Experts say Bitcoin could soar to $200,000 in 2022

Bitcoin’s price could reach $200,000 in 2022, according to prominent cryptocurrency experts.

After reaching a new high this year, Bitcoin is recovering from its worst month since May. Crypto Trading has dropped 16% in the last month with many blaming the new variant of Covid-19.

However, both Brock Pierce and Tom Lee, co-founders of Fundstrat Global Advisors, believe Bitcoin will hit $200,000 in 2022.
What you should know

In the interview with Fox, Pierce talked about BTC’s performance over the past month. He said “People like to speculate, claiming they have answers, but in truth, BTC’s market is volatile. According to him, BTC’s poor performance in December is a result of multiple events.”

Pierce stated that BTC is a risk asset. According to him, BTC is a store of value but not an inflation hedge like gold and real estate.

However, it has a more interesting return profile than the above assets. Sharing what he believes will drive BTC beyond $100,000.00, Pierce said financial uncertainty in the broader financial system.

He said, “I would not be surprised if BTC goes beyond $100,000.00. It’s conceivable for it to break $200,000 for a moment and come back again.”

He predicts that the top cryptocurrency could briefly reach the aforementioned price mark before retracing lower.

Bitcoin’s price performance in 2022 depends on “external factors,” pointing to massive money printing that is happening in the world.

Ton Lee predicted $200,000 for BTC in the December 23 Market Rebellion Roundtable discussion.

He said: “So, maybe Bitcoin is in that $200,000 range. I think that’s achievable, and I know it sounds fantastical, but it’s very useful.”

Lee previously maintained his 2021 BTC price prediction of $100,000 as late as October in light of ProShares launching the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States.
Why Bitcoin price is down

While many believe the Omicron variant of COVID-19 started and drove the current bear market, Pierce adopted a more technical approach, noting, “BTC’s price is down because there are more sellers than buyers in the market.”

He confessed that one of the reasons for BTC’s bad performance is that some investors are putting their money into other cryptos.
“Other coins snatching some attention from BTC is crucial for the market,” he argues.

Some cryptocurrencies, according to Per Pierce, are assisting in the development of the Bitcoin concept.

He explained that Bitcoin is a digital currency, whereas Ethereum aims to construct programmable contracts. Pierce compares the crypto space to the internet in 1999, because each idea is unique.

The rich with access to weapons, drugs, behind Nigeria’s insecurity — Hamza Al-Mustapha

Major Hamza Al- Mustapha, one time Chief Security Officer ( CSO) to former Nigerian military ruler, General Sani Abacha, has alleged that rich people with access to weapons and hard drugs were behind the insecurity bedevilling Nigeria.

Al-Mustapha said dealing with the situation would require the contribution of all and sundry that are patriotic about the country, while the authorities would have to step on toes in the effort to normalise the security situation.

Major Al-Mustapha who spoke in a viral VOA Hausa interview, said ” it is high time that every patriotic Nigerian, anyone who has Nigeria, Africa or the entire world at heart, everyone should stand up and make a personal contribution. Things are not moving as expected.”

“There are people spending their money to cause crisis and it appears they are succeeding.”

“From the way, they’ve access to weapons today in Africa, and different kinds of drugs, and from the kind of people that are given such things and they are using it, these have shown that the strength they have has started to overpower the laws of African countries, especially here in Nigeria. “

“That is why in my remarks, I delved on these issues and other issues pertaining to world affairs.”

He said many bad things are happening in the country as some few individuals were so powerful to have acquired the means of exploring, refining and exporting the nation’s mineral resources.

He alleged that these few Nigerians benefitting from the country’s mineral resources seemed to be unstoppable.

” If you want to stop them, they are ever ready to use all means at their disposal to fight you. They can even do that in collaboration with their local and foreign allies,” he alleged.

” They are powerful and can fight any government that tries to stop them. Fighting them. will require tact, reverting the laws and educating those carrying out the laws and those in government. They should know where they lag behind and where they are found wanting. “

” If this arises, from what I’ve said if things are to be corrected, toes must be stepped upon People must be shown the right thing to do so that peace and harmony would be restored, ” he said.

Singapore lifts travel ban on Nigeria, nine others

Singapore on Monday lifted the travel ban imposed on Nigeria and nine other African countries over the new variant of the COVID-19 pandemic, Omicron.

The other countries are Botswana, Eswatini (former Swaziland), Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

In a statement issued by its Health Ministry, the South-East Asian nation said it expected a new wave of local cases soon given the higher transmissibility of the Omicron variant.

The ministry added that passengers arriving in Singapore with travel history to the 10 countries within the last 14 days would come under the Category IV border measures.

The Singaporean government imposed a travel ban on Nigeria and the other affected countries over the discovery of the Omicron variant on December 3.

READ ALSO: Canada lifts travel ban on Nigeria, nine others

The statement read: “In the coming days and weeks, we should expect more community (local) cases and rapid doubling of cases. This is again a process we need to go through, in order to live with COVID-19.


“However, the peak of the wave can be blunted and we can avoid overwhelming our healthcare system again if everyone plays their part to get their vaccinations and booster doses, self-test regularly and self-isolate if tested positive.

“In particular, those who have recently arrived from overseas or been in contact with an infected person should reduce their social interactions.

“We have done whatever we can to prepare ourselves for it; especially in administering boosters to our population and starting vaccinations for our children. We seek the cooperation and understanding of everyone, as we weather through an Omicron wave in the next one to two months.

“Instead of being isolated in dedicated facilities by default, Omicron cases will be placed on home recovery or treated at community care facilities depending on their clinical presentation.”

“With the new measures, travellers with links to Nigeria and other listed countries must take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within two days before departure to Singapore, as well as an on-arrival PCR test. They will also have to serve a 10-day stay-home notice at a dedicated facility. Another PCR test will be administered at the end of their quarantine period.”

Conjoined Twins Abandoned By Their Parents Land First Jobs With Two Salaries (Photo)

Conjoined twins

A conjoined twins have gotten a good shot at life after landing two jobs with two salaries.

The twins were abandoned by their parents when they were born.

Sohna and Mohna Singh, from Punjab, India, are working for the first time having received government jobs.

The 19-year-old twins will be working as electricians at the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and earning the equivalent of £100 a month.

The twins had been living at a shelter ever since they were abandoned by their parents when they were babies in New Delhi.

They have two hearts, kidneys and spinal cords, as well as two pairs of arms, but share a liver, gallbladder, spleen and legs.

Doctors refused to separate the twins due to the risky nature of the procedure which could lead to the death of one of them.

While living in the shelter, they showed a knack for fixing things and would try to help out by attempting to mend any broken appliances at their shelter, Mirror reports.

Speaking to the Independent, the twins said: "We are thankful to the Punjab government for recognising our talent."

Officials at the power company were impressed with the twins after they visited a training site and demonstrated a keen interest in electrics.

Venu Parsad, chief managing director of PSPCL, told The Telegraph that the twins showed great technical knowledge and took them on under a disabled person quota.

Ex-NSCDC Commandant Forfeits 60 Buildings, Land To FG Over Corruption

Federal High Court, Abuja

Bintu was said to have defrauded over 1,000 persons, who subscribed to her housing estate located along the Airport Road, Abuja.

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of 60 buildings illegally acquired by a former Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Adenike Bintu, to the Federal Government, 

Bintu was said to have defrauded over 1,000 persons, who subscribed to her housing estate located along the Airport Road, Abuja.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had approached Justice O. Egwuata, praying for an order for the final forfeiture of the 60 buildings and a 9.6 hectares land, both located at Sabon-Lugbe South-West Extension, Airport Road, Abuja, alleged to have been acquired by Bintu through corrupt means.

The commission’s counsel, John-Paul Okwor, told the court that the ICPC was relying on Section 48 (1) (2) and (3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which gives it power to approach courts to forfeit properties corruptly acquired by individuals.

A statement on Thursday by the ICPC spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, titled, ‘ICPC: NSCDC commandant forfeits 60 buildings, land to FG,’ said the commission had argued before the court that the former commandant set up a private company, Faith Winners Victory Properties Limited, through which she allegedly perpetrated the fraud by selling plots of land to unsuspecting members of the public.

The court heard that Bintu claimed that the land, which she used in defrauding over 1,000 subscribers, was owned in partnership with the NSCDC.

The statement read, “However, the subscribers, who had made several payments running into millions of naira, were never allocated plots of land nor had their funds returned to them by Bintu and her company.

“Furthermore, ICPC proved before the court that Bintu, who had jumped bail and is now a fugitive, did not enter into any partnership with NSCDC to build estates for members of the public.”

She was said to have told the court in her arguments that ICPC had no powers to prosecute civil cases and that Sections 6 and 48 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, relied upon by the commission had been repealed by the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003.

Our correspondent learnt that her arguments were dismissed by the court for lack of merit, and Justice Egwuata then ruled that all the 60 buildings and the 9.6 hectare of land situated at Sabon-Lugbe South-West Extension, Airport Road, Abuja, listed by ICPC be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Joint operation: Amotekun, 20 armed robbers in shootout on lfe/llesha highway

Four persons have been rescued by the joint operation of the Western Nigeria Security Network, WNSN codenamed Amotekun, in a foiled robbery operation along Ife/Ilesha expressway.

The joint operation was put in place by the South West governors for a hitch-free Yuletide in the region.

Many of the motorists and passengers were reportedly robbed and stabbed by the bandit numbering about twenty who blocked the highway in the early hours of Thursday.

During the robbery operation, over 70 vehicle owners were held hostage by the robbers who operated on the highway.

Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the chairman of the joint operation of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun and Ondo state commander of the security outfit, Chief Adetunji Adeleye said that they received distress call by 1 am on Thursday.

Adetunji said ” during a joint operation by men of the Amotekun in Ondo and Osun states along Ife /Ilesha/Akure road. We are on patrol at about 1 am when we got a distress call that a robbery spree is ongoing along Osu junction.

“So our men rushed to the scene which is some few meters after Osu junction, we met over 70 vehicles parked on the road and we have to manouvered to the spot only to found that the robbers are actually at work and opened fire on our men immediately they sighted them.

“They exchanged fire with men of the Amotekun and we pursued them into the bush and we were able to retrieve this car, Toyota corolla, that was stolen from the owner and some other 46 vehicles parked at the spot.”

He said that the armed robbers “numbering about 20 operated on the Ife / Ilesha expressway unhindered in the middle of the night. We gave them a hot chase after they snatched vehicles, while other travellers out of fear parked their vehicles on the road.

” The Amotekun Corps rescued four occupants of a vehicle while the armed robbers had injured some of them, stabbing them after beating them before our arrival at the scene of the crime.

“One man was not as lucky as others, before we got there he had been badly beaten and macheted and we had to rush him to a hospital where they administered first aid treatment to avoid serious casualty.

Adeleye however, advised motorists to avoid travelling at night, noting that “despite our 24-hour patrol, I want to advise our people to avoid travelling at night where avoidable but I can assure you that we are always on the road.”

Speaking with newsmen, one of the victims, Mathew Olakanmi said he was travelling from Lagos to Jos, Plateau state, to deliver the vehicle when he ran into the armed robbers.

Olakanmi said the armed men stopped him on the road and started shooting sporadically but said he managed to reverse his vehicle from the spot to escape from them but said he ran into another member of the gang who have laid siege in the bush.

” The robbers threatened to shoot me and kill me and other occupants of the vehicle. I had to stop and surrender the car key.

“We were flagged down on the road by these men, I thought they are policemen only to discover that they are armed robbers.

“They tried to shoot me and I had to reverse about a kilometre before I ran into another gang.

“They took the car key from me and started beating us, they took all my documents and money and I escaped from the spot but other people in the vehicle are not lucky.

“They stabbed and macheted them and beat them up and took them as a hostage. I want to appreciate the Amotekun and South-West governors for this initiative”

Meanwhile, Adeleye has assured “the good people of Osun and Ondo states that we will stop at nothing in joining forces with other security agencies in ensuring that criminals are chased away from this area.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Letter to the National Assembly Withholding Assent to Electoral Act Amendment Bill

Further to the letter dated 18th November, 2021 forwarded for Presidential assent, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 as passed by the National Assembly, I have received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, and have also carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realties prevalent in the federal Repulic of Nigeria in the circumstances arising from the review

1. Rt. Honourable Speaker may wish to note that the nomination of party candidates solely via direct primaries as envisaged by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 has serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences which cannot be accommodated at the moment considering our Nation’s peculiarities. It also has implications on the rights of citizens to participate in the government as constitutionally ensured.

2. The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 seeks to amend certain provisions of the extant Electoral Act 2010. Part of the objective of the Bill is the amendment of the present Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 to delete the provision for the conduct of indirect primaries in the nomination of party candidates such that party candidates can henceforth only emerge through direct primaries. ”

3. Arising from the review, Mr Speaker may wish to particularly note the pertinent issues implicated as follows to wit:

a. The conduct of direct primaries across the 8,809 wards across the length and breadth of the country will lead to a significant spike in the cost of conducting primary elections by parties as well as increase in the cost of monitoring such elections by INEC who has to deploy monitors across these wards each time a party is to conduct direct primaries for the presidential, gubernatorial and legislative posts. In addition to these costs with the already huge cost of conducting general election will inevitably lead to huge financial burden on both political parties, INEC and the economy in general at a time of dwindling revenues.

b. The indirect consequences of the issues of high cost and monetization are that it will raise financial crimes and constitute further strain on the economy. It will also stifle smaller parties without the enormous resources required to mobilise all party members for the primaries. This is not healthy for the sustenance of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

c. _ In addition to increased costs identified above, conducting and monitoring primary elections across 8,809 wards will pose huge security challenges as the security agencies will also be overstretched, direct primaries will be open to participation from all and sundry and such large turn-out without effective security coordination will also engender intimidation and disruptions, thereby raising credibility issues for the outcomes of such elections.

d. The amendment as proposed is a violation of the underlying spirit of democracy which is characterised by freedom of choices. Political party membership is a voluntary exercise of the constitutional right to freedom of association. Several millions of Nigerians are not card carrying members of any political party. Thus, the emphasis should be on enabling qualified Nigerians to vote for the candidate of their choice during general elections as a means of participation in governance and furtherance of the concept of universal adult suffrage or universal franchise.
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e. The proposed amendment may also give rise to plethora of Iitigations based on diverse grounds and issues of Law including but not limited to the fact that the proposed amendment cannot work in retrospect given that the existing Constitution of the Parties already registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permits direct, indirect and consensus primaries. This real possibility, will, without doubt, truncate the electoral program of the Nation as another electoral exercise is imminent towards a change of Government in 2023.

f. Nigeria is at the moment still grappling with the issues of monetization of the political process and vote buying at both party and general elections. The direct implication of institutionalizing only direct primaries is the aggravation of over-monetization of the process as there will be much more people a contestant needs to reach out to, thereby further fuelling corruption and abuse of office by incumbent contestants who may resort to public resources to satisfy the increased demands and logistics of winning party primaries.

g. Direct primaries are alse subject or susceptible to manipulation or malpractices as most parties cannot boast of reliable and verified Membership Register or valid means of identification which, therefore, means non-members can be recruited to vote by wealthy contestants to influence the outcome. Rival parties can also conspire and mobilise people to vote against a good or popular candidate in a party during its primaries just to pave way for their own candidates. Whereas where voting is done by accredited delegates during indirect primaries, the above irregularities are not possible.

4. The major conclusions arrived at upon the review are highlighted hereunder, to wit:

a. Aside its serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences, the limitation or restriction of the nomination procedures available to political parties and their members constitutes an affront to the right to freedom of association. It is thus undemocratic fo restrict the procedure or means of nomination of candidates by political parties, as it also amounts to undue interference in the affairs of political partes.

b. Indirect primaries or collegiate elections are part of internationally accepted electoral practices. Moreso, direct primaries are not free from manipulations and do not particularly guarantee the emergence of the will of the people especially in circumstances like ours where it is near impossible to sustain a workable implementation framework or structure thereof.


5. In the premise of the above, I hereby signify to the National Assembly that I am constrained to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 in line with the provisions of Section 58(1) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It is my considered position that the political parties should be allowed to freely exercise right of choice in deciding which of the direct or indirect to adopt in the of their primary elections as their respective realities may permit.

Please accept, Rt Hon Speaker, the assurance of my highest consideration and esteem.

US BILLIONIARE AND TESLA OWNER TO PAY $11B TAX IN 2022

US Billionaire and Owner of Tesla Elon Musk has been the topic of a public debate on social media over how much tax he pays.

Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted that Mr Musk should stop "freeloading off everyone else".

"For those wondering, I will pay over $11bn in taxes this year," the billionaire responded. 

Mr Musk, founder of electric car maker Tesla and aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, became the world's richest person earlier this year.

Bloomberg Billionaires Index puts his wealth at $243bn, while Tesla is worth around $1tn and SpaceX is worth $100bn.

Last week, Mr Musk was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year.

That prompted Senator Warren to tweet: "Let's change the rigged tax code so 'The Person of the Year' will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else."

US President Joe Biden is keen to increase taxes on the ultra-rich, although legislative plans have so far stalled in Congress.

Some senators, including Ms Warren, have backed the idea of taxing not only the income of America's richest citizens, but also the rising value of the assets they hold, like shares.

Many of America's wealthiest citizens don't take a directly taxable salary. Instead, they hold their wealth in shares and other investments, then take out loans using those assets as collateral.

SOURCE

Pope Francis Appoints Nigerian Archbishop As Vatican’s Permanent Observer at the UN

Archbishop Nwachukwu

Nigerian prelate and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Antilles, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu has gotten a new appointment from Pope Francis.

He has now been appointed as the new Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialized Institutions in Geneva.

The 61-year-old Nwachukwu who now replaces Bishop Ivan Jurkovic (previously appointed nuncio in Canada), was also appointed as the Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Representative of the Holy See to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The Nigerian cleric's appointment was confirmed in a press release from the Office of the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles dated Friday, December 17, 2021.

It read;

“The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, titular of Acquaviva and until now apostolic nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname, and apostolic delegate in the Antilles; and Holy See Plenipotentiary Representative at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Holy See Representative at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).


“He sincerely appreciates your support during his mission in this region and requests that you accompany him with your prayers and friendship as he prepares to assume the new responsibilities.”


Prior to his recent appointment, Nwachukwu was the Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Lucia, Grenada, and the Bahamas. He got the appointment on 27 February 2018; and was also appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to Suriname on 9 March 2018; and Apostolic Nuncio to Belize on 8 September 2018.


The 61-year-old Nwachukwu will now replace Bishop Ivan Jurkovic (previously appointed nuncio in Canada).

Man Stuns Wife, Gives Her Private Jet As Early Christmas Gift (Video)

The man gave the wife a private jet as Christmas gift

 A man has left his wife totally speechless and overjoyed after gifting her a private jet as a Christmas gift.

A man has given his wife the surprise of the year after gifting her a private jet.

 

The real estate mogul, identified as Masoud Shojaee got tongues wagging on social media after his wife shared a video of him presenting the private jet to her as early Christmas gift.

 

Taking to her official Instagram page to share the video of the moment she was led out of a Rolls Royce blindfolded by her husband, the astonished lady wrote:

 

“OMG The most insane gift @mrmasoudshojaee I love you A 11 years later and you still manage to surprise me! I love my carpet too.”

 

Reactions have continued to trail the video as netizens share mixed views.

 

@tbrw_ Steph, said, “I would’ve fainted right then and there lol congrats my love and happy holidays to you too.”

 

@Rolabb said, “When Person Son go find me?”

 

Watch video

18-year-old hijab model Shatu Garko wins Miss Nigeria 2021

 

A hijab model, 18-year-old Shatu Garko has emerged as the winner of the 2021 Miss Nigeria beauty pageant.

Garko, a horse-riding lover, represented the North West region of Nigeria during the pageant.

She was crowned as the 44th queen of the competition during the coronation ceremony held in Lagos on Friday night.

Despite being the youngest contestant, Garko beat 17 others to become the first hijab-wearing model to wear the Miss Nigeria crown.


See photos of the coronation below:


  

Electoral Bill: Reps set to override Buhari, pass document into law

House of Representatives may not bat an eyelid in overriding President Muhammadu Buhari on the yet-to-be assented electoral amended bill.

This is because the constitutional 30 days window given to the president to give his assent or withhold same to the bill of the national assembly has elapsed.

Sunday, December 19, 2021 was the deadline, marking exactly 30 days the bill was transmited to the President to sign it into law.

As at now, there is no communication from the President to the House on whether he will be giving or withholding his assent to the bill.

Barring any last minute eventuality, the National will be vacating on Tuesday for the 2021 Christmas holidays.

Resumption is expected to be in the second week of January, 2022.

Section 58 (4) of the 1999 (as amended) stipulates that “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.”

Similarly, section 58 (5) provides thus “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”

The implication of this section is that If the President withholds his assent and it is again taken to both Houses of the National Assembly, two-thirds majority of both Houses must pass the Bill.

If two-thirds majority in each House pass the Bill, then that Bill becomes law and the Presidents’ assent i.e. approval is no longer needed or required.

It will be recalled that two major contentious clauses in the bill were the electronic transmission of election results and the direct mode of primaries for political parties to choose their candidates for elections.

Amidst the debate on the two clauses, however, the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has repeatedly cleared the air, saying those are no issues.

In their different reactions to the deadline, some members of the House who spoke exclusively to Vanguard on Sunday said they will override the President to make the bill a law.

The House should veto the President-Hon. Ifeanyi Momah, representing Ihiala federal constituency of Anambra State

“It is simple. The House should veto. That is the most conscionable and honorable thing to do, considering the level of “political awareness” and “Get involved” spirit from everyone. Just open up the system for all and sundry with no exceptions.

“I ‘ll lobby for NASS to override the President- Hon. Henry Nwawuba, member representing Mbaitolu/Ikeduru federal Constituency of Imo State

“The electoral act amendment is perceived from different perspectives by different stakeholders. For those who want Direct Primaries they are unable to weigh in on the weightier matters of the amendment particularly in relation to enthroning electronic voting options as a way to deepen our democratic experiences. 

“What worries me is that we do not throw the baby out with the bath water. I will lobby, support  and campaign vigorously for us to invoke section 58 sub 5 of the 1999 Constitution and go ahead and override Mr. President so that the Bill become Law. 

“The Bill contains many innovations that promote transparency to our democratic experiment, concerning the electronic transmission of election results  and the mode of selecting candidates by political parties during primaries.

President’s problem is electronic transmission of election results ember representing Obio/Akpor- Hon. Kingsley Chinda, member representing Obio/Akpor federal constituency of Rivers State 

“The President is only toying with the psychic of Nigerians. His problem with the electoral act is not the direct primaries but the direct transmission of results from the units. They do not want direct transmission and are only using the direct party primaries as an excuse. 

“I will only say that power comes from God, the antics of the President and some of his party members will not stand  if God does not permit. 

“I have long lost hope in the ability of the 9th NASS to confront the Executive on behalf of Nigerians when the Senate President unapologetically said that whatever the President wants, he will do. I hope to be disappointed or proved wrong by NASS successfully overriding the President.”

However, a former member of the House who represented Jos North/Jos South Federal Constituency of Plateau State,  Hon Edward Pwajok, SAN, said that the President can still respond even after the time has elapsed.

“The President can still respond after the one month the Constitution has provided for him to sign or decline assent to bills sent to him. The National Assembly has to decide whether they want to override the President’s veto. 

“Presidential veto arises where the President formally communicates his decision declining assent or is implied where he does not do anything on the bill sent to him after 30 days. The National Assembly can only override the veto by two thirds majority of all the members of each chamber of the National Assembly, so the National Assembly leadership 

must be satisfied that they have the numbers to override the veto before embarking on that course and if they do, the bill must undergo the same procedure of three readings, though it can be fast tracked.

“In between the one month and when the National Assembly decides on the next line of action, the President can still validly communicate his decision. The 30 days is not a time limit for him to act. Section 58 of the Constitution is the provision that guides and regulates passage of bills and assent or veto override.”

NUPRC attributes P’Harcourt fuel scarcity to diversion

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has blamed some retail outlet owners for the fuel scarcity being experienced in some parts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

It said it has therefore sealed three petrol stations in the metropolis over alleged diversion of products.

The commission, formerly known as the Department of Petroleum Resources, said the three stations were sealed during a surveillance operation by its officials.

The commission’s Port Harcourt Zonal Controller, Goddy Ine, disclosed this on Sunday while addressing journalists after the exercise.


Ine warned against diversion of products thereby causing artificial scarcity, saying his men are always on the alert to track those indulging in such illegal activities.

He said, “It was obvious from the panic buying in some parts of the state that some of the petroleum dealers are diverting the product they have lifted from the depots.

“My men are always on the alert when we conduct such surveillance. We discovered that the stations where those products were meant to be taken to had no products.



“So, where have they taken the products to?”

Ine vowed that the commission will go after retail outlets in rural areas that sell products at unapproved prices.

“There is no disparity of pump prices anywhere in the state. Government has also not approved any increase in pump price. So, the difference could be whether you are dealing with a major company or you are dealing with an independent company, where the prices could range from N162 to N168 and thereabouts.

“Nobody is allowed to sell above the acceptable price limit. Of course, you know that we are going to name them and shame them also,” he stated.

JUST IN: Canada lifts travel ban on Nigeria, nine others

Canada on Friday lifted the travel ban on Nigeria and nine other African countries.

The other nations whose travel ban had been lifted were Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Ottawa had on December 1 extended the travel ban to Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi amid worries over the spread of the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron.

This followed the detection of cases of Omicron in two people who had travelled to Nigeria.


The Canadian Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos who announced the development at a news conference on Friday, however, said the lifting of the travel ban would take effect from 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.

The country also reintroduced testing and warned that the Omicron variant was rapidly overwhelming hospitals.

Duclos said: “The restriction had been announced last month to slow the arrival of Omicron in Canada and buy us some time

“But with Omicron now spreading within Canada it is no longer needed.

“Pre-arrival negative PCR tests for all travelers would also be reinstated as of December 21.

Nigerian govt ministries can’t account for N324 billion – Audit Report

Federal ministries, departments and agencies failed to account for N323.5 billion in 2019, with many offices violating rules on payments, remittances and tax, the government’s latest audit report has said.

The dubious spending included unapproved allowances, unretired advances, irregular award of contract, payment for services not executed and payments without voucher.

Most of the violations were observed across 27 MDAs with at least four of them recording cross-cutting issues from non-compliance and internal control weaknesses issues, the audit report, the latest from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, said.

The largest chunk of the expenditure was N132.5 billion used in paying unapproved allowances to staff in 20 MDAs, the report said. The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc spent the highest amount of over N97 billion, while the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja, spent N2 million, the least.

According to the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the authors of the report, the spending violated Paragraph 415 of the Financial Regulations that states, “The Federal Government requires all officers responsible for expenditure to exercise due economy. Money must not be spent merely because it has been voted.”

The second biggest waste noted by the audit report was N127.1 billion, being internally-generated revenues and other funds not remitted to the government by 15 MDAs.

Under government laws and regulations, all federal agencies that are fully funded from the treasury are mandated to remit 100 per cent of their internally generated revenue to the government’s central account. A circular in 2011 requires all federal agencies to limit their utilization of internally generated revenue to not more than 75 per cent of the gross revenue while the balance of not less than 25 per cent should be remitted to the government purse.

Of the N127.1 billion unremitted money, Nigeria Customs Service had the highest amount of N125 billion, while Anambra-lmo River Basin Development Authority, Owerri had the least amount of N5 million.

Also, nine MDAs spent N49.5 billion on unbudgeted items, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development having the highest amount of N48 billion, while the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Abuja, recorded the least amount: N1 million.

Ten MDAs misspent over another N18.2 billion. The agric ministry again took the lead here with N11 billion.
More infraction

The report said N6.5 billion was recorded as payment made without payment vouchers by four MDAs with Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, having the highest amount of N5 billion.

Over N6.2 billion was expended on contracts/services not executed by five MDAs. Of this, the Nigeria Ports Authority had the highest amount of over N4 billion while Federal Government College Enugu has the least amount of N 83 million.

According to the report, 12 MDAs did not remit taxes totalling N5.8 billion. “Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has the highest amount of N2.9billion while Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa has the least amount of N1million,” the report said.

Twenty four MDAs granted the sum of N4.5 billion as advances which was above statutory limits of N200 thousand.

The report also recorded N4.3 billion as vouchers being paid by 27 MDAs without attachment of relevant supporting documents. The Code of Conduct Tribunal topped the chart here.

UK to lift travel bans

The United Kingdom government will be scrapping the travel ban imposed on countries after the detection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Daily Mail reported that Grant Shapps, the UK transport secretary convinced authorities to replace the ban with testing even for the fully vaccinated and it is expected that this will be approved and effected this week.

Recall that the UK government placed a temporary ban on air travel from Nigeria and six southern African countries; South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe, in a bid to curb the spread of Omicron variant of Coronavirus.

The recent decision was reached just days after it was reported that the Nigerian government will reciprocate the travel ban placed on Nigeria over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

NDLEA nabs Ghanaian, 2 Nigerians at Enugu, Abuja airports with 9.9kg Cocaine, Meth

A Ghanaian and two Nigerians have been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Akanu Ibiam international Airport, Enugu respectively for trafficking a total of 9.953kilograms of Cocaine and Methamphetamine.

One of the suspects, Uzoh Ndubuisi Johnson was arrested on Wednesday 8th December 2021 at about 5.30pm during an inward screening of Ethiopian Airlines passengers at the Arrival Hall of the airport.

Uzoh who arrived from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was controlled and arrested with clothes impregnated with cocaine, which has a gross weight of 6.7 kilograms.

While being interviewed by narcotic officers, Uzoh said he was given the consignment by his enabler based in Brazil for which he would be paid N3million upon successful delivery to someone in Nigeria.

In the same vein, another trafficker, 53-year-old Udeh Charley was arrested at the Enugu airport for ingesting 72 wraps of Cocaine weighing 1.253kilograms.

He was arrested on Friday 3rd Dec. during outward screening of Ethiopian Airlines passengers going to Rome, Italy via Addis Ababa.

HOW A MAN SPENT 28 YEARS ON DEATH ROW BECAUSE OF $44

 See Video of how a man reportedly was sent to jail and eventually convicted for N17,650.00 which is an equivalent of present day $44 US dollars.

See link to video below. 

Video credit is VANGUARD

Dozens feared dead as tornadoes rock in Kentucky

 

Several people have been confirmed dead as deadly tornadoes stormed through the city of Kentucky in the United States, leaving in its wake serious damage to structures.

Police said in a statement the storms unleashed devastating tornadoes late Friday and early Saturday across parts of the central and southern US including Kentucky.

The Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, said at a media briefing the death toll would exceed 50 after “one of the toughest nights in the state’s history.”

More than 30 tornadoes have been reported in at least six states with a stretch of more than 200 miles from Arkansas to Kentucky might have been hit by one violent long-track twister, meteorologists said.

Among the most significant damage was an occupied candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon warehouse in western Illinois, and a nursing home in Arkansas, killing people at each site and leaving responders scrambling to rescue others.

According to Beshear, the extent of destruction will not be known fully for hours, but video emerging from those three states alone showed flattened buildings, overturned vehicles and workers scouring rubble for trapped people as a result of breathtaking damage in some areas.

He said: “We believe our death toll from this event will exceed 50 Kentuckians, probably end up closer to 70 to 100 lost lives.”

“This will be one of the most significant, the most extensive disasters that Kentucky has faced,” Kentucky emergency management director Michael Dossett said, adding this was ‘one of the darkest days in the state’s history.”

The 9 best scholarship search engines

 

What are scholarship search engines?
College scholarship search engines, sometimes called scholarship finders, are databases that college students can use to find scholarships and grants. This helps students afford tuition without needing to rely on student loans.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to find scholarships based on your financial need, merits, community service, heritage, gender, orientation and life experience. Some also benefit students who engage in unique hobbies, like duck calling.

9 best college scholarship search engines
College students can get access to millions of scholarships at their fingertips. Here are some of the best scholarship websites to assist you in your search:

• Scholarships.com.
• Fastweb.
• Cappex.
• Niche.
• Chegg.
• Peterson’s.
• Unigo.
• Scholly.
• ScholarshipOwl.

1. Scholarships.com
With Scholarships.com, you’ll get a comprehensive database of 3.7 million scholarships worth roughly $19 billion in financial aid. You can search the website’s directory without a profile, but you’ll need to create one to find out if you qualify.

To create a profile, you’ll need to share your current year in school, birthdate, ZIP code and email address. Once you’re in, you can search for and get matched with scholarships based on your eligibility and interest.

Scholarships.com also provides information about student loans and other resources and can even search for colleges if you’re not sure yet where you want to attend.

2. Fastweb
The Fastweb database includes 1.5 million scholarships worth more than $3.4 billion. Once you create an account, you can log in and discover matches based on the information you’ve shared. The scholarship finder even allows parents to create separate accounts.

If you can’t get enough funds to pay all of your educational expenses, Fastweb can also connect you with one of nearly 10,000 part-time jobs, as well as internships. You can also search for deals and promotions that top retailers offer to college students.

The website also provides a college search function and lists resources about other forms of financial aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for college students and their parents.

3. Cappex
Cappex claims to have more than $11 billion worth of scholarship options available. Before you sign up, you can search the directory based on deadline, ZIP code, gender, ethnicity, school year and other traits. You can even weed out lower-paying scholarships by setting a minimum dollar amount for your search.

In order to apply for a scholarship, you’ll need to create an account, which requires some information about yourself.

Cappex also provides resources to help you find your major, learn about transferring to a different school, get financial aid and more.


4. Niche
The Niche scholarship finder is unique in that it rewards you simply for opening an account. As soon as you complete the process, you’ll be entered to win a $2,000 scholarship that doesn’t require an essay. Just provide your name, birthdate, email address and year in school.

Scholarship categories are broken down into new or popular scholarships, aid based on your state or major, scholarships for minorities and more.

Students and parents can also search for colleges, including graduate school, based on specialties, test scores, college type, student body size, acceptance rate and religious affiliation.

5. Chegg
Chegg primarily offers textbooks, flashcards and other study resources for college students, but it also has a scholarship finder that lists over 25,000 options. On a basic level, you can look for matches based on your school year, your age and your GPA.

If you want to narrow down the selection of matches even more, you can create an account and complete your profile.

The website also allows you to explore colleges and search for internships out of a database of more than 75,000 opportunities.

6. Peterson’s
Peterson’s is another scholarship website that boasts a huge selection, housing over $10 billion in private financial aid. It also offers a scholarship of its own called the World’s Easiest Scholarship, which is worth $2,500.

In addition to scholarships, you can also search for grants, fellowships, forgivable loans and other prizes. However, if you want to get the details of the options you’re looking for, you’ll need to create an account, which requires many of the same details as some of the other best scholarship websites.

Peterson’s can also help you find a graduate school and get assistance with test prep — both to get into college or a graduate program and to enter various career paths. It also has resources for military members, adult learners, transfer students and international students.

7. Unigo
In addition to a database of more than 3.6 million scholarships and grants, Unigo offers 14 of its own scholarships to help college students pay for school.

You can get information about the various scholarships that are available and even save your answers to essay questions so you can get through applications more quickly and avoid having to rewrite the same essays over and over again.
Unigo also offers resources to help you find a college, learn about student loans, get ready for your college years and more.

8. Scholly

Scholly charges a subscription fee at different tiers:

$4.99 for one month.
$24.99 for six months.
$34.99 for a full year.
Scholly uses artificial intelligence to provide scholarship matches and prioritizes them based on which ones you’re best qualified for. The platform also gives users access to exclusive scholarships that aren’t available anywhere else, so there’s less competition.

9. ScholarshipOwl

Another paid scholarship finder, ScholarshipOwl, offers a seven-day free trial, then charges $20 per month or $120 per year. The website makes up for the cost by streamlining the application process, making it easier and faster to apply for scholarships. The more applications you can submit, the better your chances of getting the aid you need.
ScholarshipOwl provides several other services, including a long list of exclusive student discounts for its users, essay-writing assistance, webinars and automatic reapplications for recurring scholarships.

SOURCE

78 Nigerian students arrive Russia on Scholarship — Embassy

 

Seventy-eight Nigerians on scholarship to study various courses have arrived in Russia, the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow has said.

The scholars are to be trained in different areas of specialisation, such as general medicine, aeronautic engineering, chemical technology, nuclear physics and technology, mechatronics and robotics, nanotechnology and microsystems engineering.

The students, who are part of the second batch of the 2020/2021 academic year scholarship under the Russia-Nigeria Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), arrived Vnukovo International airport, on December 6, a statement issued by the Embassy said.

“The thirty-two (32) scholars, accompanied by two (2) officials of the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) were received by officials of Nigerian Embassy, Moscow.

“The first set of forty-six (46) students had earlier arrived on November 22, 2021, accompanied by officials of the Federal Scholarships Board (FSB), Abuja.

“The students are currently undergoing mandatory language courses at the various universities in Russia,” the statement said.

It said that the scholars are to be trained in different areas of specialisation, such as general medicine, aeronautic engineering, chemical technology, nuclear physics and technology, mechatronics and robotics, nanotechnology and microsystems engineering.

The statement noted that Russia has continually maintained excellent bilateral relations with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it has since, during the Soviet era, extended several scholarship opportunities for the training of Nigerian professionals in different fields.

“Every year, over eighty-five (85) Nigerian students are awarded scholarships to study in Russia.

“The number keeps on increasing yearly. In 2021, over one hundred Nigerian scholarship students, currently studying virtually, are scheduled to arrive before the end of the year,” it said.

Truck driver in police custody over death of Lagos school children

The driver of the articulated truck that killed some students at Grammar School, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos has been arrested.

Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Lagos police spokesperson, confirmed in a statement that the “erring driver is in police custody.”

Mr Ajisebutu said about eight students were injured in the incident and have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Details about number of death still sketchy,” he said.

Witnesses, however, said at least 13 of the school children were killed after the articulated truck suffered ran into the students at Grammar School Bus stop.

Mr Ajisebutu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said after the arrest of the truck driver, students attacked the Ojodu Police Station in an attempt to carry out jungle justice on the arrested suspect.

“In the process, the rampaging students destroyed some vehicles parked at the Police Station. The violent students and hoodlums who joined them were dispersed professionally.

“However, normalcy has been restored. Investigation into the fatal motor/pedestrians accident has since commenced,” the police said.

Agencies distance officials

Reacting to the incident, Olumide Filade, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), said officials of the agency were not at the axis at the time of the incident as against what was speculated.

Omicron travel ban: Nigeria Governors call on WHO to set uniform standards

 

Following Canada and the UK’s travel ban on Nigeria after recording three Omicron variant cases of COVID-19, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to intervene by setting uniform standards that are acceptable to all for banning countries across the globe.

This is even as the body described as precipitate, unfair and discriminatory Canada and UK’s inclusion of Nigeria among the Omicron present countries which must stay away from their shores.

NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi, in a statement he personally signed, drew the attention of the WHO to what the governors called, arbitrary stigmatisation that is caused by the recent banning of countries from visitation based on omicron spread.

Three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus were detected in Nigeria on December 1.

According to the NGF, “Omicron still remains relatively unknown globally as it is not yet clear whether it is more transmissible from person to person compared to other variants including Delta.

“It is very discouraging to note that there are several countries that have reported cases of Omicron similar to or higher than Nigeria’s, that have not been banned from entry to the UK and/Canada.

“Confirmed Omicron cases as at December 3rd, across some countries are: Nigeria (3 ); Australia (7); Brazil (3); Germany (9) Israel(4); Italy (9) and Netherlands(16). There is also no evidence that harsh, blanket travel bans will protect the countries that impose them.

“It is ironical that this ban comes at a time when the DG of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has advised that “rational proportional risk reduction measures” be taken by countries such as screening passengers prior to departure and/or upon arrival in a country, or enforcing a quarantine period.

“The NGF therefore urges the WHO to intervene in this matter by setting uniform standards that are acceptable to all for banning countries across the globe.

“As we know, vaccine hesitancy is quite high and for many reasons including disruptive announcements like this which could exacerbate distrust of the vaccine and heighten hesitancy.

“World leaders and stakeholders in the West need to remember that with the COVID-19 pandemic, until everyone is free, no one is free. Variants will continue to appear and spread across the globe as long as global herd immunity has not been achieved.

“We call on countries to be guided by science and fairness in setting the criteria for updating their red list. We encourage both public and private stakeholders to continue to support vaccination efforts and address hesitancy. We encourage Nigerians not to be discouraged and to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“As a platform for the 36 democratically elected governors of the country, the NGF believes it reserves the right to speak for its people. Besides, the NGF was proactive and ahead in the Polio eradication program in Nigeria, in the country’s response to the Ebola virus, and lately in the response against the corona virus pandemic.

“Finally, health is one of the core mandate areas of the NGF and has remained an item on its meeting agenda in the past several months.”