The Nation Newspaper

Tag: approves

  • AfDB approves $55m for solar projects

    AfDB approves $55m for solar projects

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved three senior loans for a total amount of $55 million to finance three solar PV Projects under the second Round of the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) Programme in Egypt.

    Alcazar Energy Egypt Solar 1 (Alcazar I), Delta for Renewable Energy (Delta) and Shapoorji Pallonji Energy Egypt (SP), are the three independent power producers benefiting from the loans for a tenor of eighteen years. Alcazar I and Delta will be extended a loan of $18 million each. The $19 million loan to SPEE also includes a $7 million concessional financing from the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

    The GEF financing is mobilised within the framework of the “AfDB-PPP Public-Private Partnership Program,” which was approved by the GEF for implementation by the AfDB to promote the scaling up of renewable energy technologies and contribute to the delivery of universal power supply in Africa. The Project is aligned with the GEF6 climate change mitigation focal area – promote innovation, technology transfer, and supportive policies and strategies. It is estimated that the GEF investment will enable the reduction of 61,000 tons of CO2 per year.

    Egypt has one of the best solar resources in the world, with daily sunshine averaging 9-11 hours, low humidity, and global horizontal irradiation of around 2230-2330 kilowatt-hour (“kWh”)/m2 per year.

    In order to meet the increasing energy demand, diversify the energy mix, and improve the environmental and climate footprint of the power sector, Egypt has developed an overarching regulatory framework for the development of renewable energy capacity with the aim of securing 20 per cent of its energy generation from renewable sources by 2022. In September 2014, Egypt launched a FiT Program for a total of 4,300MW including 2,300MW of solar PV.

    Under the aegis of the New Deal on Energy and in line with its key High 5s on Power & Light Up Africa, the AfDB Board approved the financing of three projects with a total installed capacity of 150MW being developed by two sponsors, Alcazar Energy Partners (2x50MW) and Shapoorji Pallonji (50MW). All three projects are located at the same site, on unoccupied desert land in Benban, 40 km north of Aswan. They will utilise a common grid connection funded jointly with other developers under a Cost Sharing Agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC). With a financial close expected by 28 October 2017, the plants shall be operational by the end of 2018.

    Commenting on the project, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth Complex (PEVP) Amadou Hott said: “The three Projects will increase Egypt’s power generation capacity, diversify its energy mix, enable significant fuel savings and reduce carbon emissions to the tune of 4.8 million metric tons over the PPA’s 25-year term.

  • Buhari approves 30 new Federal High Court judges’ appointments

    Buhari approves 30 new Federal High Court judges’ appointments

    • Appointees to be sworn-in Wednesday

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mrs. Rosemary O. Dugbo Oghoghorie and 29 others as judges of the Federal High Court.

    Their appointment by the President was on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    NJC’s Acting Director of Information, Soji Oye, said in a statement that the new judges will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, in Abuja on Wednesday next week.

    Mrs. Dugbo Oghoghorie is taking the slot of Delta State; Yellin S. Bogoro (Bauchi State), Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo (Ogun State), Ibrahim Watila (Borno State), Mallong Peter Hoommuk (Plateau State), Isa Hamma Adama Dashen (Adamawa State), Hassan Dikko (Kebbi State), Jude Kanyioh Dagat (Kaduna State), Olayinka Olusegun Tokode (Osun State) and Simon Akpah Amobeda (Kogi State).

    Others are Jane Egienanwan Inyang (Cross River State), Daniel Emeka Osiagor (Rivers State), Prof. Chuka Austine Obiozor (Anambra State), Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweib (Bayelsa State), Hassan Muslim Sule (Zamfara State), Hadiza Rabiu Shagari (Sokoto State), Saleh Kogo Idrissa (Yobe State), Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik (Edo State) and Hillary Ide Osho Oshomah (Edo State).

    Also included are Fadima Murtala Aminu (Adamawa State), Toyin Bolaji Adegoke (Kwara State), James Kolawole Omotosho (Ogun State), Nehizena Idemudia Ekunwe (Edo State), Stephen Daylop Pam (Plateau State), Akintayo Aluko ( Ekiti State), Dr. Nnamdi O. Dimgba (Abia State), Emeka Nwite (Ebonyi State), Abdulazeez M.Z. Anka (Zamfara State), Abdu Dogo (FCT) and Adamu Turaki Muhammed (Jigawa State).

  • President approves Federal High Court Chief Registrar, 29 others as judges

    President approves Federal High Court Chief Registrar, 29 others as judges

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mrs Rosemary O. Dugbo Oghoghorie, and 29 others as judges for the Federal High Court.

    Their appointment by the president was on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    NJC’s Acting Director of Information, Soji Oye, in a statement said that the new judges will be sworn-in on Wednesday (December 2) in Abuja by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Mahmud Mohammed.

    Mrs. Dugbo Oghoghorie is taking the slot of Delta State, Yellin S. Bogoro (Bauchi State), Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo (Ogun State), Ibrahim Watila (Borno State), Mallong Peter Hoommuk (Plateau State), Isa Hamma Adama Dashen (Adamawa  State), Hassan Dikko (Kebbi State), Jude Kanyioh Dagat (Kaduna State), Olayinka Olusegun Tokode (Osun State) and Simon Akpah Amobeda (Kogi State).

    Others are Jane Egienanwan Inyang (Cross River State), Daniel Emeka Osiagor (Rivers State), Prof Chuka Austine Obiozor (Anambra State), Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweib (Bayelsa State), Hassan Muslim Sule (Zamfara State), Hadiza Rabiu Shagari (Sokoto State), Saleh Kogo Idrissa (Yobe State), Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik (Edo State) and Hillary Ide Osho Oshomah (Edo State).

    Also included are Fadima Murtala Aminu (Adamawa State), Toyin Bolaji Adegoke           (Kwara State), James Kolawole Omotosho (Ogun State), Nehizena Idemudia Ekunwe (Edo State), Stephen Daylop Pam (Plateau State), Akintayo Aluko (        Ekiti State), Dr. Nnamdi O. Dimgba (Abia State), Emeka Nwite (Ebonyi State), Abdulazeez M.Z. Anka (Zamfara State), Abdu Dogo (FCT) and Adamu Turaki Muhammed (Jigawa State).

  • Osun approves Oluwo of Iwo

    Osun approves Oluwo of Iwo

    Osun State  Governor Rauf Aregbesola has approved the appointment of the Oluwo of Iwo.

    He is Prince Rasheed Adewale Akanbi of Gbaase Ruling House.

    An announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, said the appointment followed the completion of the due process by the kingmakers of Iwo in Iwo Local Government Area.

  • Fed Govt approves $2.4b for Lagos red line

    Fed Govt approves $2.4b for Lagos red line

    The Federal Government has approved the construction of the $2.4 billion Lagos red line rail project.

    Commissioner for Transportation Dayo Mobereola said approving the right-of-way for the project had been a problem for years.

    He said the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- led Federal Government foot-dragged in approving the right-of-way, which belonged to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

    According to him, it took Lagos four and half years to get approval for the project and another four years for discussion on the technicality of the project.

    “It took us four and half years to get approval for the project. It took us another four years to get them to discuss the technicality of the project with us. The right-of-way has been approved and we are in full discussion with the bidders,” he said.

    On the Blue Line Light Rail project, the commissioner said the government would complete it by the end of next year.

    He said Lagos was the only state in the world to have embarked on such project without support from the Federal Government, adding that such projects normally take around seven years to complete.

    The commissioner said it took Dubai, with all its resources, seven years to complete its rail project and in some places, 22 years.

    “We are mindful of the problem of transportation in Lagos State. Towards the end of next year, something will happen. Our rail project is 27 km and we are doing it in phases. We are doing Mile 2 to CMS now and we will do Mile 2 to Okokomaiko later,” he said.

    Mobereola added that the first train was purchased this year and that government would bring it on board to test-run the rail system from Mile 2-CMS.

    He said his vision as commissioner was to make public transportation safe, reliable, accessible and comfortable.

    According to him, there was need to develop mass transit transport scheme for the benefit of the people.

    Speaking on the challenges of the State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation Olanrewaju Elegushi said inadequate personnel had been the problem of the outfit.

    He said the 2,300 officers of the authority were insufficient to control traffic.

    Elegushi said the outfit ran three shifts, adding that the government was working to boost the organisation’s workforce.

  • Yobe Assembly approves N5bn for gratuity backlog

    •Confirms 14 commissioners

    The Yobe State House of Assembly has approved the request of the Yobe State Government to access the sum of over N5 billion from the Federal Government Concessionary Bailout Facility to settle arrears of gratuity owed by the state and the 17 local governments in the state.

    The motion, which was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Usman Adamu, drew overwhelming support from the lawmakers.

    Yobe State, said Hon. Usman, is one of the few states in the country without any backlog of salaries or pension at both the state and the local government levels.

    Some of the supporters of the motion like Hon. Isa Bello Damchua noted that the idea would reduce pressure on the House members from retirees always knocking at their doors to ask after the state government’s plans for their retirement benefits.

    Hon. Yau Daachia, while supporting the motion, explained that having worked in the local government, he knows the multiplier effect that the payment would have on the teeming number of retires, especially at local government level.

    The breakdown of the backlog indicates that the local government has the highest figure of N3, 153,509,602.11 while the amount for state government retirees stood at N1, 940,346,274.70.

    The House also confirmed the 14 commissioner nominees that were sent to it by Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam last week.

    The exercise which lasted for two days, said the Speaker of the House Adamu Dala Dogom, was not business as usual, despite the fact that some nominees – a former Senator, Adamu Talba, one-time Speaker of the House, Hon. Tijani Zanna Zakariya, Hon. Surajo Wakil and the only female nominee – took a bow and escaped the rigorous questioning session.

    The House, said the Speaker, graded all the commissioners in the process of the screening and the result would be forwarded to the governor for consideration.

    Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo also warned that the House would not tolerate zero budget performance in any ministry, adding that the House would not hesitate to call for the removal of a commissioner who cannot lobby for budgetary approval.

    He also noted that the House would be more committed in carrying out its oversight function in the current dispensation.

  • ‘Govt approves 90 contracts’

    About 90 contracts were approved between January and June, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said in its bi-annual report.

    The report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on yesterday statedthat the contracts will be executed over three years.

    It said contracts for the supply and installation of 753, 002 electricity meters under the Presidential Initiative to Nigerians were awarded through the Ministry of Power at the cost of N27.1 billion.

    It said 23 contracts, ranging from the provision of solid waste collection in Abuja Municipal Area Council to the construction of sewage facilities and management services, will be executed in the Federal Capital Territory..

    The report added that four of the contracts will be implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, including the rehabilitation and expansion of the Central Ogbia Regional water supply in Bayelsa.

    The report also said that the Ministry of Water Resources awarded contract for the construction of Irawo Earth Dam project in Oyo State.

    It said that five contracts were awarded through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for the construction of the Head Office building complex for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Bayelsa.

    It said the Ministry of Works awarded contract for the expansion of Suleja-Minna Phase two Road in Niger with funding from the Subsidy Re-investment Programme 2014 appropriation.

    The report also said that the government awarded contract through the Ministry of Works for the expansion of Abuja-Keffi expressway and the expansion of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Markudi road.

    It said the Ministry of Education awarded contract for Phase two of the expansion/completion of the TETFund intervention in special Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Project, educational training laboratories and workshop/equipment for 73 Nigerian public universities.

  • NBC approves Nigeria’s first women radio station

    NBC approves Nigeria’s first women radio station

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a broadcasting license to St. Ives Communications as operator of a specialised radio station for women.

    The station is planned as the first of its kind in this part of the world.

    Reports say the broadcast station is the brainchild of Dr. Tunde Okewale, the Chief Medical Director at St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Lagos and veteran broadcast journalist, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, a Director of St. Ives Communications, owners of the radio station.

    Dr. Wale, as he is fondly called, is said to have been inspired to conceive the idea of a radio station for women having worked and related closely with female clients in his career.

    When the radio station begins transmission, it is expected to engage listeners on issues of local, national and international importance for Nigerian women.

    “Its programming will be targeted towards the advancement and social wealth of Nigerian women and their families,” said a source.

    There are also indications that the radio station will not only focus on women, but will also cater for the interests of the male gender and the entire family, while highlighting issues that are very important to women.

    Sources revealed that the station will hit the airwaves, broadcasting to Nigerian homes on 91.7 frequency modulation (FM) channel.

  • Akwa Ibom approves`Nest of Champions’ for Akwa United

    Akwa Ibom approves`Nest of Champions’ for Akwa United

    The Akwa Ibom Government has approved the usage of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo for Akwa United Football Club’s home matches in the Nigeria Professional FootballLeague (NPFL).

    The team’s Media Officer, Uwem Ekor, said in Uyo on Wednesday that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, Nse Edem, gave the approval on behalf of the state government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akwa United’s original home ground, the Uyo Township Stadium, was among the nine venues suspended from playing host to NPFL matches.

    The League Management Company (LMC) which oversees the running of the competition had declared the stadium unfit for its competition and suggested the Akwa Ibom International Stadium as an alternative.

    The new venue, also known as the “Nest of Champions’’, and UJ Esuene Stadium were among eight facilities the LMC proposed as alternative grounds for the nine clubs affected.

    The clubs had their usage of such home grounds suspended till repairs were effected.

    However, the Akwa Ibom International Stadium had for some time been placed under lock and key.

    This had prevented Akwa United from using the stadium and making them left with the choice of using the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    Ekor said the approval was contained in a letter addressed to the club’s management, in which the government urged the players to make the state proud.

    “Government said they should do this by coming out victorious in all their league matches,’’ he said.

    The media officer refused to be drawn into the main reason behind the club’s inability to use the facility since its commissioning last year.

    “The most important thing is that we have secured approval to play our matches at the `Nest of Champions’.

    “I am not competent to speak on the reason why it was placed under lock and key for all this while.

    “Now, we have written a letter to the LMC to inform it of the development and the fact that our matches will henceforth be played at the new stadium,’’ he said.

    Ekor then urged the club’s fans to fully support them to encourage the players as they play their matches at the new stadium.

    NAN reports that Akwa United are currently occupying the 14th position on the season 2014/2015 NPFL table.

  • LMC approves FC Ifeanyi Ubah takeover of Gabros

    LMC approves FC Ifeanyi Ubah takeover of Gabros

    Businessman and Chairman/CEO of Capital Oil Limited, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah has completed the takeover of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Gabros International FC following an approval granted by the League Management Company (LMC) and conveyed in a letter signed by the LMC Chairman and NFF Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko.

    By the approval the club formerly known as Gabros International FC will now be known and addressed as FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

    In the letter, the LMC Chairman remarked that the approval has been granted consequent on the verification of Ifeanyi Ubah Limited’s compliance with requirements for takeover of clubs and change of name. The change of name takes effect from Match Day 11 and all points accumulated by Gabros International FC has been transferred to FC Ifeanyi Ubah which now appears on the NPFL fixture and log.

    Dikko said, “After submitting to the very rigorous process put in place to ensure that only serious business minded persons and corporate groups are admitted to club ownership, the LMC is satisfied that Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah has substantially met the requirement and has been granted approval to takeover Gabros International FC”.

    The LMC Chairman commended Dr. Ubah for patiently working to meet these requirements and said “it demonstrated your commitment to operating and funding the club in line with LMC Rules and Frame Work which has been designed to protect the institution of the league and also safeguard the interests of the players and other employees of clubs participating in the NPFL”.

    The letter listed some of the conditions met to include but not limited to submission of the certificate of incorporation of the FC Ifeanyi Ubah as a limited liability company registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), submission of a quarterly Financial Performance Guarantee issued by Skye Bank and the club’s business strategic development plan.

    The Financial Performance Guarantee is not cash paid to the LMC but a bank’s undertaken to make available that amount of money to the LMC should the club be proven to have defaulted in meeting its financial obligation to employees (players, coaches and other employees) or to another club and failed to remedy after appropriate notice. This is a safety net put in place by the LMC to address the problems of indebtedness especially to players and coaches by clubs.

    Others are a letter of Personal Performance Guarantee of the club by Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, letter from Zenith Bank attesting to Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah’s good standing as the bank’s customer and a Personal Guarantee Deed of agreement of Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah in favour of the LMC for the value N1.5b for three years including investment in club infrastructure.

    The personal guarantee deed represents an undertaken by Dr. Ubah as the club promoter to guarantee and fund the participation and operations of FC Ifeanyi Ubah for a minimum period of 3 years in league football and compliance to all the NPFL and NFF rules and other extant football rules and regulations .

    The rest of the requirements fulfilled by FC Ifeanyi Ubah include a sponsorship agreement with Capital Oil Ltd for a three-year-deal worth N5b to support the club including the provision of new infrastructure (mini stadium) and a letter of consent from the owners of Gabros International FC for the takeover and change of name of the club.

    Dikko further remarked that the LMC is quite delighted to have a big private investor with huge passion for football taking over a club in the NPFL and hope that this will set the stage for other serious business men and blue chip companies in Nigeria to take over clubs in the elite league either as owners, investors and or sponsors.

    He assured existing and potential investors in the league that the LMC is always available to provide all the necessary support and advisory service to any qualified party interested in taking over club in the league.