicles, not arms or ammunition. Did he default in supplying according to the terms of the contract?

“What’s the motivation for bringing the governor’s name into the arms scandal? I consider it distracting or part of the grand plot to smear Dapo Abiodun.”

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the allegation that the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, illegally imported massive weapons and ammunition into the country, was dismissed by the presidency.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said preliminary investigation by IGP Mohammed Adamu showed that there was no sinister motive in Amosun’s action.

BELEMA OIL PRODUCING LIMITED RECENT OPPORTUNITY – APPLY NOW!

Belema oil Producing Limited in Joint Venture with the NNPC, fully committed to the education of our Host Communities, hereby announce its annual scholarship program for 2019/2020 Academic Year. The scheme is for suitably qualified applicants from Belema oil Host Communities. Applications are invited for:

BELEMAOIL PRODUCING LIMITED JOINT VENTURE POST-PRIMARY SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME 2019/2020

ELIGIBILITY FOR POST-PRIMARY AWARD

Applicants must be from the Belemaoil Host Communities and Operating Business Corridors

Applicants must submit Local Government Identification Letter

Applicants must have secured admission into a Public and Government recognized secondary school in the Country

Applicants must submit Reference Letter from the Principal of school along with at least JSS 1 first term result

Applicant Must Not be an employee or child/dependent of any employee of Belema oil Producing Limited

Applicant Must Not be a current beneficiary in any of Belema oil Empowerment Schemes.

BELEMAOIL BUSINESS CORRIDOR

> Kula Business Corridor (KBC):

• Kula Main

• Opu-Kula

• Boro

• Robertkin

• Boye-Ama

• Luckyland

> Oko Business Corridor (OBC):

• Belema & Others

• Offoin-ama

• Ngeje

• King Oko

> Penipeni– Idama Business Corridor (PIBC):

• Idama

• PeniPeni Ama

> Inda Business Corridor (IBC):

• Bonny

• Elem-Ifoko (Fouche & Ifoko)

> Jokka Business Corridor (JBC):

• Abuloma/Okujagu/Okuru Business Corridor (AOOBC)

• Abuloma

• Okujagu

• Okuru.

Interested and qualified candidates should download and fill the below “Application Form” Offline.

Completed forms should be e-mailed to: scholarships@belemaoil.com 

This form must be submitted with 2 recent passport photographs.

OR
Submit Application/completed forms through your “Host Community CDC/Interface” to: Nengi Elijah (08118898414); Or Mina Igonikon (08118898393).

Click here to Download Application Form (Ms Word)

Assemble and attach to this application the following documents:

Scholarship Application Form (Properly Filled with Passport Photograph at the top)

School Admission Letter

JSS 1 Result

Local Government Identification Letter

Letter of Identification (Signed by either Traditional Ruler, or Community Representative).

Click here for more Information

Belemaoil Producing Limited Joint Venture Undergraduate Scholarships Programme 2019/2020

Eligibility for Undergraduate Award

Applicants must be from one of Belemaoil Host Communities and Operating Business Corridors

Applicants must submit Local Government Identification Letter

Applicants must have secured admission into a recognized University within Nigeria with proof of the following documents (Admission Letter, Acceptance letter 1st year’s academic result, Academic reference letter from an appropriate authority not lower than the Dean of Students’ Affairs)

Applicant Must Not be an employee or child/dependent of any employee of Belema oil Producing Ltd.

Applicant Must Not be a current beneficiary in any of Belema oil Empowerment Schemes

Guarantor’s written consent of good conduct of the applicant from any of the following persons from applicant’s community/clan:

Paramount Head of Host Community

Current CDC Chairperson

Persons involved in cult/criminal gang membership or with criminal record shall not be considered for the award.

BELEMA OIL BUSINESS CORRIDOR

> Kula Business Corridor (KBC):

• Kula Main

• Opu-Kula

• Boro

• Robertkin

• Boye-Ama

• Luckyland

> Oko Business Corridor (OBC):

• Belema & others

• Offoin-ama

• Ngeje

• King Oko

> Penipeni – Idama Business Corridor (PIBC):

• Idama

• Peni Peni Ama

> Inda Business Corridor (IBC):

• Bonny

• Elem-Ifoko (Fouche & Ifoko)

> Jokka Business Corridor (JBC):

• Abuloma/Okujagu/Okuru Business Corridor (AOOBC)

• Abuloma

• Okujagu

• Okuru.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click Here to Apply
Or
Click the link below to download and fill the “Application Form” Offline. Completed forms should be e-mailed to: scholarships@belemaoil.com 

This form must be submitted with 2 recent passport photographs.

OR

Submit Application/completed forms through your “Host Community CDC/Interface” to: Nengi Elijah (08118898414); Or Mina Igonikon (08118898393).
Click here to Download Application Form (Ms Word)

Assemble and attach to this application the following documents:

Scholarship Application Form (Properly Filled with Passport Photograph at the top)

University Admission Letter

JAMB Admission Letter

Transcript (where applicable) or

1st Year Result

O’ Level Result

Local Government Identification Letter

Letter of Identification (Signed by either Traditional Ruler, or Community Representative).

Click here for more Information

BELEMA OIL PRODUCING LIMITED JOINT VENTURE OVERSEAS POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME 2019/2020

ELIGIBILITY FOR POSTGRADUATE

Applicants must be from the Belema oil Host Communities and Operating Business Corridors
Applicants must submit Local Government Identification Letter

Applicants must have secured admission into a recognized University within Nigeria with proof of the following documents:

Postgraduate Admission Letter, Acceptance Letter, Academic reference letter from an appropriate authority not lower than the Dean of Graduate Affairs), either at the Masters or Doctorate Programme level (M.Sc/MBA/MPhi/M.Ed/M.Eng) (Ph.D), (LL.D)

Guarantor’s written consent of good conduct from any of the following persons from applicant’s community/clan:

Paramount Head of Host Community

Current CDC Chairperson.

Applicants must possess NYSC Discharge/Exemption Certificate.

BELEMAOIL BUSINESS CORRIDOR

> Kula Business Corridor (KBC): Kula

• Mainopu-Kula Boro

• Robertkin

• Boye-Ama

• Luckyland

> Oko Business Corridor (OBC):

• Belema & others

• Offoin-ama

• Ngeje

• King Oko

> Penipeni– Idama Business Corridor (PIBC):

• Idama

• Peni Peni Ama

> Inda Business Corridor (IBC):

• Bonny

• Elem-Ifoko (Fouche & Ifoko)

> Jokka Business Corridor (JBC):

• Abuloma/Okujagu/Okuru Business Corridor (AOOBC)

• Abuloma

• Okujagu

• Okuru.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click Here to Apply

Or
Click the link below to download and fill the “Application Form” Offline. Completed forms should be e-mailed to: scholarships@belemaoil.com 

This form must be submitted with 2 recent passport photographs.

OR
Submit Application/completed forms through your “Host Community CDC/Interface” to: Nengi Elijah (08118898414); Or Mina Igonikon (08118898393).

Click here to Download Application Form (Ms Word)

Assemble and attach to this application the following documents:

° Scholarship Application Form (Properly Filled with Passport Photograph at the top)

° University Post-Graduate Admission Letter

° Previous University Certificate/Statement of Result

° Transcript (where applicable)

° O’Level Result

° Local Government Identification Letter

° Letter of Identification (Signed by either Traditional Ruler, or Community Representative (CDC Chairman).

Click here for more Information

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 28th June, 2019.

NOTE
Belemaoil does not demand any form of payment from applicants. The application is entirely free of charge

Application must be submitted through the CDC Interface Committee of each community.

Shortlisted candidates are to avail themselves for Aptitude Test on a date and venue to be communicated to them.

Deferment, Change of Institution and Course are not permitted.

JAMB NABS 19-YEAR-OLD OVER ALLEGED RESULT FALSIFICATION

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday evening paraded one Adah Eche, a 19-year-old admission seeker who allegedly falsified his Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.

Prof.Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB’s Registrar, paraded the suspect before newsmen at the board’s Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja. 

Oloyede said that the suspect, who sat for the 2019 UTME scored 153, but decided to connive with an examination syndicate who allegedly increased his scores.

He said the suspect was apprehended after a delegation of Public Complaints Commission paid the board a visit following various complaints by aggrieved candidates who sat for the 2019 UTME. 

“We decided to pick three out of the complainants to address their issues and he happened to be the first person we picked and he actually wrote a letter of complaint to us knowing fully that he faked his result.

“What we did was invite him to come and pick his admission letter and he came. “Now, what such people do not know is that we have a barcode for every result which helps us verify its authenticity, but this fake one has the barcode of a supermarket and was saying invalid barcode on our own platform.

“We have checked our own platform and seen where he has checked his result three consecutive times via 55019 and was replied same with his original result which is 153, yet he insists that he did not know the one with 290 was fake,” he said.

Oloyede further explained that the suspect confessed to the crime after many evidences were discovered from his phone and another on his computer where he faked 200 score for himself first, before upgrading it to 290.

He also said that the fake result had an imposed ‘55019’ as the sender of the result. According to him, a trail of transactions where the suspect collected money from others and sent to his counterpart for the upgrade of UTME scores was discovered on a whatsapp platform on his phone.

The Registrar said that the board’s website “www.jamb.org” had a platform where people could lodge in their complaints and the board was working on a daily basis to ensure that the issues were responded to at all cost.” (NAN)

GOV. WIKE DECLARES FREE PRIMARY, SECONDARY EDUCATION IN RIVERS STATE

In a bid to increase access to quality education, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has announced the total abolition of all forms of fees and levies in public primary and secondary schools across the state.

Wike directed state-owned primary and secondary schools to stop collecting fees and levies from students and pupils with immediate effect.

He stated that henceforth, the State Government will be sending direct allocations to all primary and secondary schools management for their operations.

The Governor spoke on Monday during a meeting with the heads of primary and secondary schools, Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and State Universal Basic Education Board at the Government House Port Harcourt.

He said: “From today henceforth, no child either in primary and secondary schools should pay fees and levies in any school across the State.

“The monies you collect from these children are just used for your personal purposes. If I hear that any school head collects any fees or levies, be they examination, NECO or WAEC fees, that school head would be sanctioned.

“We shall not only dismiss the school head who collects fees or levies, we will prosecute the person involved.

“Government will work out grants that will be sent to the schools for their regular management and operations.”

Wike directed the State Ministry of Education, the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and the State Universal Basic Education Board to monitor all public schools across the state to ensure compliance.

The Governor stated that the administration funds the salaries, allowances, examinations and equipment of all public schools. He assured parents that his administration will remain committed to the provision of quality education, which is accessible to the less privileged.

“I have abolished all fees and levies and it will never happen again in our public primary and Secondary schools. Nobody should collect fees and levies from the children of the less privileged,” he said.

The statement signed by Simeon Nwakandu, media aide to the Governor, said the school heads celebrated the new directive of the Rivers State Governor.

UPDATE: RESIDENTS SAY MORE THAN 100 PERSONS KILLED IN PIPELINE EXPLOSION IN RIVERS

Scene of the fire

Residents of Kom Kom in Oyigbo local Government Area of Rivers State where an oil pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) exploded on Saturday say over 100 people were burnt in the fire.

Some of the bodies, they claimed, were burnt beyond recognition while scores of corpses were still in the bush where the explosion occurred.

Residents also raised an alarm over the humanitarian disaster due to the fast decomposing bodies, stench and pollution of the swamp and the environment.

A visit to the area on Sunday showed that the number of human casualties grew because many of the villagers were in the swamp scooping petrol gushing out of the ruptured NNPC pipeline. Also affected were a number of palm wine tappers and local brewers of Ethanol who were in the swamp.

A corpse on the bush

Burnt corpse

Villagers said over 100 people were trapped in the huge fire because there was a free-for-all scramble for leaking petrol by the villagers before the explosion.

A villager who gave his as Ogechi Nnamdi said: “Nobody at the scene of the explosion survived. People were rushing to the leakage site to scoop free fuel, suddenly we heard an explosion. At least, I saw about 20 dead bodies. 11 had been carried away. And more are in the swamp yet to be recovered. And it is difficult getting inside the swamp now because we are in the rainy season”.

He called for the decontermination of the area by the government to avoid the spread of diseases.

Some of the villagers were observed recovering the charred bodies from the swamp and burying them in mass graves.

Most of volunteers were not putting on medical gears to prevent infections from the fast decomposing bodies. There were no presence of emergency officials from the Oyigbo local government, state or the Federal government at the time of the visit.

Our correspondent was assaulted by the pungent smell of decomposing corpses oozing out from the environment.

Rescuers at the scene

Hon. Promise Chibuzo Nwankwo, the House Of Assembly member representing Oyigbo Local Government Area expressed his condolences to the families of victims of the disaster. He also condemned the activities of oil thieves who caused the disaster.

According to the lawmaker, “In the early hours of Saturday, 22nd June 2019, around 8:25 am there was an incident of fire outbreak in Oyigbo Local Government Area.

“The fire outbreak which occurred in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) facility somewhere around Canaan Land Hospital, Izuoma Axis of Oyigbo local government area is as a result of oil bunkering.

“Until now the number of people injured are unconfirmed, but it is confirmed that scores of person’s were recorded dead.”

DOZENS BURNT to DEATH AS SHELL PIPELINE EXPLODES IN RIVERS STATE

Dozens were feared dead when a gas pipeline exploded at Kom Kom in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers state on Saturday.

An eyewitness told newsmen that, “We were just waking up when we heard a very loud sound. We knew it was an explosion but did not know the kind of explosion. We later traced the tick smoke to the gas pipeline.”

Authorities said majority of the casualties are burnt beyond recognition in the fire that occurred early Saturday.

Spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni told our correspondence that the incident happened when officials of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC were carrying out routine maintenance of the facility in Kom Kom.

Omoni, a Deputy Police Superintendent, said the casualty figure was yet to be ascertained but the fire has been put out and normalcy has returned to scene of the incident.

“Shell was carrying out maintenance on the pipeline when the explosion happened. Our findings indicate that some members of the community rushed to the scene to scoop the product when the explosion happened.

“I can’t tell you how many people were burnt but it was not a good site. Our men are still at the scene,” he said.

HANAN, A BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO LAW STUDENT STABS HUSBAND, SAHEED HUSSAIN 7 MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE

A man identified as Saheed Hussain is currently battling for his life at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, after being allegedly stabbed by his wife of 7 months, Hanan.

According to reports, the Bayero University, Kano, law student stabbed Saeed, last night and has since been arrested.

What led to the incident is still not too clear as at time of filing this report to but sketchy reports gathered from neighbours indicates that she, Hanan, drugged her husband before stabbing him.

SUPREME COURT SACKS NIGER, EDO REPS

The Supreme Court yesterday sacked two newly inaugurated members of the House of Representatives.

The apex court which delivered judgement in two separate pre-election matters decided cases against the member sworn-in to represent Akoko-Edo federal constituency of Edo State, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto and his counterpart from Magama / Rijau federal constituency of Niger State, Hon. Shehu Saleh Rijau.

Sequel to the judgements, Comrade Peter Akpatason, has been returned to the Lower House for the third term to Adjoto while Alhaji Jafaru Iliyasu replaced Hon. Rijau.

In the case of Akpatason, the apex court upturned the decision of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, which recognised Adjoto as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.

The court awarded a cost of N2 million to Akpatason.

According to the judgment prepared by Justice Paul Adamu Galinje and delivered by a panel of justices led by Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs, the decision of the Court of Appeal was upturned while judgment of the trial court was upheld.

He said: “This appeal is allowed; the decision of lower court of 6th October, 2018 is upheld. The cost of N2 million is awarded against the respondent.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Akpatason winner of the Akoko-Edo federal constituency election, having polled a total of 27,097 votes to defeat his closest rival, Oladele Bankole-Balogun, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 16,053 votes.

However, the appellate court nullified the candidacy of Akpatason and declared Adjoto as the candidate of the APC. The Court of Appeal also nullified the APC National Assembly primaries election appeals committee headed by former governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor.

In the same vein, the winner of the House of Representatives’ primary election by the APC for Magama / Rijau constituency of Niger State, Alhaji Jafaru Ilyasu, on the platform of the APC  had protested his substitution with Shehu Saleh who did not contest the poll, but was rewarded with automatic ticket of the party.

Saleh having lost the APC senatorial ticket was compensated with the return ticket to the House of Representatives.

Ilyasu, therefore, challenged Saleh’s nomination and won at the trial court. But the Court of Appeal upturned decision of the trial court.

SUPREME COURT VOIDS STATE LAWS EMPOWERING GOVERNORS TO SACK LG CHAIRMEN, COUNCILLORS

THe Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) yesterday voided laws enacted by the states’ Houses of Assembly which allow governors to sack elected Chairmen of Local Governments and Councillors and replace them appointed administrators.

It has of recent become a tradition among governors to dissolve the Executive Councils of the states’ LGs and replace them with their appointees, who they call caretaker committees. In a unanimous judgement of five Justices of the Supreme Court described the practice as “executive recklessness”, which must not be allowed to persist.

The judgment by the five-man panel, led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour was on the appeal in relation to the dissolution of the 16 Local Government Executives in Ekiti State, during Kayode Fayemi’s tenure.

The appeal _marked:SC/120/2013_ was filed by the Ekiti State Government.

It had Prince Sanmi Olubunmo (Chairman of Ido Osi LG and Chairman of Association of Local Government’s of Nigeria – ALGON, Ekiti Chapter and 13 others as respondents.

Fayemi, (then) Minister of Mineral Resources reportedly announced the dissolution of the councils in a radio announcement on October 29, 2010, when the elected council officials still had up till December 19, 2011 to end their three-year tenure.

The Supreme Court, in faulting the law purportedly relied on by Fayemi, held that Section 23(b) of the Ekiti State Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law, 2001, which empowered the governor to dissolve local government councils, whose tenure was yet to expire, violated section 7(1) of the Constitution from which the state House of Assembly derived the power to enact the local government law. Justice Centus Nweze, in the lead judgment, said: “There can be no doubt, as argued by the appellants’ counsel, that the Ekiti State House of Assembly is empowered to make laws of Ekiti State.

“However, the snag here is that, in enacting section 23(b) of the Ekiti State Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law, 2001, which empowered the first appellant to bridge the tenure of office of the respondents, it overreached itself. “In other words, section 23(b) (supra) is violative of, and in conflict with section 7(1) of the Constitution (supra). “Hence, it is bound to suffer the fate of ll laws which are in conflict with the Constitution, section 1(3) thereof.”

The judge Said Section 7(1) of the Constitution seeks to guarantee “the system of local government by democratically-elected local government councils and conferred “sacrosanctity on the elections of such officials whose electoral mandates derived from the will of the people freely exercised through the democratic process”.

“The implication, therefore, is that section 23(b) of thethe Ekiti State Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law, 2001, which was not intended to ‘ensure the existence of’ such democratically-elected councils, but to snap their continued existence by their substitution with caretaker councils, was enacted in clear breach of the supreme provisions of section 7(1) of the Constitution.

“To that extent, it (section 23(b) supra) cannot co-habit with section 7(1) of the Constitution (supra) and must, in consequence, be invalidated.

"The reason is simple. By his oath of office, the governor swore to protect and not to supplant the Constitution.

“Hence, any action of his which has the capacity of undermining the same Constitution (as in the instant case where the first appellant, ‘Governor of Ekiti State and others’ dissolved the tenure of the respondents and replaced them with caretaker committees) is tantamount to executive recklessness which would not be condoned,” the judge said.

Justice Nweze said the the tenure of the local government councils could not be abridged without violating the supreme constitutional provisions.

“Simply put, therefore, the election of such officials into their offices and their tenure are clothed with constitutional force.

They cannot, therefore, be abridged without breaching the Constitution from which they derive their force. “The only permissible exception, where a state governor could truncate the lifespan of a local government council which evolved through the democratic process of elections, is ‘for overriding public interest’ in a period of emergency.”

He upheld the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal on the issue and adopted the orders made by the Court of Appeal on the case in its judgment delivered on January 23, 2013.

The Appeal Court had among others, ordered the Ekiti State Government to compute and pay all the allowances and salaries accruable to members of the dissolved councils between October 29, 2010 and December 19, 2011, both dates inclusive.

Justice Nweze directed the Attorney- General of Ekiti State to ensure that the orders of the lower court (Appeal Court) affirmed in his judgment, are complied with.