NIGERIAN NOTCH

President Buhari has approved a take-off grant of N1 billion to establish Nigeria’s first aviation and aerospace university, to be located in Abuja. In 2017, the federal government had said an aviation university would be established to “manufacture” aircraft components and eventually “produce” aircraft. Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, made this known when he led the management team of the aviation ministry on a visit to Rasheed Abubakar, the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Friday. He said the institution named “The African University of Aerospace and Aviation” would be dedicated to research and development in civil aviation and aerospace technology. The minister explained that the decision to establish the specialised university was informed by the need to fill some identified gaps in the growth and development of the aviation sector. “We are deficient in research and development in civil aviation and aerospace technology, and that has caused a

Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer for the Anambra 2021 election, has urged eligible voters in Anambra State to take advantage of the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the November 6 polls.  The election regulatory body over the weekend announced that the registration and data update of eligible voters would commence on Monday, June 28. 2021.  In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from his campaign office in Udoka Estate, Awka, Ozigbo stressed the importance of getting a voter's card and how exercising their fundamental right to vote in the November election would impact the standard of living Ndi Anambra.  Ozigbo, a globally respected business mogul, discouraged voter apathy in several parts of the country, stating that citizens who refuse to express the right to vote are doing a disservice to the growth of Nigeria's democracy.  "Registering wit

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will partner with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to enhance its operational capabilities within Enugu State. The FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr Joseph Udoabba, said this when he paid a courtesy call to the management of EEDC at its corporate headquarters in Enugu on Thursday. Udoabba said that the visit was essentially to ``further fortify and cement the already existing cordial relationship’’ between the Command and EEDC. “I hope we will continue on that cordial note,’’ he said. He also commended the efforts of EEDC in ensuring effective electricity distribution in the state as well as entire South-East states. ``FRSC is soliciting for support in the area of power supply to its Command headquarters, unit and licensing offices to enable the corps efficiently carry out its operations without disruption,’’ he appealed. Responding, the acting Managing Director, EEDC, Mr Paul Okeke, on behalf of the Management of EED

The Senate and House of Representatives have passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The bill was first passed at the house of reps after the Committee of the Whole considered the clauses of the bill based on the recommendation of the Committee on PIB. Mohammed Monguno, chairman of the ad hoc committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), presented a report and the lawmakers voted on 319 clauses of the bill. Monguno said by passing the bill, the ninth house would have succeeded in enacting important legislation. He added that the bill would make the oil and gas industry more transparent and competitive. After the bill was passed, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, commended the lawmakers for “making Nigeria proud”. At the senate, the bill was passed after a clause by clause consideration of the report of its joint committee on Petroleum (Upstream, Downstream and Gas) on PIB. Senate President Ahmad Lawan congratulated the lawmakers and said the Ninth National Assembly has achieved one of it

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops of Operation HADIN KAI killed 73 Boko Haram Terrorists and rescued 55 victims in Borno State. The acting director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this during an update of the military operations across the country between June 18-30, 2021. He said the operations yielded attendant successes in the various theatres across the country. He said the troops conducted ambush operations, clearance operetions as well as responded to distress calls, repelled terrorist attacks on troops’ locations and dominated the theatre of operations. The DHQ spokesman said the Air component of Operation HADIN KAI also conducted series of Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to reveal and destroy terrorists’ enclaves as well as their logistic supplies and equipment. Gen Onyeuko added that troops consistently struck BHT/ISWAP strongholds throughout the theatre of operation. He said during the offensive

  The House of Representatives has passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The House Committee of the Whole, on Thursday, considered the report of the Ad hoc Committee on PIB and passed the bill. The report was laid on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno). The 318 clauses in the bill were passed in less than 20 minutes. The passage was not without drama, as the deputy speaker, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), did not recognise members trying to raise points of order. At a point, the deputy speaker jumped from clause 189 to 200. The PIB was first introduced into the National Assembly in 2008 as an executive bill by then president, Umar Yar’Adua. The Sixth National Assembly (2007 – 2011) failed to pass the bill. The bill was reintroduced into the National Assembly in 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan.   Last June, 47 out of the 360 members of the House of Representatives in the Seventh Assembly (2011 – 2015) were present when the bill was passed