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Tag: Nigerian news

  • AEDC loses N500m to vandalism

    AEDC loses N500m to vandalism

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, said Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) lost over N500 million to activities of vandals in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger from January to date.

    Idris made this known while inaugurating the Anti-Electricity Vandalism Response Squad (AEVRS) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that 233 cases of vandalism were recorded in the area during the period.

    He, however, said that over the years, the police did a lot to prevent vandals from destroying electricity installations across the country.

    “With the worsening state of the situation, it has become expedient to urgently develop an improved strategy to better protect the nation`s critical electricity infrastructure,” the police boss said.

    He added that the creation of AEVRS became necessary because the traditional methods deployed were not enough to adequately guarantee their safety.

    He explained that the unit was specifically dedicated to the protection of electrical installations among others.

    Idris said that to ensure that no part of the country was left out of the strategy, commissioners of police in all the states had been directed to liaise with electricity distribution companies in their states.

    He said that policemen deployed to the unit would undergo specialised training to update their skills.

    “In addition, the unit is subject to routine monitoring and evaluation to ensure they remain focused,“ he said.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Ernest Mupwaya, had said that the company recorded 89 cases of vandalism in 2016, adding that the figure doubled in 2017.

    “Between January and September, 233 cases of vandalism have been reported within our franchise area,” he added.

    He also said that the company spent N195 million to replace vandalised items during the period.

    Mupwaya said that the implication of the “unfortunate situation is that money which ought to be used for acquiring new assets will be channelled to replacing vandalised equipment’’.

    He restated the company`s preparedness to ensure that all bottlenecks impeding supply of electricity to customers were removed.

    The Chairman, Board of Directors, AEDC, Mr Shehu Malami, said that the rising cases of vandalism of power equipment was a major threat to efficient electricity generation and distribution in the country.

    He said that the company was committed to work with all stakeholders to improve power supply to customers within its franchise areas.

    “I am also using this opportunity to call on members of the public to join hands with us in this partnership with the police to tackle this menace,“ he said.

    NAN

  • Kwara Assembly passes 2017 revised Appropriation Bill of N166bn

    Kwara Assembly passes 2017 revised Appropriation Bill of N166bn

    The Kwara House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a revised 2017 Appropriation Bill of N166.1 billion.

    The passage of the bill was in response to the request of Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed in his message to the House early in October.

    The revised state Appropriation Bill was passed after the House had approved all the classes on the bill during the committee of whole, which lasted less than one hour.

    According to the bill, the revised capital expenditure expenditure is now N80.9 billion, while the recurrent expenditure is N77.6 billion.

    After the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina had read the bill for the third time, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Mathew Okedare, who presided over the plenary, directed him to produce a clean copy of the bill for the governor’s assent.

     The House had earlier approved over N160 billion as 2017 Kwara budget.

    In another development, the house called on the state’s Commissioner of Police, Lawan Ado, to critically look into complains about his officers and men over allegations of harassment.

    The house made the call after considering a matter of urgent public importance raised by Masud Bakare (APC, Omupo constituency).

    Bakare had alleged sexual harassment of a female along pipeline road in Ilorin by some Special Anti Robbery Squad ( SARS ) Officers under the command.

    NAN

  • Buhari felicitates with `Baba Ijebu’ at 82

    Buhari felicitates with `Baba Ijebu’ at 82

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Ogun businessman Chief Kesington Adebutu as the philanthropist clocks 82 on Oct. 24.

    The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Tuesday, lauded Adebutu’s contributions to the growth of the economy.

    Buhari also lauded Adebutu for providing jobs to thousands of Nigerians, especially the youth.

    He praised the business acumen, hard work and determination that enabled Adebutu to rise from a humble beginning to sit atop a business empire currently.

    Buhari affirmed that Adebutu’s philanthropic programmes under the auspices of the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation had made life more meaningful for less-privileged Nigerians.

    He described as “worthy of emulation” the donations made by Adebutu, especially to educational and religious organisations by the octogenarian, popularly called “Baba Ijebu”.

    According to Buhari, such contributions have endeared Adebutu to Nigerians from all parts of the country.

    The president prayed that God would grant Adebutu good health and longer life, to continue rendering selfless services to his fatherland and humanity.

    Adebutu is a recipient of several chieftaincy titles and honorary doctorate degrees from various institutions across the country.

    NAN

  • JEDC sacks 150 workers

    JEDC sacks 150 workers

    The Jos Electricity Distribution Company ( JEDC ), has sacked 150 workers, in what its management said was part of a re-organisation aimed at optimum performance.

    Among those sacked across its four states of Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi and Benue were marketers, linesmen, network engineers, cable joiners and electrical fitters.

    Their sack letters, signed by Abubakar Mohammed, Head, Human Resources and Support Services, simply told the workers that their services were no loner required.

    The letters said that they would be paid one month’s salary in lieu of notice, and warned them against impersonating as workers of the company.

    Some of the workers, however, accused the JEDC management refusing to settle their entitlements before sacking them, and also alleged that they were paid half salary in September.

    They also rejected management’s claims that those sacked were old and unproductive, arguing that most of them were young persons engaged “few years ago”.

    Alhaji Gidado Modibbo, JEDC Managing Director, who reacted to the allegations, made this known on Tuesday in Jos that the “weeding exercise” was aimed at ridding the company of “dead woods”.

    “We assess workers based on performance. Those sacked fell short of minimum expectations. Some were too old for the jobs they were handling.

    “We even had Faults Men that were more than 60 years and blind. We had to ask them to go because they could not climb electric poles and were not adding any value to us,” he said.

    He also rejected claims that the workers of the JEDC were paid half salaries in September, and explained that they received 70 per cent of their wages because management had set a target and resolved to base salaries on it.

    Dr. Friday Elijah, JEDC Director of Communications, who also reacted, said that the main parametre used for the sack was performance.

    “The performance of the workers have been generally very poor and management had always told them to sit up.

    “Last month, for instance, we distributed N4 billion worth of energy, but realised only N950 million. It means that many workers are not productive, hence our resolve to ask them to go.”

    He said that some workers were sacked for extorting monies from consumers, while others collected money from customers but did not remit same to the company.

    Elijah said that some workers were told old and could no longer add any value to the company, while others, who were inherited from the former owners, had served for close to 40 years.

    The official, however said that the company had engaged more workers than it had sacked since it took over JEDC in November 2013, “in spite of new technology that has minimised the need for manual activities”.

    NAN

  • Niger warns against security threat

    Niger warns against security threat

    Niger Government on Tuesday, warned that it would take “swift and decisive enforcement’’ action against any form of security threat in the state.

    Mr Al-Amin Bmitosahi, Chief of Staff, Niger Government House, gave the warning in an interview in Minna on Tuesday.

    He said that the state government had taken proactive security measures to guarantee peaceful co-existence among the residents.

    “We have provided all that is required by our security personnel to deal decisively with any form of security threat,” he said

    Bmitosahi said traditional rulers and other stakeholders had been mobilised to report any suspected movement or bad elements in their locations to the nearest security agency for prompt action.

    ‘’We are not taking things for granted; government will continue to support and motivate security personnel deployed to flush out all the miscreants among us.’’

    He said that the state government would do everything possible to enable residents carry out their legitimate business.

    “We will pursue vigorously all bad elements in our midst for peace, progress and political stability in our state.”

    Bmitosahi said the state government had also directed the 25 local government chairmen to continue to support security agencies in their respective areas for optimal performance.

    He appealed to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ) to compliment effort of the state government by furnishing it with intelligence information about movement of dubious characters.

    “Members of the union should always alert security agencies on any person or group of passengers with questionable character.”

    Bmitosahi also called on residents to continue to support the policies and programmes of the present administration in the state, in its efforts to implement people-oriented policies and programmes.

    NAN

  • Modern biotechnology regulators need training – NBMA D-G

    Modern biotechnology regulators need training – NBMA D-G

    Dr Rufus Ebegba, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency ( NBMA ), says the training of regulators of modern biotechnology is necessary to enable Nigeria to benefit maximally from biotechnology applications.

    Ebegba said this in Abuja on Tuesday while declaring open the four-day training, organised for the workforce of the agency in collaboration with M and A Global Projects, a biotechnology consulting firm.

    He stressed that the evolving nature of the technology had made it imperative to train and retrain workers who oversaw the regulation of biotechnology products in the country.

    “The training is part of the Federal Government’s strategic efforts to build the capacity of staff to ensure effective regulation of modern biotechnology in the country,’’ he said.

    Ebegba said that the agency was not established by the Federal Government to stop Genetically Modified Organisms ( GMOs ) or promote it, adding that its mandate was to ensure that GMOs were safe for human health and the environment.

    “Biosafety is very crucial to our national economic efforts, as it will bring about more agricultural yields for food sufficiency and profits for Nigerian farmers.

    “The issue of biosafety has been on the front burner, to the point that some people are opposed to it, to the extent that even the permits granted by the agency last year have been criticised by many environmentalists.’’

    Ebegba said that although some environmentalists had taken NBMA to court, the agency would not be deterred in its efforts to fulfil its mandate.

    He, however, underscored the need to expose the agency’s staff to the extant regulations on biotechnology so that Nigeria would not be a dumping ground for unsafe GMO products.

    “Our key responsibility is to serve as an unbiased umpire to ensure that the practice of modern biotechnology is safe for the people, while boosting the economy,’’ he added.

    Also speaking, Chinyere Nzeduru, the Director of Environmental Biosafety and General Release, NBMA, said that the workshop was meant to equip the staff with the relevant skills that would facilitate their efforts to discharge their duties effectively.

    “This agency is a very sensitive one, as issues of modern biotechnology are very technical and require people who are up-to-date and knowledgeable to carry out biotechnology regulations in the country; hence the constant training of staff,’’ she said.

    The theme of the workshop is: “Capacity Building for Effective Biosafety Management in Nigeria’’.

    NAN

  • Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women

    Ambode, Udom, Fayose seek more support for women

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday called for deliberate and articulate policies to support female entrepreneurs in the country.

    Ambode made the call at the 17th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials ( COWLSO ) with theme “She creates, She Transforms: Creativity and Skill Acquisition.”

    He spoke as the first female mechanic in Nigeria, Mrs Sandra Aguebor, was presented with the inspirational woman of the year award at the conference.

    “With the female population in our country today, it is clear that our women have the capacity to positively affect the Nigerian economy and are already doing so.

    “Supporting women businesses should no longer be seen as a social support or empowerment, but as a necessary step to revive and improve the economy,” Ambode said.

    He said that so far, N2.1 billion had been disbursed to 6,613 women under the state’s Employment Trust Fund (ETF), which represented 42 per cent of the total loans disbursed.

    According to him, the target is to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the loans are given to women.

    He restated the commitment of his government to the course of women, encouraging more women to approach the ETF and take advantage of other initiatives to support their businesses.

    Also, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom commended the committee for keeping the vision envisioned for over 17 years.

    Emmanuel condemned racial, tribal and gender inequality, saying that the country needed to open more doors for women.

    He encouraged women not to look at the limiting lines drawn by history or politics, but rather live their lives creating and transforming.

    In a goodwill message, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State said that efforts must be made to constantly develop women.

    “A life without women will be full of crisis, it will be hopeless,” Fayose said.

    He advised men to stop seeing women as second fiddle.

    The Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo were also present at the event.

    NAN

  • Alleged N11bn fraud: Shema ‘s trial to begin Feb.13

    Alleged N11bn fraud: Shema ‘s trial to begin Feb.13

    A Katsina State High Court has fixed Feb 13, 2018, for mention of the case filed by Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) against ex-governor Ibrahim Shema, alleged to have misappropriated N11 billion state fund.

    Shema had challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear the case but lost at the Court of Appeal in Kaduna.

    The ex-governor is now at the Supreme Court, which has fixed Nov. 8, to hear his appeal on the verdict by the appellate court.

    During the proceedings at the state High Court on Tuesday in Katsina, the defence counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), prayed the court to adjourn the case, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling on jurisdiction.

    However, the prosecution counsel, Mr Earnest Obunadike objected to the request by  the defence, urging the court to proceed with the trial.

    The judge, Justice Ibrahim Maikaita-Bako, who adjourned the case to Feb. 13, 2018, for mention, however, said the court might fix an earlier date, if the Supreme Court delivers its verdict before the adjourned date.

    NAN reports that the Katsina State Government had petitioned the EFCC accusing Shema of misappropriating about N11 billion during his tenure.

    NAN

  • Katsina invests N200m in rice, cotton production

    Katsina invests N200m in rice, cotton production

    The Katsina State Government says it has invested N200 million in rice and cotton production under the Anchor Borrowers Programme in the state.

    Dr Abba Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Agriculture, disclosed this in Katsina on Tuesday, at the opening of a town hall meeting on the programme.

    The town hall meeting was organised by the state government in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), the co-sponsor of anchor borrowers programme.

    “We have rice and cotton farmers that collected the CBN loan under the anchor borrowers programme to boost rice and cotton production and the programme needed supervision.

    “We used the funds to supervise and inspect all the rice and cotton farms in the 34 local government areas of the state.

    “The Katsina state government also purchased over 35 motorcycles for extension workers to visit rice and cotton farmers with the aim of offering pieces of advice to them,” he said.

    Abdullahi said that part of the fund was used for the repair of 15 vehicles for officers involved in supervising the extension workers.

    Earlier, Alhaji Shehu Musawa, the Managing Director, State Agricultural and Rural Development Project (KATARDA), said the stakeholders’ meeting was to review how the programme fared during the rainy season.

    “Anchor borrowers programme has achieved the desired goal in the state as it has boosted rice and cotton production.

    “We are expecting bumper harvest of cotton and rice in the state,” Abdullahi said.

    In his contribution, Keystone Bank’s representative, Malam Ahmed Musa, said that the bank would continue to support agricultural programmes in the state.

    NAN

  • Shehu Idris college of health science and technology to award degree soon – Bello

    Shehu Idris college of health science and technology to award degree soon – Bello

    Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology, Makarfi, will soon become a degree-awarding institution, a lawmaker said on Tuesday.

    Alhaji Bello Sani-Gimi, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria.

    According to him, the state government is collaborating with some Egyptian firms to upgrade facilities and standard of the college to a degree awarding institution.

    He said the Egyptians had wanted to establish a university of technology but were asked by Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i to use facilities in the college for the project.

    Bello Sani-Gimi, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said the firms had inspected facilities at the college and expressed satisfaction with what they saw.

    “They are coming back so that we can sign a Memorandum of Understanding and continue from there; as I am talking to you they are not yet back, but we are still waiting for them.

    “However, as member representing the area, I will bring the issue to the floor of the house, so that we can legislate on it and give the governor the legislative backing for him to go ahead with the upgrading of the school, so that even if those investors from Egypt fail to come back, he can search for others.

    “Hopefully ‘Insha-Allah’, we will see to the actualisation of converting that college to a university,” Bello said.

    The lawmaker urged his constituents to support the present administration to enable it effectively deliver the dividends of democracy.

    NAN