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Showing posts from May, 2022

Fed Govt Slightly Reverse The Price of PMS

Queue at the filing station  The President,  Petroleum Products Retailers Owners of Nigeria( PETROAN), Dr Billy Gills Harry, says the reduction of the product, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited( NNPCL) is good for the nation'struggling economy, as it would help in soften the difficult situations posed by the sharp rise in the price of petroleum products. While reacting to the issue through a statement issued and signed to the NEWSMIRROR yesterday, Harry said that the slight reversal of the price by NNPCL shows that the government is committed to the alleviation of the problems of the masses. According to him, the reduction in the price per litre of Petrol Motoring Spirit( PMS) from N1,020 per litre to N899 per litre is good, adding that the country will soon get over its problem, if the readjustment of the economy continues. Also, PETROAN's Public Relation Officer, Dr  Joseph Obele said that Dangote Petroleum Refinery had earlier started the r...

CBN justifies intervention in power sector

By Akinola Ajibade  The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) embarked on several performance improvement projects in order reduce the problems facing the industry, the apex bank's Directors of Developmental Finance, Strategy Management, Trade and Exchange, Messrs Yusuf Philips, Clement Buhari and Ozoemena Nnaji, have said. They spoke during their visit to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company ( EKEDC) recently. The visit was part of the monitoring and evaluation tour of the CBN- funded intervention facilities for electricity distribution  companies in Nigeria.  They all justified the interve ntion of CBN in the nation's power sector. Speaking,Yila explained that the CBN  had intervened by funding the procurement, installation, rehabilitation, and replacement of some electricity distribution infrastructure to assist the Discos’ capacity in the delivery of adequate and reliable power supply to Nigerians. He said the  CBN commenced phase zero of the National Mass Meteri...

Uber and e-cab drivers will go on strike, if ........

By Akinola Ajibade Drivers of Uber and Bolt e-cab have threatened to go on strike, in the event that there is no upward review of the fares, they are charging Nigerians. They stated this during a press conference in Abuja recently.   Operating under the National Coalition of Ridesharing Professional (NACORP), the Uber and Bolt e-cab drivers have commenced a three-day warning strike over alleged exploitation and. extortion by e-hailing companies. The warning strike, the body said will last between May 31st and June 1st,2022 after which they may consider other drastic measures to get the authority’s to hearken to their demands,which include immediate upward review of e-cab fares to reflect the current economic reality in the country. Speaking at a press briefing,the Deputy Coordinator Administration, Fred Aleburu,NACORP, advocated the need for the profiling of the riders ( passengers ) for security purpose. He implored government authorities to come to their aid by invoking rele...

Fed Govt urged to improve importation of refinery equipment

By Akinola Ajibade The Federal Government should invest more on quality infrastructures in orde to reduce importation of quality refinery equipment,which otherwise can be sourced locally, the President/Chief Executive officer, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has said.  He spoke at the recent Nigerian Content Midstream – Downstream Oil and Gas Summit 2022,in Lagos recently. He  noted that the development of specific, sustainable equipment manufacturing and services should be the focus of the Nigerian Content Delivery Monitoring Board(NCDMB and the Federal Government. He added:“Funding of a project should be to ensure that substantial part of the product plant must be of Nigerian origin; the same applies to goods and services. Government should ensure a single digit tax regime to encourage investment in the downstream sector”. Represented at the event by the Technical Consultant, Dangote Industries Limited, Engr. Babajide Soyode, Dangote said that the coming on stream o...

Adamawa demotes 20 judges, sacks 11 eleven workers

By Akinola Ajibade  Twenty judges in the Adamawa State Judicial  Service Commission(JSC) have been demoted for securing employment with forged certificates recently.  Also, the Commission has dismissed eleven staff in order to serve as deterrent to others. Those demoted include a Magistrate, now Registrar and twenty others, who used fake certificates to obtain promotions. However, the Commission has  approved the appointment of Victoria Jonah Polycarp and Yahya Abdullahi as Deputy Chief Registrars for the High Court. In a statement signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Hindatu W. Lamorde, and obtained by the media, the commission said that it has approved the appointment of a Director and a Deputy Director. It  added that Abubakar Ishaku has been appointed as Acting Deputy Chief Registrar Sharia Court of Appeal. Recall that the Secretary to the Commission, Hindatu W. Lamorde, said at its 177th meeting held on the 25th May, 2022, that the Commission has appr...

31 people died in a stampede in Rivers state'

'31 people died in a stampede in Rivers state'  By Akinola Ajibade No fewer than thirty one worshippers lost their lives during a stampede caused by a church programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital recently. The state police command, in a statement, said that a new generation church organised an outreach programme, which resulted in the stampede in the Garden City. The church, named as the Kings Assembly, the statement said, was said to have invited members of the public to partake in the event and promised that gift items and food would he served. The church is located in the GRA axis of Port Harcourt, but the event was to hold at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, a bigger facility to accomodate the anticipated crowd. The acting spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the 31 death, saying the church had organized the outreach to give out palliatives to the underprivileged before the unexpected occured. It was learnt that the crowd overstretch...

Hopes, as CBN ready to fund Ikeja Electric's Metering Project

Hopes, as CBN ready to fund Ikeja Electric's  Metering Project By Akinola Ajibade Hopes on the horizon for customers in need of meters at Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company ( IEDC) as the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) has promised to provide funds for the Phase One of the metering project of the company. The Director of Development Finance, CBN, Yila Yusuf, said it is this  during a monitoring and evaluation tour of IKEDC facilities in Ikeja, Lagos, where he also expressed the bank’,s satisfaction with the projects executed with funds earlier disbursed. He said:“Let me say that Ikeja Electricity is very innovative; we have followed some of the things you have done, especially providing electricity upward of 20 hours with different prices, among others.I think that’s the only way you can ensure that you run the DISCO well. I look at all the performance numbers, month by month and you have done excellently well, to be honest compared to the others. “We will continue to task...

NECO: Police arrests couple, three others over job racketeering

By Akinola Ajibade The seemingly badly managed Nigeria's economy  and its attendant criminal activities have dragged five people into the police detention. They are couple ( husband and wife) and three other accomplices.  Their offence: The five were caught engaging in job racketeering using the National Examination Council ( NECO) to hoodwink to pay certain amount of money to their pockets. They were attested by Niger State Police Command The News Mirror gathered that the syndicate has allegedly defrauded over 50 persons of monies worth N1miliiion. Reliable sources said that the syndicate has allegedly have wooed their victims with promises of providing them employment at the National Examinations Council’s headquarters in Minna. The syndicate, it was gathered, were posting as recruiting agents at a hotel in Minna, where they arrested after a tip-off  by the internal security network set up by NECO’s Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi. Those arrested are a 28-year-old woma...

Fed Govt, Others Get N656.6b From Federation Account

By Akinola Ajibade The Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils were given a total sum of N65 6.602 billion as revenue from Federation Account Revenue for 2022 by the  Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a virtual meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for May 2022. The N656.602 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N461.189 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N166.522 billion, the sum of N8.891 billion being Excess Bank Charges Recovered and augmentation of N20.000 billion. In April 2022, the total deductions for cost of collection was N29.609 billion and total deductions for transfers and refunds was N147.651 billion. The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $35.377 million. The communiqué confirmed that from the total distributable revenue of N656.602 billion; the Federal Government received...

Temile/Hyundai contract aligns with NCDMB's growth strategies

By Akinola Ajibade The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Simbi Wabote has said that the decision by Temile Development Company to  sign  two separate  contracts in the sector, aligns with the Board' strategies to stimulate growth in the nation's oil and gas industry. The indigenous shipping firm signed a contract with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for the construction of a new 23,000 cubic meters Liquefied Petroleum Gas Carrier Vessel on one hand and NMSL for the construction and supervision of the vessel on the other hand. NMSL, an integrated maritime services firm, is a subsidiary of Liquefied Natural Gas( LNG) Limited. The  construction of a LPG carrier vessel is sequel to the first vessel one provided by Temile in 2018 and is currently being used for chartered purposes by LNG. Speaking at the sidelines of an agreement signing ceremony in Daegu, South Korea, Wabote said that the initiative is a good one,...

Obi resigns from PDP, pulls out of presidential primary

By Akinola Ajibade Barely three days to the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), the former  governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has resigned from the party. He an nounced his resignation from the main opposition party amidst claims by the sons and daughters of Igboland that the East has what it takes to produce the next president of Nigeria. Obi, who was running mate to the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the last presidential election, resigned from the part   in a letter dated May 24 and addressed to the National Chairman of the main opposition party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Besides dumping the PDP, the presidential aspirant also said he was pulling out of the contest for the party’s ticket – few days to the exercise. He explained that he took theto leave the party because of his firm commitment to rescuing Nigeria, even if the route differs. Although Obi said it was a great honour to contribute to nation-building efforts through PDP, he lam...

Tarrifs Adjustment: Nigerians may pay more electricity bills as from July, this year

By Akinola Ajibade Consumers are likely going to pay more for energy,  as from second quarter of 2022, if the decision of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to review the tarrifs again go according to plans.  The regulatory body had few months ago, carried out an upward review of the electricity tarrifs, in order to reflect its cost of production and consumption in the country.  In a memo marked: “Notice Of Compliance in Respect of the Biannual Review of the Revenue Requirements of Licensees and made available to News Mirror, the power sector regulator said that the adjustment will cover among others, changes in relevant macroeconomic indices.. The statement reads: “Pursuant to the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), NERC adopted the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) methodology in setting out the basis and procedures for determination of licensees’ revenue requirements and review of electricity tariffs in Nigeria. The b...

Abuja: A school teacher will appear in court over sexual assault soon

By Akinola Ajibade A 39-year old teacher, Igoche Daniel would in the next few days  appear in Court soon over allegation of sexual asault leveled against him. Igoche, a staff at Destiny Christian Academy, Airport Road, Abuja allegedly assaulted a 14-,year old school girl recently and was subsequently charged to Abuja High Court by the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Command of the Nigerian Police. The Academy was owned by Dunamis International Gospel Church, a fast rising  pentecostal church with branches in Abuja and other parts of the country. During the court’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel, John Ijagbemi, informed the court that this was the second time the accused person would be absent in court and thereafter declared that Daniel should be arrested for further investigations. He added:”The defendant has chosen to be absent in court for the second time since he was released on bail. He had been duly served with the charges. He is yet to be arraigned in...

Energy Transition: Nigeria, Others Need $15.7Trn To Upgrade Refineries

By Akinola Ajibade  N igeria and other African countries would need at le ast  $15.7 billion to upgrade existing refineries, if they want to reduce sulphur content in the refined fuel, th e African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) has said. The body has as its members crude oil refining nations, as well as ensuring that they operate in line with the best practices required of them globally. Speaking at the second Refining and Specifications Virtual Workshop organised by the ARDA,  its Executive Secretary, Anibor Kragha said that the upgrade was necessary to ensure that Africa embraces cleaner sources of fuels. He noted that adoption of harmonised specification would halt importation of fuels not meeting the AFRI specs into Africa. He added that the development  would give existing refineries until 2030 to upgrade their facilities to produce cleaner, lower sulphur AFRI-6 specifications, arguing that targeted financing was urgently needed for pr...

'Govt will generate N90.49b from phone calls soon'

By Akinola Ajibade A new tax directives on telephone calls made in Nigeria is underway, the News Mirror has learnt. The directives, when imposed on  Nigerias  by the Federal Government, would take fake in N90.49 billion to the coffers of the state annually in order to take care of the health of the vulnerables.  Known as telecom tax, the idea would enable the government to generate equivalent of a minimum  of one kobo per second on phone calls, which would serve as sources of finds required to finance free healthcare for the vulnerable group in Nigeria. According to the Health Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Vulnerable Group Fund is money budgeted to pay for healthcare services for Nigerians, whom by virtue of their ailments are unable to pay for health insurance, which would help reduce the cost of provision of healthcare services to them in the country. It added that the Vulnerable Group Fund will subsidise the provision of healthcare to children under five, pregnant w...

Oil firms leverage on technology to improve growth

By Akinola Ajibade  Oil and gas companies are tapping into digital technologies to improve productivity and profitability, says GlobalData, a data and analytics company said Digitalization, which involves the adoption of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics in day-to-day oil and gas operations, is enabling the industry to improve productivity and profitability by streamlining operations and cutting costs, it added in a latest report. According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Digitalization in Oil and Gas – Thematic Research’, digital technologies can deliver actionable insights for an oil and gas asset and help companies to reduce their capital and operating expenditures. Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, said: “The adoption of digital technologies in the oil and gas industry has been previously hindered by the shortage of skilled technicians, concerns over data se...

NNPC/ Sahara Group collaborate to chance energy transition

    NNPC'S GMD By Akinola Ajibade The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Sahara Group have formed a joint venture, with a view to enhance Africa's transition to cleaner fuels.  While NNPC remains the country's National Oil Company (NOC), Sahara Group is a leading energy infrastructure congolmerate, with interest in electricity and allied matters. Globally, economies are working to transit from fossil to zero carbon fuels, in line with the climate summit held in United Kingdom recently. Through this means, NNPC has taken delivery of two 23,000 CBM Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels at the Hyundai MIPO Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, with plans to add 10 vessels in 10 years to enhance Africa’s transition to cleaner fuels. The new vessels, MT BARUMK and MT SAPET have increased NNPC and Sahara Group’s joint venture investment to over $300million, approaching the JV’s $1billion gas infrastructure commitment by 2026. The fleet previously compr...

South-East and South-South dominate cooking gas' sales in April, says NBS

South-East and South-South dominate cooking gas' sales in April, says NBS  By Akinola Ajibade The average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria in the month of April stood at N4, 041.39, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics has said. The body, in its latest report, said that the cost of LPG LPG in the region was the highest for the month, followed by the South-South region at N3896.59 and North-Central region at N3835.83 per 5kg cylinder. Titled, “Liquefied Petroleum Gas Price Watch List April 2022” the report shows that the North-West region recorded the lowest average retail price of LPG for the month at N3572.83 per 5kg cylinder. According to the report, the average price for refilling 5kg LPG stood at N3800.47 in April 2022, from N3778.30 recorded in March 2022. The average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas stood at N3800.47 in April 2022, from N3778.30 recorded in March 2022,...

'Reasons behind Oladiji'rejection as FUTA's VC'

By Akinola Ajibade The Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) rejected the appointment of Prof Adenike Temidayo Oladiji as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) on the grounds of frauds. Oladiji, female was appointed the eight substantive VC of the school days ago, but failed to get the nod of its Senate. The rejection of Prof. Oladiji was contained in a press statement signed by Prof. P. A. Aborisade and Prof. M. B. Oyun. In the statement, the two concerned members of the senate alleged that the selection process of the first female Vice-Chancellor was fraught with fraud and lacks transparency. According to them, the appointment was contrary to the laws of the university, (Act No 11 of 1993) as amended (2003) concerning the processes of the selection of a Vice-Chancellor. “Section 3 (b) states: The Council shall select one candidate from among the three candidates submitted to it under subsection (3) of this section and forward his name ...

Police intercept bomb-making devices in Kano By Akinola Ajibade

Police have begun investigations in order to determine the owners of the ammunitions, which was intercepted during the week in Kano. Its spokesman in the state, Abdullahi Kiyawa said that detectives and other investigators have been detailed to commence probing into the carche of arms found in the vehicle seized by recently. He said, in a statement, that the vehicle is loaded with bomb-making devices and two AK47 rifles in Kano. He said: " At about 4.30pm on Thursday, the police received intelligence reports that a Mercedes Benz Motor Vehicle, ash in color with suspected sophisticated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) is coming from Jigawa State to Kano State. The  state commissioner of Police,  CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko,  immediately raised a crack team comprising Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defence (EOD-CBRN) and Operation Puff Adder. Adding that: " Following a hot chase, the suspects abandoned the Motor Vehicle at Bubb...

'No plans to replace Naira with digital currency now' says CBN. By Akinola Ajibade

The central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) refuted the claims in some media organisations ( Not News Mirror) that its replacing the  Naira notes in circulation with digital currency, the eNaira, soon. The Director, corporate communications Department of the apex bank, Mr Osita Nwanisobi, in an interview with the media at the weekend, said that there was no iota of truth in the story. According to him, the statement was purportedly  made during a stakeholders’ engagement on eNaira adoption in Asaba, Delta state, adding that it was misconstrued by Nigerians, urging stakeholders to disregard the news  in it’s entirety.  Continuing futh, Nwanisobi said that the digital version of the Naira is meant to complement the existing currency notes and therefore, will circulate simultaneously as means of exchange and store of value. On the benefits of adopting the eNaira, Nwanisobi  said that the digital legal tender aside from the safety and speedy features, it will also ensure grea...

Civil Servant Bags 7 years over employment scam

A convict By Akinola Ajibade A public office holder  in the Office of the Head of Civil Service for the Federation, Mr Amdii Monday Gideon has been sentenced to seven-years  imprisonment over his involvement in employment scams. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) secured a jail term for him for engaging in scam and related criminal activities.  The convict was accused of demanding the sum of N250,000 and receiving the sum of N162,500 from an applicant with the promise to procure a job for him at the Federal Civil Service Commission. The victim had reported the matter to ICPC after the convict failed to procure the said job and refused to refund his money. ICPC's Spokesman, Mrs.Azuka Ogugua, in a statement issued and sent to the media, said during the trial, counsel to ICPC, Michael Adesola, had in a 5-count charge told the court of how the action of the convict negates sections 8 and 10 of the Corrupt Practices and O...

Shift to cleaner energy in Africa is very important, Slyvia

By Akinola Ajibade African countries, including, Nigeria need to shift attention from fossil fuels to cleaner energy use for growth, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said.  Africa boasts of 54 countries and they include Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Niger, Angola, Burundi, Algeria, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Cote'd Voire, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mali, Chad, Cameroon, Eriteria, Sierra Leone among others. Speaking during an annual symposium and Exhibition organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers( SPE) and made available to the media by his media aide Huratius Egua, Sylvia said Africa has the potentials to lead the transition to a net-zero energy in the future. He said northwithstanding the fact that Africa has a  significantly untapped fossil fuel reserves, which could provide much-needed foreign direct investment and export revenue, the continent has what it ta...

China secretly increases purchase of low-priced Russian oil

By Akinola Ajibade The last is yet to be seen about the travails, which Russians are going throug, since the war between her and neighbouring stste- Ukraine broke out months ago.  Apart from the fact that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation( NATO) and other global bodies backing Ukraine in order to whittle down the nuclear power of Russia, the country is not enjoying the best of time at the global oil market, where its weilding much influence due to its large Oil deposits. Recently, China aggred to secretly   ramp up purchases of oil from Russia at bargain prices, according to shipping data and oil traders interview with Reuters. The move by the world’s biggest oil importer comes a month after it initially cut back on Russian supplies, for fear of appearing to openly support Moscow and potentially expose its state oil giants to sanctions. China’s seaborne Russian oil imports will jump to a near-record 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, up from 750,000 bp...

'Aircrafts experience landing problems at Murtala International Airport'

By Akinola Ajibade International flights, were yesterday, prevented from landing or taking off at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.  The development, which affected the international wing of the nation's flagship airport was caused by the mangled body of a dead man found on Runaway 18R of the airport. Neither can the identity of the corpse be ascertained nor the cause of death of the man as at of press time. While some airport officials thought that the man was probably knocked down by an aircraft taking off, others differs, as they said that the aircraft might be landing on the runaway, when the incident happened. News Mirror gathered that the runway was temporarily shut down while a team of officials from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force evacuated the corpse from the runway. During the temporary shutdown of the runway, international flights were prevented from landing and taking off from the airport’s international terminal. MMI airpo...

'Why Malami, Ngige, others attended FEC meeting as observers'

By Akinola Ajibade The Federal Government' appointees  were allowed to attend the Federal Executive Council ( FEC) as mere observers, not as participants with constitutional rights to deliberate on national issues.  They are the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen. The development is coming on the heels of the resignation letters they rendered, in order to be able to contest for the presidential election in 2023. While reacting to the issue, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed  said that the only President Muhammad Buhari ( retd) could determine the fate of the four ministers, who had been hosted at a valedictory ceremony last week only for them to make U-turn and dumped their political ambitions. Also, Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana said that the meeting was presided over...

Heirs Oil& Gas pledges to meet Africa's energy needs

By Akinola Ajibade  Africa’s integrated energy company has promised to meet the energy needs of Africa, just as it emerged the winner of Project Finance International ( PFI) Award.. The company wins the ‘Africa deal of the year 2021’ following the $1.1 billion financing and acquisition of45% stake in OML 17 in 2021. “On behalf of the HHOG team, I would like to thank PFI for this great honour which recognises the OML 17 acquisition deal, while also acknowledging the efforts of the entire team involved in the transaction.” said Executive Director, Heirs Oil & Gas, Samuel Nwanze. The deal, which was announced in January 2021, witnessed Heirs Holdings, the leading African strategic investor, in partnership with affiliated company Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), acquire a 45% participating interest in Nigerian oil license OML 17 and related assets from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, and ENI. Acknowledging the award, ...

Omiyi becomes Seplat's Non-executive Chair

By Akinola Ajibade Seplat Energy Plc has appointed Mr Basil Omiyi as the company's new Independent Non-Executive Chairman.  The firm, which is dual listed in both the Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE) and London Stock Exchange ( LSE)  in a statement made available to the News Mirror, said in statement that the appointment is with  immediate effect.  His appointment, the statement said, follows a thorough assessment of internal and external candidates and was approved after a unanimous vote by all Directors of Seplat Energy, in compliance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act in Nigeria (“CAMA”). Also,  Dr. Charles Okeahalam succeeds Mr. Omiyi as the Senior Independent Non- Executive Director. Mr. Omiyi has been a member of Seplat Energy’s Board of Directors since March 2013 and as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director from 1 February 2021. During this period, he sat on the Company’s Remuneration, Nominations & Governance, Energy Transition, ...

OKADA BAN: POLICE AND RIDERS CLASH IN OJO AREA OF LAGOS

'No more Okada business in some areas in Lagos' says Sanwoolu

By Akinola Ajibade An end has come to the operation of motorcycles as a means of transportation in Lagos, as the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced a total ban on  their operation on all highways across six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in  the state. He also directed security operatives to  enforce the proscription order across the listed councils from June 1st,2022. The affected councils are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa. The  ban order extends to all LCDAs under the listed councils.  Sanwoolu spoke after  after a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the State House in Alausa. The fresh Okada ban was sequel to the February 2020 restriction placed on the activities of the commercial motorcycles. He explained that  the government took the decision in line with the State’s Transport Sect...

ICPC arraigns a Don over $40,000 bribe By Akinola Ajibade

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC) has arraigned one Professor John Kester Ifeanyichukwu over allegations of bribery and inducement of officers of the Commission. In a single-count charge brought before Honourable Justice A.O. Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court 12, sitting in Apo, Abuja, ICPC accused the Professor of issuing a cheque valued at $40,000 to a staff of the commission. . A statement signed by the Spokesperson of the commission, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, said,”The cheque was part of the $50,000 and a house in Abuja, promised to the officer to compromise investigation by retrieving the accused person’s devices, MacBook S/N CIML8BUGDTY3, MacBook S/N W80204J7ATN and iPhone pro11 which were in the custody of ICPC for investigative activities. “John Kester Ifeanyichukwu had earlier been reported to the Commission by the Presidency for alleged acts bordering on corruption, extortion and money laundering.” ICPC, in a char...

NEMA recovers nine bodies from collapsed building

By Akinola Ajibade No fewer than nine bodies have been recovered from the rubbles of the building, which collapsed beside a primary school at Aba Road, Sabon Gari area of Kano, the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) has said. The building collapsed following explosions from gas cylinders in the area. According to the agency's spokesman, Manzo Ezekiel in a statement made available to the media yesterday ( Tuesday),  the Director General of NEMA, Habib Ahmed was at the site of the incident where coordinated the rescue operations. The statement said the  agency’s boss  mobilized excavators being used for the rescue operations, assuring that, NEMA’s team will ensure complete removal of the rubbles to retrieve all trapped persons. He also instructed the NEMA rescue team to remain at the site until conclusion of the rescue and to work together with security agencies and other response organisations present at the location. He added:”NEMA is presently coord...

'No plans to rewrite UTME in 2022' says JAMB

By Akinola Ajibade Parents and students thinking that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) made errors in scoring candidates during the its recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and as a result, would organise a new one, should dismiss the thoughts. JAMB just concluded UTME for candidates that are eyeing admission into Universities, Polytechnics and other tietary institutions. The body, in a statement signed by its Head, Public Affairs, Fabian Benjamin and made available to New Mirror, JAMB said that there was no iota of truth in the information and that candidates and parents should ignore it. The statement maintained for the  umpteenth time, that the UTME is a Computer-based Test (CBT) that are scored electronically with no human mediation whatsoever. It said:”Consequently, the unfounded rumours making the rounds are nothing but the products of the deceitful brains of the masterminds of these baseless imputations. “Hence, ...