The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said that 9, 698 accidents were recorded in 2019 leading to 4, 737 deaths.
FRSC Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi stated this on Thursday while addressing journalists in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“Available data to the corps revealed that between January to October 2019, a total of 9, 698 road traffic crashes were recorded out of which 4,737 people were recorded dead.
“We have 30, 744 people sustained various degrees of injury to 68, 193 people involved. 63, 456 were rescued. More disheartening is that the nation has to grapple with the worrisome challenges of crashes involving the articulated vehicles in the year 2019,” he stated.
Oyeyemi stated that his agency is worried about the challenges of crashes involving trailers and trucks continued with 900 crashes recorded.
According to him, over 157 thousand traffic offenders were arrested in the third quarter of the year.
The Federal Government has set a 2023 deadline to stop the importation of petrol into the country.
Nigeria, an oil-producing country has been heavily dependent on the importation of petroleum products since its four major oil refineries have been under-utilized.
According to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, while signing the Condensate refinery strategy programme Front End Engineering Design, the strategy is expected to deliver 20 million litres of Petrol when it’s completed.
Mr Kyari explained that President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned that as an oil-producing country, Nigeria is one of the highest importers of petrol in the world.
In 2017, the Federal Government planned to stop the importation of fuel by 2019 with the approval of a new National Oil Policy by the Federal Executive Council.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday returned to Abuja, the nation’s capital after his trip to Egypt.
The President in Egypt attended the ASWAN Forum on Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa.
The forum held on Wednesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 12.
Buhari also met with his Egyptian counterpart Abdelfattah el-Sisi on this side-line of the forum pledging to collaborate to eradicate the menace of terrorism in parts of Africa.
Annual rent VERSUS value of property is an ideal way to calculate and determine whether you're getting good value or not.
If the sales value of a 2 bedroom apartment in Bariga is N35m, and I'm told to pay 500k annually, of course, that's good value. If I pay 500-600k per annum for 10 years, that's just 5-6m (14% of sales value).
While the landlord is still struggling to make 20% of his real estate investment after 10 years, I would have done greater things (with same 35m as of the period I moved in).
Are u an estate valuer? You make a lot of sense here... Can I have your contact please
Edo State Government has placed a total and complete ban on all political rallies, demonstrations or procession in any part of the state. It directed all security agencies to deal firmly with all persons, no matter how highly placed who breached the directive. A statement signed by Secretary to the Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, said the state government has made clear it’s position that the ‘plans by som identified mischief-makers to organise an unauthorised political rally in Bénin City was capable of leading to breakdown of public peace and also danger to the persons and property of Edo citizens.’ The statement warned property owners that any venue which is used for activities in breach of this order shall have its right of occupancy immediately revoked and forfeited to the state government. Ogie said the state government would not allow any persons turn the state into a battlefield. “The events of yesterday 12th December, 2019 were a scary prelude to the absolute mayhem which these irresponsible activities would generate if left unchecked. “In defiance of the clear and publicized instruction of the Inspector General of Police, calling off the proposed rally owing to security implications, these desperate persons are presently shopping around for alternative venues to carry out their incendiary activities.” Meanwhile, security was tightened around the Edo APC secretariat. When our reporter visited, scores of APC supporters were seated around the secretariat apparently waiting for any forceful take over of the secretariat.
You lied. Wike, Ganduje and yahaya never use power on opposition (most especially within party). I can't mention yahaya here
And also, Obaseki case is totally different. Fighting someone whom your success depends on. Don't tell me APC success (either in edo or other part) does not depend on Oshiomole.
You can clearly see the end of Obaseki now if you view from neutral ground.
Edo State government on Friday announced that a ban has been placed on all political rallies and demonstration in the state.
This announcement is coming barely 24 hours after a protest by some youths who set up bonfires at some strategic locations in the capital city, Benin, leading to increased political tensions.
The Government of Edo State in a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, said the decision to place the ban was important following alleged plans by some mischief-makers to organise an unauthorised political rally in Benin City.
According to him, the rally is capable of leading to a breakdown of public peace and also a danger to the persons and property of Edo citizens.
[b]“The event of yesterday, 12th December, 2019, were a scary prelude to the absolute mayhem which these irresponsible activities would generate if left unchecked.
“In defiance of the clear and publicised instruction of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), calling off the proposed rally owing to the security implications, these desperate persons are presently shopping around for alternative venues to carry out their incendiary activities.
“The primary purpose of Government is the protection of life and property. Consequently, the government of Edo State has placed a total and complete ban on all political rallies, demonstrations and/or procession in any part of Edo State,” [/b]the statement read in part.
The state government therefore directed all security agencies to deal firmly with all persons who act in breach of this directive.
The also urged parents and guardians to advise their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used as “cannon-fodder in aid of misguided political ambition and ego of people, whose own children reside and school abroad.”
The statement concluded that all property owners used for activities in breach of this order shall have their right of occupancy immediately revoked and forfeited to the state government.
The Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, to liaise with the International Police Organization, INTERPOL, to arrest a former Minister Of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The former minister is among three defendants charged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three counts for allegedly deploying over N362million derived from a $115m slush fund to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in favour of the candidate of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The other defendants are Ibrahim Mohammed, the electoral officer in charge of Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State and Sahabo Iya-Hamman, a retired INEC staff and Adamawa State coordinator of West African Network of Election Observers (WANEO), during the 2015 presidential election.
Count two of the charge read, “That you, Ibrahim Mohammed Umar, Sahabo Iya Hamman and Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke (now at large) sometime between March and May, 2015 at Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being a public officer working with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and retired public servant and former Minister of Petroleum Resources (now at large) and in capacities, did corruptly procured monetary benefit of Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Million Naira, (N362,000,000.00) in favour of public officers and staff working with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Adamawa State, contrary to and punishable under Section 9 (1) (a) & (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Thereafter, Justice Nathan Musa granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10m each and two sureties in like sum.
After more than two years of trial in which the prosecution called several witnesses and tendered documents that were admitted in evidence, the Judge convicted Ibrahim Mohammed and Sahabo Iya-Hamman, to seven years imprisonment on each of the three counts for receiving a bribe of N362 million from the former Minister of Petroleum.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
In convicting the defendants, the Judge held that he was satisfied by the testimonies of the 15 witnesses who appeared before the court and other material evidence tendered by the prosecution.
He observed that though N362 million was received by the officials, they only shared five per cent of the money to other staff of the commission and could not account for the balance.
Simplyleo: I support the move and it should be total. Because some groundnuts graduates have practically turned online beggers.
I know of a mechanical engineering graduate with specialisation in phone repairs who now begs online on social media day and night.
In some cases, when they don't succeed, they start creating multiple usernames and start following you up and down with very laughable and childish story lines.
The Senate needs to expedite action to address this issue of unemployed graduates before it change to something else.
It's actually a good move if properly implemented. Of course, implementation is another cog in the wheel of Nigeria progress as 70% of this fund when approved will go to ghost graduate and some public officials. God help Nigeria
Urges emergency declaration on job creation • To probe PPPRA over alleged unremitted N800b to FERMA • Buhari harps on conflict resolution for Africa’s development
The Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to set up an “Unemployment Fund” from where to pay unemployed graduates and youths stipends until they secure employment. It also charged the Ministry of National Planning to “put up mechanisms and programmes that would provide employment for the country’s teeming unemployed graduates/youths at all tiers of government.”Adopting a motion titled “Escalating Rate of Unemployment in the Country” and sponsored by Ike Ekweremadu, the upper legislative chamber equally called on government at all levels to declare emergency on job creation for the youths nationwide.
The former deputy senate president, who raised the alarm at the disturbing unemployment statistics in the country during plenary, said the red chamber should be “concerned that the large numbers of graduates that our high institutions are turning out yearly, but cannot be absorbed by the labour market, are a time bomb waiting to explode.”
He added: “The most pressing demand on the hand of every legislator and public officer is the rising number of curriculum vitae and applications for employments from constituents and Nigerians.”The lawmaker submitted that “a situation where every graduate has to queue for job only in government offices is an indication of the breakdown of the private sector, which is the major driver of world economies.”He expressed worry that “these energies and potential talents that are lying idle and wasting away are usually misdirected towards many unprofitable and harmful ventures and lifestyles."
Ekweremadu observed that a situation where “most active percentage of the nation’s population is forcefully caged by unemployment from participating in the economic development of their fatherland and contributing towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)” was dangerous.He further held: “High level of crimes in any society is most times related to high rate of unemployment.
“Unemployment is one of the major causes of the upsurge in rural-urban migration which puts pressure on facilities at the urban centres. “Unemployment is one of the major reasons insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, cyber crimes and other vices are on the increase.”
Consequently, the Senate enjoined the federal, state and local governments to revive moribund industries, build new ones and provide an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
Besides, Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday said the chamber would investigate the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) over alleged non-remittance of N800 billion to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the maintenance of highways across the federation.
He dropped the hint during a debate on a bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency Act, 2002 and to establish the Federal Roads Authority Bill, 2019.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the resolution of conflicts remains a key component in the overall development of Africa.Speaking yesterday at the opening of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa taking place in Egypt, the president stated: “As Africans, it is important to focus on the issues of conflict prevention and resolution. Conflicts have devastating effects on our societies and they militate against our progress. In this regard, the need to silence the guns cannot be overemphasized.”He equally emphasized that massive investment in transportation infrastructure was necessary for the continent’s economic resurgence to fast-track the African Free Trade Area Agreement.
The House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the crisis between the Federal Government and workers in the power sector.
The House, at the plenary on Wednesday, resolved that the leadership should intervene in the crisis within 24 hours to avert the strike.
This was based on the unanimous adoption of a motion titled, ‘Urgent Need for the Federal Government to Interface with the Managements of Electricity Companies and the National Union of Electricity Employees to avoid impending electricity blackout.’
The parliament urged the Federal Government to direct the Ministers of Power, Saleh Mamman; and Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chris Ngige, to amicably resolve all issues as raised by NUEE.
The House further directed the Committees on Power and Labour to, respectively, “invite the ministers of Power, Labour, Employment and Productivity; (Acting) Director-General of the National Pension Commission (Aisha Dahir-Umar); and the heads of the various GENCOS and DISCOS to investigate the allegations against the companies and report back to the House in two weeks.”
Before the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr. Toby Okechukwu, moved the motion, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the session, noted that the motion was to be moved by the Deputy Minority Leader was a good example of a motion of urgent national importance.
Following the adoption, Gbajabiamila asked the relevant committees to write the ministers, workers and other stakeholders to appear at a hearing scheduled for 2pm on Thursday.
Moving the motion, Okechukwu recalled that a petition dated November 7th, 2019, was written to the Minister of Power by the National Union Of Electricity Employees.
He said NUEE copied the Distribution Companies and Generation Companies, where the union warned and gave a 21-day ultimatum, after which a nationwide strike would be declared it their demands are not met by the electricity companies.
The demands include non-payment of salary arrears, remittance of pension deductions, refusal to pay over 2000 disengaged workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria since 2013, underpayment of over 50,000 ex-PHCN staff (members), casualisation/outsourcing of workers.
Okechukwu also recalled that the workers, under the auspices of the NUEE, accused the Ministry of Power of failing to respond to their strike notification letter, which expired Tuesday and the union, and threatened that they had no other option than to withdraw services without further notice, having exhausted every avenue for resolution of the dispute.
The Deputy Minority Leader said, “The House is concerned that their resolve to go on with the strike without further notification came as a result of the information by a power sector consultant, Mrs. Rahila Thomas, wherein she stated that the GENCOS and DISCOS direly needed N1.2tn bailout to improve their services.
“The House is concerned further that if this threat is carried out, the whole country will be plunged in total blackout and considering the consequential role which electricity plays and the dependence upon electricity by all sectors of the country ,including the National Assembly, there will be severe economic losses, which will further impact our society negatively.”
Okechukwu expressed concerns that Nigeria, as a member of the International Labour Organisation, had ratified over 40 international labour conventions and had, through the National Assembly, enacted the Labour Act, among other labour laws, by which the country swore to protect the right of workers in the country.
Okechukwu added, “The House is bothered that if this threat by NUEE is not immediately looked into and nipped in the bud, it will result in serious financial losses by both private and government establishments, and as well as security challenges in our country.”
Members of the electricity workers union are currently protesting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The workers in protest blocked main entrance gate and locked out some staff to the Ministry of Power. This is even in the presence of armed police officers.
The electricity workers are protesting over the non-payment of severance package for members who were affected by the unbundling of Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN into eleven electricity distribution companies (DisCos), six generating companies (GenCos), and a transmission company (TCN).
It will be recalled that the Senate President Ahmed Lawan on Monday called on the Executive to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency in the power sector to overcome the legion of problems stalling steady power supply in Nigeria.
According to the Senate President, the privatisation of the power sector in 2005 and 2013 was a grand scheme conceived with the intention to defraud Nigeria.
Lawan while faulting the power sector privatization process said it hasn’t yielded significant improvements and the National Assembly is prepared to amend the Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.
Racoon: #20Trn stamp duty only and yet this government is talking about borrow $30B? Everyone in this govt have been inflicted with the lootocracy demon.
The Senate on Tuesday resolved to probe the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its subsidiary, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) over an allegedly failure to remit N20 trillion revenue to the Federation Account.
CBN reportedly collected the amount as stamp duty from banks and financial institutions in the country.
The resolution follows a motion by Senator representing Ondo central, Ayo Akinyelure.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria and NIBBS have technically refused to comply with the presidential directives for the recovery of over N20 trillion revenue into the coffers of government,”
“The CBN and NIBSS deliberately failed to cooperate and comply with the directives of Mr President for the realisation of over N20 trillion revenue due from stamp duties collected for 2013 to 2016 and subsequently over N5 trillion minimum revenue due to be collected annually to the federation account to be shared among states of the federation for infrastructural and economic development.
“The Senate must consider whether the target N20 trillion fund is being recycled into private banks when federal government had directed its recovery,” he said.
The lawmakers expressed concerns that despite government decision to appoint a consultant to help it recovered the money; the CBN and NIBSS have technically refused to comply with the presidential directive for the recovery of the money into the Federation Account.
Senator Isah Jibrin in his contribution said, “I want to support this motion. The issue is a major problem with financial remittance. The issue is to unravel who is benefiting from the non-compliance of this directive from President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Senate then resolved to Mandate the Committee on Finance to investigate this issue of over N20 trillion unremitted stamp duties revenue due to the Federal Government of Nigeria from banks and other financial institutions through (NIBSS) a subsidiary of CBN for 2013 – 2016 and financial accountability of stamp duty collections from 2016 when the CBN officially directed all banks to collect on behalf of the federal government to date.
In his concluding remarks, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said, “I engaged the Ministry of Finance and CBN for an interaction, and I discovered that what we have been expecting to be available as stamp duty is not so.
“I was under the impression that we had over N20 trillion somewhere. It will interest you to know that we don’t even have N1 trillion. What has happened is because those that are supposed to collect the stamp duties were taking advantage of the non-electronic transaction.
“With the passage of the finance bill, this is an opportunity we have to start getting what ordinarily should go to the government.
“The banks and many private organizations have taken advantage of the way the stamp duties have been.
“I want to believe that from January 2020, when the Finance Bill will start being effective, the stamp duty collection will be significantly improved,” he said.
Lawan added that is for our Finance Committee to monitor closely what the collection should be.
“We would like to know in the first quarter how much they have collected, and if they have not met targets; if they have met targets, how do we do better than that? The idea is not to slow agencies to do whatever they want.”
Romance / Re: What Is The Best Way To End An Argument With Your Partner? by msmon(m): 2:19am On Jan 01, 2020 