News
Tinubu congratulates Dangote on highest award in Senegal
Published
4 hours ago
on
February 1, 2024
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Aliko Dangote on the award of National Order of the Lion by Senegal.President Macky Sall of Senegal would confer the award on the Nigerian industrialist and President of Dangote Group on Friday.Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.Tinubu applauded Dangote for his enterprise and ingenuity that has created jobs and opportunities for many people in Nigeria and across the West African region.According to him, the award of this honour is an affirmation and recognition of such significant contributions to Senegal’s economy.The President commended Dangote and wished him the very best in his endeavours. Dangote Cement has a 1.5 metric tonnes per annum factory in Pout, about 60km from Dakar.
News
Ogun Assembly passes motion on regulation of explosives used in mining
Published
4 hours ago
on
February 1, 2024
Following on the Jan.16 explosion that rocked Ibadan from illegal miners’ stored explosives, Ogun House of Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday calling on regulatory agencies to enforce safety precautions in the handling of explosives.
This, the house noted, had become necessary, especially bearing in mind the indiscriminate use of dynamites by miners in quarries in Ogun.
The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Yusuf Sheriff (APC-Ado Odo Ota1) and seconded by Bisi Oyedele (APC-Ipokia) during plenary session on Thursday.
Opening debate on the motion, the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye (PDP- Odogbolu), submitted that the Ibadan explosion that claimed lives and properties in neighbouring Oyo State remained worrisome.
Adeleye explained that it had become imperative to address the potential dangers posed by numerous mining sites in Ogun and controlled mostly by unregistered foreigners who often disregarded environmental safety laws.
The lawmaker added that the state’s Ministry of Environment and that of Industry, Trade, and Investment, should be mandated to enforce and ensure strict compliance with safety regulations in the mining sector.
He noted that such proactive approach was crucial to prevent disasters and protect the lives and property of residents and public infrastructure.
Other lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, corroborated Adeleye’s submissions and cited examples of various environmental infractions posed by illegal miners.
Acknowledging that the mining sector was under the Exclusive List of the Federal Government, the lawmakers insisted that the state needed to put necessary measures in place to monitor and safeguard its people.
They urged Ogun residents to report any unsafe mining practice or storage of dynamites in their vicinity to relevant government agencies.
The lawmakers noted that the motion was a proactive measure to further put relevant government agencies on their toes to ensure the protection of lives and ensure environmental safety.
Before the vote was taken, the Speaker, Hon. Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda), implored all agencies connected with upholding safety measures to shun anything that could compromise safety, peace and tranquillity in the state.
At least five persons were killed, while 77 others were injured when the Ibadan explosion occurred at Bodija, a residential area.
The impact of the explosion was said to have been felt as far away as 15km from the scene of the blast.
The explosion affected some structures at the state government secretariat and many other structures in the adjoining areas.
It also destroyed at least 10 cars and left about 30 houses at different stages of destruction in its track.
Oyo State government is interrogating a suggestion that the blast arose from explosives stored in Bodija by illegal miners.
News
IPMAN writes Soludo again over N900m debt owed members in Anambra
Published
4 hours ago
on
February 1, 2024
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra to pay N901 million owed members for the supply of Automotive Gas Oil for powering streetlights in the state.
Mr Chinedu Anyaso and Mr Emeka Iloafor, Chairman and Secretary of IPMAN Enugu Depot Community, made the call in a reminder letter to Soludo.
The letter was entitled “Re; Request For Debt Payment of N900,664,805.00 Owed Our Members For Diesel Supplied And Services Rendered In Respect Of Street Lights”.
A copy of the letter which was made available to journalists in Awka on Thursday, said months after returning generators in their custody as directed as a condition for payment, the government was yet to honour its promise.
The marketers said the affected members could no longer remain in business as they were under heavy burden of debt to their banks and their staff, some of whom had been laid off.
According to IPMAN, “we humbly request once more for the debt payment in respect of the above subject matter.
“Your Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs wrote to us that our members that were owed these debts were withholding government generators.
“They have since returned and reported back to his office since December, 2023.
“We have not heard from him since then and our members are seriously and heavily indebted to banks and individuals who are threatening them on a daily basis.
“Kindly intervene to save the situation as we are ready to always cooperate with your government for its success,” he said.
It would be recalled that IPMAN had in September last year made payment of the debt owed to about 70 members who operated as contractors in the streetlight project of Anambra before the government terminated the contracts to migrate to solar-powered street lights.
Mr Tony Ifeanya, the state Commissioner for Petroleum, said the government was handling the issue and that it would be settled soon.
According to him, we are handling it, we are talking with them. It will be sorted out soon.
