Day: June 22, 2024

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has dismissed as misleading reports insinuating breach of its database.

Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head, Corporate Communications of the commission, who said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, stressed that the data of Nigerians had not been compromised as being insinuated

He said that the commission had not authorised any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) and other sensitive information of the citizens.

‘The following websites: idfinder.com.ng; Verify. Ng/sign in, championtech.com.ng, trustyonline.com, and anyverify.com are data harvesters not authorised by NIMC to access or manage sensitive data.

‘NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services these websites offer and should not give their data as they are potentially fraudulent and data provided by the public on such websites are gathered and stored to build the data services they illegally provide,’ Adegoke said.

He said that commission had adopted
proactive measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats, and provide a secure, world-class, full-proof database.

According to Adegoke, the commission’s infrastructure meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standards, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law.

While advising Nigerians against giving their data to unauthorised and phishing sites, Adegoke reiterated commitment of the commission to uphold ethical standards in data protection in line with Federal Government’s directives and data privacy regulations.

He also warned that licensed partners or vendors could only verify NINs through approved channels and not authorised to scan or store it.

According to him, NIMC is currently working with security agencies to apprehend the culprits for prosecution.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to be vigilant against false information and rely on verified sources for accurate updates.

‘The Commission remains committe
d to providing secure and reliable identity management and upholding the highest level of security for systems and databases, which are critical national assets’.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two former staff of Union Bank in Makurdi over alleged stealing of N4,199,500 belonging to a deceased customer of the bank.

Its Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who said on Saturday in Abuja, said the suspects, Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute were arrested on Friday in Makurdi, Benue State.

‘Their arrest followed a petition against them by the bank on fraudulent debits on a deceased customer, Emmanuel Azer Agenna’s account.

‘Their dealings were uncovered when the family of the deceased approached the bank for the balance on the account of the deceased for probate processing.

‘The family disputed the balance given to them by the bank and subsequently sent a complaint to the bank regarding unauthorised debits on the account,’ he said.

According to him, based on their complaints, the bank carried out an internal investigation and its findings revealed that a debit card was procured on the deceased’s customer account on May 10, 2023.

He said that the de
bit card was procured by Ifah Ogoh, one of the bank’s Sales and Service Associates which was authorised by the bank on the same date.

‘Further findings by the bank showed that the procured card by Ogoh was handed over to another Sales and Service Associates, Agbo Okwute, who eventually delivered the card to an accomplice for transfer and withdrawal of funds from the account of the deceased.

‘Several withdrawals were allegedly made by the suspects through the accomplice.

‘The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,, says the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project has reached 90 per cent completion state.

The minister said this in Kaduna during an inter-ministerial visit to the gas pipeline project at River Kaduna HDD crossing site.

He said the 614-kilometre project has reached a commendable stage in spite of the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the prevailing security challenges in some of the host communities .

‘We have witnessed the tremendous natural gas pipeline project and we have seen the skill and capacity of both the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Chinese Nigeria partnership.

‘I’m sure and I’m convinced that this project in line with the presidential mandate will be completed on time by the first quarter of next year.

‘It should give all Nigerians confidence in our own ability to do our own project, bring partners in to help and grow the economy,’ he said.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (
Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the AKK project as critical for Nigeria’s economic growth.

He said the ministry would ensure timely completion of the project as directed by President Bola Tinubu, to create job opportunities, revive industries, improve power generation and boost revenue base of the country.

According to Ekpo, the ministry in collaboration with the NNPC is working to expand the project to other parts of the nation so that every state could have gas and energy security., adding that Nigeria would be the gas hub in the sub region.

Earlier,the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammad Idris, said that President Tinubu, as part of his mandate, is committed to complete projects that have positive impacts on the people.

He said that the project would be delivered in good time and Nigerians would see the benefits shortly.

Gov. Uba Sani, who was represented by his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe said the gas project would address energy crises in the state and improve living standard o
f the people.

Meanwhile, Mr Howard Wang, Chairma of the Brentex CPP Ltd, the contracting firm, said that they engaged 1,925 skilled and sSemi-skilled Nigerian workers for the project.

The company, he said, worked in harmony with 240 communities living along the project corridor, adding that, ‘BCL has enjoyed tremendous support from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the able leadership of NNPC Ltd, without this support we may have had no magic to perform.

‘We also celebrate ourselves, BCL, a consortium of Chinese Government owned companies and a Nigerian local private company that successfully worked together to bring the project to the success it is today,’ he said.

On his part, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, reitrated commitment of the company to deliver the on time.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Kayode Ojo, Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE), has condemned the rising insecurity and killings in Ekiti State.

Ojo, who spoke through his Media Aide, Deji Aiyelabowo, on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti described the recent killings in the state as senseless, cruel and barbaric.

He urged the security agencies to do everything possible to arrest the killers and face the wrath of the law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three persons were recently killed by gunmen at different locations in Ado-Ekiti metropolis.

A commercial motorcycle ticket agent was shot dead close to the former Police Headquarters, Okesha, a POS operator was killed at Adebayo area and a rice hawker was killed close to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps office at the popular Oja-Oba by yet to be arrested persons operating on motorcycle.

Ojo observed that the seeming helplessness of the police in crime control and prevention in the state was worrisome.

‘This despicable
act must be condemned by all right thinking Nigerians, not only Ekiti residents.

‘No doubt, the few criminals in our society are looking for opportunities to discourage or create fear in the minds of the people in the state so that evils can flourish. We must not allow this.

‘We must not allow evils to flourish in the society and security agencies must be alive to their responsibilities by exposing criminals from within.

‘Let the community fish out the criminals who carried out these dastardly act and hand them over to security agencies.

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‘The killers are human beings, who are supposed to be traceable. They are not spirit, hence, all efforts should be made by all who are supposed to do the needful,’ he said.

Ojo, who is an All Progressives Congress chieftain in Ekiti State, called for holistic measures to put the barbaric act under check before degenerating to uncontrollable situation.

‘There is need for all security agencies to work toge
ther as a team to form a formidable body to put an end to the ugly development in the state.

‘The security agencies in the state should come together to work out a more professional modality to put an immediate halt to it.

‘The police and other relevant security agencies must work together to bring the culprits to book to serve as deterrent to others,’ he said.

While commiserating with the families of the victims, Ekiti people, the government, Ojo prayed God to console them over the loss.

He urged residents to always be their brothers’ keepers, urging them to always be security conscious.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Stakeholders in the Environment sector on Saturday donated 120 trees to mitigate climate change impacts in Gasaki community of Nasarawa State.

Gee Foundation a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) on Social Justice and Development, made the donation of trees during a one-day sensitisation.

The NGO made the donation in collaboration with the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) and the French Embassy in Nigeria,

The sensitisation is themed, ‘Addressing Land Degradation and Enhancing Climate Resilience for improved Women’s livelihood’.

Dr Michael David, Executive-Director GIFSEP, urged the community to always plant trees to replace felling trees and tasked them on climate change adaptation.

He appealed to them on the indiscriminate felling of trees to prevent the recent landslide experienced in the area.

The executive director stated that it was of great essence and benefits to preserve the land from degradation because their livelihoods depended on it.

According to Dav
id, planting of trees prevents erosion, flooding, landslides and thereby mitigates the impact of climate change in an area.

Mrs Gloria Agema, Executive- Director Gee Foundation, said the sensitisation against all the climate change activities that impacts on communities negatively, especially on women wouldn’t have been possible without the supports of funds from the French Embassy.

Agema, who expressed concern that only one borehole, served four communities, promised that they would intervene by providing the community with more boreholes to follow up with the tree plantings.

Responding, Chief Zaki Tanko of Gasaki (Gasaki of Jeje), expressed satisfaction over the gestures and efforts made by the stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the area.

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He assured that there would be reduction in the felling of trees and appealed for more construction of boreholes to address water scarcity in the a
rea.

One of the beneficiaries in the community, Jummai Abubakar, commended the stakeholders and promised to nurture her tree.

‘We are grateful for this assistance, no one has come to our aid in this manner, indeed we have seen light in our community,’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each participant of the workshop went home with a tree to plant and nurture.

NAN also reports that the event highlighted the planting of some economic trees, such as palm, orange, mango trees as well as cultural display by the people of the community.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria