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  • Finally , FG sacks civil servants with certificates from Benin Republic, Togo

    Finally , FG sacks civil servants with certificates from Benin Republic, Togo

    Finally, the Federal Government of Nigeria has terminated the appointments of civil servants who obtained degrees from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo between 2017 and now.

    The decision stems from concerns about the credibility of degrees awarded by tertiary institutions in these countries.

    Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), confirmed the development on Wednesday.

    This is sequel to the government’s earlier directive in August 2024, which recognized only eight accredited universities in Benin Republic and Togo as authorized to award degrees to Nigerians.

    The crackdown was prompted by an undercover investigation by Daily Nigerian that revealed how a journalist obtained a degree in just two months from a university in Benin Republic and used it to enroll in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. Following the exposé, the Federal Government banned the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from institutions in both countries.

    To address the issue, an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling was set up to investigate and curb certificate racketeering. A subsequent report by the committee revealed that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fraudulent degrees from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo.

    The former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed that many individuals claiming these degrees had never left Nigeria. Instead, they acquired fake certificates through racketeering networks involving both local and foreign collaborators. He noted that the fraudulent activities undermined the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.

    Mamman stated, “Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad. The Federal Government will ensure that all public servants with such fake certificates are removed from their positions. Private sector employers should also take similar actions.”

    Although the exact number of affected workers remains unclear, sources confirmed that the OSGF had issued a directive to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to identify and terminate the appointments of employees with such questionable qualifications.

    An anonymous official revealed, “There was a letter from the SGF cabinet affairs directing all ministries, departments, and agencies of government to identify and terminate the appointments of workers employed with certificates obtained from private universities in Benin Republic and Togo from 2017 to date.”

    Some government agencies have already begun implementing the directive. For example, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) confirmed the dismissal of five staff members in compliance with the order. NYSC Director of Information, Caroline Embu, stated, “Five members of staff were affected by the directive contained in the letter from the office of the SGF. No more.”

    The Federal Government’s action underscores its commitment to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s educational and employment systems, as well as combating the proliferation of fraudulent academic qualifications.

  • NERC report reveals $14.19m electricity debt from International customers

    NERC report reveals $14.19m electricity debt from International customers

    This headline concisely summarizes the main point of the article, highlighting the key finding from the NERC report.

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that the countries of Togo and Benin Republic owe a total of $14.19 million in unpaid electricity bills for the first quarter of 2024.

    This information was made public in a report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which highlighted the non-payment of electricity bills by four international bilateral customers who receive electricity supply from Nigerian power generating companies (GenCos).

     

    The report identified the debtors as Para-SBEE in Benin Republic, owing $3.15 million, Transcorp-SBEE in Benin Republic, owing $4.46 million, Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo, owing $1.21 million, and Odukpani-CEET in Togo, owing $5.36 million.

    According to NERC, none of these companies made any payments towards the cumulative invoices issued by the Market Operator for services rendered during the quarter in question, resulting in the significant outstanding debt.

  • Disruption in gas supply from Nigeria causes blackouts in Ghana, Togo, Benin

    Disruption in gas supply from Nigeria causes blackouts in Ghana, Togo, Benin

    Many  parts of Ghana and other  neighbouring West African countries have been thrown into blackouts as a result of the disruption in gas supply from Nigeria.

    Findings have shown that the blackouts are visible in most parts of Ghana, Republic of Benin and Togo, due to the disruption in Gas supply from Nigeria.

    Recall that the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited in Accra, Ghana, had on Wednesday announced it was experiencing a drop in gas volumes available for transportation.

    In a statement, WAPCO said one of its gas producers in Nigeria was carrying out some maintenance works. As a result, the gas producer was said to have shut its facility for a three-week maintenance work.

    This, it said, resulted in a decrease in gas available for WAPCo to transport to customers in Togo, Benin and Ghana.

    “The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited regrets to announce that it is experiencing a drop in gas volumes available for transportation due to ongoing maintenance works by one of its gas producers in Nigeria.

    “One of the producers of the natural gas WAPCo transports from Nigeria has shut down its facility for a three-week maintenance, resulting in a decrease of gas available for WAPCo to transport to customers in Togo, Benin and Ghana. The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo’s control.

    “WAPCo continues to transport gas from the Westen Region of Ghana to Tema, also in Ghana, and we expect normalcy to return after the maintenance activities,” the statement read.

    Consequently, the affected countries are now currently experiencing power challenges due to the development, according to findings.

    Although, the  Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana have informed electricity consumers in the country that would be  plunged into the darkness the duration it would last for wasn’t disclosed.

    In a jointly signed statement, Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana said they “wish to inform the public that due to a reduction in gas supply from Nigeria since Wednesday 12th June 2024 some areas across the country have experienced interruption in power supply.”

    The statement read further, “The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company, in a statement, has explained that the reduction in gas supply was due to maintenance works being undertaken by a gas supplier in Nigeria and is projected to last three weeks.

    “The maintenance has caused a reduction in overall power generation capacity in Ghana which could result in load management over the period of the work.”

    While apologising to its customers, GRIDCo and ECG assured the public that they were collaborating with other stakeholders in the power value chain to optimise available resources to ensure minimal impact of the reduction in gas supply on consumers.

    “GRIDCo and ECG sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused,” the statement concluded.

    The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited owns and operates the West African Gas Pipeline, a regional infrastructure linking natural gas resources to customers within the West Africa sub-region especially in Ghana.

    The WAGP is a bi-directional pipeline system with gas supply from both the east (Nigeria) and the west (Ghana) of the pipeline system.

    Normalcy would return to these countries as soon as the maintenance works is completed.

  • Togo threatens French radio with suspension

    Togo threatens French radio with suspension

    Media regulator in the West African country of Togo has sent a strong warning to Radio France Internationale that it would face suspension if it continued with “unbalanced” reporting and spreading “fake news”.

    The warning came as media watchdogs accuse the government of a press crackdown since lawmakers passed a highly contested constitutional reform that opposition parties say allows President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his rule.

    It would be recalled that Togo’s High Authority for Audiovisual and Communications or HAAC last month suspended authorisations for foreign journalists to travel to cover the April 29 legislative elections.

    In its warning letter, HAAC accused RFI of ignoring repeated appeals for neutrality in coverage of Togo’s situation and the elections.

    “These repeated errors in your reporting are not only damaging to the image of Togo but also violate the fundamental principles of journalism,” it said.

    According to HAAC, it would “take appropriate measures, including the suspension of your right to broadcast in the national territory until further notice.”

    RFI did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the HAAC statement.

    French journalist Thomas Dietrich, a critic of the authorities, was also expelled shortly after entering Togo before the ballot.

    Political tensions have been on the rise in Togo since the parliament approved the new constitution in April, switching the West African country from a presidential to a parliamentary system.

  • BREAKING: Togo switches to parliamentary government

    BREAKING: Togo switches to parliamentary government

    Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbe, has promulgated the constitutional amendment, formally switching Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system, said a presidency statement.

    Gnassingbe promulgated law number 2024-005 revising the Togolese Constitution, “marking a new stage in institutional life,” said the statement issued by the Togolese presidency.

    On April 19, Togo’s National Assembly passed the second reading of a new constitution, under which the president would be elected by members of parliament for a four-year term with a two-term limit.

    Additionally, the new constitution introduced the position of “President of the Council of Ministers,” a post that will be automatically assumed by the head of the majority party in parliament with substantial executive power.

  • Togo, Benin Universities to lose over N7.5billion after suspension of degree evaluation by Nigerian government

    Togo, Benin Universities to lose over N7.5billion after suspension of degree evaluation by Nigerian government

    Following the derecognition of universities in Republique du Benin and Togo last week by the Nigerian government as a result of certificate racketeering, the institutions in these two neighbouring countries are set to lose about N7.5billion which  they  make annually from their Nigerian students, findings have shown.

    Recall that  the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday  suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from universities in the two countries following investigation by an undercover reporter alleging an institution of trading certificate for money.

    The reporter who wrote the story revealed how he obtained a degree certificate in Mass Communication from the institution  in six weeks without attending any classes or writing an examination.

     

    However, the President of  the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in  Benin Republic  Ugochukwu Favour while granting interview on Channels TV  put the number of Nigerians studying in tertiary institutions in that country  alone at 15,000.

    Findings show that institutions in the two countries charge  tuition fees ranging between N50,000 and N500,000 per annum.

    The tuition fees  exclude application form, accommodation, textbooks and living  expenses.

    Checks also reveal that to attract Nigerians to their institutions, many of the universities teach in both English and French 

    They also peg their fees  in Naira as a means to accomodate Nigerian students.

    More checks also show that some of them  have accounts in Nigerian banks into which students could pay.

  • MURIC hails FG’s suspension of degrees from Benin, Togo

    MURIC hails FG’s suspension of degrees from Benin, Togo

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended the Federal Government for suspending the accreditation of degrees from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

    Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director, MURIC stated this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “A laudable move was made by the federal government when it suspended the accreditation of degrees from the Republic of Benin and Togo for their irregularities and fraudulent practices (FG Suspends Accreditation of Degree Certificates from Benin Republic, Togo

    “It will be recalled that Umar Audu, an investigative journalist of Daily Nigeria newspaper, reported recently that he bagged a degree within six weeks of being admitted into one of such universities and also served as a corper in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the certificate obtained. The undercover journalist received both the transcript and certificate of the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT), Cotonou, Benin Republic after six weeks only.

    “MURIC lauds FG for banning those fraudulent certificates. The holders of such fake credentials pose grave danger to the lives of Nigerians and the quality of public service too.

    “We charge the ministries of education at both federal and state levels to be wary of holders of such certificates. Those found to have been employed with them should be shown the way out. Furthermore, the security agencies should fish out those behind the fraudulent admissions within Nigeria. Those are agents of the fake tertiary institutions in faraway Benin and Togo. They should be made to face the full wrath of the law,’’ Akintola said.

    He added: “We demand investigation into circumstances surrounding the clearance letter issued by the Federal Ministry of Education which confirmed that the university (ESGT) is on the ministry’s list of accredited institutions. It was this letter which enabled NYSC to accept 51 fake graduates to serve in the scheme. On its own part, NYSC authorities must take necessary action on the 51 fake corpers from ESGT who are serving illegally. They must be flushed out.

    “We also advise gullible but innocent Nigerians who have obtained the certificates to quickly set the machinery in motion to correct the anomaly.

    They should upgrade themselves by seeking authentic university admission either within or outside the country.

    “Education may be the key to technological breakthrough and the concomitant industrial progress, but half-baked education and fake certificates are deadly dynamites in the system which are capable of destroying everything that may have been achieved.

    “Before we draw the curtain, we find the undercover journalist equally worthy of encomiums. He went underground to unearth this educational fraud. He put his life on the line for the sake of his country. Umar Audu is worthy of emulation by his colleagues in the Fourth Estate of the Realm.”

  • Benin, Togo Degrees: ICPC boss, set to meet undercover reporter who revealed alleged corrupt practices

    Benin, Togo Degrees: ICPC boss, set to meet undercover reporter who revealed alleged corrupt practices

    Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has called for a critical meeting at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja with the reporter who exposed the alleged degree certificate fraud in some neighbouring countries.

    The ICPC director of press, Azuka Ogugua, put out a statement saying that the invitation was to discuss the story published on December 30 by the reporter on the alleged corrupt practices at a Cotonou university.

    The statement said that meeting with the reporter was aimed at deepening the investigation and initiating relevant actions against parties involved in the certificate scandal.

    Recall that the investigation into Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et de Technologies, ESGT, in Cotonou revealed a concerning situation where degrees are allegedly awarded in as little as six weeks, bypassing standard academic procedures like application, registration, coursework, and examinations.

    In response to these critical allegations, the ICPC said it is embarking on a thorough investigation.

    According to the Commission, “the probe will rigorously examine the networks and individuals engaged in these malpractices, with the objective of restoring and preserving the integrity of our educational system.”

    The Commission said it will engage in a synergistic collaboration with relevant domestic and international bodies to jointly evaluate the legitimacy of academic qualifications procured from overseas institutions, especially those highlighted in the investigative report.

    The ICPC then called on all stakeholders in the educational and governmental sectors to join hands in this critical endeavor.

    “Together, we can work towards a future where the credibility of our educational qualifications is unimpeachable, and where corruption finds no refuge,” the Commission said.

  • FG suspends evaluation, accreditation of certificates from Benin, Togo

    FG suspends evaluation, accreditation of certificates from Benin, Togo

    The Federal Government has suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republic.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by Mrs Augustina Obilor-Duru, Assistant Director, Press, Ministry of Education.

    This suspension came as a result an investigative work by a journalist that led to a publication in the Daily Nigerian Newspaper on Dec. 30.

    A reporter with the newspaper, Mr Umar Audu had carried out an investigation titled

    “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in six weeks, participated in NYSC scheme”.

    Obilor-Duru said, however, that the suspension was pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the two countries.

    She said that the investigation would also involve the ministries responsible for education in the two countries as well the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    She called on the general public to support the efforts by showing understanding and providing useful information that would assist in finding lasting solutions to prevent further occurrence.

    “This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.

    “The ministry has also commenced internal administrative processes to determine the culpability or otherwise of her staff for which applicable Public Service Rules would be applied.

    “The issue of degree mills institutions, i.e institutions that exist on paper or operate in clandestine manner outside the control of regulators is a global problem that all countries grapple with.

    “The ministry has been contending with the problem including illegal institutions located abroad or at home preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who deliberately patronise such outlets,’’ she said.

    She also said that periodically, warnings had been issued by the ministry and the National Universities Commission (NUC) against such institutions adding that in some instances, reports were made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators.

    “The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loopholes, processes and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officials.

    “The Ministry had always adopted the global standard for evaluation and accreditation of certificates of all forms which relies on receipt of the list of accredited courses and schools in all countries of the world.

    “The ministry wishes to assure Nigerians and the general public that, it is already putting in place mechanisms to sanitise the education sector.

    “This, including dissuading the quest for degree certificates (locally or from foreign countries) through a re-invigorated focus on inclusivity, reliance on all skill sets as directed by President Bola Tinubu,’’ she said.

    She also said that the ministry was, however, committed to collaborating with stakeholders, including civil society organisations, to consistently enhance the Nigerian education system.

  • Why many Nigerians are trooping to neighbouring African countries for tertiary education – Prof Akande

    Why many Nigerians are trooping to neighbouring African countries for tertiary education – Prof Akande

    A United States based educationist, Prof Busari Shaamsuddeen Akande has posited that many young Nigerians are trooping to neighbouring African countries of Togo and Ghana for tertiary education because of safe environment, required skills for industries and quality supply of electricity.

    Akande noted that Nigerians don’t mind the high cost of higher education in those countries, saying they will do anything to study away from home.

    Akande, Secretary of Council of the American Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, based in the State of Kentucky, USA, spoke in an interview with pressmen in Calabar on Sunday.

    “These smaller, neighbouring countries produce young graduates with the required skills to support key industries.

    In his opinion, Akande said the massive size of a country does not matter when it comes to educational success.

    According to him, when a country is small, it can recover faster, develop faster and make all the innovative changes faster.

    He said higher institutions ought to be specialised so that students come out well skilled and specialised in their chosen fields.

    “Not where graduates of law from the University of Agriculture and School of Legal Studies produce mass communicators.

    “In Benin Republic, you have a university of management strictly for management sciences.”

    Akande proffered ways the country can attract investors into the educational sector to make universities less reliant on the government.

    He emphasised the quality of learning, the expansion of higher education through alternative financing mechanisms, paying attention to early childhood development and early reading, as some of the ways that can appeal to investors.

    “The country can create awareness of culture, engage good teachers/instructors and make the educational sector accountable by promoting autonomy,” he said.