Vreporters

Month: February 2022

  • Strike:Minister Stages Walk Out, As Meeting With Nigerian Students Ends in Deadlock (Photos)

    Channels TV

    The meeting between the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and protesting Nigerian students, on Monday, ended in deadlock as the minister walked out on them.

    The students had earlier occupied the gate of the National Assembly demanding the lingering strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must be resolved.

    “ASUU Must Go! Open the gate!’ the students chanted as they headed from the Unity Fountain to the gate of the National Assembly.

    They were however stopped by security operatives at the NASS gate.

    NANS National president, Sunday Asefon who led the students said the police officers are meant to join the protesting students because they have children in schools who are currently at home, due to the strike.

    He insisted that education is a right of every Nigerian youth and the ASUU members need to resolve their disagreement with the Federal Government so students can go back to the classrooms.

    “We are not here to fight. We are here to meet the Minister of Education,” Asefo said as the students stood at the gate of the NASS complex.

    Representatives of the students were later allowed in and a meeting was held with the Education Minister.

    The meeting however ended with no resolution as the Minister of Education walked out on the students.

  • Flash: We have internal replacement for SWIFT, Russian Central Bank Assures Stakeholders

    The Central Bank of Russian federation has revealed that, it has internal replacement for SWIFT, a global payments system following the threat issued by the European Union to disconnect Russia from the Platform over its invasion in Ukraine, the governor of the country’s central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, assures stakeholders.

    Nabiullina added that all banks in Russia will fulfil their obligations and all funds on their accounts are secured.

    The United States, European Union and United Kingdom have all agreed to block selected Russian banks from the SWIFT system, which facilitates moving money around thousands of banks and other financial institutions worldwide.

  • UNILORIN Secures N600 Million From CBN To Establish Poultry Farm

    UNILORIN Secures N600 Million From CBN To Establish Poultry Farm

    The University of Ilorin has secured N600 million loan from Nigeria’s central bank to establish a commercial poultry farm to boost eggs and chicken production.

    Mikhail Buhari, the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Technology and Innovation, stated this on Monday while speaking with journalists.

    He said Unilorin was the only institution that got the highly competitive loan.

    When established, Mr Buhari said the GG Max Poultry Farms would play a key role in the agro-based business toward the revival of the poultry sub-sector.

    He said this will reduce importation and close the existing demand and supply gap of eggs and allied poultry products.

    The deputy vice-chancellor said the university got the loan based on the brilliant proposal it submitted which was rated as the best of presentations made by competing universities.

    “The university would be running the farm with the support of an external consultant,” Mr Buhari said, adding that the farm was situated at Amoyo in Ifelodun LGA.

    He said that when operational the farm would produce 5,000 broilers per week and raise 9,000 day-old broilers weekly.

    He added that it would maintain a layers’ population of 16,000, which translates to 3,679,200 eggs per year.

    According to him, the project is targeted at building the spirit of entrepreneurial skills among students as it would also generate employment opportunities.

    He said that it would be run as a typical business venture with its own board of directors and would be accountable to the Vice-Chancellor.

    (NAN)

  • NURTW Slams Query Against MC Oluomo For Flagrantly Flouting Union’s Directives

    The national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, has slammed query against the the Lagos State chairman of the union, Mr Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), for flagrantly flouting the directives issued to him.

    The national headquarters, in a query dated February 14, 2022, a copy of which was obtained by the Punch on Sunday, said MC Oluomo had refused to carry out all the directives and instructions given to him in recent times by the national leadership of the union.

    The query was signed by the NURTW General Secretary, Mr Kabiru Yau.

    It read, “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that despite the national secretariat’s directives during a meeting with you and other members of the Lagos State Administrative Council in Abuja on February 9, 2022, pertaining to the appointment of Alhaji Azeez Abiola as chairman, Lagos State NURTW Tricycle Operators, you have refused to comply.

    Instead, you have resorted to intimidation, harassment and assault on the newly-appointed tricycle chairman.”

    The national headquarters also lamented that MC Oluomo refused to hand over the former NURTW Secretariat situated at 360 Abule Egba, on Abeokuta Expressway to the Tricycle Care Taker Committee in a bid to prevent them from using the office.

    The national leadership of the union also accused Akinsanya of using thugs to forcefully take over branches of his perceived enemies.

    “It is on record that you mobilised thugs to forcefully take over the operations of some local branches headed by perceived opponents,” the query stated further.

    To avoid the wrath of the union, the national headquarters, directed MC Oluomo, “In light of all foregoing, to within 48hours, hand over the former state council secretariat at Abule Egba to the newly appointed Lagos State Tricycle Committee.

    “Withdraw all those men you sent to take over the branches of your perceived opponents; submit a written apology to the national secretariat, and failure to comply with the foregoing directives will leave the national secretariat with no option other than to take disciplinary action against you in line with the provisions of the union’s constitution”.

    The spokesperson for MC Oluomo, Jimoh Buari, in an interview with Punch on Sunday, said the query was received by the state chapter of the NURTW on Friday, but his principal had not been around since then.

    He said his principal would react to the query on Monday (today).

  • Veteran Nollywood Actor, Larry Williams is Dead

    Veteran Nollywood actor, Chief Lari Williams, has died at the age of 81 following a protracted undisclosed ailment.

    Williams, who was famous for his roles in hit soap operas such as Village Headmaster, Ripples, and Mirror in The Sun, died peacefully on Sunday at his home in Ikom, Cross River State.
    This was disclosed in a statement made available to our correspondent by the family.

    During his lifetime, Williams was a poet, playwright and celebrated actor both in live theatre and on screen, earning him a prestigious national honour; Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2008.
    Chief Williams was the first president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria and had a career that spanned over five decades.

    After studying Journalism at the London School of Journalism, he proceeded to study English at Morley College and then drama at the Mountview Theatre School and Stratford E15 Acting School, England to become a professional actor.

    “He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Burial arrangements will be announced soon,” the statement read.

  • FIFA Bans Use of Russian National Anthem, Renames National Team

    Bureau of the FIFA Council takes initial measures with regard to war in Ukraine 

    Press Release

    Sunday, 27 February 2022, 20:00 (local time) 

    First and foremost, FIFA would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Violence is never a solution and FIFA expresses its deepest solidarity to all people affected by what is happening in Ukraine. 

    FIFA calls again for the urgent restoration of peace and for constructive dialogue to commence immediately. FIFA remains in close contact with the Ukrainian Association of Football and members of the Ukrainian football community who have been requesting support to leave the country for as long as the current conflict persists. 

    To address football-related matters and in coordination with UEFA, the Bureau of the FIFA Council – involving the FIFA President and the six Confederation Presidents – has unanimously decided to take immediate first measures, in line with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and that will be applicable until further notice: 

    • No international competition shall be played on the territory of Russia, with “home” matches being played on neutral territory and without spectators 

    • The member association representing Russia shall participate in any competition under the name “Football Union of Russia (RFU)” and not “Russia” 

    • No flag or anthem of Russia will be used in matches where teams from the Football Union of Russia participate FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sport organisations to determine any additional measures or sanctions, including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly. 

    The Bureau of the FIFA Council remains on standby to take any of these decisions. Importantly, FIFA strongly believes that the sport movement should be united in its decisions on this topic and that sport should continue being a vector of peace and hope. 

    With regard to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, FIFA has taken good note of the positions expressed via social media by the Polish Football Association, the Football Association of the Czech Republic and the Swedish Football Association and has already engaged in dialogue with all of these football associations. 

    FIFA will remain in close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together. FIFA’s thoughts remain with everybody affected by this shocking and worrying situation.

  • List of Countries That Place Ban on Russian Planes

    List of Countries That Place Ban on Russian Planes

    European countries from north to south are banning Russian planes from transiting through their airspace in protest over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    – Early birds –
    On Friday, Britain announces an immediate ban on Russian private jets from UK airspace, in response to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine the day before.

    The Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria each say they will ban all Russian flights from their skies, starting from midnight.

    Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and Romania follow suit on Saturday.

    “There is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweets.

    – Austria and Germany –
    Austria says on Sunday all Russian flights will no longer be able to use Austrian airspace or land at Austrian airports from 1400 GMT.

    “We are doing everything to show Vladimir Putin that we do not accept his invasion of Ukraine,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer says in a tweet.

    Germany says it will impose a three-month ban on all Russian flights, also from 1400 GMT on Sunday. Only humanitarian flights will be exempt.

    – France -France announces it will close off its airspace from Sunday night, in response to the invasion.

    – Belgium –
    Belgium says it will not accept Russian aircraft either.

    “Our European skies are open skies,” says Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. “They’re open for those who connect people, not for those who seek to brutally aggress.”

    – The Nordics –
    Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland say they too will not accept any Russian planes.

    Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia, “is preparing to close its airspace to Russian air traffic,” Transport Minister Timo Harakka tweets, without giving a time.

    – Italy, Spain and Malta-
    Italy and Spain, too, say they are shutting off their airspace. Malta says it is also doing so to show “full solidarity with Ukraine”.

    – North Macedonia –
    North Macedonia’s government on Sunday also bans all Russian aircraft from its skies, but says humanitarian flights will be exempted.

    – Russia retaliates –
    In tit-for-tat punitive measures, Russia on Sunday closes its airspace to flights operated by carriers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia.

    A day earlier, it had closed its airspace to flights from Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic.

    On Friday, it banned all UK-linked planes from its skies.

  • Strike: SSANU Reiterates Stance To Paralyze Academic Activities in Varsities

    Strike: SSANU Reiterates Stance To Paralyze Academic Activities in Varsities

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, has reiterated its stance to paralyze academic activities in the nation’s public varsities, the union hinged its stance on the inability of the federal government to honour the Memorandum of Action, MoA, it signed with the union.

    SSANU said it has been reluctant to resume its suspended strike because of its effect on students, university education and the parents, regretting that the federal government was forcing the union to down tools.

    This is as the universities non-teaching staff have said that they are ready to present to the federal government the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System, U3PS, which is expected to replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

    The National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim told journalists in Abuja that the U3PS was designed by professionals and that it captures all the peculiarities including payment for sabbatical, visiting lecturers etc.

    Comrade Ibrahim said that the inconsistencies of the IPPIS which he claimed have caused untold hardship were still faced by non-teaching staff.

    According to him, “It was agreed that the 2009 Agreement should be reviewed every three years but 12 years after, not even 50 percent was implemented. Part of the areas we have agreed for review is the Responsibility Allowances for heads of departments, Hazard Allowances, Call/Shift Duty Allowances for Nurses, Doctors, Engineers etc and Overtime Allowances. They should invite us immediately for the renegotiation.

    He further said that another contentious issue is the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement with the federal government that was long overdue was.

    “Another of our major concern is the payment of the minimum wage arrears. They told us that they have budgeted for it and that we should submit the necessary requirements which we complied with but yet, nothing has been done.

    “We (leadership of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions) are going to meet in a few days to take our position. We have been reluctant to shut down the universities because of their effect on the education system, students and parents but it appears that our peaceful disposition to resolve issues amicably is being taken for granted by the government.

    “Remember it is just a resumption, we only suspended the strike to allow the government to implement the Memorandum of Action and we can resume anytime.

    “Our members are facing hardships. The inconsistencies of the IPPIS are still there, cooperative deductions and check-off dues are not remitted to unions. Some of our members who are into the corporative collected loans from banks and the banks do not entertain excuses.

    “Our U3PS is ready to be presented to the government. We assembled professionals, remember we make payments for staff and we should have a better understanding of how the system works. We commissioned our professionals for the U3PS to replace the IPPIS, we have captured all our peculiarities including sabbatical, visiting lecturers.”

  • Ukraine Launches Website To Help Russian Families Track Captured, Killed Soldiers

    Ukrainian authorities on Sunday launched a website to help Russian families track down soldiers who have been killed or captured fighting in Moscow’s invasion of the pro-Western country.

    The site — 200rf.com — contains pictures of the the documents and corpses of Russian soldiers Ukraine said had been killed since President Vladimir Putin launched the attack.

    It also has videos of soldiers Ukraine says it has captured.

    “I am talking to you in Russian because this site was created for you,” Viktor Andrusiv, an adviser to the interior minister, said in a video posted on the site.

    “I know that many Russians are worried about how and where their children, sons, husbands are and what is happening to them — so we decided to put this online so that each of you could search for your loved one who Putin sent to fight in Ukraine.”

    Andrusiv said that over the past three days Ukrainian forces had captured almost 200 Russian soldiers and more than 3,000 Russian troops had died.

    “We have documents, photos and videos of all of these people,” Andrusiv said.

    The name of the site references the well-known term Gruz-200 (Cargo-200) that was used by Soviet military for corpses being flown back from the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

    Russia’s defence ministry has so far given no details of any military losses in Ukraine since launching a multi-pronged attack Putin called a “special operation” to protect two separatist regions.

    The head of the North Caucasus region of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, on Saturday became the first official to report the death of a Russian soldier in Ukraine.

    He posted a tribute on his official Instagram page, paying homage to an officer he said had been killed during the “special operation to defend Donbas”.

    The Kremlin has launched a major propaganda campaign to control coverage of the war in Ukraine and has ordered media to use only Russia’s official versions of events.

    The Kremlin has launched a major propaganda campaign to control coverage of the war in Ukraine and has ordered media to use only Russia’s official versions of events.

    Moscow has long been accused of covering up losses suffered by its forces as they backed pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and fought in Syria.

    Lev Shlosberg, a prominent liberal politician, has suggested Russia’s military was using mobile crematoriums to destroy evidence of those killed in Ukraine.

    “There is no war. No dead. No tombs. People will just be no more. Forever,” he wrote on his blog.

    AFP

  • NCC Cautions Nigerians Using Banking Apps Against Malicious Software

    NCC Cautions Nigerians Using Banking Apps Against Malicious Software

    The Nigerian Communications Commission has cautioned Nigerians against a newly discovered malicious software stealing users’ banking app login credentials on Android devices.

    The commission stated this through its Computer Security Incident Response Team on Saturday.

    According to NCC, the malicious software called ‘Xenomorph’, which has been found to target 56 financial institutions from Europe, has a high impact and high vulnerability rate.


    It added that the main intent of this malware was to steal credentials, combined with the use of SMS and notification interception to log-in and potential two-factor authentication tokens.

    In a statement, NCC said, “Xenomorph is propagated by an application that was slipped into Google Play store and masquerading as a legitimate application called ‘Fast Cleaner’ ostensibly meant to clear junk, increase device speed and optimise battery.


    “In reality, this app is only a means by which the Xenomorph Trojan could be propagated easily and efficiently. To avoid early detection or being denied access to the PlayStore, ‘Fast Cleaner’ was disseminated before the malware was placed on the remote server, making it hard for Google to determine that such an app is being used for malicious actions.

    “Once up and running on a victim’s device, Xenomorph can harvest device information and Short Messaging Service, intercept notifications and new SMS messages, perform overlay attacks, and prevent users from uninstalling it. The threat also asks for Accessibility Services privileges, which allow it to grant itself further permissions.”

    According to the commission’s CSIRT, the malware stole victims’ banking credentials by overlaying fake login pages on top of legitimate ones and since it could intercept messages and notifications, it allowed its operators to bypass SMS-based two-factor authentication and log into the victims’ accounts without alerting them.

    The CSIRT security advisory said Xenomorph has been found to target 56 internet banking apps: 28 from Spain, 12 from Italy, 9 from Belgium, and 7 from Portugal; as well as Cryptocurrency wallets and general-purpose applications like emailing services.

    Although the Fast Cleaner app has been removed from the Play Store, it garnered 50,000+ downloads, according to the NCC.