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FG Launches Resettlement Programme In Bauchi

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The Federal Government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has launched a resettlement programme in Bauchi state.

The Director General of NDE, Mr Silas Agara stated this in Bauchi on Tuesday during the resettlement of some beneficiaries of its training programme.

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Represented by Mr Adebayo Adebowale, the Director of Finance, NDE Headquarters, Agara explained that the programme was taking place in all the 36 states and FCT.

Agara, who explained that the resettlement programme was under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative of the Federal Government, said that the beneficiaries had undergone a three-month skill acquisition training under different categories.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: FG To Release Rivers Allocation To Administrator

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He said that seven people who had undergone a three-month tailoring training would be resettled with sewing machines worth N309,000 each in the state.

“Over the past three months, the Directorate has successfully trained 33,692 unemployed Nigerian youths, women and Persons Living with Disabilities in-demand skills across Vocational Skills training.

“The Directorate had also provided entrepreneurship and business management training, agricultural skills training and activities within the Public Works sector in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

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“This initiative has culminated into the launching of resettlement of the trained beneficiaries, the goal of which is to empower participants to become not only self-employed but employers of labour.

READ ALSO: FG Begins Maintenance Of 32-kilometre Roads In Bauchi

“A total number of 5,532 beneficiaries will be resettled with loans and starter packs nationwide to enable the establishment of their own businesses,” he said.

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He assured the beneficiaries that the NDE was committed to supporting their every step and urged them to use the opportunity to establish themselves in their businesses.

Also speaking, Mr Jamilu Adamu, the Bauchi state Coordinator of NDE, explained that the starter packs were given in form of a loan and not a grant.

He added that the beneficiaries had a six months moratorium before repaying the N309,000 used in purchasing the sewing machines.

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READ ALSO: FG Drags Multichoice To Court Over Subscription Fess Hike

The loan has a single digit of nine per cent which is N27,800 in total and at the end of the day, they will be paying back a sum of N336,800.

“The loan period is two years and this is to ease their repayment of the loan and focus on their sewing business without any distraction and I urge them to make judicious use of the items and maintain them effectively,” he said.

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Jemila Bose, one of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of others, lauded the NDE and the federal government for the kind gesture and promised to make effective use of the machines so as to become employers of labour.

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[VIDEO] Kwam 1’s Airport Drama: FAAN Accuses Fuji Star Of Alcohol Violation

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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the recent airport altercation involving Fuji music legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The incident, which disrupted the boarding of a Lagos-bound ValueJet flight (VK 201) on Monday, August 5, has drawn significant public attention and prompted separate investigations by aviation authorities.

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According to a statement by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the issue stemmed from the musician’s attempt to board the flight with an unidentified liquid, later confirmed to be alcohol.

The passenger tried to board with alcohol. He was warned repeatedly, in line with international aviation security regulations, but declined to comply,” Orah stated.

READ ALSO:Malnutrition: UNICEF Introduces Liquid Supplement To Enhance Child Nutrient

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FAAN explained that the attempt violated the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and international aviation rules under ICAO Annex 17, which prohibit passengers from carrying liquids exceeding 100ml through security checkpoints, except for declared and medically necessary items.

Despite this, the passenger resisted. When asked to step aside for clarification, he refused and proceeded to spill the liquid—identified as alcohol—on the officer. The flight captain intervened but also faced resistance,” FAAN said.

The aircraft doors were eventually closed, but the passenger allegedly moved to the front of the plane and refused to leave the area until Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers escorted him away. He was later released after a preliminary investigation.

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READ ALSO:VIDEO: K1 De Ultimate Under Fire Over Comment On Muslim Clerics Ahead Of Mother’s Fidau Prayer

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has also confirmed it is reviewing the matter. The agency earlier suspended the flight’s pilot and co-pilot for a “serious breach of aviation safety”, citing failure to adhere to pre-departure clearance protocols.

FAAN emphasized its commitment to passenger safety and operational integrity, stressing that “no individual, regardless of status, will be allowed to compromise aviation safety standards.”

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The incident remains under ongoing investigation, with FAAN assuring the public that any parties found culpable will be held accountable in accordance with the law.

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Over Thirty Young Ladies Accuse Edo Migration Agency Of Raid, Extortion, Agency Denies Allegation

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Young ladies numbering over thirty have accused the Edo State Migration Agency of forcefully picking them along the Ihama Street, GRA, Benin to the agency’s office where the officials of the agency allegedly filmed, extorted them ranging from ₦15,000 to ₦50,000.

The young ladies in voicenote made available to journalists in Benin on Wednesday alleged that after reaching agreement with the officials of the agency that their videos should not be shared to a third party after the payment of an agreed amount, the agency violated the agreement and shared their visuals on social media.

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The young ladies showed evidence of receipts of payment to one Uyinmwen Uyigue, who happens to be the Coordinator GRA Hospitality Forum

According to one of the voice notes, they were picked at Ihama Street, drove to the agency’s office where they were asked to cooperate by paying the sum of ₦50,000 and that after that they (agency) will not share their video, which they did, yet they were shown on social media.

One of the ladies in a sobbing voice noted: “I’m still in shock since on Thursday. Edo State Migration Agency, they video us, but they told us they are not going to post the video if only we could cooperate and pay the ransom they ask for. They told us to pay 50k each person which we did, but they still posted the video online, which is not nice. I was shocked when I saw myself trending online. People called me from different places. They told me they saw me on Tiktok, Instagram, etc. I am in shock because they told us they were not going to post the video if we could cooperate, and we cooperated and paid the money they asked for. I even have proof of the transfer. This is not nice.”

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READ ALSO: Bye-Election: Edo Deputy Gov Assures Of 98 Percent Victory For APC

Another lady in a voicenote wept and spoke in broken English, “On Thursday evening, around 8:30, I come come out Ihama. And Before I know, where I for stand for there, na so all those Edo State Migration officers just come. Dey just come hold me and some others of my friends. As dey hold us, I was like ‘oga, why you go hold me nah, him come say make I check time, wetin I dey find for night at dat time, naim I come say oga, 8:30 naim you dey tell me wetin I dey find for night?’ Before I know, these people push me inside bus, carry us go their office, as we reach their office dem come begin dey harass us, dey disgrace us, dey call us names. Dey ask us where we for dey come, dem come dey video is. We sleep for d rooms dem put us, as day come break, dey carry all of us come outside, dem come still video us again. Dem come say na fifty, fifty thousand naim we take bail ourselves. We pay, but before I know, I see myself for internet the next day. My family don dey call me since. My family members don dey say I be disgrace to d family. Dem just dey curse me say see wetin I dey do, me wey be orphan. Dey just disgrace me. My uncle and aunty don dey call me say I am an embarrassment.”

Another lady in a voice noted said: “You know when they took our statement, we were trying to tell them that what happened is that we just came out from the club and dey say no, we must say that they catch us (sic) from the street. We must say that we were standing in the street to do prostitution. We were telling them that is not what happened, they didn’t even allow us to say anything, they were just writing statement for us.”

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Another lady in her voice note said she and her friends went to the club but were hungry, went outside to buy Suya but in the were raided: “It was Thursday last week, me and my friends went to club at Ihama. There is one club called ClubQ. So, we went out to get Suya opposite Victorious Kitchen and still ate there because we were hungry. So, on our way coming out, I think they are called Edo Migration Agency, they picked us, we were trying to explain to them we are not doing Street, that we are not prostitutes, that we are just coming out from the club that we came to get Suya and food, but they did not listen. They even picked one girl that was waiting for her boyfriend. The girl was trying to call the guy. So, they took us to Edo Migration Agency, yes that is the name. They took us there, video us, they were asking us questions. We begged them they should not post the video, that we have family members that are on social media, they should not post it. They said they were going to cover our face if they want to post the video. So, I was thinking that after filming us they will just leave us to go, they kept us, delay us till around 6 in the evening. We were more than 30 girls that they carry. They now collected fifty, fifty thousand each of us. We begged them to that fifty thousand. They started with hundred thousand, but we begged that we don’t have that amount. We begged them that we don’t have money that they should let us go that we have not done anything wrong. They said they are going to take us to prison if we don’t pay, so we were scared. We now begged for 20k, they said no, that 50k last, we were more than 30. They collected 50,000 each from us. My sister saw the video, they are calling me, my dad is very angry for me. I don’t even know how to explain to them because I have told them my own side of the story.”

READ ALSO: Edo Assures Pensioners Of Improved Welfare, Universal Health Coverage

Contacted, the Director General of the Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, on the allegation of extortion, while absolving his agency and officials said those arrested were profiled and later released to go.

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He said the agency was well funded and would not resort to extorting money from sex workers.

Agazuma said the agency never extorted sex workers but worked towards rehabilitating them back to society.

“We have had several engagements with brothel owners. We told them we will not be after their brothel but they should not bring underage into their brothel.

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“In our raiding, we discovered that they kept underaged girls. Those persons who were involved in this act are in prison, including the native doctor who took them on oath. They also do organ harvesting. Even as I speak to you now, there’s a husband and a wife who just trafficked a little girl to Mali. They are in prison right now.”

Contacted, Mr. Uyigue confirmed collecting money from four sex workers but he said the money he collected was fine paid by owners of lodge where the sex workers stays.

He said the lodge owners under the auspices of GRA Hospitality Forum agreed on a fine of N50,000 for any of their girls caught in the street hawking sex.

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Edo Govt Bans Kabaka’s Firm, Others From Collecting Revenue

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Edo State Government has banned private firms earlier authorised to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) to collect revenue in the state.

The state government said the ban became necessary due to reports of violation of terms of operations given to them earlier.

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In a public announcement, Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said the ban also extends to Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant earlier engaged to enforce compliance.

Ikhilor, while frowning at the activities of the private firms, noted that the “era of using unions as fronts to harass, intimidate, or extort drivers and road users in the name of revenue collection is over.”

READ ALSO: Six Injured In Edo Multiple Car Crash

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The statement partly reads: “The Edo State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has observed with grave concern the alarming resurgence of illegal revenue collection by certain unions and organizations under various guises across the State.

“It has become clear that some of these groups, previously given limited authorization to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) under clearly defined terms, have grossly violated the conditions of their engagement and resorted to cash collections, extortions, social harassment and intimidation.

“Specifically, the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ANNEWAT, and Drivers on Wheel, are hereby banned with immediate effect.

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“These unions are not authorized to collect any form of dues, levies, taxes, or charges from motorists, drivers, traders, or any member of the public in Edo State.

“This ban also extends to Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant earlier engaged to enforce compliance.

READ ALSO: By-elections: Edo APC Tackles PDP Over Call For REC, Others Redeployment

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“Credible reports reaching the people-loving Governor, indicate that the firm and its workers have become complicit in widespread extortion and abuse of mandate, thereby betraying the trust reposed in them by the State.

“The Government considers these actions as acts of economic sabotage, social oppression and a direct affront to law and order.

“All activities of the aforementioned unions are suspended indefinitely.”

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The SSG, while noting that “no individual or group under any of these unions is permitted to collect any form of payment from motorists or road users,” advised “all motorists, drivers, and road users not to pay any cash or comply with any form of illegal levy imposed by these banned entities.”

He disclosed that “the Commissioner of Police and all relevant security agencies have been duly notified and directed to arrest and prosecute any individual or group found violating this directive.”

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