Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have intercepted two trucks carrying used railway tracks in the Olooru area of Kwara State and arrested six suspects.
Kwara Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Umar Mohammed, told newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday that the suspects were arrested in two trucks laden with railway tracks.
He added that the suspects were returning from Jagundi village in Kafanchan area of Kaduna State when the arrest was effected.
Two other suspects escaped, however, he said, adding that they would soon be arrested.
Mohammed said also that the NSCDC had secured a court injunction on the suspects and that the trucks would remain impounded until the determination of the case in court.
He promised to ensure that Kwara remained safe, peaceful and well-protected.
One of the suspects, Yunusa Bello, who spoke with newsmen, said he was not aware that the tracks were stolen, and that he was only contracted to drive one of the vehicles.
Bello said those who hired him lied that the tracks belonged to an official of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and promised to pay N1 million for his service.
National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), has affirmed that the climate change challenges can be addressed through carbon pricing.
Speaking at a workshop on the assessment of carbon pricing initiatives in Nigeria which was held on Wednesday in Abuja, NCCC Director-General, Mr Salisu Dahiru, said the workshop would give Nigerians a better understanding of carbon pricing and how Nigeria can benefit from it.
“As far as Nigeria is concerned, the carbon trading scheme is an aspect of our national policy, and also a national priority to put in place all the measures needed to address all our mitigation challenges.
“Carbon pricing is one of the foundational work that is needed to be done in order to prepare Nigeria for participating in the emissions trading scheme for which the process had begun,’ the D-G said.
“A situation where the ongoing carbon trading schemes are all over the place are being done without recourse to the designated national authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nigeria has to stop.
“We will ensure that every opportunity for harvesting emissions reduction certificates from ongoing activities in Nigeria is linked to our NCCC.
“Carbon trading is not going to be limited only to the NCCC but to all the MDAs or sectors that are interested in pursuing projects that can end carbon credit.
Dahiru expressed optimism that the workshop would facilitate one of the robust carbon trading systems in Africa and also lay the foundation for stakeholders in Nigeria to work towards achieving this target.
Coordinator of the West African Alliance on Carbon Market and Climate Finance, Ousmane Sarr, said that the objective of the West Africa Alliance was to harness the coordination of West African negotiators on the carbon market.
Represented by the Director General, African Energy-Environment, El Hadji Diagne, Sarr, said carbon taxes are one of the effective means to achieve a reduction in carbon emissions.
“This is why most of the developed countries that have agreements with the Paris Club consider zero carbon emissions.
“Carbon pricing may also support adaptive nature and also contribute to poverty reduction from the revenue that comes from it,” Sarr said.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has said that delay in the payment of June salaries to some civil servants is due to some technical glitches.
Director of Press, OAGF, Mr Bawa Mokwa, who made this known Wednesday in Abuja said, the delay was caused by technical challenges with the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS), one of the salary platforms.
Mokwa, however, said the office is making efforts to resolve the challenge.
“As we speak, the Directors and the consultant in charge of the platforms are in a crucial meeting, working round the clock to resolve the problem.
“Anytime from now, the salaries will start dropping,” he explained.
Many civil servants have not been paid their June salaries, making some unable to enjoy the recent Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that it needs access to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant to confirm the absence of mines or explosives at the site.
IAEA’s Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who said this on Wednesday, added that the Agency has been conducting regular walk-downs across the site without observing any visible indications of mines or explosives.
The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant has been under the control of Russia, with both countries claiming that the other has plans to attack the power plant.
According to Grossi, the Agency’s personnel should in particular be able to have access to the rooftops of reactor units 3 and 4 as well as access to parts of the turbine halls and some parts of the cooling system at the plant.
The IAEA Director General Grossi stressed the importance of the Agency’s team checking all parts of the ZNPP to monitor full compliance with the five basic principles for protecting Europe’s largest nuclear power plant during the current military conflict, following opposing statements and allegations in recent days regarding the military situation at the site.
“With military tension and activities increasing in the region where this major nuclear power plant is located, our experts must be able to verify the facts on the ground. Their independent and objective reporting would help clarify the current situation at the site, which is crucial at a time like this with unconfirmed allegations and counter allegations,” Director General Grossi said.
Transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange rebounded Wednesday after appreciating by N441 billion as FBNHoldings, AccessCorp, United Bank for Africa, FCMB group and others lifted market activities.
Market capitalisation of listed equities appreciated by 1.33 percent to N33.500 trillion from N33.059 trillion reported the previous day.
The NGX All Share Index also increased by 808.53 basis points to 61523.57 points from 60715.04 points recorded on Tuesday.
Learn Africa led the gainers’ table during the day appreciating by 9.97 percent to close at N3.20 per share, Gold Breweries followed with 9.95 percent to close at N2.21 per unit, Chellaram gained 9.77 percent to close at N1.46 per unit, John Holt added 9.62 percent to close at N1.14 per share, Omatek grew by 9.52 percent to close at N0.46 per unit.
On the contrary, NSL Tech, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Lasaco Insurance, and NEM Insurance topped the losers’ chart, shedding 10 percent each to close at N0.27 per share, N0.54 per unit, N2.07 and N5.58 per unit, respectively.
Wapic Insurance trailed with a loss of 9.88 percent to close at N0.73 per share.
The volume of trades increased by 260.677 million, representing 23.55 percent as investors traded 846.323 million shares valued at N10.305 billion in 9815 deals against 1.107 billion shares worth N12.209 billion exchanged hands in 12194 deals.
Transaction in the shares of FBNHoldings led market activity with 89.237 million shares valued at N1.649 billion, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) followed with account of 89.232 million shares worth N323.507 million, AccessCorp traded 85.911 million shares valued at N1.536 billion, FCMB group sold 85.031 million shares valued at N477.154 million, United Bank for Africa traded 57.512 million shares cost N749.766 million.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday declined to open its defence in the petition of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), seeking to sack President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Nigerian President.
When the ruling party was called to open its defence, APC, through its lead counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, said that there was absolutely nothing to defend in the separate petitions of the Labour Party and the PDP.
This is coming afte cross-examining Tinubu’s star and only witness, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
In his testimonials, the Senate Majority Leader, admitted that Tinubu’s election cannot be reversed on the strength of his forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States of America (USA) through a court order.
The witness maintained that Tinubu was not arraigned, indicted nor sentenced for any criminal charge by any American Court, adding that civil forfeiture cannot take the place of criminal trial and conviction.
“As far as criminal indictment is concerned, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a clean bill of health because he was never indicted and convicted by any American Court,” Bamidele said.
Sequel to the conclusion of the cross examination of the witness, and time for APC to open defence, Fagbemi said, “Having taken a sober reflection of the entire case we have enough evidence and we are not calling any witness, we do not intend to whip dead horses, we announce the closure of the case of the 3rd respondent”
Earlier, the Senate Majority Leader had told the Presidential Election Petition Court that President Bola Tinubu does not need to score 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT to be declared winner of the February 25 election.
The witness, who was cross-examined by Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, counsel to Atiku and PDP, said although Abuja is the Federal Capital of Nigeria it has no special status other than that.
The witness said it does not matter that Tinubu emerged as the first President to be declared without scoring 25 percent votes in FCT and not winning his home state, he admitted that Tinubu scored 19.4 percent in total votes cast in the FCT.
Furthermore, the witness, said the judgment of the US court on the forfeiture of $460,000 has Tinubu’s name but not as a criminal suspect but as civil proceedings, insisting that it was civil forfeiture and not a criminal forfeiture.
Under further cross examination by counsel to APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the witness agreed that there cannot be a conviction without a charge, trial, indictment and conviction.
Meanwhile, the Court has given the respondents 10 days to file their final written addresses, and the petitioner 7 days to respond and 5 days to reply on point of law.
The court said that the parties would be communicated on the date for the adoption of the final written addresses.
Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme has said that she realized that she scored 249 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), instead of the 362 she printed.
The 19-year-old claimed her “results notification” slip for the UTME showing a score of 362 out of 400 was printed from the JAMB results portal.
However, the board had argued that she is parading a forged result on a template it discontinued in 2021, that her official score is 249.
On Tuesday, JAMB insisted that her result is “patently f@ke”, saying it had withdrawn her result and consequently barred her from writing the examination for the next three years.
Appearing on the show on Channels TV Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, revealed its records indicated the candidate had sent a series of messages to the board’s automated telecoms system, including the results showing an aggregate of 362.
However, Mmesoma, who appeared with her father Romanus on the Wednesday edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, said she should not be blamed for the controversy.
“It’s not my fault that I printed my result like that and they said that I forged my result. It’s not my fault. So, them banning it is not fair,” she said.
Mmesoma said the only SMS she sent to JAMB was through its support system: “That’s the only SMS I sent there.”
Asked if she got any feedback, she said, “They didn’t reply. If they check their JAMB Support System, they would see that I sent a text message. They didn’t reply.”
On the claim that she used an Airtel line, Mmesoma replied: “Yes,” but she added it was “not through USSD code”.
“The one I checked through the USSD code is the one of 360 (sic) that I saw,” she explained further.
Responding to the claim that the feedback from JAMB showed her score as 249, she agreed.
“Yes,” she said. “After all said and done, I now saw that I got 249. I sent them a text message there to know what really happened — the JAMB Support System. If they go to their system, they will see it there.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says that 14 states and 31 communities may witness heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding from July 4 – 8 across the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, Lagos Territorial Office.
Farinloye urged relevant stakeholders within the states concerned to take precautionary measures to forestall the loss of lives and property.
He listed the states and communities as Plateau: Langtang and Shendam; Kano State: Sumaila, Tudun wada; Sokoto State: Shagari, Goronyo and Silame; Delta: Okwe.
Others include Kaduna State: Kachia; Akwa Ibom: Upenekang; Adamawa: Mubi, Demsa, Song, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, and Yola; Katsina State: Katsina, Jibia, Kaita and Bindawa.
He also added Kebbi State: Wara, Yelwa and Gwandu; Zamfara: Shinkafi and Gummi
Borno: Briyel; Jigawa: Gwaram; Kwara: Jebba; Niger: Mashegu and Kontagora are also included.
Farinloye thanked the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) Central Hub of the Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja for sharing the information.
The father to Ejikeme Mmesoma who was accused of forging her 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result, Mr. Romanus Ejikeme, has said the family has no plan to sue the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Ejikeme told journalists who visited his house at Nnewi, that the family had left everything to God to judge.
He insisted that his daughter did not forge her results because she is a hardworking student who does not joke with her studies.
He said: “My daughter studies so hard that even when you ask her to go to bed late in the night, she will insist on reading more because she wants to study Medicine and Surgery.
“After all the stress, someone will say her result was forged. I have no doubt about this matter. I’m sure my daughter did not forge the result and we are ready to go to any length to prove it.
“I only feel bad that after what my daughter has gone through reading for the exams, that she is being denied her legitimate score.
“Since this allegation of my daughter forging her JAMB result broke out, both my wife and my daughter have been feeling very sad. My daughter is traumatized.
“We want a diligent investigation into this matter.”
Recall that Mmesoma Ejikeme, who has been parading a JAMB result with the score of 362, and said to be the highest scorer has been dismissed by JAMB as being fake.
The board said the student forged her result, withdrew her original result as well as banned her from taking the exams for three years.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has set up a committee to determine the immediate and remote causes of the collapse of a three-storey building on Monday at Dape in Life Camp. Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, stated this during an assessment visit to the site.
Adesola said that the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Ahmad, would chair the committee, to determine the immediate and remote cause of the collapse.
He added that the committee, would also establish culpability, whether from officials of the administration or external persons.
He noted that the operating practice of engineering was very clear, with Codes for all kinds of offences, adding that the FCTA, would invoke all the penalties and sanctions when investigation was concluded.
“Until investigation is concluded, this site is permanently closed.
“I want to assure the public that all factors are considered when a property is duly authorised by Development Control, but in this case, there were some variables that were not taken into consideration.
“The development control directed that all work should be stopped to enable the FCTA advise appropriately, but the developer continued,” he said.
Earlier, the Director, Development Control Department, FCDA, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, said that the site was Plot 965 within Dape District, allocated to one Nazia Building and Civil Engineering Company Ltd.
Galadima said that the plot was allocated for a mix-use development in 2019 for a commercial and residential facilities on a three suspended floor.
He added that the developer was asked to stop the project, following some observations, particularly that the topography was not reflected in the initial design.
“We also noticed that the site was sloppy and swampy, and so we asked the developer to submit his design for reassessment.
“In the course of the development, there was an alteration and the developer was asked to stop work on the site until the modifications are integrated in the design.
“Also, the building failed our integrity test, indicating that it will collapse. Regrettably, the developer mobilised workers to site on Monday, and the building collapsed,” he said.
Galadima said that the title right of the developer on the land has been revoked in line with FCTA policy whenever a building collapse.
He stressed the need to prosecute all persons found culpable.
On his part, the Director-General FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alhaji Abass Idris, said that the agency received a distress call about the building collapse around 3:30 p.m. on Monday.
Idris said that agency immediately mobilised stakeholders to the site for rescue operations.
“In the process, nine people were rescued alive and were taken to hospital, of which six were discharged while three are still receiving treatment,” he said.
Also, Emeka Ozioko, Chief Inspector, Engineering Regulation Monitoring, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), said that the council’s panel would also investigate the causes of the collapse.
Ozioko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene, that if the engineers were found wanting, they would lose their professional license and face other penalties.
“The problem in this country is that nobody is punished for doing wrong. The moment a person is sent to jail to suffer for causing the lives of citizens, others will sit up.
“Let us all deal with the rules and whoever has violated the rules let him suffer for it,” he said.
Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, also told NAN that officials of the institute have taken samples to determine the quality of the construction.
Duna identified some of the factors that lead to building collapse as unprofessional practice, quackery, lack of proper assessment of soil properties, use of substandard materials, and non-adherence to professional procedure, among others.
On his part, Mr Kenedy Aimiuwu, Chairman, Practice Committee of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, attributed some cases of building collapse to unprofessional practices.
Aimiuwu said most of the builders in construction sites were not professionals, as such, lacked the requisite knowledge of the dangers of unwholesome practices.
An adjoining building, believed to be an event centre, was earlier demolished by officials of the FCTA Development Control department.
The director of the department said the action was necessary to forestal the collapse of another structure.
According to him, the demolished building was a “disaster waiting to happen”, due to visible cracks around it, as such “it had to be demolished before it kills people”.
