Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

In a bid to expand access to clean energy for 17.5 million Nigerians, the World Bank has approved the Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project, being financed by $750 million International Development Association (IDA) credit and would leverage over $1 billion of private capital and significant parallel financing from development partners. The financing from development partners include $100 million from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and $200 million from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Other development partners collaborating on the programme include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Development Agency…

Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has announced that it paid over N1.7 billion to customers of revoked microfinance banks (MFBs) and four primary mortgage bank (PMBs) licenses. According to NAN, Mr Bello Hassan, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDIC, said this at the 2023 NDIC Editors’ Forum on Saturday in Lagos. Hassan said, “Recall earlier this year that the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the licenses of 183 institutions comprising Microfinance and Primary Mortgage Banks. “We quickly advertised and told affected depositors to get the required documents and come forward for verification to pay them the insured amount. “So, in terms…

President Bola Tinubu celebrates his friend and ally, former President Muhammadu Buhari, an icon of truth, justice, and patriotism on his 81st birthday. President Tinubu extols the peerless leadership credentials and feats of the former President, recalling his meritorious service to the nation at various times as Head of State and as President. Reeling out former President Buhari’s unparalleled record of infrastructural provision, comprising several new international airports, multiple standard-gauge railway lines, new seaport development, dozens of new dams, power stations, oil and gas infrastructure, expressways and mega-bridges, in addition to establishing Nigeria’s first-ever national social investment and protection programme,…

The portal of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will open for registration for remobilization of absconded Corps members on Monday, 18th December, 2023. A statement signed by Eddy Megwa, Director, Press and Public Relations, explained that remobilization is a second chance process for Corps members that did not complete their service year when they were initially mobilized for national service. “All Corps Members in this category are enjoined to avail themselves of this golden opportunity,” the statement said. The NYSC, in Katsina State, recently extended the service of 16 of the 661 Corps members who ended their service year…

The National Coordinator, South-South Leadership Forum, Sara-Igbe, on Saturday said Governor Siminalayi Fubara offered to resign his position before the crisis in the state escalated to the level it currently is. He said it took the intervention of some PDP leaders to prevail on him to shelve the idea. Sara-Igbe, a former spokesperson for the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said the governor opted to resign because apart from the way forces above him prevented him from asserting his independence, he didn’t have enough control over the state’s funds and had difficulty running his government. He stated, “What is the problem?…

The National Council on Establishments (NCE) has rejected the call for upward review of retirement age for public servants from 60 to 65 and years of service from 35 to 40. The Council reached the resolution at its 45th meeting held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi from December 11-13. It resolved that the request by the organised labour was contrary to national aspiration of renewal, youth empowerment, innovation as well as not being in tandem with the reality of the country’s population. It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and…

Seventeen-year-old Lewis Miley became Newcastle’s youngest Premier League goalscorer as the Magpies bounced back from Champions League elimination with a win over 10-man Fulham. Fulham had striker Raul Jimenez sent off after 22 minutes following a dangerous, jumping challenge into Sean Longstaff, which caught the Newcastle man in the face. On-pitch referee Sam Barrott originally showed Jimenez a yellow card before video assistant referee Michael Salisbury told Barrott to review the Mexican’s challenge, which was then upgraded to a red card. Anthony Gordon hit the crossbar for the hosts in the first half, before substitute Miley, who joined the club’s…

Michael Olise converted a penalty deep in added time as a dogged Crystal Palace hit back from 2-0 down against Premier League champions Manchester City to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Jack Grealish had netted his third goal in three games on 24 minutes as City looked to move second in the table before Rico Lewis slammed home his first Premier League goal from inside the box for City’s second on 54 minutes. It was Jean-Philippe Mateta who began the unlikely Palace fightback by converting from close range on 76 minutes from a fine Jeffrey Schlupp…

Chelsea are back in the top half of the Premier League standings after beating Sheffield United 2-0 on Saturday. An appalling first half came and went without any real action – Conor Gallagher had a dipping shot easily saved by Wes Foderingham, while Cameron Archer saw a curling strike deflected narrowly wide off the heel of the Blues skipper. At the start of the second half, Cole Palmer worked his way in from the right and sat Max Lowe on his backside with a neat piece of trickery, before his shot was blocked by Auston Trusty. With 54 minutes on…

Luton’s Premier League match at Bournemouth has been abandoned after their captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch. Both sets of players were taken off midway through the second half as Lockyer received medical treatment. After several minutes, he was taken off on a stretcher, applauded by all four sides of the ground. Reports from the ground later said the 29-year-old defender was “alert and responsive”. Lockyer collapsed during the play-off final win against Coventry in May before being taken to hospital. He subsequently had heart surgery and was given the all-clear to return to playing in June. After confirmation the game was abandoned,…

The former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega has called for the restructuring of Nigeria before the 2027 general elections. The former INEC boss insisted that the presidential system of government practised in Nigeria is defective. He said power devolution to the sub-nationals was critical for the country to develop, adding that the president is too powerful. Jega, however, expressed strong opposition to the parliamentary system of government, saying restructuring was necessary to have the best of a federal system. He shared his reservation while speaking on Saturday at the convocation lecture in Bauchi State University, Gadau,…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed readiness to act on the ongoing political conflict in Rivers State, citing its impact on workers’ welfare. The labour union believes the political unrest is detracting from the governor’s ability to effectively govern the state. The Chairman of NLC in the state, Alex Agwanwo highlighted the growing tension and its negative effects on workers during a meeting in Port Harcourt. Agwanwo criticized the political strife, emphasizing how it hampers the timely delivery of workers’ benefits. He said, “We categorically condemn in totality the crisis in Rivers State and we call for immediate peace between all…