Latest News
FEATURES
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned the public against the use of substandard and uncertified compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders.
In a statement on Saturday, the SON said the organisation has robust and effective regulatory measures in place.
The agency said the measures are to ensure that all CNG equipment and conversion kits conform to approved standards before being certified for public use.
“The conformity assessment schemes are designed to prevent the import, manufacturing, and use of substandard products,” SON said.
The SON said it was partnering with the presidential CNG initiative (P-CNGi) and other relevant government bodies, to finalise the Nigerian gas vehicle monitoring system (NGVMS).
According to the statement, the platform would provide centralised monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems, ensuring that only vehicles equipped with approved conversion kits could access petrol at retail outlets.
“The NGVMS will also offer a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers, which will go a long way in preventing substandard installations and further mitigate the associated risks,” SON said.
“This initiative reassures the public that CNG safety is top priority and reaffirms SON’s commitment to ensuring the safe use of CNG in Nigeria.
“It also urges all stakeholders to prioritise safety and recognise that LPG and other gas cylinders are not suitable for CNG containment.”
‘PRESSURE CAPACITY, CONSTRUCTION VITAL FOR SAFETY’
The SON said it was imperative to highlight the structural differences between the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the CNG cylinders — pressure capacity and construction.
According to SON, both are crucial to ensuring and maintaining safety under the high pressure associated with CNG vehicles.
“The LPG cylinders with a working pressure of seven bar to withstand a test pressure of up to 30 bar of gas,” the organisation said.
“While the CNG cylinders are designed for much higher pressures with working pressure of up to 200 bar to withstand a test pressure of 300 bar and above.
“The LPG cylinders can have welded joints/seams while the CNG cylinders are seamless and do not have welded joints.”
The organisation also urged CNG vehicle users to utilise only SON-certified cylinders in their vehicles, as the use of uncertified cylinders presents serious safety risks, which should not be overlooked.
SON charged all CNG refuelling stations to undertake on-the-spot inspections to ascertain vehicles were equipped with approved conversion kits with required labels identifying the conversion centre.
“The SON is unwavering in its commitment to the development of CNG products’ standards and their certification, to meet safety requirements thereby enhancing safety in the CNG conversion process and strengthening the regulatory framework,” the organisation said.
On Thursday, a car powered by CNG exploded at a NIPCO filling station on Benin-Auchi road in Edo state.
Reacting to the incident, SON commiserated with the affected persons.
SON said preliminary investigations showed that the cylinder used to convert the vehicle “does not comply with the CNG Standards approved by the organisation”.
Lagos council chairmen, under the banner of Conference 57, have called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to rethink its proposal to replace Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) with Area Administrative Councils as outlined in the proposed Local Government Administration Bill.
Mr. Rasaq Ajala, General-Secretary of Conference 57 and Executive Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, made the appeal during an interview on the sidelines of a public hearing organized by the Assembly in Ikeja on Friday.
The Assembly had, during a public hearing on October 17, considered replacing the state’s 37 LCDAs with Area Administrative Councils. Ajala, however, urged the Assembly to maintain the current structure, stressing the importance of ensuring that the 37 LCDAs are eventually listed in the constitution rather than being replaced.
He emphasized that Lagos State’s current grassroots development, enjoyed by the people, is largely due to the additional 37 LCDAs. He further referenced the historical legal backing for the creation of the LCDAs, noting that the Supreme Court had upheld their legitimacy when the matter was brought before the court during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor.
Ajala stated, "The position of Conference 57 is clear. The creation of the 37 LCDAs is a product of the Constitution, and we believe that the Assembly should allow it to stay." He also reiterated that the creation of the LCDAs was legal, constitutional, and instrumental in driving development at the grassroots level.
Conference 57 lauded the Assembly's efforts in keeping Lagos State at the forefront of development and urged them to maintain the current structure until the LCDAs are constitutionally recognized.
Nigerian Afrobeat icons Davido and Wizkid were spotted at the same nightclub in London, but the two stars avoided each other, reigniting speculations about their longstanding rivalry.
Host of the Afrobeat Podcast, Adesope Olajide shared videos of the encounter on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with the caption on the post, “Davido and Wizkid currently partying in the same club in London.”
The video showed Davido already seated inside the nightclub when Wizkid walked in with his entourage.
Despite being in close proximity, the two superstars did not exchange greetings, continuing the cold tension that has marked their relationship over the years.
This snub came just days after Wizkid reportedly threw subtle jabs at Davido following the announcement of Davido’s first single of 2024.
Davido had revealed that the song, set to be a hit, was released in celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day.
However, Wizkid appeared to take to social media shortly afterward to boast about his own success, fueling rumours of an ongoing dispute.
At nightclub, Wizkid reportedly walked past Davido’s table without acknowledging him while Davido was enjoying the night with his 30 Billion Gang crew.
Wizkid was at the club to support his official disc jockey, DJ Tunez, who was performing.
Following the encounter, Wizkid took to X to subtly boast about his influence, writing, “Everybody Dey find Big Wizzy,” a remark that many interpreted as directed at Davido.
This is not the first time the two artists have crossed paths in a club.
Last year, they were seen partying and even hugging at a Lagos nightclub, an encounter that briefly suggested their feud might be over.
However, in a recent social media rant, Wizkid claimed that Davido is the one who always initiated their reunions, alleging that the ‘OBO’ star “runs after him like a fanboy” whenever they meet.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Ayodele, on Friday, described Nigeria’s economic state as hypertensive.
Primate Ayodele said the President Bola Tinubu’s government has no solution to Nigeria’s economic problems.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, the prophet explained that Nigeria will continue to be difficult till there’s an economic reset which the current government may not be able to carry out.
He said: “This government will only work but they don’t have solution. Things will be getting difficult until they restart the economy again. I pity Nigerians because they will continue to face this till when God knows.
“Tinubu and other people in the economic team know that they don’t have solution, there is serious hardship, they need another formula to reset the economy.”
He added that Nigerians should expect more taxes on basic things in the coming days.
Ayodele further explained the stages that Nigeria’s economy will go through except there’s a reset.
“This government will continue to tax Nigerians on basic things yet they won’t be able to get the solution.
“The economy is harsh now, it will go to shrink stage then to process stage, then to burst and finally collapse, those are the stages our economy will go through.
“Don’t let it get to a state where people will be taking food from dustbin, we are in an economic embarrassment era. Nigeria’s economy will be hypertensive.”
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that he is qualified to contest for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking with reporters during a visit to Fashola farm in Oyo town on Friday, Makinde stated that speculations about his political future were unnecessary and unsolicited.
The governor stated that he is old enough to speak for himself on any issue without fear or intimidation, adding that he would do so publicly if he had anything to say about his political future.
He said, “We didn’t host the PDP reporters’ retreat because somebody has a presidential ambition. No comment, nothing. But all I can say to you is, I’m old enough if I want to do something, I will come out and say, this is what I want to do.
“So, no speculation, nobody can push my agenda. I will push my agenda when the time comes.”
Makinde recalled that with the support of the people of Oyo State, he defied several odds, including two failed Senate attempts before his election as Governor.
He said, “Oyo State people took a decision in 2019. We did not have a godfather. Nobody sponsored me, and nobody gave me a dime for us to get in here, but the people of Oyo State decided we wanted to give this opportunity to an outsider.
“And before that, you will see videos saying that, Oh, Seyi, what has he done before? Has he been a councillor? No. Has he been to the House of Representatives? No. What about the Senate? I tried twice but was rejected.
“So, experience in politics – No experience in governance, but I’ve done well for myself in business, and they said we’ll give you the opportunity. Before that time, the whole of the South-West was APC, consisting of six states.
“But in Oyo State, we chose to be different. Because I had no experience, I wanted to convince the people.
“We produced a document, Road Map to accelerated development of Oyo State, 2019-2023, and I said to the people, this is it in black and white, hold me accountable, and they gave us the opportunity. Thank God it is being done. “
The governor also cautioned Nigerians against allowing the country to slide into a one-party state.
He said, “Nigeria must not slide into a one-party state so that others will have the opportunity to showcase their talents.”
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Saturday, called on President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to be wary of the recent advice of the World Bank, in which it prescribed the reduction in government’s support for social services in Nigeria.
World Bank Group’s Senior Vice President, Indermit Gill, had at a programme early this week in Abuja, referred to the withdrawal of support being provided by the government for social and economic programmes in Nigeria and the floating of the Naira.
Gill spoke at the three-day Summit of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) that started on Monday, October 14th.
The Bank’s boss said the results of the current efforts would be seen in 10 to 15 years.
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, urged the federal government to be wary of the advice.
In a statement he signed, Ajayi said: “Firstly, the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would have run its terms before the 10 to 15 years the presumed dividends of the World Bank prescriptions will manifest.
“Meaning that this administration may then only be remembered for the sacrifices made by the people and the attendant sufferings while another administration would take the credit for the dividends – if at all.
“So, rather than continuing with the Bank’s policies, resort should be made to policies that boost local businesses and encourage local initiatives thus reducing dependence on imported goods.”
Ajayi said the call on the President to be wary of prescriptions by the Bretton Woods’ institutions was predicated on what happened to countries that followed various prescriptions made by either the World Bank or International Monetary Fund (IMF) or both of them.
He recalled that most of the countries that heeded the prescriptions of these two institutions ended up in worse situations than the ones that made them run to either or both institutions.
Countries cited included Mexico, Mozambique, Ghana, Argentina, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
Ajayi added: “The conditions given by the Bank included budget cuts, removal of subsidies from some services being provided for the people and the devaluation of the country’s currency. But, instead of heeding the advice, the Malaysian PM did the exact opposite. Of course, it was tough initially. Today, however, Malaysia is growing economically and is one of the few countries that are shedding off the toga of third-worldism.
“What we are saying is that while it is important to lay a good foundation for economic recovery, the models being prescribed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be no-go areas because the havoc such models have wreaked in some of the countries that applied them.”
Northern Governor, Retired General Lead Moves To Draft Goodluck Jonathan Into 2027 Presidential Race
AFOLABI
Powerful political figures from northern Nigeria have begun efforts to draft former PresidentGoodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race.
Their calculations hinge on the fact that Jonathan, having served as president from 2011 to 2015, is eligible for only one more four-year term.
This campaign is reportedly spearheaded by a governor from the North East and a retired general from the North West.
According to sources, the northern power brokers considered their options and concluded that Jonathan’s potential candidacy aligns with their collective interests.
They are basing their strategy on the 1999 Constitution, which allows a maximum of two terms for any individual holding the office of president.
The group’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to derail President Bola Tinubu’s plans for re-election.
However, a rival group comprising other northern politicians and influential figures is pushing for a different southern candidate, as both factions oppose Tinubu’s continued leadership.
The promoters of the Jonathan-for-2027 campaign have reportedly started engaging with key stakeholders, aiming to build support for the former Bayelsa governor, who has recently focused on international diplomacy and promoting democratic norms.
A source within the group revealed to Saturday Tribune that northern leaders backing Jonathan come from across the political spectrum and are united in their determination to counter what they perceive as Tinubu’s mismanagement of the country.
Additionally, the group is reaching out to like-minded individuals and organizations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including civil society and pro-democracy groups, in a bid to rally broader support.
Jonathan is seen as a strong candidate because of his prior experience as vice president (2007-2010) and president, following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Northern leaders believe he could gain widespread backing from southern states while also enjoying significant goodwill in the northern part of the country, even nine years after his presidency.
The push for Jonathan’s return gained momentum in August 2023 when reports emerged that key political figures were considering persuading him to run for the 2027 race.
This aligns with the stance of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, a former minister in Jonathan’s administration, who has publicly stated his willingness to step aside if Jonathan decides to run.
Mohammed, speaking at an event organized by the Save Africa Initiative, expressed his belief that Jonathan’s experience would make him an ideal candidate.
“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition… I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for the leadership of this country unless he decides not to run… He will do a better job because he has the experience,” Mohammed said.
The push for Jonathan’s candidacy isn’t new. Before the 2023 presidential election, rumors circulated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was considering fielding him as its candidate, backed by several northern governors.
However, both the APC and Jonathan distanced themselves from these claims, with Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, clarifying that the former president had no interest in running at the time:
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorize it,” Eze said in a statement.
APC officials, including then-national committee chairman Mai Mala Buni, dismissed the speculations, with Buni emphasizing that their interactions with Jonathan were simply out of respect for his status as a former president.
Buni added: “Our visit to Jonathan was pronounced because of his status as a former president… That could be why some may think there was something beneath it.”
Despite these earlier denials, the 2027 initiative suggests that political interest in Jonathan’s potential return to the presidency remains strong among northern power players.
Workers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) say their strike will persist until their demands are met.
Adetoboye Ayodeji, chairman of the NAFDAC branch of the Medical and Health Union Workers of Nigeria, spoke with NAN on Saturday.
He called on the agency’s management to negotiate with the union to resolve the impasse.
The workers began an indefinite strike on October 7, demanding a review of the 2024 internal promotion examinations.
Ayodeji alleged that some staff who passed were denied promotion and that the management claimed there was a shortfall in vacant positions.
“Unfortunately, the management was recruiting at the same time into the positions that they claim there was no vacancy,” he added.
“While those that are rising through the ranks are not promoted, outsiders are brought to occupy the positions.
“Only 36 percent of participants in the examinations were promoted. We therefore said no, it is never possible.
“They cannot promote less than 80 percent of the participants.
“We rejected the entire promotion exercise and asked that more staff be promoted. There can never be motivation in an agency where 36 percent of staff are only promoted.
“It will have a devastating effect on the staff morale thereby affecting the health of the 200 million Nigerians.”
Ayodeji said there are also issues of unpaid statutory arrears and other benefits to some members of staff.
He said the union signed an agreement with the government and NAFDAC management in 2022 bordering on the workers’ conditions of service which remained unimplemented.
“The issues in the agreement were supposed to be settled in December 2022 but till date, none of the agreements has been complied with,” he said.
“Allowances that are supposed to be approved on or before December 2022 have not been approved, the condition of service could not be approved.”
Ayodeji said the union had written several letters to the NAFDAC management regarding the concerns without adequate response.
Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of NAFDAC, had, in a statement on Monday, denied all the claims.
She said the agency had followed the rules on payment of arrears and benefits.
Jigawa commissioner denies having illicit affairs with married woman in uncompleted building - threatens legal action against Hisbah
AFOLABI
Auwal Sankara, commissioner for special duties in Jigawa, has denied allegations of having an illicit affair with a married woman.
On Friday, the Kano state Hisbah board said Sankara was arrested at an uncompleted building over an alleged illicit affair with a married woman in Kano.
Abba Sufi, the director general of Hisbah, alleged the commissioner’s arrest stemmed from the woman’s brother-in-law’s complaint, accusing him of improper conduct.
Sufi added that prosecution of the commissioner would begin on Monday in a competent court of law.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement, the commissioner dismissed it as “false, malicious and baseless.”
Sankara vowed to take legal action against those behind the allegations, adding that their aim was to damage his reputation.
“My attention has been drawn to a recent media report alleging that I, Auwal D. Sankara, Commissioner for Special Duties in the Jigawa State Government, have been arrested by the Kano Hisbah Command on charges of having an affair with a married woman,” the statement reads.
“I wish to categorically state that these allegations are entirely false, baseless, and malicious, aimed at tarnishing my reputation.
“I urge the general public to disregard this fabricated story, which has been concocted by certain political elements to damage my character and integrity.
“As a married man, I have the utmost respect for the institution of marriage and would never engage in actions that violate its sanctity. I remain committed to upholding the values and principles that I stand for.
“I am taking this matter seriously and will pursue legal action against those responsible for spreading this false information and attempting to cause harm to my person.”
For the third time in one week, the national grid collapsed again on Saturday.
Power generation went off on Saturday morning around 8:16.
Recall that the grid tripped off on Monday and on Tuesday when it was being restored.
Our correspondent’s checks confirmed that power generation was 3,042 megawatts at 8 am and peaked at 3,968MW at 7 am.
However, generation dropped to 47MW as of 9 am.
Allocation to power distribution companies stood at 0.00MW at the time of filing this report.
The cause of the collapse could not be ascertained at the moment as the Transmission Company of Nigeria could not be reached.
More to come…
More...
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has awarded N70 million against the Nigerian police for firing a stray bullet that killed a nursing mother in a landmark judgement that caps over 20 years of litigation.
Justice G. Olotu, on Friday, ordered the police to pay N10 million as general damages, N50 million as punitive damages and N10 million litigation to a 24-year-old man whose mother was fatally shot in 2000.
In that year, Margaret Achalla was bathing her baby in the Utako area of Abuja when she was struck by a stray bullet fired by a uniformed police officer. She slumped and began to bleed.
Rather than take the victim to a hospital, the officers fled, leaving her to bleed to death.
Rights lawyer and activist Abubakar Marshal of Falana and Falana Chambers took on the case in 2001 and sued the police to pay for damages.
The suit was backed with hard evidence, including the extracted bullet, pictures of the leg that was shot, x-ray report, medical reports and hospital invoices, all of which were contained in the proof of claim.
Due to the overwhelming evidence presented before the Court, Mr Olotu ruled that Ms Achalla’s death was unlawful and unconstitutional.
Consequently, he awarded a total of N70 million against the police; N10 million as general damages, N50 million as punitive damages and N10 million as cost of litigation.
Furthermore, he ordered that the police pay five per cent interest until the damages were fully liquidated.
Nigeria has the highest number of people living without electricity globally – Akinwunmi Adesina
Admin
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has disclosed that Nigeria has the highest population of people living without electricity globally.
Adeshina made this known during the 90th birthday celebration of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
He revealed that approximately 86 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, positioning the country as the global leader in this regard.
Adeshina further emphasized that the lack of a reliable power supply is crippling businesses and industries nationwide.
“It has been estimated by the IMF that Nigeria loses about $29 billion annually or 5.6% of its GDP due to lack of reliable power supply. The report also indicates that Nigeria spends $14 billion per year on generators and fuel.
“The lack of electricity is killing Nigerian industries. Today, no business can survive in Nigeria without generators. Consequently, the abnormal has become normal.
“Nigeria has gas and crude oil in abundance, yet 86 million people live daily without electricity. Today, Nigeria is the number one country in the world in terms of the total number of people without electricity,” Adesina said.
Plans to Power the Continent
Adeshina also said AfDB is investing heavily in the electricity sector of Nigeria, and by extension, Africa as a whole.
He mentioned that the bank is in partnership with the World Bank to reach 300 million in electricity by the end of 2030 through robust funding and investment.
According to him, AfDB has invested over $200 million in grid transmission to help strengthen the national grid against incessant collapse.
“To support the implementation of Nigeria’s power sector recovery program, the bank provides Nigeria with $200 million for the Nigerian electrification project which is designed to fill the country’s electricity access gap.
“ We have invested $210 million in the Nigeria transmission project to strengthen the grid -power evacuation and regional interconnection.
“The President of the World Bank and I made a decision in April that the two banks will connect 300 million Africans, including Nigeria to electricity by 2030. That’s what is called the Mission 300. The largest such effort in the world,“ he added.
What you should know
Nairametrics previously reported that Nigeria as well as other African countries are set to be beneficiaries of a $90 billion electricity fund backed by the from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
- The fund is part of the plan from the global financial institution to provide electricity to 300 million African population by the year 2023.
- This initiative, part of the Mission 300 program, aims to assess and support projects, helping them secure funding if they meet the program’s criteria.
- Nigeria, an integral part of Mission 300, will also be a major beneficiary of the project through the Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES project).
- According to the World Bank, the project will benefit over 17.5 million Nigerians, or 20% of the country’s currently unserved population, while replacing over 250,000 polluting and expensive diesel generators.
[Nairametrics]
A drone launched from Lebanon exploded near the private residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea on October 19.
According to reports from Reuters, no casualties were reported as Netanyahu and his wife were not at home during the incident.
The drone attack occurred amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, further heightening security concerns in the region.
In addition to the strike on Netanyahu’s residence, two other drones launched from Lebanon were intercepted by Israeli air defenses, triggering warning sirens in the Tel Aviv area.
The third drone successfully struck a building in Caesarea, causing a loud explosion and reported damage, although specific details on the extent of the destruction remain unclear.
Israeli media indicated that the drone had travelled approximately 70 kilometres from Lebanon before hitting the targeted building. Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath reported damage to part of the structure involved in the drone attack.
This incident follows the recent killing of Yahya Sinwar, a key figure in Hamas and the architect of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that escalated the ongoing Gaza conflict.
According to the Israeli military, Sinwar was eliminated in an operation in southern Gaza on Wednesday after a year-long pursuit.
Netanyahu stated that Sinwar’s death marked a significant defeat for Hamas, though the conflict is far from over.
[NaijaNews]
If you’re someone who enjoys singing in the shower, you’re not alone! UK-Nigeria-based Afrosoul singer, Uchechi Emelonye, shares that she finds lyrical inspiration while showering.
In a popular TV show in Lagos, Emelonye revealed that her hit song “Underwater,” which won the BBC Music Introducing ‘Record of the Year 2022’ award, was inspired during her showers.
She stated, “I get a lot of inspiration when I am under the shower. Lyrics come flooding in my head when I go underwater. I don’t know who else it happens to, but I sing a lot under the shower.”
Currently, Emelonye is promoting her newly released EP, ‘Mixed Emotions’ featuring tracks like “My Time,” “First Time,” “Foolish,” “Over You,” “Dance,” and “Margins.” The EP is released under Emelux Records, a label dedicated to providing a supportive platform for African artists to explore and enhance their talents.
[Leadership]