Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herders attacked the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing at least seven people in a renewed act of violence.
The assailants targeted a commercial vehicle between Arufu and Chembe villages, shooting at passengers. Later, they invaded Mchia community, where seven more people were killed, and several others were reported missing.
Anawah Joseph, a community leader, revealed that the attackers laid ambush on the road, targeting the commercial vehicle and later launching an assault on Mchia, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
The Chairman of the local government, Rev Adagbe Jonathan, confirmed the incident, stating that seven persons were killed, and efforts were underway to locate missing individuals.
The motive behind the attack is suspected to involve armed Fulani herders collaborating with Jukun militias. The local authorities are coordinating with law enforcement to address the situation and provide support to the affected community.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to introduce a Unified Standard Transportation System in Abuja, aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency.
Dr Abdulateef Bello, the Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), announced the plan during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting.
The initiative includes the recovery and reorganization of taxi ranks in the capital city, ensuring they accommodate licensed operators for a more structured and regulated transport network. Dr Bello emphasized the need for standardization in Abuja’s transportation system, considering the city’s rapid development.
To address mass transit challenges, the administration is collaborating with consultants to introduce buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). These buses, once deployed on various routes, will replace aging vehicles and taxis, contributing to the improvement of traffic flow in Abuja.
Stakeholders, including Dr Abubakar Sadiq and Okorie Victor, expressed support for the administration’s initiatives during the meeting. Dr Sadiq welcomed the developments and highlighted the importance of considering critical players in the transportation sector, while Mr Victor urged robust sensitization campaigns to ensure effective comprehension of evolving policies by all stakeholders.
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), based in Kaduna, has issued a notice to residents of Mando, Tsamiya, Kauya, and Afaka general areas, assuring them not to panic about an upcoming shooting exercise. The exercise is part of the Range Management Package for Army Cadets of the 71 Regular Course at the military university.
In a statement by the Academy Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa, residents were urged not to be alarmed, emphasizing that the shooting exercise, scheduled between January 9 and February 2, 2024, is a routine activity for Army cadets.
While reassuring the public that necessary safety measures have been implemented for the successful conduct of the exercise, the statement cautioned against trespassing into the shooting range during the specified period. The NDA’s communication aimed to alleviate concerns among residents and ensure a smooth execution of the scheduled training.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has declared its intent to disregard the directive by the Medical Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) cautioning doctors against striking.
In an interview with our correspondent, the NMA President, Uche Ojinmah, asserted that doctors would not heed the MDCN’s warning and hinted at a potential withdrawal of services across health institutions if the Federal Government fails to implement the upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure by January 31, 2024.
The MDCN had, in a letter dated January 4, 2024, cautioned doctors against sending patients away during strikes. The directive emphasized that patients on admission should not be discharged solely due to a strike, and emergency units must remain operational with scheduled practitioners.
Ojinmah criticized the MDCN’s stance, stating, “How will MDCN tell me not to fight for my salary? They didn’t even issue a letter to demand equal pay with senators or judges or what is being paid in America.
” He highlighted the delayed implementation of a salary increment since July 2023, emphasizing that doctors would defend their rights and called for the government to fulfill promises.
The NMA had earlier set a deadline of January 31, 2024, for the Federal Government to meet demands, including the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and arrears payment, or face a potential industrial action in the health sector.
The association also urged the implementation of the newly approved accruement allowance with arrears from June 2022.
As the situation unfolds, tension remains high within the healthcare sector, with the NMA signaling a readiness to take further action to address perceived injustices related to salary reviews and other welfare issues.
From 2020 to 2024, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had a total budgetary allocation of N2.38tn, as revealed by data from the budget office. This timeframe witnessed changes in nomenclature, initially established by former President Buhari as the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development in August 2019. President Tinubu’s administration in May 2023 later renamed it the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Budget allocations for each year varied, with 2024 recording the highest at N532.5bn. The breakdown of allocations to the ministry and its agencies over the years indicated varying distributions among entities like the National Emergency Management Agency, National Social Investment Office, North-East Development Commission, National Commission for Refugees, and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
In 2023, the ministry and its agencies received a total appropriation of N426bn, a figure criticized by the suspended minister, Betta Edu. She argued before the Joint National Assembly Committee that the N532.5bn allocated in the 2024 budget was insufficient to combat poverty nationwide, emphasizing the need for additional funding due to inflation.
Amidst the unfolding events, the United Global Resolve for Peace, a civil society group, commended President Tinubu’s decisive action in suspending Minister Edu. The group acknowledged the President’s responsiveness to civil society concerns and advocated for the comprehensive reformation of the entire humanitarian ministry. This call aligns with the President’s establishment of a panel to reform social programs, emphasizing the necessity of measures to enhance the effectiveness and integrity of poverty alleviation efforts and societal needs addressed by the ministry.
In response to reports suggesting his involvement in a N438.1m consultancy contract between New Planet Project Limited and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The reports indicated that the company, allegedly owned by the Minister of Interior, received the sum as consultancy fees from Minister Betta Edu for the National Social Register contract. Speaking on Channels TV Politics Today on Monday night, Tunji-Ojo clarified that he founded the company a decade ago but resigned from directorship in 2019 when he contested in the House of Representatives poll.
Expressing his shock at the allegations, Tunji-Ojo emphasized that he had not been involved in the day-to-day operations of New Planet Project Limited. He provided evidence of his resignation, stating, “I have to say this, I saw it and I was shocked because the company in question was a company where I was the director. About five years ago, I had resigned my directorship. Yes, I founded the company 10 years ago. In 2019 when I got to the House of Representatives, when I won the election precisely, I resigned. I resigned 4th of February 2019 with a Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission as far back as 2019 to prove this.”
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to launch a full-blown investigation into the finances of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Tinubu handed down the directive in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who also announced the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over the N585m scandal in the ministry.
The statement was titled ‘President Tinubu suspends Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation from office.’
Edu’s suspension was happening as her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, was grilled for about 12 hours by the EFCC detectives over the ongoing probe into the N37.1bn allegedly laundered during her tenure in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.
The ex-minister was questioned from 11am to 11pm by investigators seeking information on how the huge sum was allegedly laundered by top officials who served under her.
Data from the Budget Office indicate that the ministry, erstwhile known as Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, had a N2.38tn budget from 2020 to 2024.
In compliance with the presidential directive, the EFCC has also summoned Edu to appear before its detectives on Tuesday (today).
Ngelale in the statement said the President directed the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as the agencies under it.
Furthermore, the President tasked a panel headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic of the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.
This was aimed at reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.
In a notable incident captured by TVC News, the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over the N585m scandal vehicle was denied access to the State House, symbolizing the gravity of the unfolding events. Security operatives directed her convoy to turn back, refusing entry into the Presidential Villa.
A reliable source disclosed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission intervened between July and August 2023, intercepting a significant N32bn that was on the verge of being stolen from the humanitarian affairs ministry. The intercepted funds were subsequently handed over to the Federal Government.
While this transpired, the immediate past minister in the ministry, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, underwent an extensive questioning session with investigators over the alleged N37bn money laundering. As of 7 pm on Monday, she was still engaged in providing information to investigators at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Umar-Farouq, recognizing the gravity of the situation, took to Twitter at about 10:20 am, stating, “I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating.”
Citing health challenges, she had previously officially written to the EFCC, seeking an extension of the deadline to meet with interrogators. This extension request aims to provide a comprehensive account of the alleged monumental fraud that occurred under her supervision during her tenure in the ministry.
President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The directive follows the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, who was in charge of the ministry, on Monday.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu emphasized his commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in managing Nigeria’s resources.
The President’s directive includes a comprehensive investigation into financial transactions of agencies under the Ministry. Dr. Edu, who faced criticism after a leaked memo revealed questionable fund transfers, is instructed to hand over her responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Additionally, Tinubu has tasked a panel, headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, with conducting a thorough diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of social investment programs. The goal is to implement reforms that address institutional shortcomings, ensuring the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and restoring public confidence in the initiative.
The directives take immediate effect as part of Tinubu’s commitment to upholding the principles of integrity and accountability in government affairs.
In a decisive move, President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office, effective immediately.
The suspension, as conveyed by Tinubu’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale on Monday, is in alignment with the President’s commitment to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s resources.
The President has directed the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to initiate a thorough investigation into all financial transactions related to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, along with associated agencies.
Dr. Edu, during her suspension, is required to hand over responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and fully cooperate with the investigating authorities.
Additionally, President Tinubu has established a panel, led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, tasked with conducting a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of social investment programs.
The objective is to enact reforms that address institutional shortcomings, exclusively benefiting disadvantaged households and restoring public confidence in the initiative.
These directives take immediate effect, signaling a commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in government affairs.
