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Nigerian Government, USAID Sensitise FCT Community On Dangers Of FGM

Temitope Obatoke
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Nigerian government and USAID on Tuesday, sensitised various communities in Kuje Area Council FCT, to end the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and seek male support towards achieving it.

The sensitisation exercise was organised by the Federal Ministries of Health and Women Affairs and the Momentum Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics (MSSFPO) Project, funded by the USAID and implemented by Engender Health.

Mrs Judith Ononose, Director, Gender, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, said the sensitisation campaign was to educate the people on the severe consequences of FGM and to advocate partnership towards ending it. Ononose, explained that the ministry has been working with women and girls on ending FGM, hence the need to include men to eradicate it in totality in other to meet the 2030 global target.

“FGM is more prevalent in rural area, although there are people who still practice in the urban. We chose Kuje to come and sensitise them and let them know that FGM has no health benefits. It is tradition embedded in culture. We are trying to educate people that there is no health benefits, rather consequence as a lot of women suffer from mutilation especially in child bearing.

“We want to let our men know that even though they are not the ones affected immediately, but they will help fight the menace, as men as the custodian of culture. So if we are able to win them and educate them that there is no health benefits and stop mutilating girls and women.”

Mr Olumide Adefioye, Social and Behavior Change Specialist, Engender Health, an NGO decried the prevalence of FGM practice, despite advocacy and awareness creation. Adefioye said the 2023 theme, Partnership with men and boys to transform social and gender Norms to end FGM, was apt, calling for the collaboration of all to eradicate the practice.

“We are here today to listen to what you as paramount leader of this town will have to say because despite efforts been put in place, the practice of cutting women and girls still continue. So what can we do as men, elders of the land to put an end to the practice so that we will not be here next year with the same issue. We want to hear from you and the elders, what we should do to end FGM in our town and Nigeria, which will enable our women and girls live a healthy and productive life.”

The Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Tanko-Jibrin, assured the government and other stakeholders of traditional leaders support towards ending FGM practice.

“I support the programme because most of these things are practiced in most communities, who see it as tradition and a right to do that. We are getting awareness and will continue to put our eye on communities who are practicing this things. We have a way to make law to stop it. I have a chain of authority through the traditional leaders when we meet I will still remind them that government is out to eradicate FGM, so if you are in practice in your community stop it so that we can progress.”

Mrs Janet Samuel, a woman leader in the community decried the physical, mental, emotional and social effects of FGM practice on the survivors. She lauded the government and other stakeholder’s efforts in creating more awareness and existing laws to curb the practice.

“Within my community, I met some women that have been mutilated and we are all bitter about it. This awareness is very good and will teach women that FGM is not good for the women and children.”

Speaking on behalf of the men and boys, Malam Yusuf Haruna, who is also the Barde of Kuje, reiterated the commitment of the males eliminating FGM practice.

“The thing has implications and the step the federal government has taken is a good move. Been a youths leader in this community, we will go round the household and tell those that have not been doing it or have intention of doing it to please stop it because it has implications. By taking these steps, it will reduce and stop the practice of FGM.”

 

 

 

NAN

RUWASSA, WaterAid launch N133M project in Bwari

Kamila Bello
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As part effort towards strengthening water and sanitation delivery in Abuja, FCT Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Directorate otherwise known as (RUWASSA), in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria has launched a 133 million Naira water and sanitation intervention project in Bwari area council of the Territory.

The project, funded by the Latter Day Saints Charity (LDSC) is expected to be executed within a one-year period, in order to strengthen Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) delivery in four selected communities namely; Dakwa, Barangoni, Zuma II and Tudun Fulani within Bwari Area council.

Also, the project will focus on increasing access to WASH services by constructing and rehabilitating solar-powered water facilities as wel as provision of gender-inclusive public sanitation facilities in the selected communities

In his welcome remarks, Executive Director, FCT RUWASSA, Mohammed Dan-Hassan, said the initiative will serve as a model for improved access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in FCT communities.

Dan-Hassan disclosed that two communities will be provided with two new water scheme, one community will get rehabilitation of an existing water scheme, while there will be the provision of a sanitation facility.

“We have ceremoniously launched the project, and we hope to see the implementation in next two to three months towards its completion in these communities, thereafter, we intend to integrate the community members into it, as a strategy to ensure sustainability. The community members on the project, will help maintain and take care of it themselves.

“So, in the months ahead, we will come back and see the facilities functioning, that will make us happy, and we will seek for other partnerships to replicate this project in other communities in Bwari Area Council and even other Area Councils of the FCT,” he stressed.

Also speaking, Elder Idyo Egbo of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the sponsors of the project, said the Church noticed the gap that exist in sanitation and water supply, and in its philanthropic nature decided to partner with WaterAid to provide water and sanitation for the people in the selected communities.

He added, that the Church believe in uplifting the lives of the people, looking on how people can be better off and Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs) help to forge partnerships in such interventional.

According to him, “In Abuja, about 70% of people lack access to adequate water supply, and 52% of these people also suffer from living in unhygienic environment, and there is another 30% that seriously are affected by open defecation. So we believe that this project will assist in reducing that number. But particularly, it will change attitude and behaviours.

“I believe with what we have done, we will see an improvement in the living standard of people especially in areas that are outside the metropolitan city of Abuja.”

Representative of the WaterAid Nigeria, Kolawole Baruwo, Head of Advocacy, Policy and Communication, noted that over the next twelve months, the project will make life meaningful for the people as a start.

He said, “When people fall sick from water bone diseases, children cannot go to school, women cannot go to the markets and be productive, so society slows down generally.

“So to provide access to WASH in the selected communities in Bwari, with the hope of reaching 9,500 people especially women and children in schools, so that they can have dignity, good health and participate meaningfully in the society.”

District Head, Dakwa Community, Alh. Alhassan Musa, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiary communities, described the project as a critical intervention that would improve the wellbeing of people in the rural areas.

 

 

 

Bauchi farmers commend FMAN over wheat development programme

Kamila Bello
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Bauchi State farmers have commended the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN), over its wheat development programme aimed at accelerating production in the country.

A cross section of the farmers made the commendation on Tuesday, during the Wheat Farmers’ Green Field Day at Jogale plantation in Jama’are LGA.

FMAN is consortium of flour millers working to encourage wheat value chain through research, extension services, enhancing farmer access to inputs and agricultural financing.

The association is supporting about 1,000 wheat farmers in seven local government areas of Bauchi State, they include Bauchi, Jama’are, Misau, Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Shira and Katagum.

According to a woman farmer, Hajiya Rakiya Abubakar, she cultivated one hectre of farmland with support of the association.

She said that she received fertilisers, seeds and chemicals which enabled her to increase productivity.

Also, Ahmed Haladu, said the intervention by the association encouraged many farmers to go into wheat cultivation.

He said, that farmers were being exposed to new farming techniques and Good Agricultural Practices to boost their production output.

“I cultivated my farmlands using new farming techniques introduced by FMAN.

“The support enabled us to produce over 40 bags as against 15 bags per hectre.

“I am anticipating bumper harvest this season,” he said.

Another farmer, Dauda Ahmed, urged FMAN to review prices of wheat grain to enable farmers to repay their loans.

He said that low price of the produce was a major challenge militating against sustainable growth in wheat cultivation.

A community leader, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo said that upward review of the prices would protect farmers from losses in view of the high cost of inputs.

Sabo also urged the association to expand the scope of its intervention to mobilise participation in the programme.

Earlier, the National Programme Manager of FMAN, Dr Aliyu Sama’ila said the association planned to support 50,000 wheat growers to cultivate 4,000 hectres of farmlands in 2023 across Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara, and Yobe.

According to him, the aim is to provide market for farmers by expanding procurement through additional aggregation staff and warehouse capacity to off-take the grain across 13 wheat producing states.

READ ALSO: Poultry farmers optimistic about sector’s 2023 growth

 

 

Tennis: Tunisian Ons Jabeur Withdraws From WTA Tournaments

Chidi Uduma Nwoke
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Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has pulled out of two Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments in Doha (Qatar Open) and Dubai (Dubai Duty Free Championships) later this month, after opting to have minor surgery, the women’s tennis world number three said on Wednesday.

Jabeur crashed out of the second round of the Australian Open last month after a 6-1 5-7 6-1 loss to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova and collapsed in tears after leaving the court.

“In order to take care of my health situation, my medical team have decided that I need to get a minor surgery in order to be able to be back on the courts and perform well,” Jabeur, last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open runner-up, said on Instagram.

“I will have to retire from Doha and Dubai and this is breaking my heart. I would like to say sorry to all the fans out there in the Middle East that waited for this reunion. I promise I will come back to you stronger and healthy.”

She did not give any detail about the operation or why it was required.

The Qatar Open was scheduled to be held from February 13-18 with the Dubai Duty Free Championships taking place the next week.

 

Nigeria, gateway to Africa’s Blue Economy – Korean Envoy

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja
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The Deputy Minister for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, Republic of Korea, Choi Yeong has said that Nigeria is the gateway to unlocking the potentials of the African Continent’s Blue Economy.

 

Choi Yeong made the disclosure during a courtesy call on NIMASA Management in Lagos State Southwest Nigeria.

 

The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young Choi commended the sustained and improved security situation in the  Gulf of Guinea with strong presence of Nigeria, adding that the Korean government looks forward to continuous support from the Nigerian government in the area of intelligence and information sharing.

 

“Nigeria is one of the biggest country on the African continent in terms of economic size, population and market potentials. So Nigeria could be a very important partner to us the People of Korea. Nigeria could be our gateway to the whole of African continent. We are glad to inform you that Korea has scheduled a summit involving the entire African continent in 2024 and we hope it will strengthen relationship with Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

 

Speaking during the visit, the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, stated that the relationship between both countries is over 40 years, and there is the need to further deepen it.

 

He noted that Korea is a foremost maritime country with highly recognized capacity in the areas of shipbuilding and ship repairs adding that Nigeria is willing to partner with it in ship building for the short, medium and long term benefits of both countries.

 

“There is no how the issue of trade can flourish without adequate security. NIMASA is making steady progress in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security Agencies to secure the safety and security of investors, Vessels, and Seafarers in the Nigerian maritime domain.

 

“Considering the fact that population of Koreans is highest in Nigeria when compared to other African states, the need for improved relationship between Nigeria and Korea cannot be over emphasized.

“Korea has arguably the best Shipbuilding Companies globally and that is an area we desire partnership. We have commenced discussions with the Samsung Group and Hyundai as well on the issue of shipbuilding and ship repairs.”

 

Commenting on the issues of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, he stated that since the 2nd quarter of 2021, there have been no issues of kidnapping and insecurity, assuring them that the Federal Government is determined to achieve a safe and secured maritime domain in Nigeria.

He added that the time to improve Korea, Nigeria Bilateral relationship particularly in the fishing sector is now.

 

“I believe we can also explore improved interphase in areas such as deep sea fishing. . Fishing in Nigeria used to be a very large source of income not far behind oil and Gas. The numbers are not looking very encouraging at the moment. Partnership will lead to more fishing trawlers in Nigerian waters”. he said

Choi Yeong and members of his team also visited the Beep Blue C4i centre, located in the NIMASA NMRDC in Kirikiri. They also visited the NIMASA e-Library, the Marine Environment Management Laboratory and the Kitack Lim Regional Maritime Safety and Security Centre of Excellence.

 

 

Global Partnership For Education Supports Teachers In North-East Nigeria

Aisha John-Mark
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Global Partnership For Education GPE Interventions has supported over 18000 unqualified teachers working in North-eastern Nigeria.

The support which is a major achievement of the GPE in Nigeria was targeted at helping the teachers to study and pass the professional qualifying examinations of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria.

This was made known by the UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office ,  Phuong Nguyen, at a One day media dialogue session held to amplify the achievements of the Global Partnership for Education Accelerated Funding project in Borno State, North-East Nigeria.

According to Nguyen, the 12 month course was funded by the GPE AF and supported by UNICEF, Teaching at the Right Level (TARL) Africa and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

She added that it was the first training of its kind targeting a large cohort of teachers in Nigeria.

The UNICEF Chief of field office disclosed that at least 1 million girls and boys will benefit as the newly certified teachers return to their classrooms equipped with modern and effective teaching methods, including the skills to provide gender-sensitive and psychosocial support to learners.

“UNICEF is excited that we might finally be turning the tide against high dropout rate as well as facilitating access and retention of children in school. Millions more children will surely have better learning outcomes with a large cohort of motivated, trained, prepared, and equipped teachers in classrooms across the north-east.“

Classroom Renovation

She also made known that under the GPE project classrooms in at least 50 schools have been renovated and 50 temporary learning spaces were constructed.

“Over 500,000 children have been provided with learning materials. The capacity of 438 education officials have been strengthened on education-in- emergency leadership, and result-based planning and budgeting. We will discuss further other achievements of this project during the dialogue.“

Challenges Facing Basic Education In Northeast

Nguyen added that across north-east Nigeria, Only 29 percent of schools have teachers with the minimum qualification.

“The average pupil-teacher ratio is 124:1, while half of all schools in the region need rehabilitation.“

The dialogue further revealed that only 47 percent of schools in Borno state have furniture with lower proportions in Yobe state(32 percent) and Adamawa state (26 percent). In Adamawa, only 30 percent of schools have adequate learning materials for pupils with lower proportions (26 percent) in Borno and (25 percent) in Yobe.

Chairman Borno State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof Bulama Kagu said that the State government is cognisance of providing furniture in schools through the matching grants from the federal government. 

“Due to burning down of schools over the years by insurgents we have had responsibilities to catch up with provision of furniture but again most of our contractors contribute to this shortage due to untimely delivery of these infrastructure.“

UNICEF Chief of Education Saadhna Panday Soobrayan, recommended that States should come up with frameworks on Out of School children challenge while UNICEF works with stakeholders to scale up programs that will reduce Out of school children across the states.

 

 

 

 

 

Nigeria’s President Appoints Rectors, Registrars For Federal Polytechnics

Aisha John-Mark
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Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointments of three Rectors and Registrars of three Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria.

The was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Bem Goong in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dr Paul-Darlington Ndubuisi was appointed rector, Federal Polytechnic, Isuochi, Abia, Prof. Mohammed Magaji , rector, Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, Kano State and Dr Duke Okoro, rector, Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta.

Goong said that the appointments were for a single term of five years each, with effect from Jan. 17 and are in line with the Federal Polytechnic (Amendment) Act 2019.

In a related development, Goong said the President also approved the appointments of three  registrars for the Polytechnics.

They are, Alhaji Umar Dumbulum, Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, Kano State, Mrs Christine Aluyi, Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta and Mrs. Ezenuruihe Olachi, Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Isuochi, Abia.

They are: Mr Solomon Atabatele  and Ms. Amarachi Nkpado.

He added that the appointments are with effect from January 17.

 

 

 

Air Chief Charges Personnel to Remain Apolitical

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has charged personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to remain apolitical throughout the elections.

The CAS gave the charge during his meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants and units Commanders held at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

Air Marshal Amao, urged the Commanders to sensitise NAF personnel on the Code of Conduct for Armed Forces of Nigeria during elections, while also reminding them to be apolitical, particularly now that the elections are close.

He added that the NAF will commence what he described as a realistic pre-induction training in all its units for personnel that would be deployed for election support duties.

He charged NAF Commanders to synergise with other security agencies within their Areas of Responsibilities towards organising joint inter-agency training in order to enhance the capacity of law-enforcement agencies in discharging their respective roles during the elections.

“NAF personnel are expected to work in synergy with other security agencies within their respective Areas of Responsibilities to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections”, he said

The CAS highlighted that part of NAF’s responsibilities to provide aid to civil authority, include assisting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the airlift of election materials to various parts of the country.

Air Marshal Amao also charged field commanders in various theatres of operation across the country to sustain the tempo of operations and onslaught against terrorists.

According to him, going by recent happenings in the country, it has become imperative for personnel to avoid any actions or utterances that could tarnish the image of the Service.

While commending efforts of Commanders and personnel at various theatres of operations across the country, the CAS noted that the remarkable successes recorded so far against insurgency and terrorism was as a result of hard work, dedication and sacrifices.

Speaking further, the CAS disclosed that the NAF, in 2021 and 2022 alone, trained a total of 9,148 personnel locally and 786 personnel overseas cutting across all aircrew and ground specialties.

According to him, currently a total of 122 personnel are undergoing foreign training while 1,057 are on local training and more would be processed for training in the course of the year.

The CAS went further to state that NAF has developed a workable skill retention strategy to sustain excellence and quality by re-engaging selected highly skilled retired personnel in the scarce skills categories as instructors and mentors to pass on expertise and best practices to the junior ones.

Air Marshal Amao commended the unwavering support of the Federal Government to the NAF, noting that the Service have acquired new and modern platforms and expecting delivery of more within the year to boost its equipment holding.

This, he noted will go a long way in boosting NAF air power capabilities.

He thanked the AOCs and Commanders for their commitment to the NAF so far and spurred them not to rest in their oars towards fulfilling their obligation to the nation.

He however tasked them to resuscitate regimentation and military traditions in their respective military formations and ensure discipline among the personnel as it remains the hallmark of military profession.

Highlight of the meeting was the brief by AOCs, Commandants and Commanders. The CAS’ meeting with the top echelon of the NAF is strategically important to its operational effectiveness and efficiency as well as service delivery.

 

 

N.O

Supreme Court Suspends Deadline on old Naira Notes

Aisha John-Mark
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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has restrained the Nigerian Government from continuing with the full implementation of the demonetisation policy.

Three States of Northern part of the country namely, Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, had in a motion ex-parte filed on February 3rd, prayed the Apex court to halt the Central Bank of Nigeria naira redesign policy.

A 7-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Okoro, in a unanimous ruling, granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigerian government, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, commercial banks from implementing the February 10, deadline for the old 200, 500 and 1000 Naira notes to stop being a legal tender.

The court further held that the FG, CBN, commercial banks etc must not continue with the deadline pending the determination of a notice on notice in respect of the issue on February 15.

By the ruling, the old Naira notes continue to be legal tenders in Nigeria.

The plaintiffs also filed a motion for abridgement of time to five days from the date of service within which the defendant, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) could file a response to the suit.

The states added, in a supporting affidavit, that “contrary to the requirement for the naira redesign policy to be implemented within a reasonable time frame, the Federal Government of Nigeria has embarked on the policy within an unreasonable and unworkable time frame and this has adversely affected Nigerian citizens within Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states as well as their governments, especially as the newly redesigned naira notes are simply not available for use by the people as well as the state governments.

The supreme subsequently adjourned the matter to February 15 for determination.

 

Admissions and Matriculation Board cancels registration of 817 Candidates 

Aisha John-Mark
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has cancelled the registrations of 817 candidates in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who made this known on Tuesday after separate meetings with stakeholders, said the registrations were invalidated over identified infractions bordering on use of strange biometric fingerprints in the registration process.

While saying some registration officers in the affected 178 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres added one of their fingerprints to complete the registration process for the candidates, Oloyede, however, said the 817 students would be given another opportunity to re-register for the exam with the centres bearing the cost.

According to the Jamb Registrar, “For the students who allowed other people to add their fingers to their registration procedure. We found that some of them were only naïve, because you will hear them saying my finger was hot and the man added his own. And you allowed him to add his own? 

“Some of them did it deliberately for impersonation but we can’t identify those who are genuine from those who are not genuine. We will cancel all of them. All the registrations and we will ask them to re-register.

“The centres involved, we have just met with them, and they all confessed, nobody is disputing it, even students that were telling lies, they know we have the technology that won’t allow any lie to be accommodated.

“On their own (CBT owners), they suggested the solution. We will cancel the registrations of those people concerned and we will send a message to them to go back to the very centres where they were registered and the CBT centres will pay to the board the cost of registration of the candidates.”

The JAMB boss revealed that allowing a registration officer or any other person to add his or her finger during capturing of a candidate’s biometric data can bring about impersonation in the exam as well as give such ‘strange’ persons access to change vital details including exam centre.

“By adding his or her finger to your registration, it means he or her can change all your particulars when you are not there. You know your finger is what is used to identify you. The person can change your examination centre like say from Lagos to Ibadan, and on the exam day you won’t be able to write the exam. 

“That is why we put in place a device that will throw up any strange finger that is not yours and that is why we were able to identify them. 

Speaking on the recent suspension of five CBT Centres for selling UTME registration pins above the stipulated price, the JAMB boss said four of the five have been let off the hook.

He however, said the excess payment would be refunded by the affected CBT centres  to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for necessary action.

“Those who sold our pins to candidates beyond the approved limit, we have decided to lift the ban on four of the five after they have explained, and they have given us an apology and they have explained what happened.

“One didn’t not come so we are not lifting the suspension. The four of them, one of them that came, we are still doing investigation (on the centre)

“As for those who overcharged, all the candidates who overpaid we are compiling the list. The overpayment will be paid by those vendors and those institutions to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. 

Refund & Law

The Jamb Registrar stated that money will be refunded by the Computer Based Centers found guilty of the finger print infraction through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to the federal government.

“They will pay the money to them and the law will determine what to do because I don’t believe the money should go back to the candidates, because if you can pay N3,000, N5,000, N6,000 above the cost, you do not deserve any sympathy. I believe the money should not go back to them because we told them not to pay but now that they have paid we will recover the money and pay it to the appropriate government agency because if we retain it, they will say JAMB is looking for money, we are not looking for dirty money, we will therefore return the money to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, so as decides by the law, they can even take it to a charity home and give it to those in need,“ Prof. Oloyede said.

 

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