The Centre on Convention For Democratic Integrity has described the hostility of the Senate committee on pension to the Maina- led Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) as a calculated attempt by the lawmakers to frustrate reforms in pension administration. ...
The Northern States’ Governors Forum (NSGF) has condemned the spate of explosions that rocked parts of the north even as it urged security agencies working to restore normalcy in the region not to despair. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ni...
As the renewed cult clashes continue in Enugu, no fewer than two persons were allegedly killed in an unknown destination in the capital metropolis, yesterday. Eye witnesses said that the remains of the two unidentified young men were seen lying at Ogui...
Nigeria is prepared to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cameroon on the management of water from Ladgo dam, an official told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday. The official at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources told NAN...
Russia's upper parliament house unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would ban Americans from adopting Russian children, in retaliation for a U.S. law that punishes Russians accused of human rights violations.
The bill, which President Vladimir Putin has hinted he will sign, would also outlaw some U.S.-funded non-governmental organisations and impose visa bans and asset freezes on Americans accused of violating the rights of Russian citizens.
It is Russia's response to the Magnitsky Act, a law signed by U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this month to bar Russians accused of human rights violations from entering the U.S. and to freeze any assets they hold there.
The Federation Council, Russia's upper parliament house, voted 143-0 to approve the bill, which has drawn condemnation from rights activists and Kremlin opponents who say lawmakers are playing a political game with the lives of children.
Putin has signalled support for the measure in spite of unusual criticism from some government officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and a deputy prime minister who has warned Putin that it could violate international agreements.
The U.S. law and the Russian response are adding tension to the relationship between the countries, which is already strained over issues ranging from Syria to Putin's treatment of opponents and restrictions imposed on non-governmental organisations since he began a new term in May.
Mr Usman Gwary, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, has assured the people that the police command is on top of the crime situation in the state, regardless of the recent killings in some areas. He gave the assurance in Gusau at a news conference he...
The remains of the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Abdulkadir Rasheed, were on Tuesday interred in Dukku, Gombe State. Alhaji Bala Mohammed, the Secretary of the Dukku Emirate Council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dukku on Tuesday that the emir, who ...
Total Plc. and the Embassy of France in Nigeria have initiated a joint scholarship scheme to sponsor the training of five Nigerians abroad every year.
A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Charles Ebereonwu, the Manager (External Communication) of Total, said that the scheme was part of the company’s efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s education sector.
It noted that the Joint Scholarship Scheme (‘TQJS’) titled ``Total E &P Nigeria Ltd. (TEPNG) /Quai d’ Orsay’’ would take effect from the 2012/2013 academic session.
The statement, however, said that the pilot stage of the scheme had commenced this year with one candidate sponsored to study international law in France.
It stressed that the agreement for the training was signed by Mr Guy Maurice, the Managing Director of TEPNG, and Amb. Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, the French Ambassador to Nigeria.
The statement quoted de Labriolle as saying that the scheme was based on the need to contribute to the training of Nigerians in different fields, while commending Total for contributing to the development of the Nigerian society.
It also quoted Maurice as saying that the initiative was a reflection of the company's confidence in the country and a continuation of what it had been doing in the past.
``The agreement makes provision for a four-man steering committee to manage the scheme on behalf of the parties and each of the international scholarship is worth about 54,000 Euros,’’ Maurice said in the statement.
Total has been collaborating with top-rated institutions across the world, as part of its human capacity development efforts.
It is also the main sponsor of the Institute of Petroleum Studies (IPS), a post-graduate institute at the University of Port Harcourt, managed in collaboration with the prestigious Institute France du Petrole (IFP) in France
No fewer than 12 persons have died, and a dozen injured as fireworks explosion rocked Lagos Island on wednesday.
The incident which affected three buildings located at Okoya/Ojogiwa, Lagos Island, Lagos, occurred at about 8:00am.
It was gathered that trouble started when a locked-up shop under one of the three buildings stocked with fireworks popularly called 'bangers' suddenly exploded and went up in flames.
As a result of the explosion, it was learnt that the building which had d shop under it and two others adjoining collapsed.
Residents of the three buildings who were still celebrating the Christmas festivity mood but, were still on beds to witness the boxing day, were affected during the explosions.
12 persons, it was said, were feared dead and a dozen others injured.
A score other residents were said to be currently trapped in d debris of the collapsed three buildings.
As at press time, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), fire service, police, Nigerian Security Civil and Defence Corps (NSCDC) and others had visited the scene for rescue operations.
The management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Tuesday assured Nigerians of steady and regular electricity supply.
Mr Jonathan Ndiagwaralukwe, the Executive Director (Systems Operations) of the TCN, gave the assurance in Abuja, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
``We are promising steady electricity not only during the Yuletide but also throughout the year; we are moving the sector forward.
``We are saying Nigerians deserve steady electricity supply and one of the cardinal points of this government is regular power day or night.
``All the efforts made in the past to improve the sector are gradually yielding fruits; we expect that the tempo would be sustained because all the investments made in the rehabilitation of power stations, transmission lines and even in power distribution are coming on-stream.
``Also, new projects are being inaugurated, especially the National Integration Power Projects (NIPPs) and new power stations.
``As regards steady gas supply to our thermal stations, which has remained a thorny issue; there is an improvement. Power stations are now getting gas and new NIPPs are coming on-stream,’’ he said
Ndiagwaralukwe reiterated that electricity supply would henceforth be stable and regular in the country, as the TCN had put requisite facilities in place to facilitate steady power supply.
He said that the TCN had installed new electricity transformers across the country, while reinforcing existing power transmission lines.
He stressed that the power sector was being overhauled via sustained investments in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, adding that this would enhance power supply to the people considerably.
Ndiagwaralukwe, however, urged electricity consumers to settle their bills promptly and regularly, particularly now that electricity supply situation had improved appreciably.
He, nonetheless, bemoaned the attitude of some people who burned bushes where PHCN’s installations were located, adding that some individuals were even fond of excavating sand near PHCN's facilities.
Ndiagwaralukwe stressed the bush burning and excavation of sand near PHCN’s facilities could endanger power supply and cause blackouts for the citizens.
He urged all Nigerians to vigilantly guard all PHCN facilities in their neighbourhoods, while reporting any act of vandalism to the police.
The domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, came alive on Tuesday, as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) successfully deployed the emergency airfield lighting on its runway.
The equipment was deployed on the popular 2.7 km runway `18 Left’.
Mr Supo Atobatele, the General Manager (Public Affairs) of NAMA, announced this to Aviation Correspondents in Lagos.
He said that the deployment had put an end to more than five years of flight restrictions placed on daylight operations at the local wing of the airport.
``The absence of the airfield lighting on the runway for half a decade had forced the domestic airlines to land after sunset at the international wing of the airport,’’ he said.
Atobatele said that the development had compelled domestic aircraft at MMA to burn extra fuel to taxi down to their various terminals before disembarking their passengers.
``This looks like a Christmas gift to the airlines, travellers and Nigerians in general.
``It is made possible by the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring speedy clearance of passengers and their goods by the Customs at the domestic terminal of the MMA.
``It is also due to the foresight of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who ensured quality service delivery at the nation's airports,’’ he said.
``In all, 66 KALKIT brands of emergency airfield lights and additional two approach lights had been deployed by NAMA engineers,’’ he added.
KALKIT is the airfield lighting system that was certified by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA).
Atobatele said: ``This means that the product is of international standard and safe for deployment in any part of the world.’’
He quoted Mr Nnamdi Udoh, the Managing Director of NAMA, as commending the commitment of the engineers.
``They have defied all the family pressures at this Yuletide to deliver the immediate deployment of this vital navigational facility on the runway,’’ he added.
The perennial fuel scarcity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) persisted on Tuesday, as the Christians celebrate Christmas. Most filling stations in the territory had no fuel to sell, while the few ones that were selling had to contend with long qu...
Gunmen have shot and injured the Interim Management Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Kambai Sumaila, the police confirmed, yesterday. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Malam Magaji Majiya, who ...
The huge retirement benefit payable to pensioners under the old pension scheme has continued to make the scheme more attractive to the Contributory Pension Scheme. Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina told LEADERSHI...
The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka, has said that speed violation was the major cause of road accidents. Chidoka made this assertion when he made a stopover at Lokoja while monitoring the traffic. This...