The Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, says no fewer than 1.94 million candidates sat for the 2024 examinations in the country.

Oloyede said this on Wednesday in Kaduna, while inspecting Computer Based Test (CBT) centres in the state amidst the ongoing JAMB examinations.

He added that at the end of the examination today, there would be less than 100,000 candidates remaining in Lagos, Benue and other states in the country.

Oloyede explained that the pace at which JAMB cleared candidates and captured biometrics made the exercise faster.

He noted this was part of JAMB’s re-engineering process towards ensuring hitch-free exercise.

“Even today, I have seen something which we need to improve on, but most importantly, we have done so many things in the background to make the exercise faster, more efficient and better. We have increased the level of automation,” he said.

The Registrar frowned at examination cheaters, saying “It does not pay”.

He said that most of the problems JAMB faced were impersonation.

He specifically said most of the cases were candidates who have double National Identification Number (NIN), adding that JAMB would take up the issue with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

“The important thing is that we are ahead of the impersonators, we have arrested a father writing examinations for his son, the kind of parenting in this generation is uncalled for, I wonder what the father will tell the son if they are locked up in the same cell.

“We now have the facilities to check all sorts of impersonation and other malpractices,” he said.

The registrar, however, thanked parents for their support, recalling that in previous years; they were seen loitering around examination centres disturbing.

“There is no report this year of parents intruding, except one state. In that state, they felt since the first session failed, their children should not continue with the second or other sessions.

“Out of the country’s 775 centres, those who failed were not up to 20, and only one failed. Less than 30 of the centres failed at the first session because of ill preparation.

“When such things happen, the candidates should stay aside for the next session to move because questions are designed individually for a candidate,” he said. (NAN)

…Sets up service centres, cancels haulage revenue collection contracts by MDAs

The Enugu State Government has banned all forms of illegal tolls and extortion of motorists by touts, warning that flouters of the order would face the full wrath of the law.

The government also announced the cancellation of all existing produce and haulage revenue collection contracts by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), saying those responsibilities would now be taken over by service hubs to be established in partnership with Heavyhaul Services Limited to meet the needs of logistics businesses and heavy-duty vehicles that transport goods in and out of Enugu State.

The government made these known at a press conference addressed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, at the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, with critical stakeholders in attendance.

This was even as stakeholders, including the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olasoji Akinbayo; Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NUTRW), Mr. Austine Agu; representative of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr. Obinna Agbo; traditional ruler of Amalla Egazi Autonomous Community, Igwe Patrick Eze; and the traditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, commended Governor Peter Mbah for the initiative, pledging to work with the administration to actualise it.

Rendering the directive and initiative, Prof. Onyia said: “The Enugu State Government recognises the pivotal role of efficient logistics and transportation infrastructure in driving our target to grow our economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion naira and make the state the preferred destination for business, investment, tourism, and for living.

“Therefore, the government notes with dismay the reports of the incessant harassment and extortion of motorists and transporters by touts and hoodlums, who masquerade as revenue collectors in some parts of the state.

The government deplores the observed extortions and excesses by hoodlums on our roads.

“In order to stem the excesses and ensure a free movement of persons, goods, and services as well as improve logistics and supply chain operations in Enugu State, the Enugu State Government hereby orders such extortionists to clear off our roads, as anybody caught engaging in such activities henceforth will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. All local government areas are to take note and ensure full compliance with this directive.

“Again, to further improve logistics and supply chain operations and address the challenge of multiple taxations on the highway, touting and all sorts of criminalities committed by non-state actors, the Enugu State Government announces the establishment of Service Centres at strategic locations across the state in partnership with Heavyhaul Services Limited”.

Continuing, he added: “The services will include: provision of livestock health and agro-produce diagnostic centres to ensure that animals and foods coming into the state are safe for consumption and comply with regulatory requirements.

“Provision of designated points where security officials can check and ensure that arms and other dangerous goods are not imported into the state.

“Provision of weigh stations to ensure that trucks and heavy-duty vehicles coming into the state are not overweight, thereby damaging both major and intra-state roads, which were not designed to carry such axle loads.

“Provision of complimentary services to drivers where they can take convenience breaks and refuel (vehicles).

“Deterring industrial waste transportation by enforcing sanctions and penalties.

“Ensuring that the haulage of industrial goods and minerals comply with environmental standards.

“Provision of ancillary services such as vehicle maintenance to reduce road traffic congestions due to the breakdown of heavy-duty trucks,” he stated.

Onyia added that “This press statement serves as a stern warning to those who erect all manner of structures or collect service tolls outside the Service Centres, as such defaulters will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

Meanwhile, one of the speakers, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu of Ibagwa Nike, lamented the extortion of his subjects by touts, saying it was often difficult to differentiate the touts from kidnappers and robbers due to their modes of operation.

“In daytime, you see them with sticks. But in the night, they turn into something else,” he stressed, adding that with the initiative, traditional rulers could now join hands with the government to stamp them out.

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede said the agency has recovered N120billion and secured 1, 300 convictions on six months.

He  also said the EFCC,  in its bid to ensure the safety and stability of the foreign exchange market, has uncovered a new fraudulent scheme called P to P(Peer to Peer trading scheme.

The platform, according to him,   is operating outside  the official banking and financial corridors.

He said over 300 accounts linked to illicit foreign exchange have already frozen by the EFCC.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to the economic growth and development of the country.

Olukoyede, who made the disclosures during a session with media executives in Abuja, said there is no going back in the commission’s plans to use anti-graft  war to stimulate the economy.

He said: “Finally, we will continue our work towards the stimulation of the economy. I promise you that.

”Do you know the Binance case we are working on that has helped us to bring down this market? Suddenly we discovered that there are even people within the system that are doing worse than Binance.

”If you noticed, two days ago, the dollar started appreciating again. There  was stability for like 24 hours, then the naira got devalued. It was due to the activities of some of these guys

”Just yesterday, they asked us to close over 300 accounts in illicit forex trading.

In one of these accounts, we noticed that the guy has cleared over N15 billion in the last one year. Nobody knew in the financial corridors.

”Over 300 accounts in illicit forex trading that would have led to another crash in the next one week if we didn’t move yesterday. Some people just want to see this country go from bad to worse. We must find a way to work together.”

”Suddenly, we discovered that there are people in the system who are even doing worse than Binance. They called them P2P (Peer to Peer) and all of that. We noticed in the last two days ago that dollars have started appreciating. There was stability for 24 hours, then the naira was devalued again by N20 and N25. I don’t know whether you noticed that.

“It was due to the activities of some of these guys on P2P platforms like coolcoin. Some of you must have seen them on social media. To shock you; just yesterday (Monday), I asked them to freeze over 300 accounts.

He told the media executives that the commission has recovered more than N120billion from fraudsters within six months and secured more than 1300 convictions.

He called on Nigerians to be more dedicated to the nation.

He insisted that  patriotic Nigerians should offer more support to the EFCC because the commission is crucial to the growth and development of Nigeria.