AMFSON Holds OGM, Inaugurates National, P/Harcourt Excos

The Association of Mega Filling Station Owners of Nigeria (AMFSON) has inaugurated its national executive committee with Chief Davison Nwankwo as the national president. The inauguration ceremony was the highpoint of the 2024 Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which held at Tokyu Grande Hotel, Port Harcourt marked to full return of the umbrella body of owners of filling stations branded in NNPC colours across the country. The rejuvenation of AMFSON is coming as the nation continues to battle epileptic supply and the high cost of petroleum products across the country. Before the inauguration ceremony, members of the association who converged in Port Harcourt from across the country lamented the harsh operating environment under which their members were operating. According to them, some of the challenges include rising energy costs to run their outlets, huge transportation costs in ferrying products to their stations, as well as shrinking margins in the sale of products. Addressing AMFSON delegates shortly after the inauguration, the National President, Chief Davison Nwankwo, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by the members in asking him to pilot the affairs of the association. Nwankwo, who is also the Managing Director of Deez Oil & Gas Limited, assured members that the business interest of AMFSON members would be fully protected under his leadership. He further assured that AMFSON would constructively engage the leadership of the NNPC Limited in order to ensure that the businesses made by its members yield positive returns on investment. Earlier, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of AMFSON, Ambassador Kenneth Nwachukwu, recalled that AMFSON came into existence in 2010 with the aim of protecting the interest of its members. Nwachukwu, therefore, urged AMFSON members to remain united and committed to the cause of the association in order for them to derive maximum benefits from the association. The inaugurated national executive committee of AMFSON include, Chief Davison Nwankwo (President), Barr Jacob Obande (Vice President), Ambassador Kenneth Nwachukwu (National Secretary), Obi Okechukwu (Publicity Secretary) and Comrade Prince Omugbe (Treasurer). Others are Hon Ejike Amedu(Public Relations Officer), Toyin Ogunwole (Zonal Vice Chairman, South-West), Emmanuel Okon(Zonal Vice Chairman, South-South) and Salem Ahmed (Zonal Vice Chairman, North-West).

FG Inaugurates Rafin Yashi Dam For Songhai Farming

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has inaugurated the Rafin Yashin multipurpose Dam in Minna, Niger State. The Dam project, which was initiated by the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, is aimed at providing water for Songhai Integrated Farming and Rafin Yashi Irrigation Project. Utsev, in a statement on Wednesday, said it was a deliberate effort by the ministry to boost food production in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure food security across the country. He called for more collaboration between states and the private sector in the areas of irrigation and water supply. According to him, it is the desire of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure food security in the country, saying no effort will be spared to achieve the target. The Minister had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Niger Governor, Mohammed Bago who was represented by his Deputy, Yakubu Garba. At the meeting, he informed the governor that the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority with its Headquarters in Minna, had dams in many locations across the state that can be used for irrigation farming. This, he added, could be a good source for water supply for the benefit of the state and the country in general. In his response, the Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, expressed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government. He further said that in spite of the state possessing dams, it faced huge challenges to fully utilise them due to limited resources. He appealed to the minister to support the state in addressing water challenges, adding that assistance was needed in constructing additional water works for irrigation farming and personal consumption. This, the deputy governor said would help to tackle water scarcity in certain communities to enhance the state and country’s economy. Utsev also officially opened the Rafin Yashi Dam Road, inspected the Agro-Tourism Facility, Concrete Reservoir, and Songhai Integrated Farm. He also presented certificates to graduates of the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority Empowerment Centre.

Transportation Minister Hails Maiden Lagos-Ibadan Freight Train Service

Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, has said that the maiden trip of the Lagos-Ibadan freight train service marks a significant milestone in the country’s railway projects. He said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, that the success of the operation also reinforced the federal government’s dedication to providing a robust transportation network to cater for Nigeria’s growing population. The maiden freight train departed from Apapa Port in Lagos on Thursday and headed to Ibadan, ladened with 30 units of 40-feet containers. Alkali stated that the successful operation of the container freight train reflected the meticulous planning, relentless efforts, and diligent execution by the Ministry of Transportation and its partners. He added that it served as a testament to the ministry’s unwavering commitment at realising the eight-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which prioritised the development of modern and efficient transportation system. The transportation minister noted that the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, a crucial component of Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure, held immense potential to revolutionise the movement of goods and people. He noted also that the completion of the rail project signified a major step in enhancing connectivity, boosting trade, and stimulating economic growth. Alkali expressed satisfaction with Thursday’s successful launch of the container freight train, hailing it as a significant achievement for the nation. “As the Lagos-Ibadan railway continues to expand its operations, it is expected to play a pivotal role in alleviating congestion on roads, reducing travel time, and facilitating seamless movement of goods across the country. “The successful initiation of the container freight train service signifies a promising future for the railway project, further solidifying its position as a vital backbone of Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure,’’ Alkali stressed.

Defence Ministry Develops Strategic Plan, Inaugurates Team To Drive FCSSIP 25

The Ministry of Defence has inaugurated Strategic Planning Team to drive the full realization of the digitalization of the Service and institutionalization of the Federal Civil Service Strategic Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 25). Inaugurating the nine members committee drawn from the core departments of the Ministry on Thursday, at a retreat organized by the Ministry on the development of the Ministry of Defence Strategic Plan in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana mni, said that the Head of Service (HoS) Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has directed the Ministry to develop its Strategic Plan that will help in achieving the Ministry’s peculiar mandate. Accordingly, the Strategic Plan, the Ministerial objective would further be cascaded from departments to individual staff members to draw job description, strategic objectives, key performance indicators, key result areas as well as performances contract and appraisal and review for optimal performance. Dr. Kana who was represented by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Suzan Ochida, urged participants to contribute their best in developing the Strategic Plan for the Ministry. According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry Mr Henshaw Ogubike mnipr, she said: “This retreat is therefore intended as a variable platform to harness contributions, trends, experiences, development that will culminate in the production of a policy document in line with world best practices that will stand the best of time in alliance with the vision, mission and mandate of Ministry of Defence. In his opening remarks, the Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Olusa Dada, called on the participants to come out with sound discussions, contributions, innovative ideas that would galvanize the actualization of the Ministry Mandate in line with FCSSIP 25. According to the Director, the Strategic Plan is a strategic innovation of the OHCSF aimed at breaking away from the old practices to a new paradigm of productive world- class Civil Service for accelerated national development. The highlight of the retreat was goodwill messages given by various stakeholders and paper presentations geared towards a robust Strategic Plan for the Ministry. In his goodwill message, the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency called on holistic appraisal of the entire system pointing out that a sound strategic plan would be a good driver in achieving the mandate of the Ministry of Defence in the provision of security. Represented by Real Admiral Julius Nwagu, he commended the Ministry saying that the retreat was timely as planning is germane to national development. Also, the representative of OHCSF, Professor Ajayi Adeyemi, commended the Ministry for the inauguration and retreat. The retreat, he said was timely as there is a paradigm shift to doing government business by productive world-class Civil Service. He said: “The Defence sector strategic plan will effectively drive all the six Pillars of FCSSIP 25. The retreat was well attended by Management and other Staff of the Ministry.

Lagos To Inaugurate Largest Food Logistics Hub In 2024 -Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that the first phase of the largest food logistics hub in West Africa will be inaugurated in 2024 to boost food security in the state. Sanwo-Olu stated this while addressing journalists at the grand finale of the 2023 World Food Day celebration at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. The governor, accompanied by Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the governor on Rice Initiative and members of the state executive council inspected various agricultural produce and product on display. Farmers from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas participated in the fair. The programme tagged: Farm Fair, Shop, Eat and Learn” is to commemorate the 2023 World Food Day with the theme: “Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind”. The World Food Day is an annual celebration by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on Oct.16, to encourage action on food insecurity. “A part from the middle level markets that we are building, we are building the largest food logistics hub in the whole of West Africa. “You were part of the ground breaking ceremony which we did last year and I want to inform you that before this time next year, we should have finished the phase one of the project. “It is the largest logistics hub in the whole of West Africa, you can take a trip there independently and see for yourself, the amount of work that is going on there. “That logistics food market is supposed to be the central hub where all sort of food in Lagos will come in, it has cold storage and dry storage and all sorts. “Our plan, if you remember that two years ago, we flagged with our five-year plan, it will now take them to the middle level market; we have built about three of them and we are building additional five. “The middle level markets will now take it from main hubs before it now goes to last mile, the corner show markets and the markets that all of you see in the state,” he said. The governor said the state had a robust integrated plan that would ensure food sufficiency and food adequacy in Lagos. He noted that the plan became important because food security globally was becoming an issue. “We have a robust integrated plan at ensuring that food sufficiency, food adequacy in Lagos is secured because food security globally is becoming an issue. “For us as a government, we need to be able to help the market, we need to be able to help the farmers and we need to help our citizens. “That’s why I have come here personally to come and celebrate with them, to come and celebrate them and to come and say it to them that we will not leave them alone. “We will continue to bring about infrastructure and funding to ensure that the theme for this year leave know one behind,” he said. The governor encouraged more people to go into rice cultivation to sustain the state’s rice mill in Imota, Ikorodu. “We are looking for paddy rice growers in Lagos because we have the biggest rice mill and we are also collaborating with other states. “Our rice mill still needs a lot of paddy. It does not matter the quantity of tonnes of paddy that they grow, we will buy it off them. “The same thing with other paddy growers in the country and we need to begin to ensure that food is also affordable and accessible. “We know that the price of food has gone up but with intervention like this, that brings market closer to the consumers, am sure that all of the produce that have been brought here today will be picked up and bought-up,” he said. Sanwo-Olu said that his administration was committed to encouraging farmers, while assuring that farming was important to his administration to ensure that food was affordable and accessible for all. “I am here this afternoon to give them all the encouragement, to show to the world that Lagos can begin to show the way for urban farming. “We do not have a lot of land but the little one that we have, we are encouraging our farmers to continue to support the need of the citizens because we know that we need to grow what we eat and eat what we grow. “We can collaborate with other neighbouring states and other parts of the country to bring all of these produce to Lagos because the population is here. “For me, it is to continue to encourage of the Ministry of Agric and all of their officers, extension workers and project managers to continue to help and hold these farmers. “Especially in the aquaculture farming, piggery, fishing, poultry and all of the other areas in which we can excel. “It’s another year of celebration to celebrate them, to thank them, and for the media to know that farming for us is important. Earlier, Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, said farmers and farmers’ groups with exceptional produce would be recognised and awarded prizes at the event. Olusanya noted that farmers, fishermen, and processors from the entire length and breadth of the state participated in the celebration. She said that the farmers had put in a lot of work in their different value chains to feed Lagosians and as the saying goes, “no farmer, no nation”.  Dr Femi Oke, the Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Lagos and South-West Zone, said insecurity, flooding and poor funding pose a great danger to food security in the country. Oke urged the federal and state governments to increase budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector to increase funding to farmers. He also called for reduction in interest rates for farmers and agro processors to reduce the price of food commodities. “It is not too conducive for a farmer to

CJN To Inaugurate 23 Federal High Court Judges Oct 4 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will on Wednesday October 4, 2023, swear-in the newly appointed 23 Judges of the Federal High Court. A statement by the Court’s Director of Press and Information on Sunday, Dr Festus Akande said that the Judges are to be inaugurated at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at 11am. The new Judges are: Dipeolu Deinde Isaac from Ogun State; Ogundare Kehinde Olayiwola from Ekiti State; Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu from Lagos State; Musa Kakaki from Kaduna State; Abdullahi Muhammad Dan-Ige from Sokoto State; and Sharon Tanko Ishaya from Kebbi State. Others are Salim Olasupo Ibrahim from Ogun State; Yilwa Hauwa Joseph from Gombe State; Wigwe-Oreh Chituru Joy from Rivers State; Owoeye Alexander Oluseyi from Kogi State; Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa from Benue State; Amina Aliyu Mohammad from Katsina State; Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi from Kwara State; Hauwa Buhari from Federal Capital Territory; and Aishatu Auta Ibrahim from Borno State. The rest are Hussaini Dadan-Garba from Bauchi State; Ibrahim Ahmad Kala from Gombe State; Mashkur Salisu from Zamfara State; Onah Chigozie Sergius from Enugu State; Egbe Raphael Joshua from Bayelsa State; Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr. from Oyo State; Ekerete Udofot Akpan from Akwa Ibom State; and Ogazi Friday Nkemakonam from Ebonyi State.   Also, a valedictory Court session will be held on Tuesday 10th October, 2023, in honour of the late Justice Chima Centus Nweze at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court at 10am. As is customary, the Chief Justice of Nigeria will preside over the session which will, among other things, feature the presentation of tributes by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and President of the Nigerian Bar Association, in honour of the departed Jurist.  It will be recalled that Justice Nweze died on Saturday, 29th July, 2023 in Abuja after a brief illness at the age of 64 years.  He was sworn-in as Justice of Supreme Court on 29th October, 2014. He was born in Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State on 25th September, 1958.  He attended St. John Cross Seminary, Nsukka from 1972 to 1977, emerging with a Distinction in the West African School Certificate Examination.  He gained admission into University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1979 where he graduated with a Degree in Law in 1983. In the same year, he represented the Law Faculty and, indeed, all Nigerian Law Faculties, at the Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington DC, as the Chief Oraclist.  Justice Nweze did his NYSC between 1984 and 1985 in Bauchi, after being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984. He equally had his Doctorate Degree in Law from the same University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

FG Inaugurates Freight Services On Apapa-Ibadan Cargo Rail

The Federal Government has finally inaugurated the first cargo movement from the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor after initial concern over the under-utilization of the standard gauge rail line 2 years after its commissioning. The inauguration was performed by the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, during his first official tour of the rail corridor on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The minister kicked off the tour at the Ebute Meta station before proceeding to Apapa for the launch, then travelled to Ibadan using the 157 km rail corridor. Three coaches of 30 wagons were loaded as the inaugural freight movement was kicked off. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it would start with 3 coaches per day with its Managing Director (MD) noting that the corporation had the capacity to scale up the numbers. This effort is expected to decongest the Apapa port as shippers moved 92.28% of Nigeria’s total exports and 60.77 percent of imports through the facility in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1’22).

FCTA inaugurates task force on safe handling of petroleum products

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated a Ministerial Task Force on the safe handling of petroleum products in the capital city, Abuja. The Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, while inaugurating the task force in Abuja on Thursday, said that the measure was to curtail incidences of fire outbreaks in the nation’s capital. Adesola said that fire outbreaks in the FCT in recent times had resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property. He vowed to sanction any fuel-filling station within the territory that failed to observe the necessary safety measures as required by law. “In 2022 alone, no fewer than four filling stations were reported to have been gutted by fire within the FCT. “Improper handling of petroleum products, as well as non-compliance with safety measures as it concerns operational guidelines of managing filling stations have been largely responsible for several fire outbreaks,” he noted. Adesola expressed optimism that the Ministerial Task Force would work assiduously to reduce occurrences of fire outbreak by ensuring that operators of filling stations adhered strictly to safety measures. He explained that inaugurating the taskforce was a proactive step taken by the government to secure the lives and property of residents. He said that part of the terms of reference of the taskforce was to monitor and ensure compliance to safe timing of uploading and offloading of volatile substances, including petrol and cooking gas. He said that the task force was also expected to monitor and ensure that all filling stations had functional, basic and relevant equipment. Adesola also said that the task force would ensure that filling stations had trained fire safety officers. “They are also to monitor and ensure that volatile substances are not off-loaded with vehicles or customers already waiting within the premises of the filling stations. “The task force is expected to clamp down on “black market” operators and the filling stations conniving with them. “The task force will be expected to recommend the closure of filling stations violating basic fire safety rules and those found colluding with black market operators. The members of the task force were drawn from the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Development Control, FCTA Fire Service Department, and FCTA Department of Security Services. Others, he said, were drawn from the Department of State Security Services, the Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers. The task force also has representatives from NNPC upstream and downstream sectors, major petroleum marketers’ associations, and independent marketers’ associations. Responding, the Chairman of the Task Force, Dr Idriss Abbas, Director-General, FEMA, thanked the FCTA for finding the members capable of handling the assignment. He assured the FCTA that the task force would work assiduously to deliver on the mandate. 

Gov Yusuf swears in Kano’s first female Chief Judge, Dije Aboki

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf on Monday ushered in an historical moment when he swore in the first female Chief Judge of the state, Justice Dije Audu Aboki. Yusuf urged the judiciary to support his administration’s demolition and anti-graft policies to enable it to recover public assets acquired illegally by the immediate-past administration in the state. He spoke on Monday during the swearing-in ceremony for the first female Chief Judge in the state at Africa House, Government House, in Kano. The governor explained that his administration’s desire of demolishing illegal structures and recovering public properties was for the development of the state. Yusuf wondered why the Abdullahi Ganduje administration could demolish schools, hospitals, and other public places only to build shopping complexes for businesses. He described the relationship between the judiciary, legislature, and executive as not competitive, but complementary, promising to continue to maintain cordial relationships amongst the three arms of government. The governnoted that Justice Aboki has paid her dues in the temple of justice and through experience, talent and patriotism is by the grace of God elevated as the Chief Judge of the state. “While I congratulate you on this well-deserved appointment, may I also remind my Lord that this task is a daunting one which calls for total dedication and commitment for the peace, progress and stability of Kano state and Nigeria at large. “Having spent your public life within this sector, no one can lecture you on what the citizens expect from you as the Head of this very important Arm of Government,” he said. Yusuf enjoined Aboki not only to see her this elevation as a call to duty but also as a trust inv3sted in her by God to represent Him in the affairs of men. The governor said she was assuming duty when the state was operating financial autonomy of the three arms of government, including the Judiciary. He, therefore, charged Justice Aboki to take advantage of all the latitude that this autonomy provides to ensure that judiciary staff are well trained while the day-to-day running of the courts is seamless. “You can count on the support of the Executive Arm of Government and the Legislature to work with you in helping you cultivate a cordial working relationship with the staff,” he assured. Yusuf also drew the attention of the new chief judge to the challenges with the speedy dispensation of justice particularly as it involves some suspects that are arraigned for violent crimes. “It is our view that when such cases are dealt with expeditiously and those found guilty are punished, it will deter others hoping to engage in criminal acts,” said the governor. Besides, he advised her to beware of those who want to corrupt, confuse, intimidate or blackmail the judiciary to do their bidding. Yusuf however expressed optimism that the present leadership is very capable of withstanding and maintaining the sanctity of the Temple of Justice and the Legal profession in the state. Responding, Justice Aboki said she was grateful to God for the opportunity to serve and the privilege to be elevated to the position of Chief Judge of the state. She promised to serve with “integrity, honesty and justice” as well as do her best to ensure that the rule of law is adhered to at all times. “We will restore the lost glory of the judiciary in our state,” pledged the new chief judge. Justice Aboki also said she was aware of the challenges in the Judiciary and appealed for support and collaboration from the executive and legislative arms to succeed. She also solicited the support of the Justices, other judicial staff and professional bodies to meet the desire objectives of delivering justice. 

Gov Inuwa inaugurates Jennifer Etuh Medical Centre in Gombe

Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, on Monday inaugurated the Jennifer Etuh Medical Centre in Tula. The hospital was constructed in Tula village in Kaltungo Local Government Area of the State by a charity organisation known as ‘Jennifer Etuh Foundation. The Chairman of the foundation, Mr. Thomas Etuh, said the facility was constructed by the foundation to give the people of the village access to healthcare services. He noted that the foundation was established in 2020 in memory of his late wife, Jennifer Etuh, adding that her vision is to provide available, accessible, and affordable world-class healthcare services to women and children. According to him, this informed their decision to build and donate the medical centre to the village that is a hard-to-reach area. Etih said the foundation had constructed similar medical centres in Odu, Kogi, for the North Central; in Kagoro, Kaduna State, for the Northwest, and another at Ifewara, Osun State, for the Southwest, respectively. He stated that the foundation had equally built skills acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country and offered free medical outreaches. “We are deeply indebted to God for his countless mercies and favours in our lives. My darling wife will have been celebrating her 49th birthday today. But God knows best. Nevertheless, we are here to commemorate her legacy. “Before her passing, she gave very explicit and precise instructions of this vision, which over the past two years have continuously become a reality,” the chairman said. In his goodwill message, Alhaji Abubakar Atare, the Paramount ruler of Tula, said the ultra-modern health centre has been longed for by the community. Atare said the facility would serve the community and its environs. ”This health facility is the only one of its kind in the North East sub-region and the people of Tula will remain indebted to your show of love,” he said. He said the facility would go a long way in improving the health of the people of the community and beyond. Yahaya commended the foundation for the gesture, adding that it will complement the efforts of the state government in delivering healthcare services. The governor called on wealthy individuals and organisations to emulate the foundation to make life better for the teeming population. The foundation has organised five days of medical outreach as well as empowered over 1,000 widows with wrappers, toiletries, and N1,000 cash gifts each.