TOP 230221 SNIPPETS

“We don’t have teachers in local areas while they are in surplus in our cities, particularly Ado Ekiti. This lopsidedness is a major problem and we have to embark on teachers’ redistribution. If we don’t use a radical approach, we won’t go far.

“We have teachers that are sufficient in primary schools, but the question to ask is, have those teachers in the villages committed a crime?

“The new policy now is, is either they honour the postings we are going to do or they tender their resignation. Some believe they can influence, but in this exercise, we are going to transfer those who thought they are untouchable.

“Ekiti has the best teachers-pupils ratio in Nigeria, which is 1 to 28. It is even 1 to 14 in our rural schools. With this, we have no reason why we should not have the best results in public examinations.

ARPON appeal to members not to protest

The Association of Retired Police officers of Nigeria (ARPON), has called on all aggrieved police retirees planning to go on public protest to shelve such plan as the Federal Government is currently taking steps to address all the issues pertaining to police pensions. 

This was contained in a statement signed by ARPON President, Fidelis Oyakhilome, and made available to Journalists in Abuja.

He said that the Association has been working with various stakeholders including the incumbent Inspector General of Police, towards securing improved pension benefits for Police retirees both under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

"It has come to the knowledge of the Association that some police retirees are planning to go on public protest in some parts of the country over pension matters. The Association of Retired Police officers of Nigeria (ARPON) is the recognized and registered umbrella of Police retirees in Nigeria.

My prayer is that it shall be well with us all - Morayo

Morayo Afolabi-Brown, a high rated television personality celebrates her 10th Wedding Anniversary with a message on IG "On behlaf of my family and I, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for all your wishes on our wedding anniversary. I am truly grateful. My prayer is that it shall be well with us all. our Joy shall be full and the enemy will not truncate our destiny in Jesus name. Amen. E se mo dupe. Olorun a ke gbogbo wa. Amin."

See below the screen shot of her post:

Kim Kardashian Files For Divorce From Kanye West

Kim Kardashian has formally filed for divorce from Kanye West, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple have been married six years

Media reports has it that the couple haven't lived together in a while. Kanye is said to have moved out of their family home and have recently refused to speak to Kim.

The couple in 2012 went public with their relationship and had welcomed their daughter, North in 2013 and finally, got married in 2014.

However, Kim is requesting joint legal and physical custody of their four children.

South Carolina governor signs bill banning abortion after fetal heartbeat is detected

Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights challenged the measure Thursday, asking a federal judge to block the law

 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday signed a bill prohibiting an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected during an ultrasound with very few exceptions, becoming the latest Republican to sign a so-called heartbeat bill, reports CNN via its Instagram page.

According to the report, the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act states that a doctor must perform an ultrasound on a person seeking an abortion to determine if there is a fetal heartbeat. If a heartbeat is found, a doctor cannot perform an abortion unless the physician believes it is a medical emergency, the pregnancy is the result of a rape or incest or there is a fetal anomaly, the bill says. Abortion providers who provide the procedure outside those parameters could face fines and imprisonment.  

Today, in fulfilment of a campain promise made to the people of Alimosho, I commissioned the phase ll of Lagos-Ogun Boundary Road projects - Sanwoolu

The governor of Lagos State Jide Sanwoolu commissions the phase ll of Lagos-Ogun boundary Road projects.

He published the information on his IG handle adding that "The 4 critical road projects in Agbado-Oke Odo LCDA totaling 6.26 kilometres includes Old Otta Road, Adekoya road, Makinde Road and Suber Oje Road with a 120-metre long bridge linking the boundary communities to Otta in Ogun State. each project is a dual carriageway with reinforced concete drains and walkways. The road projects provide an alternative route to Ogun state and will reduce traffic congestion.

 "We are investing in the development of our youth with the remodeling of the Abesan Youth Centre.

 "The Centre embodies our commitment to a legacy of youth development and the acceleration of social development programmes", he said.

 

U.S. Government Fingers Hushpuppi In North Korean Heist

Hushpuppi's Passport

The U.S. government accuses Hushpuppi of involvement in a “North Korean-perpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank” in February 2019.

 

The Premium Times reports that the United States’ government has accused Ramon Abass, also known as Hushpuppi, of involvement in a North Korean conspiracy leading to a multi-billion dollar cyber fraud.

According to the report Mr Abass who is currently facing money laundering and wire fraud charges in the United States, allegedly took part in a “North Korean-perpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank” in February 2019.

This was contained in a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday.

The report also has it that Federal prosecutors unsealed a charge against Ghaleb Alaumary, 37, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, of money laundering for the North Korean conspiracy, among other criminal schemes.

NEWS 180221 ROUND-UP

 Stand and face the bandits – Defense Minister

It is the responsibility of everybody to be alert and ensure safety when necessary. We shouldn’t be cowards. Sometimes bandits come with about three rounds of ammunition and when they fire shots everybody will run. In our younger days, we stand to fight any form of aggression.

The submission came from Nigeria’s minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd.) during an interview with newsmen after the screening of the service chiefs by members of the Nigeria’s House of Representative on Wednesday, February 17.

“Why should people run away from minor, minor aggressions?’, he asked. “We should stand and face them. If these people know that the people have the competence and capability to defend themselves, they will run away”.

According to his words, the Minister has asked Nigerians not to be cowards and confront bandiuts whenever they come attacking their communities.

OKONJO-IWEALA APPOINTED AS WTO DG

The recent appointment of Nigeria's former Minister of Finance, Okonjo -Iweala as Director General (DG), World Trade Organization (WTO) is not only seen as a great honour to Africa, Nigeria in particular but has also generated a lot of comments on social media. Below are the screen shots of the available comments at press time: 

TVC News

Channels Television

Channels Television

Sorry, Mr. Okoro. But we cannot do business with you - Marketing Manager

You see, Sir, Kotansibe Farms, now known and addressed as Oyeyemi’s Farms has a new policy on produce distribution as necessited by the highly competitive nature of our farm produce. Hence, on distributorship the management accepts a minimum cash deposit of one hundred thousand naira.

 

... follow-up the update here on Kotansibe.

Not everyone bases their worth on the clothes they wear or the cars they drive - Reno

Reno Omokri has this message for the world via his IG handle "Never look down on people or think that you're better than them because you wear designer clothes and drive luxury cars and they don't. Not everyone bases their worth on the clothes they wear or the cars they drive. For all you know, they may even be wealthier than you. In fact, people who boast about luxury cars should visit Switzerland. i just returned from Zurich. The cars you flaunt, are what the Swiss use as taxis. Rather than flaunt your cars, why not consider a career change and move to Switzerland to drive taxi?" See the screen shot of the message below:

 

But really, Ama did you eba snatch your friend’s boyfriends? - Ahmed

Absolute nonsense! I never did anything of such. Never ever can even imagine anything of a sort. The thing is, I’m a very sociable person. I keep a lot of guys on a platonic level. When any of these guys suddenly pops the question and I turn him down, he feels so disappointed and embarrassed … So foxed and defeated that he conditions his mind to believing and accepting that his current lover is not good enough, at least any excuse to call it quits. You know, it’s all really a psychological thing but then, the ladies end up calling me “Husband Snatcher”. “Same Old Story” is what I call it.

 

... follow-up the update here on Ama Ebony.

Happy valentine's Day to the three who never fail to make me smile - Obama

Former United States president Barack Obama tweets his Valentine message "Happy valentine's Day to the three who never fail to make me smile. Your dazzling light makes everything brighter".

 

Everyday is Valentine's Day - Toke

 Toke Makinwa says "Everyday is Valentine's Day". Do you agree?

Happy Valentine's Day from us to you - Morayo

Top television personality, Morayo Brown sends valentine Message via her IG along her hubby, Brown. The Message reads "Happy Valentine's Day from us to you. trying to convince @brown_kabiti to join me for a valentines caht on IG live sometime today. help me beg am o"

How can a brutalised people build a good society? - Funmi

Olufunmilola Aduke Iyanda, better known as Funmi Iyanda, is a Nigerian talk show host, broadcaster, journalist, and blogger. See the screen shot of her Valentine message below culled from her post on Instagram:

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours - Tonto

 Nigerian actress, Tonto Dikeh shares her Valentine message on Instagram with her son. Her post reads "Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours. show love not only to your partners but to everyone around us".

See the video below:

Regardless of your relationship status, spread love to everyone - Stella

Stella Damasus on Valentine's Day says "Regardless of your relationship status, spread love to everyone. Happy Valentines Day to my family, friends and fans".

#HappyValentimesDay - Janet

 

This photo from Janet Jackson on Valentine's  day is  ... WAO!, don't you think?

Nigeria To Concession TBS, Others

The Nigerian government says it is set to concession the Tafawa balewa Square, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, and the Calabar and Kano Special Economic Zones, reports Premium Times.

According to the report the plan was disclosed  by the Head of Public Communications at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Amina Othman, who announced the bureau will hold an international investors' webinar on the four concession opportunities.

A concession is a form of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) where a government owned asset is being operated and maintained by a private investor for a period of time on terms contained in a concession agreement.

The government has announced a string of such agreements lately, as it seeks ways of resuscitating and generating revenues from several national assets.

On Sunday, the Central bank of Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding for the repairs of the National Arts Theater, Lagos.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, also announced on January 31 that the federal government is to officially commence the procurement process for the concession of highways under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

The government has also announced plans to sell some moribund assets to fund the N13,58 trillion 2021 budget.