Colonel In Nigerian Army, Bags Brazilian Govt Award On Science And Technology

August 5, 2022

A serving Colonel in the Nigerian Army, Nicholas Ashinze, has won the ‘Brazilian Government Prize for the Best Project on Science and Technology.

Ashinze of the military intelligence corps, bagged the prize for an outstanding research project titled: “Digital Currency and National Development in Nigeria: E-Naira in Perspective.”

The Prize was given today, August 5, at the National Defence College (NDC), Course 30 Graduation in Abuja. The College, established in 1992, also celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The Commandant of the NDC, Rear Admiral MM Bashir, said that the graduation ceremony was held for 102 participants of Course 30 and that the Nigerian Army had 28 participants, while the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, respectively had 20 and 5 participants.

Others are the Department of State Service, DSS, with 3 participants, the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, with 2 participants, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with 2 participants, the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, with 2 participants, and the Nigerian Police Force with 6 participants, in the long list of Strategic Institutions/Ministries, Departments and Agencies with participants in the Course 30 programme.

Addressing the participants, President Muhammadu Buhari, said that he is deeply worried over the activities of bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements across the country.

The President, who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, the President lamented that the number of violent and unprovoked attacks on citizens has been on the rise, recently.

He described the situation as unacceptable, even as he tasked security agencies to deal decisively with enemies of the country, just as he assured the country that his government will continue providing maximum support to the military and other security troops, to curb the spate of wanton attacks on harmless citizens.

Source: PRNigeria

2023: 15 De-Registered Political Parties Regroup, Endorse Peter Obi For President

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The 15 political parties which were deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have regrouped under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) and endorsed Peter Odi and throw weight behind the party, the Labour Party.

The CGG, in a statement today, August 5 by its national chairman, Okey Chikwendu, and Publicity Secretary, Don Anthony Harmattan, said that the group party took the decision to back Obi after carefully studying each presidential candidate to know the most reliable and credible among them.

The statement read: “We have earlier stated that the outcome of the political parties primaries for the presidential ticket and selection of the vice presidential tickets will determine which party we, the Coalition for Good Governance comprising of 15 deregistered political parties and some former presidential candidates would endorse and support for the 2023 presidential election.

“The choice is based on identifying the ticket with the most credible candidates who are tested, trusted, and exhibit sufficient intellectual capacity to salvage our nation from the wreck we find ourselves and meet the yearnings of the Nigerian people which is equitable, fair and just irrespective of tribe or ethnicity.

“In furtherance to the above, the CGG on July 28 held a meeting in Abuja well attended by the National Party Chairmen and former presidential candidates of deregistered political parties whereby they took a very critical appraisal of all the current presidential contenders for the 2023 presidential elections and their Vice, the house unanimously voted Peter Obi/Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as the most credible among the candidates and as such resolved to support and work with them and their campaign group on the platform of Labour party.

“We, therefore, agreed to rebrand our offices nationwide as Campaign support offices for the project. Our structures all over the 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas are henceforth required to support the Obi ticket.

“Nigerians have had enough of the disunity, eminent disintegration, lingering ASUU strike, terrorist threats, killings, kidnappings, hunger, unemployment, unbearable petrol cost and scarcity, high electricity tariffs, its epileptic situation, rising food cost etc and the continued lack of resolve by the establishment to put an end to these crises.

“We as leaders in mainstream politics in Nigeria wish to make clear that only an efficient, effective and credible candidate of renowned character can resolve most of Nigeria’s lingering problems and we, therefore, urge Nigerians to heed to our advice and support our goals of returning Nigeria as the true giant of Africa and the production hub of West Africa.”

Court Orders Providus Bank To Refund N329.4 Million To Customer Over Alleged Scam

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Providus Bank Limited to refund the sum of N329,454,650.28 to Aqua 10 Nigeria Limited for alleged fraudulent transfer.

The judge of the court, Justice Peter Lifu, also awarded the cost of N100,000 against Providus Bank Limited in favour of Aqua 10 Nigeria Limited.

The judgment was sequel to a suit filed by Barrister Kelechi Chukwu on behalf of Aqua 10 Nigeria Limited against Providus Bank Limited and seven others namely: Jethra Designs Investment Limited, Vacubeg Group of companies limited, Heroes Heights construction company Limited, Vacubeg Investment Limited, North Alta Trading Limited, Abiodun Shoyombo Trading under the name and style of Seatea Enterprises, Abiodun Afeez Adeyemi Trading under the name and style of Adeyemi Digital Enterprises.

In an affidavit sworn to by the Managing Director of the company, Oladipo Okuntola alleged that sometime between July 9 and 12, 2021, the total sum of N558,569,000 were removed from the account of his company in Providus bank Limited to the account of Jethra Designs Investment Limited in another bank in 8 tranches.

He said that the funds were meant for the payment for goods to be purchased from HG Honkong company Limited and new silver industry company Limited in China.

He added that the funds were again moved from the account of Jethra Designs Investment Limited to Vacubeg Group of companies limited.

Okuntola said that Vacubeg, in turn, moved the funds to the account of Heroes Heights construction company Limited, and that the funds were again moved by Heroes Heights construction company Limited account to Vacubeg Investment Limited

He explained that Vacubeg Investment Limited, upon receiving the funds moved same back to the account of Vacubeg Group of companies limited and then Vacubeg Group of companies limited move the funds to the account of North Alta Trading Limited.

He said the total sum of N329,454,650,296.28 were moved to the three accounts, stated below domicile in Providus bank: North Alta Trading Limited -N93,361,828.97; Abiodun Shoyombo Trading under the name and style of Seatea Enterprises- N185,133,525,.08 and Abiodun Afeez Adeyemi Trading under the name and style of Adeyemi Digital Enterprises-N50,959,296.23.

“Subsequently, it was discovered that internet fraudster were behind the companies and business names sued as 2nd to 8th defendants in this suit, and that the persons behind the companies had fled from Nigeria.

“The matter was reported to the Interpol, and through Interpol, the movement of the plaintiff’s funds and the persons involved in the fraud were traced. The Plaintiff has requested that its funds traced to the 6th, 7th and 8th Defendants accounts in the Providus Bank who is also the Plaintiff’s bankers be returned, but the bank is insisting that without the court’s directive or order, the bank will not return the Plaintiff’s funds traced to the 6th, 7th and 8th Defendants’ accounts in the Providus bank.

“That unless the Court intervenes, the Providus bank will not return the Plaintiff’s money traced by Interpol into the accounts of the 6th, 7th and 8th Defendants domiciled in the bank. That it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.

“That the Defendants will not be prejudiced by the grant of this Originating Summons, more so, when the individuals behind the 2nd to 8th Defendants are on the run,” he said.

The bank’s counsel Ifeoluwa Badejo submitted that the bank reversed the sum of N50,700,000, from the account of the 6th defendant to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following the order issued by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, and that same was not done with intention of interfering with justice in this case.

Justice Lifu in his judgement, ordered as follows: that the first defendant, that is Providus bank limited “is hereby ordered or directed to move or transfer the plaintiff’s fund in the account of the 6th, 7th and 8th defendants to the plaintiff’s account kept with her.

“Since the sum of N50,700,000 has so far been reversed, the remaining balance in the total sum of N329,454,650.28 that is, less the N50,700,000 should be transferred to the plaintiff’s account forthwith.

“A cost of N100,000 is hereby awarded against Providus Bank Limited but in favour of Aqua 10 Nigeria Limited.”

Ekiti State University Proscribes ASUU, SSANU, NASU

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The management of Ekiti State Government-owned Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti has proscribed all the unions in the institution.

The proscription affects Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASUU).

The acting Registrar of the university, B.S. Momoh, in a memo to the university community today, August 5, said that the step was necessary as the unions, through their actions, were distracting the university from its development vision and mission.

He said that the situation in the university has been “one day one trouble” since June 2, when the unions protested against the activities of the instruction’s Governing Council.

“The management views these acts as unbecoming of and unexpected of responsible staff members hiding under the guise of union activism.

“BOUESTI, being a new university, certainly does not need these distractions if it must develop properly to fulfill the vision and mission for which it was established. It has, therefore, become imperative to ensure that irresponsible acts like these are avoided in our university.

“After a review of the incidents and in line with the directive of Ekiti State Governor and Visitor to the university, the three trade unions in BOUESTI – ASUU, SSANU and NASU are hereby proscribed with immediate effect.

“Members of staff are hereby enjoined to go about their normal duties without fear and desist from getting involved in unlawful activities.”

Source: PUNCH.

Nigeria Now Manufactures Helicopters

Greenbarge Reporters

August 5, 2022

Nigeria, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has began the manufacturing of made-in-Nigeria helicopters.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna made this known today, August 5, in Abuja.

Professor Haruna, who briefed newsmen shortly after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, said that experts have been trained for mass production of the helicopters.
He said that the ones that have been successfully produced are awaiting approval of Nigerian Aviation Authority and international approving body to fly.
Professor Haruna said that President Buhari had given a go-ahead for the mass production of the helicopter after being approved, adding that the President also asked that the production site should be moved to the Nigerian Aviation School in Zaria, Kaduna State, which already has most of the facilities, like run-way and others, on ground.
The Executive Vice Chairman said that the body has the capacity to produce bigger aircraft.

US Energy Firm Lands In Nigeria, To Revolutionize Industry, Agric

Greenbarge Reporters

August 5, 2022

An energy firm, SUN Africa LLC, from the United States of America, has arrived in Nigeria to partner with the federal government towards revolutionizing both industrial and agricultural sectors of the economy.

Speaking when he and his team visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Founder of Sun Africa LLC, USA, Goran Rajsic, said that the company, which is into renewable and infrastructure developments, will deliver solar power in multiple locations across the country, just as it has done in Angola, with financing done through the US EXIM Bank.

According to him, the company is currently working with other leading energy companies, with the capacity to do what Nigeria requires in the area of power.

“We will create something that will be of immediate need for Nigeria, and last for years to come.”

He described what Sun Africa LLC, USA has in mind as “a partnership for energy and infrastructure, which will revolutionize both the industrial and agricultural sectors.”

This was even as President Buhari acknowledged the fact that the rapid integration of solar power into the country’s energy mix will lead to an increase in electricity access to underserved and unserved communities.

The President said that his government has embarked on several reforms aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s energy sector aimed at improving energy access to communities across the country.

He commended the interest of the US developer to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, pledging that the Federal Government would remain committed to collaborating with the private sector in improving energy access, creating jobs and industrial development.

Highlighting some of the reforms embarked upon by this administration to address Nigeria’s energy needs, the President listed the recent signing of the Nigeria Climate Change Bill in November 2021, the implementation of the Power Sector Recovery Programme with the World Bank and the Nigeria Electrification Program aimed at enhancing energy access to remote communities.

He said that the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens was aimed at achieving end to end alignment across the electricity Value Chain.

“Initiatives like these will go a long way in developing local capacity through technology transfer and relieving transmission constraints through the generation and distribution of electricity in the local Distribution Companies Franchise Area, making off-take easier.

“The Ministers of Finance and Power as well as other Agencies of Government will remain available at all times, to ensure the achievement of this significant project as part of our efforts towards achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050.

“I am pleased to note the technology transfer content embedded in this initiative as well as the employment generation potentials.

“I thank you all for coming and look forward to receiving regular updates as you achieve significant milestones in developing your projects in Nigeria.”

How We Used N461.9B Foreign Loan To Create Jobs For 3.6M Nigerians – Agric Minister

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Abubakar has painted a good picture of how the government of President Muhammadu Buhari utilized the sum of $1.113 billion (about N461.9 billion) foreign loan to create 3.6 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

The minister, who featured in the weekly Ministerial Media Briefing today, August 4, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, stressed that the ministry is pursuing aggressive agticultural programme with the externally funded projects.

According to him, $538 million was approved for special agricultural processing zones to support inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

Mohammed Abubakar said that another project worth $575 million is being implemented to improve rural access and agricultural marketing in participating states while strengthening the financing institutional base for effective development, maintenance and management of rural roads network.

He gave the participating states as Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau and Sokoto.

The Minister said that the government is also implementing the Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing (VCDP-AF) 2020- 2024 to enhance sustainability, incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava.

He said that the project is currently being implemented in nine states, including Niger, Benue, Ogun, Ebonyi, Taraba and Anambra, Nasarawa, Kogi and Enugu and aimed at scaling up the achievement recorded in the original VCDP states.

Responding to speculations of soaring food prices despite these spirited interventions of the government, Mohammed Abubakar said that such challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria, saying that it is a reflection of the global economic value chain system.

He said that Nigeria, being part of the international community, is exploring ways to manage the situation to suit its own peculiarities as a nation.

Exodus Of Medical Personnel To Foreign Countries Worries Minister

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora is worried over the Mass exodus of medical personnel particularly, Medical Doctors to foreign countries.

Dr. Mamora, who spoke today, August 4, when a delegation of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led by its President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah paid him working visit vowed to stem the tide of mass exodus.

A statement by the Ministry’s Director Press FMSTI, Atora Obed, quoted the minister as saying that the federal government will look into conditions of service of health workers their working tools and remuneration so as to encourage health workers in their profession.

He promised to defend the interest of doctors and health workers because of their importance to humanity, even as he enjoined the Association to maintain high level of integrity and conduct, in line with her oath of profession.

The minister said that Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation will always collaborate with the Association, in scientific matters and appreciated members of the Association for their visit.

Earlier, the President of the Association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, requested the minister to discuss some of the Association’s challenges such as condition of service, working tools and remuneration in Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) on its behalf.

FCT Administration Disburses N146,453,103.00 To 14 Communities

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has commenced the disbursement of N146,453,103.00 as Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES) funds to 14 beneficiary communities in the Territory.

The FCTA, through its Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), presented cheques to the first batch of beneficiary communities across the six Area councils.

The initiative is a World Bank programme, designed to cushion the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents of the FCT and other participating states.

Performing the official presentation of the cheques to the beneficiary communities, having a total of 33 projects, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, said the program is leveraging the existing World Bank operations anchored on community-based approaches and structures.

Muhammad Musa Bello, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, said that the FCT-CSDA formulated 14 Community Development Plans (CDP) for implementation of projects, comprising the rehabilitation of primary health care centers, drilling, rehabilitation and upgrading of boreholes and construction and rehabilitation of classrooms across the 6 Area Councils.

He said that following the advance of N1.1 billion NG-CARES funds by the World Bank to FCT, the Administration has commenced subsequent disbursement of this fund to its various delivery platforms, namely FCT FADAMA, Abuja Enterprise Agency AEA), FCT Cash Transfer programme and the FCT-CSDA.

According to him, the objective of the program is to protect livelihoods and food security for poor and vulnerable families negatively impacted by the pandemic and facilitate the recovery of local economic activities.

He reiterated the resolve of the FCT Administration to continue to partner with various development partners with a view to achieving the vision of improving the wellbeing of people in the Territory.

“It is therefore imperative that the direct beneficiaries not only utilize them effectively but also ensure their functionality by owning and protecting them.

”I therefore call on traditional and community leaders to the projects achieve the aims for which they were instill in the people this sense of ownership in ensuring that they conceived.”

Court Seals Off First Bank Headquarters In Abuja, Removes Valuable Items

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sealed off headquarters of First Bank, located at the Central Business District in Abuja.

The action, according to sources, has been taken as a result of the failure of the bank to comply with what is called “garnishee order,” which is one of the options open to a judgment creditor to enforce a judgment that has been made in his favour. It is a common way of enforcing a judgment debt and is solely used to enforce monetary judgments against a debtor to recover money.

Officials of the FCT High Court Enforcement Unit, today, August 4, stormed the bank (Coomasie) with towing vans and cranes and towed some of its valuables.

Our reporters said that items that were removed, are stand-by generators, Hilux vans and air conditioners and other valuables.

An official of the court, who spoke to our reporter on grounds of anonymity said: “ it is a long story, but it is all about a garnishee order against the bank which it didn’t comply with.”

Some staff of the bank, who reacted to the development, described it as embarrassing, saying that it could have been handled differently.

Most of the bank’s customers were seen in groups hanging outside the bank’s premises.

Source: NAN.

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