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Nigerian Govt to replace BVN with NIN

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Nigerian Government says it plans to replace the Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, with the National Identity Numbers, NIN.

This will be done by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, made this known in Abuja, when he led Government’s delegation to supervise the on-going NIN registration exercise by Mobile Network Operators , private enrolling centers and to interact with prospective enrollees.

He said he had made a presentation to the National Economic Sustainability Committee and drew the attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor on the need to replace BVN with NIN.

According to him, the BVN is a bank policy while NIN is a law.

“Because it has been established by law, so the strength of the law wherever you go is not the same with a policy of one institution,” he said.

Dr. Pantami said that the two were working on it, explaining that the CBN had more workload to facilitate the process to make it much easier for Nigerians.

According to Pantami, the challenge is that the BVN records may not be 100% the same with NIN but what is most important is that the NIN is the primary identity of each and every citizens including legal residents.

He said;“BVN is a policy of a bank and has not been established by law. The NIMC Act 2007 provides that all our citizens must enroll and the law gives them 60 days to enroll from the time the law was enacted and a maximum of 180 days.

“All permanent residents in the country and legal residents that have to stay here for a minimum of 24 months must enroll so that the primary identification of all and all other databases are supposed to utilise this and not for NIN to utilise the BVN because it is the primary one.

“Some of the challenges encountered, NIMC produced the template for registering citizens passport, BVN and others but some institutions did not comply with the requirements…Even in biometrics, some will just take four, some two, so you cannot harmonise without upgrading and integrating the system.”

He listed members on the board of NIMC, which includes CBN Governor, DG SSS, Chairman FIRS, INEC Chairman,Office of National Security Adviser, National Population Commission, and National Immigration.

 Oversee
The Minister noted that the Nigerian Government had accredited 203 operators that would help enroll citizens to secure their NIN, explaining that the visit was to oversee how the exercise had been.

The Chief Executive Officer of Office Machines Nigeria Limited, one of the accredited operators center, Mr. Okechukwu Ikpe expressed delight and promised that the center would do its best to meet up with expectations.

 Walk in and register
Meanwhile, the Stock Controller, Gloworld Abuja, Mrs Regina Omenogor commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative, stating that a lot of people can simply walk in and register.

“It is accessible now and since we work for private organisation, we maintain all the Covid-19 protocols as directed by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ,NCDC, and the Presidency, ”  she said.

Government had granted licences to network operators under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and other private centers to enrol Nigerians into the national identity database and to enable them obtain their National Identity Numbers.

The new moves were to decongest the crowd witnessed at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) centers  across the country, to ensure that all Covid-19 protocals were followed and to ease the burden on the citizens.

The delegation included the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The first point of call of the delegation led by the Minister was the  NIMC’s Gwarinpa Enrollment Center, Abuja followed by  MTN, Airtel, Glo Enrollment Centers in  Abuja and Machine Nigeria Limited, Abuja among others.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

Covid-19: Nigeria confirms 643 new cases

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed 643 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday.

With the new figures, the confirmed cases in Nigeria have risen to 140,391 with 114,635 Discharged and 1,673 Deaths.

On its official twitter page @NCDCgov, is the breakdown of the new cases recorded;

20th National Sports Festival moved to April

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Edo 2021 has been postponed to April as a result of the second wave of COVID-19.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, made the disclosure on Monday at the media briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The festival was originally meant to take place between March and April 2020 in Benin City Edo but was indefinitely postponed as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The February 14th to February 24th 2021 for the multi-sports competition was approved by Extra- Ordinary National Council on Sports (NCS).

He said the reason for the new date was based on the science of the virulent nature of the second wave of COVID-19.

 

NP/Lateefah Ibrahim

 

 

APC registration: Governor calls for peaceful exercise in Kwara State

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Kwara State Governor,  AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has condemned the alleged violent attacks on some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in Edu local government area of the state, calling on security agencies to go against anyone involved in violence of any kind.

The Governor also described as unfortunate and politics taken too far the claim that his aides currently on different assignments in Ilorin, the state capital, are the ones physically behind the unfortunate incidents in Gbugbu area of Edu local government.

“This administration has zero tolerance for violence. The development in Edu is unacceptable. Anyone found to have perpetrated the violence should be arrested and prosecuted,” he said while sympathising with those who had their properties damaged or sustained any form of injury.

“Having said this, it is important to caution against fake news because of its consequences for societal peace and harmony. Those who are bent on tarnishing the image of the Governor went to town to say that the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission Alhaji Bello Taoheed and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation Bar. Aliyu Al-Hassan (physically) led the hoodlums who attacked some chieftains of the party. This is a wicked lie because the two officers are in their various offices in Ilorin,” stated. Governor AbdulRazaq

He wondered that how can somebody in Ilorin lead attacks in Gbugbu, a town hundreds of kilometres away from Ilorin? We urge people to be responsible and desist from spreading fake news in the interest of all.

“As the registration/revalidation exercise commences on Tuesday, the Governor urges every stakeholder to eschew violence. The government will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law on anyone who inflicts violence on another person. He urges all the stakeholders to bury their differences and register peacefully,” he added

The Governor’s position is contained in  a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of the caretaker committee of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari says the registration/revalidation exercise, which started will take place  across 1,872 polling units in the state.

Sanmari said hat he exercise would hold simultaneously across the 16 Local Government areas of the state.

He urged members of the party to be peaceful and orderly stressing that the party sees no reason anyone should deploy violence or resort to any form of criminality during the exercise.

According to him, ” the party has set up a standing committee to ensure prompt resolutions of any development anywhere in the state and  urged all party members to be peaceful and orderly warning that security agencies will be on ground to maintain law and order.”

Answering questions from newsmen, Samari disclosed that they have not received any court order stopping the party from holding the exercise and warned that anyone that violates the party constitution would be sanctioned accordingly.

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

FCT Minister flags-off APC Membership Revalidation and Registration Exercise

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has flagged-off the All Progressives Congress Membership Revalidation and Registration Exercise in the FCT.

The exercise was led by Senator Osita Izunaso, the Party’s Revalidation and Registration Committee Chairman for the North Central zone and Honourable Umar Sanda, the Chairman of the APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Committee for the FCT.

Re-invent Nigeria
Speaking during the exercise, the FCT Minister, Malam Bello assured the participants that no Nigerian willing to join the party will be denied the opportunity to do so describing the APC as a movement and an ideology that is trying to re-invent Nigeria positively for the benefit of all the citizenry.

The minister noted that APC requires the membership of dedicated, hardworking and committed party members who would build upon the success the party has achieved so far.

He called on Nigerians to seize the opportunity provided by the revalidation and registration exercise to register as party members.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu called on Nigerians to join the ruling party saying the exercise was “an opportunity to be a good citizen, to join the ruling party, to lend your voice to nation building. It is time to move away from the past. Put your footprint among the present. Be a member of the ruling party and leading party, the largest party in the whole of Africa to lend your voice to the reconstruction of Nigeria”.

Desirous of being registered
She also assured party members that neither she nor the FCT Minister had any intention of hijacking the party structures and cautioned the Area Council Chairmen against doing so.

The Chairman of the party’s membership revalidation and registration Committee for the North Central Zone, Senator Osita Izunaso also assured that no Nigerian desirous of being registered as a member of the party would be denied registration.

He said that the exercise was a very serious one and expressed satisfaction at the presence of both FCT Ministers.

Also in attendance were the Area Council Chairmen and other high ranking party officials and members in the FCT.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

Heartland must respect players’ contracts –Coach

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Heartland FC coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu has urged the club’s management to respect players’ contracts.

Ilechukwu, who is in his third season at the club, said the club had failed to honour several agreements with their players, which had affected the club’s performance lately.

“So many issues have affected us this season, but basically I feel they should respect players’ contracts and help us drive this club in the right direction.

“This has been the problem and some others. We are working hard with the players to ensure we achieve our aims this season,” Ilechukwu stated.

The Naze Millionaires have won three games from their opening nine Nigerian Professional Football League season and are 15th on the log.

Heartland will face Lobi week 10 of the NPFL fixtures.

 

 

NP/Mercy Chukwudiebere

Eze wins Palace best player award

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Eberechi Eze has been named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Month for January 2021.

The Premier League side made announcement.

Eze was impressive in January, scoring two brilliant goals against Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, to help Palace secure vital wins in both games.

Despite suffering two defeats in the league matches played last month, the former Queens Park Rangers player was impressive in Palace’s matches against Arsenal, Manchester City, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On why the 22-year-old forward won the accolade for the club’s best player in January, the club wrote, “Eze kick-started January with his Premier League Goal of the Month-nominated strike against Sheffield United and rounded it off with his fizzing effort against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“Playing every minute of every game bar the Blades meeting, Eze helped lead the Eagles to seven points from their five league clashes and scooped Player of the Month with 36 per cent of your votes.

“He was followed by Vicente Guaita (19 per cent) and Jaïro Riedewald (8.5 per cent) to collecting the award, his second since signing for Palace in summer 2020.”

 “The importance of the festival cannot be overemphasised.  The idea of not holding the festival should be thrown out completely. It’s an Olympic year; it would help shape the athletes for the Olympics.”

 

 

NP/Mercy Chukwudiebere

Nigerian Govt to assist Edo State host Sports Festival

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Nigerian Government will offer financial assistance to the Edo State Government in hosting the National Sports Festival.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare stated this after Monday’s emergency meeting of the National Council on Sports, which had in attendance state sports commissioners, Directors of Sports, permanent secretaries and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.

The festival was postponed to April, with just six days before the opening ceremony of the earlier scheduled date – February 14 to 28.

The festival, earlier scheduled for March 2020, had suffered two postponements due to Covid-19, with the latest shift in date occasioned by the second wave of the pandemic and the paucity of funds.

Request for fund
The Edo State Government had requested financial support from the FG to host the festival, following the harsh economic conditions caused by Covid-19.

Rising from the meeting  of the National Council  on Sports on Monday, the council resolved that it was  best to shift  the festival to a later date due to the financial challenges raised by the host state, and accommodation problems at the University  of Benin (one of the venues), due to the resumption  of academic activities.

According to the resolution of the council, the Nigerian government, Edo State and the council agreed that the festival will now hold in April since the February date was no longer feasible.

“We’ve seen the sports festival postponed three times. As we speak now, most of us should have arrived in Edo State getting ready for February 14 to start the festival. But after our last meeting, a few things came up,”  the Minister said in a statement from his media office.

He said; “There was an undertone that the postponements had occasioned some financial difficulties and strains on the host state, and I dare say even on our part as the ministry, the postponements have also occasioned some financial difficulties.  On the strength of this similar experience, I, the (Edo) Governor and Deputy Governor have bounced ideas back and forth.

“Of course, when December came, we knew that almost everything stopped, but it was agreed that it was important to approach the Nigerian Government for financial support. I’m glad to report that Government is favourably disposed to assisting Edo State to host the festival.

“In the next few days, we hope to push through the document through the Ministry of Finance to get the financial support to get the festival on track. The February 14th date was not cast in stone as we wanted to avoid another postponement. But we must agree that the February 14th date is no longer feasible.”

Dare dismissed speculations that the festival might not hold in 2021.

The Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of Edo 2020 and Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu said,

“I agree the festival should hold before the Olympics to get our athletes fit and to secure points they require for the Olympics. Every postponement goes with a cost, but we are totally committed to hosting the festival. We are expectant of the support of the Nigerian Government to make the festival a reality.”

 

NP/Mercy Chukwudiebere

PTF sanctions another 100 Air travellers who defaulted Covid-19 protocols

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Presidential Task Force has released another list of 100 air passengers that defaulted the Covid-19 protocols in Nigeria.

At the national joint Media briefing by the Presidential Task Force, the National Incident Manager, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed announced that it had received a report of some passengers who having violated the entry protocol, were reported to have jumped quarantine.

According to him, the PTF is taking the necessary steps to ensure timely prosecution of these passengers.

” For the benefit of the public, let me reiterate the protocol for passengers arriving without PCR or those who obtained a fake PCR results. These passengers will be tested on arrival immediately taken to a mandatory 7-day quarantine at designated hotels; at the expiry of which will have a second Covid-19 test using PCR.

” The Passengers will be responsible for all their hotel and laboratory bills as well as be liable to prosecution at the Covid-19 tribunal. Jumping Quarantine is a grave offence which is punishable by imprisonment and PTF will not shirk from prosecuting any violators,” Dr Mukhtar said.

Warning
He warned that Nigerians must try to comply with the provisions of the country’s entry protocol, because it is in the best interest of the nation.

” Remember that if you obtain a fake PCR result make your way through the airport, you will be at a very high risk of taking Covid-19 infection to home to infect your loved ones and the people in your community,” he added.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Moussa Faki begins second-term as AU Commission Chairperson

Olajumoke Adeleke
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Moussa Faki Mahamat was on Monday sworn in as the chairperson of the African Union Commission for a second term following his re-election on Saturday.

Mahamat, who ran unopposed, garnered the support of 51 out of 55 states during the AU’s 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

Mahamat’s deputy, Dr Monique Nsanzabagwana, was also sworn in on Monday, and she made history as the first woman to hold the position.

Nsanzabagwana, who is also the deputy governor of the national bank of Rwanda, won 42 out of 55 votes in the final round of voting, defeating candidates from Uganda and Djibouti.

Mahamat, along with Nsanzabagwana and other commissioners, held their first meeting with the new AU chairperson President Félix Tshisekedi earlier on Monday morning, following the conclusion of the summit.

The leadership of the AU has at the top of its agenda the acquisition of Covid-19 vaccines for the continent.

It will also have to address the multiple internal conflicts across the continent, among them the Ethiopia-Tigray situation, the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon and the Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique.

The bloc will also be crucial in supporting the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is expected to reshape markets and economies across the region and boost output in the services, manufacturing, and natural resources sectors.

Edited by Olajumoke Adeleke

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