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Accident on Edo Road: 11 Dead, Several Injured

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In a horrifying accident that occurred on the Edo State section of the Benin-Lagos motorway, eleven people were reported to have died and eight others to have been injured yesterday.

A Toyota Hiace 18-seater bus and a Dangote articulated truck were involved in the accident at the Ovia River in the state’s Ovia North East local government area.

According to reports, the incident occurred at the Ovia River around 11 am when a truck travelling from Lagos to Benin struck a bus travelling at a reduced speed after brushing the back of a Kia car. Eleven people were killed instantly, and numerous others were injured.

According to a witness, the truck that was travelling at top speed rammed into the Toyota Hiace bus, killing the passengers, as it slowed down at the problematic section of the Ovia River bridge on its way to Edo.

Additionally, it was learned that some of the victims and bus passengers were travelling from Lagos after attending a programme put on by a well-known church there.

We had a crash on the bridge at Ovia River this morning, according to Paul Okpe, the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the accident. Unfortunately, a truck collided with a Toyota Hummer Bus, resulting in 11 fatalities and eight injuries. Our ambulances and three vehicles transported both the deceased and the injured to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

A small Kia car was just barely missed by the truck as it collided with the hummer bus. Close to our office at the toll gate, the three vehicles are in the police station.

“We are deferring to our Accident Investigations to determine the probable cause, but the truck collided with the vehicles, and the casualties were in the bus,” the statement reads.

Tinubu, Ambode meet as Sanwo-Olu hosts president

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At the Lagos House, Marina, on Thursday, Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted President Bola Tinubu.

His predecessors, former governors Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, joined Sanwo-Olu.

The four governors of the state were present together for the first time at a public event since 1999, when Ambode left office in 2019.

In his speech, the governor expressed how happy he was to welcome the President “to the place he (Tinubu) calls home.”

He praised the President for the actions taken thus far during his first 30 days in office and noted that it was in fact a time of “renewed hope.”

“I’m also pleased to note that this tenure started with a promise of change, and that change is already starting to materialise.

“Mr. President, your election to the nation’s highest office was met with a great deal of hope and high expectations…And I’m pleased to say that after just one month, you have legitimately earned the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Sanwo-Olu said.

He pledged that “Lagos is standing right behind you… ” and expressed “heartfelt gratitude on behalf of all Lagosians” to the President.We support the direction you’re taking.

The Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President’s wife Oluremi, and other dignitaries attended the event.

Nigerian Navy reshuffles appointments of senior officers

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56 rear admirals and a Commodore, who make up the Nigerian Navy’s top senior officers, have had their appointments changed.

This information was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja and signed by the director of information, Commodore AO Ayo-Vaughan.

Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, formerly the Director of Logistics, Defence Space Administration, has been appointed as the Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Naval Headquarters, among other positions, according to Commodore Ayo-Vaughan. Rear Admiral Alexander Bingel, formerly the Director Combat Policy and Tactics, has been promoted to Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters.

He said, “On June 27, 2023, the Nigerian Navy changed the appointments of its top senior officers, including 56 rear admirals and a Commodore. Rear Admiral Alexander Bingel, formerly the Director of Combat Policy and Tactics, is now the Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, following the redeployment. Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, formerly the Director of Logistics, Defence Space Administration, is now the Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Naval Headquarters.

“Rear Admiral Kennedy Ezete, formerly Director Project Monitoring, Defence Headquarters, reverts to his previous position as Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, while Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, formerly Director Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Naval Headquarters, is now Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation, Defence Headquarters. Rear Admiral Musa Madugu, who was formerly the Deputy Director Special Operation Forces at the Defence Headquarters, has been named the Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot. Rear Admiral Livingstone Izu, who served as the Director Manning at Naval Headquarters, has been named the new Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters. While Rear Admiral Zakariya Muhammad, the previous Director of Training at Naval Headquarters, has been reappointed Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Daupreye Matthew, the former Director of Innovation and Concept Development at Naval Headquarters, is now the Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.

“Rear Admiral Emmanuel Nmoyem has been reappointed Director Human Rights Desks at the Defence Headquarters while Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima, who was formerly Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, moves to Defence Headquarters as Director of Plans.”

Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, a former director of plans at Naval Headquarters, was appointed chief of defence administration there, and Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, a former director of equipment standardisation and harmonisation at Defence Headquarters, was named group managing director of Navy Holdings Limited, he continued. While Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, formerly the Director of Operations, Naval Headquarters, has been reappointed as the Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, Rear Admiral Sulaiman El-ladan, formerly the Director of Naval Engineering, Naval Headquarters, is now the Director of Marine Research at the Defence Research and Development Bureau at Defence Headquarters. While Rear Admiral Saheed Akinwande, the previous Director of Communications at Naval Headquarters, now serves as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi assumes the position.

Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters is Commandant Naval War College Nigeria. While Rear Admiral Clement Atebi has been reappointed to Naval Headquarters as the Director Audit, Rear Admiral Istifanus Albara, formerly the Head ECOWAS Maritime Security Coordination Centre, Abidjan, moves to Naval Headquarters as Navy Secretary. While Rear Admiral Umar Chugali, formerly the Director Cyber at the Defence Space Administration, now serves as Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samson Bura, formerly the Director Search and Rescue, Defence Headquarters, is now the Director of Logistics at the Defence Intelligence Agency. Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire and Rear Admiral Oluwole Fadeyi have both been reappointed as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command and Director Record Returns and Analysis, respectively, at Naval Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Baratuaipri Iyalla, formerly Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command, was reappointed Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Oghara, as part of the new postings. Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, formerly Director of Policy, Naval Headquarters, was redeployed to Naval War College Nigeria, Calabar as the Commandant. While Rear Admiral Bashir Mohammed, formerly the Chief of Logistics at Naval Headquarters, is now the Director of Project Monitoring at Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Kohath Levi, formerly the Chief Staff Officer Naval Doctrine Command, has returned to Naval Headquarters as the Chief of Naval Engineering. Former Director of Campaign Planning at Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu is now Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College. Rear Admiral Mike Oamen, who was the Director of Veterans Affairs at Naval Headquarters, has been promoted to Chief of Naval Transformation, and Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu has been reappointed Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command. Additionally, Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, formerly Director of Ships Design and Acquisition at the Naval Headquarters, has been appointed Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos. Rear Admiral James Okosun, formerly Managing Director Admiralty Maritime Services Limited, has been reappointed Commandant Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele.

Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi, formerly the Managing Director of Navy Exchange Limited, is now the Director of Logistics, Defence Space Administration at the Defence Headquarters, replacing Rear Admiral Habilla Zakaria, who served as the immediate past Commander Naval Drafting. Rear Admiral Kasimu Bushi, formerly the Chief of Accounts and Budget at Naval Headquarters, has been named Managing Director of Navy Hotels and Suites Limited. Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan, formerly the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, has returned to Naval Headquarters as the Chief of Policy and Plans. Former Naval Headquarters Director of Peacekeeping Operations, Rear Admiral Abdulmajid Ibrahim, has been named Director of Defence Transformation at the Defence Headquarters.

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Abuja, is Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, formerly the Flag Officer Commanding the Logistics Command. While Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, Director of Recruitment, Resettlement, and Reserve, Naval Headquarters, has been appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration at the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, formerly the Director Marine Engineering, has been named Managing Director of Navy Building and Construction Company Limited. Former Director of Weapon Engineering at Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Fredrick Damtong is now the Admiral Superintendent Naval Shipyard Limited. While Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim, who previously served as Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited, has been named Managing Director of Admiralty Marine Services Limited, Rear Admiral Abdul-rasheed Haruna has been reappointed as the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command. Rear Admiral John Mamman is reappointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Western Naval Command, and Rear Admiral John Okeke is reappointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Central Naval Command. Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade, the outgoing Admiral Superintendent Naval Shipyard Limited, assumes office as the Director Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation at Naval Headquarters. Former Fleet Commander of the Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Olatunde Olodude, rejoins Naval Headquarters as the Director of Plans.

The redeployment also impacted Rear Admiral Sunday Atakpa, who was reappointed Chief Staff Officer of Headquarters Naval Training Command, and Rear Admiral Peter Zakaria, who was Director of Arms at Naval Headquarters before being named Chief Staff Officer of Headquarters Logistics Command. Rear Admiral Patrick Effah, formerly the Director of Maritime Domain Awareness, Naval Headquarters, is now the Director of Naval Intelligence. Rear Admiral Abdul-hamid Baba-Inna, formerly the Director of Legal Services, Naval Headquarters, is now the Director of Administration.

“Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, the previous Director of Personnel Release at Naval Headquarters, takes over as the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, who was the Deputy Director Defence Affairs at the Office of the National Security Adviser, assumes office as the Director of Training, Naval Headquarters.

“Rear Admiral Olusegun Soyemi, who was formerly the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Analysis at Naval Headquarters, has been named Director of Policy, and Rear Admiral Abraham Zipelle, who was formerly Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College, has been promoted to Director of Manning at Naval Headquarters. Additionally, the former Commander of the Central Pay Office, Commodore Omotola Olukoya, has been appointed the new Chief of Accounts and Budget at Naval Headquarters.

Report: Banks increase e-banking revenue to N96 billion

In order to increase their revenue from electronic banking, at least 12 Nigerian banks have benefited from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy of redesigning the naira.

An examination of the banks’ financial statements for the first quarter of 2023 revealed that their electronic banking platforms contributed to a total revenue of N96.48 billion.

From the N77.91bn reported in the previous quarter of 2022, this was an increase of 23.84%.

The top two e-banking revenue generators were Access Holdings Plc (N20.66bn) and United Bank for Africa Plc (N20.93bn).

Zenith Bank Plc ($12.08 billion), FirstBank Nigeria ($17.88 billion), and Guaranty Trust Bank ($11.43 billion) were among the other top earners.

FCMB (N6.58bn), Union Bank (N1.97bn), Wema Bank (N1.52bn), Unity Bank (N1.29bn), Stanbic IBTC (N958m), Fidelity Bank (N955m), and Jaiz Bank (N244m) were some of the other financial institutions.

Income from electronic banking channels, such as mobile applications, USSD channels, and internet banking, is included.

The CBN’s naira redesign policy appears to be responsible for the growth in e-business income.

The number of cashless transactions in Nigeria has increased since the CBN’s naira redesign policy, which has since been postponed, forced many citizens to use electronic payment methods.

According to industry statistics from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, cashless transactions increased by 44.84 percent to N126.73 trillion in the first quarter of 2023 from N87.49 trillion in the corresponding period of 2022.

The CBN has emphasised that by 2025, fewer transactions will be made in cash in the nation. This was stated in the document titled Payments Vision 2025.

It stated that by 2025, the nation would have an effective electronic payment system infrastructure to support all economic sectors.

According to it, “The use of cash will naturally decline as the’mobile first generation,’ who will be economically active by 2025, enters the workforce. As a result, one of the PSV 2025’s key objectives is to strengthen the CBN’s cashless policy.

The CBN will continue to make sure that Nigeria’s payments system is widely used at home, supports the government’s financial inclusion goals, and complies with international standards while contributing to the country’s overall economic development.

NCC orders telcos to respond to subscribers within 30 minutes

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The Nigerian Communications Commission is expected to order telecom companies to attend to customers who arrive at any customer service centre in the nation within 30 minutes.

‘Draught Quality of Service Business Rules,’ a recent document posted to the commission’s website, served as the basis for this.

It states that the key performance indicators, associated measurements, and minimum quality and standards of service are all specified by the business rules.

The telecoms regulator stipulated in the document’s customer care section that a subscriber’s wait time to be physically attended to by relevant staff at customer care centres must not exceed 30 minutes, as opposed to the current situation, in which customers can be kept waiting for hours.

The NCC stated, “Waiting time at customer care centres is 30 minutes before being physically attended to by relevant staff. The Licensee must supply tools for measuring waiting times beginning with the time of arrival at the location.

The commission is also taking action to guarantee that subscribers who call a telco’s helpline can speak to a customer service agent within five minutes.

Read Also: Government, private security companies must cooperate – Arase

The maximum time allowed on the queue or IVR should be 5 minutes before answer, it was stated, in cases where a customer chooses to speak to a live agent.

Customers should be given the option to hang up and be called back within a maximum of 30 minutes in exceptional circumstances where a live agent may not be available to answer the call within five minutes.

The NCC states that subscribers who do not use their numbers within a year risk losing them. If a subscriber line is not used for a revenue-generating event within six months, it may be deactivated, and if the situation continues for another six months, the subscriber may lose their number, unless a network-related issue prevents an RGE.

“Money left in account on deactivation can be claimed by subscribers once proof of ownership can be established at any time within 1 year (less any fee paid by the operator for the number within the 1-year of non-RGE),” the statement continued.

It also stated that a subscriber may request queue parking if they can provide documentation of a valid reason for their absence.

Adeolu Ogunbanjo, president of the National Association of Telecom Subscribers, said of the initiative to shorten wait times in customer service centres, “This is a fantastic development. When it comes to enhancing the customer experience, the NCC has been doing well.

“This is a positive development for the customers, as opposed to the past, when people had to wait for hours on end and wasted labour hours. It will reduce customer wait times at telco customer experience centres. We are delighted about this.

Government, private security companies must cooperate – Arase

Collaboration between security agencies and their private counterparts, according to Dr. Solomon Arase, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, will promote economic growth in Nigeria.

Arase made this statement recently at the 2023 leadership retreat held at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan and hosted by the Lagos Chapter 206 of the American Society for Industrial Security.

Former Inspector General of Police Arase emphasised the critical part that public-private partnerships play in boosting security.

Such collaborations can enhance security outcomes by utilising the resources and experience of the private sector to support government efforts. Additionally, because security is so important to investor confidence, these partnerships may promote economic growth.

Read Also: Delta Assembly approves government’s request for N40bn loan

Also speaking at the event was Mrs. Joko Olanitori, Chairman of ASIS Chapter 206, who emphasised the value of fostering strategic alliances between Nigeria’s private security sector and state-run security organisations.

‘Secured Handshake: A public and private sector imperative for effective security operations and practise in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world,’ she said, was the theme of this year’s event.

According to Olanitori, the cooperation is seen as essential for making the necessary progress towards resolving the country’s enduring problems with insecurity.

She claimed that the purpose of the gathering was to encourage knowledge sharing and best practises among ASIS members while also coming up with creative solutions to the growing insecurity in Nigeria.

In order to effectively address the country’s increasing insecurity, Olanitori emphasised the urgent need for structured and formalised engagement between Nigerian public security agencies like the Army, Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Service, and others, and the private security industry.

However, in order to bring about the much-needed positive change, Brigadier-General Idam Agachi (Retd) urged the private security industry to reflect and start working with governmental organisations.

Delta Assembly approves government’s request for N40bn loan

The Delta State House of Assembly has granted Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s request to use an N40 billion credit facility to pay off backlogs in pension arrears.

The approval was given by the House on Tuesday during its first plenary session, according to our correspondent.

On the House floor, Speaker Emomotimi Guwor had read the governor’s letter of request.

The letter states that Oborevwori informed the House that his administration was working with the state association of local governments of Nigeria to clear up the backlog of accrued pensions owed to retired primary schoolteachers and local government employees.

Read Also: Adamawa government asks monarchs for assistance in fighting deforestation

According to the letter, the loan requested would help state seniors who worked in local government and then retired from it.

The governor continued by saying that Zenith Bank Plc had provided the 25 local government councils with the aforementioned facility in a prorated manner in accordance with each council’s individual debt to pensioners, for which the bank had issued offer letters to the councils.

Emeka Nwaobi, the majority leader of the house and a representative of Aniocha North Constituency, made the motion for approval. Perkins Umukoro, a representative of Sapele Constituency, seconded Emeka Nwaobi’s motion.

Ifeanyi Okowa’s term as governor came to an end three days prior, and the 7th Assembly approved a N71 billion loan for the departing administration.

Adamawa government asks monarchs for assistance in fighting deforestation

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The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has made it illegal to cut down trees for charcoal fuel in an effort to stop deforestation and combat climate change.

Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, represented the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Barkindo Mustapha, the chairman of the Adamawa Council of Emirs and Chiefs, when Fintiri issued the ban on Thursday while the state was hosting a delegation of traditional leaders.

At the Presidential Lounge of the Yola Government House, the delegation honoured him for Sallah.

In addition to thanking the traditional leaders for honouring him on the occasion, Fintiri also filed a lawsuit to get their support for his decision to outlaw using charcoal made from burning trees in the state.

The governor reiterated the state’s ban on tree cutting for charcoal fuel during a meeting with lawmakers, which was also attended by Barthiya Wesley, Speaker of the Assembly.

He declared, “I have just issued a directive to our traditional institutions that moving forward, even though we have a law that forbids the felling of trees, that law has not been fully implemented. I have now ordered that no more trees will be cut down going forward, especially for the purpose of burning them for charcoal.

Therefore, it is up to all of us to make sure it is fully implemented as stakeholders.

According to the governor, recent flooding had demonstrated the negative results of not paying enough attention to the factors causing climate change, such as the indiscriminate cutting down of trees for the production of charcoal as fuel.

Read Also: Delta group defends Okowa in the N1tn diversion case

In the past, former Vice President Abubakar claimed Fintiri’s progress was unmatched in Adamawa state’s history. He pledged the government the support of conventional institutions.

Fintiri declared that he was not taking his victory for a second term for granted and promised that the following four years would be significantly better than his first.

Delta group defends Okowa in the N1tn diversion case

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The immediate-past governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has come under fire for allegedly diverting half of the 13% derivation fund accruable to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, according to the Delta State chapter of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas.

Several representatives of Delta State’s oil and gas producing communities reportedly stormed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Abuja headquarters on Thursday to protest the alleged misappropriation of the state’s over N1 trillion oil derivation fund under the Okowa administration.

But the Delta HOSTCOM described last week’s anti-Okowa protest as politically motivated in a statement released on Thursday by its chairman, Sunday Enujeke, and secretary, Joseph Lamienghan.

According to Delta HOSTCOM, the orchestrated campaign is “considered as a calculated attempt to mislead, confuse, and invite the unsuspecting public against the person of Dr. Okowa by his traducers.”

The group claims that the immediate-past administration in Delta State “had used judiciously” the 13% Oil Derivation Fund allocated for the development of oil and gas bearing communities in the state.

Read Also: HURIWA advises FG to detain Asari-Dokubo or face a protest

The Ijaw elder statesman Edwin Clark was urged by Delta HOSTCOM “not to allow himself to be used by these political hustlers and desperate power mongers seeking to settle cheap political scores.”

Delta HOSTCOM also urged the current governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, “to build on the infrastructural development agenda of the immediate-past administration by putting in place tangible physical development for the teeming residents of the creeks in the Delta riverine areas.”

HURIWA advises FG to detain Asari-Dokubo or face a protest

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The Federal Government has been given a 72-hour deadline by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria to place former Niger Delta agitator Mujahid Asari-Dokubo under immediate arrest.

The group threatened to organise its members to launch a national protest across all 36 states of the federation should the Federal Government refuse to arrest Asari-Dokubu as demanded.

The threat was made by HURIWA on Thursday in a statement by Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.

According to the group, Asari-Dokubo must be detained by the Department of State Services or another appropriate security agency due to his alleged affiliation with the South-East region’s violent “unknown gunmen” phenomenon.

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The Federal Government is indirectly ordering Igbo youths, Igbo lovers, and all organisations that support the well-being of the Igbo people to start peaceful protests at the same time if the Nigerian Government does not immediately arrest Asari Dokubo.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has 72 working hours to order the arrest and investigation of Asari Dokubo over his alleged connection to the South-East’s violent phenomenon of unidentified gunmen, or HURIWA will convene its members for a protest in Abuja the following week.

“Illegality must not be permitted to continue while the security agencies deliberately do nothing or pretend they are unaware of it. Arresting Asari-Dokubo is necessary. It is not a banana republic, Nigeria.