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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Ganduje spends N300m to improve water supply

    The Kano state Government has spent over N300m within two months of the second term administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to boost water supply in the state.

    The new Managing director of Kano state Water Board, Engr. Garba Ahmed Kofar Wambai who revealed this to journalists said the Board is also targeting N300 million monthly revenue generation.

    Kofar Wambai who described the water situation in Kano before assuming office as worrisome said Ganduje’s support to the Water Board within the last 47 days has paid off as water supply in Kano presently has increased by over 80 percent.

    He stated that, “I am stayed only 47 days on this seat as the Managing-Diector of Kano State Water Board. I came to meet a Board that was at the verge of collapse.

    “Kano people were complaining that they don’t get regular water supply. Institutions, industries and domestic users of water were all complaining. So, this really made us to get down to work, and I can tell you today that the story has changed for better.”

    Kofar Wambai stated further that his team moved in to renovate the Tamburawa Water Plant and the Challawa Water Works which were hitherto in bad condition.

    “I found out that Tamburawa and Challawa Water Plants which were the major suppliers of water to Kano were not in good shape.

    Read Also: Ganduje spends N350m on 3.2m children, pregnant women in Kano

    “We rehabilitated all the faulty facilities and machines. I brought in 500 metric tons of Aluminium Sulphate, as well as 500 metric tons of Lime Folder, among other consumable products needed to purify the water.

    “I personally worked with the Engineers at the Water Plants and ensured that all mechanical and electrical faults were fixed. We looked at the pipes and overhauled them so as to ensure hitch-free distribution of water across the state.”

    According to him, “today, the Tamburawa and Challawa Water Plants are back to life and are working with full capacity. Tamburawa Plant supplies water from Maifuguri Road, down to State Road, Nasarawa GRA, Dakata, Gama, Kurna, Tudun Wada, Tudun Murtala and its environs.

    “Challawa Water Plant is also working in full capacity, because we have repaired the recycling plant, the Second Water Works and the Third Water Works.

    “You are aware that the Second Water Works supplies water to Goron-Dutse and its environs, while the Third Water supplies water to the Kano metropolitan. So we are happy that some residents have been trooping into our office to thank and appreciate us for improved water supply in Kano.”

    Kofar Wambai, however, appealed to water consumers in Kano to pay their water bills as at when due so as to enable the Board serve them better.

  • Drivers accused of stealing Dangote Refinery’s N1m iron rods

    Two drivers working with Dangote Oil Refining Company Ltd have been arraigned at a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing iron rods worth N1 million from the company.

    The truck drivers, Ibrahim Madaki, 20, and Mohammed Nuru, 25, were arraigned at the weekend on a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft before Magistrate T. A. Anjorin-Ajose.

    Prosecuting Inspector Ajaga Agboko said they committed the offences on August 7, on the company’s premises at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

    Read Also: Housekeeper, others charged with stealing

    He alleged that the drivers stole 410 pieces of iron rods, property of Dangote Refinery.

    Agboko said they were caught by two guards after they had loaded the rods in a truck and were about to drive out at night.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Anjorin-Ajose granted them N200,000 bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case till September 12.

  • Govt shuts cooking gas plants over ‘safety defaults’

    Three cooking gas plants at Ijede in Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State have been sealed off for allegedly operating illegally.

    The Federal Government through the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) last week shut the gas plants the same day, fuelling fears that it might cause scarcity of gas.

    The Head, Operations, DPR, Lagos Field Office, Sholabi Olanrewaju, who directed the team, said 25 stations had been shut recently between Ikorodu and Surulere axis.

    She said the government had vowed that the owner of the plants and others running illegal gas facilities would be arrested and prosecuted.

    Read Also: 22 danger signs to watch out for when using a gas cylinder

    Olanrewaju said the officials had to re-seal a station located on the same residential axis in Ikorodu with the help of the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, adding that the owner did not heed an earlier warning to regularise his defaults on safety standards.

    She urged petroleum marketers to adhere to the regulations guiding the sale of petroleum products.

    The Head, Gas Operation, Etukudo Williams, said residents have been sensitised to gas safety.

    “We have been educating the public on safe practices for handling their cooking gas, what to do when cooking gas leak is detected and in the event of Liquified Petroleum Gas fire,” he added.

  • Corporation scales up Lagos road repairs

    The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) at the weekend pledged its commitment to curb gridlock through continuous rehabilitation of failed sections of major roads across the state.

    General Manager Mr. Olufemi Daramola said in a statement in Lagos that the LSPWC had scaled up its road-repair drive in different parts of the state.

    He said this was in tandem with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s zero tolerance for road congestion and a vision to ensure free flow of traffic.

    Daramola in the statement by Mr. Ganiu Lawal, LSPWC’s head, Public Affairs, listed roads rehabilitated so far to include Mile 12 inward Ketu, sections of Ikorodu Road and Aromire Avenue, Ikeja.

    Read Also: Bail us out of deplorable roads, Akoko communities beg Akeredolu

    “We have also begun the repair of Akilo Road, while strategic roads within Ogba linking Ikeja environs such as Ogunnusi, Lateef Jakande, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Acme Road, CMD and Otedola under-pass are undergoing repair works at various sections,” he said.

    The GM also listed roads under rehabilitation in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government to include Ojo Road, Oduduwa, Olowo Jeunjeje, Olayinka Sanusi and Bale streets.

    “These road repairs are ongoing to ease movement of motorists within Lagos. The corporation has reduced travel time with its road maintenance interventions,” the statement said.

    He said repair works had been completed on Opebi/Allen/Toyin Street, Ikeja, Herbert Macaulay Road, Lagos Mainland, Ikotun-Igando Road, Ilupeju Avenue and Coker Road.

    Others are Alfred Rewane, Point, Apapa, Oke-Afa Isolo, Ejigbo, Ikotun-Ijegun and Ahmadu Bello Way, among others.

    “Palliative work using asphalt, boulders aggregates, crushed stones and in some cases, paving stones had been used on these roads in order to ameliorate the challenges faced by motorists within the metropolis,” Daramola said.

    He said the corporation had also been intensifying efforts to clean drains in flood prone zones, to reduce road damage caused by surface water.

    He pleaded for patience by residents living in areas yet to touched, assuring them that the rehabilitation and maintenance works would be done in phases to cover the state.

  • Olympics’ Qualifying Tournament: Quadri, others head for Tunisia

    After missing the first opportunity to make it to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Aruna Quadri and other African players will be heading to Tunisia early next year for the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

    Tunisia was chosen ahead of Algeria during the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) held in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday, August 25, 2019.

    13 delegates who formed the quorum at the AGM, voted with Tunisia getting eight votes, while Algeria got five votes to concede the hosting rights to Tunisia.

    Egypt had already secured the sole slot for a team event for Africa and two of its players are expected to compete in the singles and doubles event of the Tokyo Olympic Games, while the qualifying tournament in Tunisia will produce another four male and four females to complete African slots for the Games in Japan.

    Nigeria narrowly lost the slot to Egypt in men and women event at the final of the 12th African Games, with Egypt winning the two events at 3-2 as Omar Assar and Dina Meshref spearheading the North African triumph.

    Read Also: ‘My seventh Olympic dream is not over’

    Quadri will be joined by players from Tunisia, Congo Brazzaville and others at the Qualifying Tournament in Tunisia and each nation is expected to register two men and two women for the qualifying tournament. Four men and four women will qualify for Tokyo from Tunisia.

    According to the President of Tunisia Table Tennis Federation (TTTF), Lotfi Guerfel, the country has the requisite experience to stage a befitting tournament. “We have the required experience to stage a world-class tournament and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament would not be an exception. We will be hosting the African Top 16 Cup as well and we are ready to welcome the whole continent,” the TTTF boss said.

    Madagascar is expected to host the 2020 Africa Cadet and Junior Championships, while Cameroun will stage the African Senior Championships.

  • ‘Alakija/Navy Town axis of Badagry expressway ready in 10 days’

    Reconstruction of segment 2 of the Agboju-Trade Fair section of the Lagos/Badagry Expressway will be delivered in 10 days, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Olujimi Hotonu has said.

    Hotonu, who spoke at the weekend in a statement in Alausa, Ikeja, said the completion was in fulfilment of the promise by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to complete the reconstruction of the Lagos section of the express way by the end of this year.

    The statement, issued by the Director of Press Affairs, Mr. Adesegun Ogundeji, said the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has been mobilised and mandated to complete the construction on Alakija/Navy Town Junction within 10 days to ease traffic.

    Honotu assured Lagosians that the construction would not exceed 10 days.

    He said the government had made alternative arrangements for road users to ensure a hitch free journey.

    Hotonu said alternative arrangements had been provided for them to ease their journey to and fro during the period.

    Read Also: Bail us out of deplorable roads, Akoko communities beg Akeredolu

    According to the statement, while road users going from Trade Fair/Abule Ado to Mile 2 on the service lane should detour to the left before the flyover at Alakija and use the flyover to continue their journey, those on the toll lane should go straight and make use of the flyover.

    “Road users going to old Ojo Road /Navy Town/Satellite Town from Trade Fair on the service lane are advised to turn at Dantata Junction through Old Ojo Road to continue their journey, while those heading for Festac Third Gate on both the toll and service lanes are to make a detour to the left before the flyover bridge at Alakija and use the corridor between the two flyovers.

    “Commuters going to Festac from Mile 2 on the service lane should turn right at Festac First Gate or Agboju (Second Gate), while those on Toll-Lane should go and turn at the Trade Fair,” the statement said.

    For those commuting from Festac to Badagry, the permanent secretary advised that they should make use of the First Gate or Agboju.

    He urged those going to Satellite/Old Ojo Road/Navy Town to use First Gate or Agboju and turn at the Trade Fair.

    Hotonu said directional signs have been erected on both sides of the road to assist commuters.

    He added that besides the signs, Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) officials would be on ground throughout the period to assist road users and ensure free flow of traffic.

    He appealed to the residents, especially those living on the axis, to cooperate with the contractor.

    The permanent secretary said the government would deliver on its campaign promises.

    He enjoined road users to obey traffic diversions put in place, to avoid gridlock.

  • Applicant arraigned for alleged bicycle theft

    A 21-year-old applicant, Akeem Alatise, at the weekend appeared at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged theft of a bicycle worth N20,000.

    Alatise, who lives at Tolisho Street, Ogudu, a Lagos suburb, is facing a one-count charge of stealing, but he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Inspector Donjor Perezi alleged that  the defendant committed the offence at 11.20pm, at 31, Ezobi Street, Alapere Ketu, Lagos.

    He said the bicycle belonged to the complainant, Mr. Yusuf Taiwo.

    Read Also: Manager charged with $1m equipment theft

    The prosecutor alleged that the defendant was caught at the complainant’s home while trying to escape with the stolen bicycle.

    “The defendant was seen riding the bicycle out of the complainant’s compound. When questioned about the ownership of the bicycle, he could not give a satisfactory answer,” he said.

    Magistrate H. B. Mogaji granted the defendant N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be employed and show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned till September 10.

  • I’ll transform NITDA into a smart organisation – DG, Abdullahi

    The newly appointed Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has stated his vision is to completely transform the agency into a smart organisation.

    Abdullahi spoke during the staff general meeting at the agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

    The new DG, while admonishing staff of the organisation to sit up and deliver on their official responsibilities, further stressed that he was a result oriented individual, who would not accept complaints and had an open-door to progressive ideas.

    Read Also: Firm hails Abdullahi’s appointment as NITDA DG

    “My vision for NITDA is to completely transform the agency into a ‘smart organisation.

    “Working as a team, everyone has a role to play, from those at the top to those at the bottom of the ladder,” the NITDA boss said.

    Abduallahi, a graduate of Computer Science from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and a trained strategist with 15 years of experience in IT operations, business transformation and solution architecture across private and public sectors, was recently appointed the fifth director-general/CEO of the IT agency by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Egypt claims third gold medals in table tennis

    Egypt continued from where it left it in the table tennis event of the 12th African Games holding in Rabat, Morocco, as the North African team dominated the mixed doubles event to claim their third gold medals of the multi-sports fiesta.

    But Nigeria’s duo of Bode Abiodun and Edem Offiong settled for bronze medal after losing 3-1 (12-10, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7) to Egypt’s duo of Ahmed Saleh and Farah Abdel-Aziz in the semifinal.

    Dina Meshref and Omar Assar defeated their compatriots – Mohamed El-Beiali and Reem El-Eraky 3-1 (11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5) to set up an Egyptian affairs in the final.

    As the defending champion, Assar and Meshref defeated Saleh and Abdel-Aziz 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4) to retain their title and claimed the third gold medals for Egypt in the table tennis event of the games.

  • Double gold for Nigeria in Badminton, Women Basketball 3×3

    Nigeria has won two gold medals in the Badminton Team Mixed Event and the Women Basketball 3×3 at the ongoing 12th Africa Games in Morocco.

    The Badminton Mixed event team defeated Algeria 3-0 in the final decision at the Ain Chock Indoor Sports Center in Casablanca.

    The Nigerian team were much better than their Algerian opponents with Abah Joseph teaming up well with Orji Peace to beat Mammeri Julien and Mazri Linda 2– 1 in the first match.

    In the second match, the duo of Opeyori Juwon and Adesokan Ajoke beat Medel Sabri and Bouksani Halla 2-0, while Kpobakpo Ebiowo and Ekeh Deborah also beat Belarbi Abderrahim and Ouchefoune Malak 2-0 in the third match.

    Read Also: 12th African Games: Taekwondo wins Team Nigeria first gold medal

    Team Nigeria’s female Basketball team also defeated Mali 21-20 in a riveting encounter to win the gold medal at the Ibn Sina Sports Complex in Rabat.

    Mali led 20-18 had needed a point to win, but Ifunanya Okoro got 3 successive points to hand Nigeria the win at Rabat2019.

    After suffering a heartbreaking 19-18 loss to Egypt in the men’s basketball 3×3, Mustapha Oyebanji got the all-important point in overtime to help Nigeria to a 20-19 victory in their third-place match against Mali.

    In Weightlifting, Stella Peter won a Silver medal in the women’s 45kg. Peter lifted a total weight of 138kg to secure the Silver medal at the Nadha Indoor Sports centre, Rabat.

    Augustina Nwaokolo missed out on a Silver medal by 1kg in women’s 49kg. Nwaokolo lifted 161kg to settle for Bronze, with Egypt’s Heba Ahmed getting silver with a lift of 162kg.