The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi has said that 438 active cases of coronavirus in Lagos communities have refused to turn up for treatment in the state’s COVID-19 care centres.
“Embankment collapse at Kainji Dam will probably be the biggest disaster to hit Africa since the turn of the century – destructive power of water.
“A dam break wave is very similar and destructive as a Tsunami wave but is not of seismic origin as a Tsunami.
“We are not sure any person would wish this type of disaster on his or her country or continent.”
These were contained in a statement today, September 15, by the Director General, Chief Executive Officer Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in the Presidency, Engr. Chidi Izuwah Snr. He was reacting to what he called “very dangerous fake news circulating about Kainji Dam.”
Engr Chidi said that what is currently happening at Kainji is a well planned and professionally managed annual to periodic reservoir management practice of safe and controlled spilling of computed volumes of water through the Dam spillway for safety and other well designed and thought out operational reasons.
“We inform the public that Kainji Dam is safe and advice them to ignore the fake news.”
He said that as part of the Power Sector reforms, Kainji Hydropower Facilities are on concession to Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, which has the responsibility of among others, of
safe custody of the entire dam structure and appurtenances.
He said that the ICRC, being the statutory agency responsible for pre and post contract regulation of PPPs and concessions, has continued regular technical and other compliance monitoring of the Kainji Concession.
“The ICRC wants to confirm that the integrity of Kainji Dam is intact and the facility is operating flawlessly and injecting lowest-cost power to the national grid.
“During our last compliance monitoring visit before the Covid19 era, all aspects of the Dam were inspected by us and where appropriate function tested. We thoroughly inspected the Dam Crest, Reservoir, Embankment Rip Rap, Dam Toe, Toe Drain, Piezometers, Spillway, Stilling Basin, Power House etc.”
The ICRC boss said that Kainji has one of the most sophisticated real-time inflow prediction and reservoir basin management systems.
“This computer-based system with feeder monitors on the upstream and downstream stretches is designed to ensure world-class hydraulics flow management for dam, upstream and downstream safety management.
“It is important to inform Nigerians what an embankment collapse means and its implications. Kainji Dam impounds over 16 billion litres of water. Embankment collapse means the dam structure is breached leading to loss of containment of the impounded water.
“Embankment collapse will result in what is called a dam break wave. Most empirical hydraulic models will show that everything probably some decent distance on both banks of the Niger from Kanji dam location to the sea will be washed away.”
He advised Nigerians to check the status of the PPP and concession projects on the ICRC disclosure portal via www.icrc.gov.ng or directly with the Commission.
Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany – April 17, 2018: Many coins of various cryptocurrenciesThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said that it would henceforth regulate crypto-token or crypto-coin investments, while classifying them as securities.
In a statement posted on its website, SEC said that Section 13 of the Investment and Securities Act, 2007 bestowed powers on it as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market to regulate investments and securities business in the country.
“The position of the Commission is that virtual crypto assets are securities, unless proven otherwise. Thus, the burden of proving that the crypto assets proposed to be offered are not securities and therefore not under the jurisdiction of the SEC, is placed on the issuer or sponsor of the said assets.
“Issuers or sponsors are expected to satisfy the burden of proving that the virtual assets do not constitute securities by making an initial assessment filing. However, where the finding of the Commission is that the virtual assets are indeed securities (not structured to be exclusively offered through crowdfunding portals or other exempt methods), then the issuer or sponsor must register the digital assets,” the statement said.
The capital market regulator disclosed that the virtual asset registration process would adopt a two-pronged approach namely: an initial assessment filing to satisfy the burden of proof and a filing for registration, either made directly by the issuer or sponsor where the burden of proof is not satisfied.
“All Digital Assets Token Offering (DATOs), Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Security Token ICOs and other Blockchain-based offers of digital assets within Nigeria or by Nigerian issuers or sponsors or foreign issuers targeting Nigerian investors, shall be subject to the regulation of the Commission.
“Existing digital assets offerings prior to the implementation of the Regulatory Guidelines will have three (3) months to either submit the initial assessment filing or documents for registration proper, as the case may be,” SEC said.
Those who qualify to be regulated include any person (individual or corporate) whose activities have to do with Blockchain-related and virtual digital asset services as well as issuers or sponsors of virtual digital assets.
Foreign issuers or sponsors will be recognised by SEC where a mutual agreement exists between Nigeria and the country of the foreign issuer or sponsor.
“A recognition status will also be accorded, where the country of the foreign issuer or sponsor is a member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions.”
Source: Ripples Nigeria.
Dr. Obadiah Mailafiya | Photo credit: Intervention.ngThe embattled former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia, has confessed that he didn’t mean to say that government officials are involved in promoting Boko Haram insurgence in the Northeast because he had no evidence.
He said that he has no evidence also to back his allegations that the government was culpable in the killing of Nigerians and that an unnamed Nigerian governor was a sponsor of bandits killing Nigerians.
Mailafia who spoke today, September 14, shortly after being quizzed for the third time by the Department of State Service (DSS), in Jos, the Plateau State capital, said: “I had a routine appearance with the Department State Security, Plateau State Command. I am very pleased that I was treated very professionally. There was no harassment or intimidation.
“Over a month ago when I gave a radio interview, based on what I heard. If I had my way there are few things I would say differently, but I spoke on the spur of the moments, and I believed that it was a matter of greater urgency to make a wake-up call to what is happening.
“I didn’t really mean to say that the government was part and parcel of the killings, I implied that they could do better because thousands are dying, innocent women and children, elderly and youths.
“But if I have my way I would have put it in better language, and I have no way of corroborating some of these things. I heard it and I couldn’t have followed them into their camps to confirm because I might not come back to tell the story, so that is the reality.”
On his earlier claim that his life being threatened, he said though he has no evidence, he believes his life is under threat.
“I have indicated that I have reason to believe that my life has been in danger. I have no conclusive proof but I get threat, I get calls. Where I was staying, on Thursday, I saw some strange people at the gate trying to break in. I jumped the fence and escaped because I don’t know who they are.”
Source: THISDAY.
Pentium Ministries, Canada, owned by Nigeria’s Apostle Ausbeth Ajagu, has launched a One Billion Souls For Jesus Project in Canada.
Representatives, mainly clergymen and women from Nigeria, Canada, South Africa, Belgium, India, USA, Jamaica and Israel, participated in the event.
Speaking at the occasion, Apostle Ajagu, who is Chief Servant of Pentium Ministries worldwide, referred to Mark.16:15 which admonished all and sundry to go into the world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ which is targeted on reconciliation of man to God.
Ajagu and his team of pastors then prayed for the saving of One Billion Souls across the nations of the world, especially the youth.
He called for partnership and support of all well meaning persons in various nations towards the realization of the project.
Pentium Ministries is a non-denominational ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ that preaches endtime message Undiluted with affiliates and network virtually in all the nations of the world.
The event was a Holy Spirit communion service which witnessed prayers from numerous anointed men and women of God praying and dedicating the project to God.
US Embassy in AbujaThe United States of America has imposed visa ban on politicians, whose names it did not disclose, for allegedly undermining the conducts of the November 2019 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
The spokesperson for the Department of State, Morgan Ortagus, in a statement today, September 14, said: “in July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the February and March 2019 elections.
“Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections..”
The statement added that these individuals “operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles.”
It said that the ban is in furtherance of its commitment to strengthening democracy in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie EhanireNigeria’s Health Minister, Ehanire Osagie, has appealed to the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to suspend its nationwide strike.
“Nigeria needs the service of all our health workers to control the spread of COVID-19. Issues around allowances are multi-sectoral and have always been saved with negotiations no matter how long it took.”
Dr. Ehanire who spoke today, September 14 at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, called on the striking health workers to return to work and start negotiating, citing the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I use this opportunity to appeal to JOHESU to suspend their industrial action and go into negotiation.
“The position of the Ministry of Health is that strikes by healthcare workers jeopardise the lives of citizens, especially at such times of global health emergencies as now.
The health workers commenced a nationwide strike on midnight of September 13 after claiming that the government failed to pay allowances for services rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic and other welfare packages earlier agreed upon.
The Kainji Dam in Niger State of Nigeria is said to have burst at Kainji Hydroelectric, threatening some states with flooding and blackout.
Reports said that the embankments of the dam, one of Nigeria’s hydro-power stations, had caved in after the opening of the four spillway gates to free surplus water, caused by heavy rains.
The management of the dam, Mainstream Energy Solution Limited, was believed to have opened the points but discovered that the dam was impounding more water than it should.
An official of the company said: “we opened the 4 spillway gates because of the water pressure. Now, it is hitting the embarkment and will continue to expand if not reinforced. The embarkment is falling, rocks are falling into the water.”
The dam, which produces hydroelectric power, is located in New Bussa town in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Authorities and the firm have shut down the hydro-power station for repairs. This will take about 760MW of electricity off the national grid.
Abdulrasaq Jakada, a top official of the Emir of Borgu’s palace said the monarch has been informed of the development.
Source: THISDAY
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has said that he fell out politically with his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole because he wanted to turn him into slave.
In a series of tweets, Obaseki, who is running for re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 19 election wrote: “I supported @A Oshiomhole when he ran for office. I developed his plan as governor. When he was done, he felt I can continue this plan.
“So, I ran for office; he had an ulterior motive and felt I was going to be subservient. He didn’t know I was going to be this independent-minded.
“The @OfficialPDPNig gave me umbrella when I weathered my political storm and I am grateful to the leadership of the party for their large heart.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has announced moves to assist newspaper houses to overcome some financial issues they face in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made this known to newsmen today, September 14, after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, said that so far, government had done a few things to intervene in the broadcast subsector of the industry.
He added that government is waiting for the the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) to come forward with a submission on how government could help.
“Government has done a lot the media, especially the broadcast industry, during this pandemic. The first thing we did was to give a waiver of two months payment of license fees to all broadcast houses, between May and July, after which we gave an amnesty as 60% discount or debt forgiveness, for all broadcast houses, except the Pay TVs, and also slashed by 30% the licensing fees because of the COVID-19.
“I also met with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, we met virtually and I’m still waiting for them to come and make their submissions.
“Definitely, the government is willing to look into the hardships and the challenges the media is facing and within our means to see how best we can intervene. I’m still waiting for the NPAN to come back to us to see what we can do to ameliorate the situation.”
The Minister said that the federal government is serious about developing the entire creative industry, especially because of the huge job opportunity in it, adding that President Buhari is particularly interested in the industry.
“This government is putting a lot of emphasis and promoting the creative industry, which is tourism, which is hospitality industry, which is the music industry, which is the film industry, which is publishing, which is broadcasting.
“We’ll continue to support this industry and have the Mr President’s support. He was quite excited about the portrait because he’s able to see what kind of jobs can be created through this cultural festivals.”
