Buhari calls Femi Adesina; Don Jazzy launches free WiFi service in Lagos; Nigeria is not world’s second-largest rice producer
In our top stories today, President Buhari calls his senior media adviser, 37 days after he travelled out of the country; A PREMIUM TIMES fact-check shows another presidential aide was wrong in saying Nigeria is the world’s second-largest rice producer. Elsewhere, Don Jazzy launches free WiFi service in Lagos.
1. Nigeria is not world’s second-largest rice producer
Nigeria is not the world’s second-largest producer of rice as recently claimed by the Buhari administration, according to this report.
Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said on February 18 that Nigeria just achieved the record of the second largest producer of rice in the world and that the rice revolution just started a year ago, while addressing students in Abuja.
2. Don Jazzy launches free WiFi service in Lagos
Mavin Records CEO, Don Jazzy, launched his latest business initiative, a free WiFi service — Flobyt in Lagos on Friday.
Don Jazzy partnered with founder of Tsaboin, Dele Odufuye, to make the dream a reality.
3. Morocco seeks to join ECOWAS
Morocco, a north African country, officially requested to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a full member.
According to APA, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation issued a statement on the plan to join the 15-member West African bloc.
4. School apologises after teacher called in armed police to threaten pupils over assignments
The management of Early Dew Montessori Academy, Enugu tendered an unreserved apology to Enugu State Government for the untoward and unprofessional act displayed by a teacher in the school.
A teacher had invited armed police officers to the school premises to threaten some school children between the ages of four and seven for failure to do their assignments.
5. Buhari not ‘witch-hunting’ anybody — SGF
The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal said that President Muhammadu Buhari is laying a solid foundation for the future generation through his leadership style.
He said the Buhari administration was not witch-hunting anybody, but wanted to ensure that impunity and corruption was eradicated in the country.
6. Osinbajo gives Police IG marching orders to halt Southern Kaduna killings — Presidency
Additional security measures, including a total deployment of 15, 285 policemen are being put in place by the Nigeria Police Force in Southern Kaduna, days after Acting President Yemi Osinbajo summoned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to Aso Rock over the violence in the area.
People familiar with the matter said Mr. Osinbajo met with Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris towards the end of the week after the recent resurgence of violence in the area.
7. Buhari scraps special intervention funds for tertiary institutions
President Muhammadu Buhari directed that Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s special intervention funds given to tertiary institutions across the country be excluded in 2017 due to past abuses.
Abdullahi Baffa, the Executive Secretary, TETFund said this on Monday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the intervention funds approved by the federal government for tertiary institutions.
8. President Buhari says he is hale and hearty
President Muhammadu Buhari said that rumours about his death in London were being peddled by “mischief makers”.
“I am still resting. Thank you for holding out against mischief makers,” Mr. Adesina quoted Mr. Buhari as saying.
He transmitted a letter to the National Assembly to extend his vacation on February 5, fueling speculation that his health had deteriorated.
9. JAMB explains why candidates can no longer apply to two public universities
The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) disclosed why it restricted candidates from choosing two public universities during the 2017 online registration.
The new measure by the board means that candidates may select a public university and a private university, but not two public universities.
10. Nigeria to issue UN passport to ‘stateless’ persons
Sani Zorro, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), said the Nigerian government plans to issue United Nations passport to people at risk of being stateless.
Mr. Zorro made this known during an interview marking the second anniversary of Nigeria ratifying the Abidjan Declaration to end statelessness.
