All Posts in "Day: March 17, 2024"

Axxela Gets Gold Medal EcoVadis Sustainability Rating

Mohammed Shosanya

Axxela Limited, a leading sub-Saharan African gas and power company, has achieved a Gold Medal in the 2024 EcoVadis Sustainability Rating.

This rating,according to a statement,underscores Axxela’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and ethical business practices.

Ranked in the top 5% among companies evaluated by EcoVadis over the past twelve months, Axxela achieved an impressive 97 percentile rank,showcasing its dedication to continuous progress in sustainability and ESG practices.

This accolade marks a significant advancement from its previous silver medal rating, highlighting the company’s increasing efforts in this domain.

Speaking,Bolaji Osunsanya, CEO of Axxela, stated, “Achieving a Gold Medal in our 2024 Sustainability Rating from a globally renowned authority on business sustainability ratings, serves as a superior validation of Axxela’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. Over the past years, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that we incorporate and embrace the principles of sustainability across our business operations for the benefit of our customers, employees, partners, and investors. This outcome is both an encouragement and motivation for us to persistently improve and do more”.

Osunsanya reiterated Axxela’s pledge to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, aligning with the UN SDG 9 Agenda on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

He stated, “This achievement propels us to redouble our efforts towards a cleaner, more sustainable future while driving industrial growth in Nigeria and across West Africa.”

Tuoyo Ejueyitchie, General Counsel and Company Secretary, Axxela, said, this recognition is a testament to Axxela’s excellence and continued improvement in the area of sustainability.

He said:“It is a true definition of team effort and general commitment to developing and adhering to processes and procedures that demonstrate our company’s dedication to maintaining world class Sustainability/ESG standards”.

To commemorate this accomplishment, EcoVadis will be planting a tree on behalf of Axxela through its partnership with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation focused on global reforestation.

Axxela Limited (“Axxela”) is the pioneer private sector developer of natural gas solutions and captive power generation in Nigeria; a company co-owned by Helios Investment Partners LLP and Sojitz Corporation.

Axxela is a designated natural gas shipper on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), and a member of the West African Power Pool (WAPP), delivering natural gas to about 200 industrial and commercial customers via a vast network of natural gas infrastructure.

With over 360km in natural gas pipeline infrastructure built, Axxela provides unique energy solutions primarily through its subsidiaries: Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Gas Network Services Limited, Central Horizon Gas Company Limited, and Transit Gas Nigeria Limited.

admin by — March 17, 2024 in Brands&Marketing 0
CBN Clears Air On Fertilisers Donation To Agric Ministry

Mohammed Shosanya

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says its fertilisers donation to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,last week,does not represent a resumption direct interventions in the real sectors of the economy.

The apex bank donated 2. 15 million tonnes of assorted fertilisers, worth over N 100 billion to the ministry last week.

The CBN explained that the donated fertilisers were the remnants of its stock, which were blended under its previous interventions in the agricultural sector.

According to the bank,the decision was aimed at supporting domestic agricultural production rather than allowing the fertilizers to remain unused and go to waste.

The bank added that the fertilisers were released to the ministry which deals directly with farmers because as the Governor has said at many fora, “CBN is realigning its focus towards its core mandate of ensuring monetary and price stability,thus stopping its direct involvement in development finance interventions.”

The CBN has, however, promised to support relevant organisations that possess the expertise and capacity to intervene directly.

The CBN made the decision to donate the fertilisers to Nigerian farmers through the ministry which possesses the institutional knowledge and infrastructure to effectively distribute the fertilizers to the last mile.

“This partnership is aimed at supporting the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s efforts to enhance food productivity and security, ultimately curbing food inflation and reinforcing the CBN’s pursuit of price stability,” the bank said.

The bank has recommended that the ministry which possesses the requisite expertise and capacity in these matters be responsible for ensuring the fertilisers reach the farmers in the most efficient and effective manner.

admin by — March 17, 2024 in Agriculture 0
NIMC,Partners NCC On NIN-SIM Linkage

Mohammed Shosanya

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing processes related to the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage.

The agencies conveyed this in statement on Sunday jointly issued by Ayodele Babalola, Technical Adviser, Media, and Communications to the Director General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The statement said in recent times, the NIN-SIM linkage exercise has become subject of national discourse, reflecting the critical importance of aligning SIM registrations with individuals’ unique national identification numbers.

The statement added that in view of the significance of this initiative in enhancing security and improving service delivery, both NIMC and NCC are committed to improving processes and enhancing efficiency.

It said:”Under this collaboration, NIMC and NCC will work closely to explore synergies and leverage each other’s expertise and resources in the following key areas:

“Streamlining the NIN-SIM Linkage Process: NIMC and NCC will collaborate to ensure a seamless experience for Nigerian telecommunication subscribers.

“This includes exploring innovative approaches to facilitate the swift verification and authentication of NINs during SIM registration and activation processes.

“Capacity Building and Public Awareness: Both agencies will collaborate on initiatives aimed at enhancing public awareness and understanding of the NIN-SIM linkage requirements.

“This includes educational campaigns, training sessions for stakeholders, and the dissemination of accurate information to the public to encourage compliance with the linkage directives.

“Data Verification and Validation: NIMC will continue to extend its support to NCC by providing assistance in verifying National Identification Numbers (NINs) associated with SIM registrations. Leveraging NIMC’s robust database and authentication infrastructure, telecommunication operators will validate submitted NINs while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of subscriber data.

“Policy Harmonisation and Regulatory Framework: NIMC and NCC will collaborate on aligning policies and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the seamless integration of NIN-SIM linkage processes within the telecommunications ecosystem.

“This includes harmonising data protection and privacy regulations to safeguard the confidentiality and security of subscriber information.”

The statement assured that both NIMC and NCC are committed to fostering a collaborative and transparent partnership that prioritises the interests of Nigerian citizens and promotes national development, adding that “by pooling our resources and expertise, we aim to overcome the challenges associated with the NIN-SIM linkage exercise and ensure its continued successful implementation.”

admin by — March 17, 2024 in Business 0
FG Begins N40bn Mass Metering Project In Army Formations

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has begun the mass metering of the Nigerian Army formations nationwide with a promise to end the era of estimated billings in the power sector.

At the flag off of the exercise at the headquarters of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja military cantonment at the weekend, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu said the exercise would be in phases with the Ikeja cantonment being the first phase of the exercise.

He disclosed that the current exercise will last for six weeks before the second phase began.

He explained that for the current exercise, the sum of N12.7 billion has been released out of a total of N40billion for the mass metering project.

He added:“The mass metering in army formations nationwide will enable us know what is being consumed on a monthly basis in order to ensure appropriate billings and ease collections. The overall intention is to eliminate and make estimated billing a thing of the past”.

The Minister,who was received at the army headquarters by the Commander, Maj. Gen. A.M Adetuyi and the Chief Executive Officer of De Haryor Global Services, Engineer Ashade Olatunbosun who is in charge of the metering project said the current exercise is part of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda to ensure regular supply of electricity to army formations, nationwide.

He said:“This is one of Mr. President’s objectives as contained in the renewed hope agenda to ensure that electricity supply to the armed forces is prioritised and they do not suffer especially in the enjoyment of public utilities”.

Adelabu said the smart meters being installed are tamper-proof and would eliminate energy theft.

“You can not by- pass the meter which also comes with an app where customers can also get statement of their consumption on a monthly basis”.

He disclosed that the meter allows interconnectivity between grid and off grid solar power supply.

The Minister said that part of the energy blue print for the country is also to build off grid power sources such as Solar energy for military barracks located in remote areas without grid supply.

“And where we have grid supply, we can interchange between the grid and solar supply if we are not satisfied with the number of hours supplied by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) . Beyond metering, we have to prioritise electricity supply to the barracks”, he said.

Adelabu said the metering project would be extended to all military formations in the country with the objective of providing 24 hours power supply to the barracks.

Speaking,Olatunbosun said the second phase of the project will begin in Abuja and Enugu, simultaneously adding that military formations across the 11 DISCOs will benefit from the exercise.

“Army formations in Jos, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Ikeja and Eko distribution companies will benefit from the exercise”, he said.

Earlier in his address,Maj. General Adetuyi said the federal government metering initiative is timely as the brigade headquarters has been having epileptic power supply over time.

He added:“When I investigated, I found out that we were only being given three hours of electricity daily and on some days, we do not even get supplied. We have tried to resolve this and we have even involved the state government without any result. We also discovered that we were always being given estimated bills, though we would not have minded if power supply had been regular. However, this commendable metering project has gladdened our heart”.

admin by — March 17, 2024 in Power 0
Rivers Cult Clashes:Police Arrest Prime Suspect,Recover Rifle

Mohammed Shosanya

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested the primary suspect involved in the violent cult clashes that have rocked the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The police also recovered a locally made revolver pistol from the suspect who is currently in custody as investigation continues.

On January 30, 2024, the Gambia and Ayama axis of Diobu, Port Harcourt, witnessed a series of destructive clashes between rival cult groups that left several wounded and properties worth millions of Naira damaged.

Also,several vehicles windshields were smashed and shops looted following the melee, prompting the Mile 1 Police Division to intervene by curbing the growing exchanges and arresting several suspected cultists who were later transferred to the Anti-Cultism unit, where further investigations where investigations unmasked the identities and activities of the suspects.

Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement on Sunday said the police had charged to court and remanded in the correctional center, Port Harcourt seven out of the arrested suspects, adding that investigations revealed that the leading cause of the clashes was one Ejike Samuel, a former gang leader that belonged to the Castle, Deygbam cult group.

Iringe-Koko said the 32-year-old Ejike, a native of Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state, who resides at Okonkwo in Gambia area of Diobu, was arrested on Friday February 14, 2024, alongside his accomplice, Victor Kokoriko, 29, from Sampo, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA in Bayelsa, sparked the clashes.

The state Police PRO said trouble started after the primary suspect, who earlier belonged to Dagbam cult group where he was an armourer, resigned his membership and joined a rival cult group, known as Junior Vikings Confraternity (JVC), alongside a locally made revolver pistol in his possession.

Iringe-Koko said, “After he decided to quit and join JVC, he switched lanes with the revolver still in his possession and refused to return it. This provoked the Castle group, and they launched attacks of gathering spots of the JVCs to recover the revolver, which culminated in the violent confrontations of January 2024.

“The duo were arrested on their way back from demanding royalties on behalf of JVC from dealers in scrap materials inside an area in Gambia they referred to as “bribabo”. According to Victor, they usually collect these royalties and pay to the ‘Doff-man’ (treasurer) of the cult, who then gives them a cut for their troubles.”

According to Iringe-Koko, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, had expressed optimism that the synergy between the Police and Community-Based Security outfits would yield the desired result in addressing the menace of cultism.

Disu further commended men of the Mile 1 Police Division and the Anti-Cultism Unit for their ingenuity in forging collaborations to achieve results, warning cultists and other criminals in the state to steer off crimes as the hand of the law was closer to them than they realized.

In another development,some gunmen suspected to be cultists have on Saturday night shot and killed a printer identified as George Johnson Sopruchi at Abakaliki street close to Emenike street in Mile 1 Diobu, Port Harcourt.

Witnesses in the area,said that the gunmen trailed the printer to the street at about 8:30pm, before shooting him while he was discussing with an acquaintance.

They said the assailants after shooting the young man at the shoulder, carted away his motorcycle and one of his mobile phones, adding that although the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention, the victim died the following day, as a resident doctor at the hospital confirmed him dead on Sunday morning.

This was as another young man whose identity is yet unknown was shot dead in a similar fashion at the nearby Nanka street by Lumumber in the Mile 1 area Diobu in Port Harcourt.

Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incidents said Police are currently trailing the culprits, adding that investigation is ongoing.

admin by — March 17, 2024 in Crime/Metro 0
Budget Padding:National Assembly Did No Wrong, Says Minister

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government of Nigeria has waded into the controversy of alleged budget padding by the 10th National Assembly.

Last Tuesday, the Red Chamber suspended Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion said that the N28.7trn 2024 Appropriation Act was padded to the tune of N3.7trn by the legislature, noting that his findings revealed no tangible projects link to the amount injected into the budget by lawmakers.

The allegations which lasted for three hours on the floor of the Red Chamber culminated in the suspension of Ningi, after he failed to apologize to his colleagues.

The Federal Government through the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu said the federal lawmakers did no wrong, insisting that while the right to transmit a budget is that of the executive arm, it is the legislature’s duty to review same and make input in the interest of the nation.

The Minister,who spoke at a press conference in Abuja said, “The president submitted a budget to the tune of N27.5 trn and the National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased it to N28.7 trn. When we presented the budget, it was at an exchange rate of N750 to a dollar but the Assembly increased it to N800 to a dollar. That created more revenue.

“The Assembly also appropriated that the Government Owned Enterprises contribute more revenue. Then there was the increase of the budget of the judiciary, legislature and executive.

“The President in signing the 2024 Appropriation Act acknowledged that in democracy, institutions have their power and the National Assembly has the last word.

“The evolution of constituency projects and projects by National Assembly members, which did not begin now but since 1999, is a reflection of the challenge that elected persons are facing.”

He further recalled how former President Umaru Yar’ Adua of blessed memory, had approached the Supreme Court seeking the interpretation of Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), lamenting however that the case was later settled out of court.

He added:“There has been a long debate and a former President went up to the Supreme Court to define the appropriation power of the executive and the National Assembly.

“Later, there was an out-of-court settlement. Till now, this issue has not been resolved. So, what is the power of the National Assembly as regards the budget? There is no Supreme Court judgment and the choice of our democracy is that the National Assembly has the last word. Even when they pass an appropriation that assent is refused, after 30 days it becomes law.”

On whether the National Assembly has the powers to increase budget estimates, the former Kebbi State Governor simply said “Yes,” maintaining that it is all part of the checks and balances provided for in the presidential system of government.

admin by — March 17, 2024 in News 0
Kaduna Electric To Boost Power Supply With N350m

Mohammed Shosanya

The Kaduna Electric has earmarked N350m to upgrade the Millennium City Injection sub-station in parts of Kaduna metropolis.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, disclosed this in Kaduna while taking delivery of a 7.5MVA transformer recently procured for onward installation at Millennium City.

He stated that the company is embarking on the capital investment to address the issues of load shedding and power rationing affecting over twenty thousand customers in seven communities within and around Millennium City, Kaduna.

“The only 7.5MVA Power Transformer in the Injection sub-station and the existing 11KV line are both grossly overloaded and cannot meet the electricity needs of the customers. As such, this multi million naira project is aimed at addressing these challenges and bring significant relief to our customers in Kadaure, KK(A and B), Dan Honor, Kadage, Dan Bushiya and Sabon Gida communities, all in Millennium City, Kaduna”, he said.

On completion,he said the capacity of the Injection sub-station shall be upgraded to 2×7.5MVA with a new additional 11KV line.

According to him, “the installation work and construction of the new 11KV feeder shall commence next week and we hope to commission the project in record time”.

He implored customers in the affected communities to reciprocate the Company’s effort by discharging their obligations diligently.

“I wish to use this medium to call on our customers to be alive to their responsibilities when it come to bill’s payment. This is the only we as a company we can discharge our market obligations”, he said.

admin by — March 17, 2024 in Power 0