Nigeria today

Kogi State House of Assembly has asked for the 10 per cent shares that belongs to the state government from the representatives of Dangote Cement company, stressing that all available documents shows that the company started as Obajana Cement Company and at what point did it turn to Dangote Cement company without any considerations. To make the claim possible, Kogi State House of Assembly ordered the management of Dangote Cement company to provide all necessary documents that have to do with the transfer of Obajana Cement Company owned by Kogi state government to Dangote Cement Company. The House also directed that the documents signed at the establishment of the Company and relevant receipts of dues it claimed to have paid to Kogi State Government available at the next adjourned sitting date. The speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, gave the order after interim reports of the ongoing investigative hearing on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which was submitt...

Chairman, Board of Trustees of United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (UNVTF), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, has said that over 40 per cent of human traffickers force their victims to smuggle drugs across borders. She said these traffickers capitalise on substance abuse disorder to promise their victims free and constant supply of illegal drugs in exchange for sexual and labour exploitation. Okah-Donli, who is also the founder and executive chairperson of Roost Foundation, stated this at a two-day workshop titled: Outreach on Drug Trafficking/Abuse and Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign, organised by the AGA Africa in collaboration with Roost Foundation and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) in Abuja. She said “The concept of drug trafficking and abuse, human trafficking and its attendant consequences is not new in this part of the world. Research has shown that more than 40 per cent of human traffickers force their victims to smuggle dr...

Enugu Catholic Diocese has directed the reopening of the Adoration Ministry, Emene. The ministry founded by fearless Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka will re-open next Sunday. It was shut down by the church following issues concerning Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi. In a statement announcing the reopening, Mbaka said,  “To the glory of God, Adoration Ministries start on Sunday, October 2 , 2022 with 10am Mass. God bless you miraculously as you come Joyfully to worship God with us. A resident of Enugu, Cosmos who reacted to the reopening, said it was a welcome development.   from Leadership News https://ift.tt/ArBsfci

A civic organisation fostering public accountability in Nigeria, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has stressed the need for low-income earners in Delta, Kano, Ogun, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States to acquire 1,432 homes completed but unsold. PLSI also called on the management of Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in providing affordable/social homes to Nigerians. The executive director, PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, made the call in Abuja yesterday while presenting findings from the analysis of the performance audit report on the management of resources for the provision of affordable/social homes for low-income earners in Nigeria by Family Homes Funds Limited (2018-2020). He said, “We have analysed the performance audit report on the management of resources for the provision of affordable/social homes for low-income earners in Nigeria conducted by the auditor-general for the federation and we have highlighted key challenges impeding acqui...

National Examination Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2022 June/July internal Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with about 727,864 candidates making five credits. Announcing the results in Minna, the Niger State capital yesterday, the registrar/chief executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, said the results were released 45 days after the last paper was written. He said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco gov.ng using their examination registration numbers. Wushishi said the number of candidates that registered for the examination were 1,209,703, with 636,327 males, representing 52.60 per cent and 573,376 females, representing 47.41 per cent, while the number of candidates that actually sat for the examination were 1,198,412, with 630,180 males representing 52.58 per cent and 568,232 females representing 47.39 per cent. He said, “Number of candidates who made credit and above in English Language is 889,188 representing 74...

The family of late Captain Joseph Mangtup Din (rtd) has announced the funeral arrangements for Josephine Nanbet Din who passed away in London on September 10, 2022. Jossy, as she was fondly called, was aged 49. She attended Baptist High School, Jos and later went to the University of Jos where she obtained a BSc in Economics. Until her death, she was self-employed and distinguished herself in general contracting and real estate. A statement by her family said, “She will be remembered for selflessness, kindness and infectious laughter.” The statement by Edwin Din also said the service of songs would be on October 13 at St. Mark’s Church, 111 Hamilton Terrace, London NW8 9UT, between 4-6pm. She will be interred at Hendon Cemetery & Crematorium, Holders Hill Road, London W7 1NB on October 14, after a funeral service. from Leadership News https://ift.tt/UYe0Q26

At the gate of the ministry of defence, Abuja on Monday to Tuesday was the parade of protest by retired military personnel under the aegis of six Veteran bodies demanding for the payments of their Security Debarement Allowance. It was a tense atmosphere as temper flared rapturously with restraints almost caving in for violence. The ex-men held to jugular the staff and visitors to the Defence Ministry referred to as shiphouse. There was a push to shove as breakdown of law and order was imminent. Just when people thought the situation would deteriorate and slide to an endless crisis, then came the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Abubakar Kana mni with what is now generally referred to as the ‘smile option’. Wearing a face that smiles in friendly and respectful mein, the man approached the protesting ex-soldiers. Distancing himself from the confrontational lane, he opted for a table of dialogue and pronto, the peace that many thought had eluded the ministry returned with every concern...

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2022 June/July Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE). Announcing the results in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, said the results were released just after 45 days the last paper was written by school-based candidates. He said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration numbers. Wushishi said the number of candidates that registered for the examination was 1,209,703, with 636,327 males, representing 52.60% and 573,376 females, representing 47.39%, while the number of candidates that actually sat for the examination was 1,198,412, with 630,180 males representing 52.58% and 568,232 females representing 47.41% He said, “Number of candidates who made Credit and above in English Language is 889,188 representing 74.89%. “Number of candidates who made Credit and above in Mathema...

The Commandant-general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, has lost his first outrider in an accident in Asokoro District of Abuja. LEADERSHIP gathered that the fatal accident, which claimed the life of the officer, ASC I, Dickson Dike, occurred at about 8pm on Tuesday night, while the CG was on his way back home. According to sources, who witnessed the incident, the NSCDC officer in an attempt to clear the way for the Commandant-general’s motorcade, slipped and lost control of his bike and ran into a culvert where he died following severe head injury he sustained. LEADERSHIP gathered that the fatal accident happened at an intersection close to the CG’s official residence, along Asokoro district extension. An eyewitness told LEADERSHIP that the deceased officer attempted a stunt near a major intersection before the CG’s residence, just after attempting a U-turn to join the rest of the convoy but missed the brakes and ran into a concret...

West Africa’s leading independent chemical as well as oil and gas engineering solutions provider, Eunisell, has signed a deal to sponsor Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Abia Warriors Football Club, based in Umuahia, Abia State.   Eunisell becomes the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor for the upcoming 2022/23 NPFL season, in an agreement brokered by leading Sports Public Relations & Marketing agency, MatchRoom Sports and Media Limited.   Since 2015, Eunisell has been a consistent player in the domestic NPFL and is famous for sponsorship of football clubs.   Speaking on the sponsorship deal, Group Managing Director, Eunisell, Chika Ikenga, said: “Eunisell decided to sponsor Abia Warriors to enhance the private sector’s involvement in the country’s national professional league, the NPFL.”   Abia Warriors FC chairman, Emeka Inyama, said: “As a club, we are proud of this moment. Eunisell’s sponsorship represents a huge milestone for the Abia Warr...

A report on Lancet Oncology that was published by the Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON) yesterday has showed that Nigeria recorded economic loss worth $5.63billion to cancer disease in 2019. The report also said that by 2050, almost 50 per cent of the global cancer burden in children younger than 15 years will be in Africa. Analysing the report, the director, global health catalyst, Prof. Wil Ngwa, said the challenge of cancer now faced by SSA is enormous and is likely to worsen rapidly if adequate measures are not taken, including through international collaboration. He said cancer in Nigeria and other parts of Africa is characterised by late stage at presentation, delayed diagnosis, limited access to treatment, and poor outcomes relative to other geographic regions. “Some estimates show late disease presentation varies from 30 percent in South Africa to 98 percent in Nigeria,” he said. Also at the event, the editor-in-chief of Lancet Oncology C...

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the conferment of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) national honour on Mr. Dike James Chigbue, an entrepreneur and social reformer. According to a letter signed by the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, Chigbue will be conferred with the award on October 11, 2022 at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja. Part of the letter addressed to Mr. Chigbue reads: “I have the honour to formally inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the conferment of the National Honours on you, in the rank of MON (Member of the Order of the Niger).” Mr. Chigbue has had both public and private sector work experience, at the peak of his public sector service, he served as Special Adviser to the Hon. Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs and was an integral part that coordinated the implementation of the Amnesty policy...

The family of Laolu Martins, one of the co-founders of Bukka Hut, a leading fast-food chain in Nigeria, has announced his death. A statement released by the family on Wednesday said the quintessential banker with over 21 years of experience in investment banking, corporate banking, stockbroking, asset management and pension fund management, died in the evening of Tuesday, September 27, 2022. “We hereby solicit the support and understanding of everyone as the family grieves the loss of our beloved Laolu in our privacy. “Our kind request is that you support the family – wife, children, aged mother and father and his siblings with your prayers at this difficult time. “Further announcements will be made by the family,” the statement said. Martins started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999. He joined Investment Banking & Trust Company Plc now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc where he served in the Financial Control and Trade Finance/Foreign Operations units of the Bank before bei...

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday give the keynote address when governors of the 36 States of the Federation and their counterparts on the African continent meet to discuss pertinent subnational alliances. According to a statement by the spokesman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulraque Bello Barkindo, preparatory to that the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Asishana B. Okauru, from the NGF has issued out an invitation to all Governors to attend an in-person meeting Thursday, 29th September 2022. The meeting, according to the Director General, will begin at 1400 hrs (2:00 pm) during which the New NGF Secretariat complex will also be commissioned by the NGF Chairman, Dr John Kayode Fayemi. Later there will be a welcome Cocktail for Colleague African Governors for the 2nd Conference of African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET), the Director General further added in the invitation. The Friday meeting is being organised jointly by the Nigeria ...

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced the launch of the reimagined global NBA App, the all-in-one destination for NBA fans of every team. With entirely new personalization features, the NBA stated that the App will provide wall-to-wall content from every NBA game and feature social-style vertical video, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to players and teams, new and existing shows and series, and access to the NBA vault for free. According to the Association, the NBA App – a product of NBA Digital, the league’s joint venture with Turner Sports – is free to download. Additionally, the NBA has launched NBA ID, the league’s new global membership program offering fans benefits and rewards from the league, teams and its partners. NBA ID, which is free to join, will link a fan’s experiences across existing products like NBA League Pass and NBA Pick’Em. Throughout the season, NBA ID members will get access to new original content and fan favorites from the NBA vault...

A Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State, on Wednesday, affirmed Bashir Sheriff Machina as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North senatorial district in the 2023 elections. Details Later…. from Leadership News https://ift.tt/7zyhuWg

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja, charged the National Council on Climate Change to formulate appropriate policies toward achieving green growth and sustainable economic development for Nigeria. Inaugurating the Council before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President in a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said the development marked the commencement of the implementation of the Climate Change Act 2021 and a new chapter in the renewed response to climate change in the country. The President also directed the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in conjunction with the Minister of Environment to initiate appropriate amendments of ”noticeable implementation challenges” inherent in the Act. Highlighting the losses and damages caused by the recent increasing floods in several parts of the country as well in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other parts of East and Southern Africa, the President described climate ch...

Ardova Plc (AP) has declared a Group revenue of N201.44 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2021. This was stated at the company’s 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, yesterday. The company disclosed that the group revenue closed at N201.44 billion which is a 10.71 per cent increase from 2020, while gross revenue of the company stood at N192.47 billion in the 2021 financial year, representing a 5.95 per cent increase from the 2020 revenue of N181.66 billion. The company also grew shareholders’ funds by 6.58 per cent year-on-year to N20.91 billion in full year 2021 from N19.62 billion in full year 2020 as a result of an 11.85 per cent growth in retained earnings. The group also expanded its total asset base by 95.7 per cent y-o-y to N126.80 billion. Speaking on the 2021 performance and AP’s strategy going forward, chief executive officer, Ardova Plc, Olumide Adeosun said:  “Ardova continues a journey of growth and economic impact. Our shareholders are a...

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to reject the suggestion that the consumption of cow leather, the delicacy called “Ponmo” in the country be banned. Former House of Representatives member, Hon Bamidele Faparusi who gave the advice said such policy if effected will harm the Southwest economy and throw many people into the labour market. Faparusi is the immediate past commissioner for public utilities in Ekiti State, many Nigerians, particularly people of the Southwest didn’t only consume the delicacy in large scale, but also trade in it. The director-general, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, NILEST, Zaria, Muhammad Yakubu, had recently made such proposal in Abuja, saying the policy will promote leather production as provided in the Agricultural Research Institute Act of 1975.   from Leadership News https://ift.tt/7YU5sSg

Immediate past national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, embodies the aspiration of a New Order in Nigeria. Ologbondiyan, in an interactive session with journalists yesterday said Atiku stands out as the “presidential candidate who best understands the nuances of our country and who is endowed with the required experience, capacity, presence of mind as well as the national acceptance needed to move the nation forward.” The former PDP spokesman who disclosed that he has been touring various parts of the country to gauge the disposition of voters, stated that most Nigerians, across the divides, believe Atiku will salvage and move the country forward. “I am not talking of social media or computer-generated indices here. I am talking of organic followership and raw data from the field which will reflect as we go into the elections. “In the last couple of months, I have visited various parts of the cou...

The United Nations (UN) African Union (AU) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) have formally launched an Independent High-Level Panel on security and development. A statement issued by the National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre in Abuja, Dr. Oluseyi Soremekun yesterday said the launched was made at a high-level event on the Sahel held on 22 September 2022 on the margins of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA. The Chairperson of the AU Commission,  Moussa Faki Mahamat;   the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray; the Executive Secretary of the G5 Sahel,  Eric Tiare  and the Secretary-General of the UN formally, Antonio Guteress, launched the Independent High-Level Panel led by former President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou.   from Leadership News https://ift.tt/qZNKfQs

Bandits have killed three persons and kidnapped 22 locals including farmers in communities of Birnin-Gwari local government area of Kaduna State.   Chairman of Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Ishaq Usman Kasai, who made the disclosure in a statement, said on Saturday, September 24, 2022 around 7:30pm, the bandits invaded Hayin Gada of Damari Community in Kazage Ward, killing two locals namely; Sanusi Zubairu and Kabiru Zubairu and kidnapped 12 persons and looted shops in the same community during the attack.   “On the same Saturday, another group of bandits killed 1 and kidnapped 6 persons at FARM CENTER located around Birnin-Gwari/Kaduna Road kidnapped 4 others at Dajin Jangali and seized 3 motorcycles (Bajaj Model) from farmers at Kamfanin Doka area,” he added.   BEPU observed with serious concern the way bandits continue to invade various communities and loot goods at shops unchallenged.   The BEPU chaiman said the union will never relent in...

The Vice Chancellor of Ahman Pategi University in Kwara State, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji, has urged Nigerians to stop hating one another and embrace love in their relationship. Adedimeji gave this advice while presenting his lecture to commemorate the International Day of Peace at Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State. The Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, said hating people is like taking poison and thinking it would harm the hated or giving another person free accommodation in one’s heart. He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to love one another including those who do not deserve it because it is a way of freeing their minds from negativity. Adedimeji emphasised that peace is relevant to all people across races, cultures and disciplines, adding that: “It is therefore imperative for everyone to uphold truth, promote justice, embrace forgiveness and show love as pillars that make peace hold in the real sense.” While tracing the origin of the United Nation...

The Nigerian Military Artillery have bombed a rendezvous of the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP), killing many of the terrorists in Yobe State.    LEADERSHIP gathered that the insurgents had converged at a location given as Wulle on motorcycles and vehicles with the intention to carry out an attack on the nearest Military formation.   An intelligence report obtained by Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad from top military sources, which was made available to our correspondent, indicated that acting on the intelligence, the troops of 27 Task Force Battalion fired several artillery at the terrorists which resulted in the killing of unspecified number of them.   It was further reported that the terrorists later returned on six motorcycles and one vehicle to evacuate their corpses.   In another development, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was killed while four others were injur...

Three hundred and forty-seven young Nigerian entrepreneurs have received training and certification, with some among them receiving between $5,000 and lower start-up grants, from Connak Foundation, a non-profit organisation. The grant followed an 11-week intensive online entrepreneurship training, organised by the Foundation to mark its 10th year anniversary. In a statement by the chief executive pfficer, Mrs. Carol Emeka Sunday, the Foundation said the training and grant emphasise the vision of Connack “to tackle youth unemployment”. “Connak Foundation is poised to strengthen the economic capacity of the youths to become agents of change in their communities; which resulted to the birthing of Connak Foundation Entrepreneurship Initiative (CoFEI),” it said. According to the statement, 9711 participants (6,629 males and 3077 females), from across the country were recruited for the training, after which an evaluation for the most qualified was done. The programme was split into two,...

Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has assured that youths will drive his economic policy, stressing that the two main components of his agenda are human capital development and finance. Obi made the disclosure while speaking at the Success Conference 2022 held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital at the weekend, a statement signed by the Obi-Datti Media office said. According to him, Nigerian people under his leadership will be involved significantly in policy formulation and administration. He said “If elected the next president of Nigeria, youths would be the main proponents of my main agenda to transform Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation. The two main components of this agenda are human capital development and finance. “Under my leadership, the Federal Government will prioritise the ability of our educational system to produce the necessary skilled labour force that coincides with the 21st-century labour market demand, alongside providing entrep...

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has advised residents of the FCT against ignoring early flood warnings from the weather forecast agencies. The director-general of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alhaji Abba Idriss, gave the advice at the 2022 FEMA Annual Review and Preparedness Meeting with over 250 local divers, community vanguards, flood rescue teams, and 50 town criers. Idriss said that the meeting was coming at a time when flood warnings from the weather forecast agencies, especially Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), were issuing serious flood alerts almost daily. He said the rising water levels in the nation’s major rivers in the country, especially River Niger and River Benue, coupled with the threats coming from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon were issues of great concern. The FEMA bosd emphasised the need for residents to abide by and obey the early warnings which are being issued to them ...

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested three suspects, who specialised in terrorising Gwarinpa Road in Abuja and recovered a stolen vehicle. FCT Police PRO, DSP Josephine Adeh, said the arrest followed a prompt distress call of criminal invasion and armed robbery, received in the early hours of Saturday, September 24, 2022. The PRO said the Police operatives arrested three members of the criminal gang, who perpetrated the crime and also recovered a Mercedes Benz GLK 350 Ash colour with REG. NO. GWA 740 FM, Laptop Computers, mobile phones, and other valuables stolen from the victims. DSP Adeh said: “preliminary investigations indicated that hoodlums numbering about 10 invaded residences along the Old Gwarinpa road and robbed victims of their valuables including a Mercedes benz car, gadgets and other valuables. “On receipt of the distress call at about 4am same date, Police operatives from both Gwarinpa and Life Camp divisions were...

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria(PSN) has decided the non-availability of infrastructure to enable pharmacists in the country to produce quality drugs to improve health service delivery in the country.     The Chairman of PSN, Abuja Branch, Pharm Ifeanyi Ikebudu stated this during a Health Outreach for traders in Garki International Market, Abuja, organised as one of the activities to commemorate the 2022 World Pharmacists Day(WPD).     Ikebudu also decried the epileptic power supply in the country which has made it rather expensive for drugs to be produced in the country.     While speaking on theme of this year’s celebration, “Pharmacy united in action for a healthier world” Ikebudu explained that the Outreach which was done in collaboration with collaboration with the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria(ACPN) displayed the unity of pharmacists in Nigeria as they ensure to provide quality health service in the country.   A...

The Pharmacists Society of Nigeria (PSN) has pledged to collaborate with the new Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, to ensure the implementation of the Pharmacy Council Act.   Speaking during a press briefing to commemorate the 2022 World Pharmacists Day over the Weekend, Chairman, PSN Abuja Branch, Pharm. Ifeanyi Ikebudu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting the act adding that the coming into law of the bill gives the pharmacists a great pedestal to celebrate this year’s WPD.   “This is so because the new Pharmacy Council Law will act as a springboard for the Council to exact better regulations on Pharmacy practice in the Country thereby improving the health indices,” he said.   Ikebudu also called on the Federal Ministry of Health and all States involved to act speedily on the implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDGs)vis a vis the Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs).   “The full implementation of the provisions of the NDDG...

A former LEADERSHIP advert manager, Mr Tunde Ogundele, has passed away at the age of 72. Ogundele died in the early hours of Thursday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, after a protracted illness. His wife, Mrs Bola Ogundele, who confirmed the development, said Christian wake keep would be held on Thursday, Sept 29 2022. She noted that the final burial would take place on Friday, September 30, 2022 at his residence, while praying for his soul to rest in peace. Ogundele who was born Ex-LEADERSHIP Advert Manager, Ogundele, Dies At 72 children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters. The deceased’ wife can be reached through +234 803 919 9359 for commiseration and burial arrangements. from Leadership News https://ift.tt/Qye9UiV

Four people were on Friday confirmed dead, while three others were rescued in rubble of the three storey building which collapsed on Sonuga Street, Palm Avenue in Mushin area of Lagos State. Our correspondent gathered that the building which was located at 3 Oye Sonuga Street, opposite Oye roundabout, Isolo Road, Mushin, betrayed its integrity, stability and started wobbling since Tuesday before it eventually caved in on Friday afternoon trapping about 10 persons. According to the Lagos Territorial Office Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, he said two male and two female bodies were recovered from the rubbles as at 7:30pm on Friday. He, however, stated further that search and rescue operation are still ongoing as the agency hasn’t reached ground zero He said, ” A 3-Storey building has collapsed at Oye Sonuga Street, opposite Oye roundabout, Isolo Road, Mushin. One female was rescued while two male and two female bodies were recovered,” he...

The minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said all preparations for the establishment of the national carrier, Nigeria Air, have been concluded and the airline will kick-off in six to eight weeks. This is even as the minister said the airline has commenced recruitment of pilots, cabin crew and the aircraft would be coming into the country in a week’s time. The minister, who stated this at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the full business case for the establishment of the airline would be expected to be approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The minister said: “After a careful, detailed and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC)  governed selection process, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) consortium has been selected as preferred bidder, offering an owner consortium of three Nigerian investors MRS, SAHCO and the Nigerian Sovereign Fund (46 per cent) FGN owning five per cent and ET 49 per cent. “The consortium has been subject to a due diligence p...

Moses Etu-led management of the Warri Wolves Football Club of Warri, Delta State, has been dissolved with immediate effect. This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, on Monday. According to the statement, Mr. Neville Ambekederemo, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Club and he is to take over the helm of affairs immediately. Okowa thanked the ousted Chairman Moses Etu and his management for their commitment over the years as he wished them well in their future endeavours. Etu was a two-time chairman of Warri Wolves and led the team to NPFL promotion in the 2019/2020 season but the Seasiders were relegated the next season with the Oil City Landlords failing to gain promotion in the just concluded season after finishing behind eventual Group B2 winners, Bayelsa United.   from Leadership News https://ift.tt/XzWNLBu

The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) yesterday said it has a projection to generate over N500 billion for the federal government in 2023 fiscal year through the auctioning of 5G spectrum. The executive vice chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta made the disclosure at an  interactive meeting on 2023-2025 MTEF-FSP, organised by the Senate Committee on Finance. He said the projected revenue would be realised from the  auctioning of two 5G spectrums, saying that the bidding process for auctioning  of the spectrums  for 2023 had begun. He also disclosed  that NCC had generated  N257 billion in the first quarter of 2022, while N195 billion was  remitted to  government coffers. Danbatta  further said from April to August, N318 billion was generated, while N214 was remitted. According to him, the fund realised was occasioned by the auctioning  of  two 5G spectrums at the rates of N263 million and N273 million dollars. NCC Gran...

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday, 23rd September 2022, launch Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for Sustainable Development on the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77) in New York. Proposed within the broader Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) is a planning and delivery tool to finance sustainable development at the national level. According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the INFF helps policymakers lay out a strategy to increase investments for sustainable development, manage financial and non-financial risks, and ultimately achieve sustainable development priorities.  While a country’s national development plan spells out what needs to be financed, the INFF shows how it will be financed and implemented. For Nigeria, he said the INFF is also expected to help in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic as well as help address lack o...

The National Assembly, yesterday, transmitted the Start-up Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent having passed through all required legislative processes. This is contained in a statement issued by the senior special assistant national assembly to the president, Senator Babajide Omoworare. Recall that the Bill was forwarded to the National Assembly pursuant to Sections 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution for consideration by President Buhari in a letter dated February 21, 2022. The Start-up Bill, 2021 will provide for the creation and development of enabling environment for technology-enabled start-ups in Nigeria. It aims to position Nigeria’s ecosystem, as the leading technology centre in Africa, having excellent innovators with cutting-edge skills and exportable capacity. from Leadership News https://ift.tt/1xUVdSg

Nigeria, which has seen an exponential oil production decline in the last few months, is shutting another 200 000 daily production as oil major Shell announces routine maintenance. Shell’s 200,000 barrels-per-day Bonga deep water storage and offloading vessel, FPSO, in Nigeria is scheduled for maintenance in October, a spokesperson said on Sunday. The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company did not say how long maintenance on the Bonga floating unit would last. Bonga is typically one of the larger export streams from Nigeria. Bonga crude oil stream was due to load 31,000 bpd in October, down from 95,000 the previous month, according to a preliminary export programme seen by traders. SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deep-water oil and gas production at Bonga, a project that increased Nigeria’s oil capacity by 10 per cent when it began producing in 2005. Bonga is located 120km offshore and lies in water more than 1,000 metres deep across an area of 60 square kilometres. It has th...

The family of a two-year-old boy, Ramadan Mayeleeke, who has been diagnosed with three holes in his heart, is seeking financial help to the tune of N5,875,000 for him to undergo a chest infection surgery to save his life. Ramadan’s medical report showed that he was admitted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) 17 months ago on account of the chest infection noticed from birth. According to the report, the minor was being managed as a case of secundum ASD, right partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection, small VSD and moderation PAH by the Paediatric team. He was presented on account of recurrent chest infections noticed from birth and had been on anti-failure medications. It was gathered that Ramadan was expected to undergo surgery for his condition at the Tristate Health Care System in Lagos State. Some of the procedures which the two-year-old would undergo at the hospital include preoperative evaluation, cardiac catheterisation and VSD closure, all amount...

Delta Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Godfrey Enita, on Thursday expressed concern over the extent of damage wrought by flood on rice farm in the state. The commissioner spoke with newsmen after inspecting a 100 hectares rice farm taken over by flood at the Benin-Owena River Basin Authority in Ngegwu, Ajaji – Illah, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state. According to Enita, the damage to the rice farm is colossal, huge and massive. “In fact, when the report got to me, I did not know that it was of this magnitude. “When I first saw the video, most part of the farm was above the water but as you can see, more than 70 per cent of the entire rice farm land is under water. “That tells you how massive the loss but I must commend the farmer, he is a dogged person because of his commitment. “These are people the government  should encourage, particularly for someone who had invest much and only to experience this huge loss due to flooding.” Enita g...

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group, World Food Programme, and World Trade Organisation have called for urgent action to address the global food security crisis. This is contained in a joint statement issued by the director general, FAO, Qu Dongyu; managing director, IMF, Kristalina Georgieva; president, WBG, David Malpass; executive director, WFP, David Beasley and director general, WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. They said the war in Ukraine continues to worsen global food security and nutrition crisis, triggering higher volatility in energy, food and fertiliser prices. They said inspite of the reprieve in global food prices and the resumption of grain exports from the Black Sea, food remained beyond reach for many due to high prices and weather shocks. They said the number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide is expected to continue to rise. Fertiliser markets, they said, remained volatile, especially in Euro...

Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has faulted the approval given to Katsina State security force to bear sophisticated weapons by the Federal Government, while other parts of the country are denied such approvals. Akeredolu noted that Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means the country is merely nominal as one entity but operating two systems. The governor, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, said the video making the rounds showing the equivalent of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) in Katsina, obtaining the approval of the Federal Government to bear arms is fraught with great dangers. According to him, denying Amotekun the urgently needed rights to legitimately bear arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which we have been clamouring for. He noted that “If the Katsina situation confers advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced ex...

The university’s management, in a statement signed by its registrar, Dr Fola Olowoleni, on Thursday, confirmed the death of Yazid. Olowoleni said the Council chairman died in the early hours of Thursday. “This is to formally notify you of the sudden death of our beloved council chairman, Mallam Abidu Rafindadi Yazid which sad event occurred in the early hours of today, Thursday, 22nd September, 2022. “We pray God for the repose of his soul and also pray God to grant him eternal rest. May God forgive his shortcomings and admit him into aljanah firdaus. “The university community condoles with the family,the emirate,the Katsina State government and the entire people of Katsina State. We pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the statement added. LEADERSHIP recalls that Yazid performed his last public function as the university’s council chairman a fortnight ago, precisely September 8, 2022, when he announced the appointment of a new vice chancellor for th...

Deputy minority leader of the House of Representatives Toby Okechukwu has declared that he would not be contesting for any elective position in the forthcoming 2023 elections. Okechukhwu whose name featured on the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the Labour Party for Aninri/Awgu/Oji River federal constituency, Enugu State, denied interest to contest the election on the platform of the party. In a statement he signed, Okechuckwu said, “I wish to state that I will not be contesting as the candidate of the Labour Party or any other party in the said election. I remain a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).” Okechuckwu said he has long conveyed his position to the national chairman of the Labour Party in a letter dated 19th July, 2022. “I deeply appreciate and can never take for granted the overwhelming goodwill of my leaders, constituents and their wish for me to be on the ballot in the 2023 general election. “I ...

The director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has urged the global tech community to find measures that will ensure that
Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are built according to policies, regulations, and laws as AI becomes embedded in people’s lives. Inuwa made this call recently while joining world-leading tech experts at the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on a plenary session with the theme, “Catalyzing AI Communities and Solutions: Sharing Cases Across the EU, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.” According to a statement issued by the agency, Inuwa stated that getting people in the community to be part of building AI systems is very important, adding that if few techy people are allowed to develop AI systems, they will build the systems with a techy mindset, while the systems are used in so many ways such as criminal justice, recruitment, profiling, etc. He noted that software engineers that ...