NEWS MIRROR

Gbobo By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Shall Gas Limited (SNG) will continue to collaborate with manufacturers and other stakeholders in the industry in order to find lasting solution to current challenges  facing the supply of domestic gas to them, its Managing Director, Mr. Ralph Gbobo, has said. He said this during in Lagos during the  manufacturing equipment and raw material expo, organized by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria( MAN) recently. According to him, the company's commitment to provide manufacturing and industrial customers with clean, reliable, low-cost alternative to liquid fuel is strong, adding that the firm is ready to  assist in building a stronger Nigerian economy.  He said:”Immediate implementation, at zero cost to government, of initiatives such as enforcing discipline and transparency in the gas transportation network operation, enforcing contractual terms across the gas value chain and implementing the Network Code, and enforcemen

Akeredolu  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday, handed over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.  This follows his critical health conditions and the urgent need to fly him abroad for immediate medical attention.  Earlier,  the Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tiinubu, has issued a directive to Ondo State House of Assembly to commence procedures on how to hand over the reins of government to Akeredolu' s deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa without conditions.  In a statement  issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde, the state will expedite actions on the matter in order to ensure quick recovery of the governor. Akeredolu will be embarking on medical leave tomorrow, Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his treatment. “During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties,” the statement obtain

2023 CAF Awards: Super Falcons Emerged Team Of The Year By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Nigerian female football team, Super Falcons, has won the National Team Of the Year during the 2023 Confederation of African Football award in Marrakesh, Morocco. This followed the team's impressive showing at the World Cup earlier in the year. The Falcons were knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 at the hands of England after losing on penalty shootouts. Before the defeat, the Super Falcons did not lose a match in their three group games. They drew Olympic champions Canada, shock co-hosts Australia, and settled for a point against the Republic of Ireland.

Late Bello  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade A popular broadcaster with the Nigerian Television Authority, Aisha Bello Mustapha, is dead. Bello, who was well known on the Network News at 9pm, passed on in the early hours of yesterday, Monday. She was said to have served as a General Manager of the NTA Parliament before she retired in May 2022. Details about her death are still sketch at the time of writing this report. It was gathered that funeral prayer would be held for her at the National Mosque in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, today. The late Bello was known to have worked alongside veterans like Cyril Stober, Eugenia Abu, among others. She was most recognized for her critical role as one of the top newsreaders on NTA Network News at 9 PM in the 1990s and early 20s. In a statement, the family broke the devastating news, saying, “Innalilahi wa inna Alaihin Rajiun. May Allah forgive Hajia Aishat Bello Mustapha, our mother. You really are a very kind person

Osimhen during the awards ceremony award in  Marrakesh, Morocco  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has won the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of The Year award. He won the award ahead of  Senegal’s Sadio Mane, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, among others.

NCC's EVC/ CEO, Dr Maida  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Nigeria will simultaneously welcome two more submarine cables soon, with a view to aid connectivity in the country. While one of the cables will be in Lagos, the second cable is going to be in Akwa-Ibom state. The cables will ensure that those not yet connected are connected and further enhancing their usage at affordable rates.  Submarine cables are primarily used by operators  the telecommunication industry in order to ensure they effective services. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who stated this in Lagos, assured investors of the support of the Commission as soon as the tho cables were deployed in the country. He said the support of the Commission awaits law-abiding investors like Meta, (formerly Facebook), which responds positively to Nigeria’s desire for investments that promote the agenda of go

Keyamo and other participants during the signing of Bilateral Agreement in Riyald, Saudi Arabia. By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Nigeria has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to commence direct flights, passengers and cargo movement to Kuwait. Known as Bilateral Sir Services Agreement(BASA) the deal would help in boosting trade, tourism and economic relations with the oil rich State of Kuwait and in a way  impact on Nigeria's economy.  Signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Mr Festus Keysmo during the ongoing International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) Event of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Keyamo noted that the agreement would enhance the desired economic ties and cooperation between the two countries. He said the idea was in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration. He underscored the important role which the Aviation Sector is positioned to play t

Senate  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade   Senate Committee on Public Accounts has issued a 48 hours ultimatum to the management of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to explain how it spend over  over  $1.8 billion in its purse . Also, the Senate through the Committee is  threatening to “use all instruments available by law to bring the management of NPA to order if it violates the ultimatum. Its Chairman on Public Accounts  Ahmed Wadada Aliyu,  recently in Abuja, said that the NPA management has been unable to clarify on the whereabouts of $ 852, 930, 730, $ 1, 878, 509, .57 belonging to the agency. Berating the Managing Director of the agency over alleged refusal to appear before the panel of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Aliyu bemoaned that a representative who was sent by the NPA to the panel was absent when it was time for the interface. He said: “Nobody is above the law, or would bf allowed to take the institution of the National Assembly

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Extortionists and their allies in airports across the country are in trouble, if the scheme to introduced by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) to fish them out for sanction is anything to by. The FAAN's Managing Director, Mr Kabir Mohammed said this while receiving a delegation of the Abuja Transport and Aviation correspondents led by the Vice Chairman Francisca Ogar at his office in Abuja. The FAAN boss said the development was part of efforts made by the parastaltals, to better better travel experience for passengers, as well as boosting the reputation of the country. Mohammed said ” Because of the complaints on extortion by passengers especially in Lagos airport but it is not limited to Lagos alone,even in Abuja as airport manager I had to tackle some of those issues so what ever we want to do in Lagos by using the services of mystery passengers to help tackle that, as time goes on wherever we have the same issues

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  The Nigeria Customs Service, the Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has innugurated new chairpersons and members of its four companies. Adeniyi, during the innuguration ceremony in Lagos urged the member to be loyal and of good standing to the paramilitary institution and the country in order to make the nation's proud of the agency.  In a statement signed and made available to the media by the Chief Superintendent of Customs, National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, Adeniyi said that the companies comprise of  Customs Service Technical & Hanger Services Limited, Nigeria Customs Service Training & Hotels Limited, Nigeria Customs Service Hospital Limited, and Nigeria Customs Broadcast Network Limited. The CGC, in the statement, said that the registration of the firms constitutes part of the agenda to improve the well-being of Officers. “The registration of the companies that have been mentioned constitutes part o

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and security personnel have uncovered an illegal oil refining warehouse in Mabushi, opposite the Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Bello way in Abuja. Mukhtar Galadima, the Director of the Department of Development Control, FCTA, disclosed that the illegal refining site was discovered during the city cleaning exercise. Three to four plots designated for commercial purposes were identified as locations where oil and diesel were being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city. Galadima stated that the city sanitation task force would examine the legal provisions and make recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions regarding the plots used for these illicit activities. While no arrests were made, items used in the illegal refining process were impounded. “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu way, we discovered an illegal refi

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Napoli Striker, Victor Osimhen, has continued its winning streak both on and off the pitch, as he bagged the Italian Footballers’ Association Footballer of the Year for his stellar showing with Neopolitans last season. The award ceremony held on Monday night, also had other accolades, including the team of the year, coach of the year, club of the year, and goal of the season. Osimhen’s 26 goals were instrumental in helping the Partenopei win their first Scudde in 33 years. This feat has also seen the Nigerian nominated for many awards, including the FIFA Best and Balon d’Or. The Super Eagles striker also included in the Serie team of the year alongside Mike Maignan, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-jae, Andrea Bastoni, Theo Hernández, Stanislav Lobotka, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Nicolo Barella, Rafael Leão, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Despite a tougher start to the 2023-24 campaign and recent struggles with injury, Osimhen has continued his impr

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) has apprehended a suspected thief in the course of conducting a raid on its facilities last month ( November).. The development is a  a significant move against energy theft. The suspect named Opafola Abiodun lives at No. 18 Mopa Road, Kaduna.  In a statement signed by the Head Corporate communications of the company, Abdulaziz Abdullahi, the company alleged that Abiodun had been tapping electricity from the 11KV Leventis Feeder and was caught in an external by-pass on meter number 04190482713. According to the Head of Unit, Non-MD Metering, Mr. U.A. Gumel, Opafola was disconnected from the power supply on Sept. 28, and charged ₦104,823. The booking letter, duly acknowledged by Abubakar with GSM: 07056646853 on November 29, serves as a legal document confirming the charges, Gumel said. Gumel also pointed out that instead of settling the outstanding amount, Abiodun resorted to illegal rec

Wabote addressing participants in Yenogoa  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Theecutive Secretary (ES), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote, yesterday( Tuesday) said the Board has achieved 83 per cent out of 96 per cent of its strategic roadmap.  He said this at the 12th Practical Nigerian Content Forum  In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, adding that efforts were in top gear to ensure full realisation of the blueprint in the near future.  He also said the Board earned $500 million as dividend for partnering to establish Waltersmith Refinery located in Imo State. Speaking during the Forum themed: ‘Deepening Nigerian Content Amidst Divestments, Domestication & Wabote assured stakeholders that NCDMB is committed to carrying out “some heavy lifting” to achieve the remaining key initiatives, spelt out in the Board 'strategic roadmap.  Stakeholders, he said, should collaborate with the Board to deepen local content in the country. He sa

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Government will commence disbursement of funds under its Presidential Palliative Programmes, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite has said.  The programmes aim at alleviating the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.  The Minister, in a statement, yesterday ( Sunday) and made available to the media, said the programmes consist of the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme and the Presidential Palliative Loan Programme.  The statement said: "“In the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme, the Federal Government will disburse a grant sum of N50,000 to nano businesses across the 774 local government areas. “The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, will collaborate with state and local governments, federal legislators, ministers, banks and other stakeholders for the disbur

Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) says waivers on penalties and interests in overdue taxes and contingents on full principal payments will as from Sunday, December 31, this year not be in operation, its Chairman, Zaccch Adedeji, has said.  Adedeji, in a statement issued by its Special Adviser, Mr Dare Adekanmbi and made available to the News Mirror, said that the agency imposes penalties and interests as punishment for companies, which fail to fulfil their tax obligations as  stipulated in existing tax laws.  He, however, the decision of the agency to forgive companies that have piled up penalties and interests was “in recognition of the challenges, that many taxpayers have faced in settling their outstanding tax liabilities. “In recognition of the challenges that many taxpayers have faced in settling their outstanding tax liabilities, and in line with the commitment of the current government to support businesses, said Adedeji in the statem

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Sureme Court, yesterday, re-affirmed that bold old and the newly resigned naira notes remain legal tender in Nigeria. The apex court, in a ruling by a seven-man panel of justices led by Justice John Okoro,  said the banknotes should remain in circulation, pending when the Federal Government in  consultation with relevant stakeholders, takes a decision on the matter. Recall that the immediate past Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued the new notes of N200, 500 and N1,000 in 2002.  However, there was scarcity of the naira notes, a development, which led to  controversy among stakeholders, particularly users. Eventually, Supreme Court, being the highest legal arbitration, gave its own order on the matter, after hearing an   application that was moved on behalf of the federal government by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. 

Tinubu  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, wednesday presented a national  budget of N27.5 trillion for 2024.  He spoke at a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2024 Federal Budget proposal, where he listed national defence,  internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction, and social security as some priority focus of the Appropriation Bill. The President said:" The proposed budget prioritizes human capital development, with particular attention to children, stressing that human capital remains the most critical resource for national development.To improve the effectiveness of our budget performance, the government will focus on ensuring value for money, greater transparency, and accountability. In this regard, we will work more closely with development partners and the private sector. Adding that: The budget would address long

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Comptroller, Tincan Island Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS),  Dera Nnandi has reiterated the plans to sustain the fight against corruption in the pars military agency and the country in particular. He said that there would be zero compromise for corruption in the nation, noting that the stance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.would be greatly upholded.. He said this when he handed over $54,330 bribe money to Lagos Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Mr. Michael Wetkas. He added, in a statement, that tramadol valued N856million were falsely declared as electrical appliances by criminals, in order to conceal their identity, while the cash  were offered to compromise the customs officers.. He said the act is in clear violation of Section 233 of Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCAA) 2023 and commended the officers who stood their grounds to work ethically and lawful

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Seplat Energy Plc has won Social Impact and Sustainability Awards (CISA)'s CSR  Award for Education Empowerment organised by CSR Reporter. The firm, a leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the London Stock Exchange on its basis of its commitment to  educational improvement in the country. CSR Reporters is Africa’s premier all-Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability publication; and the SASA, which is n ow in its fourth year, recognises initiatives of companies in promoting sustainable economies in Nigeria and in serving the needy public. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Eustace Onuegbu, Member of Trustees, Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria and President, International Network for Corporate Social Responsibility, said the awards are targeted at recognising, honouring and celebrating the outstanding efforts of organisations and individuals that have made a tr