NEWS in Nigeria This Afternoon, 01 October , 2020.

1. Wase condemns Boko Haram attack on Gov Zulum’s convoy.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Wase has described as unfortunate the attacks on the convoy of the governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

 

The Governor was reported to have been attacked by the insurgents during the weekend on his way to Baga, a town in the state, during which some security operatives were killed.

 

 

 

 

In a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Mohammad Puma, the Hon Wase said the attacks and resultant deaths are painful, condemnable and highly unpardonable

 

 

The statement quoted him as saying: “I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the Governor of Borno State, His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, over the unfortunate attack on his convoy last Friday by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on his way to Baga Town, which led to the death of several soldiers and policemen attached to him.

 

2. Reopening: ASUU threatens to sanction Rivers lecturers

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to sanction lecturers in Rivers State-owned universities if they resume lectures.

 

The ASUU National President, Abiodun Ogunyemi, stated this while reacting to the directive of the Rivers State Government that tertiary institutions, secondary and vocational schools to reopen on Monday, October 5.

 

 

Ogunyemi, who spoke on a radio, 92.3 Nigeria Info, in Port Harcourt and monitored by our correspondent, said ASUU had not exempted any of its branches from the ongoing strike.

 

 

“We have not exempted any branch of our union from the ongoing strike.

 

“Any branch that does that will be violating our directives and what we do in such situations is to take them through our procedure and apply appropriate sanctions.”

 

Also speaking, the Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Uzo Onyebinama, said although the unions in Rivers.

 

3. Lawan: Those who accuse Buhari’s govt of corruption are petty

Lawan spoke on Monday after the second national summit on diminishing corruption and the launch of the national ethics and integrity policy by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

 

He said the current administration has done “so well”, adding that no previous government ever hinged its campaigns on fighting corruption like the Buhari-led government.

 

He said the current administration never leaves corruption cases unattended.

 

 

I don’t know who they are and I don’t know what their facts are. But I will not speak to speculations; I speak to facts. I want to see the facts that there’s more corruption in this administration than the previous administrations,” Lawan said.

 

“You will recall that in a particular former administration, we know that somebody once said that what people accused the government of corruption was simple stealing. This administration does not see anything that appears like corruption or thievery and leaves it untreated. So, I believe it depends on who is talking.

 

4. APC govt planning bridge linking Ondo with Lagos, says Sanwo-Olu

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress National Campaign Council for the Ondo State Governorship Election, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the APC government is planning to link Lagos to Ondo State through the coastal areas to ease traffic bottlenecks.

 

Sanwo-Olu stated this during the campaign of the party in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday.

 

He said, “The APC government is planning to work on a bridge linking Lagos to Ondo State through the Ilaje area. This will make travellers to spend just 30 minutes or thereabout to get to Lagos.”

 

 

He added that the party’s candidate in the October 10 governorship election, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was not a traitor who would betray the confidence of people of the state.

 

He explained that Akeredolu and Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his running mate, would not renege on the promises made.

 

While addressing the mammoth crowd of party supporters, Akeredolu said, “Haven’t you seen our schools? We still have much to do. I know your priority here now and it is electricity. When our government came in, there was no electricity supply but we are lucky that the Executive Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding, Ife Oyedele is from Ikale and he has been doing something on the electricity.”

 

5. N2.67bn school feeding fund: SERAP queries Sadiya Umar Farouq, asks her to publish names.

Following the N2.67 billion school feeding money the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Monday, said it uncovered in private bank accounts, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, Tuesday, queried the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development of Nigeria, Sadiya Umar Farouq, to publish details and names of suspects.

 

 

ICPC had through its Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed that the commission unraveled N2.67 billion in personal accounts, being payment made to some federal colleges for school feeding during the lockdown.

 

He argued that the money was paid when children were not in school.

 

Other discoveries include: 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land. Owasanoye said under Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January to August 15, 2020, of 268 Ministries, Departments and Agendas, MDAs, 72 had cumulative infractions of N90 million.