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Category: News

  • Don’t Expect Stable Power After Vandalizing Electricity Grid, TCN Tells Nigerians

    Don’t Expect Stable Power After Vandalizing Electricity Grid, TCN Tells Nigerians

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians, stating that the persistent vandalism of its installations has put the stability of the national electricity grid in jeopardy.

    In a statement posted on its official social media account, the TCN expressed deep concern over the alarming rate at which its facilities are being vandalized across the country.

     The company firmly stated that Nigerians should brace themselves for an unstable electricity grid if this destructive trend continues.

    The TCN did not mince words when it criticized the general public for allowing vandals to run rampant, emphasizing that the consequences of this negligence would directly impact grid stability and expansion.

    TCN said: “The rate of vandalism of TCN’s installations nationwide is becoming alarming. We cannot eat our cake and still have it. We cannot continue to vandalize power infrastructure or look the other way when such activities are ongoing and expect grid stability and expansion.”

    This warning comes in the wake of concerning reports revealing the extent of the damage caused by vandals.

    Between January 2022 and September 2023, a total of 108 power transmission towers were destroyed.

    Additionally, in May, nine TCN transmission towers were vandalized in Ogun State. These incidents have occurred in various regions, including Benin, Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, and Kano.

    Notably, some of these attacks have been attributed to the Boko Haram terrorist group, further highlighting that the issue extends beyond mere theft and accidents, constituting a deliberate act of sabotage against the nation’s power infrastructure.

  • MohBad’s Childhood Friend, Primeboy Turns Self In To Police

    MohBad’s Childhood Friend, Primeboy Turns Self In To Police

    The Lagos State Police has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the untimely death of afrobeat sensation, MohBad, as they have confirmed the arrest of Ibrahim Oluwatosin, popularly known as Primeboy.

    SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the official spokesperson for the Lagos State Police, took to Twitter to make the announcement earlier on Thursday.

    According to Hundeyin, Primeboy voluntarily surrendered himself to the authorities, leading to his immediate arrest for questioning and further legal proceedings.

    Recall that Primeboy was declared wanted with a reward of N1 million given to anyone who had any information about him.

    “Following his being declared wanted, Owodunni Ibrahim Oluwatosin, aka Primeboy, has turned himself in. He has immediately been taken into custody for interrogation and other necessary actions,” Hundeyin stated.

    In the wake of this arrest, the Lagos State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a thorough and diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding MohBad’s tragic demise, which occurred on September 12, 2023.

    “The Lagos State Police Command once again assures family, friends, fans of MohBad, and the general public that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring a most diligent investigation.

    The Command equally assures that all persons found culpable in the death of Mr. Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka MohBad, will definitely be brought to justice,” Hundeyin emphasized.

  • Tinubu Directs 10% Humanitarian Interventions For Older Persons

    Tinubu Directs 10% Humanitarian Interventions For Older Persons

    Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, says President Bola Tinubu has directed her ministry to reserve 10 per cent of social safety net intervention for older persons.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by her Media aide, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja.

    It stated that the minister was speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting to commemorate the 2023 National Day of Older Persons in Nigeria.

    “Mr President has directed that my Ministry should set aside 10% of social safety net intervention programmes for older persons in the country.

    “The right of senior citizens in the areas of job security, health, livelihood, agriculture and other development planning must be considered.

    “Presently, older persons are said to be about 14.8 million out of the entire population, that’s why President directed that in all our social welfare interface older persons must be involved,” she said.

    Edu assured the senior citizens of the federal government’s resolve to provide them with necessary support towards improving the quality of their lives.

    “The President also directed that those who are under the poverty line must be assisted and captured in the social intervention programmes.

    “We would inaugurate two of such social intervention programmes with emphasis on senior citizens because we will be providing for senior citizens who are affected by humanitarian crises,” she said.

    She assured them of the administration’s readiness to priorities their welfare and well-being especially in its renewed hope agenda.

    Edu assured the citizens that government would do everything possible to prevent older persons from slipping below the poverty line in the country.

    “Older persons are one of the priorities of the federal government whose lives must be protected.”

    The minister appealed to UN agencies and development partners to factor in the interest and well-being of older citizens in their day-to-day operations.

    On his part, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale, said the engagement offered stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on the impact of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    Schmale especially noted the protection of the rights of older persons, and commended Nigeria for establishing the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), saying it is a step in the right direction.

    He regretted that despite the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, older persons continue to face obstacles in the enjoyment and exercise of their human rights.

    “Ageing is a complex and multifaceted reality that will touch all of us if we are lucky.”

    The Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omakaro, commended the minister for attending the event despite her tight schedule.

    Omokaro explained that the centre, which began operation in 2021, has in the short period brought to the fore the plight of older persons in Nigeria.

    She expressed optimism that with Edu in charge of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation older persons in Nigeria would soon enjoy a new lease of life.

  • 14 Die, 100 Missing In India Flash Flood

    14 Die, 100 Missing In India Flash Flood

    At least 14 people have been reported dead and more than 100 missing after a flash flood in India.

    Fourteen bridges were severely damaged or collapsed, according to Indian media, on Thursday.

    The report cited information from the authorities, saying that some villages were also flooded.

    A highway was damaged and a mobile network was disrupted in parts of the affected north-eastern state of Sikkim.

    Rescue operations are continuing.

    Around 3,000 travellers from other parts of the country were stranded in the region due to the flooding.

    The army said that one of the 23 people previously registered as missing had been found alive.

    Heavy rains fell late Wednesday in Sikkim, leading to a sharp rise in the level of the Teesta River.

    Authorities of Sikkim have advised residents not to go near the river.

    Schools in parts of the state will remain closed until the end of the week, local media reported.

  • FG To Support Local Manufacturers With N75bn

    FG To Support Local Manufacturers With N75bn

    Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the federal government will support local manufacturers with N75 billion by March 2024 to strengthen the manufacturing sector.

    Shettima said this while declaring open the second National Conference on non-oil export organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Abuja.

    Represented by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Investment, Shettima said N75 billion was earmarked to support 100,000 start-ups and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at single digit interest rates.

    The two-day conference is with the theme, “Building a Sustainable National Economy Through Non-Oil Export.”

    According to him, the federal government is also committed to providing necessary infrastructure that will support increased export of non-oil commodities.

    “There can never be a better time to envision a conference of this nature than now; a time to reflect on non-oil export.

    “Over the years, the nation’s major source had been 80 per cent dependent on oil revenue.

    “It is clear that as a nation, we can’t afford to work on this uncharted path.

    “Today, we find ourselves in protracted situation and challenges. All indications point to the fact that we have to prioritise our non-oil export.

    “And this administration will give every support to boost non-oil export,” he said.

    While pledging support towards made-in-Nigeria products, he assured of federal government’s commitment to provide infrastructure that would facilitate export trade.

    “We will prioritise capacity building for MSMEs, we will invest in human capital development.

    “We need to work diligently to utilise opportunity provided by African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by deepening our existing values and expanding our forex earnings,” he said.

    Earlier, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, expressed concern that Nigeria operated a mono-economy for long.

    The minister, however, expressed joy that government’s diversification efforts were beginning to yield positive results.

    “Nigerian non-oil exports grew by almost 40 per cent in 2022, reaching 4.820 billion dollars.

    “Semi-processed and manufactured products accounted for almost 37 per cent of these exports, surpassing agriculture’s 30 per cent.

    “This is a big step in the right direction. We no longer have the luxury of business as usual when it comes to the business of making sure Nigeria succeeds.

    “We can no longer afford to export raw materials cheaply and import finished products at premium prices.

    “That train has stopped and will not be starting again. Our focus for exports is locally manufactured value-added products that create both business and employment,” she said.

    Dr Ezra Yakusak, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, said the Council had significantly increased the contribution of the non-oil sector to the Nigerian economy.

    According to him, for first time, the performance of the non-oil export grew by 39.91 per cent in 2022 to 4.820 billion with about 214 different products exported, ranging from manufactured, semi-processed, solid minerals to raw agricultural products.

    He said Nigerian products were exported to 122 countries, and appealed to the federal government to address the strange disease afflicting ginger farm in Kaduna State.

    “I will not do justice to this address if I do not present the challenges being faced by farmers and exporters of ginger in Nigeria.

    “It is a known fact that Nigeria’s ginger has been adjudged as the best in the world due its unique aroma, pungency and high oleorosin content.

    “This makes Nigeria one of the largest exporters of ginger in the world.  However, the Council received several complaints of the outbreak of a strange disease ravaging ginger farms in Kaduna State.

    “So far, about 2,503.9 hectares of farmland have been affected with an estimated loss of over N8 billion,” he said.

  • Kidnapped Benue Commissioner Regains Freedom

    Kidnapped Benue Commissioner Regains Freedom

    The Benue Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Mathew Agbo, who was kidnapped in August, has regained his freedom.

    Agbo, in a statement on Thursday in Makurdi, thanked Governor Hyacinth Alia and the security agencies for ensuring his safe release.

    “I appreciate all the effort and prayers that have culminated in my release and subsequent reuniting with my family

    “I pray that my ordeal will lead to renewed efforts toward tacking both internal and external security challenges in the state.

    “I, therefore, call on all residents of the state to support government efforts and the security agencies toward tacking insecurity in the state,” Abo called.

    The Commissioner, who thanked his colleagues, family members, friends and staff of his ministry for their fervent prayers, promised to serve the state to the best of his ability.

    He called on the residents to pray for the success of the current administration in the state, adding that the Alia-led administration means well for the state.

    Agbo, who spent ten days in captivity, was kidnapped on September 24 at his hometown in Zaki-Biam Local Government Area of the state.

    Abo was sworn in as a member of the Benue Executive Council on August 29.

  • Kano Govt Earmarks N160m To Vaccinate 1.8m Livestock

    Kano Govt Earmarks N160m To Vaccinate 1.8m Livestock

    The Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP, says it will spend about N160 million to vaccinate 1.8 million goats and sheep in its livestock vaccination campaign in different parts of the state.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Ameen Yassar, the Project Communication Specialist, in charge of the project in Kano on Wednesday.

    Yassar said that the project was being funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, aimed at enhancing livestock health and improve livelihoods of herders and livestock breeders.

    The statement added that the Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed these during the kick-off of community sensitization to the exercise in Kura, near Kano.

    ” The project is determined to upscale the vaccination because livestock health is tied to your livelihoods, and by extension our economy.

    “The objective of this interaction is to enhance vaccination and to seek cooperation of all stakeholders so that the exercise succeeds,” he added.

    Muhammad said the organization had embarked upon several projects, including the upgrade and equipping of Kadawa Artificial Insemination Centre, construction of milk collection centres, upgrade of cattle markets and crop residue utilization Programme, to improve the livelihood of the herders.

    “We shall soon award contract for demarcation of stock routes in Kano, which is major step towards ending conflict between farmers and herders in Kano,” he said.

    The District Head of Kura, represented by Alhaji Balarabe Muhammad, disclosed that no outbreak of livestock diseases had been reported in the area in the past three years due to consistent vaccination carried out by the KSADP.

    He therefore directed village heads and herders’ community leaders in his domain to fully mobilise for the forthcoming vaccination in view of its importance.

    In his comments on behalf of herders’ communities in Kura Local Government Area, Malam Zubairu Muhammad said they were familiar with livestock vaccination, having benefitted in the past three years, assuring that there would be no resistance to the exercise.

    “We have seen the impact of the vaccination conducted in the past, so we appreciate the Islamic Development Bank and the LLF for their untiring support,” he said.

    Also, the Zonal Veterinary Director for Rano Zone, Dr. Idris Ibrahim, who underscored the importance of the vaccination, suggested that livestock vaccination campaign should include rabies vaccination, since the herders also possessed livestock guard dogs. 

  • Akpabio Discloses Health Status Of Ministerial Nominee Who Collapsed

    Akpabio Discloses Health Status Of Ministerial Nominee Who Collapsed

    *As Senate Confirms Nominees

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has provided an update on the condition of Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the ministerial nominee who fainted during Wednesday’s screening session.

    Abass had slumped while answering questions after presenting his profile to the lawmakers. 

    This sudden incident prompted the Senate to go into a closed session as medical personnel rushed to the chamber to assist the nominee.

    After a few minutes of tense moments, Abbas was successfully revived and taken out of the Senate Chamber via an ambulance.

    Akpabio explained that Balarabe Abbas Lawal attributed his collapse to exhaustion, as he had been working tirelessly for several days leading up to the screening. 

    Despite his condition, the nominee was determined to proceed with the screening, insisting that he was fit to do so.

    In related news, the Nigerian Senate has confirmed three more ministerial nominees nominated by President Bola Tinubu. 

    The newly confirmed nominees include Balarabe Abbas Lawal from Kaduna State, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim from Kwara State, and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo State.

    These confirmations followed their successful screening, which was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    President Tinubu had submitted their names to the Senate for approval, and their confirmation comes just a day after his request was received by the National Assembly.

  • Concrete Roads More Durable, Cheap, Umahi Insists

    Concrete Roads More Durable, Cheap, Umahi Insists

    The Minister of Works, David Umahi has reiterated that concrete has been discovered to be more durable and cost effective in the construction of roads in some parts of the country.

    A statement by the Director of Press FMW, Mrs Blessing Lere-Adams, disclosed that the minister said this during a meeting with Directors of the Ministry in Abuja.

    The meeting was held for the purposes of clarification on pavements built with concrete and asphalt.

    Umahi said there were a lot of advantages in using concrete in road construction, stressing that roads built with concrete could last for 50 years without having issues of portholes or washout.

    “Concrete roads have a longer lifespan, it can withstand heavy traffic loads, low maintenance, less affected by temperature fluctuations.

    “A lot of advantages accrue to the use of concrete to construct roads, concrete roads last longer, compared to asphalt roads, reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance.

    “It is stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance,” Umahi said.

    Umahi, however, stated that nobody was insisting that all ongoing road construction in the nation should be changed to concrete.

    He said such could happen under some conditions, including roads constructed with asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder, with an alternative design on the road shoulder.

    He added that some of the contractors were still working with obsolete and old machines.

    He encouraged the directors to come to him for any suggestion or logical argument, saying that the mission of Tinubu’s administration was to improve on the road infrastructure across the nation for the good of all.

    “I am appealing to our consciences to see ourselves as people going to the same direction and pursuing the same agenda for the betterment of all.

    “All those in the field are the same with people in the office. Services in the office is what is keeping the services in the site,” Umahi said. 

  • CJN Reads Riot Act To Son, 22 New FHC Judges

    CJN Reads Riot Act To Son, 22 New FHC Judges

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has read the riot act to his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Jnr and 22 others who were sworn in on Wednesday, as new Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. 

    In a speech shortly after swearing in the new judicial officers, Justice Ariwoola reminded the fresh Judges that they have by virtue of the oath they had taken, automatically, assumed new status and responsibilities in life. 

    The CJN stated that even though judicial officers are not spirits or superhuman beings, however, he told them that so much impossible things are yet expected from them by the society. 

    On this note, Justice Ariwoola warned them to be wary of conducts in and out of courts that are capable of dragging their hard-earned reputation into the murky waters of public shame and disgrace. 

    “Appointment to the bench is not an appointment to wealth, vainglory, dishonest disposition or ostentatious lifestyle through corrupt acquaintances. 

    “The searchlight of the National Judicial Council beams brightly on all judicial officers across the country.

    “The NJC should never, either by omission or commission, be mistaken for a toothless Bulldog. 

    “It can bark fiercely and as well bite deeply and aggressively, too. 

    “Our radar is sophisticated enough to detect every form of corruption and wrongdoing by judicial officers; and we will not waste a moment in taking the necessary action to fish out the bad eggs. 

    “The remoteness of your location of adjudication can never blur our sight on you. 

    “We have put in place the right machinery to capture and document your conduct. 

    “So, be careful and take heed, or else, you may end up regretting ever being appointed a judicial officer” the CJN warned.

    Justice Ariwoola advised the new Judges to heed to the entire letters and words of the oath they had taken, stressing it must reside in a prime place of their hearts and be generously applied in the discharge of their adjudications.

    “You must be impartial, fair to all, and apply justice in all your undertakings. 

    “The times that we are in, are quite perilous, so we need judicial officers who are calculative, honest, objective and dispassionate in all ramifications. 

    “Thus, your appointments to the bench at this crucial period of our national history are not by accident but by divine ordination” the CJN stated.