Four Governors of South-West States on Tuesday met with their ailing Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, in his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The governors who visited Akeredolu are Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).
Akeredolu has remained in Ibadan since he returned from his medical trip to Germany.
Details later…
The Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, Solomon Arase, has praised Nigerian youths for showing intent in their pursuit of a career with the Nigeria Police Force.
He said this while revealing that the PSC had received 288,266 applications to join the force within a week.
Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, in a statement on Tuesday, said Arase called on the youths to continue to visit the recruitment portal to apply for consideration for recruitment.
The statement added that as of 7 p.m. on Monday, October 23 2023, the recruitment portal had received 288,266 applications.
According to the statement, out of the 288,266 applications already received, 217,105 applications met the basic requirements for further consideration in the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.
It said 217,300 youths have so far applied for the general duty posts, while 70,676 applied for specialist posts. Sixty-nine thousand four hundred twenty-six applications have so far been rejected for their inability to meet the requirements for further consideration, out of which 46,868 were rejected for over age requirements.
“51,213 general duty applications were rejected while 18,213 specialists applications were also rejected”, it said.
The portal opened on Sunday, 15th October 2023, and will be closed on the 26th of November 2023 to satisfy the Federal Character Commission requirement of six weeks for eligible candidates to apply for any government agency vacancies
He assured them that the Commission would ensure the ongoing recruitment exercise is transparent and merit-driven
The online application requirements include that applicants shall be of Nigerian origin and birth and must possess the National Identification Number, NIN.
“Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 credits in not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO or its equivalent with credit passes in English and Mathematics. Applicants must be aged between 18 -25 years.
“Applicants must have a valid email address and phone number and SSCE statements of results or certificates relating to examinations taken before 2015 will not be accepted,” it said
It said the application has no monetary implications whatsoever
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence on Tuesday found the medical director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Doctor Olufemi Olaleye guilty of raping his wife’s niece.
The judge held that the evidence of the victim and that of the doctor who examined her were consistent.
He also stated that Olaleye’s confessional statement and exchange of WhatsApp and email messages with his wife were enough evidence against him.
Justice Oshodi also held that the statement and undertaking he wrote and signed alongside his lawyer, Olalekan Buruji with his NBA seal at Anthony Police Station, showed he raped the victim and forced her to suck his manhood.
Oshodi found him guilty of the offence of defilement and sexual penetration of a 15-year-old minor.
The judge held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and that all the evidence before the court corroborated that of the victim.
Details later…
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $3.45 billion World Bank loan application for financing power projects among others in the country.
Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, disclosed this during the FEC meeting in Abuja on Monday.
Edun the council approved the loan request during its meeting at the State House, adding that the Federal Government would begin to receive the $3.5bn “zero-interest” loan.
According to him, the loan is payable within 40 years with a 10-year moratorium which means payments would start from 2033.
“Today at the Federal Executive Council, I presented five memos which were gracefully approved by the Council. They had to do with concessional and, in many cases, zero-interest financing by the World Bank and the International Development Association, which is the very concessional financing arm,” he told State House Correspondents.
“The projects that were approved for funding were in the power sector and then the renewable energy sector. There was funding for states for resource mobilisation programmes to help them with the internally-generated revenue efforts.
“There was a project for adolescent girls’ initiative for learning and empowerment. And then finally the fifth financing that was approved was for Women project.”
“So, those were five loans totalling $3.45 billion. And as you know, the tenure is all around 40 years, with a moratorium period of around 10 years and interest very low, or in the cases of either loans, zero interest. However, some fees would be incurred,” he added.
During the briefing, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, also said FEC approved the creation of a Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund.
The minister said the Fund will help the Federal Government respond promptly to humanitarian situations in Nigeria and that the government hopes to raise at least $5 billion annually into it.
Popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development was announced by the APC in a post on its X account on Monday.
Dikeh was the Rivers State deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the 2023 general election.
The actress was unveiled at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja on Monday by the party’s national women leader, Dr Mary Alile and deputy national publicity secretary, Hon. Duro Meseko.
“Tonto Dikeh who was the Rivers State 2023 deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, was unveiled by the national women leader, Dr Mary Alile and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Hon Duro Meseko at the Party’s HQ,” the post read.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said on Monday that President Bola Tinubu had approved additional funding for the training and empowerment of adolescent girls in the country.
Mamman disclosed this while addressing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister said: “Two things I want to mention and comment on, which are very important parts of the deliberations and resolutions in the council today.
“One, is additional funding for the training and empowerment of adolescent girls in Nigeria. One of the major policies of government is to target the education, training and empowerment of young girls into society.
“Initially from seven participating states, we will now have about 11 additional states participating in this project, which will lead to the empowerment of girls between 10 and 20, right across the participating states.”
Mamman explained that as a major escalation of the programme, it was meant to empower girls, teachers and the provision for additional schools in the country.
He also said that President Tinubu’s administration was working assiduously to reduce the incidents of out-of-school children in the country.
“It is actually quite in line with part of the agenda of this government to ensure that the number of girls and people who are out-of-school is reduced, if not eliminated altogether.
“Today, the council took a very major decision to review policy so that the Public Procurement Act is brought into practice as it were, as to the handling of projects and government activities in Nigeria.
He said this would enable the Public Procurement Council to exercise its powers under the Act, and then the council would now concentrate on issues of national importance and issues of policy.
On his part, Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, confirmed that FEC approved funding for training and empowerment of adolescent girls.
Edu disclosed that he presented five memos at the FEC meeting, which were gracefully approved.
He said that the memos had to do with concessional and zero-interest financing by the World Bank and the International Development Association, which was the very concessional financing arm.
The minister said that the projects approved for funding were in the power and the renewable energy sectors.
Edu further said there was funding provision for states for resource mobilization programme to help them with their internally-generated revenue efforts.
“There was a project for adolescent girls’ initiative for learning and empowerment, essentially, as it says, it is a programme to support young girls from the age of 11, secondary school age.
It is to ensure that at the end of their schooling, they have one skill or the other that is marketable, as well as the academic laurels.
The minister also disclosed that the FEC approved funds for the financing of women projects as additional ventures.
“The first one was very successful. It was all about empowering women, upscaling their skills level, and of course, giving them some financial inclusion, including in the banking system.
“So those were five loans totaling $3.45 billion. And as you know, the tenure is all around 40 years, moratorium period of around 10 years and interest very low, or in the cases of the loans, zero interest,
A Christian cleric of the United Methodist Church identified as Oscar Mukahanana reportedly committed suicide following the leakage of his adultery scandal on the church’s WhatsApp group.
The cleric who was a Reverend at the Harare East District Superintendent in Zimbabwe, engaged in an extra-marital affair with a female youth in the church.
There were reports that the audio of his secret sexual engagement with the said lady leaked on the WhatsApp group of the church.
He talked about how his wild excitement after meeting the lady adding that he had a good session before her menstrual cycle.
After the audio leaked on the WhatsApp group, Mukahanana’s church members started sharing the leaked conversation making him an object of mockery.
Local media said they even created memes, ridiculing the District Superintendent over the adultery scandal.
Mukahanana who felt humiliated and embarrassed over the matter then committed suicide on Friday when he could not withstand the shame.
The UMC Harare District, while reacting to the incident said in a statement, “It is with heavy heart to announce to you the untimely death of our Beloveth District Superintendent Rev Oscar Mukahanana of the Harare East District.
“The Office of the Bishop shall be informing the church of developments and funeral arrangements. As a Church, you are being cordially requested to support the Mukahanana family through your prayers.”
The CEO of Mezovest, Mr. Tosin Thompson, has called on the Federal Government to price local gas for local demand in Naira
He said this at the Avalon Policy Dialogue on Gas where he spoke extensively on how efficiencies in the gas sector can lead to wealth and job creation.
By Uche Kenechukwu
The CEO of Mezovest, Mr. Tosin Thompson, has called on the Federal Government to price local gas for local demand in Naira.
He said this at the Avalon Policy Dialogue on Gas where he spoke extensively on how efficiencies in the gas sector can lead to wealth and job creation.
Thompson explained that increased participation of small businesses in the gas distribution network could lead to cost efficiencies.
In addition, he stressed the need for government to focus on regulation and tax collection while allowing the private sector to drive efficiencies.
His words:”There is no reason why gas that is sourced locally, for local demand, should be priced in dollars.
“When more small businesses come into the ecosystem to participate in the distribution of gas, you’re creating efficiencies, reducing and eliminating arbitrage. And we will see prices come down. “
Also speaking at the event, Mr Folarin Lajumoke, Executive Director at DAMAS, stated that “There is the need for comprehensive policies that promote local gas usage, which could contribute significantly to economic growth and energy sustainability. Over 75% of Nigeria’s Total Energy Supply (TES) is made up of biomass, primarily firewood and charcoal. This is inefficient and detrimental to the health of the people. Replacing this with LPG will not only boost the economy but is also environmentally friendly. Howver, this needs ot be affordable. Affordability will come about once the market becomes efficient. We have the demand and we have the available resource, what is lacking is the infrastructure.
“We need to build pipelines that connect processing plants to markets across the country as that is what will make investments in this sector attractive. With adequate infrastructure, investors in the sector could look to supply neighbouring countries with gas”
Furthermore, Folarin admitted that the opportunities in Nigeria are vast – due to high demand, and capitalizing on this demand could drive economic development and energy security.
Continuing, he decried the level of investment in the sector, stating that government needs to make the country investment-friendly. He argued that “once investors can see a route to market, investment will follow.
Continuing, he decried the level of investment in the sector, stating that government needs to make the country investment-friendly. He argued that “once investors can see a route to market, investment will follow.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha has served for over a decade in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) with significant experience in the Energy and Space Technology sectors. Dr. Mustapha most recently obtained his Doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Renewable Energy, followed by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship as a Research Associate in the School of Engineering at the prestigious University of Manchester.
A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale said President Tinubu expects the new ECN Chief Executive to make a positive impact on his administration’s intensive push to diversify the nation’s energy sources in a synergized fashion across the government toward the ultimate aim of industrializing every part of the country with every citizen emancipated from the shackles of energy poverty