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  • UPDATED: Police kill FUOYE student, injure three during protest

    Police Operatives have killed a student of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Ekiti State during a protest against poor power supply in the town.

    The student killed was identified as Oluwaseyi Kehinde, a 100- level student of the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture.

    The deceased was also the class governor.

    The three others confirmed injured were Okonofua Joseph aka ICON, Azeez Elijah aka Elex and Olamilekan Abdulmuiz.

    Some of the injured students have been taken to the medical centre of the institution and others to the Federal Medical Center,Ido Ekiti with many more casualties feared.

    The Nation gathered the protesting students burnt a police vehicle and razed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company(BEDC) office in Ikole.

    The students were protesting against poor power supply in the town before the outbreak of violence.

    It was also gathered the students attempted to attack the convoy of Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, which was passing through the highway after a tour of local governments in the state.

    One of them who refused to disclose his identity, spoke on how the protest turned violent.

    He said: “The issue started when a security personnel attached to the Governor’s wife convoy slapped the Students Union President intentionally which sprouted controversies within the environment at which the programme was being held.Then students took it up.

    “The involved security official(Counter Terrorism Unit ) scampered for safety to avoid being lynched, which made the aggrieved students took to the street to show their grievances about the situation.

    Read Also: Honour for humanitarians at FUOYE

    “Then the police officers started manhandling and chasing the students.

    “The students repelled by stoning the officer and the police started shooting our students sporadically which led to the death of one and several were injured.”

    FUOYE Students Union President, Comrade Oluwaseun Awodola, however denied the students attacked the Governor wife’s convoy.

    “I was sleeping when my PA came that the army official wants to see me. I went to the official and we approached the road.

    “On getting to the road side which was closed to the police office, the Mopol said the CSO was around.

    “All of a sudden a CPU(moral) official from nowhere came and slapped me.

    “Immediately the CSO was begging me and other security officials

    “Students came over and they were like they want to see the person that slapped me.

    “At first i was aggrieved but later I was calm. We left the scene then the CSO was like once we get to the Governor’s office the police officer will apologise.

    “Nobody attacked the convoy of the Governor’s wife. We already agreed we will be having a meeting with the Special Adviser to the Governor and NLC executives tomorrow by 10am before we meet at the school gate tomorrow.

    “All of a sudden, a Mopol official fired gun shots. Immediately,  students were like why did he shoot?

    “The CSO to the Governor came immediately and told the Mopol to stop shooting.

    “They started shooting teargas, gun and the likes. Then students started throwing stones  that was how everything started.

    ” Nobody attacked the governor’s wife convoy. We ended the protest around 2pm,” he said.

     

     

     

  • ‘Why I celebrated my birthday at Harvey Road hospital’

    Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeniyi, recently celebrated his birthday with staff and patients of Harvey Road Health Centre and Maternity Home, Yaba, donating cash gifts. Gboyega Alaka reports.

    FRIDAY, September 6 was a special day in the life of debonair Lagos monarch, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe in Yaba LCDA, Lagos and he chose to celebrate it with staff and patients of Harvey Road Health Centre and Maternity Home, Yaba, Lagos.

    Accompanied by his lovely Olori, Queen Mosunmola  Anike Adeniyi, whom he described as his brainbox, and three prominent baales of his kingdom, Chief Oluwole Odulana of Yaba, Chief Oladunjoye Davies of Oju-Oluwa and Chief Kolawole Dawodu of Abule Ijesha, Oba Adeniyi said the gesture was more than anything, to give back to the community.

    He was received by the Apex Nurse of the hospital, Matron Aiyepola Ajibola along with Dr (Prince) Adegboyega Oderinde, who represented the Medical Director, who was said to be on vacation.

    Both regaled the monarch with their delight at having him in their midst and wished him long life and reign, and an ability to bring more positive changes to the hospital and the community in general.

    Oba Adeniyi donated the sum of N100,000 to the hospital, which he said was to offset bills of some of the indigent patients who may have been kept back at the hospital due to an inability to pay.

    When informed by Matron Ajibola that his visit also coincided with the naming of a baby born at the hospital eight days before, the Kabiyesi magnanimously donated a gift of additional N10,000 to be presented to the baby and another N10,000 to the next baby to be born at the hospital.

    In his welcome speech, Matron Ajibola said the major challenge facing the hospital is limited structures, which she said is hindering the expansion of their services.

    “We are planning to set up a peadiatric department where we will not have to refer our babies to Gbaja and Massey hospitals. We have discussed with the Health Service Commission and they have promised to give us a peadiatrician and peadiatric nurses as soon as we have structures to accommodate them.”

    Adding that the hospital also needs space to accommodate the ENT department, Ajibola said it will be a delight if oba could in his magnanimity, assist in this area.

    Speaking on why he chose the hospital for this gesture, Oba Adeniyi said, he had always thought of what he could do in his little capacity to give back and impact his community.

    “Sometimes I think a token like N100,000 may be too little, but the truth is it might come handy in setting free some patients who may have been kept back at the hospital for days . A gift is even more impactful if it comes as a surprise. Imagine being told unexpectedly that ‘Madam, you can go home. Kabiyesi has paid your bill.’”

    Going down memory lane he spoke of how he was once a surprise beneficiary of such gesture at Dr Maja’s hospital, Borno Way, Lagos from none other than the owner of the hospital himself.

    Noting that God loves a cheerful giver, the Oba, who was once pastor of a Celestial Church and who quoted severally from the bible as he spoke, said “I have been to old peoples’ home, where I donated food and other items. But the truth is that most of the people there are not hungry; they are just there to get adequate care.”

    On how he felt giving, he said “We must learn from each other. Every day is a gift, which is why it is called present and should therefore be appreciated.”

    He also promised to follow up on the matron’s request to help serve as their mouthpiece and relay their aspirations to higher authorities.

    Citing how his personal intervention resulted in the renovation and total remodeling of Oba Salami PHC, Oba Adeniyi promised to take up the challenge of the matron and help, stressing that he is an agitator and freedom fighter by nature.

  • How to check your 2019 UTME Results

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced the release of 1,792,719 results of candidates who sat for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Saturday.

    The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, announcing the release of the results in Abuja on Saturday directed the candidates to send ‘RESULT’ to the short code, 55019, on their mobile phones.

    He added that the code should be sent using the same phone number that candidates used to register for the examination.

    Read Also: UTME results: JAMB server did not crash – spokesman

    Another way to check for your results is:

    1. Go to JAMB result checking portal at http://www.jamb.org.ng/eFacility/CheckUTMEResults.
    2. Enter your JAMB Registration Number/Email Address in the required column.
    3. Click on ‘Check My Results’ and the portal will load your result if it’s ready.

    Note that UTME results are released in batches. If the portal returns with ‘You Do Not Have Any Result Yet’, that implies your result is not yet ready. So you have to check back later.

  • No controversy over status of Nigeria SEZ Investment Company – Presidency

    The Presidency says there is no controversy whatsoever about the status of Nigeria SEZ Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO), also known as Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company Limited as being speculated in some quarters.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The presidential aide, who was reacting to reports in sections of the media about the status NSEZCO, said the company was designed as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports), which is a Presidential initiative.

    “We wish to confirm that NZESCO was incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports), which is a Presidential initiative.

    “The Federal Government’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP) identified the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as a major strategic tool to accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP),’’ he said.

    He added that the Project MINE was envisioned by the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (MITI) to develop SEZs to world-class standards and position Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter of made in Nigeria goods and services regionally and globally.

    He said: “Indeed, Project MINE was necessitated by the following factors:

    Lack of operating competitiveness that limits the growth of the zones, despite the presence of generous fiscal and regulatory incentives.

    For government-owned SEZs, there were limited Federal budget allocations to make the required investments in infrastructure, operations and management services;.

    Others are the need to develop the skills and experience to operate and manage the zones to world-class standards of efficiency; The absence of a deliberate strategy to attract investors, create clusters or encourage the development of local value chains using SEZs, and therefore the lack of appropriate link between the industrialization strategy of government and the Free Trade Zones.

    Project Mine, therefore, seeks to achieve the following specific objectives:

    • Support structural transformation of the Nigerian economy by increasing the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20 per cent by 2029;

    -Contribute to sustainable inclusive growth by creating 1.5 million new direct manufacturing jobs in the initial phase of Project MINE;

    -Increase and diversify foreign exchange earnings to at least US$30bn annually by 2029, by increasing manufacturing sector exports;

    -Create local models of global best practice in the provision of world-class infrastructure at competitive costs connecting SEZs to international and regional markets with transport links, uninterrupted power, ICT, water, sewage and other services to ensure smooth and efficient operation of SEZ businesses;

    • Promote the “cluster” effect to be gained by locating similar export-oriented manufacturing businesses within the same locality;
    • Attract world-class investors with strong positions in global supply chains and investors with potential to increase the scale of operations rapidly to set up operations in SEZs; and
    • Create an enabling environment for SEZ businesses by instituting best in class legal and regulatory frameworks, using technology and streamlined processes to facilitate movement of people, goods and capital and easy access to government services, approvals and permits.’’

    Adesina recalled that in June, 2018, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved NSEZCO, with the endorsement of the Economic Management Team, as the holding entity for FGN investments and proprietary interests in existing and future SEZs.

    Read also: Saraki assures of passage of police reform bills

    He said the FEC approval also provided that all current and future capital appropriations for Project MINE should be transferred to NSEZCO’s account, as soon as opening formalities were completed.

    “With the formalities completed, NSEZCO became the platform through which Federal Government’s capital budget appropriations for SEZs are converted into long term value-creating investments.

    “NSEZCO is a public-private partnership (PPP) company to operate world-class standards of governance and management, to facilitate mobilization of capital and other resources from PPP partners, in order to overcome budgetary constraints to the provision of critical infrastructure for SEZs.

    “By aggregating and harnessing FG’s investment in a strong corporate special purpose vehicle, NSEZCO will facilitate the mobilization of additional capital from development finance institutions (DFIs) and private investors. Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) is the shareholder, holding the FG’s interest of 25% in NSEZCO.

    “The balance of 75% is currently held in trust on behalf of other prospective shareholders, pending completion of investors’ diligence and documentation and approval procedures,’’ he further maintained.

    The presidential spokesman also recalled that on Feb. 8, NSEZCO signed investment agreements with three Development Finance Institutions: Afreximbank, Bank of Industry, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Ministry of Finance Incorporated for their investment in NSEZCO at a ceremony presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

    He stated that Africa Finance Corporation and African Development Bank which are still in the preliminary stages of their internal approval processes were also in attendance as observers.

    Adesina quoted President Buhari at the signing ceremony as saying that: “When we committed to the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and launched our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to fast track implementation, we had a vision of Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter to our immediate West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the World.”

    He said already, NSEZCO was mobilizing capital from the Federal Government and the development finance institution shareholders, for the development of Special Economic Zones across Nigeria.

    He disclosed that pilot projects in the first phase were Enyimba Economic City, Abia State, Lekki Model Industrial Park, Lagos State and Funtua Cotton Cluster, Katsina State.

    The presidential media aide maintained that “in addition, pre-development studies are on-going in Benue, Kwara and Sokoto States whilst studies will soon commence in Ebonyi, Edo and Gombe States amongst others”.(NAN)

  • NJC abstains from considering allegations against Onnoghen, Muhammad

    The National Judicial Council on Wednesday abstained from considering allegations relating to assets declaration that were levelled against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The decision which is contained in a statement, issued by Mr Soji Oye, Director, Information, NJC.

    Oye said the council took the decision at an Emergency Meeting to consider the Report of the Five-Man Committee constituted to investigate the allegations of misconduct made against Onnoghen and Justice Tanko Muhammad.

    “Council decided that the allegations relating to assets declaration that were levelled against Onnoghen, were subjudice and therefore abstained from considering them.

    “Council reached a decision on the petitions written by economic and Financial Crimes Commission and others and conveyed its decision to President Mubammadu Buhari, GCFR.

    Read also: Breaking:NJC concludes probe of Onnoghen, Muhammad, silent on findings

    “Council also resolved that, by the nature of the decision reached, it would be inappropriate to publicise it before conveying it to President”, Oye said in the statement.

    NAN reports that on Feb 11, the council set up a preliminary complaints assessment committee to review the responses given to it by Onnoghen, and Muhammad who is acting in his stead.

    Onnoghen is accused of failing to fully declare his assets, while Muhammad is facing allegations of misconduct.
    The NJC said it reconvened and resolved to constitute into the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee in accordance with Regulation 17 of the National Judicial Council Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2017. (NAN)

  • Four cheat death in Onitsha auto crash

    Four persons, on Wednesday, escaped death in a lone accident along the Enugu-Onitsha express road, Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The accident, involving an articulated vehicle with the registration number Enugu XX 971 ENU, occurred around the MCC axis of the road, where no fewer than twenty lives were recently lost in another ghastly crash.

    An eye witness, Okechukwu Nwankwo, who attributed the accident to brake failure, said the victims were in the lorry when it skidded off the road and emptied its contents on the road.

    READ ALSO: Three pupils die, five injured in Anambra auto crash

    He said, “The conductor of the lorry loaded with empty crates of beer from Ogbo tomato axis of the road started signaling other vehicles to make way for it due to faulty brake failure before it finally crashed into the drainage.”

    While thanking God that no life was lost in the incident, Nwankwo said all the occupants sustained various degrees of injuries.

    He called for ban on heavy duty vehicles from operating during the day to minimize number of casualties recorded during such incidents.

    The Nation gathered that the victims, three men and a young lady were taken to St. Charles Borromew hospital for treatment.

  • Bedlam on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

    Motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been expressing their frustrations following the traffic that has made travelling in and out of the Centre of Excellence hectic for almost 24 hours.

    The traffic, which was triggered by a fuel-leaking tanker at the Kara area of Ibafo, Ogun State, began in the early hours of Tuesday. The impediment was cleared around 3pm yesterday.

    It, however, brought out the ‘madness’ out of commuters, especially, commercial bus drivers, who, out of impatience, abandoned their lanes to drive against on-coming vehicles, and in the process, locked down the dual carriage highway.

    Those trapped for hours in the traffic snarl made frantic efforts to get updates to plan their trips.

    Many, who work in Lagos but living in communities on the highway corridor, spent hours returning home as trips that could have taken their minutes, took several hours.

    Some were simply advised not to venture returning home, or urged to take alternative routes.

    Those who called on Lagos Radio Traffic, expressed frustrations, blaming Messrs. Julius Berger, the contractor hired by the Federal Government to fix the Sagamu Interchange – Lagos end of the highway.

    Read also: Reimagining the chaotic splendour of Lagos traffic

    They accused the firm of being insensitive to the plights of motorists by not deploying high-capacity towing vehicles to take broken down trucks off the road.

    According to them, such pains have not been experienced on the Ibadan-Sagamu Interchange end of the highway, given to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) to handle.

    A caller narrated how he spent 10 hours from Ikeja, to Arepo, a Lagos suburb in Ogun State. The trip, according to him, takes about 20 minutes.

    Those, who have scheduled morning flights and other appointments, were helpless as they were advised to take alternative routes.

  • ExxonMobil targets $3b from sale of Nigeria oil, gas fields

    Oil major, Exxon Mobil, is planning to sell a suite of oil and gas fields in Nigeria as it focuses on new developments in the United States (U.S.) shale and Guyana, industry and banking sources said yesterday.

    The potential disposals are expected to include stakes in onshore and offshore fields and could raise up to $3 billion, two sources told Reuters.

    “Exxon is actively divesting in Nigeria,” one source who was briefed on the divestment plans said. Exxon declined to comment.

    The Irving, Texas-based oil firm is one of the largest oil and gas producers in Nigeria, with 106 operated platforms. Its oil output in the West African country reached 225,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2017, its website says.

    Exxon officials have held talks in recent weeks with several Nigerian companies to gauge their interest in the fields.

    One source said Exxon was due to open a “data room” – which would provide technical information on the fields, such as seismic and production details.

    The discussions focused on a number of onshore fields Exxon is in joint ventures (JV) with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) including oil mining leases (OMLs) 66, 68, 70 and 104. Exxon’s share of oil production in those fields reached 120,000 bpd in 2017, the last year for which data was available.

    Exxon is also weighing the possible sale of stakes in offshore fields in Nigeria, two sources said.

    It is looking into offering for sale assets in Equatorial Guinea and Chad, according to sources.

    Read also: OPL 310: ‘Lekoil needs minister’s consent’

    The Federal Government has in the last decade supported a drive-by domestic firms such as Oando, Seplat and privately held Aiteo to expand their operations in the country as international companies including Royal Dutch Shell sought to lower their presence due to oil spills resulting from pipeline sabotage.

    Exxon recently launched the sale of its stake in Azerbaijan’s largest oilfield, which would mark its retreat from the former Soviet state after 25 years.

    It announced earlier this year plans to boost its capital spending from $26 billion in 2018 to $30 billion in 2019 and up to $35 billion next year as it seeks to develop oilfields in Guyana and the U.S. Permian basin as well as gas projects in Mozambique and the U.S. Gulf Coast.

    In an analyst presentation last month, Exxon said it would accelerate its divestments to around $15 billion by 2021.

  •  TEF gets new CEO

    Former Director of Partnerships and Evaluation, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, has been appointed as the Foundation’s CEO effective April 1.

    She is the third CEO and the first African to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

    In December 2018, the Foundation, the leading African philanthropy committed to empowering African entrepreneurs, announced Mrs. Ugochukwu’s new appointment as CEO and the transition of her predecessor, Parminder Vir, OBE to the Advisory Board of the Foundation.

    Read also: Elumelu seeks PPP to drive Africa’s economic growth

    In her role, Mrs. Ugochukwu will focus on scaling the impact of the 10-year $100million Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme and strengthening relationships between the African and the global entrepreneurship ecosystem, to empower African entrepreneurs with the result of creating jobs and wealth on the continent.  She will also take responsibility for positioning TEFConnect – the digital networking platform for African entrepreneurs – as the go-to hub for forging business relationships, sharing experiences and distributing knowledge across Africa

  • Ex VP Sambo says Buhari’s policies will yield stronger economy soon

    The immediate past Vice President of Nigeria, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo has said that, the President Muhannadu Buhari led Federal Government’s economic policies will soon lead to a strong economy.

    The former Vice President argued that, the control on the importation of goods and services found or produced within the country by the Federal Government is a major milestone towards building a strong economy.

    Sambo stated this in Kaduna on Tuesday at a seminar themed; “Consolidating Interface between Industry and Agriculture for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development” at the ongoing 40th Kaduna International Trade Fair organized by the Kaduna state Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA)

    While commending the Federal Government for improving the Nigerian business environment, he  assured that, “the economic policies of the government will soon lead into a strong economy that is less dependent on oil.”

    Read also: Osinbajo: what to expect from Buhari’s second term

    He then urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s effort to diversify the Nation’s economy saying, “The importance of the theme is apt, as it highlights the growing interest to strengthen the non-oil sector especially the two key Sectors, Industry and Agriculture.”

    He added, “It is my belief that the seminar will go a long way in generating ideas that will help to develop our private sector thereby boosting the economic growth and development of our country.

    “It is through these avenues that solutions will be developed to the factors that are militating against achieving our socio economic development plans which is why the full implementation of the local content policy and the patronage of the made in Nigeria products must be encouraged and supported by all Nigerians.”

    He urged Nigerians in both private and public sectors to be more proactive in the effort to strengthen the nation’s economy towards faster growth added, “It is through stronger collaborations that such policies would yield positive development towards building a greater nation.”

    On her part, the President of the chamber said the theme of 40th Trade Fair was chosen to spark up a debate that would complement the effort of government towards revamping the economy to drive investments in Agriculture and manufacturing.

    “The theme highlights the growing interest to strengthen the non-oil sectors especially these two key sectors of industry and Agriculture,” she added.