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Category: News

  • 5 Die In Tragic Lagos-Ibadan Highway Accident; 12 Persons Injured

    5 Die In Tragic Lagos-Ibadan Highway Accident; 12 Persons Injured

    No fewer than five people were confirmed dead on Sunday while 12 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident near the Foursquare Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Mrs Florence Okpe, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the development to newsmen in Abeokuta.

    Okpe explained that the accident involved a DAF truck marked, KMC 810 ZB, a Toyota bus marked, TMA-244b XA and a Mitsubishi pickup van with no registration number.

    The FRSC spokeswoman said that the accident occurred at about 6:15am and was caused by excessive speeding, tyre blowout and loss of control on the part of the driver of the truck.

    She noted that due to the tyre blowout and loss of control, the truck fell and blocked the road, noting that both the bus and the pickup van rammed into the fallen truck.

    Okpe disclosed that 21 people were involved in the multiple crash, saying that 12 people were injured while five people died.

    She stated that the injured people were taken to Victory Hospital in Ogere, near Abeokuta for medical attention while the dead were deposited at a morgue in Ipara community, near Abeokuta.

    Okpe quoted the Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Anthony Uga, as advising motorists to desist from using sub-standard tyres and to also apply common sense while driving in this rainy season.

    The sector commander sympathised with families of the victims, advising them to visit the Ogunmakin Unit of the FRSC for more information on the accident.

  • Telecoms Investment Jumps From $38bn To $77bn, Says NCC

    Telecoms Investment Jumps From $38bn To $77bn, Says NCC

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), says telecoms investment inflow grew from $38 billion to $77 billion by the second quarter of 2023.

    Danbatta, who spoke in Kano on Saturday at a media parley, revealed that the sector had contributed 16 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the period under review.

    He said that the statistics by the NCC was based on the computation by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    He said: “From about eight per cent contribution to GDP in 2015, when I came on board as the EVC of NCC, quarterly GDP has increased significantly to reach its current threshold of 16 per cent.

    “And this has continued to positively impact all aspects of the economy.”

    Danbatta, however, attributed the success to “thorough sustained regulatory excellence and operational efficiency by the Commission”, adding that the industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the past two decades.

    “We have witnessed explosive growth, improved regulatory standard, digital innovation that have generated global recognition,” he said.

    He said that telephone users in Nigeria had hit 218.9 million, internet subscribers 159.5 million, while broadband users in the country now are 88.7 million within the period under review.

    Danbatta listed issue of Right of Way (RoW), fibre cuts, high capital requirement for deployment, multiple taxations and regulations, among other frustrations, constituting barriers to broadband deployment in the country.

    The EVC, however, assured that the NCC would “navigate regulatory complexities, digital divide and literacy to tackle the challenges”.

    He said that the commission would establish an emergency communication centre in each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Danbatta said establishing the centres was necessary, so as to bridge the gap between distressed and emergency response agencies in the country.

    He explained that the commission had increased the amount of research grants being given to universities from N20 million to N30 million.

    He said that three universities had benefitted from the new grant, so far.

    “NCC as a regulator is mindful of the fact that telecom is an enabler and catalyst for economic advancement of the country.

    “It has consistently made available, affordable and accessible telecoms service to check certain telecoms barriers,” he said.

    Danbatta added that the task of the commission as a regulatory agency in the development of the telecommunications sector was to ensure best practices.

    He said that this was in view of the fact that NCC was one of the sectors that had contributed to the enhanced growth of the Nigerian economy.

    The vice-chairman pointed out that other major challenges confronting the commission included wilful destruction of its facilities and the number of taxes imposed on telecommunication companies.

    “The challenges being faced by the commission include 41 categories of taxes imposed on telecommunications companies and wilful destruction of our facilities,” he said.

    He said that the commission would continue to engage stakeholders in the media industry in order to keep members of the public abreast of its activities.

  • Tinubu To Address Africa Int’l Trade Exhibition At UNGA

    Tinubu To Address Africa Int’l Trade Exhibition At UNGA

    President Bola Tinubu is billed to speak at the Africa International Trade Exhibition program, during the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

    Tunde MacAlabi, Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Business, Trade and Investment Summit Component of the exhibition programme, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    He explained that the meeting would take place on September 21 at the prestigious Hilton Hotel located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, Midtown, Manhattan, New York.

    MacAlabi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of T-BYK Ventures, will be joined by notable figures such as Prof. Tai Balofin, President of Nigerian Progressive Professionals.

    He said that Tinubu would also be joined by Khuraira Musa, the Chief Executive Officer of K-Pro Consulting of New York and President of the Arewa Development Support Initiative (ADSI), an NGO, for empowering youths and women in Northern Nigeria.

    According to him, Ms Musa, a serial entrepreneur and author of the ‘Audacity of an African Child’, an autobiography that chronicles the struggles of her disadvantaged childhood, will co-anchor the session.

    “During the programme, President Tinubu, who will serve as the Special Guest of Honour, is expected to deliver a goodwill message to a distinguished gathering of North American and key figures from the private sector.”

    “The Africa International Trade Exhibition (A.I.T.E) programme is designed as a complementary private sector initiative to the US-Africa Leaders annual summit.

    “It aims to foster closer socio-economic ties between the United States and Africa through enhanced commercial engagement,” he said.

    He stated that the event would be a vital platform for discussions, collaborations and strategies that will contribute to the economic development and prosperity of Nigeria and its partners

    This will come under the theme: “The Imperative of Global Trade for African SMEs as a Game Changer for the Future Prosperity of the Continent.”

    The president will on Sunday leave Abuja for New York to attend the 78th UN General Assembly holding from September 19 to September 23, according to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Saturday in Abuja.

    The trip will be Tinubu’s first UNGA outing.

    Ngelale said that the theme of the UNGA is: “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”

  • Subsidy: Bala Mohammed Distributes Rice To Citizens

    Subsidy: Bala Mohammed Distributes Rice To Citizens

    The Bauchi State Government, on Saturday, commenced the distribution of 88,889 25kg bags of rice to the citizenry as post-subsidy removal palliative.

    The State Government said on September 4 that it had released N2 billion for the purchase of the commodity for distribution to different groups in society.

    In a speech at the launch of the distribution in Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed, said that the civil servants, through the Office of the Head of Service, would get 5000 bags.

    He also said that 2000 bags would be distributed to the vulnerable groups present at the launch.

    “Critical stakeholders, which include the traditional institution, religious groups, security and quasi-security will get about 11,000 bags.

    “At the local government level, civil servants through the union will get 5000 bags,” the governor said.

    He also said that every polling unit would get 12 bags, amounting to about 65,000 bags in all.

    The governor further said that N10,000 would be distributed to 3,484 orphans and vulnerable children, 11,000 women, especially
    widows, people living with disabilities, the poor and aged, totalling about N300 million.

    Mohammed thanked President Bola Tinubu for his timely response to the yearnings of the people.

    According to him, by this response, the president has demonstrated that he is a listening leader and that the subsidy removal was not meant to punish anybody but a necessary exercise of leadership and responsibility.

    “I must also warn that the government will not hesitate to deal with anybody at any stage of the implementation process that becomes a cog in the wheel of progress in our efforts to bring succour to the people across board,” Mohammed said.

    Earlier, the Emir of Bauchi, Alh. Rilwanu Adamu, described the distribution of palliative to the people at this trying time as a demonstration of compassion and solidarity that deserved appreciation.

    Adamu, who is also the Chairman of the Palliative Distribution Committee, said that for making the palliative available, the governor had addressed the immediate needs of the citizens.

    He said that the gesture also demonstrated his empathy and care for the well-being of the people.

    “We are deeply grateful for your leadership and tireless efforts in mitigating the hardship faced by our people,” the emir said. 

  • Transport Management: FCTA To Introduce Digital Security Monitoring, Control -Minister

    Transport Management: FCTA To Introduce Digital Security Monitoring, Control -Minister

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has said it will soon introduce digital security monitoring and control system in the existing FCT transport management system.

    Wike stated this on Saturday at the 2023 Special Marshals Sectoral Workshop, organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Sector Command Special Marshals.

    The workshop held in Abuja had the theme, “Volunteerism in Road Safety Management: Limits and Possibilities.”

    The minister, who was represented by Mr Ubokutom Nya, the Secretary, Transport Secretariat, FCTA, said that the digitisation would ensure the safety and security of commuters in the FCT.

    He added that the initiative would equally enhance affordability and efficiency in transportation services.

    “The idea of the digital monitoring system is part of our attention to details in providing a transportation system that will be safe and secure.

    “Apart from being affordable, those entering a vehicle, private or mass transit of the FCT will have peace of mind that as he enters the vehicle, so also he will come out safely,” Wike said.

    He explained that the digital monitoring system would be made up of cameras that would be able to track vehicles that carry people.

    The minister said that on entering vehicles, people would be required to scan in using their phones and scan out on disembarking.

    He said: “once in the vehicle, the system will time the trip and alert the central control system if a person does not scan out at the time he or she is supposed to disembark the vehicle.

    “This means that in real time, there will be an alarm to search for the individual who entered the vehicle.

    “You don’t need to call any person at home, saying you entered a particular vehicle, because it is self-activating.

    “As you enter, you scan in on the vehicle and it goes to the central control and as you come out within a period, it also goes to cancel. If the trip is not canceled, there is an alarm that is triggered.

    “We are working on the details, and it will not be too long before it comes on board.”

    The minister added that other innovations would also be rolled out in line with the secretariat vision – safety, affordability, and flexibility.

    “We are working on rail transportation; we are working on Bus Rapid Transport and consulting with private individuals who will bring in their private transportation.

    “The FCT will also be working on upgrading our motor parks to global standards, so that people will be encouraged to patronise public transport.

    “This, of course, will reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads, and if there are fewer private vehicles, it means that the traffic movement will be better,” he said.

    Wike noted that Abuja recorded a high level of crashes as a result of  irresponsible road users, which, he described as “worrisome”, and called for drastic actions.

    He noted that most road users did not comply with traffic regulations like maintaining tolerable speed limit, obeying traffic lights and maintaining lane discipline among others.

    This, he said, caused traffic infractions for other road users making the roads unsafe.

    The FCT minister said that the establishment of the Special Marshal Division by the FRSC would help the corps to effectively discharge its statutory functions.

    “On our own part as the administrators of the FCT, we will continue to relate with critical stakeholders in this sector to enable us to achieve our core mandate,” the minister said.

    Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, stressed the need for a review of the road safety management activities and analysis of factors that could contribute to the reduction of crashes on Nigerian roads.

    Biu, who was represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal, Shehu Zaki, blamed road crashes on the action or inaction of road users, saying it was preventable.

    He added that road safety advocacy was not for the FRSC alone, but a responsibility of all stakeholders.

  • Senate Debunks Impeachment Plot Against Akpabio

    Senate Debunks Impeachment Plot Against Akpabio

    The Senate has media refuted reports that some Senators are planning to impeach President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    “Our attention has just been drawn to a syndicated satanic verse in a section of the media of purported and illusory plots of leadership change in the Senate.

    “The Nigerian Senate is one united and fraternal family and this imaginative composition is in the realm of the fake and fallacious story of 100 million per legislator.

    “It is apt to note that the10th Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio has carried out its legislative and constitutional duties diligently.

    “Within a span of less than 60 Legislative days, the Senate has passed life enhancing bills and motions,” he said.

    He added: “It has screened and confirmed Service Chiefs and Ministers, among others, apart from very essential oversight functions.

    “We urge the fifth columnists, who operate undoubtedly outside the Senate, desperate to cause disharmony through media stunts and thus clipping the wings of Nigeria’s democracy, to take caution.

    “The Senate should be allowed fresh air to settle down for its national assignments, so that the Nigerian project can move forward.”

    He urged the media to be discerning not to be used as hand tool by the retailers of fake and bad news.

  • Naira Depreciation, Cause of Hike In Drugs Prices, Not GSK Exit –NAFDAC

    Naira Depreciation, Cause of Hike In Drugs Prices, Not GSK Exit –NAFDAC

    The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has stated that the departure of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from Nigeria should not be held responsible for the rise in drug prices within the country.

    Adeyeye made this statement in response to speculations regarding GSK’s exit and its potential impact on drug prices in Lagos over the weekend.

    GSK, a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, had announced its intention to cease operations in Nigeria back in August.

    The company had a longstanding presence in Nigeria, having been incorporated in June 1971 and commencing business the following year.

    Adeyeye explained that there were multiple factors contributing to the increase in drug prices.

    Firstly, she cited the depreciation of the Nigerian currency, the naira, as a significant factor. She noted that even before GSK’s planned exit, the prices of various commodities had been on the rise, and some of the products produced by GSK had become scarcer.

    From a regulatory standpoint, Adeyeye emphasized NAFDAC’s encouragement of local drug manufacturing. She clarified that GSK had collaborated with local manufacturers, indicating that they didn’t solely rely on imports for their products.

    She further elaborated that foreign exchange issues posed challenges for multinational companies. These companies generate funds locally, but repatriating these funds to their parent companies, where further developments occur, can be problematic due to foreign exchange restrictions.

    In summary, Adeyeye highlighted that while GSK’s exit had its own implications, it was just one of several factors influencing drug prices, with currency depreciation being a significant contributor to the overall increase.

  • AfDB, Korea Sign $28.6m Grant Deals

    AfDB, Korea Sign $28.6m Grant Deals

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Korea have signed a $28.6 million dollars grant to boost Africa’s development agenda.

    The AfDB in a statement on its website on Saturday, said the funding complemented 600 million dollars co-financing under the Korea-Africa Energy Investment Framework, agreed with the Korean government in 2021.

    According to the statement, the framework supports African countries to build human capacity and develop their energy sectors.

    The agreements were signed in Busan, during the 7th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference (KOAFEC), which is being co-hosted by the Bank and Korea.

    The statement said the new funding would primarily support energy access, agricultural transformation, and knowledge and capacity-building across a number of African countries.

    It said the amount would be disbursed to the AfDB Group in three instalments of 4.6 million dollars in 2023, and 24 million dollars in 2024 and 2025.

    The AfDB Group President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Kyungho Choo, signed the first agreement for 28.6 million dollars.

    Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, described Korea as “a true partner for African countries”.

    Choo further said that the government would do its best to contribute to Africa’s sustainable growth and development.

    Meanwhile, the AfDB president said Korea’s additional funding was timely, especially as the nation celebrated the 40th anniversary of joining the Bank.

    Adesina commended the government for its commitment to a strong partnership between the AfDB and Korea.

    “Korea’s relationship with Africa is unique. There is a lot to learn from Korea which moved from a poor country relying on aid, to a donor country within a single generation,” he added.

    The statement said the second agreement was signed by AfDB’s Chief Economist and Vice President, Kevin Urama, and Commissioner of Statistics Korea, Hyoung il Lee, on behalf of their institutions.

    It said under the agreement with Statistics Korea, the two institutions would collaborate to raise statistical awareness and share new data sources and methods to improve statistical quality, including big data.

    It said the agreement document identified areas for possible cooperation, such as AfDB’s Africa Information Highway for evidence-based decision-making.

    The Africa Information Highway is a mega-network of live open data platforms electronically linking all African countries and 16 regional organisations.

    The AfDB’s figures indicate that the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund is the largest of the Bank’s active bilateral trust funds in terms of contributions received and portfolio size.

    The fund, which had received 108 million dollars in contributions as of Dec. 31, 2022, had financed 203 projects since its inception.

  • Adamawa: Fintiri Launches N5bn Credit Guarantee Scheme

    Adamawa: Fintiri Launches N5bn Credit Guarantee Scheme

    Adamawa: Fintiri Begins N5bn Credit Guarantee Scheme

    Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has begun the N5bn credit guarantee scheme for agribusiness owners in the state.

    A statement by Muhammad Tukur, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, said that the beneficiaries of the scheme would include producers, agregators and marketers.

    Fintiri, while speaking in the Government House Yola, said the scheme is one of the main components of the Adamawa Agribusiness Support (ADAS) Programme.

    He explained that the scheme would help the beneficiaries to access loans from financial institutions.

    Fintiri appealed to people to continue to exercise patience over the hike in the price of food items, adding that his administration would continue to provide palliatives to the people to cushion the effect.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Auwal Tukur, said that through the ADAS the state government has generated over N1 billion from the Agribusiness collections.

    The highlight of the event was the presentation of loan letters to some of the beneficiaries of the scheme.

  • NSCDC Apprehends 7 Suspects For Energy Theft, N13m Fraud

    NSCDC Apprehends 7 Suspects For Energy Theft, N13m Fraud

    NSCDC Apprehends 7 Suspects For Energy Theft, N13m Fraud
    Officers of the Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during the press briefing parading the suspects.

    The Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended six individuals on charges of energy theft.

    The command, in a statement released by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Kehinde Adeleke, disclosed that the suspects were captured during a collaborative operation between the command and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Osogbo.

    According to Mr. Sunday Agboola, the NSCDC’s state commandant, the suspects were apprehended in the Ota-Efun area of Osogbo and have allegedly confessed to their involvement in the theft of energy.

    Agboola urged the public to actively participate in the command’s renewed efforts to safeguard critical national assets in their communities by promptly reporting any suspicious activities of vandals to the corps.

    In addition to the energy theft suspects, the command also arrested a 40-year-old individual named Sodiq Ayanleye on charges of perpetrating N13 million fraud. Ayanleye purportedly collected the money from a victim, falsely claiming that he intended to purchase five plots of land in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on the victim’s behalf.

    The NSCDC’s state commandant clarified that obtaining money under false pretences is a violation of Section 419 of the criminal code of conduct and Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

    He assured the public that the arrested suspects would be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders in the future.