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Tag: Abuja

  • NIHSA advocates smaller dams to check flooding

    The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has called for the building of smaller dams around major rivers in the country to help check flooding during raining season.

    NIHSA’s Director –General, Engr Clement Nze,  stated that it was important for the country to construct dams in order to effectively manage the menace of flooding.

    Nze stated this at press briefing and three-day orientation/induction training of 100 newly employed staffs of the organisation in Abuja.

    He explained that for about 40 years, Nigeria could not build the Dasin-Hausa dam in Adamawa State to cushion the impact of any release of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon, despite being advised by the neighboring country to construct a dam.

    He attributed the delay to lack of political will, funding constraint, among others as some of the factors that hindered the construction of the Dasin-Hausa dam in Nigeria.

    Nze, explained that it was important to note that not every flood that occurs in parts of Nigeria like Adamawa State and its environs were as a result of the opening of Lagdo dam.

    The NIHSA DG said: “Most of us are advocating that let Nigeria dam the tributaries of major rivers by building small dams instead of large massive dams in order to check flooding. For instance, we have the Kashimbilla dam on River Katsina – Ala, which was primarily built to address the problem of lake Nyos in Cameroon.

    Read Also: I’ll compensate farmers affected by flooding – Buhari

    “If we can build small dams within the tributaries of River Benue and do proper monitoring to know when to lower the dam and to know when to impound (water), it will go a long way to address any catastrophe coming from River Benue.

    “If we can adopt appropriate reservoir management without building this other large dam (Dasin-Hausa dam) it will help to monitor the flow of river Benue to avoid flooding.

    The NIHSA boss explained that many rivers in the North had the capacity to flood the region, as he stated that the Lagdo dam had been shut for more than three years and so could not be responsible for flooding in Nigeria during this period.

    He said: “But these days globally, the construction of large dams is being discouraged. Dams with heights of about 15 metres and above constitute what we call large dams. So it is being said now that people should build small dams. In India, they have thousands of small dams that can even supply up to one megawatt of electricity.

    “So the idea is that you target a community, build a dam there and it controls flooding issues, provides electricity and serves irrigation purposes. For instance, the Zungeru dam is to generate about 700MW, the Gurara phase two is about 300MW. This means you can build small dams like that which can help to control flooding, help in irrigation and support on power generation.”

     

  • Kano clears air over court order against Ganduje, wife

    Kano state government, on Tuesday, expressed shock, over the antics of desperate politicians bent on truncating the gubernatorial candidature of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the March 2, 2019 election by banking on a court order, purportedly issued by an Abuja High Court, seeking an accelerated hearing in a suit to compel EFCC to arrest and prosecute Ganduje’s wife, Dr. Hafasat.

    In a statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, expressed surprise at the timing of the release of the court order, ostensibly to embarrass Dr. Hafsat Ganduje, emphasizing that the order is a fabrication, which does not exist.

    Furthermore, it emphasized the extent of their desperation to rubbish Governor Ganduje and the APC government, the plaintiff in the suit, the Incorporated Trustees of Hope Development and Empowerment, filed the case in November 2018 and December 10 was fixed for mention but were neither in the court nor were their representatives, ‘’only for them to release the purported court order at this material time.’’

    Read Also: Kano civil groups calls for IGP’s tenure extension

    Also disgusting, according to the statement was the call for arrest and prosecution of the governor’s wife and substitution of the governor’s name by the APC, as its candidate in Kano were not included in the plaintiff’s prayers.

    ‘’The plaintiff requested the court order to grant substituted service of the writ of summon, hence for them to serve the defendants through Kano state Liaison House in Abuja, which was what the court granted,’’ the statement added.

    However, Garba  assured that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is handling the matter, calling on the good people of Kano state and members of the APC to remain calm in the face of this intimidation, which will come to pass as other evil machination by desperate politicians.

  • Buhari, Idris, Adamu meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and the incoming acting IGP, Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Mohammed Adamu at the State House, Abuja.

    The outgoing IGP and his successor, came in the same vehicle NPF 01 Mercedes Benz black colour about 1:30pm and went straight to the President office.

    AIG Adamu had earlier met with the Chief of Staff to the President Malam Abba Kyari in the morning when Idris was performing his last official duty at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Eagle Square Abuja.

     

     

    Details Soon….

  • Pray for soldiers in theatres of war — Ambode

    The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwummi Ambode, on Tuesday urged Nigerians to continue to pray for soldiers currently in theatres of war.

    Ambode, who made the call during the annual Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, also assured families of fallen heroes of the state’s continued support.

    The governor was represented by his deputy, Mrs Oluranti Adebule.

    “We still remember the sad memories of the civil war where lives were lost and properties were destroyed across the land.

    “I call on every Nigerian to rise and support our men and women engaged in theatres of war with prayers to achieve resounding victory over those who threaten peace and national sovereignty.

    “We also use the opportunity to reassure the families left behind that we remain committed to their welfare and well-being,’’ he said.

    Ambode used the medium to commend the officers and men of the armed forces currently engaged in different military exercises and congratulated the legionnaires for this year’s Remembrance Day.

    “I commend the officers and men of the armed forces who are engaged in one military exercise or the other combating insurgency and other threats to our territorial integrity.

    “We remain grateful to you for your bravery and patriotism to put your lives on the line for our country.

    Read Also: Photos, videos from Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja

    “I congratulate our legionnaires and families of our late ex-servicemen on the success of this year’s Armed Forces remembrance activities which is being concluded today with the laying of wreaths.

    “May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace. We will not forget, we shall not forget your contributions,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governor’s representative laid the official wreath and released the pigeons which are usually the highlights of the ceremony.

    Service commanders of military and para-military formations in the state, among other notable Nigerians , also laid wreaths at the event.

  • Photos, videos from Armed Forces Remembrance Day

    https://twitter.com/i/status/1085143128808534025

     

  • NANS congratulates new Acting I-G

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ), has congratulated the new Acting Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, on his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Adeyemi Amoo, NANS’ Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, urged the acting I-G, to embark of general restructuring of the police.

    He said that Nigerians at this period of elections, are counting on police officers not to compromise security at the polling centres.

    He said, “NANS equally commend President Muhammadu Buhari for respecting the voice and yearnings of Nigerians, against possible tenure elongation of former I-G, Idris Abubakar.

    The president’s action is a demonstration that he remains cautious of his integrity.

    Read Also: NAMA installs ILS at Benin airport

    “NANS, therefore, calls on all officers of the Nigerian Police Force to cooperate with the new I-G.”

    Amoo further assured Nigerians that the students’ body would continue to keep its monitoring eyes on the activities of relevant agencies ahead of the general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mohammed, who served as the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State and currently the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone Five, was born on Nov. 9, 1961.

    He enlisted in the police in 1986 and has a Bachelor Degree in Geography.

  • CBN plans financial inclusion confab in Abuja

    National Financial inclusion stakeholders in Nigeria, led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will meet in Abuja on Thursday and Friday this week..

    The meeting is for the launch of key policy documents aimed at facilitating the attainment of the financial inclusion target of 80 per cent by 2020.

    Policy documents to be unveiled at the conference expected to attract over 400 delegates are the Revised National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS 2.0), the Financial Literacy Framework, the Consumer Protection Framework and the Consumer Education framework.

    According to details obtained from the CBN, the conference also aims to ensure that new comers into the financial inclusion bracket are adequately protected and educated in line with the provisions of the policy documents.

    Other objectives of the two-day conference to be declared open by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele are to update participants on the growing sophistication of the financial market, the competitive environment in which financial services providers operate, and the benefit and value of providing access to financial services among others. While hoping to enhance consumer confidence and trust in the financial services to facilitate progress towards achieving 80% financial inclusion target by 2020, the CBN and other stakeholders also seek to obtain customer feedback on how best to implement the financial inclusion policies.

    Latest figures released by Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) indicate that 36.6 million Nigerian adults, representing about 36.8% of the Nigerian adult population, do not have access to formal financial Services.

  • FG arraigns Okupe over alleged N702m fraud

    Former presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe was on Monday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja 59-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Okupe, who was spokesman to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is charged with “money laundering and criminal diversion of funds” to the tune of N702million.

    He was arraigned, with two companies, Value Trust Investment Limited and Abrahams Telecoms Limited before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr. Doyin Okupe, being the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan from July 2012 to May 2015, and being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and a signatory to the bank account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, on or about the 3rd October, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly took possession or control of the sum of N35 million, transferred to the account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria purporting to be for special services when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.”

    Read Also: Kano court strikes out suit against PDP guber candidate

    Okupe pleaded not guilty when the charge was read by an official of the court, following which the prosecution lawyer, Ibrahim Audu, asked for a date for the commencement of trial.
    Defence lawyer, Tolu Babaleiye argued the bail application he filed, dated December 17, 2018.

    Babaleiye urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on self recognizance and that he will not jump bail as he is well known.

    Responding, Audu argued that the defendant was given administrative bail after he volunteered his statement thereafter, he was nowhere to be found until December 2018 in Lagos.

    He added that there was nothing substantial in the defendant’s affidavit. He added that there is nothing to show that the medical certificate is authentic and nothing to show it meets the requirements of the evidence act as it was electronically generated.

    Audu said: “The court should exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously based on materials supplied before the court.”

    He urged the court to take into consideration, “the gravity of the punishment in the event of conviction on the charges brought against the defendant”.

    After listening to both lawyers, Justice Ojukwu granted bail to Okupe at N100 million with one surety in the same amount.

    Justice Ojukwu said: “The surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and must depose to an affidavit of means, must have landed properties which must also be within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The surety must submit to the court tax clearance papers from 2016 to 2018, also have recent passport photograph. The surety and defendant must deposit their international passport to the court. The documents are to be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar Litigation of the court.”
    The judge adjourned to February 27, 28 and March 6, 2019 for trial.

  • Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 4.30p.m when the President returned to the seat of power after attending a function at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

    A similar meeting was also held on Friday 4th of January, 2019 shortly after the Jumma’at prayer at the State House mosque.

    Idris was expected to retire from service on attainment of the mandatory 35 years in service on the 15th of January, 2019.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Abdullahi Ibrahim at 80

    Idris was appointed by President Buhari on 21 March 2016 to replace Solomon Arase, who retired from the police force on 21 June 2016.

    The 59- year old Ibrahim Idris enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • FG flags off 1,000 villages satellite TV project

    The Federal Government on Monday flagged-off the 1,000 Villages Satellite Television (TV) Project in Kpaduma village of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mahammed who inaugurated the project said the project was one of the “Ten Major China-Africa Cooperation Plans” that were announced by President Xi Jinping of China at the 2015 Forum on China-African Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    He explained that the initiative was targetted at 10,000 villages in African countries, with Nigeria having the lion share of 1,000 villages.

    The Minister who commended the Chinese government for making the project a reality, said it would complement efforts by the Buhari administration to democratice access to information and entertainment in the country.

    He said: ” Under the project, each of the 1,000 carefully-chosen villages in Nigeria will receive 2 sets of solar powered projector television systems and 1 set of solar 32-inch digital TV integrated terminal
    system.

    “In addition, 20 recipient families with TV in each village will be provided with 20 sets of direct broadcast satellite terminal system free of charge. It is worth noting that viewers in each village provided with the projector TV system will enjoy 21 satellite channels free of charge, while each of the 20 recipient families will have access to 33 satellite TV channels free of charge for two months.

    “Thereafter, they can continue to enjoy access to the 33 channels by paying N900 per month, or enjoy limited access without payment.

    “While this project will undoubtedly strengthen the already very cordial China-Nigeria relations, it will also complement the ongoing efforts of the Buhari Administration to democratize access to
    information and entertainment in the country.

    Read Also: Fed Govt mulls two additional satellites

    “As you are all aware, Nigeria is currently implementing its Digital Switch Over (DSO) for television to build what will be Africa’s biggest and most lucrative Free-To-Air Television platform,

    “Since rolling out in Jos, Plateau State, in April 2016, we have extended digital television to the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kaduna and Enugu States, and we are set to speed up the roll-out pace

    “With access to more than 30 digital channels, with crystal clear pictures and Hi-Fidelity audio, the DSO roll-out brings the benefits of digital television to all households. We call this the democratization of information and entertainment.”

    The Minister noted that the project flag off came at a better period as the nation prepared for a general election,adding that “In just a little over one month, Nigerians will be voting in the 2019 general elections.
    They need access to information now, more than at any other time, to know about the over 70 political parties that will be participating in the elections as well as about their various candidates”.

    The Minister charged the implementing agency (Star Times) for the project to expidite action on the installation of the satellite TV systems in the selected villages across the country ahead of the elections.

    The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian said the implementation of the projects would ensure consolidation on the cordial relationships existing between Nigeria and China, adding the projects would add value to the lives of people living in the benefitting communities.

    He said while new jobs would be created in the villages for the rural dwellers, the rural people would also be informed and entertained by the satellite television systems which had scores of channels at affordable cost.

    In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of StarTimes, Mr Justin Zhang said: “Some of the work we have done in the villages include installation of 2 solar power projector TVs for the community, 1 32’ digital TV set with solar system, 20 Satellite dish and decoders where they can watch more than 100 international and local channels. The 2 solar powered projector TVs and 32’ digital TV are for public use and free of charge.

    “During the course of this project, we also created jobs. Many Nigerians from various villages have been trained on how to recharge, operate and provide the required maintenance support for all the products installed. We also plan to make some of them dealers as time goes on.

    “For us at StarTimes, it makes us truly happy as a company and a people to be able to work together successfully with both the Chinese and Nigerian government, and to put long lasting smiles on the faces the children and adults that would benefit from the exposure they get from the access to satellite TV.”