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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • TCN board stalls $258m power projects

    The absence of board for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stalled the approval of $258million JICA loan for the implementation of the payment for material and equipment for the Apapa and Akamgba substation in Lagos.

    It was learnt that the Federal Ministry of Power has urged the new Minister of Power, Engr. Mamman Sale and the Minister of State, Goddy Jedy Agba, to expedite action on the reconstitution of the board of the company to jump-start the projects that are pending board approval.

    It was also gathered that the compensation for the Resettlement of Persons on the Right of Way (RoW) is also awaiting the blessing of the same board.

    According to a source, who sought anonymity, “Presently we are waiting for approval to pay for Resettlement of Affected Persons in a area where the substation will be built. We have written to the BPP (Bureau of Public Procurement) for the compensation for Akamgba and Lagos state zone. This is cosing the ministry $258million. It is a loan from JICA.

    Read Also: TCN urged to arrest grid collapse

    “The Ministry is waiting for another no objection to pay for materials and equipment for the Apapa and Akamgba substations which we are trying to upgrade so that it will accommodate the increased demand in Apapa area.

    “The department, in doing this, coordinates the affairs and operation of the TCN in ensuring that they operate within the policy approved for them. The only difficulty we are having now is that there is no board for the TCN. The minister should push for the approval of a board for TCN. We are seeking that the new minister seeks for the reconstitution of the board of the TCN.”

    The ministry, according to the source, has also informed the minister to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the transaction of the N39billion loan to a company-Zinglasy with Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company.

    It was learnt that the Ministry has already presented a memo on the transaction to Buhari.

    “One of the issues we had in the Ministry prior privatisation was a litigation of one of the companies that was to provide meters to the then PHCN. This administration in 2015 when it came in, were able to resolve that judgement against government to a compromise against government.

    “As a result of that resolution, we now have a N39billion loan to a company -Messer Ziglasy. The implementation of that judgement has commenced with Messer Zinglasy signing an agreement with Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and the ministry sent a memo to Mr. President to approve that transaction. That memo is still awaiting Mr. President’s approval. It might be one of the things the minister should take up.”

    Besides, it was also learnt that the Ministry and board of Yola Electricity Distribution Company were working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to sign another agreement for another privatization of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company.

  • Technologies for start-ups coming

    THE Federal Government  said  it will be creating new technologies that will lead to new start-ups.

    It said it is part of its plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten years.  The new start-ups will lead to new enterprises and entrepreneurs in the country, who will start as micro businesses and eventually grow.

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu  who spoke yesterday in Abuja, said this is how wealth is created the world over, adding that the move will  grow the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create jobs.

    Read Also: Agba, Keyamo, Onu, Ehanire, Agba take oaths

    He spoke  when he and the Minister of state of the ministry Alh. Mohammed Abdullahi, met with Supervising Directors of the Ministry and DG/CEO of the agencies to roll out a new policy thrust for the Ministry.

    He the president intends to continue with the three areas that he had focused on during his first four years which is to grow the economy, security and fight corruption.

    He said: “The three areas that the President worked on in the first four years are the areas we will continue to concentrate on which is to ensure their is security, that we will continue to grow our economy and ensure that all those that want to work in the country are given the opportunity.”

  • NNPC, Total to grow production reserves

    THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Total Nigeria have expressed readiness to work together to grow daily national crude oil and gas production and reserves to meet the national target of 40 billion barrels.

    Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, and Country Chair/Managing Director of Total Nigeria, Mr. Mike Sangster, made the commitment when the Total Nigeria chief led the top management team of his company on a business visit to the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Read Also: NNPC picks 15 firms to lift crude

    Kyari said Total Nigeria was one of the Corporation’s most important partners with visible outcomes, adding that the partnership would further grow national production and reserves going forward.

    “Total Nigeria in the last five years has very visible outcomes that we have seen and I assure you that we will work together to progress all efforts to grow production and national reserves. I also want to put on record that your downstream company has been very supportive in the supply of gasoline into our country,” Kyari said.

     

  • Fed Govt audits 500 ex-Nigeria Airways staff

    THE Federal Government has commenced a week-long mop up verification exercise of 500 ex-workers of the former Nigeria Airways, who were not audited during the last exercise.

    The Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, will carry out mop-up verification.

    The Ministry earlier conducted a similar exercise in the six geo-political zones in September, 2018. The latest verification, is holding simultaneously in Lagos and Kano, and is meant to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are audited and paid off their entitlements.

    A statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance signed by Mr. Olajide O. Oshudun Deputy Director Information said the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties in the Ministry, Dr. Mohammed Dikwa, represented by the Deputy Director Procurement, Mr. Izerebu Iyugun John, said the exercise was in “furtherance of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that all former workers of the defunct airways got their benefits.”

    Read Also: Nigeria Airways ex-workers stage rally for Buhari’s reelection

    Speaking during an inspection of the exercise at the two centres, he assured the ex-workers that the Federal Government was committed to paying their dues once they were audited.

    The Nigeria Airways was liquidated in 2004, without its almost 6,000 workers being paid any entitlements.

  • Ikpeazu: I will complete projects in my second term

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has promised to complete ongoing projects awarded in the first term of his administration in his second term.

    Ikpeazu, in a state broadcast to mark the 28 years anniversary of the state, said his administration is committed to ensuring that every part of the state witnessed the touch of his administration.

    He said: “Since our assumption of office for a second term, we have taken steps to consolidate on the successes we recorded in our first term while ensuring that we finish strongly, our second and last lap. I reiterate that our cardinal objective in our second term is the completion of all the projects that we began in our first term, while laying solid foundations for sustainable job creation for our youths.

    “Mindful of the difficulty in building roads in the rainy season, we have carried out palliative remedial works on many of the bad roads in Umuahia and Aba preparatory to contractors handling them fully returning to site as soon as the rains abate.

    Read Also: I didn’t steal Abia’s N7.2b, says Kalu

    “We are currently concentrating on building new drains and the desilting blocked ones to allow free flow of storm water to the natural collection points; and as soon as the rains abate, contractors, who have already been mobilised, will resume work on most of our over 95 ongoing road projects across the state.

    “Beloved Abians, I am not unaware of the complaints that have been made in certain quarters that our projects are slow and delayed. My response to that is that we are more interested in the quality of projects we undertake than the quantity and the speed of completion. We have no interest in speedily completing projects for accolades and applause only for the projects to fail shortly after.

    “Our administration is building to last. Within the bounds of the resources available to us, we will spread them equitably across sectors while ensuring that we get optimal value for every kobo we spend. I have said it before and I will like to reiterate it that no road built under our administration will collapse in the lifetime of our administration contrary to what was hitherto obtainable.

    “We do not have the money to be returning to the same project every year. We will rather take time to painstakingly do a project once and for all than rush to finish a project within a year and it will fail by the next year…”

  • Ayade returns schools to catholic mission

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has returned six primary schools to their original owners, the Catholic Church.

    The schools are Sacred Heart Primary School, Calabar; St. Mary’s Primary School and its convent school, Calabar and St. Peter’s Primary School, Ekpene Tete, Akpabuyo.

    Others are St. Benedict’s Primary School, Igoli, Ogoja; St. Joseph’s Primary School Idum, Mbube, Ogoja; St. Eugene’s Primary School, Ochon, Obubra.

    Ayade said the government had no choice but to return the schools to their original owners. He was sure the church would bring standard to bear in running of the schools.

    He said: “With the way you have conducted yourself, the government has no hesitation, in spite of our concern, but to give up the six schools at a go. It is also important that we look at the performance of the schools we are handing over today and see whether they have done well.”

    Read Also: Ganduje urges emirs to report parents who fail to enrol wards in schools

    Justifying the return of the schools, Ayade told the Archbishop of Calabar Archdiocese, Archbishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem, that “owing to our spiritual belief in you as a man of honour and a man who God has used to move mountains, who am I to say no when a man of God has made a request, who am I to say no to God?

    “We have, in honour of you and indeed all the churches, say that what belongs to God must be given to God.”

    Archbishop Ekuwem, who thanked Ayade for the gesture, said: “Now that Your Excellency is handing back six of the schools in the three senatorial zones made up of Calabar archdiocese and Ogoja diocese, I know this is still a process and I am looking forward to a day when all the remaining schools will be returned.

    “We plead first for my sister churches, the same church of God beginning with Presbyterian Church whose name I heard today and the request they have made and those that have not asked and requested the government to give us schools…”

  • Enugu gets new police commissioner

    Ahmad Abdulrahman has been posted to Enugu State as the new Commissioner of Police (CP).

    He will replace Suleiman Balarabe, who has been redeployed to the Force Intelligence Burwau (FCID), Abuja, as the CP in charge of intelligence.

    Abdulrahman holds double Masters Degrees – one in Criminal Justice and another in Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies, both from the Kaduna State University.

    Read Also: Police boss reiterates zero tolerance for corruption

    A graduate of Political Science and Administration from the University of Sokoto, Abdulrahman Ahmad also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Corruption Studies from the University of Hong Kong.

    Until his recent posting, Abdulrahman was the Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence at the FCID, Abuja.

    He has held many command positions across the country, viz: Kaduna, Bayelsa and Ekiti Commands.

    A statement by the Force spokesman Frank Mba said the posting takes immediate effect.

  • Ondo to prioritise healthcare

    The Ondo State government has promised to prioritise the training and re-training of its health workers to ensure effective healthcare delivery.

    Commissioner for Health Dr. Wahab Adegbenro spoke when he opened three-day training on Essential Drug Management for Pharmacists in the Ministry of Health, Hospitals Management Board and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

    Dr. Adegbenro, who explained that effective drug management system is key to achieving qualitative healthcare, hoped that the training would help to ensure uniformity of procedure in drug management in health facilities.

    The commissioner promised that the government would not relent in fighting fake and counterfeit drugs, saying measures have been put in place to ensure that lives are protected at all times.

    Read Also: Kwara’s health system is on intensive care, says AbdulRazaq

    He urged participants to take advantage of the training, saying it would help them to perform better in their places at work.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye said the state would continue to do the needful in ensuring that quality drugs are available in all the health facilities across the state.

    Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Francis Akanbiemu described the training as training the trainers, saying participants would in turn cascade the knowledge gained to over 600 public, private and secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

    The chief trainer, Folukemi Aladenola, explained that the training is to ensure that drugs are safe, available and affordable at all times. She praised the government for procuring a Tru-Scan machine which she said has helped to detect fake and counterfeit drugs.

  • Ekiti APC elders congratulate Adebayo

    The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum has congratulated the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, on his appointment.

    In a statement, the elders were confident that the Minister would discharge his duties creditably following his records of public service which were undaunted.

    Read Also: Fayemi, Afenifere congratulate Adebayo

    “Considering your antecedent as the former governor of Ekiti State and your good performance, we are confident that you will equally perform your duties as Minister much more creditably for the progress of Nigerians.

    “We are happy that your credibility and integrity are in tandem with the character of President Muhammadu Buhari. Ekiti State APC Elders’ Forum believe that this new appointment will usher in more federal positions and presence in Ekiti State.

    “We are assuring you of our support and constant prayers to enable you succeed in the exalted position as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the elders said.

  • Sanwo-Olu: self-reliant women cardinal to nation-building

    Wife of the Lagos State Governor Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has canvassed more empowerment schemes for women to help them contribute their quota to nation-building.

    Mrs. Sanwo-Olu spoke at a one-day seminar and inauguration of the Lagos State Chapter of SHE COOPS Nigeria, an International Non-Governmental Organisation for women empowerment and participation in co-operatives.

    The First Lady, who was represented by Lady Roseline Idimogu, said women must be empowered for the society to move forward.

    She said: “More women should be politically active. By so doing, they can help rewrite our history. The widows need to be more focused on their business, even as I call on government to make funds available to them so that they can be self-reliant.

    Read Also: Ogun to create data base for widows

    “Women are unique set of people, who, when armed with skills and abilities, can change the world. I will like to see every woman in Nigeria having a voice.”

    Mrs. Sanwo-Olu reiterated the need to educate the girl-child and women, saying their education would reduce poverty in the country.

    She described women as pillars of the homes and society, hence the need to give attention to their empowerment.

    Country Programme Manager of SHE COOPS Mrs. Grace Adeola said the inauguration was to build a better world for every woman and improve on their well-being.

    Adeola, who urged women “to come together as a cooperative,” called for massive empowerment of the women folk to bring real change to the world.