Environment/Agric - Platformsafrica

Nigeria’s Oil Ministry Spent N98.4m to print PIB awareness leaflets -Senate

January 18, 2021 Efe Wellington

The Nigeria’s ministry of Petroleum Resources spent a whooping N98.4 million for the printing of leaflets used for Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) awareness. The Senate Committee on Public Account, which declared this, also kicked against the violation of due process by the Ministry in the award of the contract. Also, the Committee, chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, discovered how N39 million was paid into two accounts for project monitoring within Abuja. The Committee relied on the 2015 Auditor General Report, which exposed mismanagement of public funds by the Ministry…

Pirates attacked, kidnapped 130 West Africa Seafarers in 1 Year- Report

January 18, 2021 Dawood Rabiu

Kidnappings by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea hit a record in 2020. This surge came with well-armed and violent gangs defying regional navies and marauding further out to sea, a report from the International Maritime Bureau has said. Pirates in the West African region kidnapped 130 seafarers in 22 separate incidents, accounting for all but five of those seized worldwide last year. The previous record, in 2019, was 121. The IMB’s annual piracy report said that overall armed robbery and piracy incidents rose to 195 last year, up…

Nigeria’s Former Finance Minister Jubril Martins Kuye is Dead

January 17, 2021 Damola Oyede

A former Minister in charge of Finance in Nigeria, Jubril Martins Kuye, is Dead aged 78. Martins-Kuye, who once occupied the seat as the Minister of state for Finance was a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sources close to the Nigerian colourful politician popularly known as JMK, told Platforms Africa that the former governorship candidate in Ogun state, Southwest Nigeria, breathed his last in the early hours o Sunday January 17, 2121. “JMK is dead. Official statement will be issued by members of his family to…

Museveni, 76, wins Uganda Presidential Election for Sixth Term

January 16, 2021 Aoko Benjamin

Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni has been declared winner of Uganda presidential election in an exercise already rejected by his rival, Bobi Wine. Museveni hss been the President of Uganda since 1986 that is for 35 years and his new win makes it sixth time he would be elected President of the East African nation. On Saturday January 16, 1986, Museveni, was involved in rebellions that toppled Ugandan leaders Idi Amin and Milton Obote before he captured power, was declared winner of a controversial Election and returned as duly elected…

Here are dates UNILORIN students must return for physical classes -Official

January 15, 2021 Dawood Rabiu

The management of the University of Ilorin has announced phased resumption of physical classes beginning from January 25, 2021. Prompt News reports that the University on Monday, January 11, resumed virtual classes for all levels of students. In a statement on Friday, Director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, announced thus: “In furtherance to the virtual resumption of academic activities at the University of Ilorin on January 11th, 2021 and in compliance with the directive of the Federal Government, the University management has announced a phased reopening of the institution…

Panic Rocks LASU College of Medicine as 3 Students Contract COVID-19

January 15, 2021 Damola Oyede

Panic as rocked the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) as theee students have tested positive for COVID-19. Following this, the management of the college has closed its hostel, isolated the students and embarked on contact tracing. A statement by the institution said: “The management of Lagos State University wishes to inform staff, students and the general public that three students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) have tested positive for Covid-19, leading the college to immediately close down all its hostel facilities.” In view…

EFCC offers $9.7m, £74, 000 seized from NNPC ex-GMD for Court inspection

January 15, 2021January 15, 2021 Dawood Rabiu

The Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has urged the Federal High Court, Abuja, to visit the Kano branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to inspect the hard currency ( $9.7 million and £74, 000) seized from the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu. Counsel to the EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, while moving a motion filed on Nov. 17, 2020, before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, also urged the court to conduct proceedings in the premises of the bank…

20 UNIILORIN Teaching Hospital Doctors Contract COVID-19 within 21 Days

January 15, 2021 Aliyu Aliyu

At least 20 doctors have been infected with COVID-19 at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). President of UITH chapter of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Dr Badmus Habeeb, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. He said that members of the association were battling with the pandemic based on available resources. “About 20 of our members have been infected with the virus in the past two to three weeks. “I must reiterate that this is not…

Primary, Secondary Schools Resume Jan 18, Nigerian Government declares

January 15, 2021 Aliyu Aliyu

The Nigerian Government has declared that there is no going back on the January 18, 2021 resumption date for Primaey and secondary schools nationwide. This announcement settled the back and forth on whether the school should resume due to rising cases of COVID-19 or not, and despite the pressure being mounted by some stakeholders including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The decision to retain the date, was taken on Thursday after due consultations between the Ministry of Education and critical stakeholders…

96 foreign, local firms jostle as race for NNPC’s key downstream Contracts begins

January 14, 2021 Efe Wellington

96 prominent and reputable companies from various jurisdictions have indicated interest in undertaking the rehabilitation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) downstream infrastructure ranging from critical pipelines to depots and terminals through the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) financing model. The corporation confirmed this at a virtual public bid opening exercise which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja for the pre-qualification of companies for the contract. Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, in a statement sent to Platforms Africa, stated that…