All Posts in "Day: January 24, 2022"

Levy:Don’t Increase Fare,Lagos Warns Commercial Drivers 

Fake News Deadlier than COVID-19, Says Lagos Information CommissionerTHISDAYLIVE
The Lagos State Government has warned intrastate commercial drivers that the harmonised N800 daily levy they will each pay to the government starting from February 1 shouldn’t warrant an increase in transport fares.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said rather than creating an additional burden, the levy would stop multiple charges motorists paid to agencies and local government authorities.
The state and local governments, transport unions and other relevant agencies in the state on Tuesday signed an agreement on the ‘Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy’ to harmonise dues collected by the government from commercial motorists at parks and garages across the State.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, stated that the N800 covered the local government levy, charges paid to the Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority for clearing waste from motor parks and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.
He noted that the approach was part of the efforts to restructure the transport system and further boost the government revenues, adding that personal income taxes of the drivers would be deducted from the N800 levy.
The state Chairman of the National Union Road of Transport Workers, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde, aka Oluomo, said it would not stop drivers from paying their statutory dues to the union.
The development had generated fears of imminent fare increase among members of the public who believed they would be at the receiving end of the levy.
Omotoso, said the levy was not new and was a blessing to drivers and commuters rather than a burden.
According to him, any motorists, who increase fares as a result of the levy, was being mischievous and cautioned them against doing so.
He added:“What we are doing is to ensure that drivers and passengers are protected. If the driver takes up from Badagry for example, and he is going to Lagos Island, between the two ends, there are about three to four local government areas and he has to pay some money at each local government.
“What the Lagos State Government is now doing is to harmonise the whole thing and ensure that once you collect a ticket from the take-off point, you don’t need to collect another ticket from anywhere. So once the money is collected, the local governments are going to get their own share there.
“There shouldn’t be (any increase). Any driver that wants to increase the fare because he has to pay N800 instead of N3,000 is being mischievous. That is why the unions are involved so that drivers won’t complain that they are paying N800 more.”
He also confirmed that the levy was different from the union dues and did not absolve drivers from paying for tickets issued by the unions.
He  stated:“They (drivers) pay as much as N3,000 to travel from one end to another and they are complaining. They are being carried along and many of them are embracing the idea (of N800 levy) and say that if it works, it will solve all their problems. If a driver pays N800 per day henceforth and anybody stops on the road claiming to be working for the local government, such person is committing an offence.
“But the levy has nothing to do with the unions because they collect their dues from drivers as members. A union has its own tickets and every driver gets it. If any driver doesn’t have it, the union has a right to demand payment.”
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
Coronavirus:Lagos Announces End Of 4th Wave

COVID-19 may reach peak in Lagos by August – Commissioner
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said that  the consistent decrease in COVID-19 case positivity indicated the end of the fourth wave in the state.
Abayomi said that there was a reduction in positivity rates of COVID-19 infection from 29.3 per cent recorded on Dec. 21, to 1.9 per cent as of Jan 20.
According to him, bed capacity utilisation now stands at two per cent, and the fatality rate stands at 0.71 per cent.
He said that 46 new infections were confirmed on the reported date increasing the number of COVID-19 infections in the state to 98,284.
He noted that 1,023, 203 sample tests had been conducted since the inception of the pandemic in the state.
He advised residents to get vaccinated and continue to adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions to further reduce the spread of the virus.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
Safety:Ashrami Records 2 million LTI-Free Man-Hours

Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group Upstream company,says a zero harm to employee, stakeholders and environment commitment has produced 2,000,000 man-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) for  1085 days
Henry Menkiti, Chief Operating Officer, Asharami Energy, disclosed  this during the company’s Safety Week – an annual event geared towards reinforcing Asharami’s commitment to global occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.
 He said Asharami Energy’s OSH standards guide the company’s operations, community relations, procurement, environmental, social and governance impact as it continues to spearhead sustainability in Africa’s oil and gas sector.
According to him, the 2 million LTI-free achievement makes Asharami Energy a foremost African upstream brand in the management of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) issues in the sector. “We have consistently surpassed the industry standard which is set at 1,000,000 LTI-free man-hours in keeping with a deliberate, proactive and sustained pursuit of our zero harm to people and the environment commitment. Our people are unrelenting when it comes to safety and we have successfully transmitted this passion to our host communities and other stakeholders to make our operations seamless and productive across the value chain,” he said.
He said that  the Safety Week provides platform for Asharami Energy employees review its safety process and protocols, optimize gains from previous year and re-commit to ensuring every stakeholder remains vigilant and involved in preventing and eradicating threats.
He added:“Operational safety and health issues receive daily attention at Asharami Energy as we all share the passion of safety being above every other pursuit in the course of our operations. Our employees have been phenomenal in this regard and our host communities and other stakeholders also deserve commendation for lending their support. With continuing investment in technology and spearheading responsible engineering across our operations, we are confident of sustaining impressive safety records as the business continues to expand”
Asharami Energy is one Africa’s leading independent Exploration and Production (E&P) Companies with a diverse portfolio of eight oil and gas assets in prolific basins across Africa. Asharami Energy Limited and Sahara Energy Fields Holdings UK Limited are the entities at the forefront of Sahara’s upstream operations.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
Health:NLNG Signs MoU With RSUTH For New Infectious Diseases Unit

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG),has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) for the provision of a multi-million naira Infectious Diseases Unit to support robust healthcare delivery in Rivers State.
At a signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the hospital’s management, NLNG’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Philip Mshelbila, represented by General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr. Andy Odeh, said NLNG was committed to supporting healthcare delivery in Rivers State as part of the pursuit of its vision of “helping to build a better Nigeria.”
He stated that the Company was seeking to support the development of the tertiary health institution to provide excellent medical care for Rivers State residents while also catering to the training needs of medical students and resident doctors.
Mr. Odeh stated further that NLNG was committed to working with partners to transform healthcare delivery in the state, adding that the intervention at RSUTH was a manifestation of the Company’s resolve to stand with the people of Rivers State and to reciprocate the goodwill and support to the Company over the years.
The RSUTH project is an addition to several projects being executed by the Company in the healthcare sector in Rivers State. NLNG continues to support the Bonny Community Health Insurance Programme (BCHIP) to help improve access to quality healthcare services for residents of Bonny Island. Some progress is being achieved in the Bonny Malaria Eradication Programme, which targets cutting down malaria-related mortality among women and children under five and making Bonny Island Nigeria’s first malaria-free zone. The Malaria Eradication programme is implemented in collaboration with U.S. Agency For International Development (USAID).
NLNG and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), are also involved in the HIV/AIDS Surge Project, which focuses on the control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on Bonny Island.
NLNG is owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49%), Shell Gas B.V.  (25.6%), TotalEnergies Gaz & Electricite Holdings (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Health 0
Lagos Island Violence: Police Confirm Arrest Of Hoodlums

Police restore normalcy in Lagos Island after violent clash by hoodlums — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News
The Police Command in Lagos State,has confirmed  that its men arrested some members of the National Union of Transport Workers ( NURTW) during a clash between them on Lagos Island last Friday.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) , CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu,  who disclosed this to newsmen,didn’t disclose the number of those arrested and where they were being detained.
According to him,normalcy had returned to the Island as more operatives had been deployed there.
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“The police have quelled the crisis. Sufficient facilities were deployed in the area immediately we received a distress call and normalcy was restored.Investigation into the crisis is ongoing,” he said.
Two factions of the NURTW,had last Friday  clashed over the control of some motor parks on the Island .
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Crime/Metro 0
 Biodun Oyebanji: Another Gold In The Rubbles?

Ekiti governorship aspirant, Bamishile, denies accompanying ex-SSG, Oyebanji, to obtain APC forms | The Conclave NG The Best Online Newspaper
 By John Ekundayo, PhD
In the run up to the 2007 gubernatorial election in the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State, the ruling party threw up a relatively unknown administrator and lawyer as the party’s candidate. He was solidly and solely endorsed by the incumbent Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the angst and awful disposition of party chieftains and stalwarts who perceived Babatunde Raji Fashola, the preferred consensus candidate, as a political neophyte. It was greeted with a quiet disapproval, dissatisfaction and disaffection.
Many saw Fashola as a novice in the political chess game of Lagos that is well versed and versatile in content and colour; and wondered how he would meander and manoeuvre through the murky and muddy water of the State of Aquatic Splendour advanced politics and politicking.
 However, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the mentor and master strategist saw tomorrow in Fashola and stood his ground without wavering to the chagrin of his teeming adherents and admirers, who are committed party faithful.
In the dedication to the book authored by this writer titled: “Out of Africa: Fashola: Reinventing Servant Leadership To Engender Nigeria’s Transformation” (published in 2013 by AuthorHouse UK), it was succinctly and saliently stated inter alia:
 This book is specially and specifically dedicated to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the erstwhile Governor of Lagos State, political mentor of Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who with intellectual and prophetic insight saw Fashola as “a gold in the rubbles” if picked and properly polished. He did that against all odds and the outcome is the subject of this book.
Background Of Biodun Oyebanji
There is no gainsaying the fact that Biodun Oyebanji than any other candidate within his party, APC, is Ekiti born and bred. It is to his credit as a homeboy that he attended primary, secondary and tertiary schools in Ekiti.
Ekiti celebrated 25 years of existence last year and Oyebanji was the Secretary of the Committee that worked assiduously for the carving, crafting and creating of Ekiti out of the old Ondo State.
He was the youngest among the eminent members of that resilient committee with Baba Deji Fasuan as the indefatigable and indomitable leader. What a unique selling proposition as a contender and contestant for the Ikogosi Ekiti born technocrat and politician.
In his own words, when recently interviewed in Thisday newspaper, he simply and square posited along this line: “. . .I have been a lecturer, I have been a player in the banking sector, I have served the state government for 11 years and I have served on the board of a Federal Government agency as Chairman, Governing Board, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (June 2009 – Dec. 2010). Besides, I read a lot and I have a passion for books on development, the global economy, African socio-economic movements and books that deal with strategies for growth . . .”
 Oyebanji Has Proved His Mettle As a Mentee
In the leadership scholastic inquiry, there is the mentor – protégé relationship (referred to as MPR). It is one of the dyads in leadership – followership study. In it, a mentee or protégé could start from the process of initiation and reach saturation; at which point, the protégé could stand on his own with all garnered credibility, capability, capacity, credentials, competence and connections from his mentor; and network of other mentors and mentees connected with his mentor; and consequently, stand head and shoulder above another colleague who has no mentor.
 One great benefit of the MPR dyad in organizations and polities globally. To surmise and summarize it, a wise man once aptly amplified it thus: “if you have a father, you will go far!” In paraphrasing it, I would rather say having a father makes you see farther as you can sit upon his shoulder. It is not a mean feat in governance, in Nigeria’s context, to have been mentored by two governors while one served in diverse core and crucial agencies of government and not ONE record of disloyalty!
This writer,having served in government can attest to this allusion with a sense of modesty. In this regard, Oyebanji of the arrays of eminent and well qualified candidates of his party, stand head and shoulder above them, in content and context, as one that is apparently most experienced in Ekiti governance. He is versatile, capable, credible, competent and well acquainted with places and people within Ekiti context. Without mincing words, he has proved his mettle as a matured mentee!
 Conclusion
The primary election in the ruling APC comes up in a few days’ time. In essence, party members should be wise to vouch and vote for Oyebanji as he is a strategist keen in the development of Ekiti and apparently not for pecuniary gain or parochial interest.
 He is a people-oriented personality, a team player, with a knack for evidence-based performance as he was wont and wired to. A case in point will suffice. It was sometime in 2013 this writer was preparing for the wedding of his first son. I did not know Oyebanji and no one introduced me to him other than we both belong to the same online platform, Ekitipanupo (eminent intellectuals of Ekiti origin are members from varied and diverse pedigrees).
I notified all members of the wedding in advance to which I was greeted with a show of camaraderie and comradeship the forum connotes. Few days later, I got an email in my inbox that I thought was seemingly a scam in content. However, upon painstaking reflection, I discovered it was genuine.
There was a request in it asking for my assistance in developing the capacity of Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) in Ekiti as I was involved in the Lagos experience. In M and E practice, Lagos leads other federating units in Nigeria.
 I was amazed when we spoke on the telephone and Oyebanji stated that he had been following my posts in the forum and could repose such confidence in me. I took up the gauntlet and with my team we were able to deliver as proposed with Oyebanji not uncharacteristically attaching any string to our consultancy service.
 He was then serving in the first term of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi as the Honourable Commissioner, Economic Planning, Budget and Service Delivery. The time we are in Ekiti and nationally calls for square pegs in square holes so as to mutually achieve set goals within the nick of time.
Oyebanji can smell such competent, capable, credible and cerebral talents from far and near to make Ekiti reach the zenith, socio – economically and politically. Ultimately, this writer wants to infer that, like Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) could be another discovery of “gold in the rubbles!”
John Ekundayo, Ph.D. –Harvard-Certified Organizational Strategist, and also a Leadership Development Consultant, can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Opinion 0
Group Urges  Action Against Oil Theft,

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has implored  the Federal Government and its regulatory institutions to be sustain the fight against oil theft and artisanal oil refining.
The group commended the current action by the Rivers State Government to address the issues of oil theft and refining of stolen crude oil and the consequent release of soot into the environment.
Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) who stated this in a statement,said although artisanal refining of stolen crude oil is indicated as the current accelerator of soot and ambient air pollution in the Niger Delta region, it is also important to point out that decades of reckless exploration and production activities by multinational companies such as Shell, ill maintained oil pipelines and facilities, routine gas flaring and lax regulatory framework are responsible for the dangerous situation in which millions of people who reside in the Niger Delta region now find themselves.
He noted that a 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on ambient air pollution, states that air pollution around the world is responsible for 4.2 million premature deaths globally every year.
“The report further states that exposure to air pollution is also responsible for increasing rates of stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
He  also alleged that hospitals across Rivers state are reporting a marked uptick in patients presenting with respiratory illnesses, especially children whose lungs are unable to withstand the constant poisoning from air pollution.
“There are also reports of increase in patients suffering severe burns from explosions resulting from utilizing improperly refined kerosene from artisanal refining processes.
 Uyi Ojo further stated “Although the current action of the Rivers State government is a welcomed respite for the people of the state, more still needs to be done.
The governments of other Niger Delta states need to take similar actions by identifying and properly decommissioning all artisanal stolen crude oil refining sites in their states to halt the self-inflicted destruction of the environment and unnecessary loss of lives.”
He also called for the development of a holistic framework that addresses both the supply of artisanal products and the high demands for these products in our communities which include rising cost of living, unemployment, and severe impact from hydrocarbon pollution on rural livelihoods.
“There is the need for providing alternative income generation sources for these youths to discourage them from the illegal act, hence Governments at all levels must as a matter of necessity diversify our economy from oil and gas dependence and towards a transition to renewable energy sources such as solar mini-grid and off-grid systems.”
Mike Karikpo, ERA/FoEN’s Director of Programmes and Administration, in another statement also alleged that “security agencies in the Niger Delta region aid, influence and provide protection for oil thieves and artisanal oil refining activities.
“This is therefore a matter of national security and President Buhari needs to wield the big stick and cleanse the Augean stables that has become the security architecture in the Niger Delta region.”
The group called on the federal government and the state governments in the Niger Delta region to convene a national dialogue to discuss and agree on practical steps to take in the short, medium, and long term to holistically deal with the menace of oil theft and artisanal oil refining as well as the supply and demand for these dangerous products.
“In the short term, all state governments in the Niger Delta region should immediately identify and properly decommission all artisanal refining sites in their states and ensure that this process of decommissioning does not contribute to further release of soot into the atmosphere.
“The government should also work with the youths particularly the ERA-led Young Friends of the Earth ambient air quality monitors, who have been trained and have been conducting air quality investigations in communities in the Niger Delta since 2018 to provide quarterly updates on ambient air quality as well as household air quality to enable adequate development planning and actions.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
How To Stop Poverty In Nigeria–Onu

Onu: Low Content of Science Technology, Innovation is Bane of Nigeria's AgricultureTHISDAYLIVE
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, has said entrepreneurship development remains the best way to tackle poverty plaguing the country.
Onu,who disclosed  this in Abuja when he  received  management  of A and Shine International Limited in his office,noted that entrepreneurship creates jobs, generates wealth, conserves foreign exchange and strengthens the nation’s economy.
He promised  that his ministry would continue to support entrepreneurs and start-ups for national development.
He emphasized  the need for research findings to be converted to products and services, assuring that his ministry would continue to protect the intellectual property of such findings through the issuance of patents.
Speaking, the Proprietress/ Chief Executive Officer of A and Shine International Limited, Mrs. Abigail Bukola Adeshina, said her company is a leading honey producer and processor in the country.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in News 0
CBN  Commences  e-Invoice For Importers, Exporters Next Week

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),says it will commence  e-invoice for imports and exports from February 1, 2022.
The apex bank disclosed this in a  circular to all authorised dealers and the general public signed by CBN Director in charge of Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. O. S. Nnaji.
It  explained that all import and export operations would require the submission of an electronic invoice authenticated by the authorised dealer banks on the Nigeria single-window portal – Trade Monitoring System.
According to the circular,the introduction of e-valuator and e-invoice replaced hard copy final invoice as part of the documentation required for all import and export transactions.
“This new regulation is primarily aimed at achieving accurate value from import and export items in and out of Nigeria,” it said.
It  said the e-invoicing guidelines required that products that were more than 2.5 per cent around the vertical price would be queried and would not be allowed successful completion of Form M or Form NXP as the case may be.
It added that an importer/exporter of goods into Nigeria must ensure that the purchase/sale contract with a foreign supplier/buyer stipulates compliance with the obligations set out in this regulation.
It said that the supplier’s/seller’s invoice must be submitted in electronic format and authenticated by authorised dealer bank as part of the documentation for payment.
“No importer/exporter may effect payment to the credit of any foreign supplier unless the electronic invoice has been authenticated by authorised dealer banks presented together with the relevant document for payments”.
Online Editor by — January 24, 2022 in Banking&Finance 0