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Managing Director of OMAA, Mr. Chinedu Oguegbu, unveiling the gas-powered OMAA T6 bus, Nigeria’s first dual-fuel bus. *Cheaper to run by 30% By Theodore Opara OMAA has finally launched its range of dual-fuel natural gas-powered buses into the Nigerian market, which are 30-40 per cent cheaper to run and can be used for various puposes. According to the Managing Director of OMAA, Mr. Chinedu Oguegbu the buses which are assembled in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State, can be used as passenger bus for school shuttle, commercial transportation, cargo vans for moving farm produce, ambulances for critical life care, logistics van for the burgeoning e-commerce, utility vehicles, and for various other needs of SMEs, large or multinationals, corporate and government agencies. Oguegbu said: “What we are rolling out today is the beginning of a trend that will revolutionise not just the transportation industry, but the energy industry in Africa, by transforming the way we utilise the abundant energy r...

By Oludayo Tade DESPITE being located in urban centres, their environments are characterised by blocked drainage channels, poor sanitary conditions, poor quality of buildings and they face perennial struggle to get water for domestic use. Worse still, they face daunting challenges getting qualitative health care services despite their preference for public health providers over other sources. Welcome to urban slums in Idi-Ikan (indigenous slum) and Sasa (migrant slum) in Oyo State, and Bariga (metropolitan slum) in Lagos megacity, where residents face varying challenges in health care availability and utilisation. This piece shares insights from research undertaken by the University of Ibadan Urban Health Research Team consisting of Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun, Prof. Eme Owoaje, Dr. Funke Fayehun, Dr. Olalekan Taiwo, Dr. Doyin Odubanjo and Dr. Motunrayo Ajisola. This research was commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research using Official Development Assistance, ODA,...

By Jacob Ajom Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr must be the happiest man on planet earth at the moment. His wards have been painting Europe with goals. His biggest wish is to see his players continue to do well leading up to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Nigeria is grouped alongside Liberia, Central Africa Republic (CAR), and Cape Verde. Only the top team in each of the ten pools will advance to the final knockout stages, where they will play home and away for a place in Qatar. Early this week, Gernot Rohr stirred the Hornet’s Nest when he said one of Europe’s top scorers, Simeon Nwankwo who plies his trade with Serie A club, Crotone had a very slim chance of making his Super Eagles squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. He argued that with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Paul Onuachu firing on all cylinders, Nwankwo would not have it easy breaking the ranks. The lanky forward scored a brace against Parma last weekend to bring his total goal-haul for the botto...

By Ugoji Egbujo A child who leaves skelewu to dance surugede must be reminded; surugede is a dance of the spirits. Those whom the gods want to kill they first make mad. Osinbajo fears civil war. War is hell, but we could be in for worse. The rampant slaughter of police and military personnel on the streets is the devil at full throttle. Our governments have only a little time to spare us a slow descent into Armageddon. No one will enjoy a Sergeant before the cascade into a Liberia. Igbo elders and elites are silent. They lost their voice against evil when it was in its infancy. That’s what political opportunism does. Everything is seen through the prism of petty smash and grab politics. Now the monster is prancing around with fangs and claws; it could be prudence to remain mute. After all, if armed robbers, you can call them whatever you wish, can visit a governor at his country home at 9 am on a Saturday morning day, then what can a timid self-centred politician do? Profes...

Ndudi Elumelu …says the ruling party has destroyed gains of 16 years by PDP …adds govt misrule gave rise to terrorism, mass killings, kidnapping, banditry, others By Levinus Nwabughiogu-Abuja Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has revealed that many lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC have concluded plans to rejoin the People’s Democratic Party, PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections. He said that the aim was to rescue the country from strangulation by the ruling party. Elumelu’s revelation made available to National Assembly correspondents was contained in his remarks at the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP on Thursday in Abuja. He said that the APC government has destroyed the gains recorded by the main opposition party in its previous 16 years of reign at the centre. Also read: Alleged N10bn scam: Secondus demands N1bn, retraction from Afegbua He said: “Our great party, the PDP was foun...

…Group donates to an orphanage home Pix Golf: Caption: Members of the Palle Group, Ibori Golf and Country Club, Asaba presenting food items and toiletries to Job Orphanage Home, Agbor during the Palle Group Golf Kitty held at IGCC golf course on Saturday in Asaba. Items worth hundreds of thousands of naira were donated to Job Orphanage Home by Palle Group, Ibori Golf and Country Club (IGCC), Asaba, Delta state over the weekend. The group under the leadership of Tam Brisibe donated items such as rice, vegetable oil, noodles, toiletries amongst other things to the orphanage home at the end of its golf kitty held at the IGCC golf course in Asaba. ALSO READ:  Workers’ Day: TEC Pastor, Akinlabi hails resilience of Nigerian workers Speaking at the event where about fifty golfers from within the club and other clubs took part, Brisibe narrated the need to identify with the less privileged and to share parts of what God has given members of the group to help those who are in need. ...

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State By Chinonso Alozie – Owerri The Governor of Borno state, Governor Babagana Zulum, has said that he is using the local vigilante in addressing the numerous security challenges in his state. Zulum spoke in Owerri, when he received an invitation letter for a distinguished Leadership Award to be bestowed on him (Zulum) by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo state Council, from Chris Akaraonye, NUJ chairman, represented by Emma Odibo, Secretary of the Union. Zulum who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Media, Baba Shaikeh Haruna, said that local vigilante was part of the indigenous efforts put in place by the Zulum’s administration to protect the lives and properties of his people. ALSO READ:  Insecurity: Food crisis looms in Nigeria, farmer warns FG According to Zulum, shortly said: “We, in Borno state, have been experiencing security challenges since 12 years, however, a lot of transformation is taking place ...

At least 45 people have died in a stampede at a Jewish religious festival in northern Israel, health authorities said on Friday. Dozens more wounded people were taken to six different hospitals, the Health Ministry said on Friday morning. Some 150 people were injured according to Magen David Adom rescue group. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the site in the town of Meron where he met police and others involved in rescue efforts. Netanyahu announced a full investigation into the events. He called the stampede one of the greatest disasters to befall the state of Israel and expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and wished those who were injured a full recovery. Thousands of worshippers had been celebrating the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer in the town of Meron, and earlier videos on social media showed people singing and dancing. Authorities had capped the number of people allowed at 10,000, but media reports indicated up to 10 times that number ...

The fresh agitation and quest for power to shift to Benue South, one of the three senatorial districts in Benue State, popularly known as Zone C, appears to be gathering momentum as the 2023 General Election is gradually drawing closer. Since the creation of Benue State on February 3, 1976, by the late General Murtala Mohammed, the Benue South Senatorial District mainly peopled by the Idomas, has never been given the chance to produce a governor. The governorship seat has always rotated between Benue North East and Benue North-West predominantly occupied by the Tivs. The Benue North East and Benue North West are otherwise known as Zone A and Zone B respectively. The Tiv ethnic group has 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs) spread in Zone A and B (seven in each of the two zones). The Idomas, who are the second-largest tribe in the state, have 7 and Igede ethnic group is in 2, giving a total of 9 LGAs that makeup Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C). The population of Benue State, ...

By Chris Ochayi, Abuja The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz has said the company evacuated the country’s highest power generation of 5,801.6 megawatts to Distribution Companies, DISCOs in the first quarter of this year without a hitch. Engr. Abdulaziz stated this in Abuja while playing host to participants of the Senior Executive Course, Number 43, for the year 2021 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. Meanwhile, Engr. Abdulaziz has urged WAPP member nations to work together for the growth of the power sector in the sub-region. He spoke as chairman of the 49th Executive Board Meeting of the West African Power Pool in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. ALSO READ:  Ugwuanyi reiterates commitment to promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms of residents He said TCN was vigorously pursuing its grid maintenance, expansion, and rehabilitation programme, as the transmission company was playing a vital ro...

By Dirisu Yakubu, Abuja Following this week’s allegation of financial fraud to the tune of N10 billion made against Prince Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by Kassim Afegbua, the former, Thursday, demanded a retraction of the story and payment of N1 billion in damages from Afegbua. Secondus through his counsel, Emeka Etiaba, threatened to take legal action against Mr. Afegbua within 48 hours if he fails to meet his demands. Afegbua had accused Secondus of mismanaging the sum of N10 billion which he claimed accrued to the party from the sales of nomination forms for the 2019 election; a claim punctured by party spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, who noted that the party realized the sum of N4.6 billion and not N10B billion. The PDP boss noted that Afegbua, a former Information Commissioner in Edo state had in two national dailies as well as in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Othe...

By Chioma Obinna The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday approved the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. This is coming a few months after it gave authorisation for the use of the Oxford-Astrazeneca jabs in the country. READ ALSO:  No plans to hike electricity tariff — Minister Announcing this at a press conference in Lagos, the Director-General of NAFDAC  Mojisola Adeyeye explained that the pfizer-Bio Tech vaccine was for emergency use only. She added that the vaccine can now be stored between -15 to -25   equivalent to freezer temperature. Vanguard News Nigeria The post NAFDAC approves Pfizer -BioTech COVID-19 Vaccine for use in Nigeria appeared first on Vanguard News . https://ift.tt/2SkheNt by Lawal Sherifat via Vanguard News Albert Einstein Fools of Fortune

 By Osa Amadi President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Otunba Segun Runsewe as Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture for another term of four years to continue the deepening of Nigeria’s cultural economy. The appointment was announced on April 30, 2021, by Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity. Others who were also reappointed were Mr Folorunso Coker, Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, and Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). The President also approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed as the Chief Executive Officer /Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria. Alhaji Ahmed was until his appointment, Director of Culture in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Bauchi State. Vanguard News Nigeria The post Buhari reappoints Runsewe, others appeared first on Vanguard News . https://ift.tt/3gThtcK by Lawal Sherifat vi...

In celebration of the International Workers’ Day on May 1, 2021, Godman Akinlabi, Lead Pastor of non-denominational Christian assembly, The Elevation Church (TEC), has hailed Nigerian workers around the world for their uncommon industry, Ingenuity and resilience. In his message to Nigerian workers, Akinlabi said, “despite the ripple effect of the pandemic, the state of the Nigerian economy, and challenges in various sectors such as transportation, power, housing; Nigerian workers have remained resilient, hardworking and have kept commerce alive at all levels. I encourage Nigerian workers to imbibe lessons from the life of Joseph in the Bible. He was a champion of stewardship, honesty and industry while managing his father’s business, which he applied in all his endeavours. Those virtues, combined with his walk with God, propelled him to global relevance. Nigerian workers must eschew corrupt practices and lethargy, and embrace industry, honesty and the fear of God in all thei...

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will do all it can to defeat forces of evil marauding about in different parts of the country so as to restore peace and order. The National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, said the president made this known at a crucial security meeting in Abuja on Friday. Monguno stated that the meeting was summoned by the president to address the persisting security challenges in some parts of the country. He disclosed that the meeting which had been adjourned to Tuesday next week, deliberated on vital national security issues. He stated that the president reiterated the determination of government to decisively end the assault on the nation and would do all that it takes to achieve this. He said: ‘Concerned about the persisting security challenges in parts of the country, Mr President summoned a crucial meeting of the National Security Council today as he continues to fronta...

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that, some of the yet to be occupied housing estates built by his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun have become den of miscreants. Abiodun attributed this to the high price tag placed on the houses by the past administration and condemned the previous government for wasting the state resources on projects that had no meaningful impact of the lives of the people. The governor spoke at the third Session of the 15th Synod of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Egba, with the theme “God Our Foundation And Salvation”. Abiodun noted that his administration in the last two years had built more houses than what any other administration had done. He said, “We are doing some housing projects in Kobape, Ilaro, Ota, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode. Today we have built more houses in two years in office that others have built in four to six years. ALSO READ:  Insecurity: Lagos bans illegal occu...

His Excellency, Gov. Abu Sani Bello was today represented by his Chief of Staff and Chairman, Niger State Infrastructure Committee, Alh. Ibrahim Balarabe Kagara at the official closing of the four gates of Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam. The closing of the four gates of the dam is an indication that the project is almost ready to commence full operations. Also read: A’Ibom govt paying lip service to payment of gratuities, entitlements – Retirees The Chief of Staff who went round the facility expressed satisfaction with the quality of the work done. He also said that the project is situated in Niger state will create employment for both educated and non-educated residents of the state. He further explained that the ripple effect will add value and would generate more revenue and boost the economic activities in the state. Vanguard News Nigeria The post Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam ready to commence full operations — Niger govt appeared first on Vanguard News . https://ift.t...

Senator Godswill Akpabio By Dirisu Yakubu – Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Friday charged the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies to immediately invite the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to name politicians in the All Progressives Congress, APC, that are behind the acts of terrorism and banditry ravaging the country The major opposition party in a statement issued by its spokesman, Kolas Ologbondiyan stressed that “there is self-professed evidence that Senator Akpabio is privy to certain terrorism-related information which he must be made to share with the DSS as well as other security agencies.” The statement read: “Our party’s position is predicated on comments made by Senator Akpabio at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday that the acts of terrorism in our country are ‘politically motivated’ and that they are the handiwork of infiltrators from neighbouring countries. “It is instructive to state tha...