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FG set to create 300 direct jobs, boost Internet access

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By Francesca Hangeior

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has unveiled a strategy called ‘Project 774 LG Connectivity’, to create no less than 300 direct jobs as the Federal Government deploy more jobs indirectly from the increase in digital access.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who disclosed this on Monday via his X handle, added that it will connect 774 Local Government Areas in the country to the internet.

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Tijani added that the project, which will be co-anchored by Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited and Galaxy Backbone, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and the ministry’s strategic blueprint.

The goal of the project is to foster inclusive development and access to digital public infrastructure in government offices located all over Nigeria, including the most remote areas of the country that may have been previously underserved or unserved.

“As part of our plans to foster inclusive development and promote access to digital public infrastructure in government, I am happy to announce the launch of Project 774 LG Connectivity.

“The project which will leverage the existing infrastructure of the @NigComSat1R and @Galaxybackbone, will provide connectivity to all 774 Local Government Secretariats across Nigeria.

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“Project 774 LG Connectivity will create at least 300 direct jobs as we deploy nationwide and potentially more jobs indirectly from the increase in digital access. It is also aligned with our Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint and is a significant step in achieving President @officialABAT’s mandate to deliver efficient public service to our citizens at the LG level,” he posted on X handle.”

In October 2023, the ministry unveiled the Three Million Technical Talent programme.

It aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power the digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter.

The programme aimed to generate a pipeline of technical talent in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of creating two million digital jobs by 2025.

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The first phase of the programme, to be executed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency, will involve multiple stakeholders including fellows, training providers, partners and placement organisations.

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Lawmaker Slams NBA Over Rivers Crisis, Demands Return of N300m

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By Gloria Ikibah
A member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Hon. Solomon Bob has taken a swipe at the Nigerian Bar Association, accusing it of insincerity, hypocrisy and “misguided praetorian pretentions” following the association’s condemnation of the state of emergency in Rivers State in another statement on Thursday 10th April.
Recall that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had on 18th March issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State after a prolonged crisis involving Governor Siminilayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The crisis had assumed a dangerous dimension following a fresh impeachment move against the governor, leading to the blowing up of petroleum infrastructure amid threat to violence and social unrest before the president stepped in.
The president’s proclamation was followed two days later by the National Assembly’s ratification as required by section 305 of the constitution.
Justifying the declaration of a state of emergency in his home state in a statement made available to news men on Thursday, Hon. Bob said the NBA “cannot circumscribe or amend the clear untrammelled and discretionary powers granted the President by Section 305 of the constitution.
“Neither is the NBA in a position to interpret or determine what measures qualify as extraordinary – which the President is required to adopt under the same section”
The lawmaker stated further that the NBA does not have “the jurisdictional competence or ethical example to be a barometer for measuring democracy and constitutionalism.”
He claimed that an association of lawyers, which should be a model of democratic participation, has become a cartel for pursuing narrow interests to the point where the NBA is “unable to organise its elections based on the principle of universal franchise, devoid of zoning.”
Hon. Bob said that since after the fiasco of the 1992 conference, “so-called NBA elections are no more than predetermined coronation of regional or even ethnic hegemons”
While also describing the NBA’s statement as a distraction, the federal lawmaker stated further: “Having witnessed Fubara’s dangerous and incomparable incompetence first-hand, and the embarrassing diminution his actions have exposed my state to, I consider the statement arrogant and a gratuitous insult.”
He charged the NBA of “rank hypocrisy and insincerity because it stood idly by without a whimper when suspended governor Siminilayi Fubara exhibited the type of crass lawlessness and wanton irresponsibility never before seen in any state in Nigeria.”
Hon. Bob said that NBA’s priorities lay elsewhere. He claimed that “the NBA had got itself entangled in a sweetheart deal with Fubara, a quid pro quo, and it was set to use the Port Harcourt conference to whitewash the worst misgovernment of any state in Nigeria.”
He further stated that NBA’s statement on the Rivers situation carefully concealed their pecuniary interest and only belatedly admitted receiving a huge advance payment from Fubara after the authorities in Port Harcourt exposed the deal by publicly demanding a refund of the money.
He said NBA’s grudging claim that the sum of three hundred million naira was a gift is unreasonable and unbecoming of a “self-appointed ombudsman”, and proof that they were engaged in a relationship of compromise with Fubara.
He demanded that the money be returned to the coffers of the Rivers State government, failing which the authorities in Port Harcourt should take every necessary step to recover same.
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BREAKING: Unknown gunmen reportedly storm Senator Natasha’s family residence

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s family residence in Kogi was reportedy invaded by gunmen around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, leaving damaged windows but no injuries.

The incident happened at her hometown residence in Obeiba-Ihima, located in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Sources familiar with the event said the attackers arrived around 1:00 a.m. Armed with cutlasses and guns, they damaged parts of the building, smashing windows and causing panic in the area. At least three men were involved in the attack.

Senator Natasha’s Chief Security Officer, Yakubu Ovanja, quickly informed the appropriate security agencies.

In response, officers from the Okehi Police Division rushed to the scene.

Although nobody was hurt and no suspects have been arrested yet, security officials recorded the extent of the damage and launched a preliminary investigation.

The reason behind the attack is still unknown, and as of now, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not released any official statement. She represents Kogi Central in the Senate and is known as a vocal figure in Nigerian politics.

According to Zagazola Makama, police are still trying to figure out what motivated the attackers and are working to find those responsible.

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SAD! Again, Alleged Herdsmen Attack Three Benue Communities

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The communities came under simultaneous attacks just a day after the killing of 11 persons at Otobi Community also in Otukpo LGA.

Benue has in the past decade experienced incessant attacks.

Suspected herdsmen have again stepped up violent attacks as no fewer than three communities in the Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State were attacked on Wednesday.

The communities affected during the fresh attacks include Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju all in Otukpo where five persons were killed in February. The communities came under simultaneous attacks just a day after the killing of 11 persons at Otobi Community also in Otukpo LGA.

Local sources confirm that several people may have been feared dead again in the fresh attack.

Wednesday’s attack came hours after Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the arrest of three suspected herders in connection with the invasion of Otobi village on Tuesday night.

When contacted, Otukpo LGA Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack on the three communities, saying that the attackers stormed the communities at the time when the Commissioner of Police was still at the Ochidoma Palace over the previous day’s attack on Otobi.

He added that three people sustained injury in the attacks on the three communities, leading to women and children abandoning the communities for fear of being killed.

“Only young men were in the communities when the attackers arrived. The prompt response from combined security operatives made the attackers flee and none of them were arrested,” Ogiri stated.

The police spokesperson in the state, Sewuese Anene, was yet to confirm details of the attacks on the three communities.

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