The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, over an alleged fraud of N27bn.

Ishaku was reportedly picked up at his Abuja residence in the early hours of Friday.

The former governor was said to still be in the anti-graft agency’s custody as of the time of filing this report.

According to Daily Trust, at least 15-count charges have been filed against Ishaku and he would be arraigned in court soon as evidence against him has been compiled.

“Yes, he’s in our custody right now. We have been investigating him covertly since he left as the State governor. There is a lot of financial malfeasance he perpetrated,” the source said.

The spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development but declined further comments when contacted by the paper.

Ishaku’s arrest is coming on the heels of ongoing face-off between the commission and the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who was alleged to have stolen N80.2bn.

Experts led by Heads of State and Government at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly have warned that malaria may afflict 137.2 million more people, and kill up to 337,000 persons by 2029 if critical funding is not received.

According to new modelling conducted by the Malaria Atlas Project, in the event of a cut in resources at the next Global Fund replenishment, and any changes in the allocation of resources to malaria, there could be 137.2 million additional malaria cases and up to 337,000 additional deaths from 2027 to 2029.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is one of the primary sources of funding for the control and elimination of all three diseases.

Funded largely by governments, it pools the world’s resources to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, raising and investing money in three-year cycles known as Replenishments.

The new models show that if there is a flat-lining of malaria resources (with the Global Fund Replenishment again achieving approximately $15.6 billion in total and allocations across the three diseases remaining on par with the current cycle), the world could see an additional 112 million malaria cases and up to 280,700 additional deaths across the three-year period, with upsurges and outbreaks happening right across the continent of Africa.

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in a statement, said current funding levels would be inadequate to tackle the disease because of multiple challenges converging: Insecticide and anti-malarial drug resistance are on the rise, reducing the effectiveness of existing malaria interventions. There are now highly effective new tools, such as dual-insecticide mosquito nets, that address resistance but the costs to roll out these interventions are higher. Climate change and humanitarian crises are also coinciding with deadly effect and leave those affected even worse off and more vulnerable to malaria.

The situation will be even worse if the total Global Fund Replenishment sees a cut to resources and takes funding away from malaria.

The new projections were raised by President Umaro Sissocco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau at a fireside chat – ‘Confronting the Malaria Perfect Storm, convened by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance. They expressed concerns that malaria would quickly resurge, if appropriate action is not taken in this Replenishment cycle.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Dr. Michael Charles, said: “The evidence is clear that there is significant risk of malaria epidemics if funding isn’t increased and high-burden areas are unable to deliver critical malaria prevention services. Unlike Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and TB, malaria is concentrated in lower income countries, particularly across Africa, so often these countries have the least ability to afford the fight. Everyone, no matter where they live, has a right to health. Malaria is straining health systems and making it difficult for people in low income countries to fully enjoy their right to health.”

“Allocating the funds from the Global Fund Replenishment is complex, as of course all three diseases urgently need attention. But it is crucial that malaria receives an increase in its funding from the Global Fund, if we are to avoid a wide-scale resurgence. If this doesn’t happen, we can expect cases to spike and increased mortality.

We already know this will impact women and young children hardest, as they are disproportionately affected by the disease. It will also push more people into poverty and overwhelm already fragile health systems, with economic consequences that will ripple across the world. We simply cannot afford to let this happen. The world has a duty to ensure our most vulnerable populations are not further disadvantaged, and to do this, we need to ensure the right funding is in place, starting with the global fund replenishment.”

Family ties can be strong, but some relationships can be harmful to our mental and emotional wellbeing. Psychology experts agree that setting boundaries or distancing oneself from toxic family members is essential for self-care. Here are 8 types of family members you may need to reevaluate.

1. The Narcissist:

• Characteristics: Self-centered, manipulative, lacking empathy
• Impact: Emotional exhaustion, low self-esteem

2. The Emotional Manipulator:

• Characteristics: Guilt-tripping, gaslighting, controlling
• Impact: Anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness

3. The Critic:

• Characteristics: Constant criticism, belittling, judgmental
• Impact: Low self-confidence, defensiveness, resentment

4. The Enabler:

• Characteristics: Overly supportive, enabling destructive behaviors
• Impact: Dependence, stagnation, lack of personal growth

5. The Gaslighter:

• Characteristics: Denying reality, distorting facts, eroding self-trust
• Impact: Confusion, self-doubt, emotional instability

6. The Emotional Blackmailer:

• Characteristics: Using guilt, anger, or self-pity to control
• Impact: Feelings of obligation, resentment, emotional exhaustion

7. The Passive-Aggressive:

• Characteristics: Indirect hostility, sulking, backhanded compliments
• Impact: Frustration, anxiety, difficulty communicating effectively

8. The Disrespecter:

• Characteristics: Disregarding boundaries, disrespecting personal space
• Impact: Feelings of vulnerability, anger, burnout

Signs It’s Time to Distance Yourself:

1. You feel drained or anxious around them.
2. You’re consistently walking on eggshells.
3. You’re disrespecting your own needs and boundaries.

Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Self-Care:

1. Establish clear limits.
2. Practice assertive communication.
3. Seek support from positive relationships.
4. Focus on self-care and personal growth.

While family ties can be strong, prioritizing your mental and emotional wellbeing is crucial. Recognize toxic patterns and take steps to protect yourself.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) has partnered with transporters in a bid to slash transport costs.

The Program Director/Chief Executive of PCNGi, Michael Oluwagbemi made the announcement in a statement on Friday.

“The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) commenced today a Transport Fare Drop Programme across the country, starting with Abuja, as it ramped up the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner, more affordable alternative to fuel,” Oluwagbemi said.

“Representatives of the PCNGi signed an MOU with the National Union of Road Transport Workers covering the Abuja to Itakpe Station—Ajaokuta Train Station—Adavi route to convert fleet vehicles to CNG in return for a 30-40% fare reduction.

“This programme will encourage NURTW members in Abuja to convert their vehicles to CNG in exchange for a fare reduction.”

Oluwagbemi added that On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the PCNGi will continue its nationwide commercial incentive programme for commercial car open days, expanding to 38 centres in Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta and Edo states.

He explained that the PCNGi will sign an agreement with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) on Monday, September 30, to operationalise the Nigerian Police CNG Conversion Programme and train cadets to manage the strategic conversion centres the NPTF is investing in.

According to the PCNGi’s Programme Director, Oluwagbemi, this initiative will help train the police cadets to manage strategic conversion centres established by the NPTF.

Similarly, to celebrate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary on October 1st, 2024, the PCNGi will launch the CNG Tricycle Empowerment Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Youths.

This program aims to provide over 2000 young Nigerians with the opportunity to own and operate CNG-powered tricycles.

It will launch the Kogi State Conversion Incentive Programme on Wednesday, October 2 and hand over CNG buses to the state’s mass transit entity to ply interstate routes to Abuja.

Additionally, according to Oluwagbemi, the PCNGI will inaugurate three new CNG conversion sites in the state.

He added that to conclude the week’s activities, the initiative will launch in Ekiti State, where the handover of CNG buses to the state mass transit organisation and transporters to ply the route to Abuja will take place. It will also inaugurate four new CNG conversion sites in the state.

There are 48 talented players have been penciled down for the camping programme that starts on the 2nd of October 2024.

The head coach of Nigeria Scrabble Youth Team, Samuel Eromosele, explained that the first phase of the camping programme which will be virtual will involve the top 20 players who distinguished themselves during the 8th National Youth Games and other youth members of Team Nigeria Scrabble.

The Twenty players invited to the National Youth Virtual Camp from the National Youth Games 2024 is led by triple gold medalist in the boys’ events Olamide Hassan Olojoku from Kwara State. Edide Pereowei and August Shannon of Bayelsa State as well as Saviour Onazi from Niger State also made the cut.

The poster girl of the scrabble event in Asaba, Victoria Chimamanda Chukwuemeka from Anambra, Sophia Ekeruche of Lagos and the Kwara duo of Hadiyah Olojoku and Balqis Ajao also made the list.

This is the complete list:

MALE

1. Olamide Hassan Olojoku
2. Bashit Ibrahim
3. Khalid Olosun
4. Pereowei Edidie
5. Shannon August
6. Saviour Onazi
7. Peace Adegunte
8. Adam Gbadebo
9. Samuel Emenike

FEMALE

1. Victoria Chimamanda Chukwuemeka
2. Sophia Ekeruche
3. Oluwaferanmi Dada
4. Balqis Ajao
5. Anjola Osoba
6. Aishat Sanusi
7. Beulah Bassey
8. Hadiyah Olojoku
9. Roselyn Emenike
10. Josephine Kene
11. Freda Konabiyovwi

Other youth players who are in the Youth National Team but were not part of the just concluded National Youth Games will also join the camping programme.

They are:

1. Sufyan Boluwatife
2. Prestige Archibong
3. Aliu Abdulqudus
4. Joy Nwabuzor
5. Clinton Imode
6. Kanyinsola Lasaki
7. Ese Ejenakevbe
8. Hauwa Abdullahi
9. Demilade Lawrence
10. Philip Akhabue
11. Joanna Eke
12. Michelle Ikekeregor

Eromosele stated that in the first three months the team will be trimmed to 24 and after that, there would be another two months of virtual camping.

“It’s from this 48 we will screen until we get the final 24 that will be the Official Team Nigeria Youth 2025.

We want to have a solid 24-man list ready by the end of May when we will start applying for visas for both the African Youth Scrabble Championship and the World Youth Scrabble Championship,” Eromosele said.

Eromosele further emphasized that more players will be invited to the Camp in the coming days.

“In April we would be having the first National Youth Scrabble Championship and after that I’ll invite another set of players to take the camp size to 48,” the Edo State born coach and player added.

Two cities, Benin and Lagos are the front runners to host the maiden edition of the National Youth Scrabble Championship.

“We are still looking at our options, Lagos and Benin are the likely hosts,” the head coach of the Nigeria Scrabble Youth Team stated.

Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu and Sufyan Boluwatife Olojoku who were sponsored by the Kwara State Government represented Nigeria at the 2024 World Youth Scrabble Championship in Sri Lanka.

Aliu finished in the 23rd spot while Olojoku occupied the 28th position among the 136 participants from 22 countries.

Both players could have finished higher on the final table had they not been walked over on the opening game of Match Day 2 due to administrative lapses as they arrived late for their games.

Due to inadequate funding and lack of support from the Federal Ministry of Sports, the players traveled to Sri Lanka without a coach, and they were psychological affected after they were walked over.

The Federal Government has commenced workers’ weekly performance management system, saying it will be a new management tool to serve as strategic driving service delivery in the Federal Civil Service.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Yakubu A. Kofarmata, dropped the hint while flagging off policy in the ministry in Abuja, saying they are carrying out the directive of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF).

Kofarmata explained, that PMS, which is the second pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 – 2025 (FCSSIP25), has come to stay in the Service and the Federal Ministry of Works shall not be left behind in its implementation.

 He stated that the commencement of the weekly observance of the system is designed to review, assess, and improve employees’ performance across all ongoing tasks, as well as projects within the Ministry, noting,”Today’s launch marks a critical step forward in our pursuit of excellence.” 

The  Permanent Secretary, therefore , stressed that it will allow us to monitor progress, identify challenges, and ensure we remain on track to meet our organisational, and national goals as well as re-invigorate civil servants, who are successfully driving the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola  Tinubu.

He disclosed that the Ministry had developed its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); signed Performance Contracts at the management level, as well as cascaded it down to other staff; and its Dashboard ready with a total staff strength of 962, out of which 822 have signed the PMS contract with 457 supervisors.

Earlier, the  Director, of Human Resource Management, Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi, explained that the launch was meant to, majorly, draw attention to what PMS is all about and will now be done objectively as opposed to the use of the hitherto flawed and compromised Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) system.