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Nigerians hail Amusan’s choice as Olympic flagbearer

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Nigerians hail Amusan’s choice as Olympic flagbearer

Tobi Amusan’s selection as Team Nigeria’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday has been described as well-deserved by Nigerians.

 The opening ceremony will officially mark the commencement of the Games, which will end on August 11.

This year’s opening ceremony will break tradition as it will be held on the Seine River that runs through Paris on Friday, with boats for each national delegation. The six-kilometre floating parade will end in front of the Trocadero, an area of Paris that offers a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower.

Amusan was announced on Tuesday as the country’s flagbearer for the ceremony, becoming the first track and field athlete in two decades to receive this honour.

Similarly, African champion and badminton star Anuoluwapo Opeyori was named general captain of Team Nigeria.

The women’s 100m hurdles world record holder’s appointment was applauded by Nigerians.

“Yes, she deserves the honour. She’s been a good representative of Nigeria since her emergence as the world record holder in 100 mH. This year’s Olympics will surely add more to the glory of our nation beyond expectations,” Abdulfatah Zakariyah wrote.

Daud Olaolu said, “Oluwatobiloba Amusan, thank you so much for your service to our country. Keep our nation’s flag flying high in Paris.”

“Tobi Amusan. Queen of the track. So distinguished. A national asset. Pride of a nation with great antecedent. An amazon. Nice selection and quality representation. Good luck. My best wishes,” Kelly Amadi also wrote.

Amusan is also regarded as one of the athletes with the brightest chance of winning a medal for Nigeria at the Games.

The 27-year-old finished fourth at the last edition in Tokyo but had since then smashed the women’s 100m hurdles world record (12.12s) and also won three consecutive Diamond League titles.

Her rivals in Paris would be the USA’s Nia Ali, Alaysha Johnson, current world champion Danielle Williams, and Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.

Orban set for Lyon exit

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Orban set for Lyon exit

Nigerian forward Gift Orban may be on his way out of Olympique Lyonnais after just seven months with the French giants, According Sports Extra reports.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to another Ligue 1 club, Stade Brestois 29, who have reportedly shown interest in signing the Super Eagles invitee.

Orban secured a €13m move from KAA Gent to the French side after just a year in Belgium.

He joined Gent from Norwegian club Stabaek Fotbal during the 2023 January transfer window after impressing in the Norwegian second tier, helping Stabaek gain promotion to the topflight division with 22 goals in 27 matches.

In his first season in Belgium, Orban consistently hugged the headlines for his rapid goal turnover, netting 32 times in 52 appearances for Gent.It was his eye-catching performance that earned him the move to the seven-time Ligue 1 champions, who handed him the prestigious number 9 jersey following his signing.

However, Orban was unable to replicate the instant hit that he was known for with both Stabaek and Gent.In 16 appearances for Lyon, he managed three goals, forcing the club into the transfer market in search of another striker.

With the permanent signing of Guinea-Bissau forward Mame Balde from Troyes and the arrival of Georges Mikautadze, Orban faces stiff competition and a possible exit via a loan move.

Meanwhile, Brest have offered him a lifeline, with France-based journalist Nabil Djellit reporting that initial contacts have been made between the two clubs to bring the forward to Stade Francis-Le Blé.

While there has been no official statement from either Lyon or Orban’s camp, it is suggested that a loan move could be beneficial for the player, providing him with more playing time and an opportunity to regain his form.

FG okays 700 consultants for environmental audits

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FG okays 700 consultants for environmental audits

Over 700 consultants have been accredited by the Federal Government to conduct environmental audits and ensure compliance with environmental regulations nationwide.

A report by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, an agency of the Federal Government, stated that the consultants assist various companies in Nigeria in addressing environmental concerns.

The report, titled, ‘NESREA and Environmental Protection in Nigeria: The Journey So Far,’ obtained by our correspondent from the agency in Abuja on Tuesday, read in part, “The agency accredits environmental consultants to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

“Since 2009, over 700 consultants have been accredited, with 320 up-to-date. These consultants assist firms in addressing environmental concerns and promoting environmental compliance.

“Environmental consultants collect and document evidence, assess facility compliance, and conduct environmental audits. They advise clients, formulate action plans, and submit EAs (Environmental Audits) to NESREA for review and certification.”

The agency emphasised that NESREA-accredited consultants must operate within NESREA guidelines through periodic workshops.

The Federal Government enforces compliance with environmental laws through NESREA, as the agency often seals the premises of companies that neglect these laws.

In March 2024, for instance, it sealed 13 facilities in the Federal Capital Territory for non-compliance to environmental regulations after auditing their environments.

It named the sealed facilities as Veritas Plastics, Almat Farms, Dayak Nigeria Limited, FIK Contracting Limited, Salis Ventilated Homes Ltd, and Peachville Estate.

In its latest report, the agency said, “Environmental audits are reviewed to ascertain the Environmental Management Systems put in place by industries/facilities including banks.

“To further curb the menace of e-waste in Nigeria, NESREA collaborates with other relevant MDAs (ministries, departments, and agencies) to inspect and issue import clearance to importers of used electrical electronic equipment at the point of entry into the country.

“The agency has carried out enforcements on 115 facilities from 2022 to date.

The agency is implementing the circular economy through the registration of electrical electronics, batteries, food, beverage, and plastics.”

Speaking at the recent induction of 100 newly accredited environmental consultants in Abuja, the Director-General of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, said the consultants would be crucial in advancing environmental protection and sustainability in Nigeria.

“Our mission at NESREA is to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for all Nigerians by effectively enforcing environmental regulations. This mission cannot be accomplished without the dedication and expertise of skilled environmental consultants like you,” he told the inductees.

Barikor added, “Your role is pivotal in the identification, assessment, and mitigation of environmental impacts. It is also pivotal in ensuring compliance with environmental laws and standards.

“As newly accredited consultants, you are now part of a vital network committed to environmental stewardship. You will be our eyes and ears on the ground, helping us to monitor, evaluate, and improve our environmental practices across various sectors. Your work will contribute to safeguarding our natural resources, protecting public health, and promoting sustainable development.”

Offiong rallies Nigeria’s table tennis team

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Offiong rallies Nigeria’s table tennis team

Nigeria table tennis player Offiong Edem is psyching up her teammates representing the country in the event at the 2024 Olympic Games starting July 26 in Paris, France, The According reports.

Edem, Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, and Fatima Bello will fly the country’s flag in the event scheduled to run from 27 July to 10 August at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with a total of 172 table tennis players participating.

Edem, 37, the oldest member of the Nigerian team, in a statement on her Instagram page, urged the rest of her teammates to succeed in Paris, urging them to deliver after putting in the work and making the sacrifices.

“The thrill of making it to the Olympic Games is still fresh, but our focus is already on the next step. I wish you all success in Paris! We’ve put in the work, made the sacrifices, and now it’s time to deliver. Let’s do this, team,” stated Edem, who secured her fourth berth at the Games at the African Olympic qualifying event in Kigali, having participated in the 2004, 2012, 2016, and 2020 editions of the quadrennial sports fiesta.

Aruna, who will be competing in the men’s singles, heads into the Games as the highest-ranked Nigerian player as the world’s number 19.

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Court okays Rivers PDP congresses

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Court okays Rivers PDP congresses

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, directed the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State to proceed with the conduct of its ward, local government and state congresses.

While delivering his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu barred the Department of State Services, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission and seven others from “stopping, truncating or disrupting” the conduct of the congresses of the party.

The congresses were scheduled to commence on July 27 across the country with ward congresses, followed by local government congresses on August 26 and then the state congresses in September.

The scheduled congresses are to elect new officers that would run the affairs of the PDP at the wards, LGs and state levels of PDP in Rivers State.

Following the release of the timetable, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on July 16, 2024, barred the PDP from conducting its congress in the state.

The court order came a few weeks after Governor Siminalayi Fubara told some National Assembly members that the PDP had failed him and his supporters.

The Rivers court presided over by Justice Sobere Biambo gave the order in a suit marked PHC/2282/CS/2024 filed against the PDP, the party’s National Chairman, the National Financial Secretary, and the National Organising Secretary.

The applicants are David Chiinedu Omereji, Prince Solomon Eke, Isodoye Tobin, Goddy Manfred Pepple, Okiah Precious Chigozirim, Orolosama Peter Amachree, Goodfriday Nweke, Alfred Letam, Wechie Ndubisi Raymond, Mr. Erebie Michael and Ogenma Idalunimulu

Justice Lifu, while delivering a ruling on the ex parte application on Tuesday, brought by six members of the PDP in Rivers State, however, asked the acting PDP National Chairman, Iliya Damagum; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, to proceed with the conduct of the congresses as scheduled.

Justice Lifu also ordered the PDP and the three national officers to adhere strictly and honour the provisions of the guidelines, adjusted timetable and schedule of activities duly issued and published, pending the determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed along with the motion ex parte.

Justice Lifu also restrained PDP and the three national officers from allowing any person who did not obtain nomination form or ad hoc form within the time stipulated in the guideline from running for any elective office of the party or ad hoc or national delegates’ position, pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.

In granting the request of the plaintiffs, the judge ordered them to enter into a fresh undertaking to indemnify the defendants to be assessed by the court if, at the end of the day, it was discovered that the court was misled into granting the restraining orders.

Justice Lifu then fixed August 15 for all parties to appear before him for their respective defence.

A certified enrolled order in respect of the motion ex parte signed by Justice Lifu and the Registrar of the court, Mrs Awase Igba, dated July 23, 2024, showed that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, K. O. Njemanze (SAN), argued the ex parte application on behalf of the six plaintiffs.

The current Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Rivers State, Aaron Chukwuemeka, deposed to the affidavit in support of the ex parte application.

Discos rake in N291bn amid power sector crisis

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Discos rake in N291bn amid power sector crisis

The electricity distribution companies in Nigeria generated revenue of N291.62bn in the first quarter of 2024 amid the blackout in parts of the country.

This was even as the nation lost 673 megawatts of power generation capacity due to gas shortages during the period.

In a report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, it was stated that the revenue generated by the Discos was out of the N368.65bn billed to customers in the first three months of the year.

“The total revenue collected by all Discos in 2024/Q1 was ₦291.62bn out of ₦368.65bn billed to customers. This translates to a collection efficiency of 79.11 per cent which represents an increase of +5.32 percentage points when compared to 2023/Q4 (73.79 per cent),” NERC stated.

The report revealed that the average available generation capacity across all the 27 plants in the country during the quarter was 4,249.10MW representing a loss of 673.16MW, or a 13.68 per cent decrease compared to the 4,922.26MW recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023.

It said 17 out of the 27 grid-connected plants recorded decreased available generation capacities in Q1 2024 compared to Q42023.

The According recalls that this was a period when Nigerians experienced a prolonged power crisis as gas companies refused to supply gas to the power-generating companies due to unpaid debts.

In the period under review, the average energy offtake by the DisCos at their trading points was 3,283.87 megawatt-hours, a decrease of 429.29MWh/h compared to the 3,713.16MWh/h recorded in Q42023.

The total energy received by all Discos in 2024/Q1 was 7,171.93 gigawatt-hours, while the energy billed to end-use customers was 5,769.52GWh, translating into an overall billing efficiency of 80.45 per cent. This represents an increase of two per cent relative to the 78.45 per cent recorded in the last quarter of last year.

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Otti promises to pay N18bn varsity workers’ salary arrears

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Otti promises to pay N18bn varsity workers’ salary arrears

The Abia State government has committed to offsetting all outstanding salary arrears owed to various tertiary institutions in the state by the immediate-past government, estimated at N18bn.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the weekly Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He said the payment would commence in August with N1.5bn to be disbursed monthly over the next 12 months.

Kanu further stated that the government took decisive steps to address the longstanding issues of salary payment of the staff of Abia State University, as the governor met with the Vice Chancellor and members of the university’s Governing Council to resolve their financial concerns.

The governor, at the meeting, directed the Accountant General to ensure the immediate payment of all outstanding monthly salaries of ABSU staff, for both verified and unverified staff within the week.

“That meeting offered the governor the opportunity to bring those lingering issues to an end.

“In the course of the meeting, he directed the Accountant General to ensure that within the week, all outstanding salaries are paid, and this will apply to those who have been verified and those yet to be verified.

“The governor directed that the verification team be relocated to Abia State University to conclude all outstanding issues of verification of staff,” Kanu stated.

The commissioner said in a commitment to improving the welfare of the staff of the university, salaries for April, May and June had been paid.

“So there’s no gainsaying the fact that the governor is committed to enhancing the welfare of the university staff as never done before by previous administrations,” Kanu added.

He also said the governor directed the Accountant General to meet with the heads of tertiary institutions across the state to harmonise their overhead expenditure.

Speaking on the security of lives and assets in public schools across the state, he said Otti mandated the Senior Special Adviser on Homeland Security to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to deploy security personnel to provide round-the-clock security for all schools in the state.

On the “Light Up Abia Initiative”, the commissioner said the recently-inaugurated JAAC building had been illuminated, adding that the programme had also been extended to Abia State University, to enhance security for students and staff of the institution.

He said efforts were underway to extend the initiative to communities outside the state capital and Aba metropolis, with parts of Arochukwu and Isieketa in Aba now connected to the 33KVA power line.

With Kanu at the briefing was the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Mike Akpara, who clarified the exact amount of arrears of salaries owed to tertiary institutions in the state.

Tinubu signs N’West Development Commission bill

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Tinubu signs N’West Development Commission bill

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, assented to the North West Development Commission Bill.

This was disclosed to journalists by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who sponsored the bill.

Barau commended the President for granting assent, noting that the commission would address the deleterious state of infrastructural facilities in the North-West region destroyed by Boko Haram.

He said. “The President has signed the North-West Development Commission Bill into law.

“It has come to light that the commission is going to assist in developing the North-West.

 “You are all aware of the development of that zone that is at the forefront of food production in this country, but it has been ravaged recently by the activities of Boko Haram that have destroyed health, education, and infrastructures. With this commission, we can rebuild this region.

“Mr. President has shown that he loves the people of this region, and whatever is done for the North-West,  he has done for the entire country because we are all interconnected.

“He has shown that he has the foresight and the goodwill to develop this country. I appeal to Nigerians to cooperate with him. He has been showing us what he did in Lagos. We appreciate what he has done.

“What he has done is a demonstration that he is a leader to be trusted. We have to be patient with him. We know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Let us continue to pray for him. This is just his one year. Let us support him.”

Tope Omogbolagun

Tope, The According journalist, has over a decade of experience in health reporting, environmental issues and investigative journalism, and currently covers the National Assembly, specifically the Senate

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Lagos mandates tax clearance for housing transactions

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Lagos mandates tax clearance for housing transactions

The Lagos State Government has said that tax clearance has become mandatory for housing transactions to prevent fraud and protect allottees.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Abdulhafis Toriola, made this known in a statement issued by the Chief Public Affairs Officer of the ministry, Adesile Rufai, recently.

Toriola said that the new requirements would prevent fraud in transferring home ownership and protect people who may have lost their homeownership documents.

He said, “In a bid to eradicate fraud in the transfer of homeownership and protect the interests of allottees in cases of loss of homeownership documents, all applications relating to the transfer of homeownership are to be accompanied with evidence of home ownership, a search conduct result and a valid means of identification in cases of loss of homeownership documents.”

According to him, an allottee who applies for transfer of ownership must accompany his/her application with a letter of allocation, payment receipts, and a valid means of identification to be submitted to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing.

He said the move was to ascertain the genuineness of claims of ownership by applicants for proper transfer, which has become necessary given the increased incidents of false claims uncovered by the ministry.

He added, “However, the permanent secretary disclosed that henceforth, homeowners applying for replacement of lost documents must attach the homeowner(s) national identification card, police report and loss of document in the national newspaper to the application for processing and confirmation of ownership.

“All applications relating to housing transactions in the state are to be accompanied by evidence of a valid tax clearance certificate of the applicant, including applicants serving in the public or civil service, for the application of a home unit, a change of ownership, or a loss of home ownership document.

The Permanent Secretary said that all housing construction and the provision of infrastructure facilities in the state were funded by taxpayers’ money, adding that beneficiaries of these projects must have evidence of personal income tax.

He warned, “The ministry will not process any application that does not include the aforementioned documents.

“The citizenry should take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the State Government in prioritising the completion of all ongoing housing projects in order to reduce the housing deficit in the State and the nation at large.”

Kamala Harris begins campaign, vows to stop abortion ban

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Kamala Harris begins campaign, vows to stop abortion ban

United States Vice President, Kamala Harris, on Tuesday, vowed to put a stop to the abortion ban and help restore reproductive freedoms.

“And we who believe in reproductive freedom will stop Donald Trump’s extreme abortion bans because we trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do,” Harris told a cheering crowd.

“And when Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms as president of the United States, I will sign it into law,” she said at her first presidential campaign rally in Wisconsin, CNN reported.

Reproductive rights are likely to be a hot issue in the election season.

In April, the Associated Press reported that Trump said he believed abortion limits should be left to the states, outlining his position in a video in which he declined to endorse a national ban after months of mixed messages and speculation.

“Many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights,” Trump said in the video posted on his Truth Social site. “My view is now that we have an abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land — in this case, the law of the state.”

Trump, in the video, did not say when in pregnancy he believed abortion should be banned — declining to endorse a national cutoff that would have been used as a cudgel by Democrats ahead of the November election.

Harris also rolled out some of the issues she would be committed to if elected, including addressing gun violence.

“Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency,” she said as she highlighted other issues, including workers’ freedom to join a union, affordable health care, affordable child care, paid family leave, retirement with dignity, every American’s right to vote, safety from gun violence: red flag laws, and universal background checks and assault weapons bans.

On Tuesday, Trump said Harris would be “easier” to beat in the November election than President Joe Biden.

“She’s far more radical than he (Biden) is, so I think she should be easier than Biden because he was slightly more mainstream, but not much,” Trump said on a call with reporters.

According to AFP, Trump, who is running to return to the White House, pledged to take part in at least one presidential debate with Harris.

“Oh, yes, absolutely. I want to. I think it’s important,” he said on the call, adding that “I would be willing to do more than one debate, actually.”

Meanwhile, Trump said on Tuesday his presumptive Democratic opponent Kamala Harris would be “easier” to beat in November’s election than President Joe Biden.

“She’s far more radical than he (Biden) is, so I think she should be easier than Biden because he was slightly more mainstream, but not much,” Trump said on a call with reporters.

According to AFP, Trump, who is running to return to the White House, pledged to take part in at least one presidential debate with Harris.

“Oh, yes, absolutely. I want to. I think it’s important,” he said on the call, adding that “I would be willing to do more than one debate, actually.”

Harris hit the US campaign trail on Tuesday after effectively clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, heading to the battleground state of Wisconsin to address citizens.

The vice president took just 36 hours to secure enough delegates to be nominated, moving with lightning speed after President Joe Biden’s exit from the race triggered one of the largest election upheavals in modern US history.

Top Democratic congressional chiefs – Senator Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries – threw their weight behind her in a press conference.

Hollywood star George Clooney – who made waves earlier this month as one of the first high-profile Democratic activists to urge Biden to drop his reelection bid – also said he was now behind 59-year-old Harris’s campaign to face Trump in November.

Biden stunned the world by dropping his reelection bid on Sunday, bowing to weeks of pressure after a disastrous debate performance against Trump.

Having made the announcement in a social media post while recovering from Covid at his Delaware beach house, Biden has yet to speak at length about his decision.

AFP reports that Biden was due back at the White House Tuesday after his doctor said he was now all clear from Covid. Biden announced he would deliver a primetime speech from the Oval Office on Wednesday about “what lies ahead.”

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