The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has attributed the frequent disruptions in electricity supply in Nigeria to the fact that Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) are technically insolvent. Chairman of the Commission, Engineer Sanusi Garba, who made this known at the 8th Africa Energy Market Place 2024 in Abuja yesterday, May 17, said that the electricity companies are unable to pay for invoices sent to them from the electricity market and invest in network expansion projects. The NERC boss added that the poor financial state of the DisCos makes it difficult for them to raise the needed capital to invest. “Today when you look at distribution companies, they are clearly and technically insolvent, and you also want them to raise capital in terms of debt or equity. It’s a herculean task.”
President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has given assurance that Nigeria will completely stop importing fuel before the end of next month, June 2024. He said that his refinery can meet not only Nigeria but also West Africa’s petrol and diesel needs. “Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of a litre.” Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Dangote expressed optimism about transforming Africa’s energy landscape. He said that his refinery has the capacity to meet West Africa’s petrol and diesel needs, as well as the continent’s aviation fuel demand. According to the billionaire entrepreneur, the feat will be made possible courtesy of the laid-down plans of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude oil producers, has over the years, relied heavily on imported petrol to serve its burgeoning population. However, the story may be about to change with Dangote refinery commencing operations. The multi-billion dollar facility has already flooded the market with diesel, crashing the price of the commodity ₦1,000 per litre. Source: THE PUNCH.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has resolved to warn three Judges and suspend their promotions to higher positions for a period of time over alleged misconducts. A statement today, May 17, by the Director of Information of NJC, Soji Oye said that the decision was taken at the Council’s plenary of 105th meeting. The statement gave the names of the erring judges as Justices Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court and Amina Shehu of Yobe High Court. The statement said that Ekwo is being warned for abuse of discretionary power of a Judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in Suit No FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors. He is stopped from being elevated to a higher Bench for a period of two years. National growth LS Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court was warned for failure to deliver judgment within stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, Suit No A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses. Brikins-Okolosi will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years. The Council cautioned Justice Amina Shehu of Yobe State High Court for issuing Writ of Possession, Conferring Title on the Defendant in Suit No YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgement of any court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ. The NJC said that the council at the meeting considered two reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees. It said that some petitions against various Judges were dismissed for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed. The dismissed petitions were against Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, S. B. Belgore, Bello Kawu both of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Justices O. A. Chijioke, A. E. Akeredolu and Kadi M. U. El-Mainari who sat on Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State; Justices Paulinus Aneke of High Court Enugu State and C. Anya of Abia State. Others are Justices M. A. Ikpambese and W. I. Kpochi both of Benue High Court, T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka Chief Judge and B. C. Iheka of Imo High Court, Rose Godwin Soji of Nasarawa High Court, T. J. Yakubu, High Court Taraba , W. N. Danagogo and Chinwendu Nworgu, High Court Rivers State, C. C. Okaa, High Court Anambra State and Hon Justice Abdullahi Sulyman High Court, Kogi. It said that the council also deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers, including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts. Council also considered the recommendation of its Interview Committee on Appointment of Judicial Officers of all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and resolved to recommend 86 Judicial Officers for appointment to the Court of Appeal, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal of States in Nigeria. They are 22 Justices of the Court of Appeal, including Justices Kwahar Polycarp Terna, Ruqayat Oremeyi Ayoola, Eleojo Eneche, Asma’u Akanbi-Yusuf, Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, Abdu Dogo, Fadawu Umaru, Ishaq Mohammed Sani, Zainab Bage Abubakar, Abdulazeez M. Anka and Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba. Others are Justices Nwoye Tochukwu, Nwabunkeonye Onwosi, Okorowe Uwaezuok, Ngozika Okaisabor, Ntong Festus Ntong, Nehizena Afolabi, Nyesom-Wike Suzzette, Babajide Lawal-Akapo, Akinyemi Abiodun Azeem, Oyewumi Oyebiola, Olukayode Adeniyi. The 12 judges for High Court, FCT are Ademuyiwa Olakunle Oyeyipo, Bamodu Odunayo Olutomi, Anumaenwe Godwin Iheabunike, Odo Celestine Obinna, Hauwa Lawal Gummi. Others are Abdurahman Usman, Buetnaan Mandy Bassi, Sarah Benjamin Inesu Avoh, Maryan Iye Yusuf, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, Lesley Nkesi Belema Wike and Munirat Ibrahim Tanko. Seven judges for Imo State High Court are Akowundu Cletus Ndubuisi, Uchenna Mary Njoku, Chibuogwu Ojiugo Chukwumaeze, Ononogbo Chidi Linus, Adaego Peace Nosiri, Emeka Ozoma Orafu, Mathew Chinedu Ijezie. Six Judges for Bauchi State High Court are Amin Umar Ilelah, Aliyu Bin Idris, Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi, Shafa’u Ladan Yusuf, Abdussalam Idris Waziri and Kawu A. Yerima. Three Justices for Taraba State High Court are Hamidu Audu, Bibonga Jeniffer Nauma, Joel Daniel Ubandoma. The thirteen Judges for Lagos State High Court are Sunmonu Tunde Bashiru, Azeez Fimisola Augusta, Alebiosu Olawale Lawal, Adewale Russel Musiliu, Popoola Oluwatosin Ajose, Anjorin-Ajose Tanimola Abdulwaheed and Muyideen Abdul-Raheem Tejumade. Others are George Alfred Akingbola, Balogun Adegboyega Ganiu, Shonubi Adenike Kudirat, Badejo-Okusanya Yewande Jokotola, Layinka Oyeladun Amope and Ojuromi Nalirat Olayinka Oluwatosin. Four Judges for Kogi State High Court are Ajesola Joseph Sunday, Ojoma Rachael Haruna, Kadiri Badama and Ezema Beatrice Ada. Two judges for Jigawa State High Court are Mohammad El-Usman and Nilfa Abdullahi Gambo. Five Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal Bauchi State are Ishaku Magaji, Abdurrahman Hassan Sabo, Bello Mohammed Sambowal, Muhyiddeen Mohammed and Mahmoud Idris Shehu Tiyin. Five Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal, Kogi State are Muhammad Muhammad Bello, Okino Isah Saidu, Yakubu Adavenge Abbas, Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu and Idris Alhaji Abdullahi. One Kadi for Sharia Court of Appeal Jigawa is Mukhtar Adam. Three Judges for Imo State Customary Court of Appeal are Everyman Ezenna Eleanya, Ofoha Sylvesta Uchenna and Ibeh Rosemond Oluchi. Two Judges for Customary Court of Appeal, Taraba are Esther Tata and Benjamin Samuila Bawage. One judge for the Customary Court of Kogi State is Maryann Oziohu Otaru. The NJC said that the recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors. Source: NAN.
About 4,220 Nigerian Muslims have already been airlifted to Saudi Arabia for this year’s pilgrimage in Makkah and Medina. The Hajj rites are scheduled to begin from around June 15, 2024. Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the airlift of the intending pilgrims, which was inaugurated in Kebbi State by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday, May 15, is being carried out by Flynas airlines, MaxAir and other airlines.
The latest airlift, which was made this evening, May 17, involved 525 intending pilgrims from Bauchi State in the 10th flight so far.
All the intending pilgrims from Kebbi State have been airlifted to the Holy land already.
The African Public Relations Association (APRA), has elected the head of Media Relations at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, as Secretary-General, at its 35th Annual Conference and General Meeting in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Dr. Ibietan, who is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), was elected along with President, Arik Karani from Kenya and Vice President, Dr. Michele Mekeme from Cameroon. Dr. Ibietan pledged to work with the council to advance reforms within APRA, expand participation of national public relations institutions, and collaborate closely with the African Union to prioritize public relations in policy implementation. He emphasized the importance of digital inclusion in public relations, presenting a paper titled ‘Digital Inclusion as Arbiter of Accessible Public Relations: A Case Study of Nigerian Communications Commission’. Using theoretical frameworks and the NCC’s initiatives, he argued that digital inclusion is essential for a digital economy and effective public relations. APRA, established in 1975, aims to unify Africans and their global allies through standardized public relations practices. The conference, themed ‘One Africa, One Voice: Bridging Africa’s Communication Divide,’ is endorsed by various international PR bodies and the Ivorian government and includes the IN2SUMMIT and SABRE Awards Africa.
Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has given reason why he has not been active in the nation’s political discourse since he left office. Amaechi, who is also a former governor of Rivers State, in a statement said that staying off the radar of the current political misfortune is deliberate. “This is specially so as I am very busy with my academics at the moment. I’m currently writing examinations and therefore do not have the time for frivolities. But, certainly, not a cowardly choice.” He said that the fact also that he has not been talking is due partly to the fact that he’s “truly unhappy with the Nigerian citizens for their docility and the nation in general.” Amaechi said that politically, he is fully on ground in Rivers State and nobody can chase him out of the oil-bearing state. “Let me state very clearly and also for the record, no one can chase me out of my state, Rivers, not even the intrepid nuisance currently strutting the stage. Far from it.”
“I learnt from an early age that there are wonderful people in every religion. After Sr. Katherine, no one could ever tell me all christians were bad people and only Muslims were good. No one could teach me hatred or enmity for someone simply because they were of a different faith, or stop me from loving those who love me and being kind to those who are kind to me simply because they are not Muslims.” These were contained in a tribute the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, popularly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi wrote a tribute to a Catholic nun, Sister Katherine Devane, who had a strong impact on his life, shaping his values and worldview from a young age. Devane was the headmistress of Sanusi’s alma mater, St. Anne’s Primary School in Kakuri, Kaduna State. In the tribute, he acknowledged that the late nun instilled in him a love for learning and appreciation of people of all faiths. Sanusi, who recently visited Ardfoyle Convent in Cork, Ireland to pay his respects to Devane who passed away in 2021 at the age of 95, reflected on his time as an 8-year-old pupil under Devane’s guidance in 1971. He recounted her quiet tenderness, care and love that transcended religious boundaries. He recalled when he took ill with malaria and the Catholic nun went out of her way to wrap him up, drive him to the hospital, and nurture him back to health. “It may sound like a small thing but for a young boy the love and care at that point was so touching, and the care continued until I left. She did not have to do that herself. “Now why is all this important? Sr Katherine was a catholic sister who showed so much love to a Muslim boy. She showed me the kind of care and concern I would expect from a mother. Sanusi said Devane’s act of compassion made an indelible mark on him as a young Muslim boy, saying: “she taught and gave me LOVE at an early age. And in this, she influenced my life, my world view, even before I went to King’s College. “She gave me an open mind to other faiths and I have had the fortune since then of having many friends, brothers and sisters who are christian. They have in some cases shown me more love and loyalty than many of my blood-relatives.” He expressed gratitude to Our Lady of the Apostles (OLA) sisters and the SMA Catholic missionaries who established quality educational institutions like St. Anne’s in Kaduna without attempting to convert Muslim students. He lauded their acceptance of pupils from all faiths and accommodation of Islamic practices like Ramadan fasting. Sanusi stressed that Devane’s kindness opened his eyes to the inherent kindness in people across religions which shattered prejudices and allowed him to embrace the Quranic teachings of being “kind and good and caring and just to all those non-Muslims who did not fight us for our faith or persecute us Q60:8-9 for instance).” He said that his visit to Sister Devane’s grave was to express his gratitude for the moral foundation she helped build in him from a tender age. He prayed for peace and understanding in Nigeria, adding: “we learn that love and mercy are what we need, not hatred and bloodshed.”
Wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo has enjoined parents in the state to imbibe sustainable environmental practices and climate change awareness in their children. The First Lady, who made the call today, May 16, in a message to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Families in the state, stressed the importance of the family in shaping habits. She said that the family institution could be empowered to drive the campaign against pollution, indiscriminate waste disposal and increase tree planting and recycling of waste products. She decried the huge devastation that has been attributed to climate change, such as flooding and drought that have impacted negatively on households, resulting in displacement, hunger and disease. Hajiya Sefinat called for measures to promote children enlightenment and lifestyle changes that could assist in reversing the impacts of climate change on the families. She said that government programmes through office of the first Lady would continue to be initiated to support vulnerable groups and citizens in general, even as she advised parents not to waiver in their responsibilities in raising morally sound children. The International Day of Families provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. The 2024 International Day of Families has, as its theme, Families and Climate Change.
Senator Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the Senate, has stated that politicians who embezzle public funds but share them with their constituents or people may not deserve severe punishment.
He believes that such politicians are driven by a desire to benefit their people, and if they fail to do so, they will not be reelected.
Ndume made this statement on Channels TV Politics Today while discussing the issue of death penalty for drug dealers. He expressed support for the death penalty in cases of corruption involving massive sums of money, but not for smaller amounts.
The senator also recently criticized the federal government’s decision to introduce a 0.5% cybersecurity levy, arguing that it burdens citizens without creating opportunities for increased income.
South Africa has accused Israel of escalating its “genocide” in Gaza, urging the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order an immediate halt to Israel’s military offensive in Rafah.
In a hearing at the ICJ, South Africa’s representative, Vusimuzi Madonsela, stated that Israel’s actions have reached a “new and horrific stage” and called for a ceasefire throughout Gaza.
South Africa is seeking three emergency orders from the ICJ, including the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Rafah, unimpeded access for humanitarian aid workers, and regular reporting from Israel on its measures to comply with the court’s orders.
The ICJ had previously ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts and enable humanitarian aid to Gaza, but South Africa argues that the situation on the ground requires fresh action.
Israel has described South Africa’s case as “wholly unfounded” and “morally repugnant” and is expected to respond on Friday.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 600,000 people having fled Rafah since military operations intensified, and at least 35,233 people killed, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
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The latest airlift, which was made this evening, May 17, involved 525 intending pilgrims from Bauchi State in the 10th flight so far.
