FG Announces New Date For Students’ Loan Take-Off

The Nigerian government has officially declared a revised date for the commencement of the Access to Higher Education Act, often referred to as the Students Loan Law, which was recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June. The legislation has faced substantial criticism from many Nigerians who fear it could pave the way for the introduction of tuition fees in the country’s tertiary institutions. Despite initial plans for implementation to begin in September, the timeline was not realized.  However, President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the 29th National Economic Summit on Monday, confirmed that the student loan program is now set to kick off in January 2024. Tinubu said the loan programme “must commence” in January 2024. The announcement comes in the midst of ongoing debates and concerns surrounding the law. Further details regarding the program’s structure and execution are anticipated as the implementation date approaches.

Bwari Council To Commence Rehabilitation Of Township Roads -Chairman 

The Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, has said the council is set to commence rehabilitation of township roads and other construction projects. Gabaya said this in his remarks at the Bid Opening for Critical Projects event on Friday in Bwari, Abuja. The chairman, represented by the council’s Vice Chairman, Mr Aminu Musa, said that companies that would be awarded the contract would be expected to commence work immediately. “There are nine projects in the contract, which are: purchase of a brand-new Toyota Corolla salon car for the office of the Council’s Legislative Speaker. “Reconstruction of Bwari township road from the T-junction to the National Defense College, Ushafa and the purchase of a new Toyota Hiace bus for the council staff. “The construction of public toilets within the council secretariat and fencing, landscaping of the old abattoir building in Bwari town. “Reconstruction of asphalt overlay from Dutse-Alhaji-Koro Road to Dutse- power line road, and construction of asphalt overlay at old Bwari-Zuma Road from Sarkin Bwari’s palace roundabout to Water Board/ Zuma roundabout,’’ Gabaya said. Others, he mentioned are the construction of asphalt overlay of the road from the council secretariat gate to Briton Woods Hotel and Resort in Bwari town and the construction of asphalt overlay of Gaba-Shere-Kawu road, Phase 2. Gabaya said that all the roads would include the construction of concrete drainage. Speaking, the Council Secretary, Mr Eli Kadanya, said that the bids were already advertised in two daily newspapers on Aug. 3, in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Kadanya said that interested companies must tender evidence of certificate of incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He added that the companies must also have evidence of their income tax clearance certificate for the last three years, valid till Dec. 31, among other basic requirements. The secretary also noted that bidders were not expected to bid for more than two slots as violators would be disqualified from all the lots. He noted that the council is not bound to pre-qualify or shortlist any bidder and reserved the right to annul the procurement process at any time. Kadanya said this is without incurring any liabilities in accordance with section 28 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Mr Peter Kadanya, a representative of the Area Council Secretariat, FCT, who observed the process, commended the council for a well-planned procedure. He advised that in the future, the bids should be sorted out according to their lots for easy and seamless process. Representative of various companies, Heads of Departments of the council, Supervisory councilors and staff of the council attended the event. 

Stevedore Services: Transportation Ministry to shut down Chevron Warri Jetty

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has disclosed its intention to shut down the Chevron Warri Jetty within two weeks following overt disregard by Chevron Nigeria Limited to hinder stevedore services regardless of extant laws and standard procedures. The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, who made this known at a meeting between Chevron Nigeria Limited, Bena-Franco, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the National Inland Waterways (NIWA) at the Ministry in Abuja, stated that the Ministry of Transportation has the mandate to guide activities going on in the maritime sector and will act accordingly to protect that at all times. In this regard, Ajani informed representatives of Chevron that the Nigerian Ports Authority as the master stevedore has assigned a stevedore company in the last two years to the Warri jetty and has been denied access by Chevron despite all efforts by NPA. Chevron also has avoided all meetings by the Federal Ministry of Transportation & National Stevedore Association to resolve this matter. She advised that it will be in their best interest to grant Bena – Franco access to the jetty. “You have the next two (2) weeks to register this stevedore that has been assigned to you by the Federal Government of Nigeria to oversee what goes on at that jetty” Ajani emphasised. In addition, the inability of representatives of Chevron Nigeria Limited to substantiate the status of the operating license for the jetty, the Permanent Secretary mandated the task force on private jetties to avail her evidence of approval granted to the company immediately. Furthermore, she noted that failure to comply within the next two weeks will leave the Ministry with no option but to shut operations at the Warri jetty.