The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed a total of N1.123 trillion to the federal, state, and local governments for March 2024.

According to a statement by Mohammed Manga, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Finance, the allocation was derived from a gross total of N1.867 trillion.

This allocation breakdown includes N345.890 billion for the Federal Government, N398.689 billion for states, and N288.688 billion for local governments. Oil-producing states received N90.224 billion as part of the 13% mineral revenue derivation.

The statement also highlighted a notable increase in the gross revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) for March 2024, amounting to N549.698 billion. This represents a significant rise of N89.210 billion compared to the previous month, reflecting the country's economic growth and improved tax compliance.

However, despite the positive trend in VAT revenue, the Gross Statutory Revenue for March was N1.017 trillion, which is lower than February's figure of N1.192 trillion by N175.212 billion. This decrease has been attributed to reductions in excise duty, oil royalty, petroleum profit tax, customs external tariff levies, and electronic money transfer levy.

Meanwhile, the balance in the Excess Crude Account as of April 2024 was $473,754.57.

Nigeria plans to acquire 24 fighter jets from Italy's Leonardo to modernize its fleet and bolster its air force, air force spokesperson Edward Gabkwet said on Friday.

The aircraft will arrive the country in four batches of six jets each, the air force said. Africa's most populous nation will receive the first six M-346 fighter aircraft before the end of the year, Gabkwet said in a statement.

The news followed a visit by Claudio Sabatino, Leonardo vice president, to Nigeria's air force chief in Abuja on Wednesday.

Leonardo will provide a minimum of 25 years maintenance support, the air force statement said.

Nigeria is trying to boost its ability to combat insurgency especially in the northeast of the country where Boko Haram militants and the Islamic State regional affiliate is active. Also kidnapping and banditry is rife across the country.

 

Reuters

Tragedy struck in Plateau State on Thursday as armed assailants unleashed violence in two communities, claiming the lives of at least 15 individuals. Among the victims was a 200-level Computer Science student at Plateau State University in Bokkos.

Reports from local sources indicate that the attacks targeted the communities of Tilengpat and Butura, catching residents unaware as they slept. The assailants, armed and masked, reportedly initiated the assault by firing indiscriminately around 9 p.m. Thursday night.

While security agencies have yet to provide official statements regarding the incident, Samson Zhakom, a spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, acknowledged that investigations are underway to ascertain the details of the attack.

Confirming the tragic loss, Yakubu Ayuba, the Registrar of Plateau State University, expressed deep sorrow over the death of the student, identified as Dading James Jordan, who resided in Chikam.

Ayuba condemned the attack as a heartless act, highlighting the university's ongoing efforts, in collaboration with the state government, security agencies, and other stakeholders, to enhance security within the campus and its environs.

Despite these concerted efforts, the heinous attack perpetrated by unknown assailants has left the university community mourning the loss of one of its own. The incident underscores the persistent challenges posed by insecurity in the state, prompting calls for intensified measures to safeguard lives and property.

Bandits struck Anguwar Danko village in the Kakangi constituency of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna, on Wednesday night, leaving 23 people dead.

The attack, characterized by indiscriminate gunfire and mass abduction, plunged the community into chaos.

Eyewitnesses recounted how the bandits, numbering a large group, descended on the village, terrorizing residents and unleashing violence with impunity. The village, situated approximately 10 kilometers from Dogon Dawa village within the same local government area, became a scene of horror as the assailants roamed freely.

Yahaya Musa Dan Salio, the area's representative in the State House of Assembly, confirmed the grim toll of the attack, revealing that 23 residents lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries. Amid the chaos, some villagers managed to escape into the surrounding bush to evade capture by the marauding bandits.

According to Dan Salio, the bandits also rustled cows from the community, exacerbating the devastation inflicted upon the villagers. The aftermath of the assault saw the community mourn the loss of 23 lives, with 19 victims from Anguwar Danko and four from Kanawa village laid to rest on Thursday.

When contacted for further details, Mansur Hassan, the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, assured that additional information would be provided after authorities reached out to the affected area.

ISRAEL’S REPORTS

IDF: The IDF struck the area from which a rocket was launched toward Ashkelon; IDF troops continue to eliminate terrorists in the central Gaza Strip

On Thursday, a rocket that was launched toward the city of Ashkelon fell in an open area. Within several minutes, IDF artillery struck the area from which the launch was fired in Beit Lahia, and an IDF aircraft struck a weapons storage facility in the area.

IDF troops are continuing to operate in the central Gaza Strip and have eliminated a number of terrorists over the past day.

In one incident, two terrorists who were identified approaching the troops were eliminated in a strike from the air.

Over the past day, assisting the ground forces, IAF aircraft struck and destroyed approximately 25 targets, including military compounds, observation posts, launch posts, and other military infrastructure.

Attached are photos of IDF operational activity: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/anc1904202465514514615465461

Attached is a video of IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/445qCoS

** IDF: COGAT continues the transfer of aid from the Ashdod Port, provides aid to the Jordanian Hospital, while 700 trucks have been cleared to enter Gaza and are awaiting UN agencies

This week, the IDF, via the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Unit (COGAT), is continuing daily efforts to facilitate the transfer of hundreds of trucks containing food supplies and humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, yesterday (Thursday) 276 trucks carrying humanitarian aid passed through the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana border crossings to the Gaza Strip after undergoing thorough security checks. In addition, 144 food packages were airdropped yesterday (Thursday) to distribution points in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the contents of more than 700 humanitarian aid trucks remain on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing after undergoing thorough security inspections, and are waiting to be collected and distributed by UN agencies to the civilians of the Gaza Strip.

In addition, as part of the enhancement of aid corridors to the north, 100 trucks were transferred from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip last night. Among them, 6 trucks entered through the Northern Cossing to the Gaza Strip after undergoing security inspections by security forces at the Kerem Shalom crossing and were accompanied by IDF soldiers.

in accordance with the government directive, on Thursday, nine additional trucks carrying flour from the World Food Program (WFP) were brought into the Gaza Strip from the Ashdod Port.

Furthermore, this past Wednesday, the IDF coordinated the entry of 17 trucks carrying humanitarian aid throught the Northern Gate as part of an aid convoy to the Jordanian Hospital to rotate hospital staff and deliver food supplies, water and medical equipment to support the ongoing operations of the hospital.

The IDF will continue its efforts to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip by land, air and sea in accordance with international law.

Attached are photos of the content of the humanitarian aid trucks on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, waiting to be collected and distributed by UN agencies:

https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/anc180420246584461556

** IDF: Earlier today, three launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into the area of Yiftach in northern Israel. No injuries or damages were reported. IDF artillery fired toward the sources of the launches.

A short while ago, IAF aircraft struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures in the areas of Mansouri and Aitaroun in southern Lebanon.

Attached is a video of the strikes: https://bit.ly/49LwdCa

 

HAMAS’ REPORTS

Al-Quds Brigades - Tulkarm Brigade: Since yesterday evening, our mujahideen in Nour Shams camp have continued to clash with the occupation forces on several fronts.

#Al-Aqsa Flood

** Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades - Hebron:

With God's help and strength, a group of fighters from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was able, at dawn today, to target a Zionist infantry force near the occupied Karmei Tzur settlement with small arms bullets, and the fighters withdrew safely, protected by the Most Merciful.

** Two occupation soldiers were injured during armed clashes with resistance fighters in Nour Shams camp in Tulkarm.

And what is hidden is greater

** Al-Quds Brigades:

We bombed the positions and concentrations of the Zionist enemy positioned east and southeast of Gaza City with (107) missile barrages.

#Al-Aqsa Flood

** Tulkarm Battalion in the Jerusalem Brigades:

We confront the enemy in the clashes in the Nour Shams camp, achieving direct casualties among its ranks

** Hamas resistance: Blinken claimed that we are the ones obstructing the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a confirmation of Washington’s blatant bias towards Zionist fascism. Reality confirms that the one who is disrupting the course of the negotiations for his personal political calculations is the terrorist Netanyahu

** The Mujahideen of the Al-Qassam Brigades targeted the occupation vehicles at the entrance to the Tulkarm camp with explosive devices and bullets.

Al-Qassam Brigades, Tulkarm camp

** Al-Quds Brigades: We bombed “Sderot,” “Niram,” and the Gaza Strip enclave with missile barrages in response to the crimes of the Zionist enemy against our people.

#Al-Aqsa Flood

 

Israel Defense Forces/Hamas Brigade al-Qassam

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine downs Russian strategic bomber after airstrike kills eight, Kyiv says

Ukraine shot down a Russian strategic bomber on Friday after the warplane took part in a long-range airstrike that killed eight people including two children in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv said.

Missiles rained down on the city of Dnipro and the surrounding region in the early hours, damaging residential buildings and the main train station.

Regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said three people died in Dnipro, including a man whose body was pulled from the rubble of a five-storey building, while five others were killed in nearby areas of Dnipropetrovsk region.

A 14-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy were among the dead, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

Russia has stepped up its long-range aerial assaults on Ukraine's energy system and other targets in recent weeks, ratcheting up the pressure on Kyiv behind the front lines where Russian forces have been slowly advancing in the east.

Russia denies targeting civilians and says the energy system is a legitimate target, but hundreds of civilians have been killed during airstrikes.

In a wartime first for Ukraine, Kyiv's top military spy said Ukrainian forces had shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber from a distance of just over 300 km (180 miles) after the plane fired missiles in the overnight attack.

"I can only say the plane was hit at a distance of 308 km, quite far away," Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), said in a BBC-Ukraine interview, parts of which were posted by the agency on the Telegram messaging app.

He said they downed the warplane in the same way Kyiv shot down Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft earlier this year.

An intelligence source told Reuters the plane had been hit using a modified S-200, a Soviet-era long-range surface-to-air missile system.

Unconfirmed social media footage showed a warplane with its tail on fire spiralling towards the ground.

The Russian defence ministry confirmed a bomber had crashed in Russia's southern Stavropol region, hundreds of kilometres from Ukrainian-controlled territory, as it returned to base after carrying out a combat mission.

But it said the crash appeared to have been caused by a technical malfunction.

Of the four Russian air force crew members ejected from the warplane, two were rescued, one died and a rescue operation was under way for the fourth, the Russian regional governor said.

ZELENSKIY SAYS DECISIONS NEEDED NOW

Civilians in a five-storey residential building hit in Dnipro said they were shaken up. The building's top floor was partially destroyed and firefighters battled to put out a fire early in the morning.

"My wife and daughter are in shock. They say they won't go back to the apartment and asked me to evacuate them somewhere because they won't be able to stay here anymore," said Serhii, a resident.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the site of the strike and called on Ukraine's allies to rush in supplies of air defences as Ukraine's stocks dwindle due to a slowdown in vital Western military aid.

Ukraine's air force said it shot down 15 incoming missiles, including two Kh-22 cruise missiles and 14 drones overnight.

Air defences shot down 11 of 16 missiles and nine of 10 drones targeting the Dnipropetrovsk region, governor Lysak said.

Zelenskiy said more Russian missiles had struck the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi in the southern Odesa region on Friday afternoon, destroying grain storage facilities and foodstuffs they contained.

 

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

NATO ‘one step away’ from sending troops to Ukraine – Orban

The leaders of the EU and NATO are potentially ready to deploy forces to Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed on Friday. Brussels sees the conflict between Moscow and Kiev as its “own” and is failing to consider the risks arising from its ever-deeper involvement, he warned.

The mood of EU leaders is “one of war,” Orban told a gathering of his Fidesz Party ahead of the EU Parliament elections. “There is a pro-war majority in Brussels today,” he said, adding that the bloc’s politics “are dominated by the logic of war.” EU politicians are already so invested in the conflict that they fail to see the flaws in their strategy, the prime minister argued.

Despite all the “money and weapons, the situation is not improving [for Kiev], in fact, it is getting worse… We are one step away from the West sending troops to Ukraine,” Orban warned. “This is a vortex of war that can drag Europe into its depths. Brussels is playing with fire.”

Budapest will not let itself be dragged into the hostilities, and “will not enter… the war on either side,” the prime minister pledged, adding that his country “must stand for peace”everywhere, including in “Brussels, Washington, the UN and NATO.”

“We don't want war, and we don't want Hungary to become a toy of great powers again,” Orban stated.

The idea of sending NATO troops to Ukraine has been repeatedly floated by Western leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron first raised it in February, saying “all options are possible.”

Macron has since doubled down, stating that there are “no limits” to support for Kiev. His words initially alarmed some NATO allies, who quickly denied having such plans. However, the French leader did receive backing from certain members of the US-led military bloc.

In March, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Russia’s military operation in Ukraine requires an “asymmetric escalation” on the part of the West. Warsaw’s top diplomat also called the idea of a NATO presence in Ukraine “not unthinkable.”

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said earlier in April that every NATO member already has military personnel in Ukraine operating as advisers or instructors. Last week, former British minister of state for the armed forces James Heappey told Sky News that sending NATO forces to Ukraine did “deserve consideration.”

Moscow has repeatedly warned that deploying NATO troops in Ukraine would bring the US-led bloc to the brink of a full-blown conflict with Russia. President Vladimir Putin stated in March that it would be “one step shy of a full-scale World War III.”

 

Reuters/RT

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Millions of students are using generative artificial intelligence to write papers as the popularity of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT proliferates.

A report this week from Turnitin, an online plagiarism spotting service for educators that recently launched an AI detection tool, said that over 22 million student papers (11% of the sample reviewed by the company) used AI to generate at least 20% of the writing since April 2023. Turnitin reviewed over 200 million papers across the globe, mostly from higher education institutions.

“We’re at an important juncture in education where technologies are transforming learning, and the need for academic integrity is more critical than ever. Everyone in education is looking for resources to enable them to perform at their best, and technologies, including our AI writing detection feature, help advance learning without sacrificing academic integrity.” — Annie Chechitelli, chief product officer of Turnitin

Educators and lawmakers alike are scrambling to address how AI is used in education amid concerns of cheating and plagiarism. So far, five U.S. states— West Virginia, Oregon, North Carolina, California, and Washington — have instituted policies governing the use of AI in schools. Individual colleges and universities are coming up with their own policies. But things are mostly still up in the air, and even state guidelines show the lack of clarity.

“...it is perhaps shortsighted to automatically consider all use of AI as ‘cheating’. Educators will need to rethink their ideas of what constitutes plagiarism and cheating in today’s world, and adapt their teaching, assignments, and expectations to this new reality.”— North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Concerns over AI helping students cheat are overblown, though, according to recent research from Stanford. The percentage of high school students who cheated on assignments actually dipped in 2023 as ChatGPT began taking off, researchers found.

“There are so many reasons why students cheat. They might be struggling with the material and unable to get the help they need…We need to help students and educators find ways to discuss the ethics of using this technology and when it is and isn’t useful for student learning.” — Denise Pope, senior lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Education

By the numbers

60-70%: Share of U.S. students who engage in at least one “cheating behavior” during the course of a month, a figure that’s been high “long before ChatGPT hit the scene,” Pope said.

220 million: Number of papers reviewed by Turnitin.

11%: Share of student papers found to have at least 20% AI-generated writing, or about 22 million.

3%: Share of student papers found to have at least 80% AI-generated writing, or about 6 million.

5: Number of states with AI guidelines for their public schools.

75%: Percentage of respondents in a recent  survey conducted by the investment bank Tyton Partners who said they’d keep using AI to complete assignments even if their institutions or teachers banned it.

 

Quartz

S&P Global has revealed that the Dangote refinery's relaxed quality standards for diesel have resulted in a significant reduction in domestic prices, marking a notable shift in Nigeria's fuel landscape. The decision to lower domestic prices by 37 percent was attributed to the production of high-sulphur diesel at the refinery.

In its report released on Thursday, S&P Global detailed how the high-sulphur diesel produced by the Dangote refinery led to the strategic move to decrease domestic prices. Unlike low-sulphur diesel, which is considered cleaner for the environment with sulphur levels below 500 ppm, high-sulphur diesel is primarily used for off-road purposes due to its potential to cause engine damage.

The reduction in prices was announced by the Dangote refinery on April 16, with the automotive gas oil (diesel) now priced at N1,000 per litre. This move has been facilitated by the relaxation of quality controls for diesel supply, enabling the refinery to gain a competitive edge over imports.

According to S&P Global, three market sources confirmed that the initial diesel supplies from the refinery had a sulphur content of around 650 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the 200 ppm cap enforced by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on imported products since March. This deviation from the regulatory cap has allowed the refinery to swiftly penetrate the market and mitigate fuel import costs, particularly amidst the depreciation of the naira.

Despite the refinery's intention to produce diesel conforming to Euro 5 specifications (10 ppm), its current production remains contingent on the full operationalization of its distillate hydrocracker unit. The report also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the future sulphur content of Dangote's diesel supplies, as well as the response of importers to rapidly evolving specifications.

As the market adapts to these changes, the flow of diesel into West Africa faces growing uncertainty, with traders grappling with shifting specifications and supply dynamics. The production of high-sulphur diesel during refinery ramp-up stages is deemed characteristic, reflecting operational challenges and potential outage risks.

In light of these developments, stakeholders await further clarity on the trajectory of Dangote's diesel production and its implications for Nigeria's fuel market.

Nigeria has reached a pivotal agreement with Shell for the supply of gas to its ambitious $3.8 billion Brass methanol facility, marking a significant breakthrough in overcoming key obstacles towards the final investment decision on the project. Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, announced the milestone on Thursday, heralding a new era of progress for Nigeria's natural gas sector.

Blessed with Africa's largest natural gas reserves exceeding 200 trillion cubic feet, Nigeria has long grappled with unlocking the full potential of this valuable resource, hindered by financial limitations and inadequate infrastructure. However, with the Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) now in sight, Nigeria stands poised to harness its gas wealth for economic advancement.

According to Ekpo, negotiations with Shell's Nigeria CEO and executives from other key stakeholders have yielded fruitful outcomes, paving the way for the imminent execution of the GSPA next month.

This agreement is instrumental for the Brass methanol project, which will be situated on Brass Island in Bayelsa state.

The GSPA secures a reliable, long-term gas supply from a Shell-operated joint venture, ensuring sustained operations for the methanol production facility.

The commitment of the NNPC/Shell joint venture partners to provide uninterrupted gas supply underscores their dedication to the success of the Brass Methanol project.

The project encompasses a comprehensive infrastructure setup, including a gas processing plant, a methanol production and refining site, as well as export facilities for the finished products. With this agreement in place, Nigeria takes a decisive step forward in realizing its vision of becoming a global player in the methanol industry, leveraging its abundant natural gas resources for sustainable development and economic growth.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) unveiled a staggering revelation: 24.6 million children across Nigeria are ensnared in the clutches of child labour. This revelation emerged from the comprehensive 'Nigeria Child Labour Survey 2022', a report published to shed light on this grave societal issue.

The report pinpointed states like Cross River, Yobe, and Abia as the front-runners in this distressing chart, with figures soaring above 60 percent, painting a grim picture of the prevalence of child labour in these regions. According to the NBS, child labour encompasses any form of work that deprives children under 18 of their rightful childhood, potential, and dignity, exerting detrimental effects on their physical and mental well-being.

Unveiling the stark reality, the report highlighted that children between the ages of 5 to 17 are embroiled in economic activities constituting child labour, with a staggering 39.2 percent, equivalent to 24,673,485 children, trapped in this vicious cycle. Alarmingly, over 14 million of these children are subjected to hazardous work, accounting for 22.9 percent of children in this age bracket.

According to the report, there is a marginal difference in child labour participation between genders, with males slightly edging out females at 39.6 percent versus 38.8 percent. Moreover, it underscored a glaring geographical divide, with rural areas bearing the brunt of this crisis. Approximately 44.8 percent of children aged 5-17 in rural settings are embroiled in child labour, compared to 30 percent in urban areas.

Hazardous work exacerbates the plight of rural children, with more than 10.5 million engaged in such perilous activities, representing 26.8 percent of rural children, compared to 16.3 percent in urban locales. The report further dissected the age-based vulnerability, revealing that older children, particularly in the 15–17 age group, are disproportionately ensnared in hazardous work.

Zooming into the regional landscape, the northwest geopolitical zone emerges as the epicenter of this crisis, harboring the highest number of children in child labour. However, the south-east region, despite hosting a relatively smaller number of children in child labour, exhibits the highest prevalence rate at 49.9 percent.

State-wise, Cross River registers the highest percentage of children in child labour at a staggering 67.4 percent, closely followed by Yobe state at 62.6 percent. Conversely, Lagos state has the lowest child labour rate at 8.9 percent.