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Failed Abuja CCTV project: Court orders Buhari govt to account for $460m Chinese loan 21 May 2023  A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to “account for the spending of $460 million Chinese loan to fund the failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project.” The court also ordered the government to “publish the total amount of money paid to Chinese and local companies and contractors and specific details of the names of the companies and contractors and status of the implementation of the project.” Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite made the orders last week while delivering judgment in a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1447/2019 brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The suit followed the disclosure in 2019 by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, that “Nigeria was servicing the loan”, adding that she had ‘no explanations on the status of the project.’ She reportedly said: “We are servicing th...

Aba Power Launches Own Mass Metering Programme Without Prepayment Less than five months after Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th and newest electricity distribution company, keyed into the Federal Government-led Meter Asset Programme (MAP) to provide prepaid meters to its customers, the firm has launched its own metering campaign to accelerate the process of making prepaid meters available to all electricity users in the Aba Ringfence which comprises nine out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State. Known as the Aba Power Mass Meter Programme (APMMP), the campaign will provide meters to electricity users without prepayment. “We have decided on this revolutionary step because meter penetration in the nine LGAs which we service is very poor”, explained Patrick Umeh, the Aba Power managing director who used to be a commissioner with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Industry players believe that greater meter penetration will gender customer confidence which will, in tu...

Best decision I have ever made - Davido on Chioma Superstar David Adeleke, aka Davido, has said that his wife, Chioma, was the best decision he ever made. The couple got married months ago after the death of their son, Ifeanyi.  Davido, who stated this in a recent interview, also hailed Chioma's culinary skills.  “Me and my wife (Chioma) grew up together and went to school together. We met in school. We are just so used to each other. She is like a part of me,” he said when the host asked him the key to happiness. “You definitely have to get somebody that understands you. Me and my wife, we are just perfect; there is nothing that she does that is crazy. It’s just a good match,”  He also said he has known Chioma for almost 20 years  

 I will never do a song with Portable - Spyro, Portable hits back In a recent interview, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, a Nigerian singer widely recognized as Spyro, openly expressed his stance on doing a song with fellow artist Portable. Spyro firmly stated that Portable is the only artist he would never collaborate with. He cited their contrasting musical styles as the primary reason, suggesting that Portable would not be able to deliver a satisfactory performance if he were to write a song for him. The show host threw the question at the fast-rising singer, “Who’s that artiste you can’t do music with?” “Not because I have an issue with him but because our paths just don’t cross. Our kind of music don’t align. He won’t be able to deliver the kind of music I will write for him because it’s not its style,” he said. When asked if he thinks Portable is a good singer, Spyro stated, “I think Portable is good. It’s intentional when people do the type of music portable does.” In response Port...

Resident Doctors Suspend Strike The leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its one-week warning strike which it embarked upon on Wednesday, May 17. President of the association, Dr. Emeka Orji, told Channels Television via a telephone conversation that the association suspended the action for two weeks after reaching some agreement with the government on Friday. He, however, stated that the doctors will meet again on the second day of June this year to review progress made with the agreement signed after which the association will decide on their next line of action. YYou would recall it was earlier reported that the resident doctors and the Federal Government have reached an agreement over the five-day warning strike embarked upon by the association. On May 17,  NARD began a five-day warning strike to press home its demands after a 14-day ultimatum to the government lapsed. The doctors are demanding, among other things, the payment of all s...

Bandits in Imo: Orsu monarchs, leaders give quit notice to hoodlums  22 May 2023  The traditional rulers and stakeholders of the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo state, on Sunday, gave notice to quit to bandits occupying their land, just ask they asked Governor Hope Uzodimma, to consider an amnesty programme for repentant youths in the area. They made their position known in a statement delivered to newsmen in Owerri, by the Chairman Odimma Orsu Initiative, Eze Elect, Eze Ezekiel .I. Nwokedi, and Secretary Barrister Remi Ezedioramma-Agwuezie. They said they adopted the template to end the insecurity in the Orsu area that has lasted for over three years with residents abandoning their homes, houses, and cars set ablaze by the hoodlums. To end it, the stakeholders said: “The stakeholder’s summit formally adopted the interim Executive and admin to pilot the affairs of Odimma Orsu Initiative in the course of our struggle to bring back peace in Orsu land. “That the armed militia ...

A three-year-old boy was mauled to death by ferocious stray dogs on his family’s farm in Qirat Shati village in southern Libya. More updates later But there are other similar stories of STRAY DOGS attacking very young children.  Like this case that happened  in February,reas below:  Just a day after a 5-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Hyderabad, another similar incident has come to the fore from the city where a 4-year-old boy was brutally attacked by stray dogs. 4-year-old Rishi was playing outside his house when 3-4 dogs attacked him. Fortunately in Rishi's case, he was noticed by his family members and was rescued. The boy received bleeding injuries and was treated. The incident happened in Maruti Nagar, Chaitanyapuri, Hyderabad. The boy's mother said that a pack of stray dogs chased Rishi and three other kids before attacking him. He has received deep scratches and injuries.  

PRESS RELEASE AN UNIDENTIFIED/UNCLAIMED MALE CORPSE The photograph on your screen is that of a deceased whose name and address are unknown, is about 30yrs old. He was involved in an accident along Benin/Asaba expressway by NNPC Filing Station opposite former Deputy Asaba, involving one M/Benz 550 with Reg. No. ABUJA RSH 159 CQ, the vehicle  knocked down the man while crossing the road and corpse has been deposited at Maduemezia Memorial Hospital Mortuary Asaba.    Any person(s) who knows the victim, his parents, friends or other relatives should report at State Traffic Office, Asaba, Maduemezia Memorial Hospital Mortuary Asaba, or Police Public Relations office, Police Headquarters Asaba for possible identification and collection of corpse. DSP EDAFE BRIGHT, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, DELTA STATE COMMAND, ASABA. One more photo below. 

ACTDA Installs Solar Street Lights In Parts Of Awka Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA,) has installed eighty units of solar-powered street lights in some parts of Agulu Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area. Speaking to the ABS on the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Mr. Ossy Onuko said that the light which was donated by a philanthropist, Chief Emmanuel Udezue - Okeatu, will not only enhance the aesthetic look of the area, boost security but will also entrench nightlife which will increase the economic base of Anambra state. Mr. Onuko maintained that the gesture is in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration initiative of building a liveable and prosperous homeland, where people can transact their legitimate business at all times and enjoy themselves at any given time. The ACTDA boss commended the donor for his benevolence and love for humanity, and disclosed that the agency is ready to partner any individual ...

PRESS RELEASE DOCTORS STRIKE: FG, NMA, NARD REACH TRUCE *AGREE ON ASUU TEMPLATE FOR DOCTORS PAY RISE The Federal Government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), geared towards halting the five-day nationwide warning strike of resident doctors. The MOU was signed at the end of a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige in his office on Friday. The meeting which lasted for about five hours addressed all the eight issues raised by the striking resident doctors. They are the non payment of salaries of doctors by state governments, domestication of the reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for the year 2023, the bill at the National Assembly on bonding of doctors for five years before licensing, the circular on immediate replacement of exited doctors, and immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF. The others are arrears of Consequen...

Bandits kill nine, injure others in Kaduna 21 May 2023  At least nine people have been reportedly killed by bandits during an attack at Ungwan Dakwa village, near Dogon Dawa ward in Birnin Gwari Local government area of Kaduna State. Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the incident, the House of Assembly member-elect for Birnin Gwari State Constituency, Honourable Yahaya Birnin Gwari, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday. In a telephone conversation, Gwari said the bandits stormed his community at about 2 pm on Saturday and immediately opened fire on the innocent residents who were going about their daily duties. He said that some villagers sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack and were rushed to hospitals at neighbouring Funtua in Katsina State for treatment, while most of the villagers fled from their homes due to fear of a fresh attack by the bandits. Kaduna is one of the North-Western states that is worst hit by bandits who...

‘5 persons killed, property destroyed in Awgbu attack’ 21 May 2023  FIVE persons from Awgbu, Orumba North local government area of Anambra State were killed and property valued at over N10 million lost during an attack on the community, the president general of the town, Hon Emmanuel Akidi has said. In a statement on Sunday, Akidi said the attack had no political connotation as reported by the media. The PG’s statement read: “On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 17, 2023, a commercial tricycle was chased into Awgbu town through Amaokpala by some commercial motorcyclists who claimed that they were armed robbers and fired series of gunshots in that axis. “A large crowd had gathered to join those who chased them into the town. In the ensuing melee, three of the occupants were caught. The Awgbu Vigilante service was able to rescue one of them and promptly handed him over to the police. “The crowd, which had become uncontrollable at this time, took the other two to the boundary between Aw...

Electricity under Buhari: Over $7.5b spent on transmission, yet darkness persists 21 May 2023 • Sector Must Transit From Govt-operated To Market-oriented System The projected gains expected from the over $7.5 billion loans taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administartion to overhaul the transmission segment of the electricity sector and deliver stable supply have remained a mirage days to the end of the administration. The World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), Japan, France Development Agency and other financiers borrowed Nigeria over $7.5 billion to improve the weak wheeling capacity of the transmission network and the grid. But alleged widespread corruption, political considerations, non-alignment of the infrastructure, and the inability of the distribution companies to increase their off-taking capacity, among other factors, have made the kind-heartedness of the lenders meaningless and government efforts futile. Aside from the $2.3 billion Siemen’s deal, which was targe...

Explosion Rocks Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria, Four Persons Confirmed Dead No fewer than four persons have been confirmed dead in an explosion in Sokoto state, Northwest Nigeria. Local sources said the explosion happened on Sunday afternoon at a welder's shop in the Isa Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered that several persons were injured in the explosion. One of the sources said, “When I heard the loud explosion, what came to my mind was that bandits were on a rampage. “It was when I saw people running towards the welder’s shop where the explosion occurred that my mind was at rest that it wasn’t bandits that struck. “Upon enquiry, I was told that the explosion was from a welder’s shop and there were casualties and several others injured.”  

“If We Fail To Unite, Then Our Existence Is Useless – Obasanjo Sends Warning To Nigerians Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized the need for Nigerians to unite and join hands towards making the country achieve its full potential.   The former President noted that individually, each citizen of Nigeria is unique and always excels individually but beyond that, there is the need to harness the potential for the benefit of the nation. According to him, however, without justice, equity, and fairness, no country including Nigeria can attain greatness. He added that making Nigeria better is linked with having the right kind of leaders. The former leader warned that if Nigeria fails to live up to its expectations, questions should be asked of every stakeholder. “Over a long period of my life in peacemaking and mediation, I have come to realize that peace, security, and stability are essential ingredients for the development and growth of any country. Without justice, equity, and...

Kwankwaso, Peter Obi helped Tinubu become president – Deji Adeyanju Ahead of the May 29 inauguration of a new administration, the presidential candidates of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, have been accused of making Bola Tinubu the President-elect. Deji Adeyanju, a socio-political activist, said Kwankwaso and Obi made Tinubu president-elect by reducing Atiku’s votes. Tweeting, Adeyanju said Obi went further by using religious bigotry to help Tinubu. According to Adeyanju: “Tinubu will be president in 8 days. Kwankwaso and Obi made it possible by reducing their oga, Atiku’s votes. “Obi took his own to the extreme by even using religious bigotry to do so.” Tinubu defeated Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso during the last presidential election.  

NDOLA MAN BEATS UP HIS WIFE FOR SHARING THE PIECE OF HIS FAVORITE CHICKEN WITH HER UNCLE  . A MAN has allegedly assaulted his pregnant wife for serving her uncle a piece of chicken which the assailant claimed was his favourite. Zulu, aged 27, is alleged to have hit his wife, Mwamulima, 25, with a stone after she served her uncle a drumstick, which is usually reserved for him as husband.  Ms Mwamulima, who is currently nursing serious injuries on her body at Ndola Teaching Hospital, was seven months pregnant.  Copperbelt Province police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba and a medical personnel at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital confirmed the incident in separate interviews yesterday. “The victim was believed to be pregnant. Brief facts are that the woman and her husband, who came home drunk, had some marital misunderstanding which resulted in him picking a stone which was used to inflict the said injuries,” he said.  A relative of the victim who did not want to ...

2023 Presidential Election:  Onaiyekan Raises Fresh Concern , Kicks Against Turning Tribunal Into A Secret Meeting  The Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has backed the call for live broadcast of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal proceedings. The cleric noted that the proceedings of the Election Tribunal should not be ‘like a secret meeting,’ because the voters needed to follow up on how their votes were being defended. Onaiyekan made this assertion while speaking in an interview with journalists after Mass to mark the end of this year’s 57th World Communication Week on Sunday. He warned against the dangers of electoral malpractices saying that rather than the politicians, the masses feel the direct impact of a rigged election. According to him, Jesus Christ could only report to the Father on the success of his mission of showing the Father to the world because he was effective in his communication style. He said, “It is not enough t...

Many feared dead as fuel tanker explodes in Kogi  Many people are feared dead while others were trapped after a fuel-laden tanker exploded along the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway area of Kogi State. Two commercial buses and other vehicles were burnt in the incident which occurred directly in front of the Kogi Local Government Secretariat at about 7:00 am on Sunday morning, May 21, 2023.  It was gathered that the truck driver was conveying the fuel to a destination in the state when he lost control and rammed into other vehicles. According to reports, the explosion occurred due to the impact of the collision. The fire that emanated from the explosion razed the tanker, some vehicles alongside some people trapped in it. However, emergency responders including officials of the Federal Roads Safety Corps, had stormed the scene to salvage the situation and commence rescue operations. Confirming the incident, the state Sector Commander, FRSC, Stephen Dawlung, said the crash had caused a ba...