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Tag: Nigerian news

Factory worker faces car battery theft charge

A factory worker, Oche Joseph, who allegedly stole a car battery valued at N25, 000, on Monday appeared in an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Joseph, 31, who lives in new garage area of Mende, Maryland, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The accused, according to Police Prosecutor Lucky Ihiehie, committed the offences at No. 1, Salami St, Mende, Maryland, on Oct 31.

He said the complainant, Mrs Mojisola Salami, reported the incident at Anthony Police Station on Oct. 31.

Ihiehie told the court that the complainant, while in her house was alerted that the accused and another man still at large had opened her car and stolen the battery valued at N25, 000.

He said the security guard opposite her house was watching when they were removing the battery.

“He moved in and apprehended the accused while the other accomplice ran away.”

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 411 stipulates two years for conspiracy.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 with two sureties whose addresses must be verified.

She adjourned the case until Jan. 29, 2018 for hearing.

Read Also: Sales boy arraigned for alleged theft

November 6, 2017
Non-payment of electricity bills will worsen power supply – ANED

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors ( ANED ) has called on Nigerians to pay their electricity bills promptly.

It said that non-payment of electricity bills would worsen the irregular power supply in Nigeria.

Mr Sunday Oduntan, its Executive Director (Research and Advocacy), said in a statement in Lagos that lack of steady power supply had hindered the development of the country.

ANED is an umbrella body of the 11 power distribution companies in Nigeria.

“If the DISCOs are not paid, their businesses will suffer and if their businesses suffer, our hope for constant electricity will be a pipe dream,” he said.

The association said it was from the monthly electricity bills paid by Nigerians that DISCOs have to pay the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) for electricity supplies that they received.

“NBET also pays the Generating Companies ( GENCO ) who have to pay their gas suppliers (Thermal).

“DISCOs will pay the market operator which is Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN ) and other stakeholders for the various services that they provide.

“Consequently, if Nigerians don’t pay their bills, it starves the entire electricity value chain of the funds needed in power.

“Lack of funds leads to poor or no electricity supply, potential failure of the power sector and related mass unemployment and diminished prospects for national economic growth,” he said.

Oduntan said that non-payment means that our aspiration for 24-7 power supply would continue to be just an aspiration.

“Not paying bills by bypassing or stealing electricity means that it costs legitimate customers more to receive electricity supply.” he said.

NAN

November 6, 2017
Africa set to top 1bn mobile internet connections in five years – Study

Africa’s mobile internet connections will rise from 419 million at the end of 2017 to 1.07 billion by the end of 2022.

A report by research and consulting firm Ovum in London estimates that mobile broadband connections “Data connectivity is growing strongly in Africa.

The foirm said there are also good prospects on the continent in areas such as digital media, mobile financial services, and the Internet of Things,” said Matthew Reed, Practice Leader Middle East and Africa at Ovum.

“As Africa’s TMT market becomes more convergent and complex, service providers are under increasing pressure to make the transition from being providers of communications services, and to become providers of digital services.”

Mobile phone operators such as MTN Group, Orange and Bharti Airtel are investing heavily in high-speed networks to meet demand from users who are increasingly using phones for everything from paying their bills to streaming videos and surfing the internet.

NAN

November 6, 2017
Swearing-in newly appointed permanent secretary

Permanent secretary, Ministry of Information &Strategy Mrs. Kofoworola Omotayo Awobamise, PS, Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Taiwa Olufemi Salam, P.S, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Suwebat Iyabo Are, P.S, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogunnunbi Olukayode Timothy and PS, Establishment Training, Mrs. Omotilewa Ibirogba, during the Swearing-in Newly Appointed Permanent Secretary, at Lagos House, Alausa, Lagos

Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode[4th left], out going Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola[3rd left], Permanent secretary, Ministry of Information &Strategy Mrs. Kofoworola Omotayo Awobamise[2nd right], PS, Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Taiwa Olufemi Salam[3rd right], P.S, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Suwebat Iyabo Are[left], P.S, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Ogunnunbi Olukayode Timothy[2nd left] and PS, Establishment Training,Mrs. Omotilewa Ibirogba [right], during the Swearing-in Newly Appointed Permanent Secretary, at Lagos House, Alausa, Lagos

November 6, 2017
BOT wants the best for PDP, says Adeniran

A national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Prof. Tunde Adeniran, said on Monday that his endorsement alongside two other aspirants by the South West caucus of the party ‘s Board of Trustees ( BOT ) was for the party’s progress.

The BOT caucus had in a document issued on Nov. 3 endorsed Adeniran, a former Minister of Education; Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports, for the party ‘s top position.

Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, who signed the document on behalf of other members of the caucus, said the decision was to ensure the South West produced the next chairman and that quality leadership should at the convention.

He said in arriving at the three candidates, the members considered such factors as acceptability, vision, experience, perception by members, winning chances, educational exposure among others.

Oyedokun said the move was also to reduce election expenditure and avoid splitting of south west votes, and the ultimate objective was to arrive at a consensus candidate for the zone.

He, however, said the endorsement was without prejudice to the right of aspirants to contest and did not preclude aspirants like former Ogun state governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel; former Oyo governor, Sen. Rasheed Ladoja; and a chieftain of the party in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, from contesting at the convention.

Reacting, Adeniran told NAN through the Director -General of his campaign organisation, Chief Olukayode Akindele in Lagos that what the BOT members had done was for the progress of the party.

He said what the PDP needed was a strong leadership, and that was what the BOT members aimed to achieve with the endorsement.

“The prunning down of aspirants to three by the BOT members is a step in the right direction.

“These are elders in the party who know what is good for the party and have taken a step to ensure the party gets the best.

“It is not about personalities; it is about leadership. It is about giving the best to the party at this critical time that we are coming out of some challenges.

“They have not said those not shortlisted cannot contest; they are only saying the endorsed aspirants meet important criteria necessary for leadership.

“It is a step in the right direction, and for us, we thank the Almighty God for the endorsement,” he said.

Adeniran insisted that he remained the best out of the three shortlisted candidates to lead the party to glory.

He said he was a consistent and a dedicated member who had been with the party through thick and thin.

The former minister said as a founding member of the party, he knew the party inside out and had the experience to pilot it to greatness.

He expressed the hope and confidence that he would emerge the next chairman of the party based on the support he enjoyed among party members.

The party will elect new national executive officers at its national convention on Dec. 9.

November 6, 2017
Bayelsa denies taking fresh N40bn loan

The Bayelsa Government on Monday denied media reports that it was taking a fresh loan.

Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state Commissioner for Information, denied the reports in a statement on Monday in Yenegoa.

Iworiso-Markson said that the state government only approached the State House of Assembly for the restructuring of repayment of the N40 billion earlier borrowed.

He said that the request made to the state House of Assembly was for approval to restructure existing N40 billion loan so as to complete ongoing projects was not a fresh loan.

“The request was contained in a letter dated Oct. 30 and addressed to the Speaker of Bayelsa House of Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Benson.

“The letter sought among others, permission to restructure existing bank loans to enable the state channel more funds to projects.”

Iworiso-Markson stressed that there was no truth in the reports

According to Iworiso-Markson, the restructuring of the loan would enhance speedy completion of ongoing projects across the three Senatorial zones in the state like the Sagbama-Ekeremor road, Isaac Boro road and Bayelsa International Airport, amongst others.

“The N40 billon is not a fresh loan as being speculated, rather it is aimed at restructuring already existing loan from two to four years period.

“You know we took a loan for the airport sometime ago. So, what we are doing is that instead of paying the required over N2 billion every month, we have restructured it and the time to pay the loan has been elongated.

“Rather than two years, we will now pay it in four years and it will be about N1 billion naira every month.

“The other one will be given to our contractors. We don’t want to handle it ourselves because if we do, we will still spend it on other things.

“So, we have given it to a particular bank to distribute to our contractors. So, clearly it is not a fresh loan” he said.

The denial is coming on the heels of public outcry from labour leaders who have interpreted the restructuring of the loan to mean that government was taking new loans in addition to existing ones.

NAN

November 6, 2017
Sokoto spends N800m to build women development centres

The Sokoto State Government has expended N800 million on the building of Women Development and Empowerment Centres in the 23 Local Governments Areas in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Sifawa, made the disclosure in an interview on Monday in Sokoto.

She said the building of the centres was part of the State Government’s initiative in reducing poverty among women in the state.

The commissioner said that the gesture was also aimed at improving the standard of living of women, children and people with disabilities.

Sifawa, who noted that the role of women was strategic to every society right from creation, added that women must learn to be resourceful and self-reliant.

She said that the State Government had already put in place some empowerment and training programmes to be facilitated at the centres.

“We believe that through these centres, the poverty level of women in the state shall be greatly reduced.

“Women are indispensable partners in the quest for economic growth and development.”

She said that the ministry was also collaborating with the ministry of social welfare and culture and other agencies in the state to achieve set goals.

Read Also: Sokoto builds 50 new secondary schools

November 6, 2017
Salesboy to spend Christmas, New Year in prison for stealing motorcycle

A 20-year-old, Amuzat Ahmed, is to spend Christmas and the New Year in prison for stealing a motorcycle valued at N230, 000 and a Samsung Galaxy phone, an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court ruled in Lagos on Monday.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, who sentenced Ahmed of Imota in Ikorodu area of Lagos State to one year imprisonment, pronounced him guilty as charged.

The convict had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing brought against him.

Sule-Amzat held that the convict should serve out the one year without an option of fine.

“The prosecution was able to establish that the convict, a salesboy, deceived and lured the caretaker of the said motorcycle to a hotel on the pretext of entertaining him,” she said.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, told court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 26 at Ajose Street, Mende in Maryland area of Lagos.

Ihiehie said the complainants, Mr Abubakar Mohammed, reported the case at Anthony Police Post.

“The complainant left his Bajaj motorcycle with registration no. AGL 232 QH valued at N230, 000 and a Samsung Galaxy 03 phone valued at N36, 000 in the care of Husseini Saliu on Sept. 29.

“The accused lured Saliu to a hotel at Mile 12 to entertain him, stole the motorcycle and the phone and ran away.”

Ihiehie said the accused was later apprehended at Maryland Bus Stop on Oct. 26.

The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The section stipulates three years in prison for offenders.

NAN

November 6, 2017
Ethiopian Airlines lands B787-9 in Abuja on Tuesday

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline group, has announced that it would bring its newest Boeing 787-9 plane tagged the “Big Brother“ to Abuja on Tuesday.

A statement by the Media Consultant, Mr Chukwuemeka Chigozie, on Monday, said the B787-9 was part of its commitment to deliver exceptional service to African market by operating the latest technologically advanced aircraft in the market.

The airline said that passengers had enjoyed the unique on board features of this latest technology aircraft like the biggest windows in the sky, high ceiling, less noise, distinctive lighting, and higher air humidity.

According to him, Ethiopian Airlines has always services Abuja with its newest Aircraft.

“It brought the Dreamliner B787 to Abuja in 2012 and reopened the Abuja Airport this year with the A350 when the Airport was reopened after 6 weeks closure.

“Ethiopian Airlines has been operating into Nigeria since 1960 and currently flies to 5 cities in Nigeria and it was the only international Airline that flew to Kaduna when Abuja Airport was shut for repairs.

“Ethiopian becomes the first carrier in Africa to operate the 787-9 and extends a tradition of setting aviation milestones,’’ he said.

The airline became Africa’s first carrier to fly the 787-8 in 2012, and also introduced the 777-200LR (Longer Range), 777-300ER (Extended Range) and 777 Freighter.

The 787 Dreamliner was the most innovative and efficient airplane family flying today, and more than 600 Dreamliners had entered commercial services since 2011.

According to him, Dreamliner has been flying almost 200 million people on more than 560 unique routes around the world, saving an estimated 19 billion pounds of fuel.

“This comes as ET announced that it will add a 6th weekly service to and from Yaoundé & Libreville effective November 3,’’ he was quoted in the statement.

NAN

November 6, 2017
OAU VC debunks rumour over fee hike

The Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ) Ile-Ife has debunk the rumour on the school fee hike.

Speaking with the Vice Chancellor, Prof Eyitope Ogunboeede, he said” there is nothing like fee increment. The management has said nothing like that. People are just been mysterious and by this they spread false news around

“I wonder how someone would just sit in his room and come up with a propoganda like that. People are just delighted in carrying fake news around and people get to believe that easily without getting the source or getting to know if it’s right or wrong” he said..

There is nothing like that, it’s just a lie. I don’t think there would be something like that in the session and the one that follows. It is not even in the plan of the university management” he added.

Read Also: OAU students’ union President impeached

November 6, 2017