Flowerbud News

Month: December 2023

  • Slow payment of Hajj fare worries Edo pilgrim’s board boss

    Slow payment of Hajj fare worries Edo pilgrim’s board boss

    By Nefishetu Yakubu

    The Chairman, Edo Pilgrims Welfare Board, Ibrahim Oyarekhua, has expressed worry over the slow payment of Hajj fare for the 2024 pilgrimage in the state.

    Oyarekhua said this on Thursday during an interactive session with newsmen in Benin.

    He said that the Hajj fare still remained N4.5 million and December 30 as the payment deadline.

    He said that the state may not exhaust the 430 slots allocated to it by the National Haji Commission of Nigeria.

    “The patronage for this year’s pilgrimage is not encouraging.

    “This is not peculiar to Edo but across the country.

    “At the moment, less than 100 people have paid and I am not sure we would get the number before December 30 deadline.

    “But we are hoping that by the December deadline, we would have up to 200 intending pilgrims going for the Hajj because there is nothing impossible with God.

    “We are appealing to those who want to pay by themselves and others who want to sponsor their loved ones to hasten up to meet the deadline,” Oyarekhua said.

    He, however, assured that the board would do its best to ensure that Hajj fare would not go beyond the minimum deposit announced by the commission.

    NAN

  • Police arrest 3 with suspected human hearts

    Police arrest 3 with suspected human hearts

    By Deborah Akpede

    Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, have arrested three men with two suspected human hearts.

    The Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Tunni Ayuba, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to Ayuba, the suspects are all males.

    Ayuba said that the suspected human hearts were discovered in the house of one of the suspects at  Oke-Ola area of Ago-Iwoye, Ogun. during a search.

    The spokesperson said that during interrogation, the suspect implicated a man, whom he claimed to have paid N50,000 to assist in obtaining two human hearts.

    Ayuba said that the second suspect identified the third  suspect as the source of the hearts.

    She said that an investigation had begun into the case, adding that  the two suspected human hearts had been sent to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for examination.

    According to Ayuba, AIG Ari Muhammed in charge of the zone,  implores residents of the states to be vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.

    The image maker said that Muhammed reiterated commitment to ensuring safety of lives and property in Lagos and Ogun states.

    NAN

  • Niger declares 7-day holiday for workers

    Niger declares 7-day holiday for workers

    By Mohammed Baba Busu

    Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger has approved a seven-day public holiday for workers to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

    This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Bologi Ibrahim on Thursday in Minna.

    Ibrahim said that the holiday would begin on Friday, Dec. 22 and end on Jan.1.

    ”The holiday will start from Dec. 22, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024,” he said.

    He stated that food stuff would be given to government officials for onward distribution to the less privileged in their localities and wards.

    “Don’t stay in Minna, go and share foods with the poor people in your local government areas and wards,” Ibrahim quoted Bago as saying.

    NAN

  • MTN, FRSC opens portion of Enugu-Onitsha Federal Highway to ease traffic

    MTN, FRSC opens portion of Enugu-Onitsha Federal Highway to ease traffic

    By Flowerbudnews
    Enugu:  The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and MTN Nigeria Communications have temporarily opened newly-constructed Ugwuonyema axis of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway in Enugu State to ease traffic and make a smooth motoring experience.
    The both organizations noted that the move had become necessary following the increased volume of traffic within the axis of the road this yuletide and to ensure that there would be no hold-up on the road.
    Speaking at an official joint press conference held by MTN and FRSC before the temporary opening on Thursday, Dr Reginald Facah, Coordinator, MTN Community Liaison Initiative Model, said that Christmas times are special times for the average South Easterner.
    According to Facah, but the sad state of most roads have discouraged many from embarking on this annual ritual.
    He noted that in the present state of the Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway after the MTN intervention, many people will gladly make the trip home this year.
    “However, the opening of some partially completed sections of the dual carriageway to ameliorate the anticipated traffic logjam on the road is expected to make the drive through a whole lot easier and better.
    “This is why the theme for the press conference is Safer Road, Fuller Life. Beautiful Holidays.
    “The benefits of this current project are obvious and will be obvious to the members of the public when they commence driving on it tomorrow.
    “MTN and the Federal Government are committed to delivering critical infrastructure. We understand the regional and national economic benefits of well-performing transport corridors,” he said.
    Facah said that MTN would be giving priority to projects that would stimulate economic growth to our major regions and to the national economy to offer a considerable number of safety and social benefits.
    Corroborating, the South-East Zonal Commander of FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Isaac Ameh, said that the collaboration with the communication giant (MTN) and FRSC was to ensure smooth motoring experience this yuletide.
    Ameh noted that the Corps had already made a massive deployment of personnel to ensure ease and hitch-free vehicular and human movement this season.
    “We are here to ensure we reduce crashes and fatalities on the road and MTN’s gesture will help us achieve this with ease in this critical road corridor.
    “Enugu State remained a critical transit state for Nigerians moving South-South, North and South-East states and this Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway corridor provides that vital link.
    “We commend and appreciate MTN partnership and we will only ask for more,” he said.
    Mr Chinenye Moneke, the Account Partner MTN Enterprise Business, said that MTN was excited to partner the Federal Government in providing road infrastructure that would make a serious impact in people’s lives.
    Moneke said that the road would have a direct impact on the people, while encouraging all residents to take the project as their own by providing necessary support as they had been doing.
    He, however, assured that the road would be completed as scheduled without any further delay as MTN was committed to ensure that.
    “We will continue to urge all to continue their patronage to MTN as the company will definitely continue to touch the lives of Nigerians in different positive ways,” he said.
    The Commissioner of Works in Enugu State, Mr Gerald Otiji, commended Federal Government, MTN and the FRSC in ensuring safety and free-flow of traffic, adding: “We will continue to encourage positive and win-win partnerships”.
    A driver, Mr Okey Ezike, thanked MTN for ensuring a solid and standard specification for the portion of the Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway they are handling.
    “You can see the uniformity and wideness of this portion of the road they have delivered in these few months. I believe road users will continue to be grateful to MTN and the Federal Government whenever they take this road stretch,” Ezike said.
    Highpoint of the joint conference was a donation of 250 road reflective jackets and 150 road cones to FRSC. (Flowerbudnews)
  • Senate confirms 11 Supreme Court Justices

    Senate confirms 11 Supreme Court Justices

    By Kingsley Okoye

    The Senate has confirmed the appointment of 11 Supreme Court Justices nominated by President Bola Tinubu to fill the vacancies on the apex court bench.

    This followed the adoption of the report of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal Matters at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
    Presenting the report, Sen.Mohammed Monguno, the Chairman of the Committee, said the request for confirmation of the nominees was in pursuant to section 231(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    He said the committee at the screening received their curriculum vitae and other documents on their suitability for appointment as Supreme Court Justices.

    “The nominees individually demonstrated knowledge and grasp on questions asked by members of the committee,” he said.
    Monguno said there was no criminal record or petition against the nominees, saying that they all possed the requisite experience and competency to function as Supreme Court Justices.

    Sen.Binos Yaroe (PDP-Adamawa),who seconded the motion for adoption of the report said the nominees were all eminently qualified for appointment as Supreme Court Justices.

    He said all the nominees emanated from the Appeal Courts, urging that efforts should be made in the near future to nominate law scholars who were suitable from the academia.

    Former President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) and former Senate Chief Whip, Sen.Orji Uzor-Kalu(APC-Abia) commended President Bola Tinubu for the nomination.

    They called for improved funding of the judiciary saying that improved funding would ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

    “Let us give them more resources,”Lawan said.

    President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio said allocation of more resources for the judiciary would improve modern ways of justice dispensation, while also commending Tinubu for accommodating all zones in the nomination.

    He congratulated the justices and prayed that God grant them wisdom and strength of character to carry out justice in Nigeria.

    The new Supreme Court Justices were Jummai Sankey, Stephen Adah, Mohammed Idris, Haruna Tsammani, Jamilu Tukur, Abubakar Umar, Chidiebere Uwa, Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, Obande Ogbuinya, Moore Adumein and Habeeb Abiru.

    NAN

  • FG to set up committee to select new ambassadors

    FG to set up committee to select new ambassadors

    By Hadiza Mohammed

    The Federal Government will soon set up a new committee that will select the new set of ambassadors that will replace those that have been recalled, according to an aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Special Assistant to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar on Media and Communications Strategy disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Abdulkadir said the selection of the new ambassadors would require wide-ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders.

    The minister’s aide added that all recalled ambassadors have returned to the country contrary to the reports that most of them have been unable to return due to financial constraints.

    NAN recalls that on Sept. 2, President Bola Tinubu recalled all the country’s ambassadors, both career and non-career.

    They were asked to return to the country on or before Oct. 31, 2023.

    Nigeria has no fewer than 300 foreign missions.

    Ajuri Ngelale spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu said the action was a sequel to the president’s careful study of the present state of affairs at Nigerian consulates, offices, and embassies across the world.

    Ngelale added that the latest move was also in line with the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.

    He emphasised the President’s determination to ensure world-class efficiency and quality in service delivery, saying that he would henceforth, characterise foreign and domestic service delivery to citizens, residents, and prospective visitors.

    NAN

  • University of Ghana wins 2023 WAUG Championship

    University of Ghana wins 2023 WAUG Championship

    By Jide Idowu/ Dorcas Elusogbon

    The University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra,  has won the 2023 edition of West African Universities Games (WAUG) Championship, hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university won 10 Gold, Eight Silver and three Bronze medals to emerge winner of  the championship.

    The University of Education, Winneba Ghana, came second with six Gold, four Silver and four Bronze medals ahead of Benson Idahosa University, Edo  which came third with six Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals.

    Receiving the first place trophy on behalf of the institution, Dr Bella Bello Bitugu, the Director of Sports of the University, dedicated the trophy to one of their athletes, who lost his mother on Wednesday.

    Bitugu said the athlete, Oyeyemi Johnson, whose father is of Nigerian origin and  Ghanaian mother, received the sad news while participating in the games.

    In his closing address, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appreciated all the participants and wished them journey mercies to their various destinations.

    Bamire congratulates all the medalists, saying the most important lesson of the games is for the participants to strive for greater heights.

    Also speaking,  Shaibu Tanko, WAUG President, thanked all the universities that participated at the games, urging the athletes to inspire the world.

    Tanko said that  the games, for the first time, conducted its elections, which produced him as the president to pilot its affairs for the next four years.

    He, thereafter , appealed to stakeholders to give him and his executive the  needed support to move the university sports in West Africa to the next level.

    NAN reports that the Championship started on Dec. 15 with athletes from 20 universities in Nigeria and  Ghana participated at the games.

    Events being competed for at the games include table tennis, athletics, tennis and basketball

    WAUG, also known as the ECOWAS Students Games, is a multi-sport event between student-athletes from West African universities.

    The first edition of the competition was held in 1965 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university

    NAN

  • FG announces “mechanical completion” of PH refinery

    FG announces “mechanical completion” of PH refinery

    By Emmanuella Anokam

    The Federal Government on Thursday announced the mechanical completion and flare start off of the Port Hacourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC).

    Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil) disclosed this on Thursday in Port Harcourt during a media tour on the refinery which rehabilitation commenced in 2021.

    On the tour were the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo; Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) Board Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure; Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari and other dignitaries.

    The Managing Director of the PHRC, Ibrahim Onoja, was also on the tour.

    “Just to announce to Nigerians the fulfillment of our pledge to bring on stream phase one of the Port Hacourt Refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase two in 2024.

    “We happily announce the mechanical completion and the flare start-off on Dec. 20, 2023.

    “This heralds the commencement of the production of petroleum products after the  Christmas break,” Lokpobiri said.

    The minister thanked Nigerians for their patience and the trust on the NNPC Ltd. to deliver on its promise and the mandate of the refinery’s rehabilitation.

    According to him, it is another landmark of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Akinyelure, who expressed satisfaction over the new development, said it was a promise made to President Bola Tinubu that the refinery would begin operation in 2023.

    The NNPC Ltd. board chairman who recalled that the refinery had undergone several rehabilitation, said that its commencement of operations would keep fuel cost stable.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PHRC comprised of two refining units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant 150,000 bpd, both summing up to 210,000 bpd.

    The refinery was shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the services of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the scoping of the refinery complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser.

    In 2021, NNPC Ltd. said repairs had started after the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5bn for the project.

    The refinery had over the years performed below optimal levels which resulted in importation of petroleum products for domestic use for many years to cover for the gap in the refinery’s output.

    NAN

  • Tinubu’s wife disburses N25m to 250 vulnerable elderly people in Niger

    Tinubu’s wife disburses N25m to 250 vulnerable elderly people in Niger

    By Rita Iliya

    The First Lady, Sen.  Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday disbursed N25 million to 250 vulnerable elderly people in Niger as part of her Renewed Hope Initiative.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement was done during the maiden edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) with the theme, “Better Days Ahead”, in Minna.

    Tinubu was represented by Hajiya Fatima Bago, Wife of Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, who was also represented Mrs Titi Aluta,the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development.

    She said that the economic empowerment programme was borne out of committment to ensure the well-being of elderly people in the society.

    “The scheme is to support 250 aged 65 years and above across 36 states including FCT and veterans from the Defence and Police Officer’s Wives Association.

    “Beneficiaries will receive N100,000 each to cushion effect of economic situation and alleviate burden of our esteemed elders during this festive period,” she said.

    Tinubu disclosed that N950 million was approved by the governoring board of the Renewed Hope Initiative and each state received N25 million.

    She urged senior citizens to embrace life, prioritise their health, nurture their minds and strengthen bonds with loved ones,  which is key to a rich and fulfilling life.

    She appealed for prayers for  President Bola Tinubu to succeed in security, education, health, employment and business opportunities.

    Earlier in her welcome address, Hajiya Hadiza Shiru, Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, thanked the first lady for the gesture and advised beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.

    Also, Mrs Afiniki Dauda, Deputy Speaker of Niger Assembly, described the gesture as uncommon in the history of the country as it was done with transparency.

    One of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Maimuna Idris, appreciated the wife of the President for coming to their aid, saying the gesture would help them take care of their health.

    NAN