Lawmaker empowers over 1,000 in Somolu.

Lawmaker empowers over 1,000 in Somolu.

The lawmaker representing Somolu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, has held the fifth edition of his Hon. Kuye Grant & Stakeholders Townhall Meeting.

The event, which held at Old Somolu LG Secretariat, Somolu, had over 1000 residents going home with N20,000 each, done mainly by transfers; while some went home with freezers to enhance their businesses. Notably, Adaranijo Market, Pedro also got a grinding machine.

The sponsor, Hon. Kuye said the gesture was to further empower and improve the lot of the petty traders, who form the larger chunk of the nation’s economic strata.

“We believe that if we continue to support them, we will be promoting the economy because the small-scale business people constitute a larger percentage of the entire population of Nigeria; and by empowering and taking them out of poverty, we can help them take care of their family; send their children to school and get good accommodation for themselves.”

He enjoined the beneficiaries to use the grants judiciously while promising more in December

Herdsmen kill three, injure others on Benue-Nasarawa road.

Herdsmen kill three, injure others on Benue-Nasarawa road.

No fewer than three persons and several others were injured, when herdsmen attacked travelers on Benue-Nasarawa road.

The travelers were reportedly attacked on Friday by some gun-wielding herdsmen who launched an ambush on the busy Makurdi-Lafia road near Ortese in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

A week ago, armed herders also ambushed and killed three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who went fishing in the Gwer West LGA area of Benue State.

According to a report, the attackers set up an ambush on the busy Makurdi-Lafia road on Thursday evening and Friday morning, targeting innocent travellers near the Hirnyam, Pevkyaa, and Ortaver villages. Several people were said to have been wounded in the sporadic attack.

Reacting to the incident, the Security Secretary of Guma Local Government Area, Mr Christopher Waku, who confirmed the incident said the attackers had laid ambush for two consecutive days near Ortese, along the Daudu/Ortese road on the Makurdi-Lafia Highway. During these attacks, they shot and killed three individuals, all of whom were local residents.

“It was not a roadblock; the armed herdsmen stood on the Daudu – Ortese road. They killed two persons on Thursday, at about 5 pm, and injured one person who is currently receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH).

“Today, Friday morning, they killed another person, bringing the total fatalities to three. Regrettably, all the victims were local residents,” Waku said.

Electricity Act 2023 ‘ll reduce Nigeria’s energy deficit – British envoy.

Electricity Act 2023 ‘ll reduce Nigeria’s energy deficit – British envoy.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson has said that the new provision for state governments to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity is critical in reducing the energy deficit in Nigeria.

She disclosed this in Abuja at the just concluded two-day roundtable meeting on Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2023 jointly convened by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the British High Commission.

Atkinson maintained that it was time for the federating states “to explore new opportunities to scale up electricity and deliver it to more Nigerians.”

The meeting with the theme: ‘The Electricity Act 2023: Implications and Opportunities for State Electricity Markets,’ was facilitated by the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF, to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats linked to the new Electricity Act 2023 and strategies for navigating emerging challenges.

A communique at the end of the roundtable stated that the meeting agreed on the need for the state governments to identify and prioritise opportunities for joined-up initiatives at the regional level to ensure cohesive implementation of the Electricity Act.

It further stated that the meeting identified the next steps for the states to take for the effective implementation of the legislation. They include, “The development of transition roadmaps based on contextual stock take exercises, the deployment of broad-based professional expertise to build sector capacity and support the process and the identification of clear state-level market structures.

“Another key outcome from the Roundtable was consensus on the urgent need for the donor community and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to scale up their support to state governments, bearing in mind state-level contextual realities.”

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasak said state governments would be seeking the collaboration of other critical stakeholders in the industry for the full implementation of the legislation for the advantage of the states.

He noted that the state government would seek to achieve the following objectives – “capacity building, policy guidance, knowledge sharing and above all infrastructural/project development by supporting State governments in identifying and developing bankable projects in the electricity sector, ensuring that these projects meet the highest standards of technical, social, and environmental sustainability.”

Kano to pay 5,500 retirees six billion naira gratuities.

Kano to pay 5,500 retirees six billion naira gratuities.

Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf has said he will pay 5,500 retirees the sum of six billion naira as gratuities

The governor disclosed this on Saturday.

Upon assuming office, Yusuf had expressed displeasure over the backlog of unpaid gratuities.

He averred that the immediate past administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje left a backlog of N40 billion in unpaid gratuities.

The governor, who had promised to clear the backlog within his two years in office, on Saturday said the decision to settle the retirees was reached at the weekly Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

Beneficiaries of the gratuities would be retirees of lower grade levels from N1 million downwards, Yusuf said, expressing deep concern about the plight of retired civil servants who served the state well but have not been paid their entitlements.

“We have a list of the beneficiaries and the money at hand. Next week we shall commence the payment without delay.

“I always sleep and wake up with the issue of gratuities of retired civil servants in my mind. I always think about how to settle and clear this backlog.

“I frequently summon meetings with the Accountant General, Chairman Pension Trust fund, and others to assist me on the way forward.

“It is in the course of this meeting that we decided to start paying those of low-grade level, whose amounts do not exceed N1 million or is little above N1 million down to like N150,000 or N250,000.

“I asked them to compile the list and we have got the names of over 5,500 of them.

“By next week, they will receive their gratuities in sha Allah. The total amount as we calculated is about N6 billion and it has since been approved by the State Executive Council,” Governor Yusuf said.  

NUPRC to penalize firms for failingto deliver crude for domestic refining.

NUPRC to penalize firms for failingto deliver crude for domestic refining.

As local companies have sent their notification to start refining crude oil, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) at the weekend said any company that fails to supply them with the agreed crude oil will be compelled to pay 50% of the amount per barrel not delivered.

The commission’s Head, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Olaide Shonola broke the news in a press statement issued at Abuja.

 “A company that fails to comply with the DCSO would be made to pay a penalty of 50% of the Fiscal Price per barrel not delivered,” she said.

According to her, NUPRC has restated its determination to apply all required penalties for default and has emphasised that a company that fails to respond to the Request for Quotation (RFQ) within the specified period is liable to pay an administrative fine of USD10,000, while a company that has not complied with its DCSO, where the willing buyer(s) exist will not be granted an export permit.”

The statement noted that more local refineries have notified the commission on their readiness to begin production soon in the country.

Shonola revealed that NUPRC is taking all necessary steps within the prescriptions of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021 ) to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of feedstock to operators.

It cautioned that there would be consequences for sabotaging the process.

The statement noted that preemptive steps are being taken because it would send wrong and unbecoming signals to the international business community if operators of domestic refineries in one of the world’s largest crude oil producing countries start importing feedstock for their production.

According to NUPRC, it was in contemplation of this that Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 introduced the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) to Nigeria’s oil industry in a bid to ensure that domestic refineries are not starved of crude oil supply for their operation.

Hon Ojuawo Congratulates President Bola Tinubu on his victory at Apex Court.

Hon Ojuawo Congratulates President Bola Tinubu on his victory at Apex Court.

 

The Honourable Member representing the Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Hon. (AVM rtd) Ojuawo Rufus Adeniyi has congratulated  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the Apex Court.

Hon Ojuawo said the unanimous judgement elated Millions of Nigerians who voted for our great party All Progressive Congress on February 25, 2023. In his Congratulatory Message, Ojuawo affirmed that the rule of

law is meant to protect the people will in free and fair electioneering process.. 

'It is time to now place partisan politics on the shelf for the moment for all contestants to join hands as much as possible with Mr. President for the good and development of our country'.

He also felicitated with Nigerians and the entire members of the APC family in Nigeria and in diaspora on the final resolve of the presidential dispute.

'I am elated to congratulate our President on his victory at the Supreme Court. We have many challenges confronting us as a Nation such as the prostrate economy, infrastructural deficit, climate change, insecurity and so on. President Bola Tinubu will now concentrate more on these challenges and channel his energy on resolving them to better the life of every Nigerians.   I urge the defeated petitioners to place love for the Country above sentiments and partisan strivings and join the President in his efforts to build a better Country', Ojuawo concluded.

OJUAWO MEDIA TEAM

Hon Ojuawo Celebrates Senator Adaramodu on his victory at Court.

Hon Ojuawo Celebrates  Senator Adaramodu on his victory at Court..

Hon (AVM Rtd) Ojuawo Rufus Adeniyi, Member of house of representatives representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1 has joined the good people of Ekiti South Senatorial District to Celebrate with Senator Adeyemi Raphael Adaramodu on the final resolution  of his electoral victory at court.

In his Congratulatory message, Ojuawo said, 'your victory at the court was highly expected by the good people of Ekiti South Senatorial District haven demonstrated that through their votes on 25th February 2023 at the poll. I thank the judges for further affirmed the will of our people through their Judgement by upholding the decision of the tribunal on the matter.

'Your commitment to the  grassroots and the  continuous contribution to their development has endeared  you to them, I salute your constitency in ensuring equal participation of all and sundry. The final court process will now allow you to concentrate more on your legislative duties and bringing more dividends of democracy to our people'.

Hon Ojuawo equally urge Senator Abiodun Olujimi to see the judgement as the will of people and support our distinguished Senator Adaramodu in his quest to promote Ekiti at the Red Chamber as their Spokesman.

OJUAWO MEDIA TEAM.