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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Ruling on Abia governorship tomorrow

    The Abia State election petition tribunal will rule tomorrow on the suit between All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate Alex Otti and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Anambra Central: I will challenge tribunal ruling, says Umeh

    Although the tribunal is yet to release a statement, Otti’s media aide Ferdinand Ekeoma confirmed the information.

    Ekeoma, who said he would not want to pre-empt the ruling, said Otti’s legal team had done what they should and was waiting for the judgment.

  • NEMSA allays fear over congestion of meter test stations

    THE Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) on Wednesday said it had decentralised its meter testing activities with the operationalisation of the Kaduna and Port Harcourt Meter Test Stations.

    Its Managing Director, Peter Ewesor, stated this at the agency’s meeting with electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and Meter Assets Providers in Abuja.

    NEMSA is the agency responsible for testing and certifying electricity meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

    But the representative of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) at the meeting, Sadiq Abdullahi, asked the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Peter O. Ewesor, if the agency would be able to cope with the demand for meter testing from different DisCos.

    The 11 DisCos have targeted to install about 6 million meters between this year and 2022.

    Abdullahi expressed doubts about NEMSA’s capacity to cope with companies simultaneously asking for meter testing nationwide.

    Replying the AEDC representative, Ewesor said: “I don’t think the place will be congested because presently, the 6 million meters that are going to be deployed are not going to be deployed in one year. They are staggered between 2019 and 2022.

    “We have plans to ensure that we have adequate resources to deal with the meters they will bring. We have three meter test stations: Oshodi is in Lagos; we have a Meter Test Station in Kaduna and we have a Meter Test Station in Port Harcourt. Definitely, all the MAPs and DisCos should go to the Meter Test Station close to their environment.”

    The Chief Electrical Inspector ruled out the possibility of overwhelming the stations, saying the agency could introduce “shifting” for its personnel to cope with the high demand for testing, when it becomes necessary.

    He told the stakeholders that efficiency in revenue collection through metering was crucial to the success of the electricity market.

    Ewesor recalled that over the years, meters were deployed in trickle; so, the rate was a far cry from the desire of Nigerians who complained of paying for the energy they did not use.

    According to him, some issues, such as estimated billings that emanated from lack of adequate metering, have started abating with the various metering policies of the Federal Government.

    With the enactment of the MAP policy to bridge the metering gap, there is now a relationship among the NEMSA, meter suppliers nationwide and the consumers, which has resulted in the upsurge of metering.

     

     

     

     

  • #RevolutionNow: Falana kicks as security takes over CDHR, Sahara Reporters

    A NUMBER of armed security operatives on Wednesday blocked the Adeniyi Jones premises of the Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) and the Lagos office of online media outfit, Sahara Reporters, to stop the planned meeting of suspected pro-revolutionists.

    Conveners of the #RevolutionNow movement had planned to continue their agitations around 11 a.m for the release of Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore and other agitators arrested by security agents for alleged treasonable felony.

    But as early as 7 a.m on Wednesday, armed policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military laid siege to the CDHR to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    But the protesters had another card up their sleeves as the planned protest kicked-off on the streets and not at the CDHR office, as anticipated.

    The protesters wore orange berets and carried banners with various inscriptions, such as “Free them all” and “Kill insecurity, bad governance”.

    They marched for about a kilometre from Under Bridge in Ikeja, the state capital, to Allen Avenue.

    Co-Convener of Coalition for Revolution (CORE) Olaseni Ajayi said the siege was another attempt to forcefully stop the planned peaceful agitation against the detention of activists without trial.

    He activist insisted that the government action only confirmed that the civil rights fought for over the years were crudely being removed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    “The right to speech, association, protest and even to think are no more guaranteed under this neo-regime.

    “However, our agitation for the immediate release of Omoyele Sowore, Agba Jalingo, Abayomi Olawale (Mandate) and all others currently being held in Buhari’s detention centres and for the revolutionary transformation of the country, continues,” he said.

    Reacting to the siege, activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said the government should stop harassing law-abiding citizens.

    The popular lawyer noted that Sowore had been held for over 45 days in defiance to a court ruling that granted the DSS 45-day remand.

    “In spite of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, the police had wanted to disrupt and stop the peaceful meeting of law-abiding citizens to discuss the illegal detention of Omoyele Sowore, Agba Jalingo, Abayomi Olawale and scores of others being incarcerated in various detention facilities in the country.

    “Contrary to the order of the Federal High Court that Sowore be detained for 45 days, the DSS has incarcerated him for 47 days.

    “Last week, the Federal High Court turned down the application for the renewal of its order for the detention of Messrs Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo for another 14 days.

    Read Also: Shiites have right to practice faith – Falana

    “In spite of the expiration of the detention order of the two journalists, they are still being held by the police in Cross River State. Mr. Abayomi Olawale, who was arrested on August 5, has been detained for 45 days by the DSS without any court order whatsoever.

    “These detainees and scores of others languishing in illegal custody ought to be released forthwith.

    “While congratulating the organisers of the symposium for successfully holding the programme at another venue, the harassment of law-abiding citizens cannot be tolerated under a regime that is busy negotiating with bandits and terrorists, bribing them with public funds and granting them amnesty,” said Falana.

     

  • Fed Govt urges governors to ensure internal security

    Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday urged governors, particularly those in the Northeast and Northwest, to fight insecurity.

    This, the minister said, could be through the deployment of modern technology to support the efforts of the Federal Government and security personnel in combating all forms of crime and criminality in the zones.

    Aregbesola spoke in his office in Abuja when he hosted Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i on a courtesy visit.

    He pleaded with other governors to emulate the Kaduna State government’s model on security.

    The minister said crime had become complex across the world and that it could best be tackled with the use of modern technology to protect life and property in the country.

    Read Also: Nigeria security situation critical, says Naval Chief

    “Through the use of modern technology, the menace of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other vices bedevilling the country will be put behind within the shortest possible time,” Aregbesola said.

    The minister said this would influence the development of an effective strategy on a regional basis for curtailing insecurity and its attendant challenges.

    A statement by the Director (Press and Public Relations) in the ministry, Mohammed Manga, said the minister stressed that security is the key to effective, meaningful and social interaction.

    He added that the nation’s economy depends on its internal security.

    Praising El-Rufai for seeking collaboration with the Federal Government in the fight against insecurity, Aregbesola noted that the security challenges facing the country required collective effort to handle.

    He urged governors to collaborating with the Federal Government in order to provide safety and security for Nigerians.

    El-Rufai said he was at the ministry to congratulate the minister on his recent appointment and to seek collaboration on how best to tackle insecurity in his state.

    He said the Federal Government had done well towards in securing the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway with the deployment of security personnel from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in charge of national security.

  • WAEC Registrar Uwadiae retires

    REGISTRAR at the international office of West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr Iyi Uwadiae, will complete his tenure at the end of this month.

    During a tele-conference from Ghana headquarters of the examining body yesterday, Uwadiae told reporters at the WAEC International Office in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State, that his seven-year tenure (consisting of a five-year official tenure and two-year extension) as the 12th registrar of the council, was successful.

    Uwadiae, who took over from another Nigerian, Alhaja Mulikat Bello, on October 1, 2012, refused to name his successor.

    The outgoing registrar said his successor, who had been appointed, would be named when he assumes office on October 1.

    “I anticipate that you will be anxious to know who is going to succeed me. I am glad to inform you that my successor has been appointed. I will, however, want to appeal to you to grant me the indulgence of not unveiling the personality at this forum. As you are quite aware, the Council has an official process of doing so soon, after assumption of office.  There will be a press release or conference to that effect,” he said.

    Read Also: WAEC: we won’t re-issue certificates

    During his tenure, Uwadiae said the council completed its headquarters, which took 15 years to build, in 2016.

    The registrar said Liberia fully adopted the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) last year, while the Council increased additional diets of the WASSCE and Basic Education Certificate Examination for private candidates in member-countries.

    To prevent examination malpractice and leakages, the Registrar said the Council acquired facilities to print in-house.

    “The secretariat paid the deserved attention to the issue of examination leakage and resolved to settle for nothing short of total eradication of the nuisance. We pursued a status of self-reliance in printing services, which could guarantee our set target of 100 per cent in-house printing of question papers.

    “As at now, each national office has reached a certain stage in the establishment of an in-house printing press. Other types of malpractice also received our deepest reflection, as the Council constructed or furnished for use its own standard/model examination halls in places like Lagos and Benin City in Nigeria, Accra, Cape Coast, Wa and Koforidua in Ghana and Tubmanburg in Liberia,” he said.

    On the use of technology, Uwadiae said the Council under him used software and various gadgets to prevent and check examination malpractices.

    “We built tighter security around our examination materials and conduct as various gadgets and software were deployed for identification of candidates, capturing of data and detection of irregularities at examination centres,” he said.

    The Registrar also said the tele-conference facility used for the media briefing was being used for the first time.

    He added that the facility was in place in three of the five member-countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia.

     

  • Minister tasks foreign firms on job creation for Nigerians

    Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo on Wednesday urged foreign firms seeking to invest in the country to create jobs for Nigerians.

    Adebayo spoke in Abuja when the leadership of some foreign firms visited him.

    The firms are: Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), from Korea and Datasonic Group Berhard from Malaysia.

    The minister expressed satisfaction that foreign firms were for investment opportunities in the country.

    He urged them to use their investment to create jobs for Nigerians.

    While Samsung came for business expansion and vessel fabrication in Nigeria, Datasonic is seeking government’s support for a $100 million investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solution services in the country.

    Adebayo said: “Such investment plans should give top priority to job opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youths. The government is also not relenting on creating an enabling environment for businesses as long as they would create jobs.

    Read Also: President reappoints Imoukhuede SSA on Job Creation

    “As a government, we are excited that you are here seeking investment opportunities in our country. The fact is that it is the priority of President Muhammadu Buhari to create jobs for our youths through direct foreign investments (DFIs).

    “It is also exciting that you are coming now at the right time when we are settling into our new functions to take the nation to the Next Level, which makes your coming part of our plan. As you progress with setting up of your businesses, staff from the ministry will assist in your areas of needs.”

    The Managing Director of SHI Samsung Limited, Mr Jejin Jeon, told the minister that his firm had invested about $500 million in Nigeria in the last six years.

    He proposed to site a factory in Nigeria to make the country the vessel fabrication hub in Africa.

    Also, the Chief Executive Director of Datasonic Group Berhad, Mr Chew Ben Ben, told the minister that his firm, in partnership with Chrome Group of Nigeria, had a multimillion dollars ICT project plan for the country.

    The project, he said, would cover production of secured passports, chip-based driver’s licence, international passport, integrated security, surveillance systems, auto-gates with facial recognition systems, all of which would create several jobs for Nigerian youths.

    The Chairman of Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ABUCCI), Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, expressed confidence that the project would further drive the economic diversification agenda of the current administration.

    He said the firm, as one of the foremost ICT companies in Malaysia, was poised to establish a world-class range of technology products in Nigeria within the next 24 months.

    Adetokunbo added that the firm looked forward to government supports in the form of top-level incentives and waivers to upscale government’s agenda in job creation.

  • Buhari condoles with EFCC’s Secretary’s family

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commiserated with the family of Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, on the death of his mother and the family matriarch, Mrs Moroluke Marian Fakoyede.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, the President condoled with family members, friends and Mrs Fakoyede’s close associates over the sad loss.

    Read Also: Buhari, Atiku: What next after judgement?

    He urged them to take solace in the good works of the God-fearing woman who treasured love for family and neighbours.

    As the family prepares for her final journey home tomorrow, President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will grant Mrs Fakoyede eternal rest and comfort all members of the family.

     

  • Ogun begins low cost housing scheme

    Ogun State Government has begun the construction of low cost mass houses in Abeokuta and other parts of the state, to provide decent accommodation for the people at affordable prices.

    The houses, when completed, will cost about N4 million each, according to Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    Speaking a thanksgiving and praise worship to mark his victory at the Governorship Election Tribunal, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the governor noted that the project was embarked on to address housing deficit.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to fund firm’s mass housing projects

    Governor Abiodun, who described shelter as one of the basic needs of man, said the project would employ the services of artisans such as bricklayers, carpenters, painters and other auxiliary workers.

    “I have told our people that the houses should not be more N4million each. This is to enable people have access to them,” he said.

    Prince Abiodun, who used the occasion to inform the people of his stewardship in the last 100 days, said besides reconstituting the State Security Trust Fund and handing over its management to the right combination of people, 100 patrol vans and 200 motorcycles were purchased, with an helicopter from the Federal Government to tackle insecurity.

  • CJN to inaugurate 38 new SANs September 23

    THE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, will swear in 38 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on September 23 at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court in Abuja.

    In a statement on Wednesday, the apex court’s spokesman Festus Akande said the swearing-in ceremony is among programmes lined up to usher in the court’s 2019/2020 legal year.

    The statement reads: “As customary, during such programmes, the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria will deliver a state-of-the Judiciary address, which is ostensibly to highlight the performance of the Supreme Court and, by extension, the Nigerian Judiciary in the outgoing 2018/2019 legal year.

    Read Also: Lawyers set agenda for CJN

    “…Out of the 117 legal practitioners who applied for the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2019, 38 were successful at the end of the rigorous exercise.

    “Out of this number, three are academics while 35 are advocates.

    “The Supreme Court commenced its annual vacation after a remarkably successful 2018/2019 legal year on Monday, July 29, 2019.

    “All the programmes billed to mark the commencement of the new legal year are to start at 10 a.m.”

     

  • Funding gaps stalling road projects, says Fashola

    Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola has said budget funding gaps stalled the completion of road projects across the country in the last four years.

    Fashola was addressing reporters on the poor state of roads in the land against the series of approvals by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during the current administration’s first tenure.

    At the post-FEC briefing on Wednesday, the minister explained that not all the over N300 billion budgeted was released.

    He said his office had not got any money since he was reappointed.

    According to him, there are paper work processes being done.

    Fashola said some of the road projects were based on goodwill.

    Stressing that there had been criticisms against borrowing during the first tenure, the minister said community support was needed to facilitate the construction of roads across the country.

    Read Also: How research can solve social problems, by Fashola

    He gave an instance of over N10 billion as compensation to be paid on the Second Niger Bridge.

    Fashola said: “First of all, about abandoned projects. It’s important we all speak the same language. I think there is a very clear distinction doing a project that is uncompleted and a project that is abandoned. They mean two different things.

    “If you ask me, you say there is a report about 20,000 abandoned projects. My ministry doesn’t have 20,000 projects. I think there was a report from the previous administration that did a compilation.

    “What are we doing about abandoned projects? One of the things we have done, including what we have done today finding out why projects have not been completed in some cases, the rates have become obsolete. So, the price of cement has changed, the exchange rate has changed, inflation has gone into the quantities in which it was awarded before we came.

    “So, we are trying to resuscitate some of those projects because we know that the contractors will not go back to work if the pricing is not right. That is one thing we are doing.”

    He added: “It is the government policy to ensure that we complete as many projects as possible. Unlike in the past, this government has focused on completing projects.

    “In addition to that, we have increased the budget size so the budget size for all of the Nigerian roads in 2015 was N18 billion. Those are accumulations that we now have to manage and overcome as a result of under-budgeting and under-funding.

    “Now, there is a distinction. We have increased the budget to roughly about N300 billion, but we still can’t fund the N300 billion.

    “So, when we get the approval, that is, the one half of the story, the other half of the story is that we don’t get all of the cash. So, your investigation must include how much is being released against how much is being approved in the budget.”