All Posts in "Day: May 11, 2021"

 FG Moves Against  Nigerian Traders,Ghanian Authorities Rift 

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that a ministerial delegation be dispatched to Ghana to resolve the lingering conflicts between Nigerian Traders and Ghanaian Authorities.
The delegation to be led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and made up of critical stakeholders, will also engage in further dialogue with Ghanaian authorities with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problem.
At a meeting  convened by the Minister on Monday and attended by the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada; the  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo; also included the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms Yewande Sadiku; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri; President of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Dr Ken Ukaoha who are also members of the delegation.
The Minister would undertake the visit between May 31 and June 1, 2021.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in News 0
FG Considers Mass Marriage Registries In Nigeria

FG establishes 20 new marriage registries
 The Federal Government has  concluded plans to create Federal Marriage Registries in all the state capitals of the country  in order to bring the federal marriage registry closer to the grassroots.
Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior,this  at a  National Stakeholders’ Conference on the Administration and Conduct of Statutory Marriage in Nigeria.
He said the amended Legal Notices have changed the dynamics of the administration and conduct of statutory marriages in Nigeria and has put to rest the lingering disagreement between the Ministry and the Local Government Registrars of Marriage by designating the Local Government Areas and Area Development Councils of the Federal Capital Territory as Marriage Districts.
“The beauty of this arrangement is that it brings the services of this Ministry, via the Marriage Registries, closer to the grassroots, thus reducing the need to travel relatively long distances to get married at a Federal Marriage Registry,” Aregbesola said.
He added that the Ministry had its inaugural Stakeholders Conference on the conduct of Statutory Marriages in the third Quarter of 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt respectively and one of the recommendations of the Stakeholders was the need for more conferences to educate the public on issues pertaining to statutory marriages in Nigeria.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in News 0
Suleiman Heads  Probe Panel Of Suspended NPA Boss

The Federal Government has appointed Auwalu Dauda Suleiman,as the head of the fact-finding panel to prode Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, the suspended managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), over alleged embezzlement  of N165.32billion
Auwalu Dauda Suleiman is  a member of NPA’s board and the current Director, Maritime Services, Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Besides,Ben Omogo, Director, Organization Design and Development, is the the co-chairman, while Mr. Gabriel Fan, Director, Legal Services is the Secretary of the panel.
Other members of the panel, Dr. Hussani Adamu, Director, Procurement, Mrs. Blessing Ozorbo, Director, Legal Services, (OHCSF) Mrs. Mercy Ilori, Director, Transport Planning Coordination, Mr. Muhiy-Deen Awwal, Director, Human Resources Management, and three staff of Human Resources Management to serve as the Secretariat.
The the terms of reference of the  panel include; to examine and investigate the administrative policies and strategies adopted by the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with extant laws and rules from 2016 — date,examine and investigate issues leading to the termination of pilotage and other contracts of Nigerian Ports Authority and confirm compliance with the terms of the respective contracts, court rulings and Presidential directives,examine and investigate compliance with the communication channel as obtained in the Public Service as well as examine and investigate the procurement of contracts from 2016 to date.
The panel will also come up come up with suggestions and advice that would strengthen the operations of Nigerian Ports Authority and forestall such occurrences in future and in any other matter that may be necessary in the course of the assignment”.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in Maritime 0
Ohanaeze Faults Shoot -At- Sight Order On Igbo Youths 

HAS OHANEZE NDI IGBO NEW PRESIDENT FAILED BEFORE HE BEGINS? - By Nnamdi Elekwachi, ESQ – 9News Nigeria
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has faulted  the  shoot at sight order given to the Nigerian soldiers  to quell the raging violence in the South East Region.
Prof. George Obiozor, the President General of Ohanaeze,warned that  the order represents  a call for another pogrom and genocide in the land.
He admonished the Federal Government to avoid   the use of force in resolving the present national crises.
He said “History shows that military and violent means to solve the national question is bound to fail as it leads to further national fractionalization, anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration, as in all Empires or multi-national states or countries”. Obiozor warns:
“The Sahara Reporters, May 8, elaborated on the new secret plan  of shoot at sight order which by the grace of God has come to the public domain. The report further revealed that the exercise will commence from Orlu in Imo State, South East Nigeria.
“ This is very disturbing.The pattern of deployment of northern military officers to the South-East lends credence to the above report.
“Sahara Reporters revealed that in preparation for the above, the Nigerian army  has posted Northern Muslims as commanders over its operations and brigades in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, Edo, Delta and Rivers. In Anambra State, the Cantonment Commandant of the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, is Col Abdulsalam Abubakar Sambo, a Hausa-Fulani Muslim; while in Imo State, the Brigade Commander of 34 Brigade, Obinze, is Brig Gen Ibrahim Tukura, another northerner; in Abia State, the Brigade Commander of 14 Brigade, Ohafia, is Brig Gen M. Ibrahim, still, a northerner; while in Akwa Ibom State, the Brigade Commander of 2 Brigade, Uyo, is Brig Gen Faruk Mijinyawa, another northerner. This is truly worrisome,” he said.
The President General  admonished the Nigerian government to “learn a lesson from history by not fighting an unwinnable war against nationalism but seek possible peaceful options that are the only solution that guarantees national unity and peaceful coexistence”
Obiozor lamented that “subnational consciousness or ethnocentric nationalism which is a dangerous form of nationalism to national unity has taken over Nigeria”. And that “the dream of Nigeria unity is receding and fading fast with violence, crises and conflicts”
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is unequivocal that the current problems confronting Nigerian, eg ethnic militia, agitation for secession, insurgency, etc are a product of sustained orchestrated injustice in governance. For instance, Senator Shehu Sani, the former senator for Kaduna central, vehemently decried that the Igbo have been systematically marginalised since the civil war. Speaking in Kaduna at a meeting organised by the Association of Eze-Ndigbo in the Diaspora on Saturday, May 8, 2021, Sani described the marginalisation as a “collective punishment”. “There has been a systemic exclusion and marginalisation of your people, stemming from the historical Biafra war.
This is a collective punishment”, he declared.
“Every right thinking Nigerian, who loves the corporate existence of Nigeria, should align with the Shehu Sani position. The problem with Nigeria in general and the Igbo in particular is located in injustice and the simple solution lays in manifest dialogue, equity and justice,” he said
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in Niger Delta 0
Hope As NDPHC Begins Construction Of Injection  Substation In  Delta Community 

NDPHC develops 16 injection sub-stations, 9 intervention projects in North-East | Tribune Online
The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has commenced construction of a 1×7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection distribution substation in Orogun, Delta State to boost power supply to the community.
Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, the agency’s Managing Director/CEO,who performed the groundbreaking ceremony at the weekend ,explained that the injection substation which is an NDPHC/National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) intervention project would also boost economic activities in the community.
 According to him,a 1×7.5MVA 33/11KV injection substation, will step down power from the already existing 33KV line to 11kV, adding  that the project involves the construction of 4km of 11KV line to distribute the power to the community.
He said seven distribution transformers will be installed also in the community. He stated that, with the injection  substation in place, faults on the down stream line will not be allowed to trip the entire network.
He noted that the project followed the passionate intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege to have the project in the community.
He said:“Following the intervention of the Deputy Senate President, we at NDPHC in keeping with our mandate to improve electricity infrastructure in Nigeria visited Orogun community for location inspection and discovered that the community electricity supply is being fed by old Agbaroh-Abraka 33KV line which transverse swampy terrain.
“We also discovered that it is not adequate for the community hence this purposeful intervention by Niger Delta Power Holding Company at the instance of the Deputy Senate President”.
He added that NDPHC has been engaging the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and has been assured by the DisCo that the project aligns with infrastructure upgrade in the community.
In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, said President Muhammadu Buhari was making significant efforts to stop energy poverty in Nigeria by facilitating the provision of electricity to rural communities across the country.
He added:“The objective has been to ensure that the number of people who use modern energy should increase to reduce social costs and to increase social benefits”.
He noted that the establishment of the power substation was one of the several initiatives of the administration aimed at addressing energy poverty in the country.
“Substations play a critical role in power industry. Substations support the transmission grid in moving power from generation sources to customer’s load, while electrical utilities use them for system protection, switching capabilities and more importantly, voltage transformations.
“It is thus my hope that the construction of the injection substation will  boost access to energy in the region and consequently bring about enhanced economic activities and poverty reduction through enhanced income, health, education and improved environment”, he said.
He implored  the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, to make good use of the facility when completed to boost power supply to the communities, urging the utility to ensure that meters are provided for individual customers.
Earlier, the General Manager, Distribution, Engr. Gadzama M. Mele who gave details of the project stated that the project involves the construction of 7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection substation and 4km of 11kV lines with installation of 7nos 300KVA, 11/0.415kV Distribution substations and construction of 2.5km of low tension (LT) lines to take power to the door step of the community.
He also stated that benefits to derive from the project include but not limited to voltage control, localisation of faults and creation of job opportunities for the community.
Also speaking, the President General of Orogun Kingdom, Chief Benson Ndakara thanked both the Sen. Omo-Agege and  NDPHC for coming to the aid of the community, saying “when the power station is fully completed and starts functioning all the knotty power problems and challenges in Orogun and environs will be resolved once and for all”.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in Power 0
Lagos To Ban Okada, Commercial Tricycles

The Lagos State Government is mulling plans to ban okadas (motorcycles) and kekes (tricycles) in the state due to their usage to perpetrate crimes in the state.
It has advised its residents to take advantage of the agricultural and other economic empowerment opportunities in the nation’s commercial nerve centre.
This was the outcome of a security meeting held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.
Governor Sanwo-olu said: “Based on all that we have seen and experienced in the past couple of weeks, as well as the increasing threat posed by the activities of commercial motorcycle operators to the safety and security of lives, we will be announcing further changes to the parameters of motorcycle and tricycle operations in the state in the coming days. No society can make progress amid such a haughty display of lawlessness and criminality.”
The state would be inaugurating the First and Last Mile buses next week, which would take the routes the motorcycles were plying.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in News 0
Planned Reduction Of Workers’ Salaries Wicked,Ungodly-TUC

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,has faulted the  Federal Government’s planned reduction in the salaries  of workers in the country.
The union,in a statement, titled,’Call Minister of Finance To Order Now’said the Minister’s pronouncement of planned cut in  salaries of workers was ungodly and wicked given the excruciating economic condition of the country
The union said:”To come up with such an idea at a time we are still grappling with the effect of pandemic and millions of people have been rendered jobless for months already is not only preposterous but wicked and, in every shade, ungodly.
“We are surprised this is coming from a mother. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, nay Nigerians believe the government knows the right thing to do to cut down the cost of governance; what it actually lacks is the political will to do so. Events of the recent past have shown that workers are not the problem; rather the appointees of government are responsible for the sorry state of the country. They brought every strata of the country to its knee. It is a pity.
“May we remind the minister that as at Q4 2020 the unemployment rate stood at 33.3% and it is projected to rise even further in the coming months while the rate of inflation as at March, 2021 stood at 18.17%. The consequential effects of these are that we now have more idle hands capable of going into crime.
“Also, even the so-called N30, 000 minimum wage which some states are yet to commence payment has been rubbished by the high rate of inflation. It is important to also remind her that there is a law backing National Minimum Wage.
“Agreed, it has become very imperative for the government to reduce the cost of governance and that must be done the right way. Time has come for the take home of political office holders to be significantly reduced.
” The country is paying them for nothing. Our politicians have so much money which is why they can arm thugs (idle youths) to snatch ballot boxes during elections; give bribe, launder money thereby creating scarcity of forex, buy houses abroad and do other despicable things meanwhile someone is busy pushing for a slash of salary of the impoverished workers. This is a clear case of misplaced priority. We are saddened by this.
“Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have continued to dwindle in the country despite our economic potentials. Investors are discouraged from investing due to insecurity, unfavourable policies or a general lack of a suitable business environment. Maybe she is not aware that Ghana has become a business hob for investors?Madam Honourable Minister, the organized labour condemns the plan and we say NO to your proposal because we do not deserve such treatment. Maybe we should remind you that some countries are increasing salaries to make life easy for their citizens”
The union advised the Minister   to work collaboratively with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to come up with policies that would shape the country economically.
It  warned  states that have not commenced payment  of minimum wage to implement it and also called   on the government to ensure the protection of jobs and reduce the cost of governance by a substantial reduction of salaries of political office holders, starting with the executive, members of the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Chairmen of Local Governments, Councillors and aides to politicians.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in Labour/Human Resources 0
‘Nigeria’s Insurance Sector Can Fetch N50bn Annually’

The nation’s insurance  sector can generate over N50 billion premium income annually if all vehicles have genuine insurance,the Nigerian Insurers Association,has said
Chairman of NIA, Mr. Ganiyu Musa,  who disclosed this recently,expressed regrets over what the sector  is losing to insurance racketeers and non-insurance of vehicles.
He said only about three million vehicles out of 13 million on Nigerian roads are insured, indicating that about 77 percent are uninsured.
He said discussions are ongoing with the states to ensure that motorists get genuine insurance cover at the point of renewing their vehicle particulars at licensing offices, even as plans to extend to other states is in the offing.
Musa added : “We are also working closely with the state vehicle inspection service on enforcement of Third Party Motor Insurance in the states. “Out of the estimated 13million vehicles in Nigeria only about 2,939,767 Third Party Motor policies are in force as of April 2021″.
Musa said  that the Association is also partnering the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police to give them access to the Nigerian Insurance Industry Portal (NIIP), such that when a vehicle is apprehended, they can ascertain if such vehicle carries fake or genuine insurance certificate.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in Insurance&Pension 0
FG Directs Soldiers To Enforce COVID-19 Restriction Order

The Federal Government has directed military personnel to monitor and enforce adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions on public transport including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing  to arrest possible return of third wave of COVID-19 pandemic to Nigeria.
The government explained that the stringent preventive measures was borne out  of rising cases of COVID-19 variants in India, Brazil and Turkey and disturbing records of fatalities in the affected countries.
Mukhtar Mohammed, the  National Incident Manager of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Mukhtar Mohammed, who announced  the roll back of the preventive measures during  press briefing by the committee in Abuja,disclised  that gatherings of religious groups, weddings and the likes, have been reduced to 50 percent attendance, while official engagements, meetings and conferences should continue to hold virtually.
He  added that event centres and night clubs are also to remain closed while curfew has also been reinstated from midnight to 4am.
He implored state governments to enforce these guidelines with violators made to appear before mobile courts and pay fines.
He added:“Last week on 26th of April, the PSE took a precautionary step by restricting travel from three countries, Brazil, India and wherever observed high incidence of cases have a totally different and widespread prevalence for virus.
“The PSC continues to reinforce the surveillance system and the country’s points of entry. While our vaccine rollout has began there is a shortage in global supplies affected by the current situation in India. These translates to a delay in vaccinating a large proportion of the population and therefore a risk of a large outbreak, especially in the context of poor adherence to the recommended public and social gatherings.
“There are strong concerns about the non compliance to public health and social measures, which are contained in the health protection regulation 2021. “Specifically, the level of adherence to the use of face mask, physical distancing, temperature checks in public spaces, hand washing, and limitations placed on large gatherings  remain very poor, in some areas these are even non existent.
“In line with increasing risk of certain cases, the PSC is therefore maintaining enforcement of the COVID-19 Health Protection Division. This is to mitigate the risk of a spike in new cases, while the nationwide vaccine continues.
Online Editor by — May 11, 2021 in News 0