Our vision is to build united, secure, prosperous Ihitte-Uboma - Ndukwe

By Ben AHANONU 

The new executive Chairman of Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area, LGA, Hon. Prince Obioha Ndukwe, has assured that he will use his position to build a united, secure and prosperous Ihitte-Uboma, where peace shall reign and dividends of democracy will not elude the people.

Ndukwe, stated this while addressing the staff and people of Ihitte-Uboma LGA, during a grand ceremony to celebrate his swearing-in and inauguration of 10 elected Councillors at the council headquarters, Isinweke, Tuesday.

He thanked the Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma for the good work he is doing in the State and promised to follow in his footsteps as the Chairman of Ihitte-Uboma LGA by making positive impact in the lives of the people and rendering transparent governance that will promote rural development and empowerment of the people.

He said: "  Welcome to a new dispensation. By the grace of God, we are starting a new journey - a journey to secure Ihitte-Uboma, a journey to unite Ihitte-Uboma and a journey to develop our Local Government Area. Our vision is to build a united, secure and prosperous Ihitte-Uboma. 

Details coming....

New Nigerian Education Curriculum To Commence In January 2025 – Minister

A file photo of a classroom in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Credit: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television

The Federal Ministry of Education on Monday announced that the new curriculum for basic education will commence across schools in the country by January 2025.

The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman who disclosed this in Abuja, at a stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the new curriculum, said the new curriculum for senior secondary education would also commence by September 2025.

Professor Mamman stated that the new curriculum will address problems of learning crises and employability as the new skills acquisition to be introduced will have a multiplier effect by equipping students with 21st-century skills.

He noted that the next three months will be used for the preparatory stage, including preparing teachers’ guides in using the curriculum.

The Director of Curriculum, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Dr Garba Gandu, explained that the new curriculum will provide prerequisite skills and training for global competitiveness as the new curriculum includes 15 newly introduced trade subjects for basic education.

The subjects are basic digital literacy such as information technology, and vocational entrepreneurship skills such as building and construction, plumbing and tiling.

Others are hospitality such as hair styling, and make-up and services such as construction, GSM repairs, satellite and CCTV installation and maintenance and garment making, among others.

Source: Channels Television 

'We Empathise With The Poor But Have No Option,’ Shettima Defends Govt’s Policies

Vice President Kashim Shettima. Credit: X/@stanleynkwocha_

Amid the hardship faced by Nigerians, the Federal Government says it empathises with the citizens, especially the poor.

The Vice President, Senator Shettima, stated this in Abuja on Monday during the 30th anniversary of the Nigerian Economic Summit.

He defended the economic policies of the current administration while highlighting steps taken by the government to improve the economy.

“Some of the policy decisions, the policy options available are painful, but they are almost inevitable,” Shettima said.

“My heart and the heart of President Bola Tinubu go to the Nigerian people. We empathise with what the poor and the young are going through in the Nigerian nation but we have no option.

“Some of these decisions are unpopular but the truth is most often the truth that men prepare not to hear.”

Growth Trajectory

After coming to power last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought in reforms billed as a way to revive the economy and attract foreign investment.

However, Nigerians have seen fuel prices soar and inflation hit a three-decade high since Tinubu ended fuel subsidy and floated the naira currency.

Recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased prices at the pump from around 610 naira per litre ($0.38) to 855 per litre or more.

Private suppliers already sold fuel at higher prices than the NNPC. Some were selling at 1,200 naira per litre.

The price increase came a day after NNPC acknowledged it was struggling to maintain fuel supplies because of financial difficulties.

But the vice president said the nation’s growth trajectory has been volatile, stressing that the economy is reliant on oil revenue.

“Like many other nations, Nigeria has experienced significant economic problems over the past few years. The challenges have been global as well as domestic, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and fluctuation of oil prices to internal security issues, inflation and structural weaknesses in our economy.

“Nigeria’s growth trajectory has been volatile, heavily dependent on oil revenue and unable to create enough jobs,” he said.

Source: Channels Television 

International Customers Owe Nigeria $5.7m For Electricity — NERC

 

International bilateral electricity customers in Benin Republic and Togo owe Nigeria $5.79m for the energy consumed in the second quarter of 2024.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission revealed this in its latest second-quarter 2024 report.

Out of the $15.60m invoice issued by the market operator between April and June, the international customers remitted $9.81m.

The foreign companies off-taking power from Nigeria are Para-SBEE in Benin Republic ($1.23m), Transcorp-SBEE in Benin, Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo ($1.09m), and Odukpani-CEET in Togo ($3.47m).

Para-SBEE in Benin Republic remitted 71.21 per cent of the $4.29m billed, Transcorp-SBEE in Benin remitted 100 per cent of the $4.25m it was billed; Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo paid 69.72 of $3.59m, and Odukpani-CEET did not remit anything during the period.

In the first quarter, none of the four international bilateral customers being supplied by the power generation companies made payments against the cumulative invoice of $14.19m issued by the market operator for services rendered.

In the Q2 report, it was noted that some bilateral customers (both domestic and international customers) made payments for outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

“Cumulatively, the international bilateral customers paid a total of $16.65m; Transcorp-SBEE and Mainstream-NIGELEC have made payments towards all outstanding invoices from previous quarters,” the report disclosed.

It  added, “The four international bilateral customers being supplied by Gencos in the NESI made a payment of $9.81m against the cumulative invoice of $15.60m issued by the MO for services rendered in 2024/Q2, translating to a remittance performance of 62.88 per cent.”

The NERC noted that the domestic bilateral customers made a payment of N1.30bn against the cumulative invoice of N1.99bn issued to them by the MO for services rendered in 2024/Q2 translating to 65.07 per cent remittance performance.

The market operator received N1.30bn from domestic bilateral customers towards outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

Mainstream Energy Solutions was said to have made payments towards all outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

The commission revealed that the total revenue collected by all Discos in 2024/Q2 was N431.16bn out of the N543.64bn that was billed to customers. This translates to a collection efficiency of 79.31 per cent.

In comparison, the total revenue collected by all Discos in 2024/Q1 was N291.62bn out of the N368.65bn billed to customers which translated to a 79.11 per cent collection efficiency. The 79.31 per cent collection efficiency recorded in 2024/Q2 is 0.20pp higher than the collection efficiency recorded in 2024/Q1.

Source: Channels Television 

Police arrest organ harvester after foiled attempt to kidnap girl

Gallant operatives of the Nigeria Police, have arrested a man linked to a sinister organ harvesting syndicate in Imo State.

The swift action came as vigilant operatives on patrol spotted a blue and white bus that was forcibly transporting a young girl to an undisclosed location, where the suspects intended to k3ill her and harvest her organs.

During the pursuit, the victim managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle, leading to her immediate rescue. 

Police spokesperson reported that the operatives engaged the suspects in a hot chase, which resulted in the abandonment of their vehicle. 

While one individual was apprehended, others fled into the nearby bush.

The incident has raised alarm about the prevalence of such criminal networks, often referred to locally as “yahoo plus.” 

Unlike traditional internet fraudsters, these individuals are involved in the alarming trade of human organs, operating through a web of connections.

Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, as the threat of organ trafficking continues to pose a serious danger to communities.

Source: Track News 

Finally, NFF pulls Eagles out of Libya clash

  

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pulled the Super Eagles out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya on Tuesday.

This follows a frustrating 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, where the team has been stranded since their arrival on Sunday afternoon.

The Nigerian delegation, en route to Benghazi for the crucial match, encountered unexpected difficulties when their chartered aircraft was diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport primarily used for hajj operations.

After their arrival, the team was left stranded without assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to arrange any transportation.

In a statement  on Monday, the NFF explained that the Super Eagles were stuck in the airport for over 12 hours, unable to reach their hotel in Benghazi, located three hours away.

The NFF stated that the players have decided to withdraw from playing the match and arrangements were being made to fly the team back to Nigeria. 

The statement reads: “The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya. 

“The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport. 

“We understand the Al Abraq International Airport is only used for hajj operations. Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.

“The NFF made arrangements for separate vehicles for the team but the plan was unhinged by the diversion of the aircraft. Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home.”

Source: The Nation 

My Take 

The NFF has done the right thing to pull out of the game and the next right thing now is to lodge a formal protest on that with CAF and FIFA. The  Libyans, clearly overstepped the bounds.

Temporary marriages in Indonesia spark outrage as rural women become $500 brides for foreign tourists

Poor young women in rural areas are becoming temporary wives to foreign male visitors, receiving a bride price in return, leading to online outrage.

According to the South China Morning Post, in Puncak, a tourist destination in western Indonesia known for attracting Middle Eastern tourists, local agencies arrange these marriages between male visitors and local women.

After a brief wedding ceremony, the women are expected to handle household duties and engage in sexual relations before the men leave and dissolve the marriage.

A woman using the alias Cahaya shared with the Los Angeles Times that she has been married at least 15 times to Middle Eastern tourists since she was 17.

She typically earns between $300 and $500 per marriage, after the agency takes its cut, and uses the money to cover rent and care for her sick grandparents.

Now 28, she keeps her involvement in these marriages secret by telling her friends and family that she works as a housekeeper. She even lies to her boyfriend, deleting incriminating messages to hide the truth. "It's all torture," she admitted. "All I had in mind, every time, was I wanted to go home."

Another woman, Nisa, who had entered into over 20 temporary marriages, left the practice after marrying an Indonesian immigration officer. She now has two sons and vows never to return to her former life.

These temporary marriages are not legally recognized in Indonesia, as they conflict with the country's marriage laws, which are meant to support long-term, stable relationships. Violating these laws can lead to fines, imprisonment, and social or religious repercussions.

After Chinese media covered this practice, it ignited discussions on Weibo, with one commenter suggesting that to change the women's circumstances, "they need to be empowered through education and skills to become self-sufficient."

Source: e.vnexpress.net