All Posts in "Day: September 1, 2023"

TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria Gets New MD

Mohammed Shosanya

Mr. Matthieu BOUYER has been appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria and representative of TotalEnergies Company in Nigeria .

His new took effect from August 21, 2023,according to a statement to Premium News on Thursday.

A graduate of the Ecole Centrale in France, Matthieu BOUYER joined Total in 2005 through the Exploration & Production Facilities Engineer program.

He held various high-level positions in Operations, Field Development, Engineering, Project Management in Africa, Asia, France, and Middle East.In 2015, Matthieu worked at the headquarters of the company as a Strategy Analyst on key long-term projects and activities of the company across the world.

He moved to London in 2017 within the Investor Relations Entity where he he was involved with other top executives in the building relations with shareholders and monitoring the performance of TotalEnergies in the financial market.

In November 2020, Matthieu became the Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Qatar and Country Chair in Qatar, a position he held until his appointment as the Managing Director of the upstream business and TotalEnergies representative in Nigeria.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Next Level 0
I’m Seeking Second Term To Add More Value To Aiyepe Community-Olaseni Kasumu

Outgoing chairman of Aiyepe Community Development Committee,Mr.Olaseni Kasumu,in this interview with Premium News,shares his experience in the first tenure,why he’s seeking re-election and what the people of Aiyepe in the Odogbolu local government area of Ogun state should expect in his second term.

Your tenure as the Chairman of ACDC for ends in few hours.Could you your share with us how your tenure imparted on the development of Aiyepe community.

Since inception,my tenure has been a very interesting journey characterized by a myriad of challenges and experiences that could best be described as uphill tasks which to the glory of God were all surmounted.

We executed milestone projects such as:
Improvement in the provision of qualitative health services.

Provision of qualitative education in the community.

Distribution of free exercise books for both secondary and primary schools in Aiyepe
Erection of speed breakers at strategic places in the community.

Building of an ultra modern health center up to lintel level and completed and furnished by the federal government.

Building of pharmaceutical section/dispensary with a store and lavatory behind the health center.

-Provision of adequate security for the community.

– Clearing/Cleaning of our drinages at interval.
-Payment of two security guards for the Aiyepe comprehensive high school for seven months.

Erection of caution signs on our road to avoid accidents.

Filling of potholes on the Aiyepe/Ikenne road and Aiyepe /Odogbolu road on three occasions.

Provision of Covid-19 relief materials to the vulnerable ones.

Facilitation of the sinking of borehole at ilubirin quarters.

Facilitation of the light up Aiyepe project.

Repairs of all non functional boreholes within the Aiyepe Community with the assistance of Aiyepe Society United Kingdom/Ireland .

Facilitation of the reinstatement of the Gateway Polytechnic, Aiyepe campus
Creation of forty CDA’s in the community from the ACDA to ACDC

We played our part by supporting the Aiyepe think tank group in the building of the ongoing Aiyepe town hall project.To mention but a few.

I would say we have come a very long way in carrying along the entire community and assuring sons and daughters of Aiyepe of our constant dedication to duty and relentless service all geared towards the building of a better Aiyepe community

Tell us the challenges you experienced and how you surmounted them.

There are numerous challenges experienced by my administration, but I was able to overcome them on account of my rare passion for the community and open door policy as a leader.

At times, I simply have objective heart to engage in discussion with any dissenting elements within or outside my cabinet which will surely convince them to see things from an objective angle

What mechanisms did you put in place to measure the impact of your tenure as the Chairman of ACDC ?

In my opinion,I attribute my leadership qualities to the Almighty Allah, who gave me this rare priviledge and the ability to further harness my talents to inspire my team, and our community as a whole.

It’s been through hard work and prayers that we achieved all what we did so far

What will you do differently from your first tenure if you are re-elected?

We will look for people of like minds,who truly believe in the community and will jointly bring in investors to invest in infrastructure particularly in the area of Energy which has multifaceted ways of impacting our well being as a people. I will redouble my effort on proactive governance so that what we do in our community will have multiplying benefits for our people

Why should you be reelected as the chairman of the ACDC after your first tenure ?

The people of Aiyepe Community can attest to our achievements and as such they know the community is progressing with the formidable team of tenacious executives.

They want to ensure continuity of the good work and a positive turn around of the development projects within the community.

Their intent to give us another opportunity to serve amounts to allowing us to come and consolidate on our achievements. My re-election will aid the growth and development of my community

Our sons and daughters are in diaspora doing Aiyepe proud.How do you hope to tap into the potentials of these Diasporians if you get the second term bid?

My relationship with those in diaspora is very cordial.They’ve been carrying out various projects in the community.I will ensure they do more by creating an enabling environment for such.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Oduduwa 0
NEITI:FG, States,LGs Collect N4.37trn From FAAC Allocations In Six Months

Mohammed Shosanya
The Federal, States and Local Government Councils, shared a total of N4.37 trillion from the Federation Account as statutory revenue allocations between January and June 2023.

This was contained in the latest report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on the Federation Account revenue allocations for the first half of the year.

According to a statement by Mrs Obiageli Onuorah, Deputy Director and Head Communications and Stakeholders Management, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnanya Orji, who announced the release of the report in Abuja, said total distributable FAAC allocations to the three tiers of government in the first and second quarters of 2023 stood at over N2.32 trillion and N2.04 trillion respectively.

The NEITI quarterly review disclosed that inflows into the Federation Account in the second quarter of 2023 declined by 23% and this affected the distributable revenue which fell by 12% when compared with the total revenue disbursed in the first quarter. Each tier of government received more than N1 trillion over the six-month period.

A breakdown of the revenue receipts showed that the federal government received about N1.78 trillion, or 40.7%, while the State governments received N1.5 trillion, or 34.5%, and the Local Government Councils, N1.08 trillion or 24.8% of the total distributable revenue for the period.

NEITI further disclosed that a comparative analysis of the total allocations on a year-on-year basis in the corresponding quarters of 2022 and 2023 showed that the distributable revenue of N4.366 trillion shared by the three tiers of government between January and June 2023 was higher by about 16.7% from about N4.05 trillion shared in the corresponding period in 2022.

The report revealed that the allocation received by the federal government over the period under review increased by 19.8% to N1.78 trillion in 2023, from the N1.48 trillion in the corresponding period in 2022.

Allocations to the state governments grew by about 11.2% to N1.42 trillion in 2023 from N1.26 trillion in 2022, while allocations to the local government councils rose by 16.8% to N1.08 trillion in 2023, from N926 billion in 2022.

The report said the increase in half-yearly allocations in 2023 was consistent with an upward trend from the previous period where the distributable revenue for the first half of the year rose by 16.7%, from N3.47 trillion between January and June 2021 to N4.05 trillion in the corresponding period in 2022.

Besides, allocations to the Federal, States and Local Government Councils increased across the board by 8.8%, 26.5% and 14.2% respectively.

However, compared to the same period in 2022, the report showed that FAAC distribution in the second quarter of 2023 declined in absolute value, with total distributable revenue of N2.02 trillion being less by 13% than about N2.16 trillion distributed in the second quarter of 2022.

Further analysis of the disbursements to the states showed that Delta state received the highest allocation of N102.79 billion in the second quarter of 2023, followed by Akwa Ibom N70.01 billion, Rivers N69.73 billion, Lagos N60.64 billion and Bayelsa N56.34 billion.

The total disbursements to these five states (N359.5 billion), or 35.9% of the total FAAC allocations, was more than the total allocations to the next 15 states (N349.3 billion), while the cumulative allocation to the five states was also more than the share of allocation to 19 other states put together. The bottom 10 states received 17.3% of the revenue shared in the second quarter of 2023.

Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe and Taraba states received the lowest allocations of N16.71 billion, N16.84 billion, N16.95 billion, N17.22 billion and N17.45 billion respectively.

The report said four of the five states with the highest allocations, except Lagos, received a significant share of 13% derivation revenue allocated to oil-producing states. The total disbursements to these five states (N359.5 billion), or 35.9% of the total FAAC allocations, was more than the total allocations to the next 15 states (N349.3 billion), while the cumulative allocation to the five states was also more than the share of allocation to 19 other states put together. The bottom 10 states received 17.3% of the revenue shared in the second quarter of 2023.

The report stated that the bulk of the revenues to the federation account came from remittances from the three main revenue-generating agencies, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

These revenues came through earnings from the different revenue streams, including oil and gas royalties, petroleum profit tax, company income tax, value added tax and import & excise duties.

Also, revenue remittances of about N1.84 trillion in Q2 2023 came from mineral and non-mineral sources, comprising of N809 billion, or 44% from mineral revenue (mostly oil and gas) and N1.03 trillion, or 56% from non-mineral sources.

The report noted a huge gap between revenue disbursements from the oil and gas and solid minerals sectors, pointing out that this was a reflection of the perennial underperformance of the latter over the years.

In terms of debt service obligations and the impacts on states’ net allocations, the report showed that Lagos topped the list of 36 states with a total deduction of N9.03 billion in the second quarter of 2023, followed by Delta (N6.76 billion), Ogun (N6.10 billion), Kaduna (N5.63 billion), Osun (N5.60 billion and Imo (N5.51 billion).

Jigawa, Anambra, Nassarawa, Kebbi and Enugu States had the lowest deductions of N1.16 billion, N1.29 billion, N1.45 billion, N1.51 billion and N1.88 billion respectively.

The nine oil-producing states, according to the report, namely Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states received allocations relative to their share of the oil and gas as well as other minerals extracted from their domains.

Other states of the federation where solid minerals are exploited did not receive derivation revenue for the period. The lack of solid mineral revenue disbursement either for derivation purpose or statutory disbursement by other federation entities, the report said, was due to the fact that solid minerals revenues remitted to the Federation Account was not significant enough to be shared among the federal government as well as all the states and local governments, including the Federal Capital Territory.

The NEITI report pointed out that Q3 2023 revenue projection would not differ too much from Q2 performance even with the crude oil output averaging 1.387 million barrels per day in June and July, and the average crude oil price at $83.03 per barrel between June 1 and August 15, 2023.

It attributed this to the Federation Account disbursements that would be based on revenues earned in June, July and August.

The report observed that the volume of distributable funds from the Federation Account in the third quarter of 2023 would be significantly and positively affected considering the two major fiscal and monetary policy decisions by the present administration by way of the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification/floating of the foreign exchange rate,

NEITI projects that with efficient, prudent management and utilization of the savings of N3.6Trillion from subsidy payment in the first six months of 2023, Nigeria’s balance of payments would be boosted as demand which is served entirely by product importation would be curtailed.

“The drop in demand would inadvertently, trigger a corresponding reduction in the dollar volume needed to pay for premium motor spirit (PMS), which constitutes the largest single import product by value,” the report noted.

The NEIT report welcomed with high expectations, the unification and the floating of the exchange rate policy recently introduced to strengthen and stabilize the economy. With the average exchange rate of N713.69 to US$1, which is about 55% higher than the rate of N460.52 to the dollar recorded during the second quarter, the report said this would significantly raise the value of export earnings remitted to the Federation Account by more than 50%.

Also earnings from the new exchange rate through exports would also increase the value of foreign capital inflows, including investments, loans and grants.

The NEITI Quarterly FAAC Review cautioned that care should be taken to ensure that the exchange rate unification and float policy does not create the problems that it intends to solve in helping to maintain the new levels of PMS prices or disrupt the deregulation policy in the downstream sector.

To ensure improved Federation Account performance, the report recommended the adoption of more realistic and conservative budgetary benchmark estimates in terms of crude oil production and prices in view of oil price volatility in the international market.

Also, the report urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to prioritize policies to stabilize the exchange rate to facilitate the effective implementation of the deregulation policy and stabilizing foreign exchange-dependent inflows into the Federation Account.

Other recommendations include the need to ensure greater fiscal stability by bridging the gap between expenditure estimates and the sources for financing the public budget; diversifying the country’s economic base by reducing dependence on natural resources to insulate the country’s economy against crude oil price volatility.

The report also recommended the provision of more incentives to encourage more investments in the solid minerals sector to enhance its productivity and revenue potential.

The report stressed the need to deepen transparency and accountability in the management of Federation Account revenue and disbursements by sustaining fiscal transparency policies and programmes by the government in line with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) commitments.

The report emphasized the need for states, local governments and other beneficiaries of the Federation Account to domesticate or adopt the OGP and EITI principles to strengthen accountability in the application of Federation Accounts funds.

NEITI Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji

admin by — September 1, 2023 in News 0
Corruption:CSOs Seek Inauguration Of National Council For Public Procurement

Mohammed Shosanya

Stakeholders in the civil society space in Nigeria,have implored President Bola Tinubu to constitute and inaugurate the National Council for Public Procurement and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, CIPSMN.

Rising from a one-day roundtable on “CSOs Strategic Alliance and Think=tank Against Public Procurement Corruption in Nigeria,the stakeholders,said the development was necessary in order to strengthen the fight against Procurement Corruption in the face of rising high profile cases in the country.

The meeting was hosted by Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative (PRADIN), in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) and Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

The theme of the event was “Tackling High Level Corruption in Public Procurement”

A communique issued at the end of the event by Prof Ismaila Mande, National Univeristy of Nigeria,and Wisdom Olisa, NGO Network Victor Enejuire, Centre for Social Justice,explained that the inauguration of the NCPP and compliance with Sections 5 17 and 55 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 will ensure professionalism in the management and application of efficient procurement practice that will help in reducing corruption to its lowest minimum.

According to the communique, the procurement corruption which account for the larger parts of corruption as identified in previous research by CSOs as well as the Roundtable is as serious concerns to all the participants, and therefore resolved to engage new strategies by all stakeholder to tackle the phenomenon.

It added that that an enhanced partnership between government, particularly the Anti-corruption agencies, CSOs and professional bodies will help greater in the prevention of and fight against procurement corruption in Nigeria.

The communique quoted participants at the Roundtable as expressing their appreciation to the organizer of the event and pressing for more synergy, collaboration and partnership in the fight against misprocurement to reduce high level of corruption in the public sector

They also implored the legislators in the 10th Assembly to be alert and take note of the issues around procurement corruption to assist them in their oversight functions.

In his welcome address,Mohammed Bougei Attah,National Coordinator,Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative,explained that the invitation of key stakeholders to the meeting was informed by the rising cases of corruptions that appear to have defied all forms of prescriptions despite huge investments both in human and material resource to fight the menace.

He lamented that currently,corruption is not only fighting back, it appears to be winning the fight .

He said:”The theme of the Roundtable which is centered on procurement corruption is also informed by a research conducted in the year 2010 by NGO Network, a national CSO working with the three sectors of the economy, identified that procurement corruption either by acquisition or disposal accounts of over 70% of total corruption in the public sector, and this is related to processes in the system.

“The Roundtable therefore is the initiative of Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative (PRADIN) in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).

“PRADIN is a select group of 50 non-state actors, trained under the 2010 Federal Government of Nigeria-World Bank Economic Reforms and Governance Project (ERGP) while CISLAC, ANEEJ and HEDA are renowned for their fight in the downstream and upstream sectors, high level institutional corruption in election and other political corruption issues.

“These four leading CSOs on anti-corruption fight therefore resolved to engage the fight with a new strategy by bringing the key stakeholders – the implementers, the regulators and the monitors – to a facilitated meeting, by creating the space for all to share ideas and strategies on how to addressing this ugly tendency further.

“We are of the belief that no one can solve this problem for us other than ourselves, and we must commit to nationalistic zeal in addressing the issue. It is therefore important to inform you that this meeting has been put together by these four CSOs without external funding, either by government or development partners. It is to demonstrate our commitment to this course.

“The main objective of the Roundtable as contained in the Concept Note (CN) sent earlier is to support the efforts of each of the stakeholders present here, particularly the ant-corruption agencies, in getting improved results. Ultimately, our hope is to set an agenda for fast-tracked reduction in corruption cases in Nigeria by taking procurement corruption with all our apparatuses.

“We recognize that key stakeholders are in our midst today, and our intention is to more from confrontation to consultation, therefore we hope with the team of experts here, the presentation and discussion will provide us with practical solutions in meeting the goal of the Roundtable”.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in News 0
81.6% Nigerians Use Traditional Medicine-FG

Mohammed Shosanya

The federal government says 81.6% Nigerians use African Traditional Medicine (ATM) for cure of ailments.

This is not expected to be on the decline in the near future, especially in the face of the predicted increase in the global burden of diseases (WHO Global Status Report on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 2011),the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate,said at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.

He said all member states are urged to review the progress of implementation of the objective of institutionalizing Traditional Medicine into national health systems.

Represented by the Director Human Resources, Hassan Salam, Pate added that, “It is on record that Nigeria has been observing the ATM Day for the past two decades with activities for awareness creation and promotion of appropriate use and practice of Traditional Medicine in the Country. With about 80% of the rural population using TM as a primary form of health care, traditional medicine has made an invaluable contribution to the health and well-being for all.

He said:”This year’s theme, “The Contribution of Traditional Medicine to Holistic Health and Well-being for All,” encapsulates the essence of our commitment to recognizing and harnessing the rich heritage of African Traditional Medicine. Today, as we celebrate, we must acknowledge the role of traditional medicine in our lives and its connection to our holistic health and well-being.

“Studies have shown that traditional medicine use in The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,seeks to bolster the economy by prioritizing Universal Health Coverage which is expected to frontally address the nation’s healthcare challenges. The healthcare plan will also focus on encouraging and improving funding for local research of new drugs and vaccines. It is a well-established fact that many medicines have their origin from herbal medicine which is a form of traditional medicine.

“Our approach to optimizing the strengths of our traditional medicine will also focus on favourable policies, institutional and political support, our rich biodiversity, qualitative data, scientific research, and the use of innovation to optimize the contribution of traditional medicine to universal health coverage and sustainable development, and will also be Quided by respect for our indigenous resources and intellectual property rights.

“During the COVID-19 period, a number of traditional medicine practitioners made claims on possible medicines for the management of the disease. The Ministry received about 35 products from these practitioners which were forwarded to NAFDAC for further analysis and possible listing. We can also recall the Madagascar Organic COVID-19 cure originated from medicinal plants”.

Pate further stated that, the strengths of traditional medicine, we must also strive to address the challenges that persist. Integration and collaboration between modern medical practices and traditional medicine are essential.

He added:”We must ensure that our traditional healers have access to proper training, research, and resources, allowing them to standardize their expertise while also aligning with international best practices. This collaboration can lead to a healthcare system that is truly comprehensive and inclusive, benefiting all members of our society”

He said Nigeria will mobilize evidence-based actions in support of traditional medicine which serves as initial recourse for millions worldwide seeking to address their health and well-being needs.

Earlier, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti,who was represented by Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO Representative in Nigeria called on member states to scale up their efforts and further implement evidence-based traditional medicine (TM) approaches to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and promote health and well-being for all at all ages.

She urged member states to apply local knowledge, science, technology, and innovation to unlock the contribution of TM to advancing planetary health and people’s well-being across the life course, through regional and culturally appropriate nutrition and lifestyles within sustainable environments.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Health 0
Alleged LGs Fund Misappropriation: Ogun Assembly Summons Accountant-General, Others

Mohammed Shosanya

Ogun House of Assembly, Thursday summoned the State Accountant – General and also all members of the Joint Account Allocations Committee to appear before the House over the current issues regarding local government funds in the state.

Its Speaker,Mr Olakunle Oluomo,who issued the invite during plenary in Abeokuta,noted that the reason for the invitation was for thorough explanation to the House on what was happening at the local governments so that the people of the state could be fully briefed.

He explained that the meeting would afford the Assembly to know what was happening and thereafter take necessary action.

“We have the power to investigate what’s happening in our state and then do the needful.But I want to appeal to those that are concern to please let’s maintain law, peace and order in our various places particularly in Ijebu East local government where I heard that protest are going on.

“Everyone should calm down and allow us to do our job.I hereby invite the accountant- general of the state and all members of the joint account allocations committee to appear before the house on Friday by 1pm.

“They are to come and explain to the House what exactly is happening so that the people of the state shall be fully briefed,” he said.

The Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, had revealed that the 20 local government since the inception of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration, have been running on zero allocation.

In a letter which he wrote to former Governor Olusegun Osoba which has went viral, Adedayo alleged that the local government funds were being diverted by the Governor.

He also wrote the EFCC and ICP to investigate the Governor.

While the state government has debunked the allegation, explaining that it has always augment the allocation, Adedayo was on Thursday suspended by the legislators I’m his local government for three months.

He was suspended on allegations of financial misappropriation.

He was on his way to the office of the Department of State Services, DSS, where he had been invited on the same issues when he was suspended.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in News 0
Hip-Hop Legend,Lil Wayne Returns To“VMAs”With First Performance In A Decade

Mohammed Shosanya

Lil Wayne, Anitta, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER are joining the ever-growing roster of global superstars slated to perform at the 2023 “VMAs,” airing LIVE from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Wednesday, September 13

Lil Wayne

The 5x GRAMMY Award-winning and multi-platinum global music icon returns to the “VMAs” stage for the first time in more than a decade where he will perform his new single dropping on 9/1, “Kat Food”, live for the very first time.

With a discography highlighted by over 120 million records sold worldwide including 26 million albums, Lil Wayne has cemented his legacy as one of the best-selling artists in history and one of the most influential artists in Hip-Hop. In 2022, Lil Wayne earned his first Diamond certification from the RIAA with his generational smash hit “Lollipop” feat. Static Major. The 14x nominee will once again compete in the “Best Hip-Hop” category for the coveted Moon Person, an award he first won in 2008.

Anitta

Global sensation Anitta sets her return to the storied MTV stage where she will bring Brazilian Funk to the masses performing a medley of hits from her latest release Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story. The performance arrives on the heels of last year’s fiery debut where she also made history with her first “VMAs” win as the only Brazilian to ever take home an MTV Moon Person. She looks to repeat her win in the “Best Latin” category this year.

Doja Cat

The 4x “VMAs” and GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar, is set to make her MTV return following her memorable hosting and mesmerizing gravity-defying performance of “Been Like This” and “You Right” in 2021, where she also took home two awards including “Best Collaboration.” The 23x nominee is up for 5 awards this year, including “Best Video of the Year” and “Artist of the Year.” She last won in 2022 for “Best Choreography.” Her first-ever North American tour will kick off later this year with Ice Spice and Doechii.

Kelsea Ballerini

Multi-platinum country superstar Kelsea Ballerini is slated for a show-stopping “VMAs” debut performance, treating fans to a world premiere performance off the expanded version of her latest deeply personal, critically-acclaimed EP Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good).

Kelsea’s first-time appearance on the storied MTV stage comes on the same day as her 30th birthday (Sep 12) and in the midst of a record-breaking year for the songstress, who just wrapped three sold out legs of her headlining tour and a successful trio of coast-to-coast fan screenings for the EPs short film, which she wrote and co-directed.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER (“TXT”) featuring Anitta

The global Gen Z icons and former MTV PUSH artists will premiere a brand new single and make history with their “VMAs” debut as the first K-Pop band to cross-genre for an international performance with Brazilian superstar and global sensation Anitta. Ahead of their highly-anticipated 3rd studio album The Name Chapter: FREEFALL, slated for October release, the Billboard 200 topping 4x nominated group hopes to win a Moon Person for “Best K-Pop” and “Push Performance of the Year.”

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Arts/Entertainment 0
Burna Boy Enjoying Unmerited Recognition-Patrick Doyle

Veteran Nollywood actor, Patrick Doyle,says the recognition singer Burna Boy has continued to enjoy is undeserved.

Doyle criticized the artiste,noting that the singer has “done nothing by himself that can be remotely described as great.”

According to him,Sunny Ade, Fela Anikulapo and I.K Dairo, paved the way for the likes of Burna, who need to be “respectful of their diligent and truly pioneering predecessors.”

He added:”The credit for the feats that appear to be puffing the likes of Burna Boy up have to be properly ascribed to the greats who cleared the thorny paths that have created pathways for his likes to walk through practically effortlessly.

“Burna Boy has not by himself done anything that can be remotely described as great. He and his peers are recipients of the labours of heroes past. They need to be humble and respectful of their diligent and truly pioneering predecessors.

“Great artistes like Sunny Ade, Fela Anikulapo, Majek Fashek, I. K. Dairo, and a galaxy of others who paved the way from the 60s, to the 2000s. Greatness and great feats don’t exist in a vacuum. Let us not contribute to the creation of an arrogant and obnoxious monster.”

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Arts/Entertainment 0
Stop Assaulting Our Staff,EKEDC Warns Customers

Mohammed Shosanya

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC),has warned members of the public against assaulting or preventing its staff from performing their lawful duties.

The power firm also vowed to mount aggressive war against equipment vandalism and pilferage.

This comes on the heel of the arrest, police investigation, and arraignment of two individuals, one Julius John Adeyemi,who assaulted a staff of EKEDC while performing his duties in the Ijesha area of Surulere, Lagos while the other, Nwokocha Emmanuel, who was illegally found in a distribution substation premises of the Company at Tincan Port, Festac, Lagos, to steal contrary to section 406 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.  

General Manager, Corporate Communications of EKEDC, Babatunde Lasaki,in a statement,described the incidents as criminal and act of sabotage against the operations of the organization. He said “We condemn such callous acts against our staff who go around to discharge their lawful duties. We don’t condone such acts and we advise our customers to use the available channels of redress rather than resorting to self-help.” 

Adeyemi was charged before Mrs Otitoloju of the Magistrate Court 3, Surulere for obstructing the staff from discharging his duties by removing his ladder from an electricity pole and subsequently landing him a blow. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety with a tax clearance certificate and a verifiable address. Adeyemi was remanded in the Ikoyi facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Nwokocha on the other hand was arraigned before the Magistrate Court 22, Apapa on a two-count charge of breaking and entry with intent to commit felony to wit stealing and illegal or unlawful purpose. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was granted bail in the sum of #50,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum. Nwokocha was also remanded in the Kirikiri medium facility of the Nigeria Correctional Service till his bail conditions are fully met.

 

Lasaki also decried the act of vandalism and stealing of equipment procured by the company to supply electricity to customers.

He said:“These are the setbacks we experience in our quest to fulfill our commitment to ensuring zero downtime in electricity supply. We hereby call on our communities and other stakeholders to help safeguard electricity installations around them to put an end to this menace.”

He urged them to report suspected cases of vandalism to whistleblower@ekedp.com, call 08000033333, or report to the nearest office or Police station.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Power 0
How Gulder Lager Beer Is Adding Value To Lives Of Distributors,Retailers In Nigeria

Gulder Lager Beer, a household name in Nigeria’s alcoholic beverage industry,has reiterated its commitment to changing lives in Nigeria.

The spotlight shone brightly at the Gulder Ultimate Reward event held on Tuesday, at the Lascofis Bar in Ogba, Lagos. The event, which will be etched in the minds of stakeholders for a long time, is a further testament to the transformative power of loyalty, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence.

Gulder honoured its esteemed partners, who have played pivotal roles in the brand’s journey to excellence. The selected 15 retailers received ten crates of Gulder, while the ten winners in the regions were presented with 42-inch television sets, generator sets, and deep freezers.

Four sub-distributors, the unsung heroes ensuring Gulder reaches every corner of Nigeria, were each rewarded with fifty crates of Gulder and Tricycles, a token of appreciation for their indispensable contributions. The winners were selected across Benin, Ibadan Lagos-North, and Lagos-South regions respectively.

But,the crowning moment of the event arrived with the announcement of the prestigious Grand Prize – a brand new IVM Ikenga car was presented to Taofeek Shodiya of Tasho Limited, a long-committed distributor to Gulder’s success. His extraordinary journey and steadfast dedication to Gulder underscore the brand’s enduring message that loyalty and dedication have the power to elevate lives.

Alhaji Tasho, speaking about his experience, expressed, “Being a Gulder distributor is the best decision I ever made. It’s not just about business; it’s about being part of a family that rewards dedication and hard work. This car is not just a prize; it’s a symbol of the opportunities that Gulder provides to change lives.”

“Gulder Lager Beer has always been more than a beverage; it’s a symbol of strength, determination, and the extraordinary. At the heart of our success are the dedicated partners who have embraced these values.,” stated Chima Dim, Brand Manager, Non-Lager and Craft, Nigerian Breweries.

“We have come to be known as a home brand, a go-to brand for, family, entertainment, and relaxation. Our success story has been one encapsulated and driven by those of our consumers and distributors, and that is why The Gulder Ultimate Reward event is not just a celebration; it’s a testament to the life-changing impact of loyalty and dedication. We are proud to say that being a Gulder distributor is not just a business decision; it’s a journey of transformation, and we look forward to many more shared successes,” he added.

Gulder remains dedicated to providing remarkable experiences and shaping the lives of its partners. The Gulder Ultimate Reward will continue to inspire and motivate partners to reach new heights while reaffirming the brand’s belief that loyalty and dedication are the keys to changing lives.

admin by — September 1, 2023 in Brands&Marketing 0