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The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalists at the end of the National Security Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also said the government was considering banning mining activities across the country.

Mr Malami said the ban was being considered as part of efforts to curtail the activities of terrorists, who often use motorcycles.

“Placing a ban on the use of motorcycles and mining activities will cut the supply of logistics to the terrorists,” he said.

“This will be done in the national interest. We are Nigerians because Nigeria as a country exists and any issue that will translate into a threat to national security or the corporate existence of the country requires certain sacrifices.

“So, regardless of the means that is being considered for the possible banning, this is a sacrifice that we see as what will help address the security challenges and I think no sacrifice is too big as far as that issue is concerned.”

The minister also said that less than a third of Nigeria’s 200 million population would be affected by a ban on motorcycles and so it was worth the sacrifice.

“Above all, if you are talking of banning motorcycles, for example, I think the number of people using these motorcycles is not up to 20 per cent of the Nigerian population,” he said. “So if that percentage is called to make a sacrifice that is all-pervading or affecting over 200 million Nigerians, I think that sacrifice is not too much and is worthy of being considered.”

The justice minister said the bans being considered by the government are in the interest of the nation.

He said the government had since discovered that following its blockage of sources of funding for terrorists, they have resorted to the use of non-conventional sources of funding like mining and collection of ransom to fund their nefarious activities.

Motorcycles are a common means of transportation among poor and middle-class Nigerians.

However, apart from being used for crime, they have also been blamed for the high rate of accidents in some parts of the country.

Ban in Lagos, FCT
Given the avoidable accidents they have caused, the Lagos State Government recently banned commercial motorcyclists from operating in six local government areas in May.

The affected areas include Apapa, Surulere, Ikeja, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland.

The ban, which became effective in June, was the fifth time the Lagos government would be dishing out such a directive.

Two former governors of the state, Bola Tinubu and his successor, Babatunde Fashola, banned commercial motorcyclists in 2007 and 2012 respectively.

A similar directive was also issued by the Akinwunmi Ambode-led government in 2017 before the emergence of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu two years after.

Source: Premium Times

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday unveiled the new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, a landmark event that officially changes the oil firm from a wholly state-run entity to a commercial oil company, limited by shares.

The NNPC Limited is expected to be managed as a private energy enterprise unlike the former corruption-ridden government organisation.

The unveiling took place at the presidential banquet hall in Abuja.

“We are transforming our petroleum industry to strengthen the growth today July, 19 2022,” Mr Buhari said at the event.

“NNPC Limited now will operate as a commercial oil company with over 200 million shareholders with integrity and excellence0.”

The official unveiling came weeks after the corporation transitioned into a company whose operations will be regulated by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). The legal transition, based on the new Petroleum Industry Act, took effect July 1.

The NNPC completed its incorporation in September last year weeks after the the PIA was signed into law by President Buhari.

The NNPC Limited was then floated with an initial capital of N200 billion making history as the company with the highest share capital in the country.

The new entity is expected to become a commercially oriented and profit-driven national petroleum company independent of government, although government bodies remain its shareholders. It will be audited annually.

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Mr Buhari said by chance of history, he was privileged to lead the creation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on July 1, 1977. Forty-Four years later, he was again privileged to sign the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, heralding the long-awaited reform of our petroleum sector.

“The provisions of PIA 2021 have given the Nigerian petroleum industry a new impetus, with an improved fiscal framework, transparent governance, enhanced regulation and the creation of a commercially-driven and independent National Oil Company that will operate without relying on government funding and free from institutional regulations such as the Treasury Single Account, Public Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility Acts,” Mr Buhari said.

“It will, of course, conduct itself under the best international business practice in transparency, governance and commercial viability.

“Coincidentally, on the 1st of July 2022 authorized transfer of assets from the Nigerian national petroleum corporation to its successor company, the Nigerian national petroleum company limited, and steered the implementation leading to the unveiling of Africa’s largest national oil company today.

“I, therefore, thank Almighty God for choosing me to consistently play an important role in shaping the destiny of our National Oil Company from the good to the great.

“NNPC Limited will operate as a commercial, independent and viable NOC at par with its peers around the world, to sustainably deliver value to its over 200 Million shareholders and the global energy community, while adhering to its fundamental corporate values of Integrity, Excellence and Sustainability.”

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said the unveiling of NNPC Limited was a new dawn in the quest for the growth and development of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, opening new vintages for partnerships.

“While the country was waiting for the PIA, Nigeria’s oil and gas industry lost about $50 billion worth of investments. In fact, between 2015 and 2019, KPMG states that “only 4 per cent of the $70 billion investment inflows into Africa’s oil and gas industry came to Nigeria even though the country is the continent’s biggest producer and the largest reserves,” Mr Sylva said.

“We are setting all these woes behind us, and a clear path for the survival and growth of our petroleum industry is now before us. With the PIA assuring international and local oil companies of adequate protection for their investments, the nation’s petroleum industry is no longer rudderless.

Source: Premium Times

Managing Partner of Universe Attorneys, Akande Paul, has warned against sleeping with an animal in Nigeria.

He said this in a chat with The PUNCH on Saturday.

The warning came amid concerns over a trending video of a dog having an affair with a lady.

The video was said to be recorded in Nigeria but The PUNCH could not immediately confirm its authenticity.

According to Akande, the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act criminalise sleeping with an animal.

He explained that sleeping with an animal attract 14 years imprisonment in Nigeria.

He said, “It is a Criminal offence for anybody in Nigeria to have sex with lower animals like dogs, horses, cats, cows, etc.

“Oral sex (‘receiving head’) from an animal is a sexual act which constitutes sexual offence.

“In Nigeria, it is an offense to engage in bestiality (having canal knowledge of an animal).

“The punishment is 14 years imprisonment upon conviction based on Section 214 of the Criminal Code Act; Section 284 of the Penal Code Act.”

Section 214 of Criminal Code Act states that “Any person who- (1) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or (2) has carnal knowledge of an animal; or (3) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.”

Section 284 of the Penal Code Act states that “Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine.”

Source: Punch NG

According to Daily Post:

In the three-minute video which showed an embedded video of a purported black mermaid, a middle-aged man who identified himself as David said many people didn’t believe that mermaids existed or believed they were white and not black.

He also claimed, among others, that the journey to catch the mermaid was not an easy one as it had been disturbing residents of the area for a long time.

The video as of Thursday morning had garnered more than 10,000 likes and other emojis, 5,200 comments, 16,000 shares and 1.4 million views.

Comments on the post showed that some viewers actually believed the video contains mermaid. Many viewers “thanked God” for subduing the “spirit” while others urged that it should be released before those in the “mermaid kingdom” came to look for the missing mermaid.

“This na another problem them won invite join the wahala dey Nigeria. Abeg make them return her in peace and apologize because they will be looking for her now. Na pesi pikin,” one comment read.

“O nature se mermaid is real, I only watch it in films, this is so scary o…so na Mami water na we de eat no bi fish…this must be the spirit of water I think… God is great hmmm, wonderful God,” another viewer stated.

Analyzing the video

A search by Daily Trust revealed that a Kenyan television station had tweeted about the video, saying “Reports indicating that a mermaid has been spotted in Kwale are fake, police say.” Kwale is located in Kenya.

A further check on the video showed that the earliest version was posted on TikTok on April 6, 2022 on TikTok and captioned, “Real Mermaid Caught in Muizenberg South Africa.”

Checks by our correspondent revealed that video was doctored. It is a digitally altered composite featuring genuine footage of a dying fish and digitally added images of what appears to be a doll.

A close examination of the footage showed that sand loses texture as the arms of the purported mermaid moved across the beach. At one point, the fingers even disappeared, indicating that the “mermaid’s body” was digitally inserted into this footage.

What are mermaids?

In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia and Africa. Mermaids are sometimes associated with perilous events such as floods, storms, shipwrecks, and drowning. In other folk traditions (or sometimes within the same traditions), they can be benevolent or beneficent, bestowing boons or falling in love with humans.

The male equivalent of the mermaid is the merman, also a familiar figure in folklore and heraldry. Although traditions about and sighting of mermen are less common than those of mermaids, they are generally assumed to co-exist with their female counterparts. The male and the female collectively are sometimes referred to as “merfolk or merpeople.”

Are mermaids real?

In 2012, the television channel Animal Planet aired a show claiming to establish that mermaids are real. The programme was filmed to appear to be a documentary, complete with interviews with “scientists” (paid actors) and phone-camera footage. Though the show carried a very brief disclaimer that it was a work of fiction, many viewers took it as a proof of mermaids’ existence.

A month after the programme aired, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted a statement on its website denouncing the supposed existence of the half-human, half-fish beings. “No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found,” the post read.

CONCLUSION: The video did not originate from Nigeria as claimed and did not show a mermaid. There is no compelling evidence that mermaids (popularly called Mami Water) are real. Their existence still remains a myth.

Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, has kicked against the idea of individuals bearing arms in Nigeria. The minister, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, said the number of illegal arms and ammunition in the country was part of the causes of insecurity.
 
Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, had said it was high time Nigerians were allowed to bear arms to defend themselves.

Doguwa’s words: “With all sense of responsibility, I think Nigerians, at this moment, should be allowed to bear arms in defence of their innocent souls and their hard-earned resources.

“Nigeria should not fail. Let Nigerians organise themselves in the form of civil defence and defend their innocent souls.” Dingyadi also said the Federal Government was working to mop up illegal arms and light weapons in circulation.
  
He charged community leaders and peace-loving Nigerians to cooperate with the security agencies in their efforts at fighting bandits and other elements threatening peace and security.
  
The minister stated that security checks confirmed that most criminal activities ware perpetrated by people living in contiguous communities, using unpatriotic people in the same communities as agents that aid them with intelligence in carrying out their nefarious activities.
 
According to Dingyadi, policing infrastructure is receiving attention through the recent deployment of drones by the police, for surveillance of vulnerable locations, and the deployment of additional Explosive Ordnance Devices (EODs) to detect bombs and other covert measures.

“We need intelligence to guide our operations and we need the support of the general public as we are improving on our intelligence, equipment and well-kitted officers in the course of their operations,” he reiterated.

  The police, he added, are also re-strategising its kinetic and non-kinetic operations to crush all forms of security challenges in the country. “Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has strengthened kinetic operations against mindless persons or groups orchestrating violence against Nigerians,” the minister stressed.
  
He reassured Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration remains committed to ensuring that justice is done for both victims of crime and their perpetrators.

“Your continuous support to the police will strengthen the needed synergy between the police and citizenry in the fight against all forms of violent crimes in Nigeria. Together we will win the peace and enhance security.”
  
On the issue of police salary, the minister stated that the government was fast-tracking the increment, adding that police management was up and doing to ensure collaboration with the Ministry of Finance for the increment to come into fruition.

Source: Guardian.ng

President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the long-awaited Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.

He put his signature on the document at exactly 12:27 during a ceremony at the presidential villa, Abuja on Friday.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The document was placed on the table for signing by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare.

The President suggested some amendments which he urged the National Assembly to give speedy attention to.

President Muhammadu Buhari will grant scholarships up to Doctorate level to three young Nigerians who emerged the best in the final examinations of the 774 Young Nigeria Scientists Presidential Award for 2022.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), stated this in Abuja Monday at the 2022 edition of the 774 Young Nigerians Scientists Presidential Award (774-YONSPA).

The awardees are Maryam Olufunmilayo Ogunbayo of Pen Resource Academy, Gombe State, first position; Gbolahan Azeem Ayinde, African Church Grammar School, Ogun State, second and Uchendu Mmesomachukwu Judith, UNIBEN Demonstration Secondary School, Edo State, third.

Onu said the president would receive and grant them scholarships at the opening ceremony of the STI Expo 2022, starting on March 14, 2022.

He said the competition started at the local government levels where candidates competed in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Read More Here

According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, the passage of the bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 1998.”

The statement said the bill passage followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

It said Senator Sandy Onuh, who presented the report on behalf of the Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the core objective of the bill was to provide for a legislative framework to support the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 1998.

According to the lawmaker, it also seeks to re-enact the Federal Colleges of Education to allow for the running of degree courses under the supervision of the National University Commission (NUC).

Onuh said, “Hitherto, most colleges in Nigeria offer degree programmes in affiliation with some universities in Nigeria to nurture career teachers with a view to augmenting shortfall of teachers and to meet learning, research, instructional and teaching needs of the prospective students in Nigeria and beyond.

“However, this framework enables the colleges of education in Nigeria, to offer Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), First Degree (B.sc/B.A) and similar certification in the area of its core subjects on both full-time and part-time basis.”

Read More Here.

In a statement, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed that there was an accident involving one of its aircraft in Kaduna but did not go into details.

“An air crash involving a @NigAirForce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport. The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon,” read the statement signed by Edward Gabkwet, the force’s Director of Public Relations and Information.

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, later confirmed, saying the eight persons onboard died.

“Beachcraft 350. 8 souls on board. Unfortunately all dead,” Olateru wrote in a WhatsApp note.

But information showed that aside the army chief, six other passengers, all military personnel, and four crew members died.

Read More Here.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun the implementation of five per cent duty on importation of Fully Built Vehicle (FBV) as approved by the President in the 2020 Finance Act.

This is coming despite the recent suit filed to stop the implementation. However, Customs said yesterday it was not aware of any suit filed on it.

In the Act, FBU duty was slashed from 35% to 5% while Semi Knocked Down (SKD) vehicles duty is 10%.

The auto manufacturers said the 30% reduction put investment in vehicle assembling at jeopardy.

The implementation was contained in a Customs circular to the various commands, signed by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Trade and Tariff (T&T), T.M. Isa, and dated February 18, 2021  on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd).

Spokesman of the Customs, Mr. Joseph Attah confirmed the commencement of implementation as approved by the President in a chat with our correspondent but said he was not privy to any suit filed to stop it.

Read More Here.