President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday said the establishment of modular refineries in the country will make petroleum products available in the country and eliminate importation. The President spoke at the virtual inauguration of the 5,000 barrels per day Waltersmith modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo State, as well as the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Phase-2 works to expand the capacity of the refinery to 50,000 barrels/day. Buhari said the deployment of modular refineries was one of the four key elements of his administration’s Refinery Roadmap rolled out in 2018, adding that its implementation will make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products.…
Author: Francis Francis
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, ordered that Senator Ali Ndume be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NcoS, for failure to produce Abdulrasheed Maina in court. Ndume who stood surety for Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) was given the options of being remanded in prison custody, forfeiture of the N500 million bail bond to the federal government by paying the sum into the Federation Account; the disposing of his Asokoro, Abuja property by the federal government in order to realize the bail bond or in the final…
Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced six foreigners and a Nigerian to seven years imprisonment for oil theft. They were jailed on Monday after three years of prosecution by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The foreigners are two Pakistanis: Mohammed Ejaz, Nasser Khan; two Ukranians: Oleksandr Nazarenko, Oleksandr Kashernvi; one Ghanaian: Romeo Annang, and one Indonesian: Fredrik Fatin Omenu. Their Nigerian counterpart: David Otuohi bagged same jail term with them. The convicts were arraigned on Tuesday, 21 November, 2017, alongside…
The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have unmasked the reason for walking out of the meeting with the Federal Government yesterday. In a joint statement on Monday, the unions said the government is not sincere and honest in dialoguing on finding a lasting solution to the twin issues of the petroleum price increase and electricity tariffs. “You may recall that following our notice to the government to protest the increase in the pump price of petroleum products and electricity tariffs, the government reached out to labour not to proceed on its nation-wide protest, that was slated for 28th September…
The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has denied the report making waves it threatened to arrest one Mrs. Afusat Salami, 35, who was soliciting financial assistance after she gave birth to a set of triplets recently via Caesarian Section. In a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu, representatives of the Ministry paid Mrs. Salami a visit in line with the promise that the State would offer necessary assistance to alleviate the standard of living of the parent and the children. In his words: “Contrary to misrepresentation being circulated…
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has refuted the allegation of sexual advances against its purported Commander as reported in the Punch Newspaper of Sunday, November 22, 2020, with the caption “Taskforce Commander Made Sexual Advances At Me – DIDI EKANEM”. According to a statement issued by the Agency, preliminary investigation revealed that the claimant and owner of a Venza car with the registration APP 775 GJ was arrested for driving against traffic (one-way) around Lekki – Ajah expressway by an enforcement team of the Agency led by DSP Kayode Popoola on Wednesday, 18th of November, 2020.…
Medical expert, popularly known as Aproko Doctor has revealed certain things that people who have had sex or currently having sex should know in order to prevent certain problems in the future. The social media influencer, in a thread on his Twitter handle on Friday, wrote: If you’ve had sex or are currently having sex, this thread is for you. It might save you from a lot of problems in the future Are you “clean”? As long as you’re having sex, you probably have one variant of the Human Papilloma Virus that causes cervical cancer There are over 100 Out…
The trial of erstwhile Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to Kwara State governor on Millenium Development Goals, MDGs, Alhaji Ope Saraki, commenced on Thursday, November 19, 2020, with the prosecution calling its star witness, Kunle Adimula. Saraki, a cousin to the immediate past president of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki allegedly collected a sum of N11,180,000 (eleven million, one hundred and eighty thousand naira) meant to execute some projects under the MDGs, a sum which exceeded the cash payable to an individual. The offence is contrary to Section 1 and 16 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and…
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned the trial of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe till February 8 and 9, 2021. Okupe is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC alongside his two companies: Value Trust Investments and Abrahams Telecoms on a 59-count charge, bordering on money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N702,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Two Million Naira). The judge at a recent sitting renewed the order, permitting Okupe to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, having been…
The Lagos State Government, on Thursday, stated that its Land Use Charge Reforms Law has a human face and was enacted with the welfare of Lagosians in mind and remarkably different from the Land Use Charge of 2018. The State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, made the assertion while welcoming officials of the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, who were on a work-study to Lagos, adding that the need to make the Act people-friendly informed the various provisions such as the 40 per cent general relief, a waiver for pensioners and discount on early payments among others.…
The Nigerian Government has described the ‘investigative report’ by CNN on the eventualities that happened on the 20th of October at Lekki tollgate in Lagos during the two-week long #EndSARS protest as irresponsible journalism, adding that the channel deserves to be sanctioned. In a press conference on Thursday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed maintained that the Military did not shoot at the protesters. “Like everyone else, I watched the CNN report. I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going round, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work…
The Lagos State coconut value chain, conservatively put in excess of N350 billion yearly, is set to be activated as the State partners the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat stated this during a courtesy visit by the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Fred Kaferro, in his Office at Ikeja, emphasising that the collaboration will ensure the State’s coconut production significantly improves and the attendant value chain bolstered. He noted that the FAO, being a research-based organisation, will visit coconut sites in the State to take a sample of the soil and coconut,…
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the international community to act in unison with rededicated efforts, using latest available technology and tools, to address the Tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. In his goodwill message to the roundtable conference of the Board of the “Global Stop TB Partnership”, Buhari expressed concern that efforts at ending a preventable and curable disease like TB were now complicated because of COVID-19. ‘‘As I mentioned during the UN High Level Meeting in 2018, it is now even more urgent that the global community, especially the African region, act in…
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday directed the Head of Service of the Federation and the Budget Office to consider an increase in the personnel and overhead allocation of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). The President issued the directive at the virtual inauguration of capital projects executed at UMTH, in response to a specific request by the Board and Management of the hospital. President Buhari noted that the increase in personnel and allocation at UMTH would optimise services provided by the activation of the new projects. Among projects commissioned by the President are a newly constructed and fully equipped 150-bed…
Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have taken into custody four officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and one other for allegedly receiving gratification and purchasing proceeds of crime. The five suspects, Adeda Retty, Abimbola Louis, Eboji Ngozi, and Okunda Olawale of NIS and Godwin Agazuwu, an agent of Telly Ship, were arrested in a sting operation following an intelligence-led investigation into their underhand activities at the Apapa Port in Lagos. While Adeda, Abimbola, Eboji and Okunda were at the time of the arrest in possession of 7 cartons of frozen fish which…
A serving Deputy Director of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, Alh. Ahmad Balarabe has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by the State High Court 3 sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State for defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of N7million. Balarabe, had earlier been dragged before Hon. Justice Bello Shinkafi, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. The Convict was first arraigned in September 2018 on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, an allegation to which he pleaded not guilty, thereby setting the tone for the long trial. ICPC prosecutor, Mashkur Salisu, had told the…
Governors under the aegis of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) on Tuesday visited Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to commiserate with him and the people of Lagos State over the recent destruction of public and private properties in the State in the aftermath of the youth protests. Speaking to journalists after a closed-door session with Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina, the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, on behalf of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for demonstrating leadership during the protests. The Progressives Governors Forum delegation to…
Claims in some quarters that the former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi had nothing to do with the recent plan by the Federal Government to pay back funds expended on federal projects within the States have been debunked by former Lagos Governor and Nigeria’s Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola. Fashola made the clarification during the commissioning of an overhead bridge, built by the Rivers State Government in Rebis, Port Harcourt and his position seems to have laid to rest all speculations and uncertainties about the roles played by the Transportation Minister and erstwhile Rivers Governor,…
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the House is ready to support the interventions of the Federal Government to rebuild Lagos and other states worst hit by the recent EndSars protests. Gbajabiamila also tasked Lagosians to put heads and resources together to rebuild the state in view of the destruction of properties worth billions of naira in the state. Speaking at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund on Monday in Lagos, Gbajabiamila said he was heartbroken after going round the state for an on-the-spot assessment of…
The Lagos State Government has again restated its determination to continually upskill members of the Lagos State Council for Tradesmen and Artisans, LASCOTA, to meet up with the job demands for the 21st-century economy. Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of Y2020 upskilling of 2000 Tradesmen and Artisans in Lagos at the weekend, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke stated that the retraining of 1,500 Artisans and 500 Tradesmen is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to continually enhance the competence and quality of Artisans and Traders in the State for global competitiveness. She said, “This re-skilling programme…
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the House is committed to increasing the allocation to the health sector with a view to improving the well-being of Nigerians. Speaking at a 2-day training organised for health workers by his office in Lagos State, the Speaker said the programme was to improve their capacity to be able to handle the Covid-19 situation better. Declaring the training open on Sunday in Lagos, the Speaker said it was “part of efforts to ensure that health care professionals have the skills they need to continue to do the…
President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020. In a statement on Friday, Garba Shehu, Buhari’s Senior Special on Media and Publicity, said Buhari gave the approval on Thursday. “It repeals the extant Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 1991 as amended. This monumental piece of legislation is expected to enhance the soundness and resilience of the financial system for sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy. “The BOFI Act 2020 updates the enabling law in response to developments and significant evolution in the financial sector over the last two decades. It will…
CSW has reiterated calls for the release of detained Chinese human rights defender Zhang Zhan, amid continued concerns for her health and wellbeing. 14 November will mark six months since Zhang, a Christian and former lawyer, was detained by Chinese authorities. Zhang had travelled to Wuhan, the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak, in early February, from where she posted videos and articles about the COVID-19 outbreak on Twitter and YouTube, both of which are blocked in China, and other social media platforms. She was taken away from her hotel room in Wuhan by Shanghai police on 14 May and has been detained at the Pudong…
The Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of the polio outbreak response exercise from Saturday, November 14, 2020, in five LGAS – Apapa, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Somolu, and Surulere. A statement issued by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board revealed that children between 0 – 5 years would be vaccinated with two drops of the oral polio vaccine, regardless of their previous immunization status, to prevent poliomyelitis that may result in paralysis of the limbs or death. The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Olugbemiga Aina, while urging parents to take advantage of the…
Uganda has for the third time in a row emerged as the top performer in this year’s Electricity Regulatory Index Report published by the African Development Bank. The East African country, along with Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya, the other top performers, have regulators with the authority to exert the necessary oversight on the sector. However, the overall electricity regulatory frameworks of African countries is poorly developed, and most countries experience major regulatory weaknesses. The ERI, a flagship report of the African Development Bank, is a composite index which measures the level of development of electricity sector regulatory frameworks in…
Former Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and stakeholder of the nation’s main opposition party, Femi Fani-Kayode has stated that if the news making waves that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Party is true, the PDP should immediately swing into action and ensure he doesn’t leave the party. Punch Newspaper had reported that Umahi intimated the members of the National Working Committee of the PDP of his decision to join the APC, claiming that the ruling All Progressives Congress would protect the interest of the South-East in…
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that the attacks on public assets and private businesses in Lagos State in the heat of the #EndSARS protest were orchestrated to hurt the whole country. The Governor, who condemned the arson, stressed that Lagos remains a home for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, language, or religion. Ikpeazu spoke on Wednesday during his visit to Lagos to commiserate with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the attacks. The Abia Governor particularly thanked his Lagos State counterpart for protecting the businesses and properties owned by Igbo during the violence. Ikpeazu said: “I am here to commiserate…
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has described the Emir of Ilorin Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari as a man of peace who is passionately committed to Nigeria’s unity and progress. In a statement in Abuja to celebrate Gambari’s 25th Anniversary on the throne, Atiku who is the Wazirin Adamawa said the Emir of Ilorin is one of the traditional rulers whose “commitment to our unity in diversity impresses beyond words”. According to Atiku, the appointment of Sulu Gambari as Emir of Ilorin 25 years ago has vindicated his admirers like him who were confident that he wouldn’t disappoint…
The Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Odumboni has debunked the claim contained in a viral video on social media alleging that some street sweepers are being owed three months’ salaries by the Agency. Odumboni stated that the allegation is totally untrue and fabricated, stressing that no sweeper in the service of the State government is being owed any salary as all the LAWMA contractors had been fully paid to date. In his words: “There is no truth whatsoever in the content of the video, it is a complete falsehood and the Authority wants to make it categorically…
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja urged agencies involved in agriculture to further streamline their priorities in the inclusion of youth in driving modern methods of farming while assuring all those interested that an enabling environment will be created for full participation. In his remark at the launch of National Young Farmers Scheme, designed by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) to spur more youth interest in farming, the President said agriculture remains the backbone of the Nigerian economy, being the largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “We will do more to expand, modernize and revolutionize…
