All Posts in "Day: January 21, 2023"

Suspension: G-5 Governors Dare Ayu

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has dared the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee (NWC) to suspend him or any of the G-5 Governors.

He said the resort to despotism by the NWC will not do the PDP any good in the forthcoming general elections.

Describing the dissolution of the Ekiti State executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party by the Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party as an act of tyranny,Wike said the act will be challenged in court.

He spoke at the campaign flag-off rally by the State PDP Campaign Council in Bori, Khana Local Government Area on Saturday,where he explained why the dissolution of the Ekiti State working committee will be challenged in court is because there are still members of the PDP who believe in the rule of law and that the party should respect its constitution.

He added:“Let me also use this opportunity to say to Iyorchia Ayu and his team, your dissolving Ekiti State Exco will not help you in anyway. Your suspending people will not help you in anyway. The battle line has been fully drawn. As I speak to you, we will do everything legally possible to challenge any decision we know is illegal”

He emphasized that the NWC’s resort to tyranny will do more damage to the PDP as far as the 2023 general election is concerned.

He said:“So, don’t think you can threaten people by saying so, so persons have been suspended. Rubbish! Completely rubbish. We are above that level that you think you can threaten anybody, intimidate anybody with whatever illegal decision you have taken.”

He dared Ayu and his cohorts to extend the despotic tendencies to the G-5 governors and see if they could withstand the repercussion.

He said:“So, we are waiting for you to announce my own and any other of my friend. Like I have said, when a man says you will not sleep, he too, will he sleep? Will Ayu sleep? Will those his cohorts sleep? So don’t worry, we have the capacity to pay back. We have the capacity to tell you that enough is enough.”

He urged Rivers State electorate in Khana to vote for the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, as well as all national and legislative candidates in the 2023 general election in order to consolidate on the achievements of his administration.

He cautioned that people not to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship, Tonye Cole, who is facing criminal charges for his obnoxious role in the sale of Rivers State government assets by Chibuike Amaechi led administration.

He said:“Some people are shameless. A man who colluded with his master to strip Rivers State of its resources, sold our gas turbines which was constructed, installed by Dr Peter Odili’ administration. It was sold at the cost of $308M. So, we have filed criminal charges against Tonye Cole.”

He described Cole’s claim that all the flyovers constructed by his administration are mainly in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor local government areas as hypocritical, since he lives in Port Harcourt.

He added:”Ask him how many flyovers did his boss, the former Minister do. It shows you he does not know about governance in Rivers State. His mentor told his people that he was going to construct Trans Kalabari road. Did he do it? Today, we are at the verge of commissioning the first phase of the Trans Kalabari road.

“Again, we have agreed with Julius Berger to dualise from Emohua to Tema junction. So, ask him rather than to siphon Rivers state government money, what did they do. What has he contributed to the people of the state? Nothing.”

He announced that the state government has awarded contract for the reconstruction of internal roads in Bori in fulfilment of his promise during the recent commissioning of the dualisation of the Bori-Kono road.

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Politics 0
NABDA Targets 10,000 Jobs From Bioenergy Project

The Director General (DG) of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, has said that the Bioenergy Development Programme of the agency designed to adapt Anaerobic Digestion Technology for biogas production, could create 10,000 jobs along the value chains in the country.

Prof. Mustapha stated this in a special presentation on NABDA Day at the recent Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Expo 2023, organised by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in Abuja, with the theme: “Actualising Effective Diversification of Nigerian Economy Through STI”.

In his presentation captioned: “Actualizing Effective Diversification of the Nigerian Economy through the Science of Modern Biotechnology Practice”, Prof. Mustapha emphasized the significant role the application of modern biotechnology can play in the diversification of the country’s economy.

He said the agency has developed prototype digesters and enhanced bioenergy biochemical procedure for improved biogas generation from biodegradable organic feedstock.

He said:“The digesters, which are in 250 Liters, 500Liters and 1000 Liters and the optimization formula, are designed to serve households, small and medium enterprises and to assist in valorization of biodegradable feedstock. NABDA has patented the technology and MoA was signed with the Rural Electrification Agency for deployment of the technology to rural communities. It is capable of creating 10,000 jobs for unemployed youth and women and improving environmental hygiene.”

Identifying the usefulness of biotechnology in the areas of health/medicine, agriculture, industry and environment, he noted that “Biotechnology makes use of biological systems and organisms to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet, and plays a key role in protecting our planet’s resources, driving a strong economy, and enhancing people’s lives.”

“It is predicted that by the year 2050 the world’s population will be 9.7 billion people, nearly 2 billion more than we currently have on our planet.These people will depend on biotechnological innovation to create viable ways to produce the food we grow, the materials we use, and the fuel that helps transport us.

“Biotechnology gives us solutions derived from nature that drive food and farm innovation, Biobased manufacturing, and the utilization of cleaner energy,” he added.

He spoke on the agency’s research efforts towards enhancing crop yields for quality and improved food production through genetic modification in agricultural biotechnology.

On the Maruca resistant leguminous crops (like the Maruca Resistant Cowpea officially launched and released for commercialization in 2021), he said: “More than 7.4 million tons of dried cowpea was produced worldwide with Africa producing nearly 7.1 million tons (IITA, 2017). Nigeria as major producer and consumer accounted for 48% of production in Africa and 46% worldwide. The grains cultivated on 7 million hectares of land with an Average yield of 350 Kg/ha.

“Therefore, the need to control pest cannot be overemphasized as: (there is) up to 90% yield loss for Grains to Maruca (one of the most devastating insect pests of cowpea in Africa); Estimated Revenue loss at 400kg/ha – 35.52 billion naira; A threat to Food and nutritional security.

“Socio-economic Benefit: A 20% yield increase per hectare translates to forty-eight billion naira (N48, 000, 000,000) annually at N120, 000 per tonne which also contribute to addressing the national cowpea demand deficit of about 500,000 tons and also improve the national productivity average of 350kg/hectare; Job and wealth creation; export of cowpea to other countries and increase in Gross Domestic Product.”

He disclosed that NABDA will soon release Tela Maize, a drought tolerant and insect resistant variety to increase food production and promote economic diversification.

According to him, Tela Maize (which experts had said will save farmers about N268bn spent annually on insecticide), has high productivity. He said it will help farmers to produce more reliable harvests and enhanced grain quality due to decreased insect damage and drought tolerance.

He also spoke on several other research products of NABDA exhibited during the STI EXPO 2023, while appealing to investors to come and collaborate with the agency for them to work together to create wealth and boost Nigeria’s economy via the application of modern biotechnology.

He said: “I implore you all to become advocates of Science, Technology and Innovation in your respective organisations in order to trigger the development of ST&I to fast track the nation’s socio-economic growth and sustainable national development thereby improving the quality of life of the citizens. Encourage the private sector to invest in NABDA’s research.”

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
TCN Boosts Alagbon, Ijora, Ota Substations With New Transformers,Accessories

The Alagbon 330/132/33kV transmission substation has received truckloads of 2 x 100/125 MVA power transformers and accessories.

Ndidi Mbah, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s General Manager, Public Affairs, announced receipt of the power accessories in a statement on Saturday obtained by Premium News

She said that the transformers on installation, will increase the capacity of Alagbon substation to 480MW.

The TCN’s Ijora 132/33kV transmission substation, Lagos, also took delivery of trucks containing one number 100MVA transformer and accessories at its 132/33kV Ijora transmission substation, Lagos,the statement said,adding that the transformer will add 80MW to the capacity of the substation.

Besides,TCN’s Ota 132/33kV substation received truckloads of transformer accessories only.

The 1X100/125 MVA, 132/33kV transformer will however be delivered to Ota Transmission Substation in Ogun State by next week,according to the statement

Also,TCN’s Egbin 330/132kV Transmission Substation took delivery of 330kV and 132kV switch gears and accessories.

The statement said these equipment are for the replacement of all obsolete 330kV and 132kV switchgears for efficient operation of the grid.

It added:”All these projects are a part of TCN’s ongoing World Bank funded projects and in line with TCN’s policy on the efficient execution of its grid expansion plan, the projects are being vigorously pursued to ensure their timely execution and completion”

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Uncategorized 0
Akwa Ibom Gets Electricity Distribution License

Akwa Ibom State Government has received approval for electricity distribution license from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The nod was sequel to an application from Ibom Utility company to operate an independent electricity distribution network licence to enable the company distribute electricity in selected locations in the state.

The approval was disclosed by NERC after a meeting with Akwa 𝗜bom State Government delegation led by the Secretary to State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Commissioner For Power, Mr John James and the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr. Mayen Etukudo for the approval presentation.

The agency also approved the application for an amendment of the on-grid electricity generating licence to enable Ibom Power Company Ltd embed into the distribution network of Ibom Utility Company Limited.

The license is in response to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s desire to checkmate the challenge of poor electricity distribution despite investment by the state government in the power sector.

The investment of the state government so far in the power sector include a newly built 33/11KV, 2 X 15MVA injection sub-station in Uyo, the state capital,a 33/11KV, 2 X 15MVA substation to provide dedicated grid power supply to the state owned Victor Attah International Airport with a dedicated 33kv line from Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre.

It also includes the commissioning of a 132/33KV, 1 x 60MVA transformer at Afaha Ube in Uyo which increased the state’s available power for distribution from 96megawatts to 144megawatts.

Others are: 132/33KV, 2 x 60MVA transmission substation at Ekim in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, and another 132/33KV, 1 x 60MVA Ekim substation commissioned by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The substation, which receives power from the state owned Ibom Power Plant, has 33kv dedicated lines to Onna industrial hub, where Jubilee Syringe factory, King Flour Mills, Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services and the Plywood industry are located.

It also provides steady power supply to Akwa Ibom State University and the five local government areas of Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo and Oruk Anam.

The Akwa Ibom state government has also secured a 30MVA transformer for the proposed construction of the Ikot Abasi substation.

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Power 0
CBN To Penalize Banks Dispensing Old Naira Notes

The Central Bank of Nigeria is to sanction commercial banks still dispensing old naira notes in its Automated Teller Machines.

The branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abakaliki Branch, Mr. Daniel Amaechi Ogbogu stated this in Afikpo during a sensitization workshop organized by the bank for traders and other residents in the area, on Friday.

He maintained that the 31st January deadline for N200, N500 and N1,000 to cease being a legal tender remained sacrosanct.

He noted that CBN had commenced monitoring banks to ensure they are dispensing the New Naira Notes in their ATMs, adding that from available reports, 95% of the ATMs had started dispensing the New notes.

According to him, banks whose ATMs are not dispensing the New Naira Notes had been given the mandate to ensure that the machines starts dispensing immediately.

“We have asked the banks to ensure that all their ATMs are dispensing new notes and any banks that gives out old naira will be penalized to ensure that no old notes is being dispensed from any ATM point.We have called the attention of the banks and we have given them mandate to ensure that we don’t want to come back and see that the ATMs are not dispensing the new naira notes”.

Speaking on the alleged political inclination behind the redesign of the Naira notes by CBN, he maintained that there is nothing political about the redesign of the Naira notes.

He said: “In currency management, you give like 5 to 8 years to redesign the currency but because of the cost involvement in currency management, the current age of this currency we are changing now is between 15 to 22 years.

“So, anybody who is saying that the change of currency is political, the person is economical with the truth. What we are doing now is what should have been done for quite a long time now. For something that is between 5 to 8 years and we are doing it between 15 to 22 years, I don’t think that changing it is sudden”.

“Though, it is happening during the election period but is not politically motivated. We have asked banks to come and pick up the new naira notes from the CBN. I also want the public to know that if you go to any ATM and they are dispensing old notes, report them to us”.

Speaking, Chairman, Afikpo Market Amalgamated Association, Comrade Johnson Inya-Oka expressed concern that the two banks in Afikpo Local Government Area were yet to commence the dispensing of the New Naira Notes at the ATM Points and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline to accommodate traders in the rural communities.

Inya-Oka begged for the extension of the deadline, since the new naira notes were not within reach.

He said:”If you go to the ATMs here in Afikpo, you can’t get the new naira notes as we speak and that is the challenge we are having. We won’t have much challenge should the CBN be fast in changing the old money.

“Our worry is that the two banks in our area are still giving us old naira notes both at the ATM and counter. But for me I will advise that they extend the dates because the banks in Afikpo are not dispensing the new naira notes and even some aged people in the market here have not seen the new naira note for the first time”

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Banking&Finance 0
Ogidi Establishes Community Health Insurance Scheme

The Ogidi community in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State has established a health insurance scheme to enhance the access of community members to good health services.

Under the scheme modelled along the strict guidelines of the Nigerian Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Ogidi Cottage Hospital, will, by a signed agreement, offer health services of doctor’s consultation, medical tests and drugs administration, from April this year, to subscribers to the Ogidi-Ela Mutual Health Association who are up-to-date in their yearly premium of N3,000.00 (Three thousand naira) per person.

The subscribers will pay only 10 percent of bills incurred regarding common health conditions covered by the scheme, and between 30 to 50 percent of medical conditions referred by the hospital to secondary and tertiary institutions; while the Mutual Health Association pays the balance.

Illnesses to be covered under the scheme include arthritis, cold, diabetes, high blood pressure as well as malaria and typhoid fevers. It will also offer health advisories as well as antenatal and child delivery services.

Speaking on the advantages of the scheme, the Team Lead of the Ogidi Health Initiative, Mr. Gabriel Obando, who announced this on Saturday, said “less financially endowed community members will access healthcare at cheaper costs and minimize the need to seek medical services from outside of the community, with its attendant cost, safety and security risks.

He implored community members to take advantage of the scheme, while encouraging endowed individuals, political parties, social clubs and faith organisations to adopt indigent but willing participants, by paying their yearly premium.

Already, formation and start up fund has been set aside from proceeds of a recent fund raising event by the community.

Enumeration for registration of participants is ongoing while the mutual health association, complete with a high level board of trustees headed by Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Insurance Commission (NAICOM), is being registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Others on the Board are:Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, a community development enthusiast and former Editor of the Sunday Times, Mr. Gabriel Obando, a retired General Manager, Public Affairs, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr. Ade Ibileke, an accomplished accountant, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, Head, Media Relations at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Felix Akande, an experienced international pharmacy practitioner, Madam Bose Olupeka, a politician, Prince Emmanuel Oladimeji, an ICT consultant and Hajia Funmilayo Mundi, a retired civil servant, as well as a representative of the NHIA.

The Ogidi Health Initiative had last year conducted an international fund raising through the WhatsAp channel at which over N11 million has so far been realized.

The money will be used to upgrade the Ogidi Cottage Hospital in readiness for the health insurance scheme as well as to procure additional medical equipment and essential drugs.

admin by — January 21, 2023 in News 0
Scarcity: Lagos Reverses Self On Restriction Of Fuel Stations On Major Highways

 

The Lagos State Government has reversed itself on the 9am to 4pm restriction placed on major and independent marketers whose filling stations are on the major highways across the state.

Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State,who disclosed this in a statement,explained that the government took the decision following the reactions generated by its earlier stance on the issue.

The government had Thursday restrained the activities of major and independent fuel markers along the major highways and areas susceptible to traffic from 9am to 4pm to curb traffic.

He said that the restriction would be in place until the current fuel scarcity subsided.

He regretted that filling stations of major and independent petroleum along main highways had contributed to the long logjam across the state in the past few months, especially as fuel scarcity becomes more intense across the state.

On Saturday, the government said that the action of the government was not meant to compound the hardship motorists and commuters experienced because of lingering fuel shortage, rather, it was to stop the traffic congestion that had resulted from their activities.

Oladeinde,in a statement,said that the offending filling stations had assured the government that the situation would be well-managed by them.

He added:“Following assurances from some of the offending filling stations, the 9am to 4pm restriction will no longer be enforced.

“For the avoidance of doubt, filling stations are not restricted from doing their business, but fuel marketers have a responsibility to ensure that their activities do not cause any disruption whatsoever to traffic flow. It is against the law to impede the free flow of traffic on our roads”

He reiterated that traffic management agencies have been directed to invoke the law should any marketer be found to have allowed queues on its premises spill onto major roads in a disorderly manner that impeded traffic flow.

admin by — January 21, 2023 in News 0
We Won’t Hike Fuel Price -MOMAN

 

Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria,MOMAN,says its members will not increase pump price of fuel,despite pressure on price by demand and costs in its immediate operating environment.

The marketers also said as a law abiding group,they will continue to use its best endeavors to ensure that product is sold at the pump at prices currently approved by the regulatory authorities in the country.

A statement by the group obtained by Premium News,quoted it as sympathizing with their customers and Nigerians over the current challenges in the purchase of petrol at
filling stations across the country.

These queues are caused by exceptional high demand and bottlenecks in the fuel
distribution chain,the statement said.

It added:”The major cause is the shortage and high(US Dollar)costs of daughter vessels for ferrying product from mother vessels to depots along the coast. Next is the
inadequate number of trucks to meet the demand to deliver product from depots to filling stations nationwide.

“These high logistics and exchange rate costs continue to put pressure on prices at the
pump.Over the past three months,staff& management of MOMAN companies have
worked diligently at depots and filling stations to relieve the stress faced by customers
through the Christmas and New year period.

“Our members have again agreed to extend
depot loading hours as well as keep strategically situated service stations open for longer hours to ease access to fuel for our customers.

“A final resolution to these challenges will be the full deregulation of the petroleum
downstream sector to encourage liberalization of supply and long-term investments in
distribution assets.We urge the government to work towards this end goal”

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
Exam Malpractices: WAEC Suspends 13 Secondary Schools In Gombe

The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has suspended 13 Senior Secondary Schools in Gombe State for four years over examination malpractices.

The defaulting schools were fined N500,000.00 each for committing the offence.

Alhaji Ali Yaya, Director of Examination, Gombe State Ministry of Education,stated this during a recent meeting with all Principals of secondary schools in the state and the ministry.

He lamented that the development was a major setback in the ministry’s effort to improve the education sector in the state.

He explained that examination malpractice is currently the major challenge facing senior secondary schools in the state and warned that it must be addressed to avert more schools from being de-recognised by the examination body.

He said:“From 2018 to 2020, seven of our public senior secondary schools were found to be involved in examination malpractices which led to their de-recognition by the WAEC.Similarly in 2022, the Ministry received a fresh set of six schools that committed the same offence and they were also de-recognised with a penalty of N500,000 fine per school payable to WAEC.”

He said, the menace of examinations malpractice had impacted negatively on the overall student’s performance in 2022 Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) final results.

“The percentage of 2022 result was 55.6 per cent as against 79.5 per cent for 2021 and this is in connection with the examination malpractice recorded in six of our schools”, disclosed

Yaya said that the Examination Directorate of the Ministry had issued a warning to all principals in all schools to stay away from examination malpractice of any forms.

“Any principal found wanting again in any form of examination malpractices will be seriously punished and the penalty should be paid by the school”,he said.

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Education 0
New Notes: Governors Tasks CBN On Robust Financial Inclusion

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF),says it was not opposed to the redesigned notes of the Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN,inspite of the
huge challenges that remain problematic to Nigerians.

They expressed the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria to consider the peculiarities of states especially as they pertain to financial inclusion and under-served locations.

The governors disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of NGF’s first meeting in 2023,where they received a briefing from the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, on the Naira redesign, its economic and security implications including the new withdrawal policy.

In the communiqué signed by Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Sokoto State and made available to journalists on Saturday, resolved to work closely with the CBN leadership to ameliorate areas that require policy variation particularly the poorest households, the vulnerable in society and several other citizens of our country that are excluded.

They also resolved to collaborate with the CBN and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in advancing genuine objectives within the confines of our laws, noting that the recent NFIU Advisory and Guidelines on cash transactions were simply outside the NFIU’s legal remit and mandate.

They set up a 6-member Committee to be chaired by the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo and the Governors of Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Borno, Plateau and Jigawa as members, to engage the CBN in addressing anomalies in the country’s monetary management and financial system.

 

admin by — January 21, 2023 in Banking&Finance 0