All Posts in "Day: January 24, 2022"

NAFDAC Outlaws Alcoholic Drinks In Sachet

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has stopped the registration of alcohol in Sachet and Small volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml.
The agency took  regulatory measure in order to reduce availability and curb abuse of alcohol in the country.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye,maintained that registration of new alcoholic drinks in Sachet and Small volume PET and Glass bottles above 30% ABV (alcohol by volume) has been banned by NAFDAC following the recommendation of a high powered Committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC , Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Industry represented by Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) in December, 2018.
She said the agency will ensure that validity of renewal of already registered alcoholic products in the affected category will not exceed year 2024.
According to her, manufacturers of low volume alcohol beverages (200ml) with satisfactory laboratory reports, which were already submitted to NAFDAC for registration before this decision, have been directed to reformulate their products to stipulated standards free of charge.
She added that  DIBAN was also given a matching order to embark on intensive nation-wide sensitization campaigns against underage consumption of alcohol by adolescents below the age of 18 years in the bid to stem the tide of alcohol abuse in the country.
She explained that the producers of alcohol in sachets and small volume agreed to reduce production by 50% with effect from January 31st 2020 while ensuring the products are completely phased out in the country by 31st January, 2024.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
Ardova Moves To Boost Consumption Of Cooking Gas In Nigeria

AP LPG terminal, a subsidiary of Ardova PLC, has commenced the construction of a 20,000 metric tonne Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage terminal in Lagos as part of the moves to boost consumption of the product in the country
The construction of the facility will be concluded next month
The company hinted that  the project will be the largest LPG storage facility in the nation and will ease some of the existing bottlenecks in the value chain for the supply of cleaner and more efficient energy for domestic use (cooking gas) in Nigeria, amongst other strategic benefits.
Speaking,Group CEO, Ardova, Olumide Adeosun, commended  Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund for its commitment to the project,stressing  that the import of having formidable partners for project development, planning, execution, and investment support cannot be over-emphasised.
He said:“We are pleased to have the support of the Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund for its pioneering role in a transformational project within the LPG value chain, which will undoubtedly accelerate the various energy transition initiatives currently underway at Ardova
“This support has helped us commence construction of this 20,000 metric tonne LPG storage terminal, which is expected to bring efficiency and reliability of LPG supply to Nigerian consumers as well as create long term value for our shareholders.Beyond the cleaner energy premise, approximately 600 direct jobs will be created during the construction of the project and there is a multiplier effect of about additional 1,400 indirect jobs that will be created during the construction period after which it settles to about 250 to 300 jobs once the project becomes operational.”
Also speaking, the chief executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Oladele Sotubo,disclosed  that  across the globe, cleaner energy investments have continued to be the focus.
He said:”Given the environmental sustainability benefits of this project, Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund’s investment philosophy is properly aligned, hence the support for the 20,000 metric tonnes Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility terminal.”
Sotubo commended Ardova for partnering with Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund, commending all the Tranche one investors, including institutional investors and other High Networth Individuals (HNIs), for the confidence reposed in the fund.
He  revealed the impact  of his company’s investment in terms of solving some of Nigeria’s infrastructure bottlenecks, creating jobs while earning returns.
He added:”As an organisation, we remain committed to bridging Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit through the provision of investment capital needed to develop projects.Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund remains committed to funding infrastructure projects with competitive return profiles, sustainable environmental practices, and the potential to positively impact the economy”
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
 SNEPCo Wins Crystal Award

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) won the Crystal Award at the prestigious Port Harcourt Polo Club’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, at the Rivers State capital recently.
The Port Harcourt Polo Club President, Engineer (Dr.) Chukwudi Dimkpa, said “SNEPCo has been honoured in recognition of your uncompromising dedication and support of the equestrian sport of Polo in Rivers State”.
Receiving the award, Managing Director of SNEPCo, Mrs. Elohor Aiboni, said her company sees the award and the Port Harcourt Polo Club,  as a celebration of the values, mission and legacies of the Port Harcourt Polo Club built over the last 50 years and which have made the Port Harcourt Polo Club a landmark in the story of the development of the Niger Delta region.
Aiboni, represented at the event by Shell Corporate Relations Manager, Mr. Evans Krukrubo, said, “I restate here our commitment to being a socially responsible organization. This is embedded in the way we carry out our day-to-day business, where we work with local organizations around our operations to make them also aware of their own roles to ensure that local communities and businesses enjoy the benefits of Shell operations. In this way, we co-create the climate for development that we all desire.”
She said, “This Crystal Award is to all of us of SNEPCo because it celebrates positive outcomes of well-thought-out collaborations; one supported fully by NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) and our co-venturers, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria, TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE). It is, as you have described, the result of our collaboration over the years.”
Aiboni said SNEPCo has several collaborations with organisations that have either distinguished themselves in their chosen fields or are positioned to provide support for much needed socio-economic development in our country. “This deliberate strategy has enabled SNEPCo to make key contributions in various sectors of Nigeria’s economy, including being the pioneer in Nigeria’s deep-water oil and gas production at Bonga, a project that increased Nigeria’s oil capacity by 10% when it began producing in 2005,” she said.
“Bonga is located 120kilometres offshore and lies in water more than 1,000 metres deep across an area of 60 square kilometres. It has the capacity to produce more than 200,000 barrels of oil a day and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas a day. The Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is at the heart of the field’s development, “Aiboni said.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
COVID-19: Oyo Distributes First Aid Kits To 250 BESDA Learning Centers

Covid-19: Oyo Govt. Distributes First Aid Kits To 250 BESDA Learning Centers

The Oyo state government has  announced the  distribution of  COVID-19 first aid kits to non-formal learning centers, under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.

It  explained that the gesture  was part of its efforts at ensuring rapid response to emergency situations at its learning centers.

Distributing the customized kits to the beneficiaries in Ibadan, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran,said  that the Board will not rest on its oars towards ensuring that centers are given required support within BESDA provisions.

He added that the gesture was to guarantee necessary first aid treatment when required and prevent avoidable death, while the BESDA programme goes on in the State.

He expressed  the Board’s   concern about promotion of safety and hygienic practice in non-formal learning centers, adding that this will make learners secure and enhance their capacity on compliance to covid-19 protocols.

Dr. Adeniran stated  that the first aid kits would ease the treatment of injuries and sudden illness before the arrival of professional medical care, admonishing the centers to utilize the kits while they comply with covid-19 protocols.

“In view of the nature of the non-formal learning settings, we deem it very significant to equip these centers with first aid kits and covid-19 safety materials because of the children”, he said.

According to him, the kits, which would be supplied in phases to the learning centers, could be used to take care of small wounds, sprain, minor burns and fractures.

Reiterating the commitment of the Seyi Makinde’s  administration to the general well-being of learners in the State, he revealed that  two hundred and fifty centers will benefit in the first phase.

He said other centers will be reached out to in the second phase.

He stressed that the Oyo State Government is fully committed to the struggle of returning all out-of-school children back to school, saying they must access free basic and qualitative education.

Also speaking at the event, the BESDA Consultant, Prof. Dupe Adelabu described the provision of the kits as a display of the state government’s passion for the provision of optimum health care delivery in the state.

She urged beneficiaries to utilize the kits provided, stressing that the kits were safe and easy to use as they contained only non- prescribed drugs that could be purchased over the counter.

The Co-ordinator, Arabic Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Alhaji Monsuru Abdulsalam, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the state government for its efforts at making life more meaningful for the people.

Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
Ogun Draws Battle-Lines With Fraudsters,Kidnappers 

Ogun State Government will soon set up its own financial crimes agency to deal with internet frauds and illegal financial transactions, especially, those having to do with kidnapping, ransom taking and advance fee frauds.
Governor  Dapo Abiodun, who disclosed this during the launch of the state joint security outfit, code-named OP-MESA ,also said his administration is working with federal agencies and its Oyo State counterpart in the area of security along the border lines.
He added:“We will make Ogun State inhabitable for all criminals. The other day, I was in a meeting in Abuja and in attendance was the Chairman of EFCC, and sadly, he said to me that Ogun State tops the list on the ‘Yahoo Yahoo Boys’. In my response, I said I am not surprised because Ogun State is the education capital of this country and you will find such around educational institutions and he agreed with me.
“We have decided that we will set up our State Commission that will be targeted towards eliminating these sorts of financial crimes. Our state commission will collaborate with the Federal Commission so that we do not occupy that false place in this area.We will like to occupy the first in many areas, but not in fraud and Yahoo Yahoo”
He also drew battle lines with kidnappers  on the link road between the state and its neighbours.
He said:“Three days ago, I put a call through to my colleague in Oyo and we have decided that we are going to jointly collaborate in the area of providing security at the border posts between Ogun and Oyo states.
“He has decided that he will lead a team of his law enforcement architecture to Ogun State, so that we can have a meeting of minds and plan the way forward to take out these hoodlums. Ogun will not have a hiding place”
While affirming that OP-MESA was established to fight criminals across the state, he assured the people that members of the outfit would be picked to ensure they have the right discipline as well as ensure that they are committed to their assignment.
The governor further said that the launching of the outfit with fifteen vehicles, two armoured personal carriers and communication equipment would be done on a quarterly basis until the outfit reaches its desired number.
He implored  the people of the state to take ownership of the outfit by collaborating with the personnel of the outfit for a more secured state.
“Today, we are launching OPMESA with a few equipment, in the first instance. We are providing them with fifteen pick up trucks, communication equipment, two armoured personal carriers; we will be providing them with this support every quarter, meaning that, in the next quarter, we give them another fifteen vehicles, another quarter, another fifteen vehicles until we reach the number that they require.
“I therefore enjoin our people to take ownership of this security outfit by collaborating with it and supporting it. Together, we shall make Ogun State a most hospitable and a conducive place of our collective dreams,” he said.
Abiodun,who implored the private sector to embrace the OPMESA initiative, noted that his administration would continue to be responsive to issues bordering on security.
He added that the outfit would benefit from the support of the security trust fund through donations and contributions from the government and the private sector, added that the OPMESA will compliment other security outfits in the state.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
Vigilante Rescues 28 Human Trafficking Victims  In Benin

Vigilantes rescue 28 victims of human trafficking in Benin - New Telegraph
A team of local vigilantes in Benin City, the Edo State capital, has rescued 28 victims of human trafficking.
State coordinator, Edo State Community Vigilante Security Network, Oboh Emmanuel Otoide, who disclosed this weekend in Benin while addressing journalists, said the victims, between the ages of 13 and 17 years, were rescued during a stop and search operation by his men.
He added:“The victims were rescued by our men around 2 a.m on Tuesday along Akpakpava Road in Benin City. Three suspects, including two drivers conveying the victims to their destinations, were arrested during the operation and handed over to the Department of State Services for further investigations.
“Our preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were being moved from the South East, en route Edo State, to the South West of the country.”
Oboh said,officials of the Edo State Community Vigilante Security Network_also arrested a man who robs people of their personal belongings while pretending to be insane.
“The man who identified himself as Olatunji was arrested around Baptist Church at Ring Road, Benin City and has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force. Among the items recovered from the suspects include ATM cards belonging to victims of his criminal acts”, he said.
He said the Edo State Community Vigilante Security Network is working assiduously with other security agencies in the state to secure the state.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Crime/Metro 0
Shake Up In  NCoS 

Shake-up in NCoS as five directorate heads, 147 senior officers, others redeployed
The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, has directed the reshuflling of  the Directorate heads in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and redeployed 170 other officers to inject new ideas and promote effective coordination of activities for enhanced service delivery .
The shake up  saw DCG MA Tukur, taking over the Directorate of Non-Custodial Measures (NCM), while DCG SN Nwakuche,who hitherto superintended over NCM Directorate taking charge of Operations Directorate.
Similarly,DCG (covering duties) ME Melchizedek now oversees the Directorate of Health and Welfare as DCG TO Oladipupo retires from service.
 Besides,DCG (covering duties) EA Oputa has moved from the Directorate of Training and Staff Development (STD) to head the Directorate of Inmates’ Training and Productivity (ITP),while ACG LA Showumi who was the Zone A Coordinator now takes over the Directorate of TSD as DCG (covering duties). ACG Uche Nwobi is moved to Lagos to take over as Zone A Coordinator.
The exercise also affected 21 Controllers of Corrections and Deputy Controllers of Corrections. Some officers were deployed to take over state commands and Custodial centres, others were assigned new responsibilities both at the National Headquarters and at state levels.
 He implored  all officers and men concerned to report at their new posts and hit the ground running,  giving no space for indolence that could further compromise the sanctity  of custodial centres.
He explained that  the measure is not only germane as a response strategy to the security challenges confronting the NCoS, but imperative in evolving new ideas that will set the Service on a higher pedestal.
He challenged officers to be ingenious in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
How Abiola Died- Abdulsalami

Abiola took ill, died, not poisoned, Abdulsalami claims - Tribune Online
Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former Nigerian Head of State says the winner of June 12,1993 presidential election,Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola died after falling ill.
Abubakar,who disclosed this  during an interview with Trust TV,  Abdulsalami disclosed that contrary to insinuations that Abiola took tea that was allegedly poisoned, before he passed on, the president -elect took ill and died
He said:”There were lots of allegations here and there that we killed Abiola. As always when I am talking about late Abiola, I still thank God for directing me on things to do when he gave me the leadership of this country.On the day Moshood Abiola passed away, two to three things made me always say I thank my God for the guidance he gave me. One was I received a delegation from America headed by Pickering,  who was then, I think, the Secretary of State or so. In his team I remember very well, was Susan Rice. I remember her very well because of the role she played later.
“So after the normal courtesy and discussion we had, when they were leaving my office, Pickering said “Your Excellency, we made a request to see Moshood Abiola but we were denied. So, I said “Why were you denied? Who denied you?” There and then I made a decision, I said “Look, you will see Moshood definitely, I overruled whoever said you cannot see him”. So I now called my chief security officer, I said “Please make arrangement for this team to see Abiola,” that is one point.”
“Now during the incarceration of Moshood Abiola, except his personal doctor, to my knowledge, no member of his family saw him. So when I became head of state, based on consultation and interaction together with Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, I gave the family a date that they could come and see him.”
“So a day before he died, his family came to Abuja to see him. For one reason or the other, the whole family could not see him at the same time, so it was agreed that when this group of his family will see him today, tomorrow the next team will see him. So they saw him like yesterday, now this team from US came to see me and I said they could see him. Normally it was in the evenings the family go and see him. So because I had authorized the American team to see him, so the other part of the family were waiting to see him.
“So, it was at this meeting when the American team was meeting Abiola he fell sick and suddenly the security officers called the medical team to come and attend to him, and when they saw the situation they said it was severe and they needed to take him to the medical centre. So it was the medical team plus the American team that took him to the medical centre, unfortunately at the medical centre he gave up.
“Then my security chief called and said “I have bad news for you”, I asked what it was, he said “Abiola is dead”. I was shocked. He told me he was there with the American team, at that time I was staying in the barracks, I had not moved to the villa, so I said okay, let him take the American team to my house, I will meet them at the house; so I closed from the office, and went there.
“The issue now was how do I break the news to Abiola’s family and how do we tell the world Abiola had passed on. I must be thankful to God and again to Ambassador Kingibe because we called on him and asked him to bring the family of Abiola. So when they came I broke the news, that unfortunately this is what has happened.”
“As you would expect, the family broke down and they started crying, I can’t remember which of the ladies, I held her, she was crying, sobbing, it was then Susan Rice, that is why I always remember her, said “Mr President that is not your job, let me do it”, so she now held this lady until she settled down and she calmed down a little bit.
 “Then,we had to summon my second in command and other people and then strategize on how to break the news.That is why I always say I thank my God for guiding me, if I hadn’t said the American team should go and meet Abiola certainly I don’t know how I would explain to the world that Abiola had died, and the American team will they believe me that we had not killed Abiola at that time when they were requesting to see him?” Gen Abdulsalami said.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
Ebonyi Community Reconnects To National Grid After 4O Years Black Out 

Ebonyi Community Reconnects To National Grid After 40 Years Of Blackout.
Ishiagu community in Ivo Local Government area of Ebonyi State has been reconnected to the  national grid,forty years after experiencing  total blackout.
President General of Ishiagu Community Development Union (ICDU), Mr David Aja, who spoke during the official ceremony marking the official,expressed joy restoration of electricity in the community on Saturday, disclosed that the over the reconnection.
He said  that his ambition since he emerged the president of the ICDU had been to restore electricity to the community.
He added:”We believe that we have a lot of bad people around, who never want Ishiagu to grow, they go about vandalizing and removing the wires.In 2019, we caught one of them and he’s in prison now. Because restoration of electricity in Ishiagu has been my priority, I said if God allowed me to be the ICDU president, this would be my first priority, to reconnect Ishiagu to national grid, and that’s what we’re doing here today”, he explained.
He disclosed that a security committee had been inaugurated to secure the installations.
The chairman of Works Committee of ICDU, Mr James Nweke, had earlier in his remarks, said the reconnection gulped over one hundred and eleven million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira.
Nweke said the initiative would go along way to boost economic activities and better the lives of people in the community.
“This community has been moving backwards because of lack of electricity. With with electricity now restored, everybody will benefit. The economic value of having electricity is too enormous,”he said.
Also speaking, the leader of Ohanaeze National Youth Wing, Engr. Damian Okafor,
said restoration of electricity in the community had been their collective dream.
He commended the ICDU leadership for ensuring the restoration of electricity in the community; noting that it would equally boost the confidence of the people in business and investment.
The Chief executive of Gintek limited, Mr Joseph Eze, assured the community that his company would ensure the delivery of all installations in the community within the period of three months, and urged them to provide adequate security for the equipments.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Power 0
NYSC Boosts Skill Acquisition,Inaugurates Mega Printing Press 

The National Youth Service Corps(NYSC)  Mega Printing Press has been inaugurated  in Kaduna.
Its Director-General,Major-General Shuaibu Ibrahim,who inaugurated  the project in Kaduna,said the project which was conceived almost a decade ago, is a testament of the commitment of NYSC Management to the functionality of the six Mega-Printing Presses, as approved by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
He disclosed this  in a statement signed by Emeka Mgbemena,Deputy Director Press and Public Relations.
He  commended the  Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for the support offered to  the scheme.
Ibrahi said that the birth of the printing press is a confirmation of one of his administration’s policy thrust, which is centred on reinvigorating the NYSC Ventures.
He added:”It will be a veritable source of revenue with attendant increase in our remittances to the Federal coffers.This facility and similar ones that will be sited in other geo-political zones will be open to public patronage, and in addition to handling the printing of publications of the Scheme, thereby cutting down our running costs”.
He said  that  the Printing Press would also serve as a training platform for NYSC skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development as interested corps members would be accorded the opportunity to acquire skills in publication and digital printing.
He implored the managers of  Printing Press to ensure efficient and effective handling of the facility so as to meet the printing and publication needs of all NYSC formations in the North-West and the general public.
“This is a strategic project which must be placed in good stead to complete favourably in the printing market.I expect you to be above board in canvassing patronage from individuals and organizations in both the public and private sectors”, he  said.
He  also urged all the NYSC formations in the North-Western part of the country to ensure patronage of the printing press as it is set to offer a wide range of services in digital printing technology.
He  also canvassed support from well-meaning Nigerians for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund, which will address infrastructural deficit in the Scheme, as well as enhance the training and provision of start-up capital for corps members under the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme
He said this will go a long way in making them self-employed with the multiplier effects of lifting millions of other Nigerians out of poverty.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0