Worrisome indications emerged in the past week that the Federal Government might have placed what was described as “prohibition by trade” on the importation of mini electricity generating sets, more popularly known as “I better pass my neighbour”.
Breaking this controversial news to reporters, the Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos, Mr Madugu Sani Jibrin, alleged that government took this step because the sets cause air pollution which has a harmful effect on the lungs and the respiratory system.
While pollution and risks to the respiratory system are dangers associated with all engines that use hydrocarbon energy to operate (including all classes of electricity generators) the extra risk of these tiny generators is evident in the fact that because of their popularity among the low income classes, they are used mainly in confined spaces.
Due to the inability of successive governments to provide adequate and reliable public power supply, low income earners, such as traders and artisans, are forced to depend on these cheap generators in markets, shops and at home in the various congested slums and low cost urban housing areas.
The amount of smoke these usually poorly maintained generators pump into the atmosphere indeed poses great dangers to health. It often leads to carbon monoxide-related deaths which sometimes involve whole families. It also sparks off fire outbreaks.
However, we view the ban on the importation of these gadgets without providing alternative means of power supply to the poor and vulnerable strata of our society as an act of insensitivity towards the needs of the downtrodden members of society.
If this policy is implemented, time might come when it will be difficult for the artisans and traders to survive at all. How would the ordinary people be able to survive the heat of the dry season which is upon us earlier than usual this year? This policy is bound to be seen as unkindly targeting the poor.
Besides, it will make the smuggling of these generators become even more lucrative and fuel more corruption among Customs officials, especially at the borders.
We believe it is possible to solve this problem by encouraging Nigerians to form groups to own and operate bigger generators. It is also even better if government provides cleaner and renewable energy sources such as inverters and solar options in the markets and dwelling areas while greater efforts are made to find a permanent solution through the provision of adequate public power supply.
Monday 23 November 2015
Sunday 22 November 2015
Anambra state govt trains over 150 youths for road maintainance
Anambra state govt trains over 150 youths for road maintainance
Anambra State Government has trained over one hundred and fifty youths on road maintenance to repair failed road portions across the 21 local government areas of the state under its zero-tolerance-for-pothole project.
Flagging off the project in Awka the state capital, Governor Willie Obiano assured that the operation-fix-every-pothole project of the state government would soon commence disclosing that the exercise would be sustained with the crop of trained personnel and machinery already mobilized for the project.
The Governor further disclosed that the 150 youths trained would be used to commence the first phase of the project and expressed confidence that more Anambrarians would be employed as soon as other phases of the project begin.
He urged Ndi Anambra to imbibe the culture of cleanliness adding that it is an offence to dump refuse in drainages or other unauthorized places in the state. The Governor charged local government chairmen in the state to identify roads that needed palliative measures in their various council areas for necessary action as well as take ownership of such road projects to ensure sustenance.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Works, Chief Lawrence Chinwuba disclosed that of the 150 youths engaged, 50 of them were drawn from each senatorial zone in the state. He enjoined those employed to take the work seriously. Earlier in his address, the Chairman of Awka South Local Government, Prince Azubuike Ilo commended Governor Obiano for embarking on the project which he described as very thoughtful. Prince Ilo expressed hope that the road maintenance project would help to restore the pride of the state as one with the best road network in Nigeria.
Signed, Dr Barr Mrs Uju Nwogu
Hon Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.
Thursday 19 November 2015
We can no longer pay N18,000 minimum wage, Govs cry out
ABUJA – Thirty-six States Governors have said that they can no longer pay the N18,000 minimum wage to workers owing to the poor state of the economy.salaries
Rising from a crucial meeting on that ended at the early hours of Thursday at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja under the umbrella of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, the governors said that the dwindling prices of oil had drastically affected their States’ income.
Specifically, they said that the burden of the wage was lighter when oil sold at $126 as against the current $41 per barrel. They therefore sought to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari on the economy, resolving that the only way out of the quagmire was to diversify the economy to agriculture and mining.
Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari hinted that the Forum also backed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N2.1trillion sanction on MTN. According to him, the governors agreed that the fine must be paid in full.
He said that they received briefing from the Acting Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Dambata who explained the matter to them. He said: “We resolved that we must look at ways to enhance revenue generation and at the same time look at ways to cut our overhead costs more especially the political office holders’ salaries and other overhead expenses.
“The situation is no longer the same when we were asked to pay N18,000 minimum wage, when oil price was $126 (per barrel) and continued paying N18,000 minimum wage when the oil is $41 and the source of government expenditure is from oil, and we have not seen prospects in the oil industry in the near future.
“We will diversify our economy in the area of agriculture and mining. But at the same time, we should understand our situation where some of us (states) today are taking N100million take home (monthly allocation) and then have salaries in particular of over N2billion to pay.
“We therefore agreed here to take this suggestion to NEC in our meeting tomorrow (Thursday) so that we can be able to find ways to tackle this problem. “And we are looking at coming together to discussing with Mr. President and his team, with governors, technocrats and experts in the economy to see how we can tackle our troubled situation. We are working harder to deal with it.
“Hence the MTN has accepted that they committed the offense and has apologised, and they are looking for leniency, we the governors forum decided to support the NCC to abide by the laws of the land and the laws of our land do not not give leniency to deliberate offense to our nation.”
Yari also revealed that the forum also received a presentation from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) which will help in boosting mechanised agriculture and improve small and medium businesses especially in the rural communities.
Specifically, they said that the burden of the wage was lighter when oil sold at $126 as against the current $41 per barrel. They therefore sought to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari on the economy, resolving that the only way out of the quagmire was to diversify the economy to agriculture and mining.
Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari hinted that the Forum also backed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N2.1trillion sanction on MTN. According to him, the governors agreed that the fine must be paid in full.
He said that they received briefing from the Acting Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Dambata who explained the matter to them. He said: “We resolved that we must look at ways to enhance revenue generation and at the same time look at ways to cut our overhead costs more especially the political office holders’ salaries and other overhead expenses.
“The situation is no longer the same when we were asked to pay N18,000 minimum wage, when oil price was $126 (per barrel) and continued paying N18,000 minimum wage when the oil is $41 and the source of government expenditure is from oil, and we have not seen prospects in the oil industry in the near future.
“We will diversify our economy in the area of agriculture and mining. But at the same time, we should understand our situation where some of us (states) today are taking N100million take home (monthly allocation) and then have salaries in particular of over N2billion to pay.
“We therefore agreed here to take this suggestion to NEC in our meeting tomorrow (Thursday) so that we can be able to find ways to tackle this problem. “And we are looking at coming together to discussing with Mr. President and his team, with governors, technocrats and experts in the economy to see how we can tackle our troubled situation. We are working harder to deal with it.
“Hence the MTN has accepted that they committed the offense and has apologised, and they are looking for leniency, we the governors forum decided to support the NCC to abide by the laws of the land and the laws of our land do not not give leniency to deliberate offense to our nation.”
Yari also revealed that the forum also received a presentation from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) which will help in boosting mechanised agriculture and improve small and medium businesses especially in the rural communities.
Peter Obi did not leave 75 Billion for Gov. Obiano - Valentine Obienyem
Peter Obi did not leave 75 Billion for Gov. Obiano -
Valentine Obienyem.
Former Gov. Peter Obi's aides on media ridiculed
themselves today when they could not defend their
claims that their boss Former Gov Peter Obi left 75
Billion naira cash for the incumbent Gov. Willie Obiano.
From their presentation, it became very clear that Former Gov. Peter Obi wrote check totaling over 75 Billion in his last week in office and these checks were confused by this mischief makers as money for Gov. Obiano.
The revelation of the checks written by former Gov. Obi during his last week in office was occasioned by Valentine Obienyem's carton load of documents which channels did not allow him to sought during the interview. Breezing through the documents, Valentine Obienyem could not respond to why his boss, Mr Peter Obi left a debt of over 100 Billion Naira for his successor, Chief Willie Obiano.
It was later to be found out that over 75 Billion of the total 185 Billion debt were checks written during Peter Obi's last week in office. Recall that Gov. Obi awarded contracts and flagged one off on the day of his handover to Gov. Obiano.
Valentine Obienyem was fast to read out how much was in Anambra State account on the day Gov. Obi handed over to Gov. Obiano but he did not tell how were outstanding checks as of that day. The truth is that Gov. Obi wrote checks that depleted Anambra State accounts the following morning and put the state automatically in the negative.
The truth is beginning to come out and Gov. Obi can only run but can't hide. I told former Gov. Obi that Oderaigbo and Valentine Obienyem will land him in trouble one day. Oderaigbo has succeeded in exposing Gov. Peter Obi. This is just the beginning.
The next interview which Stan Chira aka Oderaigbo will come for since Valentine Obienyem has shown that he is a disgrace is the interview on the 65.5 Billion excess crude which Gov. Obi diverted and used to build his NEXT MALL at Abuja. It is unfortunate that Mr. Peter Obi's media aides will not let the sleeping dog lie.
EFCC are resting in their palace drinking their fura du nunu and this people are knocking at their door. Take note that Valentine Obienyem and Oderaigbo are the ones inviting EFCC so that when they come sniffing, no one should blame Gov. Willie Obiano. Something is really smelling rotten - Saint Peter Obi has sinned and needs confession.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results - Albert Einstein
From their presentation, it became very clear that Former Gov. Peter Obi wrote check totaling over 75 Billion in his last week in office and these checks were confused by this mischief makers as money for Gov. Obiano.
The revelation of the checks written by former Gov. Obi during his last week in office was occasioned by Valentine Obienyem's carton load of documents which channels did not allow him to sought during the interview. Breezing through the documents, Valentine Obienyem could not respond to why his boss, Mr Peter Obi left a debt of over 100 Billion Naira for his successor, Chief Willie Obiano.
It was later to be found out that over 75 Billion of the total 185 Billion debt were checks written during Peter Obi's last week in office. Recall that Gov. Obi awarded contracts and flagged one off on the day of his handover to Gov. Obiano.
Valentine Obienyem was fast to read out how much was in Anambra State account on the day Gov. Obi handed over to Gov. Obiano but he did not tell how were outstanding checks as of that day. The truth is that Gov. Obi wrote checks that depleted Anambra State accounts the following morning and put the state automatically in the negative.
The truth is beginning to come out and Gov. Obi can only run but can't hide. I told former Gov. Obi that Oderaigbo and Valentine Obienyem will land him in trouble one day. Oderaigbo has succeeded in exposing Gov. Peter Obi. This is just the beginning.
The next interview which Stan Chira aka Oderaigbo will come for since Valentine Obienyem has shown that he is a disgrace is the interview on the 65.5 Billion excess crude which Gov. Obi diverted and used to build his NEXT MALL at Abuja. It is unfortunate that Mr. Peter Obi's media aides will not let the sleeping dog lie.
EFCC are resting in their palace drinking their fura du nunu and this people are knocking at their door. Take note that Valentine Obienyem and Oderaigbo are the ones inviting EFCC so that when they come sniffing, no one should blame Gov. Willie Obiano. Something is really smelling rotten - Saint Peter Obi has sinned and needs confession.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results - Albert Einstein
APC absolves self from attempt on Ekweremadu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday said it had no hand in an alleged assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr Timi Frank the Acting National Publicity Secretary of APC. The statement described the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) allegation that APC was behind the attempt on Ekweremadu’s life as “induced hallucination.’’
The PDP through its spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh had alleged of a plot to exterminate Ekweremadu and other opposition leaders by the APC. Metuh told newsmen on Wednesday that the lives of key opposition members were endangered.
In his reaction to the allegation, Frank stated that it was unfortunate that the PDP resorted to cheap blackmail. He said that the PDP was yet to purge itself of cheap and manipulative strategies that helped to escort it to the doldrums that it is in today.
He said that the past 16 years of PDP’s rule saw a Minister, Chief Bola Ige, politicians like Harry Marshall and Funso Williams assassinated with no attempt to unravel the mysteries that surrounded their deaths. “It would therefore, be unfortunate for the PDP to elevate this strategic act it had perfected over the years to a political art or a propaganda tool,’’ the statement said.
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr Timi Frank the Acting National Publicity Secretary of APC. The statement described the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) allegation that APC was behind the attempt on Ekweremadu’s life as “induced hallucination.’’
The PDP through its spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh had alleged of a plot to exterminate Ekweremadu and other opposition leaders by the APC. Metuh told newsmen on Wednesday that the lives of key opposition members were endangered.
In his reaction to the allegation, Frank stated that it was unfortunate that the PDP resorted to cheap blackmail. He said that the PDP was yet to purge itself of cheap and manipulative strategies that helped to escort it to the doldrums that it is in today.
He said that the past 16 years of PDP’s rule saw a Minister, Chief Bola Ige, politicians like Harry Marshall and Funso Williams assassinated with no attempt to unravel the mysteries that surrounded their deaths. “It would therefore, be unfortunate for the PDP to elevate this strategic act it had perfected over the years to a political art or a propaganda tool,’’ the statement said.
Kano blast victim recounts ordeal
Twenty-year old Musa Idris, a victim of last Wednesday bomb blast in Kano yesterday recounted his ordeal in the blast.
Musa was lying critically injured at Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Nassarawa, Kano with his right leg wrapped in plaster of Paris (POP) arising from the injury he sustained from Wednesday blast at Kano GSM market.
The 20 years old Economic students of Kano polytechnic could not hold back tears as he asked in rhetoric whether he would ever walk with his legs again. Recounting his ordeal, Idris Musa, who hailed from Okene, Kogi Central said “my father handed over one thousand naira to me last Sunday to repair my phone which of course I gave to my friend and class Rep who is a specialist in phone repairs.
As at Monday, my friend who appeared hooked to academic challenges could not repair the phone, and this brought about suspicion from my dad who suspected I was up to a game as he issued an ultimatum to either produce the phone by Wednesday or returns his money.
On the faithful day I left the school to the GSM market with my friend to collect the phone and as we took two steps into the market, we heard a deafeaning sound that sent us sprawling on the ground” “I tried to escape from the scene but my legs failed me and remained on the ground helplessly before a good samaritan came to my aid.
Collaborating his son’s tragic experience, Malam Musa told Vanguard ‘I took full responsibility for his travails’. Finding solace in God, Malam Musa said ‘our activities are guided by destiny and what had happened is fulfilment of destiny. I’m confident Musa would walk again going by assurances from doctors”.
Musa was lying critically injured at Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Nassarawa, Kano with his right leg wrapped in plaster of Paris (POP) arising from the injury he sustained from Wednesday blast at Kano GSM market.
The 20 years old Economic students of Kano polytechnic could not hold back tears as he asked in rhetoric whether he would ever walk with his legs again. Recounting his ordeal, Idris Musa, who hailed from Okene, Kogi Central said “my father handed over one thousand naira to me last Sunday to repair my phone which of course I gave to my friend and class Rep who is a specialist in phone repairs.
As at Monday, my friend who appeared hooked to academic challenges could not repair the phone, and this brought about suspicion from my dad who suspected I was up to a game as he issued an ultimatum to either produce the phone by Wednesday or returns his money.
On the faithful day I left the school to the GSM market with my friend to collect the phone and as we took two steps into the market, we heard a deafeaning sound that sent us sprawling on the ground” “I tried to escape from the scene but my legs failed me and remained on the ground helplessly before a good samaritan came to my aid.
Collaborating his son’s tragic experience, Malam Musa told Vanguard ‘I took full responsibility for his travails’. Finding solace in God, Malam Musa said ‘our activities are guided by destiny and what had happened is fulfilment of destiny. I’m confident Musa would walk again going by assurances from doctors”.
Hon. Amb. Emeka Jude Agumadu (Baby): A philanthropist worthy of outright emulation
Hon. Emeka Jude Agumadu (Baby, Agujiegbe-Awka) singlehandedly built and furnished two modern bungalows for a destitute family in Umuonaga Village Awka, Awka South local government of Anambra State.
Hon. Agumadu who is the Chairman of Awka Main Market also doubles as one of the APGA Stakeholders in Awka North and South Local Governments
His philanthropic gesture has changed the lives of Mr Emeka Onuorah (Obe) and his aged mother Madam Onuorah who are the direct beneficiaries of Hon. Agumadu’s kind heart.
The event was graced by many dignitaries such as Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Nkem Okeke, members of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners and many political appointees.
Also in attendance were present and past National Chairmen of APGA, Chief Victor Oye and Sir Victor Umeh, party stalwarts and faithful. Others include the Traditional ruler of Awka, HRM Dr Gibson Nwosu, Market Leaders and traders.
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| The two modern bungalows built by Hon. Emeka Jude Agumadu (Baby, Agujiegbe-Awka) |
Hon. Agumadu who is the Chairman of Awka Main Market also doubles as one of the APGA Stakeholders in Awka North and South Local Governments
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| The arrival of the Deputy Governor of Anambra state. Hon. Emeka Jude Agumadu at the middle. |
His philanthropic gesture has changed the lives of Mr Emeka Onuorah (Obe) and his aged mother Madam Onuorah who are the direct beneficiaries of Hon. Agumadu’s kind heart.
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| L-R: Hon. Emeka Jude Agumadu, Chief Omeligwe Elee- Anambra state APGA Deputy Chairman, His Excellency Dr. Nkem Okeke- Anambra State Deputy Governor, Chief (Dr.) Victor Ike Oye- APGA National Chairman, Chief (Sir) Victor Umeh- Former APGA National Chairman, Mr. Emeka Onuorah (Obe)- One of the beneficiaries. |
The event was graced by many dignitaries such as Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Nkem Okeke, members of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners and many political appointees.
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| Madam Onuorah greeting Hon. Emeka Jude Agumadu for his kind gesture |
Also in attendance were present and past National Chairmen of APGA, Chief Victor Oye and Sir Victor Umeh, party stalwarts and faithful. Others include the Traditional ruler of Awka, HRM Dr Gibson Nwosu, Market Leaders and traders.
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| Add caption |
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