NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to empower five million Nigerian artisans annually with requisite knowledge, tools and resources needed to succeed in their respective fields as part of efforts to curb unemployment in Nigeria.  The Director General and Chief Executive of the fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, stated this during a Northwest zonal media briefing in the Kaduna Area office.  He said ITF initiated the Skill Up Artisan Programme (SUPA) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to launch it soon due to its importance to national development. The Director General, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Head of Training, Kaduna Office, Mr. Daniel Jamgbade, explained that a call center was established to provide information to the public and presently over 200,000 Nigerians have registered within a month for the programme.  He said a curriculum for the programme was already developed for the individual trades with the assistance of relevant sector ski

  The Director of St. John Vianney Science College, Igbariam, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso) has offered full scholarship to three bright students of the school, who emerged victorious at the National Girls in ICT Competition 2024, winning the prestigious national championship with their innovative virtual reality (VR) project. Announcing the scholarship offer on Wednesday, at the premises of Divine Rays British School, Obosi, Fr. Ebube Muonso expressed gratitude to the three students: Immaculate Ebube Ikegwuonu, Camilla Anyadike, and Nweke-Nonso Oluchi, for making the school proud, and said that the offer will continue throughout their stay in the school. He expressed pride in his students’ achievements, and encouraged other students to work hard towards bringing honour to the school, and to themselves. He said, “This national championship is a monumental achievement for our school and a source of immense pride. It exemplifies our commitment to e

The Lagos State Government, through the state Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, has sealed up churches, hotels, bars, and other establishments across various areas of the state due to alleged noise pollution. The affected facilities shut are located around Ifako-Ijaiye, Abesan Estate, Abule-Egba, Alagbado, Command, and Dopemu of the state. The state’s commissioner for environment, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this via his X handle on Friday. According to Wahab, the affected facilities are the Catholic Church, 1602 Hotel, Seventh Heaven Bar & Lounge, Lourita Hotel & Suites, God’s Porch Ministries, and Wonderful Bible Prayer Ministries. Others include White Pavilion Hotel, Quest Hotel & Suites, Excel Hotel & Suite, and Honey Comb Confectionery Limited. The closures are deemed temporary and are aimed at enforcing compliance with environmental regulations. LASEPA, therefore, stressed the need for businesses to adhere to environmental standards to avoid sancti

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has released a statement to clarify what he deemed misleading regarding allegations surrounding the payment of school fees for his children. Recall that the controversy began on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, when the chairman of the Economic Financial Crime Commission, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede alleged during a media briefing that Bello withdrew funds from the Kogi State Government account to pay his children’s school fees, just before leaving office. Since the press conference, receipts purportedly showing payments of the said fees have circulated online, prompting a response from Bello’s media office. In response to the accusations, the embattled former governor released a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, which included several crucial details to set the record straight. The statement titled “Payment for school fees:Setting the records straid”, partly read, “While we reserve our rights to seek redress against the said defamatory stat

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has described the former governor of the state and incumbent President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio as a "great leader" who has decided to work for the betterment of the people of the state, in a "bipartisan manner." Eno stated this during a meeting he had with past and present members of the National Assembly across party lines, over the weekend in Uyo, the state capital.  According to him, "the Senate President, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio CON, is also a great leader from our dear state, a former Governor, and I respect him and thank him for his pledge to work together with us, to bring development to our dear state. “I have said it severally that I will support and work harmoniously with the President and Commander -in -Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ,GCFR, and I will continue to support him.  “I was elected to bring developm

At least 14 persons died in a head-on collision involving two Toyota buses on Sunday in Kogi. Thirteen persons survived the accident that occurred at Aloma community in Ofu Local Government Area of the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. An eyewitness told NAN that the accident involved a Toyota Sienna bus heading toward Abuja from Port Harcourt and a Toyota Hiace bus heading to the southern part of the country. “Thirteen persons, including the driver of the Hiace bus, were completely roasted by the fire that engulfed the bus immediately after the head-on coalition. “One of the four surviving persons in the bus died in hospital from burns suffered, bringing the number to 14 that died,’’ he said. According to him, none of the 10 occupants of the Sienna bus died. “But they were badly wounded and are receiving treatment in a hospital,” he added. He commended the villagers who quickly came to the scene of the accident and rescued the injured. “It is because of thei

The Presidency says all is now set for the roll out of 5500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), as well as 20,000  CNG conversion kits, all in the first set of critical assets for the launch of the Compressed Natural Gas initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , ahead of his one year anniversary on May 29th. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga,made this known on Sunday in a statement made available to State House Correspondents. Specifically, Mr Onanuga said that in all, over 600 buses are targeted for production in the first phase that will be accomplished this year. The Presidential aide also made known that the Committee is equally ready to spur the development of CNG refilling stations and electric charging stations across the country. The Special Adviser to the President added that already, the committee, being led by Michael Oluwagbemi, an oil and gas expert, has delivered some major foundational reforms to enable the ne

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its qualification for a loan from the World Bank, totaling $2.25 billion. Wale Edun, the finance minister, unveiled this milestone during a joint press conference held by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington D.C. He said the package, approved by the Board of Directors of the World Bank, offers a 40-year term with a 10-year moratorium and a nominal 1 percent interest rate. Edun said, “If you look at the fact that we have qualified for the processing, just this week to the Board of Directors of the World Bank, of the total package of $2.25 billion of what you can call, I mean, if there is no such thing as a free lunch, but it is the closest you can get to free money. It is virtually a grant. It is for about 40 years, 10 years moratorium and about 1% interest. So that also is part of the flow you can count.” H

.......Support Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru, avowed decision to enthrone justice, equity and fairness in the State Amuda in Diaspora members association, has debunked the claim in a recent press briefing by Ezza Ezekuna consultative assembly, that Ezza clan granted Amuda Autonomy in Ezza land, in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi state. The group said that is not only false but a misrepresention of facts.  Amuda (Idzem) Community Home and in the Diaspora, ably represented by Mr. Hyginus Elom, President General Amuda in Diaspora,Elem Joseph, secretary, and Comrade Ogba Uchenna Chapter Chairman of the same association in a joint press conference issued the press release to inform the world of the true state of affairs.  Below is the Excerpts of the press release.  RE: PRESS BRIEFING BY EZZA EZEKUNA CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY CLAMING EZZA'S GRANTED AMUDA AUTONOMY IN EZZALAND (EZZA NORTH LGA)   It is pertinent to react to the press briefing by the Ezza Ezekuna Consultative Assembly held on 2

........ ASSURES NIGERIANS THAT THE RENEWED HOPE DRIVE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THE REFINERIES FUNCTIONING IS ON COURSE  Senator Ifeanyi Ubah CON, representing the Anambra South Senatorial District, is leading a pivotal drive in Nigeria's quest for energy self-sufficiency by spearheading the ongoing Senate Ad-hoc Committee's inspection of the nation's refineries. Following a comprehensive assessment of the Warri Refinery the day prior, Senator Ubah led the committee on an oversight visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery on April 19, 2024. Accompanied by high-ranking officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), including the Executive Vice-President (Downstream), Mr. Dapo Segun, and received by a delegation from the Port Harcourt Refinery, led by Managing Director Ibrahim M. Onoja,the Senate Adhoc Committee members , embarked on a meticulous examination of the refinery's Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) projects. During this i