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Ekiti Protests Planned Power Outage For Two Months By TCN

By
Ayodele Oni
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TCN - Transmission Line - Power

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Government has protested to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN) over planned power outage in the State for two months.

This was contained in a letter, dated June 30, 2024 to the

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Abuja and copied Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Benin-City and

the Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Company (NERC), Abuja

It was titled Re- Notification of Power Disruption/Outage in Ado-Ekiti and Akure for Two Months (July, August 2024) For Nine Hours Each Day (8.00AM TO 5.00PM) and signed by Prof Mobolaji Aluko, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Projects Planning.

It stated that: “No direct notification/communication was made to the Ekiti State Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities (MIPU) on this matter, nor was approval sought and obtained from the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB), saddled by law with the full authority to regulate the electricity industry in Ekiti State.

“The planned disruption of electricity for three-eighths of each day for sixty-two days, amounting to five hundred and fifty-eight hours (558) total and twenty-three days of outage in these two months amounts to an unacceptable economic, financial and social price to be paid by the citizens of Ekiti State, and we totally reject such a plan.

“Consequently, we ask for an immediate suspension of the plan, while we call for an emergency meeting with the regional heads of TCN, BEDC and NERC at 12:00 noon Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the Office of the Honourable

Commissioner, MIPU, The Secretariat, Ado-Ekiti, in order to devise an alternative and far less adverse plan to achieve the same stated aims.”

TCN had in a notice explained that the outage is ” to carry out critical maintenance work on the 132KV Akure Osogbo transmission line…(and) the installation of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) and

other activities.”

Ekiti state government added that “We request prompt attention to this matter while we are eager to work collaboratively toward a sustainable solution that will benefit both citizens of the State and the Ekiti State Electricity Supply Industry.”

Ondo: Whereabouts Of Abducted Pastor Unknown

By
Ayodele Oni
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Gunmen - Kidnappers

By Ayodele Oni

A Pastor with a popular Pentecostal Church in Ondo State, Anthony Ebele, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

It was gathered that the Pastor was abducted Saturday evening at his Ogbese Farm, along Yakubu Road, after Benin Camp in Akure North Local Government Area.

Family sources confirmed that the suspected kidnappers have made contact with relations of Pastor Ebele but yet to demand ransom as at Sunday afternoon.

The Ondo State Police Command’s Spokesperson, Mrs Funmi Odunlami, has confirmed the incident.

She explained that the matter was reported  Saturday evening by a family member of the victim and was asked to come back for further briefing.

The Spokesperson stated that: “On the 29th of June, around 10pm, one Mr Ogunjobi Adeyemi, reported at the station that his brother, who went to farm was yet to return home.

“The complainant was expected to meet with the Police this morning to trace the victim to the farm but did not show up.”

Jigawa Recruits 1,100 Doctors, Offers Free Dialysis To Kidney Patients

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Umar Namadi - Governor of Jigawa State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Reprieve  has come the way of kidney patients and other  related diseases in Jigawa.   The  State Government has offered free medical attention.

The Governor,  Umar Namadi, has assured that under his watch, no citizen of Jigawa State will die of kidney-related issues on account of inability to pay medical bills.

Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa, the Commissioner for Health who announced this at the weekend while briefing the press on the outcome of the State Executive Council Meeting, said arrangements have been concluded for the establishment of dialysis centres at the State’s medical facilities in Ringim Emirate and Dutse the state capital.

Similarly, efforts, he said,  are at advanced stage to mount dialysis machines and other kidney treatment equipment at Hadejia, Kazaure and Gumel General Hospitals.

Additionally, about N1.5 billion has been voted for the purpose of rehabilitating and upscaling of medical facilities in about 32 hospitals and health centres across the State.

According to Dr Kainuwa, the upgrading is aimed at ensuring that the health facilities provide 24 hours service with a view to ensuring that the needs of the people are met.

The Government, he noted, is aiming to enrol about 500 persons from the 287 wards in the State into the free health insurance scheme.

“Although the social health insurance is for primary healthcare, but the beneficiaries have the guarantee of enjoying free services up to the tertiary level under the scheme in which the Council approved N1.5 billion.

“To achieve the desired goals, we have recruited 1,100 Health workers including 200 Doctors, Pharmacists, and Nurses, while renovation and upgrading of the existing health facilities is under the programme, including those constructed since the 1970s without any major renovation or upgrading” the commissioner

He emphasised  that the move is in conformity with the 12-point Agenda of  Governor Namadi’s Administration in the Health sector.

“Governor Namadi is determined to ensure that no person dies in Jigawa because of lack of abilities to pay medical bills.

“He is committed to making healthcare delivery services accessible and affordable to all Jigawa citizens, and he is ready to invest to achieve the desired goals”,Dr Kainuwa asserted

Lagos/Calabar Coastal Road: FG Threatens Contract Termination

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Dave Umahi
Dave Umahi

The federal government has threatened to terminate the contract of some sections of the Lagos/Calabar Coastal Road.

The Minister of Work, Dave Umahi made the threat at a meeting on the project with the construction firms-Julius Berger and China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, CCECC, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital on Saturday.

According to the minister, the federal government is unhappy with the slow pace of work on the Akwa Ibom and Cross River states axis of the project.

He explained that the reasons cited by the contractors in slowing down the pace of work, including that the state governments have not paid compensation was not genuine.

Umahi also expressed dismay on the non-commitment to Eleme to the port city of Onne, in Rivers State by  Raynoids Construction Company, RCC.

He warned the concerned construction firms that their contract would be terminated if they refused to increase the pace of work.

Part of what the minister said as the meeting: “If you talk to them they would say it is because of compensation and this governor, Akwa-Ibom State, had settled compensation issues and so we are giving them a marching order to CCECC to mobilise at least three sections of that road.

“The federal government has released enough money to fund the projects. The same thing with Julius Berger, by the end of this coming week, if Julius Berger fails to remobilise to site and the CCECC fails to mobilise to the sections of the road, the jobs will be terminated.

“The worst of roads in the entire South South remains this Akwa Ibom to Cross River through Itu and Odukpani and the section being done by RCC. RCC had collected over N40bn on that road; 15kilometres of  roads, N156 billion it inherited from the past administration, they are playing tricks.

“We have been on them to change their mindset and by the end of next week our 14 days notice of termination of contract will elapse, and we will terminate the projects and give to those who have mastery of laying concrete.”

The magazine reported the controversy that has trailed the road project, because not a few Nigerians insist that its timing is wrong at a time the country is facing serious economic challenges.

Gov Yusuf Fumes Over Confinement of Workers As Casuals For 20 Years

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Governor Abba Yusuf has described as inhuman the keeping of a  larger part  of staffers of the State’s Refuse Management and Sanitation Board REMASAB ,as casuals for   as much as 20 years.

This is just as he expressed disappointment with the abysmal performance of the  agency and the Kano Road Traffic Agency KAROTA  in the discharge of their statutory public responsibilities .

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 1, 2024, by his media aide, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa,the Kano State Governor, on a visit to the operational headquarters of REMASAB, was shocked to discover that only 10 workers of the agency are permanent and pensionable.

Governor Yusuf who could not hide his anger, was visibly worried over the unfunctional State of  most of the agency’s operational vehicles and other equipment, despite the huge resources that have been placed at its disposal.

Only about seven out of available 30 waste disposal trucks and three out of 15 pay loaders of the Agency were functional as at the time the Governor visited .

Similarly, at KAROTA’s Operational Office, Governor Yusuf was also confronted with the sight of a significant number of grounded operational vehicles and other facilities.

Dissatisfied with the development, the Governor directed the agency’s Management to immediately  submit a comprehensive inventory of their operational vehicles to the Government.

He regretted that despite the huge investments by the Government, the two critical agencies have failed to measure up to expectations.

” Iam not happy with what I saw at the two agencies  This calls for a total overhaul of the system. We can not afford to fail in the discharge of the mandates  of agencies like KAROTA and REMASAB ” he insisted.

The Managements of the two agencies have, therefore, been asked to interface with the Chief of Staff to the Governor to fashion ways out of the ugly situation.

Governor Yusuf may most, likely, ring some changes within the top hierarchies of the two dysfunctional agencies in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf has expressed dismay over the alleged protection of drug dealers and their ill- gotten wealth by some pliable Judges of the country’s Judiciary.

He, therefore, directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, to come up with a detailed frame work on how to meaningfully challenge illicit drugs dealers and their judges enablers.

In a statement made available by his Tofa on Sunday, June 30, the Kano State Governor emphasised the need for collaborative efforts between Judicial Officers and the State Government in protecting the citizenry, particularly, youths from the debilitating effects of hard substances .

According to the Governor, dealers on illicit drugs are most times procuring Court orders seamlessly ,for the release of their confiscated products from corrupt Judges, whom he said do not mean well for the country.

Governor Yusuf also lamented that this unfortunate situation, has tended to draw back ,the efforts of the  state Government in combating the menace of drug trafficking and consumption in the state.

Anambra Reps Caucus Denies Endorsing Soludo For Re-election

By
James Orji
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Victor Ogene
Hon. Victor Ogene

The Anambra State Caucus of the House of Representatives has denied that it endorsed Governor Charles Soludo for re-election in 2025.

The caucus said this in a statement signed by its leader, Afam Ogene, on Sunday, June 30, 2024, titled, ”Re: Anambra State Caucus, House of Representatives, Endorses Gov. Soludo – A Rebuttal.”.

Ogene said though the caucus paid the governor a visit on Friday, June 28, party and personal aspirations were not on the agenda as focus was on ”the multifarious development and security challenges that confront our people.”

The statement read, ”Our attention has been drawn to wild rumours, circulating across several WhatsApp platforms, to the effect that the Ogene-led Anambra state Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives, has endorsed Governor Chukwuma Soludo for a second tenure in office.

”Although the Caucus, made up of nine, out of its 11 members, paid Governor Soludo a courtesy visit on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, our deliberations centred, primarily, on forging a development synergy for the overall interest of our state.

”Indeed, at no time during the almost five-hour chit-chat – during which both sides dissected the multifarious development and security challenges that confront our people – everyone was allowed to freely make contributions, in a free, no-holds barred manner.

”As a matter of fact, Governor Soludo himself aptly captured the essence of our visit, when he wrote on his X handle thus, ‘Yesterday, I had the honor of welcoming the Anambra State Caucus of the Federal House of Representatives to the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia. It was a pivotal step towards fortifying our collaboration in infrastructural partnership and development.

‘Our discussions were marked by a shared commitment to transcend party affiliations and work together harmoniously to champion initiatives at the national level that will significantly benefit Ndi Anambra,’ Governor Soludo wrote.

”We wish to add that personal, or party aspirations, never featured in our exchanges during the visit. We, therefore, had no cause to endorse anyone.

”As we begin this new chapter of development-centric collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms, we urge meddlesome interlopers not to truncate this laudable gesture, in the guise of projecting narrow partisan considerations.

Zamfara Rejects Appointment Of ‘Pastor’s Daughter’ As Fed Perm Sec

By
James Orji
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Maryam Ismaila

The rejection of the appointment of Maryam Ismaila as a Federal Permanent Secretary by the Zamfara state government may not be unconnected with her father’s religious background as a Christian, according to SaharaReporters.

Ismaila is one of the eight permanent secretaries appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday to fill existing and impending vacancies of some states and geo-political zones in the civil service.

Their appointments were announced on Friday, in a statement ,by Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Not long after the announcement, the state government rejected her appointment saying she is not an indigene of the state.

The state’s position was contained in a letter to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, by Zamfara State’s Head of Service, Ahmad Liman, expressing concerns about Ismaila’s selection.

According to the state government, her appointment has stirred up unease in the state, urging President Tinubu to reconsider the matter.

The state government insist that allowing Ismaila’s appointment to stand will further fuel the suggestion that the state has been marginalised at the federal level in terms of appointment.

However, the decision to reject Ismail’s appointment may not be unconnected with her father being a pastor while he was alive.

Ismail’s parents, source told the newspaper, hailed from Tsafe Local Government Area of the state, where her father was a pastor in ECWA church, Tsafe while he was alive.

ECWA is the Evangelical Church Winning All, previously known as the Evangelical Church of West Africa.

One source informed the newspaper that “Tinubu’s appointment of Maryam from Zamfara as permanent secretary was rejected by the state government because her father was a pastor. Simple!” one of the sources said.

“She is Hausa and a medical doctor. She married a Yoruba Muslim and later converted to Islam. Their families are well known in Tsafe town,” another source said.

“Why I Want South-East Governors to Work Together” – Peter Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi
Peter Obi

The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has reiterated his call for South-East Governors to collaborate, emphasizing that such unity is crucial for the region’s development. Obi made this statement at Jesuit College in Port Harcourt while responding to a question seeking clarification on his previous day’s call for the South-East Governors to work together.

Obi highlighted that the entire country faces diverse challenges, including his own South-East zone. He expressed his desire for all regions to work collectively for the progress of their respective areas, thereby contributing to the overall development of Nigeria.

“In the case of the South-East,” Obi said, “the problems, like elsewhere, are many. However, security is the most pressing issue. I again urge the Governors to work as a family, especially now towards solving this problem, because working in isolation will achieve less and consume more resources.”

Obi emphasized that now is the time for the Governors to collaborate among themselves, working towards becoming collective champions. He suggested they engage with one another and even seek insights from former governors to share experiences. This approach, he argued, is more effective than striving to be individual champions and failing in such selfish pursuits.

It will be recalled that Obi expressed similar sentiments while speaking to journalists in Onitsha on Saturday, where he stated: “I thank the government for their efforts so far, but there is a need to do more. All leaders must come together to join hands and fight this. In the South-East, the governors need to unite to tackle these challenges effectively.

“Even in economic matters, I want to see the South-East governors work more closely. We need them to come together and also engage other groups in the zone for comprehensive development.”

Imo State Takes Control of Electricity Market: NERC Grants Regulatory Oversight

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma- Governor of Imo State

In a significant development, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has granted the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC) regulatory control over the electricity market in Imo State, effective July 1, 2024.

This decision is in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, which allows states to take ownership of their electricity markets.

NERC Chairman Sanusi Garba signed the order, following a request from the Imo State government.

As a result, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is required to establish a subsidiary, EEDC SubCo, to manage intrastate electricity distribution within Imo State. The subsidiary must be incorporated within 60 days and obtain a license from ISERC.

With this development, Imo State becomes the fourth state to gain regulatory authority over its electricity market, joining Enugu, Ondo, and Ekiti states.”

APC Says No Zoning Formula Ahead Anambra 2025 Guber Poll, Disowns Amaefuna

By
Akinwale Kasali
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APC

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election gathers momentum,  the All Progressives Congress, APC, has rejected the Zoning Formula for the Governorship Election Primaries.

Valentine Iyke-Oliobi, the Party’s Publicity Secretary made this disclosure in a statement. He said the APC has never been part of any zoning arrangement with any political party in the State.

He emphasized that the party gives every member equal opportunity to vie for its ticket, regardless of their zone.

“The APC in Anambra State has no zoning formula and has never been part of any zoning arrangement with any political party in the state.

“We have always given every member of the party contesting for any position the opportunity to vie for the party’s ticket, regardless of where he/she comes from,” the party said.

The statement also disowned a certain Mr. Pope Amaefuna, who claimed to be a Chieftain of the APC in Anambra State.

Iyke-Oliobi said Amaefuna is unknown to the party and maybe a ‘fifth columnist’ trying to confuse.

“To the best of our knowledge, he (Amaefuna) may be a fifth columnist whose aim is to cause unnecessary tension and disunity in the party through unguarded utterances,” Iyke-Oliobi stated.

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democratic principles and equal opportunities for all members.

According to him, the party’s candidate for the 2025 Governorship election will emerge through a popular mandate.

“The APC is a progressive party and will not restrict the democratic field to any section of the state.

“Candidates of the party at all levels are chosen by the people from across the state. We call on those aspiring for any elective post to work hard towards gaining the acceptance of the party members when the time comes, instead of focusing on the distracting argument of zoning, which is alien to the APC,” the statement concluded.

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