BAMY BLOG

Ebonyi State Resident Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Godswill Obioma, has been named the new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Examinations Council, NECO. President Muhammadu Buhari approved Obioma’s appointment to replace Charles Uwakwe, who, until his sack last Friday by the president, was on suspension running into two years. In a statement released today, Azeez Sani, Head, Information and Public Relations Division of NECO, said the president’s action was conveyed, “In a letter dated 15th May, 2020 with Reference No: FME/PS/396/C1/1/134 and signed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.” According to the statement, the letter “stated that the appointment which is for an initial tenure of five years, takes effect from 14th May, 2020.” It read in full:”President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Professor Godswill Obioma as Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Examinations Counci...

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, has reportedly accepted the terms of the new contract offered him by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, because he had unfinished business with the Super Eagles. Speaking to a Radio France reporter, the German tactician disclosed that he decided to accept the deal despite the stringent conditions because he believes his young and experienced players will be very significant in the nearest future. Newsmen also reported that Rohr accepted a pay cut and also agreed to live in Nigeria through the term of his contract which lapses in 2022.

The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday – May 25 and 26, 2020 – as public holidays to mark Eid-el-Fitri celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement on behalf of the Federal Government. This was contained in a press statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mohammed Manga, on Thursday. In the released statement, Aregbesola expressed concern over the spate of ethnic conflicts that has resurfaced in some parts of Northern Nigeria in recent times. He advised “Nigerians to see themselves as a single entity and learn to tolerate one another despite their ethnic and religious differences”. Aregbesola further assured Nigerians that the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was fully committed to battling COVID-19. He called on Muslim faithful “to replicate the life of kindness, love, tolerance, peace and good neighbourliness as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)”. The minist...

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has sentenced one Yinusa Dahiru to 26 years in prison for abducting and forcing into marriage a teenager, Ese Oruru. Oruru was reportedly abducted and taken to Kano State and forced into marriage – a union that later produced a baby. Delivering the judgement, Justice Jane Inyang acquitted Dahiru on count one but jailed him five years (count two), seven years (count three) seven years (count four) and seven years, count five. The sentences would run concurrently.

One person has been confirmed dead and seven other passengers injured in an accident that occurred on Otedola Bridge, Lagos State on Thursday. The accident happened around eight this morning. The Lagos State Traffic Management Agency has confirmed the accident. LASTMA also noted that the accident involved a fuel tanker, a car and a commercial bus loaded with 10 passengers. It tweeted, “Fatal accident on Otedola Bridge inward Berger involving a tanker and a Mazda bus. All relevant emergency agencies alerted. “Traffic backlog building up beyond Secretariat.” “Preliminary reports confirm that a Golf car was also involved in the crash. No casualties from the car. “One passenger from the bus has been confirmed dead with seven others injured.”

The Benue State Government today relaxed the lockdown on the state as it ordered churches and mosques to open for activities. According to the resolution of the state Executive Council meeting with the State Action Committee on COVID-19 held at Government House, Makurdi, it directed that churches and mosques should open as from today (Thursday) but should hold staggered worship sessions. The meeting also resolved that workers on grade levels 1 to 12 who were asked to stay at home are to resume work from June 1, 2020. “The workers are advised to always wear face masks and maintain social distancing as they go to work. “Churches and Mosques with effect from today Thursday, May 21, 2020, are to hold staggered worship sessions. “This implies that a Church or Mosque which before now held two worship sessions should henceforth conduct four sessions in a day. “Street trading is encouraged but strictly obeying social distancing protocol on COVID-19. “Markets will be partially o...

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria has warned its members and forex speculators putting pressure on the naira to stop the practice or risk losing their money. This came as the dollar was on Wednesday exchanged for N461 on the parallel market. There are, however, indications of an improvement once dollar sale to the BDCs commences. ABCON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria-licenced Bureaux De Change would soon start full operations as the apex bank was set to reopen dollar sales to operators. According to him, with the CBN’s planned lifting of suspension on dollar sales to the BDCs, reopening of the airports for air travels and global ease on restriction of movements, there are indications that dollar flow to the economy will soon improve. Gwadabe stated, “The return of over 5,000 BDCs to the forex market will add great strength to the naira and lead to major capital losses for forex speculators. “It happened in...