THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)has threatened sanctions against electricity distribution companies or DisCos if they failed to take up at least 95 per cent of the total monthly energy allocated for distribution. In the commission’s Order on Performance Monitoring Framework for all the DisCos, the market operator rolled out touch sanctions against utility firms that commit infractions capable of inflicting pain on electricity consumers. Among other things, NERC said it would reduce five per cent of the administrative, and operational expenditure of any DisCo that failed to offtake at least 95 per cent of the total energy allocated to…
Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa
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THE House of Representatives has launched a probe into the N1.5 billion meant for the payment of contractors, but allegedly diverted by principal officers of the Federal ministry of women affairs. The House Committee on Women Affairs commenced the probe in Abuja against the backdrop of petitions by contractors over non-payment of contracts executed. Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the committee, said that the ministry initiated new contracts not captured in the 2023 budget and diverted N1.5 billion being funds for old contractors. She added that the ministry, while owing contractors, awarded fresh contract in 15 states of the federation,…
NIGERIA has recorded over 2,100 suspected cases of Cholera outbreak across 33 states of the federation, the health authorities have said. This marks a significant increase from the 1,579 cases reported just a week ago, highlighting the rapid spread of the disease. This was disclosed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) which put the case fatality rate at 3%. Briefing journalists on the measures deployed against the outbreak on Tuesday, NCDC Director General, Jide Idris put the case fatality rate at 3.0 per cent. He said the cases were recorded as of June 30th, 2024. “As…
THE Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, (SSAP-SDGs) Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called on State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to double their efforts in the quest to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the global community seeks to accelerate the implementation of the Global Agenda in the Decade of Action for the Goals. The Presidential Aide made this call at the ongoing Advocacy and Sensitisation campaign in Kano and Ondo States. A statement issued by Desmond Utomwen, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the SSAP-SDGs, noted that with the…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued fresh guidelines to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on the deposit of foreign currency notes with the apex bank. This directive was contained in a circular issued by the Director of Currency Operators, Mohammed Solaja and posted on the bank’s website on Friday. CBN disclosed that each bank would be allowed a maximum deposit of $10 million threshold for USD 100 notes and USD 50 notes daily, saying such foreign currency deposits can only be made at the CBN branches in Abuja and Lagos. “In order to deepen the foreign exchange market, boost…
THE Federal Government may get emergency vaccine doses from the Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, to contain the cholera outbreak in the country. The Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, Dr Sania Nishtar, in a post on her X handle @SaniaNishtar, on Thursday, said the body was concerned about the cholera outbreak in Nigeria and was ready to support the country in its response. She tweeted, “Deeply concerned about the ongoing #cholera outbreak in Nigeria. @Gavi and partners are closely monitoring the cholera outbreak, and stand ready to support the government to quickly respond, including to request emergency vaccine doses where needed. “The…
THE Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the Vice President of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima, on the demise of his mother-in-law, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Albishir who passed away yesterday at the age of 69 after a protracted illness. Governor Inuwa Yahaya described the late Hajiya Maryam as an exemplary mother and a cornerstone of her family. He remarked, “We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Albishir. Her loss is felt not only by her family but Gombe State…
THE mother-in-law of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON, Hajiya Asiya Muhammad Gauyama has passed away. According to a press statement by Ganduje’s Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Hajiya Gauyama, the beloved mother of Professor Hafsatu Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the wife of the National Chairman, died in the early hours of Monday. “The funeral prayer for Hajiya Asiya Muhammad Gauyama will hold today, at 2PM, at the residence of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON, located on Miyangu Road, Kano state. The statement read in full: Press Statement It is with deep sorrow…
AS the death toll from the latest cholera outbreak hits 40, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says the country does not have enough vaccines. According to the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jide Idris, Nigeria has placed an order for more cholera vaccines from donor agencies, even though the date of delivery is still unknown. The NCDC boss stressed the need for the country to embrace the use of vaccines and other preventive measures to curb the spread of the acute diarrhoeal infection. Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by…
NIGERIA took part in a round table meeting with organizers of the Grammy Awards, Recording Academy, and four other countries to investigate modalities for a Global African Music upscale. According to a statement by the Special Adviser, Media to the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the meeting which took place on Tuesday at the Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda is aimed at elevating the vibrant music and culture of Africa unto the global stage. The steering committee consisting of Ministers of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy of Kenya, Rwanda, a delegation from South Africa representing…
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University, Gashua branch in Yobe State, has asked the Federal Government to address the lingering issues affecting universities to avoid another disruption of academic activities on campuses. The Chairman of the branch, Melemi Abatcha, and his members who addressed journalists at Damaturu the state capital on Thursday outlined funding for the revitalisation of Nigerian public universities, and the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement among the major issues. “Funding for revitalisation of Nigeria public universities i.e. improved infrastructure, conducive teaching/learning environments, students and staff accommodation, equipping of laboratories and libraries. Consequently, the Academic…
THE Director General of the National Agency for Food and Administration and Control, Prof Moji Adeyeye, has urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days. Adeyeye warned that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death. Adeyeye made this known in a statement on Tuesday signed by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola. Adeyeye, who said this in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day with the theme, ‘Food Safety: Prepare for the…
THE Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-Al- Adha celebration. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. He said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, and congratulated all Muslim Ummah both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion. “He called on the Muslim Ummah to continue to imbibe the spirit of peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon Him) and to also use…
SUSPECTED Boko Haram insurgents have abducted many of passengers along Maiduguri/Kano highway. Sources told this newspaper that the insurgents struck between Garin Kuturu and Mannanari village near Auno, which is along Damaturu highway at about 5:50:pm on Monday. They reportedly blocked the highway before forcefully taking away some passengers. The incident left hundreds of travelers and commuters stranded on both ends of the ever-busy road. They had to return to Benishek and Auno respectively. “There was an incident between Mannanari and Garin Kuturu where some Boko Haram fighters came out to block the upcoming vehicles and some passengers were abducted.”…
THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced disconnection of power service to all debtors. AEDC in a statement signed by its Acting Managing Director, Victor Ojelabi, Friday Morning, said, ‘this is a notice to all customers with outstanding bills to settle their accounts immediately to avoid service disruption. “ “To this end, customers who are yet to settle their outstanding bills within the next 72 hours, by Monday, June 3, 2024, will face disconnection of their electricity supply.”, the statement read in part. See full statement below: Press Release AEDC Announces Disconnection of Electricity Service to All Debtors…
THE Federal Government has approved the prohibition of money rituals and the glamorising of vices in Nigerian films. This newspaper reports that the Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Shaibu Husseini disclosed this at a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu on Wednesday. The event was organised by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa. Movie producers, directors and actors drawn from different parts of the country, as well as leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry were present at the event. Husseini said that…
OVER 500 staff members of Dana Air have blocked the entrance of the aviation company in the Oshodi area of Lagos State in protest against their sacking as well as the refusal of the airlines to pay their April salary. Dana aircraft was involved in a runway skidding incident last month, a development that prompted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to withdraw its operation licence. NCAA said it had initiated an in-house compliance assessment of the occurrence taking into account Dana’s track records in related occurrences. The regulator added that it would ensure a safety audit that will entail a…
THE Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanaeze says the girls involved in the proposed orphan mass marriage in Niger State will be empowered. While the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkindaji had proposed (but later discontinued it) a mass wedding for the 100 orphans in his constituency, the minister took him to court over the matter. “Those that have finished secondary school, they could enter an open university while they’re doing their businesses or we would get a job for them while they’re doing their business when they’re going to school,” she said on Friday’s edition…
EMIRATES Airlines says it will resume services to Nigeria from October 1, 2024, operating a daily service between Lagos and Dubai. In a statement made available to News Point Nigeria on Thursday, the airline, with its hub in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said flight services will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, said, “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. The Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular with customers in Nigeria and we hope to reconnect leisure and business travellers to Dubai and onwards to our network of…
MINISTER of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says Emirates Airlines has indicated a definite date to resume flight operations to Nigerian airports. The minister, in a Wednesday post on X (formerly Twitter), said he met with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, in Abuja on Tuesday. Keyamo said the envoy handed him a correspondence from the UAE-based airline assuring him that a date has been given for the resumption of flights to Nigeria. “Yesterday (On Tuesday), I paid a working visit to the Ambassador of the UAE to Nigeria, His Excellency, Salem…