FocalPoint Reports

Despite Closed border Boko Haram Raid Army Base kills 12 soldiers, Eight others Wounded near  Niger’s border with Nigeria, In a predawn raid Wednesday on a military base in southeastern Niger’s Diffa region, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members killed 12 soldiers and wounded at least eight others. A government statement said the casualty figure, arising from the attack on the Blabrine military unit,is provisional. The attack was “very probably” carried out by Boko Haram, the statement added. This was the latest in a string of increasingly brazen attacks near Niger’s border with Nigeria, where the radical Islamist insurgency has claimed hundreds of lives. The attack was launched at around 3:00 am (0200 GMT), a municipal source told AFP earlier on condition of anonymity. A senior official in Diffa added that military equipment had been torched in the attack. Diffa, which borders the birthplace of Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, has been hit by repeated cross-border attac

Ijew/Itsekiri 2019 peace  cup:16 communities to contest for 2.2 million By Oreva Abikele, FPR The Local Organizing Committee LOC, of the most popular grassroot and ethnic coexistence peace building football tournament otherwise known as Comrade Mulade Sheriff Peace and Unity Cup has schedule the 2019 peace cup to take off Thursday November 7th, by 9am to 3pm prompt for the screening of players registered for the tournament and also conduct the draws for the 16 Communities/Teams that are duly registered for the tournament.   It is pertinent to state that this is the most crucial and important aspect of football, therefore any TEAM/COMMUNITY that fail to participate will be disqualified automatically. And every registered Community must come with all their PLAYERS, COACH and TECHNICAL TEAM for the screening on Thursday 7th November 2019. Names of communities registered for the IJAW/ITSEKIRI Peace and Unity Cup otherwise known as Comrade Mulade Sheriff Peace and Unity Cup are

NLC dares governors over new wage, moves to monitor negotiations From the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) came yesterday a warning that any state that dithers over the negotiation of the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage risks an unprecedented industrial crisis. The warning came as the congress raised a standing committee to monitor the negotiation of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage in the 36 states, including Abuja. The General Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, told The Guardian in Abuja that the organised labour would not accept tokenism from any state governor. He faulted the position of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that the Federal Government cannot dictate to them on how the consequential adjustment should affect their workers. Ugboaja asked the governors to explain where they had been since April 18, 2019 when President Muhammadu Buhari signed the minimum wage bill into law, that they did not speak to the issue until now. “So, it is now tha

More Nigerians to shun transactions using PoS over  implementation of  ₦50  additional charge More Nigerians are now shunning transactions via Point of Sales (PoS) terminals; owing to the implementation of a ₦50 additional charge by merchants, as imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter- Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). The CBN described the new service levy as Stamp Duty Charge. The Guardian investigations showed that customers now avoid ePayment platform in preference for cash deals, thereby throwing a big spanner in the Federal Government’s financial inclusion drive and in particular, the CBN’s cashless policy. Customers, who previously cheered CBN’s decision to infuse the policy, saying it would eliminate the risk of carrying cash and reduce the cost of printing Naira notes, have criticised the move to collect stamp duty charges on PoS transactions. It must also be mentioned that other payment channels, including the automated telle

Reps disagrees with army’s planned Operation The House of Representatives yesterday resolved disagreed with the Nigeria Army to embark on a nationwide exercise code named Operation Positive Identification (OPI). The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Minority Leader, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, at the plenary presided over by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. The lawmakers mandated the Abdulrazak Namdas-led committee on Army to meet with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, on the issue and report back to the House. Leading debate on general principles of the motion, Elumelu noted that if the Army should go ahead with the exercise, it would lead to possible militarization of Nigeria. He further noted that the exercise if not stopped would lead to infringement on fundamental right of Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution. According to Elumelu, if allowed to take place, the exercise would downgrade innocent Nigerians to suspects and conquered people in t

YOUR GOVERNMENT IS FINANCIALLY RECKLESS .- DELTA APC SLAMS OKOWA.  YOUR GOVERNMENT IS FINANCIALLY RECKLESS .- DELTA APC SLAMS OKOWA.  The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State is appalled by the financial recklessness of the PDP led government in Delta State, under the supervision of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. In fact, the level of financial indiscipline in the governance of Delta State smells to high heavens.  Recently, figures released by the Federal Government shows that Delta State Government received the highest Federal monthly allocations between January and November 2019. Besides the Federal monthly allocations, hundreds of billions of naira were received by the State Government from excess crude account, ecological fund, internally generated revenue and other sources. While Delta State got about N214B  (two hundred and fourteen billion Naira) within the aformentioned period from Federal allocations, with no tangible, landmark and/ or productive projects to show for it, Sta

PDP govs Begs Goodluck Jonathan to support Bayelsa PDP governorship candidate Some Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday visited ex-President Goodluck Jonathan at Abuja appealing for his support for the Bayelsa State PDP governorship candidate, Douye Diri. Governors who made the move for the appeal were; Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), while the Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum, Mr Osaro Onaiwu. It was gathered from grape vine that the governors appeal to the ex-President to let go of ill-feelings and grievances he may have over the emergence of Diri during the November 3 primary, as it was perceived that the Bayelsa State Governor, Seraike Dickson, blocked Jonathan’s nominee from emerging the PDP governorship standard-bearer in the state.” Recall that a few days ago, social media was awash with insinuations that Jonathan had entered into an a

Nigeria to import doctors from Europe, United States • Plan will curb medical tourism, says minister • Stop brain drain first, stakeholders advise Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said yesterday that Nigeria would employ the services of medical experts from Europe and America. The disclosure came at a time that some stakeholders are expressing concern about the migration of health workers from the country. Ehanire said officials of the ministry were in touch with foreign embassies for specialists who would work in hospitals across the country for specified periods. The minister, who stated this during the 2020 budget defence session, said the move would strengthen the nation’s health sector. He was responding to a question from a member of the Mrs. Tolulope Akande Sodipe-led House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Matters about plans for curbing medical tourism. Ehanire said the experts, already exposed to sophisticated practice in the advanced world, would not only atte

Fireworks over alleged Bayelsa APC candidate’s failure to declare assets A group, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Integrity Group has expressed worry over the reluctance of the Code of Code Bureau (CCB) to proceed with the investigation of the allegation of non-declaration of assets by the PDP governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri. The CCB had on October 9 confirmed that it had a petition against Diri written by an anti-corruption group, Bayelsa Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability which accused Diri of not declaring his assets when he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State. The coordinator of the group, Mr Tony Nathan Ile in a statement said it was worrisome because the signals the CCB was sending indicated that it wanted to compromise its objectives and constitutional responsibilities by investigating the petition. The statement read in part: “It is quite disturbing to us as a group, th

OLU OF WARRI REJOICES AS ITSEKIRI/IJAW HEADS FOR PEACE, UNITY CUP 2019, LOC VISITS MONARCH ..... Olu Says Ijaws are Welcomed to the Palace Anytime, Royal Family Partly Ijaw From Isaba, The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli,  on Tuesday expressed joy as the Ijaw/ Itsekiri peace and unity cup 2019 signals hope, development and peaceful coexistence during a visit to the palace. The Warri monarch who received the local organising committee of the tournament led by the initiator,  Comrade Sheriff Mulade and its chairman, Hon. Peter Nwobcha to the palace.  The monarch gave his royal blessings and promised support for the tournament as he  appreciates the courtesy call by the local organizing committee and called on  Deltas to see themselves as one. The Olu of Warri urged the organisers of the tournament to seek other ways apart from football in ensuring that the message of tolerance for one another, peaceful co- existence and nation building is preached through out the nooks a

Senate Rejects Niger Delta Ministry’s Budget https://focalpointreports.blogspot.com/2019/10/senate-rejects-niger-delta-ministrys.html

Senate Rejects Niger Delta Ministry’s Budget   The Senate Committee on Niger Delta, on Monday, rejected the 2020 capital budget of N23 billion for the  Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs due to uncompleted projects in the region. Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi made this known when the Minister, God’swill Akpabio appeared before the committee to defend the ministry’s budget of N25, 910,486,285. The  News Agency of Nigeria  reports that the ministry is to reappear before the Committee on Monday, Oct. 28. Nwaboshi said that with the oversight function carried out in the ministry, it was realised that the bane of the ministry was abandoned projects littered all over the nine Niger Delta states. “There is no state, I dare to say that there is no local government where there is no abandoned projects in the Niger Delta. “We cannot continue like that. With all the abandoned projects in the Niger Delta and we are talking about new projects; these new projects are designed

 EFCC to Probe Former NDDC Boss Nsima Ekere over N65bn Hyacinth Contract The Economic  and Financial Crimes Commission is set to tackle the former managing  director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Nsima Ekere and his team, following reports of financial mismanagement in the award of contract for the Water Hyacinth  Emergency and Desilting Contracts  from 2017 to 2019. The contract initially valued at N2.5 billion was allegedly jerked to N65 billion. Last week President Muhammadu Buhari directed a forensic audit of the account of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Already, the Chairman Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide raised the red flag and had signaled an inquest by his committee. “Of course, that is a very serious offence. What we are hearing or what we know is that N2.5billion was budgeted for this activity, that is, desilting and clearing of water hyacinths. “We are hearing that the Commission has spent N65 billion, so, w

SUSPECTED ASSASSIN KIDNAPPED AND KILL RETIRED POLICE OFFICER IN DELTA WARRI - SUSPECTED assassins on Friday evening at Effurun kidnapped and kill a retired police officer Paul Edike on his way from a function. Joseph Edike, a family member revealed the horrifying incident to our reporter. He stressed that driver of Edike who witnessed the incident reported to the family shortly after the kidnap. That hours later the lifeless body of their father was found along Warri/Benin road. According to him, "Our Dad was kidnapped on his way home on Friday evening, the driver came to tell us, later in the night, his lifeless body was found along Warri/Benin road. "We suspect it as assassination in relation with the case our brother is having with some persons abroad. "Since the case starred threat messages and calls have been made to us but we never knew it will get to the level." The remains of the deceased has been deposited for further action and report to police.

Feature Sheriff Mulade Peace and Unity CUP: WARRI SOUTH-WEST ADOPT SPORT FOR ETHNIC UNITY Taking advantage of sport to bring Ijaw and Itsekiri people together to achieve permanent peaceful coexistence, the  Warri South-West Local Government Area Chairman, Hon Taiye Duke Tuoyo, has advocated the need to adopt sport for promotion of ethnic unity and peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups in the LGA and Delta State at large. The chairman made the accertion recently as members of the local organising committee of Mulade Sheriff Peace and Unity Cup led by its LOC Chairman, Hon Kenneth Nwamuocha recently  paid a Courtesy call to the LGA boss who is also a Host of the upcoming competition. The chairman commended the initiator, Comrade Mulade Sheriff for promoting peace coexistence among the various ethnic groups in the LGA and Delta State at large.

OVERUSED UDU BRIDGE IN DELTA: GROUP  WANTS ANOTHER BRIDGE, SAYS BRIDGE IS WEAK, DEPLORABLE FOR TRUCKS Delta interest group has lammented the dilapidated state of Udu bridge in Udu local government area, near Warri, Delta State.   The conveigner, Delta interest group, Comr. Colins Uduaghan, in Warri, recently lamented that the bridge is fast deteriorating into dead trap and deplorable for heavy duty trucks, tankers and other vehicles. Focalpoint Reporters also garthered that Road users in Warri and Udu Areas are grappling with regular traffic congestion along  Udu road.  A tricycle operator popularly called Keke rider, Onoriode Edeki Said that the bridge is outdated, weak  and may colapse any time.  A member of Delta interest group noted that another bridge is needed in the route, to save the overburdened bridge that currently serve as a major route that serve as link to other Delta communities such as Aladja, Kiagbodo, Ughelli, Warri, Otujeremi, Ogbe-Ijoh  and other towns.

Seven dead in Obaseki’s convoy crash At least seven persons, including five adults and two children, were on Saturday morning killed in a ghastly auto accident involving the advance team of Governor Godwin Obaseki on Benin-Auchi Expressway. Several other persons including one of the Governor’s driver were also injured in the accident. Eyewitness account said the accident occurred at Ehorin Uhunmwode Local Government Area, when a Toyota Hilux van on the Governor’s advance team had a head-on collision with a passenger Audi car. The advance team were said to be on their way to Ambrose Ali University, AAU, at Ekpoma for the convocation of the university Three other survivors were said to have been rushed to the Central Hospital in Benin City for medical attention. It was learnt that a good Samaritan rushed the survivors and the dead to the First SAVAN Centre at the hospital. At the Central Hospital, a source confirmed that accident victims were brought in but declined to give de

Delta Communities Clash: GOVERNOR'S AIDE, IJAW RIGHT GROUP PAYS CONDOLENCE VISIT By Ezekiel Kagbala FPR As Ogbe-Ijoh people in Warri South-West local government area grieve the loss of their son, Taylor Agofugha, a chieftain of the African Democratic Party, ADC, government officials Ijaw right group has paid a condolence visit. Aide to the governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Comrade Daniel Ezekiel accompanied by the president, Ijaw People's Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Ozobo Austin, has paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family at Ogbe_Ijoh community, Warri South-West local government Area. The the Governor's  aide and the Ijaw group gave their condolences messages and urged the bereaved family and members of the community to remain law abiding despite what had happened. The IPDI leader, Comrade Austin Ozobo, said late Taylor was a former member of IPDI,  his death has brought grief to the group.  He  called on security agents and gov

Buhari orders forensic audit of NDDC from 2001 to 2019 By Punch President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a forensic audit of the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission from 2001 to 2019. The decision followed persistent criticisms of the operations of the commission. A statement by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, said Buhari gave the directive after receiving governors of the states that make up the NCDC, led by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State. The President said what was presently on ground in the South-South region did not justify the huge resources that had been made available to the agency. He said, “I try to follow the Act setting up these institutions especially the NDDC. With the amount of money that the Federal Government has religiously allocated to the NDDC, we will like to see the results on the ground; those that are responsible for that have to explain certain issues. “The projects said to have been done must be verifi

Delta Lawmakers Endorse Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace And Unity Cup The need for relevant stakeholders to compliment Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's giant stride towards building sustainable peace and unity in their domains in order to attract meaningful development has been advocated. Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborebwori disclosed this when Comrade Sheriff Mulade led officials of the Ijaw and Itsekiri peace and unity cup football tournament on a courtesy visit to his official resident in Asaba, the state capital. The Speaker who identified peace and security achievements of the Okowa's led administration across the state which has given rise to massive developments in the state, called on well meaning individuals to design programmes and activities to promote Peace and Unity in their various communities. In the same vein, Chairman, House Committee on Youths and Sports Development, in the States House of Assembly Alfred Martins restated government commitment tow

ADC Party Chairman Shot Dead In Warri Confusion has set into Delta State as a grassroot politician, the Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC for Warri South-West Local Government Area and candidate of same political party for the 2019 House of Assembly election for Warri South-West Constituency, Hon. Taylor William Ogofugha was yesterday, October 15, 2019, shot dead in his own house at the local government area. The ADC Delta State Chairman, Prince Joe Chukwu has alleged that his party man's gruesome murder was politically motivated, citing that his overwhelming popularity in the area might have fueled envy that had metamorphosed into his death. Chukwu revealed that Taylor brought ADC into Warri South-West and had since been the Chairman of the party in the LGA. He said during the 2019 election, he was equally found worthy, grounded and qualified to contest the Delta State House of Assembly election and he was elected as candidate for the party. According to the ADC Sta

Senate President Lawan decries poor roads     SENATE President Ahmad Lawan in Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on federal roads. Decrying the deplorable condition of the roads, he called for improved budgetary allocation to fix them. Lawan, who contributed to a motion in the Senate by Senator Gersham Bassey, titled: “The deplorable state of Nigeria Federal Roads”, said N215billion was required yearly to fix federal roads. Also lamenting the condition of the roads, the chairman, Governing Council Board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Tunde Lemo, said the country had been losing N1trillion yearly due to loss in man-hours as a result of bad roads and traffic snarl. The ex-Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor spoke at the yearly stakeholders’ meeting at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The theme of the conference was: “Road Maintenance and Reforms: Legal and Institutional Framework. On Tuesday, during the plenar

IJAW YOUTHS TO ACTION AS POLICE ALLEGEDLY KILLS  6 IJAWS IN EDO ...URGE IGP, EDO STATE GOVERNMENT TO BRING KILLER POLICE TO JUSTICE. Ijaw youths the Niger Delta, under the auspices of the Ijaw  People's Development Initiative, IPDI, vowed to mobilise Egbesu fighters to storm Edo state if the Edo state government, and the Inspector general of police, Mohammed Adamu. to Fitch out Police officers responsible for the killing of 6 Ijaw youths in Edo State. The president of the Ijaw Peoples development initiative IPDI said that police officers responsible for the extra-judicial killings of 6 Ijaw youths in State CID, Edo state force headquarters should be made to face the law. The activist stressed, every accused person was presumed innocent pending proven guilty by a competent court and that the police lack power to summarily execute suspects under detention. Ozobo said the police were used by some gullible Benin people to cowed and intimidate Ijaws in the state and that every acts

DELTA COMMUNITY AGBODOBIRI STARVES, POOR VILLAGERS SUFFERING TO DONATE 3MILLION FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECT ABANDONED 17 YEARS AGO By Ezekiel Kagbala FPR                      Agbodobiri children protesting demands           governments development from government The people of Agbodobiri community, Burutu Local government, Delta State are weigh down with burden as community leaders urges all to contribute money to fund government electricity project that was abandoned for over 17 years.  The contribution was the last resort of  community members to help themselves and  revive the 17 years abandoned project awarded to a contractor called Oguma some years ago. A community source disclosed that everyone in the community was directed to pay or donate the sum of 18,000 naira each to enable them buy poles and cables to fund an abandoned electricity project that runs from the university town of Edwin Clark, Kiagbodo to Agbodobiri community.   Poor Agbodobiri people who are suffering as res

Inernet Fraud: EFCC arrest 34 years Old Delta Chief, Seizes Mansion,  By daily POst > ratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from the Benin Zonal Office have arrested a suspected internet fraud kingpin, Akegor Godbless Omamuyorwi. EFCC, in a statement on Thursday, noted that Omamuyorwi was nabbed at his palatial home in Ughelli, Delta State. It said the arrest of the 34-year-old, a chief in his Agbaro Community, was triggered by a petition from a bank following complaint by a Canadian resident, who alleged that she had transferred the sum of $390,950.34 Canadian dollar to two different accounts in the same bank and suspected a scam. Preliminary investigations showed that Omamuyorvi was involved in romance scam and presented himself as Mr Sheri Hunt, an oil worker in Milan, Italy to his victim. It added: “He hoodwinked his ‘lover’ victim with the impression that he was sending her a package but demanded for money under the pretext of paying medical bills,

SEM Grant Disbursement: Deltans to receive grant ---As SEMCCA inaugurate Delta Exco today following the victory at the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja over N500 Million damages suit filed by Social Exchange Market (SEM), International limited against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Stock Exchange Market Certified Chairmen Association (SEMCCA), Delta State Chapter has fixed Friday October 11, 2019 to inaugurate executive members of Delta State Chapter. It would will be recall that the EFCC in October 2018, sealed the office of the SEM located in Utako, Abuja and went to seized some vital documents based on allegations that it runs a ponzi scheme, which contradicts the Laws of Nigeria. The company aggrieved by the actions of the anti-graft agency filed a suit in the FCT High Court praying for an order to restrain the commission from disrupting its business. Soeaking to newsmen at Osubi airport, Delta State,the national chairman of SEMCCA, Engr. Theophilus Enebechi s

DEVELOPMENT : NGO CEPEJ SEEKS UNDP SUPPORT A Nigeria based non governmental organisation, the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ has called on the United Nations Development Partners (UNDP) in Nigeria to continually support the developmental needs of the country. The National Coordinator of CEPEJ Comrade Sheriff Mulade made the call during a courtesy visit to UNDP office in Abuja, and appreciated the Agency for its continued support towards the development of Nigeria, CSOs as well as for identifying with CEPEJ's activities across the nation, and likely areas of partnership with the UNDP. The UNDP team Lead for Governance and Peace Building, Mr. Matthew Alao applauded CEPEJ for the work it is doing as a development NGO and promised that the UNDP would be represented at the upcoming CEPEJ's 10th annual conference in Abuja. He also urged CEPEJ to continue to stand and work on integrity as this will pave the way for the organization even without reference to

A peoples Democratic Party Chieftain, a governorship aspirant in the recently concluded governorship primary election in Bayelsa State, AMB. GodKnows Igali has alleged that billions of Naira was unjustly spent in the governorship primary election in Bayelsa State. He made the disclosure during an interview with newsmen, he stated that the electoral process was monetized and hijacked by those in the party.   He lamented that Bayelsa is not developing as a state, as poverty, joblessness , poor state of electricity and road bedevils the state despite its financial position.

Okowa Gives Reason for Reason For Appointing His   daughter as aide   Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has declared he has no apologies for appointing one of his daughters as an aide. The governor said, that, his daughter is eminently qualified for the position. He said: “It is not true that I have two of my daughter’s appointed. I have only one appointed and she is rightfully qualified. “I do not have any daughter in social media. The one appointed for girl child education is rightfully qualified. “I do not have any apologies for that because I know the quality of daughter that I have.” Okowa also said the choice of who becomes the next governor of Delta State in 2023 will be determined by God. He said although he expressed his personal view that his successor should come from Delta Central, the choice ultimately was beyond him. Okowa said he has his views which he cannot enforce, adding that the most important factor is the need to ensure “unity and equity”. The governor, wh

Correctio n NEGLECTED IJAW COMMUNITY, AGBODOBIRI BEGS FOR HELP AS FLOOD RAVAGES  COMMUNITY  IJAW COMMUNITY, AGBODOBIRI BEGS FOR HELP AS FLOOD RAVAGES COMMUNITY Delta community, Agbodobiri, Burutu Local government area, has been ravaged with flood, over 100 families are yet to access relieve and nearest camp for internally displaced persons. The community youth leader, Comrade Tamaratare Igew lamented that Agbodobiri, the headquarters of Ugbolubiri Kingdom has been  neglected by the state and local government for  many years, adding that the community is an oil impacted community and deserves government attention at all level. Igwe further noted that they expect the Delta State government, Burutu Local government, and relevant stake holders to provide temporary accommodation for those displaced by ravaging flood in communities around Burutu Local government area. A statement from one of the community youth, King Edoh revealed that Agbodobiri people needs foodstuffs, toiletries,

Nigeria’s poverty index worsened as 9 4m Nigerians live below poverty line Nigeria’s poverty index has worsened as no fewer than 94,470,535 people are said to be living below the line of extreme poverty, according to the latest World Poverty Report released yesterday. Oxfam International country director in Nigeria, Mr. Constant Tchona, made the disclosure in Abuja, yesterday at the organisation’s Programme Quality Review and Planning meeting, with the theme “On the Road To Becoming an Influencing Hub.” The figure represents the number of people living below the benchmark of N684 per day. “The number of people that live below extreme poverty level as at April was 91,501,377, making Nigeria the World Capital of Poverty. “As if that was not bad enough, at the moment, six months later, the number has jumped up to 94,470,535 people. “What this means is that we have added 2,969,158 people more into extreme poverty. By comparison, this number is more than the population of Gambia and

Drama, controversy as Falcons fail to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympics The Nigeria women national team, Super Falcons’ hope of moving to the next round of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games African qualifying series was dashed yesterday by Cote D’Ivoire, who held the team to a 1- 1 draw at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos. The Cote d’Ivoire team, who held the Super Falcons to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the tie, opened scoring 10 minutes into the game through a nice free kick taken at the edge of Nigeria’s 18-yard box. After the goal, the Ivoirians continued to pile pressure on the Nigerian side, but Super Falcons’ new captain, Asisat Oshoala capitalized on a fast break from the midfield to get the equaliser in the 40th minute. When fans thought the Falcons will go on to win the tie on aggregate, their Ivoirians dug in and repelled everything the Nigerians threw at them until the final whistle. And then drama ensued. The match officials, who were not sure if the away goals rule appli

IJAW/ITSEKIRI PEACE/UNITY CUP 2019: DESOPADEC COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR RECEIVES SPORT COMMITTEE, PROMISE SUPPORT, COMMENDS LOC, SHERIFF MULADE   The upcoming  2019 Ijaw/Itsekiri Peace And Unity Cup today Friday gets another motivational support as the committee led by the Chairman, Hon. Peter Nwobocha leads members to visit the  Delta State oil Producing Area Development Development Commission, DESOPADEC in Warri. The sport committee was revived by the commissioner representing the  Ijaw ethnic nationality, Dr. Paul Bebenimbo and the Executive director, Planing and statistics, Comrade Shadrach Agedigha.    The Ijaw ethnic commissioner, Dr. Paul Bebenimbor and the ED Planing and statics who received the organising committee promise to support the tournament in their capacity. Members of the local organising committee of the tournament hinted that Every body within Ijaw and Itsekiri is involved. Shadrach Agediga after receiving the organising committee said "We will support in

Ijaw group cries for help as flood Sacks Bomadi, Burutu, Warri North, South-West Communities  Coastal over 20 communities in Burutu Local government area of Delta State has been reportedly submerged with ravishing  as residents cries to Delta State government for relieve. This was disclosed to our correspondent in a statement made available to news men yesterday in Warri by an Ijaw group, Concerned Citizens For Izon-Ebe Development (CCFID), led by Comr. Ekpegha Tamarapraupreye  He disclosed that over twenty Communities in Burutu local government area in the State has been submerged flood. Ekpegha laments that twenty Communities under Burutu & Four (4) other L.G.A.'s, Bomadi, Patani, Warri south & North in Delta State were severely affected while others were not severe. He raised alarm that Ayakoromo Federated community (Ayakoromo Grammar School), Ebiegbene, Ojojogbene, Sunday gbene, Bobogbene, Gbekobu, Newtown, Akparemo gbene, Ogbegbene, Ofenibagha ( Okrika) and among

CEPEJ DONATES EXECUTIVE LUXRY BOAT TO MARITIME UNIVERSITY A Niger Delta based Non governmental Organization, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) yesterday, donate  200-horse power, executive luxury Speed Boat to the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State. The national coordinator, of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade and his management team handed over the 12 passengers capacity boat with the inscription 'Africa 4 Peace' to the management and academic staff of the Maritime University as contribution and transport support to the institution. The university delegates, cadets and  student led by the The Vice Chancellor of University,  represented by the Librarian, Dr. Baba Aduku received the luxury water cruiser with radiant face of excitement and commended CEPEJ for the gesture. He described the donation as the first of it kind to the institution since its establishment. He added that transportation was fundamental to the development of the Univer

READ: GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM CENTER FOR PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (CEPEJ)  ON NIGERIA INDEPENDENCE   DAY My fellow Nigerians, It is with great joy that i send this congratulatory message to you all on this auspicious day as important to our country Nigeria.  Today is the beginning of a new month and new dawn in our various lives and our 59th Independence Anniversary day, the day our founding fathers fought and freed us from the shackles of colonial rule exactly 59 years ago. Our nation's journey has been enveloped with various episodes,scenes and trials which culminated into the Nigerian spirit of perseverance, courage,selflessness  and the dream of a greater Nigeria irrespective of the insecurity, economic, religious,political and  ethnic challenges faced by citizens today . The vision of our founding fathers built on love, freedom and justice  was destroyed by the mindless military entrance into our polity which led us into the wilderness of corruption,hatred and selfi